New House Party

Sorry I didn't post my layout of the week last Friday. I was busy getting ready for our New House Party that night! Brent and I were so excited to host our first get-together as home-owners. The party was a lot of fun. We can't wait to have everyone over again soon!

Here are some pictures to make up for my absence last week. First, this is our new house!


Here is the spread for the party, including oreo truffle favors with our new address.


Banana cupcakes...delicious!


Once it got dark we used the fire pit on our back porch. What a wonderful way to end the night!


I still need to take some pictures of the inside of our house, but I've been waiting to do some painting first. I promise they are coming!

Studio Albums

When I first start working with a new photographer, many times I am asked to design a studio album. Studio albums (or portfolio albums) are a great way to showcase your work. It's perfect for bridal shows or first meetings with potential clients. It's especially nice since brides can have a hard time visualizing a "flush mount" or "magazine-style" album. Once they see the end product, though, it's hard to say no! One photographer put it this way, "I have received many compliments on the design you did - in fact, clients that were previously opposed to flush mount albums were really interested! I think there is so much cheese out there that until they see a tastefully designed album with clean lines and a sophisticated design, they don't realize how nice they can be!"

Studio albums can be done two ways. 1) You can choose your favorite wedding, and do an album with just those images. This gives the bride a feel for what her album would be like since it follows one day from beginning to end. 2) You can choose several weddings and do a page or two for each. This gives the bride a peek at your entire portfolio, and highlights your very favorite shots.

Here are some sample spreads from recent portfolio albums:

photography by Envision Video and Photography

photography by Beautiful Capture Photography

Let me know if you would like more information on portfolio albums, or would like to get started on your own!

Happy Father's Day

I just adore my dad. It takes a very special guy to father four girls, and I can't imagine anyone better suited for the job. He's funny, self-sacrificing, humble, strong, patient, encouraging, wise, goofy, and just wonderful. He would do anything for his girls, including dressing up as Prince Charming for our Cinderella parties. I love him with all my heart!

Here's dad and his girls on some family outing. We all look like we are having so much fun, don't we?! Yes, I am the one in purple with my tongue out (it's very possible I have my dad's sense of humor).


And here's my dad with his two sons-in-law. Man, was he glad when these males joined the family! He told Brent to start calling him "Dad" the day we got engaged!


Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there! May you be especially celebrated this day!

Layout of the Week

It's Friday...which means another layout of the week! As I've said before, I'm obsessed with detail images and ring shots. And this spread has both! I also love the reoccurring touches of gold and deep brown. Beautiful images, beautiful spread!

photography by Dede Edwards

High School Albums

It's that time of year...graduation! I can't believe it's been six years since I was donning my own high school cap and gown. If you are looking for the perfect graduation gift, you should consider a custom-designed photobook. You could make an album with your graduate's professional senior pictures, or do a book that captures their favorite candids from the past four years. Maybe even one that just captures the highlights from senior year - homecoming, football games, spirit week, prom, last day of school, and graduation ceremony (ah, this is making me so nostalgic!). If you child has a special group of friends, why not have all the parents go in together and take advantage of the discounted duplicate book price?

I had a parent of a freshman approach me the other day and ask me to do a couple pages to commemorate her child's 9th grade year. Each summer, I would do a couple more pages for that year, and in the end, the book would be ready to go for her graduation party. Isn't that a great idea! The graduate would also get the files from each year so they could create a slideshow or upload them to facebook. Double the fun!

Here are couple spreads from some senior albums I created last year.

Amanda:

photography by Envision Video and Photography

Kelsey:

photography by Envision Video and Photography

If you would like more information on creating a custom high school album for your graduate, give me a call or send an email. Congratulations, Class of 2009!

Layout of the Week

The photography for this week's layout is brought to you by my good friends Holly and Ryan Gauper. They are photographers in Kalamazoo, MI, and if you are around there, you definitely need to get a photo shoot with them. I went to college with Holly, and truly adore her and her fun husband. Here is the cover from one of the albums I designed for them:

photography by Gauper Photo

The right side features one of the Gaupers' infamous "upshots." Every photo in this album was beautiful. Ryan and Holly can take and edit pictures like no other!

We're Back!

We are back from vacation and back in business! Since arriving home Sunday, we have been super busy moving in to the new house and getting all set-up. At last we have internet, cable, and a new washer and dryer. My mom and sisters came over yesterday to help - I cannot say how much I appreciate them! I was shocked with all we got accomplished. I have such amazing family!

Speaking of family, as promised, here are some pictures from Brent's family vacation in Lancaster, PA (shots of the new house will come later, I promise).

This is the farmhouse we rented - right in the middle of Amish country!


Take a look at these adorable faces:


And this one...


Here's me and Brent. I love this guy.


I took bunches of niece pictures. These girls crack me up! Here's Pressley digging in to her watermelon - this girl doesn't hold back!


I love Savannah's big smile. I didn't notice until I uploaded the photos that she has a huge strand of drool that goes down to her arm! You may want to click on this one to get a close up!


I would love to do a few mock spreads to show how wonderful vacation albums can be, but I have too many "real" books to be working on! You'll just have to trust me on this one :)