Baseball is in my blood...

Hey everybody! I am going to a Cubs game tonight!!! Woohoo!!!!!!!!!!
Then, I realized I haven't even blogged about my last baseball game. Ellie, Mere, and I went to the Naturals game last weekend and had a super-fantastic time! I took a cool panoramic shot of the field, and then some silly shots of us. Then after we won (the black and white photo below) there was a kickin' fireworks show. Enjoy!

Lauren :: Senior fashion shoot

So here are my favorites from my senior fashion portrait shoot with Lauren. The same Lauren who works for me and will continue to work for me next year when she moves to Arkansas. We had a great time taking her pictures, and I made sure to explain everything I was doing and why I was doing it.

Enjoy my faves!
D

Kyla :: Senior fashion session

Hey everybody! I know it's been a few days. It's not that I'm not working, it's that I'm working too much! I've been photographing like crazy, and now Meredith and I are in Chicago (another blog on that to come!).

My blog is sort of backed up - I could almost do two posts a day for awhile! So, what I'm saying is, stay tuned. I'll be updating it a lot in the upcoming days with lots of really great images!

I wanna start where I left off: with a really great senior fashion shoot. This time, it's of Kyla. Enjoy!

Talk soon,
Dale

Amanda :: Senior Fashion Session

This weekend was a crazy big weekend for us. As you know we endured the 5k and shot a wedding Saturday, but we also had 4 more shoots, all our senior fashion shoots, before we headed back to Fayetteville.

Today's post is of Amanda from Carl Junction. We went to some new places. Actually, pretty much all the locations we went this weekend were new to me; Late in the year, it's hard to have that many different places, but it's also important to me to give each senior unique portraits.

We found a really great field near her Carl Junction home that I loved, and then we ran around downtown Joplin for some urban style portraits.

Enjoy!
D$













We are currently not taking any more seniors for the 07-08 school year. However, if you're a junior and are interested in our senior fashion session, email me (dalebenfield@gmail.com) or Lauren Schwab (laurenschwab89@gmail.com)

Vendor Spotlight :: Festivities

Hi, it’s Meredith! Dale and I decided a few months back that we wanted to use our blog to promote other locally owned wedding vendors! So we’ve decided to start doing a “Vendor Spotlight” every week or two.

We began our “Vendor Spotlight” journey in Springdale at Festivities! We went in a couple weeks back and made ourselves comfortable. We love it there! I took some time to talk with Craig while Dale got some cool shots of their showroom floor. It’s a pretty cool place for brides and event planners because they have all kinds of event displays set up for ideas!

Location: 1374 Carley Road, Springdale (right off Sunset)

Owners: Craig and Lori Bova

Website: www.efestivities.com

Phone number: 479.750.8981

How long have you been in business? “About 4 years.”

What sets you apart from other rental companies? “In the rental business, tables are tables but we make sure to offer good, clean tables at fair prices. We’re also dependable!”

Favorite part about the business? “Creating good events!”

What makes Festivities unique? “We own our own tents and can offer them in any size. We also clean our tents after every event, which keeps them looking nice all season long.”

Mere’s bottom line: Festivities is a cool place with down to earth, local owners. Their prices are low and their inventory is huge!! I definitely recommend them!









If you are a locally owned business in the NW Arkansas wedding industry and would like to be considered for our vendor spotlight, please email Meredith at Meredith.Mcclary+vendorspotlight@gmail.com

Details from Saturday's wedding...

After the 5k Saturday, Meredith and I got thinking... that's just not enough to do in one day. So, we hopped in the car and headed off to photograph a wedding (not in our running gear, of course). Though we were tired, we caught a second wind when we saw the details of Christy and Troy's wedding at her parents' home in Joplin, MO. Later, we'll post more images from the day, but here are a few detail shots so you see what I mean.

Talk to you soon,
Dale

P.S. If you haven't already, subscribe to this blog! All you do is type your email into the blank to the right. Then, in your inbox, just confirm it. Feel free to tell your friends and family to do the same!

Go!! Brides for the Cure is a tremendous success!!

(part 3 of 3)

Hey everybody!
After officially snagging 10th place, Brides for the Cure is officially over! We had a great time with our brides and JBailey Occasions, Sincerely Yours, and Benfield Photography were so proud to sponsor our time and raise money for a wonderful cause. We had so much fun, in fact, that we are already making plans for a bigger and better team next year!

Below is our slideshow Benfield Photography shot of the event. I hope you enjoy it - there's a nearly INVISIBLE play button in the very middle of the slideshow frame.

Thank you all so much for your support!
Dale

Get Set...

Part 2 of 3 in the Brides for the Cure series includes our pick up party Friday night complete with ice-cold smoothies on an ice-cold evening. No bother, we had a great time!

Jenessa mixing smoothies - which were a big hit with the baseball teams up the hill!


My Amy-Picture-of-the-day...


I never make the blog, so I thought I'd give myself a shot...


Getting ready for the big race...


The presenting sponsors:


Tomorrow, I'll have the wrap up post and a great little slideshow, so make sure and come back!

Dale

On your mark...

It's almost here! Brides for the Cure, our team for the Komen Race for the Cure is tomorrow morning at Arvest Ballpark in Springdale. Jenessa Bailey, Amy Hannon, and I (and Mere) have been working hard today getting ready for the big race. Our brides and we have collectively raised well over 2000 dollars for finding a cure, and are (about tied) in 10th place in a pool of over 200 teams!

So, here's my last request of you: If you feel like giving to this great cause go here: Race Website Search Page (type in my name)
and make a donation for our team!

Below are some pictures of our workday today at Festivities and Sincerely Yours. It was totally fun and hardly seemed like work. That is, until I had to alphabetize our bags. Blugh. I hate alphabetical order.

I'll be posting more pictures from our party tonight, our breakfast tomorrow, and the race following. Also tomorrow, Mere and I will be photographing a wedding in Joplin, MO, so it's going to be a busy (but awesome) day!

Talk to you soon!
Dale

Kara and Jared's custom engagement website...

Hello! I've been working on a really intricate webdesign for Kara and Jared's engagement website. If you remember, K and J are the couple Meredith and I just photographed in Tulsa. They were so fun to shoot! Click on the image below to be taken to their custom-designed website. Or, you can go to: www.benfieldphotography.net/karajared.html
Enjoy!

Getting ready for the race,
Dale

Bigger is Better!

Hey everybody!
I've been working and thinking non-stop for the past few days about how to make this blog kickin' (um, more than it already does... ha ha). So, I came up with a sweet redesign with some killer big photos. As many of you know, I know html and can whip up websites like there's no tomorrow. But blogs are another story, another world. I was getting frustrated. As a matter of fact, all my hair fell out. When you see me next, you'll see that I'm quite bald.

But then it hit me! Just like everything else in my life... it showed up when I stopped forcing it. I won't let you in on the secret because 1) I want this to be the raddest blog in town and 2) It would be dreadfully boring. So much so that you'd probably vow to never visit again.

So, just sit back an enjoy, not knowing what goes on behind the scenes. But knowing that I did it just for you.

To celebrate big images, and to celebrate upcoming full-fledge wedding season (it officially kicks off this Saturday), Meredith and I thought we'd pay homage to our favorite wedding images from past season. Enjoy our stroll down memory lane.

Talk to you soon,
Dale

Destini: Senior fashion portrait shoot

Hey everybody!
Below are some rockin' images Meredith took at a senior fashion shoot this weekend in Joplin, MO. I love pretty much everything about them - she did a fantastic job! Agree? Leave comments and let her know what you think!
Talk again soon,
Dale

Becca: Senior Fashion Session

Hey everybody!
It's a bit late, so I'm going to be less than my wordy self. I photographed Becca's senior portraits this weekend in Joplin, MO. We went a couple locations I hadn't been in years. I love they unique images we captured at her shoot! Check it out below.
Talk to you tomorrow!
Dale