WPJA: 2011 Quarter 1 Announced!

I'm SO stinkin' over the moon!!! I won 7th place in Ceremony category for the WPJA's first quarterly contest for the year!


This was particularly difficult because they only accepted photographs taken this year, and we only had the one wedding before the submission deadline. Thankfully, Holly & Scott were a such a lovely couple and I was able to land a winner when they came out of the church. Did I mention how EXCITED I AM!?!

Check out WPJA.com for the other winning photos; it's such a beautiful collection of pure emotion, delightfully unexpected visual stories, and stellar compositions from a full range of talented international artists.

WPJA Q4 WIN!

I entered my first WPJA contest in their 4th quarter, and I am over the moon with the results announced!

"The 2010 Q4 Contest showcases the wedding photojournalism of WPJA members throughout the 2010 year in 18 categories. From 24,112 entries only 360 finalists were selected."

I landed spot with an engagement photo of Heidi and Rick! Thanks for having such a cute puppy guys! :)



http://www.WPJA.com

WPJA, BABY!

Since the first time I visited the WPJA website, years and years ago, I quickly understood what it was: a career goal. If I was going to dedicate myself to being a wedding photographer, this is where I needed to be.


"The Wedding Photojournalist Association (WPJA), an International, membership-based organization, represents professional photographers skilled in the documentation of weddings and events in a candid, unobtrusive style. The WPJA was founded to uphold excellence in the area of wedding photojournalism."

I would peruse the site every wedding season, checking out the latest award-winning photographs from the site's quarterly competitions. I would get inspired. I would find the most talented wedding photographers in the country and enjoy their websites all night long.

And finally, after 5 years of developing my craft, I applied, despite the strict membership guidelines. And... I GOT ACCEPTED!
I am now a member of both the WPJA, and the Artistic Guild as well!
(This is the equivalent of being promoted when you're self-employed.)



I couldn't be more excited to enter my own photos in to the contests and continue to further my craft in this field. I love this job and the challenges of this industry. To check out loads of ridiculously amazing wedding photographers from around the world, please visit: WPJA and AG|WPJA

Metallic Paper

There are a few question I'm asked time and time again, so this has encouraged me to create a new F.A.Q. page on my website. Here is one of my favorites to talk about:


What is the metallic paper you offer for the albums?

One of the newest papers on the market, Kodak's 'metallic paper' is absolutely gorgeous to print on. It boasts beautiful vibrant colors, crisp contrast, and a really interesting... sort of etherial metallic quality. Certain prints in certain light are more obvious then others that it's any different from classic glossy, but it's over-all beautiful quality sets it apart when compared side by side. We previously offered this as an upgrade options for our albums, as it is more expensive to print with. However, we now provide all So Many Moment's clients with nothing but the best, so it now comes standard on anything we print for you.

Read more about the nitty gritty specs, straight from the horse's mouth here: Kodak


For more of my F.A.Q. Q&A's visit http://www.SoManyMoments.com!

ALBUMS ALBUMS ALBUMS!

I have finally posted ALBUMS! You will now find a gallery in my website's portfolio dedicated entirely to showcasing individual weddings and So Many Moment's wedding albums. I think it's important to see a photographer's work from single weddings, rather then just a showcase of favorite photographs from a large body of work. The albums also feature Matt's photographs, so it's great to finally represent him on my website as well.


Our leather flush-mounted albums feature thick, stiff pages and every spread opens flat. I do not use pre-made templates, but instead create each layout as a custom art piece to tell the visual story of the wedding celebration.


Creating each one, from the planning stages, to taking the photographs, and then bringing them to life in a cohesive visual story is such a fantastic journey. It's an honor to create a unique and special keepsake. That sounds terribly cheesy, but I just get so wildly attached to each one of my weddings! My brides and grooms flippin' ROCK. *high fives* to you all!

3 things I'm pretty wildly excited about!

1.) Matt is opening his new iPhone Repair shop in Portland! It's called Wired iRepair, and it's right off the streetcar line in NW! We will be announcing the grand opening soon, so stop by if you're in PDX! Also, check out the new website blog WirediRepair.com and watch us do to the store's build-out on FB: Facebook.com/WirediRepair



2.) It's SO difficult to describe the quality of the wedding albums I offer via e-mail, so I made this quick video of my latest one! I use the absolute highest quality products and custom design each and every layout to create these unique and beautiful keepsakes. After the amount of work that goes into them, I grow a bit attached, so this was a lovely way to say good bye to Brian and Tanya's album before shipping it off. :)



3.) Last night, at craft night, I painted some cheap kicks to remind myself of my FL roots. I even featured my favorite sea creatures in glitter! A shark and a seahorse, but of course! :)

Wedding Talk: The Group Shots

As much as your wedding is about you two love birds officially coming together as a couple, it's also a union of (and often reunion for) your two families. It's important to document their presence, as it plays a big role in your big day.

Formal group photos have been the preferred route to accomplish this for who-knows-how-long. The breakdown is simple: everyone lines up, girls hold their flowers at their belly buttons while the men fold their hands neatly. Then, everyone plasters on a big grin and waits for the photographer to count to three. But, it really doesn't HAVE to be this way anymore. Or at least not if you hire So Many Moments!

My goal with every wedding is to take the best possible photos for each unique couple's celebration. I strive to capture their style. And being that I'm so lucky, I keep getting fabulous clients with loads of style! (*knock on wood*) But, they don't always seem to know what they're "allowed to do". Is it ok to NOT do formal photos all together? Are there other options for group photos? YES and YES. You can do whatever you want! It's your day!

But really, why I'm bringing all this up in the first place, is to talk about how much time these photos take. Time that is inevitably keeping us from shooting the fantastic things happening that we can't always catch if our cameras and lights are positioned to take a formal shot. I try to encourage my couples to skim down their formal lists, in hopes that they will realize there is so much more magic in the actual interaction between their families and guests when they aren't lined up classic formation. I've also found that the playful moments in between the formal poses can be a really fun way to grab photos that tell a story with a bit more flavor.

A classic debate between Matt and I is the future and necessity of the formal shots all together. I believe they are important, but should be done in a fresh way. He thinks they'll fade out all together. What do you think?

I'm going to close with my favorite of Matt's group shots from our last wedding; only because this little girl that was NOT into group shots and it made for a wonderful one!



If you've hired So Many Moments for your upcoming wedding, and have some fun ideas for a less traditional approach for your group shots, shoot me a message and let's chat!

Meet My 2nd Shooter: Matt Moore

For more then 4 years, the talented Matt Moore has been my other half on wedding days. As both my boyfriend and my favorite 2nd shooter, if you've booked a wedding with So Many Moments, he'll likely be snapping your portrait soon. I figured you should get a chance to know him, so I gave him a quick interview to share with you. I'm also going to post a few of my favorite photographs of his.


Do you know many weddings we have photographed together?
I have had the pleasure of photographing 43 weddings with you so far, with another coming up this weekend!

Our style of wedding photography is very centered around fleeting moments. Is there a moment in history you wish you could have been there to photograph?
The moon landings, of course!

How do you feel about film vs digital and the changes that have come about in our lifetimes thus far?
It is incredible. My parents were wedding photographers, so I have seen the change firsthand. Digital allows people to take chances that the average photographer couldn't afford to take shooting film. This has brought about the elevation of wedding photography to a critically-respected art-form. This is so exciting because it pushes photographers to take better photos, instead of taking the same posed pictures at every wedding.

What is your favorite lens?
The 24mm f/1.4

Wait, we don't have that.... Yet.
And once I get one, I'm sure there will be another one I will want more.

What do you like best about your job photographing weddings with So Many Moments?
The unpredictability and the challenge of a dynamic shooting environment. Oh yeah, weddings are REALLY FUN too!!


With my best James Lipton impression, what is your favorite word?
With my best Arnold Schwarzenegger impression, Analog.

What is your least favorite word?
Conventional.

What sound or noise do you love?
The sound of snow falling in the woods while skiing.

What sound or noise do you hate?
Early-morning: construction; pressure-washing; lawn-mowing; and rock-breaking.


What profession, other then yours, would you like to attempt?
Crew on a sailing vessel. I really love the ocean, and if I'm not near the mountains, I love to be on the water.

What does El Strobisto mean?
It's spanish for The Strobisto.

What To Wear to an Engagement Shoot?

Stephanie from 'I Plan It Right' asked me answer a question she had been receiving a lot lately from new brides-to-be. "What do I wear to my engagement photo shoot?" So, she asked me to write a guest blog entry for her on the topic. I really enjoyed doing so! Check out my reply here or over on Stephanie's website http://iplanitright.com/


"What to Wear to an Engagement Shoot? "

This is your big chance to play stylist; embrace it and show your personality! To ensure your photos endure a solid shelf-life, try to stick with classic looks and avoid being too overtly trendy.

Don't be afraid to embrace color and texture. While I'm not sure who decided "classic" was a black or white shirt paired with jeans on the beach, I do know the look is looking pretty dated these days. While it's important to match, this does NOT mean you have to wear the exact same outfits. Compliment one another's outfits with the color palette you chose by dressing with each other's choices in mind.


Also, don't be afraid to bring extra options. Sometimes a change of clothes and going right around the corner can create a whole new photo shoot! Always discuss this with your photographer first, as some may charge a fee for outfit changes. This fee is likely far less than the photo shoot, and typically a good deal. You essentially can get two completely unique photo shoots for the cost of one + the fee.

You can't have too many photos or photo shoots; there are endless fun and creative ways to utilize your engagement photos. Save-The-Date magnets, custom thank you cards, a personalized guest book for the wedding day, and fresh photos for your Facebook profile or wedding website are all great ways to put those new photos to use.

The following are a few shots from recent engagement shoots I've done with couples who styled themselves beautifully and thoughtfully. They used the clothes to express their personal style and create a vibe for the photo session. For more examples, please head over to see more of my photos at http://www.SoManyMoments.com

Bride's Choice Award 2010!

Portland, OR – February 2, 2010 - WeddingWire, the nation’s leading wedding technology company, just announced So Many Moments has been selected to receive the WeddingWire 2010 Bride’s Choice Awards™ for wedding photography!

The annual Bride’s Choice Awards recognizes and celebrates excellence in quality and service within the wedding industry, as determined by recent reviews and extensive surveys from over 500,000 newlyweds.

So Many Moments is among the top five percent of all vendors in the WeddingWire community, which includes over 100,000 wedding professionals across the US and Canada. Awards were given to winners across 19 different service categories, from wedding venues to wedding photographers.

“We are excited to recognize and honor the success of the top wedding professionals within the WeddingWire Community” said Timothy Chi, WeddingWire’s Chief Executive Officer. “The annual Bride’s Choice Awards program has given us the unique opportunity to highlight the best wedding professionals in each region as reviewed by brides and grooms who have utilized their services in the past year.”

We are happy to announce that So Many Moments is among the very best wedding photographers within the WeddingWire Network, which includes WeddingWire and Martha Stewart Weddings. We would like to thank our past newlyweds for nominating us for the 2010 Bride’s Choice Awards.

For more information, please visit our WeddingWire Storefront today at http://WeddingWire.com/SoManyMoments.

Bridal Show

The Perfect Wedding Guide bridal show at the Heathman Hotel was a great success! My amazing neighbor Caitlin tagged along to help out for the day. We had a lot of fun showing brides-to-be my new sample album and passing out the spankin' new So Many Moments brochures. And most exciting of all, I had a give away for a FREE engagement shoot which went to Erin Wagner! I'm looking forward to the shoot! In the mean time, here are a couple shots of Caitlin and I manning the booth at the show!