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Evolve Images Shares Tips on Choosing a Photographer to Fit Your Style (click on above link to view featured post with photos)

I heard a story the other day that I would like to share. A chef/owner of a restaurant met this well-known photographer. He saw his work and commented, “Wow, your photographs are amazing! You must have a GREAT camera.” He continued to say, “You should come down to my restaurant and take some photos and enjoy my food while you are there.” So the photographer took him up on the offer. After the photographer had his meal, the chef came out and asked him how everything tasted. The photographer said, “The food was amazing! You must have a GREAT stove.”

I own a stove, but I can’t claim I am a chef…although I do love to bake! But just because I know how to operate the stove and can accomplish meals without burning the food, doesn’t mean I would open up a restaurant. The point is, just because someone has a camera doesn’t mean they are a photographer and it takes more than just a good camera to get GREAT photos!

I am in no way saying that I am the photographer for everyone, because every photographer has his or her own style. What I am saying is that, if you haven’t, you should seriously consider hiring a professional and one that matches your style. Photography is an art.

So how do you know if your photographer matches your style? Before you look at hiring a photographer, view different wedding photos online to see what you like. What attracts you to each photo? What style of photography do you prefer? Once you figure that out, seek out photographers in your area that have a similar shooting and editing style. Don’t expect whomever you hire to be able to match your style.

You also want a photographer that will capture your personality, so make sure you feel comfortable with whoever you hire. You have to like, trust, and get a long with your photographer. Unless you hire a wedding planner, your photographer is the one professional you will spend the most time with before and on your wedding day.

So how do you know if your photographer is a professional and specializes in weddings? Ask them how long they have been a photographer and specifically how long they have been shooting weddings. Covering a wedding is completely different than shooting a family photo. There are so many details during a wedding day that need to be captured and it takes experience to know what to expect.  Are they comfortable in any lighting?  Indoor or outdoor?  A professional is versatile and can take photos in any type of lighting.  Ask the photographer you are considering on hiring to see a wedding album (which should consist of at least 100 photos from one wedding) so you can see what a full wedding of theirs looks like.  Read reviews of the photographer you plan on hiring.  You can find reviews on Facebook, Google, or websites like WeddingWire.com or TheKnot.com, if they have a listing.

Hiring a professional is worth it!  If you choose a photographer based only on price, you may have expectations that the photographer cannot meet.  Expectations that can’t be met might be anything from personalized service to high quality photos.  After all it’s your wedding day, it’s not like your photos or your experience with your photographer can be “re-done”.  

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Evolve Images had the opportunity to have a 2013 wedding featured in Rocky Mountain Bride.  Click here for the digital copy of Rocky Mountain Bride Montana Winter 2014 Issue!

There was also a one page Professional Profile featured, which I absolutely love because the questions they asked really gives the reader an idea of who I am and how I work!

I am so grateful and EXCITED for this awesome opportunity and want to say thank you to everyone who helped me get to where I am now.  THANK YOU!

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AARON AND HEIDI SAY "I DO" IN LAUREL, MT

So you are probably wondering where in Laurel, this great couple got hitched....well, Heidi's dad's backyard!  Isn't it beautiful!?  It was a small wedding, but just perfect.  Everything about it totally showed their personality and style!  Simple, fun, and unique!

The girls got ready at the Ritzz Salon, while the guys got ready at the house.  Someone in the family designed the flower bouquets and she did a great job!  And how about that cake!  A shout out to Laurel IGA for a great job!

One story from the day I have to share.....Aaron waited until right before the first dance to choose the song they were going to dance to (at least that's the impression I got, maybe he had it picked out, but didn't tell Heidi).  Anyway, so the song comes on and you here....

"Good afternoon everyone we're flying at 26,000 feet moving up to 30,000 feet and we've got clear skies all the way to Las Vegas. And right now we're bringing you some in-flight entertainment one of our first class passengers would like to sing you a song inspired by one of our coach passengers. And seeming as we let our first class passengers do pretty much whatever they want here he is ....."

If you don't know what song this is, go watch "The Wedding Singer".  The song is "I Wanna Grow Old with You".  It was fun watching Heidi and Aaron dance and laugh!  And even though the song sounds goofy, it is so true!  All the things you do for the one you love.....like letting them hold the remote control.  We are so glad Heidi and Aaron let us be part of their day!

All photos are copyrighted by Evolve Images, LLC.  Please be respectful of our hard work.

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Who doesn't love Dr. Seuss?

My baby is 6 months tomorrow!  I am so grateful for him and the happiness he brings into our lives!  I don't share a lot of personal photos, but I thought these ones were worth showing off.  I have been taking photos once a month for his scrapbook and writing a journal entry to go with them.  As a photographer it is hard not to take photos of him all the time, but I also know I couldn't possibly do anything with a million photos....so I simply make the best of what I do take.

We don't know what color of eyes he will have, yet.  They are not blue and they are not brown....maybe we will get the first green eyed baby on my side of the family?

He truly does make my heart smile!  And I love it when my husband reads to him!

---Kristal

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MORGAN AND OWEN TIE THE KNOT AT CHANCEY'S EVENT CENTER

We are so lucky to be able to work with couples like Morgan and Owen.  We enjoyed being able to capture every detail of their wedding day.  They decided to get married at Chancey’s Event Center here in Billings, Montana on July 20, 2013.  Such a great venue with lots of options to choose from for photos.  Cari had the chance to do a fun fishing-themed engagement with the two of them, so we just knew they would have a great fishing/outdoor themed wedding!  Owen had even proposed on their yearly fishing trip.  Being part of a wedding like this, reminds us of why we love capturing lifetime memories.

The girls got their hair done at Blown Away Salon and finished up at Chancey’s.  The guys had to settle for doing their own hair…the bride always has all the fun! (Just teasing)  They opted to do a sneak peak before photos; it is so great to capture the first time a groom sees his bride in her wedding dress.

The great flowers can be credited to DeeLynn Designs.  We have had a few weddings that used them this summer and have been impressed.  

They had great details that personalized their wedding.  A great demonstration of using decorations that you can continue to use in or around your home.  They even had a fishing pole to carry the rings on…..awesome! 

Dancing Oven Bakery designed the cake and it looked delicious; unfortunately we didn’t get to try it.  Prince Party Productions did an awesome job of getting people out on the dance floor too! Love, love the photo of Morgan and her dad dancing!  Such a beautiful summer day and we loved working with everyone in the wedding party! 

Congrats to both of you and remember to cherish those small (but great) moments in life!

All photos are copyrighted by Evolve Images, LLC.  Please be respectful of our hard work.

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So I was able to take photos of my beautiful mom when she was down visiting last month!  We just drove down the alley ways of downtown Billings, Montana, until we found what we wanted for our backdrop.  Our goal was to capture some photos that she can use for her wall in her "music room".  She has a photo of my baby boy on a guitar at 3 days old, that I took, and we just felt like she needed some more fun photos in that room.

We started with the top idea and once we got what we wanted, we had fun with some other shots.  My mom is such an awesome musician.  She has been playing since she was a little girl.  She has a lot more talent than she claims!

Here's to pursuing your dreams! 

"All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them." --Walt Disney

--Kristal

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I have been privileged to know Meg for several years!  We have known each other since childhood softball.  There were a few years in between that we lost touch, so you can imagine that I was absolutely thrilled when she asked us to photograph her wedding. 

Meg was and is one of the most determined and thriving individuals I have ever known.  So....I was not at the least bit surprised when I met her fiance, Tom, to find he was the same.  I was able to learn of their story together on our fabulous engagement session....NO MATTER WHAT TOM SAYS! :) For the record, I am not THAT crazy!!! 

Tom met Meg one fall evening with ice flowing through the breeze, letting us know that Jack Frost was right around the corner.  A night just like any other, or so she thought, she went downtown to meet and greet a girl-friend.  And as she stood outside with the breeze blowing in her face with the intention to return home, she was greeted by a very lively spunky pup only to become aware of the man on the other end.  Was it that this pup knew something they didn't?  Maybe.  The tall slender,  blond haired blue eyed man at the other end may have asked himself the very same thing?  A week later he asked her to join him on a night just the two of them.  And...well, it was the beginning of forever.  It was the story tale beginning and ending that every girl only dreams about all of her adolescent years!

A little bit about the wedding day....they chose to get married at Chancey's Event Center.  It was such a nice summer day and everybody was wonderful.  Megan had a friend do her bouquet...all silk flowers!  It turned out beautiful!  She had Chip at IGA do her girls' flowers, check him out if you are planning a wedding; a lot of our bride's use him.  Megan and Tom gave handkerchiefs, with special messages (I believe Megan made them herself) on them, to close family members.  Megan thought of so many details, from giving her bridesmaids gifts to cute outfits for the flower girls and ring bearers.  They ended the night with sky lanterns, sparklers, and partying the night away!

I could have never met a better match for my good ole' friend!  And, this is a story that keeps chivalry alive!  It was such an absolute pleasure to meet Tom and his family.  So respectful and patient!!!!  I wish the two so much happiness from this day until the end of their days!

Congrats to Tom and Meg,

xoxo

Cari

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So I had to share some photos of the awesome frames I got to hang up in our living room on Sunday!  We get our frames from The Organic Bloom for our clients and I just had to have a set of my own.  Plus, now I have a little one to show off!  He is sitting in my lap right now, asleep.  He is so cute.  He loves mornings.  Once he has eaten, he just giggles and talks while I get ready for the day.  Sometimes he talks himself to sleep.  Having a new little one has changed everything in my life.  I have had to get use to a new schedule and that isn't easy.  It is all the little things, like watching him laugh that makes it all worth it.

I'll say it again, I just love these frames!

                                                                                  ----Kristal

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Ron and Jen got married June 22, 2013 at Half Moon Ranch near Lewistown, Montana. 

We had a little adventure on our way out there.  Once we got past Lewistown, the road was paved for a few miles and then it turned into gravel and then it turned into a "mountain rocky" road.  It had rained some and it was muddy and there were rocks that my car was not liking.  So Cari was hesitant to drive my car through all of this and I told her to not slow down for the mud or else we would get stuck in my little Honda Civic. (Yes, I know, we should have taken something else, but we didn't realize what we were in for.)  So we switch places and I start driving because at this point my car sounds like it has a ton of gravel stuck to it (after going through the mud), but it doesn't let up and I am thinking there must be something wrong.  So we get out of the car and I look underneath the front end and my front end plastic guard is dragging on the ground!  So I pull it off, while trying not to get my clothes all muddy and stuff it into the trunk!  Pretty soon here comes Ron and his groomsmen, driving down the road behind us.  Not sure what he was thinking about us at this point.....but I know the day before he had told the whole wedding party that the photographers were CRAZY!  When Jen told us this, we just laughed and asked her what exactly that meant.  Still not sure.  But I told Cari that I am pretty sure he meant she was crazy and some how I got labeled by default.

Anyway, on the wedding day, usually nothing goes as planned and the weather proved that.  It rained pretty hard around the time we were suppose to start outdoor photos.  But by the time we were actually ready to start photos with Ron and Jen, the rain had stopped and the sun came out!  Even though things don't go as planned, some how they seem to work out.  The weather behaved the rest of the day!

Ron was patient with us and let us get some awesome photos of him with his beautiful bride!  We learned a few months ago, when we did their engagement session, that Ron was not really excited about us taking photos of him.  You would never guess from the photos.

Jen did such a beautiful job with decorations and details!  It was a true country-mountain wedding, with boots, burlap, and also jam as a gift for the guests--yep I grabbed one!

Ron's mom put together the girls' bouquets and a friend of the couple did a great job on their cake!

Congrats Ron and Jen!  So glad we were able to be there to capture this beautiful day!

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We had the opportunity to capture Kasey & Vicky's wedding day on June 15, 2013.  The ceremony took place at Tendernest Assisted Living in Billings, Montana.  The day was perfect!  Awesome weather, great wedding party, and lots of very personal touches from Grandparents' rings on the bride's bouquet to a special handkerchief for Vicky's father to a ceremony alter with candles for close ones that had passed away.

It was a traditional wedding where the bride and groom didn't see each other before the ceremony.  Kasey & Vicky were great to work with and we enjoyed capturing their wedding day!  The day went by fast but not without capturing the unique details.

A Billings florist, DeeLynn Designs, did a wonderful job on the flowers. The reception was held at The Elks Lodge on Lewis Ave here in Billings, MT.  They had the reception room decorated so beautifully, especially with the beautiful touches the couple (most likely the bride) added.  We all know the bride does most of the planning!  The groom did get a race car groom's cake, what a lucky man!

Congrats again to Kasey & Vicky!

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Cari traveled out to Chicago in May of this year to do an engagement session with Stephanie Jensen and Garret Wagner.  She took a lot of fun shots with these two.  As the day proceeded I learned more about them as a couple.  Their story follows:

Cari's friend Garret was relocated to Chicago for work almost a year ago.   Worried about the long distance relationship, Steph decided to make the journey with him.  Just before she was to leave to join him, Garret surprised her with a ring over Christmas!!!  He requested a time to meet with her father to do things the "right" way.  He sat waiting in a bar until her dad arrived.  Confused by Garret sitting in front of him at this bar (Where he thought he was to meet his "little brother") he approached him and greeted him.  Garret, thinking that he knew he was to meet him, began to become confused also, as he kept looking past him scanning the room for someone else?  Finally, after 30 awkward moments, her dad realized that it was Garret who he was actually supposed to be meeting with!!!!  Garret then asked for the permission for the love of his life's hand in marriage.

Cari was fortunate enough to be included in their process of their betrothal.  She traveled out to Chicago to check out their new stomping grounds.  There was an over whelming amount of people every where you looked, but so many beautiful places to see also.  Some of the above shots where taken in their favorite places, such as the Chicago Zoo!  We also visited the infamous Bean, as well as the well known Navy Pier.  It was a lot of fun to shoot these two, as they are jokesters and have so much great chemistry together.  We, Kristal and Cari, will look forward to their big day, which will take place in Billings, Montana in 2014.  Congratulations!

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Our engagement session with Aaron and Heidi was lots of fun!  We love the photos of them and had to share more of them!  Aaron and Heidi were so much fun to take photos of and we can't wait for their August wedding.  They are such a cute couple!

Here is the video of the session: Aaron and Heidi.

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We were at the "105.9 Wedding Fair 2013--I Thee Wed".  We enjoyed being there, along with a lot of other vendors.  For those who didn't see our booth, here are the photos.  Cari took the pics.  Can you spot her lovely breakfast?  Here ya go!