In The Name Of Love

As Tarriell described below, her engagement session with .: Irina Photography :. was this past December. Since we got the story from the bride-to-be's point of view, I wanted to get the experience from Irina and Mihkel, too. They were kind enough to sit down and go over a lot of things with us!

Susan says:
Thanks for taking the time out to sit down with me, Irina & Mihkel! After seeing Tarriell & MM's photos, I had to get the vendor point-of-view and give you both a shout-out, too!
First question, for those who don't know or who are maybe on the fence about it, what typically happens during an engagement session and who should get them?

Mihkel says:
An engagement session is simply a portrait photo session for a couple soon to be married. Nowadays these sessions reflect the lifestyle of the couple (locations, habits, activities) and the emotions between the couple (romance, love, excitement). Irina and I would meet with the couple at a location that means something to them, it can be a coffee shop that they enjoy together, or the grounds of the University they attend or a nearby park. Sometimes we are lucky to photograph the couple in THE location where the proposal happened! Our goal is to capture the real moments, whether they be lovely or quirky. We ask the couple to be themselves, pretend we are not there and for them to 'go about their business' ; this allows for an honest interaction between photographer and the couple. The goal is to create a collection that reflects the true spirit of the couple's engagement, something they can take away with them for years to come.

Irina says:
These sessions are for couples who desire a collection of images that showcase them in a natural and fun way. Most couples plan to use the images during their reception, either in a custom guest book or display their collection in a slide show during the reception dinner.



Susan says:
Take us through Tarriell and MM's session. How did you come up with the locales? Was it really as cold as Tarriell says? ;) How long was their session?

Mihkel says:
The weather was miserable the night before(it rained all night) and the morning offered us bleak glimpses into the possibilities for a workable afternoon. Ottawa's 3 feet of snow had begun to melt from the rain, overloading all drains and leaving large puddles to contend with. When we arrived at 1pm, the sun made brief appearances however the wind began to pick up. Yes it was cold! The clouds persevered even while the wind picked up sending chills down my spine. We carpooled from Tarriell and MM's home to Carleton U since the location has many buildings and covers a vast landscape; we thought it would make for a great starter location. If a location doesn't work then we discuss other options, we never force our clients to stick to a maximum number of spots, that would ruin the experience for both of us. We always consider the client's expectations while also ensuring that we produce work worthy for their collection. Irina braved the cold to capture some wonderful images along side the water and then inside Carleton's many hallways . I focused purely on some candids and then decided to 'keep an eye on the car'. After trying a few other locations we headed to Starbuck's for some coffee and relaxed for a bit. One last location, in the car ride back we said we would capture them in their most common and comfortable place - their living room sofa in front of the TV. Good for the clients, good for the photographer - anything to produce real images. By this time we had gone over our typical 2 hour session almost surpassing a 3rd. Their dog barked a few times to announce it was our time to leave, ending an afternoon of fun and craziness.

Susan says:
What stood out to the both of you about this couple?


Mihkel says:
It is common for shy or nervous individuals to become goofy with our instructions. Or maybe they just like to play rough. At times it seemed as though they were acting in front of the camera yet after behaving the whole session like young crazy lovers, it became clear that true love influences the mind in ways we cannot control.

Susan says:
Can you tell us something we may not know about Tarriell?

Irina says:
Those types of secrets are for us to keep!

Susan says:
It's been a little while since the session. How long does it typically take for your clients to receive digital files and then any photos they've ordered?

Irina says:
After each session, we typically show teaser images on our blog {www.irinaphotography.squarespace.com}. Once we have completed the final image selections for the session collection, images are posted in an online gallery for the client to view; this is approximately 2 weeks after the session. Our engagement sessions include a credit for studio products, to which they have unlimited options to decide how to use! Print orders typically take 2 weeks to process.

Susan says:
I have to ask ... you serve both the GTA and Ottawa ... are you two nuts for travel? ;)

Mihkel says:
I like to travel so any excuse to get out of town is great for me :)

Irina says:
I grew up in Ottawa and my family is still there. We have the luxury of being in both places quite often and enjoy every minute of it!

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Stars of the Show

Recently, I got my first taste of wedding stardom. It was a blast of reality on just how not “real” or comfortable that stardom can be.

That taste came one sleety, dark and gloomy day in late December, when MM and I had an engagement photo shoot here in Ottawa with the fantabulous team from Irina Photography.

And while the photos themselves don’t show it, the whole shoot was one of the stranger, more surreal experiences of my life.

It all sounded good in theory. Do a professional photojournalistic shoot of the two of us together just being us. The resulting photos would be reminders to one another of each other that woud would help to assuage the long loneliness of being separated from one another for six months by MM’s overseas military tour. Setting aside our self-acknowledged and often-demonstrated lack of ability to be photogenic, for one day we would be be the stars of the show, the focus of attention. We actually thought of it as a kind of practice for the Big Day, when all kinds of people would be watching with all kinds of recording devices.

Well, if that is practice, I cannot say I’m looking forward to that aspect of the reality of being the stars of our own wedding show. It is one thing to snap a few photos of yourselves while on vacation, or on a special event in your life. It is quite another to have two people following you around with cameras blazing on a cold nasty day, coaxing you to “act natural”. So you do your best to ignore the cameras, and you walk hand in hand, smile, kiss, whisper sweet nothings and cuddle up to your beloved on a park bench as if it were any other day.

But if it were any other day, you’d be at home together cuddled under a blanket on your comfy couch with a favourite DVD playing on the flatscreen. You would not be outside in the freezing rain of a December afternoon in your best coat and jeans, walking next to the frozen Rideau canal, with your hands freezing cold, your feet soaking wet, the wind whipping the hair in your face and your eyes tearing up so bad from said wind that you can barely see the man you love standing in front of you. You would not be sitting on a freezing cold and wet slab of concrete, wondering if you should have worn your waterproof ski coat and earmuffs instead of your new pretty photogenic coat and scarf, with a bare head and hands. On any ordinary day, MM would not set foot on my university campus, let alone trudge through mounds of melting snow and freezing ice to go into one of the buildings for ten minutes and pretend, with me, to admire the mosaic artwork of the walls that, normally, from him, would elicit only perplexed stares and slightly catty comments. You most definitely would not be out playing in one of the childrens’ playgrounds on base, calf-deep in wet snow, trying not to fall flat on your butt while you nevertheless frolic in the snow as requested and try to show to the world and the cameras how much you love each other while dreaming of your flannel pajamas, your warm duvet and a good strong hot coffee.



I can’t tell you the number of times MM remarked to me during our three and a half hour shoot “this is soooo frickin’ weird!”. I’d have to agree. While the end result was definitely worth it, and Irina and Mihkel showed that even MM and I can be photogenic if shot by the right people, I would not want to have to repeat that more than once in a lifetime.

But, luckily, with MM being the star of my life show, I don’t expect to ever have to repeat it again.

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Hiding Place

Nearing the end of the day but it was just brought to my attention (thanks Katie!) that today is National Delurking Day.


(this pic is obviously from last year but it's still cute ;))

Do you pop by and not say anything? I know you're out there since I do look at my stats ;) But why not take today (or whenever you come across this post) to come on out and say something? Even if it's just a 'hi'! Since the holidays I've been poorly neglecting things over here but this little place on the web seriously is a big piece of my daily life. I would love to know that you come by to have a quick glance.

Who knows ... by introducing yourself, we may become new friends!

Cheers,

Susan

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Top 3 colours for '09 Brides

Oh the colours! There are whole websites dedicated to wedding colours alone! This very VERY important decision could make or break your wedding! (okay, kinda, not really, but doesn't sound dramatic and really important?!)...


Choosing a colour is a personal decision. I have brides who know right off the bat what they want to do - they have the swatches, they have the flowers to match and even convinced FH that he would look great in the colour!

Still struggling with what colour to do for your wedding? Here's my top 3 colours for '09 so far.


#1 - Chocolate brown & friends. This colour has a lot of fans and friends. Many brides are using this colour along with celadon, champagne gold, pink, powder blue and in the fall with oranges. The new BFF to chocolate brown this year is yellow.
I'm a fan of this look. It's a very earthy, yet fun colour combo - but make sure your yellows are in the same family! Make sure your BMs all buy the same yellow instead of having school bus yellow, goldenrod and bumblebee show up at your wedding!


#2 Celadon (aka wasabi green/pistachio/sage green). This colour is very fresh that can be used throughout the year. I love using it, but again, with every colour, make sure you use complimentary colours. The likelihood of you finding everything in this colour for everything from your invites to BM dresses is very good, but make sure you have a swatch when shopping around!




#3 - Teal/aqua/turquoise. 3 very different colours from the same family. This colour is very summer - fresh and clean or in the winter with silver accents. Teal is the breakout colour of the bunch as it can be used in an ornate fashion with lots of little details like damask or similar patterns. Very lovely!

I'd like to give a special mention to aubergine/eggplant and plum. My new fave colours. This colour is the new chocolate brown - its very easy to compliment - pinks, golds, ivory and sage green are great companions.

Whichever colour you do choose to go with, make sure YOU love it! After all, you have to look at those pictures in 20yrs and not ask "what was *I* thinking!

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Somebody Take Me Back ...

Happy 2009 Everyone!

I trust that a fine break was had by all. This year I had the luxury of taking the time off with my husband so we were able to visit many friends and family, spend quality time with just the two of us and even spend time playing on our new Wii ;)


One of my big projects last month was something hopefully many of you are using right now ... mini jewel case calendars! All clients and some special friends should have received them by now (let me know if you haven't) and I do have a handful left! If you would like one of these desktop gems simply email me at inquiries @ momentsthatshine.com with your name and snail mail. I'll give it a week or so and then depending on how many people request them (you don't have to be a bride-to-be!), I'll pull names out of a hat and send them along!

***EDITED TO SAY***
Since we're already in January, I'm going to send these off on a first come, first serve basis ... only a few left! :)

Little bit of background on the calendars ...

They're all upcycled (meaning they have been made using materials from other projects ... no two are alike!), inserts are double-sided to reduce on waste and the graphics are all new to the Moments That Shine library so they can be used on any invitation needs you may have. I had a blast putting them together!

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Running Your Fingers Through Your Hair

Would love to do an Etsy post on the goodies bought for friends and family but since I won't be seeing everyone until the new year, I'll tie you over with this awesome new find by .: dkdesignshawaii :. We've focused on them before but this new accessory is too much fun not to share ...

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Here In This Snowglobe Perfect Night

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL FROM MOMENTS THAT SHINE!

Here's wishing all of you a fabulous and safe holiday season surrounded by loved ones :)

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Party Like It's 1999!

We're published again! As you may have noticed by Kelly's post, both she and I were published in .: The Local Biz Magazine :. recently. We would have loved to share a bit earlier so things were in time for the holidays but such is the publishing world. Oh well, consider it an extra head start for 2009!

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Conceal Those Holiday Blues

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When I Dance They Call Me Macarena

Susan,

Every D.J. my fiancé and I have looked at seems too cheesy for our taste. How can we find someone that won’t play the Macarena?!

Thanks,

Cheryl

Dear Cheryl,

Ah, the D.J. search. Let me start this answer by saying my advice is NOT just for D.J.s and by no means am I picking on them. I’ve worked with MANY gems at weddings so I know they’re not all cheesy. Unfortunately a slim few just propel the stereotype. But since your question was so specific, I’ll use them as my example but my thoughts should actually be applied to all vendors you look at for your event.

First of all, make sure you meet with who you’re looking at. From your question I’m not sure if you’re just checking websites or if you’re scheduling times to chat. Please make sure you meet with your vendors (at the very LEAST by phone) before booking them.

To cut down on the cheese-factor with D.Js or the prices in photography, think outside the box. If you’re looking at vendors who bill themselves as wedding professionals only or advertise just in the wedding market, you’re limiting yourself. Google is your friend during your planning stages. Use it. Try typing in something like “Ontario D.J. listing” and see what pops up. You may find an association or two where all kinds of D.J.s are at the forefront.

Another favourite tool of mine is .: TSEvents :.

By going to their website you will find incredibly professional vendors who know weddings but don’t limit themselves to them. Try it!

And after you book your D.J., make sure you put the Macarena on the Do Not Play list you’re providing him or her ☺

Happy Holidays,

Susan

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Bring You Flowers For Your Hair

Many many thanks to Mirella at .: Rainflower Company :. for the fabulous interview she's put up of me on her blog! I was honoured to be asked and all excited to see it go live! Please take a gander over.: here :. to view it and make sure you check out all of her other awesome goodies while you're there.

I'm definitely in good company with the interview ... look in the archives and you'll see our guest blogger Vivian there, too! :)

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Beauuuuuuuutiful ...

For Friday Footwear I was going to post some pics of bridal-ish snow boots. But while researching I stumbled upon these and HAD to show them ...



Can you say, 'drool'? You can find these boots .: over here :. but be forewarned ... rather expensive ;)

The description on the website alone makes me want them!
Rossorosa's charming and comfy short boots in eco-leather are following all the right trends this season - slick patent sheen, shrunken height, and sturdy, walkable heel. If that wasn't enough to hook you, their polka dot interior and detachable plaid rosette are the fun and irresistable finishing touches. Gift box included, Made in Italy

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I Follow Footprints Through the Snow

This week's Etsy post comes courtesy of some new clients at Moments That Shine! They gave us the head's up of this truly amazing artist and we would love to highlight just her. .: MichelleProsek's Etsy Studio is located here :. She was kind enough to send along a bio so instead of babbling on, I'm just going to let her speak and include some eye candy for you ...

Michelle Prosek – Starfire Studios
381 Moxley Rd.
Greensville, ON
L9H 5L4
(905) 627-2133
www.starfirestudios.ca
www.décor-m.ca




Artist Biography:
With her unusual mixed education grounded in genetics but embellished by a long history in the arts, Michelle Prosek expresses her interest in nature through her sculptural glasswork. While some of her designs are created as sculptural jewellery designed to be worn as an expression of the inner nature of the wearer, others are created to bring nature into the home with vibrant style.
All of her work has a running theme of botanical and earth motifs, which reflect the organic nature of glass itself. Constantly exploring the boundaries of what glass can do, Michelle has developed new techniques for creating kiln-fired art that make her work unique in its field.



Artist Statement:
I am inspired by the wide range of functional and textural properties glass has to offer as an artistic medium, so I am always experimenting with new ideas and pushing the boundaries of what glass can do. I love referring to nature for my inspirations because I feel a connection between life and the dynamic flow of working with glass. At any stage in the creative process it can reflect my moods and desires as I explore its organic connection to my intended designs.



I personally cut, carve, fuse and shape every single piece of glass to ensure that they are all one of a kind works of art. Each finished work can take up to 90 hours to complete. I am constantly striving to create new techniques and methods for working with kiln-fired glass that extend beyond the traditional concepts of the medium.

Be sure to check out all of Michelle's sites ... .: this one :. in particular has fabulous jewellery!

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Let It Snow!

Hi Susan,

My boyfriend recently popped the question but we’ve already hit a roadblock. We’re talking about the time of year to get married and having troubles. Both of us love the winter and snow but we know weddings aren’t usually held at this time of year.

Any advice?

Thanks,

Josie

Congratulations Josie! Roadblocks aside, this really is an exciting time for you and your fiancé … yes fiancé … try to enjoy it ☺

Winter wedding, eh? Yes, typically weddings are held in warmer months but by no means does that mean you have to rule out the snow all together. Plenty of people have gorgeous weddings at this time of year and there aren’t problems. And when you think about it, Mother Nature can mess up the best of plans at any time of year (remember the blackout?).

Here are the two things you should do.

First, prioritize. Figure out the reason(s) why you want a wedding in the cold months then think about the possible hazards (storm with guests not being able to attend being the biggest). If you can live with the thought of some things missing, your love for snow will likely outweigh the problems.



Second, have a back-up plan. If you choose a venue out of the way, have a shuttle on call to take guests back and forth. Ensure your venue has a back-up generator in case of a power outage. Have hotel rooms close by for everyone. You get the picture.

There’s snow reason (hehehe) why you shouldn’t plan a day around boots, blustery temps and white all around!

Cheers,

Susan

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Steppin Out

Holy cool, Batman!!!

I stumbled across this picture when looking for something funky for this week's Friday Footwear. Inspired by shoes of the Celts and Romans,
Ingrid Wendt, creator of .: The Original Medieval Moccasins :., takes leather to a whole new level! Check out the website and have fun with this eye candy!

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Day After Day I Keep Hangin' Round

It's a bit late for this year but how about 2009?! Here are some incredible advent calendars on Etsy that I wanted to share with all of you ...

This is actually my favourite of the week. I'm mixing things up by starting with it ;) It's by .: nouveaudesigns :. I love it because of simplicity.



Next up is this gem by .: designstash :. The boa is awesome!!!



This muffin tray advent calendar is all magnet based. .: AllThingsArtsy :. suggests placing surprises under each day!



.: Pearl & Pirate :. has put together a felt stocking for every day in December before Christmas. Fill them with treats or use simply as decor!



And the mother of all advent calendars? Check out this one by .: scrapcolors :. It's absolutely incredible!!!



During the holiday season I remember always having a special calendar as a child. It's a tradition I want to keep for generations in my family!

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I have been a very, very bad blogger. Please forgive me. But it's all for a good reasons! 2009 is shaping up to be a very busy year for decor and we've got a bunch of things on the go and they're all good news for all fabulous brides!


For 2009, Vivian's Decorations & Designs will be chic-er than ever (yes, I made that word up) We've decided to leave the invitation design to the ever so fabulous Susan and venture into flowers, silk and fresh to help make your wedding planning and life easier. We'll be working with Mirella from Rainflower Company to provide you with the great decor, beautiful flowers, reasonable pricing and the best in customer service!

We'll also be launching our luxury line of decor for the everyday bride - Luxury Brown. The decor elements will be feathers , luxurious fabrics (satins, taffeta, embroidered organza etc), "diamonds" and more. Whole packages will be available, or if you want just a touch of luxury, items like ostrich feather centrepieces will be available

In January, we'll also be launching our new website! Yaaay!

We'll also be continuing our Top 5 things you can cut from your decor tips, so stay tuned!

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Moisturizer!

In today's cosmetic-pharmaceutical world, commonly referred to as Cosmeceutical, there are hybrid moisturizers for every skin challenge. Cosmeceutical companies say that In contrast to cosmetic skin care products, which work to beautify the skin, cosmeceuticals will alter the structure of your skin and how it functions. 



A basic cosmetic skin care moisturizer will hydrate, come with a built-in sunscreen or a hint of color if that's all you need. While other, more advanced cosmeceuticals will exfoliate, smooth fine lines, or reverse the signs of aging. Some contain lightening ingredients that fade age spots, and even out skin tone. Others firm the skin, promote cellular renewal, or contain the same natural extracts, vitamins and minerals that we put in our bodies.



With so many formulas addressing so many issues, where do you start? 



First and foremost, select your moisturizer (s) based on your skin's type.....dry or dehydrated, normal, combination, or oily. As mentioned last month, texture is key to comfort so pay particular attention to the consistency of your moisturizer. And remember, the oilier the skin,choose more lightweight and fluid formulas , and the dryer the skin, opt for more rich and creamy textures.





Then factor in your chronological age PLUS your skin's estimated age. The oilier the skin, the slower the natural aging process and the drier the skin, the faster the natural aging process. Minus a few years if you're oily and add a few if you're dry. And, if you've had considerable sun exposure over the years, add much more since the suns harmful rays are responsible for 90% of our skins pre-mature aging process.





Once you determine skin type and age, you can then begin to look more closely at what you really want to address. A skin 25 years and under with no sun damage may focus on a regime with anti-bacterial ingredients and opt for moisturizers that regulate oil and water. While a more mature skin 45 years + with sun exposure may find herself on a layering program with products to fade broken capillaries, age spots or hyper pigmentation. 



Look closely to assess things like your skin's all over tone. How even is it.....is there sun damage, redness or discoloration? Is the texture of the skin thick and rough or is it soft and spongy? Are there new or existing fine lines.....where are they located and how deep are they? And visually, does the skin look translucent or transparent? These factors and more play a major role in your buying decision so it's important to determine your challenges in advance.





Other issues women face are budget, time they have to spend on themselves and getting the best bang for their buck in terms of simplicity and functionality. For this you want to seek the advice of a skin care expert or retail beauty consultant. They have extensive product knowledge and can save you time, money and energy with their recommendations. Help them help you by being prepared with a wish list of what YOUR particular concerns are. The more aware and educated you are about your skin and it's condition, the more the consultant can assist. 



And finally, whenever possible, touch, smell and try the moisturizer before you buy it. I am a firm believer that all beauty products really are kinesthetic and must be experienced first!

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Oh the weather outside is frightful

But the fire of my stove is delightful. So in light of the impending transit strike in my city and the desire to cocoon at home with good food since it's all snowy and wintery out there at the moment, I thought I'd share a few of my favourite recipes with you. Maybe I'll make this a regular thing for me in this space, if Susan doesn't mind? since I'm as much a cook as she is an Etsy shopper.

And let's face it ... food is a huge part of a wedding.

MM loves to eat and is very happy about his lot in life as my future husband, since I enjoy cooking but am not fussy about it. Must be the former farm girl in me - my favourite meal is still a good rare roast beef, with mashed potatoes, green beans with butter and almonds and an apple cobbler/crisp for dessert.

Speaking of Apple Cobbler, my grandma's recipe is the one I make and I've had it up on Recipezaar for ages. It always gets good reviews and I love that darn appley-cinnamony-oatmeal goodness so darn much!

My favourite cooking blog is over at 101 Cookbooks.com. What I like about this blogger is that she's vegetarian, offers vegan options, but isn't preachy about, and her recipes feel homey, almost vintage. Like this week's post about Caramelized Onion Dip. She's updated the classic dip that my mom served to people made from Lipton Soup Mix.

I could see serving this at the wedding. Heck I had originally thought about using my own recipes for the wedding. serving classic roast beef and a fancier version of my own cobbler (with vanilla bean baked in and freshly grated cinnamon). But that was back when it was a fall event. Now I'll have to think about what I want for a spring shindig. Yummy!

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Rain Down On Me

I was lucky enough to receive a note from the fabulous people at .: Rainflower Company :. the other day. Mirella takes ordinary flowers and makes extraordinary pieces of art out of them ... and she's put together a contest you may be interested in!




Here are the details straight from her site:

Rainflower Company is in the spirit of giving, and has put together an amazing contest for one super lucky couple! We are giving away up to $1000 value in Fabulous Fresh Fleurs for your wedding day! Pretty Fabulous!!! What do you have to do to win? Just tell us why you should win in 150 words or less of course, and please include a picture of the happy couple. If you or someone you know is getting married in Toronto or the GTA between the months of March and December 2009, you are eligible to win! Please visit www.rainflowercompany.com and click on the contest button and fill out the form with all of the required information to enter! Contestants will be judged on several criteria, including creativity, wedding theme, location, and overall how badly you want this. So don’t hold back, let your creativity bloom and have some fun with this!
(The lucky winning couple must be willing to have their photos published on The Blog, Newsletters and any other press/media coverage.)
*Contest closes January 30th, 2009 with the winner being announced February 2nd, 2009. Good luck to all participants and we can’t wait to see your submissions!

Check out some of her work!

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