So we started trashthedress.com last year to help build buzz for contributing photographers. Many of you have submitted, and the site has grown tremendously. It receives hundreds of hits daily from bridal forums.

I also receive numerous submissions- some are great, some aren't so great. I used to only post the decent entries, but now I barely have time to do that. So, I'm at a crossroad. Is it time to just let the site play out, is the TTD fad fading? (I know as an artists- it seems to be fading, but it's still gaining interest with brides)

Or, since we are receiving more hits daily now than ever, should we keep pressing on?

On one hand, I see a great opportunity for exposure, I just don't have the time to post the entries that are coming in. I don't mind keeping the site up, but I need help with submitting entries. If anyone has time to write a brief article, create a link, and post the pictures from submitting photographers- let me know. I'll set you up as an admin, and forward any quailfying submissions so you can post them.

In exchange- We'll create a link for you. Your name will go on all articles that you submit (in addition to the photographers), so you'll get a little publicity. We may even set up something where we can put your picture like Kailee on Blu's Blog.

I'd love to hear your thoughts, and I'm interested to see if anyone is interested in being an admin- I know most of us are extremely busy right now.

i think it's worth keeping. one of my brides actually sent the link *to me!* i thought that was funny. i still need to submit her photos (she asked!)

anyway, i wish i had the time to help you out with this, and i hope that you find someone who can!

i'd definitely not trash the site - get help if possible. It's just barely growing.. people think it's played out because they did a couple or saw a lot ... brides are JUST hearing about it.

On a sidenote, I'm about to start www.tiltedflareshots.com if anyone is interested. JUST KIDDING!

Mark,

I would be interested in being an admin and helping out with the site Let me know what I need to do and what my involvement would be. Hopefully my post made today was one worthy of the site

Big D

Mark Eric! WHY on earth didn't you just shoot me an email and say "Hey, can you help?" I'm PM'ing you right now.

Please don't trash the site, I am just starting to get my brides interested in this concept!!!! I'm no good at any of the things you need help with, But I am forever directing my clients there for inspiration!
Candy

Wow, thanks for all the responses. I've had a few PM's- thanks gang. We may get a full staff of editors. Keep responding if you're interested.

Dustin- you did great- you've got it figured out now- great pics. I'll set you up.


Vitae- I thought my Mom was scolding me for a minute. lol. Yes M'aam

Oops! Sorry! That's the 'mom' side coming out! It does that every once in a while - the older my kiddo gets, the more it shows it's ugly head!

You're right- it's just the "artist" in me thinking it's time for something fresh and new. The "businessman" is thinking that there are more possibilities with the site.

vs

I'll take it off your hands if you don't want it anymore :cheekygrin:


what!! no :cheekygrin: smiley!?!

You could always start the New Zealand version. I'm sure .nz is available?

(For some reason, I'm hearing that irritating Xena Warrior call in my head.....)

LALALALALALALALAALALALALALALALALALAAAA!


we all do it down here, it's an informal greeting - of sorts.

You are not allowed to get rid of it! Even though photographers have known about it for a while, brides are just starting to get wind of it and loving it. Through buzz I hear, it's helping a lot of photographers sell the idea to their brides, including me! You are just going through growing pains, and I'm glad to see others here who are in a position to help you manage the growth. Rock on!

Mark! Definitely DO NOT get rid of it! I would be willing to help out - send me a message and we can talk about it.

Rita

Please please please don't get rid of it!!!!!!
Brides are just now wanting to do this....

Hey Marc...

It's going to take some time to get brides to catch on... but I wouldn't give up on it. Hell, I'll wear a dress for ya and trash the heck out of it.

A lot of those shots look like they should be called "Drown the Bride."

Your cat pees in your cheerios every morning, doesn't he?

Yeahhhh --- I'm glad so many people can help. I agree - brides around here know nothing about "trash the dress." I think the whole idea is so much fun. Lea and I have 4 trash the dress sessions set up for next week to get some portfolio material to help give our brides more of an idea of what it means. We are also trying to tailer the session more to the bride's interests/lifestyle.

When I check my statcounter I get hits from all over the world that come from your site. Thank you so much for starting it!!!

mark - is u crazy? IS U CRAZY lol? i'd be happy to help let me know what u come up with seems like everyone is chiming in! Thanks for all you've done so far..

So I've been told TimCo- ha ha. Lots of people have volunteered, to help out- so we'll make it work. We have to make it work- I don't want to see Shane in a dress, lol.

Thanks to everyone who has volunteered. I'll get with you soon.

+1, just ask Meeks Digital, LOL

Hey! Don't stop! I want a TTD bride! Maybe I should like to TTD on my blog!

Don't get rid of it! Can I tell you how many people I have sent to that site, and how many people I have seen post about it on various places? A LOT. And I know people who stalk it, and refer other people to it, etc. Brides are really getting into it. And planning all kinds of ways to do day-after shoots even if they're not trashing their dresses....

did trevors cat actually pee in his cheerios??? she's a cutie, but man...that would horrible!! hahahahah!

mark i'm so glad you're keeping the site, we need it!

Apparently some people don't understand humor unless you add the appropriate emoticon.

Just have to say, Im glad you kept it goin!

So when I first read Shane's comment I thought he wrote that he'd get trashed and wear a dress. Or wear a dress and get trashed. Or something like that. Could be entertaining.

What are you guys talking about? I'm wearing a dress right now...

Gavin??? Oh, Gavin...

WOW....so glad Nataly and others stepped in to help you out....

+1!

i wish it would catch on over here - so far brides just look at me like i am a loon.

Ha ha- I see you dug this post up from the abyss. Too funny, I was wondering why I was getting e-mails from people wanting to help out again, this is great! (Just so everyone knows- this post was from several months back, Looks like Tiffany dug it up to say how glad she was that we didn't take the site down......and I am too. Thanks Tiffany (how's the baby by the way?)

Looks like TTD is safe for now, although I've made plans to carry on the concept (promoting artistic creative photography) once the TTD fad fades- (not saying it is....I'm just saying....)

In case you haven't seen our new venture...check out the new site that Sofie (Amorphia) is helping out on... www.dontboxmein.wordpress.com I hope to have a really cool flash site built for this, and a much easier to navigate referral list. Thanks to everyone who has helped, and offered to help. I'll be in touch.

Thanks!

hey i just wanted to say thanks for putting a link to my site. you rock!

julie b

Then put a girl in a used, cheap wedding dress and make your own "bride." I did that right before a big Open House, framed several prints, and got really great response to it! At first everybody was like, "Is she REALLY out in a lake in her dress? Why would she do that?!" Then when I started explaining about how some girls want something really cool and hip to remember their dress by, instead of just preserving it in a box, an awful lot of girls said they wanted to do it. Especially after I explained that the dress is often dry-cleanable afterwards. Even a lot of the moms thought it was a really fun idea.

I think more brides just need to see it and talk to a photographer about it so they can understand what it's all about.