Last Weekend

Our son Noah was dedicated this past weekend (similar to a Christening). We were supposed to have the party outdoors but the sky opened up and the whole weekend was rain! We did manage to snag a few outdoor family pictures prior to the start of it, though. My friend Mike was kind enough to be the photographer for the day.

In spite of the weather, everything went well! Fun was had by all.

Summer Flashbacks- Alida's First Birthday

Alida Marie- yes, she's as sweet as her name sounds- turned one this summer. Here are a few photos from her family shoot.

Summer Flashbacks- The Markley Family

Since the summer was so hectic, I'm going to backtrack a bit and post about shoots we had. This one was for a former coworker, Christian, and his family. Christian does lots with web design, so if you are looking for a reliable contact, drop me a line, and I'll gladly send you his info!

Rebekah and Matt's Pictures are Ready!!

This was such a fun wedding to do...Rebekah and Matt are a vivacious, fun-loving couple, and it showed through every aspect of their wedding day. She was a beautiful bride...he was the most "together" groom I'd ever seen (cool as a cucumber!, no nerves!), and the reception was so much fun, even to shoot! I have a picture of Ashley (my assistant) teaching the girls the Cupid Shuffle, below. I seldom take pictures with my clients, but Joe (second shooter) was there when we were saying our goodbyes and we couldn't resist. Fun was had by all. Congratulations Rebekah and Matt!!!
Love,
Suzanne Collier Photography

Essential Wedding Photography Shots

Making a list of desired photographs for your photographer can be stressful...you don't want to miss anything crucial, but on the other hand, you don't want to overdo it. A common misconception is that if you provide your photographer with a list of shots you want, you won't get any candids. This is not the case. At the end of the day, when you sit down a few months after the wedding to make your albums and place a print order, you'll be thankful that you have a few decent family pictures to blow up and frame as gifts. If you are worried about not capturing candid shots, just make sure your photographer is booked for an hour or two longer than you think you may need them. Another good idea is to ask your photographer to provide a second shooter, who can take candids while your formals are being shot. Here is a list to stick by. Remember, you may need to appoint someone who knows the family to assist the photographer with gathering the right people for your formals.

BEFORE THE CEREMONY

1. Bride getting ready
2. Bride with her mother
3. Bride with her father
4. Bride with her parents
5. Bride with bridesmaids and flower girl
6. Bride leaving the house

AT THE CEREMONY

7. Bride getting out of the car
8. Groom with ushers
9. Groom walking down the aisle and/or at the altar
10. Flower girl walking down the aisle
11. Ring bearer walking down the aisle
12. Bride walking down the aisle
13. Bride being given away
14. Groom meeting the bride on the aisle
15. Bride and groom at the altar
16. View of everyone at the altar during the ceremony
17. Musicians playing
18. The ring exchange
19. The candle lighting
20. The kiss
21. Bride and groom coming up the aisle
22. The receiving line
23. Bride and groom outside
24. Guests throwing flower petals, birdseed, etc.
25. Bride and groom in car

DETAIL SHOTS

26. Invitation close-up
27. Escort card table
28. Favors on table
29. Bouquet and centerpieces close-ups

BEFORE THE RECEPTION

30. Bride and groom before going inside
31. Bride and groom with her parents
32. Bride and groom with his parents
33. Bride and groom with both sets of parents
34. Bride and groom with their grandparents
35. Bride and groom with attendants
36. Couple with her family
37. Couple with his family
38. Bride and groom entering the reception

AT THE RECEPTION

39. Bride and groom’s dance
40. Bride dancing with her father
41. Groom dancing with his mother
42. Guests on the dance floor
43. Musicians playing
44. Best man’s toast
45. Bride and groom talking with guests
46. The cake table
47. Bride and groom cutting the cake
48. Throwing the bouquet
49. Catching the bouquet
50. Bride and groom waving good-bye

Keep in mind that a lot of these are pretty much no-brainer wedding day shots to any photographer...they will not be missed. But for your peace of mind, print the list out and take it along. Can't hurt right?

Your Best Wedding Makeup

Hi Philadelphia Brides-to-be! Today's topic: bridal makeup. Cosmetic editing is all the rage in photography today. With Adobe Photoshop, anything is possible! Brides rely on photographers to bring out their inner supermodel with editing, which can get costly! You can save yourself money, and save your photographer time, by focusing a bit more time on some of these key editing areas:

Foundation

While researching bridal makeup, you will constantly hear that less is more. This is SO TRUE in the editing world! When testing foundations, choose something sheer and light. This will have the tendency to allow your natural skin color to show through, and thus blend better with the makeup, creating a flawless-but-natural finish that will minimize the need for color adjustments. A good way to see what your foundation will look like is to stand outside in the bright sunlight and have someone snap a picture. If your foundation looks good here, you can guarantee it will look good in any light. One example of a foundation that is light but still provides sufficient coverage is Bare Essentials Mineral Foundation. You can find it at any Ulta, and if it's not during a holiday season, an Ulta makeup artist will do your makeup as a trial for free! If you do get Bare Essentials, DO NOT SKIP THE PRIMER. This is the part that takes the makeup from being a sheer powder and gives it staying power.

Blemishes

If you have a zit, please, please, please cover it up. Don't overdo it, and make it look like a mound of dried makeup caked to your face, but do dab a bit of concealer or powder onto it to minimize the redness.

Eyes

One of the biggest parts of cosmetic editing is in the eye area. Changing someone's eyes can make such dramatic differences that it's worth it to take extra care in applying your makeup. If you aren't using an eye cream, start now. The skin around your eyes is very tender and prone to aging if you don't handle it with care. This scares some brides away from using makeup under their eyes at all, but remember, if you do it in moderation, and careful application, you can create a flawless wedding day look while preserving your skin. When applying makeup, don't pull or rub under your eyes. Simply dab makeup in desired areas to cover your circles. Do not use a powder under your eyes unless you use it very sparingly. Powder can cake on and cause the area to appear dryer, emphasizing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Cream-based cover up is best. Be sure to find one which doesn't gather in your creases. Revlon Colorstay Cover up is a good choice.

An eye area most brides to not think about is the inner portion, right beside your nose. Apply cover up here, as well, to eliminate any darkness. This will take five years off of your face!!

A common eye makeup trick is to sweep a shimmery white shadow under the brow line to draw the attention upwards, and brighten your eyes.

Want that extra glimmer in your eye? Carry a bottle of eye drops with you, and use some just before your portraits!

Teeth

White teeth make a huge difference in your wedding pictures! If you have tried Crest Whitening Strips, and they don't work, ask your dentist if they provide the Professional Strength. It isn't as costly or time consuming as professional whitening, but for 50 dollars, you get a bright white smile in a matter of weeks! When choosing lipstick for the big day, try to stick with blue undertones. Yellow undertones make the teeth appear yellow-- sometimes even if they are not!

Lips

Gloss, gloss, gloss!!! Don't slop on so much that you can't seal the deal and greet your guests without leaving your mark, but do give some to your Maid of Honor to keep handy for portrait time. Dab a little onto the middle of your lips, to create the illusion of shine. If your lips are dry, don't hesitate to use chapstick, and then a little bit of gloss on the center.

Hair

So many brides get trapped in the curls-are-us net: curls loaded with hairspray and fresh off the iron. If you want to go for a natural, feminine look, make sure your stylist pulls the curls apart, to loosen them up a bit. There is nothing wrong with using hairspray, but it's best used once the style you desire is created...not before. Soft, feminine curls or waves are beautiful...even magical...on any bride!

Small, simple tricks like these take less time, but you'll get a great look, both on camera and off.

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