Art, décor, family and photography- it's all part of me!
There are two things I love dearly in life- the first- Love! (Hello? I'm a wedding photographer.) And the second? A great sale! So, in honor of the most LOVEly day of the year (Valentine's Day), I'm putting on a SALE! Each day, for the entire week of Valentine's, I will be offering a special sale exclusive to that day only. There will be five total- and the deals will get sweeter with each passing day!
Today, I LOVE:
Being FANCY. And date nights. Hello? Husband? Are you reading this? :)
Want to guarantee a great Engagement Session? Trust me and read below!
What you wear to your Engagement Session is important for several reasons- of course you want to look your best, but you also want to feel great in what you're wearing. Here are some tips I've accumulated over the years:
1. Select clothing that compliments each other in color, but does not match exactly.
Long gone are the days of couples in matching shirts. When you're selecting color, think about the colors that compliment each other. Stick with warm tones (reds, oranges, yellows, browns) or cool tones (blues, grays, purples). Or go mostly neutral with some bright accents! There are no hard and fast rules here. In general, big, contrasty prints are distracting and unflattering.
2. Wear clothing that you'd normally be found wearing.
This might seem obvious, but you'd be amazed at the amount of couples who feel like they need to "dress up" for their Engagement Session. Don't worry- we will definitely get some formal pictures of you- it's called your WEDDING DAY. :) Dressing like you normally do (think Girls Day Out and not trip to the grocery store- haha) is very important- because you being comfortable is very important. It's my goal to capture images of you looking like you. Granted, if you is a three-piece suit, then by all means- I want to see it!
3. Layer + Accessorize.
Layers (like jackets, thin tees, and vests) are always a fun way to spice up a look. They are also a great way to add figure-flattering shape. Don't be afraid to sport a colorful peacoat in the winter, or a cool vest over a sundress in the summertime. You can also incorporate big jewelry, scarves, sunglasses and hats for some fun accents. Clothing catalogs like Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie and J. Crew are always great for inspiration.
4. When in doubt, photograph yourself and see what you think!
This may seem silly, but it's what I do when I can't decide if I really like the way something looks. Have someone take a photo of you, so you can get my perspective on the outfit. Amazingly, it does make a difference!
5. Shop your own closet (in advance) and wear clothing that fits.
Most likely, your closet has a trend- whether it be color, or certain type of clothing like mostly jeans or mostly dresses. Pay attention to these things- most likely, those are the items you feel most confident in. This is huge! There's nothing worse than going to the mall hours before your session in a panic, hoping to find something you'll like. More often than not, the items you select last minute are more like the store clerk's personality and less like your own. And, since you haven't worn them for any period of time, you're not guaranteed that they are a good fit on your body. An out-of-place seam, too-tight or too-loose clothing can keep you uncomfortable the entire time.
6. Props.
I do love a good prop if it fits into your lifestyle. I've had couples bring old quilts, navajo blankets, bikes, and board games. If you are coffee drinkers, bring your favorite mugs or if you prefer wine, bring a bottle and we'll toast!
Thankfully, most every couple I get to work with is already excited about their session- but there is always that uh-oh-I'm-going-to-be-in-front-of-the-camera-won't-this-be-awkward-and-not-fun feeling. Yes, I get that, too- and hopefully it won't be around for long. I know that the best images come when you are able to be yourself and feel comfortable, so I work really hard to make sure that happens. If I haven't already, I'll be sending you a questionnaire prior to your Engagement Session that will give me a good idea of your personality and style, so I can dream up some great plans for your shoot!
I can't believe I haven't shared these images already! We got to see our friends, the Pedrozas, while they were here for a short while in October- and thankfully Katlyn was organized enough to schedule a family session during that time. I was also pumped to get just a little more time to hang out with them! It was my first time meeting baby Reilly and she has already grown so much since this session. Oh, just looking at the green makes me ready for spring! Makes me miss them that much more, too. Love you guys!
Many months ago Shawn and I embarked on a brand-new adventure together. We'd known for a while that change was in the air, specifically in the area of Shawn's job (career, really). He had been reading all sorts of career/business books, and we'd been discussing possible options for him, but out of the blue one day he came to me and said, "I think we should open up a clothing store". I really wanted to laugh in his face! But he truly had a vision for it and after doing some research, we found that there really was a market for what we were wanting to do. So, trusting my husband and our God I jumped in!
So, I'm excited to announce Culture Clothing! Here is the little quip from our website about the store:
Now- the main reason I am writing this post is because WE NEED HELP! We are currently looking to hire at least 1 person to be our main manager/buyer. You can find the job description and requirements at the Culture Clothing blog. Please spread the word to anyone you think might be a good fit!
P.S. This does NOT mean that I will be quitting, or even toning-down my photography business. I still love my job and my clients, so I will not be stopping anytime soon! :)
This is an amazing story of one of my favorite photographers, Kelly Moore. She and her family recently welcomed baby Chapel into their family this year, and the video below is their unique story. It is a bit long, but totally worth the time.
Chapel's Adoption Story | the feature from stillmotion on Vimeo.
So, after almost a one-year hiatus, "Lissa Likes" is back! This month centers around one of my favorite things, saving money. Instead of calling myself a penny-pincher, I'd rather say I'm more like a passionate consumer. :) My spending/saving philosophy goes a bit like this: If it is worth it, by all means- spend money on it, but if it's not a big deal, then save as much as you can! Of course, priorities are different for everyone, but I don't know anyone who doesn't really excited about a good deal when I see it.
On my list for this month:
1. Target's Coupon Policy
I end up in Target at least once or twice a week. Though we don't have a Super Target in Lubbock, it's my go-to place for cheap, well designed home decor and I love their Archer Farms food products. One of the things I always do is scan the end caps of the aisles for clearance items. There have been many times I've found what I'm needing (or items I frequently purchase) here at a steal. Target's clearance tags look like this:
Many times when I see staple items (flour, sugar, chocolate chips, pasta, etc.) that I can store in my pantry I like to buy them, if they are at a good price. One way to tell is the number in the upper right hand corner of the label. It will be "15", "30", "50", or "75". These are the percentages by which the item has been marked down. Which means- if I really don't need more semi-sweet morsels (though they are always tempting), and they are only at 30% markdown, I will know if they will be further reduced later and I can come back and get them. Genius!
2. Canned Soups
Recently I found a ton of Campbell's Hearty Soups on the clearance end cap at Target. They were all marked .94 per can, so I bought several. Though fresh homemade soup ranks way higher on our menu, these are easy, go-to meals around our household, and most convenient with a toddler. I love having these soups in our pantry for the days when we are low on groceries. I can heat some up and provide protein, carbs and veggies very quickly! The ingredients are also perfect for Knox since they are already well-cooked and easy for him to eat.
If you've been around here long, you'll know that we use BumGenius diapers. It was a decision we made long before Knox was here (I honestly couldn't believe Shawn was up for it), and I'm so glad we did. We were able to make up our original investment (around 300.00) in 6 months of use, and hypothetically, now we save .25 per cloth diaper change. They have held up amazingly well and overall I've been suprised at how convenient they really are.
This is a new style, Albert, that I've been dying to buy for my little genius!
This is my favorite couponing blog as of late- it seems to be the most thorough and up-to-date out there. If there is a coupon for it, The Krazy Coupon Lady will know.
When we knew that Shawn and I would both soon be self-employed (meaning no insurance), we started to look at our options. We looked around at several different group and individual health plans, and then finally decided to go a totally different direction and become a part of Samaritan Ministries. It's a Christian medi-share ministry that is a biblically-based alternative to traditional health insurance. I didn't even know something like this existed until a my friend Alex mentioned it to me. This is actually just our first month to be members and so I will have to post an update with our experience later. So far, though, they have been extremely helpful, available, and up-front about the way it all works- totally the opposite experience of our old insurance company. You can find lots of info about it here. This video also answered a lot of questions for me.
Well, that's it for now! Have a great week!
I have to admit, I couldn't see far enough past Christmas and New Years (also our anniversary) to go ahead and plan Knox's 1st birthday party. Since he was born Jan. 3rd, it kind of snuck up on us. I had tossed around a few ideas on my Pinterest boards, but finally settled on an UNO theme. Why? Because I can only do it UNO time!
So here are a few details- I decided not to obsess too much over the decor and treats, and I'm so glad I did. Freed up a lot of time to actually spend time with people.
First, the invitations! I kind of went off of a design I saw HERE. It helps that my pro lab makes a boutique card in the perfect cutout shape as a playing card:
Then Shawn and I made 3 kinds of popcorn: S'mores, Caramel & M&M's, and Ranch (the favorite). We also made some little UNO card cupcake toppers, and stuck them into the cupcakes I ordered from Sam's (totally worth it- I am not a great baker). Auntie Em made some delicious cupcake toppers, and I found these cute napkins on clearance at Target. Hip hooray for clearance items! I had a few leftover UNO cards from another project, so I just scattered them all over the table.
Also, not pictured on the right side of the above photo (they are kind of cut off) are the custom crossword puzzles we made (free!) from this website. Our theme for the puzzle was "All About Knox", and the adults seemed to enjoy it! I realized last minute that I didn't have a colorful tablecloth, and so I grabbed a bunch of scrapbook paper that has been living in my storage and set it out. It worked out great!
The last "project" I did was a photo booth background. I knew I wanted to use UNO cards somehow, and it was also a great way to document everyone who came. All of my kids should just assume from now on that there will be a photo booth at their birthday parties. :)
Then it came time for his first cupcake! Well, I have a feeling he's had some cupcake before (Mom!) but this was the first one openly handed to him. He interested, then a little nervous that we were all watching, then loving it.
All in all, we had a great time and enjoyed hanging out with our family and friends. Thanks to all who came!
So I've read on several photography forums and blogs how it's NOT ok to innundate your blog readers with personal photos of your family during your slow months. Well, this post is here to prove I really don't care! Here are some photos of bath time at our house- which I dare say is Knox's favorite time of day.
P.S. I have a few more "personal" posts planned for the next week or so- since we are going on a CRUISE with Shawn's family (woo-hoo!). It was our Christmas gift to each other so we have been anticipating it for at least a year. Yes, we are taking the babe, and yes, I am actually considering strapping him to one of those kid leashes. Just kidding. Sort of.
Things around here were starting to seem a little too cold, so I'm in the process of making it a bit cozier...stay tuned.
I'd love to hear your thoughts if you've just happened upon the new style!
I read this fantastic article on the RELEVANT magazine website today, and thought it was worthy of sharing here.
In my experience, having seen at least a hundred marriages begin, I can vouch for the negative effect our "perfectionist" culture has put on relationships. Thankfully, I am lucky that the vast majority of couples I get to work for are ones who have a realistic, genuine love for the other person- flaws and all. :)
Please take a minute to read the article HERE!