Bethany and Dan Photography's Blog

Info for Brides: Home-made and Hand-made favors

04 • 10 • 13

What’s not to love about something that has been made for YOU with love? Am I right or am I right?

I thought that while you are planning your wedding favors, it might be nice to make something yourself. Not only will it save money (perhaps) you will also be able to add your personality and a little effort for the guests. Sure it might take a little more work but wouldn’t you appreciate it as a guest? I know I would.

Here Chris and Katy made these favors themselves. A home-brew called “Matrimony Ale” and Peach Preserves. This way guests could choose their ”vice”, sweets or alcohol. I must say I took a beer… and so did Dan.

Thanks guys! Cheers!!! What would be some other fun ideas for favors that you can think of?

Tags: beer,DIY,favors at weddings,hand made,home made,matrimony ale,preserves

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Office Essentials: My Week Notepad

04 • 08 • 13

I first heard about this gem from Jasmine Star on her blog. I saw it, loved it, put it on my wishlist, gave in to temptation and bought it randomly, and now use it and LOVE LOVE LOVE It!

Recently I blogged about how we use evernote, and this is our physical extension and practice of the to-do list. I sit down and choose the to-do items I want to get taken care of through out the week and spread them among the days. It is a lot easier to decide what to do with the day, if you have already done the deciding! I break up big projects into small bits and before you know it, the job is done. I try not to add anything more than three items to the list, and I also make sure to add any appointments or meetings here too, so I dont overplan for a day that is already filled up by our calendar events. It also helps me see what I have accomplished.

Simple. Cheap. Easy. Effective. #winwin

>>Buy it here<<

Tags: getting things done,goals,make it happen,organization for photographers,todo lists,type a personality

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Info for Brides: Instagramming at Weddings!

04 • 05 • 13

I have blogged before about how much we love instagram. For real…. We love it. Head here for our profile: http://instagram.com/bethanyanddan

What I wanted to talk about today was how we use instagram at weddings! That’s right, I take my phone out and use it at weddings! I probably take 3-4 photographs of the wedding day via my iPhone and upload them to instagram in real time. I love that the photos are already out there and getting some likes by family and friends WHILE we are still at the wedding. I always add a hashtag #[bride]and[groom]swedding and we tell the other iphoners there to use the same one. That way the couple can see all the fun instagrams that we took AND the ones that their friends took too!

At first I was pretty hesitant to do this, since it doesn’t exactly look professional to the unknower, but I have since come around to doing my best not to stress about what other people are thinking. The couples tend to love it! It’s how we enjoy our other fun life experiences so why wouldn’t we do this too? As much as it makes a small part of my cringe, another part of me LOVES that our clients love the instgram photos almost as much as their professional ones we give them later. More than one client still has the instagram photo from their wedding as their profile photo and one even made it into a wedding album… no lie.

1. Dan taking some couple shots of Dane and Michelle on the beach. 2. Abbie and I on the way to the ceremony! 3. Post wedding de-jewleryfying. (nice new word eh?) 4. Jess and Eric‘s wedding pumpkin.

1. Sippin’ on some Coca-cola 2. Wedding prep 3. Would you hate me if I told you that I don’t remember WHICH sunset cruise we were on when I took this one? #blessed 4. Becky and Aaron’s ceremony decor1. Lyndsey and Ben’s engagement session 2. A place at the table for Jasmine and Raul’s wedding #honored 3. Abbie’s mom and her besties in the photobooth. 4. Pre-wedding hotel mirror shot

1. One of my favorites!!! Lyndsey and her bridal party strike a pose. 2. A goodbye hug before Jess and Eric left at the end of the night. 3. This one made Andrew and Lisa’s album. 4. The basilica at Elizabeth and Michael’s engagement session.

1. Becky and Aaron snugglin’. 2. Kathleen and her bridesmaids in the snow. 3. Abbie and Javi gettin’ MARRIED! 4. Kathleen and Jacob and Dan at the beach.

Tags: fun,how we do,instagram,iphone,professional,professional iPhone,real life,wedding hashtag

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Marcia Wiggins

Again, you ROCK my world…who would have thunk the photographer would encourage the party to use instagram! Profound! Great, great idea…that way everyone is enjoying the time, before its even over! I love it! #PRICELESS!

Bethany Cox

are you kidding? instagram is the greatest and all should be enjoying it!

Marcia Wiggins

I know so little about it…I’ll have to sign myself up!

Life Lately: April 3, 2013

04 • 03 • 13

Happy Spring! What a fun thing it is to see spring flowers on the earth and in the front of Trader Joe’s. Am I right or am I right? I bought some red tulips for Easter Sunday and they are still looking lovely on our table. It’s crazy how happy a few flowers can make me feel when I see them in my house. March was a good month for us. We started a few new things and had a really fruitful business meeting that got us both fired up for the 2013 season, which is upon us!

A few happenings so far:

We started Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University. It’s never to late or too early to get your act together and we are looking forward to the weeks, month, and years to come. Anyone else doing this or have been through the process?
I got to be a part of surprising my friend and fellow photographer Deborah Zoe with a fun girly baby shower at Upstairs on the square.
We went to Puerto Rico for our 5 year anniversary and then we got TWO… count them TWO inquiries for photography there. Who knows what will come of them, but just getting those emails was a thrill!
We have both been coughing and sneezing since February. Is this allergies? Please tell me it’s not since I have lived a life free of them for the past 29 years.
I started the Artist’s Way and I seriously could not be loving it more… until I love it more tomorrow. Morning pages, and dates with me, God, and creativity here I come….
My kayaking hero Justine Curgenven, came to New England for her DVD release tour and we got to meet her. They best part of all? She recognized us and knew about our kayak trip. Be STILL my heart.
Our first wedding on 2013 is this month!

SO this month’s Starbucks giveaway is here! Comment on this post with one thing that makes you more than excited about the coming spring. Are you stoked about the flowers, the sports, the weddings, the clothes, the weather?? Let me know and you could win a starbucks giftcard!

The Comment Contest is closed. Congrats to Marcia!

Tags: kayaking,Life Lately,spring,the artists way,tulips

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Jess Rafferty Sorrell

Joining my first CSA & looking forward to fresh, local veggies in June

Marcia Wiggins

First, I am stoked about the fact that I can run outside! Whew, letting go of my hold on the treadmill is such a wonderful feeling! Bumbling along on the treadmill while you find something to look at, in a room you have spent hours in, is…for this visual girl, BORING! But now, spring is here and even if I have to wear gloves while I’m ambling along, its okay. Outside I feel like a gazelle, bounding along, able to outrun even the king of the jungle…on the treadmill I am merely a 62 year old woman, waddling along, trying to stay thin. So, being outside to exercise is first on my list of “Oh boy, its SPRING!” but more importantly your first wedding of the year is this month. I will enjoy watching you capture the moment perfectly! I have started taking photos of people and find so much inspiration in your photos! So, bring it on, SPRING, I can’t wait to see what you’ve got!

Sue Metzner

You are an upbeat girl. We arrived home from AZ to snow, cold, wind. No buds on trees yet. I think I have “post Tucson depression”. But as soon as my plants start to show their little green heads I’m sure I will feel much better. Enjoy your outdoor running!

Jentina Mitchell

Kayaking! And being able to wear cute things without constantly having to cover them up with a boring fleece or sweater.

Bethany Cox

Marcia! You won!

Published Jan-April 2013

04 • 02 • 13

Dan and I are always honored to be published on blogs and other publications. It is a testament to the creativity of our couples and of the the work we have done. So far this year, we have had the honor to be published on a few blog and on the cover of a magazine. Check em out!

Lisa and Suzy’s wedding on the One Hundred Club’s blog

Danielle and Will’s wedding on Limn & Lovely

Jess and Eric’s wedding on Charm City Wed

Dave and Lindy’s Engagement Session on For Awesome People

Abby and Matt on DIY Bride

AND

Lyndsey and Ben on the cover of Portland Magazine

There was also an article about Lyndsey and Ben and some other fun couples inside the April 2013 issue AND a photo we took of Sarah and Brandon was featured on an ad in the same issue for the Black Tie Catering Company.

whew!

How awesome. It’s been a good 2013 so far!