Engagement Pictures at Masterson Station! Interview with Shannon.

In my 5+ years as a photographer, I’ve been extremely lucky to get to work with all kinds of amazing human beings. As you’d expect, every couple is different from the next. Some are all about the PDA, some are all about keeping it sweet and romantic, and some people… well, some people are just downright hysterical!

Meet Adam and Shannon, two of the goofiest people I’ve worked with in a while. The session took place at Masterson Station Park, which was a great backdrop for our time together. The fun they had during the shoot helped us to get some great pictures! The entire time these two were cracking jokes and picking on each other, and I was there to catch it all on camera.

I love asking how people meet. “Adam became friends with my father through being a sales representative for a local parts store and my father had an interest for working on older cars in his free time. Once Adam and my father became friends, we met through my dad at his shop. We had known each other for years before we decided to give dating a shot.”

What Do You Mean? Photographer Wedding Terminology 101

Traditional – Traditional wedding photos are the standard portraits, poses, and events taken at weddings. These are the images that we get at every wedding, no matter what. For example, bride and groom standing side by side looking at the camera, or the exchanging of rings and kiss during the ceremony.

Candid – Candid images are photos that are not planned, but are taken as they happen. They are very much in the moment and are different for every single wedding. They aren’t posed or forced.

Pinterest – This is when a photo is posed via a style that can be found on the popular website, Pinterest. We often have clients show us Pinterest boards they’ve created of different images they like.

Romantic – These are images that are based on the couple and shows them interacting with one another and being lovey toward each other. They are sweet and more natural poses.

Fun – Fun photos are spontaneous, in the moment photos where the couple or bridal party acts silly and loosens up as opposed to the sometimes stiff feeling of formal photos.

WeddingSara BakayJuly 6, 2021Cozyshoppe ProductionsPhotography, Terms, Tips, Tricks, Kentucky, Lexington, Richmond, Versailles, Winchester, KY, Lex, LouisvilleComment

The Benefits of Having an Uplugged Wedding

An unplugged wedding is where you ask your guests to turn off their phones, cameras, tablets, and other mobile devices during your ceremony.

When guests use their own cameras, there are many ways that this affects the photography that you’re actually paying for. Guests often times are taking photos at the same time we are, and their flashes interfere with our cameras, leaving you blown out completely (and unsalvageable) or having weird shadows or lighting throughout the photos.

Photographers Get Hungry, Too! Feed Your Team.

A wedding typically lasts 10 to 12 hours. As your photography/videography team, we are scheduled to be there between 4-10 hours of that. If we take getting ready shots and are there all day, we try to eat a big breakfast before we get there, but that only lasts so long. We are often running around like crazy all day trying to cover the whole wedding, and don’t have time to snack or take a break. We’ve literally been known to run to the bathroom to cram down a sandwich or pretzels that we packed in three minutes and then get back to it.

WeddingSara BakayJune 16, 2021Cozyshoppe ProductionsWedding, Food, Lexington, KY, Kentucky, Versailles, Catering, Vendor, Paris, Louisville, Hamburg, Cupcakes, Pizza BarComment

New Puppy Family Photos

Family pictures are usually very high energy, but not quite as high energy as a new puppy! When Nicole asked me if we could do a shoot for her brand new family member, there was no hesitation. I love animals! They had previously used me for their engagement pictures, and eventually, their wedding photos as well. Naturally, when they got Blue (yes, named because of his beautiful blue eyes), they wanted me to capture the joy and love they had for him.

8 Clothing Ideas For Maternity Sessions

Not sure what to wear for your maternity session? Check out these great tips to help you prepare:

Remember, the main purpose of this session is to show off your baby bump, so be sure to wear more clingy clothing to your session. It doesn’t necessarily have to be tight, but you want it to be more form fitting so you can see the bump. Just be sure that it’s still comfortable for you.
We suggest wearing shirts with some kind of sleeve on them – they are more flattering for photos. Things like a dress with 3/4 length sleeves, or a form fitting tank top with a sweater/cardigan over it are always a good idea.

Marriage, Christmas, and COVID!

WeddingSara BakayJune 10, 2021Wedding, Highlight reel, Photo shoot, Photographer, videographer, video, videography, Photo, Photography, Lexington, Richmond, Kentucky, KY, Versailles, Paris, Louisville, LexComment

Do I Really Need a Professional Makeup Artist? 5 Reasons We Say "Yes!"

You’ve made a big investment in photography (and possibly videography as well) to help capture your big day. You want to make sure you absolutely look your best. Although, I’m sure you do a very nice job on your everyday makeup, I strongly recommend looking into hiring a makeup artist. At the end of this article, I will give you a link to a site where you can find quality Kentucky hair and makeup artists for your special day.

Here are 5 reasons why having a pro artist is important:

Surprise During the Maternity Shoot!

Maternity pictures are a fun way to remember the beauty of pregnancy without remembering the aches and pains that come along with it. Typically, a shoot lasts 45 minutes to an hour and the mother is anywhere between 28 and 36 weeks pregnant. During that stage, the mother usually has a very visible baby bump, but isn’t too uncomfortable to participate in the shoot.

When Beverly arrived for our scheduled Maternity shoot, she was running a little behind. I definitely have grace for pregnant women in these situations because they are taking on a major life change. It’s worth noting that this is going to be the FIFTH child for this couple and she deserved extra grace on that particular day… because she was in active labor!

Should I Do a "First Look" at My Wedding? 3 Reasons We Say Yes!

Many of the couples I work with ask me whether or not they should have a first look. If you’re reading this, you’re probably wondering the same thing. In my professional opinion, I think there are a lot of benefits to this idea. I love first looks. I know that they are a tad bit ‘untraditional,’ but let me take a minute to explain the benefits of a first look.

How Many Hours Should I Book My Photographer For? How about Videographer?

What do you want covered?

First, you need to decide what important details you want covered. Do you want a lot of getting ready shots prior to the ceremony? Do you want us to stay for the entire reception? These details will affect the length of time you will need us there. If you want us to stay until your reception exit, and you want a lot of candid, getting ready shots, you will need full day coverage. If you just want a few getting ready shots, that will knock off some time. If you want us to stay for just the main events in the reception and not until the last guest leaves, then this will also shorten the day. By deciding on a start and/or end time, this is the first step to booking your package.

Surprise Engagement

Gage contacted me to ask if I could assist him with capturing a very special moment. He was planning on asking his girlfriend to marry him and we wanted to do it before a Woodford Reserve Distillery tour. The grounds are beautiful, so I was confident that we could grab some great pictures. We made a plan that I would plant myself in front of the building and pretend to be taking some pictures of the grounds as they arrived with their group of family/friends. He would casually stroll by and land in the place we chose together (for the optimal backdrop).

Photography and Videography