<a href="http://www.tracycarolyn.com" title="Tracy Carolyn Photography" rel="home">Tracy Carolyn Photography

Monday, August 2, 2010

Contest Winners – Kaitlin + Adam!

I gently bent the rules for these two. Technically the contest was for engaged couples – Kaitlin and Adam are already married. But I just liked their story the bes. My contest, my rule breaking :) So here’s their winning story, as Kaitlin tells it:

“I have quite a few people to thank for setting in motion the chain of events that would lead me to meet my future husband. It all started during my last semester in college at Oklahoma State. My best friend Ashley was a year ahead of me, had already graduated, and found a job in Fort Smith, AR (not the entertainment capital of the world). She was unhappy there and devised a plan that would involve the two of us moving to a fun city with a young hip crowd and a lot of single guys! We diligently researched our options. We looked at Nashville, Denver, Seattle….and the list goes on…before finally settling on Austin, TX. I did not know much about Austin and did not even know anyone in Austin but it seemed like a fun place to live so out went the resumes. I was surprised how quickly I received a job offer and jumped at the opportunity to work for an extremely talented Interior Designer named Jackie. Everything was great until Ashley said she was having a really hard time finding a job and did not think she could make the move without stable employment. I was left with a tough decision: Should I move to Austin by myself or stay in my comfort zone? Austin it is! View full post »

1 comment

Kaitlin + Adam - August 23, 2010 - 9:24 am

[...] and Adam won last month’s Engagement Contest (despite having been married for the last two years – I bent the rules. :)) We spent an [...]

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Have a rockin’ reception – guaranteed

Think of your guests a little like sheep. Wedding guests will do whatever the bride and groom do. You lead, they follow. If you spend your reception rockin’ out on the dance floor, they’ll follow. If you spend your reception smoking outside, sitting at a table chatting, or hiding out in the bathroom, your guests will do the same.

Most people want their guests to have a great time at the reception, and focus on getting everything perfect to make that happen. But the key is not how awesome the band is, how many people are there, or how much booze you serve. I’ve seen all kinds of receptions – parties without alcohol and those with open bars, receptions where an iPod is the only music source and some with amazing 8 piece bands, weddings with fewer than 50 people and those with more than 500 people. None of those factors impact how much fun everyone is having.

The key to an awesome reception is a bride and groom setting the example of having a great time. That will make or break your party. So plan the party so you will have fun. Then allow yourself to enjoy it, rather than worrying about how much fun your guests are having. I guarantee your guests will follow.

no comments

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Thinking Floral

I’ve had flowers on the brain. In trying to come up with ideas for my own wedding, I’ve been spending more time than usual looking through images of bouquets and flowers. While I’d actually prefer to find something non-floral to use for a bouquet, I have seen some amazing floral work and can greatly appreciate the talent and skill that goes into these pieces. So since I’ve been stalking through everyone else’s floral archives, it’s time to share some of my own. Here are just a few from the last year or two – maybe they’ll give someone a great idea :) Happy Tuesday!

no comments

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Being photogenic is a myth. Really.

Maybe you can’t keep your eyes open for photos. Or you always have red eye and look washed out. Perhaps you have a cheesy “camera smile” that comes out of nowhere when you see a camera. For whatever reason, you’ve decided you are not photogenic. Terribly, horribly, irreparably un-photogenic. You should just never have your photo taken again because you’ll always look horrible. Wrong!

If you think you aren’t photogenic, you simply haven’t worked with the right photographer. Or maybe you haven’t worked with a photographer at all. People judge themselves as not photogenic because photos their friends take of them at parties never turn out well. Of course not! Direct flash, red eye, poor timing, too many cocktails…it’s a perfect storm of ickiness.

The best photos of people arise from natural moments when they aren’t posing for the camera, aren’t making their characteristic photo face – aren’t over-thinking it. That’s why documentary photography is the best way to get great photos of everyone. I’ve had many clients who think they don’t look good in photos, or don’t like having pictures taken. Once they’ve taken photos with me, they’re usually singing a different tune.

So what’s the secret? There’s a few. Professional equipment is one, alongside professional training (it helps to know how that fancy camera works, after all :) ) View full post »

2 comments