Treasure Finds: Engagement Rings

I don't know about everyone else, but I feel like the majority of TV commercials are one of two things: prescription ads, lame attorneys, or cliche jewelry stores. You can only take so much before the "Every Kiss Begins With Kay" jingle starts running through your head. If you are like me, and one, tired of the same song, and two, wanting a ring that is not a copy cat mold, then you should take your jewelry shopping to Etsy land. Etsy has developed into a world of true craftsmenship. Artisans continually produce both unique and quality products that are found no where else.

I took a browse session over on Etsy this afternoon and not my surprise, I found some amazingly beautiful rings. The thing I love about Etsy is that there is something for everyone, literally. No matter what your style, taste, budget, or needs, Etsy seriously has it all. Check out some Treasure Finds below...these rings make Jared Jewelers look like a thing of the past. Links to the respective artisans are below as well -- true talent if you ask me!

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Modern Style

  

AdziasJewelryAtelier

Franziska

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Contemporary Style

 BendTheFish

ChrisMuellerJewelry

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Vintage Style

TreNove

AdziasJewelryAtelier

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 Alternative Style

SamanthaMcIntosh

mariaburgos 

Engagement Pictures 101: How To Get It Done!

Well it looks like it's about that time...time to wrap things up on the Engagement Pictures 101 mini-series! Over the past two weeks all-the-need-to-know info concerning Engagement Pictures has been laid out -- You got the WHY, the WHEN, the WHERE..and now, I will finish it up with the HOW! The HOW element of this whole ordeal is the easiest of engagement picture knowledge, and is the step where you put all the other elements together!

The first thing to do is start your research! This is extremely important and will end up saving you lots of time in the end. It is crucial that you take the appropriate time to research for and about different photographers. Wedding photography takes up a big junk of your budget - and the last thing you want to do is spend it on an unsatisfactory outcome. There are thousands of fabulous proffessional photographers in all urban cities, especially Atlanta. Try finding several that photographers that interest you through internet searches or friend referals. Then, take an indepth look at some of their work and portfolios. Photographer's blogs are great for seeing their most current work and allows you to compare portfolio's side by side. Make sure you like their photography style, their use of color, and the creativity displayed across their work. It is also wise to compare pricing and packages among photographers -- you will find that no one offers the exact same package - find the one that fits your needs best.

Once you have a photographer of choice, be sure to book them through a contract well in advance. I would recommend to book your photographer at least two months before your desired photoshoot date. Photographers', especially those who specialize in weddings, schedules fill up fast! You would hate to have your desired date be unavailable and jam up the rest of your timeline.

If you haven't already chosen a place, ask your photographer for recommendations - they usually have great suggestions and have a list of places that guarantee great photo outcomes. Once you have the place and the photographer, you are ready your the lights - camera - and action! Pick your outfits appropriately for the weather and look you are going for! Remember, stay on top of the Engagement Picture process, don't wait till the last minute to get these timeless photos done -- and you can always check back on the Engagement Pictures 101 series if you feel a little lost! Here are some creative photos from across the web!

papers and packages

Simply Two

Studio222 Photography

Kristin Vining

Engagement Pictures 101: Where to Find the Perfect Backdrop!

I hope everyone had a splendid weekend, and somehow, I hope you were able to beat this heat - talk about steamy! Thank the lord football season is right around the corner...cool air is definitely needed! 


This post will mark the third entry under the mini-series, "Engagement Pictures 101." If you missed the last two posts, on the WHY and WHEN, click here to jet back to early last week, and catch up on your photoshoot know how!
Now that you know WHY you are getting a professional photoshoot, and you are clear on WHEN it is all supposed to go down, let me address WHERE the perfect places are for great engagement photos:


The Park
Any public park is a perfect spot for any engagement shoot. Parks easily provide multiple backdrops for your photographer and allow the photographer to capture a diverse set of film. It is definitely important to pick a place that offers several areas for shooting, because you never know how the light will be on that particular day or which background color composition you will prefer once the photos are developed. Furthermore, a park with different areas of interest provide you more opportunity for outfit changes! Whether it is a national park, such as Stone Mountain Park, or simply a local county recreation park, you will be sure to find lots of regions within the park to take a snap shot.

 Noah Hawthorne Photography

Jared Wilson Photography

A Historic Town
It may not seem like it at first, but any historic town, not matter how SMALL, can provide some awesome backdrops. More often then not, local "downtowns" have plenty of stunning architecture, urban exposed brick, and a garden spot with green space. Photoshoots in a historic urban center produce classy photos with an edge that will be perfect decor for any new home. Another element to look out for: railroad tracks! Small downtowns usually hub a old railroad track - the tracks can create some AWESOME and ARTSY photos.

 Kent Meireis

Orange County Wedding Photographer | Photography blog of eric j. cotter

Your Favorite Place
If you and your man have a "special" place together, it can be a great backdrop for your engagement photos. Maybe it is the restaurant of your first date, your favorite stadium, or a place of your favorite activity. For example, if you both graduated from the same college, an on-campus photoshoot could be the ticket! Choosing somewhere that has meaning to the both of you make the photos seem that much more personable. 

The Studio B Photography

Jessica Frey Photography

Although these three places are some of the most popular to get your snapshots, always keep an eye out for a place that isn't so obvious. You would be surprised how some of the "random" places along side a road or among a simple piece of nature can create some of the most unique backdrops for photos. 

Engagement Pictures 101: When is the right time?

If you did not catch yesterday's post, you missed out on the beginning of a informational mini series! The last post concerned "What is it all about?!," and took a closer look at why engagement pictures have become such a standard thing recently. Today is all about the WHEN...and how your personal engagement shoot should fit into your wedding journey timeline.
Typically, engagement photos are used in someway for your Save The Dates - that being said, the real question should seemingly be "When to send out Save The Dates?" I advise brides to start sending out your Save The Dates as early as 10 months, but no later than 6 months out from your BIG day. Most likely, and dependent on your contract, photographers will take up to 3-4 weeks to edit your photo shoot film, and then you will need to time to create/assemble/print the actual Save The Date -- so if your crunch all those numbers you can see that engagement photos should be taken no later than about 6 weeks prior to the date you wish to mail the Save The Dates out. 


Although you want to get the photo shoot going at least a month in advance to your mail out date, that does not mean that you have to wait till then -- really, your engagement shoot could be scheduled as far ahead of time as you wish...and there are several things to consider:


1. The Weather
2. Your Outfits
3. Color Composition
4. The Backdrop


Taking these four elements into consideration will definitely dictate when you want your engagement shoot done. For example, if you want a soft muted background, schedule your shoot early winter. If you want to be shot wearing a sundress, choose spring. If you want to be shot with more of a warm hint to your skin, choose summer. If you want a backdrop full of ambers and oranges, choose fall. It may seem like people don't go through this "thinking" process concerning their engagement shoot, but putting a little thought into it will assist in your satisfaction of the final photos. 


Check back next week for the last two posts for this mini-series -- the WHERE and the HOW are up next. Take a looksee below to check out some GREAT Save The Dates, and see how your engagement shoot can be used!

Lauren Ross Photography

Gina Zeidler

Engagement Pictures 101: What's It All About?

Lately, I have been receiving several client inquires concerning engagement pictures -- the why, the when, the where, the how?! Similar to a past mini-series featured on Lucky In Love's Blog called "The Wedding Cake Breakdown," I will give you a complete look at all things Engagement Photos - starting with the WHY! 

First thing that should be known, engagement pictures are not required - in fact, the whole idea of engagement pictures did not even exist several years ago. That being stated, these says, engagement photos are more expected than ever. The purpose of these premarital pics is, for one, they provide an opportunity for you and your man to be snapped in a casual setting. It is nice to have professional pictures to put around your house without seeing white gowns and tuxedos at every glance. Secondly, engagement photo shoots allow you much more photo opportunity time with just you and your man compared to your wedding day. There is about a million and two photos that have to be shot on the BIG day, and you + the husband is just a small portion of that. Lastly, and most importantly, engagement photos are typically used for Save The Dates. Save the Dates have become more necessarily over the years - and I cute, casual shot of the both of you is a perfect medium for guests' reminder.

My suggestion would be to definitely invest in engagement photos! The moments captured in a two-three hour shoot of just you both will be timeless. Here are some of my favorite shots of the happy couples, and be sure to check out the continued series on all things Engagement Photos...next up, the WHEN:

Jose Villa Photography

Studio Foto

Jeffrey and Julia Woods ~ Photographers

Allyson Magda Photography

Kevin Weinstein Photography

The Image is Found