If you want to have some images taken AND benefit a great cause at the same time, now is your chance. For the next two weeks, I am selling mini portrait sessions for only $50 and the proceeds benefit two Garland students who recently have been robbed of their possessions and valuables. These students need help to replace some of the items they lost, and to seek help in dealing with their traumatic situations.
Benefit Portrait Session - $50 donation * 45 minute session * One 8X10 image of your choice * Online gallery for 3 months * 10% off any order
This benefit drive ends on Monday, May 31. The session will be good all year, but it does need to be purchased by then.
Meghan is SO MUCH FUN to work with. Her and her mom are wonderful and make such a great team.
We did her bridals today at the Gaylord Texan in Grapevine. I can't believe how beautiful it is there. Every spot is a picture taking opportunity - literally! We got off the elevator and there was a spot. Then we walk a little bit, and there is a spot. We turn around and there is another one. Between the beautiful location, amazing modeling skills of Meghan and the astute attention to detail of her mom, we could have shot there all day and created hundreds of spectacular images. Unfortunately, we had to leave at some point... that just means we can pick up where we left off on July 10!
These images are some of my favorites. It was very hard to decide which ones to use. Feel free to leave comments and feedback!
We had the priviledge of shooting Natalie and Joey's engagement images this weekend. We all were a little worried about the weather, but the rain clouds cleared out just before our session and we had a beautiful day. This was Joey's first time at the Arboretum, and Natalie hadn't been there since she was a child, so it was a fun adventure for everyone. There was lots to see and do. The beauty of that place is that it changes constantly.
We really enjoyed working with Natalie and Joey. They are so cute together and you can really tell how much love they have for one another. They have been dating for seven years, making sure they got high school and college out of the way before their April wedding in 2011. We are so excited for their wedding, as it will be the first opportunity we have had to shoot at the Old Red Courthouse. It will be BEAUTIFUL.
Congratulations goes out to Christina Gonzalez and Cedric Castillo for winning our first ever monthly drawing. They will receive thier choice of a 2-hour bridal or engagement session and a complimentary 11X14 to show at their wedding.
Christina and Cedric will be wed on December 18, 2010.
If you are getting married and would like to enter our contest, please send me your name, wedding date and email address to christina@shutterspire.com. We hold each drawing on the first day of the month. Already have a photographer? No problem. You may trade this session in for one of our other sessions, such as Break Free (similar to day-after or trash-the-dress) or Expose* (ShutterSpire's pin-up/boudoir).
*Additional fees may apply for services; based on availability
I am so sorry that I didn't get these up yesterday, but here they are now; the sneak peeks of Aileen and Drew's fabulous wedding.
Aileen and Drew are so sweet and we just had a blast taking pictures for them. Their friends and family were just as wonderful. This is what makes our job so fun. Their ceremony was at First Presbyterian Church in Grapevine, Texas and the reception was at Cowboys Golf Club, just a few minutes away from the church.
Dr. Paul Thompson officiated the ceremony and did a great job. During the service, one of the ring bearers was playing with the rings on the pillow. Someone in the audience was telling him to stop, and he just got a confused look on his face and whispered "What?" with his hands held out. It was really cute!
Then it was off to the party! I dont think I have seen so many people on the dance floor at one time. Normally, I am in the middle of everything. This time, I couldn't edge my way through, so I stood on a chair most of the night. They certainly know how to throw a party!!!
We had so much fun with Jennifer today! Believe it or not, she is not a professional model (though she poses like one). Jennifer is getting married on the very best day of the year, September 18! That is Tim and my anniversary!
Jennifer was able to bring her kiddos today. Dannika was a great help looking after her little brother while we were shooting. Both kids were so adorable and taking a couple pictures of them was irresistable!
The best thing happened while we were shooting and it made the whole morning worth it. While scouting out another location in Downtown, a police car showed up. We were afraid that we were doing something we weren't supposed to, but that was not the case. Instead, one of the officers gave us some 'insider' information on an exclusive location! We used it immediately with some great results. I cant reveal the secret... but it made my day!
ShutterSpire is going into our second full year in business, and we really want to re-vamp our bridal portfolio. This is your chance to get a free bridal mini-session with us. Already married? Here is your opportunity to wear that beautiful dress one more time. Getting married? Let us show you how beautiful you are in your new gown.
You can try us on for size! If you are still looking to hire your wedding photographer, you can come out and have us do a mini-session with you. This is so much better than a consultation. You will get to see us in action.
This Saturday, April 3, we will be giving away bridal sessions around the Dallas area. You will get a 30-minute session and a disc of your images with printing rights, entirely free.
Please email us (info@shutterspire.com) or give us a call (214-516-5088) to schedule your time slot.
We had an interesting and fun bridal shoot today with Aileen. We were supposed to take pictures outside of SMU today, but the cold weather and rain changed our plans (for the better). This is the first time that Tim and I have used dramatic lighting for one of our shoots and the pictures came out SO NICE.
We started by taking pictures at Studio 1921 1/2 where Aileen had her make-up and hair done (Great job Tisha Corcoran from TC Makeup, BTW). Then, we had the opportunity to go to the SMU Student Center and took some more. This is where Aileen graduated.
We had so much fun and are looking forward to her and Drew's wedding on April 17! It will be here before we know it.
When choosing your wedding photographer, you need to know what to look for and what questions to ask. The bridal magazines attempt to help you with this to some degree, but even they aren't privy to all of the appropriate information.
The following clip shows the situation that, unfortunately, some brides find themselves in.
This photographer used a consumer-brand camera and kit lenses that you can purchase for $600. Additionally, she didn't have appropriate lighting equipment or knowledge to properly handle wedding situations. Worst yet, she wasn't charging 'budget' prices. This bride paid $1300 to have her team to cover the most important day of her life.
So what SHOULD you ask? (Besides what the package includes and payment terms)
1. What equipment do you use?
CANON - If the photographer is using Canon equipment, the camera bodies should be a 1D, 5D, 7D, or a 20/30/40/50D series. These are the only camera bodies that are of professional grade.
NIKON - The D3, D300, and D700 series cameras are the professional camera bodies that the photographer should be using.
LENSES - You should find out the speed of lenses your photographer is using. Speed is very important because many churches do not allow flash. A professional photographer will have at least one lens with an aperature (also called an F-Stop) number of 2.8 or lower. If they don't know the aperature of their lenses, they are not professional.
2. What kind of editing do you provide on your images?
You don't want a shoot-and-drop photographer. These are the people that take 1000-3000 images and just burn them to a disc. No sorting, no editing, and you are left to do everything on your own.
A professional will sort and edit each image. Different professionals have different levels of editing, but each image is looked at and tweeked to provide a nice outcome.
3. Where do you have your images printed?
If the answer is simply they give you the disc, or that their final product is printed at Walmart, Ritz/Wolf Camera, or any other place that you can go as well, walk away from the situation and go to a professional. Your wedding images are way too important.
A professional will go to a professional print lab such as BWC, Millers, WHCC, Black River Imaging, ACI, Nations, or many other reputable professional labs.
4. Do you have insurance?
An individual's home ownership insurance is not enough. A professional needs to have professional business liability insurance at a very minimum. Why is this important? What if one of the lights that the photographer is using bursts and creates a spark, causing your chapel to catch on fire. Who is responsible? That would be YOU, unless your photographer has liability insurance. I know that this is an extreme case, but anything can happen. You want to make sure your photographer is prepared.
I really hope that this list of questions and possible answers helps you as you head off to your many consultations. You invest so much time and money into planning your wedding, do not remember it by using a less-than-professional photographer.
It is getting late, but I wanted to share with you all a few things on my mind. This is an important year for Tim and I.
First, we turn 30 this year. We are not as upset about it as you may think. We are actually excited to forge into the next decade of our lives... together. We still haven't decided how we are going to celebrate yet, but we should come up with something soon! We have less than 2 months. Should we throw a bash at a restaurant here in Dallas or skip town to San Antonio. Please help us decide!
Second, this year will be our fifth wedding anniversary! On September 18, we will be married for five years. To all of my brides and grooms - never let people tell you that marriage stinks! They are completely wrong. The last five years have been nothing but wonderful for us. We have grown together and are stronger now than when we were merely dating. So, dont listen to the cynical ones out there. Marriage is great (and that is why we love our job so much!)
Anyway, I am going to be adding more features to this blog in the near future and want to get to know you all just a little bit more. Feel free to comment, add quotes, tell stories, or anything else you feel like sharing. I will do the same!
Amy and Greg's wedding last night was spectacular. The fact that they got married on Valentines Day just shows how romantic and totally in love they are with each other. They were constantly caught looking at each other and saying the sweetest things. At one point, Greg looked over at Amy and told her how beautiful she was. That made my heart melt!
Their ceremony was at the beautiful Marty Leonard Center in Fort Worth and their reception was at the Western Garden Cafe. Everything was so beautifully decorated in shades of red and pink (you cant have a Valentines wedding without incorporating the colors!!!)
I wanted to hurry and get a few sneak peeks up before they left for Cancun. Hope you enjoy them and have fun on your Honeymoon!
Have a safe and fun trip. We will see you when you get back!
Last month we had a Valentines Day contest where couples submitted a picture of themselves and solicited votes from their friends and family. The winner of the contest will receive a free portrait session with us here at ShutterSpire and will be featured on our 2011 Calendar for the month of Feb.
And......... the winner is........... Rachel Zimmerman!
Congratulations to Rachel and her Valentine. I am really excited to meet you both and capture a few memories for you.
For a mere $50, you receive a 60 minute session with one of our wonderful ShutterSpire Photographers, an 8X10 image of choice, and enterance into the contest.
Proceeds from the session fee and any votes you get go to support Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep!
Schedule your session now as we are filling up fast. The last day for this contest is April 1.
We have officially begun the voting for our Valentines Day Contest. Posted are the contestants for the cutest couple. You may vote for your favorite couple in two different ways.
