Monthly Archives: April 2009

The Dry Heat Gallery is very pleased to be graced with the presence of the one and only Robert Medina Cook!  Rick and I have long been fans of Robert’s work but somehow managed never to meet him in person until just recently.   When Robert came by the gallery to drop off his prints, what should have been a ten minute meeting turned into a 3 hour conversation. It was just like we had all known each other forever.  Despite the fact that our photography is quite different from Robert’s he has a way of explaining his work that very closely mirrors the way we approach our work.  One topic in particular that Robert hit on is that his primary concern is in the final product.  Creating an image that allows the subject to speak to the viewer is his art form and when questioned about his process Robert’s response is “what difference does it make?”  Obviously a response like that could be interpreted in a number of different ways but I took it to mean to that it is not the process that determines whether the finished piece will be effective, it is the intention put into the work that breathes life into art. To learn more Robert Medina Cook visit his website by clicking here.

Robert’s signed and numbered, limited edition, prints can now be viewed and purchased from the Dry Heat Gallery.

This blog entry is a little late but, you know, better late than never right?  These photos were taken during our drive back from Las Vegas in February.

-DeAnna Dimmitt

Dry Heat Photography

scenic Lake Mead

suspension bridge over Hoover Dam

Looking down from Hoover Dam

Hoover Dam chipmunks.  I had no idea that hundreds of chipmunks inhabit Hoover Dam.  They hang out in this driveway where the staff parks and people feed them.  I wished I had brought my real camera out of the car because the mini-cam focuses so slow that it is practically impossible to get any sharp photos of a high octane chipmunk.  While most of my shots were of the sidewalk after the chipmunk was long gone, I did get a couple of lucky shots.

2 Guns, Arizona

Yep, there it is

Rick at the bunny rodeo

The smart parked side by side with a Prius for length comparison

“Root” 66

You’ve all met Rose and Rick before in their Engagement Session and now here’s the wedding.  On April 4th at Casa de Suenos Rose and Rick were married.  This was an unusually beautiful event with an all star cast.  Karen Stallard with Celebrations was coordinating, Rob from Distracted By Decor produced an incredible display to set the stage, Linda Mertz from Awakened Weddings did the officiating, Melba made the flower arrangements, Jay Powers from the Devonshire made the cake, Justin Johnson from Complete Music was in charge of entertainment and, of course, the staff of Casa de Suenos brought everything together.  I was thrilled and honored to be part of this wedding!

To Rose and Rick, thank you so much for making me a part of your Special Day!

-DeAnna Dimmitt

Dry Heat Photography

Professionalism In Wedding Photography

As a photographer one of the most worrisome things I hear people say is “my so-and-so (fill in the blank – brother, uncle, etc) just got a new camera for Christmas and is going to shoot my wedding”.  Admittedly,  I cringe just a little bit probably like a doctor would if they heard someone say “my brother just got a new scalpel for Christmas and is going to perform my heart surgery”.   The fact of the matter is that wedding photography is a highly specialized field and having a fancy camera does not qualify the user as a professional.  So what qualities define professionalism in photography?  I’ve listed a few below:

#1 Business License – a business license in and of itself does not qualify someone to photograph a wedding, however the lack of a business license would indicate that the person in question is not operating a professional, full time business.

#2 Extensive Portfolio  – The proof, as they say, is in the pudding.  An experienced professional photographer should be able to show you several weddings that they themselves have photographed, ideally in some of the locations you might be considering having your wedding.

#3 Past Client/Vendor Referrals – Anyone can buy an ad in a magazine, put a commercial on TV, or stick a sign in the ground in front of a convenience store trumpeting their virtues, but what you hear from other wedding vendors and past clients is really what you should take to heart.  Since wedding vendors rely on one another to do their jobs correctly they are unlikely to refer someone, especially a photographer, who has caused them problems.  Referrals from other wedding vendors are a good indication of the professional quality of a photographer.  Referrals from past clients are even more important.

#4 Price – There is not necessarily a right or wrong price for photographic services but I would caution you to really do your homework on anyone who is priced significantly below the market average.  Running a photography studio is not an inexpensive endeavor. There is a good deal of overhead involved in operating the business.  A full time photographer relies on their business for their livelihood and that means, in order to be successful, that they are fully committed to their craft.  This is good news for a perspective client because when a wedding photographer is committed to their craft that means they are also committed to you!  A hobbyist, by definition, does not have the same type of vested interest in their photography, is likely to have another job during the week, and can therefore get by with charging very little for their services.

This concludes my thoughts on professionalism.  I hope this information will prove to be insightful and helpful as you are planning your spectacular, once in a lifetime wedding.

Sincerely,

DeAnna Dimmitt

Dry Heat Photography

In Memory of Raven

April 5, 1995 to April 12, 2009

Rick and I only met Raven a couple of times and even in these brief encounters he touched our lives.  To know Raven is to know that he was an exceptional being who was able to bridge the chasm between man and wolf and rebuild the relationship between the two.  Raven lived most of his life as the chief Ambassador Wolf at the Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary.  His best friend was Leyton Cougar and the two of them worked side by side for many years to improve public education about wolves.  Raven passed away this morning in Leyton’s arms. He was 14 years old. This is nearly double the average life span of a wild wolf and, while it is very sad for all of us who will miss him, we must take heart in the fact that Raven completed the work he came here to do and his spirit is now uninhibited as it was always meant to be.  Run free dear friend, we will miss you.

Most sincerely,

-DeAnna Dimmitt and Rick Meiers

Dry Heat Photography

Our last images of Leyton and Raven together.  March 5, 2009

Some of you may recognize Shauna as the publisher of the Perfect Wedding Guide of New Mexico.  I know Shauna and Jacob because I shot their wedding on August 7, 2005.  Since then they have become a happy family of four; Shauna, Jacob, Ally and Adam.  Rick and I shot this session on March 28th at the Botanical Garden.  It is always such a pleasure to watch our friend’s families grow!

-DeAnna Dimmitt and Rick Meiers

Dry Heat Photography

Meet Kaylene, Eric, Bella and soon to be Marcus.  I am blogging this session well after the fact, so much so that there is already a blog entry of Bella and Marcus and Marcus is 6 months old!  I had, of course, intended to blog this session right away but you know how it is, the pace of life continues to accelerate and it just didn’t get done, until now, that is.  This session was on April 2, 2009 at the Dry Heat Studio and today is March 15, 2010 but I am retroactively placing it in the time line where it belongs.

-DeAnna Dimmitt

Dry Heat Photography

I think I would call this our first green Engagement Session of the year.  At least green-ish.  As you can see, not everything is green but some of the trees are leafing out and some other trees are in full flower bloom!  We have only a short window of opportunity to take advantage of the flowering trees.  It is so refreshing to see the world coming back to life!  I shot this session at the UNM duck pond on March 17th.  Caitlyn and Ethan will be tying the knot in August at the Hyatt Tamaya.

-DeAnna Dimmitt

Dry Heat Photography

Rick took this one