The wind has now led them to a new life together (along with their adorable dog Lego). The wedding venue, Kitsap Memorial State Park in Poulsbo, is absolutely charming. Fortunately the rainy weather stayed away and we saw blue skies all day. The main log structure was decorated with holiday lights, one-of-a-kind blue ornaments and glittery snowflakes, ideal for a winter wedding celebration. The bride’s dress was simple and elegant, with a beautiful calla lily bouquet and silver strappy heels that coordinated perfectly with the silver swirly brooch on her dress. The shawl that she wore to keep warm was a handmade keepsake that I’m certain she’ll cherish always. The groom’s pin stripe suit, navy blue shirt and warm white tie was a modern twist on a classic look. Their ideas came together with every detail given such thought and extra attention.

From a Man of Honor (the Bride’s brother) to a Best Woman (the Groom’s sister), they weren’t afraid to break a few traditions…well except for one…the Bride & Groom didn’t see each other until the ceremony. After, they were willing to do whatever I asked of them, even if it meant standing in the middle of a bunch of trees just having a few moments to themselves. Those moments created some of my favorite photos of the day…dreamy, intimate, and very much “them”. The tall trees were amazing, and as the sun set lower into the sky  the light struggled to shine through them, providing us some lovely light to shoot in. Although it was cold outside, we took advantage of the great location for portraits and then headed back inside for the reception. It was an exceptional day for a wedding…a beautiful beginning to lives filled with happiness and love.

Thank you both for choosing Add to Heart Photography as your wedding photographer. ♥

A chance meeting walking out of a pub and four years later they were walking down the aisle. I have to say this couple really knows how to have fun…now its on to Mardi Gras and married life.

Also thank you so much to my second shooter, Mindy Capps, for capturing some fantastic moments during Melissa & Michael’s special day. You were awesome!

An unused can of Kodak film on the left, and a Compact Flash card on the right…the reality of the changing times.
I can only imagine where that can of 20-exposure film has been…for years it was hidden in my Grandfather’s garage storage until he passed away and it ended up in my hands. I have been its keeper for almost 10 years now and I will always keep it for all that it symbolizes. History. Art. Innovation. The compact flash card on the right is one of many that I use for my photography and it holds 400+ images in RAW format.

There is still art in digital.
I do remember processing my own film and developing my own photos in my High School’s darkroom…it really felt like you were making “ART”. I refused to buy a digital camera until I saw just how amazing the technology and the quality had progressed. I soon discovered that professional images are still edited…still skillfully retouched…still hand-processed. It just happens its done to a digital file instead of a negative.

Pursue your passion and embrace change.
I have five or so of my Grandfather’s film cameras (from a Falcon Miniature to a Kodak Tourist II), which I hope to display one day in a studio of my own. He loved photography, architecture, printing, and was so proud to finally own a digital camera and a computer when he was in his late 70′s. He built his own garage workshop and would tinker, build, repair and organize in there. When he passed, we discovered file cabinets full of old magazine clippings that were categorized…things he had saved and things that he had always planned “to get to” or that he thought were important. He was a very quiet man. I worked with him in a print shop for a couple years and really had an opportunity like no other in our family to get to know him. He was an average man with an amazing life story. From being captured by Nazi’s in WWII to owning his own newspaper business…I just wish I would have asked more questions. We had computers in school when I was a kid and I remember having one kind of computer or another since I was 5. Even games have changed, from Frogger to World of Warcraft…and what would my Grandfather think of my 2 year old playing puzzles on my iPhone? I think he would be amazed and would have been one of the first to own his own iPhone. He truly embraced technology…and embraced change. I just feel like he wasn’t able to pursue his passion and realize his full potential…but he seemed content. I know he wanted more from me, for me to take whatever I had to wherever it could go.

Photographer’s Blog
Often photographers will post session sneak peeks or favorites on their blog. This is the quickest and easiest way to share your session images – just post a link to the photographer’s blog post in your email, Facebook, Twitter, or even your very own blog. Don’t forget to leave a comment as its always wonderful for a photographer to see their client not only visiting their blog but leaving some great feedback. Its also a good idea to check out their blog often for great information and even special offers they are running that may not always be advertised elsewhere.

Tagging on Facebook
Why not ask your photographer if they will post some of your session images to Facebook? Most photographers have Facebook pages and would be more than happy to upload and tag you in your session photos. You first need to “friend them” on Facebook and then the Photographer will be able to tag you in the photos. Once you are tagged, those images will automatically show up on your Wall for your own friends to see. Usually the images will be watermarked with the photographers logo or name. Its important to not crop out watermarks as that could be considered copyright infringement. If you want an image cropped a certain way for any reason, just ask your photographer to do that for you.

I’ve also had clients upload the watermarked version of their images to their Facebook page and tag me in them, that works fine too! As long as you are using the web-resolution watermarked images (including a link to my website or blog is awesome too) and then don’t forget to tag me in the image so I can see the ones you post, I always love to see your favorites!

Online Gallery
If you have an online gallery for proofing your session photos, then why not email the link to your “inner circle”? Its another great way to share with friends and family. Make it easy on yourself and let them know if they want to place an order, how they should go about doing that so you won’t be bombarded with email requests. Sometimes they need to order directly through the photographer, or sometimes they can order right through the gallery.

Gift Prints
When you place your session order don’t forget to include a few gift prints. Giving prints to a few special family members or friends is always a great way to share your photographs. Your photographer will likely sell prints a la carte, so think about a set of wallets or a 5″ x 7″ print of your favorite photograph as these are both popular choices.

Buying the Digital Files
Many photographers will offer the digital files at an additional cost, or may even include them as part of their package. You could still run into trouble making personal prints unless you have “Permission to Print”. This is generally something from the photographer allowing you to make prints from the digital files for your own personal use. Their may still be restrictions about distributing the files (either by email or online), so be sure to read their policies.

I want you to be able to share your session photos and try to make it easy for you to do so. If you have any questions, please put them in the comments or send me an email and I’ll post the answer here for everyone.