Katie + Mike :: A Chicago Engagement

Posted by (once like a spark) on Mar 26, 2012 in (oncelikeaspark), chicago, engagement | 0 comments

So, we’re just going to go ahead and say it, we LOVE this couple. Katie + Mike are BEYOND precious and have been such a joy to work with!  They first met on a blind date after being set up by a family with whom both M+ K worked with their special needs child. At the time, they were both working for a special needs social organization, taking adults/kids with disabilities on field trips, coaching them in adaptive sports, and creating weekend activities for them. These two have such big hearts and have a real joy for life that made their connection inevitable!  They told us that they quickly became each other’s yin and yang –> Mike is patient, easy going and a free spirit, whereas Katie is super focused, dedicated and hyper-organized. We like to call that a match made in heaven.  :) We can’t wait to share their wedding photos with you soon, but for now, soak up these incredibly gorgeous engagement photos of one.amazing.couple.

P.S. Isn’t Roya (our beloved-by-all Chicago photog) just amazing? Talk about some beautiful photos.

Aaron + Marie CA Engagement :: Choose A Theme For Your E-Sesh

Posted by (once like a spark) on Mar 22, 2012 in (oncelikeaspark), california, engagement | 0 comments

Y’all, get ready. This San Diego engagement session is crazy beautiful + fun. Seriously, we’re in love! Aaron + Marie did such a great job preparing for their shoot, and it reeeaaally shows. We think the way A + M made the most out of their session, was by picking a theme/overall feel for the day (and also by choosing our phenomenal photog Tracy, too of course!). Engagement sessions are the perfect place to really showcase you and your groom to be’s personality. Looking through Aaron + Marie’s photos gives us this wonderful glimpse into their sweet and playful personalities. Here’s how:

1. Choose a theme and dress the part. Aaron and Marie went for a really fun vibe for their engagement shoot. Remember that themes don’t have to be complicated, they just need to point you in some kind of direction. By dressing in casual and playful attire, this immediately comes across in their photos. Don’t forget to pay attention to the little details too – like a bright lipstick or nail color to enhance your overall look!

2. Pick a location that works with your theme. By choosing a location that had a TON of different backdrops and lots of bright colors, A + M got to play with plenty of different poses and ended up with a really great variety of fun-filled shots!

3. Bring fun props! We say it all the time, but this can REALLY make such a big difference! We just love that A + M brought their matching blue stuffed animals (so cute), paper flowers, chalk boards and vintage wooden blocks with them. Love love love.

Carrie + Chris :: GA Wedding Part 2 :: Personalized DIY

Posted by (once like a spark) on Mar 19, 2012 in (oncelikeaspark), southeast, weddings | 0 comments

Hi again!

We just couldn’t wait any longer to bring you Part 2 of Carrie and Chris’s beautiful GA Wedding, so here it is! If you have yet to check out Part 1, do so now and then head back here. C + C really wanted their wedding to feel intimate and welcoming, and we just love all of the little personal DIY touches they included that really worked to pull it all off. Remember that gorgeous garter photo from Part 1? Homemade! Additionally, they used these adorable little twine penant banners, customized with their names, that were so.crazy.cute in their photos together. Another idea they had, was to bring mini chalk boards to write on and use during their couples shots. These are the kinds of personal touches that can make your wedding photos have that little extra something special you’re hoping for. Tracy (our CA photographer who flew in especially for C+C), did such a great job using these throughout the session – just wait till you see! One of the things Carrie said to us during the planning process, was that while she’d still like to have all of the more traditional photos taken at their wedding, she also really wanted lots of the creative and whimsical photos “that are very (once like a spark) too.” Ok, GUSH ALERT. We really can’t say enough to you all how much it means to us to hear that you love our OLAS aesthetic of classic beauty with touches of art and whimsy. We work so, so hard to make your photographs not only beautiful, but we want them to stand out and literally take your breath away. We say it all the time, but we’ll say it again, because it’s so true: we have the VERY BEST clients. Thank you for choosing OLAS! xoxo

Ceremony: Saint Benedict’s Catholic Church; Reception: Country Club of Roswell; Dress By: Allure Bridals; Bridesmaid Dresses: Priscilla of Boston;Hair/Makeup: Claudia Mejerle; DJ: Atlanta Sound and Fury Entertainment;

Carrie + Chris :: GA Wedding Part 1 :: Red Is For Romance

Posted by (once like a spark) on Mar 16, 2012 in (oncelikeaspark), southeast, weddings | 0 comments

Hello dear OLAS family!

We hope you’ve all been enjoying the unseasonable heat wave the whole country seems to be experiencing! Crazy right? Speaking of heat waves, we’re so happy to share  Carrie + Chris’s red-hot-romantic GA wedding with you today (like what we did there?).  :)  Carrie knew early on in the wedding planning process that she was going to use red as her statement color, which we think is such a great choice for weddings – it can be fun, dramatic, romantic, what have you! It’s all about the way you decide to use it. Carrie pulled this off flawlessly, using it to give her wedding both an intimate and romantic feel. Here are a few ways how:

1. Those SHOES! Obviously, first, we’ve got to mention the shoes (uh, gorgeous!). We love that C chose to go with a fun pop of color for her shoes – a little “peek-a-boo” of red if you will.

2. Red Roses = Romance. There’s no question red roses are the flower known ’round the world to exude romance. 189 million stems of roses are sold in the U.S. on Valentine’s Day  alone, and 1.2 billion throughout the year! We’d definitely say that roses are always a great choice if you’re trying to create a romantic feel for your wedding. If Carrie was going for a more flirty & playful vibe, she might have chosen a different flower in red, say gerber daisies for instance. It’s all about how you decide to use it!

3. Long, draped, bridesmaids dresses (in red of course!). Nothing says romance like a beautiful, flowy red dress. The chiffon dresses Carrie chose feel absolutely effortless, while still leaving a big romantic impression.

P.S. Be on the look out for Part 2 coming soon! Also, don’t you just love how our SoCal photog phenom, Tracy (who flew to GA just for C + C’s special day), found her own little accents of red to photograph the details? She’s amazing  :)

Dress By: Allure Bridals; Bridesmaid Dresses: Priscilla of Boston; Hair/Makeup: Claudia Mejerle

Brianne + Jeffrey::Preppy Southern GA Wedding

Posted by (once like a spark) on Mar 15, 2012 in (oncelikeaspark), southeast, weddings | 1 comment

We’ve all been feeling the beginnings of warm weather, which has us majorly itching for all-things-summer. Luckily, Brianne and Jeffrey’s southern, summer wedding did just the trick! The pops of bright colors, the amazing warm light, and the overall light and airy feel of this day embody all that is summer – we’re loving it! Brianne and Jeffrey got married at their hometown church, and had a bright, preppy feel to their day. They used pinks and bright greens throughout all of their details, and we are seriously, seriously loving the amazing lime bridesmaids dresses. Brianne also used bright green ribbons with white polka dots throughout some subtle details (everything from the wreaths decorating the church doors to the wrap around the bridesmaids bouquets), and it gave just a touch of a prep. Our amazing photographers were able to really utilize the area around the church in downtown Powder Springs, Georgia.I mean….vintage Coke signs and hidden alleyways? Can it get more perfect? After their ceremony, Brianne and Jeffrey and their guests headed over to the reception at Marietta Country Club, where our photographers were able to take advantage of the pristine light as the sun was setting and get some *gorgeous* couples shots. B+J’s reception was a total blast – the shot of the guests egging on the keyboard player is one of our favs! Thanks so much, Brianne and Jeffrey! We love you guys!

Ceremony: First Baptist Church of Powder Springs; Reception: Marietta Country Club; Florist: Your Flowers by Isa; Cake: Sheila Morris; Band: Nathan Angelo; Wedding Dress: Allure; Shoes: Caparros; Bridesmaid Dresses: Watters; Accessories (Necklace and Hair Flower): Etsy; Hair: Salon Silhouette; Makeup: Parish;