Company Name: Katy Gray Photography (Dylan List member)

Name: Katy Gray

Location: Jackson Hole, WY

Tell us a little about what you do.

I am a fine art and wedding photographer based in Jackson Hole, WY but I’ll go anywhere to shoot your wedding!

How long have you been in business?

About  4 or 5 years.  I started out just doing a few little ones and elopements but last summer things really took off and this summer is looking huge as well!

What inspired you to start your business/studio?

Actually it was my own wedding photos!  I had graduated from MSU with my BA in photography in 2004 but didn’t really know what I wanted to do with it until I saw the photos we got from Jonathan Adams after our wedding.  He was kind enough to let me tag along and second shoot with him at a few of his events and give me a great critique at the end of the season.  I booked a few little elopements and intimate ceremonies, shot for a few friends and then things just started snowballing.

What is your favorite thing about your business/studio?

I love that I capture irreplaceable moments for people.  The cake gets eaten, favors get taken, flowers dry up, the dress gets put away, but the photos will be there forever.  When your grandkids and great grandkids want to hear about your wedding, out comes the photo album.  I love being a little piece of all of these family histories.  It’s quite an honor!

Was there a defining moment when you knew you picked the right career path?

Shooting Jenny & Ryan’s wedding – our sunset session out in the field.  I looked at the back of my camera a few times and was literally hopping with excitement.  In my opinion, if your job makes you hop, you’re onto something.

When you built your business what style would you say you built it around? (i.e. classic, modern, vintage)

I shoot in a bit of a modern style – edgy compositions and funky perspectives – but then I process in more of a dreamy vintage look.  So modern vintage with a bit of funk?  And I love odd juxtapositions – a bride in a gas station, or the groom out walking his dog before the ceremony, things like that.  I like to make people do a double take.

When working with people how do you help bring the vision for the event to life?

I photograph the couple’s vision – I try to shoot every detail I can get and use items from the wedding to shoot the bride’s accessories and dress – like hanging a dress on a set of antlers for a ranch wedding, or shooting the rings on a record album for a reception with a vintage record player.

Where do you go for inspiration? (i.e. blogs, magazines)

I stalk an embarrassing number of blogs.  My absolute favorite wedding photographers are Sean Flanigan, Olivia Leigh, Anna Kuperburg and Amelia Lyon – I’m always turning to them for inspiration.  I also subscribe to a LOT of style blogs – Lucy Dylan, of course!!, Style Me Pretty, Design*Sponge, The Bride’s Café, Wedding Chicks, & Grey Likes Weddings are my favorites.

Is there anything else you want people to know about you and your business/studio?

I love taking pictures, I love weddings, and I will work my butt off to help make your wedding day the best day it can be!  Plus I’m pretty funny in person.  And brides have said I’m a good ‘calmer-downer’.  I often have gum.

Our amazing sponsor Minted is giving away an unbelievable gift to one lucky couple. They are celebrating the launch of a new flat printed invitation line. Don’t worry they will still be offering their letterpress invitations. Now you will simply have more options. The giveaway is simple. Go to the Minted Blog and comment with your name and favorite design. You have until Friday May 21, 2010 to enter.

The prize is valued at over $1000, which includes the entire suite (thank you cards, reply cards, backers, address labels, and EVERYTHING in between)! Go to their website and blog for all the details. You can click on the minted box below or on their logo in the sponsor section to the right.

You can also use the coupon code LAUNCH15 to save 15% on all your purchases.

Good luck!

When I first saw Sandra and Patrick’s engagement session by our Dylan List members Last Forty Percent Photography, I once again fell in love with their work. How could you not? An engagement session in a garden center… yes please!

This session is romantic, steamy, and a classic representation of Last Forty Percent’s Style.

Make sure you check out more of Last Forty Percent’s work by visiting their blogs.

**In other news. We had a few issues with our RSS feed again. So in case you missed a few posts here they are:

Inspired by Monique Lhuillier

Vendor Spotlight: Bliss Event Planning

Real Wedding: Dejane & Erik

The feed is now fixed you may have to refresh the feed. If you are having problems with it please contact us to let us know.

Happy Monday!

They represent trust and patience. Having a 1,000 homemade cranes at your wedding is a symbol of good luck for a happy marriage. They’ve become an easy Do-It-Yourself project for wedding decorations.

Couples find colors that are important to them and match their wedding colors. It will take hours and even weeks to finish, but in the end you will have a beautiful DIY project.

What you’ll need:

If you haven’t made cranes before there are kits out there with easy directions. The kits can get you started and you can buy additional origami paper and string for the cranes.

The first few might not come out the way you want as you can see with the yellow and pink one above. Don’t get discouraged the cranes will get better the more you make. The end result a beautiful garland for your wedding day.

Photo courtesy of San Diego Wedding Insider via Once Wed.

Today I’m inspired by Monique Lhuillier and the color orange. Monique Lhuillier gowns are becoming a fast favorite of mine.

Paired with the color orange you can have a bright, bold, and beautiful wedding.

Photos courtesy of Monique Lhuillier, Renaissance Studios Photography, Recherche Photography, Isabel Lawrence Photographers, Ryan Green Photography, Magnifique Photography, Isabel Lawrence Photographers, Geoff White Photographers, Isabel Lawrence Photographers, Priscillia of Boston.

Company Name: Bliss Event Planning (Dylan List member)

Name: Marcie Gaukrodger

Location: We’re based out of Whistler, Canada, but we work anywhere a couple asks us to.

Tell us a little about what you do.

Bliss Event Planning is a boutique full service event and design company that creates highly unique events. Planning events is what we get out of bed for. Quite simply, we love it. It’s our job to remove all pressures, stresses and worries that may be a burden to our clients. When we accomplish this while executing their vision of a perfect event, we feel we have succeeded.

How long have you been in business?

3 years, with many more to come!

What inspired you to start your business/studio?

Two reasons. First, I was working in the industry for another company and got laid off when the company shut down. I had a choice of working for someone else or going at it on my own. I come from a family of entrepreneurs and I guess you can say it’s in my blood. Secondly, I had learned a lot from that company, both good and bad. There were things I would have changed, but I couldn’t because it wasn’t mine. I hated that feeling. So my choice was made and that year, Bliss opened its doors. It’s an incredible feeling building your own company based on your vision and I’m very proud of what we’ve done so far.

What is your favorite thing about your business/studio?

This is a difficult question because I truly love all aspects of planning from meeting each couple to bringing their vision to life. I guess if I had to boil it down to one thing, it would be getting to be a part of such a remarkably intimate moment in each couple’s life. Designing and planning the pieces of a day that they will remember for the rest of their lives; it’s an honor that is too big for words.

Was there a defining moment when you knew you picked the right career path?

I knew I was on the right path when I started going on-site for the event company I last worked for. I had started off behind the scenes and enjoyed it, but the real thrill came from seeing all the planned pieces meld into one another creating this fantastic synergy. I was hooked!

When you built your business what style would you say you built it around? (i.e. classic, modern, vintage)

My business has been built around the couple, not my specific style. My background is diverse; I studied interior and industrial design and have designed many events ranging from edgy to contemporary, vintage to classic, the predictable and the unpredictable. Regardless of the couple’s chosen style, the applied fundamentals of design are always the same. We approach each couple with a very open mind.

When working with people how do you help bring the vision for the event to life?

Our underlying process is the same, but our approach varies with each couple because every couple is unique. But generally, I ask a lot (and I mean a lot) of questions. And then I listen to what’s in their answers as well as what isn’t. I’ve found you can learn a lot that way. Some couple’s know exactly what they want from the start and others only know what they don’t want.

Where do you go for inspiration? (i.e. blogs, magazines)

There isn’t really just one source. I have my favorite blogs, magazines, authors and artists but I believe that design and beauty surrounds us in everything we see each day. Often the inspiration for something comes from the most unexpected places. That’s one of the reasons why I fell in love with design many years ago.

Is there anything else you want people to know about you and your business/studio?

There’s no shortage of personality at Bliss. We love what we do and even the long days of planning, pre-production and set-up haven’t ever really felt like work. Getting married should be one of the best experiences of your life from the “Yes, I will marry you!” to the “I do.”

At Bliss we have fun. We smile. We laugh.

Photos courtesy of Anastasia Photography.

If you missed it yesterday make sure you check out Dejane and Erik’s Real South African Wedding!