Those Sarah McLachlan commercials do it to me every time! Since I already have a dog and a cat, I really can’t take in any more animals. So, I decided to start and annual fundraising drive to raise money for the ASPCA!

For the next two months (until October 20th), 20% of all proceeds from pet portrait photography sessions will be donated to the charity. This includes, but is not limited to, proceeds from:

• Session fees
• Albums
• Prints
• DVD slideshows
• Canvas gallery wraps

You don’t have to schedule your session before October 20th, you just have to book it. Session fees start at $250 and include high resolution digital copies of all your photos, an online gallery, an online animated slideshow and 8 free wallet size prints! You will also receive a certificate noting that a portion of your proceeds are going to charity.

Now, not only will pictures of your pet brighten up your day, but they will also help the ASPCA to help other animals find loving homes. So visit Casey Fatchett Photography today and book your session and help us reach our goal of $1000!

With the economy showing signs of stabilizing if not improving, there’s no better time than now for couples looking to get a deal on a wedding vendor.  I have noticed an increasing number of brides and grooms waiting until the last minute to book their vendors. The reason for this seems to be that they think they will get a better deal if they wait, that prices will continue to drop or that wedding vendors will be so desperate for work that they will agree to whatever price the couple suggests. Whether your wedding is six months or two years from now, my suggestion is to book now! And here are reasons why:

1. Most vendors have already cut their prices.

In an effort to keep up, most wedding businesses have cut their prices or are offering specials so you are likely to be able to get a very good deal. But for how long? The reason vendors are able to give discounts is because some of their overhead costs (supplies, equipment, travel, etc.) have been reduced as well by the economic downturn. If prices go up, so does the cost of running the business and they will be less apt to give you a discount. So get the price set in writing in your contract now while they are willing and able to give it to you.

2. Spread out your payments

If you wait until just before your wedding to book your vendors, you are putting a significantly higher strain on yourself financially because you have to pay for everything in a short period of time. If you book further out you can spread out the payments. Talk to a potential vendor about a payment plan to make it easier. Perhaps ask if they would accept a lower deposit if you agreed to make more payments throughout the time before the wedding. It doesn’t hurt to ask.

3. If you wait, they may not be available.

So it’s a year before your wedding and you do your research and find a list of vendors you want to use. You contact all of them and they are all available for the date of your wedding. You go in to meet with them and narrow down your list but you decide to wait to see if you can get a better deal closer to the wedding. Three months out you start calling and no one is available – why? Because they have booked other weddings or maybe they just decided to go on a vacation because they didn’t have a wedding to work at. Hopefully you have several choices and maybe one of them will be available but do you really want to go with your second choice? I didn’t think so.

So get out there and get everything squared away now, before the hustle and bustle of the wedding is upon you. Take advantage of the current economic climate to get yourself a deal because there are many to be had out there. But get it now…and get it in writing!

Casey Fatchett Wedding Photography

I had the distinct pleasure of being able to attend the opening of Marilyn Manson’s gallery show “Trismegistus” at 101 Exhibit in Miami’s design district. The show features Manson’s paintings from the last eight years. The artist’s distinct (and humorously morbid) style are evident in every piece.

Marilyn Manson artwork at 101 Exhibit

"Trismegistus" by Marilyn Manson

A guest mimics Marilyn Manson's art

Marilyn Manson stands by his work

Marilyn Manson with one of his recent works of art

The show will remain at 101 Exhibit until February 2009

Beyonce Knowles and Jay-Z stopped by Art Basel Miami Beach, perhaps looking for some art to compliment their thirteen combined Grammy Awards.

Beyonce Knowles and Jay-Z at ABMB 2008

Jay-Z at ABMB 2008

Down at Art Positions, Federico Diaz created a stunning lounge area out of polystyrene and black rubber tubes to represent “vibrations and radio frequencies.” No surprise as Diaz’s collaborators are from Art Radio International and PS1 Contemporary Art Center in New York.

Art Positions Lounge by Frederico Diaz

And at night, it lights up!

Art Positions Lounge at Night

Yelle performed at the opening night party on the beach, energizing the crowd.

Turn out the light’s…the party’s over…

When the VIP’s arrive at an art fair, everyone takes notice. Art Basel Miami Beach 2008 was no exception. Amongst the luminaries were artist Takashi Murakami, Oscar winner Faye Dunaway, Emmy Award winner Armand Assante, Grammy Award winning singer Shakira, and a visitor from “far far away”…

Takashi Murakami at Art Basel Miami Beach

Oscar Winner Faye Dunaway speaks to the press

Emmy Winner Armand Assante

Grammy Award Winner Shakira

Grammy Award Winner Shakira

Grammy Award Winner Shakira

Jar Jar Binks

I told you he came from “far far away”…

Over at Art Photo Expo Miami, there was a Naomi Campbell “retrospective” featuring 50 works spanning Ms. Campbell’s career. Naomi herself was on hand along with Mayor of Miami Manny Diaz to cut the ribbon on the opening. Naomi was a tad late to her own show (two and a half hours) – rumor has it she was around the corner at photographer David la Chapelle’s party.

Naomi Campbell making her entrance

Naomi Campbell on the red carpet

Naomi Campbell talks to the press

Naomi Campbell on the red carpet again

Naomi Campbell and Miami Mayor Manny Diaz

Naomi Campbell and Miami Mayor Manny Diaz cutting the ribbon

Naomi Campbell and Miami Mayor Manny Diaz cutting the ribbon

I had the pleasure of going to Art Basel Miami Beach on assignment for The Art Newspaper last week. I will be posting a series of photos from my week at the Art Basel as well as the “satellite” art fairs in Miami. Come back and see the celebrities, the artwork, and much more.

To begin, the view from the second floor of the convention center – the “London House” sign appealed to me.

London House - Miami Beach

The sheer size of the fair itself is impressive. Here is a shot of the convention center floor on the day of set-up:

Setting up Art Basel Miami Beach

The sign says it all:

Art Asia

A few blocks from Art Basel, on the beach near the Sagamore Hotel, Swiss artist Olaf Breuning (with help from some locals) created a 150 ton sand sculpture of a “reclining woman”:

Olaf Breuning Sand Sculpture

Also nearby, amongst the tops of the palm trees, were Tadashi Kawamata’s “Tree Huts”

Tree Huts by Tadashi Kawamata

That is all for now. More photos to come soon!

So you’re a band and you want to make a music video to put online or even put on a DVD or CD – but you don’t really have the cash to produce a video. What do you do? How about setting your promotional photos or shots from a live show to your music?

Casey Fatchett Photography is offering music clients the option of creating a music video with their photos at no additional cost through the month of January. Simply provide us with an MP3 file of the song you want to use after the shoot and we will choose the photos and arrange the video. These are full length videos! You can post the video to your MySpace, Facebook, blog, website – whatever you want. Below you can find a sample using live show photos of the Black Spoons.