2012 Life Art Photographs Studio Magazine

www.Li feAr tPhotographs.com | 515.344.0377

weddingsby

WHAT’S INSIDE:

PLANNING YOUR WEDDING TIMELINE

8 SANITY SOOTHERS

IMAGES IN MOTION: HARDING VIDEOGRAPHY IS AN ENGAGEMENT SESSION FOR YOU?

REAL WEDDING: STEP INSIDE OUR COVER COUPLE’S WEDDING

PRESERVING YOUR MEMORIES


MY STORY

LIFE ART PHOTOGRAPHSLOVINGLY CREATED BY LAURA MICHELLE

Like many other photographers, I fell in love with creating photos when I fell in love with the subject matter I wanted to shoot, weddings. I’ve been working full-time as a wedding photographer since 2009, but it was during 2008 that I fell head over heels in love with weddings. That was the year I got married.

My work is known for being authentic, romantic, and inspired. I believe that has to do with the fact that I absolutely love what I do and that I believe it is important to make sure that my subjects are having fun throughout their sessions. My photography is a combination of the story that exists in the relationships of my subjects and the creativity that is drawn from spending time with them.

It is an honor to be considered to as your wedding photographer.

Yours,

Laura Michelle

Photo by Jessica Claire

love letters

I love my photos! They captured the day perfectly and made me smile, laugh, and cry all over again. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

Ashley & SeanAly & Pe t e r

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!!!!! I can’t stop looking through them...YOU are AMAZING!!! We are so fortunate that you were capturing our day!

Macay & Andy

I have to say categorically that hiring you was one of the best decisions we made during wedding planning. Seeing the photos brought the whole day back, and they are STUNNING. I will recommend you to the moon and back. Thank you so much!

CALLING ALL BRIDES...In addition to being a wedding photographer, I’m also a wedding blogger! Wedding Belle is a resource for all Iowa brides, providing inspiration, information, and entertainment that is local to Iowa. All of the products and vendors that are featured on the blog will have my personal stamp of approval so that you can rest assured that you’re being introduced to quality vendors, not just a list of people who offer services that are wedding related.

We are always looking for brides to be featured in the Real Weddings section of our blog - don’t worry, I don’t have to be your photographer for you to be featured. The blog features the work of lots of other talented photographers, in addition to my own. If you are interested in learning more about being featured on the blog, contact us using the form on the website for more information on how to apply.

In the meantime, hop on out to www.weddingbelleblog.com and feast your eyes on some Iowa wedding goodness! New posts are made regularly so put it in your reader and let us do some of the legwork for you during your wedding planning process.


REAL WEDDING

angela & kevinI recently had the privilege of photographing Angela &

Kevin’s gorgeous wedding in Iowa City at the Celebration Farm. Surrounded by family and friends, they said their I

do’s in one of the most beautifully decorated and intimate settings before Kevin whisked her away to Costa Rica for a

dream honeymoon.

How can you be prepared for the biggest day of your life so far? Here, Angela and Kevin share:

THE BEST ADVICE FOR A BRIDE. “Remember to take moments to stop, breathe, and look

around and take mental pictures of your wedding because it goes by so fast.”

THE BIGGEST SURPRISE ABOUT THEIR WEDDING DAY.

“How quickly everything goes and how you really don’t even realize the little things that might not go perfectly the day of.”

THEIR FAVORITE PHOTO MOMENT. “My favorite photo moments were in the beginning of

the day and after the speeches when I was able to relax. Remember to break in your shoes as they can get uncomfortable if you don’t while taking a lot of pictures!”

WHAT THEY LOVED MOST ABOUT WORKING WITH YOUR STUDIO PHOTOGRAPHY.

“Laura was very easy to work with. As a bride you have many questions and she made herself available to me

throughout the planning process. She is also very easy to talk to and obviously takes beautiful photographs!”

HOW TO TAME THOSE WEDDING DAY NERVES. “Just remember that this day is about you and your future

husband and you will never get it back again so just breathe and enjoy every moment of it. Also, two of my bridesmaids

gave me a gift bag with Aveda Stress Fix, hand and foot relief, and stress relieving candles for the morning while I

was getting ready. I found it to be very calming.”

WHICH ONE MOMENT WILL LAST FOR THEM FOREVER.

“My ceremony was very personal so I will always remember that. All of the nice little moments I had with different family

members and of course all of my groomsmen singing “You’ve lost that loving feeling” to me during the dance. ”

GETTING MARRIED WITHOUT BEING HARRIED

• Be sure to have a hair and makeup trial at least a month before your wedding. This will give you peace of mind to know exactly how you will look and give you the opportunity to change things in advance if necessary. Make sure to bring all jewelry to the trial to see how makeup shades work with the pieces.

• Have your florist deliver your flowers to where you are getting ready, not the ceremony venue. Since you never know when the mood will strike for a great photo, you’ll want your flowers there and ready to go.

• Find out what the rules for photographs are at the ceremony location. All venues are different, some restricting the location of photographs and even the times in which they are permitted.

• If possible, arrange to have your formal photographs taken before the ceremony. Getting this step out of the way early in the day frees up the rest of your time to spend with your guests. You will be able to go straight to cocktail hour and catch up with loved ones without stress. It’s a new age, so it’s no longer considered bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the wedding.

• Have food delivered to your getting ready location. It may be hectic, but take the time to have a bite before the wedding since it will be a while before you have the opportunity to nourish yourself during the reception.

• Prepare an emergency bridal kit with clear nail polish, mints, a sewing kit, stain treater, Visine, safety pins, bobby pins, pain reliever and mini deodorant.

• Allowing 50% more time for hair and makeup than you originally anticipated alleviates the number one reason wedding schedules end up running late. This will assure you have plenty of time for all the portraits you want to take before the wedding.

• Make sure you discuss a “rain plan” with your venue just in case Mother Nature doesn’t see sunshine in the cards.


YOUR WEDDING

A WEDDING DAY PHOTO TIMELINEA wedding is a whirlwind of events, gone in the blink of an eye. There’s little more important to a perfectly executed event than an organized timeline. If you are looking to effectively plan out your wedding day with your wedding coordinator or fiance, here’s a look at a typical wedding photo timeline from our point of view. We are here to help assist you in planning out your day so that you don’t miss a beat.

GETT ING READY PHOTOS

We generally arrive 60 minutes before you are scheduled to have your ‘first look’ to get photos as you transition from a fiance to a bride. If you would like a photographer with your groom during this time, your second photographer will go to his location.

F IRST LOOK & COUPLE PORTRA ITS

We like to have between 45 minutes to 2 hours for couple portraits (variance based on travel requirements, couple preferences, and coverage parameters). During this time, we will shoot the two of you alone as your friends and family continue to prepare for your wedding day. The more time you allot for this portion of the day, the more options you have to choose from in the end.

BR IDAL PARTY PORTRA ITS

Typically this portion of the day takes 30 minutes or less of your time. We schedule it during the time of day that it makes most sense with your schedule. Often times it is done either before your family portraits or during the time you are out on a party-bus between your ceremony and reception.

FAMILY PORTRA ITS

Plan for 2-3 minutes per photo for each combination of people, or 5-10 minutes for groups of 12 or more. We like to reserve an hour for this section of the day in order to make sure that you get all of the people who are most important to you included in your formal photographs.

CEREMONY

We will wrap up formal photographs no less than 30 minutes prior to the beginning of your ceremony in order to make sure that your guests do not get a sneak peek of you in your wedding dress.

PARTY BUS

If you are planning on renting a limo or party bus for your wedding, please make sure you purchase

enough coverage to include this time. One of your photographers will be joining you on the bus to get candids and we will plan a handful of stops along the way for photo ops.

DINNER

We will take our (45 minute) break during the time that you are eating. When meals are provided for us, we stay near the action in order to make sure we don’t miss anything. If not, we will leave the venue in order to purchase a meal. Once 45 minutes have transpired your coverage will commence.

RECEPT ION

It’s all up to you regarding how much coverage you want at your reception. Our preference is to be there for all of the major events, including speeches, tosses, cutting the cake, and first dances. It’s also good to make sure that you get enough coverage to get you through at least 30 minutes of general reception activities. If you are having a dollar dance, we recommend coordinating it’s timing with your deejay to take place after our time has expired.

COVERAGE ENDS

When it is getting close to time for us to pack up, we will check with you to make sure there aren’t any further photos you would like or an overtime request. We may go outside for a night “time exposure” photograph of the both of you to showcase the beauty of your location at night.

Two weeks before your wedding we will touch base via phone or e-mail to discuss your wedding day photo timeline. At this time we will also provide you with our Complete Wedding Information questionnaire to fill out with all your wedding details including locations, family members, special wedding day events, vendors and much more. This information will help us make your wedding is unforgettable and stress-free!

THE DIVA’S IN THE DETAILSWHAT AMAZING ACCOUTREMENTS GO INTO THE MOST DEL IC IOUS DAY EVER?

So many things are special about your wedding day. While they may seem like small details, the unassuming pillow your ring bearer carried might have been made from your Christening gown. Or those shoes with the delicate pearl buttons may have been your mother’s. These are the smaller, sometimes unnoticed details that tell the story of your special day, that we document for you at Life Art Photographs. Whether it’s your bouquet or your shoe or your something blue, it’s all a part of your distinct personality as a couple, sharing your yesterdays while you prepare for your many tomorrows.


THE PROCESS

FROM SHOOT TO ALBUMThe weeks prior to and directly following your wedding planning are busy times. Here at Life Art Photographs we honor your harried moments with a special timeline which will help you to understand how we are working our hardest to avoid any unnecessary surprises:

Two weeks before your wedding: After chatting on the phone a little bit about the day and discussing any last minute specifications, we send you a wedding information form to fill out all the details most important to you for capturing the best images possible. An agenda is created and sent to you so that you can distribute your photography schedule to your family and bridal party.

Two days before your wedding: We’ll check in to make sure that nothing has changed since our planning session at the two week mark.

The day of your wedding: We arrive at the scheduled time and quickly run through the course of the day. Then we coordinate with your family and friends regarding scheduled start times for formal portraits and what to expect.

The week after your wedding: Your wedding images will be edited, retouched, archived and prepared for your online gallery or proofs.

Two weeks after your wedding: We deliver your online wedding gallery proofs information.

Three weeks after your wedding: Your disc(s) of digital negatives will be ready for you to pick up from the studio.

Eight weeks after your wedding: If you have purchased an album and have not already submitted your favorite photos, we will reach out to get the album creation process started.

Ten weeks after your wedding: Your album will be put into proofing for your feedback. Once your album is approved, the files will be sent to the manufacturer for printing and assembly.

HARDING VIDEOGRAPHYI’ve had the pleasure of working with Lance from Harding Videography on several occasions over the years. He is hands down my favorite wedding vendor to team up with! His videos are stunning, his professionalism is outstanding, and he is always courteous to photographers as we vie to get the same shots. Harding Videography has been in business since 2004 and was recently voted (2011 & 2012) “Best Videographer” for our area by The Knot, based on bride’s reviews.

To learn more about how Lance can help to document your wedding day, stop out to his website to see some samples of his work at www.hardingvideography.com or give him a call at 515.291.3384.

VENDOR SPOTLIGHT


Here at Life Art Photographs we pride ourselves in capturing the most natural, candid portraiture possible. This style showcases your day as it was, helping to bring your personalities forward and documenting your day for a lifetime of memories.

While we shoot the majority of our images this way, it’s also very important to capture traditional formal portraits as well. These group shots are best immediately when everyone is ready and fresh, right before the ceremony; and since our most important goal is getting you to your wedding on schedule, we allow 3-5 minutes for each desired grouping to ensure maximum results with minimal time. (Make sure all flowers and boutonnieres are delivered on time and affixed to family members and to the wedding party in advance.)

Our absolute favorite place to shoot family portraits is in a well shaded area outdoors, preferably with a green or wooded backdrop. Many families choose to do more traditional alter portraits as well. Family portraits from your wedding day will likely be passed on from generation to generation, so please make sure that you take the time to make sure to include all the right people and that you communicate with them in advance of your wedding to ensure that they know your photography timeline.

If you have ideas for any ‘can’t-miss’ portrait groupings you would like to see photographed during this time, make sure to note them on your provided wedding information survey. We’re happy to work with you to capture all of your special moments!

TRADIT IONAL GROUPINGS

STRIKE A POSE

ALL ABOUT ALBUMS

Although it’s important to make sure that you get a disc of your wedding day images, a disc of images simply does not tell the story of your wedding day. Sadly, many people today get their disc of images and don’t do much with the photos. They will get a handful of prints done at a consumer lab and then will store their disc somewhere they think it will be safe. Over time, the quality of the photos that are printed at consumer labs will suffer and those prints will fade. Unless you are diligent in making sure your digital files are safely backed up and accessible, you may be faced with difficulties accessing your wedding images as technology moves past CD/DVDs.

Albums bring life and longevity to your photos. A professionally designed and printed album is the absolute best way to tell your story and to make sure that your photos will last throughout the years. Because we want all of our clients to be able to invest in a stunning professional wedding album, we offer three different album lines so that we can accommodate varying budgets and aesthetic preferences. All three lines are absolutely stunning products and are available exclusively to professional photographers. In order to make sure your memories last, the products are made using archival papers and inks

The process of designing your album is simple. You’ll select your absolute favorite images, the type of album and cover you want, and I’ll do the rest. Once your album is up in your proofing gallery you will have a chance to make changes so that your album is exactly what you are looking for. All of our communication is done through a proofing system that is designed for this specific purpose, which makes the whole process run smoothly and efficiently.

Stop into the studio to see the album samples for yourself! You’ll love them!


ENGAGEMENTS

considering an engagement session?

Engagements are so engaging. Romance is in the air and the anticipation of a lifetime together comes to a crescendo in the rush during the weeks leading up to your wedding, causing you to wonder: Is an engagement shoot necessary? After all, your wedding pictures share the beginning of your life, right?

Shooting an engagement is a great idea for several reasons. First, this time allows you to get comfortable in front of the camera with your photographer, figuring out how you work best together before the wedding. Next, you can showcase your personalities in a more casual

setting, while creating some fun captures for wall portraits, your wedding sign-in book, sign-in board and Thank You cards (shot early enough, we can also provide the images for your Save the Date cards and invitations). Images also add another dimension to your wedding album, chronicling the story from engagement to your wedding day.

Best of all, you can remember this special time forever away from the throngs of loved ones and friends. This is your time together.

At the place he proposed: After all, what better way to capture an engagement than the place it all started!

At your favorite restaurant: Meaningful memories happen with food, ambiance and your special song playing in the background.

Doing your favorite activity: You both enjoy playing checkers. What better way to capture your personality than in the heat of game play, the agony of defeat, or the comedy of contemplating your next move?

Where you first met each other: Whether your first meeting was a discussion at the library or fumbling for the door at the local coffee shop, going back to your beginnings is a marvelous memory.

Images with your pet: What better way to capture your new family than by including a beloved shared pet in your session?

Your favorite skyline: Des Moines is beautiful at any time of the year, and the skyline shares where you live now, a beautiful location that might change with time.

A downtown urban session: Fun and funky, pictures in alleyways or in otherwise undiscovered locations of your area make for a more intimate view of the city.

An amusement park: Nothing says fun like the Tilt-A-Whirl to go with your whirlwind romance.

A romantic beach: In the morning, evening or any time of day, the sea meets an endless sky for a feeling of forever.

Vintage-styled, with old furniture and funky clothes: Bring out your nostalgic or avant garde side with some dramatic, edgy modern shots coupled with retro stylings.

At your favorite, cute coffee shop: Quirky and cozy, local mom and pop shops are a great way to take a quick break to refuel and to catch some local, architectural shots with you in the process.

Seasonal: Catch the nuances of the seasons, including everything from a winter wonderland, to leaves of fall, to flowers in spring, to the lush, green summers in nearby beautiful fields and forests.

Great engagement shoot ideas:

432.5 E Locust, Des Moines, IA 50309 | 515.344.0377 | www.LifeArtPhotographs.com

Documents

2012 Life Art Photographs Studio Magazine