Davis- Holtz Wedding

This past weekend we spent the day with Veronica and Mike. Veronica is a meteorologist with NOAA and Mike is in the US Air Force, what a pair! We had a great day. I started at the downtown Hyatt documenting the ladies getting ready for the day with hair and make up. The ladies made Veronica feel right at home and there were absolutely no pre-wedding jitters! Everything went according to plan! The bridesmaids wore dark purple gowns while Veronica chose a stunning strapless Maggie Soterro with a mermaid fit and the perfect amount of embellishments and lace. Everyone looked awesome which matched the groomsmen's uniforms, all of which were in the Air Force with Mike.

After separate photo sessions with photographer Tim Davis, the couple headed to the ballroom for the ceremony. Family and friends came to town from all over the US to witness their vows and it was a full house with about 150 guests in attendance. The grooms Uncle presided over the ceremony and was a very personal touch. Two special readings were included in the ceremony, one of which I especially enjoyed from Dr. Seuss. I love this couple!

Without any hesitation, the vows were exchanged and the couple was soon announced as husband and wife with the groomsmen leaving ahead of the couple. They re-entered the ballroom as the Honor Guard with swords raised above the couple as they left. Of course, they had to be trapped for the traditional kiss and swatting of the bride's backside with a sword as they left!

A cocktail hour followed while the wedding party braved the heat and humidity for photos and then entered the reception hall with one of the best wedding party intros I've seen in some time. As the Black Eyed Peas "I've got a Feelin" played in the background, each couple came in dancing of course followed by the lucky couple. They all finished the song dancing wildly on the dance floor to start the party!

All the usual traditions followed, first dance, parents dances, cutting of cake, toasts, and of course boquet and garter toss. It was one heck of a party, one I cannot compare to in quite some time- everyone was having the time of their lives.

The couple will be spending their honeymoon in Hawaii, you lucky dogs! :) We wish them every happiness in their new life in Texas, you both are the best and we enjoyed spending the day with you and getting to know you immensely! Thank you for having us!

Check out all the fun everyone had below- I told ya they were a cool couple! :) (And thanks to Tim Davis for letting us poke a little fun at the "Paparazzi", too!

In Memory of our Fallen Firefighters...

Several weeks ago I was asked if we could film the 8th Annual Kansas Fallen Firefighters Memorial on South Braodway at the Kansas Fire Museum. It came as a two-part request; Fire Photographer Craig Hacker and the Sedgwick County Fire Chief, whom Barry and I both know through our many years of EMS work. I was available for the shoot and asked our friend Deanna to help out yet again, which she happily agreed to and did a great job! The Memorial consists of a gorgeous slate wall engraved with the names of those killed in the line of duty across the state throughout the years amidst a park like setting. The statue "Final Call" overlooks the reflection area and fountains dance in the background during warmer summer months. It's a very fitting memorial situated immediately next to the Kansas Firefighters Museum. The ceremony started with a processional of bagpipers and honor guard from across the state, guest speakers, the placing of a memorial wreath at the wall, and the reading of the names of the fallen firefighters with the ringing of bells. As each name was read, an empty antique fire bucket was filled one by one with a red rose honoring the firefighter. Family was later encouraged to take a rose in rememberance of their loved one. The video below is the Highlight of the memorial service.

New Prequel Online & Other Announcements!

Hi everyone, just a note to say the newest prequel is finally online! Shanda & Peter had a wonderful day several weeks ago and we think the prequel just screams how classic and beautiful the day was. Their first dance song was used with splashes of old film and black and white, hope you enjoy it, scroll down to the Walker-Carney Post to view it!

Also, the edit for the Greensburg Graduation is almost complete! The credits are being compiled now and the DVD's will be shipped early next week for pick up at USD 422 for the students, faculty and staff, and for all others who placed orders. We will post a portion of the video online here soon so check back. Special thanks to David Lightner for footage of Marine One circling Greensburg overhead! The bruises to my knees have finally disappeared and I think my thighs are back to normal! Check out the post below to catch up on adventures in Greensburg with President Bush.

This coming week is proving to be extremely busy with several consultations for upcoming weddings, putting the finishing touches on the studio, and helping our friends here with a promotional video for their new workshops, Keepnitfresh.com. The featured photographer this workshop is Mike Colon from Newport Beach, California. We will be tagging along to get footage for a promotional piece to be featured on the FCP blog and the T&J Studios Blog. Also, check back soon for the online studio tour prior to the much anticipated OPEN HOUSE- DATE TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON! So amidst wedding deliveries, new weddings and other projects, we will be looking forward to a weekend getaway at the Lake in June!

Till next time bloggerheads....

Congratulations Greensburg Class of 2008!

Our congratulations to the Greensburg High School Class of 2008!

Fat Cat Productions was absolutely honored to be back to help the students celebrate yesterday! We first were introduced to the town of Greensburg not through our production business but by responding to the aftermath of the F5 tornado 1 year ago. I had trained my Australian Shepherd, Clarice, for 6 years prior to respond to disasters and search for missing people. When we drove into town it was a little bit different than other tornado damage I had searched in years prior with another search dog, it was like everyone said on the news and worse: the town was pretty much gone.

A gut wrenching eerie feeling came over me while we searched, climbing and walking all over people's belongings who were ordered to evacuate out of their homes. Rici came back a second day to search with a fellow teammate while I flew to the West Coast for a film class.

About a month after the tornado we were contacted by our area Disc Jockey Association, the ADJA, and Ron Brown, asking if we were available to come and film the High School Graduation for the '07 graduates. They weren't about to let the tornado rob them of the day they had looked so forward to for 4 years. So many people came together from Greensburg and surrounding communities to make the day special for them. Even though the graduation ceremony was held under a tent, they made the best of it and were honored with a commencement speech by the Lt. Governor and Senator Pat Roberts; addressing each student personally. Rumors were running about the President coming to speak but he was unable to attend.

After living in the local and national spotlight for a year with multiple media outlets covering their every move on the Green rebuilding process, last years Juniors, now the Class of '08, were once again in the spotlight for Graduation actually on the 1-year Anniversary of the F5 tornado. Only this year, they had a very special guest- The 43rd President of the United States, George W. Bush.

Fat Cat was asked for the second year to film the Graduation procedings and very honored to do so with such a special guest in attendance for the graduates! I was excited, nervous, and humbled to be granted special access to a "buffer zone" near the Presidential podium at which the students and the President spoke. I shared floor space with national and local press getting some incredible angles for the students DVD's! Crouching low with about 15 other people on our hands and knees and shooting handheld for an hour and a half, making my hand go completely numb a few times trying to hold a steady shot, I ache more than any 12-hour long wedding day! But I couldn't quit, for the students. No pain, no gain :)

The Secret Service and White House Staff were very gracious and accomodating in helping us however they could. It was a very educational experience to say the least in setting up and gaining proper clearances, etc. and I learned alot. It was also quite exciting to be about 10 feet from the President of the United States and a special priviledge I won't soon forget. I'm sure not near as exciting as it was for the students who shared his stage, spoke from his podium, met him, shook his hand and received their much deserved diplomas from him personally. What an incredible day for them they will never forget!

Congratulations Class of 2008 and best of luck to you where ever your dreams may take you!

Enjoy the photos until we can post video later of the event here in the blog when the DVD is complete so check back soon! The photo to the left is actual footage from Fat Cat and my "shot" of the President. Yes, I actually was that close! By the way, Secret Service doesn't like it when you use the word "shot" around the President :)

The other photos are Clarice searching the tornado debris last year, me with one of the White House Staff with my pin and of course at the top, the Commander-in-Chief, President Bush.

Another Welcome Home!

It was another fun day at Mid-Continent Airport! As some of you know, the Engagement Proposal that is posted in our online Gallery of a Marine to his girlfriend is my sister Allyson and her fiance, Aaron. Aaron proposed just a few weeks before he was to deploy to Iraq. He has been gone about 8 months. Two weeks ago Ally flew to North Carolina where he is stationed to welcome her fiance home and today, they came back home to Wichita!

Tons of family and friends gathered at the ramp with homemade signs and American flags, many of the kids donning camo-patterned clothing or red, white and blue! They waited anxiously as the flight was slightly delayed. A KAKE News crew showed up at the request of a family member.

While we waited we saw two other soldiers (unknown what branch) saying goodbye to their families, not sure if they were headed to war or another base somewhere but several people commented on the contrast of the occassion- one family saying goodbyes and ours gaining excitement as the plane neared bringing Aaron and Ally home!

When the announcement was made that the flight had landed, everyone lined up just in time to see them walk down the ramp, with Aaron in his dress blues. Cheers rang out with applause and the kids waved their flags. After they greeted all family and friends Aaron took a moment to visit an elderly gentleman who asked to watch when he found out what all the hoopla was for, he was a retired Marine himself. My dad had pushed his wheelchair all the way up to the front of the group with the rest of our families.
Aaron gave a short interview with the news crew before gathering his bags and they walked out of the terminal on the way to Carlos O"Kelly's for lunch with many friends and family.

Ally and Aaron will be married July 27th in Wichita in a military wedding, watch the blog for their prequel this summer! (Who did you think was going to do the video!?)
Welcome home Marine Voshell!

Take a moment to watch the excitement!

Welcome Home to Our Troops!

Yesterday, I got a real treat! First, a little background-

A few months ago we received a phone call from a former Bride, Ashley Raney, telling us she frequents our site and saw a proposal on our site we filmed, by a Marine to his girlfriend just prior to his deployment to Iraq (That's my sister by the way!) Ashley stated it gave her an idea...she called to say her husband Andrew had volunteered to go to Iraq a few months prior. We knew he had been part of the Kansas Air National Guard, but didn't expect a deployment for him 1 yr. after their wedding. Ashley asked if we would be interested in filming her husband returning home at Mid-Continent Airport whenever it happened. "Of course! We would be honored!" I said. Although Ashley did warn me she did not know exactly when he would return home and we could have very short notice.

The call from Ashley finally came the 27th stating Andrew would be home at 5:10 pm yesterday! She said her face hurt from smiling so much! So we charged batteries in the camera and got everything ready.

When I walked into Mid-Continent yesterday at 4:30, the first thing I noticed was area members of the Patriot Guard getting large US Flags ready. We have a dear friend who is in the Patriot Guard and I stopped to say hello and grab a hug! Thanks for coming Glen! I waited at the ramp for Ashley to arrive shortly after. She visited with friends from her husbands group and spouses waiting for their loved ones, too. All three TV news channels were present as well as the newspaper. Area school children attended with balloons, US flags, homemade signs and red, white and blue carnations for the troops that they had written to over the last 7 months. They wanted to meet the heroes they had corresponded with and welcome them home.

The plane landed early and about ten after 5 pm, cheers rang out as family members and friends saw their loved ones from the 184th Security Forces Squadron walking down the ramp! Ashley couldn't contain herself and threw herself at Andrew, not letting go for about 5 minutes solid! It was really great. All the soldiers from his unit had big smiles on their faces! The Patriot Guard saluted and formed a long line all the way to baggage claim. A brief prayer followed welcoming home our troops safe. Every member of the Patriot Guard made it a point to thank and welcome home each and every member of the unit.

I helped grab one of Andrew's bags and walked them out to their car (yup, I filmed, too!). Ashley asked me to take their picture, I gave them hugs and left for home with a big smile on my face!
We got some great footage of this very important day of their lives on film! We will be editing a short piece in the coming weeks documenting Ashley's thoughts the last 7 months and a testimonial for Fat Cat Productions, and post that when it is completed.

You can see Andrew and Ashley on the news here. Andrew is the first troop you see :)

Thank you Ashley for contacting us, it was awesome seeing you guys again and welcome home Staff Sergeant Andrew Raney!