Destination Wedding Photography Dallas Wedding Photographer Jeremy Gilliam » My Life

Living it up in Chicago

Jeremy — Sat, 15 May 2010 00:45:59 +0000

In April I went to visit my Best Friends Forever, Nate and Lisa in Chicago. I can’t believe it’s already been a year and a half since they were married! We saw the sights, did some catching up and took photos in one of my favorite cities.

I made sure to get a famous Chicago Hot Dog in Millennium Park, and it was hilarious.

A lot of people pretend that they are too cool to be a tourist when visiting different places. I recommend taking some time doing cheesy things that only tourists do, there’s a reason tourists do them. We went on a deep dish pizza tour, learned about some Chicago history and met fun locals Mark and Lauren of Slice of Chicago Pizza Tours.

A mini photo shoot broke out in downtown Chicago. I love seeing my friends in love.

Published and Featured!

Jeremy — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 03:21:54 +0000

I love when wedding blogs feature my work, and seeing one of my images in print in a national publication blows my mind! I’m excited to show off my bouquet image printed in the Summer issue of Get Married Magazine. Check out page 45, a pretty pink and white bouquet from Joslyn and Bill’s wedding (that still needs to be blogged!), designed by Joy over at Stanford Designs. Get Married magazine has lots of great ideas, with fun features and images throughout.

Next up, Destination I Do Magazine featured Cathy and Dan’s wedding at Secrets Maroma Beach in Riviera Maya on their blog. You can check out their feature here Destination I Do’s magazine and blog are full of inspirational ideas for your Destination Wedding.

Haiti Earthquake Relief $200 Per Wedding

Jeremy — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 16:57:19 +0000

So often I find myself on the sidelines when it comes to helping others. I just figure someone else will do it. As I have been reading and viewing photos of the devastation in Haiti I am moved to get off the sidelines and do a little part to help. From now until the end of the year I will donate $200 to the American Red Cross towards relief efforts in Haiti for each wedding that I book.

How you can help, the Red Cross has set up a text message campaign to raise support, just text “Haiti” to 90999 to donate $10 towards their relief efforts. Wyclef Jean also has an earthquake relief fund that you may donate $5 to by texting “YELE” to 501501. Let us each give back and do our part to help.

Get your biz started right in 2010

Jeremy — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 22:42:23 +0000

A lot of aspiring photographers ask me for advice on getting started in the photography business. They see photographers traveling the world, partying, and getting paid to live their hobby. The obvious answer is to work hard on putting together a quality photography portfolio. But even if you take the most beautiful photos any human eye has ever seen, if you don’t have direction on how to market, sell, network, delegate, book keep, and provide customer service, your business won’t go very far. This is where I would direct you to the experts in small business. Here are two great opportunities coming up for aspiring photographers, photographers who need help, and non-photographers who want to get their business started on the right foot in 2010.

Stacy Reeves is a fantastic Dallas/Fort Worth area photographer who has her business figured out better than most people twice her age. She has put together a pricing guide that has become the pricing philosophy of hundreds of photographers across the country. Stacy has announced her first Mind Your Business workshop on January 24th with limited seating. This workshop will be invaluable in getting your business on the right track towards being profitable. Please visit her Mind Your Business workshop page to find out more and to register.

Sage Wedding Pros is a wonderful resource dedicated to helping wedding pros have smarter businesses. One of my preferred wedding planners Kelly Simants with Sweet Pea Events is a cofounder of Sage and will be a featured presenter at the upcoming national tour of The Simple Plan workshop. Kelly and the other speakers will help you create clearly defined goals and a strategy for your business, giving you a better chance at success. Please visit Sage Wedding Pros The Simple Plan workshop page to find out more and to register.

If you are contemplating starting a business or if you need help with the direction of your business I would highly recommend that you take advantage of one of these opportunities.

Ashley + Paul Daugherty Married

Jeremy — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 00:38:02 +0000

When I got the call from Ashley asking me to photograph her and Paul’s wedding I was both excited and nervous. I have known Paul since he was in elementary school and I was in middle school. I also graduated in the same class with Ashley’s sister. Not only that, but Paul’s parents, Pastors Billy Joe and Sharon Daugherty had been my pastors at Victory Christian Center for 13 years while I lived in Tulsa. And as a graduate of both Victory Christian School and Victory Bible Institute, their family has meant a lot to me.
The wedding was a particularly beautiful and emotional celebration for many reasons. Thousands of people who have watched Paul and Ashley grow up came to support them as they walked down the aisle together. Two weeks prior to the wedding Pastor Billy Joe was diagnosed with Lymphoma, however he was able to be there and perform the ceremony for his son. A little over a month later on November 22nd, Pastor Billy Joe passed away. It was an honor to know Pastor and to be a part of the final time he would address the congregation of Victory as a proud father marrying his son.
Those that know me, already know that I am a softie but I was fighting back tears of my own as the crowd erupted in applause as first Paul walked down the aisle with his mother Sharon, then stood clapping for Ashley as Paul saw her in her dress for the first time and finally as Pastor took the stage to perform the ceremony.
Ashley and Paul, congratulations and thank you for asking me to be a part of this wonderful day. I’m excited for your future together!

Location: Victory Christian Center
Floral and Event Design: Ceremonial Blessings
Big shoutout to Jared Rey for coming to Tulsa with me and doing a fantastic job with Paul and his guys and helping me tell the story.

After the wedding we wrapped up the day in downtown Tulsa to get some photos of Ashley and Paul together.

Holiday Family Portrait Mini-Sessions

Jeremy — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 21:03:59 +0000

October is family portrait month and time to get your Christmas and holiday greeting cards ready! To mark the occasion this year we are offering family mini-sessions in October for half the price of our normal family sessions. Mini-sessions will be approximately 30 minutes long and done on-location in Jeremy’s signature style. For a $200 session fee you will receive photographer time and talent as well as 5 high resolution images that may be used to print your holiday cards or to make prints and frame as gifts to family and friends.

There are limited spots available in the Dallas and Fort Worth area on select days in October, so please email studio@jeremygilliam.com or call 972-272-2780 today to reserve your session. This special will also be available in Tulsa, Oklahoma on Sunday October 18th. Hurry and make sure you get in on this opportunity!

Got a Cover!

Jeremy — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 00:15:10 +0000

I’ve been published on my first cover! Last years beautiful bride Amity is gracing the cover of the TexasWeddingMall.com North Texas Bride Magazine. Texas Wedding Mall is a cool site and magazine with lots of local wedding resources, you should definitely check them out.
Watch out Mike Colon, Grace Ormonde next? Ha.

My Little Brother Engaged!

Jeremy — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 04:26:38 +0000

As you can tell from the title, this is an exciting post for me. My brother Steven got engaged last year and will be getting married in a couple of weeks. It seems like just yesterday we were playing with GI Joes, Legos and Voltron. Actually it might have been yesterday, we still like toys. However, we stopped making fun of and beating up on each other a while ago. I am now happy to call him friend and I am looking forward to standing up with him as his best man. I’m also excited to welcome Kerrie into the family! Here are some casual engagement pictures we took in the Fall.

These two are straight Gangster!

PPA Fresh Blog Contest

Jeremy — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 18:59:21 +0000

I’m happy to be a blog in the running for Professional Photographer’s Fresh Blog contest. If you are so inclined, please vote for my blog. Then hang around a bit and check out some of the other blogs, a lot of great work on there. My image is on the front page in the forth row on the right, entry #228.

Happy New Year

Jeremy — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 01:07:22 +0000

A new year doesn’t really give us new opportunities or second chances, but it does give us a chance to reflect and make new goals that could potentially change everything. In that spirit, here are a few things that I am definitely looking forward to in 2009, and a few resolutions.

Things I’m looking forward to:
1. More dates with my fun and beautiful wife Sarah
2. Being a part of a lot of classy weddings in Texas and beyond
3. Meeting new people that will inspire and encourage me
4. The return of Lost and Battlestar Galactica (Yes, I’m a nerd)
5. Getting new sample albums and promo-packs that will blow your mind
6. Meeting new amazing photographers and developing closer relationships with those that follow my Twitter and blog

Resolutions:
1. Find a connection group through our church
2. ~~Keep~~ Start following our budget to pay off debt
3. Take more time for personal photography projects to inspire and and sharpen my mad skillz
4. Read more books. I spent part of Christmas break reading the first two books of the Twilight series. My brother in law says that it is Harry Potter for Girls, I’m secure in my masculinity so I’m ok with that. Taking that in consideration, I really want Bella to become a Vampire and live happily for eternity with Edward. I’m only on the 3rd book, so don’t ruin it for me!
5. Faster responses to all the emails.

2008 was a hard year for a lot of people, I am looking forward to 2009 and pray that God blesses you and we all have a great year!

Here’s to seeing a little Awesome everywhere you go.