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Top 4 engagement session locations

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Engagement session are truly amazing and one of my favorite kinds of sessions to photograph. Take a break from your average selfie and let a professional do the work. This is a time where you get to let your hair down, get dressed up, and have fun with your best friend. No need to worry about what to wear or how to pose, we’ll help with that along the way.

These sessions are the best way for you to get comfortable in front of the camera and have fun while doing so. You’ll laugh, dance, twirl, and get some amazing photographs of you and your soon to be husband/wife.

Leu Gardens - This location is one of the places in the world where I don’t mind getting lost. This venue is filled with the most beautiful flowers and greenery you can enjoy in Central Florida. From events, to weddings, to engagement sessions, I always love photographing here!

Leu Gardens Engagement Photo

Leu Gardens Engagement Photo

Downtown Orlando - How cool do they look!? There are so many ways you can light your subjects in the downtown area. So many different varying mini locations in this one large location! I love it! I was stoked when this couple opted for a downtown location because the the options for creativity are endless. For this image, I wanted to use a garage to have a dark background and be able to light my couple well. I told him to put on the glasses and she looked at him in the most amazing way.

Downtown Orlando Engagement Photo

Downtown Orlando Engagement Photo

Kraft Azalea Park - This venue is one of the most unique in Central Florida. A magnificent place for a proposal as you can see. The doric pillars give the image an epic kind of feel to it and I think they’re more Roman than Greek, but who am I to know that. I love how the soft light hits our couple here and plays with the motion of the trees in the background. It all comes together to make a beautiful image.

Kraft Azalea Proposal

Kraft Azalea Proposal

Dickson Azalea / Langford Park - One reason I really love this location is because I can walk to it from my house :P Aside from that, the park always has great lighting so whether you’re having an engagement session or a family session, the photos will be beautiful! In Langford, there is a really cool boardwalk area that is the perfect spot for portraits!

Dixon Azalea Family Session

Dixon Azalea Family Session

Frequently Asked Questions...

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What is your preferred style?

  • Bold. Fun. Classic

How many weddings have you photographed in your career?

  • I love weddings so I try to photograph as many as possible. I would say around 100 and always looking forward to photographing the next one. Know anyone that’s engaged? ;)

How many weddings will you photograph on my wedding day?

  • Each wedding will have its own primary lead photographer. That way they will be able to focus on your big day!

Have you ever shot at my venue?

  • If I have not photographed a wedding at your venue, I will meet with the staff and do a walk through beforehand.

Do you bring your own lighting?

  • Absolutely! We work with natural light for most of the day because it’s beautiful but when the time calls for it, or we’re getting creative, we use a variety of different lighting setups depending on what or who is being photographed.

Do you work from a shot list?

  • At the beginning of my career I used a printed out shot list but we know the layout of the wedding day and what needs to be photographed.

Can I request certain images are taken at my wedding?

  • Absolutely, I know Pinterest has some intriguing photos on it. If you do see something you like, let us know. I do like to say that the more epic images take time to create so keep that in mind when working on your timeline.

How many hours are included in my collection?

  • We offer 3 collections. 10 hours, 8 hours, and 6 hours. If you’re having a smaller or larger gathering, give us a call and we’d be happy to put together a custom quote for you.

How much does an additional hour of coverage cost?

  • Each additional hour is $299 for the main photographer. For the second shooter, it’s $149.

Do you bring a second shooter?

  • The top 2 collections come with a second shooter. I always recommend having a second shooter because you get different angles, another creative thinking process, and a lot more images.

How many images can I expect to see from my wedding?

  • Each wedding is unique and different in its own way. We can’t tell you exactly how many images you’ll receive day of. Some of the variables include how many hours you book us for, if you get a second shooter, etc.

Do you have a limit to the number of images you edit?

  • Nope, We just delivered a gallery to an awesome couple with 900 images from a 6 hour wedding!

How long does it take to see proofs from my wedding?

  • We ask for 6 weeks to go through and edit your images to perfection.

Do I receive a disc of images, or do I order the prints through you?

  • You will receive a link from us that will allow you to download the images from your gallery.

How much are the prints?

  • Pricing for prints vary, especially with what we can print on nowadays. You do receive a print credit towards an album or wall art and we would be happy to help you find something special for your wall!

Is an album included?

  • Albums are not included but you do receive a specified print credit amount that goes towards the purchase of an album or wall art!

Will you use my images in advertising?

  • We do reserve the right to use the wedding day images in our advertising but if you don’t feel comfortable with that, please let us know!

Will you request the photography guidelines from the ceremony and reception locations?

  • Most venues are good with us having a certain amount of freedom to photograph what we need but we do talk with the coordinators to see if there are any restrictions. We know that churches and more religious venues don’t like us using flash so we absolutely respect that.

What will you and your second shooter wear?

  • Depending on the weather and venue, normally a button-down shirt and nice slacks in a dark color

What is your plan if you are ill or there is an emergency and you can't photograph my wedding?

  • We will appoint another professional photographer whom of which we have full trust in, to take over the Lead photographic role at your wedding.

How much is the retainer?

  • There is a $750 retainer due at the contract signing. We accept Cash, Online payments, and Checks.

When is the balance due?

  • A second payment is due 90 (Ninety) days prior to the date of the wedding date. The final payment is due 30 (Thirty) days prior to the date of the wedding date. The Photographer, or their associates, are not officially booked as your wedding photographer until the retainer is paid, and this contract is signed. 

What is your cancellation policy?

  • If the Client cancels the Wedding or Photographer’s services 6 months, or more, prior to the wedding date, then any amounts paid by Client will be refunded, withholding the retainer, which is non-refundable. If the Client cancels the wedding or Photographer’s services 6 months or less prior to the date of the wedding, the amount paid is non-refundable, as the Photographer has forgone other means of employment or services to other potential clients. If the Client has rescheduled their wedding date and the Photographer is not available, and the Client has chosen to not proceed with a Sonacity Associate Photographer, any amounts paid by Client will be refunded, withholding the retainer, which is non-refundable. 

 

7 TIPS FOR GETTING INTO WEDDING SHAPE | Part 2

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Hey everyone! He is the continuation of "7 TIPS FOR GETTING INTO WEDDING SHAPE" for you to enjoy! If you missed Part 1, it's in an earlier blog post. Enjoy the read!

4: Hold yourself accountable:

Make sure when you start any new diet and exercise program that you keep track of your progress and keep up with writing in your fitness journal if you start one. Keep track as to what you eat every day. They even have apps for these things now, but I like the idea of writing notes in my phone or on paper. There’s no need to download another app that’ll take up space on my phone and it gets the job done. Remember, holding yourself accountable means acknowledging when you have an “off day.” If you ate an extra slice of pizza or drank a soda when you knew you shouldn’t keep track of that. If your goal is to look and feel your best know that the power is in your hands. Whether you lose 5 pounds or 50 lbs. before your wedding mental clarity is important. Know that you hold the key to a healthier life, and your success depends on yourself at the end of the day.

 

5: Don’t be afraid to ask for support:  

You are responsible for your own weight loss journey, but when you join a group or work out with a friend it does help the process for many people. Your friends and family may have the same reservations as you do when it comes to starting a new routine. Find someone you trust to workout with you and help each other achieve goals. Sometimes having someone in your corner helps the process. Better yet, see if your significant other wants to join a program with you. It could be a way to get even closer before the big day!

 

6: Don’t be afraid of failure:

Stick to your diet as much as possible. Eat vegetables daily and eat lean meats or go vegetarian temporarily if you can. Never beat yourself up about the occasional cheat day. We all have our moments. You might be surprised to learn that the body does well when put into shock every occasionally. If you’re eating a strict diet of nothing but vegetables and lean meat and you have a night where you eat a cup of low fat ice cream it’s not the end of the world. In fact, it may give you a small boost in your metabolism. Just do not let that one night a week be an everyday habit.

 

7: Get a trainer if you can:

Sometimes having a workout buddy is good for motivation but when you get closer to the big day you may need a little extra help to get down those extra pounds. When working out on your home or with a friend isn’t enough you may need the assistance of a professional. Finding a trainer may seem like a difficult task, but I find that word of mouth is the best thing. Make posts on Facebook, check websites, or go to your local gym for the perfect trainer. Many will offer your first session for free or half off so deciding on who will work best with you is mostly affordable and easy!

Remember, trainer or not muscle is denser than fat, so you've most likely turned some fat into lean muscle (no matter what the scale says)b by your wedding day, if you’ve stuck with some workout regime. Visualize yourself coming down the aisle in the best shape ever and don't give up! Even if you haven't lost weight, you should be seeing some results in your muscle tone by the time you get to your big day.  

Thank you, Katrina, for the amazing information! For those interested in contacting Katrina, her information is listed below :)

7 Tips For Getting into Wedding Shape

Tips For Getting Wedding Ready | Part 1

Author: Katrina Tecxidor: Owner and Operator of Fan Fit Go

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Be sure to stay tuned for Part 2 coming soon!

There you are, getting ready for the “big day.” You have the location for your wedding, the florist is all set, your cake has been picked out, and the DJ lined up. Now it's time to buy your dress. The next hurdle inevitably comes your way, how do you drop weight in a short amount of time? Most people tend to plan a year before the big day while others have less time. No matter how long you have until that big day, time goes by quickly. Let’s face it, between work obligations, friends, and family, we all lose track of helping to take care of ourselves. Sometimes we neglect our bodies and reach for comfort foods and skip the gym. Here are 7 things to know when getting into wedding shape that you’ll need to know.

1) Have realistic expectations

First and foremost, you need to have realistic goals and expectations while you get into wedding shape. I put this first because many of us want a quick and painless answer to the harder complex questions. Sure, you can drink one of those “48-miracle drinks” right before your wedding, but essentially all your doing is losing water weight. It’s temporary and unsafe because your weight will bounce back quicker than you can imagine. Instead, find a routine, diet, and exercise regime that works for you. Reframe from fad diets or extreme measures to lose weight.

If weight loss is your plan than 2 or 3 pounds a week is realistic. The more extreme the diet, the more likely your weight is to bounce back. Anything more than 2 or 3 pounds a week is possible, but hard to maintain. Your body can do amazing things but know your limits. Push yourself in every workout, but if that soreness you feel the next day turns into extreme pain, stop and see a doctor if need be. Muscles should not be sore for more than 48 hours. Chances are if you’re sore for longer than that amount of time, that means that you over worked that area.

Generally, going on a fad diet or even skipping breakfast can have the opposite effect as to what you may think. While some short-term weight loss may occur, dramatically curbing calories might lead to a cascade of hormones that cause people to end up retaining more fat in the long run. If you're skipping meals and no longer are eating at regular intervals, your metabolism slows down because the body thinks it is starving and tries to retain nutrients longer. On the other hand, eating healthy foods throughout the day can keep the metabolism going. Doing this will lead to your body staying in that happy "weight-loss zone," a state where your metabolism is working efficiently. Besides causing more weight to come back, a fad diet might also lead to dehydration, gallstones, kidney stones, low blood pressure and electrolyte disturbances that might be dangerous. Many young, healthy brides may not think health problems can happen to them and may ignore the warnings. At the very least fad diets will leave you feeling hungry, cranky, more tired, and having fewer coping skills as your mood slowly deteriorates.

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2) Focus on how you feel instead of the number on scale

Keeping track of your progress is important, but don’t dwell on the number the scale says. That’s the thing with the scale. It can be a blessing and a curse. Use the scale to track your progress, but don’t get down on yourself if you only lose just a pound a week. Overall, try your best because that is all you can do. Besides inches can be more telling as to whether your diet and exercise regime is really working.

In the beginning of your training, your focus should be on getting active and engaged in the program more than what the scale says. A good way to get motivated is to start a workout diary where you can monitor your progress. To stay motivated, keep notes all the way through. Make this a workout diary of sorts. If you're more of a visual person take a picture of yourself every week to track changes and keep it in your phone. Add aerobic activity (running, walking, jogging, cycling for example) at least 3 times a week at first. Don’t use main exercise, because too much cardio can burn not just fat but muscle as well.

3) Don’t underestimate yourself

It starts with the little things. Even walking can make a difference. Don’t underestimate the importance of just eliminating sugary drinks out of your diet. Many people have a good ten pounds of weight in their body just by a build of toxins in the colon. Swapping out unhealthy foods is just one part of getting in shape for a wedding. If you take away soda and sugary foods and drinks from your diet you can naturally expel some of this waste in your body quickly. Instead of sodas try flavoring your water.

Increasing your water intake makes a big difference to your body’s health. Studies show that those who drink at least 8 cups of water tend to weigh less than those who don’t. If you don’t like water, an easy fix is to cut up your favorite fruit, put it in your water bottle, and let it sit overnight in your water bottle. The next day your water tastes like fruit. Flavored water will make it easier for you to make your water requirement for the day.

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