Photo Palma's Blog

2010-01-20T16:46:00.001-06:00

Bloomington, IL – January 19, 2010- WeddingWire, the nation’s leading wedding technology company, just announced Photo Palma has been selected to receive the 2010 Bride’s Choice Awards™ for Wedding Photography.
The annual Bride’s Choice Awards™ recognizes and celebrates excellence in quality and service within the wedding industry, as determined by recent reviews and extensive surveys from over 500,000 newlyweds.

Photo Palma is among the top five percent of all vendors in the WeddingWire community, which includes over 100,000 wedding professionals across the US and Canada. Awards were given to winners across 19 different service categories, from wedding venues to wedding photographers.

“We are excited to recognize and honor the success of the top wedding professionals within the WeddingWire Community” said Timothy Chi, WeddingWire’s Chief Executive Officer. “The annual Bride’s Choice Awards™ program has given us the unique opportunity to highlight the best wedding professionals in each region as reviewed by brides and grooms who have utilized their services in the past year.”

We are happy to announce that Photo Palma is among the very best Wedding Photographers within the WeddingWire Network, which includes WeddingWire and Martha Stewart Weddings. We would like to thank our past newlyweds for nominating us for the 2010 Bride’s Choice Awards™.

For more information, please visit our WeddingWire Storefront today at http://www.weddingwire.com/biz/photo-palma-bloomington/website/71cfd85d4bd6f4de.html

2008-11-03T22:17:00.005-06:00

2008-09-25T10:00:00.002-05:00

Check this out!
We are currently offering online slideshows to our customers. These slide shows give you the opportunity to display the best images from your wedding/event in a slideshow format. What’s even better is that you can download the slideshow to a personal website like Myspace or Facebook account for your friends and family to view the memories of your day.
This online slideshow will be included in any package booked before November 30, 2008. Take a look at the actual version by following the link: ONLINE SLIDESHOW
Looking forward to hearing from you!

2008-09-24T16:42:00.008-05:00

2008-08-21T22:30:00.004-05:00

August Special!
Get a FREE Engagement Session a $300 value when you book an Album Package this month.
Keep in mind you could use the images for you wedding Ceremony programs, invitations, reception guestbook, signature mat, or for the newspaper announcement.
Please feel free to contact us anytime for more details.

2008-08-21T20:46:00.005-05:00

Mary + Justin
Bloomington, IL

Mary and Justin asked us to have fun and to capture the moments of their day.

My Favorite.
The beautiful couple!

The Ceremony was at this beautiful church by Bloomington downtown.

Yeah, it was very hot and sunny on that day!

Mary and Justin, we LOVED working with you :)
God bless you!

2008-08-21T18:35:00.008-05:00

Jennifer + Jake
Edwards, IL

They were a great couple to work with, they also had a great group of friends.
Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your day.

Looove the grapes!
Their first dance as a married couple
This is what happens when Manuel tells me to stay out of the way.

AWESOME vineyard!

CONGRATULATIONS Guys!!

2008-05-27T21:51:00.001-05:00

emily + steven
Check out the getting ready shots! The brides mom must have started last year working on the garden for her daughters wedding. Everything was gorgeous! Mom's back yard was our outdoor location.

classic pose, intimate setting, wonderful pic!

Yep, this is their backyard. Love it! She truly loves him.

This is the bride and her mom in the background... God, I love my Job!

Awwwwe!

2008-05-27T21:42:00.003-05:00

kendra + jim E-session
Manuel and I enjoyed working with Jim and Kendra this weekend. They were a very vibrant, fun-loving couple, and came out to have a good time. These images were taken at their future ceremony site at Lake of the Woods in Mahomet, IL.

Jim are you gonna dip her?

I love the architechture of this bridge.

2008-05-27T21:34:00.000-05:00

brandy + bryce

Manuel and I had a great time capturing the images of this couples day. They had and intimate ceremony at Evelyn Chapel in Normal, IL. The chapel and the grounds surrounding it are beautiful and provided an excellent backdrop to this wonderful couple.

I consider this image my "shot of the day!" :)

2008-05-27T21:29:00.001-05:00

Heidi + Doug E-Session
Manuel and I had a fun time getting to know Heidi and Doug during their engagement session. They ae very loving and comfortable with each other which made for a great E-session.

I love the intimacy of this image

awwwwe!

2008-05-27T21:03:00.000-05:00

kim + nathan

The ceremony and reception were held at a castle in Dyer, IN. Needless to say it was a fantastic location and a fantastic couple.

Lovely.
Check out this scenery.
he's goin for the neck!

2008-04-02T15:44:00.000-05:00

Ilana and Michael Evanston, IL

2008-02-16T15:42:00.000-06:00

Sara and John
Springfield, IL
This was the first time I got teary eyed at an event. When John saw Sara coming down the aisle, he started to cry, the emotions of this moment for me (Manuel) were so strong, I cried with him. I enjoyed this exceptional couple, their hospitality, and wonderful comments about my work. The reception was held at the Abraham Lincoln Museum in Springfield, a beautiful location. I wish you guys the very best, God Bless you.

2008-02-16T15:16:00.001-06:00

Karen and Aaron
Bloomington, Illinois
To be able to work with a couple in my hometown was amazing! With all of the traveling that comes with the job of wedding photography, it was nice to be able to sleep in the day of a shoot. This couple were very much in love and had a great family. I (Chanelle) was very honored to be a part of Karen and Aaron's day! Best wishes guys!

2008-02-16T14:33:00.000-06:00

Natalia and Nathanael
Decatur, Illinois

Natalia and Nathanael were an exciting couple to work with, each was very fun and creative. Natalia's day job is to play the part of Pocahontas at the Disney theme park in Florida. This couple loved to dance and actually did the dance from "Thriller" during the reception. Thanks for including Manuel and I as part of your day!

2007-10-23T22:55:00.000-05:00

Our work has been featured in the "Northern Indiana Wedding Day" magazine!

We are vey excited due to our tremendous success in the wedding photography business. We are pleased to announce that our work has been selected to be featured in the "Northern Indiana Wedding Day" magazine http://www.niweddingday.com/.
You can view the article and images at: http://www.niweddingday.com/images/PDFs/IN-WDFall07.pdf

Check out the wedding of Andrew & Stephanie Harman on page 82 and 83.
It is a great feeling to be published!
Chanelle and I love working with couples to capture the images of your day.
Thank you for including us as a part of your wedding.

2007-04-26T20:04:00.000-05:00

May Special!
Get a FREE 16x20 wall portrait when you book an album package this month.

Keep in mind, newlywed, new house, a lot to decorate… Or you could give it as an appreciation gift to your parents, after all they are paying for a portion of the BIG DAY.

Please feel free to contact us anytime for more details.

2007-04-25T21:40:00.000-05:00

Tiffany and Stephen Indianapolis, IN April 14th, 2007

2007-04-18T14:33:00.000-05:00

Diamond and Denis Chicago, IL April 7, 2007

2007-03-07T17:09:00.000-06:00

Are you a bride with questions?

If so, check out a brand new web site, WedFog.com - it is all about answering photography related questions for brides. Hundreds of photographers from around the world compiled useful information about wedding photography in one site.
So if you are a bride whose wedding is next year or next month, certainly check out this site to gain some useful information on the enigma that is wedding photography!

2007-02-20T08:17:00.000-06:00

Hey Indiana Clients!
I want everyone to know that I will be in Indy area on Saturday February 24, 2007 to meet with clients. If you or anyone you know would like the opportunity to meet with me to view work samples and discuss event plans please let me know and we can schedule a time.

2006-12-28T19:10:00.000-06:00

Photo Palma's New Website
We are excited to announce that I have recently updated my website. The larger images allow everyone to get a better feel for the style and quality of my work. So, I hope everyone enjoys the bigger images, along with new images from our wedding galleries. As always your feedback is much appreciated. Enjoy!

2006-08-23T22:26:00.000-05:00

Oops!
It has been a fast and furious wedding season! The thing is that with all the weddings I have been shooting, my blog has been a little neglected. I have been to Dubuque Iowa, Indianapolis and Lafayette Indiana, and all over Illinois to shoot. I promise to try and do better with updating my blog in the future. But, seriously here are some my favorite picks of the season so far. Enjoy!

2006-08-23T22:22:00.000-05:00

ESTRELLA & MARK AUGUST 19, 2006 SPRINGFIELD, IL

2006-08-23T22:16:00.000-05:00

ELLEN & BRETT ENGAGEMENT SESSION AUGUST 18, 2006

2006-08-23T22:11:00.000-05:00

RACHEL & JOHN ENGAGEMENT SESSION AUGUST 20, 2006

2006-08-23T22:07:00.000-05:00

EVALEEN AND COLE AUGUST 12, 2006 INDIANAPOLIS, IN

2006-08-23T22:03:00.000-05:00

KIMBERLY AND MATTHEW AUGUST 05, 2006 CHAMPAIGN, IL

2006-08-23T21:55:00.000-05:00

REBECCA AND CASEY JULY 29, 2006 INDIANAPOLIS, IN

2006-08-23T21:50:00.000-05:00

HEATHER AND PHILIP JULY 22, 2006 BLOOMINGTON, IL

2006-08-23T21:46:00.000-05:00

BRIDGET AND STEPHEN JULY 15, 2006 DUBUQUE, IA

2006-08-23T21:43:00.000-05:00

CLAUDIA AND ROBERT JUNE 24, 2006 PEORIA, IL

2006-08-23T21:29:00.000-05:00

EMILY AND RYAN JUNE 17, 2006 INDIANAPOLIS, IN

2006-06-27T16:47:00.000-05:00

Happy Independence Day!

If you book us for your Basic or Classic Package in the month of July, I will include your Digital Negatives. This is a Cd containing all the images of your wedding , color corrected and in High Resolution JPEG format.
This is a $1000 dollars value and offers you the independence to make your own prints, saving you lots of money.

Please contact us at info@photopalma.com to book your package.

2006-06-15T20:02:00.000-05:00

Free Online Slideshow feature for all our clients!!

The moment has come and they are here, please feel free to peek at
http://www.photopalma.com/slideshows/
and please, please, I would love to hear your comments about it.
Remember if you have any questions don't hesitate to contact me at
info@photopalma.com I will be happy to assist you.

2006-06-14T01:10:00.000-05:00

COMING SOON!……………

I have been looking into starting a slide show presentation for all of the weddings that I shoot. I’m excited to be able to offer this because customers will be able to view their pictures in a slideshow set to music. The pictures will fade in and out and will be a big improvement to the way customers get to go over their pictures. If a customer views a picture they like during the slide show all they have to do is click on the thumbnail and the picture pops up for them to view the picture selected. I’m working on sorting out the details but, I wanted to let you know it's coming soon. hopefully next week.
This service will be included in all the packages that offer in addition to the proofing site that I have been offering for 2 years.

2006-06-14T00:59:00.000-05:00

MEGAN AND TIM JUNE 10th , 2006

This couple got married in Columbus IN, a three hour tour for me. Believe me, it rained so much I felt like I was on Gilligan’s Island! We got lucky and caught the outdoor shots before we got caught in the rain. It is important for me to mention that Megan is also a photographer so, I was nervous and excited to shoot this event. I had emailed and met with the couple prior to their wedding and was really looking forward to working with them. It was a pleasure to work with this couple as they were very much in love and their spirits were high even with the rain.

2006-06-14T00:49:00.000-05:00

ALICIA AND KYLE JUNE 03, 2006

OK so, getting to Canton was an adventure. Alicia and Kyle got married in Canton and you have to take a two lane route to get there. The drive took a while. The setting was a small older church with a lot of character. The bridal party was huge, with 12 people total. This is a lot of people to get to smile at one time however, I think I pulled it off.

2006-06-14T00:24:00.000-05:00

MICHELLE & KENYON MAY 27, 2006

Whewwwww!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was windy! I had the pleasure of shooting this couple and their huge bridal party here in Bloomington, IL. The wind did nothing for the sun that was beating down on us. The outdoor shots actually were done in sessions because we were roasting in the sun. So we took a few shots outside and then went to hide out in the air conditioning for a few moments then it was right back at it under the sunshine. It was nice to get some outdoor shots of the veil blowing in the wind. The church where the ceremony took place was the biggest church I had ever seen, I didn’t even know it was in town. At the reception and the church the lighting was very dim. However, the challenge made the day interesting.

2006-06-14T00:10:00.000-05:00

DOMINIQUE & DEREK MAY 26TH 2006

It was a wonderful day for a wedding. This couple had their reception at the Illini Union Hall in Champaign, IL. I was excited to take their pictures. This couple was so in love that the friction that filled the air when they looked at each other was something to be jealous of. Another favorite part of this wedding was the color of the bridesmaids dresses. It was a wine color and the deep color warmed up everyone’s skin tones. I think I got some great shots.

2006-05-23T17:21:00.000-05:00

RONDA & JEFF MAY 20TH, 2006

It was a beutiful day at Ewing manor here in Bloomington illinos. I was so excited when I arrived to the Chateau hotel to take getting ready shots. Ronda looked so gorgeous!. She was joined by her sister,and attendant and they were all getting ready for the big day.
As the photographer I got the priviledge position of seeing Ronda before the final touches were complete. I enjoyed hanging out with the girls as they prepared for the Ceremony. We then left the hotel to head off to the wedding site. Ewing Manor is where the Shakespeare Festival is held and the grounds are amazing. It was also a perfect day weather wise so, I was excited to get all the outdoor shots I could (good thing the ceremony was outside!). I decided to spend my time taking some pics of the bridal party before the wedding. I also caught the kids posing for their own pics. The ring bearers and flower girls were very cute and they also had the personality to match. The ceremony was lovely and then we headed off to the reception that was held in a tent on the grounds. These people knew how to party! The drinking and the dancing only ended when the D. J. had to leave!
Here are a few shots of Ronda and Jeff's big day.............................

2006-05-10T00:07:00.000-05:00

HANNAH & MIKE MAY 6, 2006

What a beautiful day! Hannah and Mike got a great sunny day to be married. This wedding went so smoothly and beautifully, it was just a great day to have the job that I have. We shot some beautiful outdoor shots at the gardens.

The Ceremony was at the Botanical Gardens and the reception was at the Pere Marquette in downtown Peoria.

2006-05-09T23:48:00.000-05:00

KIMBERLY AND MATT'S ENGAGEMENT MAY 5, 2006

Last friday I had the awesome opportunity to travel to Champaign to shoot Kimberly and Matt's engagement session. We all lucked out it was a gorgeous, warm day.

One of the things I am so thankful for about my job is that I am lucky enough to work with many couples that I would be friends with anyway. I don't always get to know everyone as well as I'd like, but I do try to get to know as many as possible outside of just shooting. I also find that it is much more fun on the wedding day if we've already worked together on something like an engagement session because when I show up at the wedding, I'm just another friend hanging around.

2006-05-01T22:03:00.000-05:00

ALONNA'S BALLET CLASS April 29 2006

It was a great excitement to see my daughter at her ballet class for the first time.
She looked so precious in her ballerina outfit.

Can you tell how excited she is?

She was all focused on the class

2006-04-29T21:14:00.000-05:00

BIJAL PATEL BABYSHOWER April 23, 2006

On Sunday I photographed this 800 people Indian style babyshower in Barrington, IL, yes! you read right, 800 people. We started at the Patel's mansion (see pic below) with some family shots and continued to the reception at the Indian House Banquet Hall. The place looked gorgeus! the decoration was fantastic, and of course the hosts Bijal and Sanjay were so excited for their first child. All I have to say is wow! what a reception.

Patel's Mansion

The Ceremony

Bijal and Sanjay

2006-04-29T20:36:00.000-05:00

BECKY & ANDREW April 22, 2006

I had the absolute pleasure of shooting Becky Skehan and Andrew Passie wedding in Peoria, IL . This wedding was a lot of fun, They and their families are one of the nicest people I have ever worked with, they made me feel like part of their family.

A few shots:

2006-04-28T12:45:00.000-05:00

ROBBIN & JOSH PREGNANCY SHOOT

On April 18 2006 I had the priviledge to shoot Robbin's maternity pictures. These two were an excellent couple to work with, and I think I got some great shots. This is the couple's first child so, the excitement was obvious.