Have you played with Instagram? I have become obsessed with it. It is a great way to share photos with other photo minded people. I find inspiration in what others come up with in their everyday lives. I have noticed that a lot of my "friends" on the photo based social media site take pictures of their food. Not sure if that means that we all just love to eat or what?
If you have an iPhone, you HAVE to check out this app. It doesn't have as many filters and bells/whistles as Hipstamatic which I kind of like. The down side is that the built in camera in the app doesn't create a very big file so if you are wanting to print your Instagram photo later, it probably won't go very well. Although, I just got a note from Blurb books that they have an upload program to instantly make a book out of your Instagram photos.
Here are some of my Instagram photos from the last 2 months. I even took some photos at a friend's wedding where I was a guest. Definitely makes you think out of the box when all you have is your iPhone to make a great photo at a wedding!
So pleased to be honored again on Pictage's homepage. I submitted this image for their latest contest titled "Faces". This is Robert and Betsy Hagerty. I photographed them a couple of years ago while Betsy was going through treatment for breast cancer. She loved her bald head and wore it like the badge of courage it was. They wanted me to photograph the two of them as well as their daughter Ariel before her hair started to grow again.
I have had the pleasure of photographing their family since, last year during one of my portrait marathons I held in Phoenix.
Thank you to the Hagerty's for letting me be part of your family and allowing me to share this image among other great photographers and their clients.
Erin and DJ wanted to spend their time after their May 7 ceremony on a limo cruise with their bridal party to do on location photo shoots, away from their ceremony and reception site.
This is becoming more and more common with our couples. It really makes the photo shoot as part of the celebration of the day instead of a limited time between the ceremony and reception which sometimes is rushed.
Some things to think about if you think you want to incorporate this into your wedding day:
1. It usually works best to have just your bridal party along for the ride. Trying to coordinate family too is really tough.
2. Schedule your reception to start at least 1.5 - 2 hours after your ceremony. That way you won't miss out on the party and your guests won't be wondering where you are.
3. Rent a limo, shuttle or trolley to take your bridal party from place to place. Make sure it can fit everyone and leaves space for the photographer and maybe their assistant if needed.
4. Scout locations with your photographer before the big day. No sense trying to figure out where to go on the fly and your limo driver will appreciate the heads up.
5. If you and your bridal party would like to indulge in a little liquid cheer in the limo(champagne,etc), try to stay away from drinks that stain like red wine or other dark liquors.
Here are some of my favorites from Erin and DJ's photo cruise. We hit the jackpot with this abandoned train station and the life-like soda fountain sculpture, both in downtown Wichita, KS.
Chelsea and Steve met during their stint at the University of Florida and even though they have now moved to Colorado they wanted to celebrate their big day in the town they love best!
Chelsea and the ladies got ready at the Magnolia Plantation which provided a great spot for Steve to see his bride for the first time. The more first look moments I do the more I love them! We spent an hour there doing portraits of the just the two of them together before heading off to the Baughman Center for family portraits and of course their ceremony!
You would drive right by the Baughman Center and not even know it is there. This wooden gothic style chapel is so beautiful and you feel like you are in the belly of ship when you look up into it's rafters.
Each of Chelsea and Steve's bridal party each had a part in a special blessing to read. And their close friend sang a beautiful aria.
The best part that really made us all cheer was when their officiant (another close friend) announced them for the first time as Dr. and Mr. Steve Kischner. :O)
Love it!
Then the bridal party met in this cool brick street to do some fun photos before meeting up with all the guests at Boca Fiesta Restaurant
This was a truly unique venue for a reception. I loved how intimate it was with guests sitting at cozy booths including a special one just for Chelsea and Steve.
All of their details highlighted their love for El Dia de Los Muertos icons. Complete with a sugar skull groom's cake, Chelsea's garter had mini skulls and table signs also sported the sugar skulls. These two also love their bikes! Chelsea got Steve a bike bell with a skull on it and there was an oh so cute cake topper that had a caricature of the lovebirds on a bicycle built for two.
They had a great alternative to the old school bouquet/garter toss. They had piñatas for guys and girls that inside had a garter, gift cards, and a little bouquet. It was so fun to watch Chelsea and Steve take whacks blindfolded at the crepe paper burros.
Feeling so honored! Pictage, our print lab partner, chose one of my photos to feature on their homepage!
They asked for submissions that showed true emotion. Here is my winning image plus a screen shot from the Pictage homepage:
This is from Nick and Lisa's wedding from last spring at the Peña-Peck House in downtown St. Augustine. The bride's nephew was their ring bearer and had his camera in his pocket. Would love to see the photo he got!
Zem and Tiffany had a sweet little ceremony on April 20 on Vilano Beach with an intimate reception at The Reef Restaurant a few feet away.
Jamey Turner provided amazing music with his water glass harp. The sound of it made you feel like their ceremony was in the Caribbean.
Tiffany and Zem have their own tie-dyed shirt business and made all of the bridal party's shirts and dresses. Their son Aiden had his own fab tie-dyed shirt which showed off the beautiful turtle locket Zem and Tiffany gave to him during their ceremony.
Peggy LaRoche was their officiant and coordinated her outfit with Tiffany's colors of orange, red and yellow.
Watch their slideshow below to see more of their lovely wedding day.
The first part of 2011 has been a whirlwind four months! Lots of travel. Lots of great events and lots of gorgeous photos!
Here are a few of my favs from the year so far. Make sure to visit the Kate Gardiner Photography Facebook page and become a fan. I've been posting most of my sneak peaks on there shortly after each event so couples and families can have a few on their profile pages right away.
More exciting news in upcoming posts, including features in Florida Bride Magazine and Pictage.com.
