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| Preston Dial and Scott Turkington |
Preston, Traci, Emma and Max, my heart is so full of gratitude for the friendship that you (Preston) blessed me with. I wouldn't forgive myself if I didn't tell you and your family just how special you are to me Preston. I messaged you a few days ago to let you know that me and my family would be coming from Alaska to Missouri in May to visit family and I asked if we could come see you. I was so happy you said yes. I sure hope we get that chance! I felt compelled tonight however to tell you and your family just what kind of impact you've had on my life.
When
I moved to Missouri from Alaska, I thought it would only be for a few
months for work. Before long though, I met the love of my life Hester
and I ended asking her to marry me. We were on a budget for our
wedding and I thought, being a videographer, perhaps I could do a
trade with a photographer and save us some money. The idea was that I
would make a promotional video for a photographer's business and they
in turn would photograph my wedding. I set out scouring the Internet
and reviewing every photographer's portfolio in the Springfield, MO
area. That's when I ran across “Preston Dial Photography”. I
quickly fell in love with your photos so I messaged you and a handful
of other photographers who's work I admired. Over and over my offer
was respectfully declined and I thought we might have to scrap part
of our wedding plans to hire a photographer or just skip hiring a
photographer all together. That was until you messaged me back! You
were very enthusiastic about the offer and before long, I was tagging
along with you and your next bride and groom to film you in Action.
Almost immediately I felt like I had known you for many years. You
were SUCH a positive person and a total ray of light for me. I didn't
know very many people in Springfield besides my wife and her family
as I was originally from Alaska so your kindness didn't go
unnoticed.
I soon had all the video I filmed that day put together and my half of our bargain was done.
I soon had all the video I filmed that day put together and my half of our bargain was done.
The Promotional Video I Made For Preston
Our wedding day was
getting closer and you photographed our engagement session. Hester
and I had never done something like that before and you made us feel
so at ease. You are a true professional and we were so excited for
our big day. The night before the wedding, my entire family had flown
in from out of town. We had a big dinner planned that evening with
the entire wedding party and family. Sometime that day I received a
call from you and that's when you broke the most devastating news.
Somehow in the excitement of our agreement you managed to double book
our wedding AND a paid client's wedding. I could hear the gut
wrenching tone in your voice as you broke the news. I got a huge pit
in my stomach and my head started swirling as to what we were going
to do. That is until you finally chimed in with a big “BUT” at
the end of your call. I snapped back into our conversation to hear
what you would say and that's when you said something that even I
couldn't predict. I already knew you were a special individual from
our interactions but even this blew me away. You proceeded to tell me
how you had hired another photographer to photograph our wedding. I
was speechless. I had tried to find a way to mutually help each other
out to save us both money and here I was, unable to afford to hire
another photographer on such short notice and yet you dug deep into
your own pockets. You spent money I KNOW you needed for your own family and made
good on the situation. It was SUCH a huge relief and yet I was filled
with guilt. You assured me over and over that I shouldn't worry about
it. That night, Travis Marler came to the dinner to get to know
everyone in the wedding party and prepare to shoot our wedding the
next day. He did an amazing job and I will never forget the
integrity, kindness and friendship you extended to me.
After the wedding, Hester and I stayed in Missouri. We had a few bumps making ends meet as my job in the alternative fuels industry took a hit after the financial crisis. You contracted with me to help edit your wedding albums and the money I earned was SOOOO greatly appreciated. You even convinced me I should try my hand at wedding videography since I already had the background in video. With your encouragement I reinvented myself. I built a website, edit a few old weddings I shot for friends into a few portfolio pieces to show clients and before long I was navigating an entirely new world of weddings. You took me under your wing and introduced me to some of the wedding vendors you knew. You also helped me get into a wedding show at the last minute. You even recommended me to a few clients and we had the pleasure of working on a few weddings together. You always let me use your photographs when we worked together to incorporate them into the bride and groom's video. You even helped me land a new website build for the church you and your family attended and for an event rental/planning company. The continual encouragement and support when I knew so few people in Missouri was HUGELY meaningful to me. My time filming weddings, and especially working with you are some of my fond memories from that time of my life.
Eventually Hester and I decided to move back to Alaska and I switched gears up here doing other work. Thanks to facebook though, I've been able to see you and your beautiful family these last few years. Your children probably don't remember me but now being a father myself, I've watched you with great admiration. You're an amazing Dad. The love for your children radiates from every photograph and video that you post. I've watched your amazing wife Traci stand by your side this entire time. I saw you give up photography as your health declined, something that was in your DNA. You still soldiered on for your family. I've watched Traci step up as you both navigated through this process. I've seen you help your children through this by staying as positive as anyone I could imagine. AND the ENTIRE time you've kept your unwavering devotion to your faith. You have truly taught me so many valuable lessons of friendship, how to face adversity with grace, how to stay steadfast in your beliefs when you could easily be bitter and angry. I've seen the comments on your post from others who feel the way I do about you. You've taught us all so much.
When I first met you I couldn't believe how kind you were to me but after all these years of watching you it's so incredibly obvious why.... because that's just who you are. You make us all feel special. Every bride and groom you ever photographed to captured their special moments in time, the friends, family, congregation at your church etc. etc. You make us all feel special. I sincerely hope I get to see you in May but if I don't my friend, I just wanted you to know I am a better person for having met you. My thoughts are with you tonight Preston and especially with Traci, Emma and Max. Thank you for being such a bright ray of light to so many and for allowing me to be your friend.
After the wedding, Hester and I stayed in Missouri. We had a few bumps making ends meet as my job in the alternative fuels industry took a hit after the financial crisis. You contracted with me to help edit your wedding albums and the money I earned was SOOOO greatly appreciated. You even convinced me I should try my hand at wedding videography since I already had the background in video. With your encouragement I reinvented myself. I built a website, edit a few old weddings I shot for friends into a few portfolio pieces to show clients and before long I was navigating an entirely new world of weddings. You took me under your wing and introduced me to some of the wedding vendors you knew. You also helped me get into a wedding show at the last minute. You even recommended me to a few clients and we had the pleasure of working on a few weddings together. You always let me use your photographs when we worked together to incorporate them into the bride and groom's video. You even helped me land a new website build for the church you and your family attended and for an event rental/planning company. The continual encouragement and support when I knew so few people in Missouri was HUGELY meaningful to me. My time filming weddings, and especially working with you are some of my fond memories from that time of my life.
Eventually Hester and I decided to move back to Alaska and I switched gears up here doing other work. Thanks to facebook though, I've been able to see you and your beautiful family these last few years. Your children probably don't remember me but now being a father myself, I've watched you with great admiration. You're an amazing Dad. The love for your children radiates from every photograph and video that you post. I've watched your amazing wife Traci stand by your side this entire time. I saw you give up photography as your health declined, something that was in your DNA. You still soldiered on for your family. I've watched Traci step up as you both navigated through this process. I've seen you help your children through this by staying as positive as anyone I could imagine. AND the ENTIRE time you've kept your unwavering devotion to your faith. You have truly taught me so many valuable lessons of friendship, how to face adversity with grace, how to stay steadfast in your beliefs when you could easily be bitter and angry. I've seen the comments on your post from others who feel the way I do about you. You've taught us all so much.
When I first met you I couldn't believe how kind you were to me but after all these years of watching you it's so incredibly obvious why.... because that's just who you are. You make us all feel special. Every bride and groom you ever photographed to captured their special moments in time, the friends, family, congregation at your church etc. etc. You make us all feel special. I sincerely hope I get to see you in May but if I don't my friend, I just wanted you to know I am a better person for having met you. My thoughts are with you tonight Preston and especially with Traci, Emma and Max. Thank you for being such a bright ray of light to so many and for allowing me to be your friend.
