heike moellers photography's hotspot

Hi, I'm Heike. Celebrator of life & love! With natural, emotional & cheerful photographs!

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Moving!!!

Dear Followers, my tumbler feed will close at the end of December. If you want to stay tuned, just sign up for my newsletter and receive fresh content into your mail box! Sign up here: http://eepurl.com/bBCJKP Thanks so much! Warmly, Heike

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THANK YOU LIEBEVOLL AUERMÜHLE

 Thank you to the team of liebevoll! at the Auermühle and the future wedding couples who visited my booth.

 It was a wonderful little wedding fair last Saturday in Ratingen.

The get-together of suppliers, who know the liebevoll! pretty well and the wedding couples, who are going to get married at the liebevoll! was accompanied by tasty beverage from the venue.

I’ve had a lot of great conversations and I hope that I was helpful for the brides and grooms to be. It is not all about photography; it is also about helping them to find their way to the wedding they dream including photography they dream of.

 So, may be I will see some of you again! I would love to!

 Let me know if I can help you…

 On Wednesday I will talk about pros and cons of a winter wedding!

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Leaving comfort zone! ------------------------------ We all have our comfort zone we don’t mean to leave because everything’s perfect. Really, or do we just don’t want to leave it because of fears and uncertainty. My little story starts years, years ago. I was always a little jealous of girls who have horses and love riding. I like horses, but also have my problems with such a big animal. I had fears all my life and my riding experiences were awful – falling down, going through horses and so on. But this year I get in contact with equine photographers. Their pictures were so lovely and the girls looked so happy beside their horses on the pictures. So the wish to find out what’s it all about to ride a horse grew. Last week I took my first riding lesson on Ibiza! And I loved it. My horse named “Boy” was old and slowly. Just the right one for me to give horse riding a try. It was so amazing how I changed my habits during one lesson. The teacher was saying at the beginning “Oh, you are really nervous. The horse feels it!” And when I should lay my body down on the horse’s neck, I couldn’t do so. At the end I could! I had no fear anymore. And I had so much fun! It was only the riding itself, it was also the joy about doing something new, overcoming fears and leaving my comfort zone! Everybody has own struggles with something and we avoid facing them normally. Life is so much easier not to think about it. But life is so much more liveable to face them sometimes and try something new! Leaving comfort zone! To try something new means to take also another point of view. Maybe changing opinion and find joy on places you never imagined. Life is to short to stick were you are. Celebrating life means also to challenge you from time to time! What are doing to leave your comfort zone?

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It’s all about the detail.

 I love to decorate my office with flowers and little stuff I brought from my journeys. My eye is on the details. And I love to photograph them.

 And your eye should also be on the details of your wedding decoration. No matter if you work with a planner, stylist or just on your own. Little details make your wedding unique and personal. Bring in your personality with little items or beloved flowers. Maybe you create a personal wedding batch or you illuminate your venue just with candles…

 And you don’t need be a super creative person to get great details to your wedding.

Just little things can make a difference. Flowers and candles let your wedding reception and dinner shine.  I love the details on the table and on the candy bar.

 The opportunities are endless. You have to choose what you want.

 Don’t get lost in the inspiration universe of pinterest, where you can find more than you can bare.

When you are searching for your vendors you will see a lot of different styles and inspirations. Talk to the people you want to make your dream come true about their suggestions. They have so much experience, that they can help you to realise your visions or help you to define it.

 Talk to our florists what kinds of flowers are available at the time of year for your centrepiece and bouquet. Ask your venue what the light’s all about in the evening.

 Last tip: If you are not the “Do-It-Yourself”-person don’t start it for your wedding. You will get frustrated and stressed. Go to dawanda and see what others have prepared with hands for you all ready!

Want to know where you can meet next Saturday!

Have I this blog on Wednesday!

Warmly, Heike

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Time is on my mind! And on yours?

When I was younger I was a chaotic, little girl. I was my mum’s nightmare. I never wanted to tidy up my room or to put away my cleaned clothes into my clothed.

I was not very organised at all! But my mum was and still is and somehow I inherited it from her when I got older. Maybe it is because of my profession, where you need to be very organised… For me as a wedding photographer a good organisation of the wedding day is very important, because I need to know upfront, what will happen when. And beside the time line of your wedding day I will write the photography time line for the day. What’s that? It is a time schedule where you can see which photographs will be taken when and where. So, for me and also for your witnesses and maybe videographer a time line is necessary. And today I want to give some more information’s about it, what to include and how to write it.

When you have finished all of your planning and you are clear about everything with every vendor it is the time to write the time schedule. You start with the waking up und you end with the last dance.

First write down the most important times of day for you, like starting with the getting ready, drive to church, ceremony, congratulations, champagne toast, registry, cutting the cake, dinner, speeches, throw of the bouquet, first dance, musical act.

This is the main time line for the bride and the groom. At the beginning of the day the timelines can be deviant, because you are not together. When you have this main time line, you need to write down every little detail: when the cake will be delivered, who will pick up the flowers at what time, when will be the makeup artist at your place, who will be with you at the getting ready, when you need to get in you dress, when is the photographer starting, when is the DJ starting, when will be some other acts like illustrator and saxophonist and so on.

And of cause you need to write down the time for the group shots. Everybody, who is involved in your wedding day, needs to be in your time schedule.

For the calculation of the time schedule it is important to be realistic. You will know from the makeup trial how long it will take. For everything else it is my advice to add almost 15min to every part. 

And the more guests you have, the longer it will take to get all together from church to the reception for example or till everybody have a seat for dinner.

And please give the time schedule to your witnesses or another good friend to keep an eye on the time of day. It is not your part as a wedding couple to organise on your wedding day. 

You organise before, but on the day itself, somebody else needs to do it. You only have to enjoy every single minute and celebrate your love with family and friends!

I hope this was helpful.

If you don't want to miss a post, sign up for my newsletter on my website! Don't miss my next post about decoration by your own on monday.

Warmly, Heike

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Just engaged? Starting your planning! Set your priority!

 You’ve set your wedding date, you booked you location and you are working on your invitation list that means you have started the planning of your wedding day.

 Getting married means more than just saying yes. You have your own vision of your big, special day. But you need help to make this dream come alive.

 To get your planning organised, you should make notes about what you think you should need and where your priorities are. When you have chosen your location already you know what style you want: barn wedding, garden wedding, chateau wedding or industrial? The next step is to get your vendor together.

Write down the different vendors you need: flowers, rings, candy bar, DJ, photographer, bridal dress, grooms suit, stationary, the cake and so on…

 Your wedding is not an ordinary event like a business party. It’s one of the most special, intimate days of your life. That’s why you should take care of the choice of your vendors.

First start with a little internet research or ask friends and family, if they know someone.

Take a look at their websites. Do they show samples in the style you like? Do they have a blog? Do they have special offers, like sign ups or something? That’s a good sign that they want to connect with their clients.

Don’t choose to many vendors of one category to contact or meat in person, because your time is rare. Three is almost the maximum.

 In a personal conversation you can get to know the person behind the website. That’s important. And its very important for businesses like DJ, free preach and photographer. These persons are around you on your big day.

 Make a little list what you want to ask. There are a lot of lists out there on wedding blogs and magazines, but I think, it’s better to write down you own, personal questions.

Because only you know what’s really important to you.

 One good sign for a vendor who will take care of you and your wedding with passion is that she/he will listen to you and your vision. And not talking all over hers/his great business!

 This part – the organisation of your wedding vendors – is the most time taking and important one. You should start with the searching of your “weeding team” as soon as you know your date! Because then you have the biggest choice of vendors.

 To organise all different quotations and conditions, I recommend a big notebook where you can write down the single topics of each category and compare more easily.

 I know your budged is not infinite. So get clear of the importance of every part.

What is most important to you? The dress, the dinner or photography!

Maybe some parts can be organised with friends and family – others not?

 You have to feel confident with the planning of your wedding day. It is the celebration of your love.

 If you feel overwhelmed, reach out for help – witnesses, friends or a professional wedding planner. Sometimes it’s better to let your wedding be planed, because you don’t have the time for it or you don`t want the stress before.

On Friday I talk about what to consider for your time schedule!

 And in between I can recommend a powerful blog post about budgeting of my lovely  

Collegue Cat Hepple from the UK:  

http://www.lightofathousandstars.co.uk/2015/11/youre-paying-how-much-for-wedding-photography/

I hope this was helpful!

Warmly,

Heike

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Dreams can come true

First of all a big THANK YOU to all of you who visited me at my booth on the WHITE Düsseldorf last Sunday! Actually I haven’t got the time to talk to every visitor at my booth in person because I was one of the organisers from the WHITE. Running around was my main part on Sunday ;-) But I hope my friend Ulrike took good care of you, when I was not there. And maybe you also took a ride in my original London Cab with my friend Astrid as your driver. A huge thank you to my girls, too!

 I am wedding photographer who likes to take care of all organisation stuff – my own business, private stuff and I also like to help others. Maybe that’s why I was asked to help with the organisation of such a big event like the WHITE.

 A dream came true with this little, exquisite wedding fair. Over month and especially the last weeks we worked almost everyday on the creation of this fair. My main part was to coordinate all exhibitors and to take care of the guests who booked a VIP ticket upfront.

 On the last two days before we build up the three different weeding worlds and helped the exhibitors to set up their booths. The former empty hall became the wedding fair as we imagined it.

To work together with great wedding vendors, to see an idea came alive and to talk to the guests who had fun on the WHITE was the best thing on it. The power of positive energy is so amazing. I couldn’t stop smiling the whole day.

 When great things happen to me I want to share it. So, that’s why I want to share it with you.

And I want to share my happiness with a little extra for you:

On wedding report bookings (8h and more) till the 15th of November I will give you a unique discount of 5% on the sum!!! Don’t miss your chance! The code is: WHITE5%

I am looking forward hearing from your expierence on the WHITE?

 Don’t miss my next post with helpful tipps about planning your wedding by your own.

 Warmly,

Heike

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One night no sleep!

Still one day/night left till my new website will be launched!!

AAHH! I will find no sleep and I will hope the technique will work tomorrow!

 There is still one day left for you to join my contest on Facebook to win one of my brand new magazines “Heike’s Wedding Photography Guide”.

Just flip over and take part!

I will announce the winner tomorrow at 6pm contemporaneous to the launch!

Get ready for tomorrows launching party!!

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MEET ME!

Last year I’ve been visiting the wedding exhibition WHITE Düsseldorf. The exhibition took place the first time and showed up with a brand new concept. Not only the vendors represented themselves on their booth. Also all together created different wedding worlds under the guidance of Nikola in’t Zandt from Perfect Wedding.

It looked fantastic. And I really liked the atmosphere.

So I said to Nikola; I want to be on your exhibition next year.

Said and done!

I represent my self under my new brand “Heike Moellers Photography” the first time on an exhibition.

And I am not just representing my self on the fair I am also involved into the organisation of this exhibition.

 It was my part to take care of the vendors from the first day on.

 And now we are in the last sprint towards the opening of this special wedding exhibition on the 25th of October in the Historische Backfabrik  in Düsseldorf, Ronsdorfer Str. 77a

 Come over and have a look at the inspirational wedding worlds and the fantastic vendors!

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Kicking off the Countdown for my REBRAND & LAUNCH of my new website on 15th of October!

I represent my first and fresh magazine ”Heike’s Wedding Photography Guide” with helpful tips & hints for your upcoming wedding, your choice for the right photographer and for your schedule for great photographs.

You can win my magazine in German or English language by posting your wedding date and location as a comment below, liking my facebook site and signing up for my newsletter here.

I will pick the winner on the 15th of October at 6pm!

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Answer me!

Do you have a lot of private letters in your physical mailbox?

No! Me not, too! Only bills actually.

So, the best thing on sending out you invitation is to receive all the answers of your guests. And to make it as much easy as you can, you send an “answering card” with your invitation.

Just think about your guests are as busy as you and to keep it simple, just let them tick the box “Yes I will join your wedding” and send the card back to you. Everything nice prepared with a stamp and you address.

And hooray, your mailbox is full of private letters!!! Great!

Your wedding invitation should contain beside the answering card:

A personal invitation text

All detailed information’s with addresses and schedules

A deadline for the answer

Maybe some information’s about hotels near by or your offer to book a hotel for them when you have a lot of guests with a long journey or you are getting married on destination

Maybe a suiting rule

Your wedding wish

A little present for your guests, maybe!

And of course your creativity can be endless for the design of your invitation and your stationary!

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Little gifts keep friendship warm

I don’t receive a lot of wedding invitations in my private life, because almost everybody is married now.

As I was writing epically in my last post the invitation with the CD was a very special one.

But last year I received an invitation from a couple that booked me. Also without their written invitation I would have joined them to photograph their wedding! But it made me happy that they send me their invitation with a little bottle of champagne with the tag “Raising glasses to our upcoming wedding”. What a nice surprise and of course I was thinking about them when I raised my glass and nipped!

 The easiest way to send out your invitation is a nicely designed card.

The topping for an invitation is a little gift. Is it a must, no, BUT with a little gift you make people feel special and even more welcomed.

Everybody is happy when he receives a present.

And it really doesn’t have to be a big one. Just a little gift sends so much love that words can’t do!

So may you need a little inspiration, click right here!

And don’t miss my last post about “wedding invitations” on Wednesday!

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How to send a personal styled wedding invitation?

 A few years ago I received the invitation of my sister’s in law and my brother’s wedding.

It was a CD box with a nice invitation and a CD in it. The mix was called “Chiemsee lounge” and was mixed by the DJ they booked for their wedding.

The wedding started with this CD. I’ve heard it a lot before the wedding. So I was in the right mood for the wedding. And during the reception at the shore for the lake Chiemsee the DJ played similar music. And the weeks after the wedding I’ve heard it also all the time, because it was such a perfect party.

I still love to hear this CD (now its on my iTunes playlists), because it was the soundtrack for this special wedding. Of course it was the wedding of my brother and we are very close.

 And to send a CD with music as an invitation just perfectly fits to my sister in law and my brother, because they lived this “lounge style” and their wedding reception and dinner was just the same!

 So, there are many ways to bring a personal touch to your invitation. Just think about what you love and like and the style of your wedding.

It all starts with a little “safe-the date” send out and it ends with a nice “thank you” letter! The stationery of your wedding!

And your invitation is just a part of it!

 You find a lot of inspiration on pinterest and wedding blogs.

My advice to you is: Before you collect pins and blog post on your inspiration board.

Sit together and write down what makes your love and your wedding unique and how can that be transferred into your stationary right from the start. If you know that you can start with the inspiration board on pinterest, because now you know what you are looking for.

If you don’t know what you want you just end up with someone else’s wedding style!

 If you need help, contact a wedding planner or stationary designer.

 And if a personal invitation needs a little gift like the CD I talked about I will let you know on Monday!

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Are you ready to invite?

 One of my best friends just called me yesterday and told me that she wants to make a free wedding ceremony in August 2016.

She has just married at the registry this year in August.

She was very exited about it that she couldn’t find the right location. She wants something more relaxed and not so formal. So she asked me, if I can help here, because I’ve seen so many locations. And of course I told her a few.

But she was not only exited about it, she was also afraid that she is too late to get the location she wants on the date she wants and that she is to late with the invitation.

And as I knew my friend for years I would say she is not an organisation talent at all. She was the one on our girl’s nights who was always half an hour to late.  But perfectly styled always!

 So when is the right time to invite your guests?

 The brides and grooms to be who are planning their wedding for 2016 are all in this situation. They are waiting for the confirmation of their booking at the location, church and/ or registry.

Before you don’t have a confirmation you can’t invite. But when you have the first confirmation, you can start with a “safe the date” announcement via email.

And then plan your wedding day step by step.

When you have a detailed time schedule with church/registry, reception and dinner you can send out your invitation.

 Don’t miss my post about invitations with a personal touch on Friday!

 If you want to know how to feel comfortable in front of a camera, get my free brochure here!

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Just a little sneak peek

 Last Saturday I photographed the wedding of Sarah and Christian.

These two were so deep in love that it filled the air around them.

Here are some pictures from the portrait shoot.

Sarah and Christian are on their way to Mauritius – I wish them a great time!

PS: I never was hugged so much from a couple! Thank you for spreading your love!

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Relaxed intimate wedding at Pura Vida Ibiza

 A lot of wedding couples are dreaming of a wedding on a beach with white sand and some make it happen.

You don’t need to travel around the world to make this dream happen. Just fly two hours and you’re on Ibiza! And here can dreams come true!

Katharina and Ilja made this dream happen and invited just the closest family and friends to an one week stay on Ibiza with one highlight: an intimate wedding on the beach close to the beach club Pura Vida at Niu Blau.

In a shuttle bus they arrived at the location all dressed in white and with a bright smile on their faces.

The intimate wedding was organised by the lovely team of MaCherie.

The Celtic ceremony took place with a fantastic sea view during in the late afternoon and afterwards they had the beach for themselves to raise their glasses of Cava.

The atmosphere was so relaxed and full of love with this little Ibiza spell.

Later on the groom’s father told me that he was never before so relaxed like on this stay on Ibiza. I couldn’t stop raving about this little island.

What can I say anymore: Ibiza is full of magic! For a wedding and for holidays!

Thank you Katharina and Ilja for letting me have been part of your intimate beach wedding.I wish you all the best for your future und your next trip to Ibiza ;-)

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Time for a change!

 After twelve years in the photography business and more than 4 years in the niche natural wedding photography it’s time for a change.

During the last years my main focus became more and more natural wedding photography with a very personal service. And in the last two years I started to shoot on film again and refined my style. And beside that I’ve built a second business base on Ibiza.

I’ve learned to listen to my inner voice when to take challenges and I am not afraid to start something new.

And now the time has come to give my brand a new face, which reflects my growth and expansion.

I am working together with an American Designer on the new brand identity. This process takes some time. We are close to the finish line!

And I can’t wait to show you more, but I want it to be perfect!

And great things take some time…

The launch of my new designed website, will be at the 15th of October!

The domain: www.heikemoellers.com