September 25th...

This is a wedding that I did last Saturday with Leanna of Photos by Leanna. I was her second shooter. It was a wedding filled with many obstacles, such as the heat, resort under construction, and many more. We made it though and I think the images turned out fantastic. In fact, this is the first wedding with my new camera, the Canon 5D Mark II. Here are a few shots that tell the story of the good parts of the day...

Lady with the Red Shoes...

Ashley and Matthew are getting married November 12th out at Vistancia's Kiva Club. The camera (as you can see below) loves them! We had a great time out at Scottsdale Civic Center. Ashley wanted the shoot there, and it so worked for them. Only issue we had was the soaked green grass everywhere-- they were watering before and during our shoot. Ashley and Matthew did the grass shots regardless, though we saved them until last. Ashley had on bright red heels that were so artistic, it almost became our theme. Looking forward to November 12th!

Tips from a Photographer's Point of View

1. Makeup is so important! Properly applied light to medium coverage tends to look better in photos. Less is more. You want your face to show, not the makeup. Eyelash extensions are fab!

2. Consider wearing your hair down. Up-do's are great, but wearing your hair down is a softer, more romantic look. Up-do's are a more dramatic, elegant look. Think about what frames your face best.

3. Don't bother to tan. Or if you must, tan very little. Natural complexions photograph better. Tans tend to make your face look dark, which probably isn't your usual look. Models don't tan for two reasons-- your face looks better with natural pigment and tanning ages your skin. Also, you often end up with tan lines from the swimsuit or sunglasses or both. And if your dress is strapless and/or backless, swimsuit lines aren't flattering.

4. Don't forget about your eyebrows! Very important for close-ups! Go have your eyebrows waxed or threaded 10 to 14 days prior to the wedding. Good to do a trial run 2 months prior to the wedding, to test out your salon or spa. And don't forget the groom-- their eyebrows need love too!

5. If you and/or the groom wear glasses, consider getting anti-reflective lenses. Natural light and a camera's flash can cause glare on regular glasses. A wedding is fast paced, and the photographer can't avoid glare in every shot. Plus, on the formals, poses and angles will be limited if glare is an issue. Another benefit of anti-reflective lenses is that you have better vision, especially for night driving.

6. Photographs of your hands and rings is a wedding tradition. Brides usually get a manicure and pedicure. Good idea for the groom to have a manicure and pedicure too. Shots of the bride and groom barefoot are so romantic, but only with pretty feet!

Adele and Brian

You would have seen Adele and Brian's engagements recently on my blog. They live in Israel for the moment, but they had their wedding here in Tempe, at The Butte's. This was a Baha'i ceremony, my first. They didn't use a minister except for the license afterwards. Friends, family, and bride and groom recite readings and vows. I really liked their ceremony. They are a super FUN couple. They love to play games and have a good time. As you will see below, their centerpieces were various boardgames, their favors were velvet bags filled with lettered chocolates. The chocolates were for each table to use to spell words, like scrabble, at the beginning of the reception. Their color theme was the rainbow, each attendant having a different color. At one point in the day, there was a rainbow (photo below). It was Adele's rainbow! The flowers were so beautiful in Adele's bouquet that a bee hung out for a while in them. I couldn't have accomplished the day without my second shooter, Mary Sandy! The evening ended with a sparkler filled get away. Congrats to Mr. & Mrs. Powers!