Wedding Engagement Portrait Photography Provo Utah EXTRAVAGANZA!

www.craigtovey.com

So basically I'm trying to see if I can get this post to show up when people search for photographers in Provo, Utah. Because I am a photographer in Provo, Utah who wants to take beautiful photographs of your special, special occasion. Wedding, engagement, family portrait, and much, much more! Like... if you want a portrait of all your G.I. Joes protesting the war in Iraq, or a high fashion photo shoot with your cat wearing a feather boa and a monacle. I will do it! I swear.

Anyway, I think if you include the right "keywords" enough (Wedding Engagement Portrait Photography Provo Utah) in the title or text of your webpage, it will be ranked higher by Google and Yahoo! But we'll see how this works out. I'm optimistic. Do me a favor and use some of the keywords you see in this post and type them into Google, then scroll down until you see my website and click on it! i swear it will take you right to this page. Awesome...

But really I am a photographer. I'll even include some recent pictures I took to prove it. Like this handsome couple (Wedding Engagement Portrait Photography Provo Utah) I took some pictures of on Sunday! Mikey & Britney. They are so in love... CAN ANYONE DENY IT?!

(Wedding Engagement Portrait Photography Provo Utah)
Sometimes I like to make my couples (or families) jump on to moving trains or cars for EXTRA DRAMATIC EFFECT!!!


Or sometimes I like to make them sit very, very still.... like robots recharging their batteries. Look at them! THEY LOVE IT!

(Wedding Engagement Portrait Photography Provo Utah)
I've even been known to tell them, "You sit in the gutter and like it!" AND THEY DO!


As you can see I know how to work a camera. And I know what the ladies like. ;) But that is for another post. So if you know anyone who needs pictures, I know how to take them. (Wedding Engagement Portrait Photography Provo Utah) And don't forget about the Craig Tovey Photography Referral Rewards Program! Any business you refer my way receives a 10% commission, minimum $20, no maximum. I'm just saying... THINK ABOUT IT!

That's all. For more photos go to my website: Craig Tovey Photography or my Flickr account.

Thanks you so many times. God bless. (Wedding Engagement Portrait Photography Provo Utah)

Gordon B. Hinckley: 97 1/2 Years of Radness

I thought it was only right to share my thoughts on the recent passing of President Gordon B. Hinckley. (If you are unfamiliar with who he is, you can take a look at THIS PAGE on the LDS.org website... or I can have two very sharp-dressed, clean cut, young man with bicycles come directly to your home and tell you about him and much, much more ABSOLUTELY FREE! Just think about it., okay?)

I got the news last night from my sister Nancy and then a series of text messages from other friends and family. I wasn't surprised to be honest. I mean, I thought there would be a decline were he would be in the hospital or his health would slowly fail or something. And although he had recently had some health issues, they were very minor for his age. But it just happened - BOOM! It seemed very abrupt, but I wasn't shocked or surprised. I was immediately happy for him. Like many, I'm sure, my first thoughts were for the joy he's likely now experiencing being reunited with his wife Marjorie. I understand that he missed her sorely since her death in April, 2004. They were married in 1937 and were just days away from celebrating their 67th wedding anniversary when she passed away. Besides the reunion with his wife, I'm sure there are countless others - friends and family alike - that were elated to see him again. There's a party going on for sure right now.

And that's where my reflections paused and failed to progress until I turned on the TV and started watching KSL 5's hour long special on his life. As they recounted his many accomplishments and illustrated his outstanding character, I began to miss him. I got teary from time to time from touching moments and clever quotes that made me laugh. I've seen these kinds of programs before on President Hinckley, but this one got to me. I don't think anyone can argue that this wasn't a man about as close to perfect as a human being gets. Such integrity and character, amplified by an enormous love for his fellow man. I know we've heard all these things said of him and other prophets before, but I had the occasion last night to stop taking for granted that people like him exist. And I started appreciating how unique they really are. And although it might sound selfish, it lead me to a sobering and harrowing thought:

What will people say of me when I'm dead? I mean, I suppose I know what they'll say. They'll angelize me. Talk about how I was so selfless and giving, how I loved people, how I made the world a better place and it won't be the same without me, blah, blah, blah. And it will be a huge load of crap. Cause if they told the truth, they'd say how long-winded I was, how condescending I could be, how uptight I was about certain things, how sometimes I didn't like to be touched, how grouchy I am in the morning and generally moody the rest of the day, how picky and indecisive I was, how some of my actions I justified although they were a little dishonest, and they would speak of vanity. If you post a comment trying to compliment me, I'll delete it. That's not the point of this post. The point is that the average person (me) is pretty marginal and unremarkable if we're being honest. And when one fish from the Sea of The Average goes belly up, we lie about how marginal and unremarkable he was. And we don't just bend the truth, we make it sound like they were on par with saints and martyrs.

But Gordon Bitner Hinckley was one of the truly GREAT people that have lived on this earth. And when I say "great" I don't mean exceptionally talented or gifted in flashy ways like Shawn White or Steven Hawking. I'm thinking of the greatness that everyone can appreciate and recognize. Charity, commitment, integrity, loyalty, courage, sincerity. Imagine the self mastery that he possessed that you and I know nothing about. It's these things that deserve to be honored. And so I honor him. Because he did things that I only dream about. Things that matter. Not building temples, not traveling the world, not moving a religion forward in an increasingly hostile world, although those things are impressive. No, I dream of becoming half the MAN that Gordon B. Hinckley was. Have as courageous, half as committed, half as honest, half as loving.

I'll miss him. I'll miss him waving his cane, charming the press, being unbelievably optimistic and positive, and bearing his herculean testimony. I could have appreciated him more while he was here, but like Cinderella said, "Don't know what you got, 'till it's gone." (Cinderella... so wise!) But I am excited for the next generation of church leadership. Let's face it, Thomas S. Monson will be our next Prophet and I couldn't be happier. Another pillar of moral fiber, rectitude, and service- he'll be wonderful!

So while I'm sad that President Hinckley has passed on, I'm happy for him and the ranks he has joined of those that have passed this mortal contest successfully. Because of people like him, I'm inspired to do better and like he said to stand a little taller. Thank you President Hinckley...

Mitt Romney Looks Like A Young Bob Barker...

Mitt Romney... COME ON DOWN! You're the richest presidential candidate on The Right is Right!

or

If you balance the federal budget within $.10 of actual retail price you could win... A NEW CAR!

I mean, am I right? The hair, the suit, the strong focus on the economy... the hair?! I'm still gonna vote for him. I'm just saying, look at them!

Are there any good jokes we can come up with relating Bob and "The Price Is Right" to Mitt and his Campaign for the White House? Alex? D. Pulsipher? Anyone?

P.S. I'm not the only one who thinks this. I found this after I came up with my idea... so there. Myspace page dedicated to Mitt as Price is Right Host.

Back by Popular Demand

Both to blogging and to work.

Yes... it's true. I will not be living off of Uncle Sam any longer. Unemployment is about to run out and in the nick of time I have found a marvelous job. "But Craig," they'll say, "I thought you were going into photography and back to school, or on to whatever other scheme you rant about and then never do?" To which I'll reply: There's no time to explain! We'll discuss that later, we have to go rescue Sawyer and Kate from the polar bears! (That, by the way, is a little trick I picked up from Lost Season 3, which i just finished a few days ago. And they say being unemployed doesn't teach you anything... Shame on those people that say that!)

But about my new job, right? I mean, a new job is always exciting news to share and hear about. So check this out... I have one. And I like it. And it pays more than the government does, but also requires more work. Here's how it works:

I am working at Fuel Marketing in SLC, UT. It's a small advertising agency that I used to work a lot with whilst at the newspapers. I maintained contact with the partners while being a deadbeat welfare recipient and eventually they had an opening and offered me a job. It's mostly account management mixed with some sales and some media buying (newspaper mostly, go figure). So i have a decent base and some solid commission opportunities and really like the people I'm working with and for, but here's the kicker: I work from home 2-3 days a week! There is limited space available at their Sugarhouse office and so I offered the use of my home office. So i'm all jacked up on excitement to say the least. Not having to commute from Provo to Salt Lake is rad. Not having to wear pants at work is even better.

So that's good news. I'd also like to give a summary of what I did do while unemployed. I feel accountable to you my fellow taxpayer, since it could have been your dollars that sustained me for 5 1/2 months. So in no particular order here's what I accomplished.

1. Studied for and took the GRE. Got a good score.
2. Went to the United Kingdom and studied the culture and took portfolio building photos. (It was NO fun, ALL research and career oriented)
3. Invested in a 24" imac and Canon 40D camera and lenses. I say "invested" because i didn't exactly pay cash and I hope to someday make money from these purchases. By the way... PLEASE HIRE ME TO TAKE PICTURES!! PLEASE!!!
4. Got Craig Tovey Photography up and running. Including:
- Taking photos for and organizing my portfolio.
- Building my own website: craigtovey.com
- Designing and printing my business cards.
5. Started boxing lessons 3x a week. (This was for self defense so I don't get beat up walking from my car to my apartment when the Achafalya patrons exit the bar. Mostly the Samoan chicks.) I'm getting REAL tuff!
6. Yes, I did apply for several jobs and even went to some interviews. So off my back please.
7. And let's see... Shoot, what else?... what else, what else, what else... That might be it.

As for my plans and schemes to never return to work and make it big in photography, i still dream of it, but recognize it takes time to build a business in picture taking. For the time being i hope it will become a supplemental income and satisfy my creative desire. I've already become the agency's photographer, so it's only upward and onward from here.

As for my plans to go back to school and obtain an advanced degree, it's still in the mix. For the time being i need to make some damn money, and since I still don't know precisely what i want to study, i'll hold off. I want to get to it soon, but I want to put my time and money into the right school and degree. I'm thinking psychology, but it might be communications or an MBA in marketing. I got the GRE out of the way which was a big obstacle for me. So now i can start applications at any time i choose. Nice.

So there's an update. Now that I'm employed and will be spending most days in front of a computer again, I imagine i'll be blogging more. Hopefully, cause i miss it.

Thank you and goodnight.