Bridal Budget Brilliance: Smart Spending of Wedding Funds
Bridal Budget Brilliance: Smart Spending of Wedding Funds
Wedding gift money, often viewed as a generous token from loved ones, holds the potential to significantly influence your shared future. Today, Virginia Cooper of Learn a Living delves into tips to employing these funds, aiming to fortify both your relationship and financial foundation.
Preserving Your Wedding Memories
Investing a portion of your wedding gift money in prints and a video of your special day is a wise decision that will allow you to cherish those memories for years to come. Consider selecting a range of photos that capture the essence of your celebration, from heartfelt moments to joyful candids. For exceptional quality and service, consider working with Katie Fisher Photography to create stunning prints you'll treasure forever.
Embark on a Journey of Togetherness
The decision to allocate your wedding gift money toward a honeymoon isn't just about celebrating your union; it's an investment in your relationship. This first journey as a married couple offers a unique opportunity to deepen your bond. Exploring new destinations, indulging in romantic experiences, and simply enjoying each other's company without the distractions of daily life foster memories that will be cherished for a lifetime. More than a trip, it's an essential chapter in your life story, setting a precedent for shared happiness.
Build a Safety Net
Life's unpredictability necessitates a financial buffer, and establishing an emergency fund with a portion of your wedding gift money is a practical and responsible step. This safety net, designed to cover unforeseen expenses, such as sudden medical bills or home repairs, not only offers peace of mind but also fortifies your relationship against the strains of financial emergencies. It's a testament to your commitment to safeguarding your shared life, ensuring that when challenges arise, they're met with preparedness and unity.
Upgrade Your Education
Another way to improve your financial situation is by going back to school to upgrade your education and improve your career prospects. And if you’re open to online learning platforms, you can greatly benefit from their flexibility, as well. For instance, if you’ve been researching online medical school programs, here’s a well-regarded option that allows you to learn at your own pace from the comfort of home.
The Importance of Retirement Savings
Allocating funds toward retirement may seem premature in the bliss of new marriage, but it's a crucial step for long-term financial security. Investing in retirement plans early allows your money to compound over time, paving the way for a comfortable future. This foresight demonstrates a commitment to each other's well-being in the years to come, ensuring that you can enjoy your later years together without financial stress.
Clearing the Path: Debt Reduction for a Stronger Start
Using your wedding gift money to pay off existing debts, such as student loans or credit card balances, sets the stage for a financially stable married life. Eliminating these debts relieves the pressure of financial obligations, allowing you to focus on building your future together. This proactive approach to financial management is a stepping stone toward achieving your mutual goals, be it traveling, home improvement, or starting a family.
Crafting Memories That Last a Lifetime
Investing in unique experiences, like a dream vacation or celebrating a milestone, strengthens your bond and adds vibrancy to your relationship. These moments, filled with joy and discovery, become the highlights of your story together. They serve as reminders of your journey, reinforcing the love and excitement that brought you together, and instilling a sense of adventure in your life.
Empowering Growth: Investing in Professional Development
Allocating a portion of your wedding gift money toward professional development is an investment in your collective future. Enhancing your skills or gaining new qualifications not only bolsters your career prospects but also contributes to your financial stability as a couple. This commitment to growth and learning reflects a shared vision of success and prosperity, laying a foundation for a future filled with opportunities and achievements.
Your wedding gift money is a pivotal resource in shaping your life together. Thoughtful allocation toward your honeymoon, emergency fund, home, retirement, debt reduction, memorable experiences, and professional growth establishes a robust financial and emotional foundation for your marriage. These choices transcend mere monetary value, crafting a narrative of mutual support, enduring love, and a prosperous future.
Featured on Here Comes The Guide
Super excited to announce my photographs have been featured on the very popular website Here Comes The Guide! You can read more about the Hotel del Coronado and see some of my images around the venue from Olivia and Walker’s big day!
Guest post by Virginia Cooper- " Picture-Perfect Perks: Unveiling the Advantages of Hiring a Pro Photographer"
Picture-Perfect Perks: Unveiling the Advantages of Hiring a Pro Photographer
In a world where everyone has access to a camera, there's something truly magical about entrusting your precious moments to a skilled professional photographer. This article offered by Katie Fisher explores the undeniable benefits of hiring a pro to capture life's most cherished memories.
Professionals vs. DIY
When it comes to photography, quality matters. Professionals possess the knowledge, equipment, and artistic flair that elevate your photos to a whole new level. Say goodbye to blurry selfies and hello to stunning, crystal-clear images.
Whether it's a milestone birthday, a family reunion, or a breathtaking landscape, professional photographers have an uncanny ability to capture the essence of the moment. They understand the intricacies of lighting, composition, and timing, ensuring that each photograph is a work of art in its own right. With their high-end cameras, knowledge of composition, and expert editing skills, they transform ordinary scenes into extraordinary visual stories.
Business Brilliance
When it comes to showcasing your products, DIY photography falls short. Professional product photographers understand how to make your offerings shine, attracting customers with stunning visuals that boost your brand's credibility. In the business world, image is everything. Your products need to look their best to stand out in a competitive market.
Professional product photographer Katie Fisher has proven skills to capture your merchandise in its most flattering light, highlighting its features and benefits. Combined with crafting high-quality content, it can be key to shaping a successful marketing campaign. Whether you're selling fashion, food, or gadgets, professional product photography can significantly impact your sales and brand reputation.
Eternalizing Special Moments
Professional wedding photography isn't just about snapping pictures; it's about crafting timeless memories. These experts have an uncanny ability to freeze fleeting emotions, ensuring your special day lives on in vivid detail for generations to come. Whether you’re shaping your album or your invitation, professional pics allow you to add your personal touch.
Imagine flipping through an album filled with candid shots of tears of joy, the bride's radiant smile, and the groom's tender gaze. These are moments you can never replicate. A professional photographer captures the spontaneity and raw emotion of your wedding day.
Selling Your House
Hiring a professional real estate photographer when selling your home can significantly elevate the quality and appeal of your property's online listings, making a lasting impression on potential buyers. High-quality photos not only highlight the best features of your house but also make it stand out in a crowded market, thereby attracting more attention and, ultimately, higher offers.
Professional photographers have the expertise to use the right angles, lighting, and equipment to make each room look spacious and inviting, which can be challenging to achieve with amateur photography. Furthermore, many professionals also offer services like virtual tours and drone photography, which can give buyers a more comprehensive view of your property. Investing in professional photography is a small cost that can yield a high return by reducing the time your home sits on the market and increasing the final sale price.
Perfect Portraits
Portrait photography is an art form, and professional photographers are the maestros. Their expertise in lighting, composition, and posing can transform your image into a masterpiece, capturing your true essence like never before. A professional portrait session is not just about striking a pose and clicking a button. It's about creating a connection between the subject and the camera, bringing out the personality and emotions that define you. The result? Portraits that don't merely depict your appearance but also reveal your character.
Family Forever
Family photography should be more than just a snapshot; it should tell your unique story. Trusting a professional ensures that each family member's personality shines through, creating cherished keepsakes for years to come. Families evolve over time, and so do the dynamics between members.
A professional family photographer understands how to capture the essence of your family at different stages, from the playful chaos of childhood to the quiet intimacy of adulthood. These photographs serve as a visual timeline of your family's growth and bond.
In a world inundated with images, professional photographers are the storytellers, the memory-makers, and the custodians of artistry. When you hire a professional photographer for your business or personal use, you're investing in the preservation of your life's most beautiful moments, ensuring they endure the test of time. So, don't just take pictures—create lasting memories with the help of a seasoned pro.
Katie Fisher Photography selected as one of the "Top Commercial Photographers" in San Diego in 2021
Endorced on Giggster’s top picks in 2021
See the list here on Giggster
Living in a world of LIEks- a post for those pursuing their passion in photography
About 3 years ago I was watching stories on Instagram and one photographer posted about how their engagement on their posts went way down suddenly. They were devastated. They talked about how they felt like they were doing something wrong or that they weren’t doing enough. This really stuck with me even after all these years, and I still think it’s an important and relevant topic to discuss.
We all need to remember that your worth is not measured by how many likes you get on a post.
Those likes can be produced by robots.
Someone might like your post just so you can like their post back.
They can follow and unfollow you just to selfishly grow their following.
Don’t let those likes lie to you about your value in the photography community.
When you get a like on a post it’s natural to feel excited.
There’s this sense of accomplishment and approval.
But when you don’t, you might feel like your photos aren’t good enough or you start to compare yourself to other photographers.
Why does so-and-so have 14K followers and I have 400?
In the long run though, having a following of actual people who support your work is much more important than a number.
I know some photographers who don't even use Instagram and they have a flourishing business, or some that have an account but don’t have a large following, and they’re still booking their ideal clients.
Later in 2019 Instagram gave the option of hiding the number of likes on your posts. This came about because people were feeling insecure about their social media presence and noticing the impact on their mental health.
Stay true to YOU and have confidence in your work. You got this!
How cloudy days make for amazing portraits
Your photoshoot is coming up and you notice the weather report says it will be cloudy but don’t worry! Portraits taken on cloudy days actually come out amazing. Why do I say that?
-Even lighting on everyone’s faces
-The foreground (you) and the background (beautiful scenery) are in the same lighting (brightness)
-Sun is not harsh it is diffused by the clouds- basically the clouds act like a giant softbox around the sun
-No squinty eyes
-Not as hot/ more comfortable walking around
-Usually less people at the beaches, parks or other venues
Ever notice when you take a photo with your phone and you’re in a sunny spot with the sun on your back and the background is super bright, but your faces are totally dark and in shadow? That’s because it’s so much brighter in the background than it is in the foreground. This uneven lighting is harder to work with and unless you edit the photo, it may not come out the way you want it to.
Here’s a tip for your phone photos: Bring up the shadows and bring down the highlights until you think it matches nicely.
When I shoot in uneven lighting, I either use a flash to balance out the shadows or I shoot natural light and edit it in post processing to bring up the shadows. I judge the situation and use the appropriate lighting choice I see fit or will work well for the session. I don’t coin myself as either a natural light photographer or OCF (off camera flash) or on camera flash photographer- I just bring all the proper equipment for any lighting situation.
I hope this eases your worries if you have an upcoming photoshoot on a cloudy day. Or if you’re a photographer hopefully this gave you some insight on my process.
Chance encounters
One thing I love about photographing cars is that because they draw so much attention when you’re at the shoot, you’re bound to interact with a random onlooker and hear some awesome stories. Cars carry around more than just people and things; they carry memories and lots of fond ones too! You wouldn’t think that would happen, but it happens every time I shoot a car in public.
For for example, I photographed a 1987 BMW M6 on Shelter Island. A stranger walked up to the owner of the car and I, and said he used to have a similar BMW he brought from Germany and he talked about how much he loved the car, and how seeing the one I was photographing brought up some really special memories for him. How sweet is that? What are the odds that at the exact time we were taking photos, that particular gentleman would be there at the same time. Chance encounters like that really brighten my day and it makes me feel like they’re not actually chance encounters at all, but the Universe/God/higher power working it’s magic connecting humans in this beautiful thing we call life.
I think it’s funny that a lot of people have said to me something along the lines of, “oh cool you shoot cars, that must be nice not dealing with people”, and actually in reality, it’s a lot of dealing with people and I love that! You need to take a little bit of time to learn about the car, see its hidden features or nuances, and in order to do that you need to talk to the owner which is also another chance for a wonderful interaction. I’ve met some really cool people over the years shooting cars.
I started taking photos of cars back in 2015 for Relay Rides known now as Turo the platform where you can rent out your car(s) to other drivers and make extra money. Over time, I met other people who wanted to sell their cars privately and wanted nice, professional photos to make their listing stand out. Then I started working with Bring a Trailer, Auto Hunter, In Your Garage, Clasiq, Cars & Bids, Pcarmarket, among others. If you’re looking to sell your car, or just want some professional photos of your metal baby be sure to shoot me an e-mail or text and I’ll get you set up!
Sunset Cliffs engagement
Brandon and Crystal planned to have their wedding in June, but because of the pandemic they postponed their wedding. On what would have been their wedding day, they decided to still commemorate the moment with a romantic photo session complete with cake! The weather was so nice in the 70s with a light breeze. We even saw a pod of dolphins pass by! It was a very special evening. I feel like I’m on a mini vacation when I do couples shoots like this; it’s amazing!
Class of 2020
It sure has been a wild past couple months hasn’t it?! Usually May and June for me is an extremely busy time because I photograph college and high school graduation ceremonies (even middle school promotions too!) I’ve been photographing graduations since 2013 and love it. It’s one of those milestones in life you’ll never forget. I know many graduates weren’t able to have a traditional graduation which is very disheartening.
Although I may not be able to provide action photos of you walking across the stage this year, I can take your graduation portraits! Lets pick a beautiful San Diego spot and get some cap and gown photos, or just some nice portraits in your favorite outfit for you to look back on and remember you got through this!
Class of 2020 you did it!
Special deal for 2020 graduates only- Take 20% off my mini session!
For all the foodies out there
I counted all of the restaurants I have photographed since 2018 and it’s over 145! That’s 145 restaurants represented on DoorDash, Grubhub, and UberEats! I’m pretty stoked about that!
Surprise, surprise!
Yesterday I shot a surprise proposal in the morning around 10 AM. The moments leading up to the proposal are quite exciting and a little nerve wracking because there’s that element of surprise. It’s a very similar feeling compared to the “first kiss” at a wedding ceremony. He got down on one knee on the sand next to Crystal Pier. Super cute moment. She was totally surprised! I love the reaction of the one being proposed to when they find out their partner had been sneaking around hiring a photographer! I go full on stealth/ stalker mode it’s hilarious.