I’m Rhode Island bound at the moment, capturing the wedding day moments of the lovely Jessica and Nick! It will be my first time on the East Coast and I’m totally excited to take in the scenery!
If you email me I might not get back to you right away, but I will be back in the office on Monday. To spice this post up a bit I’ve included shots of Frank and Roxy, whom I’ve named CEO and CFO of Heidi Ryder Photography, respectively. I’m gonna miss those faces while I’m gone. Have a happy weekend!
Every once in a while a person deserves a little vacation. For me, that time is now and I couldn’t be more excited to be spending it with nine other lady photographers whom I adore and admire so much! I’m headed to Palm Springs, baby!
If you are a current or prospective client and email me between now and Wednesday, you are likely not to get a response from me until I am back in the office on Thursday. If it’s urgent, please give me a call.
If you’d like to follow our vacation shenanigans, head on over to our Palm Springs 2010 Tumblr page where we’ll all be posting photos and such during and after our trip!
This week I was lucky enough to see my work featured on not one, but two different wedding blogs! I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, it’s always such a thrill when other folks like my work enough to feature it on their blogs. Seeing my work on The Knot and Style Unveiled was no exception. I’m so glad Jackqueline + Jeremy and Robin + Alejandro’s engagement sessions were so well-received!
Jackqueline and Jeremy’s Griffith Observatory engagement session with pinwheels served as inspiration on The Knot blog yesterday. Click the screen shot below to check it out:
And then this morning Robin and Alejandro’s La Canada engagement session set amongst cherry blossoms, orange trees and grassy fields was featured on LA Style Unveiled. It’s part of their series called “Bride in the City” and you should click on the screen shot below to read an interview with the lovely Robin!
It is always an incredible honor when my work gets picked up on other sites. Especially when those sites are some of my favorite reads. This is the second time my work has been featured on Green Wedding Shoes and I couldn’t be more pleased! Jen decided to feature Jackqueline and Jeremy’s Griffith Observatory engagement session with the adorable handmade pinwheels. Mucho thanks to Jen! Click the screen shot below to see the whole feature!
Last year around this time I headed to Las Vegas for WPPI, a photography tradeshow and convention for wedding and portrait photographers. I had a blast and I am excited to do it again this year! I expect to learn much, laugh much and WALK much! Me and 10,000 of my peers will be invading Sin City with cameras in tow. It’s bound to get intersting!
I will be back in the office responding to all emails and inquiries on Thursday, March 11th. Thanks for your patience.
Here’s an image from a shoot I did at the Neon Boneyard last year. You can see more here: Neon Boneyard Photos Part 1, Neon Boneyard Photos Part 2. I’m participating in another group shoot this time and I’m looking forward to sharing those images with you, too!
I can’t believe 2009 has come to an end. This has been quite a year for me, personally and business-wise, and when I sit and think about all I’ve had the privilege to see and do, I’m quite pleased. 2009 was the year I decided to focus solely on weddings. This time last year I wasn’t sure where this year would take me, but I was ready to hang on and enjoy the ride. And, oh, what a ride it’s been.
2010 already promises to be an even more exciting year and I honestly can’t wait. There’s something so refreshing about the start of a new year. I know technically nothing really changes, but there’s just something about seeing Jan. 1st on a calendar that sparks something inside me. I love feeling like I can change anything I put my mind to. Make things happen. Kick A$$ and take names. You know the drill.
I’ve already set wheels in motion for things that are sure to make my business better than ever, which means an even better experience for my clients. I am so looking forward to the weddings I have the honor of photographing next year and I can’t wait to share them all here.
In the spirit of reflection, I’ve chosen some of my favorite images, from both engagement sessions and weddings, from 2009. It’s been a VERY long time since I’ve posted a slideshow, but I figured why not let 2009 go out with a bang? Hope you enjoy.
A big, HUGE thank you to all of my clients – past and future – who chose me to capture their wedding day memories. I would also like to thank my photographer friends who have invited me along to shoot weddings with them and have also joined me at my clients’ weddings. The friendships I’ve made this year have proven invaluable.
Happy New Year, everyone! Here’s to a FANTASTIC 2010!
>>If you’re reading this post via an RSS feed or on Facebook, you’ll have to click through to my actual site to view the fun slideshow!<<
Several months ago I received an email that was so positive and encouraging that it made me smile from ear to ear. It was from Mekala at Tie That Binds, a wedding design studio that does the most amazing stationery products—everything from invitation suites to personalized labels and custom wedding favors. She even does photo book design! I’m telling you, there seems to be no limit to Mekala’s creativeness.
Some of my favorite of her items includes these cute candy bags for personalizing your wedding candy buffet, and these unbelievable love story books – can you just imagine using favorite shots from your engagement session for this wedding favor, accompanied by the story of your love? I just wish I had known about Mekala and Tie That Binds when Chris and I got married!
But without a doubt, Mekala’s talent truly shines with her glorious invitation suites. This design is called “Garden Love” and I think it’s got a romantic and timeless feel to it:
And I adore this design, called “Our Lucky Day.” The colors are refreshing and vibrant and the design had a darling vintage quality that I just love.
When Mekala asked if she could use some of my photos in the Color Inspiration section of her website, I was thrilled and honored! She paired up my photos with her designs seamlessly and I love seeing my work matched up with her design elements. Here are a couple of screen shots, click either one below to see the whole set:
If you’re in the market for wonderful stationery products, wedding favors or photo books – or if you just enjoy looking at pretty things for inspiration, do yourself a favor and head over to Tie That Binds and take in all of Mekala’s beautiful designs.
There are so many ways for people to give to those in need: Food drives, toy drives, monetary donations – you name it, someone has thought of a way to help other people. One of the great things about this world we live in is there is no shortage of ways to give back.
That’s why I’m pleased to announce my participation in this year’s Giving Is Awesome campaign. I chose Giving Is Awesome as my catalyst for giving back this season because it allows me to bring joy to a family’s life in the best way I know how – through beautiful images of their shining faces.
So, this year I am giving away a portrait session (a $450 value) to one deserving person, couple or family. At first I thought of limiting the contest to families only, but then I realized that whether or not a person has family should not make them less than deserving. Same goes for couples. The point is, no one is immune to hard times, so I’m not excluding anyone.
You likely know someone who’s experienced a tragedy, is struggling to stay afloat, is raising kids while holding down more than one job, or is volunteering selflessly despite extenuating personal circumstances. You know someone who can’t afford custom photography, but who would cherish it this holiday season. You know someone who deserves a year-round reminder of their family’s spirit, love and beauty.
I want to know who they are, and I want to give them the chance to experience complimentary custom photography. It is in your power to give them the artwork they deserve this holiday season.
Here’s the deal:
To enter, fill out the form below and tell me WHY this person, couple or family deserves this photo session. The more you tell me, the better, as helping me understand what they have or are going through will increase their chances of winning. Those nominated must sincerely be incapable of purchasing my services. (Being unable to make mortgage payments for a two-million-dollar-vacation-home in Paris does not qualify as sincere financial need.)
You cannot nominate yourself.
Those nominated must live in Southern California, or at least planning to visit before February 2010.
Prize is non-transferable.
The lucky winner will be chosen by me and my panel of judges (ie. my husband).
The deadline for entries is December 20th.
The winner will be announced here on the blog on Christmas Eve!
Open your heart to someone this holiday season – and thanks for giving me the opportunity to open mine.
Now that wedding season is winding down, I am excited to finally have time to jump right into family portrait sessions, just in time for the holidays! Personalize your family’s holiday cards with beautiful photographs that will bring joy throughout the holidays- and well beyond.
Mini-sessions must be scheduled between now and November 21st to ensure delivery by December 1st – leaving plenty of time to get your holiday cards addressed, stamped and mailed off! Check out the adorable designs I’m offering below. Love them!
Holiday cards are also available to my 2009 wedding and portrait clients. If you’re interested in ordering, just pick your favorite design, the photos you’d like to include in the design, and email me at heidi@heidiryder.com to place your order!
Just a quick post to let you know that for the next 24 hours I will be walking against cancer as a part of Relay for Life. My team has raised over $1,800 in online and offline donations and we hope to make even more during the event. Our team is called FIGHT FOR LIFE and we’ll have a booth set up with some fundraising opportunities, one of which may be of interest to some of you!
Stop by our booth any time before 8am tomorrow morning (serious, any time – we’ll be up for 24 hours) and purchase raffle tickets to enter yourself in the drawing for a free portait session! The tickets are seriously super cheap so you can buy a ton of them to increase your odds, and all proceeds go towards the American Cancer Society.
If you aren’t in the area or can’t make it to the booth, I will also enter anyone into the drawing who donates $50 or more ONLINE in the next 24 hours. Go here to donate to our team and make sure that you put the word RAFFLE in the message box when you donate.
If you are in town, please stop by! The relay takes place at Robert Gross Park in Burbank, 2814 W Empire Ave. Hope to see you there!
