Photography Trends in 2011

A wedding photo is meant to preserve your fabulous day for the rest of your life -- it's not just your new profile pic on Facebook after all! But nuptial shots can look stiff and boring if you're not careful -- or worse, just like everyone else's. How can you make them unique? Here are new wedding photography ideas that'll take you from pre- to post- "I do."

Before the Reception...

1. Become the Center of Attention
Instead of flowers, fill photo cubes with different shots from your dating history or world travels and then use them as table centerpieces. It's a great conversation-starter and a nice way for guests to learn more about the early stages of your relationship. And unlike fresh blooms, you can decorate your home with these afterward. Make a deck of playing cards with your pictures on them and leave them on the table for your guests to play with an aww over! Use a photo tile as your certer piece they are cheap and you can make them as large or as small as you want.  Check out http://www.couturephotocreations.com/ for more tips on making yourself the center of attention. 

2. Be the Favors
Have your photo imprinted on cookies and leave one at each place setting. Opt for a black-and-white, vintage-looking image so it doesn't come out cheesy. Wrap the cookie in wax paper and tie with a ribbon. Then let guests eat their hearts out -- and your faces off!

3. Head to the City
Engagement cityscape shoots are popular because of the iconic quality of posing by recognizable landmarks. No skyline? Shooting against an urban brick wall can convey the same message. Use your favorite image in your save-the-dates or, use Heritage Makers to create a one of a kind guest book with your pictures from your engagement shoot. You can display it in your home for years to come and its not just a bunch of names on paper.  http://www.couturephotocreations.com/ 




During the Reception...
4. Ditch the Formality
Try some casual shots, like the bride sitting on a staircase right after the ceremony breathing a sigh of relief, with champagne at her feet. Or consider finding an "unofficial" setting. If your reception is at a country club, take pics on the golf course. Ask your photographer to get candids of your group making their way there. It's those between-the-moments photos that always turn out best.



5. Go Behind the Curtain
Rent a photo booth and a technician to troubleshoot. Have guests tape wacky shots next to their messages in the guest book. Or create a DIY photo studio in a section of the reception room. Hang a nine-foot-wide seamless paper for a backdrop and bring a printer so guests can take photos home.

6. Let it Slide
Run a slideshow of images from the ceremony and cocktail hour from your photographer's laptop and project them on a screen during dinner. Guests will love looking at what they just experienced, and they'll have plenty to talk about at the tables. 

After the Reception...

7. Go Digital
Instead of mounting a few photos on a wall in traditional frames, display a bunch in a single digital frame. Upload multiple images from a memory card or your computer and watch a slideshow of your day. You can even add music. It makes a great gift too.

8. Book 'Em
Skip the traditional album (the one with thick-as-cardboard, single-photo pages) in favor of high-quality coffee table books, like Heritage Makers.   The images are printed on paper, and the layout is more like what you'd see in a magazine. You can add embelshements and even make douplicates for parents.  Its a much more classic look and less stuffy than a traditional album.


9. Learn to Preserve
Enlarging some final prints on Heritage Makers website and making some great galley wrapped canvanses is a great touch to your home!   When archiving your photos and negatives, choose acid-free boxes, negative-sleeves, and binders. They're pricey, but the absence of acid prevents your photos from yellowing or deteriorating.

Photos from top: Almasy Photo; Modern Wedding Photography; Kristin Spencer Photography
 Stephanie Emma Pfeffer
http://www.theknot.com/

Come Check out what Heritage Makers is all about!  Check out the YouTube video!

Heritage Makers’ unique concept of storybooking continues to grab attention from people everywhere. With over 6,000 consultants, more than 100,000 clients, and 40,000 plus pieces of art, Heritage Makers meets the demands of a fast growing business while providing treasured keepsakes that preserve family stories and legacies.

Founded in 2005 by Doug Cloward, President of Heritage Makers, and Sharon Murdoch, Heritage Makers Co-founder and board member, Heritage Makers has become the leader in personal publishing. This direct-selling based company teaches others how to preserve their heritage through storybooking. Heritage Makers’ online program allows clients to personally design books, cards, calendars, posters and more that highlight their families and friends.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-VN9uRk23c

Shannon Oakley
Personal Consultant
509-723-3970
http://www.couturephotocreations.com/

Creating a Party

You have an event coming up and you want to celebrate but your not sure you know how....stress no more here is an easy check list for you to go by.  You can make an EXTREMELY intricate, a simple gathering or anywhere in between.  Just follow this guide and you'll be great! 

Define the event- If its a wedding Obviously the wedding is for the bride and groom but is it also "for" the guests?  What I mean by that is are you creating the event according the guests needs and wants.  For example, the music choice are you making that based on what the bride and groom listen to or what is appropriate for all attendees?  The cuisine,  is it something every one will enjoy or simply what the bride and groom want? 
If its a child's Birthday, who is the audience the children or the adults?  This is more difficult the younger the children.  For example for a child turning 1 or 2 you can do either a child's party with children food and activities or you can have an adult party with adult food and decor but make it child friendly.  Neither way is correct they are just different, and it is important to define the event before planning because you will be essentially defining your audience. 


Choose a Venue- based on your audience and the space requirements for all your attendees

Choose a theme-  No matter how big or small the event their needs to be at least one consistency throughout.  If could be as simple as a color or as complex as a movie theme.  This will help when you pick out your decorations and essentials that you will need. 

Choose activities,  There are many things that can be done at parties, dancing, eating, talking, singing, playing, opening gifts, eating cake, watching a presentation etc.  You will want to make sure you have outlined these in advance to make enough time to get everything done you want to get done.  Even eating is an event that needs to have time allotted to.  If you are having a gathering that is lacking in activities you can create topics of conversation by adding things such as silly questions attached to the bottom of every ones drink glass or have extreme decor and decorations that will spark conversation on their own. 

If there will be food and drink at your event:  PLAN.  there are so many things that can go wrong with food and drink that everything needs at least a run through in your head.  Everything from temperatures food and drink should be served at to what plates/platters/cups/glasses etc.  needs to be used.  Make sure you know where everything is going to be set out and that there is enough room for everything.  If possible and important to you make sure everything is visually appealing.

Clean- Make sure there is a place for Jackets/Purses, People to sit, trash receptacles, restrooms,  etc.  There is always going to be things that come up but you need to make sure your guests feel comfortable in a clean and tidy environment. 

Remember to have fun!!!!!