I'm really looking forward to all of the sessions, weddings, and exciting things I have coming up this spring and summer! I feel extremely blessed to be able to travel to so many beautiful places for my job! I am always open to traveling for sessions or weddings so please get in contact with me if you'd like to book me for an upcoming session/wedding. In addition, I already have several dates on the calendar and so if you book a session in one of the above locations when I'll already be there, there will be no additional travel fee! I would LOVE to shoot your engagement, anniversary, maternity, or family pictures!! Please email me at diprimaphotography@gmail.com and book your session today before spots fill up!
Merry Hill Open House
I'm so excited to announce that I'll be teaming up with an awesome group of vendors for an Open House on Sunday (2/21/16) from 1-4pm! The best part is that it will be at a GORGEOUS venue in my hometown of Mebane, NC! The vendors featured will be: Merry Hill, Plume Events, Makeup by Kristi Lynn, and of course, DiPrima Photography! If you're a bride or a friend or loved one helping a bride plan her wedding, I hope you'll stop by! Please be sure to sign up for a time slot here. I can't wait to meet you on Sunday!!
5 Tips for Hiring the Right Wedding Photographer
Choosing a wedding photographer is SO important! I've found that many people base their decision on who to hire solely on cost. While I completely understand working within a budget, I also think there's a lot more involved in deciding on a wedding photographer than money! After all, you're with your wedding photographer more than most other people on your wedding day and you're entrusting your photographer with the important task of capturing one of the most memorable days of your life! I learned a lot when I was searching for a photographer for my own wedding, as well as from conversations with couples who are inquiring about my services. Here's a few tips I've picked up along the way:
1. Determine Your Style
There are so many different styles out there and to me, that is one of the beautiful aspects about photography! Photography is art and its subjective so everyone has different preferences and styles. First determine if you want a photographer who has a documentary style and who captures candid pictures of people and action, or a portraiture style photographer that spends more time posing people and objects. In addition, do you want a fine art photographer whose pictures look like film and are more grainy, airy, and muted, or a photographer with a crisp, clear, and bright style, or a photographer with a vintage, dark, and heavily edited style? If you're having trouble determining your style, I encourage you to look through numerous wedding photography websites and write down the things you do and don't like about the pictures you're seeing. Then choose a photographer whose pictures have the qualities you like.
2. Ask the Right Questions
I encourage you to either meet your prospective photographer in person, on the phone, or at least over email to get to know them better and to ask questions. Here's a few questions I would encourage you to ask:
- How much experience do you have and how long have you been shooting weddings?
- What type of equipment do you shoot with?
- How would you describe your style?
3. Get to Know Their Personality
The personality of your photographer is very important! You want to make sure that you hire someone you feel comfortable with and who you feel that you can be yourself with in front of the camera. In addition, you want to hire someone who is responsible, professional, and a hard worker. You may not be able to determine all of these things right away, but I think you can find out a lot about your prospective photographer by reading their blog, social media, and talking with them in person, on the phone, or at least over email. Personally, when I was looking for a photographer, it was most important to me that my photographer was professional, laid back but also punctual and able to keep a schedule (really important on a busy wedding day!), kind, and enjoyable to be around.
4. See a Full Gallery
I encourage you to ask to see a full online wedding gallery. It is easy to present just a few great images online, but you want to see a full and accurate picture of the types of images you'll be getting. A few things you should look for are consistency in their style and editing, a variety in the types of images they capture (for example: some detail pictures, some posed, some candid, etc.), and the overall quality of all of their pictures.
5. Compare Packages and Pricing
If you haven't done so already, sit down and think through your wedding budget and approximately how much you have to spend on wedding photography. As a wedding photographer I do feel the need to encourage you to seriously consider prioritizing wedding photography in your budget as one of your top expenses. I truly think wedding photography is one of the most important things you can spend money on because it is one of the only tangible reminders you'll have of your wedding day that will last for years and years to come. I also understand that most brides are on a budget and that money is a big factor in planning a wedding. As you compare packages and pricing, make sure that the photographer and package you are considering can meet your needs within your budget. Make sure you're aware of the specifics of whats offered in a package (like, do you get all of the edited digital images or is their an additional fee per image once the wedding is over, etc.). Keep in mind that if a photographer is more expensive its because of their level of experience, equipment, and the quality of their work.
I hope you found this post helpful. If you are searching for a wedding photographer and feel that my style may be a good fit for you, I'd love to hear from you! 2016 & 2017 are filling up quickly but I do still have available dates so please contact me and we can talk more about your wedding day photography needs!
My Current Top 10 Favorite Winter Clothes
I'm not a "fashion blogger" but I've always loved fashion and so I've decided to start doing periodical fashion blogs! Please leave comments below if there's anything specific you'd like me to blog about!
I'm also passionate about finding great clothes on a budget. I don't have a lot of money to spend on clothes, but I think that if you purchase things wisely and look for great deals, you can still be very fashionable on a low budget! A few resources and stores I'd recommend to budget shoppers: Poshmark (check it out...its amazing and I've bought and sold a lot of clothes on it!), Clothes Mentor (a wonderful chain consignment store), Nordstrom Rack, T.J. Maxx, and of course, Target!
Winter is starting to come to an end (thank goodness!) but I wanted to share a few of my winter favorites. Most of these things I have purchased myself and love! Right now is a great time to buy winter clothes because everything is on sale as stores get ready for spring.
1. Lush Roll Tab Tunic
Buy this now and thank me later. Seriously, I bought this top in white and LOVE it! It is a long tunic so it can be worn with jeans or leggings. This is also a top that can be worn year round. I recommend sizing down (especially if you're in between sizes) because it is already an oversized fit.
2. Cowl Neck Sweaters/Sweatshirts
Merona Cowl Neck Tunic ($22)
Free People Cocoon Pullover ($68)
I don't own this sweater but I've tried it on and I've seen it recommended by several bloggers and I can vouch for the fact that it is SO comfortable! Its very lightweight and it is definitely an oversized fit so size down if you're between sizes.
3. Rain Boots
I actually don't have either of these but they're on my wish list! I purchased the target rain boots online on black friday (they were on sale for $24!) and I'm in between sizes and so I ordered a size up. Unfortunately that was a mistake and they were WAY to big on me and so I had to return them. I can't bring myself to buy them unless I see them on sale again. So if you buy them, I recommend sizing down if you're in between sizes.
4. Blanket Scarves
B.P. Southwest Blanket Scarf ($14)
I bought this scarf on sale for $14 (was $28) but unfortunately it recently sold out.
B.P. Plaid Scarf (On sale for $12)
Oversized Plaid Blanket Scarf (on sale for $18)
5. Lace Up Booties
I bought the target version of these last fall and I wear them ALL the time! They're super comfy and go with everything. And in my opinion, they look almost exactly the same as the more expensive TOMS version.
6. Black Skinny Jeans
I love black skinny jeans! They can be dressed up or dressed down, worn with almost anything, and worn year round. They're also super comfortable! There's lots of great options out there. I personally love GAP jeans for the fit and the price.
GAP Stretch 1969 Jeans ($42 with 40% discount)
7. Leopard Flats
In my opinion, leopard flats are very timeless and never go out of style (I wore my last pair for 3 years and finally had to replace them with the merona pair below after their wore out). Leopard flats are very versatile and can go with almost any outfit and color combination.
Women's Ellie Ballet Flats (On Sale for $19.50)
BP Leopard Flat ($50)
8. Gorjana Jewelry
I recently discovered Gorjana and I have to say that I'm pretty obsessed! I love the modern, minimal style and all the gold and rose gold colors they offer! You can often find Gorjana at TJ Maxx and Nordstrom Rack so be sure to check those stores for discounted pieces!
Gorjana G Ring Hoop Earrings ($60)
I recently scored these from Poshmark for $15 and I was so excited! They go with everything and I've been wearing them constantly. I HIGHLY recommend these as a staple for your jewelry wardrobe.
Gorjana Asher Bar Pendant Necklace (On Sale for $37)
9. Military Jacket
I purchased an H&M military jacket for $7 at Clothes Mentor and I wear it constantly! It's so comfortable and perfect for milder temperatures.
B.P. Hooded Field Jacket ($64)
10. Leggings
GAP Zip Ponte Leggings (On Sale for $24)
I got these leggings on black friday for $10 and I was SUPER impressed. They're really thick, warm, and comfortable!
Finally, a few of my favorite most recent fashion bloggers are:
Southern Curls and Pearls
Between the Racks (She finds amazing deals on expensive and designer pieces)
The Budget Babe
Pinterest Told Me To
Best of 2015 Engagement Pictures
It was tough to narrow down pictures for this post! Today I want to share with you a few of my favorite engagement pictures from 2015. Engagement sessions are one of my favorite parts of my job and I think they're very important! Doing an engagement session with your photographer gives you the opportunity to get comfortable in front of the camera and comfortable with your photographer. It also gives you beautiful pictures together in something other than your wedding dress! I cherish the engagement pictures that my husband and I took together and we have them displayed all over our house! Here's a few of my favorites from 2015:
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