Night Shoot Engagement Photos

January 17, 2023 by Leave a Comment

Mother of the Bride, when your darling daughter and the love of her life start talking about engagement photos, they might want to consider a night shoot.

Lights always make for beautiful photos—whether city lights, candlelight, twinkling lights, stars, or sunset. Lights add a special touch of romance. And what better time for a touch of romance than for engagement photos?

If your happy couple would like to have some daytime shots as well, check with your photographer and see if he or she would be willing to split the photo session into two 30-minute sessions, one night shoot and one day shoot. You never know unless you ask, right? He may charge a small extra fee to split the session, but it probably wouldn’t be too much more.

So MOB, why not suggest an engagement shoot at night? If you do, I see fantastic photos—and a very pleased couple—in your future!

*You might also like to read Engagement Photo Idea: Frame That Moment!, Engagement Photo Idea: Playground Fun, and Engagement Photo Idea: Bike Fun!

*For info about my book Mother of the Bride and also my Wedding Inspiration cards, check out my Books/My Work page.

*The next issue of Life Notes, my quarterly inspirational newsletter, comes out in early February. One lucky subscriber (new or current) will receive a $15 gift card to Starbucks and a signed copy of my book to use personally, give as a gift, or donate to a library. Sign-up is free! Temporary problem with Life Notes sign-up. To sign up, just contact me. 

*Flickr photos by Christopher.F Photography, Creative Commons License

Filed Under: adventure, advice, bride, groom, joy, light, love, memories, Mother of the Bride, new thing, passion, photo fun, preparation, variety, wedding Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Providing Photo Booth Fun for Wedding Guests

August 2, 2022 by Leave a Comment

Mother of the Bride, if your darling daughter and her soon-to-be husband are looking to step up the fun element for their wedding guests, how about providing a photo booth at the reception?

Not only would a photo booth provide a diversion while the guests are waiting on the bride and groom to arrive at the reception, but it would offer a fun entertainment addition to the dining and dancing going on later during the party as well. Plus, what a fun memento for your guests to take home as a reminder of the joy of the big event, right?

Having a photo booth on hand would also give your professional photographer another place to capture some great shots of everyone—the wedding party as well as the guests. With the casual and zany atmosphere a photo booth creates, candid shots are sure to abound.

So MOB, why not offer some photo booth fun on the big day? And in the midst of all your responsibilities at the party, don’t forget to jump in and experience some photo fun yourself!

*You might also like to read Wedding Reception Game for the Bride and Groom and Wedding Cake Pops Equal Fun!

*For info about my book Mother of the Bride check out my Books/My Work page.

*The new issue of Life Notes, my quarterly inspirational newsletter, came out this morning, but it’s not too late to receive it. Sign up is FREE! *Temporary problem with Life Notes sign-up. To sign up, just contact me. p.s. If you sign up after noon July 28th, you will be included in all future Life Notes giveaways but not in this current giveaway.

*Flickr photo by davidmmcneil, Creative Commons License

Filed Under: Above and Beyond, bride, celebrate, fun, joy, laughter, memories, Mother of the Bride, photo fun, preparation, provision, wedding Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Wedding Photos with Bride and Groom in Background

November 2, 2021 by Leave a Comment

Looking for great wedding photo ideas, Mother of the Bride? See if the photographer could capture a few with the bride and groom in bokeh effect (an out of focus blur effect), using them as the background of a shot of something or someone else in the wedding.

The happy-couple-as-background bokeh shot above is actually a shot of the chair décor, but notice how having the bride and groom in a soft blur as a backdrop not only makes the shot artsy but extra special as well. The above shot’s style is so much more interesting and gorgeous than a simple straightforward shot of the chair and its décor, isn’t it?

Possibilities abound for photos using this bride and groom bokeh effect. In addition to chair or pew décor as the focus of the shot, the photographer could also use the cake, champagne glasses, the parents of the bride and/or groom, the gift table, or a floral arrangement as the focal point of the shot. The ideas could go on and on.

So, MOB, talk with your daughter and see if she’d like to mention bride and groom bokeh shots with the photographer. Beauty awaits!

*You might also like to read Wedding Photo Idea: Groom Admires His Bride, Wedding Day Photo Idea: Bouquets in a Bunch, Photo Idea: Bridesmaids Blow the Groom a Kiss!, Wedding Photo Idea: A Shared Faith, and Wedding Photo Idea: The Corner Shot.

*For info about my book Mother of the Bride and also my Wedding Inspiration cards, check out my Books/My Work page.

*The new issue of Life Notes, my quarterly inspirational newsletter with a giveaway in every regularly scheduled issue, comes out today. It’s not too late to receive it. Sign-up is free and to the right! (If you’re on a mobile device, scroll to the bottom of the screen and click View Full Site to find it.) Temporary problem with Life Notes sign-up. To sign up, just contact me.

*Flickr photo by charamelody, Creative Commons License

Filed Under: beauty, bride, creation/creative/creator, focus, groom, memories, Mother of the Bride, opportunity, photo fun, preparation, talent, variety, wedding Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Holding Still for God

September 21, 2021 by 6 Comments

It was a God-given moment. Several years ago on a winter morning, I decided to brave the cold and take care of an outdoor chore so Don wouldn’t have to do it at the end of a long workday. As I stepped out on our back porch, a surprise awaited me.

A beautiful mockingbird perched on our nearby evergreen. I expected him to whoosh away as soon as he caught sight of me or heard the cat-like squall of the screen door. But he stayed, holding still, allowing me to marvel in his beauty from just a few feet away.

As he continued to linger, I thought wow, I wish I had my camera. Would he stay long enough for me to dash back in the house and get it? Would he be there when I returned? Would he hold still just awhile longer?

I took a chance and slid back inside, as carefully as my noisy door would allow. After grabbing my camera, I turned it on while still inside so there would be one less noise to startle my little outdoor visitor away.

In spite of another screech from the door, the bird remained perched in the same spot. I raised my camera, zoomed in, and took several shots while he continued to hold still. He looked this way and that, almost as if allowing me to work a little more magic with my camera. He eventually flitted away but not before I was thoroughly blessed by this unexpected God-given treat for the soul.

For a few brief moments, I was an artist capturing a subject—a subject who was willing to hold still and let me do my work. I can’t help but wonder if I do the same for God.

When God wants to work on me or just spend time with me and rejoice over his creation (yes, he wants to rejoice over me!), am I a willing subject? Do I hold still for him and cooperate with his plans? Do I allow him to work his magic?

May the Lover of our souls always find us willing to hold still for him!

“The Lord your God is with you . . . He will take great delight in you; in his love he . . . will rejoice over you with singing.“ Zephaniah 3:17 NIV

*When did you last notice God working on you or rejoicing over you with singing?

*The next issue of Life Notes, my quarterly inspirational newsletter with a giveaway in every regularly scheduled issue, will come out in early November. Sign-up is FREE and to the right! (If you’re on a mobile device, scroll to the bottom of the screen and click View Full Site to find it.) *Temporary problem with Life Notes sign-up. To sign up, just contact me.

*For info about my book Mother of the Bride and also my Wedding Inspiration cards, check out my Books/My Work page.

*My photo

Filed Under: blessing, creation/creative/creator, fellowship, Gift, joy, life, nature, opportunity, photo fun, silence, team, time, vision, wait, work Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Shutterfly’s Free Printable Engagement Photo Props

June 18, 2019 by Leave a Comment

Mother of the Bride, as your sweet daughter and her intended’s engagement photo session approaches, why not offer them a dynamite tip to help make things more fun.

Of course, you’ll want to offer some standard tips for a good experience—choosing the right photographer, outfits that flatter and express their personalities, a great location, and ideas for poses that will be meaningful to them—but my tip today might be something they are unaware of and would love to include in their photos.

Shutterfly offers free downloadable engagement photo props that can help a couple add their own personal touch to their engagement photos. These props are fun and creative and a few can even be customized. You’ll even see some that can be used in photos or for décor on the wedding day itself.

Share this post pronto with your darling couple, MOB. And be sure to tell them to read Shutterfly’s post to the very end for lots of great tips on how to use the props and for photo session tips in general. Then sit back and wait for the moment they share their amazing photos with you!

Read more on Shutterfly.com.

*You might also like to read Use Engagement Photo for Bridal Shower Invitation.

*For info about my book Mother of the Bride check out my Books/My Work page.

*The next issue of Life Notes, my quarterly inspirational newsletter with a giveaway in every regularly scheduled issue, will come out in early August. Sign-up is FREE and to the right! (If you’re on a mobile device, scroll to the bottom of the screen and click View Full Site to find it.)

*Photos by Shutterfly

Filed Under: bride, celebrate, fun, groom, joy, love, memories, Mother of the Bride, photo fun, preparation Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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