Monday, April 25, 2016

Monday Mashup Ep.1 | Phoenix Wedding Photographer


Well, hello everyone!! Happy Monday! Did you all have a fabulous weekend?

Want to hear something crazy? I've been kind of nervous to confess this so don't start throwing tomatoes at me! The other week I was thinking about weekends and weekdays, and I realized that I absolutely LOVE my weekdays way more than the weekends! Am I crazy? I love my Monday through Friday! It was so refreshing to me to discover that I don't live for my weekends anymore!

My life is far from perfect, and honestly not as crazy and exciting and adventurous as a lot of people I watch on Instagram, but that's okay! I wanted to create this blog series to share the little moments that colored my week and brought me joy, laughter, and I'm sure a few other emotions.....like today's crying over cupcakes story for instance!

I can't promise these will be long blog posts, but hopefully they'll just be a fun way for me to document and take notice of the beautiful moments in my life and for you all to get to know me a little better!

So, without further ado (I love that phrase :))

So Begins Monday Mashup Episode 1!

1. Guys, I made a teepee! And not just the fort kind you make when you're little when you stick a broom under a sheet and think you're awesome. (Which was still pretty awesome back then.) I wish I would have taken before and after pictures but here's the gist. Three piles of fabric--black, white, gold sequin--2 spools of thread, scissors, sewing machine,  a whole lot of newspaper (cut into a pattern), and 10 hours of laboring with love equaled my second "child" being born. Those stripes weren't already in the fabric. I had to make them! So you can imagine just how much cutting and sewing was involved!I also lined the doors with gold, sequin fabric. My sewing machine hated me and died a few times, but it was soooo worth it. I also found the cutes flower puff balls at Savers for super cheap! Perfect for the teepee topper :)





2. Colbie LOOOOOVVVVEEEDD her new teepee! (For those who don't know, Colbie is my 2 year old daughter :)) I'm breaking this teepee thing into two parts because there are two sides. 1. I got to craft! I love doing fancy DIY projects like this! I enjoy figuring out patterns, making things my own, and creating! And 2. I absolutely love seeing my daughter so happy and joyful! When I finished the teepee early last Monday morning and set it up, she went WILD! I've never seen her move so fast, in and out, around, and under. She'd play in her teepee for a few minutes and then run out, run over, and give me hugs and kisses, and then the whole thing repeated itself over and over. Oh gosh, if she keeps this up, my whole house will be full of teepees :)




3. Colbie started to say a new phrase this last week. One that makes my heart melt every time. She'll come over to me and give me a hug and look me in the eye and say, "Mommy, I happy".  Ah! I could cry every time! Sweet girl! You bring me so much joy!

4. I gave my website a facelift! And added new wedding packages called "Hello Gorgeous". I'm loving how it looks now! I even added a whole page full for detail shots!  If you're bored! Go take a peek! Click here :)




5. I started going to the gym with one of my besties! And Colbie was (semi) happy in their gym day care. The workers only came and got me 2 out of the 3 times we went last week. But, progress, right? Also, I have to confess. I LOVE lifting weights. I hate counting to 12 over and over and over again, haha, but I love how I feel afterwards. I love feeling strong. Not trying to get huge over hear guys :) just toned, and feeling better!

6. Colbie started kicking her legs at the pool last week when I told her to swim! I need to get that girl in swim lessons ASAP! Arizona scares me with all the pools!

7. So, I've been dreaming about a tea party birthday party for Colbie for....well, the past year! Her first birthday we didn't do anything but a cake smash in our house with one little friend over. This year....I kind of went nuts! You'll just have to wait for that blogpost. I think that one deserves a special blog post for itself!But, I can tell you, I worked for hours on the party and when we got there, with the car loaded to max capacity with all the party supplies, and my cupcakes (with little rings in them) that I had worked so hard on spilled out the side of the car and fell to the ground in the dirt and were ruined,I didn't know my body could react so quickly. I cried! And I don't mean just a "shed a tear over the death of my cupcakes", I mean full out ugly cried. It's hilarious now! But, oh man, I'm not cut out for planning parties! If I can't handle a 2 year old birthday party, I better stay away from.....everything else :).


Colbie's face pretty much sums up my face after the cupcakes fell out of the car. Colbie really did have a great time at the party. She just hates pictures! So funny!


And that pretty much wraps up the first weeks of Monday Mashup! Lot's of stuff about my daughter! That's okay, she's really the boss around here after all. :) Thanks for reading guys! Have a fabulous week!

xoxo,

Trisha

Thursday, April 21, 2016

My Wedding Day Secret Weapon | Wedding Thursday | Phoenix Wedding Photographer




All right friends! Today I'm telling you about my biggest wedding day secret weapon!

It's going to sound so silly, but I promise, this is how I always make sure I get the images I want and the images my brides love on the wedding day.

Has anyone ever been in a wedding? Seen the behind the scenes? If you're a guest, it almost always seems completely put together--everything runs smoothly (except for maybe the ceremony starting a few minutes late), and it's just this beautifully perfect masterpiece.

Well, believe me, you can do all the planning in the world, but in most cases the wedding day gets a little crazy behind the scenes.

At one of my latest weddings, we were in the middle of the bride and groom portraits. I had them posed next to this gorgeous wall of flowers. We were so excited about it. Then, out of nowhere, came an enormous swarm of bees that made camp right next to us(which also happened to be right next to the ceremony location.) After we all ran away screaming....(okay, after I ran away screaming ;))  I heard one of the bridesmaids say "something always has to go wrong on the wedding day, this is it."



Well, I'm here to tell you, yes, things might get a little crazy on the wedding day, things may not go as planned, but here's my one tip that can help.

Create a solid, cushy timeline with your photographer. Those gorgeous detail shots, getting ready portraits, reception details, ceremony details, first look, etc, etc....don't happen all on their own!  I'd be running around like a chicken with my head cut off if I didn't have a plan! My brides all know how I am about the timeline :)


Some weddings have worked out where the timeline was followed 100%. For one wedding, I planned in 20 minutes of family portraits (guys, that's pretty amazing to get them all done in that time), and we finished in 18 minutes flat during the exact time that I had scheduled! I had a backup cushion time, but this made the whole day flow easier!

And some weddings, things get jumbled, hair and makeup takes longer, flowers don't get there in time. It happens. That's okay. Don't stress if it does. Then it's up to me to make it work, make quick decisions, have my second photographer do more, and do the best I can. It all works out. I promise. But you are guaranteed all your faves if you can do your best to make that timeline work!



So, want a sampling of my timeline? (This is just a general timeline. I definitely work with my brides and make personalized timelines for each wedding that I do :))

1. I start the day scoping out the best possible locations for portraits at the venue.
2. Start bridal details (45 minutes)
3. Bride getting ready shots (30 minutes ) *special note: bridesmaids, moms, and anyone helping get the bride in the dress need to be dressed before this--makes for classy, gorgeous pictures!
4. First look and portraits (45 minutes) (if the bride doesn't opt for a first look we get bridal party shots done early and as many family pictures possible done!
5. Bride goes in hiding  while I take ceremony and reception detail shots (30-40 minutes)
6. Ceremony!
7. Family pictures, bride and groom sunset pictures, full bridal party pictures (60-90 minutes** whatever I can get!)
8. Reception (I just follow the DJ ---love those guys!)




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Polet + Angel | Sedona Engagement Session



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Wednesday, April 13, 2016

Polet + Angel | Sedona Engagement Session | Phoenix Wedding Photographer



They took a day trip to Sedona. They visited several of their favorite spots. She couldn’t help but wonder. Will it be today? He took her to a fancy restaurant. By the time the server came to ask if they wanted dessert, she had resolved that it wasn’t happening. "That's okay," she thought. False alarm. It was still an incredible trip.

They walked out of the restaurant. It was a little chilly but they stood outside, admiring the view. Before they left, he said, “Let’s take a picture before we go.” A selfie wouldn’t do. They asked a person nearby. He nervously passed the phone to someone he’d never met before. A stranger who he was trusting to capture one of the most important moments of his life. 

“On the count of three….1, 2, 3.” They smiled at the camera.

 He said, “One more, just in case.”

As they smiled for the camera, and as the shutter was about to click, he made his move. He got down on one knee. And there, in the beautiful and captivating city of Sedona that they had both grown to love as they dated, he asked this woman, who had completely entranced to be his life companion.  

Snap.

And as almost every girl dreams, he caught it on camera.

As I listened to Polet tell me this story, along with how they met, it was hard not to notice how she lit up as she talked about Angel.

When she said they had gotten engaged in Sedona, I replied that I had been dreaming of doing a shoot up there! We decided right then and there that this had to happen.

And, oh yes, yes it did!

Not only had I been dreaming about doing one in Sedona, now I can’t stop dreaming about how incredible it was!

These two just lit up in front of my camera. Pure magic from the whole session!

Congratulations Polet and Angel! You two are perfect for each other! I couldn’t help but bubble over with joy as I photographed you two! It was so beautiful to see that kind of love! I hope you love the pictures!

This area was so beautiful! What you don't know is that literally 2 minutes before it was littered with people all over it, sliding down the rocks and playing in the water. We got there right as they were kicking everyone out. We had to rush because we were getting yelled at to move. But I must say, the stress of being quick and getting yelled at was TOTALLY worth it!



I hope you loved them!

xoxo,

Trisha

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