Think Marriage...

I've been following a relationship blog called www.thinkmarriage.org for a while now. This is a great informational resource to all kinds of people in relationships. With all of the wedding planning and decisions to make it is a true value to invest into your relationship. There is a section for singles, engaged couples, married couples and so on...

The blog also features events such as "10 great dates"... The Thinkmarriage.org blog itself is a value to add to your RSS stream.Source URL: https://lifestyleartsblogs.blogspot.com/search/label/Fun%20Facts
Visit Lifestyle Arts for daily updated images of art collection

Fun Fact Friday - a real live fact for once!

Fact: In Greek culture, brides carry a lump of sugar in their wedding globe. It's supposed to bring sweetness to their married life.

There are a whole slew of crazy traditions out there. Some of my brides still put a real six pence in their shoes. Many of them still have something old, new, blue, borrowed.

What are your family's or religious wedding traditions? Do you plan on keeping the tradition, or breaking away and do something totally unique?Source URL: https://lifestyleartsblogs.blogspot.com/search/label/Fun%20Facts
Visit Lifestyle Arts for daily updated images of art collection

Fun Fact Friday - A piece of family history

Fact: I love churches and their history....

Last weekend while shooting the ceremony in St. Mary's Church in Menasha, I noticed a particular stained glass window with a recognizable name. The window read "in memory of Mrs. John Oberweiser".


My husband's grandfather was named John Oberweiser but his grandmother May is still alive and well. And obviously the windows where crafted when the church was built in the late 1800's.

So I asked Andy's mom and dad who are genealogy buffs. We found out that the Mr. and Mrs. John Oberweiser are indeed relation and are my son's Great, Great, Great Grandparents.


Such a fun find! St. Mary's Catholic Church in Menasha is gorgeous... look for Michelle and Andy's wedding day blog post coming soon!Source URL: https://lifestyleartsblogs.blogspot.com/search/label/Fun%20Facts
Visit Lifestyle Arts for daily updated images of art collection

Fun Fact Friday - What's with the guest book?

Fun Fact: I'm not really sure the exact origin of the guest book at weddings.
so I researched it just a bit...

It turns out that originally it was to start a listing addresses for thank you's and for the new couple's formal address book. It was of course to also document the people who attended your celebration... but is this really the case anymore? I'm sure if a couple needed an address of one of their guests wouldn't they already have it since they sent them an invite?

So what is the purpose of signing a guest book have today?

I see more than just plain lined guest books at weddings. This allows couples to customize their keepsake and it may also allow guests to write more than just their names. Allowing for even further customization and well wishes for the couple to cherish forever.

Some things I've seen are the classic photo and mat in frame. A ceramic bowl, puzzle pieces, poloraid photos signed and posted to a decorated board. I've seen a display with large willow branches where guests could hang well wishes... and a decorative birdcage where guests could toss in a piece of paper with a loving note for the bride and groom.

The possibilities are really endless....

One thing that I personally have fallen in love with is the custom photo guest book. A custom guest book will feature 20+ pages of photos from your engagement session. The images are carefully designed to allow space for guests to write. A guest book attendant is suggested to ensure that guests use the correct pen and that the messages are distributed throughout the book. Of course I love photography... but it is such a wonderful heirloom from your wedding. Easy enough to store on a shelf and intimate enough to sit down and read and bring back memories.

Here are a few photos of a guest book I did for Joanna and Ben...



What unique ideas for guest books have you seen or done? What sort of guest book are you planning for your wedding guests... or have you not even thought about it yet?Source URL: https://lifestyleartsblogs.blogspot.com/search/label/Fun%20Facts
Visit Lifestyle Arts for daily updated images of art collection

Fun Fact Friday - You can still have beautiful photos in rain

Fact: I shoot outside when the weather is wet.
Now, if there is a tornado warning or a monsoon downpour I will find another location that is both safe and beautiful...

Andy and I got married 8 years ago this very weekend - the weekend after Memorial Day. And it rained. Outdoor photos were extremely important to me and I had to beg, beg, beg my photographer to go to a park. Back then, my photographer was shooting with a medium format film camera that wasn't weather proof, and of course he didn't bring any rain gear. Not even an umbrella.

I sure am glad that I forced him to shoot outside during our rainy day. Those are the photos I love the most... especially the ones of Andy and I kissing under the umbrella.

This is why I am sooooo determined to shoot in any weather. It is as important to me that you have outdoor wedding photos as much as it was to me on my wedding day 8 years ago. In order to shoot in the rain I bring 8 black golf size umbrellas for you and your wedding party. I bring rain gear for myself and my cameras. If I know it is going to rain really hard I will scout the area for overhangs so you will stay dry while I shoot out into the openness.

Last weekend I shot an outdoor ceremony at the Paine Art Center in Oshkosh. Of course, minutes before the processional started heavy drizzle. The show went on. Luckily, guests brought umbrellas and the Michelle at the Paine distributed even more. The ceremony was beautiful despite the rain... and I was able to capture some great moments.




The great thing about a light drizzle is that there is no blinding sun and no harsh light that can create ugly shadows. Actually, I'd rather shoot on a dreary day over any other day! The colors from last weekend's wedding are so bright and vivid - an amazing contrast to the wet surroundings.

Full blog post coming soon on Jessica and Jerrod's May 23, 2009 wedding at the Paine Art Center and Gardens - Oshkosh, Wisconsin

Are you worried about rain on your wedding day? Tell me about your wedding day weather worries or true life stories!Source URL: https://lifestyleartsblogs.blogspot.com/search/label/Fun%20Facts
Visit Lifestyle Arts for daily updated images of art collection

Fun Fact Friday - Ardent Photography Celebrates it's 4th Anniversary

Fact: I officially started Ardent Photography LLC in May of 2005.
I have been officially in business for four full years and I've loved every minute of it!

I unofficially started shooting weddings in 2002... shooting candids and details at weddings of friends with 35mm camera and black and white film. It was such a joy of mine to take artistic images at events back when traditional wedding photographers didn't pay much attention to those details.

My initial love of photography truly blossomed when I worked as a camera assistant in high school. It has been 14 years since I got my first behind the scenes glance at professional photography.

Since starting my business I have grown so much as a photographer, business owner and person. I am truly proud of the work I do and the direction I'm heading. I am continuously taking workshops, attending seminars and reading books to further my knowledge of business and photography.


Image from Angela and Paul Bellmore's August 13, 2005 wedding at the Apple Creek Inn, De Pere, Wisconsin - the first official wedding of Ardent Photography.


My background in Art Direction, Graphic Design and teaching dance has helped me tremendously in my business. My commercial art background has given me advanced knowledge of image editing software and classic design as well as a refined artistic eye. My experience of being a dance teacher has helped me to be able to explain body positions during portrait sessions and it has also trained me to have an aesthetic eye for body position.


I am filled with joy to know that I am currently booking weddings for 2010 which will be my 6th season of shooting weddings.Source URL: https://lifestyleartsblogs.blogspot.com/search/label/Fun%20Facts
Visit Lifestyle Arts for daily updated images of art collection

Fun Fact Friday - Always be Prepared

I started Fun Fact Friday last week... I am excited to bring you fun little tidbits of information.

Fact:
I have my own version of an emergency bridal kit

Most brides will put together a little kit containing a needle and thread, hairspray, pain reliever, bobby pins, antacid, shout wipes... I'm sure every bride customizes their kit with many sorts of items.

For my emergency kit I carry a slew of items...

For the bride and groom:
• 8 golf size umbrellas in case of rain
• Towel to dry or clean an area the bride may want to sit
• Water bottles for the couple
• Nice smelling bug spray for shooting with mosquitoes!

For my photography:
• Duplicate cameras, lenses, flashes, media cards and batteries - I have back up equipment for everything!
• Plastic bags so I can shoot in wet weather
• Contact information of other photography professionals in case of emergency

For myself:
• Advil
• Water
• Granola bar/snacks
• Extra socks in case I get my feet wet during the perfect shot
• Printed maps - just in case GPS isn't right
• Extra contacts, solution and glasses

You can never be to prepared. Every wedding I am confident that I am fully prepared for anything.

What is in your wedding day emergency kit?
Source URL: https://lifestyleartsblogs.blogspot.com/search/label/Fun%20Facts
Visit Lifestyle Arts for daily updated images of art collection

Introducing Fun Fact Friday

I'm going to start a little series on random facts and tidbits of information I find. Every Friday you will see some sort of useful, fun or ridiculous fact. The information posted could be about myself or Ardent Photography, it could be about wedding photography in general or it could be something just totally random.

Today's topic combines a couple of facts... a little bit about me and some real info!

I have a favorite PMS color
Huh? Actually, it isn't the PMS you may be thinking of. It stands for Pantone Matching System, and it's a color standard of the graphic design and printing industries. My favorite color is the metallic silver color - #877

Spring 2009 colors get introduced the previous fall during New York Fashion Week
The top ten colors that designers are incorporating into their Spring are interpreted into PMS colors by Pantone. Some colors I am all over this year include: Fuschia Red, Palace Blue and Super Lemon. PMS colors 18-2328, 18-4043, and 14-0754 respectively.

You can view the more information on how the designers have used the forecasted colors in their spring lines here.

Finding inspiration from the fashion world is a great place to start for wedding color ideas. Don't be afraid of color. Color brings a unique flair to your wedding photos. You can take a monochromatic approach or have a main color with a few supporting colors. What ever your tastes... incorporating color with bridesmaids dresses, flowers, linens, shoes or accessories really pull your wedding together and helps accentuate the overall feel to your day and make your wedding pictures come alive.

What is the inspiration behind your wedding colors?Source URL: https://lifestyleartsblogs.blogspot.com/search/label/Fun%20Facts
Visit Lifestyle Arts for daily updated images of art collection