bridal

Oh-my-goodness! What a sweet, GORGEOUS, and F-U-N couple Tiffany and Sam are. I’m so happy for them… and you could see in the faces of everyone attending their wedding that the sentiment ran through the crowd.

🙂

It was such a pleasure photographing their wedding for them. They each have large families and lots of fun-loving friends, which made it even more special. And let me tell you, these people know how to have a good (make that GREAT) TIME!

Fabulous music, dancing that just wouldn’t stop, and smiles that lasted into the wee morning hours, I’m sure.

Seriously, it was one of the most fun and fabulous weddings I’ve ever been to. Soooooo much dancing… everyone had a blast.

Enjoy your Scottsdale wedding photography, Tiffany and Sam. And enjoy your new life together.

You two are just beautiful together. I was honored to be part of your special day.

🙂

-Margie

Introducing Mr. and Mrs. W!!!
Wow. Just WOW!
I can’t tell you how lovely this couple is. Soooo nice and soooooo much in love. It was a true pleasure photographing their recent Scottsdale Wedding. They had rented a G-O-R-G-E-O-U-S estate in McDowell Mountain Ranch, right at the top of the road, with the incredible mountain surrounding the house, and some amazing views. It was just spectacular! The views, the house itself, the bride and groom, their family and friends. I was so happy to be a big part of their special day.

Please enjoy this sneak peek to Candace’s and Jeff’s wedding. And yes, it was definitely as much fun as it looks! These people know how to have FUN!!!

Thanks again, Candace and Jeff for choosing me to be your Scottsdale Wedding Photographer. It was my honor and pleasure.
🙂

Oh, and to see more photos, please “like” me on Facebook.

Kristen and Aaron (see their engagement session here)picked the most perfect day for their wedding at Gold Canyon Golf Resort, at the far East end of the Valley. It was a Scottsdale Wedding Photographer‘s dream!
I was so happy to be part of their big day… you could feel the love between them, they were practically glowing!
And after the ceremony, their friends and family toasted to the happy couple, as is tradition in most wedding receptions. Well, let me tell you, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house (yes, even mine, LOL!)
What a beautiful story, what a beautiful couple, both inside and out.

Thank you again Kristen and Aaron for choosing me to photograph your wedding. I am truly honored.

You two are just soooooo gorgeous, you help make my Arizona wedding photography look that much better.
I wish you two nothing but the best, and a very happy and loving marriage for years and years to come.

🙂

Enjoy your Scottsdale/Phoenix wedding photography… I know I enjoyed shooting it.

Jeremy and Adrienne met in grade school. Yep, grade school. (see their Scottsdale engagement photography session here)

🙂

They haven’t always been together… they drifted their separate ways for a while… but they were always MEANT to be together. You can tell just by looking at them. They make each other happy. They complete each other.

I met Adrienne through a photography/modeling forum that I frequent. We discovered that we lived close to each other, and got together a few times. She even participated in my recent Scottsdale bridal photo shoot at a local hotel when we were looking for models… So when she asked me to shoot her wedding I was honored that she would choose me. I know she values photography, and I know she’s SUPER photogenic and would be great fun to work with on her wedding day, so of course I jumped at the chance.

And the added bonus for me was that I wanted to attend the rehearsal the night before the Scottsdale wedding ceremony, and she let me bring my girls with me! OMG they had such a fantastic time, seeing the bridal party, spending time with Adrienne (whom they adore!!!) and getting to meet her “prince” Jeremy. (yes, they see everything in terms of a fairy tale, LOL).

Oh, and as a fun little fact… in the course of our working together and preparing for the wedding, we discovered that Adrienne and I share the same birthday! October 19th, right around the corner. No wonder we hit it off so well. Happy birthday next week, Adrienne!!!
🙂

Well, as you can see from these photos, the wedding was everything I was hoping it would be. A gorgeous bride, a very loving family, amazingly fun wedding party, and tons of really great friends. There was almost no stress that day, everyone was just having a fantastic time, celebrating the marriage of Jeremy and Adrienne. Aside from loving to photograph weddings, I really, really love to participate in these special occasions because it’s such a happy time. So much hope and anticipation of their future life together.

Thank you so much, Adrienne and Jeremy for choosing me to document your wedding day with photographs. I truly loved being part of the day, and I hope I was able to capture not just the day for you, but the emotions and especially the love you have for each other.

xo xo xo

-Margie

Recently I got together with several different girls to do a bridal session at the amazingly beautiful Firesky Resort in Scottsdale, Arizona. I had been to Firesky several times before because it’s very close to my house. And I also attended a photography conference a few years ago there. During the photography conference we had the opportunity to follow some famous photographers around the grounds while they photographed models in different settings of the hotel…

So when I was recently asked to organize and participate in a bridal shoot showcasing some amazing gowns and accessories from So Wedding Dress Rentals, I immediately thought of Firesky Resort. I knew it would be the perfect setting for our Scottsdale, Arizona Bridal Photography Shoot. The architecture is beautiful. The interior surfaces and lighting are to-die-for. The grounds themselves… seriously you’d never even know you were in the desert with all the tropical foliage and beautiful landscaping…

Needless to say, I was super excited to be a part of this incredible group of women, and I was really honored that they chose me to be their photographer. I however, have been super busy lately, so thank goodness the incredibly talented and equally resourceful Ms. Victoria Sales stepped up and orchestrated all of the scheduling… the girls, the dresses, the accessories, the stylists, and of course her own amazing self to do all of the makeup (http://www.makeupbyvictoriasalas.com)!

Wow! What a party!!! And not only was it great to work with such talented and professional women, it was also sooooooo much F-U-N!

So, without further ado… here’s Miss Jasmine, the first girl we shot, in a couple of different dresses. And let me tell you, she ROCKED IT!!! Well, don’t just take my word for it, see for yourself:

Check out this next dress. It’s an original design by the owner of So Wedding Dress Rentals, Christine Davis. Christine added the little black flower on it during the styling for the shoot, to mix it up a bit, so if you’re not into the black flower, not a problem. But I thought it was such a cute, fun, flirty wedding dress. And Jasmine looked FANTASTIC in it. Who knew that you could get such great wedding gowns rentals in Phoenix? What a fantastic idea! And such a great designer, Christine. You amaze me with your uber talent!

And look at how gorgeous Victoria Sales’s bridal makeup looks on this Scottsdale Bride.

And here’s the last dress that Jasmine modeled for us, along with a super-fun bridal accessory from  So Wedding Dress Rentals. I told Christina, the owner of So Wedding Dress Rentals that I was going to have to rent a mask for some of my upcoming Scottsdale Bridal Boudoir photography sessions. How fantastic would that be in a boudoir photography album?

I’ll be featuring the other girls along with more incredible dresses from So Wedding Dress Rentals, and more bridal makeup looks from Victoria Sales, in upcoming posts, so keep your eyes peeled for more eye candy, LOL.

Now that the weather is starting to cool off a bit (or at least us SUPPOSED to be cooling off a bit), I have several Phoenix and Scottsdale engagement sessions coming up soon. So I thought now would be a great time to write a post (which will also become a page link above) about my suggestions on what to wear for your Wedding Photography Engagement Session.

Please Note: My first and most important suggestion is to be yourself. You can and should read through the following suggestions prior to your Phoenix wedding engagement photography session, but always, always, always make sure that your clothing choices follow your personal style. After all, your engagement photos, just as your wedding photography, should be a reflection of who you are as a couple. I can help guide you to make choices which will likely make your style shine in camera, but you need to make sure that what you wear is something you’re comfortable in, and something that is “you.”

Things to Keep in Mind when selecting your clothing for your Engagement Session

– Wear something comfortable. Your engagement photography session will likely last an hour or two, and while it’s important to look nice for the photos, you don’t want to wear something uncomfortable which will distract you from looking your best. That’s not to say “dress in yoga pants and an old T-shirt” either.. “business casual” is kind of a good rule of thumb. But whatever you choose to wear should give you the flexibility and comfort to move comfortably, sit down, stand up, stretch, lay down, even run a bit…

If you want a few different looks, I recommend bringing a change of clothing, or wearing layers so you can change outer shirts part way through the session. Girls: wear a black or simple camisole under an outer shirt, and bring along another blouse and a light sweater. We can get shots of the first shirt, the second blouse, the sweater and the camisole. You may also want to bring along an extra skirt, dress or pants too add even more variety to your shoot.

But if you want to keep it simple, a classic, comfortable sun dress or cocktail dress would certainly do the trick for the entire session. Really, this session is all about you and what you want. If you want one single, simple, classic look, then that’s what we’ll shoot. If you want to mix it up a bit with many different looks, then that’s great too.

If you do bring multiple pieces, think mix and match.  Pick a color family and stick with it. That way both of your outfits will all flow together and the final set of photos will have a much more cohesive look to them, perfect for your guest book photo album at your wedding.

– Coordinate colors and styles . I always ask my couples to select clothing that coordinates well with each other’s. They don’t have to match, but they should definitely compliment each other (example: bold blues,  light blues and greys… maybe a pop of pink or orange in there occasionally.) I prefer a selection of clothing that looks great together without looking too “matchy-matchy”.

Guys make sure you consider the overall style and formality of your girl’s outfit. If she’s wearing a fun flirty dress, maybe you wear khaki’s and a casual silk button-down short sleeve shirt. If she’s rockin’ some killer jeans and high fashion boots, then perhaps go with an edgy jacket, a super thin tie and funky leather shoes.

– Wear solids or simple patterns. Don’t over do it with patterns, unless they’re super bold and make a statement all their own (like a funky, retro style, super hip mini dress)… in which case I’d recommend you also bring some more simple clothing and get some shots in that too. As a rule of thumb, solid darker colors are generally the most figure-flattering.

– Stick to more fitted clothing (but not too tight!). Anything hanging off your body (baggy) will make you look bigger than you are and the results will be messy. That said, if it’s a windy day, a long flowing skirt or scarf, in the right location can look A-H-H-H-MAZING!

– The layered look is always a winner for your engagement shots. For example:
Guys: Nice dark jeans, hip shoes, collared shirt and a loose tie. A jacket to finish it off.
Girls: Nice jeans, paired with a dressy top, splashes of color or patterns, funky jewelry and high heels. (or cute dress).

– Use accessories to jazz up your outfit
A cute pair of heels, boots, a fun scarf to blow in the wind, a funky necklace or even a playful white parasol can give your look that extra punch it needs to take it to the next level.
Note: if you’re going to be wearing high heels in your shots, you may also want to bring some more comfortable flip-flops for walking around, as we typically walk a lot during an engagement session.

– Properly fitting, clean and pressed clothes are a MUST.
Need I say more? Please, please, please wear clothes that fit you well, and make sure they’re either new or newly dry-cleaned. It looks terrible in photos to have wrinkles, puckers, stains, etc.

————————————————–

QUICK TIPS:

What to Avoid

– Bright white matching shirts and Khakis
– Loose, baggy clothing which tends to make you look larger. Stick with clean, simple silhouettes tailored to your body shape.
– Tops with big logos or a lot of writing on them – keep it clean and classy.
– Mid-drift shirts, super-short skirts, clothing that’s too tight.
– Matching outfits. Look coordinated, not matching.
– Nothing toooooo terribly trendy. Remember, your engagement session album will be with you a lifetime. And while it’s great to look back on styles of the time, it’s also good to have a classic style throughout the engagement photo session so that it remains timeless. Now is not the time to bust out the latest Lady Gaga fashions. Keep it simple. Keep it classic. And you will treasure your engagement photos for a lifetime.

Other Fun Ideas

Another fun way to make your session unique and fun is to bring props. For example, some fun props are:
– Sunglasses
– A “Thank You” or “Save the Date” sign on a poster-board for personalized thank you and save the date cards. Remember: it’s always great to get your engagement photos out there for everyone to see!
– Instruments you play, sports items you enjoy, your favorite teams (just for a shot or two, LOL)
– Balloons (I have some fantastic, oversized balloons… so if you’re interested, let me know what you’re wearing and I’ll prepare some for our session. – $30 additional charge)
– Hats
– Parasol – super cute and playful… best to keep it to a neutral color.
– Anything else that makes your relationship unique or that is special to you.

– Oh, and OBVIOUSLY bring your engagement ring. That will be the center focal-piece for several shots as well.

IMPORTANT NOTE: MAKE SURE TO HAVE YOUR NAILS CLEAN AND WELL MANICURED. We will be getting shots of your hands close up, so please, please, please pay attention to that prior to your session. Yes, guys, this includes you too! I like to get shots of the two of you holding hands, often close up, so everyone needs nice looking hands both for your engagement session and also for your wedding photos for that matter.

Personal Grooming: hair, makeup, etc.
It probably goes without saying… but just in case, LOL…  Pay close attention to your overall appearance prior to your engagement session photos.

If your hair needs cutting – get it cut and styled.

If your roots are showing – get your color touched up prior to your session.

Do NOT lay in the sun for an extensive period of time, or use a tanning bed just before your engagement session or your wedding day. You do not want freshly burned or even darkly tanned skin for your session.

Use an oil-less lotion on any dry areas of skin, if needed. Nothing shiny, though!

Gals AND guys: make sure your hands are clean and well-manicured.

Girls: I recommend a neutral shade of polish, or just au-natural… unless bright red is your “thing”. If so, by all means, rock the R-E-D! Just be prepared for close-up shots of the two of you holding hands, ring shots, tight embraces, etc.

Are you having your makeup done for your wedding?  Then consider getting it done for your engagement session as well.  I’m sure you are absolutely wonderful at doing it yourself on a daily basis. But a professional makeup artist and stylist will know what photographs best and how to make you look drop-dead-gorgeous for your rockin’ engagement photo session that you will be looking at for years to come. If you are worried about cost you can always arrange to have your wedding day makeup trial done on the same day of your engagement session!

Side note: If you need a makeup artist or stylist recommendation for your wedding, let me know. I’ve worked with several FANTASTIC girls whom I highly recommend.

DO NOT USE SPRAY TAN!!! Let me repeat: DO NOT USE SPRAY TAN!!! Spray tan tends to look orange in photos. Avoid using it at all costs!

Side note: is your wedding gown strapless? If so, you may want to switch to a strapless bathing suit well before your wedding so you don’t have tan lines with your dress. Look in the mirror. If you have any tan lines, now is the time to start getting rid of them. Do not do that just a few weeks before the wedding, planning ahead is your friend here!

————————————————————-

WEDDING ENGAGEMENT PHOTO SESSION WHAT TO WEAR IDEAS:

Here are a few looks I put together to help you visualize some looks that work great for Phoenix Arizona wedding engagement sessions… but don’t be afraid to embrace something completely different. Remember, this is about you and your style… so let it SHINE!

I met this couple a few weeks ago in Phoenix at Biltmore Fashion Park to talk about their upcoming wedding, at the beginning of November. We really hit it off, and we discussed their engagement session as well at the time. We came up with several different possible locations, but in the end we decided to do their engagement photo session at their wedding venue. I haven’t shot a wedding there before, so I wanted to see the place for myself before their big day, and they were excited about it because they told me the scenery is beautiful for photography.

Well, let me tell you this… they DID NOT disappoint! Not only is it a gorgeous location, nestled into the Superstition Mountains in far east Mesa, but on the afternoon we selected, mother nature decided to bless us with an A-M-A-Z-I-N-G sky… just about every color you can imagine. And I’m NOT KIDDING YOU!

Seriously, I kept looking up in AWE. I could have just sat there and pointed my camera up to that amazing sky and mountains, reflecting the colors all afternoon long. Except for the equally gorgeous couple in front of me, LOL. (okay, now you’re getting the idea that I’m also super excited to shoot their wedding, he, he he!!!)

So, as you can see, we had a great time out there. They were the perfect photographic subjects, and we really got some amazing engagement photos complete with dramatic Arizona skies, stunning views with Arizona red rocks in the background, a perfectly manicured golf course to shoot on, some incredible natural desert shots, and we even had a native stalker trying to get in on our engagement photo shoot! Yep, the hairy guy in the last shot…

Enjoy your sneak peek Aaron and Kristen. I’ll email you soon with a link to your full gallery of images.
It was so much fun to meet with you and do your Phoenix engagement photography session! Can’t wait to do your Phoenix Arizona Wedding photography as well.

-Margie

And here’s the little guy I was talking about. He and several of his friends were hanging out with us while we did our engagement photography session at Gold Canyon Ranch in East Mesa. There were literally just a few feet from us, and we didn’t even notice them there for a little while, they blend in that well to the natural desert landscape out there. Incredible! So glad I got a shot of one of them… I wonder if they’ll visit us again for the wedding photography???

I was so honored when this beautiful bride asked me to take her bridal portraits recently at Scotttsdale Center for the Arts. She’s not getting married here, but in her native South Africa. But she had seen my work and wanted me to take her bridal pictures for her, since I can’t be at her wedding…

We first did the getting-ready shots with hair and makeup, and then headed over to downtown Scottsdale for the bridal wedding photography. What a beautiful location to shoot in. I’m so lucky it’s so close to my Scottsdale home! It has a wonderful mixture of industrial architecture and surfaces, along with an incredibly beautiful park setting, with plenty of trees, grass and flowers… it really makes for an ideal shoot for any wedding photography session… engagement sessions, bridal sessions, first looks, you name it…

And of course it didn’t hurt that the bride was drop dead gorgeous, and we had a fabulous hair stylist and a makeup artist to make her even more gorgeous…

If you have an Arizona wedding coming up, or even if you have one elsewhere but would like to take some engagement photos, bridal portraits or portraits of the bride and groom together, please contact me for available dates.

Every so often some of the local phoenix photographers, models, make up artists and stylists get together and have what they call a “shootout”. Everyone convenes at one place and we call get a chance to network together and create some amazing photos for our portfolios.
I participated in one of them a few weeks ago, and here are some of my favorite photos from the shoot. Even though the location was a bit heavy and dark for my normal style, I was still able to capture some fun shots with some amazing models.
🙂