Archive for the ‘Advice’ Category

When you think of the memories you’ll have, and share, of your special day thoughts of your professionally done wedding portraits should be at the forefront of your mind.  What you may not think of immediately is guest snapshots;  the in-the-moment pictures your friends and family quickly snap up while shaking a leg on the dance floor. Although these images can be beautiful and full of life, and many argue add a degree of personality to any photo album, they may not catch your better side or portray your Aunt’s bright yellow party dress in the best lighting conditions.  As such, many new couples are searching for alternatives which allow them to choose the first images shared around on their social media platforms like Facebook and Google+.

If this is a concern for you talk to your wedding photographer about social media options.  Professional photographers, including Piper Studios, offer digital images via DVD, which are easily uploaded to any social media platform. If you’ve chosen your professional photographer correctly these digital copies will portray the event with more creativity and artistry, more beautifully, than anything your guests could tag on their walls.  And if making sure you’re the first to upload the photos of your dress isn’t a top priority, there’s still the option of including your guest’s photographs in you professionally built album or DVD.  These photos often resonate with the love and affection only friends and family can bring to the camera, and bring a sense of reality to your memories of that one day when you were truly the life of the party.

The engagement photo shoot is important, but not necessary. If it’s part of the wedding photographer’s package deals, then it’s a good purchase to do this. Most couples haven’t been professionally photographed… together; so it’s a smart exercise to learn some thing (like what’s your best side) and to get comfortable with how the photographer operates.  The engagement photo shoot is also an opportunity for the photographer to expand the rapport with the wedding couple, see how you interact as a couple, and you both get to have some fun and establish a level of trust before the high-pressured event. The engagement shoot will build your trust in the photographer’s creative suggestions… this way you’ll enjoy the actually day more, and have fewer things to worry about.

This is also a test run for the process of reviewing and ordering the proofs (either online or hard copy), the same way that you’ll be doing when you get the actual wedding photos back. This is critical, because you’ll be able to see how the photographer re-touches the photos or does any other alterations and presents you with a finished product. Plus, the engagement photos will serve as a means to get your families pumped up about the big day… and give you one more set of memories to fawn over.

Now you might decide that you don’t want to do an engagement photo shoot, that’s okay; but that means that you’ll have to keep up your dialog going with the photographer that much more. The on-the-ball wedding photographer will be obsessed with your wedding schedule, and since you don’t have that engagement photo shoot and the affiliated time to talk with him or her, you’ll need to be as specific and direct as possible.

This is a no-brainer question, of course you want to hire a wedding photographer… you’ll kick yourself over and over again if you don’t have this ultimate day preserved for future review by other generations of your family, your friends and others. And it’s important to hire a professional (so don’t go asking your friends who have digital cameras to shoot your wedding, because he or she won’t get to enjoy the event or catch up with friends as they’ll be running around working, while everyone else is having fun). You don’t have to spend a lot of money, but you should definitely make some sort of cash outlay so that you have a dedicated individual behind the lens, doing the creative, planned and/or spontaneous work of documenting the emotional, chaotic and satisfying day. The professional wedding photographer is there to do a job, and capture the moments that will signify the day, with the appropriate lighting, and understand of how to get the best out of every possible scenario, subject and circumstance.

A pro will sit down with the bride and groom ahead of time to map out a game plan on what to get (and what not to get) and how to best achieve those goals in terms of scheduling the traditional shots that are the hallmarks of wedding photography. By outlining the expectations of what you want the photographer to photograph, you’ll be that much happier with the outcome.

Maybe you want the photographer to start the night before at the rehearsal dinner to capture the roasting of the bride and groom in that carefree moment or you want the photographer to start photographing the groom and his groomsman the second they arrive and start putting on their tuxedo; or maybe she’ll be granted access to the bride as she gets ready.  It is ideas like this that a pro can co-organize with bride and groom and you can rest assured that they’ll be executed extremely well by engaging a professional.

Choosing your venue should be a breeze with these simple steps and helpful guides.

Step 1 – Guests Attending and Accomodation

Prior to your venue search, ask yourself how many people are going to be attending your wedding. It is suggested that the best way to figure out how many guests are attending is to take the total amount of wedding invitations you sent out, and subtract about a quarter to a half, as most likely not everyone will actually attend. If you plan accordingly, you should have plenty of space for all of your guests to share your special day, making it easier to find and book a venue.

Step 2 – Number of Venues

Decide if you want separate venues for both your wedding and reception. If you want to do them both separately, a good idea is choosing venues that are near to each other, eliminating stress on your wedding day. Make sure that the reception venue is going to seat all the guests that attended the ceremony as well as a few more. Statistics show that more guests attend receptions than the actual wedding.

Step 3 – Visiting Locations

Do a walk through of each and every place you consider for your wedding. This is very important, and may make it easier for you to narrow down your picks. Remember to bring a camera to document specific things you think make one site better than another. Also, carry a notepad and pen to make any notes or jot down any questions you might have.

Step 4 – Venue Ideas

Research different venues for your wedding. Consider churches, botanical gardens, community centers and any building that rents space as a viable option. Don’t remove a site from your consideration until you have seen it, you may be pleasantly surprised as there‘s more to see than what meets the eye.

Step 5 – Narrowing Your List

Compare prices of all of the venues you are considering. It might help to make a column of pros and cons for each site and use that to help you make a decision.

Step 6 – Ask Questions

Always ask prospective vendors questions. Here is a list of questions that may help on your quest of finding your perfect wedding venue. Happy hunting!

You may not make as much money as Hollywood’s A-List celebrities, but that doesn’t have to stop you from planning a glamorous wedding. According to Strictly Weddings and Lori Wilson of www.sheknows.com, the following are the top five celebrity wedding trends that you can use for your very own lavish affair.

Inspired favors

Most couples offer their guests a favor as a thank you for coming to their wedding. They usually consist of candy or something monogrammed, but you don’t fall into this clichéd trap!

Look to Hollywood and embrace a more interesting way of showing your appreciation for your guests. If you are marrying into another culture, do what actress Anna Chlumsky (“My Girl”) did and give away something that’s representative of the culture. In her case, it was chopsticks. Other ideas include giving female guests colorful bangles for an Indian wedding or candy apples if you’re from New York.

It doesn’t even have to be culturally inspired. It could just represent what you and your future husband enjoy. If you are into 80s rock, give your guests a CD of your favorite tunes. Make your wedding favors personal, and they will be more meaningful.

As seen in In Style Weddings, John Stamos and Rebecca Romijn-Stamos created kitschy air-fresheners printed with a ’70s style photo of themselves and the words “our love will last forever” — then had the valets hang them in guests’ cars.
Although their love didn’t last forever, it certainly left an impression with their creativity.

Look to nature

Apparently landscaping is the latest trend for wedding decorations. Instead of standard flowers for centerpieces, celebrity-wedding planner Michele Rago says the new trends are bead-strewn crystal candelabras, potted herbs and even mushrooms. A landscaping theme might include moss, pretty bowls or even something more rustic — like getting married on a ranch, as did Jenna Bush.

Veils are back in

Recently out of fashion, it seems the dramatic veil is making a comeback. Celebrities are apparently into them again. Don’t feel as if the reception is off-limits from the veil either.

Dance like the stars

With the rash of reality shows that focus on dancing (i.e. “Dancing with the Stars”), it seems more people are taking their cue when it comes to their first dance together as husband and wife. If you want to make a serious impression at your reception (like singer Katherine McPhee did, complete with twirls and dips), then take your intended to a dance class and learn the waltz, fox trot, rumba or jive and dazzle your guests.

A cake just for him

This is a southern tradition that is picking up steam. It’s simply a cake that represents something specific about the groom. For instance, jewelry designer Erica Courtney’s son, Josh Cappo, had an armadillo-shaped red velvet cake. Whether it represents where they’re from, a professional sports team they root for or an activity they participate in, it should be a fun reflection of the groom’s personality and style.

With these few Celebrity trends and Wedding tips, you’ll be on your way to having a Hollywood Wedding fit for the stars! Check out the original article at http://www.sheknows.com/articles/804312.htm

Courtesy of Gretchen Marie, Priofessional Makeup Artist

Are Q-tips really the celebrity secret? Read the following tips, courtesy of ARA to find out!

When it comes to planning their wedding day, it’s no surprise that women want to look their absolute best. According to a recent survey of women, looking fabulous was a top concern — beat out only by getting through the actual vows. However, the number one wedding day beauty fear is that they will look too much like their everyday selves, so it is easy to see why 61 percent want to have the look of a celebrity bride.

“Hollywood’s celebrity bridal beauties truly set the stage for women across the country,” says Star magazine beauty director Tara Kraft. “And looking like a star for your own wedding day can seem effortless with a few easy beauty tips and tools.”

Creating a “picture perfect” make-up look for a wedding or any day is all about using the right tools. To help women “get gorgeous” and look like an A-lister on their most important day, celebrity make-up artist Mally Roncal offers her favorite make-up tips:

“It’s easy to get the look of your favorite celebrity with the help of Q-tips cotton swabs,” says Roncal. “They are the ultimate beauty tool for blending, applying or removing make-up because they are gentle, convenient and allow for precise application so you can look gorgeous on your special wedding day.”

Glowing Bride — Hollywood is about glowing skin. For a natural, “girl-next door” look, use a Q-tips cotton swab to apply light pink or nude colored shimmer to your cheekbones highlighting your most prominent features. These convenient make-up applicators are versatile and do the job of many brushes. To complete the golden, radiant look, apply bronze or peach blush across the apples of your cheeks and blend.

Long, Lovely Lashes — Eye lashes need a little extra ‘oomph’ to really show up in wedding photos. An easy tip to achieve long willowy lashes is to simply apply a few extra coats of mascara. First apply one coat of mascara, then dip a Q-tips cotton swab in translucent powder and sweep over lashes. They allow for precise make-up application, especially in hard-to-reach places like the eyes. Finally, cover with a second coat of mascara and prepare to flutter away!

Glamour Eyes — For a dramatic eye, apply a dark colored eye shadow on your eyelid and use a Q-tips cotton swab to smudge and blend to create a smoky, sultry look. Blending eye shadow is essential in order to avoid a harsh, overdone look. Q-tips are disposable so you can use a fresh one every time without mixing colors and can also help prevent eye irritations that may occur with reusable brushes.

Sleeping Beauty — If you have been stressed or losing sleep as the wedding date draws near, simply use a Q-tips cotton swab to apply concealer under the eyes to hide dark circles. They are soft and gentle making them perfect for the delicate skin around the eyes. Then apply a light eye shadow or white powder on the inner corners of the eye to create a bright, wide-eyed look with minimal effort.

Secret “I Do” Beauty Tool — If you are worried about getting a little weepy when you say, “I do,” try tucking a few Q-tips cotton swabs inside your flower bouquet before walking down the aisle and use them to touch up runny mascara. This trick can prevent those tears of joy from ruining your look — and your pictures!

View the original article at http://www.favorideas.com/learn-about/bridal-beauty/celebrity-wedding-beauty-secrets

• Take a day off and go out with a bunch of friends just to look at what’s out there. Leave your wallets at home, and don’t make any final decisions that day. It’ll be fun, but not stressful.
• Don’t bring a lot of friends with you when you are making a final decision. Bring one trusted friend, or your mom. If you have a whole bunch of people in on the final decision, all you will end up with is a headache. You can get all the girls together to go accessory shopping after you’ve got the gown.
• Try to avoid busy shopping times, like Saturdays, Pre-Christmas shopping, etc
• Don’t leave it to the last minute. You MAY fall in love with a gown that needs to be ordered in, or requires major alterations. Starting early keeps all your options open.
• Bring shoes that you that match or are approximately the same height as the shoes you expect to wear to with the gown.
• If you are planning on wearing structural undergarments like a push up bra, a corset type bodysuit, or anything like that, that will alter your shape at all, wear it when you are trying on gowns. It WILL affect how it looks in the end.
• On the flip side, if you are going for a dress that you won’t be able to wear a bra with, don’t try gowns on with a push up bra on!
• Even if you have your heart set on that princess dress with lots of lace and pouffy frills, try on a bunch of different styles. You may be surprised at what looks, and what FEELS the best on you.
• If you are using magazines to help shop for styles, don’t rip pages out of them. A lot of times, gowns can be searched for using the page number of the magazine it is in.
• Don’t spread yourself too thin, and don’t expect to find your perfect gown in one trip. Try to space it out over a few trips, and set a limit to how many gowns you will try on in a trip. Once you get to, say, the 100th dress on a given day, you’ll be sick of it all. Twelve hours of gown shopping would be a killer! At that point, you’ll probably either buy whatever (no matter what it looks like), or pass up a dress that would be perfect!
• Be wise when it comes to listening to salespeople. Many are paid on commission. Trust yourself, and any of your shopping companions first!
• Realize that the sizing guides upon which sample gowns are created are VERY different from the average figure. Average women are shorter in the waist than the fit models used, and this can translate into a poor fit in a gown.
• Not that all gown shops try this, but some do. If you have to order a gown, or all your bridesmaid gowns in, compare your measurements to the chart, and order the size it has on the chart. If you try a size 7, and it fits well, don’t be talked into getting a size 9. Some shops actually order larger than needed, to make more money on alterations.

You need to inquire and get answers to a number of questions for your wedding in Toronto area & GTA

Since your photographer is important part of your wedding you should begin your search as early as possible. Quality photographers are booked months, sometimes years, in advance. Below are some criteria you should consider before you make your final decision:

• Do you use a professional medium format film or professional digital camera?
• Do you have back-up equipment?
• What kind of educational background and/or experience have you had in developing your photographic technique?
• Have you earned recognition for your wedding photography?
• What is your philosophy about wedding photography?
• Considering by facial features and physical attributes, which angles of my face would you assume to be better?
• Have you notices any expressions or mannerism of mine that you mighty want to capture or avoid?
• How much can I expect my photographic coverage to cost?
• How many images will have to select from your wedding Toronto?
• Can the coverage be customized to my specific needs?
• How can my coverage be customized to fit my specific needs?
• How long will it take to see our wedding images and how long will it take to complete the finished album?
• Is a complete set of photographic images included with the coverage?
• Is black and white coverage and special effects available?
• Who will design and layout our wedding album?
• If the studio designs the album, can I make changes?
• If I design and layout my album, how much assistance will the studio provide?
• How long will it take to get our completed album?
• Are the images of my wedding Toronto available in digital/electronic format?
• Do pictures and albums have a guarantee?
• How are orders, payments, and delivery of additional products and services handled?
• What could we do special, just for my wedding?
• What are your studio’s policies?
  

The investment in the memories of your wedding in Toronto

How to select a wedding photographer in Toronto

When we’re interviewing brides, we always ask the question “What are you looking for in a wedding photographer?”

The most common answer – “We don’t know!”

Wedding photography is a mystery to most couples, because for most people we talk with, it’s their first wedding. Sometimes mothers can give some insight, but for the most part, wedding photography has changed dramatically (and for the better) since the time this generation of parents were married. To badly paraphrase a now defunct car companies commercial “This is not your mothers wedding photography!”

Choosing your photographer is one of the major choices in designing your wedding. While good wedding photography is a major investment, is the only part of your wedding budget that will continue to bring you enjoyment for the rest of your lives. And while the end product is important, so is the process; the experience of being photographed. No matter how good the photographs are, if all you remember when you look at them is a photographer with no people skills, who thinks it is his or her day, not yours, your investment is wasted.

So, how do you choose just the right wedding photographer for you? This document is designed to give you some helpful information. Click on each of the categories below to continue, or just scroll through the document.