I recently returned from my second trip to Charleston, S.C. And unlike the first time a few years ago, I got to experience the city and its surrounding areas more comprehensively like I did Atlanta and Boston recently. One tour guide said Charleston is at sea level and in some places under sea level, which is evident given the marshland between the harbor islands. While the intention was to go somewhere warmer in December, the weather was in the 40s, 50s and 60s with a combination of rain, clouds and sun.

Highlights I would highly recommend include Charleston’s historic downtown filled with restaurants, museums, art galleries and old homes; the Civil War-era Hunley submarine (photos were prohibited); Southern food (specifically crab bisque soup and fried green tomatoes); the South Carolina Aquarium; Folly Beach and Fort Sumter. One of the understated (and overwhelming) attractions is the USS Yorktown, a WWII-era aircraft carrier turned museum that includes an interactive display hall on the Congresssional Medal of Honor. A few tours I got to do and worth checking out are the Charleston Pirate Tour, the 127-acre Charleston Tea Plantation – the country’s only tea garden and purchased by Bigelow Tea in 2003 to prevent future real estate growth – and the Gullah Tours -  which highlights places, stories and history relevant to blacks in Charleston. (Gullah is a language spoken by the Lowcountry’s first black inhabitants).

Here’s a glimpse at some of it:

The beach was empty. No sunbathers, swimmers, or lifeguards. It was cold – pretty, but cold.

USS Yorktown is huge. I spent about 4-5 hours there, and didn’t even see the whole thing. So many materials, photos and aircraft on display. It’s an incredible piece of military history.

The highlight of the South Carolina Aquarium was its Sea Turtle Hospital (which is an additional fee but so worth it! Definitely check out this site!!). The hospital treats sea turtles found stranded who are injured and/or sick. Most are found in South Carolina,  but they’ve flown in turtles found as far north as Massachusetts. The loggerhead (bottom right) was one of the patients. I could’ve watched the turtles there all day and been forever happy. Luckily, the hospital is really good about updating information about all its patients online. (No HIPAA policy here!)

It seems like every church in downtown Charleston is on the National Register of Historic Places. You could easily spend a day or so just walking through its many shops, galleries and neighborhoods. But tours are always good to get some depth to the stuff you’re seeing around you.

Toni, a very deserving individual.

… and there’s more to this story than meets the eye and more than I’m willing to reveal.

For the second year, I decided to be part of a National Holiday Photo Giveaway called “Giving Is Awesome.” The criteria was simple – nominate someone (not yourself) who you feel is most deserving of a Custom Lifestyle Photo Package — someone who wouldn’t necessarily be able to afford something like this, someone who has struggled this past year and/or has gone above and beyond what’s expected of them.

All the nominations I received were very deserving of this gift. And because of that the decision this time around was harder than I expected. Yet, I can only choose one.

The nomination came from Janee, who will receive a $50 gift card from me. Toni – the recipient of GIA 2010 – will receive a photo package worth $400. Here’s a small excerpt of the nomination Janee submitted:

The past year has been tough for Toni.  She has worked hard to provide for her two sons … she has been the stability for both of the kids. Toni give(s) the kids time, love and spends her Sunday nights with them as “family night”… This year she got a new job… and works very hard there to do the best job she can…  I am proud of the continual positive spirit she shows no matter how down things seem.

It’s been a busy few weeks for all of us. So here’s a recap of what I’m doing this holiday:

Giving Is Awesome 2010  

Today is the deadline!! I’ve gotten very worthy nominations so far and you can be a part of it as well before it’s too late. Read more about this Holiday Giveaway here, but basically I’m seeking nominations of someone you think is deserving of a custom photography package. (You can’t nominate yourself) but email me their story at shuva@accentphotographics.com by the end of today, tell me why they deserve my artwork, and have contact info for them and you. The 2010 recipient will receive a $400 custom photo package, and the person who nominates the winner gets a $50 gift card. The winner will be announced this Tuesday, Dec. 22 on my blog.

Winter Solstice Gift Card Sale

Winter “starts” tomorrow, so from now through Thursday, take advantage of my Winter Solstice Gift Card Sale! Purchase $100 worth of gift cards and I will throw in a $25 gift card for FREE! Click here for details on how to purchase gift cards.

If you’re looking for some late-night fun, check out the VanDer “Grinch” Holiday Bash this evening at Modern Woodmen Park from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. This annual party is hosted by VanderGinst Law.

Tickets are $35 at the door, and all proceeds go to the HAVLife Foundation, which benefits music and athletic opportunities for children in our community! There will be hors d’oeuvres, wine, dancing and music, and I’ll be shooting tonight with photographers Teresa Ousley and Eric Haley. Click on the screen capture below for details on the event, and hope to see you there!

I told myself I wouldn’t blog as I’m on vacation now in South Carolina (returning Dec. 18). But this was too important to wait: A few weeks ago I posted a family session and made mention of the fact that doctors found a bone marrow donor for their 12-year-old son Sergio. I learned this morning that the donor’s procedure went as scheduled on Thursday, and Sergio had his transplant in Iowa City yesterday without fanfare. While it will take weeks to see the affects of the transplant Sergio’s family, I know, feels incredibly lucky and blessed as this emotional experience is one they can really truly understand and appreciate. I cannot relate, but I say this in light of a New York Times story I read recently on the vast difference of people who say they want to be donors and those who are selfless enough to go through the actual process of doing it. 

Sergio and his family don’t know the donor’s real name and refer to him as Angel. Please take a moment to keep Sergio and his family, Angel, as well as their incredible doctors in your thoughts as they both take on the next steps toward recovery.

Even though winter doesn’t “start” until Dec. 21, it’s here for many of us who are shoveling driveways and clearing our vehicles of chunks of ice. So to celebrate the people who plow our roads, give us food, and love us like crazy, I’m having a WINTER SOLSTICE GIFT CARD SALE! Starting today through Dec. 24, for anyone who purchases $100 in gift cards from Accent Photographics, I’ll toss in an extra $25 gift card for FREE!

These can be used toward creative fees, prints, canvases or digital files for family, newborn, maternity or child sessions. This is a great gift – plus these gift cards never expire – so you can use them next month or next year!

All you need to do is make a check out to Accent Photographics, (address: 2602 East 34th Street Ct., Davenport, IA 52807) and make sure it’s postmarked BEFORE Dec. 24. Once I receive your payment I’ll mail you your gift cards – wrapped in a box with ribbon! It’s that simple!

Thanks, and have a safe, warm week and a great holiday season!

Shuva

Yes, I probably should’ve posted this earlier, but if you’re out and about in Iowa City/Coralville/North Liberty/Cedar Rapids, I’ll be here:

I’ll have more info set up on Giving is Awesome and the Celebrate Your Child 2010 Photo Charity. I will also have gift cards available for anyone wanting to do something different for gifts be it surprise a new mom with a newborn session, a birthday, anniversary or any special occasion coming up!

Santa’s shop will be set up for the kids while the adults can come down to the gymnasium and shop with over 20 local vendors. Get all your holiday shopping done in one stop!

Besides myself some of the others there will be:

• Uppercase Living
• Premier Designs High Fashion Jewelry
• NuSkin/Pharmanex
• Simply Fun
• Tastefully Simple
• Scentsy
• Usborne Books
• Designer Bag outlet
• Creative Memories
• Janie Simmons Paper Crafts
• Carri Davis Designs
• Earth Home Candles
• The Pampered Chef
• Bagolitas
• Picture This Art Design
• Cookie Lee Jewelry
• Classy Glass
• Children’s Jewelry & Princess Ballerina Tutus

SEE YOU THERE!!

After months of emails and leaving messages for each other, Carley and I finally connected at her engagement session a few weeks ago with her fiance Rob. We were so happy to finally meet each other Carley greeted me with an energetic, beautiful smile and a big hug. I was in love with them already.

The couple lives in Florida and came to the QC shortly before Thanksgiving for a visit that included their engagement session. The two booked me earlier this year for their spring 2010 wedding. I was excited to spend a good chunk of time with them on a chilly Saturday morning on both sides of the river. We started in downtown Moline, and I’m glad they were up for pretty much anything.

As we moved onward to John Deere Pavilion, I learned some geographic contrasts: Carley had spent most of her life in the area, where Rob lived in more states than I could keep track of.

How they met was fate.

Carley moved to Florida and was working part-time in a store Rob’s family manages. On Rob’s birthday his family took him out to dinner near the store. As Carley says: They knew I was working that night so they had Rob bring me dessert from the restaurant so we could meet. A couple of weeks later, he called me and asked me out…and we’ve been together ever since!

Their first date was not your typical dinner-and-a-movie night. Instead Carley and Rob’s first date was what they consider the “never-ending first date.” It started at an Atlanta Braves pre-season game at Disney’s Wide World of Sports. After a couple of innings, Rob caught on fast that Carley was NOT a sports person. So they walked around the complex for a few hours walking, talking and laughing. After that, they headed to Epcot and walked “Around the World” (at the World Showcase) before ending up at a restaurant down the street from the store where they met. 

They love going to Disney, trying new restaurants and walking around their neighborhood. I knew they’d be up for anything when we left Moline, headed to the Iowa side for some shots by the river and I asked Rob to do something funky. (Sorry Rob, I just had to show off your Karate Kid move )

Finally we drove to a quintessential Quad Cities hangout. They ordered some ice cream from Whitey’s while we just sat, talked and enjoyed the moment. It was a great end to a wonderful morning with this adorable, fun couple – and I can’t wait for their beautiful wedding next year. 

MCP Actions has changed how I do things with my photography. It is an educational blog many photographers look to when they want to learn about editing, workflow, marketing, technique through online tutorials, classes and of course blog posts. The MCP blog – which gets about 3,000 visitors a day – is run by Jodi Friedman out of Detroit. So when Jodi put out an inquiry on Facebook looking for guest bloggers I jumped at the chance.

I decided to write about how photographers can partner with nonprofits in helping promote their work. It’s definitely helped me in ways I wouldn’t have expected. You can go here to read the entire post or click on the screen captures below. Thank you, Jodi for giving me an opportunity to contribute!

A couple weeks ago I had the opportunity to photograph the Go Red for Women luncheon held by the American Heart Association. The event, themed Kiss Heart Disease Goodbye, was at the QC Waterfront Center in Bettendorf and full of incredible goodies and info materials provided in Macy’s bags, information from Trinity hospital, and presentations about the importance of why women should be concerned about heart disease and what they can do before it’s too late. I was grateful to be included as one of the sponsors for the event, along with Palmer College of Chiropractic and numerous others.

Silent auction items and vendors ranged from jewelry to chiropractic care to children’s books to healthcare products to makeup to candles to bags and everything in between. 

I had a glimpse of the tables set up before the luncheon. Edible Arrangements had chocolate- and vanilla-covered strawberries as table centerpieces. A select number of women had framed quotes poignant to their lives and Mary Kay provided lipstick samples. 

I had a chance to attend the breakout sessions and was most impressed by Dr. Rafat Padaria (front-center), a local cardiologist who talked about the myths of heart disease. She underscored that heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women – not breast cancer (which she said ranks #7). Her lecture was eye-opening as she talked about how symptoms are often different for women than men. Padaria said she’s seen women come into the ER with heart problems even though they ate healthy foods and exercised regularly, and that it’s important to get thorough physicals from primary-car doctors that include blood pressure and cholesterol checks.

After the break-out sessions it was time for lunch and the presentations.

One of the highlights on stage was the hot, intense dance performance from cardiologist Dr. Paul and Bettinna Bolger. They danced as if there was no one watching and it sparked cheers and laughter from the crowd.

Kirby Winn (left) of the Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center served as Master of Ceremonies, and introduced a host of speakers ranging from a nurse who suffered from heart disease herself, to a woman who talked about how heart disease has killed generations of her family, to a healthy, active woman (speaking via a recording) who told the audience she received the same diagnosis about her heart from Mayo doctors as she did from local ones. Heart surgeon Dr. Alyas Chaudhry (center) gave a rather graphic, gross but informative talk showing how consistent fast-food consumption and regular smoking affects the organ. And finally, Group Services (right) presented a $2,500 check to the American Heart Association as a matching challenge.

For more information on heart disease including realizing your risk factors, Trinity’s materials included this online assessment from which you can learn more.