Participating in off the wall concepts during a commercial shoot is quite entertaining but equally challenging. We can’t forget that we have to make sure our subjects are comfortable and our composition and lighting match the specifications that our clients demand. Once we release our finished product, our clients have to execute the content successfully to benefit their company. It just goes to show, everyone is working together to push something creative even if it goes against the grain. We’re in a good place right now where content is rich and everyone is aiming to do something different, even if it involves confusion of identity and raging, scary Luchadors…

We can’t wait to see how our clients put our photos to work! We’ll keep you updated once they launch their websites!

This time of year people in the wedding industry spend most of their time focusing on business. It’s necessary. It’s planned. We really need it (and back in December I remember aching for this time). But you can only spend so many days with your eyes glued to spreadsheets before you start to go bonkers. Now that it’s here, we spend a lot of time talking about all the things we would do if we didn’t have to do all that other stuff… Patrick and I have both been shooting film for fun. This morning we played Show-N-Tell like a bunch of little kids. He showed me some shots he took of his friends and a dog and I busted out my old contact sheets and showed him some black and white prints that I’d made in the darkroom six years ago and explained how I’d created them. For just a few minutes it was all about the art and the joy we had sharing our craft- something we (the royal we- photographers as a whole) can tend to forget when our passions become our jobs.

That’s why we decided that we want to do more projects that fuel our passion and inspire us. We’ve been throwing ideas around for a while, and decided that our first  project is going to be a concept shoot engagement session. It’s not going to be a normal engagement session with tons of pictures, but instead more of a fine art shoot resulting in fewer images and really blow-your-mind quality. The winner will receive a CD of the web-sized images and a $100 print credit as well as a 20% off coupon for prints from our professional lab. All engaged couples that are getting married in 2012 and are not already under contract with Luft Creative for wedding services are encouraged to apply. All that you have to do is fill out this form and send us a couple pictures (one full length and one a close-up of both of you). You have until January 31st to enter, and the winner will be announced February 3rd. We don’t want to give away our idea for the session yet, but we can guarantee that it’s going to be amazing.

So just in case you missed any of that…

What: Luft Creative Awesome Concept E-sess Giveaway

Deadline: January 31st, 2012

How to Enter: Fill out this form & email holly@luftcreative.com two photographs (one full length and one a close-up of both of you)

What’s next? Make sure you’re a Facebook fan to find out when we announce the winner on February 3rd!

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Those of you that have been with us a while have seen Christina & Huy’s engagement session in historic St. Andrews and watched as she stunned everyone with her knock-out bridal portraits. We’ve gone on and on about how much fun they are (because truly, they are) and talked up their wedding.

So here’s what we recommend you do for maximum enjoyment… Click play on the video and crank up the volume. We realize that it’s a really casual song for such a formal wedding, but it seemed to fit them perfectly. Casual, classy, and fun. If you’re at work, put some headphones on for heaven’s sakes (we’re not responsible for you getting fired!). Then scroll through these pictures & listen to them describe their wedding in their own words.

While the girls were busy getting ready and putting on the finishing touches, the guys were being… guys. As one of Huy’s groomsmen helped him with his tux, he couldn’t help but wonder…

Is this real life???

When we asked Christina what her favorite part of their wedding day was, she replied:

It was really special the fact that my uncle and my dad got to walk me down the aisle. I’m really close with both of them, and I wanted to honor them. That meant a lot…

When Huy was forced to articulate what he felt when he saw his bride for the first time, he struggled… Capturing this moment is one of our favorite things. It’s like seeing your child for the first time. But of course we tried to get him to anyway (without seeing the picture). His initial response? “Schwing!” Afterwards he re-thought his response…

Wowzers…Oh my…. This is really happening… I was really lost for words with all the emotions going through my head….

The whole ceremony was incredibly sentimental and meaningful. I have always wanted to have that type of wedding and when it happened it was just overwhelming. I’m tearing up just talking about it. You should have seen me at the rehearsal. I was a mess! Fortunately during the ceremony I was able to compose myself relatively well. – Christina

One of my favorite things about the reception was seeing everybody having a great time. – Huy

One of my favorite parts of the reception was the Photobooth… I loved watching the children go in there and get their picture taken  – Christina

We have to agree. It was fun not only for the kids, but for the kids at heart…

Here are just some of the amazing people that helped make this day happen:

Ceremony Venue | St. Dominic’s Catholic Church

Wedding Gown | Casablanca from Simply Elegant

Shoes | Nina

Bridesmaids |Bill Levkoff from Pearls Place

Tuxedos | Tuxedo Source

Catering |Happy Valley (Atlanta, GA)

Makeup & Hairstyling | Indulgence Salon

Ring Designer | Creative Gems

Florals |Designs by Carmen

DJ | Travis Dawson

Photobooth | FaceTime PhotoBooth

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We’re here to tell you that what you’re going through is normal though. As visual storytellers, people let us into their lives throughout their wedding planning process and beyond. We have heard all sorts of wild stories, and found that things always work out as they should when: a) people love one another and stay true to themselves and b) they find vendors that they not only like, but trust explicitly.

My own wedding day is a wonderful example of that… I’m not going to bore you with the long details of it all. If you’d like to read about it, then you may do so here (Part 1  & Part 2). But I will tell you how it ended… With two weddings five days apart and lots and lots of love. I’m not going to lie – getting there was stressful and chaotic. But now we wouldn’t change a thing. Here are some shots from wedding #1 that Patrick Engman took…

One thing that I wish someone had handed me immediately after my husband had proposed to me? A guide on how to guide us through the process while helping me maintain my sanity. I assumed that working in the wedding industry that I would have been able to plan it all super quickly and easily. I read all the books and blogs, but none really seemed to apply to me… I recently found a book that would I wish we could give to all of our couples. Titled “A Practical Wedding – Creative Ideas for Planning a Beautiful, Affordable and Meaningful Celebration” by Meg Keene. As I read it I found myself reading large portions aloud to my husband, saying “Amen!” aloud, and texting Patrick about how great the book is. Here are a few excerpts that I highlighted:

“If you want a low-stress, black-tie party, you’re probably on to to something. You’re about to learn that the peculiar magic of weddings is that when you least expect it, they make the impossible possible.” - A Practical Wedding, p. 18

Regarding the registry (which I was honestly against at first, because I thought we had too much stuff already)

“You’re getting gifts and cash because people are showing their love. The registry isn’t about the wedding and isn’t about you. It’s about letting your friends and loved ones build a home for you. It’s about letting them love you.” – A Practical Wedding, p. 62

Those words hit me to my core and made me think about our new stack of serving platters a little differently.

If you’re an engaged couple and would like a copy of this book, then we might have a copy of one waiting for you in the Luft Creative HQ. Just comment on this posting and tell us why you need it. We’re going to give one away at random to an engaged couple that comments on this blog. Oh, and don’t forget to hug those you love. Because after all, this wedding is a celebration of your love.

We wish you a Merry Christmas;
We wish you a Merry Christmas;
We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Good tidings we bring to you and your kin;
Good tidings for Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Oh, bring us a figgy pudding;
Oh, bring us a figgy pudding;
Oh, bring us a figgy pudding and a cup of good cheer

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Recently while Bryce was working hard on our site we glanced over and noticed that he was using photos of he and his sweet girlfriend, Cristal, as filler content for the galleries. We’re not saying there was anything wrong with their hand-held iPhone couples self-portraits, we just thought that we owed it to the two love-birds to give them some rocking photos. We figured it was the least we could do for completing our new site. Plus we always enjoy hanging out with our friends and making them laugh. Or allowing them to laugh at us – either one. We were still all pretty awkward… But after a while we got into our groove and Bryce and Cristal were so into each other that they didn’t seem to even notice our shenanigans. They’re pretty adorable, aren’t they? Doesn’t it remind you of a song???

“I don’t want a lot for Christmas
There’s just one thing I need
I don’t care about the presents
Underneath the Christmas tree
I just want you for my own
More than you could ever know
Make my wish come true
All I want for Christmas is…
You”

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Alright, now here’s your favorite part. Maestro, cue the music!

“Have a Holly Jolly Christmas; it’s the best time of the year! I don’t know if there’ll be snow but have a cup of cheer.

Have a Holly Jolly Christmas and when you walk down the street say hello to friends you know and everyone you meet.”

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“Santa baby, slip a sable under the tree, for me. I’ve been an awful good girl Santa baby, and hurry down the chimney tonight.
Santa baby, a 54 convertible too, light blue I’ll wait up for you dear Santa baby, and hurry down the chimney tonight…”

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• We always try to remember to give our clients high fives after every photo shoot. Because high fives are clearly why they hired us.
• If we take a Luft field trip, Holly almost always drives. She swears it’s because her car is bigger and safer and not because she’s a control freak…
• Before every wedding Patrick buys Trail Mix, but he never seems to eat it…
• At least once a day Bryce will say something so ridiculously hilarious and out of the blue (usually when we’re working quietly) that we laugh about it for days later.
• During every photo shoot Holly rolls around on the ground at least three times. Often more. (One time she did in a patch of sand spurs and once in a fire ant bed)
• Any time you ask Patrick what he’s doing, he’s always says he’s “Living the Dream…” No matter what.
• Every time Bryce completes a new website he hugs everyone within sight and squeals like a little girl (not really, but it sounded like more fun than “he takes a sigh, smiles and goes home and sleeps a week).
• Every year (starting with now!) we hang client Christmas cards proudly in our office so we see them when we walk in the door. (Please keep ‘em coming!)

We guess there is room for one new tradition… How about a series of holiday blog posts with some recent family sessions that we love, ending with a very special Luft Christmas card? The only catch is you’re going to have to sing with us a little bit… And today you’re going to have to use your imagination because there’s no snow. But oh how there’s so much happiness!!! Come on and sing it with us…

“Laughing children in the snow, Happy faces all aglow…. It’s the Holiday Time of Year!”

Like what you see? Tell a friend. We’re Luft Creative!