I am so excited to share with you all Lauryn Elizabeth's birth announcements. Sarah, my best friend and matron of honor at my wedding, said she wanted Emersyn to announce the baby's birth on the card.
This is what I came up with, note the front is vertical and the back is horizontal (for ordering purposes both are left in vertical format). Enjoy!
I can't believe it, my little fur baby is turning one!! Roxy was born June 3, 2009 in Ithaca, New York.
Here are a few snapshots of Roxy this past year.
Me and Roxy, when we first got her.
she was so teeny tiny!!
Roxy and her cousin Vinny, of course Roxy looks up to him.Mr.Vinny himself
Clearly this was a bad hair day for me and I don't care, this pic is super cute!
Roxy loves crawling into our laundry baskets, especially when scared of the vacuum Here is one of Roxy's latest pictures, from Memorial Day. Roxy came with us to the lake. She played with several dogs and attempted to swim (I will be buying her a life vest as she doesn't swim well).
Wet dog in her summer collar!
This past January at a bridal show, I ran out of business cards. I haven't re-ordered the old design, as it's something that i've wanted to re-vamp a little bit. Pondering on the thought of new logo/cards, I have even possibly thought about hiring a designer to do the re-design or assist me.
I'm a girl, I over think things, and I want to to be just so (perfect).
History on my first and only card: As some of you may know, I went to Hallmark Institute of Photography from 2004-2005. At Hallmark I created my very first and only (to date) logo/stationary. See below. While I was designing my stationary, my instructor told me the logo had a Kate Spade kind of feel to it. Ding! I love Kate Spade--simple, kind of preppy, yet modern.
Where I stand today: I'm sick of the boxes, but I want to keep simple and modern in mind. I like the idea of maybe going vertical on one side and horizontal on the other--not sure how to implement that.
Some visual thoughts....taking away the line, making the word photography less prominent, making the pink more raspberry than HOT.
Re-Design #1 : Everything center lower caps on the contact info.
Re-Design #2 :Phone number sandwich??
Re-Design #3 :Even steven?
Re-Design #4:Off center? all caps?
Re-Design #5 : email and phone on same line
I'm honestly designing more as I blog because I'm not loving this yet. Throwing another idea out there, what if the card was two sided?
I'm stumped, mentally blocked, need a break. If anyone out there has ideas, feel free to share!
Depending on the view of the computer, these jpegs should be close to the size of a business card - 3.5"x2"
I can't begin to tell you how nervous I was before our engagement session. It took me forever to figure out what John and I were going wear (black and grey was the tough one, the red shoes was easy!). Then the day rolls around; storm clouds are brewing, rain drops are falling, and my hair is getting bigger by the second. Did I mention we were in Las Vegas, what are the chances are that it rains the one day we picked for pictures?
Looking back on this day, I'm thrilled with the photos (By Laura Pineda of Alternate Angles) and so pleased to have had professional pictures taken of us (note I had my make-up done by Kelly of Smooth Brides). I've forgotten what it feels like in front of the camera. Now that i'm introduced to the other side (of the glass), I'm a better photographer for it.
Here are a few of my favorites. Enjoy!
John and I were standing on top of a ledge for this image, so Laura could see more of us.
I have this framed in our living area (inside the Venetian).
One of the following two images is on our save the dates. I'd like to mention we had some tourists join us for a few photos while we were up on this fountain!
If I had enough time, I should have gotten my jeans hemmed...you couldn't really see my awesome patent red shoes! John was making fun of my ridiculous laugh here, I love this picture (big mouth open and all)!
I This picture is just so fun. We all know how much I love a blue sky, not to mention the warm lights, shiny wet ground, and John making fun of me for turning the wrong way all made for a perfect capture!
I really like (for some odd reason) the lady in to the left of us.
We waited for a while for these lights to come on. I had been in this spot years prior wanting to take a portrait. I love how Laura cropped this image, tree in the foreground.
At this moment after spinning the wrong way and laughing at my fake laugh I really got comfortable in front of the camera.
John is 100% Sicilian. When we're in the Caribbean he's always mentioning that the islands "reminds him of Sicily." This reminds me of me laughing every time he says that, not to mention I now say it too for fun (even though I haven't been there, yet).
Whoa! You can see my red shoes, hollar!
Again, red shoes, there they are! I wasn't lying, you can see the rain here: in the sky and on my sweater.
Being a photographer makes me really love light. I love looking at light. I watch movies and disturb myself and the story line to think of how the scene was lit. I often find myself driving around during the low light (sunrise/sunset) hours just wanting to give the light a big hug and thank it for being so pretty. I LOVE this picture, yes you can barely see us and yes we're dark: it doesn't matter. Look at how that rain really worked out, without which this image wouldn't exist. Big hug to Laura!!
All photos taken by: Laura Pineda of Alternate Angles.
I went dress shopping with my very good friend Jeff (also one of my assistants). He has seen many wedding dresses and knows my taste probably better than I do. This was the only store I visited and I couldn't be happier!
Jeff and I walked in, nervously filled out some paper work, looked through the racks, and then started to try on some gowns. First dress I tried on was a Modern Trousseau gown that I would describe as fitted, strapless and head to toe lace. It was an option for my wedding, but I just wasn't sure of myself. About five or so dresses later I tried on another Modern Trousseau gown--which I originally thought I'd like from The White Dress by the Shore website. The dress did not look good on me, however I LOVED the bottom half of the dress.
Flo (the lovely lady who helped me this day) then had us wait for a moment in our room to discuss and drink a little bubbly. She came back with another dress, after only trying on what seemed like a few dresses she knew the shape and style that works best for me. Flo helped me into the dress, I walked out behind the curtain, looked at Jeff's face first to see what he though (big smile), then into mirror I looked (bigger smile!!). All of my insecurities of my body (image) flew right out the window. I knew this is it; this is what I'm getting married in!
Flo then decked me out in some fabulous accessories, including the sparkle belt that I fell in love with while trying on other dresses (Jeff later reminded me that I was specifically asking what goes with the sparkle belt?). I also made a decision on the veil.
I can't express how appreciative I am to The White Dress by the Shore. The level of service and the quality of all of the products are exceptional! I am thrilled and relieved to have a dress that I 150% adore (I've even thought on the way home that the dress should be an inspiration for the cake--it needs a sparkle belt too). I now know first hand why I've only heard wonderful things about this shop and without a doubt send brides there.
Note: We did not take any images of me in the gown.
Here are some images that I took while I visited the store. Enjoy!
The windows are super cute!
Windows from the inside, cute!
They have an adorable selection of flower girl dresses.
This is the gorgeous dressing room!
Jeff sat in the chair to the left, as I came out behind the curtain, I'd look at his face, then mine in the mirror.
Today as I was fetching the garbage bins at the end of the driveway, I noticed the mailbox was open and the mailman had delivered. There was a large white envelope sticking outside of the box, I picked it up and there it was, my engagement session on DVD disc. My heart stopped: nervous, excited, scared to death (yikes, pictures of me--I prefer behind the glass not in front of it).
I'm so pleased to share a couple images on my blog, taken by the fabulous and talented Laura Pineda of Alternate Angles. I have followed her work for years, assisted at several weddings, and now she's taking my pictures. I'm thrilled!
I haven't sent this to print yet, so any feedback would be considered. This is my draft of our save the dates--think 5"x7" in size and the pearl paper.
Photos by : Laura Pineda / Alternate Angles
Jenn and Franks's wedding is featured on Style Me Pretty, thanks to the fabulous, talented Jessica's Country Flowers!
Click here to view feature.
I am so excited to say that I just got in my MACRO lens. I haven't had a macro lens in my hand since I went to school in 2004-2005. I have no idea why it took me so long to purchase one, for crying out loud I love details!!
Before I shoot with it at a wedding, I have to test it out. These images are not cropped. This wind up toy (featured in another blog post with Roxy, check this out) is about 1-1.5 inches tall.
The head of the wind up toy is about a third of it's size.
