We Shoot | We Write | We Design

For those of you unable to make 37:60, a wedding photography workshop for brides, hosted by WriteShot and Artistic Imaging, over time, I am going to share the biggest “a-ha!” moments the brides in attendance experienced this past week.

I’ll be starting with Tip No. 1: Portrait photography, though showcased heavily in a wedding photographer’s portfolios, only accounts for a small percentage of your wedding day coverage.

I never really thought about the fact that couple’s portraits take up only 20-60 minutes of an entire wedding day . . .

While some people consider the couple’s portrait the crowning jewel of their wedding day, don’t forget that there is an entire story unfolding throughout the day – and  your photographer is responsible for capturing it.

In order to do so, your photographer will need to call on his photojournalism and commercial photography skills. He’ll need to deliver all the shots you expect, as well as capture moments that you were too busy to see happen. A good wedding photographer is part photojournalist, part portrait artist. On top of that, he’s got to capture your details on which you worked so hard.

How much emphasis a shooter places on photojournalism over portraiture, or vice versa, depends on that photographer’s vision and style.

Tip: Before you hire a photographer, take the time to review images from an entire wedding day so that you can see firsthand, that photographer’s style. Then, ask the  photographer how he sees your story unfolding. Share your vision and see if his vision is a strong match.

This is just one of the topics covered in our workshop. Send us an email, if you’d like to attend the next session and we’ll save you a spot.

Join WriteShot and Artistic Imaging in a free workshop designed to help brides maximize value, save time and money when it comes to their wedding photography. Call 702-465-5700 to register, as space is limited. Interested brides: Please call to register and receive the location information.

The biggest decision a bride makes is who to marry. The second biggest decision she makes is who to hire as her wedding photographer. Fortunately, Vegas has many options, when it comes to wedding photographers. Unfortunately, brides often feel overwhelmed and frustrated as they try figure out who to hire and why.

Enter 37/60, the only free wedding photography workshop of its kind.  Offered by WriteShot, who has teamed up with Artistic Imaging, 37/60 an is amazing opportunity for brides to get their wedding photography questions answered.

“The Millennium bride is smart, says Natasha Chornesky, WriteShot. She’s looking for value, regardless of her budget. She’s looking to learn as much as she can about maximizing that value before committing to any particular wedding vendor, especially her photographer. She considers saving time as important as saving money.”

This workshop addresses the three things the Millennium bride wants to do most: save money; save time; and maximize value.

Any bride, regardless of who she hires as her photographer, will benefit. There is no sales pitch and there is no discussion of specific professionals in the industry. However, there is a lot of information packed into one hour.

Vegas has many talented wedding photographers. 37/60 is designed to benefit brides in all budgets, regardless of whom they eventually hire as their wedding photographer.

“We’re reaching out to empower brides with real information, so each one can make decisions that best suit her distinct needs,” says Natasha.

The workshop gets it’s name from the 37 topics covered in only 60 minutes.

37/60 is free, but registration is required. Session one is offered Tuesday, August 24th, from 6-7 pm and session two is offered Saturday, August 28th, from 10-11 am.

For additional information or to register, call 702-465-5700. Space is limited to ten participants for each session.

Both WriteShot (booth 614) and Artistic Imaging (booth 604) will be at the Bridal Spectacular Show, August 20-21, held at Cashman Center, Las Vegas.

Press Release here.

WriteShot brides have been asking for archival quality image albums and proof boxes in addition to our one-of-a-kind books and custom fine art prints. There are a million wedding album companies out there, but most of them didn’t pass muster.

We looked for a company that builds by hand each album and box. A company that is as dedicated to craftsmanship as it is dedicated to the same archival quality of WriteShot’s existing line of books, fine art prints, book jackets and other products.

Enter, Cypress Handmade Albums and Boxes. Each WriteShot Cypress album or box is custom-crafted by hand in French silk, accented by Swiss ribbons in colors of the bride’s choice.

WriteShot is especially excited to debut a Cypress box containing a brand new iPad loaded with a couple’s entire wedding photograph collection and their WriteShot book.

For our DIY brides, WriteShot is happy to make available Cypress’ self-mount albums, which feature the same sophisticated elegance, while accommodating any budget.

You can see the iPad, the Cypress iPad box, with custom matted prints, and other products at Writeshot‘s  Bridal Spectacular booth, this Friday and Saturday at Cashman Center in Las Vegas. Or you can call 800.857.7550 and arrange an appointment at your convenience.

Photos courtesy Cypress Albums and Avery House Photography.

It would take several blog posts to list Joyce Scardina Becker’s numerous accolades and accomplishments. Founder and owner of Events of Distinction, Joyce, who published Countdown to Your Perfect Wedding, possesses a rare expertise that spans interior, floral and event design. It comes as no surprise that Events of Distinction, under Joyce’s watchful eye, is opening it’s second office in southern California this fall.

Born to party

Long before there were the 11 Gala or Esprit awards, with which Joyce and her company have been bestowed, Countdown to a Perfect Wedding, the book she penned, or the numerous articles that have appeared in prestigious wedding and event publications, there was a five-year-old girl, a rumpus room, a patient mother and a father who owned a grocery store. [Read more →]

“True confessions — I’ve been looking into getting a nose job” a client said sheepishly over the phone. “You know, in time for the wedding.

“I hate my nose. I hate my profile. I hate my nose in my profile . . . “

She went on for some time, pooh-poohing her proboscis.

“I never thought I’d be the type to go under the knife,” she admitted. “It’s actually really scary, but I don’t know what else to do.”

She caught herself mid-sentence, took a deep breath, then continued.

“I cannot even buh-lieve I am telling you this. The only one who really knows how I feel is my fiancée. My photos are forever and I don’t want my nose ruining them.” [Read more →]

It was more than six years ago, back when Michelle Tortuya worked as a marketing and public relations coordinator for city government in Los Angeles, while planning non-profit events, grand openings, anniversaries and other milestones, that Michelle’s interest in party and event planning peaked. After having the opportunity to plan several weddings, she knew she could never go back.

And, just like that, The Charming Little Event Company was born. Ok, maybe not “just like that . . .”

“Since its inception, I have been through a company name and logo change,” says Michelle. “I’ve had two kids, tons of fun with weddings and events, with lots of ups and downs along the way.

Based in Orange County, Calif., and currently employing two lead assistants and anywhere between two to six interns throughout the year, Michelle says she wouldn’t change a thing.

[Read more →]

Jen’s fiancé, Gus, is an addict. Action figures, toys, superheroes with amped up muscles and bendable elbows and, of course, comics – zillions of them, all wrapped neatly in special plastic with an acid-free cardboard backing – invade their home. Spiderman is his favorite. Or maybe it’s the Incredible Hulk (“Hulk Smash!”). There’s also his fiancée, Jen, she ranks up there, too.

It takes a superwoman to marry a man whose first love affair continues to run its course and is still going strong after 35 years.

The artist weighs in

And, it’s going to take one heck of a book to earn a coveted spot in the couple’s Manhattan digs. We pulled out all the stops by commissioning comic book artist Scott Rosema, a regular contributor to Marvel’s X-Men  and DC’s Batman series, to join in the fun making Jen and Gus’ WriteShot book. [Read more →]

Christie McCoy was that little girl who always dreamed about her wedding day. She was also that little girl who absolutely had to redesign her bedroom monthly, if not weekly, so it comes as no surprise that when that little girl grew up, she started planning weddings and events professionally.

The year was 2003 and the place, New York City. Back then, her operation was a one-woman show.

Since then, Christie has been dreaming big and executing even bigger. Christie’s CLM Weddings now plans events from coast-to-coast, while claiming Las Vegas as home. Christie employs a total of four planners, whose numbers increase seasonally through the addition of assistants and interns.

Creating, showing and sharing

Both, an event designer and wedding planner, Christie relishes keeping up with the most recent styles and industry trends. She also prides herself on creating that custom feel for each client’s vision.

“Designing is probably my favorite part of wedding planning,” says Christie, “because my clients can let go and my creative juices flow.” [Read more →]

At a recent wedding, I witnessed the planner informing her bride that she had the amounts tallied for each vendor who was still due payment. This happened on the wedding day, the bride perched high upon a stylist’s chair, still in her bathrobe,  a mimosa in one hand, a cell phone in the other, waited patiently for the stylist to adhere her false lashes.

Somehow, the bride managed to hold the list of accounts handed to her in her pinky, her other fingers wrapped tightly around the stem of her champagne flute.

Just like that, the bride summoned her mother, who ran, checkbook in hand, to the side of her daughter. The planner produced the figures; mother and daughter concurred with the amounts; mother wrote the checks. And, everyone in the room felt awkward.

Even in the best circumstances, money is be the currency of emotion, especially on a wedding day. Elation. Relief. Reward of a battle well won. A generous gift with no strings attached. No matter what the emotion, there is no need for a bride, whose emotions may be tried already during her wedding preparation time, to be complicated by monetary transactions. It taints the experience, it’s not fun and it ruins the photos (as only a photographer could say). It’s uncomfortable, no matter how gracious the check writer. Most of all, it’s not necessary.

This system of checks and balances, provided by Las Vegas Wedding Concierge Tracey Kumer Moore, will help you steer clear of the scenario above. [Read more →]