Chip and Melanie WIN! :) Best of Weddings 2011 Contest

After two weeks of voting on Facebook, the votes have been tallied

and the winners of our BEST OF WEDDINGS 2011 contest are:

Chip and Melanie Gray

Congratulations Chip and Melanie!  You have won the Grand Prize package valued at $1600 which includes:

• 16×20 Gallery Wrap Canvas
• 8×10 Custom Coffee Table Book
• Highlight DVD Montage Video
• Complimentary 1st Anniversary Session
• Your choice of 10 Digital Negatives with Rights

Our Second Place winners are:

Adam & Tracy Childress

Congratulations Adam and Tracy!  You have won the Second prize package valued at $800 which includes:

• 16×20 Gallery Wrap Canvas
• Highlight DVD Montage Video
• Complimentary 1st Anniversary Session
• Your choice of 10 Digital Negatives with Rights

Our Third Place winners are:

Brian and Amanda Furby

Congratulations Brian & Amanda!  You have won the Third prize package valued at $470 which includes:

• 16×20 Enlargement Print
• Complimentary 1st Anniversary Session
• Your choice of 10 Digital Negatives with Rights

Kristen’s Dress Trashing (er … bridal pics) at a Waterfall, Lexington, Kentucky

Yes yes… so this started out as an innocent walk through the woods, a post nuptial “bridal” session with Kristen and her handsome hubby… and then I said… “How brave are you?”  She of COURSE said she was up for anything because of COURSE SS&G brides are amazing and wonderful nurturers of my ideas!  (I love my brides!!!)  So off we went.

Granted we went the LONG way, bruised and cut our feet in TOO many ways, ended up wet up to our waists, but MAN… was it worth it!  I give you… Bridal Waterfall photos. 

Kristen and Ben’s Wedding was amazing and we were honored to be a part of it.  We are sad that Ben’s military career has led their life to Alabama but we know that they will continue to be blessed wherever they go!

Is Kristen stunning or WHAT?!!!  I literally gasped out loud when I saw this one pop up on my screen while downloading.  I always think my work is nice or pretty but to capture something that is breath taking… I am blessed!!

Jamaica was Amazing

As always, Jamaica was amazing!!!  Our couple was fabulous, the beach was gorgeous, the weather was ….. well the weather gave us just enough leeway!  LOL  Here’s just a single sneak peek from our Jamaica Wedding adventure circa 2012

“Please no outside photography” — WHY?

Anyone who is already an SS&G client knows in reading their contract that we request that there be no outside photography during our set photo times.  We understand that everyone wants to snap a pic of the bride and groom dancing, cutting the cake, etc and we usually even invite people to come do so BUT… there are certain times during the day when we need those cameras to be put away.  This is for many reasons.  I know a lot of people think that it is for us to be able to monopolize the photos and FORCE everyone to buy from us but for the majority of our brides, they purchase the full DVD anyhow so whether uncle bob is taking his own pics or not, really is not affecting my bottom line.  What it IS affecting is YOUR PHOTOS!

We have the ability to control our OWN lights, flash, cameras etc but cameras are only as smart as their operators and the conditions around them.

So WHY do we ask that people are not shooting over our shoulders?  Well here’s why…

1) I do not come with backup sensors.  I cannot tell you how many people I have stepped on an run over backing up because they were right on my heels.  Sometimes its even a child.  While I feel bad and apologize, I have a job to do and most of the time, too little time to do it.  I am not a small lady and being stepped on by me is probably not pleasant.  So protect your children and your toes and stay off my heels!

2) Eyes darting.  Its the rule of multiplicity.  1 bride + 1 grom + 8 family members x 2 eyeballs on each x # of cameras and family yelling “look over here and let me get a picture” = the number of ways eyes can be looking during a single photo.  Trust me its a mess.

3) Ruined photos.  Sometimes perfectly good photos are ruined completely by stray flashes.  You friend or family member is likely only EVER going to stick these pics up on Facebook and call it a day but WE, as your photographers are responsible for capturing, in the most professional and flattering manner, the STORY of your ENTIRE wedding day.  That is a responsibility that we do not take lightly and we will fight to make sure that YOUR wedding images, books, etc look as professional, artistic and beautiful as possible even if that means calling down 2nd cousin “so and so” with the camera.

For those of you who are visual learners… here is a family image created by us, with our lighting, no outside distractions… look how happy and beautifully lit it is. For the sake of being 100% honest this is what photographers call a SOOC image (straight out of camera).  There has been no cropping, editing etc.  So you know you are comparing apples to apples here.

Here is what happens when Uncle Billy Bob decides to help us out… 

Uncle somebody was sitting to my right… notice the flash.  Also, when his flash popped my focus jumped and then it all went out of focus and now has a horrible cast on the photo that is also a bit orange.

Get the point?

Luckily we are smart enough to take a string of images so this family’s image is not ruined but it sure does make it harder (and longer) in editing when I am dodging these kinds of “bullets”.

So… when we ask your family to put their cameras away… please do NOT be offended.  We are simply protecting YOUR best interests!

Maureen & Chad’s Southland Christian Church Wedding

Maureen and Chad were blessed with an AMAZINGLY warm January day.  It seems that my couples are lucky like that!  ( I like to call that blessed! )  We had plenty of time to run off to Keeneland for some beautiful photos with the couple before their candlelit ceremony.

There were so many unique and special touches to their wedding… It was like a photographer’s playground!  Maureen and Chad’s intimate wedding culminated in dinner at Malone’s, a fabulous cake by Brenda of the Sugar Forest and post wedding drinks at the Bigg Blue Martini!  Pretty perfect wedding day if you ask me!  Here’s the sneak peek!

Brittany & Caleb’s Ashland, Kentucky Wedding Photos

Brittany and Caleb were married in November, in their hometown of Ashland, Kentucky.  We traveled to Ashland to photograph their ceremony at the Historic “Chocolate Church” (First United Methodist Church).  Their reception followed at the Bellefonte Country Club.  Although it was a bitterly cold day (for November anyhow) and the skies spit snow at us all day long, the spirits were warm and our bridesmaids braved the cold to create some pretty awesome images for Brit and Caleb!   (Kudos to bridesmaids who are willing to take on for the home team! – no pun intended)

At any rate, the wedding ceremony was beautifully candle lit and yes, I cried, a couple of times as a matter of fact.  To see Caleb’s face light up when he finally got to see Brit turn at the end of the aisle… priceless.  Of course it is always an emotional moment to watch a father hand his daughter over, turn and walk away but that is another post for another day   Stay tuned!

Here is a sneak peek!  They had amazing details and their reception venue, and decor was stunning!  Of course I LOVED that they used enlargements from their engagement as decor!    Always makes me smile to see a print or engagement guest book because I automatically know how proud my couples are of their life, their love and their images!!

I loved that Brittany had tons of BLING!  Her necklace was fabulous.  Be sure to look for pics of it in the movie.  The back of the necklace had these long strands of crystals so every pic we took from that back of her dress had some bling in it!  I had never seen a necklace like that before I brides, I HIGHLY recommend it!  It photographed REALLY well and added a pop to each photo!

Their historic church was beautiful (quite dark- which any photogs know that dark church + no flash= tough lighting situation!) but there were lots of twinkling candles!!!

And of course the reception at the Bellefonte Country Club in Ashland was awesome!  The tables were draped in beautiful flower centerpieces, and even the CAKE had bling!!!  LOVED IT!

And yes, I could not resist.  Brit and Caleb had a stunning sparkler exit from the church and I snagged some spare sparklers to play with later at the reception.  I am just a big kid when it comes to wedding!  I think that your wedding should fulfill all your childhood dreams and should be one of the most emotional, spiritual, FUN days of your life!

Brit & Caleb’s Wedding Movie is still to come!  Check back later in the week for it!

Wedding “ish” session at Keeneland

We were unable to photograph this beautiful couple due to a conflict in our schedules but we were able to spend a little time with them at Keeneland for an impromptu session. Keeneland happened to be one of the ONLY locations in Lexington that actually had fall color this year and God smiled on us and gave us an absolutely stunning evening with blue sky and unbelievably warn light.

Yes… I broke out the fisheye… gotta love the modern look it bring to the photos as well as the wide angle!  Our favorite fisheye happens to be a 10mm so I always have to be careful to not catch my feet in the pic!  LOL

Silly fun with a couple, a reception and a photobooth!

Yes, it’s true.  We love every single wedding that we have the privilege of photographing.  We love every sweltering (mostly), stressful(sometimes) moment of those days.  We truly do think it’s an honor to be asked to photograph someones wedding and although we charge for our services we would give them away if we could because we think that EVERYONE deserves fabulous photos on their wedding day. (but we have 3 kids who need to eat… and wear clothes… and take dance lessons… and go to Disney World!)

Every now and then you find a couple that you REALLY connect with.  The kind of people that you just know if you had met in college you would have been best friends!  Brittany and Caleb are two of those people.  We instantly felt right at home with them and really are going to miss not getting to see them often.  Which is why we have vowed to have an Olive Garden date every now and then!

At their wedding, in Ashland, Kentucky they rented a photo booth, which I think is one of the coolest ideas ever!  Anytime we see one of these, Troy and I cannot resist getting in for a quick photo!  We now have a growing collection of these awesome strips as this is becoming a popular trend amongst receptions!  This time  I decided we would up the stakes and I had the brilliant idea to get IN the booth with Brittany and Caleb!  I just would like to state, for the record… that I have a big head and trying to shove that melon in there was not the easiest thing but Brittany made it work and we got some pretty hilarious photos!    Also, a word of advice to those attempting this themselves… decide which poses you want to do BEFORE you enter the booth!  We learned this the hard way!

It’s like Where’s Waldo!  Can you find Troy and Amber?

Having a Winter Wedding? Ask about our FREE Package upgrade for Off-season weddings!

Yes… we admit it.. we LOVE winter weddings!  I am a cold weather person and there is very little that scares me!  Bring on the snow BABY!  There is so much that is magical about the holiday season and snow on the ground.  We LOVE sharing time with our family and friends but we also love photographing some amazing Winter Weddings!

SOOOOO… 2011-2012 Brides… Are you planning an Off Season Wedding?

(January 1 – April 30)

If so we would like to give you a little incentive:

For every bride who books their “Off Season” Wedding at normal Studio Rates we will DOUBLE the number of images in your wedding package for FREE!!!

Yes, you heard me correctly!  FREE IMAGES for you just because we love the snow… and brides… and brides IN THE SNOW!!!!

Email or Call Amber Schmidt for more details!!

Amber Schmidt

studio@kentuckystudio.com

859.312.5361

Local Artist Spotlight: Caught Red Handed Band

I am often asked “who do you recommend for XX?”.  After having worked in the wedding industry in Lexington and Central Kentucky for many years now, I have to say, we have our favorites!  LOL  There are certain vendors that we are always excited to see and work with.  One of those is Caught Red Handed.  I was first acquainted with the band, Caught Red Handed, through their work with the Makenna Foundation’s Derby Eve Ball.  They stole my heart then, and I still maintain that they are one of the best, if not THE BEST, bands in the Kentucky region!  They can be found most nights as the cover band at Bogart’s (Crowne Plaza – Lexington).  I highly suggest that if you are considering a live band for your reception (* and you SHOULD … kudos to our favorite DJ’s but nothing gets a party started like a LIVE band! *) that you go on over to Bogart’s and take a listen.  If you do decide to book the guys be sure to tell them that the Schmidt’s sent you their way!

Booking information:

John A. Stinnett
(859) 223-4803
or
mail to: info@caughtredhandedband.com