Fear less, hope more,
Whine less, breathe more,
Talk less, say more,
Hate less, love more,
And all good things are yours.

(Swedish Proverb)

I came across this poem over the holiday and it really struck a chord with me. Far too often, I find myself stuck in my daily routine. Going about life and not really living it. Because it’s easy. Because I forget what’s most important. That’s why I love finding things that knock me off of auto-pilot and tell me how it is – plain and simple. Heather - fear less, hope more. Talk less, say more. And maybe a little less whining too while you’re at it.

Here’s my gift to you today: a poem, an image inspired by it words, and a little reminder to pause, forgo the auto-life and enjoy living more.

Happy Wednesday!

~Heather

Now this is pretty cool. While I was posting about Tomie + Rusty’s Wedding Album here yesterday, their wedding was also being published on Austin Wedding Blog! Cool, right? If you’re getting married in Austin and haven’t seen this blog yet, you should definitely check it out. Rachel who runs the blog loves to post all sorts of wedding ideas, planning tips, lovely pictures, local vendors and events and real Austin weddings to inspire us all. At @AustinWeddings, she also tweets helpful info and articles that any bride can benefit from. I especially loved her recent tweet about wedding pie pops. So yummy!

Big thanks to Rachel for spreading a little June Blossom love around! I appreciate it =) And to Tomie + Rusty for inviting me to share their day with them. It was an honor to capture it all! You can see more of their beautiful and fun wedding day here.

Until next time, stay inspired!

~Heather

I am so excited to be able to share Tomie + Rusty’s Wedding Album with you! Back in March, Tomie + Rusty were married at the Caswell House in downtown Austin. Jeremy and I had so much fun with them and enjoyed all of the unique details of their day. I knew that their album’s design story had to capture all of that and more! A couple weeks after their wedding, I presented their pre-design slideshow to them and they loved it! Without anything modifications, I could send the design out to my album crafter right away. Now, just two months after their wedding, this amazing heirloom is in their hands to savor and enjoy! Melt!

Tomie + Rusty decided on the 11×14 album to better show off their images. To highlight all of their wedding events and their family and friends attending, their design story was presented on 52 pages. They then chose this beautiful black pressed leather for their cover to reflect the Victorian / Traditional setting of the Caswell House. For the lovely pink accents of Tomie’s dress and flowers, a soft pink stripe was added down the side. A totally custom and unique look that is theirs alone and a great way to hint at their images inside.

Here is the opening page of their album. I love using a cinematic image to begin a couple’s album story. It sets the tone of their day and teases you a little too. =)  You can also see how these albums lie completely flat when opened. I prefer these modern albums since I can use full page images that just draw you into the wedding story.

I’ll save the design til later. But for now, I wanted to give you a glimpse at what is possible and to get you thinking about your own wedding album. So what do you think about modern albums vs. the traditional ones our parents had? How about the Mrs out there. Do you have any album advice for the brides-to-be? Leave me a comment below. I’d love to know how you feel.

Thanks for reading! I really appreciate it Until next time!

~Heather

Late last week, a very groggy dog hobbled into our home. He had just been neutered and was so out of it, he wouldn’t even lay down to sleep. Jeremy and I took turns staying up all night with him while trying to figure out how to get him to take his pain medication. Despite the myth that all dogs love peanut butter, he quickly disproved that for us. (Hooray for cheese!) Thankfully, that long night has passed and although he’s still sporting his neon aqua e-collar, we’re all settling in to our new lives together. Say hi, Chewie.

From what we can tell, Chewie is a year old and is a Maltese/Poodle mix (or Malt-a-poo). Our friends found him wandering around their neighborhood. With his thick woolly fur all soaked, matted, and muddy, he was one sad little wookie. So they scooped him up and named him Chewie!

Although they couldn’t keep him, we were happy to adopt the little guy. He visited the day before his surgery so he could get used to his new surroundings. And after some exploring and sniffs, we were Chewie approved!

I’m so glad he’s not camera shy. In fact, he’s camera curious. Whenever I take a picture, he cocks his head to the side at the shutter click. I think I’ve found my new favorite model ^_^

I really love how this image makes me feel. When I see him up close like this – with his big brown eyes staring at me and his woolly fur sticking out everywhere, I just giggle and smile. And I hug him. E-collar and all.

Only five days together and I already can’t imagine him not here. In the words of Ty Pennington, ‘Welcome Home, Chewie. Welcome Home’.

~Heather

Recently, we had the pleasure of capturing Tomie and Rusty’s Wedding at the Caswell House in downtown Austin. What a gorgeous location! The vintage paintings, woodwork, stained glass windows, and chandeliers set quite a stage for their traditional yet fun event. I wanted to share a few of my favorite images before their gallery officially opens on Friday. Click here to sign their guest book and be notified when it’s unveiled. Enjoy!

Tomie and Rusty are pretty awesome. They chose March 14th as their wedding date and their ceremony began at 1:59PM.  Put that together and you get 3.14159 ~ otherwise known as Pi. Yep, Pi. Their flower girls even had little Pi symbols on their baskets. Now that’s what I call mathematically adorable. ^_^

This is Tomie’s engagement ring. If you look closely, you’ll see that it is the “One Ring” from the Lord of the Rings. Pretty Awesome!

As they were pronounced husband and wife, this happened. So Tomie!

Now I must show you Rusty’s Pac-Man Groom’s Cake – complete with power pellets =)

Tomie and Rusty ~ Thank you for inviting us to be a part of your day. We had so much fun! P.S. The Hokie Pokie will be fully documented in your gallery ^_~

Cheers,
Heather

Last week, Jeremy and I headed up to Kansas for a long overdue family reunion. It had been two years since we had last seen everyone plus our new nephew was making his appearance. Presenting Baby Owen at 5 months!

He’s in the rolling over stage and managed to perfect sitting up on his own over the holiday. I’m betting he’ll be crawling by Christmas!

We also got to celebrate an early birthday with Owen’s big brother, Caleb. I last took his newborn pictures. Boy has he grown!

Caleb loves puppies. So for his birthday, his mom made these awesome cupcakes inspired by Blue’s Clues!

And what better gift to go along with puppy cupcakes than a real”istic” walking, barking puppy dog.

Since we’re talking puppies, I need to introduce the original dog who captured Caleb’s heart – Puppy.

Puppy shake!

Jessica wanted some pictures of the new family all together. So we headed outside for some fun in the sun!

The time I spent with everyone last week really made me appreciate family. It’s something I’ve noticed the more time passes. That even though sitting down and catching up, playing with the kids, and eating a meal together under one roof may not seem that big of a deal – it is. And when I came home after a long week of being together, I missed it more than I thought I would. I don’t remember everything we did but I remember being happy. And of course, I have the photographs I took that show how happy we all were.

I hope you enjoy your time with your family and friends this holiday season. It’s definitely something to be thankful for!

~Heather

Hey everyone. It’s that time of year again! We will be closed for the holidays from November 23 – 30. If you contact us during this time, we will get back to you on December 1st when we re-open. We’ll also be sharing pictures of our trip when we return from the good old state of Kansas. Til then, have a Happy Turkey Day!

~Heather

Choosing your wedding photographer may be the hardest decision you make when it comes to planning your wedding. After all, photography is the one thing that you can’t preview until after your wedding day has passed. As both a wedding photographer and a former bride, I know how hard this choice can be. There are so many types of modern wedding photography and photographers available that it can feel like a daunting task – especially if you don’t know what you are looking for.

Since this is the time of year when brides begin their photography search, I wanted to help those of you who may be feeling overwhelmed. To help simplify your search, here are seven tips on how to find the right photographer for you! *drum roll please*

Tip #1 – Find Your Vision
This is important when you are starting to plan your wedding. But I believe this is also a key factor when choosing your photographer. If you want your wedding to be elegant yet relaxed – look for a photographer whose images have an elegant feel but also capture a relaxed side of the couples. If you are planning a formal evening event – look for a photographer who can beautifully capture weddings at night. This is the first step and a great way to begin narrowing down photographers to those who can capture your day as you are envisioning it.

Tip #2 – Be Inspired
Once you know how your wedding will look and feel, start searching for photographic inspiration. Introduce yourself to what is available and possible for your own photography. Check out magazines (both wedding and non-wedding related), websites and blogs, friends’ wedding albums – even movies, artwork and clothing catalogs. Today’s wedding photography is no longer restricted to what weddings should look like but rather art that can express your creativity and uniqueness as a couple.

When you find an image that resonates with you, ask yourself – what is it about this that I love? Am I intrigued by the fashion-inspired poses and look? Do I love its candidness and how the couple is not aware of the camera? Do I like the setting, the colors, the composition? Is it emotional or telling a story? Likewise, ask yourself, what part of this photograph do I not like? Being able to see the differences between images and identifying what you truly love will help you make a more educated decision when narrowing down potential photographers.

Tip #3 – Start Local
Ask your friends for referrals for photographers that they have had a good experience with. Look through local photographer blogs, sites and wedding magazines. Organizations such as the WPPI, the WPJA and Wedfog are also great resources to find professional wedding photographers in your area.

When viewing a photographer’s site, search for their most recent weddings. Just like in Tip #2, ask yourself what you like and don’t like about their photography. Do these images fit how you want your wedding to be captured? It is also important to look at the people in the images. Do they look comfortable and relaxed? This is a direct reflection on how well the photographer is interacting with them.

If you are not finding anyone locally, try searching nationally. Many photographers can travel for their couples and have reasonable travel rates. Although doing this will give you a much larger pool of photographers to sort through, it can also increase your chances of finding that amazing photographer that is perfect for you.

Tip #4 – Get Specific
Pick your top three photographers and contact them about your date. Most brides at this point will simply ask a photographer, How much? It’s alright to ask this since wedding photography is an important investment. However, asking only this does not help the photographer understand your needs or your wedding. Tell the photographer how you envision your day. Ask them if they have photographed a wedding like yours before. Also, say which of their images you love and why you love them. Providing them with this information, gives them a very clear picture of what you are wanting for your wedding photography and if they are the right photographer for you. If they aren’t, they can tell you right away thus freeing you to move on to the next candidate.

Tip #5 – Don’t Let the Price Stop You
Something worth mentioning is just how common it is for couples to underestimate their photography budget. Most of us have never invested in professional photography before our wedding and have no idea how much it should cost. The truth is, you get what you pay for. I underestimated my budget and ended up paying more than I ever thought I would. But do I regret it? Well, my fancy wedding dress is in a cardboard box. My wedding cake was inedible before our first anniversary. My bouquet wilted before I could preserve it. What do I have left that perfectly captured the beauty and meaning of my wedding day? My wedding photographs. I fell in love with my photographer and trusted his vision because he knew and understood mine. Even though he was outside of my budget, I still kept an open mind and found that he was the right one for me, despite the price. My advice: find the photographer whose work you love and who you believe is worth paying for. Gorgeous wedding photography is an investment you will never regret.

Tip #6 – Pay Attention to the Man (or Woman) Behind the Curtain
Just like in the Wizard of Oz, there is always a mysterious man (or woman) behind the curtain – pulling the strings and making all of the magic happen. Well, now that you have told them a little about yourself and have decided that you like their work, it is time to see who is the photographer behind the camera.

Here are some questions to keep in mind. Do you feel comfortable with the photographer? Do they seem comfortable around you? How about their personality? Are they friendly and outgoing? Do they seem like they will get along with your family and friends and other vendors? Are they open to your opinions? The photographer will be with you more than anyone else during your wedding day. Do you cringe at the thought with this photographer or are you excited to see what they will create?

This is also a good chance to find out about the photographer’s approach. The approach or style is how they interact with their couples and how they photograph a wedding. Some choose to be very active in creating their images and will direct and pose you. Others will step back and simply capture the day as it unfolds. Most common is a mix of both styles with one being dominant over the other. By talking with the photographer about how you want your wedding experience to be, they can tell you which style will be best for you.

Throughout the meeting, look for a connection between yourself and the photographer. Do you have common interests? Do they feel more like a friend than a wedding vendor? Are they excited about being apart of your day? Are they ready and willing to help you throughout your photographic experience with them – before, during and after your wedding? When a photographer gets what their couple is looking for and that is what they specialize in and you are comfortable around them and able to be yourself in front of them and their big camera, that is when the magic happens.

* * * * * * * * *

And now, here’s a bonus tip: To avoid disappointment, communicate with your photographer upfront about what you are looking for. If you feel strongly about something, say so. If you are unsure or unclear about anything, ask. Don’t leave it up to chance or that they might figure it out.  The easiest way to disappointment in your photography experience is to not share what you really want or to assume a photographer will understand what you want without being told. But this can be avoided if you communicate with them about what is significant and meaningful for you – both in your photography and in your wedding day. If you do, they will be glad to create photographs that you will treasure for a lifetime.

So what do you think? Are you inspired to begin your search? How has your experience been so far with wedding photographers? Please do share. I would also invite you to leave any questions or other topics you would like to see on this blog. Happy hunting to you!

~Heather

Have you seen the Fall 2009 RARE Weddings Section? It’s inside this October issue of RARE magazine. Such a great resource for Austin brides and wedding day inspiration. I have been waiting to share this exciting news with you and now that the issue is out, I finally can! Phyllis and Joe’s wedding is being featured! (Page 98)

It’s been several months since Lindsey, the art director at RARE contacted me about featuring their wedding. I was so thrilled for them! Phyllis and Joe are such a fun and genuine couple and their wedding was one of our all-time favorites. I loved Phyllis’s personal touches throughout the wedding that made their day uniquely them. Plus, Green Pastures Restaurant was a great venue for their elegantly stylish and relaxed affair.

We’re so happy for you two! Congratulations!

Special thanks to all of the vendors who helped in creating their wedding experience:
Venue: Green Pastures Restaurant
Coordination: Tanya Wood from Green Pastures Restaurant
Florist: Central Market
Wedding Gown: Siri, Inc
Bridal Boutique: Unbridaled
Hair + Make-up: Cameo’s Atomic Hair Salon
Music: Rock and Roll Rentals
Tux for Kingsley the Dog: Furr Factor (512) 502-5750

Last week, I had the pleasure of attending Dane Sander’s Fast Track Workshop for photographers. I had my own pre-conceived notions of what I wanted the workshop to be: shoot for a bit, talk about business, meet fellow photographers, and then tackle some technical stuff. You know, the usual line-up. Well, I’m glad to say that those two days were not what I wanted but rather, they were exactly what I needed. Really. Some times were harder than others and yes, tears were shed. But by the end, I was filled with daring inspiration, new ideas, and whirling excitement. I also emerged with 14 amazing friends who also happened to be great photographers. (best workshop ever)

I’d like to share some images from our downtown engagement shoot with Stephanie and Todd. Such a fantastic couple! They were so easy to photograph and up for anything – even the 5 o’clock thunderstorm. Sunlight and rain is a perfect mix!

If you’re a photographer, I would highly recommend this workshop to you. Dane is an incredible inspirational speaker and also a genuinely caring person. He’ll be speaking a few more times this year so be sure to check out his site if you’re interested. Dane also has a book which the workshop draws from. It is a powerful read for photographers at any level.

Big thanks to Studio 563 for hosting all of us. And to Dane, Christine, Danielle, Angelle, Kristi, Erin, Alan, Paul, Mattias, Chasity, Cory, Mary, Jenna Dee, Amy, Andy, and Eric: thank you for one amazing experience! You guys rock!

Until next time! ~Heather