The 2013 Region Weddings Mobile App

A new version of the Region Weddings Mobile App is ready for download.  This is free for everyone and does not require an App Store.  This is a great way to have my wedding portfolio with you at all times.  When your bridesmaids ask who your photographer is, simply use the share button within the App and they can view my work on their own smartphone or tablet.  This is the same type of app my clients receive after the wedding, except it is all of their very own wedding photos.

Two friends take a look at wedding photos on the Region Wedding Mobile app for iPhone, iPad and Android.

The App is designed for iPhone, iPad and most modern Android devices.  It is best to download it via Wi-Fi and it will then be available for offline viewing.   

Here is my official introduction along with detailed instructions:

View this post on your mobile device.

We have created for you your very own custom photo app. It is designed so that you can take your images with you on the go to share with your friends and family.  the App can also be shared on Pinterest, Facebook and Twitter as well as email and text.

Please connect to WiFi. Once it is fully downloaded you will be able to open your app while offline.

Now tap this link. (http://moblalbum.com/124/gallery/100421)

Your app will work on all Apple devices (iPhone/iPad/iPod) and the latest Androids.

From the beginning we have grown our business through word-of-mouth referrals. We sincerely appreciate you sharing this email, or using the built-in share button to share your photo app with your friends and family.

Please let us know if you have any questions.

Here are some optional instructions for specific devices:

iPhone /iPod/iPad- (instructions will also appear when you first open the album).

1. Click on the share button on the BROWSER BAR (this is the box that looks like it has an arrow coming out of it it’s on the top for iPads and the bottom for iPhones/iPods).

2. Select Save to home screen

3. The icon will save to the homes screen

4. Click on the icon, after it has saved to the home screen to open the app, the first time you launch the album you will want to wait until you see the download complete and green check-mark before you view your images.

A just engaged Northwest Indiana couple views wedding photos on the Region Weddings Mobile App.

Android phones/tablets: (instructions will also appear when you first open the album).

Note that not ALL android phones will allow you to add the icon to the home screen.

1. Bookmark the page you want to add to a Home screen

2. Open the browser “bookmarks” screen

3. Long-press the bookmark you want

4. Select “Add to Home screen” or add shortcut to home screen (your device may support one or the other or both).

5. Click on the icon on the home screen to launch the album, the first time you launch the album you will need to wait until you see the download complete sign before you start to view your images.

Fun Wedding Photos at Avalon Manor

Pure, unadulterated fun is the best way I can describe David and Jessica's wedding at Avalon Manor.  You can see from the crazy dance of the bride and bridesmaids above that this young bride and groom and their friends were going to make sure it was a day of smiles and laughter.

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After leaving the Razor's Edge Hair Salon, I met the girls at the Avalon Manor bridal suite where we took candid photos of the bride and bridesmaids as well as the image above in front of the large mirror.  I gave it a slight vintage look in the digital darkroom to compliment the look of the grande, old mirror.

I took one detour over to Deep River Park for some Fall shots of the groomsmen such as this candid wedding photo of the guys having a few laughs.

Once the guys arrived back at the Hobart Banquet Hall, I borrowed their tuxedo jackets for a fun bridesmaid image with the girls wearing the jackets and holding their flowers in the air.

Jessica was very concerned about David seeing her beforehand, so we blindfolded him and led him around in various setting for photographs.  Here we placed him at the bottom of the stairs as the bridesmaids looked on in mock horror, afraid that he could turn around at any moment.  He's too good of a guy to do that!!  :)

Just before the ceremony, the bride's grandmother helped with a few adjustments of the dress...

The indoor wedding ceremony at Avalon Manor was a lovely one with the bride entering from the balcony and down the staircase as her grandmother awaited to walk her down the aisle.

The banquet room was packed with family and friends and adorned with pink petals all along the white runner.

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Talking with Jessica and David after the wedding, they told me they had to hold back some of their smiles as they knew exchanging wedding vows was a serious affair.  However, they were so happy to have this moment finally upon them, that lighthearted laughter and smiles shone throughout.  I kept my lenses focused on their reactions as well as family members looking on.

So many of my first kiss photographs are taken from center aisle and I love that classic viewpoint, but it was great to get behind the couple for this one and also see much of the Avalon Manor banquet room as well as the white runner with the pink petals pointing right at the newlyweds.

Even family photos after the ceremony had a fun element to them.  I like to avoid stiff images anyway, so I was welcome to the idea of their respective mom and grandmother holding up a picture frame to showcase the just married couple. 

We had some great Fall colors to work with and the sky at dusk behind Avalon Manor enhanced our portraits even further.

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We took a variety of silly pictures with the wedding party and then I slowed them down with one traditional wedding photo before dismissing them to the reception.

Jessica's veil was so dramatic and I knew I had to use it for some unique images.  She was all for it and her new husband's smile says it all...

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Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Evers!!  Thank you for having me be a part of your big day and for being such a fun group.  See you soon for that Trash the Dress session.

regionweddings

Wedding and Engagement Videos

Now that the Northwest Indiana wedding photography season is over, I thought it was time to update my highlight videos of various weddings from the past several years.  I also got busy and updated the Engagement Sampler video as well.  

These style of videos are what clients see on Premiere Nights when I invite them here to the studio to view their wedding photos.  Snacks and refreshments are served and friends and family are welcome.  We view their very own highlight video and then look through the images one by one.  The newlyweds then will pick out images for their wedding albums covers and we discuss the color scheme and how they envision me designing the book.

Right now, I invite you to provide your own refreshments and check out my work.  The images here span outdoor Crown Point weddings to vineyards in Michigan to Grant Park in Chicago.

Northwest Indiana Wedding Photographer - Highlight Reel (click to view full screen)

Our double feature also includes engagement photography ranging from the beaches of Lake Michigan to Millennium Park and Wrigley Field in Chicago.

Northwest Indiana Wedding Photographer - Engagement Photos (click to view full screen)

Look for an upcoming post detailing the wedding photography year in review.

Modern Wedding Album Designs

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I'm about halfway through the Northwest Indiana wedding season and I've already showcased quite a few recent wedding images from throughout the year.  Today we show off some wedding album designs.  These are straight from the pages of three recent clients.  I'm currently working on a few mom brag books, but we will save those for another day.

The photo above is the front cover for Ryan and Sara's wedding book which just arrived this week from the printer.  I can't really do these wedding albums justice without putting them in your hands when we meet for our intitial wedding consultation.  Let me give you some of the finer points about them:

• custom designed pages
• protective coating on each page for smudges, fingerprints and light liquid
• 12x12 hardcover
• coffee table design 

After your wedding, I begin the editing process for all of your photos (think film developing, except for digital) and perhaps adding special effects, etc.  Then we have Premiere Night where you will see a video of highlight images from throughout the wedding day.  The next step is seeing all of your images on a large screen in the viewing room of my portrait studio in Crown Point.  Out last step this night is to pick out a dominant color for your wedding album.  Usually we go with the bridesmaids colors or wedding theme color, but not always.  We will discuss our options.  I then ask the couple to pick out front and back images with some guidance from me. From these selections I then design a custom cover that usually contains the newlywed's name and wedding date.

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One of my favorite fonts is this heart font on the front cover of Michele and Nick's wedding album.  Other times we go for a more classic look as with Stacey and Steve's album from their Spring wedding at St. John the Evangelist.

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Couple's often choose a walking away or waving image for the back cover of their book...

The inside page designs will continue the color theme of the front cover, sometimes with more intense colors such as this deep purple design with glowing purple flowers and a tinge of red.

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These coffee table style books will often hold most, if not all of the wedding images.  They have become quite popular and are what I consider the modern wedding album.  These comtemporary looks are almost always chosen.  I do offer a more traditional flush mount album as an add on option.  It's called the Leather Craftsmen Luxury Album because of it's hand crafted leather exterior and super thick pages.  These are perfect for showcasing a few of your favorite pictures from the big day.

I sometimes will incorporate a champagne bottle design when featuring reception images such as first dance.

Famous quotes are often a hit with my clients and I try to match them up with an appropriate image such as this one of Ryan and Sara overlooking Lake Michigan at The Dunes Lakeshore in Northwest Indiana.

To see some older albums from past weddings have a look at the gallery page in the wedding album section.  The next step would to fill out my contact form and set up a time to take a look for yourself.  See you soon!!