Kelly Lane Photography

So here it is, the happenings over the last week:

\\ Apparently May 15 is National Chocolate Chip cookie day…and I had no idea. I’ll be honest, I kinda felt thrown off my game when I learned about it. I sort of have an OBSESSION with Chocolate chip cookies. For real. In fact, if you ever come over to my house, you will most likely be offered freshly baked chocolate chip cookies. It has become one of those things I keep on hand, you know, just in case. And I have become such a connoisseur that if I don’t have any homemade dough prepared, I can whip up a batch pretty quickly. And thanks to a friend that has perfected his chocolate chip cookie recipe and is actually starting a bakery in Moldova, I now have the most AMAZING chocolate chip cookie recipe EVER. \\

\\ For the first time in my life, I finally bought wine glasses. Previously, whenever wine was served at my home, it was served in a regular glass (I am way classy) and I never understood why it tasted kinda weird. Well…who knew there really was a purpose to wine glasses other than their fanciness. And for that matter who knew there were different types of wine glasses for different types of wine?!?! Feeling overwhelmed and not wanting to do “too much too fast”  I bought 2 glasses to start. And after a lovely dinner accompanied by wine, we loaded the glasses in the dishwasher and wouldn’t you know it, we BROKE one of them. Rather than read into all the things this could mean, like ohmygosh I am so uncool I can’t even have wine glasses at my house, I patted myself on the back for a good decision to choose $2 wine glasses at Ikea. BOOM! \\

\\ I work from home, so I am on the computer about 90% of the time. It can get pretty lonely, especially since Kitty goes outside about 8 hours a day, so I find myself easily distracted with whatever email I receive or Facebook notification pops up. I am learning to set specific times for emails and especially Facebook. For example I try to only check and respond to emails in the morning and evening and reward completed work with Facebook time (and if I am being completely honest chocolate chip cookies). It sounds ridiculous, but I will get on Facebook and before I know it 30 minutes has gone by! \\

\\ Saturday’s wedding broke a new record for me with a 32 person wedding party. Yes that is right as in 16 bridesmaids and 16 groomsmen, plus the bride and groom so 34 total! I was a little bit afraid of how I was going to handle this (I mean, this is the size of a CLASSROOM), but as soon as I walked into the bridal suite and met all the girls, I knew I would be just fine. Everyone was so kind and wonderful- they actually made it easier than even a 4 person wedding party can be! \\

Speaking of wonderful people, here is a sneak peek of Saturday’s amazing and gorgeous couple. Happy Monday!

I will try to mindful of before and afters moving forward so I have more images to show. I only have the one example below before lighting was turned on. This is Eric and Miram’s wedding I worked on with EllyB Events, who incorporate uplighting into EVERY package they offer because of it’s importance!

And I never heard a single complaint about it from either of them. They were complete troopers. When I asked them to trust me and go in a humid filled stairwell or take umbrellas outside for just one image…Josh and Terra were game. It may have been pouring rain outside, but you couldn’t tell on the inside. This gorgeous wedding and celebration went on without a hitch.

Josh and Terra, thank you so much for trusting me. For letting me be a little crazy and take you out in the rain. You two are beautiful together and I am so honored to have been a part of your special day. xo, Kelly

I love this one of the flower girls watching.

 

View Josh and Terra’s Engagement session here.

Ceremony and Reception | Piedmont Room

Wedding Coordinator | Pam Boutwell

Second Photographer | Evie Perez

Florist | A Bokay by Joann

Cake | For Goodness Cakes

DJ | Xavier of New Vision Entertainment

Linens | Cover Ups

Wedding Gown | Bride Beautiful

Hair + Make-up | Courtney Morris of Salon 124

Officiant | Rev. Thomas Johnson

 

 

 

Sometimes, I regret bonus purging. But then I get to start fresh in a new home. The goal: find a place for everything. Keep the clutter away and get organized! But let’s be honest, I usually just end up with a “I don’t know what to do with this box” hidden away in the closet.

It’s hard to decipher whether it was purchasing my own place or the lack of closet space (I have a bedroom closet, a small pantry and linen closet- that’s it!) that was the instigator, but this go round I have become OBSESSED with organization. And it makes me really really happy. I have made many trips to Ikea and pondered the question- What Would Europeans do? You know, because they live in small spaces without much storage space. And after telling Michael one night that he didn’t put the toss pillows on the sofa correctly I had a moment…Somewhere along the way, I became Monica. The overly fanatic, obsessed with cleaning character from Friends.

As seen on Instagram last week, I finally got motivated to set up my office space. It started with a fresh coat of Revere Pewter paint. Next, installing bookcases. Finally, my favorite part, putting everything in its place. I got these super cheap boxes from Ikea and I love love love how there is a label on the front with all the items hidden away inside. There are still a couple of final things I want to do before the office is 100% ready, but I will be sure to post pictures once it is finished!

This gorgeous couple trusted me and were willing to go out into the rain for an image….so after I got this shot, I did a little dance… embarrassingly. And I am not even kidding, I started singing in the rain. I would like to think I did it quiet enough so no one could hear me though…

 Atlanta Wedding photography

Terra and Josh rocked their session and were not shy about bringing the serious face.  And me…well I had a hard time narrowing down the photos.  I am in love with this location and had a fantastic time shooting this gorgeous couple.

Josh and Terra, I cannot wait for your wedding THIS weekend! Get ready to bring it! xo, Kelly

You can view their responses to question 1 here. I really enjoyed reading through these responses and think they offer great perspective now that their weddings are said and done, yet still fresh enough to have real reflection. Today, we see their responses to the question:

What is one thing you wish you did differently or regret not doing/having?

Hands down, my biggest regret is not having a videographer.  The entire time during planning I thought it was such a dumb idea and a waste of money.  Even when other brides tried to convince me otherwise.  Boy was I wrong!  Looking back, I would love to see what I looked like actually walking down the aisle, or for our first dance, or just to have some other views of the reception throughout the night. -Danielle

A videographer to film the ceremony itself. -Amy

// Side note: I have heard this from SO MANY BRIDES. I generally will ask this question just to have a mental note of and hiring a videographer is by far the top response. Yes you will have amazing photographs of your wedding, but a videographer can capture the movement and moment in a totally different way. //

There really is not many things I regret or wish I had done differently. I only wish we could have had even more of our friends and family there with us to celebrate. Location and price affected the number of guests overall for us, but the more the merrier for us Italians. If I could have invited everyone in my family- Una Festa! -Honor

I wish I would have arranged our schedule a little better so we could have gotten to enjoy a little of the cocktail hour with our guests.  In general, we stuck to our schedule pretty well, but I didn’t leave time really for us to actually be at our cocktail hour! -Amanda

I wish I would have taken pictures prior to my ceremony with my bridesmaids, parents, sibling.  -Jennifer

// Side note #2: I recently started Wedding FAQ posts to help bring perspective from a wedding professional. For example, I have been a part of hundreds of weddings- it’s my job, but most couples are only doing this one time- and have no reference point to compare to. I feel that the more I can educate couples from my perspective, the more informed of a decision they can make about things. Jennifer and Amanda did not have a first look. This is totally okay and everything was captured and worked out, but one of the benefits of a first look is that you can complete all of the formal photos before the ceremony AND enjoy cocktail hour. You can view more on a first look and scheduling here.  //

My dress didn’t fit right. I thought it did because during all the fittings and stuff it was fine, but I hate the weird rolls it created and that it kept falling down. That’s by far the most money I’ve ever spent on a piece of clothing, and it was really frustrating to me that it wasn’t right. I don’t really know how to fix it, since the dress people obviously didn’t, but maybe I would recommend straps/sleeves? Lots of other brides seem to rock the sleeveless though, so I don’t know if my body is just whack or if my dress people were incompetent. -Becky