I’m trying to take this week off or something since David has his spring break this weekend and we’re busy with finishing up the basement to get ready for CARPET! YAY!! But I digress, yes, planning on not doing any work…so I’m doing 3 shoots this week…haha. But I will share some embarrassing music choices that are on my itunes…

I have not one but THREE Celine Dion cd’s. Yep.
I have the Hilary Duff cd and still listen to it. Hello 2004. (crap, that was SIX years ago!?)
Today, I listened to R. Kelly’s “The World’s Greatest.” I still knew all the words. Pathetic.
Ashlee Simpson gives me hope that anyone can sing…
Flashdance is a song I always sing when I karaoke because Irene Cara is my namesake (parents changed the C to a K)

And a quick look at my artists, these are also ones I’m semi-ashamed of: a*teens (how?!), bbmak (does anyone else remember these people?), c&c music factory (ahahaha), geri hallowell (seriously kara…), hoobastank (whobastank, youbastank!), m.c. hammer (this song on just dance for wii is so much fun as is who let the dogs out…oh I should’ve included baha men in this list), mandy moore (I have 2 cds), merryl bainbridge (this had to be 2001-2002…I feel old.), spice girls, 98 degrees (there is nothing to redeem myself).

I have been thinking about first dance songs, and since I have the most random assortment of songs ever, why not talk about the less talked about songs. I have an eclectic style to say the least, so without further ado, some songs for first dance consideration:

slower songs:
marry me – train – off their new cd and it would be AMAZING as a first dance song. Perfect speed, lovely words.
love song – 311
into the mystic – van morrison
I’m yours – jason mraz
satellite – dave matthews band
like a star – corinne bailey rae
god only knows – beach boys
feels like home – chantal kreviazuk
stand by me – ben e. king
all along – blessid union of souls
have you ever been in love – celine dion (remember the first part where I called myself out on this.)
runaway – the corrs
100 years – five for fighting
belief (acoustic version) – gavin degraw
meaning (acoustic version) – gavin degraw (bonus points if you pick this, this was our first dance song
look after you – the fray
better together – jack johnson
you’ll be in my heart – phil collins
one – u2

faster songs:
many the miles – sara bareilles
two hearts – nick west
save the last dance for me – michael buble
for once in my life – michael buble
upside down – jack johnson
let’s stay together – al green
the way i am – ingrid michaelson
each day gets better – john legend
only heart – john mayer
you found me – kelly clarkson
this will be – nat king cole & natalie cole
higher and higher – rita coolidge

So there’s a short list! But hopefully if you’re looking for some different options this helps! And you can make fun of the random things that are in my itunes!

Kara
kara@karaschultz.com

for no money! Last night I got together with some of my fellow Get Weddy Chicago vendors to finalize the newsletters and really get the website and newsletter going! Once we’re all finished, it’s going to be an awesome resource for all brides over Chicago! My clients get a newsletter about things that pertain to my style and how it goes with me, but Get Weddy is an all encompassing resource written from several views and more general than specific. We have a member of each part of the wedding day represented and writing articles to help everyone!

Don’t judge these, I had no light when we met at the Brickhouse in Downers Grove located at 1461 Butterfield Rd Downers Grove, IL 60515-1004 (630) 963-1104 who have an awesome atmosphere!

Kristen from Kio Kreations who has been working hard on the layouts talks about where we stand and is rocking a new haircut

Mike from MDM Entertainment is focused on something…listening very intently as you can see (p.s. did you know MDM is now doing affordable uplighting!? ::swoon::) And Matt’s in there too, he almost skipped out on his bill on accident

Faith from Photobooth Express looks over our handouts

Cynthia is hiding from my camera per usual (if she didn’t love her headshots so much, she’d kill me for this)

Patti from With Love Bridal planning starts going over what needs to be done.

Pat Pecirno who is a videographer looks on!

then the computers come out…

my notes. I had to make a new list for myself, these were just ideas I just kept jotting down!

A chance to show off my custom iphone case, isn’t it fun!?

There was some wine and beer involved.

look at those stacks of business cards we got handed!

Our goal for rollout is May 1, so I’ll be blogging about it much more and you’ll see articles here that will be going over there and will be easy to find! We’re sad that not everyone could make it but we all look forward to seeing each other again!

I have some exciting other things coming up like boudoir posts and some guest blogging!

Kara
kara@karaschultz.com

With everyone cutting back today on different wedding related expenses, I often get the “can we take out the engagement session”? I do not agree with this sentiment at all. I would rather you ask to take out the product credit and ask for a payment plan with your wedding album than ditching the engagement session and although that I don’t 100% fully agree with doing this, I’d much rather leave off the product credit than have your ditch your engagement session. Here’s some reasons why:

1. It’s a rehearsal – just like you rehearse for your wedding day, try on your dress and have it fitted, your engagement session is a rehearsal of how your photographer (whether it be me or someone else) photographs and how they pose or if they don’t pose at all.  Then on the wedding day, you know how to pose and things go a bit smoother.
2. Another meeting - it’s great to get to know your photographer because they’re going to be the closest vendor to you on your wedding day, or even like a friend!  We’re there when your getting ready to the end of the night when you may have had a few too many drinks!  We’re there and we’re the ones who are capturing the moments of your day that you will have forever so it’s good to meet with us again!
3. Practice! – it’s good practice for posing so that you know what you like and what you don’t like.   We’re our own worst critics and it will help you relax on the big day if you know what you looked like in your engagement pictures and what you did or didn’t like (I think you look gorgeous in all of them!).   It will leave less stress when it comes to the picture time because you know what to expect and that’s important!  It’s also a great time to book your makeup trial on the same day so you can get an idea of how your makeup will look in pictures on your wedding day too.
4. Acceptable pictures – I talk about this all the time, and I’m guilty of this too, but most of the pictures together are taken in places that you wouldn’t want to give to your grandma (see bar with bottles in background) and you may or may not have had too many drinks and it may show!  So it’s always good to have these pictures so that you can use them in all sorts of your wedding planning (I’ll make another post…uses for your engagement pictures   there’s lots!).
5. It’s never too late - ok, so now there’s only a month or a week until the wedding, you haven’t done your e-session, oh no!  It’s never too late to meet and do a session, it’ll help you even if it’s just a week away.  It takes an hour and we can do anything you want whether it’s just you both in your favorite coffee shop or anything else your imagination comes up with like making cookies or dinner, just about anything flies!
6. I don’t know what to do - don’t fret, your photographer has ideas, I have lots of them and will get you what you want.  And plus, I always make them fun!
7. My fiance doesn’t want to - Read this list to him, it’s easy, painless and fun.  It gets over the awkwardness of kissing in front of a camera and being close.  It’s really good practice to understand how all of these wedding things work.
8. Ask questions! – During the engagement session we talk a lot about random things and about your wedding.  You may have some questions that come up and you have my undivided attention to ask them and get immediate answers.  You can bring up any possible issues, or ask my opinion on things you’re doing or planning on and if I think it’ll impact the pictures at all (and usually it’s a no, but I can give you examples of previous weddings that were similar).  I also get to know you both and your personalities before the wedding and you get mine!
9. But… – “I can save money without it”, not with me you can’t!  I don’t discount engagement sessions or remove them from packages, whether you use them or not, they’re there, so use them!
10. Why not? – seriously, why not?  It’s an hour, I take care of the rest!

so those are some reasons why engagement sessions are a good idea and why you shouldn’t cut them out of your packages, instead look at other areas that you can reduce some cost or delay it (such as in albums…even though I don’t want to really advocate that…but hey, if somethings got to give…).   Check out the what to wear post I did awhile back (I’ll be doing another) for ideas on how to dress for these!  I’ll do another one too!

But if nothing else, don’t you want some images like this:

Kara
kara@karaschultz.com

and it wasn’t me!  Well, I need a new one but that’s another story, but I’ve been harrassing Cynthia for months about her current headshot (and now I know her site will get a ton of hits!).  I told her she needs a new one because the one there looks nothing like her!  Over the weekend when we were doing boudoir I told her I was determined to take new ones and she obliged!  Which is funny because I was begging to take pictures of her and she probably should be begging me…roles reversed huh?

So here are my favorites, which one do you think she should use?!

This one is nice and safe and a real smile.

I like this one because it shows her laughing and Cynthia is always laughing…sometimes even to the point of tears!

I was making her do boudoir poses to lighten up the mood and so she would laugh.  I think it worked.

A little more serious…

And this one is just for fun because I like it

So which one do you think Cynthia should use?!  Oh and if you don’t have a makeup artist for your wedding yet, hire Cynthia, she’s fantastic!  And if you’re looking for boudoir we still have some openings on April 25th and April 6th!

Kara

kara@karaschultz.com

for the pup, not for the Kara. I’m busy busy busy working on albums and getting everything ready for the boudoir shoots this weekend! Don’t forget about the canvas sale below, and get in on that! I’m heading to the studio today to tackle a wall that is driving me batty, so stop by if you want!

(and yes, she’s using a pillow like a person…crazy dog)

Kara
kara@karaschultz.com

p.s. I know I owe some winners from the grand opening and will announce those tomorrow when I figure out a fun way to choose them!

Since today’s a wonderful day and a holiday at best, let’s do another canvas sale! You have until Friday at 4pm to send me your order or add it onto your wedding package! But I’m doing another gallery wrap sale and these things are beautiful as everyone who walked into my studio went OOOoh with! (I’m also adding some fine art prints on heavy paper, these things are going to be awesome and locally supplied too!)

But let’s go with the canvas sale!

16×20 – $190
16×24 (and yes, this is correct) – $210
20×24 – $230
24×36 – $275

These are over 25% off my normal prices so get them while they’re hot!!

Kara
kara@karaschultz.com

It’s a quiet day around here. David’s grandfather died on Friday somewhat unexpectedly so we’ve been dealing with that. I made corned beef and took it over to his grandmother yesterday and listened to her talk about whatever she wanted to and just was with her. Isabelle came along and wanted to cuddle and kept trying to get on the furniture or go chase birds outside. It’s been pretty quiet though and still kind of surreal. I’m thinking that the visitation tomorrow and funeral tuesday will make it real. Even though it wasn’t my family member, it’s still hard and sad.

On another note, Isabelle is loving that she can run without slipping. We’re also enjoying the walks that we can take. I need to get into wedding shape! I know that sounds funny but I need to start lifting weights again as the camera gear I carry is about 20lbs at any given moment and the camera itself is around 15 with a lens on it. So it’s back to wii active and 30 day shred and lots of walking! Wish me luck.

Lazy day picture:

Kara
kara@karaschultz.com

I will not be at my studio tomorrow, I have to attend to family matters Sorry for the short notice, hug your loved ones.

Kara

The next dates for boudoir in April have been announced in another post! But I thought I’d make one for itself!

It will be April 25th for all the full sessions ($350) that includes: up to 90 minutes shooting time, full airbrush makeup with lashes done by the wonderful Cynthia Sally, a 20 page 8×10 album and the low-resolution images on a disc (full resolution and printing release available for an additional $150)

The times available are 12-2-4-and 6pm.

The 2 new packages will be available on April 6th in the evenings (and other evenings will be added as interest increases) these will start at 6pm and limited to 3 sessions. The mini includes 30 minutes shooting time, eyes only for the makeup including lashes, and a 5×7 folio of your 3 favorite images for only $150! the medium package is available for this day as well and includes 45 minutes shooting time, full airbrush makeup and a 5×7 folio of your favorite 3 images for $200!

We also have just a few spots open for the March boudoir! On Saturday we have 9am and 1pm and Sunday just 9am! So if you’re looking for boudoir email now! All sessions will take place in Geneva, IL in my studio (don’t worry, it will be private!).

Email me today!
Kara
kara@karaschultz.com

I wasn’t feeling any of my topics for blogging today, many required searching through the thousands of images on my external hard drive to give you wedding inspiration, don’t worry, they’ll come back soon, I’m going to do some flower love and detail lovin’!

So here’s the space before, ignore the iphone photos, when I first got there, I realized that I forgot a memory card in my big-girl camera. So iPhone photos it was.

(don’t worry, they cleared all that stuff out for me!)

some in progress, look at that great light coming in…

and you already saw the finals! I had a lot that had to get done from painting, laying the floor and the trim, and then there was everything else that just took forever! But I’m so happy it’s done! So stop by and see me!! Anyone who stops by gets a small gift!

I’ll be there Tuesday and Thursday from 4-8 and other times by appointment! But those two days are the official days and will be, I’ll announce if that will be extended or not! Or if you just want to stop by and say hi!

I will be there this Saturday from 11-4 as well as another mini opening day, not all the pomp and circumstance but still lots of fun!

And I’m having a studio booking special! Book a wedding and receive a free 8×8 engagement album for sign ins! This is a fun way to use your photos from your engagement session and another thing you don’t have to worry about! That’s a $200 value! It ends April 7th, so get to it!

Hope to see you soon!

Kara
kara@karaschultz.com