{Love Session} Brittany & Chris

I'm so excited to share with you my very first styled engagement session!! This is a new endeavor for me as a stylist and we all had a great time! I've created a few styled shoots before, but never for a real engagement session!! Alicja of Taken Photography contacted me to see if I was interested in styling for her clients who will be getting married in June. And of course I said, "YES!" Brittany & Chris are so sweet and adorable. 

Their theme was centered around Coca-cola since Chris is a huge fan, so all the red details helped balance with the old fashion glass soda bottles. The canopy, wooden crates, paper tissue poms, scrabble pieces, bubble gum, rock candy, cupcakes (made by Delectable Designs), vintage double wedding ring quilt, linens, paper straws, recycled glass jars for vases, recycled glass milk jug vases, mason jars, cake stand, and basket all added to their adorable picnic themed session. I also arranged the flowers and chose summer colors with the red roses to compliment the red from Coca-cola. 

If you are interested in hiring me to style your engagement session with ANY photographer you are working with we can work together to create a style and theme for you. I set everything up and clean it all up so that you two can look beautiful and not do anything but look all cute!

Doesn't this just make you want to go, awwwwwwwwww!? 
This beautiful engagement session was also spotlighted on Style Me Pretty

Taken Photography Victoria & Branden Wedding

I recently went down to Miami, Florida to help out a Savannah photographer who you may remember had a {Vendor Spotlight} awhile back. Alicja of Taken Photography just posted the amazing pictures from this wedding that I helped be her light assistant. Yep, I can do that too. I actually went to college for graphic design & photography plus focused on ceramics, art history, and psychology. Although that was back when photography was all film so when everything went digital I stuck with what I do best - Party Planning and Designing. So whenever my photog friends need a hand with lighting, I'll jump right in since I LOVE it. She told me that I would love this wedding just from hearing some of the details, DIY, back yard, bird theme, purple, I WAS SO EXCITED!! To see more of this fabulous DIY wedding go to Alicja's website here: http://www.taken-photography.com/2011/victoria-branden-are-wed-modern-wedding-photographer

{DIY} Savannah Rose Bouquet

I went down to River Street in Savannah to find someone to make me this Savannah Rose bouquet. It's not hard to find these craftsmen working with their hands to twist and turn the palm leaves into beautiful flowers. Just outside of Wet Willie's, I found a man who says he's there almost everyday, but Mondays, and he has made almost 50 little roses for one person before! These flowers are not covered in a protection spray which I do recommend to keep them from unraveling or if you would like to keep them for a long time. About 4 years ago I had a very small 3 flower Savannah rose bouquet made and it was sprayed with a clear glaze and I still have those flowers in perfect condition!

For this simple DIY I wanted to try and stay "green" and here is how I did it:
Recycled material: Hemp twine
Reused material: I looked around the house to find anything I could reuse and clean up to make pretty again....this is what I found: iridescent clear floral marbles (found at Micheal's and most craft stores), floating candles left over from Halloween, and a vase left over from a bridal shower
Re-purposed materials: glass jars (jam, pizza sauce, baby food jars, etc)
Use local: Savannah Rose artist

The Savannah rose bouquets can make beautiful bridal bouquets, nice centerpieces, or small accents. 

This set up is super simple, clean, and easy to put together and could be for your guest book sign in table, gift table, welcome table, centerpieces at the reception, or even for bridal showers. 

I have to thank Alicja from Taken Photography for helping me out on this DIY! She was so sweet to come over and take pictures for my blog post! We were covered in mosquitoes bites by the end of it, but it was so worth it! Thank YOU!

 

To finish off the palm leaf theme I suggest these two items from one of my favorite online favor stores: Favors and Flowers. The mini palm leaf favor bags can be filled with what ever you want and can be decorated to match your color scheme. Also if you are having your wedding here in the Savannah area during our hot months, fans are a necessity!! These bamboo fans can be bought in two sizes and you can add a ribbon with your wedding tag on it to dress it up.

mini palm leaf favor bags

mini palm bamboo hand fans

If you want to try to make these Savannah rose bouquets here are some instructions:

  http://www.westtampahistory.com/palm_sunday/palm_weaving.htm

{Vendor Spotlight} Taken Photography

Today, I would like to introduce you to Alicja Colon, a very talented photographer from Savannah.

Sparkle | Color | Flash | Dynamic

 

Those four words would definitely describe Alicja of Taken Photography! Other words to describe Taken's work are dramatic, beautiful, and emotion capturing. I am thrilled to have met Alicja and get to know her as a friend. I prefer to meet with all my vendors in person to allow that connection and relationship to form. Just looking at someone's website and emailing them does not create a good bond. I want to make sure that if I refer a client to a professional vendor that I know they are quality. Alicja is QUALITY but also such a caring talented woman. Alicja was nice enough to answer a few questions for my blog post to help y’all get to know her a little better!

Layla: Which are your 5 favorite images and why? 

1) oh my heart - I just look at this and swoon. This image was taken in the Bahamas for fellow photographer, Melissa (of foreverphotographers.com) the Bride. We were on the dock, sun going down. The couple just signed their marriage license, which in the Bahamas HAS to be signed before the sunset. I love how John, the groom, took his bride in his arms and assertively gave his woman a kiss. I love how Melissa cherished it.  

2) During the first dance - there was SO much emotion. This couple has lots to deal with the day of their outside wedding - RAIN. But I love for they overcame and re-focused on what was important: Their love.

3) I lean towards the sexy side of things. We did lots of photos outside, in a playground - but I knew... He is a firefighter (he had to be smokin' under his shirt), and just look how cute she is! I saw a leather couch and a red pillow. Yes, we have to do sexy. So blessed to have clients up for anything :)

4) Love the innocent moment: fun, flirty, and sweet. Jessica, the hottie, was shy of taking photos in a pretty public place. To lighten the mood I was reassuring that no one was looking, "except that guy" and they busted out in sweet laughter. Ahhh - the moments <3

5) Vanessa-a vixen in Miami. She saved for a year to do this glam shoot. When we meet I knew she was ready to rock & roll! I mean look at those red lips-HOT! I love the light, motion, and the confidence our hottie has! 

Layla: What makes you laugh?

Alicja: Really embarrassing moments - like when I go bowling and swing my arm back and accidentally let the ball go. I heard that forward is better, but I like to keep things interesting : ) 

Layla: What do you find enjoyable?

Alicja: Trying to get my one-year-old to dance. It's really not hard. When anything with a beat comes on goes in dancing diva mode - full with hip shaking, shrugging shoulders, and hand waving. Yes, I gave her a few pointers.  

Layla: What are you most proud of? 

Alicja: I guess this has nothing to do with me - but I'm most proud of the opportunity to be a professional photographer. Humbly I thank Jesus for the gift to get to know others and serve them in this way.  

Layla: When did you start Taken?

Alicja: In Miami, about 2 years ago. Before that I was operating under Alicja Colon Photography, for a year in Savannah, but no one knew who to spell Alicja or Colon - pronounced "Cologne." That's what happens when a Polish girl marries a Puerto Rican. 

Layla: How would you describe your style?

Alicja: Fashion-forward documentary. I'm very into color, contrast, and emotion. It's a perfect combination because when a moment happens I capture it as it happen. But I can also pose the couple, bridal party, or parents in a way that's natural and communicates deep emotion. 

Layla: What do you do when you are not photographing weddings?

Alicja: Right now designing logos for fellow photographers and picking colors of the house we're building. But always drinking coffee. YUM! 

Layla: Finish this sentence: 

Alicja: I am ... in need of a date with the beauty salon!  

My passion is ... aesthetics! If I'm involved, it has to look fierce.

My favorite moment in weddings is...The first dance! I love listening to music while watching the groom sing to his bride. And then kiss afterwards, many times, rivals the first kiss!  

Layla: What are your accolades:

Alicja: Taken's weddings are have been feature of varying wedding internet publications. That's very exciting! Each time I get blown away at the response of the images I get to craft.

♥ Blessfully Taken 2012 ♥

This is her 3rd year offering the Blessfully Taken contest where Alicja will give away FREE 8 hours of wedding photographic services, 8x12 luxury, hand-crafted album {custom selected leather cover}, DVD of web-ready album images, and online gallery of wedding images for the winner who has been nominate as a Bride-to-be who deserves this luxurious gift. 

Alicja has the BIGGEST ♥ !

 

Thank you Alicja!!
Don't forget to check out her website at  http://www.taken-photography.com