Phil and Katie invited their dog Ghost to the engagement session and we were even more excited. Here are some of our favorites!!
1-0 TEN thats a lot!
10 years ago, in 2007, I embarked on a wonderful adventure. I became a small business owner! I founded ARA Photography at the end of my senior year of college with absolutely no business ownership experience! I took a risk, dove in head first, and hoped for the best. All I had was a camera that my parents purchased for me, my talents, and a name. I did one wedding pro-bono just to get my feet wet in the world of weddings. After that first experience, I knew it was going to be fun! Who knew it would’ve lasted this long.
As I grew as a business owner, I learned many things, but the best thing of all was learning from my mistakes. Through those mistakes I was able to take my business to the next level and I am not stopping anytime soon! I also learned that running your own business requires a lot of love, encouragement, and support from others.
I want to give a special thanks to some very important people.
Thank you to my husband, for giving up his Saturdays (sometime Sunday) with me so I can shoot a wedding, and the few nights when I sit at the computer editing pictures; also, for the support and encouragement to keep going.
I shot all my weddings solo for the first year then I met my partner in weddings as I like to refer to her, Alexandra. Since then she has been by my side. The places that we have traveled, the food, the cakes, the dances, and different cultures that we have experience together; THANK YOU!
To my wedding vendors’ friends, you all are the most talented human beings I have ever met THANK YOU! For creating fabulous weddings for me to photograph.
The best thing about this business is the people and the stories. As most of you know I am a hopeless romantic I pretty much tear up every 1st dance, father and daughter, and mother and son dances. To the amazing couples and their families I have met along the way, THANK YOU for sharing your fairy tales with me.
Here we are now 2017, I am excited for the next 10 years, and I know the future is very bright!
PS: As we celebrate our 10 years in the business, I would like to extend $500 off our wedding collections for 2017-2018 weddings.
What is a Bridal Portrait?
A Bridal Portrait is a really fun Southern tradition. It is a picture of the bride in her full wedding day attire (dress, veil, hair, makeup, jewelry, and bouquet) taken 1-2 months before the wedding and is typically displayed at the wedding reception.
You can think of your Bridal Portrait as a dress rehearsal for the “Big Day”. You get the opportunity to trial run your hairstyle and makeup, it is good practice in front of the camera, and it allows you to wear your dress more than once! Many times, brides will change something about their wedding day look after the bridal session. Sometimes they don’t like the way their hairstyle looked with the veil, or their shoes were too high, or their makeup wasn’t quite right. Each time, the bride was able to make those adjustments before the wedding day - all thanks to the Bridal Portrait!
Where does a Bridal Portrait take place?
Your Bridal Portrait can take place in any location that has the atmosphere that you are looking for. You can go for a sophisticated feeling, or urban, rustic, romantic, etc. Many brides also choose to have their Bridal Portrait session at their wedding reception venue. We can help you decide on the perfect place for your Portrait.
What should I bring with me?
1. The most important thing you will need is an assistant! Bring your mom, bridesmaid, or a friend to help you during your session. You will need someone to help you, get you water, and fluff your dress.
2. Bring walking shoes. We don’t want your wedding shoes getting dirty as we move around, especially if we will be taking pictures outside. I recommend you bring something easy to slip on and off so we can easily put on your wedding shoes in the shots where your feet will show.
3. Don’t forget your bouquet. Flowers are always beautiful and give you something to do with your hands! Your bouquet does not have to be as large or elaborate as your wedding day bouquet. You can ask your florist to make you a portrait bouquet or you can even make one yourself.
4. You will need a sheet or drop cloth to keep your dress clean. We will place it under your dress and try our best to keep your dress as clean as possible. If your dress does manage to get a bit dingy, make sure to schedule a cleaning before your wedding day.
5. Props are welcome. Aside from your bouquet, feel free to bring any other props that are special to you. A fun pair of shoes, a wrap, a headpiece, or even your pet. This is a great chance to play with your wedding attire!
6. Please eat a good, solid meal before your session. It is also a good idea to bring cold water bottles and plenty of healthy snacks. You want to be feeling great for your session and not being hungry is a big part of that! Also, we don’t want you fainting in a heavy dress in the sun. So, make sure you eat!
7. Remember to relax! Try to let go of any nerves or insecurities and enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime experience. Have fun, laugh, and enjoy this very special occasion.
Contact us and let us help your wedding dreams come true!
