A Strong Connection
Written by joshsolar on August 14, 2008 – 3:36 am -There are a few things that you need to consider when choosing your photographer. Do you like their style? How much experience do they have? What’s their turnaround time or responsiveness? Can we afford them? I could go on and on, but the most important thing when choosing a photographer, in my opinion, is that you have a great connection with them. When you initially meet your photographer, think about how they make you feel. After all, you are going to be spending your entire wedding day with them, so they should be someone that you feel comfortable around. Does the photographer seem interested in YOU, and YOUR WEDDING, or do you get the feeling that they just want another booking?
This is just a short little post to get you thinking before you book one of the most important vendors for your wedding. Keep in mind that after your wedding day, the food’s all gone, the flowers have dried up, the dress gets cleaned and shoved in a box (unless you go out for an awesome day after session 
) and all you have left are the memories your photographer has captured for you. So before you sign that contract, make sure that, without a doubt, you know that photographer is the right one for you, and trust me, you’ll know 
And, since I will never post without a picture, here’s one Jenny captured of me in action…
And here’s the shot I captured
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
Custom Wedding Sewing and Alterations
Written by carolknipp on July 7, 2008 – 6:56 pm -Hello! My name is Carol Knipp, and I’ve enjoyed sewing for weddings since I designed the dress for my flower girl, to look like my wedding dress, nearly 30 years ago. I enjoy making dresses from patterns, magazine photos, or just from ideas you have. In addition to making many bridesmaid dresses, formals and mother-of-the-bride suits, I’ve been able to alter dresses purchased from stores and through e-bay, to make a custom fit for the bride. I enjoy challenges, one in particular being a dress that was about 3 sizes too small with a bodice about 3 sizes too long. Once I removed the zipper, I was able to take a wedge of fabric from the length of the back of the bodice, sew it into the width of the back, rearrange the satin covered buttons and add pearl decorated ribbon to criss cross over the fabric addition, hiding what had been the side seams of the added fabric. The bride was so happy to have the dress she loved, fit her perfectly!
Another favorite was an $8000 designer couture dress from e-bay that was slightly too tight for the bride to get the zipper up, and the front of the bodice was too large. For a view of this dress on the designer’s website, click here. I was thrilled to find darts that had been taken in the dress, with the original fabric intact. Once I released the darts, I removed some of the lace and beaded rosettes, sewed new darts, remade and replaced the rosettes. I added a narrow satin ribbon to the lining of the top front of the bodice, then threaded narrow elastic through the satin ribbon, and pulled it just enough to make the bodice hug the bride. She looked spectacular, and was thrilled to be able to be comfortable in her dream wedding dress.
Beads always prove to be a challenge, however, I enjoy fine detail work. It must be from the 17 years of intensive-care nursing in my past! A gorgeous gown with a long, beaded bodice, needed to be taken in at 6 different places, along with removing the zipper and taking in the back hip 4 inches. The result was a perfectly fitted gown on a perfectly beautiful bride!
My favorite experience happened recently at a wedding, about 45 minutes before the wedding was to start. The zipper on a purchased bridesmaid dress broke. I happened to be there, and that zipper REFUSED to be fixed. Thankfully the mother of the bride had a small sewing kit with thread the exact color of the dress. I cut out a small wedge at the bottom of the zipper, threaded the zipper teeth back together, and slowly zipped the zipper up, while sewing the zipper closed, all the way to the top. I told the bridesmaid she was having a red carpet moment, being literally sewn into her dress! We finished just in time for the bridesmaid to get in line and walk down the aisle!
I subscribe to the Tim Gunn philosophy - “Make it work!” (For those of you who don’t watch Project Runway, that might not mean as much. But, I will always, make it work!)
Check out my personal page right here on KC Wedding Scene!
Carol Knipp
kcknipps@hotmail.com
816-454-5197 (h)
816-916-0841 (c)
Posted in Alterations, Gowns & Dresses | No Comments »
Josh Solar Photo: A Brief Intro
Written by joshsolar on July 3, 2008 – 7:44 pm -Hi! Nice to meet you. We’ll be posting on KC Wedding Scene a couple times a month, so we wanted to give you faithful readers a brief intro to us:)
Here we are (thanks Kelley for the shot:) We’ve been together since high school, and we’re going to be together forever!
We love to take pictures! Especially of people head over heels in love with each other. We also love to take pictures of kids and doggies!
When not taking pictures, editing pictures, or talking about pictures, we spend the rest of our time with our two children, Max (3.5) & Ava (1.5). Jenny is currently prego with another baby girl, Lia, due early August, and then we’re definitely in trouble because we will finally be outnumbered (let’s keep that one a secret for a while, though, okay:)
Here’s Max (he likes to make silly faces)
And, here’s Ava (she likes when I chase her with the camera)
Max likes to ride his bike
And Ava likes to do everything Max does:)
Max is definitely a wild man (especially right before bed:)
And Ava’s headed down that path already! Thanks, Max:)
Now that you’ve met us and our crazy family, I have a question. Since we are going to be posting a couple times a month, I would like to know what you would like to read about (I have tons of ideas, but I gotta keep the readers happy right:) I can share some of my favorite images from my past few weddings, although, you can see all those on my blog already (go ahead and click the link, I dare ya), or I can write about my thoughts on what makes a good first dance:) So I’m curious as to what all of you brides want to know about wedding photography. Leave suggestions in the comments, or you can e-mail us at josh@joshsolarphoto.com. Until next time…happy wedding planning!
Tags: Josh Solar Photo
Posted in Photographers | No Comments »
Welcome to the KC Vendor Blog!
Written by Katie on May 27, 2008 – 2:46 am -Welcome to the Kansas City Vendor Blog, THE place to get the inside perspective of all those vendors you’re about to hire! They will post helpful hints, ideas, advice, pictures, and so much more.
Have a question for a particular blogging vendor? Want to learn more about his or her business? Simply leave a comment or follow the links to learn more about that particular vendor’s services.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Like this blog? Want to get a bride’s perspective? Check out our Kansas City Brides’ Blog!
Posted in From the Editors | No Comments »
