Minneapolis Wedding Photographer Carina Photographics Locations Served

Carina Photographics
550 Vandalia Street #214
Saint Paul, MN 55114

Hiring a Professional Wedding Planner

Hiring a Professional Wedding Planner

Have you ever wondered why Jennifer Lopez made such an impact with her movie The Wedding Planner? It’s because after watching it, many people finally understood the importance of working with a wedding planner!

Hiring a wedding planner is really a matter of personal taste. If you believe that you and your fiancé(e) are up for the challenge of planning your own wedding, then go with your gut. But if the idea of planning your entire wedding celebration seems tedious or makes you nervous, then it might be time for you to consider hiring a wedding planner.

Generally, a wedding planner (also called an organizer, coordinator or designer) is someone who is proficient with wedding planning strategies. There are a number of benefits to hiring a professional wedding planner.

Benefits of Hiring a Professional Wedding Planner

1. Time Savings
Planning a wedding can be a difficult job. It can be even tougher if the bride or groom is doing all the work! Planning a wedding does not happen overnight. It can often take 200-300 hours of conceptualizing, research, coordination, etc. To conserve you time and effort, it can be best to work with a wedding organizer.

2. Cost Savings
The reason many people do not work with a wedding coordinator is that they feel it will simply be an added expense. However, hiring a wedding planner can actually save you money. Most wedding planners have already developed strong bonds with numerous wedding vendors. They know about getting great value for the money, reasonable pricing for services, etc. They can guide you along the way to the right strategies for your budget.

3. Organized Timeline
With wedding planners, weddings can be better organized. Wedding coordinators plan every single detail of the wedding day. They have timelines they follow closely so all the details and events are well-prepared. If changes need to occur, they are adept at re-organizing on the fly.

4. Personalization
With wedding organizers, the decisions still rest with you. The wedding planner will simply direct, offer recommendations, and help you make the best decisions. You will still have your own style and personalization on your big day.

5. Less Stress
With wedding organizers, the events of your day do not need to be managed by you. The couple, wedding party and families are more free to relax and enjoy the event. If any problems arise, the wedding planner is there to manage solutions. They coordinate vendors, handle minor emergencies, etc. They can definitely be worth their weight in gold!

6. Confidence-Booster
Another great feature about hiring a wedding coordinator is that they function as confidence-boosters. If you are feeling rushed, jittery or nervous, looking to your wedding planner will help calm you down. They are usually positive and confident that your wedding day will be perfect since they personally managed all the details.

Hiring a Professional Wedding Coordinator

For a well-managed wedding, consider hiring the services of a wedding planner. With wedding photography Minneapolis, I can recommend several excellent wedding planners. Don’t hesitate to contact me if you’d like to talk more about working with a professional wedding planner!

Unplugged Wedding Ceremonies

Unplugged Wedding Ceremonies

As a Minneapolis wedding photographer, I often ask my clients if they are considering having an unplugged wedding ceremony. Most people answer they are not sure what that means, or else they have no idea how to do it. I 'd like to explain a little more about them, some of their benefits, and how you can easily ensure one for your big day.

What is an Unplugged Wedding Ceremony?

Problems can occur when people use their camera phones during wedding ceremonies. Wedding ceremony rituals can happen in the blink of an eye (think ring exchanges or the big kiss) and hands quickly popping up with cell phones can easily block or mar the images of a carefully-placed wedding photographer positioned behind them.

How to Have an Unplugged Wedding Ceremony

Many people like the idea of an unplugged wedding ceremony, but they have no idea how to coordinate it. There are many simple ways to ensure one for your ceremony. Some of these options include:

~ Have your officiant make an announcement that you would prefer all guests keep their phones and cameras off so as to enjoy the ceremony undistracted. Have the officiant offer that the images from your professional photographer will be shared with guests at a later date.

~ Alternatively, you can add your wording or request to the ceremony program that each guest receives when entering your venue. Try a Google search to find wording that is right for you! Some options include: "Welcome to our unplugged ceremony. Please, no cameras, cell phones or other electronics until after the ceremony. Our ceremony needs only one."

Several of my wedding clients have opted for an unplugged wedding ceremony. It ensures that their guests are giving their full attention to the ceremony itself, and not playing with phone settings.

Having an unplugged wedding ceremony comes with several benefits, and is very easy to do. Contact me soon to see if I would be a good fit for your wedding day!

To Look or Not to Look? Having a First Look on Your Wedding Day

Wedding Day First Looks

As wedding photographers Minneapolis, one question a lot of my wedding couples struggle with: Should they do a First Look, or should they wait to see each other when they first walk down the aisle? While both ways can work well, there are a few distinct advantages to going with a First Look prior to your wedding ceremony.

How Does it Work?

The First Look begins with some quiet time for just the two of you ... alone. Your First Look, where you see each other alone before your formal portraits, is often extremely special for you both. It is amazing to see how much couples relax once they have held their First Look.

Another Benefit

Another benefit of First Looks is that your hair and makeup are still fresh and you are still comfortable in your wedding attire. Often times, wedding days and wedding wardrobes can be heavy and hot, so people look less and less fresh as the day progresses. Seeing each other in top form will happen if you choose to do your First Look right away.

After the First Look

After the First Look time has finished, we take some posed photos of the two of you. While we still refer to these photos as "posed", rest-assured that we use our expertise to create images of you that are relaxed, natural and intimate.

Formal Portraits

Once your portrait time is finished, you are able to regroup with bridal party and family members and complete as much of your posed, formal group portraits as possible prior to your wedding ceremony. Once your ceremony is complete, you are then able to spend as much time as possible mingling with your guests and not forced to break into posed photos afterward while wishing you could be somewhere else.

To Look or Not to Look?

All-in-all, including a First Look into your wedding day is an amazing experience, and one I highly recommend! Contact me soon if you'd like to find out more about how we could work together for your big day!

Wedding Day Photography Tips

Wedding Day Photography Tips

As Minneapolis wedding photographers, many of my wedding clients ask if there is anything they need to know to help prepare for the photography on their wedding day. Following are some of my most helpful tips for your wedding day photography:

~ Try to arrange to have natural light in the rooms where both of you will be preparing. Natural light looks great in wedding day photographs.

~ Keep the area near the windows free of trash, bags, snacks, etc. This is the area that we would prefer to take your photos during your wedding day preparation.

~ Make sure your shoes are comfortable. If not, feel free to bring along your formal shoes for your wedding photographs, but wear the comfy shoes to get around.

~ Make sure to task someone with bringing an emergency kit. Especially if you are a DIY couple, you will need to make sure you have a number of items to help in case something goes wrong. Spend a bit of time on Google to find lists of the most important items to have, then make sure a bridesmaid, personal attendant or other helper can be ready in case of emergency.

~ Consider extra help. Wedding planners, wedding coordinators, and even day-of coordinators can help take the stress out of your big day and help things run smoothly without needing your attention. You can relax, enjoy time with friends and family, and really focus on the best things about your day.

~ Allow more time than you think you need to get ready. It's better to be safe than be rushed. Often somewhere along the way people get delayed. Planning extra time into your preparation will help keep things running smoothly.

~ Brides: Consider a trial run for hair/makeup. While often times, things can go just fine on the first attempt, you never really know until you see yourself as you will look in real life. You can pair the trial run with your engagement photos, so you are able to see what you look like in photos before the big day!

Brides: everyone in the bridal suite should be in their dresses before the bride. Keep bridal details (jewelry, dress, shoes, accessories, etc) organized together for quick photographer access. We will photograph these items prior to your prep time.

Grooms: everyone in the groom's suite should be in trousers and shirts for wedding photographers to start. We will capture groom's details first (i.e. shoes, tie, cufflinks, boutonnière, etc.) Then we will photograph groom prep time.

It is typical to allow around two hours for all of your posed wedding photos.
- 30 minutes for wedding party
- 60 minutes for first look/couple portraits
- 30 minutes for family formals
Specific details and timing will be planned out prior to your big day.

More Wedding Day Photography Tips

Most of your wedding day is going to be photographed candidly, so you can relax, enjoy yourselves, and forget that your wedding photographers are even there. Kick up your heels, enjoy yourselves, and leave the photography to us! Contact me soon to find out more about working together for your big day!

Engagement Photography Tips

Engagement Photography Tips

You know the old saying "Practice Makes Perfect"? It would help to practice if you want to feel more comfortable in front of a camera on your wedding day. Engagement photography and prewedding photography is the perfect opportunity!

Engagement Session Details

As Minneapolis engagement photographers, my engagement sessions last around 1-2 hours. When indoors, we can work almost any time of the day. Outdoors we work in the last two hours before sunset.

Engagement photos are perfect for Save-the-Date Announcements, Guest Books, Engagement Albums or Gift Prints. Because they show you spending time together, they are often cherished by couples. They capture you during an activity you enjoy without wedding day formality.

Where to Go

Selecting locations or activities that are meaningful to you will almost always result in better engagement photos. Think about how you like to spend time together and activities you both enjoy.

Some location ideas include:
> A favorite park
> A beer brewery or winery
> An art museum
> The college campus where you met
> Riding a rented boat, trolley or canoe
> On rides at a fair or carnival
> A destination or public garden
> On a picnic
> Around a barn
> A bowling alley
> An antique store
> Skating at a rink (summer or winter).
> A playground.
> A baseball field.

Style Tips:

~ Consider dressier options (sport coat, dress, etc.).
~ Be comfortable. Select clothing that compliments you well.
~ Avoid matching, but compliment and coordinate together in color, style and level of formality.
~ Choose solid colors (not white).
~ Avoid sleeveless tops, baggy clothing, large logos, clashing patterns, cargo shorts/pants, sweats or track suits, athletic shoes, flip-flops, mens and crocs sandals.
~ Bring multiple outfit options. I can give advice on which options work best together.
~ Layers and textures translate well.
~ Remember details! Choose neutral nail polish if using.
~ Brides: consider testing your hair/makeup during your photo session. Professional hair and makeup will add some glamour.
~ Don't stress! If you let yourself enjoy the experience, engagement photos will be fun. Consider having a date night afterward to celebrate your engagement!

More Engagement Photography Tips

Feel free to check my Pinterest "What to Wear// Engagement" board for visual representations of wardrobes that work well together. If you have any other questions, be sure to let me know. I would love to help you achieve the engagement or prewedding photography of your dreams, so contact me soon!

Top 10 Tips for Hiring a Wedding Photographer

Wedding Photographer Hiring Tips

Welcome to the sometimes crazy and wild world of wedding planning! With Minneapolis wedding photography, I would like to share a helpful roadmap full of some insider tips about what I consider to be the top 10 things to look for when you are looking to hire your wedding photographer:

1. PAST WEDDINGS

Make sure to really look through the wedding photographer's images and try to describe, even just to yourself, what it is that attracts you to these images.

2. PERSONALITY

When you meet with a wedding photographer, how well do you click? Do you feel confident that they can do an excellent job with your wedding day? Remember, your photographer will be the one vendor you are with the majority of your day, not to mention during other meetings, your engagement session, etc, so you should find someone you can connect with and trust that they will work well for you.

3. INSURANCE

Make sure to check that the wedding photographer is insured – both for liability as well as equipment. You want to make sure to be covered against anything imaginable, so always verify that a photographer is fully insured.

4. BACKUPS

Another form of "insurance" is having full backup equipment. Not just limited to an extra camera body, does the wedding photographer also have extra lenses, extra lighting, extra memory cards and batteries, etc? There isn't one moment to be missed during a wedding, so photographers have to be able to grab new equipment at the drop of a hat if the need arises.

5. PRICE

There are as many pricing strategies as there are wedding photographers. Make sure to discuss with your fiancé(e) what you are hoping to receive from your wedding photographer. Just remember that your wedding photography will be the only keepsake left from your wedding day, so make sure all of these factors are weighted equally.

6. HOURS OF COVERAGE

Some wedding photographers price their coverage hourly. It helps to have a ballpark idea in mind of what you are hoping for, but make sure to request that your photographer help with planning out the timeline of your wedding day. In our experience, 8-10 hours of photography coverage will ensure you get the majority of the important details from your wedding day.

7. NUMBER OF PHOTOGRAPHERS

Unless your wedding is very small (max 50 guests), many weddings would do well to have two photographers present. From having more details and candid moments captured, to having both bride AND groom expressions captured during first looks and walking down the aisle, some images are only possible when there are two photographers present.

8. ALBUMS

A wedding album is the most important keepsake you can receive from your wedding day – don't underestimate its importance as your first family heirloom. There is a vast range of albums available, so make sure you will be getting great quality and value in your biggest family heirloom from your wedding day.

9. PRODUCT OPTIONS

Make sure to review the full range of product options offered by the photographer. Do they offer both wedding AND engagement albums? Sometimes it's hard to know what you might want to order from your wedding images, so make sure that you have a good variety of options that you are interested in considering when the time comes.

10. PROFESSIONAL

Make sure that work with a professional wedding photographer. If you do want to make sure you get beautiful, high-quality photos artistically capturing every facet of your wedding day, make sure that you can trust that your photographer is a professional and can work through any scenario or challenge that may be presented.

More Info about Top 10 Wedding Photographer Hiring Considerations

I hope this road map and tips will be helpful to you as you navigate your way through the world of wedding photographers. Contact me soon if you have any questions or would like to learn more about working together for your big day. Best of luck and happy wedding planning!

Six Tips for Planning Your Wedding Day Timeline

Wedding Day Timeline Preparation Tips

It looks like something so difficult: strategize the timeline of your whole wedding, although you have never actually planned a wedding celebration in your life! The good news is, there are some ideas that you could consider in order to help you plan your timeline for your big day. As a wedding photographer Minneapolis, here are a few of my favorite tips:

1. Designate extra time for each wedding event

The gown had creases and needed to be steamed. The cake went to the wrong venue. Your parents got lost on the way. If something were ever before to be postponed, chances are it could take place on your wedding day. Make certain to allocate even more time than you believe is needed for each point of your day.

2. Delegate!

Before your wedding day, make certain to pass on any jobs that have to occur on the day itself. Items like paying vendors, arranging group photos, and announcing events could be entrusted to wedding day participants. This will ensure things run more quickly and smoothly.

3. Include lots of portrait time

The portraits of the bride and groom can be some of the most treasured pictures of the day. Make certain to spend enough time, at the very least half an hour, for your pictures, and also extra time if you are able.

4. Go to the ceremony venue a minimum of half an hour early

You'll want to be finished with all activities and arrive early to your ceremony venue. It is best to plan on arriving at least 30 minutes, or even up to one hour, prior to the event.

5. Plan on 3-4 minutes for each picture group

When planning out exactly how much time you will require for formal portrait, a great pointer is to include 3-4 minutes for each image. Also, don't forget to make certain every person required for the images is aware of when and where they need to be before your day.

6. Schedule the majority of reception events early

Schedule the cake cutting, first dance, parent dances, and any other traditions early in the night. Oftentimes, some family members or friends will be unable to remain long after dinner. By doing this, you can make sure that most people are still available to join the fun!

Six Wedding Timeline Preparation Tips

If you keep these six timeline planning suggestions in mind while arranging your day, you will be more likely to keep your day running efficiently – helping to ease any unnecessary stress and anxiety on the biggest day of your life.

Contact me soon if you are looking for a wedding photographer for your big day!

Minneapolis Wedding Photographers Welcome!

This is photography for the adventurous. The dreamers. The hopeless romantics. The soulful travelers and wandering artists. For those who believe that every spontaneous moment of joy creates memories that will be passed down for generations.

Welcome Friends! I’m Minneapolis wedding photographer Joanna Carina of Carina Photographics. I blend my fine art vision with design sensibility to beautifully capture your wedding day and every memorable moment along the way.

We’ll ditch the stiff poses and make room for the spontaneous, passionate, and playful moments instead. Life is more enjoyable that way. 

I can’t wait to document the personal story of your big day — from the intricate details to the most ecstatic moments; from the biggest laughs to the joyful tears. The day you’ve been dreaming of will live on through artistic, dramatic, etheric storytelling imagery.

Contact me soon! I’d love to help celebrate your timeless love.