This week, WedFog broke onto the First Page in Google for the search phrase, "wedding photographer" ahead of nearly 3 million other pages competing for the phrase! Results will vary depending on your geographic location, but some users are reporting seeing WedFog as high as fourth place. Not fourth page of Google. Fourth place on Page 1!

(Remember, you're looking for “wedding-photographers-directory.com” which is WedFog’s search engine friendly URL)

As our SEO savvy readers will know, a front page placement on Google constitutes a major victory on our way to the top. Traffic stats are up and many of our loyal members are expected to enjoy higher click through rates and more leads generated. This victory also comes hand-in-hand with higher rankings for targeted search phrases across dozens of metros. What does it all mean? WedFog is up, across the board!

The Digital Wedding Forum welcomes legendary wedding photographer Denis Reggie to the roster of speakers at DWF Convention 2009.

His seminar will feature both classic and never-before-shown images, and will offer behind the scenes stories that convey his inspiration and technique. His insight into the hows and whys of wedding photojournalism for the upscale market will debunk longstanding myths about this sought-after market segment.

Denis has remained at the very top of our profession during his thirty-plus years and this DWF presentation aims to explain exactly why at DWF Convention 2009.

Our cute little DWF Buy and Sell Forum has been shot with steroids! You’re now invited to visit the DWF Classifieds. What’s new? You can auction your gear the way they do on eBay. You can Buy it Now through Paypal. DWF Pro members can easily post photos and give feedback. There are a slew of new features, and the public is welcome to view the Buy and Sell classifieds.

The Positions and Weddings Available Forum has been folded into the Classified section, but it can only be viewed by DWF Pro Members.

Bowing to the demands of busy wedding photographers, DWF Convention 2009 will not be held over a weekend.  Our 5th annual convention will be held Sunday January 11th through Wed. January 14th, 2009, in Phoenix, Arizona!  Hotel and seminar line-up details are still to come.  (We'll get you to the huge ImagingUSA trade show in downtown Phoenix with free passes)  If you seek inspiration, education, and networking opportunities every waking moment, save the date and get ready to join us for an incredible experience in the desert at DWF Convention 2009 sponsored by Zookbinders. 

The Digital Wedding Forum is very proud to announce a health and life insurance for DWF Pro members in the USA!  This long-awaited benefit, available to eligible members, can save you up to 40% on your premiums.   Insurance is arranged through Association Health Professionals (AHP) - a company with 19 years experience in working with large groups like the DWF and major "A" rated insurance companies.  Find out how AHP can put the buying power of their 2-million clients to use for you: Details on this valuable new member benefit, visit this DWF Insurance website. 

(available in most states, based on eligibility, DWF Pro members only)

6-foot-1 bride Bridget Joy and 5-foot-3 groom Robert took an impromptu dip in the Grand Hyatt pool to end the Wedding From Hell.  The dripping wet "newlyweds" then splashed their way to the Grand Ballroom where they introduced Yervant's seminar, at DWF Convention 2008. 

Keynoter Tony Hewitt asked "would the child you were be proud of the adult you've become?" Jerry Ghionis had a Britney moment.  Hundreds cried with David Williams.  Jesh de Rox hugged everyone in his seminar.  Cliff Mautner nailed the harsh Florida light, and Jen Bebb ate Oreos, as many DWF members left calling Convention 2008 "the best photography event they've ever attended."

Hundreds of pix are inside in the DWF Convention Forum.  See Pulitzer Prize winning photographer Greg Gibson's Wedding from Hell Slideshow.

Photo by: Jason Davis

The Digital Wedding Forum is proud to be a sponsor Mystic 3, on January 28th in Mystic, Ct.

This event is a non-profit full day seminar series created by DWF member Walter Van Dusen. It's a "homegrown" event that has blossomed to more than 100 attendees, who'll see presentations from DWF members like Doug Boutwell, Neil Van Niekerk, and eight others. The price? Only $100. Speaker list and registration info.

There's a pre-Mystic dinner on Sunday evening Jan 28th, and all events are open to DWF members and non members alike.

Photo by Doug Boutwell

Winners have been announced in the DWF Finao Photo of the Year contest.  Congratulations to "Wedding Day" winner Rob Sigler for "Hospital Wedding" (pictured), "Couples" winner Robyn Mumford, and "People" winner Marco Simonelli.  Their photos were selected screened by our panel of judges, led by David A. Williams.  Winning images were selected by membership vote.  Each wins $500 in cash and prizes from Finao.

View the winning photos 

As of December 31st, 2007:

DWF Pro:  5,000 subscribing professional members
DWF Pro Gross:  Our members shot 168-million dollars worth of weddings in 2007.
DWF Start:  2,500 aspiring photographers who plan to turn pro.
Posts per week:  14,000

More than 500 Digital Wedding Forum members have registered for DWF Convention 2008 in Tampa!

They'll start the year with Yervant, Denis Reggie, Jerry Ghionis, Marcus Bell, the Bebbs, Cliff Mautner, Jesh de Rox, Jessica Claire and a host of great wedding photographers.  Plus, attendees will watch the most heinous matrimonial event in history, as The Wedding From Hell unfolds at the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay.  Four days of education, inspiration, and non-stop networking start January 4th!

The Digital Wedding Forum has unveiled WEDFOG The Wedding Photographers Directory - a brand-new bridal referral site exclusive for members of DWF Pro. This new site features an search engine friendly wedding photography directory, and includes exciting new features designed to put brides in direct contact with DWF photographers.

Contributions to the Wedfog photo gallery will be one key basis for photographer ranking: There's nothing subjective about where a photographer ranks in the listings. Articles, bridal FAQ, and a forum to connect wedding photographers with brides and grooms are all part of the new Wedfog site. Plus, the DWF has committed $100,000 to promotion and search engine optimization. [Full Details]

The best thing about The Wedding From Hell: You don't have to shoot it.

Three top wedding photographers will, at DWF Convention 2008. We'll stage a mock wedding at which everything goes wrong. Learn from the experts as they grapple with..

bridal meltdowns MOBridezilla short groom / tall bride

Uncle Bob in the aisle the videographer who won't budge dead CF cards, and much more...

Who's shooting The Wedding From Hell? Find out!
DWF Convention 2008 sponsored by Zookbinders

The Digital Wedding Forum has debuted two new features for DWF Pro members:

The DWF Wiki is an encyclopedia of wedding photography from Album Companies to Monte Zucker.  The just-launched DWF Wiki features entries being generated by our own members, who are now creating quick and easy reference section for Pro's who need a answers this minute.

DWF-TV is another brand new feature for DWF Pro members.  Our final beta features instructional videos, and trailers that some well-known photographers show their clients.  In the weeks ahead DWF-TV will feature instructional videos from a host of experts.  We also have a member submission section that permits any DWF Pro member to upload interesting video related to wedding photography and share with the community.

DWF Start has reached 1,300 members in six short weeks!  Without a doubt, it's the fastest growing professional wedding photography resource on the web. 

DWF Start is a unique place.  It is specifically for those who aspire to become wedding photographers, but it's not "just another photography forum."  DWF Start members interact with DWF Experts and Mentors and our DWF Pro members who answers countless questions for those planning to launch careers in wedding photography.   If you'd like to take a big step toward launching yours, apply for FREE DWF Start Membership.

The DWF has decided to refuse to accept advertisements from Bella Pictures.  Recruitment advertisements already placed have been pulled, and Bella has been refunded. This action comes at the behest of our membership. While Bella does train its freelance photographers, our members have strongly expressed that the future of small studio wedding photography is threatened by a national photography company aiming to capture 10% of America's 2.2 million weddings per year.

June 10, 2007- Today's Sunday New York Times features a article about brides trashing the dress. You'll find it in the Style section, a huge half-page including photos by DWF members! The article entitled "Is This Any Way to Treat Vera Wang" features work from DWF members Mark Eric, John Michael Cooper, the Wiebners, and Susan Stripling. 

Congratulations on coverage in one of the world's most esteemed newspapers, and to those featured on the NY Times website slideshow!

American Photo Magazine has published its list of The 10 Best Wedding Photographers in the World.  We're proud that all ten are DWF members!

Congratulations to DWF Moderators Joe Buissink and Jen Bebb (Jen and Steve Bebb are on the list), and to these awesome DWF members: Jeff Ascough, David Beckstead, Alisha & Brook Todd, Bambi Cantrell, Jerry Ghionis, Kevin Kubota, Christian Oth, and Denis Reggie!

Photo by Tying the Knot, Jen & Steve Bebb