And the Winner Is.....!

I want to begin by saying that I was humbled and honored by the time and effort all of you put into sharing your beautiful love stories with us. This was the first How I Found the One contest and I had no idea what to expect. What I found was that everyone's stories were so tender, and endeared me to you all so much that I wish I could award a free wedding to all of you just for entering! That said, we had to pick one winner, and we did so based on who had the most compelling story. So the winner is...

Trish & The Hot Cop! We are honored and thrilled to award a completely free wedding photography package to this couple who "found the one" in the most unexpected way...



Trish and HC will receive the following:

• *8 hours of coverage by Karen Gordon and a second shooter
• *The best 400 images from your day, lovingly opened and retouched until it sings, and presented as 4x6 prints set in an elegant Hudson album
• *The best 400 images posted online, making it easy for you and your friends and family to view, share and order prints of your favorite images
• *Your digital negatives of ALL the images from your ENTIRE wedding (all 1500 + images—usually as much as 2000!) as high-resolution files on DVD. And, a digital catalog for easy multi-platform viewing
• *A fully designed wedding album slideshow set to the music of your first dance, posted so soon after your wedding you may still be lounging on the beach when you receive it. And if you like the design on the slideshow, ordering the album is a snap (albums are not included in the package and are an additional cost).
• *A blog entry of our favorite images posted just days after your wedding
• *Phenomenal service from beginning to end
• *One of the fastest turnaround times in the industry

When we announced the How I Found The One contest, we hadn't considered awarding the most original and creative presentation of your love story. But of all the entries, one video stood out so much for its very comical editing and creative production that we had to acknowledge it. So...we are pleased to announce the (unofficial) Creative Presentation Award to Marc & Wolly. Marc & Wolly have already booked with me for their wedding on 08.08.08, so in recognition of their very cute and funny video, we'll be giving them a free 60-page 9x9 custom-designed wedding album with a leather cover and their names engraved on the front. Congratulations guys!



Next, I'd like to offer a second place award to Jackie & Max for Jackie's video story of her long-distance love affair with Max, a soldier in the U.S. Army who is currently stationed in Iraq. Jackie, I'd be honored to shoot your wedding for $3400, which is $6300 off my normal rate.



And finally, to everyone else who entered the contest, if you choose to book a Karenscape Photographer we'll take $1,000 off our package just for the effort you made in entering. Please contact the studio if you'd like more information.

Thank you again to everyone and congratulations to all of you for having found The One!

Trish & the "Hot Cop"

What an AMAZING story!!

Tyler & Jenna

I've spoken to Tyler & Jenna quite a few times since they decided to enter our contest. They're both incredibly sweet, and it's apparent they're very much in love! Check out their video and tell us if you think they should win!

Jackie & Max

With decision day for the Karenscape "How I Found The One" contest rapidly approaching, we're facing a slight dilemma... how do we choose the best out of so many amazing love stories??

So we're asking for your input.

Over the next week, we'll be posting videos from couples sharing their love stories in hopes of winning a free complete wedding photography package from one of New York's most talented photographers, Karen Gordon.

...

Jackie & Max

Our first entry was from Jackie & Max. Max doesn't make an appearance in the video, but since he's serving in Iraq, I think we'll let him get away with it! Below Jackie's video is the e-mail he sent us as a compliment.




26 March, 2008

The following story is an opportunity for me to share how I remember falling in love with my wife, Jackie. Consider this the cliff notes version, written to be a 3 minute read (my attempt to match your timeline standards). I know you prefer a video but let’s just say I am currently living with limited means. I hope Jackie’s submission meets our requirement to submit a video and this may serve as a compliment to her story. It would be an amazing honor if you decide to select us in this contest but I’ve honestly just enjoyed reliving the enclosed moments while writing this story, so thanks for the encouragement. Thank you for this opportunity and I hope you enjoy reading our simple love story a fraction as much as I enjoyed living it.

The Story of Jackie and Max
By Max Ferguson

Jackie and I first met some eleven years ago, after a freshman dance in High School. All of our friends became close and by our junior year, Jackie and I found ourselves dating. Our relationship lasted six months however, and by the end of High School, we lost touch and followed our separate paths.


It wasn’t until the spring of our sophomore year in College, when I saw Jackie for the first time in almost three years, that I rediscovered her: Jackie was simply beautiful, not just “hot,” but beautiful in a classic, timeless sort of way. She was smart, confident, and I instantly adored her. I’d like to say it was “love at first sight,” but we’d been friends for over six years. In a less-than-sober hug goodbye, I unintentionally whispered in her ear, “I love you.” Her reluctant reply: “Happy Easter?” I was instantly embarrassed by my unplanned confession but I now attribute those three accidental words to ultimately bringing us together.



Over the course of that summer, while I was away doing Army training, we exchanged random phone calls and innocent emails. Meanwhile, a powerful and unspoken attraction grew between us. We wouldn’t see each other again until that Labor Day weekend but by that time, Jackie had worked her way into my dreams and I had to have her. Not only was I wildly attracted to her, I admired and respected her and cherished her company. Of course, the timing was horrible. Jackie left two weeks later to spend the semester studying abroad in France.

That semester apart was an incredible tease, but the Atlantic Ocean between us only brought us closer together. When it was over, I had fallen in love with her. Four years later, history seemed to repeat itself when Jackie and I married just three weeks before I left for a 15 month deployment to Iraq. Now 6,000 miles apart and 8 months since our last kiss, I love her more than ever before.


Our wedding day will serve as a culmination of celebrations. The day will mark our two year anniversary, a homecoming, and families reunited. I have a lot to look forward to when I come home, as any Soldier would. But more than anything else, it’s Jackie and our life together that has me the most excited.