Claus Martel

Ready for 2012!

2012-01-08T21:29:00.000-06:00

I'm ready for 2012! I had wonderful weddings throughout 2011 and I want to again thank all of my wonderful clients and the terrific feedback I've received.

Looking forward to starting my 2012 wedding season in a few weeks. There are a few early spring and late summer dates still open.

Nice review...

2011-12-13T19:39:00.000-06:00

It's always nice to get a good review... even when you least expect it:

A review posted from "The Knot" -

Awesome Job! posted 12/12/2011

We initially hired Claus to video our wedding day - from getting ready to the end of the reception. After a few weeks, we decided that we would like to have footage of the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner as well and he was more than happy to modify our package to include that as well. He was incredibly professional on our wedding day and got some amazing shots, all while staying out of the way. Being able to watch our wedding ceremony after the fact was wonderful and he did a fantastic job with everything. We got our DVD's and BluRay's about a month after the wedding, just as he had promised. He even had pictures from the wedding on the cover of the discs! We were very impressed and would recommend him highly!

Like... wow! Thanks so much!!

Cartersville, Georgia

2011-12-04T08:40:00.002-06:00

Shot a wedding in Cartersville, Georgia yesterday. Got to see my FAVORITE daughter-in-law! Details/photos soon!

Dauphin Island

2011-11-14T16:16:00.000-06:00

Shot a really cool beach wedding on Dauphin Island. Alaina and Ryan came all the way down from Wisconsin for their wedding at sunset. I've done about a half dozen of these beach weddings and just love doing them.

Rocket Science

2011-10-08T22:38:00.000-05:00

I got OUT of the habit of posting my weddings immediately after the wedding a few months ago. I am working on getting back to it.

This weekend, I shot Dave and Janna's wedding in Huntsville, Alabama. Dave is from Kentucky and works as an engineer at NASA's George C. Marshall Space Flight Center at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama. Janna is ALSO an engineer with NASA here in Huntsville. The ceremony was held at Willowbrook Baptist Church in Huntsville and the reception was at Cherokee Ridge in Marshall County. A wonderful ceremony, reception, and - ANOTHER first - I don't think I've EVER recorded a wedding with SO MANY engineers from NASA. Bridesmaids, groomsmen... so many NASA Rocket Scientists!

Fall Wedding Season Is Here...

2011-09-21T22:15:00.000-05:00

I am SO GLAD that fall wedding season is here. Shooting in Huntsville this weekend. Received some great feedback from my late summer clients. I've really enjoyed Wedding Season 2011! March and May of 2012 is already totally booked. Wow...

More about the wedding montage...

2011-08-07T11:01:00.000-05:00

As I noted yesterday, I had spliced together bits and pieces of various weddings to show my prospective clients what I can offer them - to capture the day... and all elements of the day... into one concise and complete documentary. My focus has always been on the bride and groom, and very little else. I still want them to order the demo DVD for a more complete picture. Here below is the montage put up on the higher-quality Vimeo video hosting website:

Facebook

2011-07-18T18:15:00.002-05:00

Well, I tried keeping up with Facebook and this blog. I saw zero benefit of FB for my business so I took it down. Chapter closed... we move on.

Off to Huntsville

2011-07-16T09:14:00.000-05:00

Off to shoot a wedding at Whitesburg Baptist Church in Huntsville... I promise to update the blog this weekend!

Customer Feedback

2011-06-25T00:12:00.000-05:00

I've received some wonderful customer feedback this year. Here's a sample:

Hey Claus,
YES! We got them! We sat down and watched them three times after we all got home last night. They are wonderful and we loved them. Zachary and Kelli are here and they were with us, so it was really fun to get to see everything. Thank you again for being there and making sure we have a wonderful record of the day.
Thanks again!
DH, Decatur, AL (June 22, 2011)

We received the videos today. My husband and I watched them and they are great. You did such nice job. I am going to send copies to the Melanie and Brett in and I am sure they will be pleased.
Thank you again.
SJ, Huntsville, AL (June 10, 2011)

We watched the video last night and it was so beautiful! You captured all the joy and happiness of that day. We just want to express how truly grateful we are that you were able to create such a lasting memory for us.
Thank you!
AW, Birmingham, AL (May 20, 2011)

I got the videos the other night and I LOVE it!!! It was so funny watching them because I don't remember much of the reception - it was all just a blur!! Thank you so much!!!
AP, Oneonata, AL (May 11, 2011)

Hi there! We got them Saturday and have already watched it! It was great to get to relive our special day. I'm especially glad you captured mine and Cals seeing each other for the first time in the church. During wedding planning, I had debated on whether or not we were going to video record our wedding. I wondered if it would really matter. In hindsight, I'm so happy we did. As we were watching the video my sisters kept saying...'I don't remember him being there when that was going on!' Sneaky! Thanks again!
LL, Huntsville, AL (May 8, 2011)

WAY Behind!

2011-06-12T21:19:00.002-05:00

I promise to play catch-up this week! Recovering from another crazy May!

Kelli & Zach

2011-05-14T23:54:00.000-05:00

Had a great weekend with Kelli and Zach and the brethern at the Beltline Church of Christ in Decatur, Alabama this weekend. Kelli's brother Steven got married last year and based on that video, I got this gig. Kelli's mom Donna was my "client" and she was a joy to work for. Kelli was in Tuscaloosa a few weeks ago during the April 27th tornado. Just a very encouraging, great weekend with these two!

UPDATE...

2011-05-02T23:26:00.000-05:00

I've had three confirmed former clients affected by last week's tornadoes. One of them - Tiffany Wood of Pleasant Grove, Alabama - has become quite a celebrity. Unwittingly I might add. Tiffany - an OLD pal - lost her home. The Associated Press took a number of photos of her and her former house and the photos and story were sent all over the world. Tiffany tells me that she was also interviewed on NBC's "Dateline." My heart goes out to her and everyone affected by this disaster. (Photographs Copyright 2011 Associated Press)

April 27, 2011

2011-04-28T22:49:00.000-05:00

My thoughts and prayers go out to all those who lost loved ones and their homes throughout the South yesterday, April 27, 2011.

Angela and Clayton

2011-04-23T20:48:00.000-05:00

BACK to Rosewood for the third time in 6 weeks (another first). Shot Angela and Clayton's wedding today. It's a small world... really. Clayton served with my son in Iraq a few years ago. Wonderful bride and groom and families! Sunny, warm day but to Clayton it was like a winter day in Iraq. My best to these two special people!

Ashley & Adam

2011-04-10T20:18:00.000-05:00

Its kinda weird... there are some venues you never get to shoot at, and then - BAM! It seems like you're there every weekend. Ashley and Adam's wedding at Rosewood in Pinson, Alabama was the second time I've been there in a month and I'm going there again in a few weeks! A slightly warm day (OK - so it was just downright hot) but a wonderful bride and groom to work with! I met them both a couple of years ago at one of Ashley's bridesmaid's wedding! Super live band entertained everyone...

I got to work with my old pal Ann Wade Parrish who did a fabulous job. I think this is the 10th or 12th wedding I've shot with Ann Wade. Since she is the only photographer that I know who works solo, I know what she's gonna do and where she's gonna be... a great working partner and a dear friend.

Lisa & Cal

2011-04-02T23:54:00.000-05:00

Someone once asked me "what's the best part of what you do?" I guess as the years have gone on that it's got to be running into old clients who have been married for a while and now have kids of their own. At Lisa and Cal's wedding in Huntsville, I ran into some old clients/friends - Sarah and Mathew.

First to Lisa and Cal (left) - it's a really, really small world. Seriously. Lisa booked me because of the wedding I shot of Sarah and Mathew. Lisa was one of Sarah's bridesmaids at their wedding in Auburn a few years ago. Turns out that I used to work with Lisa's dad some 25-YEARS ago. Lisa and Cal married at Central Presbyterian Church in Huntsville with the reception in downtown Huntsville. They are a wonderful, sweet couple and I wish them the very best! I'll be working almost literally next door to them on Redstone Arsenal. Special thanks to my new intern Liz (yup... my barista from Starbucks) for helping me out!

I've known Sarah's dad Tom for years at Redstone Arsenal and I shot his youngest daughter Jessica's wedding several years ago. Anyway, Sarah and Mathew (right) have a CUTE daughter who's about 3 months old. She didn't make it to the wedding - she was with her grandfather. But it was so great to see Sarah and Mathew again. THAT is what makes this all so worthwhile.

Next weekend - off to Pinson, Alabama! I get to work with my old pal Ann Wade Parrish!

Katie & Hal

2011-03-06T10:45:00.000-06:00

I had the privilege yesterday to record the wedding of Katie and Hal at the Latham United Methodist Church in Huntsville, Alabama. When I first landed in Huntsville twenty-seven years ago, the first townhouse I lived in was about a mile from this church. Great sanctuary to record in and the staff was extremely helpful.

When you do this long enough, you always run into former clients. One of the bridesmaids was a client from two years back, Whitney Dunn Davis. Whitney and her husband Tim (below) are expecting their first child next month. She said some incredibly nice things about her video and I always appreciate it when a client provides positive feedback. Great to see her and Tim!

The other former clients are dear friends of mine, Vicki and Chris Lanza. I recorded Vicki and Chris' daughter's Katrina's wedding in November 2004. Vicki has sent me more clients over the years than anyone else. Katrina was there too yesterday and it was great to see her. Katrina and her husband Bo have two sons now. Bo is a Captain in the U.S. Army and is now serving in Afghanistan (I believe this is his third or fourth combat deployment). Bo is a great guy... West Point graduate (second generation). Someone said to me later that night "They remembered you after seven years? You don't make that good of an impression!" Nice... UGH! Anyway, great to see the Lanza clan yesterday. It really made my day.