Wedding Cupcakes

Houston Wedding Trends – Wedding Cupcakes:
Having taken part in weddings for 12 years and counting, we have been lucky enough to witness and capture the changing scenes in the wedding industry. We have seen wedding dresses go from poofy shoulders and long sleeves to strapless, couture gowns. These days, it’s the traditional tiered wedding cake that’s getting a bit of a makeover and transforming into creatively stacked cupcakes. Not only are cupcakes a fun and familiar site, but depending on which route you choose to obtain your cupcakes, these mini confections could end up saving you big bucks on your wedding day budget. Looking for something quick and easy? With a little artistry and creativity, pre-made grocery store cupcakes can be dressed up and turned into a one of a kind, decorated treat. Want to take things to the next level? Designate a friend or family member familiar with the baking process to handle the cupcakes for you. They can easily be made in advance and keep well in airtight containers in the freezer. You will have more control and flexibility with the variety of flavors and designs possible. How about one more step up? With the popularity cupcakes haved gained over the years, Houston now has several bakeries and dessert boutiques that specialize in these bite-sized treats. With the sophisticated flavors available, you will be able to offer your guests a selection of gourmet wedding cupcakes. If you’re not ready to let go of the tiered wedding cake tradition altogether, add a 6″ top tier for cutting. The cutting of the cake by the bride and groom represents their first joint task as a married couple and the feeding of the cake as a symbol of their commitment to each other. And who would want to let go of that? Planning on serving wedding cupcakes at your upcoming event? Let us know about it with your comments below!

Jamie + Victor dance in the background as we capture images of their cupcakes

Monogrammed Wedding Cupcakes

Cupcakes offer a variety of flavors and designs

Include a small cake for cutting

Great details!

A cake for cutting surrounded with cupcakes

Fun frosting!

We're always sure to capture all the delicate details

Kasey + Rick – The Gallery

Houston Wedding Venue Review – The Gallery:
When Kasey + Rick’s friendship blossomed into a love, wedding plans were soon on the horizon. To help with the event planning, Kasey + Rick turned to Tamara Marshall of The Red Experience to transform their ideas and visions into their dream wedding. Kasey and Tamara worked together to creatively incorporate the couple’s love of friends, family and Texas into their special day, which was being held at The Gallery in Houston. The Gallery was the perfect venue choice to blend the open air and the bright blue Texas sky into Kasey + Rick’s outdoor, patio ceremony. But before the ceremony could begin, we know every bride must have the perfect accessories prior to marching down the aisle. So what were some of Kasey’s perfect accessories? As her “something old”, Kasey wore her grandmother’s wedding rings on her right hand. And as her “something borrowed”, Kasey rented her elegant, diamond earrings from the popular online jewelry shop, Adorn. They were effortlessly fashionable pieces to go along with her stunning dress from Brickhouse Bridal. A touching tribute to Kasey’s father, who had passed away, was also part of the pre-ceremony events as a yellow rose was placed on an empty chair as Kasey’s mother was being led down the aisle at The Gallery. After her uncle gave her away, and Kasey + Rick said, “I do” it was time to move the celebration indoors at The Gallery. The red brick and Mediterranean-style features of The Gallery were a perfect backdrop to the evening’s events which included a surprise groom’s cake for Rick. The groom’s cake, from Cakes by Gina, was a replica of Fenway Park created in honor of Rick’s home state and favorite baseball team. So maybe the Fenway Park cake was a little bit of a stray from their Texas theme, but to get back on track with the motif, all you had to do was take a quick glance around and see napkins engraved with mockingbirds and personalized bluebonnet seed packets as parting favors. Kasey + Rick’s chic wedding day at The Gallery goes to show that a Texas-themed wedding doesn’t have to be big and over the top. Subtle details in your decor can make a statement that speaks volumes. Let us know what you think of Kasey + Rick’s wedding at The Gallery with your comments below!

Bridal Details

Something Borrowed - Kasey's rented earrings from Adorn

All dressed up! Kasey + her flowergirls are ready to walk down the aisle

In Remembrance - Mason Jar decor for Kasey's Grandmother + a Yellow Rose for Kasey's Father

Kasey + Rick's outdoor ceremony at The Gallery

The Gallery's red brick features make a great background!

Texas-themed favors

Delicious cakes from Cakes by Gina

Who will be the lucky girl to catch the bouquet?

Kasey + Rick make their exit from The Gallery

Ice Sculptures

Houston Wedding Trends – Ice Sculptures:
With the extreme summer heat here in Houston, it’s no surprise we see ice sculptures appear most often in the cooler months of the year. So as we quickly make our way through our schedule of fall weddings, we wanted to share with you some of our favorite images of ice sculptures from recent receptions. But first, how exactly does water go from being in its liquid state to transforming into these 150lb+ pieces of frosty carvings? You would be surprised to learn how much time, science and talent goes in to making these displays. All sculptures start out as a 300lb block of clear ice. The ice block itself usually takes about 3-4 days to prepare and requires a constant flow of purified water to keep the block clear and free of impurities – definitely not as easy as filling up an ice tray and sticking it in the freezer! From there, a delicate hand is needed to carve and sculpt the ice to your desired shape. We have seen everything from hearts, swans and letters to full ice bars and photos and flowers encased in ice. With their limited lifetime as an intricate piece of art, ice sculptures are valued for their delicate details and “of the moment” impression. What a treasure it is to have photos to look back on! Check out the images below and let us know what you think of these carved creations. We’ve even zoomed in on some of the photos to show you the amazing details!

Ula & Todd are big Rockets fans.

Monogrammed Ice

Stunning ice carving.

Angela + David had a full ice bar.

Photos encased in the ice bar.

Simon surprised Heidi with the full ice bar at their wedding.

Amazing details!

Monogrammed ice is the most popular.

Deltra + Allan – Las Velas

Houston Wedding Venue Review – Las Velas:
Deltra + Allan’s wedding at Las Velas was almost the event that never was. With visions of a small, quick Vegas chapel wedding playing in their minds, Deltra + Allan had a choice to make. Not having their friends and families involved, especially Allan’s family who would be coming all the way from Kenya, simply wasn’t an option. So Deltra + Allan set out to plan their fairy tale wedding at Las Velas right here in Houston. The overall feel of the day was to be romantic and dramatic, but not over the top. And nothing illustrated this theme better than Deltra’s wedding dress from David’s Bridal. With hand beading and lace details that were sophisticated yet subtle, Deltra’s dress was the definition of romance. To complete her timeless look, a birdcage veil adorned with feathers and ribbon was placed in Deltra’s hair along with a set of pearls fastened around her neck. With its natural vibe, Deltra + Allan’s candlelit ceremony at Las Velas provided just enough “wow” to intrigue guests and transport them away to the majestic drama of the Mediterranean. As you wander the halls, staircases and courtyards of Las Velas, you can’t help but be inspired as we were when capturing formals of the newlywed couple. After a few quick photos, Deltra + Allan joined their guests as Jose with LG Entertainment set the tone for dancing and socializing among the cascading, twinkling lights high above the dance floor of Las Velas. The lights overhead were not the only thing twinkling at Las Velas that night. The cake provided by Who Made the Cake was decorated with rhinestones that sparkled and dazzled guests as it was being cut by the happy couple. Before the reception came to a close, Deltra + Allan honored Allan’s Kenyan heritage by performing a tradition welcoming Deltra into the family. Deltra was presented and dressed with handmade jewelry by family members. The ritual was a very touching and moving custom for all who witnessed. Wanting to be more involved with their guest and not wanting to be the first to leave the event, Deltra + Allan saw their guests off and soon began their happily ever after as husband and wife. Let us know what you think of their fairy tale wedding at Las Velas with your comments below! How will your happily ever after begin?

Las Velas has many beautiful features.

Deltra's dress was simple but not plain.

Deltra gets ready for her walk down the aisle.

Timeless elegance.

Allan + his boys near one of the many staircases in Las Velas.

Deltra + Allan enjoy their first dance as husband and wife.

Delicious cake by Who Made the Cake.

Sparkling details from Deltra + Allan's cake.

Candy Buffets

Houston Wedding Trends – Candy Buffets:
Just as there are trends in fashion, the wedding industry has its own set of fads and fancies that become popular as the seasons change. One of our current favorite trends? The always popular, always crowd-pleasing candy buffet! When done correctly, the candy buffet is not only a delectable treat for those with a little bit of a sweet tooth, but can be a buffet for the eyes as well. From retro chic to elegant abundance, candy buffets are easily customized to fit your wedding day theme, personal taste and budget. So what are the tricks to pulling off a successful smorgasbord of sweets without going overboard on your budget? We’ve talked with a few of our brides who displayed candy buffets at their weddings and this is what they suggest: Search the local thrift stores for containers in various sizes or simply rent them. Opt for clear containers to show off the colorful contents and make sure the mouth of the container is wide enough for the scoops. When possible, buy candy in bulk and fill your larger containers with the less expensive candies and your smaller containers with your more expensive candies. And what about the theme of your buffet? We’ve found that in your photographs, candies of coordinating colors look the best visually. And don’t be afraid to fill your table with other items such as flowers or candles to make it appear more full and more appealing. Now, for the most personal touch of all – the bags or boxes your guests fill up and take their candy in. These items can be personalized with custom printing, stickers or rubber stamps. Wedding favor complete! Be sure to check out the images we’ve captured below from various weddings throughout the year. Creative angles and use of the candies provide those great detail shots you will always treasure. Leave us your comments and let us know how these photos inspire you for your big day!

Getting creative with rock candy and the couple's rings

The color of love!

Love is sweet!

Coordinating colors of blue

Childhood favorites

Fill your table with other items

Add some variety to your Candy Buffet

Colorful treats

Kate + Darryl – Sweetwater Country Club

Houston Wedding Venue Review – Sweetwater Country Club:
When planning for their big day at Sweetwater Country Club, Kate and Darryl had a very specific idea in mind: South Beach Wedding. With some creative guidance from her coordinator, Emily of Keely Thorne Events, the couple most certainly pulled off that theme. We have never seen Sweetwater Country Club transformed so stylishly! Elegant drapery surrounded Kate and Darryl as they said “I do” against the backdrop of candlelights and white uplighting provided by DJU Productions. And just as quickly as they walked down the aisle as husband and wife, the room at Sweetwater Country Club was flipped to begin their evening celebration. Friends and family enjoyed the night club atmosphere as purple uplighting and spotlights followed them along the dancefloor. Just as all weddings seem to end too soon, so did Kate and Darryl’s. After a quick wardrobe change into something more comfortable, the newlywed couple said their goodbyes and made their way through a sparkler exit as they left Sweetwater Country Club for the night. This wedding definitely goes to show you, even at the exact same venue, no two weddings are ever the same. Let us know what you think of Kate and Darryl’s South Beach themed wedding at Sweetwater Country Club with your comments below!

There's always beautiful skies above Sweetwater Country Club

Darryl and his boys at Sweetwater Country Club

Kate and her girls at Sweetwater Country Club

Ceremony set up for Kate + Darryl

Kate + Darryl went for a South Beach theme

Reception details at Sweetwater County Club

Kate's stunning cake

No detail is overlooked at Kate + Darryl's wedding

Kate + Darryl make their exit at Sweetwater Country Club

Hue + Hai – Le Virage Chapel & Rosemary’s Garden

Houston Wedding Photography – Le Virage Chapel & Rosemary’s Garden:
Hue and Hai’s wedding at Le Virage Chapel and Rosemary’s Garden was definitely one of the many highlights to our summer. Not only were we lucky enough to photograph this colorful event but Evoke Videographers were on hand to record all the laughter, the voices and the music that accompanied this special occasion. The day started out at a family residence in Houston as Hue and Hai began to prepare for the festivities with one of our favorite beauty teams, Thalio Beckham Makeup Artistry, on hand to enhance Hue’s natural, classic beauty. Evoke lenses then captured the traditional tea ceremony that began the day of celebration for the couple’s close family and friends. From there we traveled to Le Virage Chapel for Hue and Hai’s wedding ceremony officiated by Rev. Ron Ramey. The stunning architechture of the chapel at Le Virage provided an atmosphere that was both warm and inviting with neutral, soothing colors that easily blended in with the couple’s unique decor. The contemporary structures at Le Virage also provided a great backdrop for some artistic, formal photographs of the couple. As they led each other down the hallways of Le Virage Chapel, Evoke was able to capture special moments between them – a shy smile from Hue, a loving glance from Hai. And after a break in the day, it was on to the reception at Rosemary’s Garden. Surrounded by lush greenery and a picturesque water fountain outside, the evening started with a grand entrance into the ballroom at Rosemary’s Garden as Hue and Hai, now husband and wife, greeted their guests. And just as Hue and Hai complement each other perfectly, their reception decor consisted of complementary colors chosen by the couple during the planning stages of their Houston wedding. Hue selected the warm shade of orange and Hai selected the electric shade of blue to complete the look. As the night continued on, Hue and Hai let their playful personalities come out as they fed each other cake provided by the French bakery at Rosemary’s Garden. We are thrilled to share with you some of our favorite photographs from their wedding day at Le Virage Chapel and Rosemary’s Garden along with a short-story video highlighting some of the memories as well. The music in the video is so hauntingly beautiful as it plays along perfectly to each scene, as if it were made especially for Hue and Hai. We hope you enjoy these images and highlight video as much as we have. Be sure to let us know what you think of Le Virage Chapel and Rosemary’s Garden with your comments below!

Capturing all the details at Hue + Hai

During the ceremony at Le Virage Chapel

Lighting the unity candle during their ceremony at Le Virage Chapel

Great formals at Le Virage

Hue and Hai share a moment at Le Virage

Time to cut the cake from the French Bakery at Rosemary

Having fun with the cake from the French Bakery at Rosemary

Grooms Cake

Houston Wedding Trends – Grooms Cake:
In the United States, the grooms cake is generally known as a Southern tradition. So how lucky are we that we live in Texas and get to take part in this delicious custom? Though not absolutely necessary, the grooms cake can serve several purposes. It is often times served alongside or as an alternative to the wedding cake during your reception or instead, used as dessert for your rehearsal dinner. In addition, there’s a very interesting wives tale that says if a young, unmarried woman takes a piece of the grooms cake home with her and places it under their pillow, she will dream of her future husband that night. Talk about sweet dreams! Over the years we have seen some very intriguing and elaborate grooms cakes and we wanted to share some of these tasty treats with you. Our photographers have captured these cakes in such great detail you can practically taste the sweetness. From tshirts to school spirit and cakes that look so much like real food they make your mouth water, we’re sure you’ll find something to inspire you for your big day. And we saved our favorite image for last! See if you can name all the snacks that make up this towering confection!

Tshirts Showing off Favorite Hobby

Favorite Video Game Land

Showing School Spirit

Honoring the Military

Favorite Summer Tradition

Favorite Food

Mouth Watering!

Ultimate Sweet Treats

2011 Summer Bridal Tour – Full Length Video

Houston Bridal Portrait Photography – EVOKE 2011 Summer Bridal Tour:
Now that the summer is quickly coming to an end, we wanted to share with you the final piece in our efforts of pioneering a new direction in bridal portrait photography. One thing that we’re passionate about just as much as taking pictures is putting those images into motion. Ethan, our talented and creative videographer, captured our journey from start to finish that late June day and highlighted some of our most memorable moments to share with you. And what a journey it was! What started out as a simple idea soon became reality and a great collaborative effort between some of Houston’s top vendors in the wedding industry. Our day would not have been complete without the help of Thalio Beckham Makeup Artistry, Dream Bouquet, Platinum Limo Services Inc. and the Bayou Lofts downtown. We also had great supportive efforts from Specs in Conroe and manager, Kevin Daniel, Almaza Jewelers, BeautyFirst, Dromgoole’s, Monica Seymour Hair Designs, Maison de Mode, Papyrus and Richard’s Fine Wine and Liquor. And what is a bridal tour without brides? We cannot thank our three brides enough for their enthusiasm in this project and their willingness to go great heights (literally!) to promote our creative visions. To Amanda, Leilani and Schande – Thank you for being the stars of our shoot and the first brides in hopefully many more to come to share our passion for developing new and inventive ways of showcasing bridal portrait photography. Though this is the last piece of our first bridal tour, it is just the beginning of what Evoke has in store for the future! We hope you enjoy the video and we look forward to reading your comments and feedback!

Laura + Daniel – St. Laurence Catholic Church & Sweetwater Country Club

Houston Wedding Photography – St. Laurence Catholic Church & Sweetwater Country Club:
This week’s “Wedding of the Week” features images from St. Laurence Catholich Church and Sweetwater Country Club. Check them out below!
When it came time for Laura and Daniel to unite, Laura knew she wanted to keep her wedding day traditional. But having a traditional wedding doesn’t mean your special day has to look and feel like all the other weddings you see in the bridal magazines. With personal and unique touches added, Laura and Daniel’s day was anything other than cookie-cutter.
And this all started with amazing images captured of her wedding dress. While searching Ventura’s vast selection of wedding gowns, Laura came across her flower-adorned dress, designed by Mori Lee, that was a perfect fit for her and complemented her personal style. Evoke was sure to photograph the special elements of this dress for the bride to treasure long after the gown has been tucked away into the far ends of her closet. To complete the look, Laura added a garter belt and veil, both handmade by her mother, to the day’s ensemble.
Part of the classic wedding day traditions that the bride included during the pre-ceremony moments was having her mother place a sixpence in her left shoe for good luck. And with bouquet in hand from Suzanne’s Flowers in Sugar Land, it was now time for Laura to walk down the aisle of St. Laurence Catholic Church to the alter where Daniel waited beneath the beautiful stained glass windows. These stained glass windows at St. Laurence Catholic Church are always a favorite detail for our photographers to capture as they provide great backgrounds for our album designs and not only help to tell the story of the wedding day, but tell a story within themselves. After a traditional full mass ceremony, the bride and groom were now husband and wife and were quickly making their way to the elegantly decorated reception at Sweetwater Country Club.
Jennifer from Sweetwater Country Club assisted the happy couple in transforming the ballroom into a fun and luxurious event for their guests, who danced the night away to music provided by JM Productions. After a little dancing, dinner was soon completed with a slice of delicous cake from Cake Affairs & Culinary Creations. Based on how great the photographs of the cake look, we can only imagine the wonderful taste of the sweet treat!
And finally, the bouquet and garter toss brought the afternoon at Sweetwater Country Club to a close as the bride and groom made their way through the bubble exit and in to the awaiting car.
Be sure to leave your comments below and let us know what you think of these amazing images from St. Laurence Catholic Church and Sweetwater Country Club!

The beautiful and unique details captured from Laura's wedding day gown at St. Laurence Catholic Church.

Traditional full mass ceremony at St. Laurence Catholic Church

Stained glass windows at St. Laurenece Catholic Church

Bouquet and other floral arrangements from Suzanne's Flowers at their reception held at Sweetwater Country Club

Toasting to their future during the reception at Sweetwater Country Club!

Delicious cake from Cake Affairs & Culinary Creations during their reception at Sweetwater Country Club

A bubble exit at Sweetwater Country Club

2011 EVOKE Summer Bridal Tour

Houston Bridal Portrait Photography – EVOKE 2011 Summer Bridal Tour:
Is that a gold couch you’re seeing in the middle of an alleyway in downtown Houston? Yes, it is! And you can bet that only Evoke can pull off something like that! This summer we wanted to do something to not only challenge our creativity but really push the limits on bridal portrait photography. We invited three of our brides to meet this challenge head on with us, and boy, what an amazing job they did! Leilani and Amanda were newly married, Leilani in March and Amanda in April. And at the time of the shoot, Schande was yet to be married and all three brides were wearing their actual wedding dresses. So not only were we testing our creativity but we also had to keep Schande’s dress clean before her big day. And wouldn’t you know it, it rained the day of the shoot! The total rainfall for the year had been at an all-time low and the one day we were actually hoping it wouldn’t rain, it did. But being Evoke photographers and team members, we didn’t let that get us down or stop our plans. The first item on our agenda for the day was getting our brides ready for their close-ups! We had the amazing team of Thalio Beckham Makeup Artistry getting our brides all dolled up for the session. Thalio, Jessica, Robin and Hilda wowed us with their awesome hair and makeup talents, which you can clearly see in the images. And by the time Platinum Limo Services showed up with their stretch Hummer Limo to drive us to the Bayou Lofts on Franklin Street in downtown Houston, the rain had stopped and the sun was shining. (We’d like to think it was Mark with Platinum Limo that gave the sun a ride with him to our studio!) With bouquets in hand provided by Dream Bouquet, Leilani, Amanda and Schande began the photo shoot in the alleyway of the Bayou Lofts and as the sun was setting, we made our way up to the rooftop for an amazing view of the city skyline. To finish up our day of shooting, we headed over to Sabine Street to get some impressive nighttime photos with the Hummer Limo. And waiting back at the studio for the brides were surprise gift bags filled with treats and discounts from Almaza Jewelers, BeautyFirst, Dromgoole’s, Monica Seymour Hair Designs, Maison de Mode, Papyrus and Richard’s Fine Wine and Liquor. All in all, we’d say it was a pretty good day! How would you like the opportunity to be a part of the next Bridal Tour? Leave us a comment below and let us know if you’d like to participate!

Only Evoke can pull off a gold couch in the middle of the Bayou Lofts alleyway!

Amanda, Leilani and Schande did an amazing job during the Summer Bridal Tour!

Bayou Lofts has the best looking alleyway in Houston!

With all three brides in their wedding dresses, you can guarantee there was no diving on the Bayou Lofts Rooftop pool!

The amazing Downtown Houston skyline!

A beautiful sunset on the Bayou Lofts Roof in Downtown Houston!

Platinum Limo took the Evoke brides to Downtown Houston on Sabine Street to finish up our tour.

Candace + Ben – Engagement Session at Woodlands Waterway

Houston Portrait Photography – Woodlands Waterway:
Take a look at this engagement session at the Woodlands Waterway!
Ok, so I know this is supposed to be “Wedding of the Weekend”… but I decided it would be cool to switch it up a little bit this time. Candace and Ben decided to have their engagement photos taken on location at Woodlands Waterway in the Woodlands. These guys have a very awesome chemistry which made the shoot all that much better! – Ashleigh

Ana + Daniel – St. Helen Catholic Church in Pearland

St. Helen Catholic Church:
Ana and Daniel were awesome! They were married at St. Helen Catholic Church in Pearland which is not only gorgeous, but has amazing natural lighting inside which allowed our photographer to capture some amazing ceremony shots!  A lot of people don’t realize how hard it actually is to get good images inside of Churches… there are not only so many rules and regulations photographers have to abide by, but the lighting is very limited and good color balance is super hard to achieve. – Ashleigh

Danielle + Robert – Omni at Woodway

Houston Wedding Photography – Omni at Woodway:
Check out this wedding which took place at the Omni at Woodway!
Danielle and Robert had a very traditional Jewish ceremony which was absolutely BEAUTIFUL! Both the ceremony and reception were held at the gorgeous Omni at Woodway in the Galleria area. It was hard to narrow it down… but here are some of my favorite shots from their special day! -Ashleigh

Katie + Zak – Orchard at Caney Creek

Orchard at Caney Creek:
Take a look at this beautiful wedding held at the Orchard at Caney Creek!
While editing images, I constantly come across so many awesome pictures that literally keep me in awe for hours. Thousands of detail shots, formals, ceremony shots, reception shots, family shots, romantic shots, candid shots, and of course my favorite, cake shots!! So instead of trying to visually embed in my mind each cool picture that crosses my path, I have decided to create a blog series to share them with YOU guys! I will be posting a weekly “Wedding of the Week” blog with a handful of images from weddings that I thought totally rocked… so make sure to keep checking back! This week we’re looking at Katie + Zak’s wedding which was held at the Orchard at Caney Creek. It was such a beautiful day which allowed them to have their ceremony outdoors on the grounds of the Orchard at Caney Creek.
We would love to hear your feedback! Until next time…. ENJOY!! -Ashleigh

Winner Announced

A big thanks to everyone who entered! The contest really got everyone here at evoke excited. If you didn’t win we hope you won’t be to disappointed to go ahead and save your date to keep your opportunity to use Evoke’s photography an videography services on your special day.

Wedding Giveaway

OK you have heard all about it. This Friday (July 16, 2010) EVOKE is going to give away a 5.5 Hour Traditional Wedding Photography package complete with Bridal Session, Engagement Session, Wedding Album, Image CD, and Reprint Credit. No joke, no strings attached, and no fine print. Here are the only rules:

1. No cash substitute
2. Your wedding must be in Houston
3. No change of your wedding date. (The date you registered with is the date you must keep.)
4. We might make up some other rules if we need to. (but probably not)

That is all not too bad. Right? If you have not signed up for the drawing, you may do so by clicking the Price Info at the top of this page. There you will find a video that explains more along with a form that you will use to enter.

How to Look Your Best in Photos

Houston Wedding Photography – Portrait Photography Tips:
Obviously, you want to look your best during your portraits and at EVOKE we know how to pose you accordingly. It doesn’t hurt to educate yourself on how to position your body. We can tell you what to do but if you understand what we are talking about it will just make it that much better! We have created an acronym E.V.O.K.E to help you remember. Check it out!!

E  Extend one foot forward (this distributes your weight to your back foot)

V V-shape your elbows (slims your waistline)

O  Open your eyes (focusing on this can help you to have a more natural smile as well as show off those beautiful eyes)

K  Keep your back straight (conveys confidence and just looks better)

E  Exhale and relax

We highly recommend practicing this before your session.

How to Prepare for your Bridal Session

Houston Wedding Photography – Portrait Photography Tips:
Here is Part II of our Bridal Blog….

Ladies!!! Here is where the Fun begins!! Don’t get me wrong, there is a lot of stuff to do the day of your Bridal Session but it can be fun if you plan for EVERYTHING!

The Important Details
Expect delays in your Hair/Makeup appointments and for Traffic on the commute in between appointments. The last thing you want is to arrive to your session stressed and in a bad mood.  (We all know that the commute in Houston can be stressful). Oh and here is something big. YOU HAVE TO EAT!! Too many girls stress and starve themselves the day of the Bridal session. No Good. We don’t want you to get sick and not feel good. You have worked hard to get to this point, eat a cheeseburger, you deserve it! Actually a healthy meal is suggested so that you feel great! Also, another tip, drink plenty of fluids the day before the session, this can improve your skin texture. Oh and get a good nights rest the night before your session!! Do I sound like your mom yet?

The Hairstyle and Makeup
Your hair and make-up…  don’t get crazy!! If it is completely not your style don’t do it! True, you will only be a bride once and want to stand out but something completely out of your comfort zone could cause you to not like the way you look. If your going to bring the Bee Hive back, at least love it!! Light eye shadow will bring your eyes forward and your beautiful eyes are definitely something we want to highlight in your Bridal session. If you have never worn fake eyelashes before and plan to, cool but do a trial run to make sure you like the results. Please be aware that make up with glitter in it tends to leave white specks on your face in photographs when a flash is used. When it comes to your Tan, please be careful not to get burnt before your session. When tanning remember that if you are wearing a strapless dress the lines will show so adjust accordingly. Lotions that have glitter in them look great on you, not so great in photographs; it tends to make specks on your skin in the photos. Also, please keep in mind that your hands and toes could be in some photographs so use it as an excuse to treat yourselves to a Manicure and Pedicure.  (As if we need an excuse, right?)

Don’t forget to bring
Things you might need at your session. 1. Someone to help you finish getting ready (Mothers, friends and sisters love being part of your Bridal Session). It is fun to have someone there to oooohhh and ahhhh at your beauty!  2. Make up for touch ups, Hairspray, bottled water (it gets hot being a model ),
Props (let’s add some of your personality, if you feel like it), Bouquet (if it is too big and heavy during your session have your florist adjust the size for your wedding day), accessories, etc. Something that is important to note is that your dress needs to be wrinkle free. Professional Cameras pick up everything and if there are excessive wrinkles in your dress it will show! This goes for your ring too, if you haven’t taken it off since he popped the question make sure that it is clean enough for a close up.

The Session
Expect to be in the session for approx. an hour, this is just enough time for you to get a lot of great stuff. During your session we are going to use many different poses as well as backgrounds. For the outdoor sessions we will bring a sheet out so that we do not get your dress dirty by putting it on the ground. There is a fair amount of patience involved as we are going to be adjusting your dress a lot and making sure everything is perfect all while taking several of the same pose to insure that we got the shot.

The Photos
It is important that you communicate with your photographer on the day of the session. If you are placed in front of a background that you know you don’t care for or is not the style you are going for, don’t be shy, tell us! We are here to make you happy and would like to know if there are things that you do not like. We are your friend and like to know things like: I do not like my profile. I do not like angled pictures, I am very traditional, etc. At EVOKE we want to make sure that you are 110% satisfied with all of your images and are open to any suggestions/requests that you have so please communicate any of your thoughts with us on the day of your session and prior to your wedding. We hope that you find these tips helpful and most importantly want you to have a great time at your Bridal Session!

How to Schedule for your Bridal Session

Houston Wedding Photography – Portrait Photography Tips:
It your Bridal Session!
In the next blogs, we are going to discuss:
- How to schedule your Bridal Session
- Prepare for the day
- How to look your best

You’ve spent hours dragging your maid of honor and mom around to find the perfect wedding dress. Or maybe you were the one hit wonder bride, who knew it was the first dress when you tried it on.  However, it worked out for you have made it to your Bridal Portrait Session.

Today, is dedicated to you as a bride. It’s going to be all about you, your dress, and all those details. You know the details I am talking about. The shoes which only took 60 hours of internet research to find. The veil, necklace and earrings, and of course the cute little sparkling hair clip that matched so well with your dress. You will also have a chance to see what your hairstyle, makeup, your bouquet will look like for your wedding day. It’s like a mini test run.

To keep things running smoothly, there are some things you want to consider and prepare for a successful shoot. With close to 2000 Bridal Sessions under our belt, we have a few things to say to help out all brides.

How to Plan the Day?
This is where we see the most drama occur. With all the wedding day planning going on, sometimes it seems like the Bridal Session may not have had enough attention. The other thing, we understand you maybe close to maxing out your vacation days at work, but save one for your Bridal Session. You do not want to attempt to do your Bridal Session on your lunch break. I repeat you do not want to attempt to do your Bridal Session on your lunch break.

Okay, now that we have that out of the way. Here is what you should do to plan for your day. When your dress is in and out of alternations and you are between 2 – 4 months away from your wedding, you want to get into Bridal Session gear. Gather all the accessories, shoes, veils, jewelry, anything you need for your Session. Start to look at your schedule, find a couple dates you can potentially have your Session on. Keep in mind, being flexible will be easier for you. You’ve got a list of other partners to work with.

- Your Bridal Session Companion
- Photographer
- Location Avability of your Session
- Hairstylist
- Makeup Artist
- Florist for your Bouquet

You will see the proofs in 3-5 days and from the time you order until the time that the prints come back from the lab it will take 3 weeks. If the session is on location (outdoors) you will want to schedule this early in the morning or later in the evening for optimal lighting. (We find that Bridals are usually better in the evenings so that you have time to go to all your appointments earlier in the day). Besides, you should feel like a rock star all day and get pampered! If your session is in the Studio then you won’t have to worry about lighting. In the Studio we have a full dressing room for you to use, just let us know and we will block off some time for you.

Once, you’ve got the date locked. Plan for the Day. Think in Reverse. Start with the time of your Bridal Session start time. Go backwards from there..Consider the following:

- Getting into your dress and do final touchups
- Hair and Makeup
- Snack/lunch break
- Travel Time
- Cushion Time

Starting 5 – 6 hours prior to the start of your Bridal Session is normal and should be expected. Be liberal with your travel time, getting from the makeup artist to your photographer’s studio.  Always always give extra time for traffic. And give the unexpected some time too. This could be anything, from mom forgetting the veil to a second hairstyle when you weren’t so crazy about the first. It happens, so be prepared for it.

When the day arrives, enjoy your Bridal Session. Enjoy being pampered, getting your hair and makeup done. Savor the first moment you get into your dress and have a chance to look at yourself in the mirror. Hug your family and friends with you, share the excitement with them.  Walk out to your Session with your elegant crystal beaded dress and hot red shoes for some of the most memorable photos you will take. Have an absolutely fabulous time.

Preparing for your Engagement Session

Houston Wedding Photography – Portrait Photography Tips:
So…we do not expect you to be professionals, that is our job!  However, a little research on things to do and not do will help you get the most from your Engagement session.

What to wear.
First let’s talk about what you should wear! Girls…dress your man!! Ok, well at least help coordinate the outfits. We don’t expect you to show up looking like twins but the wrong outfit choices can make a great photo mediocre. Solid colors and small prints work the best. You will want to avoid large, bold patterns. Such patterns will draw attention away from the face. If one of you is wearing a patterned shirt the other should wear a solid color so that the photos are not too busy. Light colors go best with fair complexions and dark colors go best with dark hair/complexions. You can never go wrong with both of you wearing black/white shirts and jeans or khakis. If you wear two different colors make sure that they complement each other. Shades of the same color work well. Avoid wrinkled clothing as Professional Cameras pick up everything! If your session is outdoors and one of you sweats excessively you may want to bring a back up shirt. We speak from experience when we say…Guys, your socks have to match! Some poses may show a small portion of your socks (ex. Sitting down) and if you have those secret, I haven’t done laundry pink socks on guys, we will see them!!  Yes, your shoes matter. Some poses will show them so make sure they are ones that you will want to be in the photographs. It is up to you whether you want to be in Formal or Casual attire just make sure you both are on the same page. Also, you are welcome to bring an outfit change if you would like more than one look during the session.

Makeup.
Ladies when planning what your make up should look like please keep in mind that our cameras show every detail. Powder and lotions with glitter in them tend to cause white specks when hit with a flash. The main thing with your make up is that what you see in the mirror is what you will see in the photograph so if you think that your eyeliner or lipstick is too dark you probably won’t like it in the picture. A good tip is do not try a new hair do or make up style on the day of your session, do a test run to make sure you like it. Guys, if you decide to wear make up, we are ok with that.  (We are not sure what your friends will say). It is a good idea to bring a brush and some hairspray just in case the wind is messing with your do. We also suggest Crest White Strips for a little extra whitening to your teeth, if you need it.

Location.
When choosing the location for your session you will want to first think of what style and look you are going for as well as consider what you are going to wear. For example, you do not want to dress formal and try to get playground pictures at the park.  We have locations in mind to help you but you are welcome to choose the location. The two of you might have a favorite park or location that means something to you. We are happy to go anywhere they will allow professional photography! If you two have a favorite sport or activity that you do together, bring props!

We love to add things that are unique to the two of you! On that note, let your personalities shine. If you feel like getting silly, by all means GO FOR IT! We understand that most people are not super comfortable in front of a Camera, really we do. Ask your photographer and most of the time you will find out that we REALLY don’t like to get our photo taken, so we empathize. This works to your benefit most of the time because we understand that you are uncomfortable and can help you relax. Have Fun with it. After all our cameras are not shooting bullets! Think of it as just you and your Fiance having a good time, looking good and getting treated like rock stars! We also welcome your pets! This is a great time to get some good photos with those four legged friends that are so important to us! We do suggest that you bring a friend with you in this case so that you can have help with the animals when we are taking photos of just the two of you together.

At EVOKE it is our goal to make sure that you are extremely happy with your Engagement Photos! Please communicate with your photographer on any ideas that you would like to try and tell us if you are not comfortable with a pose or just don’t like the background we chose. We would rather you tell us you don’t like something rather than not say anything and dislike it in your pictures. Everyone is different; therefore we all like different things. Any information that you can give us about your style and expectations is wonderful and we love to hear it! We truly hope that your love your photos as well as have a great time during your session. We have clients tell us all the time that they had a great time! Even the guys who weren’t so excited about us at first.

The Fiance

So, he got down on one knee and asked you to be his soul mate. How sweet and dreamy. Suddenly, you are faced with planning one of the biggest nights of your life.  Now, you maybe the captain of the wedding plans, but having a support crew is helpful and needed.  Your fiance should be your co-captain, after all it’s his night too.

I know all fiances are not created equal.  Some will be better at planning and others will be better at listening.  And you may not need as much help as the next bride either.  So, both of you have to find your zone that you are both making progress in the wedding planning.

You may need to schedule times with him to discuss the planning, so you are not pulling him away from the basketball game he was looking forward to all week.  Perhaps, make it a dinner date.  Be prepared and organized with the things you want his opinion on and tasks you need help with.  So, maybe color swatches, ribbons, and flowers are not his thing, but consider some of the following:

The Big and Fun Stuff:

• Touring the Venues
• Cake Tasting
• Food Tasting
• Bridal Shows
• Choosing the Photographer
• Choosing the Videographer

Suggested Fiance Tasks:

• Gather his boys for Tux fitting
• Finding the DJ or Band
• Getting the Getaway Car
• The Rehearsal Dinner (if you are brave)
• Out of Town Hotel Reservations
• Honeymoon Research

Every couple is different on how or who will handle the planning, but dividing and conquering is not a bad idea to keep in mind.  After all, you can always follow-up with his tasks and see how it’s going.  So, take some of the stress off you and let him be involved with the plans too.

Houston Marriage License – get the low down on the legal paperwork.

So, put down the color swatches and favor samples for a moment.  There is some paper work you need to take care of before the wedding.  Just making it legal, that’s all. In Houston it’s easy, but does require a trip down to the Harris County Clerks Office.

When to get the License? (This is muy importante!)
You need to purchase your marriage license at least 72 hours, but no more than one month, before the date of your ceremony. The license expires 30 days after the date on which it was issued, if the ceremony has not been conducted in that time. The 72-hour waiting period is automatically waived for military personnel, who can get married as soon as they have their license (you will need to show military ID at time of license purchase).

Where do you get the License?
A marriage license may be purchased at the Harris County Clerk’s Office between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. There are 10 locations in greater Houston area.
Link: http://www.cclerk.hctx.net/Personal_Rec/Marriage_License_Information.aspx
Link: http://www.cclerk.hctx.net/Branch_Locations.aspx

Don’t forget to bring the following:
A valid ID like a driver license, DPS ID card, passport, resident alien card or other government-issued identification
$71 for the license fee
Oh, and you and your fiance (of course)

Here’s a tip: We all know how the lines can be in these offices, so take your wedding organizer and do some talking with your fiance on wedding planning you have left while you wait.

Once, you have your license, you are ready to get hitched by someone who has authority to perform marriages ceremonies in Houston.  Make your trip to get your license fun have a date with him for a nice lunch or trip for ice cream.  Enjoy.

EVOKE Photographs billboards for the Bridal Extravaganza Show!

What a fun experience! In a town full of great photographers, EVOKE was given the awesome opportunity of photographing the billboards and magazine cover for the January Bridal Extravaganza show at the George R Brown. What an honor! Much thanks to the team at the Bridal Extravaganza for your trust and for hosting the best bridal show in the city.

Trying to find the perfect photographer?

Okay, so some of you ladies may have seen the recent Google Ad during the past Super Bowl in between beer and potatoes chip bites. I was touched by it and couldn’t resist doing one ourselves. And we thought, we would have a little fun at EVOKE too.

Planning your wedding is definitely exciting and fun. Finding the perfect dress that makes you look stunning, the perfect cake that is not only delicious but a work of art, and the ring that blings is full of thrills. Certainty, it can be daunting at times too. Invitations, favors, bridal showers, what color to make the ribbon. The tasks and the bills do seem to mount up fast.

Where do you start the research? Just Google it (so everyone says). It seems to be the answer to so much now a days. Who doesn’t love it and the power of the internet? It’s brought everything right to our fingertips in our own home in our PJs with your cup of coffee next to you.

At the same time, we have all been victim to the Goggle too. Searching for hours and hours and hours on end… Google happily suggests an endless number of results. Really 38,200,000 wedding photographer results???? Who can pick from that? And sometimes it feels like it’s not giving you any practical suggestions. Neither is that fiance of yours on the couch.

And the distractions Google offers. You start with great intentions, to find the perfect bridesmaid dress and you end up at the Cinnabon website. Right? Who knows how you got there, but now you are craving that cream cheese icing.

At the end, searching the internet, Google, or whatever you may use. It is helpful you can get ideas, good information, and visit vendors virtual shops. It can help narrow down and do some filtering for your mind. It is just one of the great tools that are available to help with your quest of wedding planning. So, Google away, just have a goal in mind when you start or you could end up at the day spa faster than you think.

I’ve been involved in the wedding industry in the Greater Houston area for almost 10 years now, planned my own wedding, been to 30+ Bridal Shows, 300+ Open Houses and seen somewhere in the ball park of oh a zillion wedding photos (give or take ten). And I know the details and finding the right vendors are important. So, if the EVOKE Team can be of assistance to you during your wedding planning adventure, don’t hesitate to give a call or visit, we are happy to share our wealth of wedding knowledge not just on photos and video, but on veils and bouquets too.

So, tell me what you think? Is this how you feel at the end of the day searching online for hours, hopping from website to website? Has Google been your friend or foe in your wedding planning?