A look back on my one of my most horrifying experiences EVER!!!

Now that it's been a year, I can actually reflect on this very dramatic story and laugh... well at least smile about it now. Picture this: it was my first formal wedding shoot on my own. I have my two cameras with me, 6 hours of shooting, taking some really great shots, editing for weeks to get these great pictures... and then the unthinkable happens. My computer hard drive corrupts. I panic. I have over 300 fully edited photos that I am suppose to be giving to the bride the following week. No worries- I have a terabyte that I back everything up on. I'm a genius! The only issue is, I am in the middle of moving and the terabyte is packed up. So all I have to do is call the bride and let her know the situation and as soon as I get the computer hooked up in my new house, I will get those photos to her ASAP. Whew, dodged that one, huh? It's not like I'm not getting those pics to her, it's just going to be a few days late, right?

Not exactly.

I move into my new place, hook up the computer with the new hard drive, and then I hook up the terabyte... hmmmm.... what is that sound? That's new. And why aren't my photos coming up? Houston, we have a problem.

After sending the terabyte to a recovery lab in Los Angeles, I am beyond devastated at the outcome. The good news: everything is recoverable. The bad news: it's going to cost more than the computer, the terabyte and the two cameras put together! What could be worst than that? Hmmm, TELLING THE BRIDE AND GROOM!

Her response.... silence.... for a really long time, might I add. Then, the sweetest voice saying,  "I know that you are doing everything you can. Of course I would love to have my pictures but when you are this dependent on technology, at some point something is bound to go wrong. Just keep me informed of what can be done and I will try to be patient. And... (get this!) take all the time you need." Ummm, PINCH ME! Did this woman just give me some hope? And she didn't even strangle me through the phone?!? Does she know that we are talking about her wedding photos??? But she nailed one thing for sure: I WAS working on it! 


In the end, I got her ALL of her photos... and a few extra things to ensure that this NEVER happens again, like: 2 additional terabytes, a mac computer, a DVD writer and two online backup storages. If you think I'm overdoing it... I'm still wondering if there is another method I might have overlooked! What truly amazes me is that they never got crazy with me! Naturally, they were a little anxious, but they were one of the most genuine, sincere, and beautiful couples I've ever had the privilege to photograph. And I am looking forward to photographing their expanding family again in November.

Congratulations Vikki & Josh on your first anniversary- I'll never forget the kindess, mercy, and compassion that you extended during one of the most devastating times for me as a business owner. And that experience has taught me to extend grace and mercy as well, especially when you never know when you will be on the other end of that. It also taught me that you can NEVER have enough backups! LOL

Blogging?!?

Okay, okay. So, I am really trying to keep up with ALL the networking sites, and man! I'm overwhelmed!!! I am a Myspace fluent, a master facebooker, a youtube genius, a hulu queen... but twitter? and blogging? Well, not so much! So, I, Sharon Lee Biddinger, promise that I will minimize my ridiculously.... ridiculous posts. I will try my hardest not to utterly humiliate myself- all while attempting to keep  you entertained! Or at least, get to know each other a little better!

Thanks for checking out my very first post!!!