Here are some fun things to do with your wedding photographer:)

**photo booth**

photo booths are an amazing way to spice up your reception! You get a photo booth set up in the reception, amazing props and some fun signs to point your guests to it and you have yourself a party! Plus, your photo booth pictures are published for your guests just a couple days after the wedding so they can enjoy and share them!

**engagement photos**

Engagement pictures are my favorite.  A few great reasons for engagement sessions.

1. They allow you to be you as a couple.  The biggest pictures in my house are from Brad and I’s engagement session because its just us. Don’t get me wrong, wedding pictures are awesome and we have them but the main ones we have up are our engagement because they are a little more everyday, ya kno

2. I love that engagement sessions allow us to hang out and get to know each other. You get a sense of my shooting style so when the wedding day comes its really comfortable and we make a great team!

3. Engagement sessions give you pictures that you can use in all sorts of ways.  From save the dates, guest book at the wedding, favors, to even pictures to display at your reception, its so great to have those pictures to use throughout your wedding!

**give him the gift of you!**

this one is for the girls! A great gift to give him on the wedding night, the gift of you! Come in and get a boudoir session and even an album for him.  It’s a comfortable, fun session that celebrates you! My boudoir photography is called The Pink Label and more info can be found here. Find out lots of fun info on these sessions here.  Also, Valentine’s Day specials are going on now (see below)!

so there you have it:)

a few ways to utilize your wedding photographer in some great ways other than the wedding!

tomorrow we are looking at some awesome vendors and why you need them! Check back!

So remember yesterday when we chatted about how to make your wedding you? Well today I thought I would point you in a couple directions to go and get inspired.

So there is all the, amazing in themselves, personal places to look for inspiration.
Do that. Look in those places.
Like we talked about yesterday, look at your family history, look at who you are as a couple, where you met, what you guys love to do

but sometimes in the late nights of planning a wedding or on those planning and dreaming days, sometimes you need a little inspiration:)

well, here is some online inspiration for all things weddings:)

my all time favorite: The Wedding Chicks
hit the diy and download link for even more awesomeness!

some other faves:
Southern Weddings
Style Me Pretty
100 Layer Cake
The Knot

Are you deep in the trenches of planning your wedding?  Picking out wedding vendors, photographers, dj’s? Or hoping to have a ring on your finger soon?  Or want some great ideas for a wedding you are planning?  Or just like to diy?

Well, this week is for you! Its a week dedicated just for the brides with lots of wedding ideas, how to’s, and all sorts of fun stuff to make your wedding magic.

if you are local to Knoxville, we’ll feature some great wedding vendors to hook up with.  And regardless of where you live we’ll have lots of fun links, pictures, some wedding photography, features, and more! First post up tonight!

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If you are reading this in the Knoxville area and engaged, hope to be engaged soon, know someone that is, or are a recent bride…email me today! I have a couple tickets to a very fun event on Friday that I’m so happy to be part of! You don’t want to miss it!

A trend that is continuing throughout the United States with weddings is a first look. This is when the bride and groom see each other before the wedding in an intimate moment so the photographer can capture the first look and then proceed to get amazing couple shots before the hubbub of the wedding begins.

I’m finding more and more, here in Knoxville, Tennessee, the tradition of seeing the bride when she first walks down the aisle is still holding strong. As a photographer I’m kinda on the fence about this one. Maybe I shouldn’t be because a lot of photographers have strong opinions about seeing each other before hand but I have to say I understand those that want the traditional way. So, I thought a blog post was in order:) Plus, I had another photographer weigh in on the matter (and one that isn’t from Knoxville to get a little perspective on it:) )

First, some pro’s and con’s:

PROS for a first look:
-Dedicated time to have your photographer to yourselves and get amazing pictures of the two of you!
-It’s intimate, just the two of you, with time to yourselves as you take this amazing journey together.
-You don’t have to worry about your makeup if you cry during the ceremony.
-Lessens the amount of time you need to dedicate to photos between the ceremony and reception= happy guests:)
-The light! Depending on your ceremony time the light can be better before hand (this is one to talk with your photographer about). I know that weddings here in Knoxville right now that start at 5pm would be better light with a first look beforehand.

CONS for a first look:
-It’s breaking tradition by golly!
-You want his first sight of you being when you walk down the aisle.
-You don’t want to kiss before the ceremony.

What Jared at Jacobus Photography based in Ohio had to say: “I let them decide unless its a winter wedding where it gets dark really early. If light will be an issue then I recommend they meet before. If they still want to wait to see each other then I am fine with it and I make sure I do my job.”

My personal opinion, similar to Jared’s, is I am all for tradition and completely respect the decision BUT if you opt to wait, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE put aside time after the ceremony for just the bride and groom to steal away and get some good pictures. So often you get into the groove of the wedding and if you don’t plan time the priority dwindles when Aunt Hilda is pulling on your arm for a hug. Just sayin’.

Lesson for the day: Whether a first look or the tradition: make couple shots a PRIORITY! Those are the ones you will want to see and hang up after the wedding! Oh, and talk to your photographer about the light and timing to get their opinion:)

A big thanks to Jacobus Photography! Here is one of their amazing pictures!

TodayTonight we are talking about engagement sessions. Who, what, why, when and where in Knoxville (or elsewhere!) to have them. It’s late and the People’s Choice Awards are on, you’ll have to excuse me:)

On to the w’s of engagement photography!

WHO:
Well, obviously the future bride and groom and hopefully with their Knoxville wedding photographer. Although I have had several times where I did engagement pictures for a couple and didn’t do their wedding. One reason is that I was booked on their wedding day but they still wanted me to do their pictures so they opted to get their engagement pictures done by me. Another reason I’ve encountered in the past was that the couple were getting married at another location that required them to use their photographer. Chapels in Gatlinburg are big on this.

WHAT:
A photo session for just the two of you. What to expect: lots of kissing! Kidding! Although there will no doubt be pictures that we’ll get of the two of you kissing its alot more to do with the two of you pretending the camera isn’t there and showing the love you have for each other. That is what engagement sessions are all about…capturing you as a couple, in love, during this awesome stage in your life!

WHY:
A few reasons I feel strongly about engagement sessions.

• #1: I LOVE them. They are in the top 2 of my fave kind of shoots. Because they are you being you with each other, laughing, being serious, in love. It’s about capturing those moments that brought you along this journey that will continue on.
• #2 reason for engagement pictures: Its such a great way to get to know each other. Me and you I mean. Let’s hope the two of you know each other:) But seriously, its so much fun to hang out with you guys in an environment that is fun and laid back. It helps to build up a great relationship that comes in handy on your wedding day and for you to get a sense of my shooting style so you are more relaxed during our pictures on your big day. See, win win:)
• #3. I’m a big fan of engagement pictures because they are great to display in your new house! Don’t get me wrong, wedding pictures are good too but in my experience its also really nice to have some nice romantic awesome pictures of you that represents real and everyday life.
• #4. All the other fun things you can do with engagement photos! A fave is using the pictures to get a guestbook made! Love that! Other options are to have some printed and framed to display at your wedding/reception, fun collages, save the date cards, invitations…its just open ended:)

WHEN:
This is flexible but I would recommend at least 2 months before the wedding. If you want save the date cards then way before! Think 9-12 months before for those puppies only because you want to get the save the dates out in time. Also, depending on your date you can work around the seasons and weather.

WHERE:
I think this may be why I love engagement pictures so much…the opportunity to do the session wherever and make it meaningful! If you have a favorite date night place in Knoxville, if you met somewhere specific, if you both love a sport or team….all those can be awesome out of the box engagement photo locations. It makes a special time even more special. And yes, even if you met say, at McDonalds, you bet we can do a rocking engagement session of awesomeness and get great pictures, even at McD’s… because that is how we roll:)

ending the post with a little engagement picture for ya! Have a great night! Tomorrow’s post is good and already in the works, don’t miss it!

So we have talked about what your style of wedding will be, we’ve talked about some fun diy crafts, we’ve even talked about Knoxville vendors and questions to ask while looking for your perfect wedding vendors. Today I thought we would look at some hot new 2010 wedding trends. And I’m happy to report that my DIY post was right on track with the reported trends:)

So, what can we expect to see for 2010 weddings?

Simplicity:
Think intimate beautiful backyard weddings with hand crafted favors. Think emphasis on the reason for the wedding rather than the production of it all. I got to photograph a wedding here on New Years Eve that I’ll show later held at the Laurel Theater in Knoxville, TN that emphasized this point beautifully. Simple, beautiful, and intimate. Made me realize that sometimes its the simple wedding that has something so beautiful about it. Here’s a picture of a wedding featured on the Wedding Chicks of a simple barnyard wedding that proved simple can be awesome!

Buttercream!:
I mean really, we all know the fondant looks great but who wants to eat that stuff! I say bring on the buttercream! But yes, expect to see more buttercream at weddings. Find an awesome cake decorator and it will look just as beautiful as any fondant and your guests will thank you:)

Colors:
Expect fun colors! Not just go pick a color for the bridesmaid dresses and call it a day. Think more coordinating color schemes to fit the style of your wedding. Think monochromatic color schemes with one color in different shades. Think muted colors. I love the 100 layer cake blog’s inspiration binder with lots of fun color combos to give you ideas. Here is a little color combo that utilizes one of the other trends, a little turquoise!

So today we are talking about finding a wedding photographer. With all the wedding photographers out there (I know in Knoxville alone that are hundreds!) and the photos of your special day being the most lasting element of the wedding I thought it was fitting:) Much like what we talked about yesterday, take the steps of knowing your style and find a couple photographers that you think may fit with you and your style. So, you have some prospective wedding photographers, now what?

Meet with them at best or at least chat with them on the phone or through email.  Then ask the two big questions…

1. Do I like this person? Do I get along with them and feel comfortable with them?
2. Do I like their work? Does it fit my style?

Those are the two big ones to ask yourself…here are some smaller questions to ask your knoxville wedding photographers as well to help you on your way as well to a signed contract.  I’m not even going to pretend to be able to surpass the great knowledge and lists of questions already out there so I did some researching for you and wanted to share the most relevant list of questions of what to ask your knoxville wedding photographers. Yes, there are questions like “do you shoot black and white” that you can, and should, ask.  But here is a list that I think is a little more relevant to what you need to know in determining who your wedding photographers will be and encompass all those little questions like if you shoot black and white:)

This was taken from here and written by the humorous Jonathan Ryan. Love these guys and makes me wish I was from the UK:) I mean, anyone who spells favours instead of favors is a-ok in my book!

1. Can we see some of your pictures?

OK, nobody is going to choose a wedding photographer without seeing their portfolio (you weren’t, were you?) but notice a key word in that question your pictures.  What you want to see is the photographer’s own work where they were the main or only photographer.  It’s fine for them to get experience assisting another photographer but there’s a world of difference between pictures taken while a guest at a friend’s wedding or while assisting an experienced pro and their own unaided work.

2. Can we see a whole wedding?

Cherry picking is great and you’ll want to see your photographer’s top work but no single day is going to match their 10 best ever shots.  Ask to see a whole day.  Either on screen, in print or (best of all) in a sample album just like it would be delivered to you.

3. Will you be our photographer?

This is only really a question for the big studios but it’s worth asking of everybody you meet.  It doesn’t matter if they show you an amazing portfolio of their own beautiful work if they are going to send somebody else on the day.

4. How would you describe your approach?

Another obvious one – if you tell a photographer you want a hands off guy who lets everybody do their own thing and capture the moment then it’s pretty likely that will become their specialty.  If you say your favourite is a lady who knows how to take control of groups then hey presto, instant expert.  Ask them to describe their approach (are they bossy, friendly, invisible?) and see how that matches your expectations.

5. Can you…..?

Everybody’s wedding is different.  Everybody has different expectations.  If there’s something that’s important to you then don’t be afraid to ask the photographer if they will be able to capture it.  And follow up too.  “Can you take pictures of our fireworks?”.  Sure, no problem.  “Great, can I see some examples of your fireworks pictures?”

6. What else do you do?

Plenty of great wedding photographers balance their photography with another full time job.  It’s worth asking if they are full time or not though.  If they aren’t then you may want to make sure that they aren’t over committed and that your pictures will get the care they deserve.  Actually, even if they are full time it’s worth checking a couple of things.  A photographer who shoots 100 weddings a year may be great because she’s so popular and in demand.  It may also mean he’s overworked and will rush things.  A couple of questions should enable you to tell which is which.

7. Do you work on your own or as part of a team?

This one’s tricky.  Some photographers prefer to work alone and some prefer to have an assistant, a second photographer and a tea boy in tow.  Both approaches are fine (though if you’re planning a quiet intimate affair then you may not want a 6 person team!) – just be careful that they don’t tell you there will be “two photographers” if one of them will be a trainee!  And if the photographer favours the large team approach then ask them again “which of these pictures did you take?” and “who will be there on the day?”

8. How long will it be before we see our pictures?

There is little worse than coming back after a two week honeymoon and being told that it will be “another month or two” before you see your pictures.  Even a busy photographer should be able to show you the images within 3 weeks of the wedding.  If not they may be over committed – either to another job or other clients.

9. What do you do if it rains?

Or snows, or your camera breaks down or a herd of llamas invades the wedding?  A professional should have an answer to these (except maybe the llamas).  Backup cameras (and lenses), planning for wet weather, extra lights in case the pictures need taken indoors, file backup strategies and dry clothes are just some of the reasons why professional charge so much for their services.  And if you meet a photographer who, when you ask “what do you do if it rains?” just smiles and says “I kick ass” then ask to see the album of one of the wettest weddings ever .

10. What would you like to eat?

Seriously, I generally shoot for 10 hours and it’s always nice to know whether I’m going to get dinner or bring my own.

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See, I told you that was written far better then I could have ever written it (and more funnier!) For all you Knoxville soon to be brides, hope this helps you in your quest for an awesome wedding photographer. For you photographers, feel free to share this with your brides or blog audience:)

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Shannon Kelley Photography | Shannon Kelley Photography Blog | Knoxville wedding photographers

As announced here this week is going to be wedding week! Jan 2nd through the 8th were going to cover all sorts of fun wedding things from photographers (of course that had to be in there:) ), diy, Knoxville weddings, etc. Lots of fun for those Knoxville brides getting ready to plan their 2010 wedding! Today its all about finding the right vendors for you! There are so many choices that a bride faces as she plans her wedding…here is how to make sure you are paired up with the perfect vendor

How to find the right vendors for you!

-Find your style! This is one of the first basic things that will make all the other decisions a little easier. Have you dreamed of a small vintage garden wedding your whole life or do you want the princess wedding dress with a large church wedding and reception? Knowing things you definitely want or don’t want make life a little easier. Need some help in finding your style? Here are a few ideas

• Take a quiz! Go here to take it and see what it says about you and your style.  This one is a little more simpler to take and quite fun as well:)
• Make an inspiration board.  LOVE this idea! Gather items for a few days of things that inspire you.  They don’t have to be wedding items.  They can be textures, pictures, magazine clippings.  Something that you see and think “this is so me!” Then put it all together on a poster board, paper. Lay it all out and look any themes that pop out, take inspiration from those things.

-Finding vendors that match your style. This is the hard part.  There are several ways that you can find wedding vendors now.  One is the lovely internet (or if you are like my mom and still rely on a phone book you can go that route!), through marketing or ads, or through word of mouth.  A few things to keep in mind..

• Word of mouth is a great tool.  You can gain valuable knowledge on the quality of the vendor through people who have already used them.  This is also a good way to gauge style because if you friend had a similar style wedding and loved this vendor then that takes out the first initial guess work.
• Google and other search engines have transformed how we can search and look up local businesses.  It’s also made it a little harder to find the right one.  Just type in knoxville wedding photographers and you get 609,000 results.  What!? So search away but be sure to check the vendors work.  If they are a good reputable vendor they should have a good website with their info on it and photographers should have their work displayed.
• The nice thing about websites is that it allows you to see their style.  If you are searching for a artistic knoxville wedding photographer, for instance, and you go to a photographers site that is very traditional and posed then you know they aren’t for you.
• After you have narrowed it down and have your couple vendors who you want to look more into, give them a phone call or email.  This will save you some time instead of meeting with them all.  Then once you chat with them and feel this may be the one, schedule a time to sit down and get to know them.  Yes, you want to see the wedding photographer’s portfolio and know what their pricing is but also see how you mesh.  Do you get along? Photographers are probably one of the more important vendors to make sure you have a good relationship with and can trust.  They will be with you the whole day and also be in charge of capturing your wedding.
• Head on over to Onewed.com or Project Wedding to search for vendors in your city.  These sites have lots of vendors that you can search for with most having pictures, reviews, and info on collections and pricing.  Yay for efficiency:)

Are you a bride or any photographers that have any other ideas or what worked for you in finding the right vendor? Feel free to leave comments!

and thought we needed some picture love on the blog:) I’ve been madly working on some albums and this is a page from one. Love fun wedding albums!

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Shannon Kelley Photography | Shannon Kelley Photography Blog | Knoxville wedding photographers