Today we're bringing back an old regular blog spot, and highlighting one of our fantastic marketing colleagues, Mitchell Baptista with Catmo Media.  We'll let his words speak for themselves!

1. Who are you and what do you do?

While it's most popular to get married in the warm summer months, with the greenery, and the ability to be outside more easily, there are plenty of reasons to consider a winter wedding!  What are they you might ask?

1. The light: if you plan your timeline well, the light is magical in the winter months.  It's like endless golden hour! And with so much light reflecting off the snow, even on the sunniest of days at noon we can take wonderful photos.
2. It can be cheaper: while our prices don't change for summer or winter weddings (the work involved is the same!), many venues and vendors offer better rates for winter weddings.
3. Flexibility of date:  With so many people choosing summer weddings, if you're opting for a winter wedding you should have your pick of dates to choose from - and that goes for us too.  This means you can plan your wedding in a shorter timeframe as well.

If our clients opt for a date between November and April, inclusive, they could be eligible for a free engagement shoot as well!

Have a look at this beautiful winter wedding we shot quite a few years ago.  I'd say the photos stand the test of time!

If you know someone who's considering a winter wedding, send them our way by email or to this link to book a free Wedding Discovery Call.

We love it when we get to make a beautiful album or photobook for our client's biggest life event!  What better way to relive your best day forever?

Our shooting style tries to capture the plot and the small details of the wedding day, to tell a truly rich wedding story - and really the point is to relive that via a book, or at the very least a digital slideshow. So it is important that we have a process that, we hope, makes it clear and easy for our clients to get one of these.

We have designed the process so that you have enough input to make it your own, but also to make sure you don't have to do too much work at any point.  We want this to be a breeze.

1. Meeting to discuss the process, and the options available

This is where we present the various books we make and the options available for each of them.  Cover types and layouts, colours, design style, page thickness, print style, etc.  You don't have to choose right away, but we want to make sure you know what the options are.

2. Form sent to finalize options, and a preliminary gallery of images to start from

While we send you the order form, we will also send you a gallery of images from your wedding that are a starting point to telling the story of your day in the album.

At this point we wait for your form before proceeding any further

3. Album estimate based on your choices and design decisions

We create an estimate for your album based on your choices. Once this if finalized we send an invoice for 50% of the estimated work.  We're usually pretty close, but sometimes there are extra pages, or additional unexpected rounds of revision - in those cases we add that to the final invoice, only once the album is complete.

4. Client feedback on selections, and update selections

This is where you get the chance to add or remove images that you'd love to see in your album, all done via our very handy gallery site. You'll be able to send us your feedback, we'll add or remove them, and then resend you an updated gallery.  Then one last chance for changes, before we finalize the list.

5. Detailed and artistic adjustments to images

Once we have the final image selection, we work our magic to make them even more beautiful, and to help them bring you back to your big day.  It's important that we have narrowed down the list of images pretty well so that we're not duplicating work later in the layout.

6. First layout draft creation, and sent to you for revisions

We create the layout based on your design preference, and our extensive design experience.  Then we wait for your feedback!

7. Second layout draft and final revision

This is your second chance to review the layout. If it is all good we proceed to finalizing the book and ordering it.  If you have any requests we will handle them and then finalize.

8. Layout finalized and album ordered

This is the big moment! The album gets printed and assembled!

9. Studio Check and Shipping to You

Once it's made we like to look at it first to make sure there were no printing errors.  We have a chance to get it corrected before we give it to you.  If it's all good, we arrange a pickup or to have it shipped to you!

And voila, after that you have all your wedding memories that will live forever on your coffee table!

While you are completely allowed to go and get your own prints made with the high res files we give you, there are a bunch of reasons why having us help you could make sense:

1. Get your pictures sooner!  People lead busy lives, and having these memories on your walls isn't always priority number 1.  But if you let us help, we can make it easy to get these in a much faster timeframe.
2. Help with the selection. You have a lot of pictures to choose from, we can help you narrow it down.
3. Retouching.  For a print that's going on your wall and that you'll see every day forever, it's worth taking the time to make sure the images look their best and bring you back to that moment as much as possible. We are fantastic artistic and detailed retouchers, to take them to the next level.
4. Getting prints made takes time.  Which lots of people don't have - so we can take this on for you.
5. Print Quality. We guarantee the quality of our prints - in terms of longevity, colour, materials, etc.  Lots of places don't produce high quality images that will stand the test of time, so we make sure our suppliers are great.

We know we deliver a lot of pictures, so we want you to know, we can help to make it easier to pick images for prints, and get them made.

While having so many pictures means you can see all the very best moments, the trouble is how do you choose the best ones to share and print? That's where we come in!

With our experience viewing and analyzing photos, we can help you narrow it down, and then make those images ready for your walls. We will:

1. Ask you what kinds of prints you can picture on your walls or on your parents' and relatives' walls, and go through your wedding highlights together to get a good sense of this, in a brief zoom or in-person meeting.
2. Narrow down a short list of images that fit that, and ask for your feedback
3. Fine-tune the selection
4. Figure out what sizes and numbers you'd like for your walls
5. Finalize the print choices and any particular retouching you'd like to see in the images.
6. Post-production on selection
7. Print Proofing Link
8. Finalize numbers of prints
9. Print and deliver

We have paper prints in two styles, and canvas prints in 3 thicknesses.  Canvas prints are ready to hang, while paper prints usually require a frame.

For paper prints, we are not framers, so we always leave this final step to you - framing requires frames on hand, which we do not have, and it's very important to have a frame that matches the location it will be in, your style and preferences, etc. A dedicated framer will be able to advise you on that, and on the matt around your picture, so that it has the most impact and will last generations.

Weddings are a magical tapestry of emotions, where love, joy, and anticipation blend seamlessly. One of the early decisions couples face is whether to share a "first look" before the ceremony. This modern twist on traditional wedding timelines can evoke strong feelings on both sides of the aisle. In this blog, we'll delve into the pros and cons of embracing this intimate moment, Studio Lumen style.

The Pros:

• More Intimate moment: While not important for every couple, the first look offers an opportunity for an intimate moment shared solely between the couple. This allows couples to share their first reactions away from all their guests. As the couple see each other for the first time on their wedding day, the emotions that unfold can be beautifully captured, unconstrained by an audience.  This is a great advantage for those that are somewhat shy in front of an audience (which as it turns out, is who we’re great at photographing! :-D)
• A chance to settle down: With the first look, couples can savour a few precious moments to express their feelings without the distractions of a bustling ceremony. It's a chance to soak in the realization that this is the day they've been dreaming of – a moment of serenity before the whirlwind begins, to touch base and settle each others nerves for instance - together.  Some couples see this as one of the main advantages of a first look
• Enhanced Photography: For couples who prioritize stunning wedding photography, the first look offers golden opportunities. With the first look you can build your timeline around capturing all the moments as well as humanly possible without having to worry about what your guests are doing.
• Better timelines for your guests: When planning your wedding timeline, including time to capture all your portraits, as a couple, with your best friends, with your families, and of your cocktail hour, is a big consideration for most people.  With a first look, you can have all these things, and your guests will not have to be filling in time between your ceremony and your cocktail hour. That’s about 2-3 h of time which you won’t have to worry about whether they are enjoying themselves or not. Depending on the location, this can be a large consideration (e.g., in Banff there is lots to do! In a large reception venue in a suburb, not as much).

The Cons:

• Tradition and Suspense: For couples who value tradition, the first look can detract from the magical suspense that comes with seeing each other for the first time at the altar. The aisle reveal becomes a timeless moment of its own, wrapped in the unknown.
• Shared Anticipation: The aisle reveal isn't just a moment for the couple, but also for their guests. The collective anticipation builds as everyone waits for the bride's entrance, fostering an atmosphere of shared excitement that the first look may not replicate.

The decision to have a first look or not is a deeply personal one. Consider your own preferences as a couple, the significance of tradition, and your vision for how you want your day to unfold.

At Studio Lumen, we understand the art of weaving emotions and visuals together to tell your beautiful wedding story. Whether you choose a first look or a traditional aisle reveal, we're committed to capturing the essence of your love story. Our lens captures unscripted moments and curated details alike, ensuring that your wedding photos resonate with authenticity.  Our plans are always completely customized to ensure that what’s important to you is what you end up with!