Weddings
&&) I hate salads but could live on fruit. I have no musical ability what-so ever! I’ve been tearing pictures and ideas out of magazines way before Pinterest. I’m an open book and love to make other people smile! I have fallen back in love with film and am incorporating it in with my digital work. Film perfectly fits my style of Bright, Warm, and Romantic. I prefer lightly edited images that are full of light, softness, warmth, and of course, emotion. I love what I do and I hope it shows! I’m so excited to work with you and feel so honored that you’re trusting me with such a special time in your lives; I don’t take that lightly. I know you have a million things on your plate right now and would love to do whatever I can to help! I put together this magazine to hopefully try to help you navigate some of it. Inside you’ll find why I love to photograph engagement sessions, tips for planning your wedding day timeline, plus lots more! I can’t cover everything here though so you’re always welcome to drop me a line, give me a call, or suggest a chat over frozen yogurt. love, katie
",-.$ ))% First, let’s define what a First Look is: A First Look is an opportunity for you and your fiance to see each other prior to the ceremony. You may have as many or as few people there as you’d like. Generally, you choose a location and the photographer sets up to capture both of you as you see each other for the first time. Benefits. There are potentially many benefits to doing a first look. One of the biggest benefits includes the ability to choose the location. Often if you have an outdoor ceremony that can mean harsh light which is less than ideal for photographs so choosing a first look can mean more flattering photos. Also, you can limit the number of people and enjoy a moment between just the two of you, without pressure. Doing a First Look also generally means you’re able to take the photos of the bridal party and bride and groom photos prior to the ceremony which in turn means less time away from your guests during the cocktail hour.
Downsides. There are also potential downsides to a First Look, the biggest being that it is not the tradional way. Many couples appreciate the sacredness of waiting until they’re walking down the aisle to see each other. There is a special moment when you lay eyes on each other for the first time as you take those initial steps to beginning your life together. I do want to emphasize that if you choose the traditional way, photographers appreciate your willingness to sacrifice the time needed to capture the very important photographs during the cocktail hour. I promise, you won’t regret spending an extra 15-30 minutes to preserve your memories for a lifetime. Ultimately, it’s your choice. I can’t emphasize enough that it’s completely up to you and your fiance. Some vendors will try to push you into doing it one way or another based on their preference or timeline but it’s your wedding and you should see each other when it’s most special to you.
"*-$ ( $ / -.")(Plan your hair and makeup trial at least one month before your wedding. That way you can be confident that you will look the way you invision or give you the time to make any wanted changes. Also, don’t forget to take your jewelry or veil to see how it will all look once it’s together. On the day of your makeup trial you may choose to take advantage and plan your engagement session and/or a special night out!
Bring a couple of your invitations and save the dates on your wedding day so they can be photographed with the rest of your paper suite such as programs and menus.
Ask your florist to deliver your flowers to your getting ready location so that they’re ready to be photographed and included in your pre-ceremony photos.
Make sure to ask about any special rules the ceremony venue may have about photography such as whether or not flash is allowed or if there are restrictions on where the photographers can stand.
Don’t forget to eat while you’re getting ready! Either have food delivered or bring it with you so that you have the energy you’ll need for your busy and exciting day.
Sometimes things happen that are not planned so it may be a good idea to have an emergency kit prepared with such things as clear nail polish, mints, a sewing kit, stain treater, Visine, safety pins, bobby pins, pain reliever, and a mini deodorant. If your ceremony and/or reception will be outside you may want to have sunscreen and bugspray as well.
Weddings can run late and often it’s because the time for hair and makeup is underestimated. Allow more time than you think is necessary. If you have extra time, that just means there’s more time to create amazing photographs or enjoy the time with your guests.
( ' (.$ --")(Elizabeth Messina, a stunning photographer to the stars, draws this parallel, “Engagement is to a marriage as pregnancy is to parenthood”. The period of being engaged is a season in your life that lasts anywhere from a few weeks to a few years; it’s a season that is just as important to your marriage as the actual wedding day. This is the period after you have stopped trying each other on and have decided this is the person you want to spend the rest of your life with and you’re making plans for your future together, it’s worthwhile to document this part of your love story! Another reason that an engagement session is important is that it allows you to get to know your photograper before your wedding day. This is when you get to know how your photographer will interact with you and you can build a comfortable relationship with this person. If you think about it, you may see your photographer on your wedding day more than you see your new spouse; your photographer will be there from the time you’re getting ready until all the events of the night are complete. You want this person to then be someone you feel relaxed around and maybe even enjoy having there! Personally, while I love all of the moments of the wedding day, engagement photos are my favorite to take! I love getting to know you and what you feel comfortable with. I like to make jokes to make you laugh and capture pure joy and love without the pressure. It’s wonderful to be around love and capture a small piece of it for you to hold on to forever. When the day of your wedding comes, I want to know that you trust me and hopefully feel I’m another friend that will be there to make sure you can enjoy your day and hold on to your sweet memories till death do you part.
(."' . $ ),., ".-$d$ ," &Intimate Portraits and bridals are all about celebrating you, the bride! Intimate Portraits, or boudoir, are not limited to lingerie or under garments, whatever makes you feel sexy and beautiful whether it’s your coziest sweater, your silky robe, or cotton panties. These sessions can take place in the comfort of your own home or you can choose a collection that includes a chance to be pampered with professional makeup or private hotel room. Each collection also includes a folio with fine prints.
You spend a lot of time picking the perfect dress, combing through hairstyles, and trying on numerous pairs of shoes, why not make the most of all that effort with a bridal session? Bridal sessions allow me to focus on you in your gown without any distractions. These sessions can be prior to the wedding day with all the delicacy your ensemble requires or we can go out after the big day and play with it.
-"( $ $ "( $ & (( , You spend months or even years planning your wedding, picking the perfect venue, the right colored flowers, arranging and rearranging the seating chart, plus the hundreds of other tasks that go into a wedding. You may not have even considered using a wedding planner but after all my experiences I can tell you one thing; when I get married I’ll use a planner! I love being hands-on, I’m great at DIY, I have a clear idea of what I want, but I don’t want to be the one stressed. I also don’t want to put that on my mom or maid of honor day-of. A planner can help you fill in all the holes, keep the lists so that things don’t get missed, track your budget to make sure you’re staying on target, and coordinate all the vendors so it’s off your shoulders. Obviously, you should be involved in your wedding and planners don’t take that away rather they help with the organization and multitude of tasks. Most importantly, they let you enjoy your day knowing someone else is handling the crooked cake or the rowdy groomsmen. If you’re interested in talking to a planner about how they can help you, I’d be happy to provide the names of some awesome planners that I trust to take care of you.
Katie Hellinger Photography www.katiehellingerphoto.com hello@katiehellingerphoto.com 303.523.8269