If your reading this and saw me at the Tacoma Bridal Show, it was a pleasure to see you there! We had a great time in our first year at the show, and all of you made it possible. If you didn’t make it, you missed a great show, but hopefully be able to see us there next year!

We appreciated all of the positive comments and feedback, and look very much forward to working with many of you in the coming months and year. If you are wondering about the drawing and haven’t heard anything, don’t worry, the drawing hasn’t happened yet so you still have a great chance to win. PLUS, because of the overwhelming support and enthusiasm, we will also be drawing for a second winner, who will receive a complimentary 4 hour wedding package (of course, date availability pending). The drawing will take place this coming weekend, and the winner will be notified soon.

Thanks again from the support, and check back to see who won!

Congratulations on the engagement Aaron and Julie, I can’t wait to photograph the big day (just under 80 days left)! Seattle was a blast, Red Robin was delicious and you two were great to work with. The rest of your engagement photos are almost ready, but in the meantime, enjoy this quick preview!

Hope you two love them! Can’t wait for the wedding in Olympia.

Now that the weather in Oregon and Washington is starting to show signs of warming, it’s quickly becoming engagement photography season, with wedding photography season just around the corner.I’ve decided that it may be beneficial to throw out some tips to help make your experiences, and photos, a little better. So, for the next few weeks, expect posts on how to spiffy up your engagement and wedding days.

Today we’ll start with engagement photos. I am shooting my first engagement session of the season very soon with Aaron and Julie, and can hardly wait! I have so many ideas flying through my head of things I would love to try with them, that I have already begun writing some down.

I’ll be a little more general here with tips than what I am planning to do with them, so that it is a little more exciting when I post their photos.

First and foremost, every little detail matters when your getting ready for your photos. From dress, to props, to shaving, to even working with your photographer to select the right time of day to shoot!

With clothes, pic plain clothes with simple to no patterns, no logos, and nothing terribly distracting. Select minimal and plain jewelry and make sure that everything is neat, clean and pressed. Also, spend a little bit of time talking to your significant other, coordinating what you want to wear. If one of you shows up wearing a bright red shirt, the other wearing lime green, the results aren’t going to be so pretty. Lastly, with the outfits, bring a change of clothes. Chances are slim that you’ll need ‘em, but I’ve had couples get a bit dirty when they’ve decided they wanted pictures of them in the middle of a river, or playing in a fountain. If you want to get dirty, I’ll always encourage it, as it usually results in great photos, it’s just good to have a backup.

Next thing I’ll touch on is props. Spend some time thinking about this. Try to think of a couple things that are important to you as a couple and bring it, or suggest it as part of your shoot. Met over coffee? Great, let’s hit up a coffee shop as part of the shoot! Both have cowboy hats? Fantastic! Nothing you bring is too silly or absurd, just make sure that it is important and relates to you. We’ll find a way to use it.

Third, take a bit of time for grooming before your pictures. Chances are I’ll be doing a few close-ups of your hands for engagement ring photos; make sure your nails are clean and trimmed, and maybe put on some lotion pre-shoot. Also, if we’re in the right spot, like a beach, chances are those shoes are coming off too- make sure the toes are nice as well. Guys, that five o’clock shadow can be pretty brutal sometimes- try to shave about 2-3 hours before the shoot- soon enough to make sure that you looked nicely shaved, but not so close to the shoot that your neck and face is red from shaving.

My last tip for today for your engagement photos is to work with your photographer to decide the right time of day for your photos. When the sun is at it’s peak in the summer around here, it’s tough to shoot in. While we as professionals should be able to work in any condition, certain times of day simply provide results that both you and I will be happier with.

©2010 Adam Mathias Photography

Well, this was pretty much the kickoff to the busy wedding season for me, and I was lucky enough to share it with Craig and Casey. The wedding was held on Craig’s family farm, providing hazelnut orchards, wheat fields, tractors, barns and more. Here, obviously, we used the barn as a  backdrop. There is a catch with this photo though. This shot was taken before the ceremony- and the bride and groom to be at the time, requested not to see each other at all prior to the ceremony. So, the corner in which their hands were in front of was the divider. Setting up a photo like this proved to be a bit of a trick, but these two were amazing to work with and up for anything. Obviously, the shot went off without a hitch, and the bride was quickly and quietly whisked away. I can’t take all of the credit on the idea though, hats off to Casey for that one.

Anyway, to keep it short, it was a beautiful day, beautiful wedding and an honor to work with these two. Craig and Casey, I hope you enjoy your brief preview, congratulations and best wishes to both of you.

©2010 Adam Mathias Photography

©2010 Adam Mathias Photography

©Adam Mathias Photography