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OPENING NEW LOCATION IN CHARLESTON, SC

Move Update - Point of clarification for all our clients and potential clients. We will still do weddings and portraits on a case-by-case basis even after the move. We will be flying back to do several weddings next year and hope to make a habit of return to the NW as we will be leaving a lot of very important family members and friends. The studio will remain open and operational until Summer of 2010.

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Christmas Cards and Ornaments Catalog and Order Form

Why send just a card?

Send Photo Cards, a set of 25 for only $29.99

Ornaments:

Plastic $14.99

Porcelain $19.99

1. Download PDF Catalog and Order Form

2. Select Format for Layout

3. Select Photographs

4. Fill out Order Form

5. Fax or Phone in your Order

6. Allow 4 Weeks for Delivery

Hope Haven Photography Moving to South Carolina

We will be adding South Carolina to our wedding photography destinations. We will be a bi-coastal wedding photography company. Book your wedding on either coast and still receive the excellent quality service we have become known for.

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From The Wedding Report dot com

The average cost of a wedding drops another 14% in Q2/2009

The average cost of a wedding drops another 14% from $19,212 in Q1/2009 to $16,546 in Q2/2009. Results are based on 909 survey samples of both couples and wedding vendors across the US, a 3.25% margin of error. Average cost based on weighted average demand.

Here are what other vendors are saying about the market;

“I've been in biz 32 years (own a bridal salon) and I've never seen sales plummet like they have in the last year. Biz is down 75% and it’s the same for friends who own shops across the country. It’s so scary! I don't know if I'll last through the winter because of competition.”

“Brides are spending down in ways we have never seen before. They are waiting more to the last minute to buy. They are allowing family and friends to sway their buying decisions.”

Despite the additional slide in spending, there appears to be a leveling off. Samples from July 09 surveys already show a leveling in spending of bigger ticket items, an increase in the number of guests, and an increase in demand for destination weddings. It is too early to tell, but we could be seeing a bottom.

Items that saw the largest increase in spending; transportation rentals and decorations, with increases as much as 68%. Items that saw the largest decrease in spending; jewelry, reception and ceremony accessories, with decreases as much as 52%.

Items that saw the largest increase in demand; Combined services (ceremony and reception) including music and services related to the reception, with increases as much as 180%.

Items that saw the largest decrease in demand; items related to the honeymoon and day-of-coordination, with decreases as much as 54%.

Animoto.com

Innovative Marketing Strategies for Every Photographer

Course# WA04

Denise Lee
We all know there are hundreds of photographers in the United States making fistfuls of cash. What are they doing right? Their business knowledge separates them from the pack. Marketing is one aspect of this business knowledge that improves your bottom line and brings results. Learn how to apply successful marketing techniques to increase your profits and take your studio to the next level. If you don’t already have a marketing plan, we’ll spend some time roughing one out.

Course Date:
10/26/2009

Course Hours:
9:00am-5:00pm

Items to Bring:
Business plan and marketing plan (if you have one).

Course Location:
Hope Haven Photography Studio
28822 48th Ave NW
Stanwood, WA 98292

Contact Info:
denise@hope-haven.net
800-801-8211
www.hope-haven.net

Cost - $99

Stanwood Camano News Wedding Guide

This year we had the honor of being chosen for the cover of the Stanwood Camano News Wedding Guide 2009.

Analysis of Wedding Spending Changes from 2007 to 2008

Source: The Wedding Report, Inc.

Areas of spending decline from 2007 to 2008

Wedding dress fell by 31%
Rehearsal dinner fell by 34%
Spending for a DJ fell by 6%
Bridesmaid bouquets fell by 36%
Gifts for attendants fell by 38%
Wedding invitations fell by 34%
Engagement ring fell by 30%
Photographer fell by 26%
Videographer fell by 24%
Wedding cake fell by 33%
Wedding favors fell by 9%
Reception food service fell by 53%
Limo rental fell by 24%

Some reasons for the decline in spending of these items are; Current economic state is the primary reason for decline. Food type services declined due to a decrease in the number of guests attending from 166 to 145. Lower prices offered by various vendor types also contributing.

Areas of spending increase from 2007 to 2008
Tuxedo/suit increased by 47%
Ceremony location increased by 108%
Bride bouquet increased by 1%
Brides wedding band increased by 21%
Grooms wedding band increased by 38%
Reception bar service increased by 12%
Reception location increased by 15%
Reception rentals increased by 84%

Some reasons for the increase in spending of these items are; Desire of unique locations for ceremony and reception. Same place for ceremony and reception locations caused increase in location cost and rentals. Cut back on engagement ring allowed couples to spend more on the bands. Also, increase in demand for wedding bands vs. engagement rings.

Senior Ambassador Program

Senior Ambassador Program

• Be someone special in your school! Become a Hope Haven Photography Ambassador!
  
• Look to your friends and family to help you earn a photography session of a lifetime!
  
• A Referral* is a paid booking for a Family, Child, Senior, Maternity, Engagement, Wedding, Modeling or even Corporate Headshot session.
  

  For each referral*, Ambassadors earn:
  • $100 off their discounted Autograph Portfolio, up to the full price of the album
  • 5% off their photo order, up to 35%
  

All Ambassadors qualify for extraordinary, Ambassador-Only discounts

It is all about getting you and your friends the best possible professional photography for their senior portraits. Every Ambassador qualifies for very special discounts and extra products. Each Ambassador is automatically registered to win a Laptop, Video iPod, iPod nano and even $250 cash! Ambassadors can earn a free "Autograph Portfolio" with your 10 best portraits and room for all of your friends to sign. (Regularly an $800 value!)

All Ambassadors need to have their pictures taken between January 1st, 2009 and May 1st, 2009. As an Ambassador all you need to do is show off your photos from your free session with Hope Haven Photography. All Ambassadors should be representing only Hope Haven Photography during this time, and their Senior year. Remember….you don't have to be a model to be an ambassador, all you have to be is outgoing and spread the word.

BENEFITS OF BEING AN AMBASSADOR

• You get two photos sessions for FREE

• You get to SAVE HUGE on your photos

• You can get free products and/or free gift cards

• Parents can save some serious cash off senior photos

• There is NO cap to the amount of rewards you can receive via referrals

Hope Haven offering 16 Senior Portrait Scholarships this year.

Last year we offered senior portrait scholarships and we were very pleased with reception of the idea at the high school. This year we are very happy to announce we will be offering 16 such scholarships at 8 different area high schools. We have also increased the scholarship amount from $500 to $1500 each.

2009-2010 Hope Haven Mentor Series Scholarship

High Schools Invited

Stanwood High School
Arlington High School
Marysville High School
Mount Vernon High
La Conner High School
Bellingham High School

Each school will receive 2 senior portrait scholarships, valued at almost $1500.00

Hope Haven Photography will provide, completely without any fee, the following:
Session Fee – 3 Hour Session in Studio or location off-site - Value $500
Print Package (all prints are unframed unless otherwise specified)
Proof Portfolio – Value $150
1 – 11x14 – Touched up Image and Framed – Value $400
4 – 8x10’s – Value $100
8 – 5x7’s – Value $145
DVD Slideshow of Images - $100
DVD of low res images for web and email (with permissions for facebook and myspace) – Value $50


Deadline for application – March 15, 2009
Announcement of Recipients – March 31, 2009
Deadline for Portrait Session Completion – May 17, 2009

New Generations Portrait

We have taken 4 generations from my family and 'accidentally' created a phenomenon and are now offering this to the public.

We will digitally enhance up to 8 photographs and create a uniform work of art. Each portrait will be carefully integrated with the other to create a lasting and loving piece that will last generations.

We did all this and created this for our family.

Nice Comments from fellow Vendor

A really nice comment posted on one of our referral sites from a great bakery in Monroe, WA, Tallant House. She says about Hope Haven Photography...

"Really beautiful work, from a hard working photographer. She also works as a partner with other vendors, treating them as well as a customer."

To help the 443 dogs rescued from the Mount Vernon Puppy Mill

For information on the background news story please follow this link:

http://www.kirotv.com/news/18552694/detail.html

For Immediate Release Contact: Denise Lee
Date: January 23, 2000 Phone: 800-801-8211 studio

Local business to generate money for 443 rescued puppies and dogs from Skagit County with Puppy Love event through the end of May 2009.

Denise Lee, owner of Hope Haven Photography (www.hope-haven.net), is working to raise money for the 443 dogs rescued last week in Skagit County. Until May 31, Hope Haven Photography is offering $100 mini-sessions for your pet. The entire session fee will be donated to the SPOT (Saving Pets One at a Time, http://www.savingpetsoneatatime.org/) to benefit the care of the dogs rescued.

The team at Hope Haven Photography works with each pet and their owner to create photographic fine art options to decorate clients’ homes. From digitally painted pet portraits to whimsical, bright colored backgrounds, Denise Lee and her crew have been preparing for to pamper pets during the upcoming event. “We have goodie bags for the pets and puppy chow for the adults. We are looking forward to days filled with fun and fur,” states Denise Lee, owner of Hope Haven Photography. “We hope people bring in other pets too. I am personally a horse lover.” All wall portraits from Hope Haven Photography come with archival framing, so clients go home with ready to hang artwork.

Puppy Love event is happening during now through May 31, 2009. All sessions are by appointment. Please call 800-801-8211.

Wedding Officiants

I am trying to get back to the idea of posting some (hopefully) helpful information for brides and grooms for their weddings.

This topic is about wedding officiants. While there are so many types, the church-based minister, the brother who is 'on-line ordained', the professional officiant who does this as a living, and the justice of the peace, we have actually shot them all....well not literally, just with a canon. :-)

I don't think there is a best type. I can say that your officiant will make or break your ceremony and as such is an important decision. I have stood (yes, the photographers are almost always standing) through 95+ degree weather and heard the longest and most boring stories from some officiants to the most poignant and tearfully ceremonies that make it hard for me to hold my camera still.

So for my best input - here are some things that will help you determine which type of officiant is best for you and somethings to definently ask for.

1) In trying to determine which type of officiant, ask yourself, do you have anyone currently in your life you want to share such a sigificant moment with? This could be your current pastor, minister, priest, family member, doctor, lawyer, ect. If you do not, then you will want to consider a justice of the peace or a professional officiant. The justice of the peace will perform a ceremony only at the courthouse, so if that is not your venue of choice, a professional officiant will be the best way to go.

2) Choosing your officiant can only be done in person. In my opinion, email and even phone calls can show you only a small amount of information about a person. When you meet in person, you will see how they are dressed, how they present themselves, their manners, the care for which they speak. After all, you are hiring them to speak. If your officiant is cracking rude jokes the entire time you are meeting with them, reshuffle, redeal and move on.

So here, in my humble photographers opinion, is what is helpful in an officiant:

1. Ready to take over if needed, but willing to allow you to fully customize the ceremony to your specifications. There are so many neat 'meaning filled' things to do during a ceremony, that will have to be it's own separate blog entry.

2. Great communicator, both before being booked and after. A must-do is a planning meeting, held closer to the wedding to go over all the timing and the details. Some of this can be done over email and phone calls, but there is nothing that can replace that great face-to-face chat.

3. Attending the rehearsal, I cannot believe I have to type this. But yes, we have been to one wedding where the bride and groom didn't want to pay the officiant extra to attend the rehearsal. This is not requested, this should be mandatory. BTW - we as photographers attend rehearsals as well.

4. Make sure your officiant is working from something written down. You don't want your officiant trying to remember the vows (like a Chief Justice we all know) and messing them up on you very important day.

5. Finally make certain that your officiant has a plan for signing the wedding license. This can be a beautiful photo op and if done right can even make beautiful shots for your officiants album as well.

So that's it, the best information I can think of to help you find your best officiant. I can say this, I have two very close officiants, one is my sister and one is a very very good friend.

Engagement Session

We met a fanastic couple getting married in May. They are planning their lovely wedding at Kiana Lodge near Poulsbo, WA.

Imaging USA

I am back from a terrific photography conference in Phoenix, AZ. We were there for 4 days cramming our heads full of awesome information.

I learned quite a bit but here are the highlights:
One thing that sets me apart from alot of other photographers is the fact that we were there. We continually expand our education, our skills and our mentors.

I learned a ton from Julia Woods on how to organize the workspace. Lets face it, people hire me to shoot, not have a perfect workspace, but I have lots of ideas on how to make it better.

Sarah Petty, well...if she was talking...I was there. She brings so much to the industry. I can say definitively I am making some major business changes just due to the things that she taught us.

Kevin Kubota, well what I can I say? ... as a photographer if you ever get the chance to hear this man on stage, he is totally nuts and totally awesome. He is real, he is approachable and honest. The world needs more people like this. Though why he thinks Doug Gordan is a 'rough troll' I am not sure.... :-) Twitter anyone?

We met so many neat people and were able to hook up with our compatriots from Washington....though I was very sad I missed the PPW (Professional Photographers of Washington) group photo. I was touring the huge expo and completely lost track of time.

Overall I am very thankful for all our clients without whom I would have no reaon to attend such an event. This event had made me a better person, better shooter and better business person. Thank you PPA.

Working with DJ's and MC's

My new year’s resolution is to be more active with my lovely blog and to create a source of information for brides and grooms as an insider’s point of view on all things wedding. Some issues I have a huge opinion on and others…not so much. But for what it is worth, I am going to put my two cents in. In the next few posts we will review what I know of other types of wedding vendors, the pros, cons, and the “to-do” lists.

As wedding photographers, we have worked with all types of DJ’s. We have seen DJ’s with IPods and DJ’s with such incredible systems with lights and microphones and the works. I am sure they charge the full range of fees, so this blog is NOT about what they charge, but more what they do and how they can be important to your wedding.

You will want to choose a DJ who is also your MC, because let’s face it; nobody wants Uncle Tom at the microphone all night long, right? An MC is your master of ceremonies. This is the critical person that keeps things flowing and on time. Your optimal DJ/MC will be invisible when not needed, but swiftly taking over when required. Someone who intuitively plays just the right music, really reads the crowd, participates to the right level, encouraging the revelry but finely controlling the pitch.

You should always work out a timeline (schedule of events) with your DJ/MC way ahead of time and review it several times the weeks leading up to your wedding. BTW, send a copy of this schedule to all your vendors, but don’t worry, we will have already gotten it from your DJ, or be hanging up his shorts when we arrive. J The DJ/MC can make the job of photographer and videographer a living hell or be a god send. After shooting formals, and the ceremony and the reception arrival and everyone greeting the bride and groom and the foods, ect. We are soon looking for a place to #1 check our gear, keep our gear secure and #2 rest. If we are doing either of these two things and all of sudden the caterer appears out of nowhere and wants to cut the cake so that they can wrap up and leave. Where is your photographer and videographer? The excellent DJ/MC will verify it is the right time for this event and intercede with the caterer if required to correct the timeline, if it is the right timeline your excellent DJ/MC will notify the photography crew if nothing else than by an announcement over their speakers, which we always listen for. The average DJ/MC will look around for the bride and groom and play the right music. The poor DJ/MC will not even get the music right because this event has caught him/her off guard. As important as we photographers feel we are, it is the DJ/MC that will set the tone, prevent disasters and help guide yours guests and other vendors as you enjoy your wonderful lovely special day.

We have been asked if the lights that some entertainment professionals bring will interfere with the photographs. All I can say is that if ANYTHING is interfering with my photographs I will professional ask the DJ/MC or the interfering party to remove/desist the interference. I have never been bothered by the lights provided. I work diligently to include this lighting and to show it to its finest, as it is capturing the overall ambiance of the party.

We have several vendors that we love to work with and they have never let us down. Please feel free to browse our recommended vendor’s page on our website for more information.

So our Hope Haven Top 5 things to do with a DJ:

1. Interview your DJ in person and spend a bit of time with them. Get to see their personality. Ask him/her to play your special song. How long does it take him/her to find it? Does he have it? Where is his music stored and how can he access it? Is he organized? What will he wear at your wedding? Is he/her the actual one going to DJ/MC your wedding? Does he have microphones, are they wireless? Can he record the audio of the ceremony?

2. Check references. At least talk to other wedding vendors and see what they know of the vendor in question. Professionally we don’t say things bad about other vendors, so if your referral person cannot comment that is not a good sign. If they go on and on about how great a vendor is, that’s your green light. Venues almost always know the good DJ’s they are usually a great source of information.

3. Work out your timeline way ahead of time, copy your other vendors and review this timeline in the weeks prior to the wedding.

4. Verify that your DJ does in fact have insurance. If someone invited to your wedding trips on his cords, are they suing you?

5. Let your DJ/MC know exactly what type of facility you have selected, how many tables, how much space, dance floor, power sources, ect. Most DJ’s will find this out for themselves, but it will help build the relationship and understanding if you already have some information.

6. Give your DJ/MC a list of the names and contact information for all your other vendors.

7. Negotiate with a DJ/MC as you would for anything in your wedding, but keep in mind the good ones have good equipment and a higher price. Remember, you get what you pay for. I would so much rather see a bride and groom skimp on flowers and hire an amazing DJ/MC who will know exactly how to build this amazing memory for you.

8. Include the DJ/MC in your meal count for your caterer. These events usually take place during dinner hours and can be very difficult on the constitution. A happy DJ is a well fed DJ.

9. Talk with your DJ/MC about any guidelines or special circumstances. They need to be aware if any of your guest might have a seizure disorder if using lights. Situations like this can be controlled and problems averted with communication.

10. The Biggest and the Best – be sure you have someone from your wedding party assigned to greet the DJ at the venue and help out with any parking situations, tables, outlets, ect. This should not be your worry and you don’t need to have the DJ/MC tracking you down.