Congratulations to Marissa and Vishesh whose contest entry we couldn’t resist!  Check out The New York Times “Love Story of the Year ” that they created to submit their contest entry.  I can’t wait for their Amelia Island, Florida wedding at the Ritz.  In fact, I love their story so much that we will also be shooting an engagement session this Spring in New York City.   It will be so fun to finally meet these two and since I lived in New York City for so many years, I’m thrilled to shoot their engagement pictures where it all began for them.  Their East meets West wedding will be an incredible visual feast.  I am so excited and amazed that I really did end up creating my dream assignment!  Giving IS Awesome!

So, it begins with the spirit of giving, and there’s an inspiring story behind it all.

Last year a Philadelphia children’s photographer named Kristen Kalp had an idea to host a contest for a free portrait session during one of her slow months.  After the giveaway was complete, she thought that maybe other photographers might want to get involved.  So, she created a blog post about her idea and essentially started a movement.  The concept was simple.  What if other photographers hosted some kind of charitable giveaway too.   It could be creating their dream assignment for a deserving couple or family.  This one fantastic idea was the birth of “Giving Is Awesome”.  Since then, people from across the globe have stepped up to donate their services.  It is a worldwide giving phenomenon.  Nearly $565,000 worth of services have been donated to date with that figure expected to double in 2010.

So what am I really getting at here?  We are giving away a destination wedding photography package!  We’ve created our dream assignment!  The number of Destination weddings has increased by 200% in the last ten years and the trend continues to grow.  We are looking for a deserving couple that really wants a destination wedding but perhaps cannot afford to pay for their own photography coverage, (a must).  Many resorts will sell a destination wedding package that includes a photographer to capture a couples’ vows,  but often they do just that and nothing else, and here you are in paradise.  Help, where’s Uncle Bob!  Oh and did I forget to mention that we are all about the details.  The candidates for this wedding should be planning on lots of special details that make their wedding unique and really speak about who they are.  The winner will receive full wedding day coverage by me, online proofing of the images that we capture,  a 12×12, 20 side custom album of photographers favorites as well as a DVD of edited high resolution images.  If possible, we will also shoot a day after session.   What’s all of this worth you ask?  Priceless.  So go ahead and send me an email, nominate your deserving friend or daughter.

The rules:

*We must have your wedding weekend available and it should take place sometime during 2010.

*The couple must have a financial need.  Perhaps they are experiencing some financial difficulties or some other extenuating circumstances but would cherish custom photography of their special day.

* The winner will be responsible for my travel expenses to their desired venue, hotel for 2-3 nights (depending on location), airport transfers or rental car if needed.

* To submit your wedding please email info@cynthiabrownweddings.com with your name, contact details, wedding date, venue, a photo of you and your fiance’, along with a detailed description of your wedding theme.  We’d love to hear anything that will give us a good feel for your wedding plans.  We are looking for your interesting stories and unique design ideas.   Candidates will be chosen based on need, creativity and attention to details by myself and a group of my peers.

*Contest deadline is January 10, 2010 and the winner will be announced on January 31, 2010.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!