wedding tips / should I have an unplugged wedding

One of the trends I've seen coming up the last couple years is the Unplugged Wedding - and I, for one, am a HUGE fan of this!

The concept of an Unplugged Wedding is inviting (requesting) your guests to put their phones + cameras away during the ceremony and/or reception, and simply be present + enjoy being in the moment with you during this special time. We have become a culture obsessed with our phones, and it has gotten in the way of us being able to enjoy moments simply by being in them. How much of life do we not fully take in because we are viewing them through the screen of our phones? Our society has become one that is consumed by the desire to be the first to post something and have it be the perfect representation of the moment that they don't allow themselves to truly experience it.

Not yet sold on the idea? Here are a few reasons to consider going Unplugged at your wedding.

Guests Interact More

In addition to interacting with one another more, guests will interact with the surroundings more as well. You have spent months planning this day, down to the last perfect detail. You want your guests to be able to enjoy all that work. Truth is, they are less likely to notice the little details if they're busy on their devices.

It Won't Compromise The Professional Photos

I cannot tell you how many shots I've taken, some of which cannot be saved, because a well intentioned guest has stepped right in my way, or the image shows 8 phones or tablets while others try to get a shot. It definitely changes the mood and emotion of the image when you have the distractions of devices in the frame with the dad giving away his daughter, or Uncle Bob in the aisle as the groom kisses the bride. People get so caught up in trying to document for themselves that they forget you've already hired someone to document the day! And that their attempts at documenting can actually interfere with + change the way that the professional is able to capture moments for you. Your guests are the background of your story that day - and if they are all on devices, trying to take their own photos, it definitely changes the mood. Not to mention sometimes people forget to silence the noises on their camera and shutter of their phones, which can be distracting during the ceremony.

Everyone's Privacy is Respected

Everyone varies on their comfortability with social media - some document each and every aspect of their lives to share with the world, while others do everything they can to stay off of it. Having an unplugged wedding allows for more control over what gets posted and when. I have also seen a few first look moments that have been shared with the world because someone posted a photo before the ceremony. I totally understand people get excited and sometimes just don't think about little aspects you may have worked hard to plan for a certain way so asking your guests to keep their phones and cameras put away until the reception (at least) definitely helps control what everyone else sees on social media - and when.

The First Images of Your Wedding Shared Are Professional

I pull between 20-50 sneak peeks for my brides when I get home that night so that if they want to post a photo from their day, it doesn't have to be an iPhone photo!  This way the world can see a gorgeous professional image of you as Husband + Wife instead of a quickly snapped, potentially blurry, iPhone photo. I know this isn't the workflow for all photographers, so make sure to check with your photographer to see if that is something they offer.

Make Gallery Sharing Easy

You can use your Wedding Website to let your guests know that you will be doing an Unplugged Wedding and that you will link the gallery to your Wedding Website once you get the images so that they know they will have access to view images as well. Knowing they will be able to have photos from the day might lessen the anxiety of them not being able to capture their own.

Other ideas for image sharing is using a custom hashtag if you are allowing photos during the reception. I have seen several weddings do Polaroid photo booths so that people have images they can take home with them as well.

If you choose to do an Unplugged Wedding, make sure you put that information on your Wedding Website so that guests have a heads up and know what to expect. You might also want to have a sign near the entry and have your DJ or Officiant gently remind guests of your request before the ceremony begins as well.

One day you, your kids and grandkids will look back on these images - just think about what you want to see in the background: beautiful smiling faces of those you love most in the world, or the backs of iPhones and tablets? I personally want to see faces and I promise your photographer's images will be all the better for it as well!

Want more information about going unplugged? There are a lot of resources online, or I'd be happy to answer any questions you might have!

2020 goals / how to set yourself up for success

As we enter into 2020, this topic might be more important now than ever. I wholeheartedly believe in setting goals so that you can do things to stay focused in your pursuit of accomplishing all you want. It is by no mistake that one of the first things I have my mentor students do is list out their top 3 business goals. We need to be focused on where we’re going + be intentional with our time. Here are some of my tips for setting realistic, attainable goals + setting yourself up for success!

Don’t let your goals depend on someone else’s movement

What I mean by this is try to avoid goals that have to do with things you yourself cannot directly control. Stay away from anything that has to do with the numbers game + here’s why:

Previously, I’ve had a goal of the number of weddings I wanted to book for the year. It was a little ambitious, however I felt that I should be able to obtain that. When I didn’t quite land that number of bookings, I felt like a failure. I was more focused on that failure than the fact that I was reaching other goals I hadn’t made for myself - like getting featured by bridal shop magazines, wedding blogs + online publications, or the fact that I made 3x as much income in my business than the year before. I wasn’t allowing myself to celebrate that I booked + traveled out of state + even internationally multiple times for shoots + weddings, had developed my mentor program and was even invited to teach among some of the industry’s top name photographers at a workshop.

After that, my goals looked more like getting all my back-end things taken care of during slow season, developing online workshops + courses, hosting workshops, traveling out of state for shoots - even if I have to set them up myself, stay on top of my bookkeeping, locations I will shoot at, so on and so forth.

write them down

as soon as you’re done reading this, go write them down. put them someplace you’ll come back to them, see them + be motivated. studies have shown that if you see something enough, it helps you to stay focused and therefore are more likely to accomplish those things.

break it down

especially with huge ambitious, scary or even just time consuming goals, break them down into little chunks that are realistic to complete. this serves a few purposes:

1. it helps you feel accomplished - you are able to see the steps you are taking

2. it helps you stay motivated - when I have a long list of to-dos, I need to be able to cross things off. If I work all day and wasn’t able to check off a couple tasks, I feel defeated.

3. it gives you more focus - you don’t have to worry about the big scary thing. you just work on one little thing at a time. and then you’ll get there.

get accountability partners

once you’ve written them on paper, broken them down into manageable steps, tell some friends. there’s something about speaking it out loud that makes it real. plus having other people that will be checking in on you, encouraging you, and celebrating with you when you accomplish it will make such a huge difference! (this is a great way to use our cohort group chat too!)

grow your goals

when you go throughout the year, feel free to add new goals to the list. don’t box yourself in. some of these goals might be by the end of 2020, some might be overarching business goals that you want to reach at some point. either way, add to it, challenge yourself + let yourself dream big.

however I can help you chase those dreams, I will! that’s what I’m here for - I will always be a cheerleader for you, motivator, challenger + encourager!

wedding tips / choosing your team

Choosing the people that will be by your side on your wedding day is such an important thing - and not just your bridal party - your vendor team makes your wedding visions come to life! Just because it’s the person that your friend or your mom’s coworker knows doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the right choice for you.

Here are a few things to consider:

Make sure they are people you trust. Ultimately, you are investing your money into these vendors and trusting them with the details of one of the most important days. You want to know that they will not only listen to you, but work hard to make sure everything is as stress-free and smooth for you as possible! And, no matter how much you trust them, or how confident you are in them (or your relationship if you know them personally) ALWAYS get a contract!

Do they fit your style? This can be anything from decor styling, makeup work, videography or photography capturing and editing styles. From dark and moody to light and airy - posed, editorial or candid and storytelling, whatever style you’re drawn to is what you should have! Find vendors that not only are capable of doing what you’re looking for, but that are experts in it.

What do people have to say? Don’t just take the word of a single person - check their reviews! If they don’t have testimonials posted on their website or Google Reviews, don’t be afraid to ask! Providing reviews to you should be no problem. Everything should be clear and upfront - and if you feel like this is something you can’t ask them - that’s a red flag - you should always be comfortable asking your vendors anything, at anytime. See their work outside their Instagram/Website - ask to see full galleries from your photographer, videos from your film team, photos from your hair, makeup and styling teams.

Know the back up plan. Something that should be covered in your contract is what the plan is if disaster strikes and there is an emergency that affects them serving you on your wedding day. You should know who would be taking their place and make sure it is a replacement you approve of. Ask your photographer/videographer what their process is for backing up and protecting your images. Don’t simply assume they have one in place - know what it is and make sure that they are protecting your images the best way they can - multiple copies, multiple places.

They feel like a friend… Some of your vendors will be with you pretty much the entire day - your photographer, videographer + coordinator should be people you love being around + that feel more like friends celebrating with you than just a vendor working for you. They should also be approachable + accessible to you! make sure they are responsive - and that you are comfortable asking questions or reaching out whenever you need anything - even if it's just some reassurance.

Their experience + Your budget. Do you know what their experience is? How many weddings have they worked and to what capacity? Make sure that you know these things and are comfortable and confident in their ability. And while your budget should not be the end all - it is something to consider. Is there a vendor you HAVE to have? Even if they are outside your budget, it can definitely be worth your time to reach out and be willing to adjust the allocation of your funds. Remember - you get what you pay for, so make sure to prioritize the things that are important to you, and balance your budget accordingly.

Your wedding day is about YOU + your love. choose a team that not only sees your vision, but that supports it + works hard to serve you well. you deserve to have stress taken off of you, be loved on + pampered every step of this process.

questions to ask: what is your backup process?

If you’re engaged and looking for a photographer (or just looking for a photographer in general), there are several things to consider and ask. The issue is, a lot of people don’t even know what questions to ask. So I’m going to cover a few of them in the next couple weeks for you!

First one (because I think it’s one of the most important) is WHAT IS YOUR BACKUP PROCESS?

You are investing money in this photographer, as well as trusting them with your irreplaceable memories. It is so important that your photographer have a process that will protect your images and memories, no matter what.

So what should you be looking for? You want them to have multiple copies of your images and that they keep the RAW files indefinitely.

Here is my backup process:

1. First and foremost, the cameras I use are set to read to TWO SD cards simultaneously - so I have 2 copies right off the get. (ask your photographer if they are set to do this - if an SD card malfunctions, there is still an extra copy right there. otherwise, all those images would be lost)

2. As soon as I get home, before anything else, I back up all the RAW files onto 4 separate external hard drives and online cloud storage. This brings my total to 7 copies of your images.

3. When I am on the go, I work off of a travel drive which is an additional copy - not in place of, so then I would have 8 copies.

4. One of those hard drives lives in a fire proof safe and the others are kept in separate locations. Worst case, if there was a fire, or things got stolen, there’s always extra copies kept safe.

5. Once the gallery is complete, I back up all the final images onto all 4 external hard drives and cloud storage, upload to my online gallery and send to my clients.

6. Only after the gallery is delivered, and all final images (with the RAWS) are on all 4 hard drives and online cloud storage, do I format and delete my SD cards. So even after all is said and done, I will have 5 copies of your images and I never delete the RAW files, ever.

I purchase new hard drives every year (and as needed throughout) so that I never need to delete anything. It is worth the extra business expense of a few hundred dollars, to know that I am protecting your images and memories with everything I can. SD cards malfunction, hard drives corrupt and fail - but with multiple copies, even if that happens, I’ve got you covered.

playful summer beach couple session

how honeybook saves me / part 1

I want to take a minute and give some awesome business info for my fellow photogs and vendors

When it comes to business, I am the super organized, color-coding, pretty files, all the office supplies kind of girl. I want things streamlined, systemized, efficient.

Being a business owner and mama, sometimes that is kind of tricky to do, and I was finding it difficult to juggle all my inquiries, what I’ve sent to whom, which package/location the client has selected, welcome gifts sent, along with print orders to submit, ship…the list goes on and on.

Enter Honeybook.

This Client Management System has my little organizational heart oh so happy and skipping for joy. Never again will I have to wonder where I’m at with any project, search my inbox to see if I received back that file, or try and locate a questionnaire deep in the depths of my email. I don’t have to search on old sticky notes or flip pages in my planner to see if one of my to-do’s was marked off…when I am out of town and receive inquiries, I never have to worry about losing track on what was already sent to whom…Honeybook keeps track of every single little detail – all in one very happy, organized, wonderful place.

When I first found Honeybook, it was a little daunting to be honest, only because it does SO MUCH!! But Honeybook is prepared for this and they equip you and help you every step of the way! From day one, their customer service team was working to help me out – they migrated all of my files in for me so that I was hitting the ground running. They also offer an orientation video course, as well as many help forums and how-to videos in case you’re having trouble or have questions on how to use things. Still need some help? Their customer service team is one of the best out there! They are friendly, timely and thorough on all their communication – working hard so that you won’t miss a beat! They know you are busy, so they try to answer your questions and get you back to what you do best ASAP.

Fastforward to now: Honeybook is so incredibly integrated into my client experience, I don’t know how I ever did this before them!

My homepage gives me a great glance at what is going on:

  When a client inquires from my website, it automatically loads into my Pipeline – this is where all of my current projects live. With that, thanks to Honeybook syncing with my calendar, it’s quick and easy to see if I’m booked on the date they’re inquiring for.

From there, I can quickly and easily respond to the client with the appropriate brochure which clearly outlines all my collections, pricing and full details. This allows my clients to look at all of their options and choose which package fits them the best.

The submitted brochure makes creating the proposal soooo easy – by inputting in what the client selected along with my predetermined contracts and payment schedules, getting a client booked is a breeze!! Their portal allows them to review the services, sign the contract and make payments – all in one place!

I can easily adjust payment schedules, set percentages and due dates for any balance and give discounts – which is all tracked AND Honeybook connects to Quickbooks so doing taxes is a breeze!

Since I offer many different services (couple sessions, weddings, seniors, portraits, individual education and workshops) Honeybook allows me to have different contact forms, brochures and contracts – which streamlines and categorizes EVERYTHING!

They have so many tools to help you get work done efficiently and thoroughly.

The ability to make custom questionnaires, send timelines, recommend other vendors – it is allowing me to serve my clients so well in one space, never lose track of anything and obtain (as well as deliver) all the information I need. The calendar allows me to see what project is coming up, as well as being able to see when payments are due and coming in – soooo helpful!

On top of what it offers for my clients, there are a few other amazing things Honeybook does: I can connect with other vendors, refer them easily to my clients, as well as post for opportunities/needs and see what opportunities there are in my area as well. I can look at reports to see what my inquiry:booking ratio is, see how I’m doing from month to month with booked projects, payments collected and download reports for bookkeeping. Seriously EVERYTHING I need is here in Honeybook.

Honeybook is only $400 per year – which is INSANE for the amount of time and energy it saves me (I want to be working smarter and faster – not harder, and spending my time where it is best spent – WITH my clients, family and friends) BUT use this link and save 50% on your first year!! Trust me – it is SOOOO worth the investment!

This is just a quick overview for y’all – stay tuned for a more in depth look at what all Honeybook can do for you, as well as video clips to see how I navigate the entire system so you can see how much of a breeze it really is!

senior sunday / what to wear

One of the biggest questions I get about senior sessions is "What should I wear?!" So take a deep breath and relax, because I got your back! Here are a few tips and go-to outfits to help inspire your perfect session outfits!

Tip #1: Wear what is the most YOU

It's always super fun to go shopping for new clothes before photos, however here's one thing we tend to forget - How many times have you gone shopping and bought something you love, only to wear it later and realize it isn't as glamorous as you originally thought? If that happens before your senior session, that top or outfit that now hangs lonely in your closet is forever in these images. I'm all about shopping and getting fun new items - just plan this a few weeks before your session so you have time to decide whether the new clothes are truly you or an impulsive store purchase.

Tip #2: What's underneath really does matter

Make sure that when you are planning out your outfits, that you take everything into consideration. Double check that your bra is the right color and type of fit so that your straps aren't going to show under your top. You don't want anything to be distracting from how amazing you look. If you are wearing white, go for nude color under garments to minimize them showing - white under white tends to highlight a lot, and avoid dark colors or patterns as well.

Tip #3: Add variety + you don't always have to dress for the season

Most of you have your senior sessions in the summer/fall going into your senior year - but you might not want all of your photos to look summer or fall. Take this opportunity to mix it up and add variety to your outfits. Jeans, shorts/rompers, dresses - add a little of everything and you'll make sure you'll have a gallery of images you're happy with and fully represent you. I also recommend bringing 2-3 additional outfits so that you and your photographer can pick out the best ones for your location and style of your session.

Tip #4: Be mindful of your location and outfit choices

Bright, bold patterns might be your style, but those don't necessarily photograph well in every location, just like you wouldn't want dark, edgy outfits in bright fields of flowers. Make sure you discuss your favorite go-to outfits and your location preferences with your photographer so that everything will look the best possible. They might even have a few location ideas that fit perfect for your style!

Tip #5: Accessorize!!

Accessories are your friend and can add so much extra to your outfits. Hats, necklaces, scarves, earrings, glasses - all of it! Think about all the little details as they can make a big impact. If you usually wear glasses, definitely wear them to your session as well - you want to look the most you at your session. Just keep in mind if your glasses are transitional or glare, give your photographer a heads up so they can adjust as needed - transitional lenses may need to stay hidden until the last moment if it’s bright out so you can see those beautiful eyes! 

Here are a few of my go-to outfit inspiration boards to help you out - made especially for NBP by the amazing SincerelyMar :)

Urban

Country/Rustic

Natural

the importance of worth + being perfectly undone

Worth.

It’s a small word that affects so much – how we see things and the value we give them. Unfortunately, we live in a society where we tend to over value things and under value people. And we let other people influence the way we value ourselves – what we feel our worth is…or isn’t. Being ‘pretty enough’, ‘thin enough’, ‘popular enough’, ‘athletic enough’…good enough. Media telling young women how they should or shouldn’t look, how they should act or be, what they should like, and very little telling them to embrace who you are – embrace your incredible uniqueness, the true beauty that you possess.

It weighs heavy on my heart that there are so many young women who question their worth, beauty and purpose. I have such a deep rooted need to fight this with everything I have in me. I think girls need something other than the media to tell them what beautiful is…to help them see how incredible they are, how stunning they are.

My model team and I discuss how social media and society today puts so much pressure on women to look a certain way, act like this or that, have to have these clothes, use this make up, or be this size…the list goes on and on. Media paints a picture of perfection that is unattainable, because the painted picture is exactly that…painted. Pictures of models that had professional hair and make up crews, personal trainers, and even then, the image is altered. This has always impacted my heart – but especially now, being a mom to a beautiful, spirited and amazing little girl – it kills me to think that she would ever allow someone other than God define her worth. That she would ever be inflicted with those thoughts and emotions of feeling not good enough. Everywhere we turn, there is something telling us we aren’t enough.

Except you are.

You are more than enough. You are perfection, just as you are.

You are beautiful – with your natural hair, no make up, exactly as you are – that is so beautiful. And there is so much more to you just a pretty face. You are brilliant, strong, funny, sassy. You are talented and unique. You are a good friend, a fiery soul and a stunning personality. You are fierce. No one else has your gifts and your story – regardless of how broken that may feel. Everything you are is beautiful. The things that you are passionate about, the way your eyes light up when you get excited or when you see someone you love. The way you laugh. The way you view the world. Your ambitions. The things that make your heart beat fast. All these things make you…and I’m telling you –

YOU ARE GORGEOUS!!

You are always more than media and the world tells you. You are always more than you give yourself credit for. There is always more fight in you, more strength, determination, ability and love in you than people tell you. You are always more than your history, than your mistakes, your brokenness. Life is messy, and you are always more than that mess. People hurt us, leave us broken, but you are always more than that brokenness, those hurtful words and horrible names.

You are not defined by these things.

You are infinitely and always more.

Just as you are.

So this is my heart…this is my passion and purpose. To help young women see their worth. To help them see that they are flawless, just as they are, right now, beautiful.

A few years ago, the team had the idea to take a stand against the societal pressures to look any different than we truly are, and do an all natural shoot. Pure, raw beauty in it’s truest form. Being unapologetically who we are. Vulnerable? Yes. Scary? For some. Brave and bold? Absolutely.

You see, I’m not taking a stand against the beauty industry. I tweeze and pluck, powder, mascara, curl and straighten with the rest of them. No judgement there. What I am standing against is the lie that we need to do those things in order to be beautiful. That we can own our God given beauty, come alongside other young women and embrace it. The thing is, society standards and beliefs won’t change if no one stands up and says we’re better than that. There’s strength and security in numbers. Empowerment when you’re surrounded by other young women thinking and feeling the same.

Self love, self worth and real beauty are so important in this world and we need more of it. More images of real women, owning and celebrating their natural beauty. Truth is, sometimes we have to see other people love themselves, see what it looks like to embrace oneself, to see someone be unapologetically who they are to feel like we can take a step in that direction ourselves. 

So here’s the deal: we are doing just that.  

Sunday, April 8 at 4 pm, we're meeting at the Lebanon Public Library gazebo to do a FREE all natural beauty shoot. Bring all your babes, wear whatever makes you feel the most beautiful, with no makeup, let your hair do it’s own thing, and come surround yourself with other women owning their beauty.  

Join us in taking a stand against what we’re being told. Let’s take a step towards loving ourselves a little bit more. Let’s join together and tell one another WE ARE BEAUTIFUL, WORTHY + ENOUGH.  

Let’s stand in that truth together.  

senior sunday / 5 things I wish every senior knew

hey guys!

I wanted to spend some time getting you info you might need in planning for your senior session - here are a few tips I wish all my seniors knew...

1. Senior Photos are about more than just a yearbook photo

There is so much going on in your life right now + there is such an amazing story to tell. Beyond just capturing pretty images of your beautiful face, it's about capturing who you are - the way your nose crinkles up when you laugh real hard, the way you move when you feel confident or how you rest when you think no one is looking. The way your eyes light up when you talk about something you love + how you get super giggly when thinking of some inside joke you have with your friends. How proud you feel when you talk about your accomplishments or how nervous you might feel about going off to college and this time in your life. All these things come together to make this incredible human that is you - and I just want to help capture THAT. Which is about so much more than just a pretty picture that goes in a yearbook. It's about YOU.

2. Not all photographers are the same

Now this might seem like a no brainer - but hear me out. There are a lot of photographer out there that can take stunningly gorgeous images. They can make you look like a million bucks and deliver a gallery full of perfect images. But we all work different. We each have something that drives us and makes us unique. And we aren't all the right fit for every senior.

There are so many things to consider when choosing your senior photographer - what is the style you like, how they capture people, what they have to offer in collections, and of course, pricing. I will urge you to not be just a price shopper when it comes to choosing your photographer. Find one who's style speaks to you. Who you feel like will get you and that you will be comfortable with. Regardless of who you choose - these are all things to consider.

3. Yearbook deadlines are closer than you think!

For most the schools in my area - yearbook photos are due by the end of September/Mid October. This means that you only have about 6-7 months from TODAY to get your images done, selected + submitted. Even if you have a later deadline - photographer's availability starts dwindling, so you want to get in contact with the one you want sooner than later.

4. Those amazing warm sunny dreamy summer session dates fill up FAST

I am already booking for my August + September sessions, which are the most sought after, and those dates go quickly. If you are wanting that sun kissed look in your images + late summer is your fave time of the year - you might want to start talking with your photographer to snag your date now. It seems like you've got time - but it goes way faster than you think.

5. Weekday sessions are the best

Often times weekends might seem more ideal - but here are a few things to consider:

Your ideal location will be less busy during the week than on the weekend when everyone else is off. This means you'll have the place more to yourself, more freedom and less people bustling about. Even if it's during the school year - missing school or getting out a little early doesn't suck. We leave school for other appointments, and let's be honest - your senior photos will only happen once - so making adjustments on time is well worth it!

Photographers tend to book up weekends way faster, so you'll be more likely to get the time of the year you want or have more options for dates if you're willing to take a weekday. I always do a happy dance when my girls are able to shoot during the week - between my family time, doing weddings + everything else - it makes my life a million times easier + I'll be way more likely to be able to give you a date you want.

Also - if you're looking to get hair + makeup done, salons will usually be able to get you in for your date during the week way easier than a weekend. (hair + makeup is totally not necessary - but some people just want to be a little extra pampered which is a-okay!)

There's so much to come on tips for locations, choosing the right outfit, styling tips + more! So stay tuned...