Love it or hate it, social media is here to stay! And while it can be a great resource and add a lot of fun to your wedding planning process, it can also ruin your big day! Wait what? As a wedding photographer, I have seen it happen. The good news is you don't need to fall victim to the social media induced wedding day blues. Here's three ways social media can really ruin your wedding experience and what to do about it so it does not happen to you!1) FACEBOOKSharing big life moments on facebook has become the status quo. It's easy on a big day like your wedding to want to update your status, check out all your likes, and all the lovely words of congratulations people are writing on your wall! However, I am always amazed by how many brides spend a lot of their time in the hair & make up chair looking at their phone & facebook on their wedding day.The Problem: There are three big problems with this. 1) It makes it much harder for your hair and make up artist to do their job when you are constantly checking your phone for updates. 2) It doesn't really look that great in photos to see a bride engrossed in her phone. It's totally not that idealistic image of a bride looking excited as she's being primped, but rather one where a bride looks concentrated on something else other than her wedding day. 3) The biggest problem of all is that it is actually taking you out of the moment of enjoying what is actually happening. Your wedding day only happens once, but your facebook wall will still be full of messages tomorrow. It's so much better to live in the day rather than the social network because, well, YOLO.The Solution: Turn your phone off or give it to your MOH so you don't feel tempted to check it. Maybe your friend can even periodically check your fb for you and report back. But you should really do your best not to check it and enjoy the moment!2) PINTERESTPinterest is practically synonymous with wedding planning these days. Most brides have several pinterest boards dedicated to wedding inspiration-- everything from their dream decor to must-have shots they want for their wedding pictures. I do love Pinterest and think when used wisely it can be a great resource, but it also has its pitfalls.The Problem: Pinterest creates a LOT of unrealistic expectations for your wedding day which can lead to a lot of disappointment for brides. Keep in mind this: when you are pinning photos you are pinning one or two of the BEST photos of someone's wedding. So your pinterest board is not actually representative of every shot every person gets in one wedding but rather a "best of" compilation of photos from hundreds of different weddings. And there are a lot of unique factors to each wedding such as location, scheduling/timeline, whether or not a couple did a first look, weather and lighting conditions, etc which may make recreating these "best of" shots hard to accomplish. Each wedding is unique so it is very unrealistic to think your full wedding folio will look like the highlights from many other weddings. That's not to say your photos won't be AMAZING, it's just to say they might not be a shot by shot recreation of your pinboard. Beyond just unrealistic expectations for photos, pinterest can also create unrealistic expectations for what is doable in decor. A lot of stuff that is popular on pinterest is from styled photo shoots-- not even real weddings-- and to execute that look for a real event would cost $$$$.The Solution: I am not saying you need to get rid of your pinterest board, just to keep your expectations in check. Use the boards to figure out the overall style you'd like for your pictures or decor, and then find a vendor who fits that style and can create something ORIGINAL just for you within that style. Your original photos created by a photographer you trust are going to be so much more genuine, beautiful, artistic and meaningful than recreations of shots on your pinboard. And heck, a few of them may even end up being popular on pinterest down the road too ;)For further reading on how Pinterest affects your wedding photos I'd highly recommend reading Troy + Aimee Grover's article "A Photographer's Perspective On Pinterest". They have a similar point of view & go into even more detail on the topic!3) INSTAGRAM (or similar photo sharing apps/sites)Your friends, family and sometimes even your bridal party are whipping their phones out to live instagram your wedding day! That might seem great in theory, as you are excited to see some photos from your day right away, but there is a real trade off for this.The Problem: First, by live instagramming the day, your friends and family are not being in the moment with you. I've actually had to ask bridesmaids to stop taking photos of the bride getting into her dress so she could actually be in the photo with the bride and be a part of the getting ready process. Really?! Yes, really. I've seen moms so focused on getting a photo of the bride walking down the aisle with their phone, that their face registered no actual emotion as to what was going on other than the concentrated look of "must take this photo." It is really so sad, especially since part of the reason you hire a professional photographer like me is so you don't have to get the shots yourself and can enjoy the moment of the day! Second, it actually ruins your pro-photos when you have a bunch of people trying to take amateur pictures. It can be as simple as looking at your ceremony photos and seeing a sea of hands holding iphones where your guests' heads should be. But it can be much worse too. I've had guests get up and stand in the aisle to take pictures during a ceremony blocking or limiting my shots. I've even had a guest during the cake cutting ask me if I could move out of their shot... but I am pretty sure at the end of the day the bride preferred my pro-shot to her guest's blurry instagram one. ;)The Solution: Have an "unplugged" wedding or at the very least an unplugged ceremony. This means asking guests to put away their phones & cameras and not take pictures during the ceremony (or sometimes the entire wedding). You can do this really nicely by putting up a cute sign, a note in the program and/or by having the officiant say something about it prior to the start of the ceremony. I've had several couples do this and it has had a tremendously positive impact on both the photos and the whole mood of the day!In conclusion, I think the common thread here is that all three social media outlets (Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram) detract from your wedding day because in one way or another they take you out of enjoying the moment of your day. Whether it is referring back to your pinterest board to make sure all your "must have shots" got taken, or checking your facebook feed for messages from friends, or your guests jumping up with their phones to take tons of pictures during your ceremony instead of actually watching it, all of these things prevent you from fully experiencing one of the huge milestones of your life. Your wedding day will go fast. Enjoy it fully.
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I always check every bridal party member to make sure they look great and know just how to pose!!
I very quietly capture the love!!! So sneaky!
Grand Entrance? Yeah, I'm on it!
Toasts? I got that covered too ;)
From bridals to the ceremony!!
Where's Ashleigh during the First Dance? Blending in with the crowd, but capturing every moment!
Bouquet shot? Check!
I'm pretty sure I was being hilarious and entertaining the crowd here... Clearly!
WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON HERE? I don't know, but I thought everyone could laugh at me and help me try to figure it out!
Ceremony-ing! This is me capturing some crowd reactions!
Beautiful portraits!
More bridal party awesomeness!
Sometimes perfect moments just happen before my lens (see the pic on the left) and then sometimes a gown needs to be fluffed to create a perfect moment (see the pic on the right).
"I now pronounce you..." hahah j/k-- I don't do that part guys! I am just posing them for a portrait! hehe
Whoa, that's a lot of photographers! This is what happens when you try to grab a group shot after the ceremony and the guests can see what you're doing... YIKES! Lesson: do a first look or move the guests into a separate cocktail area... otherwise the attack of the guests with point and shoots happens! hehe
Okay so I'll leave you with this. Every wedding I am ALWAYS asked to dance by at least one groomsmen. Yes, I am a groomsmen magnet. It's bizarre. I always turn them down because there is nothing professional about gettin' down on the dance floor with a groomsman when you are the photographer (and MARRIED)! But usually me refusal makes the guys try to woo me harder. Their flattery may make me blush (see below) but they never get the dance!
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Does Phunky Booth have on-site prints? No, Phunky Booth is not a booth that spits out prints on site.So how do I get my Phunky Booth images?Your high-res Phunky Booth images will be on your wedding DVD. You will have printing rights to them, just like with your wedding images. You will also get an online proofing gallery for your Phunky Booth pics so guests can view them and order prints if they choose. You will also get a online slideshow of your Phunky Booth pics which is great for sharing on facebook, twitter, email, etc. The slideshow will also be showcased on your wedding website!In addition to everything listed above, you have the ability to order the following products with Phunky Booth pictures:-Add extra spreads to your wedding album. This is cool because we can lay out lots of images in a grid on a spread and you can relive the most hilarious Phunky Booth photos every time you pick up your wedding album!-Order a 6x6 or 8x8 Phunky Booth album as a companion to your main album! Nothing funnier or cuter than a whole lovely album of PHUNKY photos!-Order thank you cards!-Order loose prints (and maybe even send them to guests in your thank you notes)...but how will my guests be able to see the Phunky Booth photos?We make little print out cards to hand to your guests with links for how to view the photos. In addition be sure to share the links to your slideshow, or better yet, your wedding website that I designed for you. If you share these links online (particularly via email or facebook/twitter) they will be sure to find the photos online!
If you are shooting my wedding when do you have time to operate Phunky Booth?Good question! We set up your Phunky Booth either just before the ceremony or during cocktail hour. We open the booth during the reception (sometimes even part of cocktail hour if the timeline permits), but only during "down time" or open dancing. We do not leave it open during main events like "the grand entrance" "first dance" "cake cutting", etc because during those times we want your guests to have their attention focused on YOU. We also do not leave it open during dinner because people are eating and also this is usually when we refuel on our vendor meal break. But other than these few moments, the Phunky Booth is open. If we weren't doing a Phunky Booth during these "down time" periods we JUST photograph candids and open dancing shots. But to be honest those are so easy, you really only need one photographer covering that. So for Phunky Booth weddings during down time one photographer captures candids and open dancing shots and the other operates the Phunky Booth, which actually works out perfectly. And you get more photos of your guests this way too!!How much space does Phunky Booth take up? Where will we put it?The phunky booth is a mini-studio set up, and therefore requires about a 12x12 space to set up. Preferably indoors, but if it is an outdoor wedding than by a wall is better. We work with you and often your wedding or venue coordinator BEFORE the big day to plan where we will set it up. I need about a 12x12 space. I like it to be out of the way enough to not mess up your pretty decor but I don't want it to be so far out that guests can't find it!What if we want a different background than just plain white... something that matches our decor?You are welcome to provide a custom background to match your decor if you want. Please check with me for dimensions.
Besides hiring you to set up Phunky Booth is there anything I need to do to make it a success? Like, should I supply props?Yes!!! The Phunky Booth is truly a collaborative effort between ME the photographer and YOU the wedding couple! I want every Phunky Booth to be different so I ask that YOU supply the props. 
Soooo.... that's my introduction of the Phunky Booth!! Hope it was helpful and has you alllll excited! Of course leave comments with your thoughts or questions!xoxoAsh
I have TWO Canon 5D Mark II's. One is my main camera and one is my back up. Also sometimes AJ uses it when he second shoots for me. 5D Mark II is the top of the line for a pro camera. If you are paying at least $2500 for your photographer, I think you should expect that they have at least a 5D, 7D (even though it is crop sensor) or 1D (if they are Canon shooters, not sure what the Nikon equivalent is!) However, I honestly don't think the camera body is EVERYTHING. I know plenty of people with 5D Mark II's who don't know how to use it properly and definitely do not deliver pro-quality images. On the other hand I know super skilled photographers, who don't yet have the savings for a 5D, and they shoot AMAZING stuff on a crop-sensor camera. In fact, the first 1.5 years I shot I only had a 40D (a higher-end crop-sensor camera). So I definitely believe a skilled photographer can deliver high quality images with anything from a 40D or higher. They key is really having skills to shoot in manual and having an eye for composition and an ability to direct people on camera. The fancy camera? That's icing on the cake!My back up to my back up is my 40D. As I mentioned above this camera is what I used at the inception of my business and it has always yielded fabulous images! It's definitely still a handy and old reliable part of my bag!
The 50mm 1.2L - This is my go to lens. It's medium range and basically sees what we see with our eyes. I absolutely LOVE the colors & bokeh (blurry backgrounds) it produces. I also love shooting at low apertures so being able to go down to 1.2 is always fun! This lens also focuses pretty fast and holds the focus well! So that's why I LOVE it and use it the MOST! I use it for details, some portraits, and getting ready.
The 35mm 1.4L - I use this lens a LOT! Not as much as my 50mm, but I still love it. This lens is wide but not too wide. There is no distortion on the edges which means it still can be used in portraits. I don't use it too much for portraits but I will use it a little to mix things up and some variety to a portrait session! I love the low aperture-- the bokeh and colors are just beautiful! I use this lens for most group shots on the wedding day-- family formals, and bridal party. I also use this lens for the majority of the reception because it's wide angle allows me to tells a great story.
The 135mm 2.0L - This is my prime alternative to the 70-200mm which most photographers use for ceremonies. I like it more for a few reasons-- it's lighter and I can hold it steadier, it opens wider which lets in more light for dark church weddings, it's still very close and can capture reactions in a big church, it produces beautiful color and focuses fast. This lens is also beautiful for portraits and sometimes I do use it in portraits...but mostly this is my ceremony lens!
The 85mm 1.8 - I LOVE this lens! Eventually I probably will want the 85mm 1.8, but I do love this one just how it is! It focuses fast (where as the 1.2 focuses much slower), and it's much lighter than the 1.2! It also yields beautiful color & images. I use this lens primarily for portraits, along with the 50mm and a touch of the 35mm. It gets close up for beautiful expressions and gorgeous headshots, but you have to back up far if you want a full body shot! I sometimes will also use this lens in smaller ceremonies.
The 100mm Macro 2.8 - This is a fab macro lens and of course I use it most for ring shots and other little details at a wedding, but it's also a GREAT portrait lens! I use it for jewelry details, lockets or brooches on bouquets, beading and lace detail on a wedding gown, and anything else little and special that might pop up! I also use this lens TONS in boudoir sessions as both a portrait lens and to capture small sexy details like a woman's eyelashes. This was one of the first lenses I ever purchased, and while I don't think it should be every photographer's first big purchase, I think it is might lovely and handy!
The back ups: 28mm 1.8 + 50mm 1.4- These were the two lenses, along with the Macro and 85, that got me through my first 1.5 years of business. They are affordable prime lenses and work FANTASTIC! The quality is amazing. While I definitely see an improvement in color and clarity with my L lenses, these lenses still rock and get the job done. Again, it's more about the photographer's skill than the gear itself. An L lens can only deliver so much without a good photographer using it, and conversely these more affordable lenses don't really hold a good photographer back! So while I don't really use these two much anymore, I still think they are awesome and recommend it to any photographer starting out or looking to experiment in shooting PRIME only. These lenses now act for me as a back up, in case GOD FORBID, a lens should break at a wedding. This awful scenario does seem to happen a lot so it's always good to make sure you're covered with back ups. And that's what these lenses do for me!
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PART 1: Researching VendorsAt the early stages of planning it can be overwhelming trying to find vendors. How does a bride find her perfect dream team?? What avenues yield the best results in finding a reliable vendor? Here's my thoughts.
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What events do you try to cover in all your weddings?I always try to get getting ready shots for the bride (the groom depends on where he gets ready and how much time you have contracted me for), family formal portraits, bridal party portraits, bride and groom portraits, ceremony coverage, candids of the couple, bridal party, family and other guests through out the day, your decor details, and at least some of the reception. To me the story of your wedding day does start with getting ready and I LOVE to photograph that. The other events I listed are also so important to capturing the iconic images of your day that you will treasure for a lifetime, and I would not miss ANY of them!
Can you give me an example of a standard 6 hour timeline?Sure thing! Here is an example of a recent 6 hour wedding I did. As you can see many of the traditional events were captured, though they were condensed into a short amount of time. Also the couple did skip a few traditions, which did allow for everything they wanted covered to be covered. The six hours is perfect for couples who want to work with me but are on a budget, or for couples who are not having a very traditional wedding.
Still have more timeline questions? Leave them in a comment below, I am happy to answer them!
These are just a few fun, stylish, cost effective DIY escort card projects for you to check out! As you can see there is an idea out there for every wedding theme & style! So get your craft on and have fun adding some uber chic details to your wedding!!
Here's another screen shot...
To cap it off, we already know of a few big & exciting features coming in 2011!! So stay tuned! :)And check in on Monday for our give away announcement!!!!!
Lastly, here is I am with 
Navy + Mustard YellowI love these colors together because of the sharp contrast! It feels unexpected, especially for a wedding! I'm sure guests would love to see such unique colors for a wedding and would make your wedding extra memorable! Navy is pretty chic right now and I bet you could find some super cute navy bridesmaids dresses. Or the guys could wear navy suits and yellow ties which is oh-so preppy!! This color scheme could work for a beach or nautical theme wedding but equally well as a preppy wedding! I also LOVE the idea of the bride navy shoes! That would be FAB!!!
Pink, yellow, gray, turquoise, purple!!This color theme is FESTIVE and FUN! It has a lightness and frivolity to it which I LOVE. I could see myself getting re-married with these colors! There are so many different themes these colors conjure in my mind-- like modern-vintage flea market chic, or a modern take on a fiesta, or even La Baroque/Marie Antoinette! Whichever way you choose to go with these colors keep it whimsical! I could see all the bridesmaids choosing their own vintage dresses, or hunting flea markets to find eclectic details for this wedding! It would be so very fun & chic!
All of the palettes in these posts were made via