How to Connect with Other Creatives

Where to get started

When you're a creative and a small business owner, or looking to move into one or more of those categories, it can feel a little isolating. Doubly so if you're in a season of your entrepreneurial journey where you're struggling or unsure of the next stage in your business. 

Reaching out to other creative entrepreneurs can help you to feel less alone, and like there are folks out there who understand the unique struggles you're going through, and who can celebrate successes with you! 

Here are a few ideas on how to get started: 

The Rising Tide Society

The Rising Tide Society provides affordable small business education opportunities, support for small business owners, and a sense of community the size of an ocean! The mantra of The Rising Tide Society is #CommunityOverCompetition based on the idea that a rising tide lifts all boats. If that weren't enough, their organization facilitates hundreds of Tuesdays Together meetings across the country, which is a chance for you to meet up with local entrepreneurs, talk shop, network, and most importantly, be around other folks who really get what you're going through. Check out both The Rising Tide Society and your local Tuesdays Together meeting, and start connecting with a supportive community of creatives! 

Workshops and Retreats

Having only been to one, I certainly can't speak to all workshops and retreats out there (and I'm willing to bet they're not all as amazing as the one I went to), but I can say that the experience was such an amazing way for me to connect with a group of like-minded badass ladies, and I think making a commitment to dedicating time to your craft, and to connection, can do wonders for your business (and mental) outlook! 

Co-Working Spaces and DIY Clubs

While this might be harder to come by in rural areas, most mid to large sized cities have co-working spaces where you can rent a desk or office space, even as a solo entrepreneur or at-home worker, and get some valuable human interaction time with similarly situated individuals! Or there are also places that are geared towards the maker-scene. In Madison, we've got Sector 67 and the Bodgery as two amazing places for makers looking to connect, and have access to awesome tools and work spaces! 

Online Communities 

Online communities are an amazingly effective and easy way to seek connection with other creative folks, but become crucial for those in more rural areas, or for those that are just dipping their toe in, and aren't quite sure about in-person meet ups. Though to that I say "Come on in! The water is fine!" Still, online communities, including Facebook groups, etc., allow you to connect easily, and on the go, in whatever way you feel most comfortable, with as little or as much commitment as you are able to do, which is nice for those that might make a habit of telling themselves they don't have the time. 

In summary, connecting with other humans is important. And if you're a creative person, and/or a small business owner, it's going to be doubly important for you to connect with folks who really get what you're going through, and the unique challenges that come along with owning a small business or working in a creative field. Do yourself a favor and get out there, even if it's a little out of your comfort zone. I promise it will help you feel more connected not only to a community, but to yourself and your craft. And that's worth leaving the house for! 

7 Wedding Day Traditions You Can Skip

Do what makes sense for the two of you

When it comes to your wedding day, traditions are all fine and well, but it's important to remember that it is your day, and you want to make it a true representation of your personalities. Sometimes, that means skipping more traditional aspects of a wedding day in favor of something that feels more authentic for you and your partner. And that's okay! 

You hereby have our permission (not that you needed it) to skip any wedding traditions that don't feel good for you, but here is a short list of traditions you may not have thought of as optional! 

Tradition #1: The First Look At the Ceremony

Okay, if you've followed the blog (or Instagram, or Facebook, or basically ever talked with us about weddings), you'll know that we're HUGE fans of doing the first look ahead of the ceremony for sooooooo many reasons. Check out a more in depth blog post on this topic here. In short though, this tradition is one you can totally feel safe skipping. Why spend half the day avoiding the person you're about to spend the rest of your life with? Why not see each other early and have a nice, intimate moment to bask in each other before the hectic nature of the wedding day takes over, and then knock your formal photos out before the ceremony even starts, so you can enjoy cocktail hour with your guests? 

Tradition #2: the WEdding Party

Wedding parties, (a.k.a. your bridesmaids, groomsmen, bridesmen, groomsmaids, or non-binary wedding party pals) are awesome for so many things, including supporting you through wedding planning stress, help with random errands, and generally keeping you sane in the months leading up to the wedding. Here's the thing, I promise, your friends will still help you with wedding stuff, even if you don't have an official wedding party. And here are some great reasons to skip the wedding party concept altogether! 

• No paying for occasion-specific dresses and rentals that will only be worn once (your friends will thank you!) 
• Instantly lower your wedding florals budget by cutting down on the number of people who will need flowers! 
• Less people to plan for equals less wedding plan stress for you overall (you can also then skip things like wedding party transportation logistics!) 

Feel free to skip this one, safe in the knowledge that your friends will love and support you with or without the title. 

Tradition #3: the Receiving Line 

This is probably the easiest tradition (in my personal opinion) to skip! From a purely photographic standpoint, there isn't a lot of visual variety to folks standing in a line getting hugged after the first few pictures, and let's face it, even for something as awesome as congratulating a couple who just got married, people hate standing in line! Here are a few alternatives to the traditional receiving line that will make for better pictures, and less line-waiting for your guests! 

• The couple can dismiss people from their seats, allowing people congrats and hug time then! 
• The couple can skip a receiving line and have meaningful interactions with their guests during the cocktail hour! 

There are lots of fun options that get you up, moving about, and having awesome conversations with your family and friends! 

Tradition #4: the Wedding Favors 

Yes, I know these are thought of as absolutely 100% mandatory, but you know, other than the getting married part, nothing about a wedding is mandatory. Some people love the idea of giving favors to their guests, and if that's you, then awesome! But if it's not you, remember that your friends and family came to celebrate with you, not for the chocolates, or cards, or whatever other little trinket you could give them. So do yourself a favor (see what I did there?) and skip this tradition if it doesn't speak to you, especially if you're on a budget. If you like the idea of doing something for your guests, but don't like the favor tradition, you can go outside the box and make a charitable donation in honor of each of your guests instead! 

Tradition #5: the Dinner 

Cake and punch receptions are gaining popularity again for a reason. Dinners are super expensive, and as lovely as they are, if you're on a budget, or wanting a more casual wedding day, don't be afraid to opt for the cake and punch or an hors d'oeuvres only reception. Just make sure to let people know what to expect ahead of time. 

Tradition #6: the Wedding Cake

When we think of weddings, we pretty instinctively think of wedding cakes as being quintessential, but take it from me, a person who doesn't like cake all that much, there are so many other options! There are pies, cookies, brownies, ice cream, and other pastries to choose from. So if you're not a cake person either (hi-five!) you're not alone, and you don't need to suffer through cake at your wedding. Pick your favorite dessert, and have at it! 

Tradition #7: the First Dances

You don't have to do anything you want on your wedding day, and if you're not a big fan of public dancing, don't feel pressured to have first dances, or any dances at all! First dances are a great opportunity for pictures, but then again, so are wedding trivia games, lip-synch competitions, and lawn games! So if dancing isn't your thing, it's cool! Figure out what your thing is, and celebrate with your sweetheart and your guests the way that makes you feel comfortable. 

If you take anything away from this post, let it be that it's your party and you can do, or not do, what you want. Make your wedding as unique as the two of you, and you won't be able to help having an amazing and memorable day, that you can take joy in for the rest of your lives! 

--Sam 

Five Tips for the Perfect Wedding Day Schedule

Wedding Day SCHEDULING 101! 

If you're planning a wedding, creating a wedding day schedule that works well and takes into account all the moving pieces of a wedding day is one of the most important things that you can do to help your day go smoothly. Here are five tips to help you craft the perfect wedding day schedule! 

Tip 1

If you plan on taking any outdoor photos (pretty please take outdoor photos!) then the first thing you want to look at and plan around is sunset. The absolute best time for photos is the hour to hour and a half before sunset. It isn't known as the Magic Hour for nothing! Once you know what time sunset is (and make sure to take Daylight Savings Time into consideration), you know when your most important photo window is and can plan accordingly! The Magic Hour is the best time for formal photos and more intimate couples photos. 

Tip 2

Let your vendors help you! Even if you don't have a wedding planner, I can guarantee that your wedding vendors (photographer, venue, DJ, caterer, etc.) will all have some great advice on how to make the most out of your time. After all, the reason you hired them is that they are experts on weddings, so why not tap into those resources to get advice on your timeline? Your photographer is going to be your go-to person for planning the timeline up through cocktail hour, while your DJ (and your caterer/venue) is going to be your best resource for planning the events and timeline of your reception. 

Tip 3

Do you plan to do a first look? We're BIG fans of first look photos (click here for a more in depth discussion of why we love first look photos!) If you are planning on doing a first look, this frees up your timeline, and allows you more flexibility with your schedule to do things like knock out formal photos before the ceremony so you can enjoy your cocktail hour afterward. Also, you won't have to spend half the day avoiding the person you're about to spend the rest of your life with! 

Tip 4

Consider skipping the traditional receiving line so that you can spend more time mingling with guests in a meaningful way either at the cocktail hour or the reception! Your photos will have more visual variety, and you won't spend a half an hour to an hour standing in one place shaking hands! 

Tip 5

While every photographer is different, we ask our couples to plan for at least 30 minutes for photos of just the two of them, 30 minutes for wedding party shots, and 20 minutes for family shots. (Most couples only include parents, grandparents, and siblings so this is totally feasible within that timeframe!) Mileage will vary depending on each couple's circumstances, wedding party size, and a whole host of other factors. This is where (per tip #2) vendors can really come in handy to make suggestions that are relevant to your unique situation! 

We hope these tips help you as you start looking at your wedding day schedule, and happy planning! 

-- Sam 

Equipment Review: Canon 24-70 mm 2.8 Lens

Equipment Introductions with Rob

Today I'm introducing the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L.  We call it a Walk Around Lens; Walk Around Lenses being our favorite lenses for multiple conditions.  At a little over two pounds, the 24-70 is not our lightest lens, but its versatility makes it worth the haul for weddings.  It syncs well with our Speedlite 600EX-RT flashes (look for a future review), but as a f/2.8 it does well in lower light situations as well, and also has some macro capabilities when at full zoom.

Great For The Following:  

• Wedding Photography
• Portraits
• Family Formals or Large Group Photography
• Macro Photography (if you can't yet invest in a Macro lens) 

Would Not Recommend For:

• Street Photography (too bulky) 
• Sharp Wide Angle Shots
• Super Low Light 

Outside of the convenience and quality afforded by this zoom lens, it's worth noting that the focus is sharpest when zoomed all the way in.

I took this picture of a dried flower on my Field Notes, zoomed all the way out to 24mm:

However, as shown in the picture below, the sharpness does not lend itself to cropping during editing:

Keeping all other things the same, I zoomed to 70mm:

The refinement gained really pays off in editing:

There's no definition to those hairs at 28mm.  Are tiny hairs on a dried flower often important during a wedding?  No, not really, but you can only edit what you record.  If the subject of photograph is the details, you are better off if you keep in mind to shoot at 70mm with this lens.  Rarely when moving within crowds am I looking for that level of detail; the ability to pull back to 28mm allows me to capture more of the spirit of things without being obtrusive.  The ability to slide back and forth between these strengths is what makes this such a fantastic lens for weddings.

Stay tuned for more equipment reviews from me in the coming weeks, and check out the album below, all taken with the 24-70. 

--Rob 

9 Things I'm Afraid Of

Admitting it is the first step... 

It's easy as a small business owner, a creative, a mom, and a woman to pretend like I have it all together. Some days I might even actually have it all together (or most of it). But other days... Other days it's all I can do to get dressed and not yell at anyone. Some days it's hard not to let my fears win. So, I'm stepping out on a limb here and guessing that many of you have felt the same way from time to time. Afraid, overwhelmed, frustrated. And I want you to know that you're not alone. I'll kick us off with 9 things I personally am really afraid of. 

1. Missing out on my son's childhood 

As any working parent knows, mom (or dad) guilt can creep in at any time, and the hours you spend working, or even desperately trying to catch up on some sleep, can make you feel guilty when you see how quickly your children are growing up. Let alone carving out personal self-care time (ha!). The advice I've been trying to give myself, and that I'll give you here, is to take a deep breath. Recognize that you're doing the best you can. Make little efforts to be more present with your children when you are spending time with them, and that's what they'll remember. At least that's what I'm going to keep telling myself anyway. 

2. Never being good enough

Admittedly, I have classic over-achiever syndrome, which has led me to some really significant accomplishments but also some really neurotic thinking about what "good enough" really means. (Hint: It doesn't mean perfect, even though sometimes that's how it feels.) I have a tendency to never view anything I do as good enough, and that leads me into my next fear...

3. Being Unlovable

There, I said it. Unlovable. That's probably one of my biggest fears right there, maybe at the root of all my other ones to be honest. This fear presents itself in the worry that if I'm not perfect (and of course, no one is), that I won't be lovable. That's it's not who I am that matters, but what I do. This type of thinking is a slippery slope, because if to be loved, one has to be perfect, then  that means there's no hope of being loved. Now, I know that isn't really true, and that feelings aren't facts, but that's a mighty big feeling to just ignore, and it's something I work on constantly. 

4. That I won't be taken seriously as a creative business owner because I still have a full-time job 

This is a tough one. I love my job! I work for an employee-owned benefits administration company that has a strong female leadership team, and a great atmosphere. I have 14 people that work directly for me, and I really appreciate them, and love the opportunity to help them develop professionally! But there's a big stigma for small business owners that you haven't "made it" until you've quit your day job to do your creative pursuits full-time. And honestly, I have bought into that lie in the past, and still do sometimes. But, what that stigma doesn't take into account is the unique circumstances we all find ourselves in. A person might love their creative career as an outlet, but need a more steady income than it can provide on it's own. Why shouldn't they do both? Another creative business owner might have a strong passion for both their day job and their creative work, and if that's the case, why should they have to limit themselves? I used to hide the fact that I had a full-time job and I'm super done with that. I'm going to try to normalize and de-stigmatize creatives who do more than one thing, because if anyone can pull that off, it's small business owners who know how to get creative with their time! 

5. That I won't be able to stop obsessing about my weight 

I have struggled with weight for as long as I can remember, and while I exercise more regularly, and eat more healthily, than I ever have in my life, I'm at one of my highest adult weights right now. I don't hold these types of unrealistic standards for other people, but going back to that 'never good enough' fear, I feel like not being able to lose weight is an outward expression of me failing at... something? Not exercising hard enough or often enough (even though I'm very consistent). Not restricting myself enough (I live in Wisconsin for goodness sake! Do you know how much cheese there is here?!) And while I have struggled with this, and will likely continue to struggle with it, I've been really trying to remind myself that a life well-lived is worth more than a number on the scale. I exercise, I eat healthily most of the time, and I can still enjoy a brownie or a beer and the world isn't going to end. And the world isn't going to end if I can't fit into those jeans again. And on the flip side, my life isn't going to suddenly start just because I lose weight. My life is now, and I'll enjoy it whatever size I am, and hope that my friends and family love me unconditionally enough to support that stance. 

6. Failure

I get it. Most of us are afraid of failure. I mean, it's FAILURE, of course it's scary. I'm afraid that maybe I'm not actually good at anything or maybe I'm not cut out to be a small business owner or a manager or <insert whatever thing I'm currently worried about> and the list goes on and on and on. I don't really have any words of wisdom other than failing doesn't make you a bad person. It doesn't make you unworthy. And if I do fail (as I sometimes will), it's the fact that I can learn from that and move forward that is important, not avoiding failure in the first place, which, as we all well know, isn't always possible. 

7. Success

Yeah, I know. Seems weird to be afraid of success when you're really worried about failure, but hear me out. What if I'm successful and then more people are counting on me and then I mess up?! What if I'm successful and it turns out that all those times I failed before were because I wasn't trying hard enough or I wasn't perfect or because I ate that second (okay, third) cookie. What then? Well... Who cares. It's fine. I'll be as successful as I can be, and accept failure graciously when it happens (probably with some crying because that's how I roll), and then move on about my day. It's the only thing to do really. 

8. That I will witness or experience something completely wacky and that no one will believe me

Okay, this is a silly fear, admittedly, but seriously! Hasn't anyone else ever worried about this? It used to keep me up at night as a teenager worrying that something really weird would happen, I'd tell someone about it, and they'd have me locked up because they thought I was crazy. This is still an irrational fear that plagues me from time to time, and I just have to acknowledge it, and let it pass, and kind of chuckle at myself for being a little silly. 

9. That people will find out I'm a fraud 

Impostor Syndrome; The struggle is real. I feel like a kid who is playing dress-up like 90% of the time. I didn't feel like a real adult when I started my business or had my kid or bought my house or got a divorce or got a 'real' job or got remarried or any of those things. Which means I'm starting to think there isn't anything I'm going to be able to do to feel legit anytime soon. I constantly worry about people thinking I'm a fraud or that I don't belong <insert some place I totally do probably belong>.  So, since I'm not likely to stop feeling like a fraud or an outsider, the least I can do is be myself, even if I'm sometimes kind of immature, sometimes kind of an old lady (8 PM bedtime anyone?) and sometimes just a weird, goofy person. If I'm as authentic as possible, and people still don't like or respect me, at least they don't like and respect the real me, and I can live with that. 

So there, friends. Those are 9 of my biggest fears, some silly, some not, but all a big part of who I am. Be brave today and share one of your fears in the comments section. *solidarity* 

--Sam 

The Importance of Photo Editing

Hint: It's VERY important! 

My current profession, in some ways, is very similar to my old profession as a coffee-slinging Barista. In either of those careers, there is an artist who crafts her masterpiece with love and tailors it to suit the needs of the individual customer. 

I won't go into the complexities of how such a feat is accomplished with coffee, although I could, but I do want to dive into the creative processing that goes into infusing a digital image with enough heart to make people gasp and smile from ear to ear when they see it. 

So let's start at the beginning...

A person paying for photography services often thinks of their interaction with the photographer (emails, phone calls, pre-event consultations, the day of the wedding, the hour long portrait session, etc.) as the bulk of the photographer's working day, and that when they are paying a photographer, they are paying them just for the time they 'show up', but that couldn't be further from the truth. I can't speak for other photographers, but for Rob and I, we expect that for every one hour of photography there will be four to eight hours of editing and post-processing, and other miscellaneous business tasks associated with that event or session.  

So yes, technically I suppose we do get paid to show up. But just showing up, while monumentally important, isn't where the magic happens. Magic happens when you, as the photographer, establish a connection with your customer, and then in turn with any of their friends and family that you interact with. Magic happens when you use that collaborative connection with your customer to influence the way you edit and present your work to them. You take what you've learned about them, their preferences, their motivations, the things that make them excited, to help you present them with a better finished product. One that is uniquely theirs, and completed with their happiness and wonderment in mind. And doing that, being open to the individual needs and desires of each person you work with, is not always easy, but it is rewarding. It is joyful. It is magic! And that is what you're really getting for your investment. 

I've got plenty of other blog posts (both already on this blog and also in my brain) about what the actual wedding or portrait session is like, so I won't spend too much time on that, and I'll skip straight to post-processing, and why it's important to the overall finished product, and how it is an extension of our connection with each customer. 

As a photographer, there is a fine line between presenting things as they happened and presenting things as they felt. We edit pictures for the emotion. For how the moment felt when I was there, and how I imagine, using the superpower of empathy, the moment felt to those who were more actively participating in it. I'll show you an example of what I mean. 

Here is one example of the original, unedited picture of ours (you should feel super special right now because I never show unedited photos to anyone): 

Good picture, even if the shade we were in made it a bit dark. But the title picture for this post, the edited version of the above photo, is the way I remember that moment feeling.

Our goal isn't to be entirely accurate about the way things looked at the time I took the photo, our goal is to capture how things felt. To capture the essence of the moment, of the person, of the day, and distill it into something you will want to look at over and over and over again, because it reminds you of a feeling and because it brings that feeling back. 

The reason post-processing takes so much time, and is so valuable, is that with each photo, we're gauging what subtle adjustments would allow the emotion of the moment to shine through. Things like crop, white balance, brightness, contrast, and color versus black and white all determine how a finished photo feels when you look at it. Rob and I don't do any batch editing. None at all. Zip. We lovingly edit each individual photo that makes the cut, to perfectly capture all of the beautiful things that were happening at the time we took the original photo, both the tangible and the intangible. 

Nearly anyone these days can pick up a camera and snap some pictures. What is valuable and fulfilling about what we do is the artistry and effort that goes into taking those photos and creating something more than just a snapshot. Creating something you will cherish, something that will take you back to that perfect (or wonderfully imperfect) moment and fill you with all the love, hope, and joy of that moment all over again. 

That, right there, is priceless. 

--Sam

p.s. Enjoy a few before/after examples that show the power of editing! 

Love Letters

There are as many kinds of love letters as there are loves...

I've never been particularly good with words (sorry blog readers), but if I've learned anything at all in my 32 years, it's that there are a million ways to show someone you love them. Sure, sometimes it's not a physical letter, but that doesn't make it any less meaningful.

• Slipping a note into your Mom's lunch box before she leaves for her 3rd shift job
• Writing I love you in the ice on a car windshield in the middle of Winter (or Spring, if you're in WI)
• Doing dishes and cooking dinner for your husband or wife because they've had a terrible day
• Holding your infant son while he cries and rocking him back to sleep 
• Telling someone you adore them, because you haven't worked up the courage to use the 'L' word 
• Being there for a friend when they need it most 
• Grocery shopping for your Dad while he's recovering from surgery
• Spending days on your wedding vows so that they're perfect 

In my personal life, words aren't my strongest skill, and it seems the more I care about something (or someone) the harder a time I have articulating the things I'm trying to say. If you've ever received an email or text from me that seemed super well put together and you swear that the above sentence isn't true, let me assure you that you didn't see the 17 message drafts I made before the one I sent you! When I struggle to find the best, most perfect words, I wistfully think about how much easier I find it to express  myself with imagery. I actually don't photograph my son, Ben, or husband, Adam, all that often (well, I'm sure they think it's a lot), but when I do, I find myself just in awe of every detail. I'm fascinated by their them-ness. I LOVE photographing Ben and Adam, and while those photographs are a little different than what I provide to my clients (mostly because I give Ben and Adam absolutely no direction and they're both definitely over having their picture taken), I adore them just the same. When I edit family photos, it's like I'm able to commit every line, every freckle, every eyelash to memory, and there have been times it has brought me to tears of joy. 

So on this Valentine's day, I'll leave you with two things: 

First, tell your family and friends you love them. Tell them in a million little and big ways every day that you care about them, and that you're there for them, and what they mean to you. 

Second, I humbly present a little love letter to my family, taken during our annual Fall Family Fun trip to Schuster's Farm. I love these two dudes so much it's ridiculous. 

Happy Valentine's Day! 

--Sam 

What Comfort Zone?

I can't even see my comfort zone from here! 

Something I've really been working on over the past year has been stepping outside of my comfort zone and reaching out to other people more (you know, people that don't live in the same house as I do). I have a tendency to isolate, especially in winter, and as we've continued along our entrepreneurial journey, I've definitely recognized my own need to spend more time with other creatives, entrepreneurs, and like-minded folks, outside of my normal social circles. 

Everyone has their super-outside-of-my-comfort-zone-but-really-good-for-me thing, right? Mine is that I know I should reach out to other people more. I know it energizes me helps get my creative juices flowing again when I'm in a slump. I know that it helps me feel less alone, because being an entrepreneur can feel lonely sometimes, even when you still have a day job. And yet... 

Reasons why I put off making new creative friends

• Making new friends as an adult is hard
• It's easy to convince myself I'm too busy (been there, right?) 
• I feel guilty for taking time to socialize when I have so much stuff to do (see above)
• It's easier to never reach out than it is to risk the rejection of putting yourself out there
• It can sometimes be hard to remember the #CommunityOverCompetition mindset
• Creating and maintaining friendships, professional or otherwise, takes work 

Reasons why I should ignore the list above 

• Spending time with other creative or entrepreneurial people makes me feel creative and happier 
• The sense of community I get from spending time with other small business owners is AMAZING
• My husband and child are probably tired of me hanging around the house all the time 
• Never underestimate the healing power of a good, creative conversation over a cup of coffee (or a Margarita)

So what am I doing about it? 

• Whenever I think to myself "I bet that person is really fun to hang out with!" I actually ask them to hang out! 
• I've started attending the Rising Tide Society's Tuesdays Together meetings on a monthly basis to network with other entrepreneurs at all stages of business development
• I've joined several closed Facebook groups for photographers and other creative business owners to have a sense of community 
• I signed up for a photographers retreat in April that I am super excited about! There is going to be yoga and headshots and collaborative styled sessions and I can't wait! 

So now you know where my comfort zone is, and what I'm doing to get out of it every once in a while! What is your super-outside-of-my-comfort-zone-but-really-good-for-me thing, and what are you doing to challenge yourself? 

--Sam 

Fireball IX: The Nine Muses

The Fireball Masquerade is a Madison Original! 

I would try to describe this event, but honestly, the annual Fireball Masquerade that happens every January in Madison is, without a doubt, nigh impossible to describe. I'm going to highly encourage you to do yourself two favors: 

• Look at these photos, because they will do a much better job of describing this amazing event than I will! 
• Go to this event next year! You can check out all of the details on the event website: http://www.fireballmasquerade.com

Also, as you may be able to tell, this event is a little risqué. Rather than just surprising you, we chose some "safe for work" (or maybe a little borderline) photos for this blog post, but if you'd like to see more, check out some of our other favorite photos here and please note that the additional photos are probably NSFW. 

Enjoy, and we hope to see you next year! 

--Sam

Formal Shot Lists: A How-To Guide

Your wedding day is fast approaching, and you're humming along, taking care of all the final details leading up to the big day. Go you! But now you're staring at your to-do list and you see an item you've been skipping over for the last few days (okay, weeks); The formal shot list. 

What is a formal shot list? It's a list of must-have formal (i.e. posed) photos to be taken with your family and wedding party either immediately before, or immediately after, the ceremony. (I vote for before, in case you're wondering.) 

You've been putting it off in part because you're just not sure what to include! You know you don't want to be taking formal photos for forever, but you also don't want to miss anything important. 

First, let's dispel a few myths about formal photos, then we'll get into the meat and potatoes (or tofu and potatoes, for my fellow vegetarian friends) of how to craft the perfect formal shot list! 

Myth #1: You should always include extended family in your formal shot list.

Reality: The reality is that most formal shot lists only need to include your immediate family (parents, siblings, nieces, & nephews) and any living grandparents or godparents. The larger the group of people, the tinier the faces are in the photos, the more likely it is that someone (or multiple someones) will be blinking, the longer the photos take, and the likelier it is that folks will be cranky when they're done (or before they're done in some cases, *ahem* Uncle Joe *cough cough*).

What You Can Do: You can choose to only include your immediate family and any living grandparents or godparents, as well as your officiant, in your formal photos, and rely on capturing fun, candid, and real moments of your extended family throughout the reception. This helps formal photos go by quickly, and makes sure your time is spent connecting with people, instead of standing in a line not talking to them! 

Myth #2: The family who are in pictures will know that they're supposed to be in pictures. 

Reality: Sadly this is just not accurate (and we really wish it were!). Other than perhaps your parents, the rest of your family will have no idea if they're supposed to be in pictures or not. They also will not know when to show up for pictures, and even if they do, not all of them will be on time. 

What You Can Do: To make sure everyone is on the same page, email or message your formal shot list to all family members who will be taking part. Let them know where they should meet for formal photos, and tell them to arrive 15 minutes before the photo start time to give yourself some wiggle room. 

Myth #3: Formal Photos are boring. 

Reality: Okay, this one has a kernel of truth, because, let's face it, a lot of times formal photos can be a little boring. But they don't have to be! A lot of this depends on what's important to you during formal photos, the number of photos you need to get through, and the number of people in the photos. The smaller the number of people (immediate family, grandparents, godparents, and officiant only for instance) the more time you'll have to get a little creative! 

What You Can Do: The easiest way to shake things up a bit is to do something fun with your wedding party photos! Consider other locations within easy driving or walking distance (notable places nearby make for great photo opportunities!) If you have immediate family members (or grandparents and godparents) who have mobility issues, or families with young children who would have a hard time traveling to other locations for photos, consider doing your family photos before the wedding party photos so that once your family members are done, they can rest, take a break, or just head to their next destination a little early! Then get the rest of the gang to a fun spot to hang out, and take some more candid photos, like at a local pub for a round of drinks, a favorite hangout spot for coffee, or an iconic spot nearby (Capitol Building or Memorial Union Terrace in Madison, anyone?) 

Okay, now that we've dispelled a few common formal shot list myths, let's talk about how to build your own wedding formal shot list! 

• First, look at what formal photos will be most important to you, and who should be in them

  • Tip: Consider limiting your formal shot list to immediate family, grandparents, godparents, and officiant to allow for more time in your day, and less cranky extended families being kept from appetizers! 

• Once you have your list of people, type up your list of photos, making sure to list each person by name, and how they're related to you

  • Example:

    • Bride, Groom with Jake & Sara (Bride's Parents) and Emily (Bride's Sister)

    • Bride, Groom with Jake & Sara (Bride's Parents)

    • Bride, Groom with both sets of parents

    • Bride, Groom with Bill & Anne (Groom's Parents) 

    • Bride, Groom with Bill & Anne (Groom's Parents) and John & Tara (Groom's Siblings)

• Once you have your list of photos, try rearranging them in order of most number of people to least number of people (first on your side, then on your partner's side, or vice versa) so that folks who are only in one or two photos can be done sooner 

• Consider where you would like the photos to be taken (and when!) 

  • Tip: Busy backgrounds can detract from formal images, so think of places where there can be an unobtrusive background (such as a row of evergreens, the front of a church, in front of an autumn field)

  • Tip: If you will have more than 10-12 people in a single photo, it's good to also look for places that have stairs so that folks can be staggered for the photo! 

• Consider if you would like to go to any additional locations with you and your partner or your whole wedding party! This can be a super fun way to get in some non-traditional pictures with your closest friends and best wedding-day cheerleaders! 

• Share the list with your photographer first to see if they have any suggestions or input

• Once you've chosen a place and time for your formal photos (and any wedding party photos taking place at a different location) and run that list by your photographer, make sure to communicate that info clearly (and often!) with the necessary family members and wedding party members so that things go smoothly on the big day! 

I hope this helps demystify formal shot lists, and helps give you the confidence you need to craft yours to be exactly what you want it to be, and still have time to do all the fun things on your wedding day!

-- Sam 

How Sweet It Is: Dessert Table Inspiration!

Something Sweet to Think About This Week... 

Okay, so maybe it's because I'm hungry, but I've been daydreaming about cupcakes and pie all day and for those of you who might also appreciate both some good wedding dessert inspiration or just really dig sweet stuff, this post is for you! 

--Sam 

Tips for the Perfect Engagement Session

How to have a fun and stress-free engagement session!

Let's face it, if you're not used to being in front of the camera, portrait sessions can feel a little scary. I mean, how often as adults do we have a camera pointed at us for an hour straight? For most of us, the answer is "not often". 

To help put your mind at ease, we've put together some tips to help you have a great engagement session experience! First we'll start with the practical tips, and then get into how to really enjoy your engagement session! 

Timing

Now, there are two 'times' to consider when looking at the timing of your engagement session, the time of year, and the time of day. 

• Time of year: The question to ask yourself on time of year is whether there is a particular season you love that you want to have captured in your photos (Fall or Winter for instance) or do you want to capture a different season than your wedding will take place in. Like if your wedding is in Fall, would you want a Spring engagement session to shake things up? Other factors to consider are how long you have before your wedding date to plan an engagement session, and if you'll be using any of the photos from the session for the wedding itself or for Save the Date cards. Make sure to work with your photographer to leave enough time between when the engagement session takes place and when you need the photos for wedding purposes!

• Time of day: Once you narrow down a time of year, it's time to figure out, with your photographer, what the best time of day will be for the date you've chosen! Your photographer may have a particular preference, and you'll definitely want to discuss that with them, but a good general rule of thumb is to avoid midday when the sun is directly overhead (strong overhead light is not anyone's friend, and also causes a lot of squinting). Personally, we love doing sessions in either the early morning (just after sunrise, and yes I know that's early) or later in the afternoon, in the hour before sunset, because the light is so freaking pretty at those times! Remember that things like time of year and daylight savings time greatly impact the time of day that the sunset actually occurs, and plan accordingly!

Location

The old real estate adage of location, location, location is really true for a lot of things, and that includes engagement sessions! There are so many things to consider when picking a location (or locations) for your engagement session, but here are a few tips to get you started! 

• Pick a location that has personal meaning to you: Do you and your guy or gal have a favorite restaurant, coffee shop, hang-out that features heavily into a ton of your favorite memories? Why not go there for photos! Don't be afraid to think outside the box! One caveat is that if you're visiting a business, you or your photographer will want to do a courtesy check-in with the establishment to make sure they feel comfortable with you unobtrusively taking pictures there.

• Pick a local landmark: Chances are that wherever you live has tons of important local landmarks like beautiful parks, a thriving downtown area, or an area with a funky bohemian vibe to it that you just dig. In any case, engagement photos near local legends can be a great way to introduce your out of town guests to your awesome city in advance!

• Go au naturale: No, I don't mean naked (hey, unless that's your thing, no judgment). I mean find a great nature spot near you to explore while you have photographs taken! Here in Madison, WI, the UW Arboretum is one of my all-time favorite engagement session spots because it's huge, offers an endless variety of lovely Wisconsin scenery, and is gorgeous year round!

• Pick your photographer's brain: Your photographer should be an expert on helping you decide what location works best for you, and is going to be a wealth of knowledge when it comes to getting ideas! Make sure to check in with them if you're feeling stumped to see what ideas and suggestions they might have!

If you're near Madison, WI and want more ideas for portrait session locations, we recently posted a more in-depth look at great portrait session location ideas in Madison, WI that you can find here. 

What to Wear

I know, this is a tough one. There are some fashion-forward couples who have their engagement session outfits picked out months in advance, including matching accessories, and this part of the post is probably not for them. If you're a little less outfit confident and need some suggestions, this part might be for you! 

• Solid and complimentary colors: When in doubt, go with solid colors or subtle patterns, and while the colors you and your partner wear should be complimentary, try to avoid having them be exactly the same. You don't want to be that couple.

• Try some bold accessories: Muted colors with bold accessories look fabulous, and are a great way to add a pop of color and some visual variety without having an entire day-glow orange outfit on deck for photos. The time of year can give you some ideas for fun accessories too, like scarves, hats, and mittens!

• Casual or fancy: This is totally up to personal preference, but I would err on the side of whatever you feel comfortable in! If you hate dresses, no worries! You can rock those jeans without fear, and you can always bring a change of clothes (but just know that you might have a changing in your car adventure if you don't have a public restroom nearby!)

• Hair and makeup: If you're a makeup person, an engagement session is a great time to schedule a wedding makeup practice run! If you’re not a makeup person, no worries! My only recommendation, particularly during warm weather, would be to bring either powder or blotting sheets or a towel to keep sweat at bay during photos. Whatever you choose to do with your hair and makeup, just make sure to let the real you shine through! Your friends and family want to see you in the photos, and you'll feel more comfortable if you feel like yourself, and that's going to come through in your photos!

• Things to avoid:

  • Transition lenses (trust us)

  • Shoes that you can't walk well in (we'll most likely be doing some walking)

  • A frown (no really)

THINGS TO Bring

Here are some non-clothing related items that are good necessities or fun props for any engagement session! 

• Necessities (always be prepared):

  • Bug spray (if it's not snowing, you'll probably need it!)

  • A picnic blanket to sit on (one that's washable is my recommendation)

  • Chapstick/lipstick for touch-ups

  • Water (good to stay hydrated!)

  • Your engagement ring(s) if you have them!

• Fun stuff!

  • Your pets! We LOVE having furry friends tag along for photos! (pro-tip, have someone come along to help as a pet wrangler if you're planning on bringing a larger pet)

  • Props like favorite books, comic books, cheese heads, whatever makes you happy!

  • Thank you signs if you plan on using your engagement photos for your thank you cards!

  • Thermos of coffee or hot chocolate (especially if you're planning for a winter enagement session!!!)

Things to Remember

Above are all the practical advice we can offer to help  you feel at ease with your engagement session, and here are a few gentle reminders about how to let go and have fun with it! 

• Turn it into a date: If you're getting all dressed up, why night make a nice night of it with your sweetheart and hit up a restaurant for dinner and drinks after you're done! Or grab drinks before. I won't tell. *wink*

• Look at this as an adventure: Instead of looking at your upcoming engagement session with a sense of dread (hey, I get it), try reframing the whole experience as a kind of wacky adventure you get to have with your partner. How often do you get to celebrate your love by hanging out and climbing trees and grabbing a beer and hugging and kissing while getting to have lasting memories captured of you two just being adorable? Not often? That's what I thought. So go on you crazy kids, go have an adventure, and give in to the goofy!

• Get to know your photographer: This is an amazing opportunity to get to know your photographer, and for him or her to get to know you! Take advantage of that awesome opportunity and talk shop while you're snapping photos! Finding common ground and cracking jokes helps ease tensions and make sure that you feel super comfortable with your photographer by the time your wedding day roles around!

• Take some time just for the two of you: Wedding planning can be stressful! Having some time for just the two of you to be silly and play a little dress-up and run around taking photos with your photographer will go a long way to re-invigorating your excited feelings about the wedding, when it's sometimes easy to lose site of that while you're in planning purgatory. Enjoy it, friends!

If you're recently engaged, we'd love to hear from you! Drop us a line, and we'd be happy to talk more with you about your vision for your wedding day, and what you're thinking for engagement photos, and let's make it happen!