2014
The wedding day timeline is really important. I have even had some of my brides create a color coded spreadsheet to organize the day. Do you need to do that? No. But you really do need to outline the flow of the day so that you don’t find yourself scrambling and stressed. The key? Get your photographer involved with you and whoever else is helping with the timeline (definitely you’re Coordinator if you have one) to help guide you through the process!
Many of my brides have contacted me to help guide them through their timelines or even to just get a few pointers. I welcome any questions and am thrilled to help. This is all part of making your day amazing! Here are a few tips to get you started. More tips to follow:
It is so important for me as a photographer to tell a couple’s entire wedding day story. From getting ready moments, the details, decor, the excitement that everyone shares before the ceremony or first look…all the way to the end of the night. Typically when I arrive, the bride is getting ready, and the groom shortly thereafter. Allotting time for these photographs is important because it gives photographers time to document what is going on during getting ready! Allow about an hour for the getting ready photos. This includes getting your dress on. Also, a full hour gives photographers time to go between the bride getting ready and the groom getting ready!
If you can build in a little extra time into the ‘getting ready’ slot, it would be great! Why? So you can take the time to breathe and enjoy. The day will go by much faster than you expect it to, so savor the moments. Maybe an extra 15-20 minutes.
When you begin to layout the timeline, remember to share with your bridal party. You really want them to be ready for the getting ready shots so they can be in them as well. If they are dressed and ready to go, they will feel much more confident while the photos are being taken. This might seem obvious, but I have many of my brides ask if bridesmaids, groomsmen and parents need to be ready when they are. Remember…there is no silly question. If you want a day to run smoothly, you want to plan. Keep in mind, that it is best to work in some wiggle room because delays can and usually will happen. It will be my job to work with and around the timeline to keep the stress off you so you can simply enjoy 🙂
Stay tuned for more tips. Have a question? Leave a comment or email me at lisacarpenterphoto@gmail.com.
~lisa
Leave a Reply
2014
Time flies. It is something we say which means that time passes very quickly, often so quickly that we are surprised. When I think about the fact that over 7 years have passed since I lived in Colorado, I realized that this saying is so true. While living in Colorado, I began to take my photography from a hobbyist level to a professional one. Photography forums were all the rage…they were a place for budding and established photographers to talk shop. It was then, about 8 1/2 years ago, that I mentioned I wanted to start doing sessions called “Toujours”. The common question was “What is that?”. I would reply by saying “It’s an amazing experience for women.” I know…that really doesn’t say too much does it?
First of all the word Toujours is French:
toujours (tu zur)
Definitions
(French)
adverb
- always; continually; forever
Just saying the word is fun, but what it means is why I chose it for these portrait sessions. In a nutshell, these sessions are elegant, classy, fashionable and fun. I have even heard past clients say “liberating”. You might be thinking “Well..isn’t this essentially a boudoir session?”. Yes and no. Yes because they have something in common and that is they are both intimate photography sessions for women. The reason I say no is because I really wanted to focus more on you, your unique beauty and creating art out of that which makes us women. I didn’t want to focus too much on makeovers, props and lighting. Don’t get me wrong…great lighting is a MUST and is definitely a part of these sessions, it just isn’t overly lit or too dramatic. There are emotions and beauty to be found in the shadows and soft light.
I don’t want you to put these in a drawer to be hidden. I really want you to feel proud to display these as art. These are perfect for a vanity area, master bathroom, bedroom, night stand, hand-crafted albums…you name it. I believe that we, as women, seldom care for ourselves enough. We nurture others, and often put our own needs on the back burner. Remember…you need time to take care of you & restore yourself inside and out. When you feel good about yourself, you walk taller, smile more and have more energy for those that you love.
Some of you might be thinking…”I would feel guilty spending money on myself for photographs of ME”… or “Won’t it make me look vain?”…or “I need to get in shape first.”.
I will reply by saying that there will never be the perfect time. One day you will look up and 7 years have quickly gone by and you would have wished you had done it then. This absolutely does not make you vain. Celebrate your beauty…it really is OK! As for spending money on yourself, well the simple answer to that is, we must invest in ourselves in many ways. This is just one beautiful way to do so. When you are having a blah day, you can look back at your photos and say “wow….I felt really beautiful and walked away feeling confident”…and you still are and can.
While I want you do feel incredibly beautiful…I want you to also recognize yourself in the photos. If you don’t see you in these photos, you won’t get out of them what I wish you to. Yes, you will be directed into the most flattering poses and lighting, but it’s important to stay natural too. And when you feel comfortable during your session…you will surprise yourself what we can create together.
Photos from your Toujours session make for a great gift for that special someone in your life, but they also are an amazing gift to give to yourself. My beautiful client featured in these photos did this for her fiance’ to give to him on their wedding day. Watching him open the album and seeing the tears in his eyes was priceless!!
Custom sessions are $300 and last approximately 2 hours. Contact me for more details at lisacarpenter@me.com or feel free to call me as well at 864-640-5045.
I look forward to working with you soon!
~lisa
Suzanna
John your wife is smoking hot. That is all. 😉