Gabi and Tim wanted a location that really spoke to them. The have been planning their wedding for a while, and they still have a ways to go! They’re getting married in 2021, but they have their eyes set on having a Rustic Theme. Batsto seemed like the only choice for them for their engagement session. Nothing else was quite as nice. Do you blame them? Batsto is absolutely stunning. I am convinced that it is a place of magic. When they finally decided to have a Rustic Engagement Session at Batsto, I was all on board!
We started walking around the village, chatting and looking at the buildings. It was a quiet day, not many people around, so they were able to feel as if this place was all theirs. Walking hand in hand, snuggling up together, embracing one another and getting goosebumps because they are getting closer to their big day! It’s actually happening, and they’re enjoying their long engagement.
If you are planning a rustic wedding, then you want your engagement session to match your theme. I highly recommend having a Rustic Engagement Session at Batsto. It’s located in Wharton State Forest in New Jersey. On the other side of the village there are beautiful hiking trails, but my heart in truly in love with the village. It’s like falling back in time, and seeing how people lived, how they worked, and provided for their families. It’s deep in history, so make a day of it! If it’s open, stop by the visitors center and check it out!
November 4, 2020
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Congratulations! You are planning your wedding and you are at the stage to book your photographer! This is such a fun and exciting time. You have made the decision to marry that one person that completes you. So, when selecting your wedding photographer there are certainly things to consider.
What is their style and does it match who you are as a couple?
What do I mean by this? I don’t necessarily mean light and airy or rich and romantic. While, yes those are styles of photography, I am more so asking the question of does the photographers style of shooting align with your vision. Allow me explain that deeper. Does your photographer give you and your new partner the space you need to feel each other love, emotions and all of the things that happen on wedding day? Do they get up close and personal, and does that sit well with you? Does your photographer give you instructions, or do they allow you to be organic? These are all questions that you need to ask yourself, your partner and your potential photographer.
Does the photographer use lighting, and do you need lighting?
Lighting is such an important aspect to consider when Selecting your wedding photographer. It is a good idea to ask any potential photographer if they have a lighting kit, and what is in it. You don’t really need the specifics of brands and all of those things, but it’s good to know if they have more than one flash, and if they have any creative gel colors in case you want something creative in the evening. A photographers lighting kit is not uplighting for your reception. That is an extra that your DJ should cover, but it is not always included. Definitely discuss this with your DJ, I recommend purple. It always looks gorgeous! Getting back to photographer lighting, let’s say for example it is a rainy day and you cannot venture outside for your portraits. In this instance, your photographer should be able to set up lighting indoors and be able to continue your day smoothly without any hiccups!
Is an album included, can you purchase one after, and will they help with designing it?
Your wedding album is what you are going to remember your day with. These printed memories are an heirloom that will get passed down to your children, they are your legacy. You are not just printing pictures, but you are showing your family what love is, and how they too can have what you have. Loving someone is the best tradition you can pass down to your children. Love, after all, will conquer everything else. Having a photographer that can sit with you and help with the design process is very important. The last thing you want is designing your album to be a hassle. Also, having the versatility of being able to buy one after is always a great option, but don’t wait too long!
Does the photographer care about your wedding?
This sounds like a silly thing to wonder about doesn’t it? I will tell you, there are photographers who just care about booking another wedding. Selecting your wedding photographer is hard, but asking certain questions will point you into the direction of the photographer who really cares. So, what questions should you ask? You could start with, ‘How long have you been a photographer, and is this your passion?’ A photographer that is passionate about photography will answer this question as if they’re talking about their very own baby. I know, for me, photography is like breathing – I can not go a day with out it. So on wedding day, I know I will share the emotions that you are feeling, because I am so happy that I am able to document this special time in your life.
Selecting your wedding photographer, the final decision!
If you think you’ve come to a point in your wedding planning that you are truly vibe with a photographer and you want to make it official, don’t wait! Chances are if you love them, someone else does too. Dates get booked faster than you can say “I’LL TELL YOU WHAT I WANT WHAT I REALLY REALLY WANT!” (yes, that was a Spice Girls reference, don’t judge me). But really, when you find your photographer, book them, don’t wait. Photographers will save your wedding date for roughly 1 week from you contacting them, so when you’re ready, make haste!
*Some of the links in this post are Amazon affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. All opinions remain my own.
June 9, 2020
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I love Nikon. My first camera was a film Nikon, and I had all Nikkor Lenses (Which are Nikon Lenses). I started the brand, and will never go back. I feel like once you find what you like, thats it. Sure there will be other cameras that are prettier and shinier, however this is what I know and like. Therefore, it is where I will stay. Here I will be listing my top ten favorite Nikon Lenses!
From Favorite to Least Favorite.
Just kidding – I love them all, so there is no order here!
- At the top of my list, the 70-200mm f/2.8E FL ED VR Lens. It is my favorite lens. It makes me very happy and I love the compression. It really works well with my style and my images are always very sharp! I use this lens for weddings and portraits.
- Up next is the 24-70 f2.8 E ED. I love this lens so much. It’s great for newborns, families, and even weddings. It’s nice having the range and the zoom is very convenient.
- The 50mm f1.8 G and 50mm f1.4 G has always be a love of mine. I have both versions, however I highly recommend getting the 1.8 because they do the same thing. The only difference is that the 1.4 is better in low light, because you can go as low as 1.4. My happy place is around an aperture of 2.2. I use this lens for both weddings and portraits.
- If you are shooting details, you need a macro lens! I have the 105mm Macro f2.8 G IF-ED! It has amazing low light capabilities and the detail is unparalleled to any other lens I’ve used. Surprisingly, even though it is a macro, it is also a superb portrait lens! I use this for weddings, portraits, details and product shots.
- Ahh the 85mm f1.8 D series lens. If you don’t know about the D series, you really need to check it out. It’s the older Nikkor lens, that can be used on a film camera. It’s super sharp and one of my absolute favorites!
- Piggy backing on the D series, I want to share my love for another one of my favorites, the 35mm f2D lens! This lens is my go to for wedding day. I found myself using this for details over my 50mm because it gives me a little bit more space, without losing that sharpness I crave! I use this for weddings and portraits. Its perfect for those big family group shots and does not distort the edges of the image!
- Another D series that I love is my 24mm f2D. This is a really great lens for those wide dance floor shots. You do have to really be IN the action, which I think makes it a lot of fun. The edges do have some distorting so I wouldn’t use this for a family portrait, but dance floor – totally!
- The 16-35mm f4 ED is so much fun. It’s not a lens I would use ALL the time though, because I consider it a specialty lens. It definitely has it’s place. I particularly love this lens for weddings, when I want a very wide portrait of the couple kidding and there is beautiful architecture around them. There is definitely distorting, so I don’t photograph more than 2 people with this lens.
- The 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 G is a kit lens that is often overlooked because its labeled as a “kit lens”. A kit lens, is a lens that comes with an entry level/hobbyist camera. At one point, I owned an entry level camera and it came with this kit lens. I sold the camera, but I kept the lens. To this day, I use this lens in my Photo Booth. The aperture is not very low, so low light is difficult, but my Photo Booth is lit up with lighting, so it works! Also having a higher aperture helps with keeping everyone in focus.
- The 58mmf1.4 G is like butttahhh. Seriously, this lens is so nice. I rented it when my house burnt down and had to replace all of my equipment for a boudoir marathon. This lens was SO NICE. It’s on my radar for my next purchases. It really is nicer than the 50mm in my opinion, but it’s silly to stick both in your bag. Once I get this lens, I will be retiring my other two, but not selling. I never sell my lenses!
I hope you enjoyed this week’s Top Ten Tuesday – ‘Favorite Nikon Lenses’. Subscribe to our mailing list and be sure to come back every Tuesday for more amazing Top Ten’s!
*Some of the links in this post are Amazon affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. All opinions remain my own.
March 31, 2020
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Happy Late St. Patricks Day to everyone! My family definitely celebrates St. Paddy’s Day full force. We are Irish but ALSO, my oldest daughter is an Irish Dancer! This past weekend she was supposed be dancing in the Philadelphia Irish Parade, but due to what is going on in the world right now, it was cancelled, much like other events and gatherings. So, to back it up a few days, and continue the Paddy’s Day celebration (even though we ARE a few days late…) let’s check out this weeks Top 10 Tuesday!! Whether you are getting married here in the United States or in Ireland (God willing), there are a few Irish Wedding Traditions that you may want to follow. Take a look at my top 10 favorite wedding traditions from Ireland below!
- Shrove Tuesday – Irish weddings were commonly held on a weekday, during “Shrovetide”, or the days preceding Lent. No weddings are allowed during the 40 days of lent! The most popular day is the day before Ash Wednesday, called “Shrove Tuesday”.
Monday for wealth, Tuesday for health, Wednesday the best day of all, Thursday for losses, Friday for crosses, And Saturday no luck at all.
- Claddagh Rings – These rings feature two hands clasping a crowned heart. They symbolizes love and loyalty and are worn as engagement rings and wedding bands. Take a look at this gorgeous white gold engagement ring here that features a diamond. You can learn all about these rings here: Claddagh Meanings. You can wear the Claddagh many different ways to convey your relationship status.
- Wearing a Blue Dress – Would you wear a blue wedding dress? Blue dresses are stunning! The color blue was once seen as the symbol in virginity, even though white is seen as the color for purity; Irish brides were often seen wearing blue dresses. Photographing a blue dress on wedding day, would be absolutely beautiful.
Who will be wearing a blue gown in 2020?
- Proposing on Leap Year – According to legend, a young woman was upset that the men she liked were too shy to ask for her hand in marriage. Because of this, St. Patrick gave her his blessing so that women could propose on ONLY the leap day of the leap year.
So, we just had a leap year, did anyone propose to a man?
I’d love to shoot your wedding! Let’s chat!
- Wildflowers In Braided Hair – Keeping with tradition, you will often find Irish brides wearing wildflowers woven through their long braided wedding day hair. Not only does it look darling, but it also stands for as a symbol of feminine power! Additionally, bridesmaids or flower girls could wear flower crowns, but the bride herself cannot wear a flower crown because it would be considered very bad luck!
I couldn’t love this anymore!
- To Tie the Knot – This saying actually has a Celtic origin, during ancient Irish wedding ceremonies where both the bride and the groom’s hands are bound together with a ribbon. This is called a ‘handfasting’ ritual, signifying their union and strength of their love. This is a tradition that I love to photograph. It slows things down a bit, as a result we can really enjoy the couples bond.
- Sixpence in the Shoe – The sixpence was meant to act as a good luck charm and a way to ward off evil spirits. I have definitely seen brides do this, and it’s a very lovely detail to photograph.
I hope I see more traditions like this come back!
- Ringing the Wedding Bells – Like the sixpence in the shoe, the ringing of the wedding bells was seen as a way to get rid of evil spirits on the wedding day.
They’re also very beautiful to listen to and photograph rather nicely. They’re also a very sweet favor for your guests.
- Irish Lace – In Ireland, dresses look like dresses everywhere else in the world. However, one distinctly Irish touch is Irish lace. Very often it is used on the dress itself, or as a handkerchief or in the veil.
I have seen this given to the bride as a gift by her parents, or to the parents from the bride.
- Irish Dancing – What’s a wedding without some Irish Dance! I know when my daughter grows up, she will be dancing at her wedding, and you better believe she will need some custom bridal ghillies!
Do you have a favorite Irish Tradition? I’d love to hear about it!
I hope you enjoyed this week’s Top Ten Tuesday – ‘Irish Wedding Traditions’. Subscribe to our mailing list and be sure to come back every Tuesday for more amazing Top Ten’s!
*Some of the links in this post are Amazon affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. All opinions remain my own.
March 17, 2020
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I met Gyllian and Francesco at Renault Winery for their photography consultation and fell in love with them instantly! They are such an amazing couple and they definitely know what they wanted for their special day, A Fall Wedding at Renault Winery! Although the weather wasn’t very “fall” (a scorching 95 degrees!) she was absolutely stunning in her custom wedding gown and their matching Christian Louboutin shoes.
The beginning of the day was calm and collected, but once Gyllian popped her confetti champagne bottle, everyone was ready to party! This was the day they had been waiting for, and although Gyllian was nervous, after their first look Francesco reassured her that she was absolutely stunning! (And she really, really was!)
Gyllian and Francesco, thank you so much for trusting me to capture your memories! I had an amazing time at your wedding and can’t WAIT for you to see your beautiful images! You two are the best!
If you are planning your wedding, you should absolutely consider a fall wedding at Renault Winery. Between the vineyards, the fountains, the gorgeous landscaping you are sure to have an amazing collection of portraits for your wedding album and to display proudly in your home!
Contact me directly to book your wedding: lauren@bokehlovephotography.net
October 3, 2017