WEDDINGS
winter 2014
by SARUNIA PHOTOGRAPHY
WHAT’S INSIDE: AS TIME GOES BY: YOUR WEDDING PHOTO TIMELINE 8 SANITY SOOTHERS VENDOR SPOTLIGHT: KATE MACKENZIE WEDDINGS SO ENGAGING: IS AN ENGAGEMENT SESSION FOR YOU? CLIENT TELLS ALL: ANGELICA & ERIC’S ROMANTIC MEXICO WEDDING PHOTO ALBUMS: PRODUCING YOUR OWN FAMILY HEIRLOOMS
MY STORY
FOREVER AND A DAY WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY FOR A LIFETIME From the moment I picked up a camera for the first time, I knew I was onto something special. Photography was something I was always fascinated with as a child and it later became something I would pursue as my career. Through a few years of college and life experiences, the desire to create lasting memories for others in a beautiful way was never far away, and my dreams to capture more memorable moments for others ultimately led me to my career as a wedding and portrait photographer. When I’m not with my sweetheart Mike, enjoying some wine and cheese to my favourite shows, or going on nature walks, I nurture my career and goals to travel the world by shooting a certain number of destination weddings annually. Seeing the world while documenting the emotions of such an important day for clients remains one of my greatest pleasures in both my photography business and in my life. Just thinking about it makes me tear up with joy! I look forward to creating fresh, fun, organic and timeless photographs with you which will act as a window back to your special moments for years to come. I will hold your hand every step of the way as we custom design an album and beautiful home decor that will act as your first family heirlooms to pass down from generation to generation. Embrace the now moments forever. Yours,
Sara
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letters from you
Emily + Mario
Thank you Sara!!! They are amazing! We love them all! Hard to choose which ones are our favourite!
Dave + Patricia
Thank you so much for capturing every little detail on our wedding day. Your professionalism, attention to detail and ability to fit right in was exactly what we were looking for. Patricia and I were soooo happy with our photos. Thank you for everything.
Laura + Jason
Sara was amazing to work with! She captured all of the formal shots we wanted and the beautiful candid pictures that we love! Sara is very passionate about her profession and that passion translates to her photos. As a special bonus we received our wedding photos in record time!! Jason and I would highly recommend her!
How can I make sure to look good in my photos? Relax. Trust me as your wedding photographer. If you're relaxed, it'll come through in your photos. It may be tricky at first but the best thing to do is act like there is no camera in the room! Just immerse yourself in the joy of the day and you will always have a genuine smile on your face. Nothing beats that! Having an engagement session also helps you become more comfortable around the camera which will definitely help create natural, beautiful photographs of you interacting with your loved ones on your wedding day. I guess you could say we are old-fashioned. Should we do the first look? And um, what is a first look? The first look is a chance for wedding couples to see each other privately before the ceremony. Two-thirds of my clients currently opt to do a first look. It's a great chance to get the wedding jitters out and spend a few minutes alone together followed by bride & groom, bridal party, and family portraits. I find that first look photos tend to be some of my favorites. It's a real moment with real emotions. Honestly, it's also a great way to avoid stress on your wedding day. I find that stress levels with brides, grooms, family members and wedding parties is greatly reduced when the formals are taken care of and they can focus on just having fun and being with their guests. Many of my couples get to enjoy their whole cocktail hour because they got all of the photos out of the way before the ceremony. We’d love to set aside some time for an engagement session. Is this something you do? Definitely! I work with you to plan the engagement session of your dreams, including location selection and wardrobe recommendations. Additionally, I can even help you custom design wall art for your home which will fill your heart with joy everyday. Sarunia Photography also offers many wonderful album options to help you remember your engagement shoot forever. Be sure to check out page 8 of this issue for more information about scheduling your own engagement shoot for a lifetime of special memories! HAVE A QUESTION? I’d love to hear from you and answer your question in a future issue of Weddings by Sarunia Photography. Please send your question to sara@sarunia.com.
CLIENT SPOTLIGHT
Angelica + Eric I recently had the privilege of photographing Angelica and Eric’s gorgeous wedding in Mexico. Warm weather matched the racing pulse of friends and family alike as the two said “I do.” Because weddings are a flurry of excitement and special moments between loved ones, family and friends, it is important to not only capture those smiles, demure glances and beautiful flowers; stunning photography also captures the wishes of the client. How can you be prepared for the biggest day of your life so far? Here, Angelica and Eric share: THE BEST ADVICE FOR A BRIDE. “Definitely do a first look! I know most want their future husband or wife to see them for the first time while they walk down the isle, but through all the emotional roller coasters of worrying about getting things done on time, sometimes you might not have that moment. The first look allowed for me and my husband to see each other in an intimate way. I just loved seeing one another before we tied the knot!” THE BIGGEST SURPRISE ABOUT THEIR WEDDING DAY. “We had an interesting moment when Angelica was coming down the aisle,” says Eric. Angelica says, “I was tearing up walking towards Eric, of course, and I slipped on the rose petals which were scattered on the floor! Luckily my dad was by my side to catch my fall. You never expect that to happen on your wedding day! As soon as I walked up to Eric, he was there for me and wiped my tears away.” THEIR FAVORITE PHOTO MOMENT. “Sara captured every moment that varied from romantic, funny, sweet, sexy and plain memorable. From the beginning to the end, the pictures paint a story! ” WHAT THEY LOVED MOST ABOUT WORKING WITH YOUR SARUNIA PHOTOGRAPHY. Angelica says, “Sara was on time, very patient, helped me with my bouquet and dress, always showed enthusiasm and helped me relax through her tranquil and peaceful vibe. All the locations that she chose to take pictures were beautiful and breathtaking. I couldn't have asked for a better day.” HOW TO TAME THOSE WEDDING DAY NERVES. Angelica says, “Hire a wedding coordinator to keep track of everything that needs to happen and when! That way you know you can relax and enjoy every moment as it passes knowing that everything is taken care of!” WHICH ONE MOMENT WILL LAST FOR THEM FOREVER. Angelica and Eric say they will most remember their first dance. “There was just something so magical about being in each others arms, with our favorite song, under the stars surrounded by our friends and family after such a fast paced day.” S A R U N I A PH OTO G R A PH Y
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GETTING MARRIED WITHOUT BEING HARRIED
• Be sure to have a hair and makeup trial at least a month before your wedding. This will give you peace of mind to know exactly how you will look and give you the opportunity to change things in advance if necessary. Make sure to bring all jewelry to the trial to see how makeup shades work with the pieces. • Have your florist deliver your flowers to where you are getting ready, not the ceremony venue. Since you never know when the mood will strike for a great photo, you’ll want your flowers there and ready to go. • Find out what the rules for photographs are at the ceremony location. All venues are different, some restricting the location of photographs and even the times in which they are permitted. • If possible, arrange to have your formal photographs taken before the ceremony. Getting this step out of the way early in the day frees up the rest of your time to spend with your guests. You will be able to go straight to cocktail hour and catch up with loved ones without stress. It’s a new age, so it’s no longer considered bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the wedding. • Have food delivered to your getting ready location. It may be hectic, but take the time to have a bite before the wedding since it will be a while before you have the opportunity to nourish yourself during the reception. • Prepare an emergency bridal kit with clear nail polish, mints, a sewing kit, stain treater, Visine, safety pins, bobby pins, pain reliever and mini deodorant. • Allowing 50% more time for hair and makeup than you originally anticipated alleviates the number one reason wedding schedules end up running late. This will assure you have plenty of time for all the portraits you want to take before the wedding. • Make sure you discuss a “rain plan” with your venue just in case Mother Nature doesn’t see sunshine in the cards.
YOUR WEDDING
A WEDDING DAY PHOTO TIMELINE A wedding is a whirlwind of events, gone in the blink of an eye. There’s little more important to a perfectly executed event than an organized timeline. If you are looking to effectively plan out your wedding day with your wedding coordinator or fiancé, here’s a look at a typical wedding photo timeline from my point of view. I am here to help assist you in planning out your day so that you don’t miss a beat. Leave some breathing room in your schedule so you don't feel rushed! GET TING RE ADY - 1.5 HRS In order for me to create the best possible photographs of moments that occur during the getting ready process as well as photographs of details, I highly suggest having me arrive 1.5 hours before you are scheduled to be ready to head out. These photographs begin the story of your wedding day. FIRST LOOK + BRIDE & GROOM - 1 HR If you decide on having a first look, I arrange the first look where you and your sweetie see each other before the ceremony. Immediately after this I begin to photograph you two alone and creating romantic, fresh, fun, organic and timeless photographs of the two of you in love on your wedding day. If you decide to not have a first look, the same applies minus the first look.
THE CEREMONY - 1 HR Here I need some time to coordinate with my 2nd shooter and set up any equipment we need during the ceremony. We take a look around and find where the light is coming from to best document the ceremony. Ceremonies range from 20 minutes to an hour. Even if your ceremony lasts less than an hour, this extra cushion time allows for you to have a quick refreshment and take 15 minutes of quiet time with just the two of you; you’ll want to regroup before all the excitement begins! COCK TAIL HOUR & RECEPTION - 3-4HRS
BRIDAL PART Y PORTR AITS - 30 MINS
Before the guests arrive, I make sure to photograph the cake, floral decor and any other details that you worked so hard on creating. I also take this time to set up room lights and spotlights if I find they are needed. Right before the guests arrive I touch base with the catering manager or wedding coordinator to see if there were any last minute changes to the reception schedule.
I take the time to capture fun relaxed portraits of you two and the people that are closest to you in your lives. This includes a group photo as a whole, just the girls, just the boys, the bride with each of her bridesmaids as well as the groom with each of his groomsmen. We can definitely create more combinations if time permits!
Immediately following, I begin photographing candid shots of arriving guests and continue into cocktail hour. If there are any additional formal photographs desired we will take this time to finish them in plenty of time for the reception. This is also a great time for come fun group photos with your guests!
FAMILY PORTR AITS - 30 MINS Family portraits can be tricky to execute sometimes since so many important members of the family have to be present at a certain location at a specific time. I always suggest to tell your family to be there about 20 minutes before they actually have to be there. That way, if anyone shows up late, they are actually right on time and your wedding day stays on schedule. Just remember, it’s our little secret :) Another way to have family portraits go smoothly is to have the maid of honor or the best man call out different group combinations which you would have prepared beforehand. This ensures that no important photo gets missed and everyone can spend more time mingling with one another.
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Then there is the reception where I document the reception candidly as it unfolds, including the first dances, toasts, dancing, and cake cutting. But don’t worry; I am always available for any photo request you may have throughout the evening. Just ask! Lastly, I pack up my equipment and prepare for my departure. But first, I will check with you to make sure there aren’t any further photos you would like or an overtime request. We may go outside for a night “time exposure” photograph of the both of you to showcase the beauty of your location at night. One month before your wedding I will touch base via phone, e-mail, skype, or meet to discuss your wedding day photo timeline. At this time I will also provide you with our Complete Wedding Information form to fill out with all your wedding details including locations, family members, special wedding day events, vendors and much more. This information will ensure we are all on the same page for an unforgettable and stress-free event!
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RECOMMENDED VENDORS So many things are special about your wedding day. Your wedding should reflect your distinct personality as a couple. It’s vendors like these that help make your wedding day that much more special, memorable, and unique. While they may seem like minute details, selecting the appropriate vendor is crucial to a successful and enjoyable wedding day. These selected vendors have earned my utmost confidence with the quality experience they consistently produce.
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1. Handmade jewellery by HATTITUDE JEWELLERY - www.gothattitude.com 2. Handmade jewellery by TARA FAVA JEWELLERY - www.tarafavajewellery.com 3. Cakes by NADIA & CO. - www.nadiaandco.com 4. Catering by TREELINE CATERING - www.treeline-events.com 5. Wedding decor by SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL DECOR - www.simplybeauty.ca 6. Invitations and stationary by ANISTA DESIGNS - www.anistadesigns.com 7. Wedding Planner - KATE MACKENZIE WEDDINGS - www.katemackenzieweddings.com 8. Wedding dresses by SARAH HOUSTON BRIDAL COUTURE - www.sarah-houston.com
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VENDOR SPOTLIGHT
KATE MACKENZIE WEDDINGS Meet Kate, a wedding planner based out of Toronto. With a personality of going after what she wants, Kate worked towards a career that is meaningful to her. She takes pride in tending to her couple’s needs and their vision for their wedding day in order to help create a cohesive event that they will enjoy. She alleviates the stress couples feel when faced with wedding planning and finds the perfect vendors to make their vision happen beautifully! Kate says, “Being a romantic, my favourite part of a wedding day is when the couple says their vows to one another which they wrote themselves!” Kate loves spending time with her hubby Ryan, her doggy Joya, sipping on lattes, and staying balanced through nature walks.
www.katemackenzieweddings.com kate.withoutahitch@gmail.com @katemacweddings Kate Mackenzie Weddings @Kate_WthAHitch
INVEST
INVEST WEDDINGS There is something about a clients trust to document one of the most important days of their lives that means so much to me. My promise is to showcase all the people, things and moments that are most important to you on your special day, and I don't take promises lightly ;) I book a limited amount of weddings a year in order for me to focus on telling the story of your wedding day and give you a great experience from start to finish! Wedding collections are customized by you to suit your needs and range in price. For more info on pricing contact me at sara@sarunia.com
INVEST ENGAGEMENTS With an engagement session you can showcase your personalities in a more casual setting, while creating some fun captures for wall portraits, or an album for you and your sweetie to always have to flip through. Engagement images add another dimension to your decor in your home or home-to-be, chronicling the story from engagement to your wedding day which you will love seeing everyday. An engagement session itself is $150 which includes my time and talent planning and photographing the session as well as a professional design consultation. Wall art, albums, prints and digital photographs are purchased separately. For more info on pricing contact me at sara@sarunia.com
INVEST WALL ART Through the use of a state of the art design software, I provide you with a professional design consultation to create beautiful decor for your home which you can look at and enjoy everyday. Acrylic Wall Art starting at: Canvas Wall Art starting at: Print Wall Art starting at:
$275 $155 $35
For more info on pricing contact me at sara@sarunia.com
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THE PROCESS
FROM WEDDING TO ALBUM Here is a detailed timeline which will help you to understand what to expect from your experience with Sarunia Photography. I take pride in having a quick turnaround time for my clients. I know you are excited to see your images and have your family heirlooms in hand and I don’t want you to wait a second more than you have to! One month before your wedding: After chatting about the day and discussing any last minute specifications, I send you a wedding information form to fill out all the details most important to you for capturing the best images possible. Two days before your wedding: I give you a quick check-in email to confirm all the details from the schedule and your wedding form. The day of your wedding: I arrive at the scheduled time and work through the course of the day creating a story of your day through photographs. A week after your wedding: I go through all of your wedding images which will then be edited, archived and prepared for your online gallery. Two weeks after your wedding: You and your family and friends (or just you two if you prefer) are invited to pop some champagne, view an emotional slideshow of your photos, and if you have not yet done so, place your album or wall art order. I will hold your hand every step of the way and offer you a professional design consultation to create timeless family heirlooms that are just right for you. We pick out your favorite components for your album in terms of materials, pages and style. You will also receive your online gallery this day to share your photographs with family and friends as well as your DVD of photographs. Five weeks after your wedding: I upload your album design layouts, which I custom designed with images you loved in mind, onto your online gallery for your approval before they are sent out to print. You have up to 3 rounds of changes you are able to make. Nine weeks after your wedding: Assuming you loved my design right away or the changes you wanted made took a week or so, I will receive your album from my vendor in the mail. I will inspect it myself to make sure it is up to standard. Ten weeks after your wedding: Your album and wall art are ready for pickup! Now you get to spend some quality time with your precious heirlooms! So exciting! S A R U N I A PH OTO G R A PH Y
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ALL ABOUT ALBUMS John and Suzanne Green’s wedding album was a culmination of all the wonderful memories of the day presented in a beautiful book that tells the story for a lifetime. Because the wedding album process can be a little challenging for busy couples like the Greens, we provide full album services from image selection to design to cover selection, and more. Choosing from our main album line of gorgeous leather bound books constructed from only the best quality materials and workmanship, we fashioned a professionally designed keepsake complete with a protective box for decades of enjoyment. And since our premium line is also guaranteed for life against wear and tear, John and Suzanne never have to worry about their precious memories falling into disrepair. Parent Albums Albums aren’t just for couples anymore. Our parent albums are the perfect gifts to present to the parents of the couple after the wedding. Each parent album can be a clone of the bride and groom’s book or custom-designed to your liking. All cover and design options we offer for bride and groom books are also available for parent albums. Design Services Never worry about design; Sarunia Photography includes full design services for each album purchased. I will meet with you after the wedding to discuss your favorite images and plan your special album. Album Options Our albums come with 20 pages, 30 pages and add-on pages are available in multiples of two. Our album sizes are as follows: 18x12, 12x12, 10.5x14, 9x12, 10x10 and 8x10. Parent albums are also available in the same sizes. Covers are available in leather, textured leather, silk, and canvas. Ask about embossing and cover cameos, both beautiful ways to personalize your book. Cover Options Our albums come in a large variety of colors to perfectly match your wedding’s theme.
ENGAGEMENTS
considering an engagement session? Engagements are so engaging. Romance is in the air and the anticipation of a lifetime together comes to a crescendo in the rush during the weeks leading up to your wedding, causing you to wonder: Is an engagement shoot necessary? After all, your wedding pictures share the beginning of your life, right? Shooting an engagement is important for several reasons. First, this time allows you to get comfortable in front of the camera with your photographer, figuring out how you work best together before the wedding. Next, you can showcase your personalities in a more casual
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setting, while creating some fun captures for wall portraits, your wedding sign-in book, sign-in board and Thank You cards (shot early enough, I can also provide the images for your Save the Date cards and invitations). Engagement images also add another dimension to your decor in your home or home-to-be, chronicling the story from engagement to your wedding day which you will love seeing everyday. Make a date of it!
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Great engagement shoot ideas: At the place he proposed: After all, what better way to capture an engagement than the place it all started! At your favorite restaurant: Meaningful memories happen with food, ambiance and your special song playing in the background. Doing your favorite activity: You both enjoy playing checkers. What better way to capture your personality than in the heat of game play, the agony of defeat, or the comedy of contemplating your next move? Where you first met each other: Whether your first meeting was a discussion at the library or fumbling for the door at the local coffee shop, going back to your beginnings is a marvelous memory.
Images with your pet: What better way to capture your new family than by including a beloved shared pet in your session? Your favorite skyline: Your city is beautiful at any time of the year, and the skyline shares where you live now, a beautiful location that might change with time. A downtown urban session: Fun and funky, pictures in alleyways or in otherwise undiscovered locations of your area make for a more intimate view of the city. An amusement park: Nothing says fun like the Tilt-A-Whirl to go with your whirlwind romance. A romantic beach: In the morning, evening or any time of day, the sea meets an endless sky for a feeling of forever.
Vintage-styled, with old furniture and funky clothes: Bring out your nostalgic or avant garde side with some dramatic, edgy modern shots coupled with retro styling. At your favorite, cute coffee shop: Quirky and cozy, local mom and pop shops are a great way to take a quick break to refuel and to catch some local, architectural shots with you in the process. Seasonal: Catch the nuances of the seasons, including everything from a winter wonderland, to leaves of fall, to flowers in spring, to the lush, green summers in nearby beautiful fields and forests.
WEDDING INVESTMENT
YOUR ULTIMATE EXPERIENCE Below is our featured Mint Label collection. It is the most popular amongst clients and offers exactly what you should treat yourself to when it comes to preserving your wedding day memories.
MINT LABEL
$5200
up to 10 hours coverage 2 photographers signature leather album - 30 pages pass wedding gallery for 1 year + dvd of photos *client for life * Purchasing our mint label collection automatically puts you in our client for life program at no extra cost. This gives you 1 complimentary portrait session per year.
Ă la carte
Create your own collection. Photography Coverage per hour Includes: time, talent, online wedding gallery + dvd of photos
$275
2nd Photographer Engagement Session Fee *client for life
$450 $150 $1200
Signature Leather Album 18x12 - 30 Pages Signature Leather Album 12x12 - 30 Pages Photo Art Album 10.5x14 - 30 Pages Photo Art Album 9x12 - 30 Pages Woodland Album 12x12 - 30 Pages Woodland Album 10x10 - 30 Pages Engagement Guestbook - 20 Pages
$2000 $2000 $1900 $1600 $1400 $1300 $500
PAYMENT PLANS AVAILABLE ** In order to reserve your wedding date with us, a $1000 non-refundable deposit and a signed contract is required.
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ENGAGEMENT INVESTMENT
YOUR ULTIMATE EXPERIENCE Below is our featured Mint Label collection. It is the most popular amongst clients and offers exactly what you should treat yourself to when it comes to preserving your memories of being engaged and in love.
MINT LABEL
$1150
1.5 hour engagement session dulce album - 20 pages pass gallery + dvd of photos * $100 wall art credit * Purchasing our mint label collection gives you $100 complimentary credit to put towards your wall art order.
Ă la carte
Create your own collection. Session fee Includes: my time + talent + planning + a professional design consultation. Woodland Album 10x10 - 20 Pages Woodland Album 10x10 - 10 Pages Dulce Album 10x10 - 20 Pages
$150
$1100 $800 $500
Acrylic Wall Art starting at: Canvas Wall Art starting at: Print Wall Art starting at:
$275 $155 $35
PASS Galllery + DVD of high resolution photographs Single Digital Photograph
$500 $75
PAYMENT PLANS AVAILABLE
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FRESH. FUN. ORGANIC. PHOTOGRAPHS INSPIRED BY YOU
Servicing the GTA and available for worldwide travel sarunia.com | sara@sarunia.com