Wishing You & Your Family...

Cans for Comments Food Drive

For every comment received on this post until midnight Monday, December 15th, Asim Soofi Photography will be donating one canned food item to our local Maryland Food Bank.

Several photographers across the country are participating in this awesome food drive for their local food banks and I'm happy to jump on the bandwagon to help some hungry families during this holiday season.

Help spread the word to your friends by SHARING ON FACEBOOK!

 
Happy Holidays! :)

Nikon D3x Has Arrived

Nikon's new 24.5 megapixel beast has arrived. Introducing the D3X. You can officially start drooling.

Check out some sample images here: 

http://chsvimg.nikon.com/products/imaging/lineup/d3/d3x-sp/en/

If you're a wedding/sport photographer, this may be overkill for now. The file size of any DSLR over 10-12 megapixel will impact your overall workflow due to the supporting hardware you need to efficiently get through thousands of images. Larger files translates into larger hard drives, longer processing, larger memory cards, and the list goes on. Something like the Nikon D3 or the Canon 1D Mark III is perfect for these uses. However, for all of you studio/portrait/nature shooters, this might be the dark side's ultimate new flagship for you.

MSRP is said to be around $7999...So who's going to be first on the block to pick one up? 

Donate Your Time & I'll Give You Mine

I walked outside my house this morning and was met with the freezing wind hitting my face and hands. It felt terrible as I wrapped my scarf around my neck tighter and bundled up in my coat. Another sign of the change in seasons. Although freezing cold, the best thing about this time of year is that everyone is so much happier while being around family and sharing holiday dinners.

Unfortunetly, there are so many that don't have a family to spend the holidays with, and worse, they don't even have a place to call home. Some will be spending this winter sleeping on the streets or if lucky, in a shelter. That is why I'm going to do my part to help by volunteering my time and hopefully get some of you to do the same. As an incentive, I'm rewarding some special gifts if you donate some of your time to help those less fortunate.

This is all you have to do:
1. Email a creative photo of yourself to info @ asimsoofi.com holding up a creative sign that reads "Turkey Volunteer 2008 with Asim Soofi!"

2. Take someone with you for atleast one volunteer shift at a local soup kitchen on Thanksgiving Day, or any day up to Christmas.

3. Take some photos of you and your friend volunteering with the same sign reading "Turkey Volunteer 2008 with Asim Soofi!" and send that to me as well.

Then you pick from one of the following for being such an awesome & giving person:
Choice 1: Lifestyle Session for individual or couple.
Choice 2: $500 gift credit towards product or service from asimsoofi.com.
Choice 3: Power Lunch to discuss photography, business, or anything else you want.
Choice 4: Power Shoot to pick my brain and learn about photography, tips, & tricks.

I'm going to limit this to the first 5 people to submit a photo of themselves holding up a creative sign saying "Turkey Volunteer 2008 with Asim Soofi!" If I get some extra responses that are EXTRA creative, I might consider upping the limit. For now, I will pick the 5 most creative submissions and post them on the blog...Yes, your face will be famous! :)

Find a local soup kitchen:
http://www.volunteermatch.org/

Extra things you can do:
-Take a child with you. Teach them the importance of community service.
-Organize a group of your friends or family members to go with you.
-Make it a family and friend tradition to do every year.

I'm really excited to do this and hope you guys enjoy the personal reward of giving back to your community. I also hope this leads to some of you to continue volunteering in an on-going basis afterwards.

Good luck and thanks for volunteering!

New Movie: Slumdog Millionaire

Some of you may not know Danny Boyle, but you may have heard of some of the movies he's directed. They include "28 Days Later," "Trainspotting," and the "The Beach" with Leonardo DiCaprio. The most appealing thing to me about his movies is the rawness and very distinct style of imagery that sets him apart.

He's made a new movie that was just released and has been getting rave reviews. Even 90% on RottenTomatoes! The consensus there is that movie is "visually dazzling and thematically conscious, Slumdog Millionaire is a story both entertaining and powerful." Some Bollywood fans will even notice a couple of familiar faces in it too.

I want to see it, but it's been released in limited areas for now. The closest place to me is about an hour away in Bethesda (Washington DC basically), so I might have to trek down. If you're in the DC area, definetly go check it out at Landmark Bethesda Row Cinema. Otherwise, you can find out where it's playing in your area by going to MovieTickets.com.

Check out the trailer in the meantime:

Blackberry Storm: Official Release Date & Price Leak

A little bird just told me some awesome inside info...

The Blackberry Storm from Verizon will be released November 21, 2008 for $199 after $50 rebate.



I love my Verizon service and this is just the all in one device I've been waiting for...It's on my wish list, so if someone feels like getting on my good side...HINT HINT! ;)

/asim

EDIT 12/1/08: I am not too sure about the Storm now. I went to check it out at the VZ storm and the demo version turned me off. A little slow on the rotation, and the screen click feature is like using a typewriter...my fingers were tired a bit from having to 'push' the screen. May need to get used to it...I know people are loving it. Still a great device, just not for me for right now. I read the Bold will be coming over to VZ in a couple of months. I'm back on the fence!

Here's a great review: 

http://www.phonescoop.com/articles/article.php?a=238

Headlines for the New President Elect

It's the most historic election in our country's history. No surprise the amount of headlines that would come out the next day...from all over the world.

So I asked around for anyone to send me a copy of the New York Times for November 5th. Today I got something very cool that came close.

Check out this link a friend sent me: http://obama2008.s3.amazonaws.com/headlines.html

November Is Here: Slow It Down

It's that time of year when things start to really pick up for the holidays. Everyone's mindset just changes and gets into the spirit of things. Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah...I've always loved this time of year. Everyone's in a great mood. However, it's also sometimes a lot of shuffling and goes by too quickly.

For this reason, I wanted to share something a little interesting many don't know about. In a small city called Kakegawa, near Tokyo, Japan, November was declared as "Slow Life Month" several years ago in order to promote a "comfortable lifestyle and relaxed state of mind."

Here's the slogan to describe their philosophy on slowing things down a bit. "...To achieve 'slow, relaxed and comfortable' lifestyles, and shift from a society of mass production and mass consumption, to a society that is not hectic and does cherish our possessions and things of the heart."

Check out the entire article on the Kakegawa City's information page. Very interesting read.

Happy November!

Blackberry Storm Is Coming

I was waiting for the Blackberry Bold to come out for Verizon, which is currently my awesome provider. Unfortunetly, the stars were not aligned. However, it turns out us Verizon subscribers will be getting an even hotter new device; the Storm. The official announcement just came out a couple of days ago.

Rumor has it that the Storm will launch 11/2/08. In the meantime, the kids at Crackberry.com have put up a hands on review. I can't wait to get my hands on it. Definetly on my wishlist!

Checkout the first video released showing some of the sweet features:

Wedding Goof Video

I'm so lucky I've never seen this happen at one my weddings!

Copyright Infringement & Orphan Works Act 2008

Copyright is one of the things that protects an artist's original work from being used without permission and compensation. It's always been a hot topic amongst consumers regarding music downloading, and it's no different for photographers and their original work.

The bill is called the Shawn Bentley Orphan Works Act of 2008. Its intention is to allow anyone to use someone else's work if they can not be located or contacted, making the piece of work an 'orphan.' Even though the bill supposedly had started with good intentions, there are far too many loop holes at this time that will give some people the power to manipulate and take advantage of the doors this bill opens. As the old saying goes, the devil is in the details. The way the current bill is written, any original work who's copyright holder can't be located could be used without the artist's permission.

With all the hoopla surrounding the $700 billion bailout and the campaign news, this little bill was quietly passed by the Senate, even with strong opposition from the photography and visual arts community. Unfortunetly, due to its lack of publicity, not enough people knew about it.

Now the bill has been moved to the House of Representatives for final vote and the National Press Photographers Association (NPPA), along with other organizations is calling on members of the visual arts community to write to their representative.

CALL TO ACTION: You can easily write your Representative by clicking here. This will take you to a prewritten email that you can simply submit to your local representative right online.

SNL Does It Again

In case you missed it, Tina Fey did it again. The opening SNL skit had her reprising her role as Sarah Palin.

Canon EOS 5D Mark II - Video

The first SLR camera I bought was over 15 years ago, which was a Canon Rebel. As much as I loved playing with that camera, developing film was never cheap. Many years later when I took the plunge into the new world of digital, my first DSLR was a Canon 20D, which was and still is a great camera. If you're looking for a great used camera at an amazing price, you can't go wrong with this one. I've since moved on to Canon's 30D, 40D, 5D, and the 1D Mark III. I even have a the infamous Nikon D3 to play with. Can you tell I love this 'photo' stuff? ;)

So, from film to digital, it was all still photography. Now, the photography market is somewhat merging with another technology. Would you believe that you can shoot an HD resolution movie with a DSLR? With the new Canon 5D Mark II, you can. Photographer Vincent LaForet got his hands on a demo version of this unreleased camera and got to play with it.

Combined with the already amazing image quality the current 5D delivers, this improved body with the new high resolution video feature is going to allow us photographers to get a bit more creative. To check out the movie Vincent made using the new 5D Mark II, visit the following link:
http://www.usa.canon.com/dlc/controller?act=GetArticleAct&articleID=2086

Just remember to give it a chance to load before playing it due to its size.

Interesting Videos

Very creative and funny. Must watch it: Political Musical Cartoon

What will they come up next? Singing Road

My Next Toy

I love unique wrist watches. A while back, the groom I was shooting was wearing a beautiful watch and I went in for a closer look. Turns out the watch was made by a very old Swiss watch company called Zenith. So I came back after the shoot and completely forgot to look it up. Today, I was online and came across Zenith's website and saw one of their most aggressive designs.

I believe I may have found the next watch I will be purchasing; the Zenith Defy Xtreme Tourbillon ZERO-G El Primero. Specifically made to maintain its accuracy in extreme gravity and is waterproof down to 1,000 feet (you never know, right?), covered with a blackened titanium body and comes with a titanium strap with Kevlar inserts, and 294 ultra-complicated parts.

Oh, and it's only $500,000 :)

Hard Hat Required

Seems like the site has been attracting vistors like moths to a flame. Awesome! Unfortunetly, with the amount of traffic comes congestion. Some of you have been kind enough to drop me a line to tell me they've had some loading issues. This means the site might need some TLC and possibly some reconstruction to make sure everyone has a smooth experience.

If you have any loading issues at all or notice anything unusual, please email me at info AT asimsoofi DOT com. I'm doing my best to make sure we get this fixed ASAP!

Hilarious

I haven't seen a funnier skit or impression in such a long time. Tina Fey did such an awesome job...I'm still laughing :)

How To Scoop Up a Domain

I came across a really cool article written by Mike Davidson about how to go about getting a domain name that might be expiring soon. Turns out, there are a few extra steps you have to take, but can be worth it if you're serious. If you have your eyes set on a particular domain name, you should definetly read this: http://www.mikeindustries.com/blog/archive/2005/03/how-to-snatch-an-expiring-domain

Virus + Malware + Trojans = Nightmare

This is one of those stories where it's not a matter of IF, but rather of WHEN.

For me, it happened yesterday. I work on two computers and have one laptop. One of my computers was hit by malicious software; viruses, malware, and trojans. Mind you, this was with a very good virus protection software from Avast that saved me some pain, but there was still damage. Here's how it went down and I hope this is a lesson for others.

Apparently, someone had taken one of my photos and posted it on another site. In order to protect my work, I have ways of finding out where, if any, on the internet my work is being used without my permission. Well, one particular photo was linked to a random site. I followed the link to a page where I saw not only my photo, but other works as well. It was all a mess really, and the page didn't make sense. Just as I was about to close the window, multiple windows began popping up (a real weakness in IE). My computer froze up and the mouse wouldn't respond. After a few seconds, a giant blue wallpaper had taken over my desktop with the message
'Your PC is infected with Spyware. Download virus softare...'

Of course, the wallpaper was a slap in the face by the malicious person who enjoys wreaking havoc on people's computers. Immediately as the windows began to pop up, my virus software Avast began to go off and warn me. Even then, it was too late. Over 300 files on my computer had been infected by about 7-10 different viruses, trojans, and malware. The nightmare was in full swing.

Rather then going into all the details and how much of a headache this is causing, I'd just like to remind you to make sure you have proper software on your computers to protect you. Make sure you back up all of your important files. Fortunetly for me, I have everything backed up to another computer as well other redundancies in place.

My problem was that I did not have a proper firewall configured on this one particular machine as I normally do. My virus software did its job (and is still doing it as I write this), but the lack of a strong firewall and even a more reliable browser would have helped.

Here are my findings and recommendations:
Virus Software - Avast Download Page - This one of the best ones I've come across, but I'm always on the lookout for new and improved. The great thing about Avast is that it's FREE for all you home users. A nice incentive to help protect your computer. Avast managed to isolate the 300 and some files and properly log and identify everything. I'm not going to knock on other virus programs out there, but some of the retail boxed ones just don't cut it like this does.

Firewall - ZoneAlarm - Hands down one of the most reliable ones...as long as you have it installed. Even though I use it on my other computers, I should have never removed it from the infected one. That's where I went wrong. Zone Alarm Firewall is completely free.

Web Browser - Opera - Many people haven't heard of this browser, but once you start using it, you will fall in love with it. Beautiful layout, much faster then other browser, easy to use, and it's one of the most secure ones you can use. It won't take you too long to get used to it. After the way IE just let that malicious site take over with pop ups, I'm giving Opera a try and I'm liking what I see so far. Try it out for yourself. It's also free.

This is not the first time I've been hit with a virus that I had to deal with, and it probably won't be the last. Trust me though. When you are hit with one, it's not for the faint of heart. You'll be pulling your hair out so protect yourself now. I know it will be at least a week before before my computer is back to normal.

Remember, it's not if it will happen, just a matter of when.

#1 on Yahoo!

If you have your own business online like I do, your search ranking is extremely important. There are many factors that are considered and now there are even professionals (SEO) that actually charge big money to provide you guidance in making sure your website gets ranked high. Unfortunetly, it's not something that can be easily done just by paying someone. Like I said there are many factors that contribute to how high you rank on any search engine. You can not pay for this as some may believe...Ranking is not the same as advertising. Ranking is all based on an algorithm and relevance.

Well, what got me to write about this is a phone call I just got a little while ago from one of my clients, and friend now, with some awesome news. She was on Yahoo.com and did a random search for "Pakistani Wedding Photography" on Yahoo... low and behold, my site came up #1 on Page 1!

For a site owner, this is the most awesome news you can possibly get! I couldn't believe it myself so I had try it out myself. I've been on page 1 for some time now under different search terms (Pakistani wedding photographer, etc), but this was the first time my site got kicked up all the way to #1 search result. I'm completely psyched about it and just wanted to share my happiness with everyone in hopes it inspires other dreamers.

For all those people that say 'be practical' and so on...Don't be afraid of following your dreams. Success has a funny way of overshadowing what some define as practicality. We all have a choice to set our own standards...low or high. For me, this is just one small milestone in a line of many. It might be a drop in the bucket for some....but hey...it's MY bucket and I'm happy.

If you have your own business and if there's anything you'd like to ask, drop me a line anytime. I'd love to answer any questions you might have.

Now, I've just got to move onto other mini goals. Have to keep on moving!

/asim

Models Casting Call

Experimental shoot requires a couple of guys and gals who have formal & unique wedding style clothing and like to look fabulous. This is going to be an informal shoot to try out a few new things and I'd like some people that appreciate stylized and kick@$$ photography. If you're already married, then you've already got the dress!

The clothing should be close to wedding style for both guys/gals. If you have something completely unique and different, I'll be happy to consider it. Right now, I'm going for a diverse look, so any ethnic or cultured dress will be considered. American wedding dresses are definetly welcome as well!

Some of the reqt's are that the shoot will be in the MD/DC/NoVa area and you have to bring your own clothing, makeup, etc. A make-up artist may or may not be available.

If you live out of town, like New York or something, you can always take the Megabus (Megabus.com) down to DC for under $20 roundtrip. Any other transportation is model's responsibility.

All participants will receive complimentary final images in digital format. If you are an aspiring model, you already know what this means for your portfolio.

Submit via email to info AT asimsoofi DOT com the following:
-Two recent snapshot pics - 1 Headshot & 1 Bodyshot
-Height
-Weight
-Eye Color
-Hair Color
-Clothing Type Available
-Any Experience, if applicable (not required!)

The shoot day will be planned once I have all models and checked everyone's availablility.

Remember! Experience is NOT required. You just have to be able to take good direction and have fun. Positive attitude and good vibes people!

/asim

Following Your Passion

Philippe Petit said in an interview, "I did something magnificent and mysterious, and I got a 'why' -and the beauty of it is that I don’t have a 'why.'"

This weekend, a movie about Mr. Petit called "Man on Wire" is opening in theaters. It's a documentary about a French high-wire artist who followed his own passion and pulled off one of the most amazing stunts across the World Trade Center towers. If you're looking for some inspiration, his daring story may just show you how one person can challenge the norm and do whatever it takes to achieve their dreams. (Reviews)

The satisfaction of doing what you love is the key to your very success. No amount of money will be satisfy you if your efforts are the dreams of others. In my culture, many kids are taught two words very early on: Doctor & Engineer. These are great professions, but unfortunately, not truly the passion of most. Some parents pass on this belief to their children with the notion that these are the only occupations that will give you comfort in life. There is nothing further from the truth.

I love photography with a passion. I love what I do. It's very difficult for someone to say that about their job. When you realize how much you can enjoy doing something day in and day out, you've found your niche.

People have heard me say this many times, but I'll say it again: No matter what you do in life, make sure there's magic in it.

If you haven't found it, keep looking and never give up. Don't follow someone else. Charter your own path. Focus on what you love with a passion, and give it everything you have without any regard to how someone else will judge you or question you. The dreamers are always judged, but the dreamers are also the ones remembered.

When Philippe Petit had finished his stunt, the dreamer was in fact arrested for his daring act. His charge: disturbing the peace. Sometimes you have to shake things up a bit to make your dream a reality.

To change the way the world is by using your own personal expression, is one of the most powerful forces unrealized by many.

Eating A Little Healther - Best Cereal & Apples

I walked into the Giant to pick up a prescription for my mother (knee surgery pain meds!) at 11:00 at night a few days ago. It was great, because the pharmacy is open 24 hours! So I'm told it's going to take about 30 minutes to fill so I decided to do some of my healthy eating food shopping I've been putting off.

Here's the background: I've been meaning to pick up some healthier foods and snacks to keep with me during the day. When I'm shooting a wedding, the amount of energy I need is ridiculous. Many don't know that you're on your feet with 20 lbs of equipment in your hands for over 10-12 hours at a time, running around, trying to get every important shot possible. Your body needs energy to keep going or you're just going to crash.

Aside from energy, I want to maintain a healthy diet. The reason to eat more throughout the day is that it keeps your metabolism burning at a higher rate throughout day. So my meals are breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, and then dinner. That's 5 times through out the entire day.

Many people try to lose weight or maintain their weight thinking they have to cut out food, but this is exactly the wrong thing to do. By not eating, or eating less, you starve your body, which tells it to shut down the calorie burning factory. No burning needed, so it sends some of the workers home. However, if you feed your body throughout the day, it is in a constant cycle of burning. Of course, if you feed it fatty & unhealthy foods, we all know what will happen next: bog down, fat storage, cholestral..the list goes on. So this doesn't mean you feed it Twinkies and chips.

I also wanted something higher in fiber to get all those cancer fighting benefits. So first, I wanted to try the healthiest cereal possible because I just don't have time to eat anything else in the mornings. It's the simplest to prepare. You'll even find a bowl sitting in my car because I take it with me! So, I googled and came across a list of high fiber cereals. One of them was for Kashi Go Lean (regular). If you get another version, like Kashi Crunch, you're eating more sugars and more calories. So I went over to the cereal aisle, compared other brands as well, and find out Kashi actually has 10 grams of fiber. That's 40% of your daily fiber requirement and more then many other cereals there. It also is very low in sugar with only 6 grams (I read you should stay under 10g).

I've been eating it every morning for a week, and it's pretty good. I never put sugar in my cereal...that's just gross. Cereals already have enough sugar IMO. I have to warn you, the taste is 'healthy.' If you're not used to eating whole grain cereal and you're coming from Pops or Cap'n Crunch sugary sweetness, this will be a 180 for you. For this type of cereal, I think it tastes pretty good and it's very healthy. I add some fresh strawberries if I have time to cut them, and away I go. Definetly try a box or let me know what others you've tried.

Also, while I was at Giant, I also picked up the healthiest apples you can eat. They are called Red Delicious. They have the highest amount of anti-oxidants of any apple. If you don't know, you need these bad boy antioxidants to fight free radicals, which are linked to heart disease and some cancers. I eat one of these in between meals as a snack. Other apples are health too, but this one tops out.

Just one last thing about all this fiber for the women out there: studies have shown there is a dramatic reduction of breast cancer with women who consume a higher fiber diet from fruit and cereal. (Source)

You can also read some more here: Link

Now I just have to try to actually make time for the gym again. I used to row for the UMBC crew team in college...God, I miss that! Need to start doing that again somehow if I can find the time.

The Good Old Days

As a photographer, you're either following the trends, setting the trends, or just not getting it. Sometimes you look back and see how things were and think,"Boy, have we come a long way." From styles, fashion, and what it meant to be hip, check these album covers out to see a time almost forgotten. You may know someone who may even have these hiding in a dark basement.

Contest ::: Making Things Right For One Deserving Couple Photo Shoot

THE CONTEST:
If you or someone you know deserves to have a kick-butt professional photo session because they couldn't afford a lavish or high end wedding photography at their wedding, didn't love their photos, or they are just someone who deserves something nice, then that couple should be entered. You can help to give back with a fabulous & awesome opportunity!

:: ANY AGE :: ANY MARRIED COUPLE :: PARENTS :: FRIENDS :: NEIGHBORS ::

All Submissions Must Include:
1) A picture of the couple
2) Both names, address, phone, email and age
3) Story of how the couple met and bio.
4) Why you think the couple should be chosen for the giveaway
5) Unique fact about the couple
6) All entries must be sent to info AT asimsoofi DOT com with CONTEST in the subject line.

THE WHY:
I've been very lucky to meet some awesome couples and have the privilege to shoot their wedding. It’s been a real blessing. Sometimes though, I meet someone that’s already married and we get to talking about their wedding, and I hear things like this:
"My wedding photos make me want to cry."
"We just couldn't afford it. My parents felt inviting more guests was more important than the photos."
"Our photographer posed us like we were stuck in a bad 80's movie.
"I wish I had known about you."

I’m humbled by the last one, but most of it just sucks because it’s just plain sad to hear someone have to talk about their memories like that. After hearing thing like this, I've decided I will be giving away one completely FREE lifestyle session for one deserving married couple to help make up for what they missed at the first go. Read on for the crazy details. This is one of my ways of giving back for my blessings and sharing some culture & art at the same time.

THE SHOOT:
The shoot will take place in MD, DC, or N.VA. If the couple is outside of this area, they can fly in or I can fly out. The couple can wear anything they want. Casual with jeans and tops, or even their wedding outfits and have some fun with it and bring back the memories. The session will take place outdoors: a favorite place, city streets, the woods, anywhere outside! DO NOT expect this to be a boring pose session with cheesy smiles. ONLY the couple; No aunts, cousins, or visiting relatives overstaying at your house. This is ALL for them!

THE WINNING COUPLE
The winning couple will be determined by their inspiring essay and votes by all visitors to The Asim Soofi blog. (http://asimsoofi.blogspot.com)

THE SELECTION PROCESS:
1) The deadline for submissions is August 17, 2008.
2) Based on number of entries, every worthy story will be posted for comment feedback. These comments will also help me select the top ten finalists.
3) Maximum of ten (10) finalists, or less, will be selected and their stories posted on the blog by August 18, 2008.
4) Voting will begin as soon posting occurs and will end August 31, 2008.
5) Winning couple will be announced September 1, 2008 on the blog.

THE GRAND PRIZE:
The winning couple will receive a personal photo shoot, all of their final photos in high resolution files on a keepsake disc, print credit, and a secret special surprise.

THE RULES:
1) Love and appreciation for the photography of Asim Soofi.
2) Willing to share submission story and couple's photo on AsimSoofi.com and/or The Asim Soofi Blog.
3) Session date must be a date that Asim is available.
4) Willing to fund travel fees if the session is outside the immediate MD, DC, NOVA area.
5) Accepting of the terms and conditions of Asim Soofi Photography contract.
6) Couple must be willing to have fun, laugh, goof off, and possibly feed me kabobs (just kidding...food not required but highly encouraged).

Remember to submit all entries to info AT asimsoofi DOT com

Leave a comment, questions, or any suggestions if you like.

The Economics of Love

I used to really dig my economics classes in college. The logic and theory behind it can be applicable in so many aspects of your life; not just as a business owner or investor. It's not completely boring! On the other hand, there is this thing called love. A topic that been a favorite discussion of mine to share with folks with some good chai. The ritual of falling in it, living it, and sadly, falling out of it. Everyone goes through it.

Well, what happens when you approach love with some economics? You get a very interesting article written by the infamous Ben Stein. So if you're in the neighborhood of love, looking for it, in it, out of it, whatever...Take a few minutes to check out this cool short article in the New York Times about some simple and valuable lessons in love. Economically speaking :)

$1.50 - Cheesecake Factory Celebrates 30th Anniversary

I love desserts & good food. If you're like me and need an excuse to go to your local Cheesecake Factory tonight, they're giving away slices of any cheesecake you desire for only $1.50. Pretty sweet.

The only catch is you have to dine-in. I think I might be in the mood for some Bang Bang Chicken & Shrimp:)

Washington Post Article Says Destination Weddings Save Money

I just read an article in the Washington Post that I wanted to share about how couples are saving money in these economic times, while making the most of their celebration on the big day.

You may remember my earlier post about destination weddings where I mentioned you can definetly save more money by going away. It's awesome to see Cecilia Kang's article support this by mentioning how more couples are still doing something very memorable and saving some money at the same time. The writer gives an example on how one couple saved "$10,000 compared with a reception for hundreds of family members and friends at home" by going to the Bahamas.

To help couples out, even I give an extra 15% off to all of my destination wedding clients. It works out great for everyone! Some photographers offer incentives like this, so make sure you ask.

My Niece & The Dora Addiction

This is my niece Feriyaal. She has been frozen like this for atleast 60 minutes now. She is visiting and there's one thing she is absolutely can't get enough of...And that's Dora the Explorer. Thanks to On Demand on comcast, we are on the third repeat of the same episode tonight. Her record is 6 of the same episode in one sitting.

I could recite the Dora theme if someone asked me to!

How does she request a showing you ask? "Asim mamoooooo...Do-Waah...Asim mamooo...Do-Waaah!" 'Mamoo' means uncle in Urdu. She then kisses my cheek (that's the bribe) and walks her tiny self, lays down, and waits. She's something else.

Broken Laptop Screen Replacement

Almost everyday, I get asked random questions about everything by someone; life, love, shoes, wedding stuff, places to eat, cars, cameras, paper or plastic, etc. Pretty awesome to be the go-to question guru. Its cool though because I love helping out if I can. Anyway, thought I'd share the latest question today. I may just start posting these random questions...Watch out now!

A friend broke her laptop screen and asked me if I could suggest a good place to get it fixed or help her find a deal on a new one (I'm a deal master btw). First off, a good laptop will set you back atleast $900 or more. I suggested she fix it herself since it's quite easy. I pointed her towards Screen Tek Inc, who specialize in Laptop LCD Screens. They even provide detailed instructions on how to replace your laptop LCD screen. Screens range from $295 for HP replacements to other popular models, such as the Apple MacBook Pro amongst us photographers, for around $425. When you're talking about replacing a $1900 laptop just because of a screen, this is great workaround. You can also find out the model of your particular screen and do a search on eBay to see if you can get it cheaper as well. Either way, you save money and you'll save yourself the headache of having to transfer all of your data from one machine to the new one.

Blackberry Bold PreOrder

I'm waiting to checkout the Verizon version, but it seems for all of you AT&T and T-Mobile folks, you can pick up one up on preorder. If you can't wait, you'll have to shell out about $700 bucks to be the first kid on the block. The price is high because this is an unlocked phone and not subsidized by a carrier yet. When they arrive to your local stores, they will have cost a lot less since the phone company helps pay the difference. You can preorder at Mobile City. They state that the phone will be released August 14th.

Oh, and I found my lost phone :)

Where's My Phone

I can't believe this. I've lost my phone. I don't know where it is. My life....is over. Geez. Talk about being dependant on staying connected! I am lost.

I've put my hands in my pockets more then 3 times either thinking I heard it ring or I need to make a call. I do have to mention that when I do have my phone, sometimes I know its about to ring 3 seconds BEFORE it actually rings. Some kind of weird radiation must be sending me signals. I feel my muscle twitch or something. Weird.

I hope I just left it in the car or dropped it behind my bed. Wait a minute...this is a great excuse for a new phone idinit?! Hmmm...

Dark Knight and Off

The Dark Knight! Finally an evening OFF after such a long time. Now just waiting outside for my brother and nephew. Have a great weekend!

FOLLOW UP: Great movie and worth checking it out in the theater or better yet, IMAX. Check here if you have an IMAX near you that's showing The Dark Knight. The Joker (Heath Ledger) is a great performance on it's own.

Rough Couple of Days

I've been a pretty bad couple of days this week. I got up Tuesday morning and felt n a sharp pain in my lower back. Next thing you know I'm stuck at home in bed. Even sitting was painful. After some good old Aleve every 6 hours for 2 days, I finally got out of the house. I even got a chance to go see my mom in the hospital, which I felt terrible about because she's been there by herself. She did have a steady stream of visitors though, but I'm still her favorite ;) j/k. My brother Abid, who's probably the nicest guy you'll ever meet in your life, has been staying with her every single night. He goes to school during the day, then goes straight to the hospital and just studies there as well (and he's still gets 100's on his tests!). Kudos to him and probably deserves the favorite son award.

Awesome News: Mommies & Babies Weekend

I hope everyone had a great weekend! I've been bombarded with performing magical post processing wizardry work, but I've been getting nothing but great news all weekend as well. (For all my brides, your pics are coming! Keep an eye on your emails.).

First, Nicole & Kyle, one of the sweetest and coolest couples who's wedding I had the pleasure to shoot, had their first baby over the weekend. Sloane was born July 18th 2008 at 12:58pm. She was 7 lbs, 3.5 oz and 19 1/4 inches long. Beautiful news for this happy couple. I loved their wedding because they had it in a ultra cool mansion with a live band and the most fun friends & family. Nicole is a talented artist who has her very own creative stationary business, the House of Hazelnut. She personally makes some awesome stationary & invitations for all kinds of events. Make sure you check out her website!

Now we just have to schedule a baby session because I promised Nicole I would. I'm so looking forward to the baby session because I'm a sucker for babies! In the meantime, here's a picture they sent me.



The great news doesn't stop there. My dearest mom just got out of surgery for her knee replacement. Luckily, the surgery went very well and she's recuperating. She sounded so weak on the phone and I can't wait to see her. I'm going to the hospital in just a bit. I thought I'd pick up some flowers on the way, but somehow my brother Abid read my mind. He texts me, "No flowers. Bring food." Apparently the hospital food really sucks.

So great news all around. Hope you all had a fantastic weekend as well. See ya!

Blackberry or iPhone

In my search for a wireless device that can do email, phone, web browsing, tether and occasionally give me a massage after a long shoot, I’ve decided I’m going to be taking the plunge and buying a brick to keep in my pocket. I've never been a fan of having something bulkier then my good old flip phone in my pocket, but with the amount of time I've been on the road to shoot weddings out of town, it's becoming a necessity.

So I've narrowed it down to two new devices: BlackBerry 9000 Series and iPhone 3G.

Many of my friends have the iPhone and they really like it. What's not to like? It's well designed and it puts hair on bald men. The last part hasn’t been proven yet though. It definitely has the cool factor with the easy finger gliding and smooth screen transitions. For me though, there's been a love/hate relationship with this feature packed and well marketed product. One of the shortcomings for me is that it does not tether, at least legally. Tethering is when you can use a phone device to act as a wireless modem to connect your laptop to get online. There are hacks to do this with the iPhone, but you risk getting penalized by AT&T when they see the spike of data traffic on your line. Also, the battery and speed are going to be compromised since the iPhone is not currently designed to support the tethering feature.

I really like the web browser and it’s the closest thing to a native desktop. However, Flash support would be nice. There’s many sites out there that are done in Flash, including mine and I’m sure the powers that be are looking into supporting this widely accepted web format. Regardless, lack of Flash support is not huge points lost. The browser is very easy to read and view with the different zoom in/out options with a few gentle swipes of the fingers. Visual Voicemail is also cool and makes things easier to jump to any message of your choice.

Many nice features all due to a great user interface. However, here are two things that are steering me away from the 3G iPhone: No Cut & Paste and bad battery performance.
I don't know about you, but many use cut & paste feature everyday without realizing how convenient it can be. I'm disappointed that the new 2.0 version still does not support this important feature.

The biggest issue though is the battery life. After reading many reviews and talking to users, some people claim that they are lucky if the battery isn't dead by the end of the day. One of my friends uses email, music, web browsing, a few calls, and his 3G iPhone is dead by 5 or 6 PM. He has a workaround though. He carries the wall charger in his pocket at all times. He said that when he gets in the car, he plugs it right into the car charger. I’d love to hear from anyone who didn’t have to charge their iPhone so much after normal, every day use.

InformationWeek reported that the 3G iPhone is actually worse than the original iPhone battery. Even then, Apple does have some recommendations for improving battery performance on the iPhone by turning off certain features. Unfortunately, this seems a bit counterproductive if you're afraid to use features you bought the phone for because you may not have enough juice, such as turning off 3G. Breaks my heart a bit, but I'm crossing my fingers to see if Apple addresses these issues on an otherwise great product.

On the other sideline is the new the BlackBerry Bold by RIM. It will be released in a couple of months, but there are lot of excited crackberries that are frothing at the mouth to get one. It tethers, emails, web, music, videos, 3G, iTunes syncing, turn-by-turn directions, built in Facebook and Flickr support, and it may be able to leap tall buildings. Here are a list of complete BlackBerry Bold features. Many of these features are similar to the iPhone, with a few extras.

Before, the BlackBerry wasn't exactly the most beautiful of gems to take home to mom; it seemed too bulky and the buttons a bit tiny and strange. I also couldn't get with the whole interface; it didn't seem too user friendly to me, but I kept hearing friends tell me they love theirs after getting used to it. With the Bold, RIM has gotten a much needed facelift, listening to the market and taking a page from the design team of the iPhone.

Even though the Blackberry Bold hasn't been released to the public yet, there's a guy over at CrackBerry that managed to buy one on eBay and do his own little review of it. Definitely worth reading if you're in the same boat as me or just curious to see it.

I'm going to have to wait just for a bit longer to see how the BlackBerry Bold holds up. It looks rather promising and their devices have a good performance history, especially when it comes to the battery life. If it doesn't impress me like it has so far, you will see me with an iPhone in one hand and a charger in the other :)

Keep in mind, according to early rumors the Bold is planned for AT&T only. Boy Genius Report is claiming September 2008 release for Verizon. If they don't release the Bold for Verizon, there will be a similar model to the Bold called the Niagra which will be released in May 2009. Also, there is a new model called the Thunder due out in September 2008, which is BlackBerry's touchscreen answer to the iPhone.

If you'd like to read some more, here's a review of the BlackBerry and the iPhone.

We sure do live in interesting times with all these nice toys.

MacBook Pro Screen Goes Bonkers

The weirdest thing happened to my MacBook Pro. The screen went 'color snow' on me. Luckily, I had to do a hard reset to restart, and all was back to normal. Really strange because it's the first time it ever happened. If you know what it is, definetly drop me a line.

Just Say "Yes!" to E-Sessions

First, what are they? Engagement Sessions are a couple's only shoot that usually takes place at a location that either has a special meaning to the engaged couple or just happens to be a fabulous location for the style or theme your going for. These usually take place a few months or weeks before the wedding.

Why are they important? Simply because you can't have as much fun with your photographer on the day of the wedding without getting your clothes dirty. At the E-Session, you and your photog can get as creative and crazy as you want. It's completely private and get a chance to cut loose, and your photographer gets a chance to really show you guys off having a ball with each other.

Personally, the most important reason for me is that these sessions give everyone a chance to build a relationship with each other. The photographer with the couple, and the couple with the photographer...AND the camera. Most people aren't comfortable in front of a camera, and this makes for a great introduction. Also, this is the time to talk about different ideas you might have and bounce them off with your photographer. Plus, your photog will also know what works best for both of you, the angles, what makes you laugh...everything important that will help him or her on the big day.

When everyone involved 'clicks' (pun totally intended!) and the ice is broken, everyone is more relaxed and begins to have fun. This is when the photos take a turn for the better and your photog captures it all. Every e-session gives us photographers and the couple a comfort zone that otherwise we wouldn't have. Then when it comes to the wedding, when we see other, it's like seeing a friend.

It's like, "Heyyy! Asim! You're here! Let's have fun!" rather then..."Oh, hey, you're Mr. Photographer? Okay, wow, your camera is huge...okay, what do I do?"

You get the idea, but here are some pointers I tell my couples before their e-session:
-Dress fabulous, yet casual; jeans are always perfect with nice solid tops.
-Take a couple of extra shirts to try different looks.
-Dress in layers to give some depth.
-Make sure both of your styles don't clash, but definetly should be fun.
-Don't show too much skin. Full-sleeves are good. Focus should be on both of your smiles and the eyes, not on the legs or arms.
-Big No-No on T-shirts, unless worn as a layer underneath.
-Schedule the shoot within four weeks of your wedding. You want to look the same in both sets of pictures.
-Keep the make-up simple as possible. You want to look as natural as possible because people are beautiful just the way they are.

Most imporant...Think of it as the second-date with your fiance...Laugh, smile, joke, hold hands, hug, blush, tease...and I promise you'll love the photos.

So if your photographer offers this service, and many do, don't pass up on it. You won't regret it because the photos are worth it.

If you have any questions or would like to share your experience at an e-session as the couple or the photographer, please drop me a comment anytime.

Best wishes!

/asim

Destination Weddings Are Hot!

It's one of the latest and greatest trends that has picked up speed and spread like hot fire. As a photographer, it's the most thrilling opportunity to do what you love and on top of it, to do it in the most gorgeous and exotic locations. I'm talking about Destination Weddings!

The traditional thing to do was to rent the most beautiful hall you could find and book months or even a year before someone else booked it. Arrange all the caterers, the flowers, and get all the guests into town. Now, things have taken a turn and for the better. Here's why...Who doesn't love a vacation? Beautiful beach, warm climates, white sands...I know I do!

Many couples do think it may be more expensive, however, it may actually be less. With fewer guests and sometimes everyone paying for their own way, you can come out ahead. You can even tell the guests to fore go the gifts and that you want them to just be there for to share in your happiness. Brides even skip the most expensive dress and select a more simple yet elegant option since it will such a loose and relaxed atmosphere. Many couples are realizing all these benefits and passing on the conventional thing to do.

For this reason, I always get excited when my clients are considering a destination wedding. So much so, I even give a great discount because I'd be crazy to pass up on an awesome location and a mini-vacation. Think of the Caribbean islands and other nearby exotic hot spots --- Bahamas, Bermuda, Virgin Islands, Mexico ...the list is endless! Everybody gets to go somewhere completely different and they are not only part of one of the most important days of your life, but all of you will be sharing an experience that years from now will be priceless...And you'll have awesome photos to prove it!

So before you book the same hall that everyone in town has been going to for decades now, do something a little crazy and make it a little more memorable. You never know...Everyone might end up thanking you for the best wedding ever.

Recommendations:
If you'd like find trip deals for a destination wedding, a honeymoon, or just a getaway, I highly recommend Cheap Caribbean. I've used them myself and these guys have some of the best deals you'll find anywhere online.

Also, don't forget to use Trip Advisor in conjunction to research real reviews about all the hotels and locations.

Best wishes in your planning!

/asim

Gas, Consumption, Conservation

I wanted to just say something about the current gas prices crunch and share my approach to the so called problem. I'm a big supporter of reducing our consumption of gas, and I loathe wasting our resources in general, so I'm always trying to figure out a way to reduce my impact. Here's some ideas to help save money and lower our consumption for the all the good people out there trying to do the same. There aren't too many alternatives right now, so we have to work with what we've got.

1. Start Slow & Lose the Lead - This plays such a huge impact. How fast you accelerate really eats up more gas. It's basic physics. The larger the mass, the more energy is required to move and maintain it's speed/velocity/etc. Here's a basic rule of thumb I like to use. When starting from a complete stop, keep your foot on the pedal (throttle) at a set pressure. Meaning, push down just a bit and hold it there. I'm getting an extra 50-60 miles per tank. This translates to 2-3 gallons for some cars, which is $4.00/gallon x 2 = $8.00/savings per fill up. I fill up weekly, so that means $8.00 x 52 = $416 yearly I'm paying less for gas, but most importantly...I'm consuming less.

2. Drive the Speed Limit - How much faster can you realistically get somewhere by driving faster? You might save a few minutes if you're lucky and don't get a speeding ticket. I have done so many long distance trips, and I set my cruise whenever possible. This is one of the best tools in your car to help conserve even more and so many people don't use it. I set my speed at 55-60mph, and my car (Honda Accord EX 4-Cyclinder) has hit 35 MPG! Normal city and day to day driving has gotten me 29-31 MPG. This is all due to going the speed limit, combined with conservative acceleration. Those extra miles start to add up when you fill up every week and you're getting more miles for your money! Another plus I don't get speeding tickets.

3. Don't Use A Drive-Thru - Everytime you go to get a quick bite or stop at the bank for a quick deposit, you're car is idling. When you're sitting there for 3-4 minutes waiting, you're burning up energy. Multiply that by how many sit at a drive-thru everyday! All that gas just going up in smoke. Another plus is I don't make it a point to stop by fast food. But if you want some guilty pleasure, just park the car and stroll in. If you find yourself having to stop somewhere for more then 2 minutes, you could just shut the engine off.

4. Thursday 5-Cents Off Gas Sales & Lines - This is a huge pet peeve of mine. Every Thursday I drive by this one gas station and every Thursday, there's this huge line of cars that spill out to the main road waiting to get gas. All to save 5 cents a gallon. It takes about 5 minutes to fill up each car. You have, say, about 6 cars in front of you. That's a 15-20 minute wait. The worst part is that the cars that are waiting are actually standing there with their engines running, windows closed and the AC running. That's 15-20 minutes of 10-13 cars just idling to save 5 cents. If you do the math, they not only burned up their savings, but are actually wasting gas and money to save money. Simply an oxymoron. Also, if you think about it, most of us fill up about 15 gallons every week. If I were to do what these people are doing, I'm wasting 20 minutes of time and gas to save 75 cents! If I was a huge SUV requiring say about 30 gallons, that's a whole $1.50.

5. Combine Errands - This is another simple one. Make a list of things you have to do and do it on one trip out. From the dry cleaners to the groceries. For example, I know so many people that don't make grocery lists. When you get home, you forget you needed something, and there you are going to make another trip to the store. Combining errands and having a to do list will help you get everything done, conserve time and energy, and sane!

6. Shop Online - I do this not only because I can find awesome deals (Slickdeals, Fatwallet) on what I want, I don't have to drive around all day to get what I need. With the way gas prices are, it's cheaper to pay for shipping & handling anyway. And the convenience is great! Here's the math I figured: If a hundred people in a delivery area shop online, one UPS truck delivers all 100 things. If you break down the costs of to operate one truck, that's less consumption in my book. If it's feasible for you, I know some grocery chains are offering delivery as well. Again, a nominal fee compared to gas. Here's a few: Peapod, Safeway, and even Amazon! If you do live in walking distance of one, I would recommend a farmer's market though. Always try to support these local guys whenever possible.

7. Carpool - This is the oldest trick in the book, but hey, it works!

8. Maintain Your Car - From proper air pressure to keeping up with routine maintenance. If your car has to work harder, it'll be less effecient.

These are just some of the things I though we all could do to help conserve, but if you have any more, definetly share them by leaving a comment. I would love to hear them! All of us have to do our part and collectively make a difference.

Mini-Shot Out
A nice friend of mine and fellow local photographer Armin Defiesta has been on my case about getting a blog started, so I have to just say that I was thinking of him constantly pushing me and asking me what my major issue was, when I hit PUBLISH for the blog. So I have to give him a shout out.

Mini Biography

Good morning! So I was laying in bed last night, trying to go to sleep after shooting out a bunch of emails to clients and thinking about what to blog next...and I thought why not a little about myself. A proper introduction.

Here's the lowdown on me (if you don't know already!) My name is Asim Soofi and I am a professional photographer / IT professional / jack of all trades living in Baltimore, MD. I was originally born in Pakistan many many years ago...I'm at the point where I don't mention my age unless I'm bribed or it's my passport renewal application. Okay...fine...My birthdate is December 30, 1976. Interesting fact is one of my cousins was born 1 day after me...in the same house no less. And I was actually born at home...old school! Midwife and all.

My dad originally had gone off to Norway and had been there for a few years. He came back to Pakistan, married my lovely mother, had my older sister Ayesha, and then convinced my mother Norway was going to be kick-butt so they packed up and moved. Turns out it was a tad colder then the Pakistani climate my dear mother was used to. Then there was good news...mom was pregnant with yours truly. So a few months before I was to make my official arrival, she came back to Pakistan to have me. After a few months, we went back to Norway for a few more years, welcome my younger brother Abid. Then came back to Pakistan again! However, after a short while there, we made our final destination the U.S. We arrived to the states in June 1983 to my aunt's home in Triadelphia, West Virginia.

Fast forward to recent years. After moving from WV to California, PA, (yes, there's a town called California in PA --- one hour from Pittsburgh), then moving to Queens, NY (the last brother sibling Aamir was born here), my parents made the final decision to buy their first home in Fort Washington, Maryland. Fast forward again a few years, we arrived in Baltimore, MD in 1989. It's been home ever since.

I later graduated from University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) with a B.S. in IT. I've been into photography for over 15 years now, but decided to pursue it professionally about 3 years back. It's been awesome ride ever since and I'm catching up on lost time.

I shoot primarily Indian weddings, Pakistani weddings, and American weddings. I'm looking forward to other cultural ceremonies as well, such as Chinese weddings and other cool and different ceremonies. Each one is unique in its own way and it's always a great way to learn about other cultures and how they do things. That's one of the things I love about shooting weddings in general. You get to meet such diverse people and share so many experiences with them in one of the most important days of their life. Pretty awesome IMO.

I've met some great couples and have had the best of times. It does get very hectic and stressful at times, but the end results make it worthwhile.

Hope you enjoyed my little history. Let me know if you'd like to know anything else about me.

/asim

The First Blog!

Wow. This is it. My very own blog and my first post. After so many times of being asked "Where's your blog?", here it is. It took longer then I promised and I hope I can keep up with it as much as possible. I'll be sharing all kinds of crazy thoughts and of course, photos! I like to keep the main site clean and simple, but hopefully this blog will let me go a little crazy.

Please bare with me as I learn the wild and wacky world of blogging. I promise to make it as enriching and entertaining as possible for all of you...my friends and all of my awesome clients!

So feel free to give me any advice...cause I'm going to need it!