It's time for another giveaway! Maybe you still don't have a wedding album {sadly, I'm included and it's been 12 1/2 years since my wedding} or maybe you're getting married soon. Either way, today's giveaway is one you do not want to miss entering. Star Wedding Albums knows how hard it is to get a quality made album after your wedding day. They have a skilled team of album designers ready to design your wedding album from start to finish. You simply send them your photos and they take care of the rest. Their high quality albums are available in Genuine Leather, Hardcover or Metal album covers and are made with thick lay-flat pages and backed with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. And, guess what? Star Wedding Albums is awarding one Grand Prize Winner a $600 Wedding Album and 10 other lucky winners will receive a $300 coupon towards their very own album.

Giveaway - Star Wedding Albums

If you are looking for the perfect photographer for your engagement or wedding {or any other special event}, you will definitely want to take a look at Photographer Central. This comprehensive online directory of professional photographers provides a resource tool for both brides and photographers. For brides it simplifies the process by providing them with the complete visual profile that is needed to make a decision. For photographers, it provides the marketing support so they can focus on the art of photography.

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At Photographer Central, you can quickly find the photographers you want to consider according to their location, budget and preferred style with the clean and informative interface along with their portfolio. Want to save your "possible" photographers? This is easy because you can save your "Favorites" into a group that can be easily accessed at a later time. From there, you can compare, contrast and immediately contact the photographer that's right for you.

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Using Photographer Central's search is totally free and doesn't even require registration. Head on over to www.photographercentral.com and you can start finding the photographer for your next special occasion today.

Happy Monday. Today I have a fun article courtesy of SmugMug {the leading website for storing and sharing photo. With the height of wedding season right around corner, brides across the country are planning every last detail of the big day – from the favors and signature cocktail to the DJ playlist and, of course, photography shot list. SmugMug has pulled together its resources to compile the must-have photography list of the 2014 wedding season. Taking the traditional photos up a notch (or two), SmugMug offers brides-to-be a new take on bridal favorites, from artsy ring shots to aerial first dances.

1. Get Creative with the Ring Shot

We’ve seen plenty of rings nestled in a bouquet of flowers or resting on the heel of a Jimmy Choo shoe, but it’s time to get creative with your left hand’s best accessory. Whether incorporating your favorite pastime (eating) by wrapping rings around a fork and knife or taking the artsy "plunge" by dropping them in water, ask your photographer for new ways to show off the bling.

Great ring shot of the bride's wedding ring and engagement ring inside the groom's wedding band | photo by Courtney Whitehurst Photography www.courtneywhitehurstphotography.zenfolio.com

Fun wedding ring shot - balanced on red velvet heels with bling bows | photo by Courtney Whitehurst Photography www.courtneywhitehurstphotography.zenfolio.com

Cute ring shot on a pumpkin stem | by Bill Fraser Through The Lens Studio www.ttlsphoto.com

Sweet little shot of the wedding rings on the turtles necks of a trinket box | by Jenz Pix www.psquarestudios.com

2. Have Fun with Backgrounds

The requisite bridal party group shot typically includes a lot of “oohs,” “ahhs” and funny faces. Amp up the action with Photoshop {or just the regular real-life photo} to create a personalized and memorable photograph – because nothing says “best day of my life” quite like a Tyrannosaurus Rex or AT-AT from Star Wars chasing the bridal party. And, don't forget about the bridal portraits too being unique.

Unexpected characters joining the bride and groom and their wedding attendants | by Bill Fraser Through The Lens Studio www.ttlsphoto.com

Unexpected wandering horses behind the bride | by Courtney Whitehurst Photography www.courtneywhitehurstphotography.zenfolio.com

3. Bring the Generations Together

Celebrate the love that came before you by incorporating your family’s wedded bliss into your photography. A group shot of you, your mother and grandmother is always a keepsake, but you can up the sentimental value by taking a picture of three generations of wedding rings or holding photographs of your parents on their wedding day.

Bright and colorful generation wedding photo | by VeroLuce Photography www.verolucephotography.com

4. Capture the Landscape

Couples are always on the lookout for that one photograph that will be the centerpiece of their home. A dramatic landscape shot allows your photographer to capture the natural beauty of your wedding location, while still capturing the sheer happiness of you and your new spouse on the big day - neither of which you’ll want to forget.

Beautiful photo of the bride and groom among the trees | by VeroLuce Photography www.verolucephotography.com

5. Change Your Perspective

To capture your wedding day from an entirely new perspective, ask your photographer to go “above" and beyond and take aerial shots of important moments, like the first dance, cake cutting or the entire wedding ceremony setup.

Spectacular birds eye view of the wedding ceremony | by VeroLuce Photography www.verolucephotography.com

Such a sweet photo of the groom in the background watching his bride dance with her dad | by Courtney Whitehurst Photography www.courtneywhitehurstphotography.zenfolio.com

Beautiful aerial photo of the wedding guests watching the bride and groom exit the doors | by VeroLuce Photography www.verolucephotography.com

Sweet moment captured with the bride and groom in focus as their background fades away | by Bill Fraser Through The Lens Studio www.ttlsphoto.com

Thank you to the following photographers for submitting their photos for inclusion in this SmugMug article . . . Courtney Whitehurst Photography, Vero Luce Photography, Bill Fraser with Through The Lens Studio, and Jenz Pix

I have something totally unexpected to share with you today. Brazilian wedding photographers Grasi Favoreto and Dani Correa recently moved to the US and are creating wedding images that move. This technique is so amazing and gives couples a dream come true . . . the sensation of having a special piece of a moment alive and moving in a never ending way. It's fun . . . creative . . . and artistic. Below are just two examples of their photo creations in motion . . . you can see more at Love + Gifology from Rocker in Love.

These moving photos are created by mixing photo and film in one image, isolating static and moving elements before mending them smoothly together with a loop. These images can be used by couples on their personal wedding blogs and even shared on social media like Twitter, Instagram, G+, Pinterest and Tumblr. They're also the perfect photos for digital save the dates and they can even be used in digital portrait displays at home.

this post contains several affiliate links to companies I am proud to partner with

Today has been a jam packed day of wedding tips and trends from both the east and west coasts. First up this morning, were the wedding tips from NYC vendors at the Wedding Bootcamp that I attended. And, earlier today, I also posted five tips for selecting your reception venue. And, lastly, while I couldn't attend the recent Wedding Bootcamp in LA, The Wedding Salon was kind enough to send over some photos and wedding tips that the vendors on the west coast shared with brides and grooms at Hansen's Cakes.

Tiffany Photography advised brides on how to get the most for your money by focusing on quality versus quantity

Hansen's Cakes displayed their amazing buttercream-frosted cakes revealing that buttercream creations can surpass fondant any day

R-Mine Bridal showcased their gorgeous gowns and shared how to find the one that suits your style, figure and budget. They also showcased a fabulous trend – belted gowns with crystal embellishments

Lanalia offered tips on how to find the perfect pair of shoes to compliment your dress and keep you from resorting to flip flops at the end of the night

The complete list of wedding vendors for the LA Wedding Bootcamp included:
Hansen's Cakes, Tiffany Photography, The Dressing Room Diva, Envelopments, Eventures Inc, Focus Photography, Lanalia, Tasty Sounds Entertainment, The Resort at Pelican Hill, R-Mine Bridal, Kona Village