“Trash the Dress”, or “Rock the Dress” as it is commonly known is something that we offer to our
brides (and your man can come along dressed up as well!). These session can be as “trashing” of your wedding
dress as you want, or we can keep it super clean…either way, it is such a fantastic opportunity to get
high fashion shots of you all dolled up wedding style. We can find a few really fabulous locations around Edmonton
(or wherever) and just rock it out, model style. To give you a better idea of what a “trash the dress” session is like
and what type of images are created, have a look at these you tube videos. Here & Here. They are must sees.

email for a session love@eternalreflectionsphoto.com

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 Rock the Dress (& suit)  sessions

:: 2 hours and include the DVD of all of the Fine Art images, touched up to perfection & high
resolution.

$649

View our website

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I know that a lot of the professional photographers who read this blog are going to WPPI in Vegas (as are we),

and we are so excited to be meeting up with as many of you as possible
(and do a little consulting in our free time)!
We are so excited to be going to WPPI! We feel that no matter what field of work you are in, growing & learning is something that should always be a part of your “job”. It feeds your passion & creativity & teaches you improved skills.

Something that comes up in our consulting, is photographers who feel “second rate” or that they

are doing “everything wrong” after attending a workshop or a seminar. They seem to disregard all

of the wonderful things that they do! As such, I wanted to toss out one suggestion to all of the

photographers who are going to WPPI.

Be true to yourselves. True to your gut.

In settings like WPPI, it is so easy to idolize the speakers to the point where you take everything that they say as “gospel” and lose your “gut” and

your critical thinking skills (do I sound nerdy?).

I challenge you to listen critically to ideas/tips/suggestions and ask yourself

“would that further my career/goals”?. NOT EVERYTHING WILL. There is more then 1

way to skin a cat (what a gross description). But the fact is true. One of the industry leaders,

Jasmine Star, uses “auto white balance”, much to the aghast of some of her peers.  She bucks against

the norm and does what WORKS FOR HER. She listens to her gut & runs with that.  I think that is key.

Learn, but stay true to yourself, and listen to your gut. If everyone is saying that you MUST offer

boudour photography to your brides, but you do not want to, you don’t HAVE to. It is your business.

Do what you love & only that! I promise

you that then, and only then (when you are doing what you love) will it show in your images.

If a company is telling you that their album is “the best” & it is very, very popular, but you honestly

don’t care for the look of it; don’t carry it for your clients! Only offer/carry/do/process what feels right for you.

What fits for you. If you don’t love it & see the value in it, your clients will not either. (this goes for anything

not just products)

Here is a quick example of what I mean. Right now it is trendy trendy trendy to be “all about”

prime lenses only and scoff at anything else. Especially popular is the 50mm. Is it amazing? yes. YES!

But is it the only lens worth using? Not to me. I love a lot of lenses, depending on the situation.

But that is just my personality. I have a colleague that went to a workshop where the gentlemen

teaching the workshop said that “hands down you would never get anywhere unless you exclusively

used prime lenses”. That is certainly his opinion, but it is just that. An opinion based on what FEELS

right with him (and that is totally valid!). That is all that I am asking of you. Do not feel the need to

jump on every trendy suggestion or question everything that you are doing. Leave WPPI with some

great solid suggestions, tips & ideas; but dont check who you are at the door & do not leave feeling like

you do not do anything right. Realise all that you do amazingly (a word?) and BUILD on that.

Just remember, even though you may not be on the stage, you are amazing in your own way and

your thoughts & insights & ideas are just as valuable as anyone elses. Honor them.  Hold on to that.

Learn all you can, but be true to your gut.

When a  parcel comes to our office, the girls get so excited, they nearly mull each other getting to the door in hopes that it is theirs! Today, I casually walked over and picked it out of their flailing arms,  because today it  was for one for one of my brides (score!!).

Marlene & Chris picked out 2 amazing photos to have in their home as Wall Art (see their ceremony here).

The Collection that they chose included 2 Gallery Wraps. (We offer these Gallery Wraps a la carte for $699)

We are going on a ski trip to B.C and then to Vegas for work (stay tuned!!). We will be checking & returning emails, it may

just be a little bit slower then normal.

Much Love,

Radelle, Adam & Kari

When I think long & hard about my passion for photos & life in general; I can trace

a lot of my passion & feelings to when I lost my dad. I learned a hard lesson when I was young that

those you love & adore can be gone anytime. Even though you think tragedy could never happen

to you, it can. Recently I had a bride write me an email and tell me that she had suddenly lost her

grandmother (shortly after her wedding) and that the picture I took of the two of them together has

given her much joy & peace. It’s the moments that matter, and it warms my heart & is a huge honor

for me to think that I have a small part to play in preserving those memories, those moments for you.

I look back at Rockwell’s newborn photos of me & his dad grinning from ear to ear at him & I hardly

remember him so small–but when I look at those photos, I am instantly taken back to that place in time,

those feelings, those smells, those days. Memories are amazing things.

I was watching this photo of California photographer Dane Sanders (who is fabulous!!) and the video

just hit home with me. I can see that him and I’s passion comes from the same place–the soul & the heart.

We love what we do because we know how powerful memories are. Check it out.

p.s. This is me & my dad when I was about 5. He passed away a long time ago--this weekend. I will be

thinking of him & treasuring precious memories. (he looks like hes napping  & I look cranky  

Ok ladies, I am just going to warn you straight up.. There is some serious eye candy on this page.. *wink*
I wanted to make the point about how much I LOVE FUN Grooms/Groomsmen!!
I love it when they bring it all to the table! I love it when they relax in front of the camera and have fun with it…
Because I want you to have pictures of him that you will ooggle at and have in a frame on your nightstand!
So remind your groom that pictures are a BLAST!!! And to have FUN during them!!
Don’t worry, I like to think I am pretty funny… So I always have a few jokes stashed in my back pocket…
just to make sure I get his Real Smile!!

(Goodness Gracious Great Balls Of Fire!! I just realized I used alot of ‘!!!!’ , sorry, I am just hyped up on Red Bull, gotta love it.)

Rock On!

Kari

Oh, and Holla at Canada during the Olympics!!!

The most precious possession that ever comes
To a man in this world
Is a woman's heart.
~ Josiah G. Holland ~

Citadel theater wedding photos, Saint Albert Wedding Photos

I have been putting together a family journal for Matt and I. It includes pictures (year to year) and text.
As the months continue on, I keep adding pages…

It includes all of our memories.Every funny thing that was ever said, any struggle that we have ever crossed.

Lately, I have been working on our wedding section of it…
Typing out all the speeches that were made… all the things I remember about that fabulous day.

I am so lucky to have them ’save’ their speeches, so that I can go back and re-read their words of advice, their funny stories…
After the wedding is all said and done, it is easy to forget what had been said.

As I was typing out my moms speech..
I couldn’t help but tear up.
It was so beautifully written but even more beautifully said.

One part of it that stuck out to me was,

” Always love and respect each other.
Remember that a Bride and Groom are indeed best friends,
these come not with time, but with trust!

May you grow old together on one pillow.

May your life be filled with Happiness and Joy!”

I honestly cannot picture anything more beautiful than growing old together on one pillow,
With my one true love.
My BEST friend.
My support.
My Husband.

—

Dear Matt,
I love it when you make sure that I am warm during the wee hours in the morning,
and lift our covers to my chin and then slightly rub my back.
I love that you hold my hand before I drift off.
I love it that you let me hog the bed. And let me starfish.
I love how you still tell me I am beautiful when I crawl into bed with
no make-up, wearing your sweatpants, and your hoody.
You know I don’t like to be cold…
I love the person you are. I love the way you treat me like gold. I love how you put me first.
I just hope that in 40 years we are just like we are today.
Sharing the same pillow.

Love Eternally,

Kari

**Lovely photos by Radelle & Adam**