New Orleans Wedding Anniversary for Michelle and Cam

November 9, 2016, 7:21 pm

≫ Next: Ellie's Pointe Shoe Photo Shoot

≪ Previous: CA Swim Los Angeles Photo Shoot

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Hey everybody!

Traveling is such a great way to learn more about new cultures and places, and New Orleans has SO much culture and is one of the coolest places I've photographed a wedding. Michelle and Cam's wedding and reception at the Tea Room in NOLA was absolutely stunning. An outdoor wedding at night is not common, but they lit it incredibly well and made it extraordinary! Happy Anniversary Michelle and Cam! I loved shooting these wedding portraits around New Orleans.





Talk to you soon,
Dale

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Ellie's Pointe Shoe Photo Shoot

November 10, 2016, 9:32 pm

≫ Next: My Portrait Shooting Philosophy

≪ Previous: New Orleans Wedding Anniversary for Michelle and Cam

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Hey everybody!

Ellie texted me the other day and asked if we could do a photo shoot; I didn't know what she had in mind, but was happy to oblige. I couldn't wait to see my darling and picked her up from school and asked what she wanted for the shoot. Here answer: pointe shoes. I'm so proud of how great of a dancer she is, and how hard she works. This year she is in pointe class, and Ellie thought these pics would be the best way to launch her dancer instagram account. Isn't she darling?





Talk to you soon,
Dale

My Portrait Shooting Philosophy

November 11, 2016, 10:49 am

≫ Next: California Fashion Christmas Shoot: Sneak Peek

≪ Previous: Ellie's Pointe Shoe Photo Shoot

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Hey everybody!

I haven't written about this in awhile, but I suppose it's time to revisit! Shooting portrait sessions (fashion, senior, engagement, etc) and weddings is such a fun challenge for me. I always set out with the following agenda, in this order:
1) create a fun experience for my subjects. I want them to have fun (I think that makes the best pictures anyway!). I strive to not make it seem like work for them, or for me.
2) create memorable images. Yes, this is #2, not 1. But of course it's important to find the best light, casually pose them to not look stiff, and set all my camera settings properly. I always look for moments first, and then composition second. And when possible, shoot sweet moments with breathtaking composition.

I love photographing people - and people in love. It's such a dream come true to be able to do this for a living, and I'm humbled that I have so many people who believe in me. Thank you!





Talk to you soon,
Dale

California Fashion Christmas Shoot: Sneak Peek

November 12, 2016, 6:39 am

≫ Next: Harris Fall Family Portraits

≪ Previous: My Portrait Shooting Philosophy

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Hey everybody!

I've got SUCH a COOL shoot for y'all coming up, and a special little bonus something-something! I can't spill just yet but I can share this teaser. We found a Christmas Tree Farm near Los Angeles to shoot at for Bonnie's fashion blog, and I'm obsessed with how the project looks. Here's a sneak peek!





Talk to you soon,
Dale

Harris Fall Family Portraits

November 13, 2016, 9:42 pm

≫ Next: Fall Wedding at Magnolia Garden - Happy Anniversary Jenny Kate and Eric

≪ Previous: California Fashion Christmas Shoot: Sneak Peek

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Hey everybody!

Two of my best friends wanted me to take fall family pictures for them. In Fayetteville, this is the best time of the year to have pictures taken with fall leaves; I feel so inspired to shoot right now, ya'll!
Megan and Blake are the sweetest and I loved getting to spend so much time with them (we netlix'd after the shoot - no lie!).  Aren't they precious?




Talk to you soon,
Dale

Fall Wedding at Magnolia Garden - Happy Anniversary Jenny Kate and Eric

November 14, 2016, 11:04 am

≫ Next: Katie and Ethan's Anniversary Portraits

≪ Previous: Harris Fall Family Portraits

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Hey everybody!

These leaves get me every single year. Absolutely my favorite season of the year in Fayetteville, the colors inspire me I get so giddy when I get to photograph a wedding in the midst of all this beauty. A year ago today, I had the honor to photograph Jenny Kate and Eric's wedding at Magnolia Garden in NWA. Oh, and bonus... Cece was the flower girl.





Talk to you soon,
Dale

Katie and Ethan's Anniversary Portraits

November 15, 2016, 9:20 pm

≫ Next: Dreamy Chenal Country Club Wedding Details

≪ Previous: Fall Wedding at Magnolia Garden - Happy Anniversary Jenny Kate and Eric

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Hey everybody!

At last year's Benny Awards Katie and Ethan won an anniversary session with me - so fun! Their anniversary happens to fall in the fall (how smart of them!) so the reached out to set it up during one of my Little Rock trips. We of course found some really gorgeous leaves to shoot with and the temperate weather was perfect to snuggle up and have some fun.





Talk to you soon,
Dale

Dreamy Chenal Country Club Wedding Details

November 16, 2016, 3:33 pm

≫ Next: Chenal Country Club Wedding Story of Kaylie and Brent

≪ Previous: Katie and Ethan's Anniversary Portraits

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Hey everybody!

I just photographed a DREAM wedding! Robbie at The Experience put together a masterpiece that dropped jaws for Kaylie and Brent's wedding at Chenal. Check out my detail shots below. So excited to share more from this wedding over the next couple days!





Talk to you soon,
Dale

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Chenal Country Club Wedding Story of Kaylie and Brent

November 17, 2016, 6:29 pm

≫ Next: Chenal Country Club Wedding Portraits

≪ Previous: Dreamy Chenal Country Club Wedding Details

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Hey everybody!

I can't get over this wedding. I'm seeing it in my dreams at this point. Haha!  Kaylie and Brent have so much style that it overflowed into every part of their wedding.  You've seen the details from yesterday's post, and today I'm sharing the sweet, sweet story with you.

Here's our darling bride, Kaylie, getting dressed by her bridesmaids...




This veil is KILLER.


Aren't they precious?  Oh, and look... they're all blondes. I know Kailey didn't choose her bridesmaids just to have the best looking photo, but it worked out that way!

This ceremony set up is one of my all time favorites!






And so was the head table at the reception - hanging flowers are such a statement!


A fun first dance


Kailey lived on the dance floor!


Four eyes are better than two.


The hanging cake table was another incredible statement piece of the reception at Chenal Country Club






Haha... go get it Brent.


Perfect getaway for this happy couple.




Talk to you soon,
Dale

Chenal Country Club Wedding Portraits

November 18, 2016, 7:16 pm

≫ Next: Fall Family Session for Alex and John Michael

≪ Previous: Chenal Country Club Wedding Story of Kaylie and Brent

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Hey everybody!

I'm finishing up this incredible wedding today with some killer portraits with some of that lovely Benny Backlight with Kaylie and Brent.  Chenal Country Club weddings are so fun and easy to shoot because it's already so beautiful.  Congratulations to K+B on their marriage. :)





Talk to you soon,
Dale

Fall Family Session for Alex and John Michael

November 19, 2016, 10:30 am

≫ Next: Happy Birthday 2nd Shooter and Brother!

≪ Previous: Chenal Country Club Wedding Portraits

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Hey everybody!

My precious couples keep having precious babies and I just love it! Alex and John Michael gave their doggie Dobby a little brother this year! I'm so excited for this favorite Benny couple. We just had a mini session recently and here are a few of my favorites...





Talk to you soon,
Dale

Happy Birthday 2nd Shooter and Brother!

November 20, 2016, 10:37 am

≫ Next: Mallory and Jake's Fall Family Portraits

≪ Previous: Fall Family Session for Alex and John Michael

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Hey everybody!

Today, my lifelong best friend turns 35: my brother, Steven. All our lives, Steven and I have been really close. I'm thankful he has turned out to be such a great man and a Godly leader of his family. He and his wife have been married more than ten years, and have 4 incredible children. There's no present I could give him that could come close to that, so instead I just give him gratitude and my prayers that the Lord continue to work in his life as He has done.

Steven isn't only my brother, he's also one of my 2nd shooters (go BENFIELD photography). Here's a  shot of him from last weekend at our wedding in El Dorado. Kinda looks like me with hair. Haha!

Talk to you soon,
Dale

Mallory and Jake's Fall Family Portraits

November 20, 2016, 10:30 pm

≫ Next: Tabrina's Fall Family Portraits

≪ Previous: Happy Birthday 2nd Shooter and Brother!

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Hey everybody!

It seems like I've been posting a new shoot every day here on the blog. What I love so much about that is that most of these are my loyal families who call on me year after year to get updated photographs. What.an.honor.

Today I'm sharing my session with Mallory and Jake, whose wedding I shot in Monroe, LA. They made the drive to El Dorado, AR, for me recently (I had a wedding there, that I'll share soon!) in hopes of another fun experience... which we definitely had! It's always fun and sweet to see these two!  I truly consider them friends - they've remained close to me ever since their wedding and I'm just so thrilled to have such admirable friends.  Haha, enough gush... let's look at pics.




Talk to you soon,
Dale

Tabrina's Fall Family Portraits

November 22, 2016, 4:46 pm

≫ Next: Rhodes Annual Fall Family Portraits

≪ Previous: Mallory and Jake's Fall Family Portraits

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Hey everybody!

lI'm really thankful for my families who call on me time and time again to photograph them. Tabrina is a friend from high school who has two amazing boys. I've photographed them in Dallas and now we're adding Fayetteville Fall family portraits to our list!  Just look at the color we were able to find. Obsessed.  Thank you, Tabrina, for being such a loyal friend (and cool mom)!

Talk to you soon,
Dale

Rhodes Annual Fall Family Portraits

November 23, 2016, 8:35 pm

≫ Next: 2016 Christmas Cards are LIVE: Plus a COUPON CODE

≪ Previous: Tabrina's Fall Family Portraits

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Hey everybody!

Well look who is back on the blog today: Jack and Caroline! The brother and sister duo has been on the blog more than any other duo I believe! This year we shot at a new location but still found some great light and amazing color in the fall leaves. I probably say this every year, but I can't believe how grown up both of them are!

Talk to you soon,
Dale

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2016 Christmas Cards are LIVE: Plus a COUPON CODE

November 24, 2016, 2:18 pm

≫ Next: Engagement Shoot Giveaway Winner

≪ Previous: Rhodes Annual Fall Family Portraits

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Hey everybody!

Happy Thanksgiving!  Each year, I become MORE and MORE thankful for clients and friends. This was definitely a transition year for me and I've done my best to remember that God has a plan for my life that is sometimes beyond my control. (okay... always beyond my control)

It's times like that when I truly appreciate you and your support! Thank you so much!

I'm launching my 2016 Christmas Cards today!  In your gallery, you can layout your card from the designs (make sure to check both "Christmas" and "Holiday" sections). You can do everything online, which helps you to make sure it's exactly like you want before you get it printed.  I'm setting up a black Friday code for you: dalesaysthanks for 20% off your order - that's off anything... not just Christmas cards... because printed pictures make wonderful presents!  That code expires Friday at 11:59pm so hop on into your gallery and check some stuff off your list!

I'll also be doing the foil Christmas cards again this year (sorry... the code doesn't apply to these), so I'm uploading the designs below. For these, just email me your quantity, which card design you want, what color foil, and which image from your gallery you want (you can do one on front and another on back if you wish). Try to email me by Sunday evening so I can get them ordered for you asap.

(click on the image to make it bigger and easier to read)

Again, thank you so much and I hope you have a blessed Thanksgiving!


Talk to you soon,
Dale

Engagement Shoot Giveaway Winner

November 25, 2016, 10:20 am

≫ Next: Los Angeles Christmas Fashion Shoot

≪ Previous: 2016 Christmas Cards are LIVE: Plus a COUPON CODE

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Hey everybody!

Recently I hosted an engagement shoot giveaway on my instagram (you should follow me - I wanna do another one because it was so much fun! instagram.com/dalebenfield)

This contest's winner is Melissa Lowry!  Congratulations you two! What a sweet moment!



Talk to you soon,
Dale

Los Angeles Christmas Fashion Shoot

November 25, 2016, 10:30 pm

≫ Next: LA Fashion Christmas Shoot Video

≪ Previous: Engagement Shoot Giveaway Winner

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Hey everybody!

I recently teamed up with Bonnie to shoot a fun fashionable Christmas shoot at a tree farm just outside Los Angeles.  Believe it or not, tree farms aren't so common in L.A. haha! I watched in amazement as she pieced together this outfit - she's got style and skills. We also worked on a fun video project that I think I'll be able to share soon!  In the meantime, check out the stills.







Talk to you soon,
Dale

LA Fashion Christmas Shoot Video

November 27, 2016, 11:41 am

≫ Next: Cyber Monday: 5 Minute Fix and SYK!

≪ Previous: Los Angeles Christmas Fashion Shoot

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Hey everybody!

While shooting stills of our Christmas tree fashion shoot recently, I also shot some video. I've been doing a few of these short video projects lately and have really enjoyed them. Thanks to Jeff at the Christmas Ranch Tree Farm outside Los Angeles for letting us come shoot!







Talk to you soon,
Dale

Cyber Monday: 5 Minute Fix and SYK!

November 27, 2016, 10:30 pm

≫ Next: Schleiff Fall Family Portraits

≪ Previous: LA Fashion Christmas Shoot Video

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Hey everybody!

It's CYBER MONDAY! Yay! Let's all not get any work done and instead buy things for our friends and family!

I'm selling a video presentation of my Shoot Your Kids Workshop - wanna know the price?  Whatever price you wanna put in! This video covers the composition and lighting tricks I use every day, and the camera settings presentation.  You'll finish watching and know what all those dials do on your camera and all my favorite tips to compose great images! The quality of the video is somewhat pixelated to make the download manageable, but the sound is good!
Get it here (makes a great gift!): gum.co/sykVid




Also,  this year, my book publisher PeachPit Press is doing a special on the 5 Minute Fix - my book that is for beginning, amateur, and pro photographers. I covers shooting, posing, marketing, and all sorts of other tips for photographers. Here's the info:

When: Nov 27-28 (Sun-Mon)

Offer: Save 55% on Digital Learning Products

Discount Code CM2016

peachpit.com/cybermonday

Talk to you soon,
Dale