Violet Photography & Design | Altoona, WI Lifestyle Photographer

Free 16x20 Canvas Offer

In the last few days I was thinking hard about a summer perk I could offer for everyone when I finally came upon the idea to turn it into a kind of contest! So, this is what you get! Through July 10th 2012, every customer who books the Platinum Package will be entered into a random drawing for a FREE 16×20 Fine Art Canvas. The image chosen will be from your session with VPD, and the final image will be chosen via a collaborative effort between VPD and you. The image will be fully edited to ensure that it is absolutely perfect, at this size every imperfection will be visible so it is very important that the final image be absolutely perfect. This is also the reason the final image will have to be approved by VPD. Not every image is perfect enough to be displayed at this size. Your friends and family will be envious of the gorgeous piece of art hanging on your wall, and I realize not everyone has the funds to purchase such a large piece of art. At over a $200 value, it’s a steal of a deal. Remember, you have to book the Platinum Package, the offer ends on July 10th, 2012 and the winner will be announced on July 12, 2012. Your session must be paid in full at the time of your shoot. VPD does offer payment plans in order to make your dream of beautiful heirloom images a reality, if you need to set up a payment plan, please feel free to CONTACT ME. I am so excited about this, and I am hoping you are too! In the event that the excitement for this offer exceeds expectations, I am prepared to sweeten the pot a little bit. At this point, I am unsure what that will be, but I will even consider offering additional FREE canvases to other participating individuals. Good luck to you all, and if you have questions, please post them below!

I love Vintage. Anything and everything vintage, and you’ve had me at hello. My work has a very obvious flair toward the vintage end of the spectrum. The soft and romantic looks, floral, the soft and flowy fabrics, bows, ribbons, ruffles. I guess you could say I am a girly-girl. I revel in it, and love it. I am currently lusting after a pair of shoes my brothers would laughingly call “grandma shoes.” They’re perfect in every way. Cherry red, flats, suede, and just gorgeous. They.will.be.mine.

That’s why, when I ran across Mill Crest Vintage today, I almost died. I am so in love, and if you love vintage, you will too! All of these vintage dresses were chosen with care, you can tell. I also love that so many people are beginning to get the love for all that is vintage as well. You see so many more unique details in weddings these days. People are really putting their character and charm into their weddings. And after all, shouldn’t a wedding be about the 2 of you? It really shouldn’t be about anyone else! It’s a celebration of the 2 of you, not about who can throw the biggest, most elaborate party. I don’t care about the price tag, I care about the memories.

That’s why, when I get married my Wedding Photographer will be the most important aspect of my wedding. I am always paying attention to what local photographers are doing, and the majority of the time it’s not to build my business or to compete. I will be totally honest and tell you, that I am looking for my wedding photographer! Before I even thought about going pro, before I even knew that I would, I thought I had my wedding photographer chosen. THE wedding photographer, but then I really started looking and I am so proud and honored to say that we have so many talented, amazing photographers in the Chippewa Valley area. The competition is stiff! And before I knew it, the person I thought would shoot my wedding is no longer. Maybe I will go back to that person some day, but ultimately I realize that the only thing I will have to look back on that glorious day, is my pictures. I won’t remember what the food tasted like, unless it was particularly terrible. I won’t remember if the flowers were spectacular, as long as they reflect who I am then that’s all that really matters. Many brides now are incorporation so many different things into their bouquets as unique fillers to their flowers, that you don’t have to spend a hefty bundle on those flowers anymore. At the end of the day, all I will have to look back on are the memories, and the photos that captured those moments. Those are the moments I want to pass on to my children.

Then, obviously the DRESS. What girl doesn’t spend a big chunk of their wedding budget on the dress? When I really think about the fact, that due to a horrific series of events, I can no longer wear my mom’s wedding dress when I get married, it makes me so sad! I loved that wedding dress, even when I was 8 years old. I can’t even remember the first time I told my mom I would wear it when I got married, because I was so young. Alas, it is what it is, and I will have to wear something else. But Mill Crest Vintage gives me hope, that I might be able to wear something with some history after all. Granted, it may not be familial history, but one can pretend. So, I want to share with you guys! I have some favorites, and who knows? Maybe one of my planning brides can find the dress of their dreams!

The awesome thing about Mill Crest Vintage, is they are in the U.S. They have beautiful, unique, one-of-a-kind, show stopping dresses, and they only charge $12 to ship to your doorstep. In this day in age, I call that a steal! Anyway, I am off on a rampant as usual, so without further ado, I will share my favorites. Enjoy!

Told you they were beautiful! And they’re a steal for being vintage, beautiful, and one of a kind dresses. Mill Crest Vintage has also won a wide variety of awards and has been recognized by numerous professional organizations, so you can feel comfortable purchasing your dress with a history and a future. If you purchase a dress here, I would love to know about it! Even better, I would love to photograph you in it! Which one of the above dresses are your favorite?

One of my favorite things to do when I have a moment to myself, is head to Polyvore and create some beautiful outfit inspiration boards. I find such pleasure in doing these types of things, and on occasion I will get requests from clients for inspiration on what to wear. For that reason, Polyvore comes in handy and it is such a unique tool to use. I’ve done numerous What to Wear’s for photo shoots and you guys have always really loved them so today I thought I would share one that I made a while back and haven’t shared yet. This one wasn’t made with anyone specific in mind, but maybe it will help you. I love the combination of yellow and blue and with the slight pop of pink it adds some interest. Personally, I love when families plan outfits that play off one another while staying within the same color scheme. I also really love vintage look to clothing, and unique flair. All of these things add interest and personality to a photograph. If you’re planning a session with me, I am always willing to help you coordinate your families outfits and do an inspiration board for you. If you have an idea of the colors you would like to combine, I can also put together a board using the colors you have in mind. If you need fashion advice, I’m your lady! I hope you enjoy the latest board, if you would like to see more like this, leave me a comment below or on Facebook! Maybe I can make it a weekly thing.

Enjoy!

I received an email from a budding photographer this morning that has continued throughout today, and with her permission we decided that there is a lesson to be learned from our stories. They’re so similar after all. I am going to be very honest here too, something I’ve not ever really done on this page is shared inner secrets or goings on. I’m not going to make it a habit either…but here goes: this fellow photog. messaged me and asked about support. How to get it, where to find it, etc. When I read the message a part of my heart broke inside for her because I know all too well the struggle she is facing. It seems that when you first start out as a photographer, you get a mixture of reactions. They range from excited, to neutral, and even to jealous. It’s hard to deal with some of the more negative reactions, it’s even more difficult when the negative reactions come from within your own family. This photographer and I have that in common. I do not get a lot of support from my family. I’ve had family members call what I am doing a joke, not a real job/business, I’m “playing house.” I’ve had family tear my pictures apart…”you cut her head off,” “I don’t like that editing,” “why did you do it that way,” “I don’t see it.” on and on and on.  This, coming from the people who should support me most. In the beginning, it KILLED me. I hurt so much from all of it. But finally, I stepped back and asked myself, Am I doing this for ME? For my customers? For Beauty? Or am I doing it for them? You know what the answer was??? Yeah, I am doing it for me…for all of YOU, to create, to build something beautiful, to push myself further than I ever have before. This is a business. This is my livelihood, my lifeline, my LOVE and passion. I will never again let someone make me feel the way I did in the beginning of this endeavor and neither should you. I am very passionate about this, if you have that passion, you need to harness it and bring it to it’s full potential. Listen to NO ONE but yourself. Sure, get critiques and information from outsiders, but never feel you HAVE to implement it. This is yours, it should reflect your inner vision and no one else’s. People will come to you, for your own unique vision. For all the rest, there are plenty of other places that will fit their vision. Love yourself, boost yourself up, believe in yourself, work HARD…harder than you ever have in your life, and the rest will come. I’m always here for you guys…thick & thin. You need anything, and I am your gal.

Hello faithful blog followers! Thanks for tuning into another post on budget wedding planning, it makes me so excited to know you’re here and I am not just sitting at my computer screen, babbling to myself for the fun of it. If you enjoy this blog, please come leave me a comment on Facebook, leave one here (comments box below), or click the handy “like” tool at the bottom of the post on the left margin. Your support is what keeps these posts coming. So, if you enjoy them…take a couple seconds and tell me about it.

So, for today’s blog post I decided to do: choosing your wedding date. For some, not a lot goes into this thought process. They choose a date and that’s it. For others, it’s a time consuming process. Choosing a date can be a very difficult thing. When you’re planning on a budget, the date makes a very important difference, and factors into a lot of things. Most importantly, your date will be a very large factor in how much you ultimately pay for your wedding. If you’re looking to save the absolute MOST on your day, following these tips will help you save hundreds, if not thousands of dollars. Seriously…

First and foremost in the budget saving tips is to book your date as soon as you can with your chosen vendors. Many vendors, such as photographers, wedding venues, djays, officiant’s, and even your bridal shop, will experience price increases every year. This means if you’re engaged in 2012 and you’re not planning to get hitched until 2015 that you have 2 years of potential price increases to withstand. If you book and pay your deposit right away, many vendors will have a clause in their contract with you, stating that even though their prices may be higher in 2015, you will still only pay 2015′s pricing. Major score. Sometimes, that can me $500 or more savings on each vendor who offers this. So, once you have that date, book it. Most people are booking 2 years in advance now anyway, so this also ensures that you have the vendors of your choice and you’re not scrambling to fill that void with someone you’re not quite sure of.

Part B of the above tip is that many vendors will offer you pay as you go, or payment plans. Why put it on a credit  card if you don’t  have to? Paying interest on my wedding day certainly doesn’t sound appealing to me. Maybe you have to do it, okay I understand…but working out an arrangement with your vendors may be possible, so be sure you ask. Speaking from the standpoint of my business, I know I would never turn a person away who is wanting to pay my services off before their wedding.

Next, choose a date that is not near Valentine’s Day or Mother’s Day. These two holidays make floral prices soar through the roof. If you want to pay top dollar for your floral arrangements, here is a good way to do that. Add to the fact, that none of these arrangements will ever be seen in a church or venue you will be married in and it’s a double whammy. However, on the flip side of that, if you get married around Easter or Christmas the church will be filled to overflowing with beautiful florals that you’ll be lucky enough to take advantage of. Win, Win. Now all you pay for is the bridal & bridesmaids arrangements, boutonnieres,  ceremony decor, and other miscellaneous floral arrangements.

Other holidays to be leery of, not always for budgeting but also for factoring in your guest count: 4th of July, Memorial Day, Labor Day, etc. These holidays, many people have other things planned, traditions, etc. These are dates to spend with family, and you will ultimately be missing a good chunk of your guest list if you hold a wedding on these dates. I’ve seen it happen, so many times. However, if you’re holding a smaller, more intimate ceremony this may be the right choice for you.

You’ll love this one, or you’ll hate it. Parts of me, HATE it. Hate it. But there are parts of me that love it since I am not overly traditional and some things are really things of the past. So, forget etiquette.  Just forget it. If it doesn’t feel right to you, don’t do it. You hate favors at a wedding because you see it as wasteful and everyone just throws them away anyway? Okay, don’t do it. You’re certainly not alone. I hear it all the time. Favors can also cost anywhere from 1-5 per guest as well, so when you factor that in and calculate your guest count, that’s a big chunk of money you’re spending for something you only feel you have to do. Instead, give a beautiful speech with your husband at the reception. Thank everyone for coming and tell them how much you’ve always appreciated their involvement in your lives. Or, make a donation to a charity you believe in and tell your guests that a donation was made on their behalf. Find a way around the things you dislike and make the day truly a reflection of who you are as a couple, not who society says you are or should be.

Last of all, and probably one of my absolute all time favorites…hold your wedding ceremony in the off months or on a Friday or Sunday. The most popular month to get married use to be June, but is now fighting with the fall months. Especially in Wisconsin, where our fall leaves are glorious and stunning. The true off months for many wedding professionals is November through March. April through October tend to be the very busiest, and tend to be the months they will charge their regular prices. Choosing a wedding date during these off months, or having a wedding on a Friday or Sunday can save you 25% or more on each wedding vendor on an individual basis. How much each wedding vendor can discount you, will vary. Ask them, and see how much you can save. Having a winter wedding can be the most beautiful thing you have ever seen. Especially from your photographer’s perspective. Sure, it will be cold, but if you tough it out the resulting photos will be perfect.

(Photo Credit: Photographer Jenny Haas)

Again, always remember that choosing a photographer in this type of situation is a much more important decision now. It’s not easy to photograph people in snow. It requires skill that goes beyond just being able to take a nice photograph. It’s important you choose a photographer who is comfortable photographing in these conditions, as well as one who has proven that they can photograph beautifully in these conditions.

Choosing your wedding date is very important. It determines many things; your budget, your decor & theme, the weather, your guest list, & even budget savings. Choosing wisely can help you to save 25% or more on your big day. That’s what this is all about, helping you find the very best ways to cut cost without sacrificing quality services and goods. Wedding & event planners, good djays, caterers, and photographers are important. These people will help set the tone for your day, they will create, and they will capture beautiful memories. Just because you’re on a budget, does not mean that you have to sacrifice having a true professional. As always, I am extending the open invitation to ask any and all questions you would like. If you need tips, suggestions, planning help, I am your gal. I also have connections with some of the areas very best planners, photographers, djays, and wedding professionals. If you need help creating the perfect team for your day, please do not hesitate to ask for recommendations. Thank you for checking out the blog, see you next week. Happy wedding planning!