A few more dates came off the board last week, including our first May and September bookings.

The current list of unavailable dates:

Click to continue reading “More calendar notes…”







I had a pretty good feeling Michelle and Kris were going to sign with me after our first meeting. I mean, when you discover you’ve been chatting for two hours, it’s a sign you’ve definitely made a connection. We just spent the entire time laughing and occasionally even talking about wedding photography.

On Saturday, we went out to the Lexington Country Club, where they’ll be having their reception this summer. Now, the grounds didn’t look anything like they will at the wedding, what with the fresh blanket of snow on the ground. We thought it would be fun to show their guests what the place they’re going to get married at looks like at this time of year.

Click to continue reading “Snowy Save The Dates: Michelle and Kris, Lexington, Kentucky”







 
 

One great wedding often leads to another. In the case of Dallas physician Jessica, she heard about me from her friend Neema, whose wedding I shot and Jessica attended in June.
 

Fast forward to the fall, when Jessica and her fiance Rutu, an engineer, returned to Kentucky for their wedding. An Indian wedding is always an event– there’s nothing like it for sheer size, scope, or color. By now, I’m pretty used to the rhythms of these multiday extravaganzas, and in fact, I’m beginning to see a lot of the same guests… they say I’m part of “the family” now! Since Indian weddings all but require an associate photographer, I was happy to be able to bring in one of my favorites, the emerging Bowling Green photographer Jennifer Creed. For Jenny, it was her first Indian wedding, and she brought a certain amount of wide eyed wonder to our work.
 
The folks at the Embassy Suites have gotten to be quite proficient at these events, and Amy Stamper and her crew did a wonderful job of giving the ballroom three different looks in less than 36 hours. I also got to work with my good friend Laura over at Destiny Horse and Carriage, who conveyed Ruturaaj to the proceedings in Kentucky style, while surrounded by their singing and dancing family members.
 
 
 
 

 

Click to continue reading “Indian Wedding: Jessica and Ruturaaj, Lexington, Kentucky”







Things are beginning to pick up a little for summer dates, so please keep in mind that the following dates are no longer available:

March 27

April 17, 24, 25

June 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, 19

July 16, 17, 18

Click to continue reading “Calendar updates…”







I’ve actually been on twitter for awhile for my personal, sports related interests, but I finally opened an account for the wedding world: http://www.twitter.com/LoveUnscripted

Hope to see you there!







This is how you do Save The Date, kats ‘n’ kiddies…







Our good friends over at Jacki Allen’s Kentucky Bride are asking for help with a survey they’ve got going to help guide them content-wise, and they’re offering a free year of Jazzercise to one lucky bride. Click here for details.







I was on one of my new favorite wedding blogs, Emmaline Bride, which specializes in equipping the bride who loves unique and elegant handmade items, and they profiled this great Etsy shop, Dawn Correspondence.  You’ve gotta see their stylish, modern take on invitations– so much more interesting than the everyday stuff you see from all the usual suspects.

Take a look at some of these refreshing invitations:

Click to continue reading “Love these invitations…”







The show specials link in our email marketing piece didn’t work.  You can see them at http://www.ianlozada.com/specials — thanks for your patience!







E-session guestbooks are a great way to display your photos! Click the photo to see inside one...

As spring approaches, many of you will be looking forward to getting engagement pictures done. Engagement sessions (or e-sessions for short) are a great way for you and your groom to get used to being in front of the camera. Let’s face it: very few of us are used to being in front of that big 77 milimeter eye, and it can be intimidating. Having an e-session helps you settle down, build confidence, and eventually let your guard down more on your wedding day.

Here are some things that I’ve found help you be at your best at your session:

  • Have your hair and makeup done professionally that day. It’s amazing how often this gets overlooked. Also, it’s a great way to start solidifying a relationship with makeup artists you’re looking at for your big day.
  • Block out lots of time. I never book anything else on the same day as an e-session, because I want my attention to be solely on you. If you’re rushing straight from work, it’s hard to refocus and get into a mood for romantic scenes. In addition, try and start early enough that we get good light, but not so late that we have to rush to beat the sunset. Also, arrive well-rested from the night before, and well-fed– the less stress on your body, the better looking the expressions, and the happier you’ll be with the way you look.
  • Have multiple locations in mind. I always prefer to have you choose locations that mean something to you– maybe it’s where you first met, or where he proposed, or a place that you spent tons of time together. Put a few of those places together, plus a spot or two that fits your style, and you have a short list to start from. Keep in mind that not all of them are necessarily at their peak when you’re getting your portraits done, however– last year, one bride picked the Arboretum in March and the flowers hadn’t started to bloom at all yet! Oh, and I get asked all the time for the same place. Triangle Park. Or Keeneland. Nothing against them, but if you pick them, add something else with a different feel altogether as well. It’ll add some energy to your shoot.
  • In addition to multiple locations, I recommend multiple outfits for both of you. I’m not going to rush you–I’ve had one or two e-sessions that went 4 hours– so go for it with extra outfits. I tell people to wear clothes that make them feel comfortable but confident. Talk about the clothes beforehand with your fiance so that you wear things that go together at the right times in the shoot. You don’t have to dress like twins (hey, I’m a twinparent and I don’t dress my twins like twins!) but try and think on the same lines.
  • Try something different: Most of my shoots are late afternoon. It’s when the light’s prettiest. But it’s just as pretty in the morning, and it has a peaceful feeling, especially around things like ponds and other water effects. I’m dying to do a romantic night shoot downtown this year. If you’re up for it, I might even be persuaded to do one with you even if you booked a coverage that includes an e-session.

***

By the way, don’t forget that a guestbook of your engagement photos (20 pages, 8×10 size, $125) is a great way to use these photos beyond the usual gifts. Ask me how we can customize a book for your wedding to get the best responses from your guests.





















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