Local Links #2 Designing Divas

Part 2 in my quest to provide some useful links for our customers and blog readers. Today's post is about a couple of very resourceful ladies who combined their talents and have launched Designing Divas Event and Party Planners. This is an ideal solution for those people who would like a helping hand in planning large events. 

I had a chance to meet with Connie Tracy and Andrea Engbretsen of Designing Divas this week. I was impressed with their ideas and get it done attitude. They were also kind enough to allow me to present my portfolio to one of their clients. At the meeting they had several vendors scheduled to present information to their clients and I was lucky enough to be on hand for some of the sample food. YUM! I liked the idea of bringing the vendors to the client instead of the client spending all that time meeting with each separately. While this was my first association with Designing Divas I look forward to working them in the future.

To be fair, I must say that I know Andrea from a past adventure involving a 10 hour bus ride, 40 middle school students, and a ton of sugar. That sort of trial tends to bond people. 

 If you would like some help with your event I encourage you to check them out. You can find their site via this link. 

Local Links #1 Lotus Flowers~Coffee~Gifts

Today I begin a new series of posts about local businesses that I have had the good fortune of working with. I have decided to call the series "Local Links". I have not been asked to do this, nor am I affiliated with any of these businesses. I am doing this because I strongly support buying local to support our community. I try to make a point of calling on local small businesses for goods and services. I intend to provide our readers with helpful links and information about these vendors so when they need that certain something they know just who to call. 

Today's post features Lotus Flowers~Coffee~Gifts. Lotus provides a wide array of florist services and from what I hear brews a mean cup of joe. I need to check that one out myself. I can say that their floral arrangements are beautiful and the experience was clean cut, professional, and timely. All important in my book. 

I called upon Lotus for an arrangement of flowers for a Bridal Shoot in our studio (The shoot is a little bonus we provide our wedding customers). I provided some basic information about budget, colors, and style and let Lotus take care of the rest. When in doubt let the artist work. I picked up the arrangement and it was just what I had in mind, perhaps better. 

If you need flowers for an event or even just because your significant other deserves them, I would give them a call. They are located in Wasilla next to Three Rivers Fly and Tackle. In case you missed it above you can visit their website via this link.

-10 F No Problem!

I was lucky enough on Friday to shoot engagement photos for Greg and Whitney. We set it up a week prior with full knowledge that this cold snap was likely still going to be hanging on. The upside was it was likely to be clear skies and nice evening light. 

Not to be discouraged by a little drop in the mercury Greg and Whitney insisted on getting outdoor photos, hey we are Alaskans after all.  We battled the cold and were able to get some great shots as the sun went down over cook inlet. I will admit to a brief break in warm vehicles while we waited for the sun to get a little lower in the sky. Greg even managed to pop the cork on some champagne bottles for a few shots. I think it froze before hitting the ground! Well you two here's hoping that your wedding in June is just as much fun and a whole lot warmer. 

Old Friends Found

A while back I received an email inquiry about family portraits from a lady in Portland, Oregon. It seems she was coming to Anchorage for the holidays and would like to get portraits done while the entire family was in town. "Hey, perfect I would love to help out" I thought . She then ended the email with "Are you the same Matt Swalling I knew in Anchorage growing up and went to high school with?"  Well I am pretty certain I am the only Matt by that name around here, but who was asking? Old girl friend? Enemy? Good buddy? The name was not ringing a bell. Well it turns out it was an old buddy, several in fact. Kristin and her family were good friends of ours growing up, it was her new married name throwing me off. It was great to see them all again. I am still laughing about how much her brother Matt hated having his picture taken, and how her other brother Grant insisted that he was very "coachable".  Matt you did great, even if you wouldn't pose for me! And Grant, "coachable" you are, but perhaps this coach had better work on his coaching skills. Thank you all so much for coming out to the studio, it made my day. 

Not Your Average Solstice Wedding!

If I told you I was photographing a solstice wedding in Alaska one would naturally assume I meant June 21st the summer solstice. Chad and Mandy had a different idea. Winter solstice on December 21st, the shortest day of the year. What a day it was, clear and beautiful and I don't just mean the bride! Friends and family put on this event with a spectacular food spread and plenty of good times for everyone involved. Chad and Mandy were great sports and braved the cold to make use of the stunning Eagle River view and equally stunning solstice sunset. I even talked them into doing snow angels in the front yard! Hey you only get to do this once. Hope that tux wasn't a rental. Congrats you two, I had a blast.