I promise lots of blogging tomorrow, been busy obviously I have a fun winter engagement session (I love my 2010 clients) and Isabelle eating cake which is pretty entertaining! And no, no pictures until after Sunday!! You better come!! I promise it’ll be worth it! Prove the hubby wrong that I actually have clients as he laughed and thought only our families would come! I know some of you out there are coming but I’m hoping to see a lot of you! Thanks so much for the kind words! Isabelle will be there too with the husband (so you can meet who I throw under the bus a lot. He provides a lot of material for me. Hi honey, love you. I don’t think he actually checks the blog, for good reason too!).

So until tomorrow!! Be there sunday or be square! (yep, I said that and it’s ok for everyone who told me they couldn’t make it you are not square!)

Kara
kara@karaschultz.com

You better be coming to my studio opening! I’m so excited and maybe a bit stressed out about getting things done and ready in time. Please don’t judge the paint job, I was dealing with crappy paint below it that felt like tempera.

Let’s go over the details again!

Sunday March 7, 2010
12-5pm

Location: 227 S. Third St Suite 205 Geneva IL (I’m by the elevator on the top floor!)

Here’s a nifty map for you so you can see the things around it! There’s lots to do in downtown Geneva and it’s just a fun place to be!

So what are you getting by coming to see my new place?! You know I’m a sucker for a giveaway and here’s just a few: a couple of mounted 11×14′s, set of 3×3 accordion albums, 5×7 accordion album and even a $50 product certificate! (p.s. you can buy product certificates at any time, they make great wedding gifts so that couples can upgrade albums or buy wall prints like canvases!). You’ll also get a thanks-for-stopping-by gift that just came in yesterday! It’s a very useful item and you’ll just love it! And anyone who continues to stop by and visit me gets one too!

So I can’t wait to see you! I’m planning on a silly cake cutting experience and you may even get to meet Isabelle!!

Kara

Oh how I love love love accessories!  I love pearls and long necklaces, I also love asymmetrical necklace designs too!  I also love shoes, I’m a shoe-aholic!

Let’s start with the reception.  I love when couples do things that are unique to them!  Like cookies in the shape of their favorite Chicago Blackhawks and table names to follow!  Photo guestbooks filled with their engagement pictures are also high on my list!  A groom’s cake surprise!  Cake stands are also very cool and dramatic!  And anything that shows the personalities of the couple and occasion, for example, Traycie and Jason’s NYE wedding had a themed cake!  What a great idea!  I also love when couples use family photographs of previous weddings, it’s always fun to see!

Special touches are always fun too.  Like having a music themed reception when the husband is a musician!  Putting your names and dates on the bottom of your shoes (I was there also gluing tiny rhinestones on the bottom of my shoes for my “something blue”!), gifts are also fun for each of the couples!  Crazy card boxes that really show your personality and using pinatas (apparently that’s what happens when you leave getting a card box to the groom!) or even an ice cream truck on a hot day!  Visiting your favorite stadium for pictures (or even stopping by your favorite bar!).  Other things that make your wedding day special and personal, like having a brick engraved where you’re getting married, a wine box ceremony, or including your furmonster into the ceremony (this I love and would’ve done!)

I also love funky shoes!  Look at these fabulous ones!  Some shoes even inspired the entire day!  I also love veils with lace, cute flower accessories when the veil comes off that is still there, and birdcage veils are so much fun!

I love when girls have great accessories with their dresses, between sashes and great locations to hang your dress (tip: always keep the room clean where you’re getting ready, it’ll be easier to leave the location since everything will have it’s place and we won’t have to spend time cleaning up!).  Also, I looooooove colored bouqets for the bride.  The color just pops against the white dress and even if it’s just a touch of color with white, that’s really pretty too!

I love when girls wait to get ready when I’m there!  I love that they wait to put on the jewelry until the last minute.  You always get great shots of earrings being put on or a friend, sister or mom helping!

Onto where to get some of these awesome accessories!  I love perusing around White Aisle.  Here’s a few of my personal favorites and the good news is…they’re affordable accessories!!!  (note, images are from white aisle, not me).  I love some crystal and pearl combination’s but that’s my personal style, unfortunately I can’t wear most silver since I’m allergic to nickel, so some of the earrings may not work personally for me but I’d love to wear them!  I love bracelets and dramatic earrings if there’s no necklace.

Etsy is also a wonderful place for handmade items for your wedding day!  So search around!  But if you don’t want to search, the store heknowsmyname is fabulous and affordable too!   (these are their pictures…not mine   And their website is to launch in march at www.heknowsmyname.com)

I just love the flowers in their shop!  AND they do custom orders!

I LOVE these organza flowers!  They’d be lovely for spring, early summer weddings!

Feather fascinators are huge these days and I love those too!  Ah so many great accessories but they all may not work together!  So go ahead and embrace your style and the overall feeling of your wedding!  Don’t be scared to do something a bit different for your ceremony and reception!

Kara

So this post is just for funsies.  Why not get to know me a little better?   So you need to know my painting playlist first of all!  I made it for the day that I spent 7 hours painting!

the best of what’s around – dave matthews band
satellite – dave matthews band
i don’t care – fall out boy
in love with a girl – gavin degraw
who says – john mayer
stronger – kayne west
many the miles – sara bareilles
hey, soul sister – train
half moon bay – train
pieces of me – ashlee simpson
trucker hat – bowling for soup
dialogue (part 1 & 2) – chicago
accidentally in love – counting crows – I somehow convinced David to use this as our recessional song, it was just too perfect not to, and it ended up working out really well!
a little less sixteen candles, a little more touch me – fall out boy
hum hallelujah – fall out boy
thanks for the memories – fall out boy
don’t you know who i think i am – fall out boy
dead on arrival – fall out boy
grand theft autumn/where is your boy tonight – fall out boy – my garter toss song but was so much fun!
saturday – fall out boy
chicago is so 2 years ago – fall out boy
100 years – five for fighting – this was our cake cutting song, not that anyone remembers that, but hey, it was!
over my head – the fray
meaning (acoustic) – gavin degraw – this was my first dance song
the way i am – ingrid michaelson
better together – jack johnson
do you remember – jack johnson
you and i both – jason mraz
the remedy – jason mraz
save room – john legend
each day gets better – john legend
the heart of life – john mayer
gravity – john mayer
waiting on the world to change – john mayer
clarity – john mayer
bigger than my body – john mayer
new deep – john mayer
only heart – john mayer
why georgia – john mayer
3×5 – john mayer
back to you – john mayer
breakaway – kelly clarkson
you found me – kelly clarkson
ordinary – lucky boys confusion
harder to breathe – maroon 5
makes me wonder – maroon 5
float on – modest mouse
unwritten – natasha bedingfield
these words – natasha bedingfield
catalyst – nick west
these days – rascal flatts
on the way down – ryan cabrera
punk rock princess – something corporate
drops of jupiter – train
for me, it’s you – train
flashdance – irene cara – this is my namesake. My parents liked the name Cara but liked it better with a K so it wouldn’t be pronounced like a car and more like care. I don’t get upset like my mom does when someone pronounces it wrong, so no worries! I’m horrid at pronouncing last names.
into the mystic – van morrison

These usually go on shuffle so I get a crazy mix and yes, I know, it’s a bit eclectic to say the least! I do love John Mayer but the husband hates him so I generally listen to either all of those while I’m editing or Train; just something about both of those that is very calming and helps me focus and work.

And since you deserve some eye-candy. Here’s a few inspiration boards I put together when I was re-working my website. Just lots of things I love and colors I love (ok, pink is my favorite but didn’t want to scare you away!). It took me 2 days to put these together, I scoured all over the place like etsy and amy butler fabrics (mmm) and my graphic designer who is my good friend wondered if she already had me pinned. She did: modern girly!

The top flower arrangement is from Kristen of Kio Kreations.   I have the skirt on top from Ann Taylor Loft and some of the doggie collar fabrics are fabulous and from Big Doggy Bling.  Others from random etsy sites and well I love me some good heels even though I can’t wear them while shooting!  And a love for skirts and cardigans!

So that’s a fun post for today!

Kara

p.s. don’t forget about March 7th!

I often get a lot of requests about timelines and how to form them!  I usually end up working with my brides one on one with the troublesome ones or figuring out if we can make it to certain locations but if you have a wedding planner be sure to let me know so we can get in touch about the photo end of the day!   Here’s the number 1 rule when it comes to making timelines, always plan more than you’ll need!  I always start out with the ceremony time and work backwards.

So let’s say your ceremony is at 3pm.  For this timeline we’re going to go with 1 hour long.  End time, 4pm.

Are you doing a receiving line?  Add 30-45 minutes for 200 guests, if your parents are in the line, lean more towards the 45 minute mark.

Also remember that most churches kick you out at some point which is usually 30 minutes after the time your ceremony is supposed to end (not the time it actually ends).  So think about moving your greeting line to cocktail hour or going to visit with your guests at their tables.

So far we have:

3pm – ceremony

4pm – end of ceremony

4:30pm – end of church pictures

now let’s say your cocktail hour starts at 6pm (if you want another location, this is an ideal time frame).

BIG tip: Always add an extra 15 minutes to your travel time and even more if you’re in the city and going to popular destinations, traffic can kill timelines that don’t allow it.

So we have basically 30-1 hour for pictures depending on the location.  I’ve used local parks, places like Cantigny, or the actual venues themselves especially if the reception is at a country club.

I need around 20 minutes for bridal party and 30-45 minutes for the couple.  My style is to focus on the bride and groom for the “formals” part of the day and get the bridal party done quickly!  So an hour is good for me for one location!  *disclaimer – this hour is based on what I do as a photographer, if you’re reading this and you’re not my client, talk to your photographer about what they need *

If you want multiple locations add around 30 minutes for each location as I’ll be splitting that hour up and not doing all the pictures in one location!

Your venue should help you with planning out the timeline for the reception so I won’t go into that.  However, I do love love love when couples walk in and go directly to cut their cake!  Many venues now require this but it’s nice for your guests because the attention is directly on you and you don’t have everyone bum rushing the cake table to get the picture, usually when this happens it’s just me close!  Also, I also love when the speeches follow that too, then dinner can begin with no interruptions (because the waitstaff generally won’t serve if people are speaking).  That’s really all I have to say on reception timing!

Ok, back to the beginning of the timeline.  If your ceremony starts at 3, you need to be hiding and at your venue at 2:30 if you’re traveling to it.  It takes about 10 minutes for the bride to get dressed and I’ll tell you when to get dressed!  But do not, do not, do not, get dressed without me there if you want the dress hanging and getting ready photos.  I don’t have to be around for all of the getting ready photos, I don’t take pictures of makeup being done until you have foundation on and usually there’s not much happening but if something special is happening then by all means have me there!

So a timeline may look like this:

1:45 – get bride dressed (approximate timing depending on whether you have to gather items and load them or if they’re all ready and need to just be loaded)

2:15 – leave for church

2:30 – arrive at church

3 – ceremony

4 – ceremony ends

4:30 – church pictures done

5 – arrive at park near venue

6 – leave for cocktail hour (short drive)

7 – intros start

Whew!  Now this is just an idea on how to form a timeline.  It really depends but it should help you.  If you’re doing a first look, just increase the time beforehand and decrease the time in between the ceremony and reception!  I generally talk with each client about any timeline issues I foresee or if they have questions!  I’m more than happy to sit down and help you out!  So if you’re struggling, shoot me an email!

Here’s another one for a first look:

1:30 – get bride dressed (approximate timing depending on whether you have to gather items and load them or if they’re all ready and need to just be loaded, could also change depending on when )

2:00 – meeting and pictures occur

3:15 – leave for church

3:30 – arrive at church

4 – ceremony

5 – ceremony ends

5:30 – church pictures done

6 – leave for cocktail hour (short drive)

7 – intros start

And if you have one of those large gaps in between:

11:30 – get dressed, 12 – leave for church, 12:30 – arrive at church, 1pm – ceremony, 2pm – ceremony over, 2:30 church pictures done, 3 – arrive at location 1, 4 – arrive at location 2, 5 – leave for cocktail hour, 5:30 – get to venue, take a few pictures and get items to room, 6 – cocktail hour begins, 7 – reception begins

If you have a small amount of time in between the ceremony and reception and are worried about getting pictures in and you don’t want to do a first look, then you may want to think about doing pictures of the boys and girls separately beforehand but I caution you that sometimes this doesn’t work at all.  Someone will always be late, so tell them all to gather 30 minutes before we actually need to start!  That way if anything goes wrong or they’re stuck in traffic, we’ll be fine.  If you have a 2nd photographer in your package, they’ll be sticking with the boys and making sure they’re on time!

It’s always important to communicate any concerns you have with any of your vendors!  We’re all specialists so your hair stylist, your makeup artist, venue and so on will be able to tell you the time length of things.  I would always put some cushion room in the getting ready area because it’s ok to be ahead of schedule, but being late can possibly panic you.  So it’s always better to have your hair and makeup done earlier rather than just on time.

And because I know you want to see this…it’s Isabelle!  She turns one in just a week!!  She’s been all kinds of pathetic as of late!

So I hope that helps you organize and get your mind wrapped around timelines.  Don’t heistate to email me!

Kara

p.s. don’t forget about March 7th! and my studio opening party!

Ok, so I have a love for exclamation points, and I think I actually talk like that too but this requires caps lock and maybe some bold and italics too.

I HAVE MY OWN STUDIO/MEETING SPACE NOW!!!

After several months thinking and searching for just the right location and space, it just fell in my lap then several other things lined up!  I was tired of meeting at places like Starbucks (though I love you BUX, it’s hard to talk, I hated lugging all my stuff around and how many times did we all look and each other and go “hi?”)  So no more meeting at Starbucks!  All meetings, consultations will be held at my new office and if you just want to stop in while I’m there, it’s cool too!

This is going to allow me to do A LOT of things I always wanted to.  We can look at wall designs if you want some large wall prints and you can see what it will look like, I’ll be holding some awesome for you workshops at no charge like how to look fab in pictures and more, small vendor meet and greets, wedding picture release parties for your friends and families, and oh so much more!  Also, this allows me to continue doing boudoir sessions on a more frequent basis because my problem was always coordinating the hotel rooms, no worries now, everything is fabulous and I will continue having them as the location issue I always ran into no longer exists!

So you want to know where right?  I’m located at 227 S Third St (2nd floor near the elevator) in downtown Geneva!  It’s exactly 3 blocks (maybe less) from the train station so if you’re a city dweller you can take the train out instead of driving!  There’s lots of shopping and great restaurants in downtown Geneva, so you don’t just have to come and visit me but you should!  I will be there M-T-TH from 4-8 and other times by appointment, so feel free to stop by any of those hours (starting after the grand opening!) and get a special gift from me!  Now, we’re not completely finished with the space, so if you do come by, we’re working on getting it ready for the Grand Opening!

My grand opening party is March 7 from 12-5pm so stop by, register to win some prizes like an accordian album, a 4×6 holder, 3×3 accordian albums, enlargements and other fun stuff that I come up with!  I’ll have my camera, of course, so I can even take some pictures of you pretty fast   Can you tell how excited I am??

So come by on March 7th and say hi, see my awesome new location, gets some goodies (my dad is baking cookies!), and maybe even Isabelle will make an appearance there!

YAY!!
Kara