FAQ | Tracy Autem Photography

Wedding Day Timeline Planning

September 14, 2016 FAQ

As a service to all of our brides we assist you in planning your wedding day photography timeline. We will work along side your planner and other vendors to ensure that enough time is set aside for all your desired photography.

Your photography timeline will include when the bride should dress, what times and who will be included in formal portraits, and other information affecting the flow of your day. It does not include a detailed reception schedule as we believe this is best decided with your planner and entertainment providers.

About 3 months prior to your wedding we will send you a questionnaire. When you receive it you may not have all the information requested but we suggest you provide what you do have so that we may begin your schedule. This questionnaire will ask you about your families names, any deaths and divorces and all desired formal portraits. It includes a list of suggested poses and groupings that you can easily check off. Also covered will be location confirmations, vendor details and other information that will aid us in providing you the best wedding photography.

Once we send you the schedule we ask you to look over it carefully. Check the spellings of all names and make sure you did not leave any family members off. Don’t forget spouses and children of siblings or your own children. Having all the names and a plan helps us provide you with a fast and seamless portrait experience – because let’s be honest – we all want to get to the party! It is also a good idea to share the photo lists with your Mother and Mother in Law to make sure that their wishes and needs are also included. It is better to have discussions about what groupings you do or do not want in advance and to agree upon them with the Mom’s! Adding images the day of will lead to additional time photographing.

If you have any questions, want to get started on your timeline early or need help just contact us at tracy@tracyatuem.com or call the studio at 817.810.9282.

What to Wear – Engagement PortraitsFAQ

September 7, 2016 FAQ

Wondering what to wear for your engagement portraits? It is one of the most difficult challenges when it comes time to step in front of the camera. Here are some of our tips and tricks to make sure your outfits look flattering and visually interesting.

One of our favorite things is when our clients are not afraid to layer clothing in males and females. Layering offers an additional dimension, definition of your body shape and interest to your photos.

Make sure you are dressing appropriately for the season in which your photos are taken. If it is winter, layer up! If it is summer dress in lighter clothing. It may be wise for men to avoid long sleeves and suit jackets during summer months. If weather is expected to be hot bring along extra clothes incase you perspire and stain your clothing, it’s always good to have back up’s!

We encourage our clients not be afraid of bright colors or patterns. If you love patterns and bright colors EMBRACE IT!!! You can always mix a bright with a neutral if you are afraid of all over color.

Make sure the colors you are wear are complimentary but not matching. We warn against wearing white shirts and jeans or something to that liking as we prefer you not end up on an awkward family photo blog!

If you are going to buy new clothes make sure you buy silhouettes that you know flatter your body. We suggest staying away from the loose clothing. An outfit that is tailored or cinched and emphasizes the smalls part of your waist is always flattering.

When in doubt, go with what you love! Wear things that make you feel pretty and are complimented by your friends. We love this quote by one of our REAL brides:

“Like most brides, I did tons of research and read lots articles about what to wear for your engagement session. When the time came to pick an outfit, I threw the advice out the window and did what I thought would be best. I was sadly mistaken. The best advice I can give you is to dress like the girl your fiance fell in love with. He didn’t fall in love with a picture in a magazine. Wear what you know looks good on you, not someone else. Don’t use this time to break out new styles or trends. Be YOU.”

-Heather

So get to shopping, raid your own closet and start planning your engagement portrait outfits! When in doubt reach out to us for help by shooting us over some photos of the looks you are considering. Remember that you will need 2 outfits for a 2 hour session and 1 outfit for a 1 hour or mini shoot. For further ideas and inspiration see our Pinterest board of engagement photos.

When to Schedule Your PortraitsFAQ

September 7, 2016 Bridal Portraits

After completing the booking process many couples want to know what is next. Here is a suggested list and time frames for wen to schedule your portrait sessions:

Engagement session planning can start right away. We suggest you do your session 3 months or more in advance of your wedding date. If you want to use an image on a save the date we suggest 7-9 months in advance. Save the date’s typically are sent out 6 months prior to your wedding. If you would like to use an image from your engagement there is a $40 file charge that includes, retouching, sizing and release to you.

Bridal photography is scheduled about 2 months in advance of your wedding. Once your dress is ordered and arrives at the salon we suggest contacting the studio to set up your bridal session. The length of time required for alterations may affect when we are able to photograph you.

Boudoir photography is scheduled prior to your wedding (no later than 4 weeks before.) We offer 2 boudoir weekend events that are all inclusive, in winter & summer! These sessions include hair, makeup, the hotel location & a 6×6 book to gift your spouse. Please check with us as soon as you know you want to participate so that we can guarantee you a spot. Individual sessions are also available to be scheduled but do not include hair, makeup and the hotel.

What to Wear – Bridal PortraitsFAQ

August 12, 2015 FAQ

The brides look sets the tone for the wedding day and here are some tips for bridal portraits & the big day!

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FITTINGS – Now that you have selected ‘the one’ (your gown, not the groom) the next step is a flawless fit. Invest in your alterations and bustling. The bustle is what pulls the train of your gown up off the floor so you can comfortably dance. This is a separate charge from your fitting fees so please remember to ask your seamstress or dress store about what style of bustle will best accentuate the cut & style of your dress.

UNDERGARMENTS – Finding the right undergarments is also important, you want to feel sexy & aid the way the dress fits. Hunt out the right foundation to your style: a great bra, corset or a full body support system to make sure you feel sexier & thinner. When in doubt return to your dress boutique, they can always help you with style choices.

SHOES – Have fun & show off your personality and style from a super chic colored shoe to traditional white. Wear your shoes at home ahead of time to break them in. We have brides that swear by wearing them with athletic socks around the house before the wedding to make them more comfy. If your selection might be a bit uncomfortable plan an alternate like ballet flats. Bring both options to your bridal portrait and put a trusted bridesmaid in charge of the alternate pair for the reception.

HAIR & MAKEUP – Staying true to your style is key when it comes to hair and makeup. Let your artists know exactly what you want. Photo retouching is costly and not available on all those cell phone photos your friends are bound to take so make sure you look flawless in all photos by hiring pros. If you have extensions find a hairdresser that is familiar styling them. To wear your hair up or down – that is always the question! We love your hair either way but do think about your wedding day personality – if you imagine yourself rarely leaving the dance floor than an up-do is bound to look more flawless all night long!

FLOWERS – Ask your florist if she can provide you with a trial bouquet for your bridal portrait. This is a great chance to see a trial run of your wedding day floral and make sure that the colors and stems are just what you were envisioning.

WHEN – This session needs to be scheduled 1 or more months in advance of your wedding and you should have your entire look, head to toe the day of the session. For your bridal location we suggest sharing images of your gown with us and discussing the feeling you want for your portrait. Be aware that indoor and specialty locations must be scheduled and fees apply. What if you aren’t having bridal portraits? Don’t worry we will still photograph you alone and achieve a beautiful portrait of you in your dress the day of the wedding.

Photo by Tracy Autem

FITTINGS – Now that you have selected ‘the one’ (your gown, not the groom) the next step is a flawless fit. Invest in your alterations and bustling. The bustle is what pulls the train of your gown up off the floor so you can comfortably dance. This is a separate charge from your fitting fees so please remember to ask your seamstress or dress store about what style of bustle will best accentuate the cut & style of your dress.

UNDERGARMENTS – Finding the right undergarments is also important, you want to feel sexy & aid the way the dress fits. Hunt out the right foundation to your style: a great bra, corset or a full body support system to make sure you feel sexier & thinner. When in doubt return to your dress boutique, they can always help you with style choices.

SHOES – Have fun & show off your personality and style from a super chic colored shoe to traditional white. Wear your shoes at home ahead of time to break them in. We have brides that swear by wearing them with athletic socks around the house before the wedding to make them more comfy. If your selection might be a bit uncomfortable plan an alternate like ballet flats. Bring both options to your bridal portrait and put a trusted bridesmaid in charge of the alternate pair for the reception.

HAIR & MAKEUP – Staying true to your style is key when it comes to hair and makeup. Let your artists know exactly what you want. Photo retouching is costly and not available on all those cell phone photos your friends are bound to take so make sure you look flawless in all photos by hiring pros. If you have extensions find a hairdresser that is familiar styling them. To wear your hair up or down – that is always the question! We love your hair either way but do think about your wedding day personality – if you imagine yourself rarely leaving the dance floor than an up-do is bound to look more flawless all night long!

FLOWERS – Ask your florist if she can provide you with a trial bouquet for your bridal portrait. This is a great chance to see a trial run of your wedding day floral and make sure that the colors and stems are just what you were envisioning.

WHEN – This session needs to be scheduled 1 or more months in advance of your wedding and you should have your entire look, head to toe the day of the session. For your bridal location we suggest sharing images of your gown with us and discussing the feeling you want for your portrait. Be aware that indoor and specialty locations must be scheduled and fees apply.

First Looks – Pro’s & Con’s

June 17, 2015 FAQ

Sticking to tradition or throwing it out the window? Seeing one another before the ceremony is a big decision for today’s brides. When asked this question by my couples, I have one simple bit of advice: Be Authentic. That is my answer to many questions so let me explain.

It is your day, your vision, your romance and as a bride and groom everything about your day should reflect you as a couple. When it comes to first looks, sights, glances (so many names for this trend!) you should do what feels right and makes sense for your desired photography.

That is all well and good; but why would doing it one way over the other make more sense to you? Here are some pro’s and con’s from a photographers perspective for you to weigh when making your choice.

Pro’s

Are either of you the nervous type or get flustered in front of large crowds? At the thought of being the center of attention do your turn green? If you (or your spouse to be) suffers from anxiety or some major nerves seeing each other beforehand takes the edge off. Besides, you have picked this person to spend the rest of your life with! They are probably the best cure to those anxious feelings and being apart just seems unnatural.
Get to the party faster! Guests can enjoy a short cocktail hour and then on to the party. Why? Because with a first sight most (if not all) of your formal photography can be accomplished prior to your guests arriving at the ceremony.
Location, location, location! Seeing each other early sometimes means capturing daylight in the winter months before your evening ceremony, visiting a favorite spot, adding variety to your images by changing locations and having a relaxing time doing so (no rushing!)
Emotional responses and plenty of time to twirl in your gown and let that guy gush over your wedding day look. Hug, smile, kiss, laugh and actually get to talk to each other when you see one another (during a ceremony you might get a whisper in – no major conversation until that ring is on!)

Con’s

You’re a traditional kinda girl/guy. It’s ok – if this is you then skip right on down to saying no to this trend. If you love all things time honored and true you may regret stepping out of your box this time.
You are having a BIG split of time on your wedding day (think hours between the wedding and reception.) If this is the case, all the pro’s above are null and void – you have so much time in between to take photos that you can be leisurely about it.

I love first looks – they make MY day easier because as a photographer we get tons of time to play and take photos. But it is YOUR day, like I said. Be authentic in your choices and in the end you will be pleased with your wedding and your photography!

-Tracy Autem

Check out these two very different first sights. A modern hotel balcony or the center aisle of your ceremony site – a first look is tailored to your day and your preferences.

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