Choosing The Perfect Wedding Venue, Georgia Wedding Photographer

Twelve Oaks Bed & Breakfast Covington, GA

Hey there, and congratulations on your engagement! I know you are excited and ready to start planning your wedding day. You may have even started searching wedding venues in Georgia on the internet and found that there are many wonderful options out there. Well, I'm here to help you narrow some of those choices down, and guide you in choosing the perfect wedding venue for your big day.

One thing you’ll need before you even start looking at venues is a wedding vision. What do you want your ceremony backdrop to look like? How will your reception look? Maybe you want to get married in a field with a big oak tree, and party the night away inside of a newly renovated barn. Maybe you’d like to get ready at a beautiful beach house, and walk down the sand to say your wedding vows, or maybe you’d prefer to proclaim your love on top of a mountain somewhere in North Georgia with a small group of people, and celebrate afterwards at a nice cabin. You’ll need that vision before you can pick out your perfect wedding venue. 

Once you have that vision pinned down, you'll need to start looking at venues that match your total vision for your wedding day from start to finish. Something couples tend to overlook is where they’ll be getting ready. Does your wedding venue have a beautiful room for you and your bridesmaids to get ready in? Is there a masculine place for the groom and guys to hangout in? 

Nash Farm Battlefield Hampton, GA

 When choosing an outdoor wedding venue and ceremony time, pay special attention to the light where you’ll be standing to exchange your wedding vows. On a sunny day, is the light harsh? Is the shade spotty? If you answer yes to these questions, you may want to adjust your ceremony time to the evening if it’s outdoors. You want nice, even shade, and soft light with no harsh shadows. These are important things to look for when choosing your wedding venue because they will be photographed and part of your wedding story.

Choosing a wedding venue that you love and that’s in your budget can be challenging. That’s why I've done some research, and compiled a list of possible wedding venues for you to choose from and visit in Georgia. I hope you've enjoyed this post. Thanks for stopping by and happy wedding planning! 

Wedding Venues in Georgia

1.     The Wheeler House ~ Ball Ground, GA ~ www.thewheelerhouse.net

2.     Fritz Farm ~ Cordele, GA ~ http://www.thefritzfarm.com/weddings.html

3.     Sweet Meadow Farms ~ Tallapoosa, GA ~ http://sweetmeadowevents.com/

4.     Wormsloe Historic Site ~ Savannah, GA  http://www.borrowedandblue.com/savannah/wedding-venues/historic-mansions/wormsloe-historic-site

5.     Tybee Wedding Chapel ~ Savannah, GA ~ http://tybeeweddingchapel.com/

6.     Forsyth Park ~ Savannah, GA ~ http://www.borrowedandblue.com/savannah/wedding-venues/gardens-estates/forsyth-park

7.     The Swan House ~ Atlanta, GA ~ http://www.atlantahistorycenter.com/rentals/special-occassions/swan-house-gardens

8.     Hazlehurst House ~ McDonough, GA ~ http://hazlehursthouse.net/

9.     The Venue at Tryphena’s Garden ~ Fort Valley. GA ~ http://www.tryphenasgarden.com/

10.  Nash Farm Battlefield, Hampton, GA ~ http://www.henrycountybattlefield.com/

11.  Merel Manders Conference Center ~ http://www.mmccevents.com/

12. Twelve Oaks Bed & Breakfast, Covington, GA ~ http://thetwelveoaks.com/weddings/

6 Reasons Why You Need A Second Shooter On Your Wedding Day, Georgia Wedding & Portrait Photographer

6 Reasons Why You Need A Second Shooter On Your Wedding Day

1. They help with the gear. 

It is so much easier for a photographer to keep up with all their gear if they have a second shooter with them. It also insures nothing will be stolen or misplaced. No couple wants to hear their images were lost because they were in a bag that has gone missing. We keep all of our gear strapped to us, and anytime I need someone to hold a reflector to bounce light onto my subjects, my second shooter is there for me.

 2. They can capture a different perspective. 

While the lead photographer is directing and photographing the posed portraits, the second shooter has the advantage of capturing a photo journalistic point of view that wouldn't have happened if there were just the one photographer. Some of my clients's favorite photos were the candid shots that my second shooter snapped while they were unaware.

3. They are also a must during the getting ready process. 

One photographer cannot be in two places at once. This is when second shooters are a big help. I have been upstairs shooting the bride while my second shooter was downstairs documenting the groom getting ready. What if the bride and groom are getting ready at two separate locations. Who gets left out? The bride or groom? Sad choice to make.

4. They are a must for a First Look before or during your ceremony. 

One shooter captures the bride's face, while the other shooter can capture the groom's reaction simultaneously.

5. They are a time saver and a second pair of eyes.

While the lead photographer is busy photographing family formals or the lovely couple, the second shooter could be capturing all of the details in the reception area. A second shooter is also handy for photographing the car getting trashed while the other photographer is shooting the reception. No one realizes the second photographer is gone, and no important moments are missed.

6. They are good insurance.

Second shooters are a life saver if the main photographer's gear malfunctions. My flash didn't fire, or my lens froze while trying to focus. Uncle Henry jumped in front of me to get a shot with his cell phone while you had your big kiss and ruined my shot, but the second shooter got it... and that is the moment where every penny you spent hiring a second shooter was totally worth it! 

I hope you now have a better understanding of what a second shooter does, and how important they are to you and your wedding photographer. Let me know if you enjoyed this blog post by liking or commenting on the link, and share this post with an engaged couple you know. It'd be awesome if you did! Have a great week! 

~Michelle E
www.michelleephotography.net

Three Reasons Why You Should Book A Mini Session ~ Georgia Portrait & Wedding Photographer

Hey, Guys! It's Michelle E, and today I'm going to talk to you about what a mini session is, how this kind of session can benefit you, and why you should book one. Let's get to it! 

A lot of you may already know what mini sessions are, but if you don't, you're about to find out! Unlike a full session where you get multiple outfit changes, locations, lots of photos and prints, a mini session is exactly what it sounds like. It's a quick, 20 minute session that will usually yield around 10-15 photos in that time frame. There are no outfit changes, and it only takes place at one location. Now that we have that down, we can discuss why booking a mini session can be beneficial to you. 

Let's say you've been stalking a certain photographer's Facebook or Instagram for about a year, and you love their work, but you're just not ready to take the plunge and invest your money in a full session with all the bells and whistles. Well, why not try out the photographer by booking a mini session first?!  Here's three reasons why you should should do it! 

1. Aside from the fact that a mini session costs less than a full session, it's a great way to try out the photographer. By doing this, you get a taste of what's in store if you decide to book a full session in the future, and you'll get to sample the quality of the products they have to offer. 

2. You'll get a chance to meet the photographer face to face, and see how they work. It's important that the experience is an enjoyable one.  

3. The best thing about a mini session is that kids and dad's won't get tired from taking pictures. Twenty minutes will fly by faster than you know it! 

So, that's all I've got. Thanks for taking the time to read my blog! If you have any more reasons why booking a mini session can be beneficial that I didn't mention, feel free to leave those in the comments below. 

If you're interested in booking a mini session with me, just click here and shoot me a message. You can find the full details on my upcoming Fall mini session here. Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your week! 

Coordinating Outfits For Your Family Photo Session ~ Large Family Shoot in Conyers, Georgia, Conyers Georgia Family Photographer

Coordinating outfits for your family photos has gotten much easier in the last few years. Gone are the days of everyone wearing the same color. Matching is out and coordinating is in!

I'll use this large family shoot as an example.

This first family chose to go with navy, blue, cream, coral and brown as their colors.

Next, they added various textures: a plaid button-up for the son, a textured button-up for Dad, a denim jacket for Mom and an embroidered chevron dress for the daughter. 

Lastly, they pulled the look together using accessories! Although you can't see it in this picture, Dad is wearing a nice watch and leather belt, Mom: earrings and a bracelet. The daughter added a mint green statement necklace and coral bracelet that pulls from the coral in the shirt her brother is wearing.

I love this look!

This next family chose a similar color pallet, but check out the various patterns!

 These eclectic designs flow harmoniously when paired with solids. Don't be afraid to mix patterns up a bit, but be careful; too much of a good thing isn't so good.

This combination is great and I liked how they used minimal accessories to complete the look.
Mom's light sweater and the youngest daughter's bow were nice touches.

This last family chose light teal, dark blue, white and coral for their outfits.

Mom and Dad are coordinated beautifully in blues and the baby in coral with blue trim. The plaid shorts pull this look together. 

Sometimes one article of clothing will make the look complete. 

Statement necklaces are a fantastic way to liven up an outfit and watches are great accessories for Dad.

Here is a photo of everyone together! All of the colors, textures and accessories complement one another nicely!

They did a phenomenal job coordinating these outfits and they look fantastic!

So, when planning what to wear, think:

Colors

Textures

Solids & Patterns

Accessories

Matching is out and coordinating is in!

For more ideas on what to wear to your photo shoot, go here to see my latest pins on Pinterest and follow me!

Happy Coordinating!