memory montage photography - BLOG

Snowy & Sunny Engagement photos

2012-02-12T11:59:00.000-08:00

Madeline & Nick are tying the knot at their home in Ellensburg this summer... They got engaged at Mt. Rainier and love the outdoors so we set up an engagement session to enjoy nature! Sunshine, snow and fresh air.... couldn't have been any better. From our house it was about 45 minutes of a drive both ways so Tavis and I really enjoyed getting to know these two as we drove and throughout the session! Our feet were all kinda wet by the end but it was worth it for these GORGEOUS pictures:

and a little behind the scenes:

You can view more of our Yakima engagement photography here.

Questions to ask your potential wedding photographer

2012-02-10T14:48:00.000-08:00

If you just got engaged, this whole wedding process is very new to you. You say, "What do I really need to know about my wedding photographer before hiring them?" Well, we've come up with a list of frequently asked questions that we don't mind answering at meetings and suggest that you ask your wedding photographer as well! Besides the obvious questions about their packages and contract, here are some good ones to ask and some of the reasoning behind it!

Photography Style:

· What isyour style?

· Do youtake the traditional family portraits?

Lighting:

· Are yousolely a natural light photographer that uses available light or do you bringsupplemental lighting for indoor locations?
Weddings often have very dimceremonies or reception areas that require specific equipment to adequatelyphotograph the event. Make sure your photographer has the equipment necessaryfor every type of lighting scenario. If the photographer is only using naturallight and does not bring flashes, make sure they have the cameras and lenses toshoot in low light situations.

· Do youhave lenses that can shoot at an aperture of F2.8 or lower?
This is a very basic photographyquestion that should be answered with a YES. This insures that yourphotographer has adequate lenses to shoot in low light.

Liability:

· Do youhave a business license?
This shows that they are seriousabout photography and honest with their business.

· Do youhave liability insurance?
This is important because if one ofyour guests were to trip over a light stand or any photography equipment, yourphotographer should be covered so your guests aren’t stuck with the bill.

· Is yourequipment insured? Are you a part of any professional organizations that offersliability coverage?

Ifany of your photographer’s equipment is damaged or stolen before your wedding,it can be quickly replaced through insurance and other professionalorganizations like Canon Professional Services, Professional Photographers ofAmerica, etc.

· How arethe images handled after the wedding?

Isthere an off-site backup of the images and are there redundant copies of theimages on separate hard drives? Data backup is very important!

· Whathappens if you get sick the night before our wedding, will you find areplacement or would you just cancel?
Being a part of a local professionalphotography network allows photographers to find a replacement with the sameprofessional knowledge and artistic capability.

· Do youbring backup gear?
(extra camera bodies, memory cards,batteries, lenses, etc. )

Prints, Products& Albums:

· Do youoffer specialty print items like canvas gallery wraps and custom albums? If so,could I please have your price list?

· Do youchoose the photos to design my wedding album or do I?

Miscellaneous:

· Isphotography your full time job? How many events do you shoot per year?

· How farin advance do you book your dates for photography?

· What areyour professional credentials?

· How longdo you keep the photos after the wedding?

· What willyou be wearing to our wedding?

· Can I seea wedding you’ve shot from start to finish?
Of course photographers are going toput the best of the best online and in albums, but you want to make sure youlike all of the photos in between, too.

Pricing:

· Besidesthe package price plus tax, is there a travel fee or any other hidden fees?

· How muchextra is it to bring a second shooter?

· Is your photographycoverage an hourly rate? How much do you charge for additional hours?

· Whathappens if my reception activities go 15 minutes later than planned? Would youbill me for 1/4 of an hour?

· Once wegive our deposit and choose a wedding collection, can we still add thingslater?

{This post simply contains my own thoughts, ideas, and insights. Each photographer is different, and everyone goes about photography differently. This blog's content is copyright of Memory Montage Photography. Please do not copy or republish this text without written permission to do so. If you would like to share this post, please include a link directly to our blog's URL. Thank you!}

57 ways to find Memory Montage

2012-02-06T11:25:00.000-08:00

The other day I was checking out our website analytics and I just had to laugh at some of the ways people found our website and blog. People google anything from, "bride gets cake in the face" to " shy groom engagement photography" - I'm not sure sometimes how google makes the connections for me but I can't complain! The funniest thing is how people try and remember or spell our name. I'm not sure if these are typos or what, but here are the top 57 ways in the last month that people have found our website through our name or something close to it. I starred my favorites.

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Yakima Cake Smash Session with Memory Montage

2012-02-03T14:40:00.000-08:00

This is the perfect memory for your child's 1st birthday! Fun for them & fun for parents, too. :) Right now we're offering 50% off our studio sessions for the first 20 people to sign up. This means $50 for a cake smashing session! Click here to sign up.

Welcome Baby Andrew // Yakima Newborn Photographer

2012-01-26T14:15:00.000-08:00

Take a look at our recent newborn session! Thank you mommy Paige and Grandma Paula for bringing this little guy to our studio!

Yakima photography classes were a hit!

2012-01-21T22:12:00.000-08:00

Yay! Tavis and I had a blast teaching and interacting with other photographers today at our photo 101 & 102 classes at Cascade Garden! We had about 20 people in each class and we seemed to get a really good response from everyone. Our hope is that they walked away feeling inspired about photography.... cuz we sure did!

The class consisted of some teaching inside, some shooting outside, and some hanging out with new friends! I was so excited that so many out-of-towners drove through the snow to come to our classes! I had two people from the west side, two from Wenatchee and two from Spokane! They were rockstars!

Overall I feel very encouraged after the classes. We're looking forward to the next one in April! Spread the word for anyone who is interested! You can view more about our photography workshops here.

Yakima Newborn Photographer: Welcome baby Analiese!

2012-01-16T20:56:00.000-08:00

Today was our first newborn session in our new studio! I had no idea what to expect but it all went really well. I was sweating my buns off during the shoot but oh well, the baby stayed pretty happy with everything being so warm! Her mom and dad were there helping, then I had Mica helping me with posing and such and Tavis was in control of lighting. It seemed like quite the production but it was great having the help! Enough chatter, let's get to the pics:

You can view more of our Yakima Photography on our portfolio site

BIG NEWS!!!! + 50% off portrait sessions!

2012-01-15T12:00:00.000-08:00

We're now offering indoor styled studio sessions for babies and kiddos! In the past we've only been able to shoot outdoors and our sessions have been based around weather and daylight... now we can shoot in our studio any time of day and all year round! I've always had the itch to set up a studio space and now the time has come. I brought this idea up to Tavis last month and then we spontaneously starting remodeling an area in our home and BAM - now we're open for business!

To celebrate our new studio, we're offering 50% off of sessions and digital collections for the first 20 people to purchase a styled studio session. Here are the details:

$50 for a 1 hour session

$100 for a 1 hour session + 5x7 disc of all edited digital images

$150 for a 1 hour + 8x12 disc of all edited digital images

(ideally for one child per session, must schedule the session before June 30, 2012)

Click here to claim your deal!

You can view more of our Yakima Portrait Photography on our portfolio site

Get Inspired and Stay Inspired

2012-01-14T17:27:00.000-08:00

One of the hardest parts of being a professional photographer is making sure to stay fresh and inspired. Its easy to get bogged down, doing the same thing shooting at the same venues. When your work becomes uninspired, you business struggles and so do YOU.

It is so important to find inspiration and keep it!

When Tavis and I began our career as photographers we found so much of our inspiration from going to photography classes.

So many things inspire us, but the biggest inspiration to our work is wanting to please our clients. We want them to be happy and excited about their images. We feed off their excitement, and the opportunity to create something unique.

What else inspires us? Well...

Pinterest - A place to gather and share ideas and see beautiful photography.

Photography Blogs - find a photographer you like and follow their blog, comment on their posts, and appreciate the information they share.

Wedding Magazines - go to a book store, order a coffee and look through wedding magazines

Entering Contests - Enter your pictures into contests and hear what others think of your work, very inspiring.

Work with other Photographers - Working with other photographers gives you a chance to see how they work and think. You see through their perspective and have fun at the same time.

Here is YOUR opportunity to get inspired by US... sign up for our photography 101 and 102 classes we are offering this Saturday...

click here to learn more & sign up!!

Thornewood Castle Wedding Photos:: EJ & Lori

2012-01-06T12:32:00.000-08:00

click play to watch the slideshow...

{w/a special song chosen by the couple}

click here to see more wedding pictures...

This Couple's Wedding Vendors:
Ceremony Venue: Thornewood Castle
Reception Venue: Thornewood Castle
Photographer: Memory Montage Photography
Flowers: Seattle Floral
Wedding Planner: Stefanie at Forever Events Planning
You can view more of our Tacoma Wedding Photography on our Portfolio Site

Tuesday Tips for Photographers:: "Which Camera Should I Buy??"

2011-12-20T13:55:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Tuesday Tips! - Free weekly advice and HOW TOs for photographers. Be sure and stop by our blog on Tuesdays & please share this resource with your photographer friends as well!

Two questions we get asked a LOT are,

1) "What camera and lenses do you use?"
2) "I'm just starting out, what camera do you reccomend?"

Here are the answers!

1) Among other equipment, our 6 main items are:
Canon 5D mk ii camera
Canon 50mm 1.2L lens
Canon 16-35mm 2.8L lens
Canon 70-200 2.8L IS II lens
Canon 100mm 2.8L macro lens
Canon 15mm 2.8 Fisheye lens

Here's a breakdown of when we use what at a wedding:

Getting Ready:
Tavis - 70-200mm for hair/makeup
Amy - 50mm & 100mm for detail shots

Couple pics, bridal party & family pictures before ceremony:
Tavis - 50mm or 16-35mm for full body shots
Amy - 70-200mm for closeups & candids

The Ceremony:
Tavis - 70-200mm for non-intrusive shots at a distance
Amy - 50mm or 16-35mm for a few wide shots

The Reception:
Tavis and I switch off between the 70-200mm & 50mm for candids. Also we'll do a few wide shots of the whole reception with the 16-35mm or the fisheye. The 16-35mm is also great for shots of the whole dance floor!

For senior & family pictures:
Tavis - 50mm or 16-30mm for full body shots
Amy - 100mm or 70-200mm for closeups & candids

2) Here's what we recommend for those wanting to upgrade from their point & shoot cameras:

Choose either Canon or Nikon and stick with it. They're very similar, but once you start with one brand you'll want to continue with it so that all of your gear is compatible. We shoot Canon and will recommend Canon gear, but with everything we use and recommend you can find the Nikon equivalent. There are a couple of beginner cameras to choose from. The more you spend = the nicer the camera = the more limitations that are lifted from getting the pictures you want. You really do get what you pay for when it comes to photography gear.

This first option is the Canon Rebel series

Canon T2i (There are also other versions of the Rebel that you could choose from)
It's around $600 from B&H online or on Amazon
It comes with the camera body & lens so you're set to go.

The second one we would recommend is more expensive, but is hands down a better camera then the T2i

Canon 60d (This is the most current one. Newer versions of the this series will come out in the future)
The camera body is around $900 from B&H online or on Amazon
If you buy only the camera body you'll need to purchase lenses separately.

(Both of these cameras are for the hobbyist wanting to take better pictures. If you're wanting to do photography on a professional level, our recommendations would be completely different.)

Do you have a question that you'd like answered in a future Tuesday Tips post? Email your questions to Amy: info@memorymp.com - Thanks!

Baby Bump Sneak Peek!

2011-12-19T17:41:00.000-08:00

These pictures may seem sunny and warm, but it was actually the middle of December in Washington! Although, the 55 degree weather in Graham was a great escape from our recent frigid Yakima weather. Jordyn's parents' house gave us lots of space to shoot some photos and they also have a great view of Mr. Rainier. Congratulations to Jordyn & Logan!

CHRISTMAS CARDS!!!

2011-12-13T15:17:00.000-08:00

Just had to share.... look at the impromptu Christmas card garland I made!

Materials: hemp + mini clothes pins+ mini command hooks = easy & cheap!

ps. If you haven't heard of them, command hooks are a great way to hang without hurting your walls!

I would love to get more cards for more rows of garland!

Memory Montage, 208 N. 25th Ave. Yakima, WA 98902

Happy Holidays!

Merry Christmas from our house to yours.

2011-12-10T13:19:00.001-08:00

IT'S OUR FIRST BIG CHRISTMAS. Last December we were in between places- house-sitting for my Grandpa. In 2008 and 2009 we had a little apartment space in Ellensburg with not much room to decorate... This year we have a house to garnish and enjoy! Every Christmas detail you see was either purchased last year at Target's after Christmas clearance, bought second hand or it is homemade. :) I'm a thrifty crafty girl! We also have a few ornaments from here and there; either gifted to us or purchased as mementos.

Check out my themed red-white-brown wrapping and ribbon! I tackled all of my shopping on black Friday, and finished all of my wrapping that Sunday. woot!

Merry Christmas!! <3 Amy & Tavis Guild

Yakima Photographer:: Stephen & Andrea

2011-12-07T14:10:00.000-08:00

These two were married in 2008 (like us) and wanted some updated photos.... so we did a session with them this past fall! Andrea also does photography so I enjoyed photographing someone with a love for the art.

You can view more of our Yakima Photography on our portfolio site

Yakima Wedding Photos:: Ryan + Casey

2011-12-02T15:24:00.001-08:00

click play to watch the slideshow...

{w/a special song chosen by the couple}

click here to see more wedding pictures...

Ryan and Casey | Saturday, November 5, 2011 | Yakima, WA
This Couple's Wedding Vendors:
Ceremony Venue: 1st Presbyterian
Reception Venue: State Fair Park
Photographer: Memory Montage Photography
Wedding Cake: Christie's Cakes
Wedding Colors: Purple + Fall Colors
You can view more of our Yakima Wedding Photography on our Portfolio Site

Yakima Wedding Photographer:: Adam & Jennifer

2011-12-02T13:10:00.001-08:00

click play to watch the slideshow...

{w/a special song chosen by the couple}

click here to see more wedding pictures...

Yakima Engagement Photographer:: Laura & RJ

2011-11-29T16:34:00.001-08:00

Awwwwwww. Look at these two! Our session was tons of fun; lots of laughing and giggling between this couple in love. Laura described her style to me and I think we found the perfect place to fit her engagement photo vision: The Ahtanum Mission! (that rhyme was unplanned) - RJ plays football at Eastern Oregon so we also when to the football field and we photographed them in their matching T-shirts. Watch for their wedding photos next summer!

You can view more of our Yakima Engagement Photography on our portfolio site

Our digital photography workshops are back and you’re invited!

2011-11-28T13:04:00.001-08:00

Photography 101: Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012, 10am-1pm atCascade Garden - Yakima, WA

Photography 102: Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012,2:30pm-5:30pm at Cascade Garden - Yakima, WA

Photography 101: Sunday, April 1, 2012, 1:30-4:30pmat Glenwood Square - Yakima, WA

Save on your registration for our upcoming photographyclasses or purchase one as a Christmas gift! Photography 101 - $35,Photography 101 & 102 - $60

(Registration rates go upon Jan. 15, 2012)

For more info & to register for the classes, visit ourworkshop website: http://www.memorymp.com/#/workshops---speaking-1/

Please share this info with friends and hope to see youthere! :)

The Pillers Family Photos

2011-11-15T19:23:00.001-08:00

Off to Sunnyside we went! ....to a barn that is special to their family for an updated portrait with the two new babies! There's a close up below of their two sweet faces :) We shot Ann-Jean & Brad's wedding in August 2010 (the two on the far right). I always hope our clients will ask us to continue photographing their family as it grows and this new family pic just happened to be a little over a year after their wedding!

Fontaine Estates Wedding:: Bailey + Joe

2011-11-10T17:31:00.001-08:00

click play to watch the slideshow...

{w/a special song chosen by the couple}

click here to see more wedding pictures...

Joe and Bailey | Saturday, October 15, 2011 | Naches, WA
This Couple's Wedding Vendors:
Ceremony Venue: Fontaine Estates
Reception Venue: Fontaine Estates
Photographer: Memory Montage Photography
Wedding Planner: Breathtaking weddings
Wedding Colors: Red, Black, and White
You can view more of our Naches Wedding Photography on our Portfolio Site

My latest DIY crafts for around $5 each

2011-11-08T15:54:00.000-08:00

When the weather gets colder... I get crafty! Check out a couple of my colorful creations:

Embroidery Hoop Card Wreath: Glue some miniature wooden clothespins to a large (about 14-inch-diameter) embroidery hoop. Alternate clothespins to point outward and inward, spaced 1 1/2 inches apart. Suspend from a ribbon, and clip your cards in place!

Fall Inspired Leaf Wreath: Create a leaf pattern & cut 10-15 leaves from colorful felt. Use a large sewing needle to create "veins" in the leaves with yarn. Wrap a straw wreath with strips of burlap (5-6 inches wide). Put the leaves into a little cluster that fits your fancy, and glue 'em on!

Pup pics

2011-11-05T12:56:00.000-07:00

We photographed Sean, Brandi & new dog Mila a couple weekends ago during our mini sessions and getting her attention was as much work as flagging down a child to look at the camera. So as you can see, Mila is moving in most of these shots but at least she had a good time! :)

A Halloween Wedding!

2011-11-04T15:30:00.000-07:00

Our very first Halloween themed wedding! Jen's favorite colors have always been neon green & black. She wore these colors to the engagement session, have them on her cell phone cover, and of course she decorated with black & green for her wedding. The highlight of this wedding was probably while we were out doing the bride & groom session before the wedding. I felt a poke on my ankle.... I looked down and there was a CACTUS stuck to me. What the heck... I've never even seen a cactus out in the wild around Yakima, much less picked one up on my clothes! If you scroll down you can see a pic!

and here is the cactus I promised.....

Portland Wedding Photography:: Hanna & Joey

2011-11-03T12:23:00.000-07:00

click play to watch the slideshow...

{w/a special song chosen by the couple}

click here to see more wedding pictures...

You can view more ofour Portland Wedding Photography on our Portfolio Site

Fun props for engagement pictures!

2011-11-02T15:03:00.000-07:00

Shooting an engagement session is my favorite way to spend a sunny Sunday afternoon. Kyle & Amber brought all of their own props for the session and it made their photos super colorful & fun! Our first stop was this chalk mural (which you may be able to spot for yourselves if you drive down Yakima avenue). Then we did some exploring as you can see- with the abandoned Mcdonalds toys & shopping carts.... to the park, to inklinkings & beyond! Be watching for some more colorful photos of Kyle and Amber next summer after their wedding!

Jake smashes cake

2011-11-01T20:03:00.000-07:00

Here's Jake's 1st birthday cake smashing session. cake on the walls.... cake in the hair.... but he never put any cake in his mouth!

American Homestead Wedding:: Travis + Tara

2011-10-28T22:25:00.000-07:00

click play to watch the slideshow...

{w/a special song chosen by the couple}

click here to seemore wedding pictures...

Travis and Tara | Saturday, October 1, 2011 | Naches, WA

ThisCouple's Wedding Vendors:
CeremonyVenue: American Homestead
ReceptionVenue: American Homestead
Photographer:Memory Montage Photography
Flowers: Blooming Elegance
Wedding Cake: Kerri's Cakes
Wedding Rings: Marci Jewelry
Catering: American Homestead

You canview more of our Naches WeddingPhotography on our Portfolio Site

Cave B Wedding Photographer:: Erik + Jamie

2011-10-26T13:24:00.000-07:00

click play to watch the slideshow...

{w/a special song chosen by the couple}

click here to see more wedding pictures...

Erik and Jamie | Sunday, September 25, 2011 | Vantage, WA

This Couple's Wedding Vendors:

Ceremony Venue: Cave B Winery

Reception Venue: Cave B Winery

Photographer: Memory Montage Photography
Flowers: Lucky Flowers

Bridal Makeup: Aubrey Childers

Bridal Hair: Aubrey Childers

Wedding Dress: Celestial Selections

Catering: Cave B Winery

You can view more of our Cave B Wedding Photography on our Portfolio Site

Yakima Wedding Photographer:: Garrett + Rachel

2011-10-26T12:49:00.000-07:00

click play to watch the wedding slideshow...

{w/a special song chosen by the couple}

click here to see more wedding photos...

Garrett and Rachel | Saturday, September 24, 2011 | Yakima, WA

This Couple's Wedding Vendors:

Ceremony & Reception Venue: Harman Center

Photographer: Memory Montage Photography

Wedding Planner: Sarah Nelson - Couture Events

Wedding Colors: Red + Black

You can view more of our Yakima Wedding Photography on our Portfolio Site

Cooper Winery Wedding:: Michael + Kristi

2011-10-26T11:56:00.000-07:00

click play to watch the slideshow...

{w/a special song chosen by the couple}

click here to see more wedding pictures...

Michael and Kristi | Friday, September 23, 2011 | Benton City, WA

This Couple's Wedding Vendors:

Ceremony Venue: Cooper Winery - Benton City, WA

Reception Venue: Cooper Winery - Benton City, WA

Photographer: Memory Montage Photography

Bridal Makeup: Nouveau Day Spa

Bridal Hair: Nouveau Day Spa

Wedding Rings: Skeies Jewlers

Catering: Cooper Winery

You can view more of our Tri cities Wedding Photography on our Portfolio Site

Playground Engagement Photos

2011-10-17T23:03:00.000-07:00

Bre & Tyler.

will tie the knot in April of 2012.

engagement pictures!

explored new areas.

enjoyed nature.

took a walk.

got to talk.

fall colors.

fall air.

sun peeking through.

fun photos on the playgound.

"Ut oh, CAR"

2011-10-14T12:46:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we played in the road a little bit. We've never been to this spot for photos before, but I stumbled upon it last night and couldn't pass it up. I love the colors & the scenery! There's something spunky about spontaneous pictures like these where you only have 20 seconds to snag a shot before one of us yells, "CAR" and we have to scurry out of the way. Don't judge me because I take seniors out in the road - cuz look at these photos.... it's worth it!! :)

Then we also have some non-road shots that turned out pretty stellar.

^^^ Tavis, demonstrating a pose idea^^^^^

Loved her cute cowboy boots for this session!

We are booked for the month of October but still have a few sessions available in early November. Contact Amy to schedule your senior or family session! info@memorymp.com, 509.969.6369

Portland Photographer:: Hanna & Joey's Rainbow Wedding Day

2011-10-13T08:52:00.000-07:00

Do you see a familiar face in these photos? This time I was in the bridal party and got to engage in the fun on the other side of the camera! I've been friends with Hanna for 6 years now, and ever since I've known her she has LOVED rainbows. Her wedding didn't have any actual rainbows, but there were multi-colored decorations & bridal party~!. :)

You can view more of our Portland Wedding Photography on our portfolio site

Ritter Farms Wedding:: Laken & Virgil

2011-10-12T18:56:00.000-07:00

click play to watch the slideshow...

{w/a special song chosen by the couple}

click here to see more wedding pictures...

Laken and Virgil | Sunday, September 18, 2011 | Cle Elum, WA

This Couple's Wedding Vendors:

Ceremony Venue: Ritter Farms

Reception Venue: Ritter Farms

Photographer: Memory Montage Photography

DJ: Entertainment Plus

Catering: Ritter Farms

Wedding Colors: Green

You can view more of our Cle Elum Wedding Photography on our Portfolio Site

Sawyer House Wedding:: Derek & LeAnna

2011-10-12T18:55:00.000-07:00

click play to watch the slideshow...

{w/a special song chosen by the couple}

click here to see more wedding pictures...

Derek and LeaAnna | Saturday, September 17, 2011 | Yakima, WA

This Couple's Wedding Vendors:

Ceremony Venue: First Presbyterian Church

Reception Venue: Sawyer House

Photographer: Memory Montage Photography

Flowers:Costco

DJ: Robert Wade

Wedding Dress: David's Bridal

Cake: Shirley's Cakes

Catering: Rodeo City BBQ

Wedding Colors: Brown + Blue

You can view more of our Yakima Wedding Photography on our portfolio site

Tuesday Tip for Photographers: LEAD the session

2011-10-11T13:52:00.000-07:00

Hitting the shutter is only a fraction of what it takes to have an awesome session.... you really have to LEAD the session by giving suggestions and helping them with how to pose and what to do. Your subjects have no idea what looks good or what they look like, so they are trusting in you to give them ideas and make them look their best. Here is an example of me leading a bride+groom session:

My 4 main ingredients for a great wedding or portrait session:

preparation: knowing what my clients like, planning ahead, bringing props, etc.
camera knowledge: because of my experience and practice with my equipment, I can take photos without having to think too much about camera settings. This allows me to interact more with my subjects!
confidence & leadership: I come to sessions with lots of ideas so that we can jump from one thing to the next. Unless my clients are photographers or professional models, they probably have no idea how to sit, stand or act for photos unless I give them specific instructions.
post processing: you can certainly get awesome images SOOC but a few tweaks in the post processing can really bring everything together and make the whole session uniform.

camera settings: f/2.5, exposure 1/160 sec., ISO-250

---------------------

Our Tuesday tips are free weekly advice and HOW TOs for photographers. Be sure and stop by our blog on Tuesdays & please share this resource with your photography friends as well!

Packwood Wedding Vendor Highlight // Moon Mountain

2011-10-05T19:41:00.000-07:00

We recently photographed a beautiful wedding in the mountains of Packwood at Moon Mountain. Gorgeous venue, very private, truly unique. Check them out! Contact Debbie Reisert // Phone: 360-494-4949 // Email: info@moon-mtn.com

Lightroom before & after

2011-10-04T12:41:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Tuesday Tips! - Free weekly advice and HOW TOs for photographers. Be sure and stop by our blog on Tuesdays & please share this resource with your photography friends as well!

------------

Today's Tip: Don't let your images be too blue!! A few little changes go a long way. Sometimes when the white balance is so far off (like on the left) - I'll edit it once then come back to it later. The first edit may seem drastic because you have to make it so much warmer... but then if you come back to it you may have better judgement on how to tweak it to make it even more accurate to their actual skintones. If you're having trouble adjusting your settings in lightroom or finding the right balance, I may be offering some Lightroom presets this winter so stay tuned!!

Suncadia Resort Wedding Photographs

2011-10-03T19:08:00.000-07:00

AMBER + COREY KONINIEC // SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2011 // SUNCADIA RESORT

You can view more of our Suncadia Wedding Photography on our portfolio site

Should couples see each other before the wedding ceremony?

2011-09-29T13:21:00.000-07:00

You can ask every single one of our clients and they will say, "YES!" It makes so much more sense to see each other before. The fun & carefree time we get to spend with the couple before the ceremony is often their favorite time of the day looking back.

Every engaged couple has this discussion... and it always comes up again when they are talking with their wedding photographer. For us, we want to respect the couple's decision if they want to wait to see each other until the ceremony, but there are many sacrifices by doing so. These days, about 98% of our couples decide to take photos before the ceremony. It's still the "first look" whether it's at the ceremony or planned and photographed ahead of time. Here are the two wedding day options and what comes along with them:

Option 1: first look during ceremony (1-2 hours of pictures after)

Pros:

stays with tradition/superstition

Cons:

you don't have time to embrace the emotions with your spouse during the first look because it's during the ceremony
pictures can be more stressful because everyone is rushed
you don't get as many pictures because we're limited on time
your guests have to wait for you while you're taking photos

Option 2: first look before ceremony (3-4 hours of pictures before)

Pros:

you have time to embrace the emotions with your spouse during the first look because it's just the two of you.... intimate and without rush.
pictures are fun, laid back, not stressful because we have plenty of time
you will get much more variety of pictures this way because there is more time to go more places.
we can go off-site for some of the couple photos.... you're not locked in to doing ALL of your photos outside of the venue.
your guests do not have to wait for you. Once they show up for the ceremony you can enjoy every second them.
your hair & makeup will look its best if you go right into pictures after getting ready

Cons:

does not follow tradition/superstition

Basically, by staying with the "tradition" you will get less photos, less photo variety, less time with your guests, and more stress on your wedding day.

Other photographers agree! Here is Phil Bentz of Stone Castle Photography, "If you don't want to see each other before the wedding, we'll do our best to make it work, however, we need to warn you that it usually ends up being a disaster for the bride and groom. Don't get me wrong, traditions can be great, but this one usually isn't practical if you want your wedding to go as smoothly as possible. A lot of people have the misconception that they can do most of the pictures before the ceremony with the bride and groom separate but it's just not true. The only 2 sets of pictures we can do before the ceremony is the "bride with the bridesmaids" and the "groom with the groomsmen"....anything we do more than that is a waste of time because they will have to be redone after the ceremony with the bride and groom together.

What does that mean for you? That means all of your guests will be waiting while we do ALL the pictures after the ceremony, including the pictures with just the bride and groom alone. By that time you're tired, hungry, your hair and makeup are no longer perfect (if you're the bride), your guests are waiting and you just want to get pictures over with so you can go relax. The end result is that you don't get all the fun and creative pictures of just the bride and groom together like we would otherwise."

Want to hear more? Check out this great article as well!

http://www.robgreer.com/html/pdfs/See-Each-Other-Before-Ceremony.pdf

Ritter Farms Wedding:: Dustin + Katie

2011-09-28T16:03:00.000-07:00

click here to play the slideshow

{w/a special song chosen by the couple}

click here to see more of their wedding pictures...

Dustin and Katie Doyle | Saturday, September 10, 2011 | Cle Elum, WA

This Couple's Wedding Vendors:

Ceremony Venue: Ritter Farms

Reception Venue: Ritter Farms

Photographer: Memory Montage Photography

Flowers: Melia's Floral

DJ: Entertainment Plus

Wedding Dress: Lin Paul's

Cake: Katie's Grandma

Catering: Ritter Farms

Wedding Colors: Fall Colors

You can view more of our Cle Elum Wedding Photography on our Portfolio Site

Ritter Farms Wedding:: Lincoln + Sarah

2011-09-28T14:06:00.000-07:00

click play to watch the slideshow...

{w/a special song chosen by the couple}

click here to see more wedding pictures...

Lincoln and Sarah Williams | Sunday, September 4, 2011 | Cle Elum, WA

This Couple's Wedding Vendors:

Ceremony Venue: Ritter Farms

Reception Venue: Ritter Farms

Photographer: Memory Montage Photography

Flowers: Melia's Floral & Windmill Gardens

DJ: Entertainment Plus

Bridal Makeup: Annastina Sobole

Wedding Dress: Wedding Bell

Catering: Ritter Farms

Wedding Colors: Navy Blue + Yellow

You can view more of our Cle Elum Wedding Photography on our Portfolio Site

Cascade Garden Yakima Wedding:: Bruce + Michele

2011-09-28T14:05:00.000-07:00

click play to watch the slideshow...

{w/a special song chosen by the couple}

click here to see more wedding pictures...

Bruce & Michele Armstrong | Saturday, September 10, 2011 | Yakima, WA

This Couple's Wedding Vendors:

Ceremony Venue: Cascade Garden

Reception Venue: Cascade Garden

Photographer: Memory Montage Photography

DJ: Micah Cawley - Micah's Mobile Music

Wedding Dress: Fashion Corner

Cake: Shirley's Cakes

Catering: Toni's Catering Creations

Wedding Colors: Light Pink

You can view more of our Yakima Wedding Photography on our portfolio site

Behind the scenes of a wedding: downtown Yakima wedding photography

2011-09-27T08:00:00.000-07:00

ooooooooooooh yea, look at that! dynamic & all natural light. :)

here I'm shooting with the 16-35mm, f/3.2, exposure 1/200, ISO - 125

Here I am like 4 feet away from them, but the fisheye is 15mm.... very WIDE! f/3.2, exposure 1/200, ISO-100

I snatched this photo from the side with the telephoto & then showed them on my screen and they liked it :)

@ the reception with Sarah Nelson of Couture Events! She is amazing!!

Cave B Winery Wedding Photography:: Jamie & Erik

2011-09-26T23:55:00.000-07:00

This is definitely a premier wedding location in Washington state....
Cave B weddings are amazing!! Congratulations to the happy couple!

An absolutely gorgeous Cooper Winery wedding - Benton City, WA

2011-09-24T15:15:00.000-07:00

A perfect wedding: Simple, stress-free, gorgeous setting, beautiful weather, happy people, relaxed atmosphere, fun decor, amazing music, awesome food & wine... what more could you ask for? The food & cake were some of the best I've ever enjoyed at a wedding and you'll never believe who made it.... THE BRIDE!! The wedding was just last night but I couldn't wait to post.... here are few of my favorites to give you a feel for the evening. many many many many more great images to come :) Congratulations to Kristi & Mike - 9.23.11!

Thanks to Cooper Winery, check them out!

American Homestead Wedding:: Marc + Amy

2011-09-22T14:01:00.000-07:00

click play to watch the slideshow...

{w/a special song chosen by the couple}

click here to see more pictures...

Marc and Amy Scherzinger | Saturday, August 27, 2011 | Naches, WA

This Couple's Wedding Vendors:

Ceremony Venue: American Homestead

Reception Venue: American Homestead

Photographer: Memory Montage Photography

Flowers: Blooming Elegance

DJ: Entertainment Plus

Bridal Makeup: Onyx Salon

Bridal Hair: Onyx Salon

Wedding Dress: Fashion Center

Cake: Christie's Cake

Catering:Cascade Catering

Wedding Colors: Purple

You can view more of our Naches Wedding Photography on our portfolio site

Ritter Farm Wedding Photos:: Wes + Lori

2011-09-22T13:26:00.000-07:00

click play to watch the slideshow...

{w/ a special song chosen by the couple}

click here to see more wedding pictures...

Ceremony & Reception Venue: Ritter Farms - Cle Elum, WA

You can view more of our Cle Elum Wedding Photography on our portfolio site

Photographers... here's your camera's center focus point explained!

2011-09-20T12:10:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Tuesday Tips! - Free weekly advice and HOW TOs for photographers. Be sure and stop by our blog on Tuesdays & please share this resource with your photography friends as well!

---------------------------

We were recently asked, "I read that you always use your center focus point. Do you focusand recompose, or do you use back button focus? I used to manually toggle my focus point but it'stoo difficult sometimes to move it quickly enough to put the point on where Iwant to focus" - thanks for your question, let me explain!

Yes, we focus and recompose. 100% of the time our cameras are set to center focus. During posed shots and soft poses (when the subject is fairly still) we can focus on their eyes using the center focus then recompose. When the subject is moving, we still use the center focus, but we do not have time to recompose. By the time we move the camera, they have moved to a different focus area! In this case, I have photos that have lots of space above their heads and I just crop it later. Example here: the photo on the left is SOOC (the center focus point is on her face... because they're moving I'm just snapping pictures without time to recompose) - then as you can see on the right I cropped it in a bit.

So why use center focus? My camera {the Canon 5D mark II} has 9 focus points, but actually, the center sensor is the only one that is a cross type sensor, making it more accurate, especially in low light situations. The other outside focus points are very weak, so using the center one to focus is the best way to get pictures that are in focus.

Using center focus & recomposing takes some practice, but once you get it, it's totally worth it!

made for each other:: Laken & Virgil

2011-09-19T15:03:00.000-07:00

I don't think I've ever seen two personalities match so perfectly before. These two were made for each other! We had a little bit of rain up at Ritter Farms so the ceremony was moved inside the barn but they didn't let it get to them! We still made do and took their wedding pictures out in the rain. :)

Although, we didn't want to be completely soaked, so the indoors and covered areas were our friend:

Look at these cute ideas for wedding favors & "guest books"!

You can view more of our Ritter Farms Wedding Photography on our portfolio site

Our mini sessions are back!!

2011-09-15T11:30:00.000-07:00

A fun & casual family, senior, or engagement mini session.... outdoors in the fall colors. This is the perfect time to get your family photo taken and use it for the Christmas card!! The $50 session fee is required to reserve your spot. Contact Amy to reserve your time! info@memorymp.com

Current available times:
{I will update this blog as people continue to schedule}

Saturday, October 22, 2011:
10am: taken! Jamie Z. *~
10:45am: taken! Jamie Mathews
11:30am: taken! Sage P. ~

12:30pm: taken! Maureen *~

1:15pm: taken! Betsy G. *~
2pm: taken! Eli B.~
2:45pm: taken! Bradfords *~
3:30pm: Taken! Lupita H *~
4:15pm: taken! Gretchen P. *~

5pm: taken! Skinner

Sunday, October 23, 2011:
1pm: taken! Kelly H.

1:45pm: taken! Victoria B. *~
2:30pm: taken! Welsh *~

3:15pm: Nissen Family *~

4pm: taken! Amanda R. *~
4:45pm: taken! Beth A. *~
5:30pm: taken! Worley Fam ~

view more of our family photography here.

Seattle Area Wedding Photographer:: Brandon & Erin

2011-09-14T19:56:00.000-07:00

click play to watch the wedding slideshow...

{w/ a special song chosen by couple}

click here to see more of their wedding photos...

You can view more of our Seattle Wedding Photography on our portfolio site

Leavenworth Wedding Photographer:: Matt & Paula

2011-09-14T19:46:00.000-07:00

click play to watch the slideshow...

{w/ a special song chosen by the couple}

click here to see more wedding pictures...

Matt and Paula O'Dea | Thursday, August 18, 2011 | Leavenworth, WA

This Couple's Wedding Vendors:

Ceremony Venue: Pine River Ranch

Reception Venue: Pine River Ranch

Photographer: Memory Montage Photography

Catering: Country BBQ Boys

Wedding Colors: Blue + Orange

You can view more of our Leavenworth Wedding Photography on our portfolio site

Apple Tree Wedding Photography:: Zach & Rachel

2011-09-14T18:53:00.000-07:00

click play to watch the slideshow...

{special song chosen by couple}

Click here to see more wedding pictures...

Zach and Rachel Sloan | Saturday, August 20, 2011 | Yakima, WA

This Couple's Wedding Vendors:

Ceremony Venue: Apple Tree

Reception Venue: Apple Tree

Photographer: Memory Montage Photography

Flowers: Marlene Bouchey

DJ:Wise Entertainment

Cake: Christie's Cakes

Getaway Car: Moonlit Ride Limo

Wedding Colors: Purple

You can view more of our Yakima Wedding Photography on our portfolio site

Wedding Photography:: behind the scenes

2011-09-12T16:12:00.000-07:00

These photos of us were taken by our awesome intern Mica at last weekend's wedding at Ritter Farm. Here's a behind the scenes look at what Tavis & I do as wedding photographers!

taken by Amy \\ Lens: 70-200mm \\ F-stop: f/3.2 \\ exposure: 1/200 sec. \\ ISO: 500

taken by Tavis \\ Lens: 50mm \\ F-stop: f/2.2 \\ exposure: 1/160 sec. \\ ISO:100

taken by Amy \\ Lens: 100mm \\ F-stop: f/3.2 \\ exposure: 1/200 sec. \\ ISO:320

taken by Tavis \\ Lens: 16-35mm \\ F-stop: f/3.2 \\ exposure: 1/125 sec. \\ ISO:250 {+ off camera flash}

Look at my awesome backpack. (ha)

test shot of Amy!

actual shot of couple :)

September & October is FAMILY PICTURE TIME!!

2011-09-08T08:57:00.000-07:00

Look at this cute little family we photographed on Saturday.... who happen to be our very good friends!! This family session was especially fun because we know them so well & they were completely themselves.... very goofy & random.

If you're interested in family pictures this fall, contact us soon! We have limited availability left on weeknights during September & October. info@memorymp.com

Silverlake Winery Wedding Photographer:: Troy + Mallory

2011-09-07T16:47:00.000-07:00

click play to watch the slideshow...

{w/ a special song chosen by the couple}

click here to view more wedding pictures...

Troy and Mallory Buechler | Saturday, August 13, 2011 | Zillah, WA

This Couple's Wedding Vendors:

photographer: Memory Montage Photography

Ceremony & Reception Venue: Silver Lake Winery

DJ: Entertainment Plus

Wedding Dress: Davids Bridal

Cake: Christie's Cakes

Catering: Classic Events - Lorri Devitt

Wedding Colors: Black + Green

You can view more of our Zillah Wedding Photography on our portfolio site

Port Orchard Wedding Photographer:: Kris + Lindsey

2011-09-07T16:11:00.001-07:00

click play to watch the video...
{w/ a special song chosen by couple}

click here to see more wedding pictures...

Kris & Lindsey Trenouth | Friday, August 12, 2011 | Port Orchard, WA

This Couple's Wedding Vendors:

Ceremony Venue: Trophy Lake Golf & Casting Club
Reception Venue: Trophy Lake Golf & Casting Club
DJ: Ideal Entertainment - Tim Humphrey
Photographer: Memory Montage Photography

You can view more of our Western Washington Wedding Photography on our portfolio site