So…to Kim and Kylie, I wish you both the best of luck on your new beginning. Take every moment for what it is and know that you both are loved and forever kept close to my heart!

I cannot express my gratitude enough to all the wonderful couples who submitted their entries for this year’s Wedding Day Giveaway. I had no idea when I announced the giveaway last month, that I would have this hard of a decision to make. Your stories touched me dearly and allowed me to see a small glimpse into your hearts and lives together. It was amazing to see the diversity in stories and how life has truly changed since you have met the loves of your life. So to each and everyone of you…Thank you! Thank you for sharing your stories, opening your hearts, and most of all, for making true love an daily reality!

So now it’s time for the BIG announcement and while I do this I am taking a deep breathe as I would LOVE to give this to all who shared their stories with me. However, there is only one winner of this year’s giveaway. This year’s lucky couple will be winning eight hours of wedding day coverage, a $250 print credit, and a cd of all edited images from their special day to share with their friends and family! And the winners are….

Congratulations to Maggie Gray and her fiance Jason!!!

I chose Maggie and her fiance for a couple of reasons, but the biggest one was while reading her story, you could tell her passion for celebrating life of those who have passed and those who are contunually supporting Maggie and her fiance Jason was true and dear to her heart. She also expressed her love for photography and how it was important above all to capture her love and special day with Jason. She was willing to sacrifice everything to have beautiful photos that she could hold and cherish for the rest of her life. I am very excited to be a part of this couples special day and capturing their love together.

Lastly, congratulations to all the beautiful couples who entered on your engagement and upcoming wedding day!

Erica shares, “Babies and Toddlers can definitely be the hardest age group to photograph. Between the spitting up, drooling, crying, and running away from the camera it can get pretty difficult. However, when you get that great shot of a challenging toddler all the hard work pays off! But dressing your baby/toddler doesn’t have to be hard! This is the one time in your child’s life that they won’t have a strong opinion about what you dress them in so go for it! I give you permission to go crazy and get your toddler something ridiculously cute to wear to their session! I put together some great outfits below that are full of personality, color, and layers – all things we have been talking about every week in our Wardrobe Wednesday posts. Of course, I would never spend $100 on an outfit for my little boy to wear everyday but I do splurge for his photo shoots. Why? Because it totally makes the pictures come alive! For babies and toddlers make sure to try their outfit on ahead of time to make sure it fits them just right (even if it means buying the size they are about to outgrow!). It is always a good idea for a toddler session to bring a snack and drink for them so they can take breaks during their session (being that cute is hard work!). A really good trick to get portraits of your baby/toddler holding still is to bring something for them to do. We had a fantastic post a few weeks ago about props and toddlers are a great example of how a prop can make a picture. I added a few pictures below of toddlers in action with their props. Often we can save the prop for the end of the session when they are bored with it all and it gives the child an extra boost of energy and smiles! Remember toddler photo shoots don’t always go as planned but just relax and try to have fun!”

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Stacie says “My favorite people to shoot, you ask? KIDS – of course!! They are so fun, spunky and full of personality. Even better, they don’t mind being goofy and crazy – they welcome the unusual – and they love to be unique. That’s why when I give style suggestions for kiddo shoots I always recommend these FIVE things.

• Go for the BOLD…
It’s all about the color and pattern! There is no better way to show off their bright shining personalities then through their clothes! Colors should be bold – not neon. Deep strong color is key. Also, patterns can be your friend. Thick stripes, large polka dots, and chunky plaid are all great! Just make sure to stick with one bold pattern per outfit.

• Three’s Company…
This is a simple rule and I have no idea where I heard it, but I live by it. It’s all about coordinating your colors. You wonder – how in the world do I know what color goes best with what? Ack. It can be very intimidating. I’ve been there. But don’t worry – breath – what I tell you next will free your mind. Are you ready… ANYTHING GOES TOGETHER. It’s true! Anything goes as long as the colors appear a few times throughout your outfits. For example, in the pictures below –so graciously borrowed from the miniBoden website (love their style) – you will see this rule used over and over again. Yellow, brown, blue, burgundy – WHAT? They can’t go together you say – oh yes my friend – they can!! Yellow appears in the jacket, tights, and hat. Blue appears in the tights, skirt, and jeans. Burgundy/brown appears in the shoes, tights, hairclip….etc. I usually suggest 2-3 main colors and then have them appear 3 or more times throughout the outfits. Easy Peasy lemon squeezy. Right?!!

• One Singular Sensation…
When building an outfit, pick one thing your child likes – this could be a hat, necklace, jacket, tights, boots, shirt, etc. – and build up. If it’s a hat, then look at it, find the colors in it, and then add to the outfit by following rule number 2. For example, I heart the little grey kitten shirt below. If I started with this, I could then build up my outfit using the colors within, which in this case are blue, red, and white. Adding a jacket, jeans, shoes, and then creating a complimentary look following rules number 1 and 2 leaves you with the completed look. Bravo miniBODEN.

• Layer Cake…
Now that you’ve got your colors squared away, just make sure to layer…layer…layer. Chunky layered looks add dimension and spunk – especially when you use various textures. Add a fun jacket, a sweater, a vest, a belt, a hoodie – well the list goes on and on. Just do it – I promise it will be just what the doctor ordered! Check out the cute kiddos below, layered to perfection!

• Comfort Zone…
Last but definitely NOT least – make sure all clothing is comfortable!! Kids want to be able to move and groove as they normally would, and as the photographer, I want them to too. When they feel comfortable in their clothing it shows, again letting their personality shine through. Then I can do my oh-so-fun job of capturing them dancing…jumping…laughing…being themselves – being kids.
Well – I hope this helps ya’ll!! Happy Kiddo Stylin’!!

All outfits can be found at www.miniboden.com. They are awesome for way cute kid fashion. Plus sometimes most of the times – they do the hard styling work for you – fancy that! Ha ha.

This little guy was so cute…I couldn’t resist!

Hair piece or veil?
A veil is a beautiful and traditional way to go and how stunning is a bride with a fingertip veil walking down the isle. Some fun ways to be different and bring flare to your dress is glamorizing your style by adding a fun broach, bird cage veil, and/or soft feather to your hair.

Jewelry
Every girl dreams of her special day all dressed in white. Now it’s time to accessorize with jewels and gorgeous gems. I love when a bride has a special story behind her jewelry. Whether it was on a romantic trip to Mexico where she found the bluest of turquoise bracelet, or personalized it further with her great grandmothers diamond earrings. Either way by adding a story to your jewelry it tells an additional story or memory in your wedding day photos. Also something fun to remember is adding color to your dress through jewelry gives an extra detail some brides tend to overlook.

Shoes
Remember comfort is important when picking out your shoes. Make sure to be aware of the ground you’ll be walking on as well. Golf courses and heels don’t always favor one another, neither do stilettos and cobble stone. After choosing your comfort think of personalizing your footwear with glam, fun colors, or the cutest of floral.

Bridal Bouquet
Choose your favorite flowers and style them together by adding a special touch with your mother’s broach, favorite trinket, or that special butterfly that reminds you of someone special. Your flowers are what complete your look and why not keep the story telling going with the array of beautiful flowers which will be held in your hands and lead by your heart.

Bridesmaids
Bridesmaids make sure to always keep the bride at heart and ask her what she wishes for you to wear on her special day. With that being said, it’s always a fun idea to have a theme with accessories and shoes for your bridesmaids. I have even seen where brides get creative and make special flower wristlets for their bridal parties or have them walk the isles with different arrangements such as lanterns, crystal balls, and even lollipops to fit their candied theme.

Groom
Now ladies, I know we dream of how our dresses, shoes, and jewelry come together, but don’t forget the men in your life who will fabulously be meeting and leading you down the isle. Color coordination is key and already probably a known, but don’t forget those small details we were talking of earlier. Cufflinks, handkerchiefs, socks, and ties are always a special and fun way to accessorize. Trends now, are even suggesting the simplest of suites if your style permits.

Oh how the details could go on. I could seriously re-plan my wedding over and over again with details, but in the end, its those details I remember in my photographs. Your photographer is there to help capture your planning, your fairytale dreams, and love of your special day. Keep every detail personal to you and your fiance. Find a theme or even a story to tell through out your day. If you ever need some great inspiration, head on over to some of my favorite blogs. Happy Planning!

Style Me Pretty

One Lovely Day

One White Dress

Ruffled

“Over the years, there have been certain things that have stood out during photoshoots. Sometimes it’s been really evident during the shoot, and other times it wasn’t apparent until I started editing. You want to look your best, yet be yourself, correct? So be yourself! BUT there are certain rules and regulations when it comes to classic and well put together ensembles for your portraits! That’s why I decided to put together a “What Not to Wear” segment for our Wardrobe Wednesday this week!

First up: The outfit.

* It’s OK to coordinate your colors but, not everyone needs to wear the same outfits. Mix and match your colors and coordinate…it makes for much more interesting images.
* Solids and small prints photograph best…beware of loud stripes or plaids.

Next: Shoes.

* Shoes can be tricky, I know. They can make or break an outfit. You want to be comfortable but we might want to leave the Crocs at home! They tend to be bulky and bright which will end up drawing a viewer’s eye down to the ground.
* If you choose to wear sandals or flip flops, PLEASE do not pair them w/ socks.

Finally: Details.

* Nails…Is the polish chipping? Do you have on a loud color that’s going to draw attention to your hands and only your hands? Neutral nails photograph best.
* Hair…Make sure to have your hair cut two weeks in advance this way it has time to take shape and grow out if needed. Also, if you are like me, you’ll want to make sure to touch up the highlights and have the hair looking fabulous!
* Skin care…If you don’t normally have a tan, it’s probably not the best time to run and get a spray tan or lay out in the sun all day. You never know what your results are going to be…Eeek!
* Ladies, I know we all struggle with this, but you’ll want to remember the everlasting battle “bra straps.” If you are wearing a tank top, make sure your bra straps are not visible. Wear clear straps or a great alternative is to buy a bra strap concealer that converts your regular bra into a racer back bra…they are cheap and easy to find!

I hope you find these tips helpful. Booking a photo session is fun and exciting. Make the best of your photos by dressing your family adorably and paying attention to the details!