My mother recently moved from her ranch in New Mexico to Florida where she has taken advantage of all of Miami’s culture and art. In a recent phone conversation she told me about a bridal boutique she visited called Belinda’s Design Couture. I checked out Belinda’s website and WOW! These wedding gowns are exquisite! The gown designs are inspired by 1820’s, 1920’s and 1930’s fashion. They are all custom made with hand-dyed silks, Venetian lace, velvets, embroidered tulle and amazing antiques laces. Not only that, but Belinda’s also offers hand made corsets, the newest and sexiest trend in intimate apparel. When you go in for a fitting there are two attendants that help tie and lace you in. I am just dying to photograph one of my bride’s in one of these fabulous pieces!
Check out her site at www.belindasdesigns.net
Monday, January 29, 2007
Belinda’s Couture
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Why have an Engagement Photography Session?
The benefits of having an engagement photography session with your wedding photographer goes beyond receiving those extra images of you and your fiancé. Having an engagement session allows you to get a preview of how your photographer likes to shoot. It gives you the opportunity to shake off any pre-wedding gitters and it’s a great way to get used to having a camera in your face before your wedding. That way on your big day you’ll be a seasoned pro!
Having an engagement session also helps your photographer determine your best angles, insuring that they’ll capture only your best features the day of your wedding.
Many photographers include a complimentary engagement session in their wedding packages. If your's doesn’t, ask them to customize your package to include one. After all, they might just be the last photographs of you together before you are pronounced husband and wife!
Laguna Gloria Engagement
Texas Capitol Engagement
Downtown Austin Engagement
East Austin Engagement Session
San Antonio Botanical Gardens Engagement
Austin / Bollywood Engagement
Texas Country Engagement
Austin Rock n Roll Engagement
Funky Coffee Shop Engagement
South Congress Engagement
Pastoral Engagement
Green Engagement Session
Bayou Engagement
Barton Springs & Guinness Engagement
Outdoor, Fall, Mt. Bonnell Engagement
Outdoor Laguna Gloria Engagement
Cool South Congress Engagement
Beautiful Mt. Bonnell Engagement Session
Bull Creek, Mt. Bonnell, Outdoor Engagement Session
*Portfolio Engagement Photography Gallery*
Tuesday, January 9, 2007
In Praise of the Woman Wedding Photographer
Savvy brides know that there’s more to hiring a wedding photographer then just loving their images. Brides want a professional, someone who is discreet, sensitive to their needs and understands what an emotional day a wedding day can be. But why chose a woman wedding photographer over a man? Shouldn’t an artist be judged on the merit of their work and not their sex? Yes and no. Choosing a woman photographer means having someone capturing your most precious day that knows what it’s like to be in your shoes. Women wedding photographers have an edge on the competition because they can relate to their subjects more intimately. We know what it takes to create a relaxed environment that’s favorable to capturing beautiful candid images. Can you imagine having a male photographer in your dressing room on your big day while you’re putting on your sexy lingerie that’s meant for his eyes only (your husbands, that is!). After all, how would the groom feel?
We make it our priority to get fresh, spontaneous and unselfconscious images that capture all the genuine excitement, joy and romance of your wedding day. Why? Because we know what it’s like!
Monday, January 8, 2007
History of Wedding Photography
Wedding Photography began in the 1800's as wedding portraiture and was mostly restricted to the studio environment and stiffly posed images. With the advent of roll film and better lighting equipment at the turn of the 20th Century savvy photojournalists would snap photos of post WWII weddings, attempting to sell them their photos to the couple after they wed.
Contemporary wedding photography came to the forefront in the 1970’s when it started blending photojournalism and location portrait photography into one art form. It is now fashionably for a bride and groom to hire a photographer to document their wedding day as it unfolds. Capturing a wedding in a photojournalistic style includes a variety of shots ranging from formal posed images of the bridal party to candid snapshots of the guests. A popular way to present these images is in a traditional leather bound or coffee table style album. An album allows the couple to share their memories in an organized and chronological fashion with friends and family. In many instances albums are passed down through generations, becoming family heirlooms. Since the advent of digital in the late 90’s wedding photography has exploded. Digital photography allows for virtually unlimited captures and introduced new design ideas into wedding album design. The real beauty and work of digital lies in its post-production. Images captured in color can be turned into black&white or sepia images allowing photographers more flexibility then ever before. Contemporary wedding photography is also known as wedding photojournalism, wedding reportage and documentary wedding photography.
What Are Brides Really Looking for When Hiring a Photographer?
Let’s be honest. When choosing a wedding photographer, what are brides really looking for? In my experience as a fine art wedding photographer, there are two major concerns brides have. Will the photographer be sensitive to her wedding day needs and will the photographer adequately capture how fabulous she looks on her wedding day?
First, being sensitive to a bride’s needs goes beyond whether the photographer can keep a low profile the day of, or if they get all the captures on the formals list. At its core it involves having a photographer who is an astute listener and asks enough questions to know exactly what special candid shots to get and what family dynamics to be sensitive to. The second point is one some brides shun out of modesty. It’s the secret desire to look absolutely stunning on her wedding day. If there is one time in a woman’s life when looking gorgeous is a major concern, then it’s on her wedding day. So let’s face it, if you can capture a bride’s inner and outer beauty in her wedding day images and fulfill with grace and punctuality her expectations, then you have succeeded as her wedding photographer. If you are a bride, make sure to cover both points with your photographer. If you are a wedding photographer, ask lots of questions and consider offering an engagement photo session to get to know your couple and all their best angles!
