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%.

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.

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

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.

Wedding Packages and Prices

Just click on the image for a full size listing of our packages as well as a special discount offer.

NEW - We now accept monthly payments !!!

Season of Seniors

I so love the season of senior portraits. Getting to know these young people on the brink of theirs lives as adults is awesome. Here is just small sampling of the beauty captured this year.

Why no one else can photograph during the formal sessions?

I have a rule, or a very strong request during the photography of the formal poses. No one can shoot, except me.

Very often at weddings while I am making formal portrait photographs of groups of people, their friends or family want to stand next to me to try and get the same photo I am taking. This is not allowed for several reasons.

First, I am usually on a tight schedule as these photos are often taken just before the wedding ceremony is scheduled to begin and it is hard to stop and explain why I do not want them around with their cameras.

Some people have told me they think it is because I am afraid of losing revenue from print sales or that I am feeling jealous. It is not that. However, I did study with masters to be able to pose the groups in a certain way and achieve a brandable look for our company. It would be considered stealing to photograph someone elses work of art and that is what I consider our formals to be.

We often also use studio lights for formals, other flashes will interfere with these lights.

However the number 1 reason is I want everyone in my photo to be looking in the same direction. I illustrate this below.