Photographer Portrait: Luxe Photography

I was first introduced to the work of Larissa Addison of Luxe Photography by a bride (and good friend) of mine. This bride knew a friend who knew a friend who had hired Larissa, and as it goes, Larissa and I ended up working on the same wedding. After looking into Larissa and checking out her portfolio (as any good wedding planner worth her salt would do), I was beyond impressed with this local talent who hails from my hometown of White Rock, BC. What I found almost equally impressive were her incredibly reasonable rates for wedding packages, starting at just $1000 (better book your date quick, because I'm fairly sure that someone of her caliber won't be able to keep her rates this low for long!). Being an avid admirer of excellent photography and post editing, I can tell you with certainty that Larissa's star is on the rise. Nothing thrills me more than being able to showcase an emerging talent and hope that every little bit of exposure helps thrust her into the realms of previously mentioned Reine and Jana, Chris plus Lynn and Erin Gilmore. Posted here are just a few of my favourite shots of hers, but definitely give her blog and website a look as every image she takes is breathtaking ( I love her family portraits and children's pictures, so make sure to look at those too!). Without futher ado, here is our interview which is sure to make you squeel with glee! Her enthusiasm and passion for her craft is so inspiring!

Hello Bella Interview with Larissa Addison of Luxe Photography

HB: How did you get into photography?

LA: It dates back many years to my childhood. My parents both dabbled with photography and their own film development. However, in my youth I was too ignorant to learn the technicalities, though I loved picking up my parents 35mm cameras. Digital came around, and then my daughter was born. I began having little mini "photoshoots" with her with my point and shoot. I started doing some photo editing and after realizing I wanted to take better pictures and not just make crappy pictures look better, I took in my father's old Olympus E-500. I did a couple engagement shoots right off the bat for some friends, and the same friends booked me for their weddings at a low cost. The rest is history... I guess?

HB: What do you enjoy most about photographing weddings?

LA: Weddings are amazing. They truly are the most important day to many people - more than just bride and groom. First and foremost I love seeing a bride and groom pull together, and make a true self expression of their love with planning and designing a wedding. Second, I just love LOVE. I love seeing all these people huddle around a couple that is so excited to have a life together. I get to meet their families, their best friends, and really am truly touched by each family by the end of the day.

HB: What's been your favourite wedding to photograph so far?

LA: This has to be this hardest question. I love all of my clients so much. But so far, the most fun I've had on a wedding day was Jana and Matt's wedding on August 28th of this year. Jana was adorable, and she worried about me all day, making sure I'd eaten, etc. Also, my younger sister attended the wedding and was one of the Emcee's and it was awesome having her near me! The locations were awesome and the lighting was perfect. Bright but diffused light, we went to Granville island for portraits and this huuuuuuge (16) wedding party tromped around, the guys wearing hot pink Ray Ban sunglasses. We were a sight!

HB: Any funny or horror wedding stories?

LA:Well the only horror stories I have (since I have the best clients ever!) are really to do with location. I had one location that was absolutely terrible for lighting and the wedding party was not willing to go elsewhere. No shade, an extremely bright day, made for harsh shadows, uneven lighting and squinted eyes. It was nearly impossible to work with. I hope that brides really do take into consideration lighting when choosing their venue, and consult any photographer you know about what is the best kind of lighting for your wedding photographs.

HB: What is your favourite wedding picture to take?

LA: I absolutely LOVE taking macro ring shots, as well as setting up the bouquet, getting product shots too. My favorite ceremony shot is when the bride and groom come back down the aisle when they've just been married. They are always absolutely beaming with pride and emotion! Doing the bride and groom portraits can be very powerful and I try and invoke emotion into my bride and groom because it really shows through in the photos. I love setting them in a spot and allowing them to really embrace and look at each other, kiss and flirt, while I get wide angle shots from a slight distance.

Luxe Photography on Facebook

Luxe Photography Blog

Luxe Photography on Twitter

Luxe Photography Website

Coming up! Photographer Profile

I'm really excited to profile this photographer for my October "vendor pick of the month". Narrowing down the images to feature on here is a daunting task, because I am literally in love with every image. I will also be posting an interview with the photographer herself, Larissa Addison, and if you haven't already fallen in love with her through her photos, her interview is sure to tug on your heart strings a bit. More coming soon, but in the meantime visit www.luxephotography.ca.

The nature of vendor deposits/retainers

I found this article on a caterer's blog and thought it was well written, informative and could be of interest to many brides out there. With so many vendors and venues requiring deposits and retainers, it's so important to know their policies and to have a payment schedule so that you don't miss out on securing your date! This and other great articles can be found at http://cateritsimple.blogspot.com/search/label/deposits

Why Are Deposits Non-Refundable? by Debi Brim

A very fair question asked by many clients!

A deposit is not only to secure your booking with the vendor, but also to secure the vendor's business with you. Confusing, yes, but follow me here.

Photographers and reception sites can logically only book one wedding per day. Cake creators, caterers and many florists can only book a certain number of weddings per day, and some of these limit it to one per day. When a bride books that date, the vendor closes that date to any other bride/booking. This means we may turn down business from future inquiries for that date.

(I personally turned down over 15 brides for the date of 7/7/07 because it was booked, and I turned down over 25 brides for the popular 6-7-08 date.)

Should something happen and you change your mind, move your date, want to use another vendor, and you cancel your booking, especially close to the date, it creates a financial hardship for the vendor. As you know, not too many brides book their caterer, photographer, etc., 3 or 4 weeks before the event.

This means the vendor has no opportunity to re-book that date. The vendor has already turned down business that could have been booked except for the fact that he/she closed that date just for you. The non-refundable deposit covers the lost opportunities and the costs incurred by the vendor based on your commitment.

Moving the date is many times viewed as a cancellation. Why? A bride books 11-7-09 with me. I turn down 4 brides for this date because I've made a commitment to the booked bride. Bride decides to move her date to January, after the holidays. I have now lost those 4 potential brides because I've turned them down.

I've had a number of discussions in which I'm asked "What costs? The photographer hasn't taken any pictures yet!" You're right. And the caterer probably hasn't bought any food and the florist hasn't purchased the flowers. But these are not the only costs associated with running a business that can help you have a great event. All of these vendors require special (expensive) equipment, rent, insurance, staffing to answer the phone when you called to book the event, internet access to enable you to see our website as you planned your event, the time already spent with the client during the consultation and follow-up, cost of paper, folders and filing cabinets to create and store the client's paperwork, and much more. These costs need to be covered and overhead has to be met.

When we close that date to any other business based on a client's commitment, then we have lost the opportunity to see any income for that date that would cover this overhead when the client decides to cancel.

A deposit protects the client and assures the client that the vendor will be there. A deposit also protects the vendor when the vendor turns down other clients, so the vendor can be there for you on that date.

So when talking to vendors, ask about their cancellation and refund policies. This is especially important if the bride/groom is active military and unscheduled deployment is a real possibility.

Knowing what the rules are in advance will help reduce some of the pre-wedding stress!

Pink Eye Candy ... or is it Eye Cake?

I just HAD to share this adorable cake from Martha Stewart. It's pink, it's ruffled, and it's cake, so it pretty much doesn't get any better than this!

Pink Party for Breast Cancer Awareness: etsy Tuesday

Another week has come and gone, and here I am again with an etsy Tuesday post and nothing else to show for the last week! The "rush" of my wedding season has come to a close, and blogging daily is back at the top of my list! I can't make any promises, but at least I can try.

For those of you who've read my blog for a while may remember another feature I did on Paper and Cake. I absolutely LOVE this company, and I think it's ingenious that they sell their designs electronically and allow you to print your own party ware. It's not QUITE homemade, but at least you'll feel a bit more creative than if you had walked into a store and bought everything premade. And who doesn't like to feel a little bit Martha Stewart every once in a while?

This pink partyware is designed in honour of Breast Cancer Awareness Month which is right around the corner, but would be perfect for a bridesmaids luncheon, shower or tea party. Compliment your tablescape with gorgeous white candle holders (these ones look like they're from Ikea), some pastel blooms and pretty stands to hold your treats, and you're good to go!

For $8, you get ALL of this :

Invitation + Envelope

Notecard + Envelope
Door Sign “Welcome”
Pennant Banner “Pink Party”
Placemat
Napkin Rings (vase & candle wrappers)
Menu Card
Wine Glass Tags
Cupcake Wrappers
Cupcake Toppers
Party Food Labels (name tags / gift tags / place cards)
Handbag Style Favor Box
Bag Topper for Pink Lapel Ribbons
Full Sheet Patterned paper

Find the pink party printables from Paper and Cake here.

Gorgeous Papercuts: etsy find

Papercuts bu Julene

I realize I missed etsy Tuesday AGAIN...for the second week in a row! I have a feeling, however, that this delightful find will appease you! Really, I can't think of a more unique, crafty creation than this incredibly detailed papercut. It looks great on it's own, or frame it with a funky fabric or paper behind it. Use one (or many) to add a personal touch to your ceremony or reception decor!

Meet Cheree Berry

For all of you fellow Martha Stewart stalkers, you will probably be familiar with this eye-candy filled wedding. For those who aren't, meet Cheree Berry's wedding! Cheree Berry is one of my personal wedding crushes, and you can probably understand why from her wedding; her enormous attention to detail and design combined with her innovative approach to stationery makes her work unique and timeless. Formerly a stationer for Kate Spade, Berry now designs her own incredibly popular line of stationery, and her website is chock full of delectable designs sure to make you drool a bit ( www.chereeberry.com ).