Shameless Self Promotion

Sometimes....you must feed the SEO Gods.....here goes...

Gardner Photography & Design

:)  There.  I hope they're full.

What's in my Photography Bag?

Recently, I discovered Pinterest - and I'm hooked!  For fun, I created a board to show what is in my bag, so to speak.  Sure, I don't carry around all this stuff, but it's still part of my overall gear.  All these things are important to creating the ultimate wedding and family photos!

So, are you curious what camera I use?  Which lenses I have?  The software I prefer?  Then, check it out....

Peek inside Gardner Photo's gear bag....

While you're at it, check us out online at our website or visit us on Facebook.  We'd love a "like" while you're there!

Wedding-Day Beauty Tips

These are some GREAT times from Real Simple Weddings!  As a wedding photographer in Cincinnati, I often give my brides the same advice for their wedding days or bridal sessions.  Here are the tips:

Don’t Wash Your Hair

Surprise! You shouldn’t suds up your hair on your wedding day. “Let your hair’s natural oils work their magic―they’ll make it look shinier and healthier, and help keep whatever style you have in place longer,” says hair and makeup artist Ann Minahan, owner of Riah salon in NYC. “Shampoo and condition the night before, then just give it a rinse with water in the morning.” 

Use Product to Keep Flyaways at Bay

For banishing mid-reception flyaways and frizz, use a wax or pomade stick like Tigi Bedhead Wax Stick (amazon.com, $15) to smooth strands back into place, says Lisa Leming, a bridal hair and makeup expert in Irvine, CA. “It’s heavy, so apply it to your fingers first and then run your fingers along the hair,” she says. And have lots of bobby pins handy to secure larger strands that have broken free.

Try Powder to Combat Grease

If your hair is prone to grease, stop it in its tracks with a tinted hair powder (Bumble and Bumble’s has five shades (bumbleandbumble.com, $34). “Sprinkle it lightly along the hairline and greasy areas, and it will absorb the oil,” says Minahan. Just don’t overdo it, or you’ll lose the shine.

Revive Flat Hair with a Good Shake

Hair that’s worn down runs the risk of falling flat. To revive it, “Slip off to the ladies’ room and flip your head forward, spray it with a shot of hairspray, and shake your hands through it to add volume,” says Leming.

Wear Sunscreen Under Your Makeup

Many ceremonies and photo sessions take place in bright sunlight, and if you skip the SPF, you could transform into a lobster as the night wears on. “Once you’re burnt, it’s really hard to make your makeup look right,” says Ashlee Barnes, a makeup artist in Los Angeles. (Her favorite? Neutrogena Age Shield Face Sunblock in SPF 55, drugstore.com, $9.)

Fix Eyelash Clumps with a Comb

Emotions run high―and waterworks can wreak havoc on even the best waterproof eye makeup. “Tears have saline in them, so when they hit the lashes, mascara will start to clump,” says celebrity makeup artist Joanna Schlip. “Bring along an eyelash comb to declump them and a cotton swab with a bit of moisturizer on the tip to run under the eyes and remove any smeared makeup.” The finishing touch? “Use eye-drops so that your eyes look bright and white in all the pictures,” says Barnes.

Do a Shine Check

About once an hour, check your complexion―either with a mirror or a no-nonsense bridesmaid. Using a tissue, dab off any perspiration, says Minahan, then remove surface oil with a blotting paper such as Alcone Face-Matte Oil-Blotting Blue Sheets (alconeco.com, $6). Schlip recommends finishing off the job with a tinted pressed mineral powder. “Don’t use a heavy powder or one that contains talc or petroleum by-products, which will cake when you keep reapplying,” says Schlip. (Her pick: Physician’s Formula Mineral Wear, physiciansformula.com, $13.)

Exfoliate to Make Lip Color Last

To make your lip color survive a full night of smooching, Barnes prescribes this routine: First, exfoliate lips with an old toothbrush to rid them of flakes. Using a neutral lip liner like Spice by MAC (maccosmetics.com, $13), line your lips and fill them in with the pencil. Apply lipstick, then blot with a tissue. Apply a second layer of lipstick. Throughout the evening, keep lips shiny with a tinted gloss such as Nars Lip Lacquer (narscosmetics.com, $24).

Carry Concealer

Your foundation is bound to wear thin in spots, but reapplying can make it look too heavy―and isn’t exactly practical when you’re in party mode. Instead, carry a small container of concealer. “You can use it on redness around your nose, discoloration under your eyes or blemishes,” says Leming, who recommends Laura Mercier Undercover Pot (lauramercier.com, $34).

Check out the full article from Real Simple Weddings - and then come check us out at Gardner Photography & Design or on Facebook.

Wedding Invitation Etiquette 101

If you'll be tying the knot in a less-than-traditional setting, the wording of the wedding invitation can be as creative as you want: Think meaningful quotations, song lyrics, or any other phrases that will give your guests a sense of the style of your wedding. Just don't forget to include the basics:
 

• Your name and the name of your fiancé, including last names.
• The date, location, and time of the wedding.
• The location and time of the reception.
• Reply information.

Read more from Real Simple Weddings.  And don't forget to visit Gardner Photography & Design online!

WeddingWire Bride's Choice Awards 2012

We won the WeddingWire Bride's Choice Awards 2012!  This is our third year in a row.

 

This means we are in the top 5% of Wedding Pros nationwide! The WeddingWire Bride's Choice Awards™ recognizes the top local wedding professionals from the WeddingWire Network that demonstrate excellence in quality, service, responsiveness and professionalism. Unlike other awards in which winners are selected by the organization, the WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Awards™ are determined solely by the reviews from over 1.2 million newlyweds.

 

THANK YOU to all of our fabulous couples who gave us such great reviews!  We couldn't have won without you.  :)

Check out Gardner Photography & Design's reviews on WeddingWire.

Night Time eSession Downtown { Sneak Peek }

We had a blast with Nicole and Matthew for their eSession last night.  We started at Longworth Hall and got super lucky - there was this red caboose car there!  All the times I've been there, and no caboose, so it was a little surprise.

Once the sun was setting, we headed to Fountain Square in downtown Cincinnati for some super cool night shots.  The holiday lights were all still up - making for some great photos!

We made a stop at Via Vite for a Champagne toast and a few more photos.  And then wrapped up with some slow shutter shots.  I've been dying to do some downtown for awhile, and they turned out cool!

Check out their sneak peek.  We're super excited for Nicole and Matt's July 2012 wedding in Northern Kentucky.  Enjoy!

Check us out online at www.gardner-photo.com or come Like us at Facebook!

Fun Night Time eSession Planned!

Fun evening engagement session planned tonight!  We'll be starting out at Longworth Hall to get some pre-sunset light.  Then, we'll head down to Fountain Square for some cool night time photos.  Can't wait!

Check out the sneak peek on our Facebook page - coming soon!