Cool little gift...

So as I was perusing Etsy* looking for neat things I came across this little gem and had to share it...

Ego Award Ring
How cool is this ring . . .AND, you can get it engraved with anything you want. It's hand made in Argentina and costs $20 ($6 shipping anywhere). How awesome would these be as bridesmaids gifts, thank yous... heck even just a simple "Love"...

As a side note I have to pay props to my friend Nicole who is in the process of opening an AWESOME store on Mackinac this year... called "Little Luxuries of Mackinac Island".. once her website is up I'll let you all know... this place is going to be THE place to by not only great little Mackinac things but little gifts that can be incorporated into your weddings... she is the one who got me turned on to Etsy (an awesome shopping site for all things handmade and special... some really really cool and unique things here... check it all out)

Have a fun day!

Love,
A

Wedding Magazines...

So... this morning I wandered into Borders to look for Grace Ormonde Wedding Style Magazine.. and this is what I saw...
My goodness... when did the newstands all of a sudden become flooded with Bridal Magazines... not that I'm complaining... I LOVE wedding magazines (as I should...).. but a bride must be a little afraid (although EXCITED) every time she comes near the rack... or at least her fiance should be as she walks to the checkout with EIGHTEEN magazines to peruse... talk about making your head spin...

Just to help sort out a few ... below is a list of my fav's...

Grace Ormonde (which by they way was already sold out this morning)
Your Wedding Day (and awesome national mag... located right here in So Cal)
The Knot
Brides
Real Simple Weddings
Martha Stewart Weddings

Have fun reading this weekend!!

Love,
A

Style Me Pretty... my newest favorite online find...

I am so excited to explore this blog more... it is the perfect little place to get advice on all things beautiful and wedding (from color palettes to vendors and everything in between) ... Abby has done an amazing job at creating a site that is all-inclusive, user friendly, and

To all my brides... check this out... ASAP... Style Me Pretty http://www.stylemepretty.com

Have fun exploring...

Love,
A

A great gift for winery weddings

The wedding I shot this weekend had the cutest little gifts for each guest. We were at Zenith Winery outside Portland... so what perfect gift then wine bottle stoppers... and the glass was hand etched by a relative... and what a beautiful presentation (Everyone loves opening a present)Another GREAT option for winery gifts, is a local Santa Barbara company, Santa Barbara Wine Corks and you don't just have to be from SB, Greg will work with people worldwide. I met the owner Greg Orlando at the SB Sunday Artwalk a few weeks ago and was so impressed that I had to write about it. In fact I already have a shop owner talking with him back on Mackinac.
Just a little inspiration for this rainy Monday afternoon...

Love,
A

A new favorite gadget...

Check it out.... its the flip video... personalized and everything... its a mini-HD video camera (smaller than an ipod).

I can't wait to start experimenting and incorporating it into my photography... stay tuned... I'll be playing with it this weekend at a wedding in Portland, Oregon.

WPPI... my mind has been blown wide open!

Imagine...
10,000 wedding photographers in 1 hotel for 1 conference from all over the world...

How could one not be blown away by this!!

I was so thrilled (and nervous) to attend my first WPPI... it was all I had imagined... and WAY more. The people I met were amazing, helpful, and supportive beyond expectation. Everyone of us were there for the same reason, to support and celebrate each other in an industry we love!!

Too much entered my little brain this weekend to even try and filter it for you. Just know that I am so stoked, inspired, and ready to take my photography, my clients, and my passion to a whole new level.

There are a few people I want to throw out props out to for personally expanding my horizons beyond what they were a week ago...

You all rock in so many ways!!! Some of you I met personally ... others , I was one of many listening from the crowd taking notes as your words shifted my mind into new and exciting directions... thank you to...
Marcus Bell
Joe Bussink
Nancy Emmerich & Rose Coleman
Jim Garner
Justin & Mary Marantz
Frank Salas
JB & Deettee Sallee
And a special thanks to ... Mike Larson...
(dude, seriously... your "party of 4" and support for my business has inspired me to lead more and make a difference with my photography beyond my clients and myself.. and to Rachel... your brownies ROCKed girl!! It was such a pleasure to meet you both.)

Oh, one more very special thanks to ShootQ . . . the AWESOME new studio management program I'm using. All you guys and Jennifer are amazing. I am so stoked I got to meet you. Jonathan thanks again for answering all my questions... I can't wait to start utlizing everything ShootQ does. yippee... it actually makes me excited about the business side of photography...

May you all be inspired by those around you; be them peers, mentors, or strangers on the street... then take this inspiration and pay it forward! ...that's what I plan on doing!

Love,
A

I promise pics will be all over the next blog entry.... I just had to share about WPPI!!!

Kali & Carey's Engagement...

A couple of days ago I was thrilled to meet up with Kali & Carey to photograph their engagement pictures. I will be shooting their wedding in May . .. and I can't wait.

As I was saying yesterday, I love to shoot engagement pictures. They are wonderful opportunities to get to know my couples, have fun, and figure out how to help them relax in front of the camera before the big day.

Kali and Carey were no exception. We laughed and laughed. It was hard to miss the way they looked at each other. Out of nowhere Carey would just pick Kali up and hold her tight. I love it when I see such joy between two people. To see more pics, take a look at the slide show below.

Congrats again Kali & Carey!! I can't wait to be a part of your beautiful day!

Love,
A

Click here for the slide show

On the other side of the camera...

I figured since I just experimented with my hair (a first . . . almost blonde .. . yikes) and my mother (who is across the country) is dying to see what it looks like... it was time for me to step in front of the camera.

Every year I force myself from behind the lens to step in front of it for once. It really helps me remember what it's like to have a camera in your face. . .and how flippin' uncomfortable it can be . . . I don't like having my picture taken to begin with much less doing it with "experimental" hair... (and as every girl knows ... one's hair can say a lot.... and I am not quite sure what mine is saying right now) ... Okay enough about the hair...

I think often times photographers forget what its like to be the subject of a photo shoot. When your photographing brides and grooms who aren't used to being surrounded by the paparazzi its important to step into THEIR shoes once and a while. . . . Every time I do this (even if its only for a few minutes) it reminds me how important it is to make my couples and clients feel comfortable with me and almost forget that there's even a camera there. I try to chat with them, relax, put them in a general pose then let them be free and natural... its really up to me to catch the moment. . .not to create it!!

This is one reason I think an Engagement Shoot is important its kind of like a "practice run" before the big day... I get to hangout with my couple, without any nerves or schedule... its probably one of my favorite things to shoot!

So when looking at photographers. ... think about asking them how they handle formal shots, how they postion their subjects. . .and most importantly... TALK with them .. decide if you like their personality and if you want to hang out with them your entire wedding day (since you will be spending more time with your photographer than with anyone else)!!!

Hope this helps a bit. . .

Here's to stepping outside your comfort zone once in awhile!!

Love,
A

A place for Mackinac couples to chat with each other...

I just wanted to let all you Mackinac Island couples know that I just started a "thread" on Best Destination Wedding. . . .this is a great forum for all of you Mackinac couples to chat and communicate with each other about your past experiences and/or your future plans...

click on the image below to access the forum... just sign up ... and look under the "east coast" section of the "Mainland US" category

BDW... Best Destination Wedding Forum...

Two great wedding resources . . . Destinations & Mackinac

I just found two great new resources that I had to share with all of you...

Best Destination Wedding
(http://www.bestdestinationwedding.com)
This one is AWESOME for all things destination (my good photographer friend Nate Thompson told me about this forum) . .. I just joined and am really excited to start exploring it more. I know it has great reference information having to do with Trash the Dress, and destinations around the world. Its a wonderful place to talk with other brides... and not be bothered by vendors (they have very strict rules about vendor participation... which I love... I'm not much of a sales girl)

Mackinac Island Weddings.. the blog (http://www.mackinacislandweddings.blogspot.com)
and THIS one is awesome for all things Mackinac Wedding style. Its a great reference for planning an island wedding, have questions answered directly from professionals, and see who, what where, and especially WHY things are done the way they are on the island... Keep an eye on this one, I'll be a contributing writer in the future discussing photography related issues and what all couples should know about their wedding photos.

Hope this helps!!

Love,
A

Engagement pics. . . a million uses...

I am so excited. Next September I am going to be shooting this wonderful couple in Mexico... I just love destination weddings... there is always this extra sense of vacation and relaxation thrown into the whole affair... always adding for an amazing party!! Everyone who is there is there because they want to be there!!

So, I did Elizabeth & Will's engagement shoot a few months ago (check out their slideshow to the right). They are so much fun I can't say enough great things about them... well, I just recieved their save the date in the mail... another reason I love them . . .they used one of the pics.

Which brings me to my point... I love Engagement shoots not only does a couple walk away with a ton of pics showing their different personalities from goofy, to casual, to the "I'm so in love I can't take my eyes off you look" BUT there are a million ways to use them throughout the year of wedding stuff... below is just a list of a few ideas... but there are plenty more and a million ways to be creative...

So next time you wonder why have an engagement shoot think of these:

Save the dates
Thank You cards
Event Cards (that give the website to your wedding pics)
Guestbooks
Casual Invitations
Special Table decor
Specialized Stamps (seriously . .they are cool)
You could even have the images transferred to cookies if you want

Ideas are endless...

Another great thing about these shoots it gives you the opportunity to get to know your photographer and get comfortable before the big day!!

Can't wait for Mexico you two... yeah!!!

Love,
A

Get Registered...

So I just wanted to share with you my new favorite thing I'm offering... okay so it's not so new... but I thought I would write about since I think it is soooo neat and very few people have taken advantage of it.

I always have a hard time knowing what to get a couple that's getting married. Being a part of the industry and also being a professional wedding guest (I've averaged 5-7 weddings a year for about 10 years now . . .NOT including the one's I shoot)... I know how important it is NOT to veer off the registry. Each Bride and Groom spend days stressing about what to register for and even though you may think it's boring and impersonal to get them one tea saucer in their set of 10 . . . remember that's what they want!!

So being the creative type. . . I always battle back and forth on how to buy a pretty, creative gift . . off the registry of plates, saucers, and bowls... well . . .here's the solution

Build a Registry...
It's a great way to register for all things offered by a vendor ... and in my case PHOTOGRAPHY. All I know is I would much rather give the gift of a photograph then a saucer (but that's just me)... I am a bit biased. So keep this in mind and ask your vendors about it

One last thing, I had a very close friend get married in a VERY small town in Mexico. I was so impressed and touched by the way her wedding came about that I always thought to myself... now this makes sense. Each family or guest would take a separate aspect of the wedding and "gift" it to the couple... one family would bake the cake, another would host it, another would help decorate . .. etc etc... In fact the most touching weddings I attend and shoot are those created by their family and friends.

If you think about it, a lot of couples these days already have everything they need for a home (or double that)... so this is a way to not only help with the cost of the wedding but also include a sense of love and giving to the entire event.

Just my thoughts on this rainy day in Santa Barbara
(which BTW makes me smile and want to curl up with a blanket and watch a good romantic comedy)

Get Cozy ....

Love,
A