27.6.08
Our AC is dead :0(
For the third time in our 2 month long home ownership adventure our AC has died. Apparently the home warranty people up in the nice, cool weather of Oregon don't seem to understand what our emergency is. Since our house is now in the 90's we've decided to take the prudent approach and not use our business computer at all until the problem is fixed. If the computer were to over heat by running a big program such as photoshop we could risk having even longer delays in getting your photos up to everyone. Needless to say we really appreciate everyones patience regarding anything to do with files & hope that you understand our decision to protect everyones memories. Thank you and we hope you have a nice, cool weekend!
25.6.08
a CHALLENGE!!
So while we were over at our amazing second shooter Jakes house last night we both decided to splurge and get the totally rad actions. For those of you that are not in the arts world, Totally Rad actions are these amazing little photoshop plug ins by a kick ass Boutwell photography team. Basically they help photographers achieve different looks for photos in the least destructive, simple way possible. Well, Jason and I get home and I'm all fired up to give them a whirl.... but, I figure while I'm at it why not make it a fun little challenge. So I emailed Jake challenging him to post a few images on his blog using the TRA's and I'd do the same, then whoever's image is the swankiest wins. Loser has to buy a big 'ole bag of coffee for the winner :0) Well, he posted his up here http://www.ericajoyce.com/blog/?p=421 and while I've got to admit they're pretty good I think I kicked his coffee lovin' butt. I dont usually post up SOOC, or straight out of camera shots because, well, because to a non photographer person they look pretty terrible. SOOOO for all of our clients viewing this please do not freak out when you see the originals and they are crazy dark- just remember we shoot natural light portraits (unlike Jakes) and we know what we're ultimately going to do with them in post processing. Here are a few of my challengers, along with their befores:
Ok, this one actually had a little bit of editing already done to it... I was just too lazy to pull the raw file
here it is with Lux and Flare
The rest of these are SOOC and from a recent engagement session (I finished editing them with these last night)
Yum... vintage goodness..... edited with pool party
edited with magic glasses and flare up
This one has yin/yang and pool party... I'm really loving pool party
So- what do you think? Who won????? Jake, I think we'll have to take this over to OPS to get some unbiased votes just in case your wife tries to sneak in a good word or two for you :0)
Hope you guys enjoyed our fun little contest!
Ok, this one actually had a little bit of editing already done to it... I was just too lazy to pull the raw file
here it is with Lux and Flare
The rest of these are SOOC and from a recent engagement session (I finished editing them with these last night)
Yum... vintage goodness..... edited with pool party
edited with magic glasses and flare up
This one has yin/yang and pool party... I'm really loving pool party
So- what do you think? Who won????? Jake, I think we'll have to take this over to OPS to get some unbiased votes just in case your wife tries to sneak in a good word or two for you :0)
Hope you guys enjoyed our fun little contest!
12.6.08
awesome day of advice: wedding timelines
We get questions all the time from brides regarding their day of timelines. While we dont mind helping a bit to fine tune your day of schedule, here is some awesome advice from photographer Anne Ruthmann (with our photos in the mix). If I were getting married all over again I'd definitely print this one out. Whether you're planning to do it yourself or hiring a coordinator, these are some great tips to keep in mind.....................
Your timeline is one of the biggest factors in the success of your event. So many things go into creating a timeline that works, so I wanted to share a few ideas about things to consider when it comes to creating your perfect wedding day timeline.
Getting ready at a salon can give you access to more stylists at once as well as credit card processing and any other amenities that the salon offers. Having stylists come to you at your home, hotel, or ceremony site can allow you to roll out of bed at the last minute, have snacks or drinks of your choice on hand, and hang out in your pajamas until you're ready to get dressed. You may also want to take into consideration the kind of environment that helps you feel more relaxed. Some people may think a hotel room is great until they have 10 people in the same room all running around frantically while others feel uneasy starting the day with navigating traffic alone and being away from everything else they need to get ready. Choose an option that will help you start your day off right.
When considering where to get dressed, take into consideration how much stuff you'll have to bring with you as well as how comfortable you feel traveling in your dress. Some people prefer to get dressed at their ceremony site so that they don't have to risk getting their gown dirty or wrinkled by riding in a car or limo. Others prefer to get dressed at their home or hotel so that they don't have to lug a bunch of items to their ceremony site and repack it after the ceremony. No solution is better than any other, they are just different preferences. If you plan your photographer to be there while you get ready, you may also want to consider the surroundings in which your getting ready moments will be photographed, as well as any travel time involved between locations.
Ceremony
Your officiant is going to be the best guide as to how long your ceremony is going to take. Guests generally start arriving up to 30 minutes before the scheduled starting time for the wedding (really!), which means that the wedding party and family need to be ready to receive guests or be out of view from guests as they arrive. There's a myth that most weddings start late. Maybe it's just my fabulous brides, but most weddings I've been to start on time or within 5 minutes of being on time! Some ceremony locations have strict times for when weddings need to be out of the site in order to accommodate another service or perhaps another wedding, which is why it's even more important for your wedding to begin on time.
Reception
Whether your reception is immediately following or at a set time, guests will gladly enjoy cocktails and hors d'oeuvres for up to an hour before getting anxious about your arrival. If you have an extended amount of time between your ceremony and reception (more than two hours) than it may be good to provide suggestions for your guests as to where they could stop in the meantime. Less than two hours and you may have guests who arrive at the reception site early. If your ceremony and reception are in the same place, a cocktail hour may or may not be needed- obviously your reception site will have the best recommendations for you. The scheduled dinner time is often the least flexible time in the wedding day since the kitchen has been working most of the day to get the meal provided by a certain time.
If you're doing a grand entrance, it takes about 15 minutes to get wedding parties organized and guests seated before announcing the bride & groom. Toasts generally don't take more than 15 minutes (unless you know you have a long winded friend or family member) and can be done before the meal begins, while the meal is in progress, or after the meal. If you have champagne service for the toasts, you'll want to know when the reception site can pour the champagne for the guests. If you plan to have your cake served as dessert, you may want to consider cutting it as part of your grand entrance so that it can be served immediately after dinner. The later your cake is cut, the less likely it is that everyone will actually get a piece of cake, or even know that it was cut, which could result in lots of left overs. Your caterer will give you the best idea of how long the table or buffet service will take for the number of guests that you have. Buffet service often takes less time than plated dinners because everything is served at once versus several different courses. After dinner is served, there's generally a good two hours of partying if you have a young and lively crowd. Most older people or parents with kids at home tend to leave by 10-10:30 pm, leaving you with the people who will generally stay until the bar closes. Of course, every crowd is different and obviously you will know your crowd better than anyone else.
Final Thoughts
You hire professionals because they are experts at what they do. They've seen it all and they know what works and what doesn't work. Don't be afraid to call on the people you've hired to help you create a plan for success. They want to make sure you and your guests have a great experience and are often happy to help make sure that happens.
Have I mentioned how much I love Anne for doing this! She seriously rocks! Here is her site in case you'd like to leave her a bit of love! http://www.anneruthmann.com/
Your timeline is one of the biggest factors in the success of your event. So many things go into creating a timeline that works, so I wanted to share a few ideas about things to consider when it comes to creating your perfect wedding day timeline.
Getting Ready
Most weddings that start late are because of hair & makeup. Doing a trial can not only help give you a good estimate of how much time it will take, but it will help you figure out exactly what you want your wedding day style to be so that you aren't spending time figuring it out on the wedding day. You also have to consider the benefits and drawbacks about where you'll be getting ready and how many people from your bridal party will be getting ready with you. Whether you get ready at a salon or have a stylist come to you, figure that each person will need about one hour of a stylist's time, and the bride may need two hours or more depending on the complexity of the styling. So while one stylist could take care of 5 girls in 5-6 hours, two stylists may be able to do the same work in only 2.5-3 hours. If bridesmaids are planning to use their own stylists or go to their own salon, suggest that they make their appointment at least 2 hours plus travel before they need to be anywhere.Getting ready at a salon can give you access to more stylists at once as well as credit card processing and any other amenities that the salon offers. Having stylists come to you at your home, hotel, or ceremony site can allow you to roll out of bed at the last minute, have snacks or drinks of your choice on hand, and hang out in your pajamas until you're ready to get dressed. You may also want to take into consideration the kind of environment that helps you feel more relaxed. Some people may think a hotel room is great until they have 10 people in the same room all running around frantically while others feel uneasy starting the day with navigating traffic alone and being away from everything else they need to get ready. Choose an option that will help you start your day off right.
When considering where to get dressed, take into consideration how much stuff you'll have to bring with you as well as how comfortable you feel traveling in your dress. Some people prefer to get dressed at their ceremony site so that they don't have to risk getting their gown dirty or wrinkled by riding in a car or limo. Others prefer to get dressed at their home or hotel so that they don't have to lug a bunch of items to their ceremony site and repack it after the ceremony. No solution is better than any other, they are just different preferences. If you plan your photographer to be there while you get ready, you may also want to consider the surroundings in which your getting ready moments will be photographed, as well as any travel time involved between locations.
Portraits
Some photographers are very particular about when and how they do portraits, so you'll want to consult with your photographer to define the best plan of action for portraits based on your photographer's preferred working style and the kind of posed images you want. If you're trying to decide between portraits before or after the ceremony, here are a few things to consider: Before the ceremony, your makeup and outfits are fresh, you can have a private moment together before everyone arrives and pulls you in multiple directions, and you can reduce the amount of time that guests wait after the ceremony before sitting down for dinner. After the ceremony you may have to wait for all of your guests clear out before you can begin portraits, but you may care slightly less about the condition of your gown or tux and be willing to take a few more risks when it comes to creative portraits. Whatever you choose, make sure that the flowers will be ready when and where your portraits will be taken. The time of day may also influence when you would do most of your portraits, especially if you plan to have an evening or sunset ceremony. If your guests will be heading directly to the reception site, consider how long they will be waiting for your arrival. Whether you choose to do portraits before or after, the ceremony itself will remain the most powerful and emotional experience of the day.
Ceremony
Your officiant is going to be the best guide as to how long your ceremony is going to take. Guests generally start arriving up to 30 minutes before the scheduled starting time for the wedding (really!), which means that the wedding party and family need to be ready to receive guests or be out of view from guests as they arrive. There's a myth that most weddings start late. Maybe it's just my fabulous brides, but most weddings I've been to start on time or within 5 minutes of being on time! Some ceremony locations have strict times for when weddings need to be out of the site in order to accommodate another service or perhaps another wedding, which is why it's even more important for your wedding to begin on time.
Reception
Whether your reception is immediately following or at a set time, guests will gladly enjoy cocktails and hors d'oeuvres for up to an hour before getting anxious about your arrival. If you have an extended amount of time between your ceremony and reception (more than two hours) than it may be good to provide suggestions for your guests as to where they could stop in the meantime. Less than two hours and you may have guests who arrive at the reception site early. If your ceremony and reception are in the same place, a cocktail hour may or may not be needed- obviously your reception site will have the best recommendations for you. The scheduled dinner time is often the least flexible time in the wedding day since the kitchen has been working most of the day to get the meal provided by a certain time.
If you're doing a grand entrance, it takes about 15 minutes to get wedding parties organized and guests seated before announcing the bride & groom. Toasts generally don't take more than 15 minutes (unless you know you have a long winded friend or family member) and can be done before the meal begins, while the meal is in progress, or after the meal. If you have champagne service for the toasts, you'll want to know when the reception site can pour the champagne for the guests. If you plan to have your cake served as dessert, you may want to consider cutting it as part of your grand entrance so that it can be served immediately after dinner. The later your cake is cut, the less likely it is that everyone will actually get a piece of cake, or even know that it was cut, which could result in lots of left overs. Your caterer will give you the best idea of how long the table or buffet service will take for the number of guests that you have. Buffet service often takes less time than plated dinners because everything is served at once versus several different courses. After dinner is served, there's generally a good two hours of partying if you have a young and lively crowd. Most older people or parents with kids at home tend to leave by 10-10:30 pm, leaving you with the people who will generally stay until the bar closes. Of course, every crowd is different and obviously you will know your crowd better than anyone else.
Final Thoughts
You hire professionals because they are experts at what they do. They've seen it all and they know what works and what doesn't work. Don't be afraid to call on the people you've hired to help you create a plan for success. They want to make sure you and your guests have a great experience and are often happy to help make sure that happens.
Have I mentioned how much I love Anne for doing this! She seriously rocks! Here is her site in case you'd like to leave her a bit of love! http://www.anneruthmann.com/
4.6.08
In Austin
Jason and I will be in Austin until Saturday. If you need to get a hold of us please shoot us an email and we'll respond asap. If it's an emergency please call my cell. Thanks
3.6.08
Rebecca and Ben
Rebecca and Ben met up with us a few weeks ago to shoot their engagement session. We had a great time touring historic Grapevine with them! Enjoy!
Jess and Kris
Marcy and I ventured down to San Antonio in March to shoot my friends Jess and Kris' wedding. It was the quickest turn around time I've ever had- we did a wedding saturday night until past midnight and I was on a plane to San Antonio by 9:30am, talk about a crazy weekend! Kris is in the military and will be heading out on a tour of duty soon, every please keep him and Jess in your prayers/thoughts/meditation over the next year. Since they're not our regular clients I'll only post a few on here, but their ceremony site was gorgeous!
Many, many warm thanks to Marcy for joining me out of the kindness of her heart! I still owe you a margarita girl!
Many, many warm thanks to Marcy for joining me out of the kindness of her heart! I still owe you a margarita girl!
Lori and Mark are getting married
Lori and Mark are getting married in just a week and a half! We're so excited to be celebrating and I can tell you that Lori will be one beautiful bride. I'm in a bit of a black and white mood, so here are a few of my favorites from their engagement session, including lots of black and whites. Enjoy!
PS. Jill, one of our past clients joined me on this shoot. I hope she had as much fun as I did!
This is pretty much the exact spot that Mark popped the question! It was great to re-visit their engagement with them
Um yeah, how incredible was the light that evening! Note to self, shoot everything at 7pm
Mark was in construction for a while, so we thought this was a fun way to finish out the session
See you guys very soon!
PS. Jill, one of our past clients joined me on this shoot. I hope she had as much fun as I did!
This is pretty much the exact spot that Mark popped the question! It was great to re-visit their engagement with them
Um yeah, how incredible was the light that evening! Note to self, shoot everything at 7pm
Mark was in construction for a while, so we thought this was a fun way to finish out the session
See you guys very soon!
for our friend jake
This weekend, while shooting a wedding, our lovely second shooter Jake reminding me **ahem** HARASSED me about my lack of blog updating. So today while I'm burning disks I decided to create a special little blog post for our friend. In all honesty, we adore Jake and his family. He's been a great addition to our business and truly a friend. Here are a few of my favorite Jake moments of late
Helping me check out the light for formals this weekend
Why Jake... what a... lovely smile you have
A few weeks ago Jake and Erica hosted a wii bowling party for his birthday. Here are a few fun ones from that night.
Check out the hardcore bracket that Erica created
Speaking of, here is the beautiful Erica
And lastly, here is a 'self portrait' of the hardworking boys
We hope you guys have a safe and happy vacation! See ya when you get home!
Helping me check out the light for formals this weekend
Why Jake... what a... lovely smile you have
A few weeks ago Jake and Erica hosted a wii bowling party for his birthday. Here are a few fun ones from that night.
Check out the hardcore bracket that Erica created
Speaking of, here is the beautiful Erica
And lastly, here is a 'self portrait' of the hardworking boys
We hope you guys have a safe and happy vacation! See ya when you get home!
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