Archive for the ‘Photographer’ Category

Featured Vendor Profile: Cake and Kisses Photography

Posted on July 1st, 2009 by Lara. No Comments

Lara
Bio: Chief Technology Officer of So You're EnGAYged

I got to know a lot about the fabulous Holly Steen of Cakes and Kisses Photography through this interview. For example, Cake Wrecks and Wedding Chicks are her blog addictions, her guilty pleasures are watching America’s Next Top Model while eating Nutella out of the jar, and her weakness is dancing. Enjoy the interview!

Tell us a little bit about your business.

Holly SteenThe vision for Cakes and Kisses Wedding photography is to provide a photographic service for contemporary couples. As a photographer, I want to showcase romance, love and the union of two families. By using innovative techniques, products and constantly evolving, Cakes and Kisses seeks to bring an awareness of art and fashion and break the traditional walls of wedding photography.

What do you love about what you do?

I love “moments”. Each time he steals a kiss, or they look at each other down a isle, it is all magic. I am in love with romance, love and the optimistic thought that there is such a thing as a Happy Ending at the end of a fairy tale. Basically, I love being a hopeless romantic who happens to be a wedding photographer.

How did you get into doing what you do?

I got into photography basically by shooting a friends wedding. I went to a photographers showroom with the images, and told him I wasn’t going to leave until he hired me as a photographer. It worked and he hired me to carry his bags, and get him coffee, but the tireless hours sometimes ended with me with a camera in my hands and showing I had more to offer. I started shooting more, and then branched into having my own company Cakes and Kisses Wedding Photography.

What do you wear when you’re doing what you do?

I like to be sleek and nimble like a panther. I dress all in black and try to be a “fly on the wall”. I also take into account if it is a beach wedding, or in a chic country club, and dress appropriately for the venue.

What’s special about being a photographer?

With my photography, I am proud to be a part of the bigger picture. By providing images a couple can “ooh and ahh” over and remember the bliss on their wedding day is the biggest reward I can have. I have had couples call me after a wedding to do family portraits, baby announcements and vow renewals… It is all a huge honor to be a part of some one’s life.

How are you involved in the LGBTA community?

I am a huge advocate for gay, lesbians and bi bisexuals in the community. I provide a service of love and happy to capture the moments of the special day. I am looking forward to the day when all couples in love have equal opportunity to express and declare their love publicly as married.

Do you have a favorite “moment” that happens while you’re doing your job?

Every wedding has special and emotional moments. I am touched by the father daughter dance, or the first kiss… Those are the highlights for me, when really I am just a documentary that was lucky enough to photograph such a beautiful day.

Rave and picture time!

“Michelle and I loved the photos. We didn’t even notice that you took so many. We have dubbed you, ‘Holly, the ninja photographer!’ You really are so terrific.” – Groom

“The pictures are lovely! Thank you for the time and care you put into our photography. I know you went the extra mile for us and we really appreciate it. We’ll definitely recommend you to our friends, should there be wedding bells in the air soon.” – Bride

“Holly, thank you so much for being our photographer, and more importantly for being a part of our wedding. It meant so much to have you there! We couldn’t of asked for more beautiful photos!” – Bride

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Featured Vendor Profile: Turn Loose The Art

Posted on June 17th, 2009 by Lara. 1 Comment

Lara
Bio: Chief Technology Officer of So You're EnGAYged

Joe Rumore from Turn Loose The Art makes it clear that he and partner Britney want to make sure their wedding photography couples have fun. “Having a good time during portraits make the experience a positive one, and it shows in your photos.”

Tell us about your business!

Our boutique photography studio specializes in fashionable wedding photography and creative portraits with flare. We are enigmatic shooters always on the hunt for good light. There is art in your wedding!

What do you love about what you do?

We spend the day creating images… telling the story of your day. That’s what we love the most about what we do. We love capturing these moments in time; since your wedding is quite simply, kaleidoscope of distinctive moments.

How did you get into doing what you do?

We have both always loved photography, so photographing people at happy times was a natural progression.

What do you wear when you’re doing what you do?

Since we strive to be the “unseen observer” while capturing moments of your day, we wear clothing that is appropriate for the type of event we are working. Whether it is a formal affair or a casual, laid-back one, we attempt to blend in with your guests, while maintaining a professional look.

If you have worked at a gay wedding, what is one thing you had to change your assumptions about?

We have shot gay couples before, and we are looking forward to shooting gay weddings soon. We are about people. We LOVE couples who love each other. Nothing makes us happier when we experience a couple whose friendship, love and emotions for each other are so genuine… and it shows in their images. We want our couples to have fun while being photographed. When everyone is happy and focused on each other, we can capture stunning images that is the art in their life!

Do you have a favorite “moment” that happens while you’re doing your job?

Every laugh, tear, and smile we capture is part of what makes our job so special. It is that moment, every time that we know we “got the shot.” Oh, what a great feeling that is!

Rave and picture time!

“What a fabulous experience being able to see Britney + Joe in action, you can really tell by the way they work how much passion and love they have for photography and their clients.”

“I don’t think I can really express in words how much we love Britney and Turn Loose The Art! We looked at tons and tons of photographers because artistic photos were very important to us. We knew as soon as we saw Britney’s work that she was the perfect photographer for us…. and she has far exceeded our expectations on everything she has done. We did an engagement session and she made up Christmas/Save the Date cards for us that we are still hearing how much people loved! The wedding photos are breathtaking…the first time I watched her slideshow of them I seriously teared up. Everyone who sees our photographs comments on how amazing they are. :) We could not have found a more wonderful person to document our wedding day and we are so grateful!”

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Vendor Profile: A Britton Photography

Posted on May 20th, 2009 by Lara. 2 Comments

Lara
Bio: Chief Technology Officer of So You're EnGAYged

When I first met Allison Britton, I was blown away by both her personality and her pictures. Allison strives to provide fun, contemporary, emotional images for her couples by providing an unobtrusive photography experience that will not only make them feel relaxed and comfortable on their wedding day but will also allow them to forget about their photographer and enjoy the beauty of spending such a fantastic day with friends and family.

Tell us about your business’ mission or vision statement.

A Britton Photography provides fun, contemporary, and emotional images to clients who seek a photographer who will not only take the time to get to know them as a couple but will also strive to meet and exceed their expectations throughout the planning process.

What do you love about what you do?

A wedding is one of the rare times in life when you get to witness such raw emotion and I am one of the lucky few who gets a backstage pass to see it all. I get the opportunity to capture some of the most intimate moments shared between a couple that would otherwise go unseen. I am so grateful to have such an important role in one of life’s most joyous events.

How did you get into doing what you do?

I always had a camera and loved taking pictures but it wasn’t until I had children and started documenting their lives that I realized just how much I enjoyed capturing all of life’s special moments. The first time I was asked to shoot a wedding I turned it down because I didn’t think that it was something I wanted to get in to. Instead, I decided to go along with another photographer just to get a feel for what it would be like and it didn’t take long for me to change my mind. I instantly fell in love with every aspect of the event.

What do you wear when you’re doing what you do?

I typically wear black when I work. I feel that it’s important to be unobtrusive and blend in so that the couple can forget about their photographer and I can capture images that are truly genuine.

If you have photographed a gay wedding, what is one thing you had to change your assumptions about?

I have only shot one gay wedding but one of the things that stood out to me was the enormous amount of support and love that existed between the couple and their family and friends. There was an amazing sense of unity and it was easy to see how genuine the friendship and love was among such a wonderful group of people.

Do you have a favorite “moment” that happens while you’re doing your job?

There are several moments that occur throughout the course of a wedding that I love but my favorite moments are those when the couple is together and they think that no one is watching. These are the moments when you really get to see the deep love and passion that exists between two people and I love being able to capture that.

Rave and picture time!

“I cannot possibly say enough good things about Allison and the talented folks she works with. Photography was our #1 priority, and we chose our photographer very carefully. We could not have made a better choice than Allison, even if we’d spent several thousand dollars more (I looked in a huge price range– Allison’s work was simply the best). Her work is amazing, and, unlike others I have seen, she creates literally hundreds of fantastic photos, not just a few good ones and many mediocre ones. We love (LOVE LOVE) our photos so much, we are having trouble deciding which ones to put in the album!” – S and TWB

“Allison and her team are amazing. They capture candid moments in the most beautiful way. She very creative and keeps the energy up with the whole group. Her easy going personality and work style brings out the best in everyone which makes for great pictures.” – Dawn

“Allison is awesome! Everyone that has seen the job she did for my husband and I constantly raves about how amazing the picture are. I feel very lucky to have found her and will cherish my pictures forever. By far the best photographer!!!” – Amanda

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Vendor Profile: Our Labor Of Love

Posted on April 29th, 2009 by Lara. No Comments

Lara
Bio: Chief Technology Officer of So You're EnGAYged

I’ve been a HUGE fan/follower of Our Labor Of Love for an embarrassingly long time. They “aren’t into being conventional” – most of their clients think outside the box whether it be location, vows, dress, food, music, ceremony… and you can tell that Jesse and Whitney Chamberlin love that. Enjoy their profile!

Whitney and Jesse Chamberlin of Our Labor Of LoveTell us a little bit about your business!

We think you, your family celebrations, your friends and your true loves are beautiful, and any images that represent these milestones should illustrate the pure joy in these moments. In fact, the wife part of this husband-and-wife team will no doubt disarm you with her gentleness and charm while the husband part loosens you up with his cynical witticisms so that before you know it, you’ve got a miasma of artful photographs so achingly beautiful it will make your heart break like an egg. In fact, that is our hope here at Our Labor of Love Photography Studio, to break open everyone’s heart because a closed heart is not photogenic.

What do you love about what you do?

Everyday is different. I mean really…how cool is it that we get to document people professing their love to each other? We thoroughly love working with other creatives such as stylists, djs, designers, florists, etc. which is why we are so excited about theflashdance, a new collective based out of California that we are a part of.

What do you wear when you’re doing what you do?

We wear clothes that won’t draw attention to us just in case my husband is lingering in the background and ends up the shot. Professional, stylish, dry cleaned.

If you have worked at a gay wedding, what is one thing you had to change your assumptions about?

I would change my assumptions on the law. We assumed that equal rights should be afforded to everyone and not put up to a popular vote! All these years since the most basic gay rights were such a gigantic controversy and the evangelicals and groups like the Mormon church are still spending insane amounts of money to scare people! That doesn’t seem too neighborly to us.

We photographed a brilliant Lesbian wedding in LA a week after the California Supreme court Ruled that the existing ban on same sex-marriage was unconstitutional. Only a couple months later Prop 8 was passed in California. We were really bummed, but It didn’t change the love that those two people feel for each other, or the moving beauty of their ceremony. Our dream is that we will see Prop 8 overturned by the CA Supreme Court which will start a snowball effect nationwide. One day we hope to shoot a constitutionally recognized gay marriage in Georgia and every other state in the USofA! Wouldn’t that be rad?

Do you have a favorite “moment” that happens while you’re doing your job?

My favorite moments are when the ceremony is heartfelt and I get teary eyed behind the camera.

Rave and picture time!

“There’s only one thing I can say about Whitney and Jesse – we LOVE them! They are fabulous to work with, creative, fun and amazing photographers. Their work is absolutely amazing … and they were a pleasure every step of the way. Even our parents (who were hesitant about their “artsy” style) loved the result; a testament to their awesomeness!”

“Jesse and Whitney did a beautiful job photographing our wedding. They are creative and have such a unique eye, taking photos that are perfectly reflective of the day and stunning to look at! They are so fun to work with and put everyone at ease, resulting in great shots of the wedding party, friends, and family. We will always treasure our engagement and wedding photos from Our Labor of Love – they did an awesome job capturing the moments we can now look back on forever!”

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