Wedding Photos – Part III

On Wednesdays I share everything wedding with you: tips, projects, organisation, photos, faux-pas, fun things and golden rules I ‘learned’ from my own wedding. I feel I need to give something back to the fabulous blog community who helped me stay sane and enjoy every second of my ‘big day’.

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Wedding photos are such a difficult decision you make in preparation for your big day. And the tricky thing is that you don’t have a second chance to get your perfect memories. Therefore I started a mini post series on wedding photos – how to make up your mind, how to decide which photographer to choose, what to prepare etc. So here is the third part:

1. Inspiration
2. Research
3. Briefing
4. Reality Check
5. Take your time
6. Enjoy
7. Be patient

Briefing
After finding a photographer who you think might have a similar about the style of photos you are looking for, I think it is extremely important to meet that person. Get to meet him or her. Live and in colour. To talk about your wishes. Your greatest fear. Discuss different options, show examples of what you really like and what you want to avoid.

We met our photographer Bianca two weeks prior to the wedding. We had a coffee together.

We brought some examples of wedding photos we liked. We told her what we planned for the day. What the schedule looked like. How many guests we expected. Who we are. Where we live. Why we choose this church and this location.

She brought her portfolio and we showed her which style we preferred. She asked us about our essential shots and photos which we didn’t care too much about. She said she needed someone to show her who the father of the bride is. And the mother of the groom. The maid of honour. The best men. She told us why she loves to be a wedding photographer. How she started this job. What to expect from her when.

It was a very nice afternoon and Andi and I started to get really excited about the wedding. We also laughed a lot and started to feel very comfortable with eachother. And that shows on the photos of the ‘big’ day, I think.

Busy Day

Today I had a very busy day at work. Lots of work. Lots of things to organise. Lots of telephone calls. Lots of emails. A presentation to finish. Group discussions until late. Puuuuhhhhh! I am tired and which I could be here:

Ueber den Wolken. In the blue sky. With clouds and rivers and forests and mountains far below.

Amazing Maternity Wear

Every Monday I will post something related to babies: inspiration, craft projects, baby news, and discoveries I have made in this new and exciting world for me. I hope you come along on that rollercoaster ride with me.

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Oh my god! I just saw the most stylish and most amazing maternity dress ever. Designed by an industrial designer. Marisol Rodrigues – you are not only incredible talented, you also really know what pregnant women want. Or at least what I want:

• show my amazing, ever-growing belly without looking like I would wear something that is three sizes too small 
• being proud and happy about my expanding mid section
• looking stylish
• having fun – becoming a mama is not all serious

Pictures found here

First seen at A Cup of Jo

Street Art

Found on the streets of Melbourne today:

Earth Hour Saturday, 27 March 2010, 8.30pm

http://www.earthhour.org/

Less than nine hours to go here in Australia until Earth Hour. How exciting!

What’s that?
Earth Hour is an environmental initiative that started 3 years ago. In the first year more than 2 million homes and businesses in Sydney turned off their lights for one hour to stand against climate change. The word about this action spread quickly and the year after people and countries across the world took part. Last year it already was the world’s largest global climate change initiative.


Why I love it?
The reason, why I absolutely love this initiative, is that it is so powerful in its visibility. What is the NY skyline without lights? What is our life without lights? It really makes me think very carefully about how I use electricity and what can be done throughout the year (not only in this one short hour). After taking part in this initiative last year I finally installed energy efficient lights throughout my apartment. It was an insanely easy thing to do and I have no idea why it took me so long.

What I also like it that it brings people closer together. I have heard of neighbours getting together with their candles. Friends organising candle-lit parties. Although I haven’t managed it to organise something myself, I still want to make this event something special. So I am thinking of going to the beach and watch the city lights slowly go down. At least I hope that enough Melburnians will take part in this initiative so it will have a visual impact.


What to do?

Switch off all (electronic) lights from 8.30pm to 9.30pm! No matter where you are around the world: 8.30pm your local time. So no TV or computer lights allowed either. Lit the night with candles only.

Picture from here

Register your commitment here! That helps to show how many millions of people took part in this awesome event.


Enjoy the darkness! Hopefully you will be able to see lots of stars once the city lights have been turned off.

Picture from here

Take some photos of the light-less night! And share them with the rest of the world here .

Temptation

Today I received a huge shopping temptation in the shape of a harmless looking newsletter. But if the email is from Elk, my favourite jewellery label, then it is never harmless. ;-) They make the most amazing pieces of jewellery. Simple but unique pieces. Quirky but not over the top. Inspired by nature but elegant. Organic but not boring. They really represent the essence of Melbourne style to me. And I cannot get enough of their pieces.

One quick look and my wish list was full:

Oh well…

State of Emergency

Don’t worry – there is nothing to be concerned about, but the Australian Grand Prix starts today. I am not a motorsport fan at all, but if you live as close to the circuit as I do there is no way you can avoid it. There is a huge traffic jam every morning, because a few streets are closed. The Melbourne Aquatic Centre is closed, so I cannot do my regular swimming laps. Parking within a radius of 10km is impossible. It will be very noisy – not only from the formula 1 cars, but also because of the strafer at the opening ceremony and the mass of visitors who stay at the serviced apartments in the front building.

Since there is nothing you can do and we didn’t really want to flee from the city, Andi and I decided to

* leave the car in the underground parking until next week
* take public transport to work
* stay at home as much as possible
* put some earplugs onto our bedside table
and just wait till the whole thing is over.

Wedding Photos – Part II

On Wednesdays I share everything wedding with you: tips, projects, organisation, photos, faux-pas, fun things and golden rules I ‘learned’ from my own wedding. I feel I need to give something back to the fabulous blog community who helped me stay sane and enjoy every second of my ‘big day’.

* * *

Wedding photos are such a difficult decision you make in preparation for your big day. And the tricky thing is that you don’t have a second chance to get your perfect memories. Therefore I started a mini post series on wedding photos – how to make up your mind, how to decide which photographer to choose, what to prepare etc. So here is the second part:

1. Inspiration
2. Research
3. Briefing
4. Reality Check
5. Take your time
6. Enjoy
7. Be patient

Being a researcher by profession, this stage is obviously very important in my opinion. Taking different aspects into consideration and looking at a wide range of options before you make a decision is the way to go for me.

And please don’t just look at costs when choosing a photographer. Obviously some photographers are out of question because of their costs, but among the ones which are within your budget, look at their portfolio very closely. Examples of their work (often already on their website) will help you to determine what their style is and whether they could be able to make your dreams come true.

I had a look at the following photographers – all based in Berlin, because I didn’t want to add any extra travel costs:

Bernd Schoenberger

beautiful pictures, very artistic, but maybe too creative for my wedding?

Christoph Petras

very traditional wedding photography, a bit too posed for my liking

Karsten W Schmidt

very nice and lively pictures, but somehow a certain spark was missing for me

Milena Schloesser

wonderful impression, modern but still not overstyled– unfortunately she was not within my budget

Then I found Bianca Krause. With her everything fitted perfectly from the beginning. Her mix of capturing special moments, little details and the big picture, unposed, natural, modern but not crazy...

... and my first impression was absolutely spot on as you can see in the photos she took at my wedding as well as at the wedding of one of my best friends, who hired her for her wedding after seeing my beautiful pictures.

If you want to see more – here is her gallery!

Ruby Tuesday

It is really cold today in Melbourne. Somehow the temperature seems to have dropped by at least 20 degrees within the past 24 hours. Oh at least that is how it feels like. I think the summer is really over :-(

Therefore I need something that cheers me up – and ruby things always do the trick for me. So off to Etsy for some ruby inspiration…

Ruby Raspberries found here
they remind me of one of my favourite candy when I was a child

Ruby Purse found here 

this beautiful purse would put a smile on my face every time I pay

Ruby Tags found here

soooo lovely, I am afraid I would never use them but wait for that special occasion that might never come ;-)

Ruby sandals found here
these sandals just scream summer, maybe I can wear them at home during the winter ;-)

Ruby Monster found here

this little monster looks so cute and cheeky at the same time

Great! I feel much better now. Wish you all a wonderful Tuesday!

My Latest Obsession with Giraffes

Every Monday I will post something related to babies: inspiration, craft projects, baby news, and discoveries I have made in this new and exciting world for me. I hope you come along on that rollercoaster ride with me.

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Recently I really have become obsessed with giraffes.

They never have been a particular favourite of mine. You know, they are elegant and have a long neck, they always look slightly unstable due to their body proportions, they have incredible long eye lashes, but… it just wasn’t love at first sight.

But now it is love. Maybe the pregnancy hormones are to blame? Giraffes have become my favourite animals. Especially on baby stuff. Just look at my little giraffe horde and tell me they are not adorable.

I think I have to expand this lovely group of long-necked cuties even further. Maybe with these?

tutorial here

found here

found here

Gone Fishing

Yesterday evening we went fishing with a couple of friends in the Port Phillip Bay. The weather was perfect – warm but not too hot. We caught some fish – many of which had to be thrown back into the water because they were too small. ;-( In the hand we had about 5 flatheads and 1 snapper between the 12 of us. The flatheads ended up on the BBQ. Freshly caught fish, cooked on board – so yummy! Not more than a little appetiser though – so we were very happy that there were steaks and burgers and salad as well. ;-)

Magnolia Square

Lucky me. Today (and for the past two days) Magnolia Square is happening just around the corner from my apartment. For everyone who doesn’t know what Magnolia Square is – it is a beautiful market for creative, handmade crafts, please have a look here if you want to know about it. It is always held at different locations and this time it was at the beautiful St.Kilda Townhall.

Since I really couldn’t spend too much money (so much baby things to buy, living on one income and all that annoying money stuff), I just took $40, no credit card and my lovely husband along. ;-) And boy, that was very wise. Otherwise I would have to spend all my money – and more. It was just amazing what wonderful things could be found there.

My favourites included:

Cocktail Umbrella Art by Love, AJ

Darkness Sunrise Pendant by Lola &Bailey

Penguins Collage by Printspace

Stamp Set ‘Cape Otway Coast’ by TwoDegrees

Tea Towel by Nell Design

Silhouette Art by Bride & Wolfe 

In the end, my husband ended up spending all the money ;-) On this lovely mouse. It is adorable to see him getting into little girls’ things in preparation for our baby.

Mouse in a red-and-white dress by Gertie and me

So if you are in Melbourne, make sure to visit those lovely creative people at St.Kilda Town Hall until 5pm tonight. You won’t regret it!!!