ELOPING? LOOKING FOR OLD BEAUTY AND CHARM? TRY AN OLD HISTORIC ORIGINAL HOTEL!Old Historic Hotels are truly hidden gems. They give you so much charm and beauty for your wedding day. You have the old porches, pillars, and balconies to utilize as gorgeous backdrops and chandeliers for that added detail.
This couple rented the GRAND HOTEL for their wedding and it did NOT disappoint. The hotel was perfect for them from the old historic stair cases to the stone floors. They had all their guest stay there and the bar was open for them to enjoy the night with their closest friends and family. This idea is genius for the couple who is wanting to get away with a group of people for their special day.
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Airbnb wedding venues. Do you do it or not?Airbnb and vrbo have become the thing to do when you travel in the past recent years. You get to stay in someone's home and have it all to yourself at the destination you travel to. This is very appealing, especially when you have a group of people you are traveling with and everyone wants to stay together. Now, the question is, do you utilize one of these homes to have your wedding? In my opinion.. YES! How do I know? Well.. I've done it. But this blog will break down some of the pros and cons of renting an airbnb. So lets get into them.
3. HONEY MOON AND CEREMONY WRAPPED INTO ONE The honeymoon is a topic that I swing both ways on. Its one that I get both sides whole heartedly, so its tricky. I understand newlywed couples want to go to that tropical place out of country and hang out on the beach for a week drinking pina colada's. I am all about that! But if you can't really afford that, or if you find it difficult to get away like that, then this option wins! You are already looking for an airbnb with beautiful scenery to have your ceremony, why not just stay an extra few days and use it as your honeymoon as well. You can pick somewhere the two of you have always wanted to go, rent a cabin or a home, have your ceremony, and the rest of your stay is the honeymoon. This could actually fit into number 1 and number 2 because it is both cost effective and convenient.
5. PERSONAL Your wedding becomes personal. You aren't sharing it with people you don't really even know. Its just the two of you and a handful of family and friends. You will remember every second of it and every person that was there. You can talk and mingle with every one. You can have quiet time with your new spouse to soak in the moments. You won't feel that you have to be pulled in 10,000 different directions. You feel extremely loved and supported because there isn't anyone there that shouldn't be. Its just personal.... and personal is by far, to me, the absolute best.  CONS:
2. LIMITED AMOUNT OF PEOPLE You can only invite a few people to attend your ceremony if you decide to have it at an Airbnb. Depending on how many people you are wanting to invite would determine if this ceremony option is right for you. If you can't or don't want to narrow your guest list, then a larger venue may suit you better.
The beautiful couple, in the pictures on this blog, Kathleen and Peter, chose an out of town Airbnb that slept the number of people at their ceremony. They had the stunning Ocoee river flowing through the yard and were surrounded by tall trees, twinkling lights, and the sound of water flowing. There was no alter here, I mean why did you need one? Local vendors delivered the rented chairs and tables to the cabin the day before and picked them up before they left. A local flower shop made the bouquet and boutonniere and the local bakery made a gorgeous cake. The morning of the wedding, the bride visited and chatted with all her guests, which were close family and friends, and enjoyed her time with them. This wedding was so personal and elegant and the bride said she wouldn't have had it any other way. Author: Stephanie Taylor |
 | I am a small wedding photographer but I didn't start out that way. I used to be with the bride from the very beginning of her day until the moment she rode away with her prince charming. It was a grueling 12 to 14 hour day plus hours and hours of sorting and editing thousands upon thousands of pictures days and weeks later. I loved being a wedding photographer, but I didn't love the false assumption that you need every single detail of the wedding day documented. Now... for some brides this is a MUST and non-negotiable and that is perfectly ok. It just isn't my belief, so I decided to shorten the amount of hours I am available for a wedding and give my brides a timeline that will get them the most important pictures for less cost. |
I can not and will not speak for other photographers, but for myself, I found that when I was hanging out at the wedding from dawn to dusk, I would stand around a lot and not get significant pictures. The photo album or wall worthy ones. Instead I was catching the bridesmaids talking to each other while waiting on their hair to get done, or the venue hanging the backdrop or setting the tables and the end of the night reception pictures where its the same group of people on the dance floor, making the same moves, just to a different song. The photos that yes... you may want .. but are they really the ones you will put into your wedding photo album? I didn't enjoy catching the meaningless pictures but I thrived at catching the moments that you would cry over. I found myself really focusing on those type pictures throughout the day and ignoring the others. I started to tell my new brides this and found they agreed. They didn't want a 100 pictures of the same guy dancing on the dance floor at the reception. Instead they would rather use me wisely and catch the most memorable moments of the day. It was a win, win for everyone, so I decided to stick to that.
It truly has been the perfect match for me because I have more personal time with my bride and I am not around for the chaos of it all. I am just there for the beautiful, heartfelt moments, that the walls in your home and the book on the coffee table crave.... and not to mention your wallet.
It has also changed my journey just a tad to more small, elegant, intimate, weddings like the one here in this blog. The Stones reached out about having a backyard wedding and thought I was the perfect fit and I agreed. This little quaint backyard wedding was a dream! They hired me for 2 hours and received about 300 pictures of their special memorable moments. They had the backyard decorated so beautifully and you felt like you were in a fairytale as soon as you walked through the privacy fence. Around thirty of their family and closest friends were there to celebrate them and I was able to speak with every one of them. I felt like I was part of the pack. This was the most laid back bride and the environment oozed happiness. If you are on the fence about having a small intimate wedding, don't be.
It has also changed my journey just a tad to more small, elegant, intimate, weddings like the one here in this blog. The Stones reached out about having a backyard wedding and thought I was the perfect fit and I agreed. This little quaint backyard wedding was a dream! They hired me for 2 hours and received about 300 pictures of their special memorable moments. They had the backyard decorated so beautifully and you felt like you were in a fairytale as soon as you walked through the privacy fence. Around thirty of their family and closest friends were there to celebrate them and I was able to speak with every one of them. I felt like I was part of the pack. This was the most laid back bride and the environment oozed happiness. If you are on the fence about having a small intimate wedding, don't be.
 | How it works for me as the photographer: I always give my brides the option of hours. From the least to the most I will cover. Once we sit down and decide which hourly package is best, I give you timeline options that will catch the most important pictures of your day. The good news is, you don't really have to choose between sweet moments with your mom getting ready or the reception. I do my absolute very best at giving you a timeline to catch it all. I, as most photographers do, also have little secrets to make sure the most important pictures that the bride and groom want are never missed. |
So when planning your wedding and booking a photographer, think about what the most important moments of the day are to you, then make sure to have your photographer there for those moments. For instance, if your grandmother is coming to the wedding and you want a first dance with her, then focus your timeline around the beginning of the reception and make sure to get everything done before the photographer leaves. This way nothing that is important to you has been missed. If you have a photographer you absolutely love, talk with them about a timeline or specific photo's you want. They will help you to make sure those are covered and you get the most out of your time with them.
Also, remember, if having a photographer with you for 12 plus hours on your wedding day isn't within your budget, don't fret. There are plenty of wedding photographers, like myself, who specialize in timeline weddings and offer hourly packages. You can have it all.
Also, remember, if having a photographer with you for 12 plus hours on your wedding day isn't within your budget, don't fret. There are plenty of wedding photographers, like myself, who specialize in timeline weddings and offer hourly packages. You can have it all.
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If you are planning a wedding, you are probably needing and looking for different vendors
And if you are planning an elopement or small intimate wedding not local to you, you are probably needing help on which vendors to pick. I am sure you have researched a ton and things can get a little overwhelming with all the options you have to choose from. I always tell my clients (of course, after I give them a list of vendors I recommend) to really listen to their gut. Vendors are people who love the industry and love what they do. Their passion and love will shine through in their work and most will have reviews that say just that. (although all vendors can not please everyone but that is a blog for a different day) If a vendor catches your eye.. rather it be through their website, pictures on social media, a billboard, etc, then that is usually who you need to look more into and research. I tell my clients, "try not to give yourself more than 3 options per vendor."
It gets to be so overwhelming the more options you have. If you came across three vendors that have really captured your attention, then stop there and try to pick one from those three.
It gets to be so overwhelming the more options you have. If you came across three vendors that have really captured your attention, then stop there and try to pick one from those three.
NOT NEEDING A LOT OF VENDORS
The beauty of having a small intimate wedding or elopement is that the vendor list is extremely small, so less decisions have to be made. The dress, the caterer, the venue, etc., are all vendors you don't HAVE to use when having a small intimate wedding or elopement. We rented an AIRBNB with a beautiful lake view and a dock and used it as our venue. We spent $300 for the location and were able to stay there the whole weekend. My husband already had a suit that fit the occasion and worked really well with our colors and I bought my beautiful dress online at a boutique. It was gorgeous and I got so many compliments on it! I spent $60.00 ... yes you read that correctly!
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VENDOR MUST HAVES
In my experience as a wedding photographer and from having my own small intimate wedding, the vendors that are a must have for a small wedding are the photographer, the florist, minister (depending on location), and a baker. I used a local baker who makes amazing beautiful cakes. She didn't specialize in wedding cakes but when I asked her to bake me a simple wedding cake, she delivered whole heartedly and it was absolutely delicious! I just bought the topper to go on it to make the final touches. Of course having a cake is optional for you (especially if you are having an adventure elopement and don't think you need a cake at all) I just liked the thought of having something traditional to have to celebrate.
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ALLOW ME TO HELP BOOK YOUR VENDORS
The other good news about having a small intimate wedding or elopement is that, when you book me, you have the option of letting me help you with your vendors. I have access to everything you need and have a list of vendors that I use regularly and have relationships with. So if planning a small intimate wedding or elopement gets to be to much, you can just hand over the reigns and allow me to take it on (with your approval of course). We just sit down or talk on the phone and go over all the details you are looking for and then I become your planner, friend, and photographer.
HAVING A HARD TIME CHOOSING STILL
Listen to your gut as your heart knows who it wants to work with. I have booked clients just because of the name of my business. It attracted them, and once they started communicating with me and found out why I named it that, they fell in love even more and booked me. I turned out to be the perfect fit for them all because I caught their attention and their instincts really wanted to reach out. So listen to yourself when it comes to picking vendors. Your gut usually doesn't lie.
HAVING A SMALL INTIMATE WEDDING LOCAL TO COLUMBUS AND NEED VENDORS?
I HAVE LIST THAT CAN HELP YOU.
(send me a message and I will be glad to help)
PHOTOGRAPHER: MARILYN RAY PHOTOGRAPHY
FLORIST: DENHAMS FLORIST
BAKER: HOMIES BAKERY
VENUE: OLD TOWN CHAPEL, SEVERAL AIRBNBS, CALLAWAY GARDENS, GAZEBOS, OVERLOOKS, WATERFALLS, ETC.
D.J.: DAN BLANKOWSKI
FLORIST: DENHAMS FLORIST
BAKER: HOMIES BAKERY
VENUE: OLD TOWN CHAPEL, SEVERAL AIRBNBS, CALLAWAY GARDENS, GAZEBOS, OVERLOOKS, WATERFALLS, ETC.
D.J.: DAN BLANKOWSKI
Food for Thought
Did you know that you can elope in CO with just the two of you! No officiant or Witnesses needed!
Colorado is a self-solemnize state and all you need is a marriage license and yourselves. You may need permits for certain locations which is another reason why it is great to hire an adventure photographer for your elopement. The first reason is the obvious reason... GORGEOUS PICTURES OF YOUR WEDDING DAY!
Couples are spending around 40 to 50% of their wedding budget on the venue and reception alone. Why not take that money and place it all in one. The wedding and the honeymoon all wrapped into one cost that is usually much less than a traditional wedding.
IF you have an ounce of adventure in you, and are on the fence about having a small intimate wedding, then you may want to think about an adventure wedding.
Adventure weddings look different for everyone and is really up to you on what to do for your wedding day. It can be from riding horses to an overlook, getting married, and meeting your loved ones afterwards at a reception to being like this couple I photographed and hike at sunrise to their favorite peek. Whichever you choose, the day is unique, beautiful, and one you'll never forget.
Did you know that you can elope in CO with just the two of you! No officiant or Witnesses needed!
Colorado is a self-solemnize state and all you need is a marriage license and yourselves. You may need permits for certain locations which is another reason why it is great to hire an adventure photographer for your elopement. The first reason is the obvious reason... GORGEOUS PICTURES OF YOUR WEDDING DAY!
Couples are spending around 40 to 50% of their wedding budget on the venue and reception alone. Why not take that money and place it all in one. The wedding and the honeymoon all wrapped into one cost that is usually much less than a traditional wedding.
IF you have an ounce of adventure in you, and are on the fence about having a small intimate wedding, then you may want to think about an adventure wedding.
Adventure weddings look different for everyone and is really up to you on what to do for your wedding day. It can be from riding horses to an overlook, getting married, and meeting your loved ones afterwards at a reception to being like this couple I photographed and hike at sunrise to their favorite peek. Whichever you choose, the day is unique, beautiful, and one you'll never forget.
Author: Stephanie Taylor
Elopement Photographer
Lets talk about the "oh so famous" wedding party!
You know who they are.
The people you chose to put in the wedding, to stand next to you on one of the most important days of your life.
The guys and gals who fully support you in almost every thing you do in life.
The guy who helped you sneak out in high school, and the girl who gave you their shoulder while you cried over a jerk in college. The guy who stood with you when you pledged into a fraternity, and the girl who helped you cheat your way through math class. The same two who applauded you when you said "I think I found the one".
These people mean the world to you. They know how significant of a role they play in your life and they have probably been waiting for the day you get married almost as long as you have.
These men and women deserve a shout out and a whole blog just about them!
The wedding party is your "hype guy" on your wedding day. Except there is a whole group of them. You are supposed to laugh, make jokes, cry a little, hug, have a great time, and feel supported. I have worked with the best wedding parties and the worst. I have seen it go amazingly fun (where I didn't want to leave the wedding) and amazingly BLAH. Believe it or not, the wedding party has a lot to do with that.
Our last wedding of 2021 was amazing. The wedding party could of been friends their entire lives for all we know. That is what it seemed like. They joked with each other (guys and girls) drank with each other, danced with each other, but most importantly, they hyped up their bride and groom! These friends of theirs cheered for them during the first dance and the reception exit like I have never seen. They toasted to them, danced with them, laughed with them, cried with them. This wedding party was the perfect ending to our year. They were so kind to us, patient, followed directions, helpful, etc. It made for the best wedding and the best night. The excitement they showed the bride and groom had all the other guests doing the same. The energy in that building was bursting at the seams. You couldn't help but laugh at them as they cheered the newlyweds on. It was pretty amazing. So my point is, when looking at wedding parties, make sure you have your hype guy. It makes everything that much better!
You know who they are.
The people you chose to put in the wedding, to stand next to you on one of the most important days of your life.
The guys and gals who fully support you in almost every thing you do in life.
The guy who helped you sneak out in high school, and the girl who gave you their shoulder while you cried over a jerk in college. The guy who stood with you when you pledged into a fraternity, and the girl who helped you cheat your way through math class. The same two who applauded you when you said "I think I found the one".
These people mean the world to you. They know how significant of a role they play in your life and they have probably been waiting for the day you get married almost as long as you have.
These men and women deserve a shout out and a whole blog just about them!
The wedding party is your "hype guy" on your wedding day. Except there is a whole group of them. You are supposed to laugh, make jokes, cry a little, hug, have a great time, and feel supported. I have worked with the best wedding parties and the worst. I have seen it go amazingly fun (where I didn't want to leave the wedding) and amazingly BLAH. Believe it or not, the wedding party has a lot to do with that.
Our last wedding of 2021 was amazing. The wedding party could of been friends their entire lives for all we know. That is what it seemed like. They joked with each other (guys and girls) drank with each other, danced with each other, but most importantly, they hyped up their bride and groom! These friends of theirs cheered for them during the first dance and the reception exit like I have never seen. They toasted to them, danced with them, laughed with them, cried with them. This wedding party was the perfect ending to our year. They were so kind to us, patient, followed directions, helpful, etc. It made for the best wedding and the best night. The excitement they showed the bride and groom had all the other guests doing the same. The energy in that building was bursting at the seams. You couldn't help but laugh at them as they cheered the newlyweds on. It was pretty amazing. So my point is, when looking at wedding parties, make sure you have your hype guy. It makes everything that much better!
Hey all! I haven't written any blogs lately... or should I say this year (2022). I found myself wanting to step back from the photography career and let my clients find me quietly with zero advertising or content. I stopped booking weddings after May of last year and here I am in mid- march still trying to decide on if I am seriously ready to call it quits. The burnout of this job has gotten to me and I don't know if all the advertising, hustling, fight, etc. is worth it. But at the same time, I am missing my brides and the job itself, so I decided to write a little blog and let you all know what I have been up to.
We won "GEORGIAS BEST" for 2021. Winners were announced in late December. I am super happy and proud of that! I struggled with taking a step back because of that win but knew in my heart, I needed to in order for me to find the passion in it again.
We also had an article written about us in April from "VOYAGE MAGIZINE" in Atlanta. Here is the link
We also had an article written about us in April from "VOYAGE MAGIZINE" in Atlanta. Here is the link
http://voyageatl.com/interview/meet-stephanie-taylor-of-travel-all-over/?fbclid=IwAR2cpwYMuAmjWedAEHd8e2ESJSfm-goEKXWZEoSHAVS4J5pAUzcSvSUSVus
Funny how the universe works. Just when you have made up your mind to throw in the towel and start a new career adventure, things happen in your favor. Even though all of this made me smile and feel good about myself, I still decided to take a little time and only book weddings for those who seek me out.
My future endeavors involve a lot of risk! For one, taking time off from the photography business itself. But I am also planning on hiking the Appalachian Trail Georgia Section next year. The 80 mile venture will take me through the entire northern half of the state and land me on the GA/SC border. My dearest closest friend and I have always wanted to do this, but just haven't devoted the time. Now her stepmom is diagnosed with terminal cancer and we think now is the best time to hike it in her honor. We will be posting our progress on the website www.trailheadtailgaters.com for all of you who would like to follow.
In the meantime, if you all know of someone who is taking the trail less traveled to get married or would just like advice, Please don't hesitate to reach out to me. I am not done.. just rejuvenating.
Stephanie Taylor
Writer and Photographer for MARILYN RAY PHOTOGRAPHY/TRAIL LESS TRAVELED
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We have started advertising in different states and this can come off a tad confusing for the client looking for a photographer. The truth is, we are in a place in our lives where we are very limbo. We just are not settled and I can not pick one location to advertise in just yet! My husband is military. He is getting ready to retire within the next year and we are looking on where we want to lay down our roots. With that being said, we have friends and family spread all across the United States. From Hawaii, To Indiana, From Georgia, to Texas, Colorado and beyond.... We are welcomed with big arms by friends or family pretty much everywhere. So with that, comes options. I am in a great position to where I can travel for weddings and I plan to take full advantage of the opportunity for those who want me to do so! My love for the outdoors and my passion for my job leaves me breathtakingly ecstatic when I am booked outside the state I grew up in. So please, don't hold back booking me because you are weary of me traveling to you. I promise.. I will be more than happy to!
Thank you so very much to those of you who voted for me for "BEST OF GEORGIA!"
I AM NOW ONE OF THE TOP 12 WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHERS IN GEORGIA BECAUSE OF YOU!!
I waited an full day to announce the winnings because I believe I was in shock and just couldn't believe it. I was extremely thankful to just be nominated, but to actually be a winner is above and beyond my wildest expectations! I am so honored and proud! Thank you so much to all my clients, friends, and family who believe in me. This could not have been possible without you! I am truly humbled and honored!
This industry can be rough and difficult to navigate sometimes. I always feel the competition is grand and I am one of thousands. Everyday there is another new photographer to pop up that takes the most amazing extraordinary photos that my clients could easily book. To even still be in the standings is amazing to me. I know I work hard, I hustle, and I do right by all my clients but sometimes that doesn't feel like enough. So little reminders like this keeps me pushing forward! Its a reminder of how much I love this job of mine and it shows! I aim to continue to make all of you proud!
The badge will be posted on the website and social media accounts once it is received so I can show you all! I am probably going to frame it as well! Thank you so much again!! Today was a great day!
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COUNTING OUR BLESSINGS AS WE WRAP UP THIS YEAR!
We carved the turkey, Now all that is left to do is wrap the gifts, decorate the tree, bake the cookies, for santa, and buy the champagne and flutes! Here comes the new year!
As we are wrapping up our year, we are looking back on our success this year! During the pandemic we slowed down a ton. People just weren't getting married, or having gatherings. It hurt so many of us, including the client. We stopped last year and thanked our blessings as we still had 10 weddings and over 150 regular sessions. This year will be no different for us. We still have one more wedding under our belt to tackle and 2 more Christmas mini days but our days are coming to an end quick but our numbers for this year are no short of a blessing! With 14 weddings and over 200 regular sessions, 2021 brought us great success in traveling more, meeting new faces, falling in love with new places and booking weddings in other states for next year as well. We can't thank ya'll enough for this. We are so incredibly excited as we have taken a turn in our location as well as our photography path and are praying for the best possible outcome. We hope each and everyone of you find true happiness and success as we head into 2022. We are looking forward to meeting new people, seeing new locations, hanging with our new brides, and falling in love with the job at hand all over again! We will end this blog with a few photo's of our upcoming bride and of course a chant from GLORY GLORY "GO DAWGS!"
DANI AND MATT ceremony date 12.12.21
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WE LOVE MAKING FRIENDS WITH OTHER BUSINESS OWNERS AND MAKING A VISION COME TO LIFE
In November we collaborated with a business owner who has a vision that seriously calls to me! She is the owner of "Campfires and Tailgates" and owns a GLAMPING tent, a camper, and offers other services that involve the love of the outdoors! If you haven't checked out her business, you should! It is the perfect theme for birthdays, anniversaries, engagements, etc. (if you have a surprise engagement idea, let us know.. we can help!) Angela and I came together and knew immediately that our crafts, love of the outdoors, and visions, could be used together to make magic and catch some very unique and fun pictures! So ... we did!
Meet Angela! The owner of "Campfires and Tailgates"
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Angela started this business about a year ago and it has really taken off! People love the tent and other services she has to offer. She is a genius when it comes to this type of business. If you have a vision or a request... Angela can bring it to life!
And then there is ME! The owner of Marilyn Ray Photography
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I first heard of the Campfires and Tailgates when I was looking for a tent themed birthday party for my daughter. I wanted a "glamping" party for her and her friends but I wanted it in my yard... with a click of my keyboard, I found Angela and her business. I was so impressed with her cute set up. It was huge hit with the kids and the adults alike. With my love of the outdoors and all that includes, I couldn't get my brain to shut off about the tent and how I could incorporate it with pictures. So I reached out and we set up a session day! We had so much fun with these sessions and lets not mention how awesome the tent looked as a backdrop!
It is so important to me as a photographer to deliver pictures to a family that are unique, fun and show who they are. I do not think posed pictures in front of a wall is offering everything you are as a family or couple. Your personalities should show in your photos. That is why I feel that offering these type of sessions is so important. Having options for you and your family to show off who you are or what you love doing. Pictures that would be hung on your wall for display and not just put on social media. My suggestion for you if you are looking to have pictures taken is to see if anyone in your local area is offering special themed sessions. If so, see if the theme fits your style, if so, go for it! Those pictures will probably end up being your favorite ones yet. All because they were unique, fun, and fit your personality!
Angela and the tent were perfect! She set it up so pretty and the pictures, I believe, show how much everyone loved it! If you want to rent to the tent for ANYTHING.... let us know! We can help!
Let us know if we can help you with any kind of outdoor session! Our love for adventure and the outdoors shines in our business ventures!
THE SECRET TO A SMALL INTIMATE WEDDING!
I had a small intimate wedding .... 3 times! oops. ..
Ok let me explain. .
I married my first husband super young in Gatlinburg Tennessee! We grabbed our immediate family, rented a cabin, and had a beautiful small chapel wedding. Afterwards we tooled around Gatlinburg taking in all the beautiful sights with our family. It was perfect. ... the experience and the day that is. The marriage, not so much.
Which brings me to small wedding #2.
Fast Forward 7 years and I find myself planning wedding number 2 with the man of my dreams. It was a rushed wedding because he is military and was about to deploy to Afghanistan. We had been dating for 2 years, engaged for 6 months, and BAM. .. down come the orders to ship off. Goes to show you, the military doesn't care about your plans. So, we invited our families and close friends (total of about 25 people) and got married under this gazebo in downtown right at dusk. It wasn't the wedding we wanted, but hey... we were married and all was right in the world. Originally we were thinking we wanted a huge wedding. The kind I never had before. The big venue, the big dresses, the flowers, the dance floor, the music, the food... all of it. When we realized we couldn't have that right away, I settled for the smaller version and made the best of it. Looking back on that, I think our wedding was perfect for us. Our best friends were there, we had family members there that are no longer with us, and we celebrated our love for each other 2 weeks before he left for Afghanistan. We shared a very special time in our lives with the people who meant the most to us. The celebration was intimate as we were able to talk and spend time with everyone. There were lots of tears, hugs, and laughter shared throughout the room that night.
I am sure you are wondering "then where does wedding #3 come to play within all of this?"
Well. . we wanted to renew our vows on our 10 year wedding anniversary and have that big "wedding of our dreams".
Now this wedding... was AH-MAZ-ING and I will tell you why.
When I started planning this "dream wedding", I quickly understood that our personalities didn't fit the hustle and bustle of a big wedding. Little did I know... I never wanted that. I just wanted the special moment between myself and my husband to be witnessed by people who truly loved and cared about us. I wish I had understood that during our first wedding. I would have done some things differently.
The big secret to how amazing our vow renewal felt wasn't because of who was there, (even though we are very lucky people to have some of the most amazing family and supporters in our lives) or the amount of food we had (even though we had food for DAAYYSS).
The reason why this wedding was so perfect in every way was simply the fact that we were true to ourselves and our personalities and what we really truly wanted!
THAT IS THE BIG SECRET!
We didn't consider anyone else in this vow renewal but ourselves. We didn't check to see if the date worked for people. We didn't ask if the drive would be to much. We didn't try to please everyone. The only two people that mattered were us and we did everything exactly the way we wanted.
Our ceremony was on a dock overlooking a gorgeous lake that my husband and myself found ourselves kayaking quite a few times throughout our 13 years together. We popped champagne, we had the decor that fit our marriage perfectly, we involved our children, we had our immediate family and close friends (15 people total), we ate cake and good food, had the best conversations, and made memories that will forever sit in our hearts. We had zero drama or stress and of course, we got those beautiful pictures to hang on our walls.
Ok let me explain. .
I married my first husband super young in Gatlinburg Tennessee! We grabbed our immediate family, rented a cabin, and had a beautiful small chapel wedding. Afterwards we tooled around Gatlinburg taking in all the beautiful sights with our family. It was perfect. ... the experience and the day that is. The marriage, not so much.
Which brings me to small wedding #2.
Fast Forward 7 years and I find myself planning wedding number 2 with the man of my dreams. It was a rushed wedding because he is military and was about to deploy to Afghanistan. We had been dating for 2 years, engaged for 6 months, and BAM. .. down come the orders to ship off. Goes to show you, the military doesn't care about your plans. So, we invited our families and close friends (total of about 25 people) and got married under this gazebo in downtown right at dusk. It wasn't the wedding we wanted, but hey... we were married and all was right in the world. Originally we were thinking we wanted a huge wedding. The kind I never had before. The big venue, the big dresses, the flowers, the dance floor, the music, the food... all of it. When we realized we couldn't have that right away, I settled for the smaller version and made the best of it. Looking back on that, I think our wedding was perfect for us. Our best friends were there, we had family members there that are no longer with us, and we celebrated our love for each other 2 weeks before he left for Afghanistan. We shared a very special time in our lives with the people who meant the most to us. The celebration was intimate as we were able to talk and spend time with everyone. There were lots of tears, hugs, and laughter shared throughout the room that night.
I am sure you are wondering "then where does wedding #3 come to play within all of this?"
Well. . we wanted to renew our vows on our 10 year wedding anniversary and have that big "wedding of our dreams".
Now this wedding... was AH-MAZ-ING and I will tell you why.
When I started planning this "dream wedding", I quickly understood that our personalities didn't fit the hustle and bustle of a big wedding. Little did I know... I never wanted that. I just wanted the special moment between myself and my husband to be witnessed by people who truly loved and cared about us. I wish I had understood that during our first wedding. I would have done some things differently.
The big secret to how amazing our vow renewal felt wasn't because of who was there, (even though we are very lucky people to have some of the most amazing family and supporters in our lives) or the amount of food we had (even though we had food for DAAYYSS).
The reason why this wedding was so perfect in every way was simply the fact that we were true to ourselves and our personalities and what we really truly wanted!
THAT IS THE BIG SECRET!
We didn't consider anyone else in this vow renewal but ourselves. We didn't check to see if the date worked for people. We didn't ask if the drive would be to much. We didn't try to please everyone. The only two people that mattered were us and we did everything exactly the way we wanted.
Our ceremony was on a dock overlooking a gorgeous lake that my husband and myself found ourselves kayaking quite a few times throughout our 13 years together. We popped champagne, we had the decor that fit our marriage perfectly, we involved our children, we had our immediate family and close friends (15 people total), we ate cake and good food, had the best conversations, and made memories that will forever sit in our hearts. We had zero drama or stress and of course, we got those beautiful pictures to hang on our walls.
So if you are struggling with trying to decide on a big wedding or small, think of me and this story. Think of the "big secret" as it will always call you home! Just be true to yourself and what you truly want. Everything and Everyone else can come second to this day. After all, it is the most important day of your lives. You owe it to each other to start your marriage peacefully, happily, and stress free. If that means that you need to be selfish for a minute and have a small intimate ceremony, then don't hesitate to do what is best for you.
AUTHOR: STEPHANIE TAYLOR
OWNER/PHOTOGRAPHER OF MARILYN RAY PHOTOGRAPHY
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ALL THE CHANGES TAKING PLACE FOR US ARE SO EXCITING BUT ALSO SO SAD!!
WE ARE CHASING OUR DREAMS AND IT IS EXTREMELY HARD. THE STRUGGLE IS REAL
MOVING LOCATIONS
If you have seen our pop ups on the site then you know we are moving locations. There are good and bad emotions that comes with that.
The good is, I am growing and moving towards bigger things.
The bad is, I am not sure where (which city) my new location will be just yet.
The good is, I am growing and moving towards bigger things.
The bad is, I am not sure where (which city) my new location will be just yet.
My lease came up and I decided it was better for me to not renew it because of the changes taking place. I haven't been spending a ton of time in it lately because I have been focusing more on adventure elopements in other states. It doesn't make sense for me to have a home base at this exact moment as I try to figure out our next move (literally). I am looking forward to exploring all my options but for now I am going to be in a small office right in our home. That doesn't sound very exciting to me but I have to remind myself it is only temporary. On the flip side of that, I am super proud of myself! I have had to make some hard decisions and I have had to stay focused on where my path is leading me. It has not been easy. I have had a hard time making these choices as I love all my clients so very much and I am truly grateful for the opportunities that have been given to me thus far. I just feel like my desires within this business is leaning in a different way. I am so passionate about the adventure weddings and small intimate weddings. I feel like that is my calling. I was born to do those type of weddings. They make me truly happy and I need to focus solely on that for now.
NO LONGER TAKING HOURLY SESSIONS
Since I have decided to focus solely on my passion, I have decided to not take any more hourly sessions after January 1st 2022.
Now with that being said, I have some pretty loyal clients that have been with me since day 1 and those clients I will continue to see when they need me but I won't be advertising and offering any sessions outside of those clients. Again, this has been a very hard decision for me to make. I have met some amazing people and am very grateful I had that opportunity. There will be sessions happening the rest of 2021 including Christmas themed and of course our fall themed sessions. So if you are needing pictures, lets get you on our books!
Now with that being said, I have some pretty loyal clients that have been with me since day 1 and those clients I will continue to see when they need me but I won't be advertising and offering any sessions outside of those clients. Again, this has been a very hard decision for me to make. I have met some amazing people and am very grateful I had that opportunity. There will be sessions happening the rest of 2021 including Christmas themed and of course our fall themed sessions. So if you are needing pictures, lets get you on our books!
NO LONGER OFFERING LARGE WEDDINGS
Ok, so this one may be the biggest one. I have decided that I will no longer offer large venue wedding photography.
My passion is with the smaller elopements and small intimate weddings and I am only going to be booking those from now on. I have truly enjoyed watching my beautiful brides meet the man of their dreams at the end of that isle. I have cried, I have laughed and I have bonded with all of my brides, grooms, wedding parties, and parents. I will always be thankful for the ones who chose me to be your photographer for the day!
If you have a large venue wedding booked for next year.. DON'T WORRY! We will fulfill all the weddings we already have booked, we just don't plan on booking any more large venue weddings in 2022!
This one has probably been the hardest decision for me to make. I have gone back and forth on this for quite sometime. I love photographing venue weddings and will miss doing them very much!
My passion is with the smaller elopements and small intimate weddings and I am only going to be booking those from now on. I have truly enjoyed watching my beautiful brides meet the man of their dreams at the end of that isle. I have cried, I have laughed and I have bonded with all of my brides, grooms, wedding parties, and parents. I will always be thankful for the ones who chose me to be your photographer for the day!
If you have a large venue wedding booked for next year.. DON'T WORRY! We will fulfill all the weddings we already have booked, we just don't plan on booking any more large venue weddings in 2022!
This one has probably been the hardest decision for me to make. I have gone back and forth on this for quite sometime. I love photographing venue weddings and will miss doing them very much!
THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING ME!
I am sure every single one of you have had to make hard decisions before and you understand just how hard that can be. I struggled with feeling like I was thriving and all of a sudden I am failing. Sometimes growth feels like your failing and I have to remind myself that walking away from the things that made me feel successful is growth not failure. I love my studio.. it makes me feel so joyful every time I unlock that door and walk inside. I absolutely hate giving that up but I know I will find another studio down the road and be just as happy. The same comes with letting go of my clients. I have been so booked lately and to see my calendar go empty, makes me feel like I failed. I have to remind myself that this is a choice I made. I have to be ok with these decisions. I am certain that it will take time for me to feel ok about all of this but I do know these choices are what is best for me. I just want all of you to know how much I appreciate each of you and how thankful I am that you have and will support me through this journey and the next phase of Marilyn Ray!
WISH US LUCK!!
WISH US LUCK!!
AUTHOR: STEPHANIE TAYLOR
OWNER/PHOTOGRAPHER OF MARILYN RAY
This blog is for the people who don't get in nature very much but love it.
It is for the people who want to explore more but maybe something holds them back.
It is for the people who like to see a great view, but just doesn't have the experience.
It is for those who hike a ton but may forget how important it is to value the environment.
It is for those who don't realize how big of an effect social media can have on pretty much everything
This particular blog is for some of us, most of us and all of us!
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The last Adventure Elopement I photographed was in Durango Colorado. I had never been there until I rolled in the day before the elopement. It was beautiful! The views were gorgeous, the weather was perfect and the people were wonderful. The perfect place to get married for sure. But what you don't understand (or maybe you do if you are in nature a lot) is the bride had to do a ton of her own research to find the perfect location to say their vows. It can take a lot of work and effort to find those amazing locations for that amazing day! She did just that. I won't say exactly what trail and where this took place in order to preserve its location but what I will say is that I was honored to have been invited as her photographer and be able to witness those views!
I think what some of us don't really understand is due to social media most of our trails, and favorite destinations are becoming destroyed and over crowded. You can't even get to some of our favorite places anymore because of the hype surrounding the social media outlet. My personal opinion, and it is just that, an opinion, is when you go somewhere and see that brand new peak, don't say where exactly it is. Don't tag it. Don't put it in your description or in your comments. You could tag the state, even the city or national forest, but don't tag the trail head.
I always say things like #somewhereincolorado or #lostingeorgia when I hike or explore so people know what State I was in but never know the exact location of where I was. There are 2 reasons for this. #1. Places are being destroyed! If we work together we can preserve some of these places which brings me to my #2. Most people will not do their own research to find these amazing places. It takes to much effort.
If you are anything like me, I research days, weeks, even months on end to go places in an area that is off the beaten path. It takes me hours upon hours sometimes to plan that trip. For instance, we visited Moab, Utah last year. We were going in September and I started researching and planning in May. I had our 10 day trip planned out with my bucket list of places I wanted to see and do along with their location, mileage, difficulty estimate, what I needed to bring for the hike, what time was best to see the view, etc etc etc. . Why on earth would I do all that work just to post the locations I had been so someone else can come in behind me and do the exact same thing I just did but without having to put in the work. That sounds really selfish of me I know but I feel like if I do the work for them, it makes that person appreciate this scenery less, which in turn becomes a trickle effect. It really gets under my skin when I post a picture of this gorgeous scene that I most definitely had to research to find and put my body to the test to get to and someone comments on the post "where is this". It makes me want to scream. I quit answering comments like that publicly and started private messaging the people I knew would research and put the effort in themselves if they needed to. It was an alternative to just publicly blasting an areas location.
Now listen.. I am 100% guilty of doing exactly both of those things. I have tagged my location and I have gone somewhere that other people have tagged. It is such an easy thing to do. But once I started realizing that there are waiting lists at places there have never had waiting list before, there are trails being closed because people don't "pack in, pack out", hiking and camping areas are being destroyed by trash and other things I won't mention. It was then I started realizing what social media is capable of doing to our nature experiences. I started talking to locals, and asking questions that I knew I didn't want to hear the answer to, but it changed my view on a lot of things. I hope after you read this, it will change your view as well if you haven't already. It's such a simple gesture "tagging your location" but it is becoming devastating for the nature enthusiast and to our environment in general.
So the next time you go for that hike, try to come up with a hashtag or location that suits you but doesn't say where you are exactly. This way you get to enjoy these places over and over and the risk of them being closed forever goes down by one person. We can make a difference if we just try. It is the smallest things and takes very little effort.
Now That I have had my rant. .. Lets get you married in nature!
I think what some of us don't really understand is due to social media most of our trails, and favorite destinations are becoming destroyed and over crowded. You can't even get to some of our favorite places anymore because of the hype surrounding the social media outlet. My personal opinion, and it is just that, an opinion, is when you go somewhere and see that brand new peak, don't say where exactly it is. Don't tag it. Don't put it in your description or in your comments. You could tag the state, even the city or national forest, but don't tag the trail head.
I always say things like #somewhereincolorado or #lostingeorgia when I hike or explore so people know what State I was in but never know the exact location of where I was. There are 2 reasons for this. #1. Places are being destroyed! If we work together we can preserve some of these places which brings me to my #2. Most people will not do their own research to find these amazing places. It takes to much effort.
If you are anything like me, I research days, weeks, even months on end to go places in an area that is off the beaten path. It takes me hours upon hours sometimes to plan that trip. For instance, we visited Moab, Utah last year. We were going in September and I started researching and planning in May. I had our 10 day trip planned out with my bucket list of places I wanted to see and do along with their location, mileage, difficulty estimate, what I needed to bring for the hike, what time was best to see the view, etc etc etc. . Why on earth would I do all that work just to post the locations I had been so someone else can come in behind me and do the exact same thing I just did but without having to put in the work. That sounds really selfish of me I know but I feel like if I do the work for them, it makes that person appreciate this scenery less, which in turn becomes a trickle effect. It really gets under my skin when I post a picture of this gorgeous scene that I most definitely had to research to find and put my body to the test to get to and someone comments on the post "where is this". It makes me want to scream. I quit answering comments like that publicly and started private messaging the people I knew would research and put the effort in themselves if they needed to. It was an alternative to just publicly blasting an areas location.
Now listen.. I am 100% guilty of doing exactly both of those things. I have tagged my location and I have gone somewhere that other people have tagged. It is such an easy thing to do. But once I started realizing that there are waiting lists at places there have never had waiting list before, there are trails being closed because people don't "pack in, pack out", hiking and camping areas are being destroyed by trash and other things I won't mention. It was then I started realizing what social media is capable of doing to our nature experiences. I started talking to locals, and asking questions that I knew I didn't want to hear the answer to, but it changed my view on a lot of things. I hope after you read this, it will change your view as well if you haven't already. It's such a simple gesture "tagging your location" but it is becoming devastating for the nature enthusiast and to our environment in general.
So the next time you go for that hike, try to come up with a hashtag or location that suits you but doesn't say where you are exactly. This way you get to enjoy these places over and over and the risk of them being closed forever goes down by one person. We can make a difference if we just try. It is the smallest things and takes very little effort.
Now That I have had my rant. .. Lets get you married in nature!
Author: Stephanie Taylor
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ADVENTURE ELOPEMENT
As I packed for this trip, I had butterflies. I felt the excitement for this elopement in my inner core. I knew it was going to be magical, breathtaking, and tear worthy.
As a society, sometimes we feel we have to do things the "right" way instead of the way we want. Elopements have this reputation of being quick, unplanned, and irrational. That is the old school way of thinking about elopements! Elopements today are the complete opposite. It takes a ton of planning, lots of arrangements, and most importantly, they are the most intimate way to get married. We spend tons of money on a venue, wedding parties, food, etc. for us to not even really remember the day because it is so overwhelming and fast paced. If you would rather take half of that money and put it toward a day filled for just the 2 of you (and maybe a handful of your close friends and family), then an elopement is perfect for you... and better yet.. an
ADVENTURE ELOPEMENT!
ADVENTURE ELOPEMENT!
We arrived in Durango and my goodness... There were no words for me to express my gratitude of just being there. I am in love with CO and every different mountain town I see makes me speechless. I knew that this experience was going to be spectacular!
The day of the wedding came super early. 3:00am to be exact. The couple did a cute sock exchange first thing in the morning with coffee and breakfast. At 4:30am, after a quick but oh so sweet first look, we laced up our boots and hit the trail head.
The day of the wedding came super early. 3:00am to be exact. The couple did a cute sock exchange first thing in the morning with coffee and breakfast. At 4:30am, after a quick but oh so sweet first look, we laced up our boots and hit the trail head.
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We stepped off in pure darkness in hopes to get to the summit and married before the crowd of hikers hit. The experience of the hike was breathtaking. Once the sun started rising, you could see the mountain peaks light up. With every switchback there was another view. We stopped often to take it all in... and to catch our breath. We hiked 1600 feet in elevation in 3 miles reaching the top at 10,397 above sea level. Coming from Ga, where we sit at practically sea level, this was a huge experience! I enjoyed watching the couple beam from ear to ear with every step to the summit. The anticipation of knowing they were about to become husband and wife was written all over their faces.
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Once we reached the top the preparation began. The quick look in the mirror, the deep breaths, the calming of nerves, and then it was time for the ceremony! In Colorado you do not have to have an officiant so it was just the 4 of us at the top of this mountain, taking in the view, watching the sun rise higher and higher, and listening to the vows they read to each other. Once the kiss was done the marriage was sealed. It was spectacular. The most intimate and special ceremony. We took a few more pictures at the top and then we started our decent down.
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After the hike was over we made our way to the ski lodge to enjoy the rest of the afternoon on the fall foliage ski slopes. We rode the ski lift, the roller coaster, and alpine slide, and walked the bike trails a little. We enjoyed every minute of the afternoon from meeting new people, to taking the most amazing pictures. I was with the bride and groom every step of this adventure. They are avid hikers and for them, this day will be the "trail that never ends" full of happiness, tears of joy, endless love, and memories that will last them a lifetime.
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If you find yourself getting married soon and this type of wedding seems appealing... then please reach out. We can seriously talk about all the options you have!
LETS GET SOCIAL
AUTHOR: STEPHANIE TAYLOR
OWNER/PHOTOGRAPHER
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ADVENTURE ELOPEMENT WEDDING!
A ONE OF A KIND EXPERIENCE BLENDING LOVE AND LANDSCAPES
What is an ADVENTURE ELOPEMENT?
It is just that! An elopement that is filled with adventure!
It can be a yurt sleepover with all your loved ones, in the middle of no where or just the two of you under a waterfall.
Think breathtaking views and becoming one with nature. People love this type of wedding because they feel most connected when in the great outdoors.
WHO WOULD DO THIS
The couples who want this type of wedding tend to have a love of travel and passion for exploring. They want to be unique. They throw all the rules out the window and do things the way they want to. They typically don't want the stress that "traditional" can bring. They are fearless and definitely not afraid of a little dirt. They live life on the edge, wear their hearts on their sleeves and value experiences over things.
WHERE CAN WE DO THIS
With an adventure wedding, the possibilities are endless. From mountains, to waterfalls, to beaches, to caves. To get to the destination of your choice, you can have four-wheeler rides, horseback riding, helicopter rides, Literally, wherever or however your imagination takes you!
WHEN SHOULD WE HAVE OUR ADVENTURE WEDDING?
Consider where you want to go and research.
Look at weather, does your destination have a rainy season?
Think about Tourism, is it a tourist area and does it have a peak season? If so, consider the crowds, longer lines and booked lodging.
HOW DO WE MAKE THIS HAPPEN?
Contact me and we can reserve your date, Talk about pricing, ask and answer all the questions, bounce ideas and then all you have to do from there is relax, have fun, enjoy yourself and of course adventure!
It is just that! An elopement that is filled with adventure!
It can be a yurt sleepover with all your loved ones, in the middle of no where or just the two of you under a waterfall.
Think breathtaking views and becoming one with nature. People love this type of wedding because they feel most connected when in the great outdoors.
WHO WOULD DO THIS
The couples who want this type of wedding tend to have a love of travel and passion for exploring. They want to be unique. They throw all the rules out the window and do things the way they want to. They typically don't want the stress that "traditional" can bring. They are fearless and definitely not afraid of a little dirt. They live life on the edge, wear their hearts on their sleeves and value experiences over things.
WHERE CAN WE DO THIS
With an adventure wedding, the possibilities are endless. From mountains, to waterfalls, to beaches, to caves. To get to the destination of your choice, you can have four-wheeler rides, horseback riding, helicopter rides, Literally, wherever or however your imagination takes you!
WHEN SHOULD WE HAVE OUR ADVENTURE WEDDING?
Consider where you want to go and research.
Look at weather, does your destination have a rainy season?
Think about Tourism, is it a tourist area and does it have a peak season? If so, consider the crowds, longer lines and booked lodging.
HOW DO WE MAKE THIS HAPPEN?
Contact me and we can reserve your date, Talk about pricing, ask and answer all the questions, bounce ideas and then all you have to do from there is relax, have fun, enjoy yourself and of course adventure!
Interested in having an Adventure Elopement or Wedding ....
We have tons of information to help you!
From timelines to location ideas we have a ton of information that can help you plan your adventure wedding!
Timeline Ideas:
*Starting your day pictures
Lace up your boots and put that pack on.. we catch it all on camera and video too!
*First Look
Is there anything better than those beautiful pictures where he sees you for the very first time in a place that both of you are amazed by?
*Getting to your ceremony destination
Rather it be by foot or four-wheeler we are catching it all on camera!
*The Ceremony
Imagine pulling up to this amazing view for a beautiful intimate ceremony. Its everything you didn't know you needed!
*Reading letters
The family and friends who couldn't make it can still be involved.
Of course if you want guests there to watch you marry the love of your life, they should be. If not, then why not ask them to all write a little letter full of best wishes to read after the ceremony and catch those sweet moments on camera and video.
*The first dance
UMMM..YES PLEASE..
why not have your first dance just the 2 of you with this amazing view! Who can say they did that??
*The adventures
hiking, kayaking, off roading, fishing, or walking through town with that gorgeous dress and beautiful smile that the two of you share, will all be caught on camera!
*Starting your day pictures
Lace up your boots and put that pack on.. we catch it all on camera and video too!
*First Look
Is there anything better than those beautiful pictures where he sees you for the very first time in a place that both of you are amazed by?
*Getting to your ceremony destination
Rather it be by foot or four-wheeler we are catching it all on camera!
*The Ceremony
Imagine pulling up to this amazing view for a beautiful intimate ceremony. Its everything you didn't know you needed!
*Reading letters
The family and friends who couldn't make it can still be involved.
Of course if you want guests there to watch you marry the love of your life, they should be. If not, then why not ask them to all write a little letter full of best wishes to read after the ceremony and catch those sweet moments on camera and video.
*The first dance
UMMM..YES PLEASE..
why not have your first dance just the 2 of you with this amazing view! Who can say they did that??
*The adventures
hiking, kayaking, off roading, fishing, or walking through town with that gorgeous dress and beautiful smile that the two of you share, will all be caught on camera!
For more information on our elopement and adventure wedding services, or to book, please contact us by using the form below!
AUTHOR: STEPHANIE TAYLOR
PHOTOGRAPHER/OWNER
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WHAT EXACTLY IS A WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER TO YOU?
CALMER OF NERVES
EXPERT DRESS ATTENDANT
TIME KEEPER
TISSUE HOLDER
PROFESSIONAL MENDER
COMPLIMENT GIVER
ENCOURAGER
EXPERT DRESS ATTENDANT
TIME KEEPER
TISSUE HOLDER
PROFESSIONAL MENDER
COMPLIMENT GIVER
ENCOURAGER
5 COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS BY BRIDES!
Weddings are so joyful for everyone involved. I become the shadow of the bride on her wedding day and make sure to capture all the wonderful, tearful, heartfelt moments that happen within. I enjoy watching the pure joy escape the faces of the bride and groom. There is nothing better than catching the raw emotion of true love and happiness seeping from a person. I will cry at your wedding at some point or another. It never fails. I always seem to be moved by such happiness and love. It is such a touching experience to be part of.
A wedding photographer is someone who wears many hats! That is why it is so important on hiring the right one for you! Below are 5 common questions I get asked the most by brides looking to hire a wedding photographer.
1. How do I pick a good photographer when there are 100's in the area
A. Pick one that appeals to your style. Once you have found a few photographers you like, narrow it down to a couple and meet with them in person or talk to them over the phone. It is extremely important you like the photographer. You will be spending a lot of hours with them and trusting them to capture moments you weren't aware were even happening. I am someone who adores those candid moments. The real laughter and the real genuine smiles are everything to me. I let you be yourself. Those are the things you need to know when finding a photographer. Do you want to be guided and posed through most of the day or do you want some posed and most genuine shots? Do you like very vibrant coloring or do you like a more subtle look to your pictures? Find what it is that you like and what you are looking for and find a photographer that best fits that.
2. How many photo's do I get?
A. Wedding Photographer's are all different but they typically deliver anywhere from 50 to 100 pictures per hour. That may seem like a lot and can be a tad overwhelming when looking through them but I promise you will be extremely happy once you realize not one single moment was missed. Some photographers may only give you samples to look through to purchase later, while others let you have them all, like myself. That is something you need to talk about and understand when choosing a photographer.
3. Why is wedding photography so expensive?
A. This is the question that I see and hear most. Wedding Photography seems like easy money. I work for one day and rack in the cash. But Most Full time wedding photographers carry around at least $5,000 worth of equipment and work at least 40 to 60 hours a week. Remember the pictures we talked about in question number 2? It takes days to edit all of those and get them to you in a timely manner. The job doesn't end when we leave the wedding. We still have 1000's of pictures to go through and edit. Not to mention most of us have insurance we have to pay for, an assistant, software, marketing, shipping, etc.. All costs that most don't understand we have.
4. You can photoshop that right?
A. That depends. As a photographer, I want to get everything as perfect as possible on camera. Posing, location scouting, and camera settings can "fix" most things before I even click the shutter. If your uncle photobombs you, I'm going to retake the photo — it's much easier to get the photo right than to fix it with photoshop. Many photographers charge for extensive editing in Photoshop, because it can be very time-consuming. I don't typically use photoshop at all. I work very hard at making sure that picture I take on my camera is perfect. Again this is something you need to ask a photographer before hiring. If you prefer someone who uses photoshop and edits every one of your pictures, then makes sure to look for photographers that do that specifically.
5. Do I give the wedding photographer a tip?
A. Well.... The big secret is... There are zero rules on tipping your wedding vendors. I always tell my friends this, If you loved them and really felt connected and wanted to show your appreciation, then absolutely tip them. Otherwise, we are not expecting it, so you are not going to be the "terrible human" you think you are by not giving a tip. It's always appreciated, Never expected. Also, Tips don't have to be in the form of cash either, Small trinkets from your wedding, a heartfelt thank you note, or a good review all work well with showing appreciation for your vendors.
A. Pick one that appeals to your style. Once you have found a few photographers you like, narrow it down to a couple and meet with them in person or talk to them over the phone. It is extremely important you like the photographer. You will be spending a lot of hours with them and trusting them to capture moments you weren't aware were even happening. I am someone who adores those candid moments. The real laughter and the real genuine smiles are everything to me. I let you be yourself. Those are the things you need to know when finding a photographer. Do you want to be guided and posed through most of the day or do you want some posed and most genuine shots? Do you like very vibrant coloring or do you like a more subtle look to your pictures? Find what it is that you like and what you are looking for and find a photographer that best fits that.
2. How many photo's do I get?
A. Wedding Photographer's are all different but they typically deliver anywhere from 50 to 100 pictures per hour. That may seem like a lot and can be a tad overwhelming when looking through them but I promise you will be extremely happy once you realize not one single moment was missed. Some photographers may only give you samples to look through to purchase later, while others let you have them all, like myself. That is something you need to talk about and understand when choosing a photographer.
3. Why is wedding photography so expensive?
A. This is the question that I see and hear most. Wedding Photography seems like easy money. I work for one day and rack in the cash. But Most Full time wedding photographers carry around at least $5,000 worth of equipment and work at least 40 to 60 hours a week. Remember the pictures we talked about in question number 2? It takes days to edit all of those and get them to you in a timely manner. The job doesn't end when we leave the wedding. We still have 1000's of pictures to go through and edit. Not to mention most of us have insurance we have to pay for, an assistant, software, marketing, shipping, etc.. All costs that most don't understand we have.
4. You can photoshop that right?
A. That depends. As a photographer, I want to get everything as perfect as possible on camera. Posing, location scouting, and camera settings can "fix" most things before I even click the shutter. If your uncle photobombs you, I'm going to retake the photo — it's much easier to get the photo right than to fix it with photoshop. Many photographers charge for extensive editing in Photoshop, because it can be very time-consuming. I don't typically use photoshop at all. I work very hard at making sure that picture I take on my camera is perfect. Again this is something you need to ask a photographer before hiring. If you prefer someone who uses photoshop and edits every one of your pictures, then makes sure to look for photographers that do that specifically.
5. Do I give the wedding photographer a tip?
A. Well.... The big secret is... There are zero rules on tipping your wedding vendors. I always tell my friends this, If you loved them and really felt connected and wanted to show your appreciation, then absolutely tip them. Otherwise, we are not expecting it, so you are not going to be the "terrible human" you think you are by not giving a tip. It's always appreciated, Never expected. Also, Tips don't have to be in the form of cash either, Small trinkets from your wedding, a heartfelt thank you note, or a good review all work well with showing appreciation for your vendors.
TO HELP NARROW DOWN PHOTOGRAPHERS FOR YOUR WEDDING, SET A BUDGET AND FIND A STYLE THAT YOU LIKE. MOST PHOTOGRAPHERS HAVE THEIR OWN UNIQUE WAY OF DOING THINGS AND BY KNOWING YOUR STYLE, NEEDS AND BUDGET, THINGS WILL BE A LOT EASIER PICKING ONE OF THOSE AMAZING PEOPLE FOR YOUR SPECIAL DAY!!
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AUTHOR: STEPHANIE TAYLOR
OWNER/PHOTOGRAPHER
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HIRING A WEDDING ASSISTANT/2ND PHOTOGRAPHER
Is by far the best thing I have ever done for myself. For a while, I was tackling weddings alone. It can be done but in my experience, by the end of that wedding, you feel like you have been hit by a truck. You are so tired and worn out, your body is sore, and I would seriously sit in my car in the parking lot for about 10 minutes before leaving just because it felt good to sit down. I don't think people realize how hard being a wedding photographer actually is. We will skip completely over the anxiety of it all and go straight into the physical aspect of it. We carry so much weight (I carry 2 cameras, 3 lenses, a fanny pack full of extra batteries and SD cards, a sling, and sometimes a gimbal) and thats only whats on my person during the wedding. That is not the bag I actually carry into the venue. (That bag is whole other blog in itself.) We are constantly running somewhere, standing for hours, we are on the dance floor, we are squatting, we are climbing, we are walking miles and miles in one day around a venue with weight. It can be hard on your body but also so rewarding.
I came to the realization after reading someones blog, that I needed help. I researched and researched what exactly this person would be doing for me because after all... I put a ton of hard work, blood sweat and tears into this business of mine. I didn't want someone to come in and ruin the reputation that I had built for myself. I was a little worried about hiring someone on and it not being a good fit so I hesitated .....ALOT. Then one day, in walked Leslie. I met her at a wedding I photographed. She was the maid of honor and I recruited her to help me as I usually did for the weddings I photographed alone. She messaged me about a week after the wedding and told me she always had a passion for photography, was thinking of trying to start her own business and asked me if I could teach her. I read that message and something just clicked. If you believe in "meant to be's" then this was it for me. After struggling so much to make a decision on hiring someone, I decided on Leslie. I told her that I was considering hiring a wedding assistant and if she wanted to learn, this would be hands on training. She took the position and we have been double team for over a year now! She has learned so much in the year she has been with me and is now a 2nd photographer for my weddings. Eventually she will start booking her own weddings and I will be right back where I started... looking for an assistant, But thats ok because her success is so rewarding to watch.
I came to the realization after reading someones blog, that I needed help. I researched and researched what exactly this person would be doing for me because after all... I put a ton of hard work, blood sweat and tears into this business of mine. I didn't want someone to come in and ruin the reputation that I had built for myself. I was a little worried about hiring someone on and it not being a good fit so I hesitated .....ALOT. Then one day, in walked Leslie. I met her at a wedding I photographed. She was the maid of honor and I recruited her to help me as I usually did for the weddings I photographed alone. She messaged me about a week after the wedding and told me she always had a passion for photography, was thinking of trying to start her own business and asked me if I could teach her. I read that message and something just clicked. If you believe in "meant to be's" then this was it for me. After struggling so much to make a decision on hiring someone, I decided on Leslie. I told her that I was considering hiring a wedding assistant and if she wanted to learn, this would be hands on training. She took the position and we have been double team for over a year now! She has learned so much in the year she has been with me and is now a 2nd photographer for my weddings. Eventually she will start booking her own weddings and I will be right back where I started... looking for an assistant, But thats ok because her success is so rewarding to watch.
BENEFITS OVER CONS
The benefits of having Leslie out weigh the cons (are there even any cons??). First and foremost is
TRAVELING
I HATE traveling alone. It is not something I enjoy doing. I want to take someone along for them to experience all the fun things with me. Leslie comes with me to out of town weddings (when she can) and we have a ton of fun together. Our personalities just mesh so it makes life on the road a lot less stressful. The second benefit would be
WEIGHT OF THE LOAD
being lifted off me a little. She helps me anywhere she can. She has the desire and passion to have this same type of business as her own one day so she is driven. If I ask her (which I really really really try not to) to run back to the car that is parked a mile away because I left something in it..she does it for me with no questions asked. She is helping me fluff the dress, fix the vail, straighten the bowtie, round up the wedding party, fix the strands of hair, etc, so I can catch the perfect pictures. The weight of all of that is lifted off of me solely and it really helps. The third benefit of having Leslie is
BREAKING THE ICE
I feel confident having Leslie there because I know that, having a 2nd photographer, the possibility of things going wrong are less likely. If all 3 of my cameras break.. guess what... she still has hers. If I forgot all 15 of my SD cards... guess what.... she has an extra. If all 5 of my lenses mysteriously quit working.... guess what.. yep you guessed it.. Leslie has another lens. And if she doesn't, she has access to a vehicle to run and get whatever it is that we need ASAP! So, because of that .. I beam confidence. Which in turn helps me be more myself and I am able to really show my personality to the bride and groom. Where as before, I noticed, I was a little more reserved because I was so stressed that things could go wrong and I didn't have a back up strategy that would work. (other than my 10,000 cards, and batteries). I also have to come up with ideas for the wedding party to take those amazing candid shots and I get stumped sometimes. I have a plan in my head but not all wedding parties want to execute my plan, so I am left reeling trying to come up with other ideas. Having Leslie there to bounce those ideas off of and hear her feed back is pretty amazing. It helps me so much with coming up with ways to make my clients laugh and feel comfortable in front of the camera.
Another benefit of having Leslie brings me to my fourth AND MOST IMPORTANT reason
ANOTHER ANGLE OF PICTURES
My brides love that they get another view of their wedding pictures besides just mine. And lets face it, I can not catch EVERY SINGLE PICTURE OF THE DAY alone. I have to talk, I have to drink water, I have to get the ring bearer to trust me so I can take his picture with the guys, I have to introduce myself, I have things I HAVE to do during a wedding. And while I am doing those things, Leslie is taking photos. She has been able to catch some of the most intimate moments on camera when no one was looking. I LOVE that and so do my brides. On top of being able to catch the sweetest moments on camera, she also takes photos during the ceremony. So she catches different angles than me. So if I miss something during the ceremony, it is more than likely true that Leslie caught it for me. That is what I call a SUCCESSFUL wedding photography business. When in no doubt, you as the photographer, can leave that wedding knowing most, if not all, of the special and important moments were caught on at least one camera through out the day.
These are just a few of the reasons I am grateful for my assistant/2nd photographer. I am so glad I got past the fear of hiring someone on and just did it. Both of us are succeeding in this business because of each other.
TRAVELING
I HATE traveling alone. It is not something I enjoy doing. I want to take someone along for them to experience all the fun things with me. Leslie comes with me to out of town weddings (when she can) and we have a ton of fun together. Our personalities just mesh so it makes life on the road a lot less stressful. The second benefit would be
WEIGHT OF THE LOAD
being lifted off me a little. She helps me anywhere she can. She has the desire and passion to have this same type of business as her own one day so she is driven. If I ask her (which I really really really try not to) to run back to the car that is parked a mile away because I left something in it..she does it for me with no questions asked. She is helping me fluff the dress, fix the vail, straighten the bowtie, round up the wedding party, fix the strands of hair, etc, so I can catch the perfect pictures. The weight of all of that is lifted off of me solely and it really helps. The third benefit of having Leslie is
BREAKING THE ICE
I feel confident having Leslie there because I know that, having a 2nd photographer, the possibility of things going wrong are less likely. If all 3 of my cameras break.. guess what... she still has hers. If I forgot all 15 of my SD cards... guess what.... she has an extra. If all 5 of my lenses mysteriously quit working.... guess what.. yep you guessed it.. Leslie has another lens. And if she doesn't, she has access to a vehicle to run and get whatever it is that we need ASAP! So, because of that .. I beam confidence. Which in turn helps me be more myself and I am able to really show my personality to the bride and groom. Where as before, I noticed, I was a little more reserved because I was so stressed that things could go wrong and I didn't have a back up strategy that would work. (other than my 10,000 cards, and batteries). I also have to come up with ideas for the wedding party to take those amazing candid shots and I get stumped sometimes. I have a plan in my head but not all wedding parties want to execute my plan, so I am left reeling trying to come up with other ideas. Having Leslie there to bounce those ideas off of and hear her feed back is pretty amazing. It helps me so much with coming up with ways to make my clients laugh and feel comfortable in front of the camera.
Another benefit of having Leslie brings me to my fourth AND MOST IMPORTANT reason
ANOTHER ANGLE OF PICTURES
My brides love that they get another view of their wedding pictures besides just mine. And lets face it, I can not catch EVERY SINGLE PICTURE OF THE DAY alone. I have to talk, I have to drink water, I have to get the ring bearer to trust me so I can take his picture with the guys, I have to introduce myself, I have things I HAVE to do during a wedding. And while I am doing those things, Leslie is taking photos. She has been able to catch some of the most intimate moments on camera when no one was looking. I LOVE that and so do my brides. On top of being able to catch the sweetest moments on camera, she also takes photos during the ceremony. So she catches different angles than me. So if I miss something during the ceremony, it is more than likely true that Leslie caught it for me. That is what I call a SUCCESSFUL wedding photography business. When in no doubt, you as the photographer, can leave that wedding knowing most, if not all, of the special and important moments were caught on at least one camera through out the day.
These are just a few of the reasons I am grateful for my assistant/2nd photographer. I am so glad I got past the fear of hiring someone on and just did it. Both of us are succeeding in this business because of each other.
Below are pictures of Leslies "behind the scenes" shots.
She caught these, when either, I wasn't in the room, I was talking to someone about the timeline, I had a different angle, whatever the reason may be.. she succeeded in getting pictures I didn't. This is why I love her and trust her as my wedding assistant!
LETS GET SOCIAL
AUTHOR: STEPHANIE TAYLOR
OWNER/PHOTOGRAPHER
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I AM PHOTOGRAPHING STRANGERS: LITERALLY
IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO KNOW HOW THE WEDDING PARY WILL BE ON THE DAY OF THE WEDDING! EVERYONE ON EARTH HAS DIFFERENT PERSONALITIES AND I, AS THE WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER, AM MEETING SEVERAL OF THEM ALL AT THE SAME TIME ON THE SAME DAY! SO, I TRY TO GET TO KNOW THEM A LITTLE BEFORE THAT DAY AND HERE IS HOW!
#1. PLANNING
I TALK WITH MY BRIDE AND GROOM AHEAD OF TIME. I ASK THEM ALL THE QUESTIONS. HOW MANY ARE IN THE WEDDING PARTY? HOW MANY ARE SHY? HOW MANY ARE OUTGOING? (THOSE QUESTIONS BELIEVE IT OR NOT ARE SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE THEY DETERMINE RATHER THESE PEOPLE ENJOY THE CAMERA OR NOT.) WILL THERE BE ALCOHOL? (THIS IS ANOTHER QUESTION THAT IS IMPORTANT TO ME BECAUSE IT DETERMINES A TON OF THINGS. ALCOHOL CAN LOOSEN UP THE SHY AND MAKE THE WILD MORE LESS TAMED. I ALSO USE ALCOHOL TO MY ADVANTAGE WITH PICTURES FOR TOASTING, LIPSTICK AROUND THE RIM OF A CHAMPAIGN GLASS, ETC. SO I LIKE TO KNOW IF IT IS A DRY WEDDING OR NOT.) I MAKE A PLAN IN MY HEAD WITH THE LITTLE INFORMATION I KNOW BEFORE GOING TO THE WEDDING.
#2. TAKING AS MANY DIFFERENT PICTURES AS POSSIBLE
THE WAY SOMEONE BEHAVES NORMALLY IS NOT ALWAYS THE WAY SOMEONE WANTS TO BE SEEN.
READ THAT SENTENCE AGAIN!
YES, SOMEONE WHO IS THE "CLASS CLOWN" MAY NOT WANT TO ALWAYS BE THAT IN PICTURES. SO IT IS SO IMPORTANT FOR ME AS A WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER TO TRY MY BEST TO AIM FOR EVERY PERSONALITY OUT THERE. THE TIP I HAVE FOUND TO WORK FOR THIS IS TO TAKE BOTH TYPES OF PICTURES. IF I HAVE A WILD AND CRAZY BUNCH (WHICH I LOVE BY THE WAY) THEN OF COURSE I TAKE THOSE KIND OF PICTURES WITH THOSE PEOPLE. I LET THOSE PERSONALITIES SHINE THROUGH. MOST OF THE TIME WHEN YOU HAVE A OUTGOING FUN BRIDAL PARTY, THE BRIDE AND GROOM FIT THE NARRATIVE. SO THEY AS WELL WANT THEIR DAY TO BE FUN AND LAID BACK.
MOST OF THE TIME BUT NOT ALWAYS. SO TO PREVENT ANY MISHAPS WHEN THEY RECEIVE THEIR GALLERY FROM ME, I MAKE SURE THEY HAVE A MIXTURE OF BOTH FORMAL AND FUN PICTURES. WE WILL TAKE THOSE GOOFY FUN NATURAL LAUGH PICTURES BUT WE WILL ALSO GET SERIOUS FOR A MINUTE AND TAKE THOSE BEAUTIFUL MATURE PICTURES SO THE COUPLE HAS BOTH TO CHOOSE FROM.
READ THAT SENTENCE AGAIN!
YES, SOMEONE WHO IS THE "CLASS CLOWN" MAY NOT WANT TO ALWAYS BE THAT IN PICTURES. SO IT IS SO IMPORTANT FOR ME AS A WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER TO TRY MY BEST TO AIM FOR EVERY PERSONALITY OUT THERE. THE TIP I HAVE FOUND TO WORK FOR THIS IS TO TAKE BOTH TYPES OF PICTURES. IF I HAVE A WILD AND CRAZY BUNCH (WHICH I LOVE BY THE WAY) THEN OF COURSE I TAKE THOSE KIND OF PICTURES WITH THOSE PEOPLE. I LET THOSE PERSONALITIES SHINE THROUGH. MOST OF THE TIME WHEN YOU HAVE A OUTGOING FUN BRIDAL PARTY, THE BRIDE AND GROOM FIT THE NARRATIVE. SO THEY AS WELL WANT THEIR DAY TO BE FUN AND LAID BACK.
MOST OF THE TIME BUT NOT ALWAYS. SO TO PREVENT ANY MISHAPS WHEN THEY RECEIVE THEIR GALLERY FROM ME, I MAKE SURE THEY HAVE A MIXTURE OF BOTH FORMAL AND FUN PICTURES. WE WILL TAKE THOSE GOOFY FUN NATURAL LAUGH PICTURES BUT WE WILL ALSO GET SERIOUS FOR A MINUTE AND TAKE THOSE BEAUTIFUL MATURE PICTURES SO THE COUPLE HAS BOTH TO CHOOSE FROM.
#3. TRYING TO AVOID AWKWARD PAIRING.
I TRY MY VERY BEST TO AVOID PUTTING EXES TOGETHER OR THE MOTHER WITH THE NEW STEPMOTHER ETC. BUT LETS BE HONEST. I DON'T KNOW ANYONE AT THIS WEDDING. SO I USUALLY ASK MY BRIDES TO WRITE ME A LIST OF ALL NAMES OF THE BRIDAL PARTY AND THE FAMILY MEMBERS THEY WANT PHOTOS OF. I HAVE ALSO STARTED ASKING THE QUESTIONS "ARE THERE ANY DIVORCES OR DEATHS I SHOULD BE SENSITIVE TO AND AWARE OF IN YOUR WEDDING PARTY OR FAMILY?" "ARE THERE ANY PEOPLE HERE THAT DO NOT NEED TO BE PHOTOGRAPHED TOGETHER?"
I TRULY BELIEVE IN WEDDINGS, I TRULY BELIEVE IN TURNING THE OTHER CHEEK FOR THE GREATER GOOD OF A PHOTO FOR LITERALLY 30 SECONDS, BUT NOT EVERYONE BELIEVES THE SAME THINGS. IT MAKES THE WEDDING, THE PICTURES, THE CEREMONY, EVERYTHING GO SO MUCH MORE SMOOTHLY IF I KNOW IF THERE IS ANYONE IN THE WEDDING PARTY OR ELSEWHERE THAT JUST DO NOT NEED TO BE NEAR EACH OTHER FOR A PICTURE. WE WILL AVOID THAT AT ALL COSTS.
I TRULY BELIEVE IN WEDDINGS, I TRULY BELIEVE IN TURNING THE OTHER CHEEK FOR THE GREATER GOOD OF A PHOTO FOR LITERALLY 30 SECONDS, BUT NOT EVERYONE BELIEVES THE SAME THINGS. IT MAKES THE WEDDING, THE PICTURES, THE CEREMONY, EVERYTHING GO SO MUCH MORE SMOOTHLY IF I KNOW IF THERE IS ANYONE IN THE WEDDING PARTY OR ELSEWHERE THAT JUST DO NOT NEED TO BE NEAR EACH OTHER FOR A PICTURE. WE WILL AVOID THAT AT ALL COSTS.
GENUINE LAUGHS AND FLATTERING POSES ARE EXACTLY WHAT I AIM TO CATCH. I WILL PLAY AROUND WITH A FEW IDEAS FOR THE PARTY TO GIVE ME JUST THAT. ONCE I GET MY FEEL OF THEM AND WHAT WORKS, WE EASILY CONQUER THE DAY. THEY WILL FEEL SILLY AT FIRST BUT ONCE THEY GET THE HANG OF MY PHOTOGRAPHY STYLE, THEY USUALLY JUMP ON BOARD. BY THE END OF THE DAY WE HAVE MADE FRIENDS AND ARE HANDING OUT CARDS WHICH IS EVERYTHING THE BRIDE AND GROOM ASKS FOR!
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AUTHOR: STEPHANIE TAYLOR
OWNER/PHOTOGRAPHER MARILYN RAY PHOTOGRAPHY
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WHEN THE OLD CHEVY TRUCK PULLED UP
How unique vehicles can really make your weddings photo pop!
This country wedding in the middle of Tennessee was exactly what we needed to take a break from the hustle and bustle of our city. We loaded up and set off on Friday and ended our trip meeting some pretty amazing people, hearing stories of their family, and learning about the history of this beautiful Chevy truck.
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This prop made Bobby and Jennifer have pictures so unique and beautiful! They will always look back on these pictures and remember this gorgeous truck.
Not only that but this vehicle give them that unique feel that only they will have for their pictures. The photo album will be so beautiful sitting on a table and a conversation piece!
It is always with so much excitement when a photographer arrives at a wedding and has the ability to work with such a timeless piece!
Not only that but this vehicle give them that unique feel that only they will have for their pictures. The photo album will be so beautiful sitting on a table and a conversation piece!
It is always with so much excitement when a photographer arrives at a wedding and has the ability to work with such a timeless piece!
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I couldn't thank this family enough to allow me to photograph and use this truck for these pictures! It made my entire day!
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Author: Stephanie Taylor
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THE EMOTIONS OF YOUR WEDDING DAY....
AND CATCHING THOSE EMOTIONS ON CAMERA
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The emotions on your wedding day can be like a roller coaster ride. One second, you are on top of the world and the next, you are wiping away tears. Your dear friends are all gathered around you, celebrating you, and the love they have for you sines like a beacon. Your mom has cried a million times already and your dad is just barely hanging on. Seeing their beautiful little girl all grown up is a proud moment for them. The excitement of walking down the isle in just a few short hours paired with the emotional happiness you feel to have such special people in your life, is a proud moment for YOU. No wonder those emotions run high.
  From your mom Mending your dress to make sure it is perfect, to your dad making you cry with his kind words, to your bridesmaids laughing hysterically at you can't remember what, you will LOVE all the emotions of your wedding day that goes on behind the scenes! And if you are lucky, you will have the same kind of photos of the groom!!     |  As a photographer my advice for those emotions is this, LET THEM HAPPEN GIRL!! Those emotions of, not only you, but everyone around you makes the sweetest pictures. Some of them may not be "social media worthy" because, I mean, lets face it, not all faces are pretty when they cry. My face is definitely NOT, I am a very UGLY CRIER, but even though you may not want to share them for the whole world to see, you will be so happy you have them and those raw, pure, real moments were caught on camera.     |
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AUTHOR: STEPHANIE TAYLOR
OWNER/PHOTOGRAPHER OF MARILYNRAYPHOTOGRAPHYLLC
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GETTING THOSE AUTHENTIC SMILES TO SHINE BRIGHT
RECENTLY I HAVE HAD WEDDINGS WHERE THE GROOM AND GROOMSMEN AREN'T REALLY INTO THE PICTURES. WHICH IS COMPLETELY UNDERSTANDABLE CONSIDERING IT HAS BEEN NEARLY 100 DEGREES OUTSIDE WITHOUT THE HUMIDITY (AFTER ALL,WE ARE FROM GA SO IT MAY BE 98 BUT IT FEELS LIKE 118) SO LEAVING THE COMFORT OF THE AIR CONDITIONER AND SMILING THROUGH THE PAIN OF THE HEAT ISN'T SOMETHING ANYONE WANTS TO DO. THE GIRLS ARE MORE ABOUT IT BECAUSE, WELL, WE ARE GIRLS AND LOVE PICTURES OF US ALL DOLLED UP, BUT THE GUYS, NOT SO MUCH. SO LESLIE AND MYSELF HAD TO COME UP WITH SOME PRETTY CREATIVE IDEAS TO MAKE SURE THOSE GUYS GIVE YOU THE SMILES THE BRIDE DESERVE.
THE ONE IDEA WE HAD AT OUR LAST WEDDING WENT OFF LIKE FIREWORKS. AT FIRST, THEY DIDN'T WANT TO DO IT. BUT THE LONGER THEY STOOD THERE IN THE HEAT, THE HOTTER THEY GOT AND THE MORE INTRIGUED THEY BECAME.
SINCE IT WAS SO HOT WE USED WATER BUT OF COURSE THIS WILL WORK WITH PRETTY MUCH ANYTHING. YOU COULD USE BEER, A FLASK, HIS WRITTEN VOWS, HIS RINGS, ANYTHING.
SINCE IT WAS SO HOT WE USED WATER BUT OF COURSE THIS WILL WORK WITH PRETTY MUCH ANYTHING. YOU COULD USE BEER, A FLASK, HIS WRITTEN VOWS, HIS RINGS, ANYTHING.
YUP.. YOU GUESSED IT... WE MADE THEM RACE FOR A BOTTLE OF WATER. WE GOT SO MANY NATURAL SMILES AND LAUGHTER. THIS IDEA MADE THE BEST PICTURES AND IT WAS SO MUCH FUN WATCHING THEM KICK THAT BOTTLE AROUND TO WIN BECAUSE IT WAS SO HOT OUT.
ANOTHER WAY TO HAVE THOSE GUYS SMILING NATURAL SMILES (ASSUMING ITS NOT A DRY WEDDING) IS TO HAVE THEM TOAST THE GROOM! THESE TOASTS ALWAYS MAKE THE FUNNIEST STORIES. WE STAND THERE AND TAKE PHOTOS OF THE GROOMSMEN POKING FUN OF THE GROOM. SOMETIMES THIS CAN MAKE YOU CRY FROM LAUGHING, SO BE AWARE. THIS LITTLE TRICK IS NOT ONLY FUN FOR THEM BUT FOR US AS WELL. WE LEARN A THING OR TWO ABOUT THE PERSONALITIES WE ARE WORKING WITH FOR THE DAY AND GIVES US LITTLE HINTS AS TO WHO IS GOING TO BE THE CLOWN OF THE GROUP AND TO WATCH THAT PERSON CLOSELY.
ANOTHER LITTLE SECRET TO CATCHING GREAT PHOTOS OF THE GUYS, IS SUPER SIMPLE. AS I MENTIONED ABOVE, MOST OF THE TIME THERE IS AT LEASET ONE GUY OF THE GROUP WHO IS GOING TO BE THE CLOWN AND USUALLY IF THEY START TO GOOF OFF, THE REST WILL FOLLOW. YOU CAN CATCH ALL OF THEM BEING 100% AUTHENTIC WITHOUT THEM EVEN KNOWING. JUST STAND BACK AND LET THEM DO THE WORK. IT MAY BE TOWARD THE END OF THE NIGHT AND NOT IN THE SCHEDULED TIME WE HAVE BLOCKED OFF JUST FOR THEM, BUT THAT IS OK. AS LONG AS YOU CAN CATCH THOSE PICTURES OF THE GROUP OF MEN WHO STOOD BESIDE HIM ON HIS WEDDING DAY WITH AUTHENTIC SMILES, YOU DID GOOD! THE BRIDE WILL BE SUPER HAPPY. AND SO WILL HE.
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@MARILYNRAYPHOTO
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AUTHOR: STEPHANIE TAYLOR
OWNER/PHOTOGRAPHER OF MARILYNRAYPHOTOGRAPHYLLC
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5 WEDDING TIPS YOU SHOULD HEAR
IF YOU ARE PLANNING A WEDDING HERE ARE 5 TIPS FOR YOU!
IF YOU ARE PLANNING A WEDDING THIS FALL OR EVEN NEXT YEAR, I HAVE SOME TIPS FOR YOU! AS A WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER, I SEE A TON OF WEDDINGS! I HAVE WORKED WEDDINGS ALL OVER THE SCALE. FROM THE MOST LAID BACK TO THE MOST ORGANIZED. THE ONE THING MOST OF THEM HAVE IN COMMON IS .... SOMETHING WILL ALWAYS GO WRONG. IT'S HOW YOU HANDLE IT THAT MATTERS THE MOST.
FROM A MEMBER OF THE BRIDAL PARTY BEING LATE OR LOST, TO THE BRIDE FORGETTING HER BOUQUET, TO THE WRITTEN VOWS BEING LEFT AT HOME, TO SHOES NOT FITTING, SOMETHING WILL GO WRONG.
THE GOOD NEWS IS, NOT ONE OF YOUR GUESTS WILL NOTICE!!
THE GOOD NEWS IS, NOT ONE OF YOUR GUESTS WILL NOTICE!!
SO AS A PHOTOGRAPHER, I CAN GUARANTEE YOU THAT THOSE "GONE WRONG" MOMENTS WILL NOT EVEN MATTER AFTER YOU WALK DOWN THAT ISLE! THE THINGS THAT DO MATTER ARE THOSE MOMENTS THAT CAN MAKE GREAT PICTURES FOR YOU AND ALL AROUND YOUR DAY EASIER! BELOW ARE JUST 5 TIPS FOR JUST THAT! OF COURSE I HAVE SOOO MANY MORE BUT I WILL START WITH JUST 5!
The dress has been bought, the venue has been booked, the flowers have been ordered, the timeline has been made. The day is getting close and the excitement has set in. The countdown begins...
#1.NO PAPARAZZI!
THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE FOR A WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER!!!! IF YOU DON'T TAKE ANY OF MY OTHER TIPS INTO ACCOUNT PLEASE TAKE THIS ONE!
I KNOW EVERYONE IS SO EXCITED TO SEE THE WEDDING PARTY WALKING DOWN THAT ISLE!
AND WHEN THE BEAUTIFUL BRIDE IS THERE WAITING FOR HER SONG AND EVERYONE STANDS FOR HER TO WALK DOWN, THE EMOTIONS ARE ENDLESS FOR EVERYONE IN THE SEATS AND FOR THE GROOM. THE MOST INSTINCTUAL THING TO DO IS PULL OUT YOUR PHONE AND RECORD HER WALKING TO THE MAN OF HER DREAMS. I ALSO KNOW THAT EVERYONE THESE DAYS HAS SOCIAL MEDIA AND THEY WANT THEIR VERSION OF THE BRIDAL PARTY ALL OVER THEIR PERSONAL PAGE.
I GET IT.
HOWEVER. WHEN EVERYONE IS STANDING AND HOLDING THIER PHONES OUT TO CATCH THAT VIDEO.... IT BLOCKS THE VIEW FOR YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER. THE ONE PERSON (OR MULTIPLE) YOU PAID MONEY TO ACTUALLY CATCH YOU COMING DOWN THE ISLE. IT CAN BE THE MOST FRUSTRATING TIME FOR US PHOTOGRAPHERS. I AM DOING EVERYTHING I CAN TO GET ALL THE DETAILS OF THAT MOMENT BUT UNFORTUNATELY, MORE TIMES THAN NOT, I GET A BUNCH OF CELL PHONE SCREENS IN THE SHOT. THERE HAVE BEEN WEDDINGS I WORKED (I AM SUPER SAD TO SAY) WHERE THE MOTHER OF THE BRIDE HAS STOOD AT THE END OF THE ISLE SO SHE CAN CATCH HER DAUGHTER ON VIDEO WALKING DOWN AND ALL I CAN CATCH ON MY CAMERA IS HER. I HAVE TO CHANGE MY LOCATION AND POSITION IN ORDER TO WORK AROUND ALL THE CELL PHONES. IN THAT CASE, YOU MAY MISS THAT EYE CONTACT YOU MAKE WITH THE GROOM OR THE TEAR AS YOUR DAD LOOKS AT YOU OR THAT MOMENT WHEN YOUR SMILE BECOMES GOLDEN.
SO THINK TO YOURSELF IF THESE PARTICULAR MOMENTS DURING THE CEREMONY MATTER.
IF THEY DON'T, THEN CELL PHONES WON'T BE AN ISSUE. BUT IF THEY DO, I SUGGEST REALLY STRESSING TO YOUR GUESTS THAT YOU DON'T WANT THEM AT THE CEREMONY. YOU CAN FIND CREATIVE IDEAS LIKE THE PICTURE BELOW TO HAVE THEM LEAVE THEIR PHONE UNTIL THE VERY END. THE BEST TIME FOR YOUR GUESTS TO CATCH YOU ON THEIR CELL PHONES IS THE INTRODUCTION AT THE RECEPTION. IT IS LOUD AND USUALLY SO MUCH FUN. PERFECT FOR THE INSTAGRAM STORY!
AND WHEN THE BEAUTIFUL BRIDE IS THERE WAITING FOR HER SONG AND EVERYONE STANDS FOR HER TO WALK DOWN, THE EMOTIONS ARE ENDLESS FOR EVERYONE IN THE SEATS AND FOR THE GROOM. THE MOST INSTINCTUAL THING TO DO IS PULL OUT YOUR PHONE AND RECORD HER WALKING TO THE MAN OF HER DREAMS. I ALSO KNOW THAT EVERYONE THESE DAYS HAS SOCIAL MEDIA AND THEY WANT THEIR VERSION OF THE BRIDAL PARTY ALL OVER THEIR PERSONAL PAGE.
I GET IT.
HOWEVER. WHEN EVERYONE IS STANDING AND HOLDING THIER PHONES OUT TO CATCH THAT VIDEO.... IT BLOCKS THE VIEW FOR YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER. THE ONE PERSON (OR MULTIPLE) YOU PAID MONEY TO ACTUALLY CATCH YOU COMING DOWN THE ISLE. IT CAN BE THE MOST FRUSTRATING TIME FOR US PHOTOGRAPHERS. I AM DOING EVERYTHING I CAN TO GET ALL THE DETAILS OF THAT MOMENT BUT UNFORTUNATELY, MORE TIMES THAN NOT, I GET A BUNCH OF CELL PHONE SCREENS IN THE SHOT. THERE HAVE BEEN WEDDINGS I WORKED (I AM SUPER SAD TO SAY) WHERE THE MOTHER OF THE BRIDE HAS STOOD AT THE END OF THE ISLE SO SHE CAN CATCH HER DAUGHTER ON VIDEO WALKING DOWN AND ALL I CAN CATCH ON MY CAMERA IS HER. I HAVE TO CHANGE MY LOCATION AND POSITION IN ORDER TO WORK AROUND ALL THE CELL PHONES. IN THAT CASE, YOU MAY MISS THAT EYE CONTACT YOU MAKE WITH THE GROOM OR THE TEAR AS YOUR DAD LOOKS AT YOU OR THAT MOMENT WHEN YOUR SMILE BECOMES GOLDEN.
SO THINK TO YOURSELF IF THESE PARTICULAR MOMENTS DURING THE CEREMONY MATTER.
IF THEY DON'T, THEN CELL PHONES WON'T BE AN ISSUE. BUT IF THEY DO, I SUGGEST REALLY STRESSING TO YOUR GUESTS THAT YOU DON'T WANT THEM AT THE CEREMONY. YOU CAN FIND CREATIVE IDEAS LIKE THE PICTURE BELOW TO HAVE THEM LEAVE THEIR PHONE UNTIL THE VERY END. THE BEST TIME FOR YOUR GUESTS TO CATCH YOU ON THEIR CELL PHONES IS THE INTRODUCTION AT THE RECEPTION. IT IS LOUD AND USUALLY SO MUCH FUN. PERFECT FOR THE INSTAGRAM STORY!
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#2. ASK YOUR OFFICIANT TO STEP TO THE SIDE DURING YOUR FIRST KISS.
THIS ONE IS LESS IMPORTANT IF YOU DON'T MIND THEM BEING IN THE PICTURES
ALTHOUGH YOU MAY LOVE THE OFFICIANT DEARLY (OR THEY COULD BE A COMPLETE STRANGER) THEY MOST CERTAINLY WILL BE IN THE FIRST KISS PICTURE UNLESS THEY STEP TO THE SIDE. THAT COULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE FIRST KISS PICTURE BEING "FRAME WORTHY" FOR YOU. USUALLY AS A WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER, I TAKE MULTIPLE PICTURES OF THE FIRST KISS. ONE ZOOMED IN CLOSE AND ONE REALLY ZOOMED OUT SO I CAN SEE THE ENTIRE WEDDING PARTY. SO IF THE OFFICIANT IS SOMEONE YOU LOVE DEARLY, MOST OF THE TIME YOU WILL STILL GET A PICTURE OF THE FIRST KISS WITH THEM IN IT, EVEN IF THEY STEP ASIDE. SO YOU GET TO CHOOSE WHICH ONE YOU LOVE BETTER. ALSO (HERE IS A TIP INSIDE OF A TIP) HOLD YOUR KISS FOR A LITTLE BIT. IF IT IS TO QUICK (WHICH I HAVE HAD TO TAKE BEFORE) THEN THE PHOTOGRAPHER HAS A HARD TIME CATCHING IT AND YOU WON'T GET THAT CLOSE UP AND ZOOMED OUT PHOTO. IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE SUPER LONG OF A KISS. JUST LONG ENOUGH WHERE IF I HAPPEN TO BLINK, I DON'T MISS IT.
#3. BRING YOUR WEDDING INVITATION TO THE VENUE
MOST PHOTOGRAPHERS LIKE TO TAKE DETAIL SHOTS AT THE VENUE AND YOUR WEDDING INVITATION IS ONE OF THOSE DETAILS. I PERSONALLY LIKE TO ADD TO IT WITH YOUR SHOES, OR RINGS, OR FLOWERS, OR ALL OF THE ABOVE. SO JUST THROW AN EXTRA INVITATION IN YOUR PILE OF THINGS TO BRING TO THE VENUE JUST IN CASE YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER ASKS FOR IT.
#4. MAKE A LIST AND STICK TO IT!
WRITE DOWN ALL THE FAMILY MEMBERS YOU WANT PICTURES WITH AND GIVE IT TO YOUR MAID OF HONOR, OR IN MY CASE, MY ASSISTANT AND 2ND PHOTOGRAPHER. THIS WAY WE ARE ORGANIZED AND THIS PART GOES SO MUCH MORE SMOOTHLY! YOU HAVE PAID MONEY FOR THE VENUE, DJ, CATERER, PHOTOGRAPHER, VIDEOGRAPHER, ETC. AND FOR THE MOST PART THESE VENDORS ARE ON A TIME SCHEDULE. AS THE WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER, IT IS CRITICAL OF ME TO STICK TO A SCHEDULE SO THAT EVERYTHING ELSE FLOWS TOGETHER. YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER (I DO THIS) MAY HAVE GIVEN YOU A TIMELINE FOR PHOTO'S. IN THAT TIMELINE IS THE "AFTER CEREMONY FAMILY PICTURES" AND THIS IS THE TIME FOR YOUR LIST AND IS SUPER IMPORTANT. IF A NAME IS NOT ON THAT LIST (IT USUALLY INVOLVES IMMEDIATE FAMILY AND GRANDPARENTS) THEN THAT PERSON NEEDS TO WAIT UNTIL AFTER THE LIST HAS GONE THROUGH AND IF THERE IS TIME LEFT, WE CAN TAKE EXTRA PEOPLE. OTHERWISE SUE, JOE, DAN AND FLO WILL ALL ASK FOR PICTURES AND YOU WILL BE TAKING FAMILY PHOTO'S FOREVER AND GET OFF SCHEDULE.
THE TIME TO GRAB THOSE PICTURES WILL BE DURING THE RELAXED PART OF YOUR RECEPTION.
THE TIME TO GRAB THOSE PICTURES WILL BE DURING THE RELAXED PART OF YOUR RECEPTION.
#5. BUSTLE YOUR DRESS!
IF YOU ARE NOT PLANNING ON CHANGING FOR YOUR RECEPTION, MAKE SURE TO GET A BUSTLE AND HAVE SOMEONE PRACTICE HOW TO DO IT WITH YOU. THIS SEEMS LIKE THE SMALLEST THING BUT I HAVE SEEN IT CAUSE A LOT OF ISSUES AT WEDDINGS. THE BRIDE CAN'T REALLY DANCE OR MOVE ABOUT WITHOUT THE BUSTLE AND IF SOMEONE HASN'T PRACTICED HOW TO DO IT, THEN IT CAN BE DIFFICULT TO FIGURE OUT. IT CAN HOLD UP THE RECEPTION FOR 20 MINUTES OR MORE TRYING TO FIX THE DRESS ISSUE. IF YOU DO DECIDE TO CHANGE FOR THE RECEPTION, I SUGGEST A BEAUTIFUL JUMPSUIT. THEY HONESTLY CAN BE SO FLATTERING AND THEY ARE SO MUCH EASIER TO MOVE AROUND IN DURING THE RECEPTION. OF COURSE THIS PART IS COMPLETELY UP TO YOU!
LETS BE SOCIAL
@MARILYNRAYPHOTO
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AUTHOR: STEPHANIE TAYLOR
OWNER/PHOTOGRAPHER OF MARILYNRAYPHOTOGRAPHYLLC
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Let's face it, the venue for your wedding says a lot about who you are.
Some people want the rustic look, so they go with a beautiful barn venue. Some people want the manicured look so they go with a beautiful botancial garden. Others like the traditional look, so they go with a church or chapel and then there are the ones that don't want a venue at all and choose the mountain top, the waterfall, or river. It is completely up to the couple on what the theme and look will be and every couple is different. I have found as a wedding photographer that a venue that is a little less popular as the others is always the one that is most loved.
When you live in a city that has 2 to 3 main venues in the city limits, it is always a breath of fresh air to get a bride that has a venue out in the sticks, that I have never heard of before. Its a challenge to pull up to photograph at a location you have never seen but the benefits usually out weigh the challenges . The venues that aren't over used give your pictures the unique look that makes people ask "where were ya'll?" Below is an example of just that!
This venue is a hunting lodge that doubles as a wedding venue. I had never been there, nor heard of it. It was 30 minutes outside of town and worth every mile. It is a hidden gem. I fell in love with everything about this place and I hope that I have other brides that use it in the future! www.facebook.com/weddingsathighpine/
The bride and groom both come from families who hunt so this location was pretty much a no brainer. The hunting lodge did have the theme of "hunting" and "shotgun", so true to theme, the groom wore a shotgun shell shot from his grandfathers shotgun as a boutonniere and the groomsmen wore shotgun shells shot from her grandfathers shotgun as their boutonnieres. The color purple was incorporated as the bridesmaids dresses because her grandfathers shotgun shells were purple. The wedding was put together so beautifully and every detail was thought of.
When you are picking a wedding venue, think of who you are as a couple. I know that doesn't always cross your mind when planning a wedding but the venue can fit right into your wedding day like a fitted glove. It can be that place, that when people show up to take their seats they think "wow. . this looks just like them." Give the venue a deep thought and think of it as a backdrop to your relationship and not just a pretty place to exchange your vows. I promise you won't be disappointed!
When you live in a city that has 2 to 3 main venues in the city limits, it is always a breath of fresh air to get a bride that has a venue out in the sticks, that I have never heard of before. Its a challenge to pull up to photograph at a location you have never seen but the benefits usually out weigh the challenges . The venues that aren't over used give your pictures the unique look that makes people ask "where were ya'll?" Below is an example of just that!
This venue is a hunting lodge that doubles as a wedding venue. I had never been there, nor heard of it. It was 30 minutes outside of town and worth every mile. It is a hidden gem. I fell in love with everything about this place and I hope that I have other brides that use it in the future! www.facebook.com/weddingsathighpine/
The bride and groom both come from families who hunt so this location was pretty much a no brainer. The hunting lodge did have the theme of "hunting" and "shotgun", so true to theme, the groom wore a shotgun shell shot from his grandfathers shotgun as a boutonniere and the groomsmen wore shotgun shells shot from her grandfathers shotgun as their boutonnieres. The color purple was incorporated as the bridesmaids dresses because her grandfathers shotgun shells were purple. The wedding was put together so beautifully and every detail was thought of.
When you are picking a wedding venue, think of who you are as a couple. I know that doesn't always cross your mind when planning a wedding but the venue can fit right into your wedding day like a fitted glove. It can be that place, that when people show up to take their seats they think "wow. . this looks just like them." Give the venue a deep thought and think of it as a backdrop to your relationship and not just a pretty place to exchange your vows. I promise you won't be disappointed!
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TAKE MY ADVICE
Always dance with your father and mother at your wedding day! Those pictures and videos may be all you have one day sooner than later. I didn't do a parent dance at my wedding. I lost my father a year and a half later. And I kick myself everyday for not having those photos and that experience with him.
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My client and friend got news her father was diagnosed with a brain tumor. He wasn't given very long to live. She was determined that we will walk her down the isle. So she threw together a wedding in 3 days so she could have those memories and these photo's. She lost him soon afterwards. These pictures are something she will always cherish. She messages me often and tells me how thankful she is to have them.
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So on your wedding day, if you are not eloping and even if you think it is an inconvenience, plan for those special pictures and/or the dances. I promise you won't regret it!
@marilynrayphotography A father's love lasts forever ❤ ##fyp ##foryoupage ##dadsoftiktok ##heart_touching
♬ Hold On - Extreme Music
