Happy New Year!!

So its been a few weeks since an update...

I hope everyone's Christmas was good and I'm sure you're all keeping busy! Thats not too hard this time of the year.

I always love when I can sit back and reflect on the year that is about to end and all the people I was fortunate enough to work with, all the places and things I experienced and above all everything good (and bad) that I learned about myself and everybody else that I talked to/worked with/met. I was extremely blessed this past year with an abundance of work and an abundance of new friends. I'd like to thank everyone that I did work with; it truly was a pleasure.

2008 is already looking very bright and I am very excited about all that it holds. I have quite a few seminars booked that I am excited to attend from some big names in the photo industry. I am constantly looking to improve myself and looking forward to these sessions. I'm also planning on incorporating new image slideshows right here on the blog so you can constantly view the latest work. Lots of new stuff coming!

You may notice the addition of the new portrait site that is now up. I've had a blast this past year with my portrait sessions and am looking forward to booking more for the new year.
So please take a look around the new portrait site and let me know what you think, if you like it and most importantly if you find any spelling errors!!

Thank you all...Have a safe and happy new year! Enjoy the holiday. God Bless.

holiday weekend...

I hope everyone had a great holiday this past week. It was a nice long weekend with crazy temperature swings!!

I had an outdoor portrait session on Friday. Below are some of my favorites. It was a little chilly outside but everyone did great and we had a nice time.

And for everyone that went shopping this weekend....I hope you all lived to tell about it. I went by a few stores like Best Buy and Circuit City with lines out the door. Crazy stuff. The things you do for a 36" flat screen T.V., or a portable DVD player, or a new computer or...well, you get the idea!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Happy Thanksgiving everybody!!

Enjoy the day...don't eat too much!!

Redbox...

So lately I've been fascinated with 'Redbox'. For those that don't know, this is the dvd rental machines that they have at places such as Stop & Shop, Shaw's, etc... It gets its name because its, well....a big Red Box.

Its the easiest way to rent a dvd ever and it only costs a buck! Just one dollar. Compare that with $4.50 for Tommy K's or Blockbuster! They hold hundreds of dvds; new releases and all. Plus its extremely convenient to grab a movie after picking up stuff to make dinner any night.

So the next time you see the big Red Box, check it out!

vacation images part 2....

Due to the prompting of my buddy Ben Chrisman, here are a few more pics from our vacation last week.
There's a few from Cayman and some of the hotel we stayed at in Florida.
Hope you like 'em.

Home Sweet Home...

We finally got back home from vacation this past week and are slowly trying to get acclimated back to the cold New England weather. The day we flew home was 83 degrees in Florida and when we stepped off the plane here, it was into 44 degrees of cold, wet New England weather. All in all though, its always nice to come home.

The day we flew down was raining pretty hard, and I always love flying in the rain because once you take off and pop above the clouds, the sun is shining and everything looks amazing. I took a lot of pictures of the clouds and below are some of my favorites.

The Caribbean was awesome; We started in Key West, then Grand Cayman, Cozumel and finally the Bahamas. It was nice to see my best friend Kyle who works, sings, eats and sleeps on the ship and has been for the past 9 months. There is a picture of us below in Key West.

Anyone that has ever been on a cruise before knows how good the food is. You can order as much as you want!!!! I ordered two dinners every night and one of each dessert as well. Talk about stuffed!!

I'll be returning emails/calls over the next few days. Good to be home. Talk to you all soon!!!!

vacation...

My wife and I are off to Florida and the Caribbean for the rest of this month and the first week of November to celebrate our first anniversary. I can easily say this has been the best year of my life; she is the most amazing woman ever and I couldn't be any happier or luckier.

Its been a crazy and busy summer and I'm looking forward to some beach time and relaxation. I am also stoked to see my best friend Kyle who has been on the cruise ship for the past 9 months acting/singing/performing. More like my brother, I can't wait to see him. Oh, the stories we could tell from our old 'band days'.

I'll be returning all calls/emails when we get back, and I'll be sure to post some images when we return.

Until then, be well and enjoy the Autumn air for me...

Breaking news on Tico Torres...

I met with Jimnah and Chet this afternoon to deliver a wedding DVD and go over post wedding stuff with them and had a great talk. Truly good people and I am delighted to know them and have been able to shoot their wedding. Looking forward to having them down for dinner in lovely old Wallingford soon.

An interesting update on the Tico Torres bit first reported on after Jimnah and Chet's wedding... It seems that the guy who I was referring to, does in fact seem to know and be friends/neighbors with Bon Jovi's drummer in Florida. I do apologize to 'Uncle Louie' for the razzing I sent his way two blog posts ago. But, come on I've heard bigger stories than that at a wedding, so one can only wonder!!

However, I do plan on bringing all 75 of those guests to his house for Thanksgiving whom he invited from the wedding. We'll be flying down on Southwest airlines (Chet's favorite) for turkey, stuffing and cranberry sauce. Hope Uncle Louie and Florida are ready for all of us!!!

On a more serious note though Uncle Louie...how about an autographed picture from Tico himself to prove the matter once and for all??!! What do you think??

'To Gregg at Oceanview Photography '
'From Tico Torres'

That would look great on my wall!!

But I think I need some help to convince Uncle Louie...So leave a comment on this post below and lets try to persuade him! I appreciate it!!

And Uncle Louie...I love you buddy!!!

Autumn...Finally!!

Today finally felt like autumn out, and I couldn't be happier. To me there is nothing better than throwing on a hoodie and heading outside into the autumn air. It's definitely my favorite season, although this year it will probably only last about three weeks before winter arrives. Unfortunately, it seems we only get two seasons in New England these days...Summer and Winter. Bugger!!

Continuing my reading kick, this weeks recommendation is 'Selling the Invisible' by Harry Beckwith. This book literally (okay thankfully not literally), blew my mind!! Sometimes the biggest things turn out to be the smallest and most subtle things you could imagine. I definitely enjoyed it.Cheers for now!!

Chet and Jimna...

The images below are from Jimna and Chet's wedding this weekend in Wolcott. My day started at the hotel with the girls getting ready, along with the FOB (father of the bride) who was a real blast. From there I had a train of cars following me to the Reception Hall. Nobody, including me, knew where they were going....thank God for the Tom Tom GPS navigational system. (Available for a cool $350 at your local electronics depot).

The weather was great all day and I had a great time. Their families were both awesome and I met a tremendous amount of amazing people (including one guy from Jersey who is best friends with Bon Jovi's drummer and invited half the wedding guests to join them in Jersey for Thanksgiving dinner. I think he had one too many 'drinks'... I wish I could see his face when 75 strangers show up for turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce!!!)
Good food, good music, good times. Enjoy...

New Blog Feature...

So I'll be starting something new here on the blog in the coming weeks...I'll be featuring a link to some of the other photographers in the industry that have had a great impact on me, my business and my work. Please take the time to check out their work and see where some of my influence comes from. I am extremely fortunate to be in an industry where everyone is constantly helping each other become better. It ties into one of the main themes, 'COMPASSION', from last weeks book recommendation 'Love is the Killer App'.

So without further ado....here is the first Oceanview Photography spotlight artist....

Ben Chrisman

I've known Ben for almost a year, and he has been a tremendous help to me in structuring my business and critiquing my work so that I am constanly improving. I thank him for that and for answering my million questions without hesitation. Truly a gifted artist and amazing person, go spend some time with Ben Chrisman.


Be well...

read a book...

I've been on a serious reading kick for a while, and just finished Tim Sander's 'Love is the Killer App.' It was a great read about building your knowledge and your network in business. Coupling these traits and treating your clients with Compassion is the book's main theme. It was quite refreshing to see someone like Tim taking the stand and proclaiming that love not money, makes the world go 'round.

If you're interested pick up a copy and give it a read, or pick up any book and give it a read. Reading is way underrated!!

I'll be meeting one of my favorite couples of '07 tomorrow for our final meeting before their wedding on the 29th. It's always great to see couples again after you haven't seen them in a few months since the intial meeting. Its great to see the relationship grow as you keep in touch over the months and I can't wait for this wedding. I'm totally stoked about it and can't wait to work with Chet and Jimna. It'll be a blast guys!!

Jets game tomorrow at 4:15. After last week's blowout to the Patriots, let's hope they at least show up for this game!!

Be well...

Recommendation of the week: Love is the Killer App by Tim Sanders

tagged...

I've been tagged!!
Michelle from Daydream Concepts has 'tagged' me in a game of blog tag that has recently been going around the photography scene.
Here are the rules...

1. List 8 random facts about yourself.
2. At the end of your post, choose (tag) someone else and list their name (linking to their page).
3. Leave them a comment on their blog letting them know they have been tagged.

Everybody ready?? Ok, here we go with the first one.

1. I spent 8 years playing guitar in a band. We played all over New England. A few highlights included playing at the world famous CBGB's in New York City, playing with Flickerstick, Switchfoot, Edwin McCain and Navar; playing at Mohegun Sun Casino in front of over 5,000 people (two weeks in a row); having Gene Wilder, Willy Wonka himself attend an acoustic show in Fairfield at the intimate Las Vetas Lounge; being featured on WFSB channel 3 news and numerous radio stations (99.1 wplr, kc101, 104.1, etc...).

2. I'm somewhat of a movie buff with over 200 dvd's.

3. I'm obsessed with clothing from Banana Republic. What a store!!!

4. I buy a new bottle of Visine eye drops every week. I can never make it through a week without losing a bottle, so I need to buy a new one each week. And yes I have tried them all!!

5. Cooking is one of my favorite things to do. I feel right at home in the kitchen with all four stove burners going, smoke everywhere and dishes piling up all over. I'm ready for Hell's Kitchen.

6. I'm a huge football fanatic. If you need me on a Sunday, I'm on the couch watching the game. Go Jets!

7. I enjoy playing the piano more than the guitar. I find it extremely relaxing.

And finally.....

8. I can change the oil in my truck in 9 minutes flat!! Let's see Pep Boys beat that!!!

So there it is.....I'm now tagging one of my hero's Ben Chrisman.....Whether or not he plays is up to him. Either way check out his stuff...his work will make you cry...or drool...or both.

I'm also tagging my buddy Matt from Picture Infinity.

Be well.

the secret is out...

Well kids, the secret is finally out....

I'm really starting to get some big support here....

Pretty cool huh??...go here and you can make your own.

new website is done and live!!!

After a long time of planning and editing, its finally complete. The new website is up! Please take some time, look around and enjoy the images and the music.

There will be some more stuff added soon....more music, videos and some other great links.

Enjoy and have fun...

weekend in boston; new website...

I spent this past weekend in Boston with my wife and our good friends Heather and Chuck. I had the privilege to attend a seminar on Friday put on by one of my favorite photographers....the world famous Jerry Ghionis; voted one of the top ten wedding photographers in the world. It was a great day and was awesome to be in the presence of such a genius. Jerry is totally in a league of his own and constantly was challenging us to be creative in our work and use light creatively as well.

Saturday we went to the zoo and saw some great stuff. Lions and tigers and bears....oh my... well we didn't really see bears, but we did see lions and tigers. Big ones!!
We grilled an insane amount of food, had some drinks and listened to Heather's plan of starting a wedding photography business with her LG camera cell phone. I think its 1.2 megapixels!! Great idea!!

Some images of the city are below.

And a quick website update...A few months ago the new site was scheduled to debut October 1st. However I have been working tirelessly on it and it will be ready to go within the next week and a half. I think you'll all really enjoy it and can't wait to share it with all of you. Stay tuned....

Marissa & Mark...

Here's a few images from Marissa and Mark's wedding. I had a great time working with them and their family. As you all know by now, I'm a huge fan of her Dad and am still looking forward to 'teeing off' on hole 16 with him and Mark. Hopefully soon; my golf swing is getting better every day.
Enjoy the images...Congratulations guys!

fireworks...

I thought I would post up some of the pictures that I took at the town fireworks show this year. We were sitting pretty much directly underneath the show and the explosions were LOUD! Which is fine if you ask me...the only way to see fireworks is close so you can feel the 'boom'.

Enjoy.
Be well.