Things to consider when planning your wedding

First of all, congratulations!  You are preparing for one of the biggest days of your life - your wedding day.  It's a little cliche, but still rings true - the flowers will die, you'll probably never wear your dress again, but you will always have your wedding pictures & the memories that they capture.  Here are some things to think about when planning your big day.

A Photographer
I'm sure it may be tempting to ask your cousin or friend to do your wedding pictures, but unless they have experience photographing weddings, you will likely regret it.  Yes, it will save you money, but you do get what you pay for.  It is totally worth it to hire a professional to capture your big day.  There are no do-overs, and your pictures are what remains in the years to come.  Make sure they're something you will love!  And book your photographer early!  Popular wedding dates fill up months in advance, and it always makes me sad when I have to turn a bride away because I'm already shooting a wedding that day.

Tech-free ceremony
I would highly recommend asking guests to refrain from taking pictures during the ceremony & the posed picture time.  I have seen so many instances when well-meaning people actually make the photographer's job next to impossible - standing in the aisle where the photographer is supposed to be, or stepping in front of the photographer to get a shot on their cell phone.  It's tragic, really, and they're too busy taking pictures to socialize and enjoy the celebration.  During the posed shots, not only does it make it take longer for each shot when you have to look at 10 different cameras (therefore giving less time for the actual photographer) but it also makes it very confusing and the result is that usually in the shot you have everyone looking in a different direction.  A better option would be to offer to send copies of your wedding disk (you can burn copies yourself or order extras from me & have them sent directly to them).

Before or After?
When it comes to pictures, one of toughest choices you'll make is deciding whether you want your fiance to see you before you walk down the aisle.  If you want that moment to be the first moment he sees you in your dress, you will have to do most of your posed shots between the ceremony & the reception.  That means your guests will be waiting at the reception while you're doing your pictures.  The trend these days is to do a "first glimpse" shot so you can still capture that special moment, but you can then get the majority of your shots taken before the ceremony.  It gives you more time for pictures, and means your guests won't be waiting as long.

Make sure to plan enough time into your day to get the shots you want.  Talk it over with your photographer and let them know what you would like.  They can give you an idea of how much time you'll need to get those shots.  And I recommend to my brides that they send me a link to their Pinterest page with wedding shots that they like.  It helps to know what style the prefer & we can try to get similar shots.

Photobooth fun
Since pictures are such an important part of your big day, another option is to rent a photobooth.  There is something about a photobooth that brings out the fun, silly side of your guests, and makes for great shots & great memories!  If a photobooth isn't in your budget, just hang a large picture frame from a tree or in a corner of the reception room.  The results will be similar!

Location, location, location
Location is huge!  I didn't think about it much when I planned my wedding.  I had a beautiful outdoor wedding, but the reception was held inside an old, ugly gym.  Looking back, I wish I had chosen a prettier reception site because my pictures remind me how ugly that gymnasium was.  :)

There are so many options when choosing a place to get married.  I personally adore outdoor weddings, but you have to worry about the weather.  Will it be too hot?  Too cold?  Will it rain?  If you do get married outside, make sure to have a good backup option!  Far too often, the weather doesn't cooperate!  I would suggest that if you are getting married inside, make sure to get some of your pictures taken outside.  If there isn't a good spot outdoors where you're getting married, consider building in extra time so you can go to a second location for pictures.  It will be worth it!

Here are a few great choices for wedding venues in the Chattanooga area:

• The Church on Main Street
• The Car Barn
• Fairyland Club
• Southern Belle Riverboat
• TN Aquarium
• Fillauer Lake House
• Chester Frost Park
• The Chattanoogan Hotel
• The Chattanooga Choo Choo
• Black Fox Farms
• Stratton Hall
• The Mill
• Hunter Museum of Art
• Tennessee RiverPlace
• Sheraton Read House Hotel
• Stone Fort Inn
• Greenway Farm
• Mayor's Mansion Inn
• Patten Chapel
• Bluff View Art District

I would love to be your wedding photographer!  I have a variety of packages designed to fit every budget.  Here is a link to some of my wedding samples. http://photosbyheidib.com/?page_id=352
My most recent samples are on Facebook.  My packages can be found on Facebook or my website under "Services".

Newborn photo options

If you are expecting a baby, you are about to experience once of the most life-changing events ever (I know from experience!).  The days ahead will be exhausting, but they will pass quickly.  Before you know it, your son or daughter will be going to Kindergarten (my oldest starts next month!) and these will all be memories - memories you will want to treasure forever.  There are many options for you - each producing a slightly different result.  I want to spell them out so you understand the benefits (and results) of each.

Unlike many photographers, all of my packages include your high-resolution images on a disk with a print release form.  I edit the best ones/your favorites, but I include the other shots (unedited) on your disk as well.  They are photos of your family, friends, and loved ones - if it were me, I would want them, so I include them on the disk for you as a bonus.

I now offer the option of Birth Photography.  I will come to the hospital or your home (if you're having a home delivery) and document the precious details of one of the biggest events of your life.  Everything from dad giving mom support through labor, to mom's reaction seeing baby for the first time, to the tiny hands & feet, to siblings saying hello to their new brother/sister.  I stay out of the way, and at any point if you're not comfortable, I can step out of the room.  Since these photos are intensely personal, I only share them online with your permission.  Regardless, you will receive a sneak peek within 24 hours.  Call me when you're around 5cm, and I'll cover until 1-2 hours after delivery.  This requires being on-call day or night for the last couple weeks and there is an unknown amount of time covered since each labor is different.  $350.

** If you are being induced or having a scheduled c-section, you can get the Birth package for $100 off ($250 total), since I will have plenty of time to make arrangements.

With your Birth session, you will also receive a free in-studio (Soddy Daisy) mini-session after he/she is born so you can get shots of your new family.  I can do lifestyle shots of your little one.  Or if you want the sleeping, posed shots, you can get $50 off of a newborn package.

I am also able to come to the hospital after the delivery at a scheduled time before you leave the hospital to do in-room photos with the new baby & family.  $125.



My most popular option is a newborn session.  I do these out of my studio in Soddy Daisy.  They typically run 2-3 hours, depending on how long it takes the baby to go to sleep.  These include sleeping, posed shots of the newborn along with sibling and family shots.  I provide a variety of hats, blankets, and props, but you are welcome to bring your own as well.  Because babies grow & change so much, I prefer doing these within the first 7-10 days of life.  Babies stay asleep better when they are "fresh" and they like being curled up for the cute poses.  Once they get a little older, many of these poses don't work.  We can do awake, lifestyle photos during these as well (see next option below).  $175.



A final option is doing a lifestyle session.  When babies are really little, they are next to impossible to pose when they're awake.  They are constantly moving, which means flailing arms & legs as well as half-closed eyes - all of which don't translate well to photos.  I can get some shots of the baby by him/herself, but the majority of the photos will involve family - parents, siblings.  When the baby is being held, he/she is calmer and it makes for better photos for you.  **Note - any of these shots can be done during a newborn session (see above), but the sleeping, posed shots won't be able to be done during this session.**  This can be done at any age.  $75 for 15 minutes or $100 for 30 minutes.



I am located in Soddy Daisy and cover the Chattanooga, Hixson, Soddy areas.  www.photosbyheidib.com

Welcome

I hadn't started a photography blog before now because I can barely keep up with photoshoots, editing, posting, networking on Facebook, replying to emails, etc.  But since Facebook keeps dropping the number of people who actually see my posts, I decided it was time to start up a blog with a subscriber list.  That way, those who are interested in keeping up with important events such as Fall Photos, Santa Pictures, and Easter portraits, will be kept in the loop!

Pumpkin mini-sessions will be going on this month in Soddy Daisy - preferably on week days.  The price is $30.  The sessions are really short (around 5 minutes - long enough to get the shots we need).  You will receive 5 edited images plus a digital collage.

Fall Photos are just around the corner - the first round starts in just under 2 weeks!  The first 3 weekends are booked solid, but I do still have a few openings left on Nov. 11th in Soddy Daisy.  The location is beautiful!  If you want to have family portraits done at this time, these fall mini-sessions are $50.  The sessions will be 15 minutes long, and you will receive 8 edited images as well as all of the photos from your session (edited & unedited) on a disk with full print rights.

I will be working out the details for Santa/Christmas pictures this coming week, so stay tuned for info on those!  I will be offering both a traditional sitting-on-Santa's-lap package, as well as a longer, more fun/creative session which will include things such as drinking hot cocoa, eating/setting out the cookies for Santa, writing a letter to Santa, being wrapped in Christmas lights, reading a Christmas story together, etc.  As always, I am open to ideas, so if you have something you would like to see, just let me know and I'll do my best to incorporate your ideas into the session!

Thank you for continuing to support me in my photography!  I wouldn't be where I am today without you guys!