Sarah & Virgil | Madison Wedding

From the very beginning, I loved having Sarah and Virgil as clients. Every meeting was like chatting with old friends. From their farm themed engagement session to their tractor shaped groom's cake, they personalized their wedding. And I love that my favorite image from their wedding makes people think of a fairy tale. How prefect is that?

Tips for Better Photographs

Planning the wedding day to get the best photographs can be tricky when you have never planned a large event like a wedding. Having an experienced photographer will help the day run smoothly. We know how much time we need to cover the day the way you would like it covered. We will take care to the details with the photography schedule to keep you on track so you do not need to stress.

We want you to enjoy the day.

Below are some tips and suggestions that YOU can do to ensure the photography gets off to a great start:
Before the wedding:

• Communicate with your family and bridal party about scheduled portrait times.
• Think about a “First Look.” It’s romantic and a major de-stressor!
• Allow enough time in your wedding day schedule so you are not rushed for photographs.
• Have hair, nails and make-up professionally done, but don’t stray too far from your usual look so you still look like you.

On the wedding day:

• Manage the clutter in your “getting ready” room so it will look tidy.
• Have your accessories, like shoes and jewelry, ready so those details can be photographed. A cute hanger for the dress- and hung in a pretty spot while it waits for you- is also good.
• Keep lipstick handy to freshen up throughout the day.
• Don’t rush to remove the veil or bustle the dress- those are details you should capture!

How to look good in photographs:

• Remember good posture- Stand tall and keep your shoulders back.
• Slim the face by slightly pushing your chin forward.
• Balance your weight on your back foot for great curves.
• Stand close to your new groom and show your love and affection.
• Smile, laugh, and have fun!

Wedding Wednesday: DIY Shoes

Did you make it to the bridal show last Wednesday? We had a booth to show off our photography and the Cheeky photo booth. It was great to meet brides and grooms and chat about their upcoming weddings. Next week, we'll will post the tips we shared at the show. We handed out cards that gave helpful ideas on how to make your wedding day run smoothly to get the best photographs possible.

Today, let me share a website I found: Milk and Honey Shoes. This is a site dedicated to getting the perfect shoes. This is SO perfect for a bride that is looking for something special or different. Going from store to store and not finding what you envision in your head can be frustrating. Milk and Honey Shoes has not only a wide variety of "different" shoes, but you can actually design your own shoes.

You can pick the material, color, details, heel height and more. There is no longer an excuse for not finding the perfect shoes. (Well, except for the price. Obviously custom shoes do not come with a discount price tag.)

From their website: 

"For the shoe connoisseur who knows precisely what color combination she wants and knows exactly the heel height she loves, the Milk and Honey™ design my own heels web tool allows the discriminating customer a one-of-a-kind shopping opportunity. Choose from our signature collection of pumps below or design your own shoes!"

The End of Cuteness

There is only one cute baby in the world, and every mother has it.
Until that baby becomes a 4.5 year old preschooler.

Everyone likes “cute” and “little.” Who can resist all those puppy and kitten videos on YouTube? Miniature versions of desserts are all rage. (Cupcake, anyone?) Babies are no different. People love their small, squishy bodies, little fingers and their sweet tiny noses.

Loving babies is in our DNA. It’s part of evolution. In 1943, Konrad Lorenz coined the concept of “Baby Schema.” Cuteness is measured by things like big eyes and a big, round head, paired with a small nose and mouth, and dimples. These Baby Schema features trigger a feeling of protectiveness, even when the baby is not ours. Loving our children is not something we choose or are conditioned to do. It’s an instinct that we can’t help- because they are so cute.

But what happens when babies grow up and become preschoolers? They lose their cuteness.

Let’s face it: babies and toddlers get by on their cuteness. Tantrums and potty talk from a 2 year old is cute and funny (even when you don’t admit it to them) but, it’s reason to send a 5 year old to their room without dinner. Toddler hugs are more satisfying, their off-key songs are sweeter, their little smiles more adorable. But when they pass the toddler stage, they are no longer cute.

“But, not my kid,” you say.

Sorry, you are wrong.

A research study done in China and Canada asked men and women to rate photographs of children ranging from infants to 6 years old to determine each face’s likability and attractiveness. “Men and women rated infants as more likeable and more attractive than toddlers, who, in turn are rated as more attractive than young children.” [J Pincott, Psychology Today] What they found was, after 4.5 years old, the features deemed “cute” are no longer prominent and the likability rating dropped off like a lead balloon.

But does cuteness matter? Probably not.

You see, parents don’t really care about research when it comes to someone telling them whether their child is cute. Research doesn’t know about snuggles at story time, homemade cards and art projects or “Phineas and Ferb” quotes being recited at random times. Research doesn’t prove to me whether I think my 5 year old’s missing front teeth are adorable or if my 7 year old’s excitement when making s’mores is cute, or even if my 13 year old’s incredible imagination is lovable.

Is it a coincidence that if you ask a parent what their favorite age is for their child that it always seems to be the age that child is right now? I have four children, three of which are past the “age of cuteness.” And I wouldn’t trade even one of my beautiful children for a world of cute.

After the Ring | Bridal Show | Madison WI

You have a new ring. You want to enjoy the romance of the proposal. But, the words "We're engaged!" are barely out of your mouth before everyone wants to know when the big day will be. 

They will pump you for information on your plans and details that you haven't even thought of yet. They will offer you suggestions and advice; some good, some really, really bad. (No, Aunt Jenny, no one thinks tulle arches or fake flowers are a good idea anymore.)

But you are in luck!

The annual spring bridal show is next week, May 22, 2013 at Marriott Madison West. This is coordinated by the same people that do the huge show at the Alliant Energy Center in January and that publish the Wedding Planner & Guide book. (SO helpful- get a copy at the show if you don't have one!)

How do you make the best use of the show? I'm glad you asked.

1. Come with a plan. 
You don't have to plan your whole wedding in one evening, so don't try to meet with every wedding professional at the show. If you at the beginning, concentrate on venues and photographers. If your wedding is already in the planning stages, pick 2 or 3 things to work on, like cake, flowers and invitations.

2. Bring a fine-tip Sharpie & take good notes. 
Imagine you have the good luck of finding the best cake baker in the whole world. "But," you think, "maybe I should go peek and have a quick taste of the other cakes, just to be sure." After a few more tastes, your tongue is sugared-out and you forgot who your favorite baker was, let alone where their booth is located and now you fear you will have to settle for blah ordinary wedding cake! Taking good notes could have saved you.

 

When you find a wedding professional that you love, write it down, either on the literature they hand out, on their business card, or on the show program. Taking a few notes on why you love them will also help you remember who they are after you leave the show. Don't rely on your memory; you will have too many other things to see and do. Some wedding professionals will have a glossy brochure or a glossy business card which is difficult to write on with a pen. Your Sharpie will write on almost anything, so it is perfect for your bridal show note-taking.

 

We are again part of the prize package. Make sure to sign up for your chance to win.

When you come, please stop by our booth, right inside the front door, and say hi! 

 

Jamie & Kevin | Lake Windsor Country Club | Madison WI

Jamie and Kevin had an October wedding, complete with fall details. An important detail was the extra location stop we made at a corn field for photographs, since cornfields featured in their first date and the wedding proposal.

The reception was held at Lake Windsor Country Club. The sweeping view of the golf course highlighted the fall colors.

Purple bridesmaid dresses contrasted beautifully with the yellows and oranges in the bouquets. Table centerpieces included homemade candle holders made by Kevin from cut logs. Jamie and Kevin made the favors for the guests, like the jarred grape juice concentrate.

Even the cake carried the fall theme, decorated with fondant leaves, acorns and mushrooms.

 

Cake by Chris' Confection, Flowers by Wild Apples

Megan & Josh | Madison WI wedding

Megan and Josh were married at St. Peter's Catholic Church on Madison's north side. They had a clear, sunny day for their vows.

We love it when the wedding day allows multiple locations for photographs. With Megan and Josh, we were able to schedule three stops, so having great weather was a definite help.

  

 

(Above, a few pages from their album, see album below)

 Two details that I loved about this wedding: 

1. Bobble-head cake topper, specially designed to look like the couple. Even the Megan Bobble-head's dress was done to really look like Megan's dress! I had not ever seen these before and I loved the unique, FUN touch.

2. Best Wedding Dance. EVER. A lot of couples will take dance lessons for their first dance, some will even plan out that dance. Megan and Josh actually looked like they learned their dance from Dancing With The Stars, with twists and flourishes that looked great. Plus, they were well-rehearsed so they looked comfortable out there. They took the first dance up a few notches!

 Megan and Josh's wedding album: Artistic with chunky pages.

Grace Episcopal Church | Madison WI

A few weeks ago we posted about Cecilia and Jason's wedding. Their ceremony was at Grace Episcopal Church in downtown Madison Wisconsin. To help Grace showcase their church to couples, we designed an album that focused on the church.

 

Here are a few layout spreads. Call Grace to see more!

Very Pinteresting: Wedding Ideas on Pinterest

Have you heard of Pinterest? If you have a bride planning a wedding, chances are you have. The online pinboard works like a chock-full magazine, flowing with a steady stream of new ideas that you can keep organized on a virtual bulletin board. This is the place to go when you are looking for inspiration for your wedding.

Whether you are looking for dresses, cakes or favors, Pinterest has images and ideas to help you create a gorgeous wedding. There is a search function that you can use to look for anything wedding. The best time to use Pinterest is when you are at the beginning of your engagement, at the start of your wedding planning. It's great to see what kind of ideas are out there to begin to organize in your head what you want to do with this big day.

To get started, we'd like to suggest some wedding accounts for you to follow:

Style Me Pretty

Wedding Chicks

The Perfect Palette

Martha Stewart Weddings

The Pretty Blog

Ruffled

Floret Cadet

Intimate Weddings

Brides

Bride Finds

Bride Finds From The Runway

The Knotty Bride

Bride and Joy, Vintage Wedding

Offbeat Bride

InStyle Magazine wedding hairstyles

Divinefrenzy, Invitations

Luxe Finds DIY wedding projects

Junebug Weddings

Southern Wedding Magazine

Lauren Grove, Every Last Detail

Vane Broussard, Brooklyn Bride

Postcards & Pretties, Wedding receptions

Do you have any favorites? Let me know if these Pinterest accounts are helpful or if you know of better ones. Where do you like to go for inspiration?

Reposted from June 2012

Stalking the Muse

Creativity is in high demand these days. More than any other time in the history of humanity, it is desirable, even ordinary, to call yourself “creative.” Everyone wants it, from preschoolers to retirees.

People want to have great imaginative, original ideas.

Why? Maybe they enjoy pretty things, or want to be praised for their brilliant ideas. Maybe they are envious of what others can do, or just *maybe* they are conceited enough to have seen something and think they can do it better. (This is NOT a bad thing- it’s human nature.) 

So, where is your source of inspiration? Where do you find your muse? 

The saying “There is nothing new under the sun” is a lie. Anyone who says there are no good ideas left out there is not trying hard enough. You can find ideas everywhere. One of the easiest places to find your muse is at your fingertips. Your smart phone. (Which, by the way, is a great example of taking an old idea and reinventing the way people get information and entertainment.) I use my phone all the time, and you should, too.

Apps that I use that can also be your muse:

Vine- I just recently discovered Vine and I am obsessed with this video app. I now think of my life in 6-second, stop-action looping videos. I am not a master videographer, and the app could use a few more options, but I love this one. If you want a muse, Vine will do it!

Snapseed- I know the world is in love with Instagram, but I’m not. With multiple Twitter accounts, Facebook pages, etc., I just don’t want another “network.” But, I’m a photographer and I want to play with iphone images, so I love the effects snapseed can do. Of course, it’s not as good as Photoshop, but these images will likely never be viewed larger than my phone, so I am free to play. (Though I’m sure I’m not the first person to wish for Photoshop on my iphone.) One word of caution, “just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.” If it’s a bad photo to start with, adding a filter just makes it a bad photo with a filter. Take another photo and try again.

Pose- If your muse is seeing what fashions other people are wearing, Pose lets you stalk, and even buy. It’s like a mix between Pinterest and Instagram for fashion because people can snap photos of their own outfits and post them to the feed.

Pandora- Music is easily the most satisfying way to find your muse. A feeling or sentiment from a song can trigger an idea. Or a line can inspire certain thoughts that lead off to other conclusions. Pandora lets me pick my preference, whether I need upbeat, mellow or off-the-wall. And I can customize what I hear as my personalized stations evolve.

Pinterest- This is the bulletin board effect of marking web pages and ideas. It’s like flipping through a magazine without the articles. I use it to look at wedding trends and examples of how people use portraits in their homes. I also use it when I need inspiration for a particular project, like when we built a reading nook for the kids. Whether you are planning a wedding, looking for home decorating ideas, or even figuring out what to cook for dinner, Pinterest has pictures of it.

As you pursue your inspiration, go ahead and push your boundaries to find your muse. Don’t copy- take an idea and twist it into a completely new idea.

Stalk your muse 

and create something wonderful.

*all apps are available at itunes*

Have suggestions on ones I should have included? Tell me!

Wedding Shoes | Madison Weddings

Let's face it: shoes are important. Comfort and style both have to be considered on the wedding day. Shoes can add the perfect finishing touch to your bridal attire and they can add a statement about your personality.

Men get off pretty easy, as they do with most wedding decisions: they can rent from the tux shop or buy their own dress shoes. They can go formal or casual.

For better or worse, women have more choices: heels or flats, dressy or fun, white or colored, match the wedding colors or go off the wall, one pair all day, or a second pair for the reception.

As you choose your shoes, here are some things to think about:

1. What style is best for your personality and dress? Don't be afraid to have fun!
2. Would your shoes work for your "something blue"?
3. Is the heel at a height that you can wear all day?
4. Does the height of your groom effect your heel height?
5. Will be enjoy wearing those shoes well into the evening, after being on your feet all day?
6. Will you be able to dance in the shoes?
7. Will you have time to "break the shoes in" before the wedding? Make sure to purchase them early enough that the answer is yes!

 Happy Shoe Shopping!

An Old Soul

From a recent session: a two year old with an old soul.

Val & Mike | Madison Wedding

Val and Mike were married at Quivey's Grove, a quaint, old restaurant just outside of Madison, in Fitchburg, Wisconsin. The restaurant is housed in the old house, while the bar and causal dining is located in the barn, connected to the house by an underground tunnel. Their open lawn is a pretty place for a ceremony, allowing enough room for a couple large tents for dinner and dancing, and open space for guests to linger.

I love kids at weddings and Val and Mike had a lot of them. They took advantage of the space and had a large "bounce house" for kids (and the adventurous adults- bride and groom included!) to climb through and jump in. To further entertain all the kids at the wedding, they made sure to have a craft table, music geared to little ones early in the evening and they even opted for cookies instead of cake for dessert.

Cecilia and Jason | Downtown Madison Wedding

The distinct ambience and character of a Madison wedding shines when the ceremony and reception are both in the beautiful downtown area. And what better place to get married than the oldest church in town, Grace Episcopal Church. I love old buildings, and especially old churches. Madison is lucky enough to have quite a few, but Grace is the iconic church that everyone knows- the church with the red doors across from the Wisconsin State Capitol.

I love fun details. Cecilia's shoes were definitely a fun detail. Blue! What a fun way to include the wedding tradition of wearing something blue. The bridesmaids were in short black bridesmaid dresses, starting with yellow heels and transitioning into yellow flip-flops. Hair was done by Rana Kay Design and the dress was from Brandi's Bridal.

Cecilia and Jason had a warm day in June for their wedding. Actually, I think it was one of the hottest days of the summer, but the heat of the day is always forgotten once the party starts. We went across the street to the Capitol for some photographs before heading to their favorite "biker bar" for drinks.

 The party kicked off at The Madison Concourse Hotel, located a block from the Capitol. Music was provided by Jukebox Bandstand.

Wendy & Keith | Monona Terrace Wedding, Madison

 Wendy and Keith had a beautiful day for their May wedding. We had such an early spring that it was hard to know what the weather was going to be like in May. Planning an outdoor ceremony in Wisconsin is always a bit risky, but the rooftop of the Monona Terrace was perfect. It wasn't too hot or windy, and the view of downtown Madison and Lake Monona is hard to beat.

 The wedding party took a walk up to the Capitol building for some photographs. The glasses on the wedding party was planned as a "surprise" by one of the groomsmen. We love hearing how the wedding party thinks we make the whole process of being photographed easy and fun. Couples also often tell us that their favorite part of the day is when they were being photographed, just the two of them. I think that really shows in their expressions, too. 

Wendy has enjoyed the honor of being in a lot of weddings.  A LOT OF WEDDINGS. Which means many bridesmaids dresses. And many of them are purple. Okay it was seven dresses, and the shades of purple varied, but that's still a lot.

To celebrate this, she asked guests to wear bridesmaids dresses to the wedding. Extra credit for those that wore purple. Many had fun with it, some even going out of their way to find outlandish gowns to don. Many other details made for a beautiful and enjoyable evening. The cake matched the wedding invitations, ducks, food stations, a music themed dash around the room for group photographs- it's all in the details!

We said good night to Wendy and Keith after one last photo session, a night session using the Monona Terrace rooftop with the Capitol as our backdrop. A romantic end to a stunning day.

Jamye from Beyond Elegant Events pulled the day together, Daffodil-Parker did the flowers, the cake was done by Craig's Cake, Scott Mueller Mobile DJ kept the dance going all night, Poetry in Motion created the videography and Khloe's Hair Studio made the bride look fabulous.

Laura & Dain | Wisconsin Dells Wedding

I liked using some of the various album pages last week so much that I'm going to do it again this week. This is not the whole album, but it gives you a chance to see more images from the day and tells more of their story.

Laura and Dain had the proverbial "good luck rain" on their wedding day. And it happened in the cutest way.

The wedding took place at Trapper's Turn Country Club, part of the Kalahari Resort. The ladies got ready at the club while the guys prepared for the day at Dain's parents' house. Check out the cute details with the love note on the bottom of the shoe and the family mementos sewn into the dress.

Shortly before the tented ceremony began, the rain came. Luckily, not a severe storm- just a regular summer rain shower. Guests were shuttled to the ceremony site, just off the green, by golf carts and hurried under the large white tent. When the bridal party waited to head down the aisle, the "last-minute purchase" of matching umbrellas protected them- as much as possible. Personally, I thought the images of the couples lined up in the rain were very cute (though I was dry under the tent). Laura coming from the golf cart, escorted by her father who held the umbrella, was just perfect. Really, the rain was light enough at that point that Laura stayed pretty dry and still looked absolutely perfect.




During the ceremony, the rain ended. The mingling after the ceremony and the family photo session carried on as planned, as did all the other photographs. The rest of the day was lovely, and the sun even popped out before photographs of Laura and Dain were done.

Flowers were by Wild Apples, cupcakes were by Bloom Bake Shop, the dress was from Edith's Bridal, hair was done at the Kalahari salon and music was by Jukebox Bandstand.

Chelsey & Erik | Janesville Wedding

I loved everything about Chelsey and Erik's wedding. I loved the colors, the details, the weather, the couple!

The wedding was an outdoor ceremony and indoor reception at the Janesville County Club. The colors were the fun and trendy "yellow and gray", with a modern vintage theme. For example, while Chelsey used mason jars for candle holders, the clean, modern floral patterns on the ribbons were definitely not "country." Floral Expressions did the gorgeous flowers and the beautiful cake was done by Craig's Cakes.

We are using Chelsey and Erik's wedding to display our coverage of a full wedding and to highlight one of our Artistic Albums. Below are several of the album spreads. Visit with us to see the whole album!

Family Albums

I enjoy photographing families with young children. Actually, if I am going to photograph a large family, I would prefer there to be young children. (That sounds crazy, I know!)

Planning a family session: getting everyone together, having everyone coordinate, hoping everyone is healthy and in a good mood- it takes a LOT of work and effort on Mom and Dad's part. And, since families may not update their portraits every year, it's nice to take advantage of the opportunity when we can.

When I photograph a family, we will do the family all together, but then we will often do other groupings. When I can, I like to photograph just the kids, mom with the kids, dad with the kids, and even each child separately. I'm not able to do this with every session, since children tire out quickly, depending on their ages and attention span, but it's the goal.

With so many favorites from a session, I am frequently asked, "What can I do with all of these images that I love?"

My answer: A family album!

I love albums because they show off the very favorites from a session, plus they are easy to carry with you to share with family and friends when you are not at home to show off your wall portraits. And it's fun to have the album of images to look back through as the kids grow.

Erin & Marty | Madison Wedding

Erin and Marty had a beautiful wedding at Midvale Community Lutheran Church, on Madison's west side. The whole day felt easy because Erin was so laid back. She was relaxed and really enjoyed the wedding day with Marty.

With a downtown reception only a block away, a stop at the Capitol for photographs is almost a "must." Erin's shoes were cute gold flats that we had to show off.

 The reception was at the Madison Concourse Hotel, in downtown Madison. The service and attention to detail is always wonderful! The seating chart (bottom left) listed guests by name with their table number. Hair was done by Rejuvenation Spa. Flowers were by Blooms. The cupcakes were by the Concourse. 

Boutique Means Personal Service

bou·tique  

/bo͞oˈtēk/

Noun A small store that offers highly specialized or fashionable services or products. A business that serves a sophisticated or specialized clientele: "a small gift boutique"; "a boutique photography studio".

Appleby Photography is a boutique photography studio. What does that mean for our clients? Personalized service to fit their needs.

No two clients are the same, so their photography needs are not the same. We work to fulfill each clients individual needs, from session scheduling to final order delivery.

Sessions are available in our studio, at your home, or at any location of your choice. We schedule sessions around your toddler’s nap time or your work hours, making the experience easy for everyone. Evenings and weekends are certainly available.

Newborn session in client's home, with pull back of "studio" set-up

We understand that taking a newborn out for a session can be challenging, so being able to stay home and have Appleby Photography come to you can make the process stress-free. But, if you prefer to get out of the house, we can make the session easy and relaxing at our studio. Family sessions are fun when done on location. Local parks and downtown urban architecture are especially popular spots.

Family session done in client's home, using the features of the home

Appleby Photography specializes in wall portraits. We want you to show off your beautiful family. Ordering appointments done at our studio show your images projected actual-size, meaning the real size you plan to order. Not sure how a 24x30 wall portrait would look? Let us show you.

Alternately, we can come to your home for your ordering appointment. This is perfect when you would like help measuring your walls to ensure the perfect size portrait arrangements or if you need help deciding where to display your portraits.

Do you need help hanging your portraits? We do that too! We can also offer tips on how to make hanging easy if you are still deciding on the display locations.

We take care to guarantee you are getting exactly what you need. It’s important to us that you are completely delighted with your portraits and enjoy showing them off for years to come.

Do You Love Me? Could You Count The Ways?

Valentine’s Day- the holiday everyone loves to hate. 

Why? Pressure.

It’s the one day out of an entire year that you feel like your love is being quantified. And no one likes to feel like they don’t measure up.

There is a certain level of expectation on Valentine’s Day. You feel like you are being judged. You feel like you are being watched and compared, to see how well, how much, you love someone. 

But also, in turn, how much you are loved.

Which brings me to the reason why people love Valentine’s Day. 

Everyone wants to feel like they are worthy of being loved. 

Everyone wants to feel special and appreciated. 

When you look at it that way, giving in to the hype of Valentine’s Day is actually a small gesture that you can do for your honey that has big impact. 

The whole rest of the year can get crazy-busy, and the romantic gestures can get forgotten when you are pressed to deal with schedules and to-do lists. This could be the one day that someone feeling a bit unappreciated is hoping that their significant other will slow down and remember all the tender, mushy reasons they love each other.

So, how do you show it? Easy:

(he/she/him/her used interchangeably)

Open her car door

Hand over the remote and let him choose the show - or better yet, turn off the TV

Write her a letter - Don’t know what to write? Try listing the reasons she makes you feel good or what you love about her. Mail it. Or hide it in a place she’ll find it.

Flirt

Make him a scavenger hunt

Bake her dessert - even if it comes from a mix

Make him breakfast in bed - or if your schedules are different, have the coffee ready when he wakes up

Do a chore that is usually done by the other

Play a board game together

Have a movie night - at a theater or on the sofa

Cook dinner together

Stargaze

Play together- play pool or minigolf, go bowling or ice skating

Change your routine

Turn out the lights and spend the evening in firelight or candlelight

Say “I love you and I appreciate all that you do, even if I forget to tell you the rest of the year.”

See Keep The Romance Fires Burning post for more ideas.