When people ask me about our studio, I tell them we photograph mostly babies and brides. Although we do all kinds of photography, babies and brides make of the bulk of our customers. We do get to do a few commercial photo shoots now and then, and we have our fair share of "headshots" for business people. See the gallery
But, like most photos enthusiasts, I love make landscape or other art photos. The gallery featured here are a few photos from some of our travels that I am thinking about printing for an upcoming art show. I hope you enjoy them.
Congratulations Brooke and Wes
June 11, 2008
You guys had a beautiful wedding and Brooke, you were a gorgeous bride. Wes, you weren't bad either. We had a great time. Looking forward to seeing you soon.
Wedding Memories
June 12, 2008
Today is a very special day in the life of Butch and Joy Oglesby, wedding photographers. Thirty-eight years ago today we attended the most important wedding of our lives - ours. I can't believe we're getting so old. At one of the last weddings Joy made a few photos that caught me in action. My first thought when I was reviewing her images was, "Who is the old guy with the camera?" Then I realized it was me.
I wouldn't change much about the last 38 years, it's been great (most of the time). We now have two wonderful adult children with three absolutely wonderful grandchildren. (See the Our Kids section of our client photos page.)
Our wedding day, June 12, 1970. This may be the last time I appeared in public without some form of facial hair.
But, back to our wedding. Yesterday, I decided to take a look at the photos of that day. It was painful! The year was 1970, I was 19 years old, yes, only 19 and Joy was only 18. And no, we are not first cousins. I was really skinny, wore big dark plastic rimmed glasses and sported, what could best be called, my version of a surfer hair style. Lots of people have had lots of laughs at my expense because of these photos. But, they are now part of our family history. Some day we'll sit down with Sadie, Hallie and Charlie and let them laugh at their old grandpa.
This is why I am so passionate about couples not scrimping when it comes to the wedding photos. It's not just a sales slogan when we say that your photos are the most important purchase of your wedding day. The photos, besides your marriage, are the only things you, or your heirs, will cherish decades after the day has passed. Most people consider their family photos to be among their most important possessions. When was the last time you heard someone say that if I could only save one thing if my house were engulfed in flames that she would run in and grab the wedding dress, or the dried bouquet? It's always the photos at the top of the list because they represent your history.
We laugh at our wedding photos, all 42 of them, each posed in the "line 'em and shoot 'em style, but we are so happy we have them.
If you've never been to Mt Laurel, you owe it to yourself to drive over here and check it out. (Get directions) Lots of people are confused about just where and what Mt Laurel is. The Town of Mt Laurel is not really a town, rather it's a community that sits sort of between Hoover and Chelsea (Alabama). Our mailing address is officially listed as Birmingham.
At Mt Laurel you will find a beautiful community of homes where the town slogan is "Leave the Trees". The houses are all nestled in the woods, the "town" has brick sidewalks and great parks. There is also a small shopping district - that's where we are. Visit the town website.
Recently, one of our neighbor businesses, with a very similar name, hosted a street luau in front of their business. Misty of The Blue Room Salonspa threw a super party with delicious food, music, a beach for the kids and even fire dancers.
Thanks, Misty, for treating the community to such a good time!
My daughter recently attended an estate sale and came across in interesting find. It is an old photo, probably from about 1910 of a group of street car workers in Birmingham. Knowing my love of photography and interest in history she bought it for me for the great sum of $1.00. She said she thought I could have fun restoring it.
The only clue to the photo's origin is a simple stamp on the back with the studio's name - Oscar V. Hunt, Birmingham, Alabama. By Googling Oscar V. Hunt, I found out that he is considered to be Birmingham's first commercial photographer an is credited with making the first aerial photo of the city. He documented the city during the early days of the twentieth century and is a local icon. Not a bad find for a dollar.
Click the image for larger views
This just reinforces the importance of photography in our lives. This photo has lasted nearly a century, I am sure every person in it has long passed a way, but there continues to be a story in each face.
I can't believe we're getting so old. At one of the last weddings Joy made a few photos that caught me in action. My first thought when I was reviewing her images was, "Who is the old guy with the camera?" Then I realized it was me.
