It's your big day!!

TRUE LOVE

WEDDINGS GUIDE CA LGA RY • WOR LDWIDE

thisislovephoto.ca • shawnacoates@mac.com • 403.479.8838 All images Copyright by This Is Love Photography

WELCOME

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SHE SAID YES!

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WHY CHOOSE AN ENGAGEMENT SESSION

YOUR BIG DAY WHAT I CAPTURE AND WHAT YOU’LL GET WHEN CHOOSING

WHAT I OFFER A LIST OF PRINTS, PRODUCTS & PACKAGES TO CHOOSE FROM

TIPS, TRICKS & THE TIMELINE HELPFUL HINTS SO YOU’LL BE PREPARED FOR YOUR DAY

DETAILS, DETAILS, DETAILS TIMELINE GUIDELINES FOR PICTURES ON YOUR BIG DAY

FAQ’S AND RAVES GET YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED

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I LOV E WHAT I DO AND IT

THIS IS LOVE |

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I LOVE WHAT I DO & IT REFLECTS IN MY ART

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ABOUT ME HOW DO YOU CREATE SUCH STUNNING IMAGES?

I am frequently asked, “How do you create such stunning images?” My answer: “It is easy when you are on your right path, doing what you are meant to be doing, and loving what you do.”

Photography wasn’t the first career choice for me. I used to go to work day in and day out -- always with the same mantra, “I would rather work 18 hours a day for myself than 8 hours a day for someone else.” Then along came photography, probably the farthest career choice

that I would have ever imagined. The pieces of my life started to click into place; I had found the thing that I loved with every part of my body.

Now I am working 18 hours a day, but I am doing it on my terms and I am not missing one single moment of our lives. I LOVE what I do and it reflects in my art. I have found my path, the thing that I was meant to do, the thing that I love and I can’t wait to share it with you!

MY STYLE

Describing my style is sometimes more difficult than it seems. There are certainly adjectives that I can use to describe how I see This Is Love Photography: sexy, sophisticated, edgy, avant-garde, fashionable. But these are just words, This Is Love’s style is more of a feeling; an experience.

When you are being photographed by me -- you will feel fun, powerful, lighthearted, stunning,

on top of the world. Because that is how I envision my clients. I take the time to get to know you -- to learn what will evoke the natural smile, what will cause you to show your sensual side, perhaps even a tear or two, what will allow you to just be you. That is what makes my photos stand out -- the experience that allows the inner you to shine.

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SHE SAID YES! WHY CHOOSE AN ENGAGEMENT SESSION

First and foremost, you should have an engagement session done because it’s fun. You get to pamper yourself and dress up and -- here’s the best part -- snuggling and kissing your best friend for a good hour or two.

Engagement sessions also serve as a great time for you and your photographer to get to know each other a little better. It helps you know how I will be posing you on your wedding day and lets me know how comfortable you two are in front of the camera!

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There are also practical reasons for an engagement session, too. For example, many people use shots from their engagement shoot for save the dates, wedding invitations and even thankyou cards post-wedding. Your engagement photographs are also great to use on your engagement website, for announcing your engagement online and for simply documenting yourself as a couple in-love.

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YOUR WEDDING D AY C O V E R A G E WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT

GETTING READY I start the day by photographing you getting ready.

Think detail shots of your perfume, you slipping into your beautiful shoes, a crowd of happy bridesmaids in their slouchy sweatpants and impeccable hair. The same is true for the men. I’ll capture them fastening boutonnières to their lapels, candids of dad giving the groom some sage advice and groomsmen laughing it up while the women get ready.

PORTRAITS When you book with us, you’ll also get formal and informal portrait shots. That includes those gorgeous bridal portraits, handsome photos of the groom, group shots of the entire bridal party and all the family portrait shots you could ever want. I like to do a mix of both casual and traditional for these shots.

CEREMONY & RECEPTION Of course, I also document your entire wedding ceremony and reception, complete with all those big -- and small -- moments that must be caught on camera.

That includes walking down the aisle, the big kiss, the officiant speaking, musicians playing, and family and friends listening/watching. I’ll also capture all those fun and heartfelt moments at your reception, from tearful and hilarious toasts to some mad dancing skills to cake cutting and beyond.

DETAILS Rest assured, I’ll capture all those details you planned, as well. You spent good money -- and time -- planning your special day; I’m here to make sure it’s documented beautifully. I’ll photograph the tiniest details on your wedding favors, the sugary flower ornaments on your cake, the lanterns hanging in the trees and anything else you thoughtfully included.

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THE INVESTMENT AND OUR BREATH-TAKING ALBUMS

PACKAGE 1 ($2,700) 6 hours coverage 2 professional photographers

PACKAGE 2 ($3,400) 8 hours coverage 2 professional photographers

engagement session

engagement session

professional editing

professional editing

un-watermarked digital images website for online viewing

PACKAGE 3 ($4,100) 10 hours coverage 2 professional photographers engagement session professional editing un-watermarked digital images website for online viewing

un-watermarked digital images website for online viewing

ADD ONS extra hour with 2 photographers ($500) trash the dress sessions ($750) photo booth at reception ($400)

GST WILL BE APPLIED TO ALL PACKAGES • CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED

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FLUSH MOUNT ( PRICES FROM $1,100) Flush mount albums offer a wide selection of cover choices, photographic paper types & finishing services, ensuring your style is represented in every detail.

Images extend across the page with a thick substrate inbetween, making it our most premium album.

PARENT BOOKS ( PRICES FROM $700) A parent book is a smaller version of your wedding album. It is ideal for family and friends. They are the same quality as the Flush-mount.

We feel that parents dream of their child’s wedding, therefore they should receive a family heirloom that will last forever.

Our albums come in a variety of gorgeous styles. Ask us to find out more!

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P H OTOGRA P HY CH ECK L IS T SENT CONTRACT AND RETAINER. THIS IS DONE AT THE TIME OF BOOKING. SCHEDULED ENGAGEMENT SESSION. 3 MONTHS OR MORE IN ADVANCE. SCHEDULE WEDDING CONSULT (SET FOR 3 WEEKS PRIOR TO WEDDING).

SUBMIT MUST-HAVE WEDDING SHOTS. SEND 2 WEEKS PRIOR TO WEDDING.

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TIPS AND TRICKS AND A HANDY CHECKLIST TO KEEP YOU ORGANIZED

Create a detailed timeline of your wedding day that includes when flowers are set to arrive, when people should arrive, when hair and makeup will be done, etc. Include exact times and locations.

Share this timeline with everyone involved in your wedding, including your photographer.

Have food on hand while you get ready. Don’t make my mistake of barely eating on the wedding day and ending up with a headache. Having healthy snacks and lots of water on hand will make for a better day,

Practice walking in your wedding day shoes to make sure they’re comfortable enough to stand around in for your portraits and for the duration of your wedding. Pain is beauty, yes, but looking painful in a picture isn’t worth the discomfort.

Pack a “wedding day emergency” kit and bring it along with you on your big day. Essentials include some clear nail polish for snags, pain reliever for headaches, any makeup you need for touching up and a travel sewing kit. Band-Aids, lozenges, tampons and tissue are also good.

Have your cake and flowers arrive at the latest possible moment (but still budget in some buffer time). Flowers wilt and cakes can melt on hot days, so putting these deliveries off can ensure they look great for your pictures, ceremony and reception.

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Have a “spot checker” on hand who’s there to help you out with things like tangled trains, smeared lipstick or out-of-place hair. This can be someone in your bridal party or the mother of the bride, for example.

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Whether you’re doing your makeup yourself or having a makeup artist come in, do a trial run.

This is especially important if you have sensitive skin, as an allergic reaction on your wedding day would not be good.

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Order at least 25 extra invitations than you think you’ll need. It’s better to have extras “just in case” and often times it’s less expensive to buy in bulk than to order just a few extra.

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Follow up with all your vendors a week before your wedding to make sure everything is in place and ready to go. Should anything be wrong (say, the florist only has you down for 4 bouquets instead of 5), this will provide plenty of time to fix the mistake.

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Expect the unexpected. Sometimes things don’t go as planned, and that’s OK. In the long term, it’s your outlook and attitude that makes for a brilliant, successful day.

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IT’S ALL IN T H E D E TA I L S ALLOW TIME FOR THE IMAGES YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS OUT ON

Memorable weddings don’t just happen, they take a lot of planning and probably take more time than you would imagine to capture those

GETTING READY (2 - 3 HOURS) Sometimes getting ready means at a salon, at your home, hotel or at the church. I like to show up at the ceremony location 1-2 hours before. If you think you’ll be getting ready at home or a hotel I’d allow 3 hours THE CEREMONY (15 MIN - 1.5 HOURS) Ceremonies can vary quite a bit. However long you plan for your ceremony don’t forget to include the time for a receiving line or the time it takes for your guests to leave before starting family portraits.

FAMILY PORTRAITS (15 - 30 MINUTES) Family portraits can vary depending on how many.

I always suggest letting those family members know ahead of time to stick around immediately following the ceremony. This will help lessen the time it takes to corral everyone together.

Remember every wedding is unique, I do my very best to be flexible and I always suggest to keep an open mind as well, things don’t always go according to plan. A couple weeks before

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beautiful moments. See below for a guideline to help you figure out how much time you’ll need your photographer on your wedding day.

WEDDING PARTY & THE NEWLYWEDS (45 MINUTES - 2 HOURS) I can’t stress enough how important it is to allow enough time with the bride and groom alone. After all, that is what this whole big day is about isn’t it -- you two?! If you haven’t heard of doing a “first look” it may be something you’d like to consider. The first look happens before the ceremony where the bride and groom see each other for the first time. I capture this intimate moment for you, allowing you to get butterflies out beforehand and allowing for more time for photographs before the ceremony.

THE RECEPTION (2 - 5 HOURS) Your first dance, the cake cutting, the bouquet toss and your guests breaking it down on the dance floor. I typically suggest allowing enough time for me to stay for 30 minutes after the open dance floor starts. I rarely stay for the whole reception.

your wedding I will sit down with you to go over your timeline. At that time if you wish to add any additional hours coverage, you are more than welcome to.

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FA Q FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS . . . AND SOME ANSWERS!

DO YOU TAKE PAYMENT INSTALLMENTS? Yes, of course. I can work out a payment schedule to make sure you’re able to pay for the photos. All I ask is that you pay 50% up front to lock in your date and have the remaining amount to me one month before your wedding.

SOMEONE ELSE IS PAYING FOR OUR PHOTOS. WHO SIGNS THE CONTRACT? No matter who’s paying for the photographs, it’s always you -- the bride and groom -- who signs the contract. You’ll also be our primary contact and who I speak with leading up to, on the day of, and the days following your wedding.

CAN I HIRE YOU TO SHOOT MY DESTINATION WEDDING? I absolutely love destinations, so the answer to your question is a resounding, “Yes!” I have a separate contract for destination weddings, which details accommodations and travel expenditures.

CAN I HIRE AN ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER TO SHOOT OUR WEDDING? The contract you sign states that THIS IS LOVE photographers are the only photographers allowed to shoot on your wedding day. This helps promote my creativeness and ensures you get the best photos. I do offer additional shooters depending on the photo package you choose. As long as guests do not infringe upon our space, they can take pictures with their cameras / phones.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO GET MY PICTURES? You will always receive your pictures within 12 WEEKS but usually earlier. During the busy season, I sometimes get backlogged, but even then I do my best to have all digital negatives to you in a timely manner.

DO YOU DESIGN THE PHOTOGRAPHY ALBUMS? My modern coffee table albums are absolutely breathtaking and yes, I do design them in house. I work with you to include the photographs you love best to ensure you love your album from cover to cover.

DO YOU PROVIDE CUSTOMIZED PACKAGES? Not all weddings are the same -- I get it! For that reason, I may provide a customized wedding package to suit your needs. These customized packages are typically for weddings that are outside the norm. Talk to me and we’ll make it work!

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SHAWNA MADE MY HUSBAND AND I FEEL COMFORTABLE FROM THE MOMENT WE MET HER. SHE HAS FUN CREATIVE IDEAS AND WAS VERY OPEN TO OUR IDEAS AND SUGGESTIONS FOR PHOTOS.

THIS IS LOVE PHOTOGRAPHY WAS AN ABSOLUTE DREAM TO WORK WITH. SHAWNA WAS PROFESSIONAL AND ALWAYS QUICK TO RESPOND BACK TO ANY COMMUNICATION THAT I WOULD SEND HER.

THE SHOTS THAT SHE GOT WERE CREATIVE, ELEGANT AND MORE THAN WE COULD HAVE HOPED FOR.

SHE’S THE SWEETEST PERSON AND SO MUCH FUN TO WORK WITH.

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POST PRODUCTION A SAMPLE OF BEFORE AND AFTER

Part of our magic in turning your photos into artwork goes beyond just taking the photos.

After your engagement session or wedding, I spend hours on the computer transforming our straight out of the camera photos to enhance the colour, contrast, and airbrush any imperfections. Throughout post production, we

enhance each image to make you look your best.

You deserve it!!

Our editing style is vibrant and modern. We do not over-edit our images. We make sure that your images are timeless!

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YOUR ALBUM APPOINTMENT A SNEAK PEEK INSIDE WHERE WE WILL GO THROUGH YOUR IMAGES TO CREATE A PERFECT PIECE OF ART!

Following your wedding, we will invite you into our in-home studio where we will go through your amazing images. This is where we will narrow down your favourites and which album you would like to have them featured in.

We will hold your hand every step of the way as your family heirlooms are as important to us as you are!

Although it is hard to believe that you could forget any moment, the truth is that memories

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fade over time. While you will likely remember the rush of emotions that you felt while you said your vows, you will also forget the beautiful moments that made your wedding unique. With a wedding album, you can remember precious events such as your niece kissing your cheek or your uncle’s humorous toast with only a quick flip of the pages.

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thisislovephoto.ca • shawnacoates@mac.com • 403.479.8838 All images Copyright by This Is Love Photography