Friday, May 22, 2009

Green Wedding Friday - Your Wedding's Carbon Footprint

So...you've been hearing all the buzz about weddings and the carbon footprint events leave and wondering what all that is about?

You can actually calculate your party's carbon footprint on many of the sites that sell offsets such as CarbonFund.org, Terrapass and Native Energy.

Once you've calculated your footprint you can decide how you might want to lighten the load. When you purchase carbon offset credits, your money is used to fund renewable energy sources like wind and solar power, alternatives such as farm methane power and reforestation.


Courtesy Photo

Friday, May 08, 2009

Green Wedding Friday - Desert Botanical Garden

I love this place! It's so beautiful and peaceful and everything you could want in eco-consciousness. Desert Botanical Garden is an oasis in the center of Big City Phoenix.

According to DBG, "The Garden acts with the environment as its priority. The Garden’s environmentally active projects include installing solar panels on the roof of its largest building, Dorrance Hall, and composting, recycling, and reusing. The Garden is SRP’s second largest business customer to use renewable energy to meet 100 percent of its electricity needs, as we wish to promote green sustainable actions. We encourage our catering companies to be environmentally conscious encouraging reusable, recyclable, or decomposable materials whenever possible. Our utilization of native landscaping also assists us in minimizing water usage. When you choose to hold your wedding at the Garden, you are choosing to Go Green."

My favorite area for receptions is Binns Wildflower Pavillion. It is in perfect keeping with the Sonoran Desert, from the breeze that flows through it's open sides to the rustic, lit stars that illuminate the high ceiling. In the Spring the Pavillion is surounded by wildflowers, and in all seasons has beautiful cactus and Papago views. To hold your wedding at Desert Botanical Garden, Debbie Weisz, Event Assistant, at 480-481-8159 or email.

Marcia The Art of Photography encourages couples to choose multiple green vendors for their wedding with special incentives. If Desert Botanical is your venue, you need only hire one other eco-friendly wedding professional besides our studio to qualify for your green rebate.

Wednesday, May 06, 2009

A Little Something For You


This month's desktop image is a study in motion. Please feel free to download and enjoy.

What's Spring to you? For me, Spring is the soft undulation of wildflowers blowing in the wind. A photo doesn't always have to be sharp. Blur suggests movement, it conveys emotion. This month's desktop image is a flower in the breeze. Click on the image to download a copy of your own and freshen up your desktop!

Keep checking back for new images. Sometimes bridal, sometimes something different, but something always for you.

Monday, May 04, 2009

Wedding Photo Tips - Your Engagement Session...your first date with your photographer

In this economy couples are cutting back on their wedding expenses and that is understandable. More and more I am seeing on wedding forums discussions on whether or not it is worth the money to do an engagement session. I wanted to take a moment to show the other side of the discussion, The big reasons to do an engagement session.

Your engagement session is our first date. This is a crucial step in learning to work together from both sides of the camera, a special time for us to warm up to one another. The greatest factor in having successful wedding photos starts right here, right now. We need to learn to trust each other and start working toward a comfortable relationship.

Never before has being comfortable with your chosen photographer become more important. Many people misunderstand the concept of photojournalism...they think that means the photographer is going to just document the day without involvement. Truly great photography in this genre is exactly the opposite. It is the photographer being involved and using many tools during the day including interviewing techniques and gentle direction.

By working with you photographically before your wedding and analyzing the results I can learn the best ways to capture your real and true personality. Our first time together will help me find your best looks, from a broad smile to just a hint of one or maybe no smile at all for a more dramatic look. The benefit to you is in learning to trust that I will never do anything to make you feel uncomfortable and can truly capture those moments that are once in a lifetime as well as doing it in a way that will show you to your very best.

Your engagement session can be done where you'd like, adding to the enjoyment of your day. Many people choose to incorporate their favorite activities, from morning coffee together, to shopping or a sports activity. Enjoy the beach or other special location? that can be done, too.

Let's make sure to take the time to get to know each other before it really counts. Let's go on a first date, make some memories, capture some images and start the foundation toward a remarkable first family history book, your wedding album.

Friday, May 01, 2009

Green Wedding Friday - Location, Location, Location

Part of sharing your green lifestyle on your wedding day is your choice of location for your ceremony and reception. By keeping the festivities to one beautiful location you can reduce emissions by eliminating travel between multiple points. Host the event during the day and you lessen the need for electricity. If it's beautiful and natural already, you can take advantage of those surroundings to be a part of your decor, allowing more unique table treatments, perhaps using items that can be re-used later.

The Valley of The Sun has a number of incredible locations that are perfect for your eco-friendly wedding. Try Boojum Tree (picture below), Desert Botanical Garden or the Zoo for a lovely and natural setting for your event.