Little Chapel in the Woods wedding from Jim Rode Photographer dallas

Isn't it cool to go to happy events? I've got the greatest job in the world. Jennifer and Chip are about as in love as two people in this world can get. It was so much fun to photograph their special day. The wedding was at the Little Chapel in the Woods. One of my favorite places to photograph. The reception was at the Wildwood Inn, another fantastic place!

We had fun taking shots around the estate, and in the Inn.

I was invited to the Bridal Fashion Show at the Ruthe Jackson Center in Grand Prairie. Had a nice time and was very impressed with how beautifully Cheryl Algood dressed the center's ballroom. Cheryl also had a fashion show to entertain us with gowns from Distinctive Elegance of Cedar Hill.
Cheryl asked if I'd photograph one of the models around the center. She asked for a volunteer, and Lacey agreed. She along with an assistant from the bridal salon went with me out front to a beautiful Bentley automobile (sister car to the Rolls Royce). The car was from Romantic Remembrances. Lacey's assistant carefully kept her gown airborne, and even restricted me to 3 spots around the car for photographs. She would set the gown down and with Lacey in place I would shoot what I could. We only had about 10 minutes, but we had fun. Lacey was a beautiful model.

Bummer. Sylvia had a little emergency work to do this morning. Hopefully be done soon. I might be doing Easter morning by myself! It's okay because faith is within us, and the trappings of the world is simply that. At death we will leave everything worldly behind, as we begin our journey to God.

So, I went to Mickey Ds for a little breakfast. Nearly deserted, I poured my coffee and sat down with the paper. A man came in and said "You by your lonesome too?"
"Sure am," I answered as he staked out a close by table.
"This Easter crap," he said, "if it's invisible, maybe it doesn't exist."
Geez. Normally, I'd just shut up and ignore a comment like that. But I just hadn't had my coffee yet. I said, "You believe in love don't you? Can't hardly see that..."
Yes, I know you can see love like crazy if you know how to look. But, I hadn't had any coffee yet! In a way though, it was a fairly good answer.
He ignored me the rest of the time I was there, but I hope I gave out a little food for thought, without being too abrasive.

Happy Easter. Good Passover too. Love to you.

Speaking Nationally to Photographers

Calling all photographers. Scott called from California and informed me that he'll be sending out an email to 8,000 photographers to let them know I'll be hosting the Ask and Learn Wednesday April 8. Tune in tomorrow at 6 Central time, and ask me anything decent! The topic is Engagements. It is a continuation of the appearance I made at PartnerCom in LA last September. So join in the fun. If you have the passion to enrich peoples lives with fantastic images, join me on-line and let's talk. I'll be happy to answer questions and discuss business, photography, tips, whatever you throw my way!

Wedding Green Oaks Wedding Chapel from Jim Rode Photographer in Arlington

Ramie and Corky got married! The wedding was perfect! It took place at the Green Oaks Wedding Chapel in Arlington.







It was loaded with friends and family. The bride was beautiful and Corky was Corky! (Cool under pressure!) Excellent flowers, cake and food. Three little angels dressed in white -fantastic for great photographs! Ramie and Corky took off in a vintage 1939 Chevrolet. (Boy could that hot rod move!) We took off for Mansfield to do a BridalWalk. We kicked around together on old Mansfield sidewalks. We stopped for pictures with the car and the blooming wisteria. And then we visited a very special lady/mother/and friend in the hospital bringing her the bouquet. Sometimes extraordinary events lead to extraordinary images.

Engagements Jim Rode Photographer

Got to be a part of long distance love last week! I had the chance to create some really cool images of a couple really cool people. Marla works locally for BOA, and Kevin is in airline transportation in Salt Lake City. -That's long distance! We kicked around for several hours. While Kevin and Marla spent precious hours together (he flies back each weekend to see her), I hung around in the distance a bit catching them having fun and smooching. The day looked rainy but we only got a few sprinkles before the sky turned blue.

Firefighter Engagements Dallas - Jim Rode Dallas Weddings

So I'm sitting with Vanessa and Cory having coffee and a danish, wearing green because it's St. Patrick's Day, and I realize that Cory's last name is Irish. I asked about Vanessa's name...Irish. Wow, I'm shooting their engagement on St. Patrick's Day? How cool is that?

We had a great time. Went all over the place (why else would I call engagements "safaris"!) and ended with dynamite images! Here are a few to check out.
Cory is a firefighter. Yeah! Need I say more? Every firefighter can be a hero many times over -even if it's just part of the job. Vanessa is beautiful -and in radio. They are a great couple and I can't wait to do their wedding on May 29 at Le Beaux Chateau.

Sunday I had a great wedding! I'll blog about that in a week or two after I've been able to process each image to make them their very best in presentation. As I sat outside the wedding chapel, I marveled at how beautiful a day it was. I also noticed how strange it felt. Wedding photographers have an inner clock set to Friday nights or Saturdays. I did not take a wedding Saturday after booking this Sunday months ago (I don't like to crowd the weekend with 2 weddings, because I put so much time into processing the images in the days after). I took my Saturday off to drive Sylvia to Dallas to check out the new Rack store in Dallas for a shoe sale.

Jenna was my second shooter for Sundays wedding. (I like having pros shoot with me. Their expertise is always a plus for great images.) She too took Saturday off from her business. She told me about World Down Syndrome Awareness Day. Jenna has a daughter Lana with Down Syndrome. She reserved her Saturday to be exclusively with her daughter. And she blogged about the day she spent with Lana, horseback riding and exploring nature.

Yeah, you have to spend time together when you're married. And sometimes you've got to shop. But when I compare my Saturday to Jenna's -Jenna is my hero of the week.
If you'd like to read about her day with Lana, here is the link to her blog. www.fzphotography.com/blog
Jim Rode

Photo Montage/Used by permission of FickleZeal Photography

Corner Wedding Chapel couple - Jim Rode Photographer

Last week I had great fun photographing two great people who connected in our world. They are wonderful, and in love. Need I say more? Kenia is the human resources director for the Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas. David manages human resource services for another company. That's common ground!

He proposed in Maui at the Grand Wailea Resort. They were in the restaurant Humuhumunukunukuapua'a (the Hawaiian name for the state fish). The Polynesian thatch roof restaurant floats on a saltwater lagoon filled with tropical fish. Can you think of a more perfect place to ask "Will you marry me?" I don't think I can!

They will marry April 18th at the Corner Wedding Chapel in the Mid-Cities.

Last night, some photographer friends and I met with Meagan, Alli, and Julie from the magazine Brides of North Texas. It begins publication in Feb. of 2010. It looks great, with good paper stock, excellent treatment of the photography, and the most exciting part (to me) is a large section devoted to weddings you would recognize!

What I mean is, the magazine will not necessarily feature the "high society" weddings - the movie stars or captains of industry and their daughters, the oil giants putting on 20 million dollar weddings. YOUR wedding can be in the magazine.

Of course, the editors are making sure they are dealing with decent photographers! That's why they are being selective. That lady who works in the office down the hall from you-the one who does weddings on the weekend with her Cannon Rebel-she's likely not going to be able to pass the professional photographers test with her photographs.

Here's the cool part. Your wedding (perhaps we did it recently - or maybe you've booked me already) can be in the magazine for peanuts! Get in on the ground floor while the magazine skyrockets! A one page article with several photographs is only $400 (you pay the magazine, not me! I'll provide the photographs at no charge.) A two-page spread is $700! Just imagine, not only having your wedding book on your coffee table, but a cool bridal magazine there too -with your wedding in it. Do you think you could resist having one issue? I bet Mom, your Mother-in-law, Grandmother, bridesmaids will get a copy too! Would Dad show it at work? Are you kidding? Of course. You know what I'll be shooting for? The cover. Who's going to shout loudest with the biggest smile if I can get the cover -you or me?! Hah! If I can get you on the cover, I'll buy ten copies!

Contact me for details, or directly to the magazine. Brides of North Texas

Portrait Sheryl Nelms

Considered by many unofficially, to be the most published writer in Texas, Sheryl Nelms is the definition of a prolific writer. She has more rejections through the years than most people have...well, I don't know. She probably wouldn't want me talking about that anyway! Writer, poet, teacher, does anyone need a more distinguished line of work that that? If you ever get a chance to attend one of her writing workshops, you will come away a better person. I had ten minutes to photographer her. I think I did pretty good! (I did have a good subject though!)

Here is a portrait shot I did of Martha and Jim in Weatherford. Great love between them! She teaches in one direction, he remakes restaurants in another. Together they meet back at the "ranch" on their hill overlooking the Texas prairie. Not a bad place to meet. Not a bad love to have either.

Portrait David Allan Evans

I spent the day with many friends and acquaintances and David Allan Evans. David is the poet laureate of South Dakota. He and his love Jan drove from the north to spend time with friends. We all brought a dish for lunch, and spent the morning with his words. Lunch went for nearly two hours! Good food, fun, and friends who can play guitar, piano and sing too! Then back to discussion of poetry and thought. I couldn't do it every day, but it sure was fun! By 4:30 or so, I was sitting off to the side listening, but playing with my camera!

I soon got a chance to do a portrait study on the author. Had a great day.