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CONTACT: Stacy Mitchell | Tel. 207-774-6792 | Email: smitchell@ilsr.org
** Additional contacts at the end of the release.**

Survey Finds Support for “Buy Local” Boosted Holiday Spending at Independent Stores

The survey was conducted by the Independent Business Forum, a new collaborative network of organizations representing independent businesses.

MINNEAPOLIS, MN (Jan. 23, 2008)—As major chains report weak holiday sales, a nationwide survey of 1,382 independent retailers has found that a desire to support locally owned businesses is emerging as a factor in people’s shopping choices. [Read more →]

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I just got my letter for this year’s Texas School. I got my first choice of classes: Bry Cox from Salt Lake City, Utah. I got to see a preview of him and his work last year and found his ideas truly fresh and innovative.

I can’t wait for school!

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I was asked by the Friends of the Library, via Always Creative, to grab some quick images of the are libraries for their new brochure. I did a couple of quick shoots at lunch a couple of days.

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Just in time for the 2008 Bridal Show and Benefit, has a new design for our website.

Thanks to Matt Herzberger, the site now has a design that reflects how much we’ve grown over the past year. He also gave the site a much cleaner and more attractive look. Finally, he streamlined some of the tools we have both for our own use of the site and for clients.

Don’t worry, though. All the site features and content are in almost all the same places. And, we’re here to help you find anything you might need.

Thank you Matt! Now the website is just As I Wish!

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The new issue of Brazos Valley Bride is out!

Look for the cover story on
real Brazos Valley brides on pages 48 & 50.
featuring Jae & Brant Hickerson
and their wedding.

provided photography
for the event and the article.

You can also see an engagement image of Jae & Brant in the photographers’ gallery on page 26.

All of us at are proud and honored to participate in the gallery and cover-story. Thank you, Bryan Broadcasting Corporation for the opportunities. Thank you, Heather Moutray, for your support and guidance through all editorial processes.

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Allison & Dominic LaRocca-Der Tatevasion had a special and beautiful ceremony and reception in Bryan, Texas. They were surrounded by family and friends and tons of love and support.

A very tender moment occurred when Allison’s dad, who grew up traditional Church of Christ and had never danced before, gave his daughter the gift of a father-daughter dance at her wedding.

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Danielle & Marty Christenberry-Galow said, “I do” on a blustery winter day in Mt. Vernon, Texas.

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I’m back to a small degree.

The day-job deadlines are past. Now, we are just in the aftermath of those processes.

I’m taking another day or so with As You Wish to return messages that came in over these few days.

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My day job is at our busiest time of year with proposals. At the same time, we are launching a new website. Both goals and many of the tasks within them are my sole responsibility.

So, until the dust settles, is closed.

See you all when I can get my head above water!

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Users are an important part of making your day run smoothly. Be sure to select men (and/or women) who are responsible and attentive. Users can be asked to fill any number of roles on the Big Day.

• Keep guests out of the ceremony area until 30 minutes before the wedding. This is to allow the couple to finish all formal photography, the decorators to finish last-minute touches, the minister to meet with vendors to go over venue rules and restrictions, and a dozen other things that need to happen in a fairly quiet room.
• Locate church officials, members of the couple’s wedding party, or members of the family for their designated photography time slot.
• Seat guests according to the couple’s desires. This may (or may not) include seating guests on the corresponding side of the aisle, seating family “within the ribbon” so they are closer to the front of the ceremony, seating those with small children in the cry room or in a back row, assisting elderly guests with walkers or wheelchairs, showing guests the locations of available facilities, ensuring guests have picked up a program, and ensuring guests have stopped at the registry to sign in.
• During the ceremony, ushers may be needed to bring forward ceremony elements or to help remove fussy children  and take them to a cry room or the foyer to play quietly.
• After the ceremony, ushers may be asked to move wedding accessories, floral arrangements, and other decor to the reception venue.
• At the reception, ushers may be asked to help guests find their seats (if a seating chart is used or to locate tables reserved for parents and grandparents).

As you can see, there are a lot of little ways throughout the big day where good ushers come in handy. It’s a bigger job than most people realize, if done correctly.

Brides, be sure to let ushers know what you expect of them.
Ushers, save the bride just one thing from her mind; ask how you can help.

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Danielle wanted photos in their guest book, but also wanted a traditional look. Her idea translated quite well to give her a traditional product (makes mom happy) with a modern edge (makes bride happy).

a walk in downtown Calvert, Texas

Danielle’s favorite image

oh so sweet!

one of my favorites of them

playing at the park and splash pad was So. Much. Fun.

before the full soaking

this was everyone’s favorite image…and just had to be saved for last

based on the size of the guest list and guests behaviors at showers—where many let their kids sign their own names—we felt the need for some blank “lines only” pages and included a few of these in the back of the book.

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Users often get the raw end of the deal. They rent the tux, work as hard as the groomsmen, and get virtually no credit for their contribution to the Big Day. If they are lucky, they might get invited to the bachelor party and rehearsal dinner, get a nice little gift from the bride and groom, and get listed in the program and seated at the head table. Often, however, they are forgotten for the these little credits.

advises couples to include ushers in all the same ways that they do the groomsmen. Couples should also consider making similar arrangements for members of the house party. Cutting cake or working the gift table can be a thankless job. Be sure those who are helping your big day run smoothly are recognized, honored, and rewarded as best you can.

While you can’t necessarily seat everyone at the head table, you can seat these family members and friends at tables close to the parents and grandparents. List everyone in the program, including those who have reception duties. Invite them all to the rehearsal dinner, and make sure they get a small thank you gift.

Celebrating your day with a wedding and reception (instead of just running off to get married) is about surrounding yourself with those whom you love. Make sure they feel the a little of that love you are celebrating.

because everything should be just

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Dear clients, colleagues, family, and friends,

Thank you all for a wonderful year! 2007 was exciting, hurried, and busy. It was also rewarding, fun, and loving. I appreciate each and every one of you for your contributions to a fabulous year.

• Clients, thank you for believing in me and my work. You are the reason I continue to do this as a sideline. Moreover, thank you for your patience while I endured some growing pains.
• Colleagues, thank you for supporting me through this toughest of years. I made it through because of you. I appreciate your dedication to what is right and just and true.
• Family, thank you for your faith in me. I truly appreciate being involved in the planning and shooting of family weddings, charity events, and family portraits.
• Friends, thank you for your support and your help. There have been so many times I’ve needed to lean on you or call on you. I appreciate you always being there.

2008 is already set up to be “bigger and better” than ever before. I have started shooting with a partner again and have streamlined both image processing and album design by sharing this workload with others. I have booked the “date of the year”, 06-07-2008, as well as several others (and the bridal show isn’t for another 26 days), and I have planned some excellent professional development and equipment purchases for myself.

Thank you all. I look forward to an amazing year.

because everything should be just
Lori

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