Last December, mere hours after I took some pictures of their family, my cousin Jennifer gave birth to her son Nathan. He was a bit early so he had to stay in the hospital for a bit but he’s home and doing fantastic. One of the things on Jennifer’s list before going back to work was to have me come up for a session and I was super excited to do so! I finally got to meet the charmer Nathan and he is just a sweetheart. Barely any fussing at all in over an hour!!!!! I don’t think I’ve ever had a baby session go this smoothly.
It was so fantastic to see everyone and spend some quality time with Nathan. He’s a true sweetie! I also got to get some time in with his big sister Samantha who is such a hilarious kiddo. She’s got some sass and I absolutely LOVE it. She had just lost a tooth and was eager to show me the space it left.
Thank you guys for having me up – it was an awesome afternoon!
*drumroll*
Congratulations Maureen!!!! Thank you to EVERYONE who submitted a Brides Talk!!!!!!
Last June I had so much fun with Eric and Erin. I knew the day was going to be awesome – our engagement session last spring was by far one of the most adventurous I’ve ever had. The day of the wedding it was HOT HOT HOT but nothing slowed these guys down. We went all over and they were game for anything so long as it resulted in great pictures. YMCA at a festival? Heck yes! Skii Ball? Ohhh yes! It was a great day followed by an even better reception!
Here’s what Eric had to say about their experience with me & the images he chose!
When trying to find a photographer Corey Ann was very open to talking to us on the phone because we live over an hour away. She was very helpful answering all of our questions and not pushy about picking her to capture our big day.
Corey Ann really captured our personalities in our pictures. She also went in muddy and strange locations to capture the perfect picture for our engagement pictures. She was very friendly and kind to our whole wedding party and family during group pictures.
Corey Ann made our wedding day flow. She was on time and very professional the whole day. If we had any questions on what to do, Corey would suggest options on what to do. They made themselves discrete during the ceremony which made it easy to focus on each other. At the reception Corey and her team really captured the party. She had great pictures of each vendor and activity we did. I would recommend Corey Ann to all of my friends looking for a great photographer.
You are the best, Eric
Thank you SO much Eric!
Unless we have any more stragglers this is it for the yearly Bride’s Talk contest!!! I will be posting the winner this week
Brides, Grooms and all people involved with planning and/or paying for a wedding. I have a PSA that you may find enlightening.
Preferred Vendor Lists are often a list the vendors PAY to be on!
Recently I was approached by not one but TWO different local venues that are working on brochures promoting their business through Hawthorn Publications. At first, I was extremely flattered as one of these venues had gone as far as to get a list of photos together of mine they wanted to feature and have a mock up done of the brochure utilizing images from weddings at the said venue. It was flattering and an awesome sight to see. Confession: it was a huge stroke to my ego. I may have even done a happy (chair) dance when I read the email. However that balloon was quickly deflated when I received a follow up email that told me to be included in said brochure, I would have to pay upwards of $800 to have an ad and be included in the brochure as a preferred vendor. Without the money, they couldn’t feature my work. I was so sad because I really was so flattered AND excited to be featured on this venues brochure and to be on their list but eventually I decided that wasn’t the kind of game I wanted to play. When I got ANOTHER call a few weeks later from Hawthorne, urging me to reconsider and showing me other venues featuring such beautiful places such as the New York Public Library with Christian Oth’s famous work I still wasn’t wooed, despite their efforts. It made it easier to turn down the next venue that approached me weeks later with the same deal.
This also isn’t a practice that is limited to venues and brochures. Last year I had a wedding coordinator that reached out to me wanting to know my availability for a client they had and thought I would be perfect for. I was elated! The wedding sounded amazing and it was a date I was available for. I sent over my information and eagerly awaited the reply. After receiving my brochure, the coordinator replied and said that everything was great… except they wanted me to know one “small” thing. They charge a 10% fee to refer clients to me. If I wanted to build it into the pricing so their clients got pricing that included the charge (hidden, of course) then they’d be happy to send the different list or I could pay it out of pocket if not. I was completely flabbergasted! I told them promptly thanks-but-NO-thanks and nipped that one in the bud. This sadly isn’t just a one-vendor-exception thing, this is happening with many coordinators all over the world.
I’m not writing this blog post to piss local vendors off (but I’m sure that may happen… oops) but I’m writing this to educate my clients and OTHER photographers. The more we put up with this kind of shit, the more that it is going to happen. I urge ALL of my fellow photographers to take a stand and say NO to kickbacks and paying-to-play. Clients, I want you to be informed that sometimes (NOT always) those lists you get from vendors of “preferred” vendors are not always based on merit but on money. If you see that the brochure is from Hawthorn Publications, you can be certain that those vendors paid to be listed. I think that is HUGELY important to know! When I was planning my wedding, I asked vendors I hired for recommendations for vendors I hadn’t hired and hired based on their advice. I know that the referrals I got were solid ones and they made my wedding that much more amazing. I can’t imagine what kind of disasters would have happend had my vendors NOT been the best to be recommended but the ones that had paid to be! Don’t even get me started on the idea of what I would have done if I had paid more so that my coordinator could have got referral fees!!! JUST SAY NO!
I never, ever want to have a referral based on money, not on merit.
I may never be a preferred vendor but at least you know when you hire me that I’m not charging you any hidden fees to have me photograph your most important day.
I love weddings that has personality bursting from it and Chrissanna and Robert’s wedding was no exception! Without even knowing them very well, I could tell how much of them went into the wedding and things were chosen to represent them at the wedding with love. While it was perhaps one of the hottest days of the summer (and outdoors!) almost everyone stayed until the end to send off the bride and groom with love. It was a lovely day and I will NEVER forget seeing Chrissanna doing a CARTWHEEL not once but TWICE at the reception. She won my heart after that!
Corey,
Thank you again for the beautiful photos you took on our wedding day. They were beautiful and Rob and I were so excited to be able to look at them when we got back from our honeymoon. There were many things that I loved about the photos, but one thing that stood out was the way you quickly picked up on who the “key people” were and was sure to get great candids of them also. Some of these willl be treasured for years to come.
We also appreciated the way some of the little details were captured-Rob smiling as I walked down the aisle, my cousin leading kolo dancing, nearly wiping out during our first dance-goofing off and swing dancing tends to do that, dancing with my grandma when she arrived, looking at family as we exited the church, saying goodbye to dear friends who travelled far to our wedding…some of these are details that we couldn’t have anticipated asking you to capture. We’re thankful you did.
Chrissanna and Robert
Thank you both so much for your kind words!!!!!
After MANY requests for this and a few years under my belt I feel that I am finally ready to have a post dedicated to those vendors whom I LOVE to work with. Believe it or not, this post has been in my draft folder for over a year! I will revisit this from time to time as I return and work places or find new vendors to add to this list. If someone isn’t on my list, it isn’t necessarily because I don’t recommend them, I just only feel comfortable vouching for vendors that I have worked with (depending on the type of vendor, I prefer multiple times!) and can vouch for.
Bakery
Cupid Cupcakery - Oh my gosh. SO SO SO good. I can’t even describe how delicious they are. I first had these delicious cupcakes for Kristin and Jacob’s wedding and have had them a few times since. Trust me, they are amazing! April is also pretty awesome and I’m not recommending her just because she’s a past client!
West Side Bakery – If we would have got married locally, I guarantee that they would have been making our cake. Instead they made my sister-in-law’s baby shower cake and have been behind some of my favorite cakes at weddings.
Wild Flour Bakery – When I tasted Heidi’s cake, the first thing that came to mind was unmelted ice cream. Since then, every single bite of a piece of their cake that I manage to sneak a nibble of has equalled or surpassed that first delectable bite. Yum!
Band
The Sellouts – So here’s a thing you don’t know about weddings. Bands are notorious for eating ALL of the food in the vendor room and not leaving any for the photographers. This was the first band I ever worked with that actually REFUSED their meals and gave them to me and my assistant before they’d take theirs. They won my heart RIGHT there. THEN! They were amazing. If I ever have an event that requires music I guarantee you I’m hiring them in a second. Tracy and Dan loved them and I promise you will too – especially if you are a child of the 80′s!
Shout – When you can make my husband, whom is the biggest music snob ever, stop, stare and whip out his iPhone to record the music you KNOW it’s a good band. He STILL, two years later, raves about this band!! I must confess, they were quite fantastic and the floor was PACKED all night long. Erin and Tony sure chose well when they picked this band!
Special Request – Another fantastic band that won my heart when they made sure I had food before they did. However when I heard them play, they were my new favorite friends. They also were willing assistants when I was shooting Lawren and Mike’s wedding rings! Win!
Catering
Spice of Life Catering – not only is their food and presentation amazing, but they are such a pleasure to work with! Trust me, their food though is AMAZING. To see a sample of just how amazing take a glimpse at Alyssa and Jon’s wedding.
DJ
Jeff with Rock the House – Jeff seriously made me smile so, so much. You will be hard pressed to find someone that is much more easy going, fun and just a blast to work with. The floor for Marshall & Colleen was jam packed all night long and much of that was thanks to Jeff and his amazing skills.
John from The DJ Crew – John and I have worked quite a few events together and he’s been a lifesaver a few times. He’s the consumate professional and has always been one to bring the party up a notch. He’s a joy to be around and that joy floats to the floor whenever he’s working.
Florist
Blooms by Plantscaping – Heidi was the first wedding I worked with Arne and his talented staff and I’ve worked with him many times over the years. I still dream about Jillian’s amazing peony bouquet.
Prestige Floral – Tina is so fun to work with, I do a happy dance when I know she’s going to be working with me. Her flowers always take my breath away and she is such an artist. I still swoon a bit when I look at the roses at each place setting at Tracy’s wedding and Sarah‘s flowers are still some of my favorite works of floral art EVER.
Makeup Artist
J Kelly Face Art – Jason is the BEST makeup artist around. He’s the bees knees and when I find out a client has hired him for makeup the day of the wedding, I jump for joy as I know my brides will look fabulous! Meghan, Kristin, Rachel, Kelli and Colleen are just a few of the brides he’s worked with of mine.
Kajal by Kimberly – Kimberly is so awesome and is amazing at what she does. She and Jason worked together at MAC so it only makes sense that they are my two top picks for makeup artistry! I still hear raves about Alyssa’s amazing makeup.
Stationery
Print Julep – Katie is a past client but she’s also just freaking amazing at her job. I fell in love with her when I saw her amazing work at Carla and Craig’s wedding and Katie’s own wedding was even more jaw dropping. Check out her cake toppers!
Venue
Lantern Court at Holden Arboretum – home to my FAVORITE favorite favorite aisle of all of the aisles I have photographed. You can take alternate routes to the altar they have here but WHY?!?
Stan Hywet – I know, it’s really popular but it is with good reason. You’ll be hard pressed to find a more beautiful ceremony location in the Akron/Canton area. The birch alee and the flower gardens are two of my most favorite locations to shoot at and with good reason. Oh and my Dad did a lot of the lighting and electrical goodies here back in the 80′s so it’s an extra reason why I love it here.
Videography
Focus on You – It’s hard not to love Bob & Krista because they are just fantastic people. They are so easy to be around and just good people. Beyond that though, they are fab because they work WITH photographers and not against us. Trust me, you want your photographer & videographer to have that kind of friendship the day of. If it becomes a battle of wills over who gets “the shot” everyone loses. They are awesome to be in the trenches with and get what’s going on.
RAD – I know right? I’m not supposed to be recommending my competition but seriously, after the intro video for Colleen and Marshall (can’t wait to see more from that day!) I was stunned and amazed by their work. The camera guys were easy peasy to work with and we all got along great
Wedding Planning
Heidzillas – Heidi may be the only bride that has ever intimidated the crap out of me. Seriously. SHE CAME WITH A BINDER AND SPREADSHEETS! Scary stuff I’m telling you, especially my first year out. However, her wedding was flawless and much of that was due to her amazing organizational skills and planning. Since then I’ve watched her go from a weekend warrior at day-of coordinating to running a full time business with her own crew of ‘zillas (whom are all fab ladies). She’s awesome and when I work a wedding with Heidzillas, I know the day is going to be amazing like it was for Svetlana and Sandor, Codi and Joe, Jillian and Kevin, Jennifer and Todd, Erin and Tony, Erica and Aaron and Colleen and Marshall (I’m sure I’m forgetting someone…).