Sometimes, when I come across images like this, I remember that I need to put down the camera and experience what is happening in front of me with my own eyes.

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Happy Mothers Day to all the beautiful Mommies out there! I hope your day is as beautiful as you are!

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Seattle WeddingBy now, if you have been following my blog for a while, you know that not only am I a Seattle native, but that I love my hometown! So this wedding was especially exciting for me because not only did I get to go back to my beloved West Coast, but I had the absolute honor of photographing Becky and Adam’s wedding on Bainbridge Island. For those who know me on a more personal level, you know that my family used to live on the island. So, imagine my surprise when I see where this wedding was set to take place.. right down the street from my parents former home! Needless to say I was quite excited! So to add to the anticipation (as if it could not get any better) I had Catherine Abegg, who is an amazing film photographer, second shooting with me. I was a bit over the moon that weekend! Enjoy the pictures!

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Newborn Photography ”A new baby is like the beginning of all things-wonder, hope, a dream of possibilities.”

-Eda J. Le Shan

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Advice for the groom

I don’t usually write advice posts, and most of my blog posts contain recent weddings and images that inspire me. But I got to thinking the other day “what about the guys”? I would like to think that my readers are a combination of men, women, brides, grooms, mom’s and dad’s. So what advice could I give to just the grooms out there that could help them  prepare for their day in front of the camera? My husband, Wally, helped me write up a few tips for the men out there who want to make sure they are prepared for just that occasion.. take this for what it is and feel free to make your own twist on this!

First, lets talk about your engagement session…

For my clients, I always include an engagement session in your wedding package. For those of you who do not book with me, I am sure your photographer will likely do the same. So the following advice will help you, the groom (s), prepare for what is likely to be your first professional photoshoot with your betrothed:

1. This will not be as bad as you may think. Most guys who step in front of my camera for the first time are a bit nervous about having their picture taken. Relax, look at your lovely partner and think about how much you love them. When I am behind the camera, I will give you some direction so that you know when to look at me and when to look at her/him, just follow my lead and you will be fine. I think about 99.9% of my grooms tell me after the engagement session “that was easy, thanks for making it fun!”

2. Outfits… speaking as wife and as a woman, I sometimes think men can take just as long as we do to pick out an outfit (most of this is based on 12 years with my husband). For your engagement session, wear something that is comfortable, but will compliment your partners outfit. If she/he is wearing something dressy, maybe match that with a dressy look yourself. You certainly do not need to rent a tux or wear a suit. But a nice pair of fitted jeans matched with a tucked in shirt and a tie could be nice. Also, and this is what I usually tell all my couples, make sure what you are wearing is something you would be comfortable sitting on the ground. Often times I will ask my couples to sit/lay in the grass or sometimes the sand. If you are comfortable doing that in the outfit you have on, then I say its a winner!

Ok, now that the engagement session is over you can focus on the big day! Here are some tips and advice to help you pull together a great look and help make the day more photographically friendly:

3. Instead of renting a suit or tuxedo, consider having one made for you! There is nothing like a fine fitted suit that feels good on… and when you feel good, it shows in the pictures. There are a number of stores and online sites that will custom tailor anything you like! Here are a few places I would recommend contacting:

Custom Suits You

Black Lapel

Indochino

Men’s Warehouse

4. Chances are, your wedding will take place during the Summer months. To help keep you cool and relaxed, think about wearing a vest under your jacket. This way you can still look great when you remove the jacket and will keep from over heating.

5. When choosing flowers for your boutonniere, keep in mind that large roses and other flowers can sometimes look like another head on your chest. Particularly, if you are somewhat petite. Although it may not appear very big, the camera will tell another story. Your florist might have some suggestions on how to avoid this situation and may be able to help you pick something smaller and more unique.

6. Spice up your wardrobe with fun socks, a bow tie or a custom made tie (this is a great website to check out if you are looking for something custom for you and the guys: Tux and Tulle) Chuck Taylors or Toms if you feel like giving back a little.

7. This one may not seem like advice, but trust me, it is important and just about every photographer I know will thank me for saying this.. When you and the guys are getting ready make sure they all have on their boutonnieres (usually pinned on the left lapel of the jacket) before you head out for pictures. Also, allow yourself an extra 20 minutes when getting ready so you can locate, pin, re pin, and straighten these little guys (don’t forget the bandages, sometimes there are pricked fingers).

8. When I am photograph a wedding, I (or my assistant) will always try to capture what is going on behind the scenes.. no formalities here, just be yourself and we will get the shot!

9. Lastly, and most importantly.. have fun! All pomp and circumstance aside, this day is going to be the best day of your life and you should enjoy every moment of it. When I am photographing the guys I try to keep it low key and fun for everyone in the group!

So, with all that said.. I would love to hear from some of the men out there on what advice you have to offer and maybe some points we’ve overlooked!

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hilton head south carolina wedding

Hilton Head South Carolina Wedding 

Hilton Head South Carolina could not have been a more perfect setting for Jason and Kristi’s wedding. Even though hurricane Irene had just blown through the day before, it didn’t stop this loving couple from having the wedding of their dreams on the 18th hole of the stunning Sea Pines golf resort!

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My apologies about the length of this post, we tried to show all 4 days with as few images as possible and still telling the story. Enjoy, this is a good one!

We have been sitting on this gorgeous Indian wedding for a while now and we are so excited to finally share these images with you! I know there were a lot of pictures to look at, but it was a huge wedding and I really wanted you to get a feel for the day and show the depth of this event, so thank you for your time! In all my years of photographing weddings and Indian weddings, I can confidently say I have never been witness to an event like this.
It is a true testament to the team we had working on this behind the scenes making everything come together in one seamless effort.
I first want to send out a HUGE thank you to Lauren with LOLA Events for helping write up this description, she knew more about this event than anyone and this event would not have been what it was with out her. Lauren worked so hard on this wedding along with Jesse Deckard with Event Creative, the staff at the Palmer House Hilton and last but not least, Vinay and Lisa. Second, I want to thank my team, Dustin Francis and Ryan Timm, for helping me document this event. It was one of the biggest weddings I have taken on and I could not have done this all without their help!

Sehra Bandi – Wrigley Square, Millennium Park

With a high profile section of Millennium Park blocked off specifically for the groom’s ceremony, guests gathered to begin the day’s events. Just before leaving for the Sehra Bandi, we learned that Vinay and 14 of his groomsmen including Dustin, my 2nd photographer and one of the videographers, were stuck in the elevator on the way down from the hotel. After about 20 frantic minutes the Chicago Fire Department came to save the day. After the panic subsided, I think we all admitted that it was a much needed comedy relief!

Baraat – Parade Route from Millennium Park to the Hotel

The traditional white horse picked up the groom to begin the Baraat from the corner of Michigan Avenue and Randolph Street at Wrigley Square. With a parade permit in hand, the Baraat continued 6 blocks, primarily down Wabash Avenue, concluding in front of the main Monroe entrance of the Palmer House – blocking traffic. The Baraat could be heard blocks away, with the drumming of a traditional Indian dhol group, rolling DJ and hundreds of guests adding with singing, dancing and percussion. I have never in my life seen anything like this. The excitement was evident on each person face as they danced down Michigan Avenue and South Wabash! Rickshaws were on hand for guests who were not up for the walk and added yet another layer for the baraat.

The Milni Dance and Garland Exchange took place in the entrance to the hotel following the Baraat. The group and celebration was so large it blocked traffic for vehicles and guests, the formal end of the Baraat created quite the spectacle!

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Wow, where do I even begin with describing the beauty of this day! I loved this wedding not only because of the couple, but the uniqueness of the venue. It was the first time this venue has held a wedding and they are just starting to get their name out there. The farm, Blue Door Farm (website coming soon), was built and owned by Oprah Winfrey. When the current owner took over the farm she left everything with the property. So all the decor etc.. was owned by Oprah.

Danae and Paul brought everything in for this wedding themselves, and a lot of it was hand made by the couple and their family members. It was truly one of those weddings I will never forget and I am so grateful to have met Paul and Danae. They are a true example of soul mates. Congratulations my friends, I am so happy for you both!

Location: Blue Door Farm, Rolling Prairie, IN

Caterer: Phoenix Street Catering

Wedding Photographer: Jen Lynne Photography

Film Maker: Blake Naftel, Cinematography

Flowers: Simply Interiors

A note from Danae:

When Paul & I got engaged the very first thing we decided was we wanted to write our own vows.  The second thing was we wanted the day to feel very “us”.  We narrowed it down to two themes: “Grow” or “Glow” for the country & city in both of us.  We scouted a few venues for both themes, but the moment we stepped on Blue Door Farm we knew it was the perfect place for us. Focusing on the “grow” theme, I made story boards about each element of the wedding which helped everyone involved understand the vision. Wanting a personal hand in the day, quite a bit of the decorations were made by ourselves or family members – even the chandeliers!  Each month we would try to tackle one project leading up to the wedding to minimize stress.  We really enjoy interesting food & didn’t want a generic catering experience, so we approached one of our favorite restaurants in a neighboring town. To our glee the chef accepted!  Our blueberry mustard favors were from a local blueberry shop touting the local fare.

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In case you haven’t seen this, Jen Lynne Photography has had a bit of a face lift on the website. I have recently added a new page just for families. All the information about the types of sessions I offer and packages that are available can be found here: Jen Lynne Photography- Family

Feel free to contact me if you would like more information or to schedule your next session with me. Enjoy!

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