Sometimes the last minute shoots work out best! Between all her senior classes, work, and a deadline for printing awesome graduation announcements, we were able to find the one afternoon to fit in Sage’s shoot! You probably can’t even tell that many of these favorites were shot after sunset as a storm rolled into town! Love that Sage could just go with the flow and make everything look as effortless as her natural beauty!

It has always been a desire for this space online to be helpful for my couples when planning their wedding, beyond just the visual inspiration! Because of this I was excited when I contacted Matt from Someone Said Yes to see if he could share some insider, little-known tips for working with your wedding DJ, and he said yes!! ;-) So get ready to bookmark this post or write down these deets! Oh and if you’re still looking for a DJ in the Grass Valley to Tahoe area, Matt is one of the very best!!

Planning the Best Wedding Ever?

Here are my thoughts on a few commonly overlooked details –

• Don’t put the DJ in an obscure location; the DJ needs to be easily visible and near the dance floor so they can see it to get a feel for the crowd. I kind insist in being on the edge of the dance floor. It’s a better experience.
• If there are older guests, try not to sit them close or right in front of the speaker(s).
• Don’t micromanage the timeline. We do need the order of events but not necessarily the exact time for each.
• For your wedding, keep in mind that your guests are going to be where you are. If you’re on the dance floor, the guests will be too!

• If you have lighting above the dance floor, keep in mind that darker is better. Use dimmers for chandeliers, cafe lighting, house lights, etc. (This is really important)
• If you have a bar or photo booth at your wedding, please try to put it in the main room where the DJ is. You want to keep people near the dance floor at all times.
• When picking your music, you don’t have to overdo it. Pick 20 or so songs you like and a few you don’t, and let me fill in from there.
• When selecting your songs for your wedding, take into account not only your taste, but the guests’ as well. I can send you a link so your guests can request some music before your wedding. Let’s review and pick some of the best ones.
• You always want to leave the guests wanting more. It’s not your responsibility to entertain guests until 2am. For most weddings, a 10pm “last dance” works great and leaves plenty of time for an after-party.
• If you have to cut corners on your budget, please don’t skimp on your DJ. I am passionate about my profession and I’m focused on helping to create the best wedding ever.

For more DJ inspo and to see Matt do some impromptu sessions, check him out on his website and social media!

Someone Said Yes

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These two already knew what it meant to be best friends through both the beauty and pain of life. Their love had been forged through hardship and when walks outside by the river were all they could do. It was such an honor to capture their relationship in one of their favorite places!

We had to end with their everyday outfits, that comfy and cozy wear for living life and laboring alongside a best friend!

Especially with the rise of social media and a internet access in the hand of almost every person, brand photography and head shots for business is so important! Depending on what you want to convey, the style you shoot can be trendy or even old school, but I always like to focus on lifestyle and personality!

Moving from New York to Grass Valley, California, it was time to add a few more images to Ean’s Moxie Bookkeeping portfolio. Especially as she is also a known speaker and Profit First coach!

I’m not a health authority but with a medical work background I’ve always been strict about my kit and cleaning protocols. With this pandemic, I’ve been using the extra time to study and get ready to do makeup and hair at weddings as soon as it’s safe! Here are some of the resources I’ve collected:

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Some additional safety and hygiene practices I’ll be including due to Covid 19

A post shared by HARRY MAKES IT UP ACADEMY (@hmiuacademy) on May 27, 2020 at 12:28pm PDT

Certification

Milady Certification (the best one I found – free until 6/30)

Barbicide Certification

Lucas-cide Certification (haven’t done)