if you’re very observant, you may notice something different about today’s blog entry. it’s only a little thing. but for eileen and me, it’s a big deal. any guesses? all right, here it is:  posted at 12 noon — on a weekday!

okay, so maybe that doesn’t exactly shock you. you’re probably thinking what? hasn’t this guy ever had to work through lunch before? kids are too soft nowadays! if that is your cynical opinion of me, i’m sorry to tell you that… well, actually come to think of it, you’re right. yes, now that you mention it, i am feeling quite peckish. better go make myself a sandwich. but don’t worry; through the miracle of the internets, i will be gone for what only seems a second (…)

(…) and we’re back. as i was saying, today’s blog is very special because i am writing it at 12 noon.. err, 1:45 in the afternoon — on a weekday! you may not understand why that is so unusual. but that is probably because you were unaware that, before this week, i was merely a part-time professional photographer. the other part of my time during the last three years has been spent as a high school teacher and then as full-time manager of my dad’s business, athens pool & spa (otherwise known as the “blume-bailey building and loan”).

but this week i finally made the big jump. i’m finally doing what i set out to do. i’m free! a full-time photographer free to eat bonbons, watch hulu, and post blog entries whenever the heck i want! sure, i’ve written blog entries while on the clock at other jobs, but today i can publish my work immediately — without fear of my boss knowing!! (well, technically my boss does know — but he doesn’t give a hoot. he’s me! in fact, my boss just gave me an assignment to look up the definition of a bonbon, and here it is.)

okay, so hopefully i’ve given you a taste of how excited eileen and i are about this new development. in reality, though, we have HUGE ideas about where to take blume photography in the future. and it’s not to a sunken seat on a crumb-covered couch. we’re already working harder than ever, not only to meet faster turnaround times for a ton of new clients, but also to extend the depth and breadth of our work as full-time creatives. we hope you’re as anxious as we are to see where our continuing research into the latest technologies and techniques will take our style. (never static. we wanna keep it fresh!) also, plan to hear a lot more from us here on the blog: from the busy wedding season already coming up to the personal projects we can’t wait to share with the world! and whether we’ve worked with you before or haven’t yet had the pleasure, there will be even more opportunities to meet up from now on. (like new family mini-sessions for Christmas!) are you a fellow photographer? well, then — and i’m really psyched about this — look out for personalized shoot shops and a photographer’s section on our web site just for you!

another area that is of the utmost importance to eileen and me — as products of two uncommonly generous families — is charity. at least 12 percent of blume photography’s earnings have always gone to charitable causes, but now we’re toying with ways to partner more with our clients and with you to get our hands dirty and make a difference together. feel free to comment or email us with ideas and charities that come to your mind!

the winds of change are a’blowin’. and i can think of no better way to kick it all off than with emily and ross’s engagement session. good lookin’ kids and a ton of fun. these two — along with emily’s amazing mother — represent the fourth set of clients to have us over for dinner. (now that’s a tradition i could get used to!) thanks for all your generosity and for the good time together, you two! can’t wait for your wedding!

these two are more than “ok” if you ask me… 😉

All images © 2010 Blume Photography. It’s unlawful to copy or reproduce our work in any form without our express written permission. It just ain’t right! Thanks for respecting us and our art. If in doubt about federal copyright law, please ask us. We’re happy to answer your questions.