Let it Burn

A while back the lovelies at Firstlight Photography posted a question on Facebook about whether or not there was anyone interested in doing a Trash the Dress session with them.  I, being the crazy person I am, jumped at the chance.  It was suggested that we do the shoot at Rein Fire Ranch in Ravensdale.  If you’re not familiar with the area you are sorely missing out.  Rein Fire Ranch is located in a beautiful area southeast of Seattle and is surrounded by the majestic Sugarloaf Mountain Forest.

I have to say, my breath was taken away when I first pulled up to the ranch.  First off, the place is HUGE.  Second, the view is, to be a bit cliche, breathtaking.  There’s sky and mountains and trees as far as the eye can see.  It’s an absolutely beautiful background.  And that’s not even the ranch itself.  Rein Fire Ranch has a bounty of awesome features.  From the lush green grounds to the rustic barn.  From the amazing garden complete with gazebo to the cabana.  But my favorite area was probably the pathway between the fenced in pastures, which if you are lucky, may contain a horse or two.

Before lighting up my dress we did some more traditional photos using the barn and grounds.  The place is absolutely perfect for wedding photos.  There are so many areas to take photos; you can go traditional and use the huge lawn and garden area, you can go rustic and use the barn and pasture areas, not to mention the bridal suit for getting ready.  The possibilities are kind of endless.  After our foray into traditional pictures it was time to get down to business.

Using one of the fenced in pasture areas we set up a fire pit and got to burning things.  First a cardboard cake, then my dress.  I can’t tell you how much fun it was.  There is something very freeing about ripping off your white dress and throwing it into a fire.  And before you ask, yes, I am still very happily married and about to have a baby.  I’m just no longer a blushing bride, more like a grown woman who happens to be married.  So I guess you could consider my Trash the Dress experience as a coming of age event.  With fire.

Seattle Wedding Photographer | Time Travel Themed Wedding {Firstlight Photography}

We were simply giddy when Mike and Alison began to tell us about their Seattle wedding.  They found us through Offbeat Bride (Firstlight Photography advertises there) which is always a signal that we’re going to be in for a fantastic wedding.

For starters, Mike and Alison met at PAX (both are event volunteers), the Penny Arcade Expo, Seattle’s big convention for the video-game crowd.  This tidbit helps set the tone.  They proceed to tell us they were considering a time travel theme for their wedding.  So we were thinking steam punk.  But we were thinking wrong.  We weren’t really sure what they meant until we saw their invitation.  The event was to be a Time Traveler’s Ball.

Wear what makes you feel awesome, but please do arrive fully dressed. Our reception is Time Travel-themed, and there will be prizes for best costume and best backstory.  Dress as a historical figure, a futuristic hero, or come in present-day finery.  You’ve got loads of options!

They had us at that first line.  We really hadn’t a clue what to expect from the wedding – and that is the exciting part of being a wedding photographer.  Alison also shared with us that she was making origami flowers – including her bouquet.

On the big day we arrived at the Daughters of the American Revolution chapter house located in Seattle (Capitol Hill to be exact).  The venue is a replica of George Washington’s home in Mt. Vernon, Virginia – the perfect back drop for a time travel wedding.  We typically arrive early to deal with any parking issues or traffic.  This afforded us the opportunity to get the lay of the land.  Mitzi was also able to help Alison with her finishing touches.  We both take our “other duties as assigned” very seriously!

Alison and Mike wanted to do a first look photo (which we love) and we did some couple photos right before the wedding.  These days you can find just about anything on Etsy.  Alison was able to design her amazing 50′s inspired dress with Charlotte of Pixie Pocket, an up-and-coming designer from New Zealand.  Two hours of pins and hair spray and voila, magic wedding day hair courtesy of Tava LaBorn of Salon Ciba.  Mike looked dapper as all get out in his suit.

While we were wrapping up the couple photos we noticed some guests starting to arrive.  First we saw a gaggle of nuns followed by Jake and Elwood.  Yes, it took us a minute to put 2 and 2 together.  The great part about the theme was that many different segments of history were represented.  The best man wore a traditional Japanese hakama, Mike’s parents wore their Star Trek communicator pins (although his sister did not show up in aWookie costume despite assurances to the contrary), another guest wore a fantastic French Renaissance styled gown (she also rocked a magenta pompadour) and we can’t forget a steampunk time traveler – riffing a bit off the couple’s and her shared love of all things Doctor Who.

The first thing that you notice about Mike and Alison is that they are totally ga ga for one another.  The second thing you notice is that they have surrounded themselves with the most amazing family and friends.  The ceremony went off without a hitch.  A good friend officiated and there were several poignant readings.  Afterwards, the guests headed upstairs to the breathtaking ballroom.  Each table was provided a board game.  As Alison explained, their friends are primarily introverts so they truly believed this would be the best way to keep everyone active and having a good time.  Games included Tsuro, Cargo Noir, Dominion, Zombie Dice, Scrabble and more.  The tables were all having a stellar time.  Seeing the different historical costumed guests surrounding the various tables in game play was fantastic.

The vegetarian appetizers and dinner fare was prepared by the talented Seattle restaurant Madres Kitchen.  The cake was crafted by the Clever Cake Studio and Lori Evans, the owner, molded a perfect replica of the Epoch, the time machine from the classic video game Chrono Trigger.

The groom was spotted passing out D-20′s, 20 sided die, acquired from Game Science.  These precision die come in a variety of amazing colors and offer a great twist on party favors.  When you are in the market for items that might not be considered a typical favor, call the vendor and explain your bulk purchase.  Alison and Mike did and got a killer discount.  This wedding photographer duo was able to take home this most useful favor too.

After the wedding the couple invited their friends and family to a pub crawl at one of their favorite haunts.  A short walk from the wedding venue lies the DeLuxe Bar and Grill which originally started as a tavern at the close of Prohibition.  The best part about being in Capitol Hill is that a large group of people dressed in historic garb descending upon a tavern just doesn’t freak anyone out.  There are no lookie lou’s in this situation.  It doesn’t hurt that it was also the same weekend as the Seattle Film Festival.

Congratulations Mike and Alison!

Bridal Portrait Photographs | Seattle Wedding Photographer

We truly live in the most amazing of places.  Being Seattle wedding photographers is a dream.  And, as an added bonus, cloud cover is actually great for photos.

Not too long ago we started a Firstlight Photography Pinterest Washington Wedding Venue Board and are trying to capture all of the Washington wedding venues where we have photographed weddings.  We’d be lying if we didn’t say we had a long way to go.

Our newest venue crush is Rein Fire Ranch in Ravensdale, WA.  The owners hosted us for a recent bridal portrait shoot that has been in the works for several years.  We initially shot Tiffany and Brandon’s Friday the 13th weddingyears ago.  They were our first Offbeat Bride couple.

Tiffany is the most amazing of sports so we approached her at the end of last year with a Trash the Dress proposal.  Since she had already worn her dress for a cemetery shoot, a library dress up event, Halloween and we think she even said she vacuumed her house in it – she agreed it was time to kick it up a notch.  She was of the mind to go big or go home so we knew we needed some fire power behind us.  We plotted out the demise of her dress (and we should mention that she and Brandon are still going strong!) and set our plan in motion.

We invited JoAnn from Studio J Salon and Day Spa to do Tiffany’s hair and makeup.   We wanted to do a final farewell to the dress so we captured some bridal shots of Tiffany.  From there, it was back to hair and makeup for a much different look.

Tiffany has worked with Firstlight Photography for so many years now that photographing her is so incredibly easy.  She has got it down.  We all had so much fun as we wandered the grounds of Rein Fire Ranch.  We even had a chance to spend time with some of the furry critters that call RFR home.

Here is a sneak peek at the second part of the session.  We had a blast with this Trash the Dress session!  Stay tuned for more!

How to Find the Right Wedding Photographer | Guest Blog

Our friends at On the Go Bride are always putting out really informative content.  As wedding photographers and owners of Firstlight Photography we recognize we might be biased, but we thought their recent post about finding the right wedding photographer was brilliant.  

Sadly, this story doesn’t have a happy ending but the message is clear.  You only have one shot at getting great wedding photos.  Do your homework and make it count.  Krisstin, owner of On the Go Bride (she is also an archaeologist which we find just way too cool), has laid out her dirty laundry in the form of some not so stellar photos of her wedding.

Blog Repost from On the Go Bride

This is an important topic not enough people touch upon. I’m sure you have heard stories. Do you have that one friend or relative who did not get the best service from their photographer? How about the person who spent a lot of money to end up with less than quality photos? Or worse, the friend that ended up with blurry photos or the photographer’s fingers showing in not one, but multiple photos. This happened to me. This happens to a lot of us. So how come more of us aren’t talking about it? Why aren’t we sharing our experiences to educate each other and help more couples on this topic? Well, that is exactly what I would like to do today. I want to share my experience and educate others on how to find a quality wedding photographer for their special day. Because when your day is over, the photos are what you will have left.

Let me start with my experience. Planning my wedding was my first introduction into the industry. I had no idea what to do or where to look. I was also an on-the-go bride who traveled a lot for work, so my “in town” time was limited. Logically my first stop was the wedding faire in town. Makes sense, right? One location, multiple vendors; I was sure to find everyone I was looking for or would ever need. Boy was I wrong. Here is a little secret I learned later. A lot of the great photographers don’t do wedding faires. Now that is not to say you can’t find amazing photographers at wedding faires. They are there. I’m just trying to encourage you to look outside the box as well. Don’t let the wedding faire become your be-all and end-all for local vendors.

I am not going to give the name of my photographer or all the details, just a few of the important ones. I did find my photographer at a wedding faire. The work displayed in their booth was gorgeous! I was drawn to the style. I liked the modern, fashion, magazine-ish flair. The style worked for me and my interest was piqued. I had heard all the warnings about having a family member take your wedding photos as well as going for the cheapest photographer. I had decided in the beginning I was willing to pay for quality. My wedding was in 2010 and I paid $3800 for a 6-hour package. By no means is that price at the highest end of the spectrum, but in my mind it was a fair amount to expect quality work. Without going into all the details of ignored emails, missed deadlines, and not producing everything that was paid for…I will just show you the end product. A picture is worth a thousand words, right? So here is a great example of what I got. The photo on the top is from the professional photographer we paid for. The photo on the bottom is from my husband’s uncle who has a nice camera. Now I don’t have a photographer’s eye, but I can tell you which image I think is better of the two. I was pretty bummed when 95% of my “professionally edited” images seemed dull and missing all the color.

The photos I received looked nothing like the work I had seen. It looked nothing like what I thought I would be getting. I started to question if the work I had seen was really this photographer’s work? I also started to question what I had missed and where I went wrong? Through this experience and educating myself I discovered what I should have done and the questions I should have asked. That is what I want to share with all of you today. There are a couple important topics I would like to address and I am also including a wonderful questionnaire you can print out and take with you when you interview your potential photographer.

Your Photographer’s Work

There are a couple key issues that really go together. The first is verifying the work you are shown is actually that of the photographer. So how do you verify work? This one can be a bit tricky. There are a couple ways you can go about this. When looking at a photographer’s work, you want to pay attention to the style of all the photos. Do they all match? Do they all appear to be from the same person? One way to check is by asking to have the contact information for a few of the couples whose pictures you like. If it is the photographer’s real work then they should be able to give you contact information. This also doubles as great references. What better way to find out about your future photographer than to ask couples for their likes and dislikes of the service they received? Another way to verify the work is to ask your photographer to see the entire collection of photos from a specific wedding photo you like. If this is the photographer’s real work, then they should have all the images.

This also leads us into our second key issue. You want to make sure your photographer can produce quality photos in all different settings. Your wedding day usually spans many hours. When you look at albums or see photographer’s work at a wedding faire, you are usually seeing the single best image from multiple weddings. The truth is everyone gets lucky. Every once in a while everyone takes a good picture. By asking to view all the photos of a single wedding you are able to see the quality of photos that photographer can produce for an entire event. It will also show you if the photographer can shoot just as well outside as they can inside. If you have an outdoor ceremony and an indoor reception, these are important things to look at and good questions to ask.

Life Happens

There is no better way to say it…life happens. The important part is how your photographer handles the unexpected. What does your photographer do if a family member dies the day before your wedding? What if they go into labor or are in an accident? This is an important question to ask, and one that did not dawn on me until it had already happened. My photographer did not show up in their best form on my wedding day. The months preceding, they became almost non-existent. To this day (almost 2 years later) we still have not received everything we paid for and I doubt we will. I learned shortly after my wedding day that the photographer was in the process of getting a divorce. One that dealt with young children and I’m sure assets. I imagine that is not an easy thing to go through. Taking the chance that I don’t sound too selfish here… We never get our wedding day back. And that is how I honestly feel about the situation. We paid for a service we did not receive. I think on some level if the photographer knows they can’t be on their A-game the day of your wedding they should have a backup plan. Perhaps a few photographers they can contact to fill in for them?  

Trust Your Gut

The best thing you can do is trust your gut. I had a bad feeling about my photographer after the engagement session. (Side Note – this taught me the benefit of an engagement session is getting to know your photographer). When I voiced my concerns to my mother and suggested finding someone else, she talked me into staying with him. I can’t blame her; we had already put down a significant deposit. But sometimes moms do not know what is best. She wasn’t there for the engagement session and I was. I should have went with my gut feeling and I would have been much happier with the outcome. When you meet with your photographer, is it someone you can picture yourself hanging out with? Do they try to get to know you as a person or are they all about business? Do you feel confident that they will give you their best on their big day? I can’t stress this point enough…trust your gut.

Printable Photographer Questionnaire

This post includes some of the major lessons I learned about finding a wedding photographer during my wedding planning process. I wanted to share these with you and I hope they help others. I hope they help you to find your wedding photographer that you will be happy with, by making sure to ask the right questions. To go along with this post I want to provide a questionnaire I created to help you remember to ask some of these important questions. Just click on the pdf below, print it out, and take it with you to each photographer you interview. And remember…trust your gut!

NOTE:  Firstlight Photography also recommends that you make sure your photographer shoots all photos in RAW format.  This allows for the most flexibility during the editing process!

Be sure to visit On the Go Bride on Facebook.

Seattle Food Truck Weddings | Seattle Wedding Photographer {Firstlight Photography}

As a Seattle / Tacoma wedding photographer team we began seeing the wedding food truck trending in 2011 and it is growing in 2012 – and we are loving this!  For quite some time many local jurisdictions made it hard for the food truck operator.  In many places these types of mobile food mobiles were prohibited – or just allowed to sell hot dogs and light vending items.

Times are a changin’ and many cities are seeing these mobile restaurants as an asset and an economic development tool.  The stigma of the “roachcoach” is long gone.  Now food truck offerings range from comfort to  cuisine  items.  And let us not forget the spectacular desserts and ice cream options.  Lunch workers can stalk food or dessert trucks via Twitter and food truck vendors offer specials and updates to loyal followers.

Customers clamor for the latest food truck creations that they have heard about from friends, colleagues and their social media network.  Food trucks deliver delish food and a fun experience – they are serving up a food mob.  Finding your favorite food truck is exciting – and a challenge to be sure to time your arrival so you actually get to buy your nosh.  Hanging out with people that appreciate good grub and enjoy the thrill of the chase is also part of the charm.

So, with the “food”tainment value it makes perfect sense and adds that homegrown element to weddings.  Seeing a food or dessert truck roll up to a wedding is truly spectacular.  Last summer we were photographing a wedding on a private Camano Island beach.  When we saw the shiny silver Skillet airstream trailer pull up we squealed with glee!  Skillet can provide street food style (right out of the truck) or family style catering at weddings and events.  A combination of both services is a good option for larger weddings.  We were treated to the fanciest gourmet burger ever and we can’t forget the seafood taco sliders.  We were delighted to see their pink lemonade garnished with jalapenos – yes.  And it was quite delish and refreshing.

Some couples are also going the way of the dessert truck.  You can still have your cake and eat it too.  Most cupcakeries / bakeries have a variety of other treats on the menu and can provide the traditional cake top for brides and grooms (as photographers we love the cake cutting shots).  Having your cupcake truck roll into the wedding creates a great buzz.  People can mingle and self serve. It is a surprise treat that reminds many of their days chasing crazed ice cream truck drivers around the cul-de-sac!

The Piccadilly Bakery is the first Kitsap County mobile bakery / cupcakery truck. Calling it a truck is somewhat of a disservice for it is more like an art truck.  The owner is from the UK and her desserts show inspiration from across the pond as well as traditional US fare.  Her cooked frosting is, in one word, divine.  She has just the personality to delight wedding guests – and just wait until you hear that fab accent.

We are awaiting the day that Seattle based Bluebird Microcreamery shows up at a wedding we are shooting.  This isn’t just because they make Elysian Stout ice cream (they are neighbors with the very talented Elysian Brewing Company).  Their product is fabulous and it is served up from a retro ice cream truck – a perfect back drop for wedding candids.

Things to Keep In Mind When Hiring a Food Truck

If you are considering food trucks for your wedding you are after something different and perhaps a bit whimsical.  Keep this in mind when reviewing menus.  Food trucks aren’t a good match if you want traditional wedding fare.  If you want something different food truck fare by no means sacrifice taste – just the pomp and circumstance.

Most vendors are very savvy about permits and requirements needed to operate in a certain location (jurisdiction, private venue) but be sure to coordinate with your venue and the catering / food truck vendor to see if street permits (if parking on a public street) are in place.  Some private locations might also require permits depending on the jurisdiction.  Do you homework to avoid any red tape issues on the big day.

Work with your caterers to devise a menu that offers some variety but keep it simple.  If you are planning a wedding of 100 + you might want to consider an additional food truck or one with catering options to avoid long lines.

Consider a dessert buffet in combination with the dessert truck.  It makes sense for larger weddings; the table is ready to receive extra cupcakes and treats when it is time for the truck to leave.  Or, have a food cart greet guests as they exit.  They can easily be given treat favors – not only is this a green wedding practice, but who doesn’t like to leave with an additional treat?

Food trucks are like water coolers.  They provide a unique activity that gets guests mingling.

Rock ‘n Roll Wedding in Seattle | Firstlight Photography

We love Offbeat Bride and the clients it brings our way.  When we did our pre-shoot phone consult, Alyson had a major game plan.  There was no lack of ideas so we were pretty excited to get the show on the road.

We sensed the couple was going to be fantastic to photograph. We met Andy and Alyson at their Seattle/Georgetown engagement shoot.  Since they are getting hitched at the Central Cinema in Seattle, we started there and then whisked off to the Georgetown Ballroom.  Both are amazing venues.

We feel so lucky to get to work with the couple’s that choose us.  We have really focused on our niche and we aren’t turning back.  And, yes, that is a hint for an upcoming blog about defining your clients.  Just another reason we LOVE what we do.

Here’s a little video of this shoot if you can’t get enough!

Tacoma Boudoir & Pin Up Photography | You Know You Wanna! {Little Black Book Boudoir Photography}

We have been doing our Little Black Book boudoir studio for a little over a year but have built a great client base – mostly by word of mouth.  When the phone started ringing off the hook in December 2011 we were stumped until a client told us the Weekly Volcano’s Naughty and Nice Holiday Gift Guide featured us.  We hopped online, read the review and squealed with delight!

Boudoir is great for a groom’s gift, anniversary or just because you want to treat yourself to something you never thought you would do.  We offer bachelorette parties and we’ll even bring the bubbly.

In case you didn’t see the Volcano write up, here it is!  In our world, flattery will get you everywhere!  Thanks Volcano staff!

Way more flattering than your cell phone and a mirror 
Want to give the gift of self in a more permanent fashion? “Little Black Book” boudoir studio by Firstlight Photography can capture the hottest side of you.  The husband and wife photography team create lasting images of beauty and grace for all shapes and sizes.  Elegant lighting, flattering poses and excellent customer relations make the experience of having your naughty bits caught on celluloid an exhilarating experience. Only as much of you will be revealed as you desire. Be it tasteful and subtle, or full-blown sexy and provocative, the results will be worthy of any bombshell or movie star. -  Ginger Knoxx