When I photographed Jennifer’s parents seeing their little girl get all dressed up to get married this past Saturday TIME became unbelievably real for me in that moment.  The hugs although over in under a split second seem to feel as if they could last a lifetime. When I watched the amazing slideshow put together by Tim for his new wife, family, and friends I again realized how fast the years go.  There is always happiness and sadness at weddings and it’s such a parallel of life for me that I can’t help but be mesmerized by it.

Marriage is such a beautiful ritual and I couldn’t have been more thankful to Jen and Tim for letting me in to document their gorgeous wedding day full of love, laughter and tears and where letting go and holding on seem to sometimes happen in the same moment.

Venue:  Shining Waters

More details and more photographs to come…

For my latest Editorial Shoot, 3 models showcased 3 different looks.  Kristin actually got married in Hawaii last July and believe it or not was actually 5 months pregnant for this shoot – I mean seriously!!!  She still fit into her wedding gown – that is crazy.. some girls get so lucky.

KRISTIN’s wedding dress is called  ”ADORAE” by Sottero & Midgley Collection.  It has a sweetheart neckline with slim A-line gown & is available with zipper or corset closure. Ruching envelopes the bodice and asymmetrically plummets below the waist, while the train pours into a gorgeous balloon hem.

CAITLYN is wearing a wedding dress by VENUS Bridal that has a Sweetheart neckline with sheer top with beaded design on front and back. Pleated fitted skirt with side gathered & a wide band at waist finished with cluster of flowers. Available by Felicity Bridal in Halifax, NS!

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Here is the play by play detail that only SASHA (fabulous makeup artist available for Bridal & Engagement shoots this season hint hint and hair expert extraordinaire VLAD (found at the one and only Jonathan Neil Salon in Halifax – I really must remember to book him for my next root touch up as he so politely reminded me of… LOL).

THE HAIR – DETAILS BY VLAD
“These 3 looks are based on 2 of the biggest trends now.

Kristin (blonde) –  The undone look with loose beach waves.

How did I do it?
I used a micro crimper to get texture and volume because her hair was fine. Then I curled it /spiral with curling iron to soft loose curls. I then made knots on the top for the illusion of the braid in her 2nd photo as shown.

Caitlyn (redhead) – Old Hollywood Glam
I curled it with curling iron then brushed it all to make old hollywood glam waves – gorgeous!

Sarah (brunette) –  Tight high pony-tail (what is one of the biggest trends now) then put in in few sleek buns on the top with very sleek & sexy side bangs.

AND OF COURSE WE CAN’T FORGET THE MAKEUP!!!!

KRISTIN (Blonde – The Natural Look)  
Most brides tend to choose a natural makeup look.  It’s all about focusing on a flawless complexion, and enhancing the eyes and lips without using bold colors or really dark shades.  Instead, using neutral colors for the eyeshadow such as beige, champagne, bronze, taupe, and lighter shades work best. Applying a thin dark brown or black liner on the upper lashline will help open up the eyes. Instead of using a pencil liner,  I usually like applying a light shadow with a smudge brush on the lower lash line to give a softer line.  For Kristin, I used individual lashes to create a fuller lash without it looking to overdone. Depending on the brides’ lashes and what she wants, we may or may not use them. This look will make you feel like a more polished version of yourself on your wedding day, but always remember that makeup looks slightly different in photographs than in person.  You’ll want to take some pictures after your makeup consult to see if you like the intensity.  You may even want something more natural for your ceremony, then darken it up for your reception.

Caitlyn (Redhead – Old Hollywood Glam)  
More and more brides are interested in choosing vintage styled makeup for their wedding. Think old hollywood glamour with the classic red lip and doe eyes.  Remember with Red lips, although stunning, can be a challenge because it may require more maintainence. There are some tricks to help the red lip last longer and prevent bleeding- bleeding is something you definitely don’t want in pictures!  A reservable lip liner is a great product to use outside of the lip to help prevent bleeding.  Applying a red lip liner that matches your shade lipstick, all over the lip beforehand will help the lipstick adhere and last longer.  Some artists will take a tissue and tear it into 1 ply and gently place it over the lips after the liner and lipstick is applied, and tap translucent powder over top to help set.  You can add gloss if you dont want a matte look.  Matte colors last longer than others, although they tend to be more drying. It depends what look you prefer.  Caitlyn looks great in  this classic shade of red, and the key to this look is keeping the eyeshadow to a minimum. I used a light wash for the lid to the brow bone, and a soft taupe for the crease.  To make this look complete, I used a black gel liner with a fine point brush just on the upper lash line and created a wing at the outer corner.  A full strip of false lashes were applied to create a nice doe eyed effect.

Sarah (Brunette – All Out Glam) 

Think sexy and glamorous!  For brides who want red carpet glam for their wedding, this style gives you so many options. A smokey eye can be created with many color variations, and you can really have fun with it.  Many brides seem to shy away from this style makeup because it’s out of their comfort zone, but just remember makeup isn’t permanent and having a consultation will ensure you’re confident with your choice!  You should choose a focus. If you choose a darker eye, always go with a softer lip or vice versa.  On Sarah, I chose a smokey eye using a mixture of colors, and by adding a small amount of silver shadow on the lower lash line really makes her eyes pop.  I decided to go with full strip lashes, but again, you can use other options such as individual lashes.  The soft pink lip and cheek helps balance the smokey eye nicely. Her flawless complexion was created using a lightweight hd foundation, brightening concealer under the eyes and hd powder to set.

KEY TIPS for makeup and your wedding photography:

Contouring and highlighting are important makeup techniques for photography.  You can enhance or minimize facial features, and can be used in any style makeup you choose.

Always moisturize and prime before applying foundation. Even though primer helps makeup last longer, I also recommend a setting spray afterwards as an extra sealant to ensure makeup lasts all day.

Shaping and filling in the brows is key to framing the face and completing any look.

I always recommend waterproof mascara for weddings. The “Kiss Me” mascara (sometimes found at Sephora) is great because its gentle on the eyes and comes off easier than alot of other waterproof mascaras.  There are other brands with this technology that work well too.

Wear the look you choose with confidence!

BLOG TOMORROW – THE WEDDING DRESS DETAILS….(i promise…  

*** AGAIN THANK YOU TO THE TEAM!
Makeup: Sasha Andrews
Hair:  Vlad Snytkin
Video Production: Tanya Reynolds
Model 1:  Kristin Langille
Model 2: Caitlyn Dorey/ Dress from Felicity Bridal
Model 3: Sarah Harrison/ Dress from Felicity Bridal
Super special THANK YOU to Christa Ackerman at the fabulous Felicity Bridal!

THE CONCEPT – SHOWCASE MODERN & GORGEOUS LOOKS FOR BRIDAL MAKEUP, HAIR & DRESSES

Feb 15 – I woke up at 5am because I just couldn’t sleep any longer – I was so excited and I’m seriously so not a morning person (just ask my husband).

After a quick run to Starbucks and drive to Bedford, my team and I were ready to rock.  I loved the energy in the studio as each model arrived and we got them immediately into Hair & Makeup.

THE MAKE-UP
I swear SASHA just waved her magic makeup wand and PRESTO! each woman was instantly transformed. She is an incredible makeup artist – extremely talented and will no doubt book up soon for the 2012 season (PLUG – contact her now before it’s too late!)

THE HAIR
When I talked to VLAD about my idea of a braid* for Kristin – I thought he might consider me dated, weird, totally crazy or all of the above but he was absolutely phenomenal in translating my initial hair concepts into even better styles than I could have imagined.

THE DETAILS**
To come – I will post a full blog with all the details on makeup, hair, accessories & the dresses – so check back in…

THE THANK YOU THANK YOUS***
I am so overwhelmed right now when think back to that day and I am so grateful that this group of incredibly talented people donated their time and expertise to this Editorial Bridal Shoot.  Each model was so unique & beautiful (inside and out) that I truly enjoyed the overall shooting experience.

A special thank you though to Tanya Reynolds in not only helping me plaster Studio Eleven’s walls & floor with white paper but for the video production of the attached spot (click on 360p & change to 720pHD & full screen it for optimal viewing) done just for the love of Shooting & Photographs…

FOOTNOTE SECTION because every blog should have one.
*(I LOVE BRAIDS – call me old school here but apparently it’s becoming kinda hip – see recent blog article in JuneBug Weddings – an uber fabulous wedding website) (another bracket OK I just realized that Hip is probably not such a hip word these days – I can’t keep up with modern lingo).

**NEXT BLOG – Behind the scenes, Makeup tips, Hair description & Wedding Dress details.

*** AGAIN THANK YOU TO THE TEAM!
Makeup: Sasha Andrews
Hair:  Vlad Snytkin
Video Production: Tanya Reynolds
Model 1:  Kristin Langille
Model 2: Caitlyn Dorey/ Dress from Felicity Bridal
Model 3: Sarah Harrison/ Dress from Felicity Bridal
Super special THANK YOU to Christa Ackerman at the fabulous Felicity Bridal!

I wish them nothing but the best that life can bring and the wonderful adventures ahead. “Oh the places you will go…”

Here are a few shots taken of me and part of my booth by my best friend and fabulous photographer Emma Rose – so  a big thank you to her for providing these to me.  Also a special thank you to Sasha Andrews, makeup artist extraordinaire who helped me man my booth that day who I will be working with on some weddings this summer – she’s booking up fast so contact her soon…

More in the slideshow of highlights here – congratulations to Helen & Chris!