What to Wear Wednesday: Retro Love | Ann Arbor MI Engagement Photographer

Put a little retro spin on your engagement photos and get inspired by the set below. Did you recently get engaged on Valentine's Day? Call me to set up your wedding consultation at 517.499.9380 or email nataliemaephotography@yahoo.com. If you book your Wedding Collection before March 31, 2013 you'll receive $150 off a She Said Yes! engagement session.

Scene it - Mad Men by tracey-mason featuring vintage cat eye glasses

Eric + Sarah | Ann Arbor, MI Wedding Photographer

Eric and Sarah couldn't have asked for a more gorgeous day for their October wedding. It could have been a tad warmer, but you'd never know because they braved the cold like champs! 

How to Get the Most Out of a Bridal Show | Ann Arbor, MI Wedding Photographer

Bridals shows are a great resource to help plan your wedding and get tips to make sure things run smoothly on your wedding day; but before you dive in head first here's a few pointers to help you get the most out of a bridal show.

1. Wear comfortable shoes! There's a ton of walking to be done at a bridal show from one vendor to another and back again, so you want to make sure that your feet are nice and comfy. 
2. Bring a friend. It may be tempting to bring your man with you, but unless he is REALLY into helping you plan the wedding, it would probably be better if you brought a good friend or sister. Whoever is your right-hand lady in the wedding planning department.
3. Notepad and pen. Bridal shows are a plethora of ideas and wedding knowledge. You will see so many vendors and talk to so many people that it can definitely get overwhelming. The notebook and pen will come in handy to remember all of those Pinterest worthy ideas or the bakers phone number who made that decadent chocolate cake!
4. Have a strategy. When you arrive there should be a map of how the area is laid out. Look it over and have a plan on how you're going to weave through all those vendors. If not, all the exciting details of another vendors booth will be pulling you all over the place. This way you see them all and don't miss any pertinent vendor you wanted to see.
5. Bring a checkbook or credit card. Many vendors will be offering deals only good if booked during the bridal show. Have some form of payment with you in case you see a deal you can't pass up.
6. Enjoy yourself! It might be a little hectic at times between the lines and the crowds, but don't stress out about it, you're getting married!! And you're there to plan one of the most joyous days of your life.

Don't forget while you're wandering around the bridal shows who you want as your photographer...Natalie Mae Photography of course! Want to check out some bridal shows in the southern Michigan area? See the list below for one near you.

• Novi Bridal Expo | Novi, MI | January 5-6, 2013
• Lansing Bridal World | Lansing, MI | January 6, 2013
• Here Comes the Brides Bridal Show | Brighton, MI | January 13, 2013
• Brides to Be Expo | Dearborn, MI | January 20, 2013
• Elegant Wedding Winter Bridal Show | Ann Arbor, MI | January 20, 2013
• Jackson Bridal Fair | Jackson, MI | January 20, 2013

What to Wear Wednesday: Winter Wedding | Ann Arbor MI Wedding Photographer

The winter months are not the most popular to get married in, but I've always thought that a winter wedding would be absolutely stunning. Snowflakes falling softly around, the bride and groom wrapped in each others arms, and the most magical moments captured forever. The set below by thisisme2012 just shows how beautiful a winter wedding can be.

Did you recently get engaged over the holiday season? Call your Ann Arbor wedding photographer to set up your wedding consultation at 517.499.9380 or email nataliemaephotography@yahoo.com. If you book your Wedding Collection by January 31, 2013 you'll save $300 off your full Collection price. As an added bonus, if your wedding takes place before March 31, 2013 you'll receive an additional 10% off your Wedding Collection!

winter wonderland wedding by thisisme2012 featuring giorgio armani

Thank You! | Jackson MI Portrait Photographer

2012 has been a really eventful year for me! I graduated with my second degree, this time in Graphic Design; photographed some really amazing clients; and did a 360 with the direction of my business. There's been ups and downs, but what's life without some bumps?! I am truly thankful for each and everyone of my clients. Every time I get to photograph someone I learn something new and always have a great time. My business wouldn't be anything without my clients, so I am forever indebted to you for allowing me to pursue my dreams.

The new year brings more changes for us first starting with the name change. We were formally known as Natty J Photography, and are starting out 2013 with a fresh look as Natalie Mae Photography. Still, same beautiful portraits and individual customer attention, just with a neater and cleaner looking package. I can't wait to photograph and get to know more of you in the new year! Until then, here's my incredible collection of 2012 clients...and once again...THANKS!!

Paint Fight! | Jackson, MI Engagement Photographer

Meet Katie, Doug (THE Doug), and their fur child Louise; they're our first official 2013 wedding! I've known Katie for a few years now, we used to work together and then we played roller derby together and now I'm photographing her wedding and engagement photos. When Katie told me she wanted to have a paint fight for her engagement photos I was so excited. She's always been really creative and I could just tell that this was going to be an awesome session. The paint colors her and Doug used in the fight are their wedding colors.

And I couldn't leave out this little cutie, while her parents were cleaning up, I took the chance to grab this quick shot of Louise in all her adorable glory.

Featured Vendor: Biggby Coffee | Jackson, MI Photographer

Just ask any photographer, we can't survive without our coffee and those 3a work nights definitely wouldn't be possible without it. That's why this months Featured Vendor is Biggby Coffee. In 1995, Biggby opened a single store in East Lansing, MI and only 7 years later they have 157 stores! They have the best coffee that I've ever tasted and their baristas always have a friendly smile on their face. Trust me, I have Biggby radar when I'm driving all over Michigan, have stopped at a number of them, and have yet to be disappointed! My favorite drink to get is their Tan Line (vanilla and caramel) or their caramel apple cider which should be coming out really soon for the fall season.

The Knot has some really great ideas for weddings and one of my favorites for out of town guests is to put together a gift baskets filled with local favorites. There would definitely be some Biggby coffee in my baskets,  probably some Faygo, Michigan cherries, Better Made potato chips, and Sanders fudge too!

Survey Says | Jackson, MI Photographer

It's always good to hear praises about your work and I'm absolutely flattered that I've had the privilege to work with the sweetest clients anyone could ask for. Here's just a few of the reviews that I've received:

I recently had the pleasure of working with Natty J. for my engagement and wedding photos. I couldn't be happier with the entire experience. She was professional, yet fun at the same time. She gave excellent direction and truly made my photos precisely what I wanted.
-Melissa & Jason



I had Natalie do my family photos as my mother's Christmas present this year. I couldn't have been happier. She took her time with us and showed great attention to detail. I frequently recommend her to friends and family.
- The Hashley Family

Natalie has done a few photo shoots for me and she is wonderful. Our family portraits turned out beautifully! I'll definitely come back to Natalie in the future, she is a very sweet and professional young lady and does exceptional work for a great price.
- The Register Family



Natalie was an incredible photographer and she priced so reasonably. We loved all of our photos -- she has such an artistic eye for angles. Bonus: She loves animals and was more than thrilled to capture our dog, Stoli, in all the shots for the rehearsal and wedding. LOVE HER!
- Erin & Topher

Wedding Registry | Jackson, MI Wedding Photographer

Long after the first kiss and the dancing and the food are all gone, photographs will tell your story and help you remember those precious moments like it was yesterday. We've made it easy for you and your partner to cherish every minute with our Wedding Registry. This allows you to register for the prints and products that you would like. 

So how does it work? When we meet with you for your wedding consultation & contract signing, together we will build your Wedding Registry. From there will will help you set up the registry and input all the information. Friends and family can choose to send a cash donation OR select one of our print/products that you've registered for. All transactions are taken care of through PayPal so it's safe and secure. You get the easy part, you just have to spread the word that you're registered with Natty J Photography and then sit back to plan the rest of your wedding.

If you have questions or would like to book a wedding consultation,
feel free to shoot us an email or give us a call.

nattyjphotography@yahoo.com

517.499.9380

Photo from Rock n' Roll Bride Magazine

Taking the Leap | Jackson, MI Wedding Photographer

I absolutely adore couples that allow ample time for photos because we can do the important "must-have" images and then I have time to play around. I get some time to experiment with some new poses or angles that I normally wouldn't do. So we had two hours to walk around downtown Jackson and take some really fun images. I love that J + M didn't do things completely traditional, but their wedding fit their style so well. M baked German Chocolate Brownies instead of doing a cake and I designed the labels. They put one in a box for each guest to take home since the meal was going to be so big. Seriously, what a great idea!

The last image on here was one of those that I wanted to try out, but they were convinced that traffic would be too bad to get it. It took some coaching and eventually I convinced them I wasn't going to let them get run over, and I was able to get the shot. The best part about the whole thing is they said that's their favorite image of the night. Just goes to show, sometimes photographers have some crazy ideas, but if you go along with them you could get some pretty amazing photos.

{FEATURED VENDOR} Ella's Lead

Usually my Featured Vendor has something to do with weddings, but I want to switch it up and give you pet lovers something awesome. But wait! This month has a twist, you can use them for your wedding too!

For the longest time I have been an enormous fan of Ella's Lead! Their collars are absolutely stunning and are all handmade by the owners Ben and Rebecca. They make custom collars AND leads ranging from simple to extravagant, plus they have a set of collars that are specifically made for various charities and a portion of each sale goes towards that charity. How sweet is that?! Did I mention they're parents to two rescued bullies, Ophie and Luke? Look at those sweet faces!!!

So you're probably thinking, "What the heck does Ella's Lead have to do with weddings?" Well, if you plan on including your fur children in your wedding, they're going to need something stylin' to wear. Ella's Lead is a high class alternative to those silly bow tie collars, plus they have a variety of stone colors to adorn the collar with and can match them to your wedding colors!

Before photography I worked in a retail setting for 10+ years, so customer service is really high on my list of musts if I'm going to deal with any business. Ella's Lead has AMAZING customer service! I wanted some flashy collars with the boys names on it to make them stand out when we go for walks, but also wanted something for them to lounge around the house in. So we just ordered two sets!! When I placed my order I kind of had an idea of what I wanted, but wasn't too sure on how to explain it or if it would look good on my dogs, but Rebecca walked me through it and gave me some great recommendations. Both sets of collars look absolutely incredible on the boys and go SO well with their fur color. I couldn't be happier :D

Personally my favorite part (besides getting the collars of course) is Ella's Lead usually posts a picture of the collar on their Facebook page or at least that days work! The set below is their "lounging" collars, but don't let that fool you because these are amazing! I love the leather Ella's Lead uses, it's so soft and perfect, and smells SO good. Rebecca recommended the black leather for Niko, and I have to say that I am ecstatic that I went with it because it looks stunning on him, very sophisticated!! Piglet's been strutting around all day like he's the coolest thing since sliced bread hahaha.

The embroidered collars take a little longer to make, so I don't have pictures of those yet, but I will for sure post some when I get them.

CHECK OUT THEIR:
Website

Facebook

Blog

Twitter 

Ella's Lead gave me permission to use their images in this post. 

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UPDATE: The embroidered collars arrived a couple of days ago and I could not be happier!!! Ella's Lead has tons of pictures of their collars on their pages, but seriously pictures do not do them justice (the copper looks like the first image, when I uploaded the rest the color got desaturated). I was in love with the pics, but now that I've held the collars in my hand, I'm even more impressed. I ordered 2in wide collars, because I think wider collars look better on big dogs, plus Pig can be pretty strong so I wanted it to be able to hold up. They're perfect! The collars are nice and thick for my strong boys, the embroidery is spot on, and the hardware is perfect for big dogs. I've never seen a collar as gorgeous as these two.

And look, I have shoes that match Pig's collar so when we go for a walk we will match!

Look how thick they are!!

 

 

Piglet loves his so much he's smiling!

The Knot | Jackson, MI Wedding Photographer

I am VERY pleased to announce that I am officially listed on The Knot! For those of you who don't know what The Knot is, it's the place to be online if you're engaged. They have TONS of resources for engaged couples ranging from vendors, to inspiration boards, and forums where you can talk with other engaged couples to get their take on things. The great thing is even after they get married a lot of them still go back to The Knot and talk about their experience, what they loved and what they'd do differently. They're an amazing resource all around. Plus, their staff are incredibly friendly and helpful, I think I talked to my area rep on the phone for at least an hour! You need an account to see the full thing, but if you do check out my listing!

The Great Debate

There's been a post going around amongst photographers the past couple of days from an upset bride in Seattle, Washington. Here's the original post, I doubt it will stay up for long, but below is what it says in case it gets deleted:

WHY is finding an amazing wedding photographer so difficult? :/

I am a Bride who is getting married this summer and have yet to find a decently priced, exceptional, amazingly talented, fun photographer.

WHY because the word "WEDDING" is involved photographers think they can change you $ 3,000.00 for wedding photos? Oh, because no bride is going to go without so they are going to pay it, because they HAVE to. They are ripping people off for all they have! Why when you want to get married it costs you AT LEAST 15,000 after all is said-and-done? Its such CRAP!! I love all you $ 3,000 photographers out there but i think your prices are WACK. All your doing is hanging out at a wedding taking tons of photos and editing them.. and thats worth $3,000!!! You're making so much money its crazy. I just wish people would be more realistic. I mean the "average" persons salary for 1 freaking month is somewhere around $3000. (Thats making 19$ an hour) So you're going to take someones WHOLE MONTH paycheck for one flippen day of photos? Just because you CAN!!?????? So that maybe they will not be able to feed themselves or pay any other bills they have, right? It makes me SICK!

I know im speaking for more than just myself right now. Alot of brides out there think the same thing. & I bet all you fancy photographers wont even read this. oh-well.
Maybe there are cheaper photographers that will read this and LOVE to take my photos :)

I have to admit when I first read this I was kind of angry, but then I realized why she felt this way; she hasn't been educated on what goes into taking those "amazing" wedding photos she wants. So let's break it down...my college degree is in Photographic Technology, just a fancy way of saying that I am a photographer. I had to pay for school to learn my trade, we'll go on the low side and say about $1,700/semester. It was a two year program so that would be $6,800 (and it took me four years to complete so that number is REALLY on the low side). I had to buy professional equipment so I can take the photos, $2500; that includes a main camera, a backup camera (accidents happen and I don't want to be stuck telling a bride I can't finish her wedding because my camera broke, but that's a whole other post), memory cards, hard drives, flash, and two portrait lenses. I had to buy Adobe Photoshop and even with my student discount it was $300 and lastly a computer $1300. Now if we add that all up that's $10,900 just to get started doing photography!!! I haven't even included ALL the overhead costs either. I've left out the prices of a website, web designers, marketing material, advertising, legal services, insurance, and MANY more. But we'll leave it at what it is, so say I shoot 20 weddings a year, that puts the overhead at $545/wedding.

Okay, so now to break down a wedding. I might catch some grief for putting this out there, but I want to be honest and show that we really don't make what the Seattle Bride thinks. My wedding collection prices aren't anywhere near $3,000, but I'll base it off my prices anyway. So take the middle package I offer, the I Do Collection for $1,500. It includes 8 hour coverage from two photographers, fully retouched proofs in an online gallery, $175 print credit and a 10x10 leather album. I pay my assistant $160, the online gallery costs $145 to run, the album is around $260 and the couple is getting $175 worth of products/prints. So right off the bat that takes the overall price down to $760. Most of my weddings are within a half an hour drive time of my home so that takes $20 in gas. You figure an hour's drive time total + 8 hours of shooting is 9 hours of work, a typical work day for the average adult. Then take out the $545 in overhead out and that leaves $195.

Then what the client doesn't see, the editing part. I allow myself one month to edit the images and post them to the gallery. There's roughly 1500 images to go through between mine and my assistant's images. I look at each one and choose the photos that make the cut. Then I retouch them, ie. color correction, exposure correction if needed, etc...so if I take the remaining $195 and divide that by the 30 days, it comes out to be $6.50/day. Does that really sound like we make $3,000?! I could only dream of making that much. I think the Seattle Bride forgets that we have bills to pay and mouths to feed as well, $195 doesn't go very far these days.

Just some food for thought on this wonderful Friday :)

FEATURED VENDOR {Beck's Flower Shop & Gardens}

I was first introduced to Beck's Flower Shop and Gardens from their daughter, we played roller derby together. They had hosted the team a couple of times for various fundraisers and I couldn't believe the size of their store. Beck's has an awesome selection too. I love to garden, despite killing almost every plant I've owned hahaha, but they helped me pick out plants even I couldn't mess up and even designed it for me! The photo below is what I went with, I adore succulents and just think they're the cutest little things ever. They're very photogenic so that must be the reason for my love of them lol.

Family owned since 1946, the Beck's know their stuff! They have fabulous customer service and go out of their way to help out their customers. A friend of mine was getting married and didn't have a bride's bouquet, I went in the day before the wedding and ordered one. They had it ready to pick up the next day before the wedding and it was beautiful. I also had the pleasure of photographing one of their daughter's wedding and it was by far one of the most beautiful weddings I've seen. As you can tell by the images below their arrangements were stunning. I'm pretty sure that bridal bouquet weighed almost 8lbs!! But totally worth the workout because it photographed so well (but I might be a tad biased lol).

I would highly recommend going to Beck's for all your floral needs, from floral arrangements to outdoor plants. And don't forget Valentine's Day is right around the corner, you can get that special someone in your life a gorgeous bouquet and see their amazing customer service for your self!!

2322 Lansing Ave.

Jackson, MI 49202

(800) 211-7871

www.becksflowershop.com

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