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The bridal shower is a fun and relaxing party for the bride to share the excitement of getting married with close friends and family. It will be one of those days that make the fact that you are getting married a reality! Typically the bridal shower is thrown by the Maid of Honor with the help of the bridesmaids.
So how do you throw a great bridal party? Just continue reading to find out how to prepare for the bridal shower, what all you need to do, and some tips to make the day a success!
There are a few things you will need to discuss with the bride before you hit the ground running. You should discuss these things about 2 to 3 months before the shower. The first thing to find out is a date for the bridal shower. Make sure that the date is accommodating for the bride and all of the bridesmaids. The bridal shower should be 2 to 3 months before the wedding. A few other things to find out is whether she wants a co-ed shower or just close female friends and family. Also find out if she prefers a theme or a style and the location. Make sure to get all of her input and then take over from there. Once you have discussed these things with the bride let her know that YOU GOT THIS! Tell her all she(or her and the girls) needs to do is go shopping for the perfect outfit and show up!
Once you have a date and other details follow the time line to stay on track so that everything falls into place. The last thing you want is to stress the bride out. So if you are stressing, just don't let her know! As long as you stick to a plan and the time line you should have no reason to stress! Remember...you got this! The moment you are asked to be a part of the brides big day, whether it be the maid of honor or a bridesmaid there will be stress, but again, I promise you will be fine. Some other things to make sure you have before you start the "work" is a guest list, and to decide on an invitation and either purchase them or make them yourselves. Some websites with great options for invites are Minted and Sophie's Favors. Bridal shower planning timeline
2 to 3 Months Before the Shower
- Organize the guest list and contact info - Book the location if needed - Set a budget - Decide who in the bridal party will do what - Order or make the invitations 1 Month Before the Shower - Send invitations - Purchase or make favors - Plan the meal or refreshments - Order food or establish who is bringing what - Decide, purchase and/or make decorations 2 Weeks Before the Shower - Confirm reservation if one has been made - Purchase Bridal Shower gift - Finalize RSVPs and follow up with those who have not responded - Prepare activities and games - Pick out your outfit(yay!) - Make a shopping list for food and drinks - Purchase food and drinks The Day Before the Shower - Set up tables, chairs, etc. at location - Prepare food - Confirm plans with bridal party - Run any last minute errands On the Day of the Shower - Keep track of who got the bride what - Prepare any fresh food - HAVE FUN!
I didn't want to throw too much info at you so I plan to do upcoming blog posts about different bridal shower games, bridal shower themes, decorations, and how to plan a bridal shower on a budget. I hope that you will come back for those blog posts!
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This post contains affiliate links which means I recommend products and services I’ve used or know well and may receive a commission if you purchase them. This is at no additional cost to you.
If you are going to be creating your wedding invitations yourself you're going to need the right font! The font sets the tone for the invitation and in my opinion the wedding. You can either do elegant, modern, and so many more! I have created a list of some of my favorite websites where you can get free fonts. They don't have to just be for wedding invitations, you can use them for nearly anything.
Just click on the picture and it will take you to the site.
I hope that you will be able to use some of these fonts to make your wedding invitations look great!
This post contains affiliate links which means I recommend products and services I’ve used or know well and may receive a commission if you purchase them. This is at no additional cost to you.
Photography is always fun, there are no problems, everyone is happy, time is not problem, all clients are 100% happy all the time, photographers loves to make clients mad. Okay, back to the real world!!! All of those are FALSE! Photography is fun, well most of the time. I guess I should add that there are never any “faux” photographers coming into the picture. Oh, and there are never any controversial issues.
Que some of the "issues" in photography...
The Copyright There is no middle ground on this one. Either photographers believe in it or they don’t. I personally copyright my work. Why? Because it is my work, I am proud of it. I’m not going to let anybody take it and use it as their own. If you didn’t know creating an image takes time and is not always easy. Technically the law says that as soon as a photographer presses the shutter button they own that image. But people either don’t give a damn or don't know that the photographer owns the image when the shutter button is pressed. I want to go a step further and copyright my images to be safe. There are some photographers that see no benefit of a copyright and that just blows my mind. Is a Model Release Necessary? Some people actually say no, I’m not sure who these people are! My thought on that is they must be insane! I require a model release with every session I do. I’m not about to wait for somebody to get sue happy because I used their photo for marketing or merely just have it on my website. The ones that don't worry about a model release also say that if you aren’t selling the image then there is no reason to worry about about the model release form. But again back to somebody suddenly saying that they never agreed to letting me use their image for marketing or to allow it to be public. I’ll be prepared if they feel the need to sue me! Better Gear = Better Photos Nope not 100% true. Yes a certain lens will the enhance the sharpness of a photo but can you tell I’m not using a $xx,000 lens? Nope! And yes, a full frame camera will give you more pixels but again can you tell that I’m not using a $xx,000 camera? Nope! The most basic camera can capture a great image if you know what you’re doing. If you can get the lighting and angle right you’ll be fine. And the big one, if you are creative that’s a huge plus. Now if you take the most basic camera go take pictures of a family with no thought it’s not going to be a very good picture. My camera and lenses were not cheap but they weren’t ridiculously expensive either.
We're Friends or We're Family, Can I get a Free Session?
The simple answer is no. I am trying to make a living just like you. My business isn't charity work. There has to be a boundary between family/friend time and business time, if there's not a set boundary for family or friends problems may arise. Every photographer can write a blog that is a few pages long on this topic. Every photographer is asked this at least once in their career. I would go as far as saying more than just once. I will be writing an upcoming blog about this issue in the future. Photoshop Some photographers love it and some photographers hate it. I am in the middle. It's great to be able to remove something in the photo that isn't supposed to be there(don't ask me to remove the girlfriend that you broke up with last week but was in the family photos 3 weeks ago), or give the image a golden tone, make the picture a tone of black and white, or to peep up the sky. But there are some photographers that majorly over use it and to me it ends up ruining the picture. Less is more sometimes. Amateurs Undercutting the Real Photographers Every photographer has to start out somewhere. I remember not that long ago when I started. Photography is already a competitive industry but then you throw in the amateur photographers and it seems impossible sometimes to get ahead. It's a bit hard to compete with a newbie offering to do photos cheap and then on top of the cheap price they give the person all of the images. I'm not doing that and I won't do that. Please if you are looking for a photographer, remember to be smart. Remember the saying, "quality over quantity"? That is perfect for this situation. I see my work as having value and if someone doesn't see my work as having value then they really aren't the right client for me.
This post contains affiliate links which means I recommend products and services I’ve used or know well and may receive a commission if you purchase them. This is at no additional cost to you.
We are in the final months of the school year and for you Juniors that means your SENIOR PICTURES! I am going to give you some tips to help you with your senior pictures. I wrote a section for the girls and for the guys. Senior pictures are always exciting! Having your senior pictures done makes it all feel real. This is your last year of high school. You'll be entering the real world soon. Please, please savor your senior year. It goes by so fast and these are some of the best times of your life. I know all kids say they can't wait to get out of school. They can't wait to move away. They can't wait till they don't have to listen to their parents. Well for someone who graduated in 2003, most of you are going to miss high school. It's the easiest time of your life, no bills, no major responsibilities, it all changes. Once you're out of school it's all on you! I mean you even have to call and make your OWN doctors appointments...it's insane! lol
Okay girls you're up first! If you're a guy you can skip this and keep scrolling until you see Senior Guys. Hopefully you can use these tips to help you feel more comfortable going into your senior session. You can read all of these tips but the main thing that will make everything fall into place and make your photos look true is to be yourself!
The hair tie on your wrist!
So...take a look at your wrist...is there a hair tie on it? About 95% of girls are going to laugh a little to themselves on this one because they are guilty. I am totally guilty of it too. It's just part of my everyday routine, heck, I don't think it comes off my wrist unless it's in my hair or I'm taking a shower. It just makes me feel better having one on my wrist because i know that if I need to, I can put my hair up. A weird security blanket type thing I know. On the day of your senior pictures try to remember to take it off your wrist in advance so that of course it's not there for your pictures and so that there isn't an indention isn't left on your wrist. Usually I will catch it in time or before we've taken too many pictures for it to have ruined very many pictures. Let me tell you, it's no fun having to Photoshop a hair tie off a girls wrist. No mini skirts or short shorts! What I have to say is my personal opinion and since it is my business this is how I see it. This is a senior session not a boudoir shoot. I will not take your pictures if your clothes are too skimpy. Yes, you are the client and you are paying for it (or Mom and Dad) but this is one thing I feel strongly about. I do not want to be known as a photographer that allows high school seniors to wear something only a 25 year old should be wearing. On top of my personal reasoning, I would be very limited on the angles I could shoot from and the poses you could do. You would barely be able to move, so all of your pictures would look the same. Make sure to shave your armpits! There are some poses where I have you put your arms over your head or your hands in your hair. Aaaand if you forgot to shave your armpits...well those poses are out! If you just bought an adorable strapless or sleeveless shirt or dress and plan on wearing it for your session hopefully that is enough to make you remember to do this. But please please please try to remember this one! Avoid tan lines. Tan lines really show up in pictures and they don't look good. You should know well in advance your date for your senior session so try to schedule your days in the sun around this date. You can definitely get some color for your pictures but just be very careful with the tan lines. Spray tans are another big thing. If you plan on getting a spray tan for your senior session do so 2-3 days before your session. Also try to get it done in the evening. If you've never gotten a spray tan you should get a test one done months in advance to see how it looks on you. If you absolutely have to get one, get the lightest color they have. You want just enough to give you some color but you also don't want to look like a oompa loompa(for those too young, watch the original Charlie & The Chocolate Factory). Be careful with the bra straps. A few days before your session try on everything you plan on wearing to make sure it fits right and that you can't see your bra straps. If there is a top or dress you bought just for your pictures or you absolutely love you may just need to find a different bra for that piece. And please don't wear the clear bra straps, you will still be able to see them in pictures. Stick with your normal look I know your senior pictures are special but don't do your hair or makeup too fancy. I want the pictures to be of YOU. And definitely don't go to your hair stylist the day before and chop off all your hair. At least wait till after your pictures to go with a drastic look. Wear clear deodorant. You will be changing outfits and you don't want it to get it on your second change of clothes or any change of clothes for that matter. If you have a reaction to the clear deodorant, find the spray kind and use that, you should be good with that for the day. Other helpful tips
I have photographed guys, whether it be for a wedding or a senior session and they are far from thrilled about getting their pictures taken. Girls get excited about their senior session, guys however typically couldn't care less. But guys, don't worry, I won't ask you to do any girly poses(unless you are down with that, lol). Just be yourself and I'll make sure that you look like a guy. I'm sure you guys will be a little nervous and that's fine, it's normal. Just relax. You aren't any less of a guy for being nervous. I'm going to give you some tips so that you are prepared for your senior session.
Empty those pockets.
I know guys keep their keys, wallet, phone, etc.(aka their world) in their pockets all the time. Be sure to empty everything out of your pockets. You would be surprised what some of the stuff you want to keep in your pockets look like in pictures. Leave them in your car or you can always leave them in my vehicle. Do something with the facial hair. Make sure you are clean shaven for your senior session. I'm not trying to be your parent and harp on you about this, I just want you to look your best. Do something with your hair. If your hair is longer, make sure that it isn't so long that you are constantly moving it out of your eyes during your session. If that calls for you to get a little trimmed off go ahead, it won't hurt I promise. And it will grow back. Just make sure your hair is clean and you styled if you are able to style it. Avoid tan lines. You know when the day of your senior session is so avoid too much sun before your session. I know you will want to get some color for your pictures just be careful on how much you get and take all measures to avoid tan lines. Clothing You have unlimited clothing changes so be sure to bring a lot of different options. These are the clothes and/or outfits I recommend to bring: - Nice jeans and a t-shirt. Don't wear any t-shirts that have any graphic illustrations or vulgar language. - Nice jeans and a button up shirt. - A dressy casual outfit. This could be khakis and a button up shirt. - If you are in sports bring your uniform and if possible we can go to your school gym or field. Iron any clothes that need it the night before then hang them up. PLEASE don't bring your clothes stuffed into a gym bag. I know for sure your Mom will not be happy about that. Be sure that the clothes you will wear are comfortable and flattering. Try to avoid wearing stripes and patterns. If you are going to wear an undershirt I suggest black or gray v-necks under the dress shirts to form clean and defined lines. The same goes for undershirts for other shirts, stick to black or gray. White undershirts photograph poorly and stick out too much. One last thing not to wear is basketball shorts, dingy looking t-shirts, and sweatpants. When it comes to shoes bring a few casual shoes and a pair of dressier shoes. Nice looking tennis shoes and flip flops(not the Nike sports ones) can be brought, we may use them. Other helpful tips
I hope that those of you preparing for your senior pictures can use these lists and feel more comfortable going into your session.
Good Luck to the class of 2019! Don't forget if you are in the Southern Indiana area you can always contact me to do your senior pictures! You can find me on Facebook at Kirsten Alana Photographyor contact me through my website!
This post contains affiliate links which means I recommend products and services I’ve used or know well and may receive a commission if you purchase them. This is at no additional cost to you.
Kirsten Alana Photography is excited to begin the search for 2019 seniors! Senior sessions are one of my favorite sessions to shoot! Senior Model Reps I have worked with are always fun to photograph. My Senior Model Reps are always such naturals in front of the camera and do a great job! Your senior year is something that you will never forget and I enjoy being able to help contribute to the excitement of being a senior by giving you a fun senior session experience.
I will only be accepting two Senior Model Reps from each school so be sure to discuss this with your parents/guardian and get your application in!
What Is A Senior Model Rep?
A Senior Model Rep is one that promotes and represents Kirsten Alana Photography through out their Senior year by sharing their images from your session with KAP. You can also share your awesome experience with KAP. You just simply let your friends and other seniors know that KAP is a great choice for their Senior pictures and encourage them to book with KAP. Rep's can explain that their session was fun and did not feel like a chore. Let them know that you played a large part in your senior session. You will find out that I allow for every senior rep I work with to give me input on how they want their senior session to go. I will work to the best of my ability with the senior reps ideas on poses, locations, and other ideas. Over half the time I let the senior rep take charge so that it is truly made to be YOUR session. You will be the face of Kirsten Alana Photography for the class of 2019!!
What Does It Take To Be A Senior Model Rep?
You must be graduating in 2019. You need to have a guardian sign a model release form and contract. You must promote Kirsten Alana Photography positively and exclusively. You must be willing to actively seek out opportunities to represent Kirsten Alana Photography and bring in new clients. You need to... Be outgoing, fun, outspoken, and confident. Comfortable in front of the camera. Have a good reputation. Be responsible and dependable. Be active in school activities. As long as you are outgoing, social, and outspoken you should have no problem promoting Kirsten Alana Photography. Yes, I want you to succeed to help me get more business but I also want you to succeed for yourself. Getting someone to purchase something is not always an easy task. When you have gotten that yes and have achieved your goal of referring people to me you will feel good and know that you were able to make a difference. Now, I know you aren't saving the world or anything life changing, but achieving any type of goal, small or big is always a confidence booster.
Perks & Rewards For You & Your Referrals
Your specialized discounted session will be a 90 minute session at a agreed upon location. You will get pre-session email consultations to discuss all details. 10 edited digital images. Discounted prints or photography products when you purchase through me. You will be featured in a special Senior Rep spotlight blog post all about you and your session on my website, blog, Facebook, and Instagram. You'll be featured in social media marketing. Customized Senior Rep Referral cards to pass out to friends. Hair and Makeup(if the artists I work with are available). If you feel like the 90 minute session wasn't enough and you want another shoot, you will get an additional discounted 2nd session for a 60 minute session with 20 digital images, 10% off print orders. Refer a minimum of 2 referrals and get $10 print credit for each referral that books and completes a session. Once you have met the minimum of 2 referrals you will receive a link to your private online gallery to download 30 digital images. The images will come with a print release. Each referral that books and pays for their session will receive 5 free digital images and 10% off print order.
Bonuses Of Being A Senior Rep
25% off sessions for any member(s) of immediate family. Senior with the most referrals will receive a mini shoot with their best friend. Giveaways, Various Contests, and opportunities among the Senior Rep Crew to win more.
Senior Model Rep Guidelines
So are you ready to be a Senior Model Rep?! I sure hope so!
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