Photography from a recent brides Point of View

More tips from Summer School for Brides
hosted by Thee Wedding Warehouse



by Christine Valenzuela - KISS THE CAMERA


Even though I've photographed and been a part of dozens and dozens of weddings, being the bride gave me a different perspective on wedding photography.

My tips:
1) It's very important to have a timeline for not only yourself but also all the other people involved (especially if you have a large family and/or bridal party). You want to avoid getting a ton of calls from your family and friends on your wedding day.

2) Use timelines as a guideline and don't be upset if you run a little behind. Unexpected things will happen and may cause your timing to be a bit off. Make sure to pad your timeline with extra time to ensure you have the ability to take the photos you'd like.

3) Enjoy the day and especially the photography session. This is the first thing you will do with your husband. Relax and just have fun with the photographer. It will show in the photos.

4) Choose a photographer not solely based on their work, but also their personality. You have to genuinely like the person to be able to invite them into very intimate moments between you and your new husband. It will be clear in the photos if you are faking your emotions or are holding back your true feelings.

Photography from a recent brides Point of View
by Christine Valenzuela - KISS THE CAMERA

Images courtesy of
Kiss the Camera

Posing:

Turning your body at an angle and shifting your weight to your back foot while pointing your other foot forward can instantly help you lose 10-20 pounds through the camera.

Stick out your chin a little to avoid the appearance of a double chin in your photos.

Don't hold your breath during a pose. Stay relaxed and your photos will look as if you just happened to be sitting this way when the photographer walked up.

You don't always have to smile. You should have a good variety of smiling, laughing and serious looks.



Tips for looking good in your wedding photos:

Do a trial run with your hair stylist and make-up artist before the wedding. Having them do your make-up before the wedding gives you a chance to see if you enjoy working with them and makes sure there are not any unpleasant surprises. If possible, you should think about scheduling your engagement session on the same day as the trial. This will give you the opportunity to see how your make-up and hair will look in photos.

Remember to eat and stay hydrated! The better you feel, the better you will look in your photos.

Wear comfortable shoes. Make sure you wear your wedding day shoes around the house to break them in. Some brides bring a second pair of shoes to the reception so that they can change their shoes after the grand entrance, which I think is a great idea!

If you are having an evening wedding, consider taking your pictures before the ceremony to take advantage of the beautiful natural light outdoors.

Lighting is very important for photographs. If you are thinking about having an indoor ceremony or backyard wedding, make sure there is enough ambient light. Set up a meeting with your photographer and show them what the lighting is like. They should be able to tell you if more light is needed or not.

Be relaxed, smile and enjoy your day! Laugh and let loose in front of the camera, just be yourself and show off the wonderful love you have each other. The happiness and affection will show through in the photos that you’ll treasure for a lifetime!

By Cyndi Hardy
Cyndi Hardy Photography

CYNDI HARDY PHOTOGRAPHY
Using a "Real Life" approach combined with an artistic style, Cyndi will capture the true expressions and emotions of your big day.
623.640.4114

Summer School for Brides

Summer School for Brides was a huge success -a huge thank you to all the brides and their families that attended. Another huge thank you to all the professional wedding vendors that participated in the event that made it great. Curtis Whipple (DJ) was the first to speak and gave all the brides information on what to consider when hiring a DJ. I think one of the best questions was “Ask if the DJ has liability insurance?” This separates a “hobbyist” DJ from a professional.

We had a very very happy bride that won the 9:45AM raffle for the $2,500 Wedding Fairy Package that included full service planning and “day-of-coordinating”. She ran outside as soon as she won to call her mom. Next to speak was Olivia Womack of Blue I Concepts Photography on “Key points on selecting the right photographer”. Remember you are going to be with your photographer all day and finding the perfect one to meet not only your budget but your personality is important.

I spoke next on “Budget Saving Tips”. Cutting the guest list is the first place and the largest place to trim the budget. Sitting down and writing a list before selecting a venue is the best advice I can give. Cyndi Hardy of Cyndi Hardy Photography spoke on “Posture and body positioning technique for the perfect wedding photograph”, which I will post on the blog tomorrow so everyone can read.

Ginny Solis of All About Catering, Co. announced they will be having a grand opening at their new building later this month. She spoke on “Tips on hiring the right caterer, questions you never thought to ask”. If you are still looking for a caterer for your event she will be having a tasting at her new location at the end of the month.

Jacque Dearing Co-owner and Designer of Thee Wedding Warehouse, home of EnDearing Floral Design spoke of details and DYI tips. She fielded questions on color combinations and linen ideas.

Mike Cimino of Event Centrale - DJ’s did a slide show presentation on “Take your reception to the next level and leave your guests talking about it for a long time”. Tips included a custom recorded song, up-lighting, go-bo, fabric draping, and entry for the grand entrance. Christine Valenzuela of KISS THE CAMERA was the next to speak on “Photography from a recent bride’s point of view”. Being a recent bride herself gave her insight that she shared with other brides.

Last event of the day of Cake Decorating by The Cake Contessa. We had a full house of brides that wanted to learn how to be the “cake boss”. Most of them brought a few friends and showed off their decorating stills. Lanette taught them not only how to cut and roll fondant but how to make flowers and decorate their own personalized cake that they got to take home. Everyone enjoyed this hands on experience. Lanette does at home classes that can be customized to any event (Birthday – Bridal Shower).

Heather Peterson owner of Pure Radiance did mini make up trails on brides all day. Hair style books were available to help choose the prefect bridal up do. The splurge which I don’t consider a splurge is having a make-up artist come to the bride on the day of the wedding to do hair and make-up. This way it eliminates the running around trying to get ready, traveling from place to place.

Appetizers were served by All About Catering, Co. Cakes samples were served by The Cake Contessa and Custom Cakes by Elizabeth.

Last but not least… Chris Smith owner of A2Z Photobooths was here letting everyone get their picture taken in the booth. A souvenir of Summer School for brides. The guests love this and it is a perfect favor.

If you missed this event but would like to set up a complimentary appointment with Thee Wedding Fairy, call 623-536-0995. We would love to help you with your wedding.

Arm Yourself With Knowledge Before Purchasing the Ring

Arm Yourself With Knowledge Before Purchasing the Ring

The dramatic moment of proposal is one that has been depicted countless times: the man on one knee, perhaps, with a velvet ring box in his hand and a shocked, happy look on the face of his fiance. But although the actual act of proposal is one that everyone probably knows all about, the process of actually choosing a wedding ring is surprisingly obscure.


That's too bad, because there are a good number of things that you should educate yourself about before buying promise rings or engagement rings. It isn't, or at least shouldn't be, as simple as just walking into a store and picking out a shiny ring. That's a good way to wind up paying too much for an average ring; better to do some research on your own so that you can be educated to make the best possible choice.


There are a few things to consider before buying a ring, chief among them budget. Diamonds can cost a lot or a little, enough to strain any budget. If your budget is small, it may be wise to consider alternative stones, such as sapphires. Gemstones may be a good choice because they are generally less expensive than diamonds and also come in a wide array of colors. On the other hand, many women expect a diamond in their wedding ring, as that is the traditional stone. So, if you are not popping the question completely out of the blue, it's a good idea to discuss what she's looking for before you buy a ring. Imagine how embarrassing (not to mention how expensive) it would be if your wife-to-be accepted your offer but hated the ring!


Another good reason to educate yourself about rings is so that you can recognize a good deal from a rip-off. It's best to compare prices at several stores, and possibly look into buying rings from online stores. A number of reputable online stores now sell wedding rings, and often at a reduced price from jewelry stores. If you first take a quick walk into a store to find rings that you like, you can go online later and compare prices. Buying online does have certain issues, such as difficulty returning items and the problem of choosing the right sizing.

If you just do a little research before buying, you can save yourself a lot of headaches further down the line. A wedding ring represents a significant investment (in addition to representing the strength of a marriage), so it just makes sense to get the best deal possible. In addition to saving yourself money, you can also ensure that you get the best ring possible by shopping around and taking a good look at the options.

Guest Writer

Pammy Rosen
MyJewelryBox