I had the pleasure of working with Garrett Grove of Grove Weddings in August on Lydia and Burk’s Bohemian Beach wedding. We owe James Moes the credit of introducing us, as Garrett was actually the second photographer that day. Nonetheless, I was very impressed by his presence. He was very active about getting certain, unique shots from different perspectives, while maintaining a calm energy and focus. I wasn’t surprised at all when I got to see the images—he’s truly talented. While he acted as the second shooter for a friend, he is by no means second best, Lydia and Burk were lucky to have two really amazing photographers present on their wedding day! Read on to learn more about Garrett Grove and his photography business-

Rachelle: How would you describe your style and approach to photographing a wedding?

Garrett: The style of wedding photography I love is taking directed candid portraits of the couple during the portrait session and during the prep, ceremony & reception it would be a fairly hands off style of photojournalism.  I am constantly looking for the moments that when told together make a story of the day.  The funny, the beautiful, the embarrassing, the ironic and honest snippets that make up so many memories and the overall feel of your wedding day.  The approach/mentality that I strive for throughout the day is to be as assuring, personable, relaxed and light-hearted as I possibly can. 

Rachelle: Do you do other types of photography?

Garrett: Yes, my other passion is outdoor adventure commercial & editorial photography.

Rachelle: What do you love about weddings?

Garrett: I love that wedding are honest and authentic.  They are a very critical and important part of so many people’s lives and thus the photos that result are nearly a necessity.  It gives me a great deal of satisfaction knowing that every time I press the shutter button there is so much purpose and meaning behind it.

Rachelle: What do you do in your free time, when you don’t have a camera in hand?

Garrett: If I don’t have a camera in my hand you could pretty much guarantee that I am either outside or sharing a meal & drink with my wife and/or friends.

Rachelle: Why do you live in the NW?

Garrett: The NW keeps pulling my wife and I back because of the unique culture and the proximity to such natural beauty.

Rachelle: What type of clients are ideal for you? What do you look for in a client?

Garrett: My ideal clients?  Wow that is a hard one to pin down.  Some characteristics I really enjoy are enthusiasm, sincerity, simplicity, creativity and the confidence to make your wedding day unique.

Rachelle: Anything in particular you want people to know about you?

Garrett: I love to travel.  It is a passion and to incorporate that into a wedding photography would be a dream come true.

Rachelle: If you had unlimited funds- what would be your dream vacation?

Garrett: So many options!  A few would be to travel all over Canada & the States in a camper van with my wife for a year in order to soak in other cultures and ski/climb.  Another would be to live in the country side of Japan for a winter and ski the amazing powder they have there.

Rachelle: Thank you, Garrett, for telling us more about you and your passion! We look forward to working with you soon! Make sure to check out Garrett’s website and blog!

Cheers,

Mandi & Rachelle

Thank you all for entering the Proposal Contest! We will be announcing a winner later this week! Thank you for visiting our blog! We offer a free no-obligation consultation to learn more about wedding coordination and if we are the right match for you! Contact .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) today!

Woo hoo… we made it 30 days! It was such a blast sharing these vendors with you!!

Thank you to everyone who followed along, the vendors that made it possible and all of the vendors we know and love!! We can’t wait to share with you the things we have in the works over the next few months! Check back tomorrow to enter in our “Week of Love” contest!

If you missed any of the “30 days of vendors” posts, make sure to check them out!

Day 30 of 30: Urban Studio
Day 29 of 30: Brandon Perron Photography
Day 28 of 30: Passionflower Floral Design
Day 27 of 30: Bakery Bar
Day 26 of 30: Solstice Video
Day 25 of 30: AJ’s Hair design & Makeup
Day 24 of 30: Honeysuckle Photography
Day 23 of 30: West Coast Event Productions
Day 22 of 30: Gorge-ous Weddings
Day 21 of 30: The Wedding Cottage
Day 20 of 30: The Photo Lounge
Day 19 of 30: Fioribella Floral Design
Day 18 of 30: Shields Films
Day 17 of 30: Yasmin Khajavi Photography
Day 16 of 30: Vista Hills & Red Ridge
Day 15 of 30: Lori Raines Calligraphy
Day 14 of 30: Peekaboo Portland
Day 13 of 30: Vibrant Table Catering & Events
Day 12 of 30: Joel Bock Photography
Day 11 of 30: True Love Sound
Day 10 of 30: Blum Floral Desgin
Day 9 of 30: Becerra Photography
Day 8 of 30: Black Butte Ranch
Day 7 of 30: Cupcake Jones
Day 6 of 30: Mosca Photo
Day 5 of 30: Vibrant Table Flowers
Day 4 of 30: Premiere Catering
Day 3 of 30: Paul Rich Studio
Day 2 of 30: Bon Moment Inivitations
Day 1 of 30: Bryan Hoybook Photography
See what the 30 days of vendors is all about!

Cheers,
Mandi & Rachelle

Thank you for stopping by our blog! We’d love to meet you! We offer free no obligation consultations so you’re able to see if you’re in need of a wedding coordinator and if we’re the right match! .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) us now to set up an appointment!

Over the last 28 days we have mentioned how important having a personality match with your photographer is many times and Brandon Perron of Brandon Perron Photography stands strongly behind this!  Brandon loves what he does and is always looking for ways to put a new spin on things. He loves projects. He loves weddings. He puts his clients first. I love Brandon’s drive and passion! Get to know Brandon here and make sure to check out more images on his website!

Champagne: How did you decide to get into photography?

Brandon: I got into photography in a way different manner then most…I have always appreciated anything creative, but have never had the skills to be creative…trust me, you do not to see me dance or hear me sing and my drawing abilities rival that of a 1st grader, lol.  So I have never done anything creative…but I have a reef tank [with live coral and fish] and I saw other people who took super amazing close up images of the coral [macro photography]. I wanted to know how they were doing it. I found out it was a DSLR camera with a macro lens. So I went out and got what I needed and started taking pictures, but as you might figure it got a bit old, so I tried to shoot fine art and landscape photography with out stellar results.

For me it was what it was, but when you have a nice camera, your family wants you to bring it to all the family functions. So I did and I began to fall in love with shooting people. I, then decided to get hooked up with a high-end wedding photographer to gain experience, before I took on the immense responsibility of shooting weddings on my own. The rest is history…

Champagne: How would you describe your style?

Brandon: I am known for my high-fashion editorial style, my composition, vivid colors, clean timeless images & honest capturing of moments.

My main goal of photography is to translate the true emotional moments that were experienced at that point in time, through the photographs. For all portraits I shoot in a high-fashion editorial style, I believe this allows me to show everyone in the most amazing way possible.  For the rest of the event, I shoot in a purely photojournalist editorial style, where I am simply capturing moments and emotions as they happen! My ultimate belief is that images should be timeless. I look at my parents wedding pictures and I see their faces in toasting glasses or inside of a heart vignette and to me it distracts from the moments in the images. I keep my images clean, timeless, and about the people and moments in the images. What I refer to as cliché-less imagery.

Champagne: What would be your dream person/event to photograph?

Brandon: I am not a star struck kind of guy at all, however, my wife totally is and I love to tease her about it! What I always want to photograph are couples that truly appreciate photography, want the kind of photography I produce and are excited about wanting my style of photography [this should be the case with everyone and the photographer they hire] When a couple loves my style and appreciates photography, it makes the process of photography so much fun and it really shows in the images.

Champagne: What’s your favorite part about shooting a wedding?

Brandon: I love everything about shooting weddings, but if I had to pick just one, I guess my favorite part would be the relationships I build with all of my couples, the emotions and the commitment of the day. I am also a sucker for details…Told you I could not just pick one, LOL!

Champagne: To you, what is key to creating a successful event?

The key to creating a successful event is to listen to my couples. Above all, this day is all about them and what they want. Every couple wants different things and appreciates certain things more then others.

Another thing that really helps is when the couple and the photographer connect. If a couple does not make that connection with me, I will encourage to find that with another photographer, regardless if they really love my work, that is how important having a connection is. Your photographer is one vendor you will interact with before, during and after the wedding, so make sure you pick a photographer you enjoy being around.

Champagne: What do you do when you’re not doing what you do?

Brandon: I am constantly shooting, even outside of weddings.
I am always setting up shoots, in order to allow me to flex the creative muscles to see what I come up with, with out the added responsibility of it being on the wedding day.
This allows me to stay fresh in between weddings and always be evolving. Completely outside of photography, I love spending time with my wife; we are best friends, we just really enjoy each other’s company and having a good time together. Hanging out with friends.
Watching the Blazers!
Playing some PS3, when I have a bit of free time.

Champagne: How did you pick how to structure your packages?

Brandon: The main thing about my packages is that they all come with an album, which is rare in the photography packages. The reason for this is because the album is the story of the day and every couple should have that story. Although, you may choose to print a few images and hang them on the wall, chances are you won’t be able to display all of your images. This is where the album carries its importance. Together all of the images tell the story of the day, thus why I feel every couple should have an album.
The other major difference is that my packages are a bit more expensive up front, but I want a couple to pick a package and be able to walk away not feeling like they need to spend another dime with me after the wedding is over. While some people do order more, I want them to be confident that they will not need to spend more, as a surprise, when the wedding is over. I am not out to nickel and dime the client and that starts with the structure of my packages. I am always happy to work out custom packages for clients, it’s always about the clients and making sure they get exactly what they want.

Champagne: Anything else you’d like our readers to know?

Brandon: I want couples to avoid the heart breaking stories I have heard from other people. You should really talk with the photographer in depth, see a large body of work, not just what you see on their website. Ask to see other event galleries, ask to talk to past brides, etc.

There are so many stories where couples did not get close to the images they saw on a photographers website from their wedding day. Photography is really about, you get what you pay for. Usually [not always], if there is a consistent body of good work from the photographer and the price is at the higher end, you can be fairly certain that you will receive, not only, amazing images but also a super great experience. Going cheap or not getting to know a photographer and their work, will usually lead to poor images and a poor experience. Remember, the images you receive from your wedding day are the only lasting memories from the day. Why take the risk with trying to save some cash?

Champagne: Thank you, Brandon, for telling us more about Brandon Perron Photography! We look forward to working with you soon! Make sure to check out Brandon Perron’s website and keep up with his current projects on his blog!

Check out previous posts from our 30 days of vendors:
Day 28 of 30: Passionflower Floral Design
Day 27 of 30: Bakery Bar
Day 26 of 30: Solstice Video
Day 25 of 30: AJ’s Hair design & Makeup
Day 24 of 30: Honeysuckle Photography
Day 23 of 30: West Coast Event Productions
Day 22 of 30: Gorge-ous Weddings
Day 21 of 30: The Wedding Cottage
Day 20 of 30: The Photo Lounge
Day 19 of 30: Fioribella Floral Design
Day 18 of 30: Shields Films
Day 17 of 30: Yasmin Khajavi Photography
Day of 16 of 30: Vista Hills & Red Ridge
Day 15 of 30: Lori Raines Calligraphy
Day 14 of 30: Peekaboo Portland
Day 13 of 30: Vibrant Table Catering & Events
Day 12 of 30: Joel Bock Photography
Day 11 of 30: True Love Sound
Day 10 of 30: Blum Floral Desgin
Day 9 of 30: Becerra Photography
Day 8 of 30: Black Butte Ranch
Day 7 of 30: Cupcake Jones
Day 6 of 30: Mosca Photo
Day 5 of 30: Vibrant Table Flowers
Day 4 of 30: Premiere Catering
Day 3 of 30: Paul Rich Studio
Day 2 of 30: Bon Moment Inivitations
Day 1 of 30: Bryan Hoybook Photography
See what the 30 days of vendors is all about!

Cheers,
Mandi & Rachelle

Next week we’ll be featuring the “week of love” and will be giving away a photo session by Paul Rich Studio to the best love story! Stay tuned for more details to be announced Sunday!

Thank you for stopping by our blog! We’d love to meet you! We offer free no obligation consultations so you’re able to see if you’re in need of a wedding coordinator and if we’re the right match! .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) us now to set up an appointment!

Rachelle and I decided to take the weekend off to relax and enjoy some time with our boys [and puppies]. We love what we do and sometimes get so caught up in our work we forget to take a day off! I’m hoping for sun tomorrow so we can head to the beach or Silver Falls… though it may just be wishful thinking!

We’re excited to show you some images by Honeysuckle Photography and to introduce you to the talent behind the camera, Maggie. Maggie is so sincerely sweet and friendly… when it comes to your wedding she’ll work seamlessly to get the images you’ll fall in love with and blend in with the crowd… Meet Maggie…

Champagne: When did you know you wanted to be a professional photographer?

Maggie: I just kind of fell into professional photography without any planning. At the time I started the business, I was finishing up a degree in graphic design. I thought for sure I would be a designer for a living, while on the side, I started shooting friend’s weddings just for fun. I started networking in the industry and picking up jobs for people outside of my group of freinds, and before I knew it I had a full blown photography business! It all started back in 2004 when I shot my first engagement session, and within a year, I was able to do this as my full time job.

Champagne: How would you describe your style?

Maggie: My photography style is colorful, playful and light. I like to capture people and their chemistry as a couple naturally. I try to go to places and set up scenarios where my couples will laugh and have a good time with one another while I snap away. I try to be truthful and honest in the way I photograph people. I enjoy portraying a couple as they are. Whether they are shy, silly, romantic, etc., I let those qualities shine thorough above all else.

Champagne: What do you think couples should know when picking a wedding photographer?

Maggie: You will have to spend a lot of time with your photographer before, during and after your wedding. Personalities are very important when it comes to choosing the right photographer for you. Make sure you click well because you want to make sure you have a friend photographing your wedding, not someone that will add stress to your day. You should also make sure to view a wide variety of photographs in thier portfolio. Make sure to find different lighting scenarios and a mix of candid and posed photos. You want to find someone that is good at capturing it all from start to finish.

Champagne: What do you do when you’re not doing what you do?

Maggie: I love to see my friends, go out to eat in Portland’s quirky neighborhoods, drink coffee, play with my dog Sophie, watch movies, and work on photography projects outside of my business.

Champagne: How did you pick how to structure your package?

Maggie: My packages are pretty simple and straight forward. You always get an engagement shoot, a full day of wedding coverage with 2 photographers and a disc with all the files for your own printing. The only difference in the packages are the albums. I try to keep things simple and easy for all of us when it comes to pricing.

Champagne: Having a personality match is part of selecting your photographer, how would you describe your personality?

Maggie: I aim to please. I love to go over the top and make my clients comfortable and happy. Simple things like letting clients choose thier engagement shoot location really allows them to be comfortable from the start. I blend in easy with most any crowd which helps people to be comfortable and natural in photos. I’m easy to talk to and interested in my clients and what they need to stay happy! I love what I do and it shows in the products I provide.

Champagne: Thank you, Maggie, for telling us more about you! We look forward to working with you soon! Make sure to check out Honeysuckle online, keep up to date on their blog and follow them on twitter!

Check out previous posts from our 30 days of vendors:
Day 23 of 30: West Coast Event Productions
Day 22 of 30: Gorge-ous Weddings
Day 21 of 30: The Wedding Cottage
Day 20 of 30: The Photo Lounge
Day 19 of 30: Fioribella Floral Design
Day 18 of 30: Shields Films
Day 17 of 30: Yasmin Khajavi Photography
Day of 16 of 30: Vista Hills & Red Ridge
Day 15 of 30: Lori Raines Calligraphy
Day 14 of 30: Peekaboo Portland
Day 13 of 30: Vibrant Table Catering & Events
Day 12 of 30: Joel Bock Photography
Day 11 of 30: True Love Sound
Day 10 of 30: Blum Floral Desgin
Day 9 of 30: Becerra Photography
Day 8 of 30: Black Butte Ranch
Day 7 of 30: Cupcake Jones
Day 6 of 30: Mosca Photo
Day 5 of 30: Vibrant Table Flowers
Day 4 of 30: Premiere Catering
Day 3 of 30: Paul Rich Studio
Day 2 of 30: Bon Moment Inivitations
Day 1 of 30: Bryan Hoybook Photography
See what the 30 days of vendors is all about!

Cheers,
Mandi & Rachelle

I remember the first time I met Yasmin Khajavi, on August 11th, 2007 at Edgefield McMenamins, she was a bridesmaid in her friend Gillian’s wedding. I remember her being the sweetest and caring person by first impression. It wasn’t until this last December that I really got to know her and know that not only is she sweet and caring, but also, extremely talented. Get to know Yasmin Khajavi Photography...

Champagne: How did you decide to get into photography?

Yasmin: I think it all might have started when I was 10 years and I found some of my mom’s old college sketches in the attic.  Ha ha!  Honestly, art has always been a part of my life, but for some reason I didn’t consider photography to be “arty” enough.  I’m not quite sure what it was that made me start taking notice of the art behind great photography - maybe the wonderfully creative work on Etsy, maybe the work of Annie Liebovitz in Vogue, maybe the way my travel pictures could always take me right back to the place and time they were taken.  But maybe all that matters is that I’ve found a path that makes me really happy and keeps me growing all the time.   

Champagne: How would you describe your style?

Yasmin: Expressive, heartfelt, artistic, personal.

Champange: What would be your dream person/event to photograph?

Yasmin: It would be a dream to shoot Angelina Jolie volunteering abroad for the UN. I’ve always seen photography as a great way of broadening people’s horizons, and it is my goal to be able to give back in this way, too.

Champagne: What’s your favorite part about your job?

Yasmin: The excitement of getting unique & creative shots, all while having fun with the people I’m shooting. I love thinking that spirit and emotion that we’re bottling up in these images is strong enough to evoke feelings in people that weren’t even a part of the event.

Champagne: To you, what is key to creating a successful event?

Yasmin: Communication. Asking lots of questions before the wedding & really understanding what things are most important to the bride and groom. That allows us all to be comfortable on the day of the event… and end up with great pictures. And of course, having a great coordinator like Champagne!

Champange: What do you do when you’re not doing what you do?

Yasmin: Playing sous chef to my loving husband or enjoying one of Portland’s fantastic restaurants, getting my chi on at yoga, book clubbing with an amazing group of girls, getting inspired by blogs and magazines, and making it a priority to travel abroad once a year.

Champagne: Anything else you’d like our readers to know?

Yasmin: I wouldn’t mind shooting Brad Pitt either…

Champagne: Thank you, Yasmin, for telling us more about Yasmin Khajavi Photography! We look forward to working with you soon! Make sure to check out Yasmin’s website and keep up today on her blog!

Check out previous posts from our 30 days of vendors:
Day 16 of 30: Vista Hills & Red Ridge
Day 15 of 30: Lori Raines Calligraphy
Day 14 of 30: Peekaboo Portland
Day 13 of 30: Vibrant Table Catering & Events
Day 12 of 30: Joel Bock Photography
Day 11 of 30: True Love Sound
Day 10 of 30: Blum Floral Desgin
Day 9 of 30: Becerra Photography
Day 8 of 30: Black Butte Ranchy
Day 7 of 30: Cupcake Jones
Day 6 of 30: Mosca Photo
Day 5 of 30: Vibrant Table Flowers
Day 4 of 30: Premiere Catering
Day 3 of 30: Paul Rich Studio
Day 2 of 30: Bon Moment Inivitations
Day 1 of 30: Bryan Hoybook Photography
See what the 30 days of vendors is all about!

Cheers,
Mandi & Rachelle

Only 7 days left to take advantage of our current promotion!! Book your wedding or event coordination before January 30th, 2010 and receive 5% off your package!* Dates are booking quickly!

Don’t forget, we offer free consultations so you can learn if hiring a wedding planner would benefit you and if we’re the right match! We’d love to learn more about you, your fiance and your upcoming wedding plans!

*Not valid on previously booked packages. Contract and deposit must be returned by January 30th, 2010.