Tips for Brides (T4B) is a weekly feature where I talk about a cool tip that I think will benefit brides everywhere. For more T4Bs, click here!

This week’s Tip for Brides is about how to make your wedding more earth-friendly. There are lots of fantastic articles out there on this subject already, but here are a few of my favorite suggestions:

-If you want to have a “grand exit” as you leave your ceremony or reception, instead of using something that will add to the world’s trash, pick something biodegradable, such as Ecofetti, or even the old standby, birdseed!

-Instead of having guests bring you fancy pots and dishes, have them purchase their own Carbon Offset to make up for the pollution and waste they caused by traveling to your wedding.

-Purchase a hemp silk wedding gown or have your own custom-made from environmentally sustainable/biodegradable fabrics.

-Plan an ecologically responsible honeymoon and use low-polluting methods of transportation, stay in ecolodges, share transportation with other travelers, and learn about areas of the world in need of ecological help.

-Use locally-made or organic favors and flowers.

-Have your photos printed on recycled photo paper or choose an album company that uses recycled materials.

I know that being ecologically friendly is very hip and “in” right now, but hopefully being earth conscious will transcend being a fad and actually become a lifestyle for everyone. Your wedding can be just as beautiful and perfect while still being good (or at least less bad) for our planet! :)

Tips for Brides (T4B) is a weekly feature where I talk about a cool tip that I think will benefit brides everywhere. For more T4Bs, click here!

Today’s Tip for Brides is about the First Look. In short, a “First Look” is a photography term for a period of time just before the ceremony where the bride and groom see each other for the first time and then have some portraits taken of just the two of them. Here in the South, most brides really try to stick to the tradition of not seeing their fiancés for the first time until they walk down the aisle, and I totally respect and appreciate that. However, often that results in very little time and light for photos afterwards, something that many of my couples who declined to do a First Look have told me they later regretted.

So how does a First Look work? Basically we find a quiet, secluded area, and have the groom come out and stand with his back turned. Then we have the bride walk up behind him and surprise him in all of her beautiful, radiant glory. The groom gets to see his almost-wife in an intimate, private setting, where he can feel free to express his love and emotion without a hundred pairs of eyes studying him and judging his reaction. They can hug, or kiss, or whisper sweet nothings, or just laugh and have a good time.

The point is – you get to ENJOY the moment, instead of rushing through it to get to the ceremony, hoping you don’t trip over your aisle runner on the way down. And we, as photographers, can shoot the event from any angle we want, with any lighting we want, so we can make sure you get a beautiful image of that priceless moment, without being constricted by church or venue rules and lighting.

After you have both fully taken in the excitement of seeing each other, then we can focus on getting some wonderful couples portraits that you can display in your album and around your home. You can both relax and enjoy the experience, rather than rushing to finish before the sun sets, or worrying about getting to the reception on time, or being surrounded by a bunch of family members who make those intimate moments just a teensy bit awkward. And, after the ceremony is over, you get to the reception much faster, so you can spend even more time dancing and enjoying your loved ones. It’s pretty much a win-win situation for everyone!

The First Look isn’t for everyone, but I strongly recommend it for brides who get married in Fall and Winter when the sun sets earlier, brides who are concerned about getting to their reception as quickly as possible, and brides who want a larger-than-usual quantity of photos with their new husband on the wedding day. If you do it, you will be glad that you did, I promise!!

Tips for Brides (T4B) is a weekly feature where I talk about a cool tip that I think will benefit brides everywhere. For more T4Bs, click here!

This is the first of what will hopefully become a weekly feature – Tips for Brides! In keeping with the Photographers’ Tip, and by my lovely November bride’s special request, today’s tip is going to be about posing for the camera.

I think the primary thing on every girl’s mind when posing for a camera is looking as skinny as humanly possible. There are a few ways to do this.. The most well-know is called the “bevel.” This is the stance that you see on the red carpet from virtually every celebrity. Essentially you stand at a 45 degree angle to the camera, put your weight on one foot, cross the other foot over it, pop your knee, and lean back slightly. Here is what it looks like in practice (note: these poses are more dramatic, for artistic effect; you’ll want to be a lot more subtle when posing with the girls for a snapshot):

Basically this pose creates an hourglass figure, accentuating your waist and giving your body some serious curves. A similar but less-dramatic option is to turn your hips to the side and either pop your knee just a bit or point that leg straight out, but turn your shoulders to face the camera.

One factor you’ll notice in many of my photos is girls with arms on their hips, or hanging down away from their bodies. No matter how skinny you are, no one – NO ONE – looks good with the arms squeezed up against their sides. It makes your arms look larger than they are, and does nothing to show off your waist. Keeping your arms away from your body keeps the skin pulled tight, making your arms and waist look thinner. Notice the hippy arms and subtle bezel working together:

Sitting down is another tough situation. It can create unflattering rolls or pooches, and virtually eliminates your silhouette. Instead of plopping down indian style or sticking your legs straight out, try sitting on your hip and swinging your legs to the side. This creates what we call an “S-curve” that is slimming and curvy, as well as modest for girls in short skirts.

Another important part of looking good in photographs is to know your best angles. Spend some time in front of a mirror and move around, studying the way your body moves and at what angles you think you look best. Better yet, pull out some recent photographs and pick out the ones where you think you look hot. See if there are any common features in how your body is positioned relative to the camera, and keep that in mind when taking photos in the future.

Hopefully this has been a little bit of an insight into posing technique and how to look your best in photographs. Enjoy!

I just got a great idea from my new intern Jessica!  If you’ve ever been to a wedding, you know that the single boys don’t exactly fight to catch the garter.  Who can blame them – it can be a little weird to carry around a lacy piece of lingerie that has been on their friend’s new wife’s leg all day.  If you want to really give them a reason to fight for your garter, tie on a gift certificate to Home Depot, Best Buy, or some other cool store, then watch the meleé ensue!

From the Tacquard-Lynn wedding (which I am uploading right now, Alli!):

Have you guys seen Etsy.com? SO CUTE! It’s basically a website where crafty people can sell their creations, or other crafty people can find inspiration for their own projects. They even have a weddings section! You can view it here: http://www.etsy.com/category_top.php?top_tag=weddings

Here are a few of my favorite listings:

Pearl Necklace: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=9228698
I have a pretty healthy obsession with pearls (as Jason can attest), so I spend at least a couple of hours a week looking at pearl necklaces online. Generally I don’t like pearl solitaire necklaces, but this is one of the most delicate, lovely necklaces I have ever seen. I would wear this in a heartbeat!

Fascinator: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=9246859
I LOVE these things.. If I ever get married, I will FOR SURE be wearing one. Here in America they go for hundreds of dollars ($150 for the little scrap of netting alone), so this one for $47 USD is a great deal!

Invitations: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=9229259
I adore looking at invitations, and these fun, modern invites are gorgeous! They also come with Save the Date cards, and a personalized website. Not a bad deal!

Wedding Band: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=9127235
I know guys usually like simple wedding bands, so this is perfect! They can slip the heart around to the inside, so it’s like a little secret between husband and wife. Awww :)

Boutonnieres: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=6649346
I love all the elements here, from the feathers to the cool metal holder. Manly, romantic, and fun, all at the same time! Although my favorite bouts will always be these!

If you are a crafty DIY bride, definitely check out Etsy for some awesome ideas!