3 Things To Do After a Wedding Show | Neenah Wedding Photographer

A few weekends ago, I had a super busy weekend.. but so much fun! Friday night started the WPPA (Wisconsin Professional Photographer's Association) spring convention which continued each day until Monday. The speakers were great, and it was fun to reconnect with some past friends and meet some new peers! We were hosted at the lovely Paper Valley Radisson in downtown Appleton.

This was the view from the skywalk looking farther into downtown Friday evening. Please enjoy my lovely iPhone/instagram images. ;)

And this was the speaker on Monday.. he talked about weddings, sales, marketing, and we had great fun learning from his posing and photographing demonstration. He's incredibly talented.

He started out with a bang... I loved this thought: Do you live to work? Or work to live?

It really got me thinking. I do try to keep a balance between my photography work and regular life, and I plan to keep it that way. So many photographers I know seem to pour their whole living into photography. It's wonderful when those passionate individuals do that, but I feel it's so important to develop other areas of your life too.. like your relationships with your spouse, family, and even necessary down time and hobbies. I solemnly believe that stress is a huge detriment! Now, anyone up for a nap? ;)

Anyway, the speaker is a super talented wedding photographer in Florida and runs a business with his 3 brothers, so he had a fun time romping in the snow when we went outside for a lighting and posing demonstration.

The whole convention was wonderful, and all the speakers were awesome for inspiration and education.

Going back a day, Sunday offered another lovely wedding show at the Performing Arts Center in downtown Appleton.

These generally are a blast... and this one was no different! I was told by two different future brides that I was their favorite photographer they had talked to that day. Another couple came back and asked if they could look through my albums some more because they liked my work so much. Talk about heart-warming!! I could hardly fit through the door to leave from my big head and inflated ego. ;)




And I haven't changed the teal and green at all.. because I get so many positive comments and feedback. "Oh, you're the teal and green lady!" Yes! My branding is working! ;)

Monday evening, I also had a wedding professionals networking meeting where I got to see a lot of my friends/other vendors from the wedding show and catch up with them. It was great.

Anyway, so that was my super busy weekend. If any of you stopped and said hi to me at the booth, I really appreciate it! The wedding show went really well.. and those of you I met, I truly enjoyed every minute! :)


Let's get on to the more helpful part.. the show is now over, now what?

3 things to do after a wedding show

1. Sort all your "paperwork."
I know. At the show, it is so tempting just to grab the price list, throw it in your bag, and run. As wedding vendors, we usually get in your face, talk a mile a minute, and are like an over-enthusiastic puppy. Sorry. Hope we didn't slobber too much. ;)

But, the key is to discard (or better yet, recycle) any price lists for services and vendors that you know you won't need. Already have your florist? Cool, pitch that one.

2. Look up your vendors online.
Gather your other price lists and information and head to the computer. Get to know their work. Check out their Facebook page, their blog, their websites, and any reviews they might have. Do any of their personalities show through? Is there a "look" or style of their work that grabs you? How informative is their website? Are things up to date? Do their recommendations sound truthful?

I'm not saying we all update our websites once a week (I wish!), but it's nice to see that a vendor is showing current work.

3. Make the initial contact.
If you're looking for a cake artist (they are truly artists.. wow!), narrow your search down to 2-3 prospective bakeries and contact them. Many websites offer direct contact forms, while others offer email addresses and phone numbers. Always give the date of your wedding and ask to meet them in person. (Pssst. We LOVE sitting down with you... makes us feel like you just gave us a treat. Remember the dog analogy. No? Okay. Moving on.)

If you don't hear back from them in a day or two, move on. Communication is a big thing in planning your wedding. If they don't make answering emails or messages a priority, it might be the cause of a headache or five in the future. 

And that's it! Wedding shows can be overwhelming with all the people, vendors, fashion shows, etc., but they can be extremely helpful for getting a jump on wedding planning.

Please check me out on Facebook, or check out my website for more of my work. And drop me a line or two.. I would love to hear from you! :)

Or check out more wedding planning tips like 3 Tips for Choosing Your Wedding Photographer.

Instagram, holidays, and other randoms! | Neenah Wedding Photographer

Hey all!

It's been quite a while (again) since you've heard from me, so let's get caught up a little!

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I'm sure you've all heard the Instagram hype. Selling your photos, not telling you what's happening, etc. Yikes!

If you are all like me, I adore Instagram. I use it all the time! I haven't started one for my business, but if you're into snapshots of my food (come for supper sometime!), my husband, our dog, and other randoms, feel free to check me out here. You may have noticed a few different shots of albums as I've received them from my pro lab. Disclaimer: Yep, it's my personal life, so welcome to super-behind-the-scenes. ;)

Anyway, I was mildly curious as to what was actually going on. Really, anything you put online is free game, and although it's quite frustrating, it's not changing. Despite my lovely post here.

To the point! I found a linked article from Facebook describing a bit more of what's happening, but this is what I summarized:

--The new terms actually limit Instagram from the terms before. Yes, they can use your images, but no longer can modify or change them.

--Among a few other things, they can use the images like Facebook has been using your activity in their Sponsored Posts.

--Speaking of Facebook, apparently Instagram just sold out to them. Now, that one is a bit disappointing to me. Each change Facebook makes leaves me with a bit more sour taste in my mouth.

So, if you want to check the article out yourself, here's the link. I know I will still be using the app just as much. I'm sure there are a few really awesome shots in Instagram's archives among all the #selfies taken in dingy bathrooms, but I'll save that kind of work for my professional bodies, lenses, and editing software. ;)

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In other news, I have been busy behind the scenes. I've been working on albums, holiday cards, etc.

How fun is this? A little sampling of 2012... hard to believe it's almost the end of the year!

I start getting all sappy and emotional when I close out a year... lots of hard work, but so much fun and incredible memories! Keep watch for that post in the future.

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Also, I just came up with a great idea for next year's senior reps (yes, class of 2014, this is YOU!)... that includes an awesome deal for the 2013 graduate. Look for that real, real soon.

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I am continuing to add testimonials to Facebook, and all of those will show up on my website before too long also. If you have survived a photo session or wedding day with me (and lived to tell about it!), please email me a few sentences that I can share with others. I might be willing to compensate you for your time. ;)

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This is enough for now... this time of year gets so busy with families and friends, cooking, cleaning, baking, etc. Be sure to take some time to breathe. And be thankful for what we have and love.


xoxo,
Mariah

June = Wedding Month! | Neenah, Appleton, Wisconsin, Wedding Photographer

June is wedding month here at Baseman Studios Photography...

Well, that's silly, you say. Isn't June considered wedding month everywhere?

Not only do I have some incredible weddings to look forward to during this month of June, I also cannot wait to start meeting my couples for 2013 weddings!

So, how about we add to the crazy and throw in a little promotion for this month of June?

During this month of June 2012 (and ONLY this month of June), choose Baseman Studios Photography as your wedding photographer for your 2013 wedding. Just do it. Take the leap. ;) Not only do you get amazing photography and personable customer service like always, now there is extra incentive!

With any wedding photography collection, you can choose one of two deals, both worth $200.

We can take half off the sticker price of your engagement-photo guestbook (these things are simply adored by brides, grooms, and all their guests!). Click here to visit an older post where you can see some examples.

Or you can apply that $200 towards 100 custom-designed postcards. The postcards can be used for save-the-dates, invitations, or thank-you's.. all of which can include the images from your engagement session and/or wedding. This is such a neat way to have your friends and family see some of your favorite images. They also can be sent through the mail as-is to save on postage. So cool.


Anyway, please, please contact me today to learn more or to set up a consultation to chat more about your wedding day and Baseman Studios Photography's photography collections. This offer is only valid through June 30, 2012!

Now, my bags are packed and ready to go... I cannot wait for tomorrow's wedding. Remember Joey and Jenny? Yup, their big bash is tomorrow. :) Stay tuned for pictures next week!

Also, I had another senior rep session yesterday evening that although a bit chilly (55*!), went incredibly well. The lighting was perfect.. gorgeous.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Short & Sweet | Wedding Planning Wednesday

Hey lovelies!

Today's tip is short and sweet. And it is about being short and sweet.

When you are planning out your wedding ceremony, be sure to think about the style and length of ceremony you would like.

Religious ceremonies take a little bit more time, whereas writing your own vows tends to be a bit faster.

Remember your guests in regards to the accommodations of the ceremony as well. For example, a beautiful, air-conditioned church on a 90* day is perfect for a longer, religious ceremony.

However, a shorter, more intimate outdoor ceremony on a hot summer day might be more appropriate.

Finally, make sure your ceremony is long enough for your photographer to capture plenty of expressions, details, and other shots.

Happy wedding planning!


PS. Have you found your photographer yet? If your wedding date is in 2013, stay tuned for tomorrow... June is wedding month! We will be offering a sweet promotion for all 2013 dates! :)

Unique Engagement Session | Wedding Planning Tips

Engagement sessions are great. Not only do we get to further our relationship, but we just spend some time together having fun. It's very relaxed, often quite the opposite of a wedding day. :)

You can read more about the importance of engagement sessions here.

So, today, just a small wedding tip for you all.

The way to take a good engagement session and make it great is to add something unique to you and your fiance. Something personal that is special. Or a place that has meaning... think where he popped the question or where you met. Or even something fun you saw online that you'd like to try.

This couple brought a bike along... we had a blast!

We see a lot of Brewers and Packer gear... I love that!

They had stumbled upon this incredible location... how gorgeous is that?!

This sweet couple actually met in Starbucks. Adorable, right? It was a little chilly during their engagement session, so we had to stop into a local Neenah coffee shop and warm up.

Side note: Anyone else simply adore Aspen Coffee & Tea in downtown Neenah? *raises hand* Apparently they have one in Menasha and Appleton as well.

Or, go off the wall and try something new! The groom's sister had seen pictures of this online... it has been all over Pinterest lately. ;)

This was a definite first for me as a photographer... and it was so incredibly fun. Talk about making memories!

So today's tip is to come up with a way to personalize your engagement session... make it fun and memorable!

Happy wedding planning!

2 Defining Wedding Photographer Qualities | Wedding Planning Tips

Well, hello... It's Wednesday again! That means another great tip (from a photographers' perspective) coming up.

Let's be real for a bit. There are a lot of really great photographers out there. Each one has their own style, their own personalities, and their own way of interacting with clients. Of course, they each have their own structure for services, products, and what they offer to you on the wedding day.

When I was at the bridal show the other evening, I chatted with one particular bride that inquired about a date that I was already booked. I hate it when that happens. :/

Anyway, she was sweet and asked me if I had any recommendations or what to look for as she was narrowing down her options and choosing a photographer.

I thought for a quick second and came up with two great things to look for in your wedding and engagement photographer. I know, the best lists, the ones that make the blogosphere go around, are always at least three things long. There's a science to creating lists that are enticing and draw readership. Thinking on my feet doesn't give me a whole lot of time to insert philosophy into my answers though. ;)

So, the two most important qualities in a wedding photographer are
1. Style
2. Personality

(Gasp. I didn't say the investment required!)

1. Style

You want your photographer's style to represent you. Well, that sounds pretty mundane, doesn't it?

To be quite honest, a confident photographer will clearly describe his or her style to you. If you want more of the trendy, let's-go-out-in-a-field-of-grass-with-a-bed-and-a-chair photography, definitely don't invest in a photographer that specializes in high-fashion, black-and-white wedding portraiture.

Obviously, most photographers are well-rounded enough to capture all the different aspects of your wedding day.. the details, the photojournalistic moments, the posed family portraits, etc. However, usually each photographer has a specialty, area that they are strong in, or an aspect that they particularly enjoy and highlight.

It cannot be stressed enough that the work that you see of a photographer is exactly what your final product will look like.

2. Personality

"Hey, my name is Mariah. Nice to meet you. I'll be your constant companion for the next 8-10 hours. Bummer if you are uncomfortable around me." Yikes. That would make for a great day of wedding tension and fun, right?

Unfortunately, I know a few photographers work this way.

The personality of the photographer is one of the most forgotten aspects of a wedding photographer.

No joke, we spend more time with you than your mom, wedding party, and sometimes even your fiance/spouse on your wedding day.

It is imperative that we get to know each other, that we mesh well together, and that you are comfortable enough to be yourselves.

We photographers love our jobs, love getting to know couples, and love spending hours with them on one of the most important days of their lives. We form bonds, start friendships, sometimes even end up photographing future children. It's an amazing process.


The future bride I was talking to at the show mentioned she was impressed with the advice and was happily surprised that I had not mentioned things like products offered and the investment required.

So there you have it. In my mind, the two most defining qualities in a wedding photographer. Style. Personality.


P.S. It was a fun show... the live music was beautiful! A great big thanks to all who stopped by and said hi.

P.P.S. I managed to stay awake, too.. That 9:00pm stuff is for the birds! ;)

Short & Sweet | Wedding Planning Tips

Yikes. Wednesday came and went without me.

Kidding. A little kidding anyway. It was busy.

Anyway, a day late is better than never, right? ;)

Today's wedding planning tip is short and sweet.

If you're in the process of planning a wedding, it's a great idea to attend a bridal show to talk to potential vendors, try your hand in many (many!) giveaways, and gather ideas for your day.

Fortunately, I have just the solution for you. ;)

Tomorrow (yes, tomorrow!), there's a bridal party happening in downtown Appleton at the OuterEdge Stage. You won't want to miss it! There's plenty of vendors, live music, and even a live radio broadcast!

Click here for more information.

The doors open at 5:00pm and the party goes until 9:00pm... see you there!


P.S. My bedtime is about 9:00pm these days... Props to you if you visit me towards the end to help keep me awake!

P.P.S. Kidding. It's actually about 9:30pm. ;)

Wedding Day Schedule: Ceremony Time | Wedding Planning Tips

Today is Wednesday already! Wow, another week has flown by so fast!

That means another little wedding planning tip for you all.

Last week, we talked about feeding your photographer. If you missed it, here's the post. :)

This week, let's talk scheduling!

During consultations, we usually chat about what wedding day schedule you're planning. We chat about many things, actually, and sometimes chat the better part of an hour or more. ;)

Anyway, many times future brides and grooms don't really know what kind of schedule they would like.

The most important thing to plan first is the ceremony time.

Early afternoon seems to be the most popular time for wedding ceremonies, but late morning ceremonies are becoming more common as well.

Morning ceremonies give you time to go to several locations for bride and groom portraits, fun bridal party shots, bar hopping, and those types of activities. They also give your guests time to head back to the hotel and take a little break before the big evening of dinner, fun, and dancing.

Early afternoon ceremonies seem to give enough time for the ceremony, an hour or two of "picture time," followed up by the cocktail hour and the rest of the evening.

When a couple is planning out their day, they need to ask themselves what is important and what isn't.

Do you envision you and your wedding party going around town? Do you want to maximize your time with your photographer, capturing intimate bride and groom portraits as well as bridal party shots? Do your guests have enough to do to keep them occupied for the whole day? Maybe a morning ceremony is right for you.

Or maybe you and your fiance are willing to sacrifice a little "fun" time with your bridal party and spend a little more time with your guests.

Or maybe you only have one option based on your church, location, or other venue, and that's fine too.

My personal favorite is a ceremony at 1:00 or 1:30pm. It seems that gives us enough time to capture the necessary family shots and allows for some creative bridal party set ups, as well as some intimate bride-and-groom portraits.

PS. You can never be too generous when planning for your wedding day schedule! It's best to plan that everything will take a little more time. It's rare that all happens as scheduled, but if it does, you have a little extra time to relax and enjoy your day!

PPS. I was resisting change like something crazy... but, I've finally updated the Baseman Studios Facebook page to the new Timeline. I'm pretty pleased actually, in this first 30 minutes I've played with it. What do you all think? Have you switched your personal pages to Timeline yet?

Food for thought! | Wedding Planning Tips

Just the other day, I had a call from a groom that was wondering how the whole food thing worked for me as a photographer on the wedding day.

"So, um, do you eat?" I think is how the conversation started. heh.

Oh, most definitely. Eating is one of my most favorite things to do in the world. Probably higher on my list than Photoshop and consultations at Starbucks combined! Just ask my husband what happens if I start getting too hungry.... ;)

I figured there might be others out there who also wondered what in the world "to do with your photographer" when it comes time for the meal. So, here's some food for thought from a photographer's perspective.

First off, we love the cocktail hour. If we're all caught up and on time with the family photos, bride and groom photos, etc, this gives us 5-10 minutes to take a few deep breaths and clear our heads before the reception starts.

Plus, there's a lot of neat food artists out there. How cute is this apple-bird?

The main answer is "yes." We do need to eat since we have been with you, working, the entire day. Many photographers actually have this in the agreement that you sign. I personally do not include a "food clause" but figure you all are kind enough to include me in your meal plan.

In fact, if you're planning out seating arrangements, please put your photographer as close to the head table as possible.

We don't bite (honest) and we love to sit with your family. True story!

We love finding out all your silly secrets and relationship quirks from our table mates during the meal.

We also love being close to the action when the toasts start.

Unfortunately, we are not always the best dinner companions as we rarely stay in our seat for more than a minute or two at a time. We also usually eat with our cameras around our necks as we're scanning the room looking for anything "of interest" that's happening.

However, we appreciate when our table companions stop the wait-staff from stealing our half-eaten plates of food. :) Some of the waiters and waitresses are just too darn efficient.

And yes, we like to sample the cake. :)

Also, one other thing...

Be sure to ask your photographer what their policy is about alcohol when they photograph weddings.

My personal drink of choice during a reception is ice water. Or coffee. But then again, when doesn't coffee go well?

However, should your photographer take a few alcoholic liberties during your wedding day, you might start to wonder why your images look like this as the night progresses....

Now, I promise I was only under the influence of coffee for this shot. ;)


So, in summary:

How to treat your wedding photographer, food edition:

1. Yes, please feed us. We'll take both the steak and chicken. Just kidding. Maybe.

2. Let us sit as close to you as possible. Photographers can damage their cameras (and themselves) when they run through crowded ballrooms trying to catch a shot.

3. Cake. Nothing else needs to be said.

4. Alcohol. Ask them how they treat that situation.


Happy wedding planning! And thanks for treating your photographer so well! :)

Playing Catch-up!

It has been ages (ages!!) since I've last posted here on my sweet little blog.

So, here's what I've been up to:

~Yes, I still am working on revamping this very blog into a site connected with my official website. And yes... it's taking me longer than usual. ;)

~ I am this close *holds up fingers* to being completely caught up with my album design. The one I'm currently working on (the last one!!) is almost half done as we speak.

~I had a great time recently at the bridal show produced by Visuelle Productions and held at the Appleton Performing Arts Center. Go visit Visuelle on Facebook.

I'm always known as the "teal-and-green lady." To which I respond, "Sweet! My branding is working!" :)

I was fortunate enough to be next to the White Oak Chapel's booth... and they had that super-cute green bike right next to my booth. It would have been just a bummer if that managed to come home with me... Kidding. I need to find myself a bike though!

If you're looking for a very neat, historic ceremony venue, please check out the White Oak Chapel's website. It is a former church camp that has been renovated by Forest Junction, Wisconsin. We got to tour there last fall in our wedding professionals networking group. Definitely worth your consideration.



My engagement photo guestbooks always are a big hit at bridal shows. There are many, many reasons for having an engagement session, but having an engagement photo guestbook to keep is in the top 5.

One sweet bride-to-be commented, "I'm always looking for something unique... and I've never seen anything like this before! These are awesome!"

Talk about warm fuzzies. :)

I've already had two amazing consultations and can't wait for my remaining ones that I set up at the show. I swear, that's one of my favorite parts of this "job."

On a side note, it has been absolutely gorgeous here in Neenah, Wisconsin... we've been setting new records. 75* in March? Score! The best part is there's no bugs or allergies yet.

Anyway, this is probably enough for now. Let's chat again soon!

5 Reasons to Book Your Wedding Photographer Now! | Appleton

The big question: how soon should you book your wedding photographer?

Well, the short answer is "NOW"...

This is the long answer:

It's never too soon to line up and secure your wedding vendors, especially if you have a popular wedding date.

As a general rule of thumb, the higher dollar amount of an investment required for the vendor (read: venues, catering, dj's, cake artist, etc.), the sooner you should secure them. In fact, as a wedding photographer, I feel most comfortable when I hear from clients at least 8-12 months before the wedding.

Time is key to get the most out of your full-service wedding photographer. Why?

1. Securing Your Date
In most cases, a photographer will not hold your date for you until there's a signed agreement and an initial investment. If your wedding day falls in a popular time of year, you might be struggling to find a photographer you like that's available. June is still a popular month, but the fall months like September and October are becoming trendy as well.

2. Engagement Session
You will definitely want an engagement session, which is most likely included. This fun, relaxed 1-2 hour session shows off your personality as a couple before the wedding day. It helps build that relationship of trust between you and your photographer, while helping the photographer see how you interact together, react in front of a camera, and discover favorite poses/styles with you two.

3. Products with your Engagement Images
Often, there are several different things the photographer can create with your engagement images! My personal favorites are engagement-photo-guestbooks (which your guests will rave about!), blog preview cards, and gift registry cards. And don't forget about save-the-dates and invitations! Many photographers can custom-design stationary with your images. The sooner you sign with your photographer, the sooner you can get working on all these fun ideas!

4. Payment Plans
Whether your photographer offers monthly payment options, lump sums, or the balance due before/on the wedding day, the sooner you book, the more time you have to get that balance paid off! It's much easier to squirrel away a hundred dollars or so a month, than to come up with a few grand right on the spot. Trust me on this. :)

5. Developing a Relationship of Trust
It all comes back to this: you and your photographer need to get to know each other. Throughout your engagement period, your photographer will communicate back and forth about the engagement session, products, payments, and answer general questions you might have. Take note: do they respond to your emails, text messages, and/or phone calls in a timely manner? Do they take the initiative in contacting you, or do they wait for a reminder from you?

Bottom line: The more you get to know your photographer, the more you will trust them. And trust leads to a happy wedding day and lasting marriage. ;)

Check your availability with Baseman Studios Photography.

Then email Mariah with your date and location of your wedding day to set up a consultation.

Talk to you soon!
~M


P.S. To view more images from Grace&Ron's big day, please click here.

P.P.S. Would you ever get married on a ferry? You could use Dramamine as your guest favors! ;)