CLS Wedding Photography | Los Angeles | Orange County | Long Beach | California

Here We Come! PartnerCon 2010 I NOLA

christine@clsphotography.com (Christine Lee Smith Photography) — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 01:25:00 +0000

We are super honored and excited to have been chosen to lead a Shoot Workshop at the Pictage PartnerCon 2010 in New Orleans this November!

I'll be leading a live shooting workshop on Shooting in Manual - how to master your camera before it masters you. :) I love teaching and this is just simply a phenomenal opportunity (and compliment) to be able to instruct and share with such an amazing group of photographers. Can't wait!

Check it out and register here.

In addition, I'll be offering opportunities for one-on-one instruction and training, so watch for details on that coming soon.

Hope to see you there!

Blessings, Christine Lee Smith 1 (888) 810-4322 | info @ clsphotography.com Los Angeles | Orange County | Long Beach | California Available for travel.

Secret Stairs - Photo Day in Los Angeles

christine@clsphotography.com (Christine Lee Smith Photography) — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 05:57:00 +0000

Wednesday me and a friend headed out to the Silver Lake area of Los Angeles to attempt one of the walks in the book "Secret Stairs," by Charles Fleming. We ended up having a great time exploring, walking and photographing. It was a fabulous adventure!

I'd like to title this series "Above and Below." As we were shooting I noticed myself primarily being attracted to subjects up above or down below my natural point of view, in particular being absorbed in details along the paths and streets we walked through. Take a look.

We ended up having lunch at Madame Matisse's, and it was fabulous.

And this is my fabulous friend who made the whole day happen. Check out her fabulous blog randomphotooftheday.com.

Blessings, Christine Lee Smith 1 (888) 810-4322 | info @ clsphotography.com Los Angeles | Orange County | Long Beach | California Available for travel.

Wedding Tip & Trick: How to Plan Your Wedding...Types of Coordinators

christine@clsphotography.com (Christine Lee Smith Photography) — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 23:39:00 +0000

Today we welcome Briana Cannon, owner of Yenuh B. Event Planning, as our very first guest blogger to continue our series on planning your wedding. Enjoy! And let us know what you think in the comment section below. :)

By Briana Cannon, owner of Yenuh B. Event Planning

As you sit and marvel at your gorgeous engagement ring you realize a ticking time clock just went off in your mind - you have to plan a wedding! Don’t panic. Yes, you may start to feel overwhelmed as cake, flowers, guest list, music, entertainment and [gasp] the dress swirl through your mind, but that is okay. Feeling overwhelmed is a normal symptom for the newly engaged! So what do you do next? Well, you can hire a wedding coordinator to help you plan your amazing day or you can visit your local bookstore, library or wedding website and start the planning yourself. In the beginning you may think a wedding coordinator is the best way to go, so here are a few things to consider before you hire one for your wedding.

Cost
In today’s tough economy, brides can’t easily take advantage of all the luxuries wedding planning has to offer such as hiring a wedding coordinator. Wedding coordinators, also referred to event planners, are people that assist brides and grooms in the planning of their wedding for a fee. The fee for a wedding coordinator depends on what type of service you want them to provide. There are 3 basic types of coordination service available:

1. Full Service Coordination: Full service coordination is assistance from start to finish and everything in between. It usually begins by first helping the bride and groom make a wedding budget to know how much to spend on the details of the wedding like invitations, cake, the reception and entertainment. The coordinator will then help with everything from finding venues to assistance with vendors for invitations, cake, flowers, music, entertainment, photography and even guest list RSVP. The benefit of full service coordination is that you have a wedding professional helping you throughout every step of the way and it alleviates a lot of stress and time. Costs vary between coordinators, but full service coordination generally starts around $4,500 and some coordinators charge a percentage of the total budget.

2. Day-of-Coordination: Day-of Coordination is assistance by a wedding coordinator for just the day of your wedding. It usually consists of a couple meetings prior to the wedding and then full coordination of vendors and set-up for the wedding day. A bride and groom should not have to make sure the cake and flowers arrived on time. Leave that stress to the professionals! Again, costs vary between coordinators, but you can usually book day-of coordination for under $2,500.

3. A la Carte Coordination: A la Carte Coordination is assistance for when you need help with just a few things. For example, you can hire a coordinator to help with invitation design and RSVP organization, he or she can assist with securing well known vendors for your cake, music and venue or they can assist with the design and color scheme of the reception. The options are limitless and prices vary by project.

Budget
What is your budget? You may not know how much money you should spend on a wedding cake or flowers, but you should know how much money you’ve set aside to pay for your wedding. Also, please do not go into debt for a celebrity inspired 4-tier wedding cake that you may not even get to eat on your wedding day. Only spend what you know you can afford and set a budget. Parents and family members may want to help out as well, so talk to them before you start planning anything. Wedding coordinators are somewhat of a luxury, so if you have $10,000 to spend on your wedding, then full service coordination may not be the smartest expense. Instead, think about a la carte coordination or enlisting all of those family members and friends that said, “Just let me know if you need any help with the planning!” Here is a special tip: Work with wedding coordinators that are newer to the business. They will usually discount their fees to gain more clients and you can often get great attentive service.

Vision
What is your vision? Do you want a beautiful fairytale wedding with all the bells and whistles? If so, it’s a great idea to hire a professional wedding coordinator because they will help you get the most bang for your buck. Their experience and industry relationships will help make your dreams come true. Do you want something very small and simply? If so, you can probably pull it off yourself with a few friends and family to help. Do you have no idea what you want and feel like you need as much guidance as possible? If so, a wedding coordinator would be a great to help bring your wedding all together! Just make sure you can afford it.

Time
The most important thing to have when planning a wedding is time. If you are too busy to talk flowers, cake and shades of pink, then the extra help from a wedding coordinator is a must. They can take care of setting appointments and making sure the planning process is timely and organized. On the other hand, if you are very organized and can spare a couple hours a day to plan all of the small and big details you can save some money and not hire a wedding coordinator or just consider some a la carte wedding coordination.

Lastly, mothers, sisters, brothers, friends, and even fathers can be your personal wedding coordinators. The key is to delegate, delegate and delegate some more. The weight of planning doesn’t have to fall to just you and your beloved, sometimes all the help you need is just a phone call home.

Yenuh B. Event Planning
“Because you cared enough to plan…”

Blessings, Christine Lee Smith 1 (888) 810-4322 | info @ clsphotography.com Los Angeles | Orange County | Long Beach | California Available for travel.

Wedding Tip & Trick: How to Start Planing Your Wedding

christine@clsphotography.com (Christine Lee Smith Photography) — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 20:05:00 +0000

Over the weekend I met with the sweetest bride-to-be. She is madly in love with her fiance, and they're hoping to have a beautiful, simple wedding next summer.Yea!

One little thing: they have to plan this beautiful simple wedding first.

It's easy to understand why brides and grooms today would feel a bit overwhelmed at planning such a momentous event in their lives - with the plethora of wedding vendors, websites and Facebook ads, getting lost in the shuffle is common.

We've worked with a number of brides - from small local weddings, to weddings of out of state brides planning California destination weddings - so, my uber-planner side thought it'd be a good idea to share some of my favorite (and well tested!) tips for how to start planning your wedding.

Start with the Big 3:

Choose your date. It's all fine and good to browse Grace Ormonde or The Knot, but until you have a chosen date (or it narrowed down to two or three possibilities) not much else can get set in stone.
Choose your venue. This decision can perplex even the most decisive brides. To help narrow it down, first choose a maximum distance or vicinity you're willing to consider. Then consider elements that are important to you. Not sure how to start? Just close your eyes, and picture yourself and your fiance saying "I do." Are you inside a church? Outside on a beach? Is it formal or casual? Is there water, a lot of trees or beautiful architecture? Jot down the elements that jump out to you about your vision and start from there. Next, if your destination isn't exactly next door, limit yourself to using one online wedding website to help you virtually build a list of possible venues, like Grace's Platinum list or WeddingWire.com.
Choose your photographer. Style is just as important as quality and personality. Based on your location, and your venue, find a photographer that captures the essence you're looking to remember from your own wedding day. If you're getting married in a giant cathedral in New York, look for a photographer that shows a lot of church ceremonies on their gallery site. Planning a laid back wedding on the beach? Find a photographer who shows a lot of casual, fun wedding photography on their site. Remember: we're going for essence here. Read their "raves" or "reviews." Then plan a time to meet with them face to face, or over the phone. You want to choose a photographer or studio that you feel comfortable with. If you're intimidated or underwhelmed now, that won't change throughout the process.

Congratulations! You've just tackled the big three. Check in here next time for the next part of the planning process. :)

Have a great suggestion or idea? Leave it in the comments and we'll review your ideas!

Blessings, Christine Lee Smith 1 (888) 810-4322 | info @ clsphotography.com Los Angeles | Orange County | Long Beach | California Available for travel.

Check It Out! I The Knot Fall 2010 "Style Stalker"

christine@clsphotography.com (Christine Lee Smith Photography) — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 06:09:00 +0000

A photograph of one of our fabulous brides was chosen for the Style Stalker section of The Knot's Fall/Winter 2010 edition! We were so excited when we saw the issue, on newsstands now!

Check it out! And thanks to Jenn for giving the scoop on her amazing style for the feature.

Blessings, Christine Lee Smith 1 (888) 810-4322 | info @ clsphotography.com Los Angeles | Orange County | Long Beach | California Available for travel.

Maria's Portrait Session - by Justine

christine@clsphotography.com (Christine Lee Smith Photography) — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Maria contacted us to do some professional head shots of her, for her new financial advising business with Waddell & Reed. Maria is making a transition from being a controller in the auto-industry to building her own business helping people make smart financial decisions. What a great career!

For this session, our long time assistant Justine stepped up into the roll of apprentice photographer - and she did an amazing job!

Maria's session was at one of our favorite Long Beach locations, Los Cerritos Park.

Leave a comment and let us know what you think! It makes our day. :)

Blessings, Christine Lee Smith 1 (888) 810-4322 | info @ clsphotography.com Los Angeles | Orange County | Long Beach | California Available for travel.

Cathy's Graduation Portraits

christine@clsphotography.com (Christine Lee Smith Photography) — Sat, 29 May 2010 05:43:00 +0000

I had so much fun reconnecting with Cathy this week! Not too long ago we met up at our reunion (oh, my!). Cathy had loved the graduation portraits we did for Zynette, and wanted to do the same now that she's a grad herself!

Cathy's fashion sense and love for art were super inspiring to me. I love photographing her! The below photograph is definitely one of my favorites.

If you like what you see, please leave a comment.

Blessings, Christine Lee Smith 1 (888) 810-4322 | info @ clsphotography.com Los Angeles | Orange County | Long Beach | California Available for travel.

Daniel & Kristin are Married!

christine@clsphotography.com (Christine Lee Smith Photography) — Tue, 25 May 2010 21:30:00 +0000

Last Saturday Daniel & Kristin got married at the beautiful Grand Tradition Arbor Terrace in Fallbrook, CA.

For Kristin the day started out with her lovely mom at the salon, Bellolie, just down the street from the Arbor Terrace. Daniel and his groomsmen got ready at the venue in their awesome groom's suite.

Photograph above by second photographer Emily.

Kristin looked gorgeous in her amazing dress...

Daniel & Kristin decided to do a "First Look" session. A "First Look" is a wonderful and special time set aside for just the bride and groom before the ceremony to see one another and have a few precious moments together before saying, "I do." It's a wonderful chance to pause and remember the day you've waited so long for.

These two were so excited to see one another - as if the day stopped for them, for just a few moments - it was absolutely precious. They laughed and cried together, and then prayed before heading off for the ceremony.

The ceremony was beautifully led. The pastor did an amazing job. They had a unity candle lighting and prayer after exchanging their vows on the lawn in front of a Maui-like waterfall.

Photograph above by second photographer Emily.

Afterwords we had a great time photo-taking with the bridal party - who were more than ready to have some fun!

The reception led off with Daniel & Kristin's first dance - which was the best two-step I've ever seen. Then prayer and a beautiful buffet dinner.

Toasts and a slide show were next; followed by some good old fashioned dancing (line dancing, included!). It was a fabulous celebration of these two!

Photograph above by second photographer Emily.

Congratulations Daniel & Kristin! Have a wonderful honeymoon and an amazing journey together.

Blessings, Christine Lee Smith 1 (888) 810-4322 | info @ clsphotography.com Los Angeles | Orange County | Long Beach | California Available for travel.

Tara's Senior Portrait Session

christine@clsphotography.com (Christine Lee Smith Photography) — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 17:36:00 +0000

Tara is a very cool high school senior. She's calm and collected. Describing herself she said she's, "Responsible, sarcastic" and fun.

We decided to hit up Shoreline Village in Long Beach for some fun backdrops as we helped to celebrate her new chapter in life - college away from home.

It was great hanging out with you Tara!

Tara's skin just glowed in the sunlight - gorgeous.

Of course a few bystanders noticed the gorgeous girl in red and attempted to participate.

My favorite photograph from this session. I just love the way the light falls behind her and silhouettes her face.

Blessings,
Christine Lee Smith

1 (888) 810-4322 | info @ clsphotography.com
Los Angeles | Orange County | Long Beach | California
Available for travel.

Classic Bride Blog Post!

christine@clsphotography.com (Christine Lee Smith Photography) — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 21:46:00 +0000

Eek! I am so super excited right now! The amazingly gorgeous and stylish Classic Bride blog just posted a wedding we had the priviledge of shooting - Sep & Jenn's amazing Malibu wedding.

Check it out here.

Will you help us say "Thank you!" and share the love and leave a little love over at Classic Bride?

Blessings,
Christine Lee Smith

1 (888) 810-4322 | info @ clsphotography.com
Los Angeles | Orange County | Long Beach | California
Available for travel.

Gilt Group Premieres Wedding Collection

christine@clsphotography.com (Christine Lee Smith Photography) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 22:27:00 +0000

Just announced! Friday, March 12 at 12pm ET (9am Pacific) Gilt Group premieres the wedding collection sale you've been dreaming of.

From Gilt Group's website:

Big Deals for the Big Day: Sneak Peek Gilt's Wedding Weekend March 12-14

The countdown’s on. Each day brings you closer to your big day but also closer to Gilt’s big Wedding Weekend. Are you still looking for The One? You’ll find it this weekend — the dress that makes your heart skip a beat, brings a smile to your face, and is as stunning going down the aisle as it is getting down on the dance floor. (Like this gorgeous gown by Carolina Herrera.) As for your girls, if you want them to stay your BFFs after the wedding, go for the sweet, stylish bridesmaids’ dresses by Thread, Amsale and Vera Wang Lavender. The little things count big-time, so max out the cuteness of your flower girls (without maxing out your credit card) and score an adorable dress by Pippa and Julie. Elle McPherson Intimates, Lulu Frost hair accessories and Hickey Freeman Boys are just some of the other designers you’ll see in our sales this weekend. Here’s a sneak peek of some of the highlights.
Get set to wed Friday, March 12, at noon ET.

Blessings,
Christine Lee Smith

1 (888) 810-4322 | info @ clsphotography.com
Los Angeles | Orange County | Long Beach | California
Available for travel.

We're Moving!

christine@clsphotography.com (Christine Lee Smith Photography) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 07:53:00 +0000

Hi Blog Readers,

We're moving! Yep, our blog has a nice, new cozy home at:

http://blog.clsphotography.com/

Thanks to blogger for making the transition simple!

Blessings,
Christine Lee Smith

1 (888) 810-4322 | info @ clsphotography.com
Los Angeles | Orange County | Long Beach | California
Available for travel.

This blog has moved

christine@clsphotography.com (Christine Lee Smith Photography) — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 21:09:00 +0000

This blog is now located at http://blog.clsphotography.com/.
You will be automatically redirected in 30 seconds, or you may click here.

For feed subscribers, please update your feed subscriptions to
http://www.clsphotography.com/atom.xml.

Cardigans & Buttons

christine@clsphotography.com (Christine Lee Smith Photography) — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 20:48:00 +0000

I've always loved a good cardigan and just about anything with buttons, but it seems that this year my addiction has moved over to obsession (apparently, they live next door).

And with no help from the designer sale website, Gilt Fuse, I may now need professional help.

Just scored this awesome little cardi for under $30 bucks. Yep, Free People (a favorite of mine) for under $30. Love it!

This little number may not have buttons, but it's just so darn cute and comfortable it'll pass.

Need a pass to get into Fuse? Lemme know. :)

Blessings,
Christine Lee Smith

1 (888) 810-4322 | info @ clsphotography.com
Los Angeles | Orange County | Long Beach | California
Available for travel.

I Heart Flowers!

christine@clsphotography.com (Christine Lee Smith Photography) — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 01:12:00 +0000

I heart pretty flowers like these...

And someone sent me some this week! Can you believe it? Me either!

Last week I had the privilege of meeting with some super sweet ladies who are just getting started building their photography business. We met to talk about first steps and how to build for a long-term future and growth, plus some other fun stuff (like favorite lenses). I love teaching, and having the opportunity to teach others is one of my favorite things.

So, what a surprise when a few short days later these beauties arrived on my doorstep!

Thank you Julie & Jacqui! And best of luck in your new adventure!

Blessings,
Christine Lee Smith

1 (888) 810-4322 | info @ clsphotography.com
Los Angeles | Orange County | Long Beach | California
Available for travel.

Ryan & Jessica's E-Session

christine@clsphotography.com (Christine Lee Smith Photography) — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 05:24:00 +0000

Meet Ryan & Jessica...

Ryan & Jessica are getting married in a few months. They fell in love after some inner-office romance and decided to get hitched. Ryan & Jessica love to have fun and be outdoors together.

See. I told you so.

And they have a lovely little girl, cutest ever, named Maddy.

They are planning a beautiful wedding at Salt Creek Beach, and a gorgeous reception at Cannons, both in Dana Point.

Ryan & Jessica are also coordinating their wedding-awesomeness with some amazing vendors, like Jeannie, from Wedding Jeannie, and Chuck from Music on the Move. We can't wait!

In the meantime, here are a few more of their e-session photos - they just rocked it, and I'm so excited for them. They make a great team, and I know their future holds beautiful, bright and wonderful things for them!

We'd love to read your thoughts - would you mind sharing a few via commenting on this post? Thanks!

Blessings,
Christine Lee Smith

1 (888) 810-4322 | info @ clsphotography.com
Los Angeles | Orange County | Long Beach | California
Available for travel.

christine@clsphotography.com (Christine Lee Smith Photography) — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 00:22:00 +0000

Long Beach, CA – January 19, 2010 - WeddingWire, the nation’s leading wedding technology company, just announced Christine Lee Smith Photography has been selected to receive the 2010 Bride’s Choice Awards™ for photography!

The annual Bride’s Choice Awards™ recognizes and celebrates excellence in quality and service within the wedding industry, as determined by recent reviews and extensive surveys from over 500,000 newlyweds.

Christine Lee Smith Photography is among the top five percent of all vendors in the WeddingWire community, which includes over 100,000 wedding professionals across the US and Canada. Awards were given to winners across 19 different service categories, from wedding venues to wedding photographers.

“We are excited to recognize and honor the success of the top wedding professionals within the WeddingWire Community” said Timothy Chi, WeddingWire’s Chief Executive Officer. “The annual Bride’s Choice Awards™ program has given us the unique opportunity to highlight the best wedding professionals in each region as reviewed by brides and grooms who have utilized their services in the past year.”

We are happy to announce that Christine Lee Smith Photography is among the very best photography within the WeddingWire Network, for the second year in a row, which includes WeddingWire and Martha Stewart Weddings. We would like to thank our past newlyweds for nominating us for the 2010 Bride’s Choice Awards™.

For more information, please visit our WeddingWire Storefront today at http://www.weddingwire.com/biz/christine-lee-smith-photography-long-beach/0973d23a574cc241.html.

About WeddingWire, Inc.
WeddingWire is the only online wedding planning resource designed to empower both engaged couples and wedding vendors. WeddingWire enables engaged couples to search, compare and book over 100,000 reviewed wedding vendors nationwide, from wedding photographers to wedding cakes. WeddingWire also offers an online community and a suite of cutting-edge planning tools, including wedding websites and wedding checklists, all at no charge. For wedding vendors, WeddingWire provides free online management tools creating the only market opportunity that gives businesses control over their clients, reviews, leads and performance. In addition, WeddingWire has partnered with Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc. (NYSE: MSO) to provide its network of local vendors and online wedding-planning tools in the Weddings section of www.MarthaStewartWeddings.com. For additional information, please visit www.WeddingWire.com.

Blessings,
Christine Lee Smith

1 (888) 810-4322 | info @ clsphotography.com
Los Angeles | Orange County | Long Beach | California
Available for travel.

Louie & Quincy - Vote!

christine@clsphotography.com (Christine Lee Smith Photography) — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 21:14:00 +0000

Decisions, decisions... I can't decide which two photos (one of each precious pup) to choose for our friends, Jamie & Brooke.

I'm going to make a 5x7 print of each one for them, as a belated Christmas gift (does that even exist?) but now I can't decide which pic of their pooches to use.

Louie is the grey and white cutie; Quincy is the tan and white puppy.

Which do you think should make it to the final cut?

Blessings,
Christine Lee Smith

My Christmas...

christine@clsphotography.com (Christine Lee Smith Photography) — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 19:22:00 +0000

Tucson, AZ - Christmas 2009

Blessings,
Christine Lee Smith

Christmastime with Family

christine@clsphotography.com (Christine Lee Smith Photography) — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 04:53:00 +0000

Christmastime with family is by far my favorite (Thanksgiving is a close second).

Yearly traditions include an annual "pajama party," where participants are required to wear Christmas-themed pajamas, tree shopping with the Smith-side, Family Christmas the weekend prior and more.

This past weekend was the tree buying/PJ party...busy weekend.

Here are a few moments that I love (taken with my itty-bitty Olympus camera). Enjoy and please leave a comment if you'd be so kind. :)

This one's by far my favorite - my husband (left) in conversation with one of his closest friends, Nate. Dad in the background. Mood is just right - and epitomizes what I love about being with family and friends, the kind of friends that blur the lines of family.

Blessings,
Christine Lee Smith

Thank you for your recommendations!

christine@clsphotography.com (Christine Lee Smith Photography) — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 20:51:00 +0000

Oh, my what a week!

It's the end of the year, and around this time we begin asking our couples for feedback and recommendations from their experiences with us. We've been blessed beyond words at what some of you have had to say.

Here are a few highlights:

My wife and I hired Christine to photograph our wedding and were ecstatic at the work that she produced. We loved the quality of the photographs that were taken and everyone who has talked to us about our wedding tells us how much they love the photographs. The editing of the photos was first rate. Friends of ours who attended the wedding have even been inspired to take photography classes taught by Christine.

In addition, her creativity and variety of shots were great.

Overall, I'd recommend Christine for any event you want photographed. Her prices are on the high end of the photographers we looked at, but the quality made it all worth it.

Tyler & Lauren

My wife and I chose Christine to shoot our wedding and engagement session in mid-2009 and the results were truly breathtaking! Not only is her work amazing but she is also a sweet and extremely friendly and understanding individual. Not once did we ever feel rushed or pressured during the months leading up to our wedding and on the day of...or afterwords during the album design process.

She will be our go-to person when we need a photographer for future family events and as well as be our first choice when a friend or family member needs help looking for a photographer.

Philip & Lidia

Thanks for making our week guys! You can be sure these reviews will make it to our website. :)

Have a wonderful week! Merry Christmas!

Blessings,
Christine Lee Smith

Merry Christmas! Holiday Hours

christine@clsphotography.com (Christine Lee Smith Photography) — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 02:57:00 +0000

Yuletide, pine trees and red ribbons...

In 2009 we're dedicated to actually spending time with our family and friends (which we're super excited about). So in effort to keep clear communication with all of our lovely clients, the following charts out our holiday office hours:

Christmas Week (12/20-26) CLOSED
New Year's Eve & Day (12/31/09-1/1/10) CLOSED

Feel free to leave us messages or emails during this time, which will be checked once we return to the office, at:

(888) 810-4322 or info {at} clsphotography.com

Merry Christmas!

Blessings,
Christine Lee Smith

Wedding Tips & Tricks

christine@clsphotography.com (Christine Lee Smith Photography) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 19:40:00 +0000

I love e-sessions. They are right up there with shooting a wedding for me - simply one of my favorite things to do.

What I love so much is the simplicity of an e-session; the passion and sometimes nervous excitement that comes when they realize this photo session is in preparation for the day they've both been waiting for.

I get to witness that - and better yet, I get to capture it. That's why I love photographing e-sessions.

And because I love them, and shoot them often, I've garnered a few tips and tricks along the way - things I've learned that help a couple enjoy and benefit the most out of our time together.

Here they are:

Sleep! Get lots of rest the night before your session.
Stay well hydrated by drinking lots of water a few days before your session.
I highly recommend wearing something that you're both comfortable in, that makes you feel like yourselves.
Also, choose colors you love; bright and bold often work well with the camera, especially when paired with a huge smile that shows you feel like yourself in what you're wearing.
Keep the location in mind as you decide what to wear - if we're in a natural setting you may get a little dusty or slightly dirty as we shoot; if we're near water you may get a little wet (maybe); if we're in the city, we may be doing a bit of walking...which leads me to the next point:
Wear shoes that work for the location(s) we're shooting in. It goes a long way in keeping you comfortable and relaxed!
If you're wearing patterns, choose ones that compliment each other; horizontal stripes aren't always as flattering in camera, even if they look great on you.
Typically I recommend having some color, or adding colorful accessories to a white top - it tends to really compliment your e-session photos and sets them apart from your wedding day photographs.
Lastly, when couples match with similar hues or shades of a coordinating color pattern it looks great - but you don't have to perfectly match to look good together! :)

And finally, if you ever have questions on what to wear or anything else regarding your session - talk to me! Shoot over an email or give us a ring - we're here to serve you and help your session be the first of many amazing wedding memories to come. ;)

Got a great tip or trick? Leave a comment!

Blessings,
Christine Lee Smith

Do you Know What it Means to Miss New Orleans?

christine@clsphotography.com (Christine Lee Smith Photography) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 19:06:00 +0000

New Orleans has touched my heart in a deeper way than I could have ever expected.

Last week I had the privilege to attend Pictage's PartnerCon in New Orleans, LA. The conference was held at the beautiful Astor Crowne Plaza, right off Canal and Bourbon St.'s in the middle of the French Quarter.

View more NOLA photographs here.

I arrived Monday night, so tired from the early flight and drive to the airport. I was ready to crash by the time I checked in after dark around 6pm. The first chance I had to explore the Quarter wasn't until the following evening. I wandered Bourbon St. with my camera - taking in the sights and sounds, and smells. Honestly, at that moment I was ready to write off NOLA (New Orleans, LA). I'd had my taste, and my fill.

Wednesday, I was scheduled to go on a Shooting Workshop with the amazing photographer, Chris A. Williams, who calls NOLA home. The session started out slow on the bus drive over. I was determined to practice "Walking amongst the fireflies," (as photographer Will Jacks mentioned in a previous session the day before) with my 85mm f/1.2 rather than my workhorse, the 24-70mm f/2.8 lens.

I wanted to see NOLA through different eyes. And I did.

Our wonderful bus driver gave us some cultural commentary as we drove into the 9th Ward district. He told us about how the levy broke because of a barge that was parked there just before Katrina hit. We heard how all the open grass lands in the district were once rows and rows of houses. We were told how many residents haven't yet returned home to NOLA. We saw the Make It Right development and Musician's Village.

I also heard from people like Jerry, Oscar and Danny. Jeremiah, my taxi driver on the way to the airport, told me how no one asks anymore. And he shared, with a quite bravery, how just after Katrina hit that he only worked in the daytime because it was too dangerous to go out after dark; he mentioned that for 12 days he was without power and running water.

As I walked the streets, up Cannal and over to Mother's Restaurant off Magazine St. I met people - I saw people - some brave, some hardened, some hurting, some hiding, some living, some not doing so well. But all who were left are surviving. Most are moving forward a little more each day.

On my last night in the city of music I wandered over to another part of the French Quarter. I had the privilege of meeting artists, musicians and magicians. It was more magical than words can define.

I came home new. I came home with my heart softened to a city of people that still need to have their story heard. Their hearts are still breaking, but they are living.

Thank you for taking a few moments to read about the lives of those still affected by Katrina. I would love to hear your thoughts, opinions and comments if you'd like to take a moment to share.

View more NOLA photographs here.

Blessings,
Christine Lee Smith

That Was So 1995...

christine@clsphotography.com (Christine Lee Smith Photography) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 16:27:00 +0000

FBI Agents Mulder and Scully were on the move last night, chasing hard and fast X-Files and distributing candy in Garden Grove, CA.

If you like what you see, leave a comment! :)

We sure had a great time. This whole week I've been planning for us to dress up as the 90's dynamic duo (which sadly no 10-year-old recognized), and even in spite of a long weird day, we were able to pull it off at the last minute.

The rest of the evening was filled with passing out candy and watching Dawn of the Dead - a classic. Interesting note: zombie thrillers don't scare me all that much. Who knew? They're just suspenseful.

Coup de gras of the evening was when Kip, Matt's brother, jumped out and scared one youngster to the point of fleeing without his pirate hat (see below).

All in all, good times with family and friends. Lesson learned: don't disregard small family gatherings, they can end up being the most memorable.

Blessings,
Christine Lee Smith