Erin + Johnny | Tallahassee Wedding Photography
November 15, 2011 | Filed Under bridal session, weddings | Leave a Comment
Erin and Johnny were so sweet and tender with each other! Just look at these pictures…you can see the love! I loved working with them so much for their engagement pictures, the bridal session and now the wedding. I am going to try to talk Erin into a Trash the Dress session just so I can spend more time with them!!
Flowers by: Designs by Darin
DJ: Randy Rust with Pro Disc Jockeys
Caterer: The Black Fig
Hitched 2011 | a unique twist on the ordinary wedding
August 12, 2011 | Filed Under business, events, wedding planning, weddings | 1 Comment
The first annual Hitched event hosted by Lucy and Leo’s Cupcakery was a huge success with many brides (and a few grooms too) in attendance.
Hitched is a showcase of wedding trends designed to give brides and grooms, wedding planners and vendors a view of up and coming wedding trends of the season. It is meant to inspire with a side of wine and food and good times. If you didnt make it this year, keep an eye open for future dates.
Vendors providing inspiration for this years hitched…
Cupcakes: Lucy and Leo’s
Event planning: Papaya
Florist: A Country Rose (my talented and sweet mother)
Photography: Inga Finch Photography
Handmade Decorations and Details: Textures Handmade Market
Hair and Makeup: Green Peridot
Bridal Shoppe: Vocelle’s Bridal Shop
Party rentals: In Tents Events
Spirits: Lee’s Wine Bar
Catering: Klassic Katering
I know! It was fun! See you next time!!
Gemma + Chuck | Ponte Vedra Beach | Florida Wedding Photographer
June 9, 2011 | Filed Under travels, weddings | Leave a Comment
Gemma and Chuck met in Florida and so decided to marry here but Chuck’s from Texas and Gemma is from London. They planned his whole event from afar and brought their people from far and wide and still they were probably the most relaxed and fun couple I ever met! I cant describe to you how welcoming and kind all their family and friends were. I felt like a guest more than the photographer!! I wish they didnt live so far away now because I want them to be my friends!
Laci + Andrew | Moultrie, Ga | Wedding Photography
April 19, 2011 | Filed Under weddings | Leave a Comment
You saw the engagement session of Laci and Andrew here and now it’s time for me to share a few of their wedding photos. This wedding was adorable! The details of their day expressed their personalities which is what I think a wedding should do!
Yes, that is Laci’s grandmother’s home that she has lived in for 50 years.
Yes, that is a quaint little chapel that is Laci’s family church.
Yes, there was a fun silly photo booth.
Yes, that is a Krispy Kreme Goom’s cake.
and OH Yes, that is the bride playing Dance Central.
There is so much more to share but for now….enjoy!
Naja + Rashad | Bradley’s Pond | Tallahassee Wedding Photography
March 8, 2011 | Filed Under weddings | 1 Comment
Surprisingly, this wedding was my first at Bradley’s Pond and I was so excited to finally get to shoot there.
I was even more excited to get to meet Naja and Rashad face to face. I adored them both! Their friends and family were so much fun, the music was great and there was some serious dancing going on! I had a blast at their wedding!!
10 tips to help your photographer get amazing wedding day pictures.
February 15, 2011 | Filed Under events, wedding planning, weddings | 2 Comments
There are many elements that influence the beauty and elegance of your wedding day images. Of course, your choice of photographer is of the utmost importance but also your choice of venue, the weather, your details etc…
When you hire a professional photographer, they have the experience and skill to capture all of the special moments throughout your wedding day with the talent and creativity that you have seen in their portfolios. They are there to document your story.
Below are 10 simple things that you can do that will really help your photographer maximize their time on your wedding day…
Declutter: The getting ready room is often chaotic and can become quite messy. Before your wedding day appoint someone to maintain this space by clearing out unnecessary clutter and trash. You do not want all of that in your pictures.
Natural lighting: When planning your wedding, remember that natural light always makes for the best wedding images. Consider the lighting in the your getting ready room, the ceremony location and keep in mind ceremony time. If you are tying the knot at sunset…you may want to do all of the formal portraits beforehand while there is still light.
Timing: A shorter, casual wedding day is one thing but trying to pack 9 hours worth of activity into a 6 hour time schedule will not allow you to cherish every moment. A realistic pace to your wedding day will reduce stress greatly and in turn show the true joy of your day in your photographs.
Consider the weather: Your dress choices are important for your wedding season. A full tux for groom and a traditional Ball Gown for bride are probably not the best choices for a wedding in August in Florida. Heavy perspiring and unwillingness to go outside can greatly reduce many photo opportunities.
The beginning: At the time your photographer is due to arrive…do not be “ready to go do photos”. You want to document the getting ready part too: final touches on the makeup, the putting on of the dress, your mother helping you with your necklace etc… these things also tell your story!
Breathe: When you are concentrating and talking, do you scowl or furrow your brow and frown? Remember to relax. You have spent a lot of time and energy to plan this day…now enjoy it. It will show in your photographs.
Your 3rd cousin twice removed? The more posed formal shots that you request, the more time your photographer is spending lining people up instead of capturing the true story of your day. Formals are very important but it’s best to keep it simple.
Candid shots are often the best images but it is a great idea to be aware of your photographer’s whereabouts. If you persistently turn your back to their camera when they come around, you’ll inevitable have a few more pictures of your back side than front.
No missed opportunities: If there is food provided for your photographer (which is customary for longer wedding hours) the best time for your photographer to eat is when all of your guests begin. No one wants their picture taken while shoveling food in their mouths and this ensures everyones finishes at the same time so that no photo opportunities are missed.
Communicate with your fiancé and family about the photography. Often photography is more important to one half of the couple and if everyone is aware how you feel, it can encourage your loved ones be more involved for enthusiastic and fun images.
Weddings are emotional, beautiful and fun and it can show in your photographs with a bit of planning!
10 things to consider in your search for a photographer
December 30, 2010 | Filed Under business, wedding planning, weddings | 1 Comment
This is not your typical checklist of interview questions for potential photographers. In this day and age, everyone has a camera…nice ones…and basic price comparison can find you a hundred “photographers” willing to offer you the world for almost nothing.
The goal of this list is to have you really consider the caliber of images and photographer, as well as examining the importance of photography for you and your family.
10 things to consider when looking for a photographer…
1. The pictures on a photographer’s website are their best images. That photographer has gone through thousands of files and have hand selected the images on their site to represent their work. Why not ask them to allow you to see an entire wedding from beginning to end? When you look at what previous clients see of their wedding day, you can have a better understanding of the caliber of images you will get from your wedding day as well.
2. Are the photos on the photographer’s website in focus? What is the photographers focal point? Sometimes you can look at an image and see that the background is more in focus than the person or the shoulder is in focus rather than the eye. Photographers use shallow depth of field often to deliberately draw the eye to certain parts of the image but a simply blurry image with no focus is not artistic; it is just an unfocused picture. (remember, these are supposed to be their best images) 
3. Are the images over or under exposed? That official “photo lingo” explained in layman’s terms…. has the image lost detail in important parts due to over brightness or dark areas because the photographer did not use their camera properly? A dark background so the eye is drawn to the brides face and dress is lovely…a dark brides face where her eyes look hallowed out is not.
4. Are the images over photoshopped? The trend to photoshop the heck out of a bad image to try and “save it” is most of the time a bad idea! I like special effects on images in moderation but these are your wedding pictures, your family portraits, the documentation of you as you are at this moment in time. When you show your pictures to your children and your children’s children, you will most likely want them to remain classically beautiful and not faddish with all sorts of effects.
5. Your Uncle Bob will not, I repeat, will not get you amazing, beautiful wedding day images with his fancy expensive camera and his experience photographing birds! There are details and nuances that often cannot be captured without experience as a wedding photographer. You do not have to spend a fortune on your photographer but as a general rule, you get what you pay for and free family shooting is almost always disastrous.
6. Photography is not the corner that should be cut! After your wedding, you will have a loving life partner and the pictures from your special day. There will not be eating of the cake 10 years from now. You will likely not recall the dj’s name. You will probably have forgotten what the food tasted like BUT you will always have your spouse and your pictures!! The photographs will spark your memories and conjure up the emotions of that special day!
7. Personality matters. A photographer not only needs technical and creative skills but also has the job of helping people feel at ease in front of the camera. Meeting with a photographer prior to making a decision to book (skype or phone meetings if you are in separate cities) is an excellent way to see if you are a good match. This person will be sharing in one of the most intimate and special days of your life. You’ll want to feel relaxed and safe.
8. Style is in the eye of the beholder. You’ve all heard about the Photojournalistic style of photography, right.? What does that really mean? Real “photojournalism” means… no direction. That photojournalist will not guide, direct or pose any of your images. Illustrative? Classic? There are so many labels. Make sure you have a clear understanding of how your chosen photographer will handle your wedding day or family session. Again, a website can show their “best” work but seeing entire galleries will help you determine if a photographer’s style is suited to your likes.
9. Professionalism for security and peace of mind: Considering unforeseen circumstances is not pleasant but is important. Is everything that you and your photographer agreed upon going to be put in writing and signed? Does this photographer have liability insurance? Back-up equipment? Back-up photographers in case of disaster and/or emergency? Your wedding will happen one time and a professional photographer will take the precautions to ensure that it will not be missed under any circumstances!
and last but not least…
10. How do the images make you feel? I know…it sounds cheesy but if the photographer’s website can elicit tears, happy grins or even laughter, you’ve found your match! Hire them!
Vocelles Bridal Shoppe | Tallahassee Florida
December 21, 2010 | Filed Under weddings | 1 Comment
Vocelles is beginning to carry new lines of really beautiful jewelry and hair accessories for brides and bridesmaids. I dropped in and grabbed a few photographs of some of their items. They are gorgeous!
Embellish Veils & Accessories @ Vocelles; The Bridal Shoppe
December 17, 2010 | Filed Under portraits, weddings | 3 Comments
I met Carolyn, owner, designer and artiste of Embellish Veils and Accessories through my gym when our trainer put us together as workout partners and lucky me, we have developed a friendship.
I recently got to take a few shots of her veils that are on display at Vocelles’ Bridal Shoppe here in Tallahassee, FL. It was fun…the ladies got to play dress up and I started kind of wishing that I was able to put on one of these fancy dresses and veils too!
The amazing flowers were done by Annette at A Country Rose Florist who also just so happens to by my sweet sweet mama!!
Here is a sampling…
Top 10 wedding venues in Tallahassee, FL
November 22, 2010 | Filed Under business, weddings | 8 Comments
It is often said that, there aren’t any good wedding venues in our fair city of Tallahassee so I put together a little list for us to peruse. I often travel for weddings and would like to spend more time closer to home.
I’ve had the fortunate experience to shoot at all of these locations except for the Alumni Center which I will get to do in March.
I have to admit, of the list below…Pebble Hill Plantation is my favorite venue although it is not in Tallahassee per se. But Thomasville and Tallahassee are practically one! Shhh. Some folks may not love that I said that.
I would love to have feedback from you! Which is your favorite of the Tallahassee wedding venues below and why? Is there a venue you like that I failed to include? Is there one here that you think does not deserve to be on the Tallahassee Top 10 list? I am eager to hear your thoughts and that means YOU TOO PHOTOGRAPHERS!!
- Southwood House and Cottages
- University Center Club
- Pebble Hill Plantation
- Governor’s Inn
- Dorothy B. Oven Park
- Maclay Gardens
- Goodwood Museum and Gardens
- FSU Alumni Center
- Golden Eagle Country Club
- Mission San Luis