What do you do on bitterly cold January day?  Show Rachael all your most prized toys of course!  This little blue eyed wonder is all about playing and reading books with mom and dad.  He even has a retro Mr. Potatoe Head, circa 1970..oh yea he may not know how cool it is, but I do!  Lucky little kid.  James is just a ball of energy that could steal your heart with one look of his blue eyes.

Wedding Photography Tips #30; Slow Down

It probably is cliche to say, ‘it goes by in a blink.’  But it is so true.  There’s only a few times in your life you plan and plan and plan for one day, just to have it go by in a blur.  Is it all the anticipation?  Is it just your expectations?  I learned a long time ago that when things are going really well to stop, look around and take a mental picture of what I see.  It helps you remember memories a little better.  I have a memory from my Europe trip several years back where I did this.  I was on a the deck of a ferry on my way to Greece.  The sun was setting over the sea, the smell of salt and wine was in the air.  I remember feeling so incredibly blessed to be doing such an amazing trip, I had my future husband at my side and everything just felt right.  I took a deep breath and thanked the Lord for being able to experience such a sense of peace.

I did the same thing twice during our wedding.  I stopped looked around and just watched what was going on around me.  All these people there to support us.  I’ve never felt more loved.  I always tell me clients to stop and breath during their wedding day.  It brings everything into perspective and helps to slow down the day just a little bit.

Wedding Photography Tips #29; Schedule plenty of time at the right time.

Nobody wants to feel rushed on their wedding day, it goes by so fast even when you don’t feel rushed.  Scheduling plenty of time to take all the necessary photos is so vital to a smooth wedding day.  It’s my job to make everything happen in the given amount of time and I hate being rushed.   Not for myself, but for the bride and groom.  I hate telling them that we really can’t relax and take a moment because you’re expected back at the reception in two minutes.  I want them to be able to take as much time as they need to relish the moment and enjoy everyone around them.  And still have time to take photos.  So build in just a little extra time here and there.  You’ll be glad you did because you now can relax, you don’t have to be anywhere right away.  Enjoy your day and take moments to stop, breath and remember as much as you can.  Because it really does go by in a blink of an eye.

Wedding Photography Tips #28; Don’t be afraid to touch and snuggle.

Call it what you like but it all goes back to the same thing.  Touch, snuggle and be smitten.  This is one of the few times in your life you’ll have someone documenting your every move.  So use it to tell the world how much you’re in love.  How much your partner means to you.  I can’t stress it enough.

Wedding Photography Tips #27; Be Smitten

I think this comes more naturally to some couples then others.  But I think it’s really important part of what I do as a wedding photographer.  I want couples smitten, enthralled, infatuated with each other.  I work so that couples forget I’m there and they’re totally in their own little world.  Loving every moment they have to spend with each other.  And I think most photographers would love a couple that snuggles, touches and is just completely enamored in their partner.

This couple isn’t the bride and groom but they are totally smitten with each other.  They had no idea I was even there.  That is what I think makes amazing, powerful and emotional photos.