daily photogram

When Claude Chappe invented the visual, non-electric telegraph in 1794, I wonder if he ever even dreamed of where we'd one day be on the front of viewable messages. 

Now, thanks to the creators of Instagram, we have an online photo-sharing service at our fingertips. And as of yesterday, only two and a half years after its inception, Instagram announced 100 million active users!

I love a nice handwritten postcard and a well-thought-out blog post, but it's really quite exciting to have a way to send an instant photogram--a simple square look at life. I'm a believer in the theory that the best camera is the one you have with you. Many times, this is the camera in my phone. It keeps me looking, thinking and creating daily. And sometimes it just works as a visual journal as well.

If you'd like to follow along on this journey and process, visit my Instagram page. I'd love to get to know ya!

xoxo-E

tuesday tip: unplug

I recently attended a symphonic concert to listen to and support my talented husband and found myself very much distracted by the number of lit LCD screens I saw and and autofocus beeping sounds I heard. Sitting in the back of a dark theatre, it was all I could do not to notice the person on row two videoing each piece with an iPad held up high. And I wondered. Was he actually there in that moment; experiencing the music being created? 

This idea of being purposefully present in the world of weddings was first brought to my attention via a blog post by Offbeat Bride a few years ago. As we've become a people constantly connected and "plugged in" to our devices, we view much of our lives through screens. I love my smartphone as much as the next person for always being able to have information, directions and a camera at my fingertips, but sometimes it's good just to be present. 

The moments of a wedding ceremony are sweet yet fleeting. As a guest, it's an honor to witness and participate in this time for the couple. As a bride and groom, hiring a photographer you love and trust to capture these moments can allow your guests to feel free to join you. laugh with you. cry with you.

Maybe this is just an idea to spread around or an etiquette of the electronic age for a new Emily Post to write, but if it's something you want to bring to the attention of your guests, there are a few ways to do this as well. Using the wording from the templates HERE, you can create a document to frame and display by your programs or guestbook. Or you could have your officiant make a simple request at the beginning of the ceremony. 

 An unplugged wedding isn't for everyone, but it's definitely an idea to think about for daily life. I've recently been trying not to let my entire day get "hijacked" by devices. Whether stealing small moments in the morning to read or physically leaving town to go sit by the lake for an afternoon, it has been a great breath of fresh air and a huge blessing in my life.

And for those times and places like theatres during beautiful concerts where you just can't resist snapping or filming away,  please be kind to others in attendance and at least go through the menu section of your camera and silence the beeping.


From our world to yours,

-E

sarah sorrentino headshots

Spending an afternoon capturing headshots for Sarah Sorrentino of Foglio Press is more like hanging out with one of your best friends than working with a client. She's got a beautiful eye for design, a secret love for baking and an awesome personality to top it off. 

With a passion for paper and design, Sarah works with brides to make sure each facet of their big day is covered. She even offers a type of info introduction via her Invitations 101 brochure on wedding stationery with helpful info such as when to send out save the dates. Sounds like we may need to get some expert advice from her for an upcoming Tuesday Tip!

Thanks for a great session, Sarah!
(...and the baked goods!)


xoxo-E

sarah sorrentino headshots preview.

Yes, you'll love her. 

When Sarah Sorrentino of Foglio Press contacted me about taking some new headshots, I was more than thrilled. Not only is her work top notch, but she is too much fun to spend time with! Plus, I'm pretty humbled and honored when a fellow artist entrusts me with this task. With her wild hair, beautiful eyes and infectious laugh (that sometimes even turns into a little snort), this is just a small preview of the many great shots we recently captured out and about around town.

Have a happy day, friends!


xoxo-E

tuesday tip: pack flats

There's no doubt about it. Shoes can make or break an outfit. And the right shoe has become somewhat of a statement piece in weddings these days.

Although as gorgeous as your Manolo Blahniks are, they just might not make it through a 12-hour day. Shoes like this are something special. Say "I do" in them and then say, "hello flats!"

One of recent beautiful brides is also pretty bright. She had gorgeous "something blue" heels for her wedding ceremony, but when the reception moved to a lakeside barn, she smartly moved into her Toms flats. As we walked around by the lake taking beautiful sunset photos, she moved around with ease and her shoes were tucked safely under her dress for most of the photos.

Even if you're planning to stick it out and show off the stilettos you've saved dearly for, it's still a great idea to have a pair of flats packed for your maid of honor to bring along...just in case that ideal portrait location pops up and you find your heels sinking deep into the earth.

Because you never know when you'll wish you had packed flats for your big day!


As we've enjoyed creating this weekly feature, you can find more wedding tips from us and our brides HERE:)


From our world to yours,

-E

wedding day hooray

Thanks to the Indie Craft Experience for once again pulling together a great Wedding Day Hooray!

After much printing, stamping and baking (yes, we had our famous shortbread camera cookies!), we were ready for our third year at this event and a great day of meeting beautiful brides. And I had such a fun time designing a booth representing our new branding! The only table we decided to use was a coffee table--because we just wanted people to come in, sit down and chat with us. It was like having a few hundred of our closest friends over for dessert and drinks. Perfect.

We enjoyed meeting so many new brides and vendors. I'm convinced this event brings out the very best people in Atlanta. 

As I chatted away, Bryan went on a scavenger hunt of amazing wedding details to photograph (not hard to do here...plus he's on board for anything that sounds more like a game.) So here's a little round-up of some (though definitely not all) of the awesome things going on at this year's show. Whether or not you got a chance to attend the event, enjoy this visual walk-through and do check out the vendor list for your big day!

We were thrilled to have Melissa Bloomfield of Pretty Swell Parties as our booth neighbor this year! So thrilled, in fact, that we joined up with her to offer attendees an amazing giveaway including an engagement session from us and $300 towards wedding day coordination from her. If you signed up for this awesome two-part giveaway, we'll be announcing the winner tomorrow! {pins and needles till then}

Flowers by Yona

A big shout out goes to the amazing Krista Janos of Blue Eyed Yonder as the vintage mod green couch and  coffee table we rented from her made our booth just the cozy space I was hoping for! Brides and their posses enjoyed the chance to have a seat and glance through samples of our wedding albums. It was like we were inviting them into our living room to chat:)

(Plus, as the day lingered on, and our 5 a.m. wake-up call became realized, it didn't hurt to have a full-length couch in our booth. Not our first rodeo, people.)

The Cordial Churchman

Miss Pickles Press

Lindsay Coletta Designs

Good Food Truck 

{Their parmesan cone filled with lentils, rice and goodness hit the spot for lunch!}

 Dear So and So

Alyria Designs

French Knot Studios 


On to the table decor competition! This is such a fun part of the Wedding Day Hooray event because you get to watch creativity explode onto a scape of empty, white tables. Check out some shots of unique ideas and details from this year:

And the winner is...the beautiful table designed by Roundabout!

Beyond my love for the typography banner, my favorite detail on this table is the handmade belt table runner. Such a clever touch! And lucky for us, there's already a tutorial up on the Roundabout blog!

Roundabout 

Katy Bee's Events by Design 

Liddabits Design Shop 

The Little Canopy 

Sugar n' Spice Aprons 

The Small Object 

Fallen Arrows 

Elemental Child

Whew! What a day! At the end of the event, we met the great folks of Cathead Vodka and I sat down on that cushy green couch and enjoyed the most refreshing beverage: honeysuckle lemonade. I have no photo to show because sometimes you just have to sit and enjoy the moment, but I do have the recipe (which might be better in this case):


Cathead Honeysuckle Lemonade

Serving Size for 16, 5 ounce pours

INGREDIENTS

4 cups of CATHEAD HONEYSUCKLE FLAVORED VODKA

1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (5 to 6 lemons)

1 cup basil simple syrup

4 cups water

Serve:

In an 8oz mason jar filled with cracked ice & garnish with a mint sprig and lemon wheel.

*Basil Water:
Just like you would steep tea, take 10 basil leaves and muddle in 1 cup of water.

Muddle until water reaches a simmer.

Then strain water from the basil.

*Basil Simple Syrup Instructions:
Mix 1 cup granulated sugar to equal parts basil water

Cheers to our friends, old and new! 

xoxo-E