Friday Frames // Show me the light

Well here we are, almost Memorial Weekend, let the  chaos commence up in here. I have been chatting with lots of brides about either their upcoming wedding or their upcoming engagement session and try to make it easy for them. I have done this hundreds of times but I know they haven't so it's important we have these talks. One big thing I talk about is light. While the couple is worried about location, I say "I will look for the best light".  Lighting is important for how your photos turn out, there will definitely be days where it's not sunny and perfect but that doesn't mean your photos won't be. It just means you won't get that warm sunny glow.  I always book sessions in the later afternoon/evening and steal away the couple after dinner to get a few glimpses of said light.  I have even shot a wedding in pouring rain and was ready to leave until the light appeared and I stayed 30 minutes longer to get the bride and groom in that yummy light.  So since wedding season is here (next week for me) and has already started for some I wanted to share some good lighting tips for your engagement photos or wedding day. 

#1 Get ready somewhere with a lot of natural light, think white or light walls, big windows, a clean open room. 

#2 If your having an outdoor wedding, think of where the light will be at the time of your ceremony. Will it be 4pm and your facing the sun so it's beating on your face? if so, turn around. Flip flop your ceremony so the sun is to your backs. 

#3 Schedule later afternoon/ evening photo sessions. That pretty light will be magical. 

#4 I know your dad/mom/grandma/ sister /friend found a perfect backdrop or thinks those flowers are really beautiful but follow your photographers instincts on where to shoot the photos if outdoors. 

#5 Look at the BIG picture. Wide open spaces are always gorgeous for lighting. 

#6 Make time for dusk photos in your day, not only is the light great but you can get away from everyone and smooch your groom.

#7 Reception photos- Turn off the crazy DJ lights and put up some cafe lights (not christmas lights) Your first dance will look dreamy. 

#8 You do not have to do family portraits inside the church, you can go outside they will be even better, promise. Church lighting is rarely good. 

#9 If the sun is low and strong, it takes time to get those great photos, so snuggle in and take your time while your photographer gets the light juuuuuust right.

#10 Most importantly, hire someone whose lighting/exposure you love and make sure it fits your day. If you hire me and say you love my natural light look but are getting married in a basement covered with dark wood panels, your ordering Mexican Food at a Chinese restaurant. 

Hopefully you can put some of these tips to use! Have a great weekend everyone!!

Friday Frames // Dear Moms

Dear Moms,

I never thought I wanted to be one of you. Your job is hard, messy and not at all glamorous. I was young, immature, way to cool for kids until I met my husband and got married, we wanted to start a family. I was so scared. What if we weren't "us" anymore?  Having my son Teag (like League) was this immeasurable experience. Everything that was once important stops cold.  Your priorities shift. You live life for a whole new reason, that little human. Becoming a mom made my life complete, whole, worthy. It's everything I ever wanted but never knew it. Then I got pregnant with my second son, Cooper, I was even more scared. "It won't be just the three of us anymore".  I laugh at my old self now. I am nothing if I am not a mom to these boys. I have never been so challenged, so pushed, so full of love. They make me remember how to be silly, how to be lazy, how to build forts and watch cartoons in bed until 10 am. Everyday is a new adventure, (tonights adventure was hot lava carpet and your only safe to stand on pillows! ) They make me the adult which was new to me. They need me 110% of the time, so "me time" has a whole new meaning. Being a mom has cut me down to size,  made me humble, worried, paranoid and even crazy at times.  Dear moms, how do we do it? How do we not do it?  I have had the pleasure to meet many many extraordinary moms in this job. I see the way the look at their children I think "I know exactly how she feels".  Every mother / son dance I let the tears roll, "that will be me someday" I think to myself. I think the best lesson I learned from being a mom is how to be Thankful. Thankful for every single sunrise. Thankful those boys wake up in the morning. Thankful they are healthy and can run and play and fight. Thankful they make piles of laundry and dishes. Thankful for all the toys, the whining and the hugs. Being a mom has taught me to be Thankful for every single day that I get to wake up to them. Everything else falls to the way side. That's a pretty big lesson I learned and It has changed the way I look at life.  Dear Moms, Thank you for allowing me into your club. You are all amazing. You are all glamorous. 

Dear boys, If I know what love is, it is because of you. 

Friday Frames // 2015 Trend Report

It's crunch time, I am talking with all my couples, sending out "Wedding Day Breakdowns" a document I have them fill out a month or more before their wedding so I can have it and use it as a reference on their big day. Through this time those final decisions are being made. Right now one of my brides is making a final call on those bouquets or hair style.  The grooms are decided what ties for the guys and whether or not to wear wear those funky shoes.  This includes my sisters wedding that we are planning, she finalized her lights and napkins and yard games today. 

Since this is all fresh in my brain I feel like rolling with it so today I am sharing some 2015 trends with you, I expect to see a lot of these things this year, but I am using my last years style shoot for inspiration. Last year? yes, I am a wedding stalker. I love wedding blogs. I see things happening at weddings sometimes before it hits the midwest. If your a planning bride and looking for some big trends I am forecasting to see in 2015 read on. 

#1- Dresses with sleeves or interesting backs.  The whole long sleeved dress trend hasn't full hit home yet. 99% of the dresses I see are strapless but the trend will come around! Just like bell bottoms and skinny jeans girls, at one time or another both of them were "in".

#2- Wild bouquets- When I got married (2007) it was all about the tight, perfectly round, hand wrapped bouquet. This year is the big...BIG, wild, free, loose and raw bouquet of any shape. 

#3- Greens- I love green, I love this is on trend. Lets get green people!  Garlands, bouquets, centerpieces, the greener the better. 

#4- Hair down- It's all good to let that hair down girls.  Just think of you in that wedding dress all done to perfection and having some flowing locks. Tight up- do's are out. In the words of Elsa, Let it go!

#5- Minimalist Cakes- So long fountain and bridge! (Ok that was in the 80's) but massive, over detailed cakes are so last year. This year I forecast simple white cakes, naked cakes or even no cakes! Pies are pretty hot right now too.

Another trend that I think / hope to see is GOLD! which is accented in this shoot. Hopefully you got some inspiration here for those last decisions you have to make or maybe for 2016 brides to start thinking about!