Highlights of the Year 2016

In celebration of the New Year’s coming…

we at April Maura Photography thought it would be such a sweet and fitting time to share a list of the top 2016 highlights for us. We are so grateful to be able to have a hand full of memories to look back on and feel encouraged by throughout the year. It can become easy to stay focused on the current events at hand in the business, but to have this sacred time to reflect brings such refreshment for the upcoming year! May our top highlights lead you to reflect back onto your own 2016 year and get you excited for what sudden surprises could be right around the corner in 2017!

Well let’s start! Here is our number one:

21 Weddings and Engagements Published:

We’ve had the honor of couple’s love stories and weddings being featured on wedding blogs: Inspired by This, Arizona Weddings, Glamour and Grace, The Perfect Palette, A Paper Proposal, Brooklyn Bride, and many more.

Venue: Eisendrath House | Photographer: April Maura Photography

Adding an Admin to the AM team:

I am beyond thankful and blessed to have Taylor added to the AM team to help serve couples alongside me. My dream and hope for 2016 was to have an admin who understood the mission and philosophy for the AM experience. Taylor’s vision aligns with the AM philosophy, “We’re passionate about documenting and supporting intimacy in marriages.” Her gift with words, grace, and discipline shines through her work and I am happy that God brought her to the AM team to serve our couples with the best quality service. Taylor is also the beautiful author behind the Marriage Series. You can read her first introduction and vision here.

Adding a Wedding Tip Series:

Our heart is to serve our couples planning their wedding day. Being a wedding photographer I experience all the behind-the-scenes wedding planning to know the ins-and-outs of what works to create a smooth wedding day experience. My hope is that the Wedding Tips series will give your fiancé and you some wisdom so you two will have the space to remember your wedding day and celebrate with people that matter most to you.

Here are some examples from the Wedding Tips series:

How to Start Your Wedding Ceremony on Time

Difference Between a Venue Coordinator and Day-of-Coordinator 

Make Sure to Plan Enough Time for Couple Portraits

Fun Must-Have Portraits During the Bridal Getting Ready

Venue: Desert Foothills Events | Photographer: April Maura Photography | Second Photographed with Pinkerton Photography

Adding a Marriage Series:

The big WHY on why I photograph weddings…I love marriage! The whole purpose of life is to love and the idea that God created a beautiful union of marriage for us to enjoy is beautiful. The details and story line of how a man and woman fall in love and that love stories are individually written for each couple is incredible! Not only is the love story of the couple falling in love divine but the after the wedding day, the everyday commitments and actions of showing their spouse love.

Our culture is saturated with ideas of marriage: Hollywood, romance novels, chick flicks and what God says. My heart is to shine light on cultivating healthy marriages, from the courting, to engagement, and then to the marriage.

If you’re just joining us, you can catch up here:

Venue: The Farm at South Mountain | Photographer: April Maura Photography

Developing my Client Experience:

Bride’s experience:

“April is the sweetest most thoughtful person you will ever meet and work with! She has so much passion and love for what she does and it is showcased every time you speak to her! She was easily reached and responded quickly. And she is so organized!!! Having her so organized took so much stress off of me (the bride) that I was able to relax more and enjoy the planning process. Her pictures are amazing! She finds the best lighting and each pictures come out flawless! She also talks to you and has you and your significant other do interactive commutation exercises to create a more natural comfortable environment when she takes pictures. She was everything I could ever ask for and more in a wedding photographer! She’s the best! Book her before she fills up!”

Bride’s experience:

“Working with April was such a lovely experience! She is so wonderful at what she does and definitely knows how to get the job done! I am one of those people who is generally uncomfortable in front of the camera and one of my biggest worries after getting engaged was having to take engagement photos! April has the sweetest demeanor but can command and guide you so smoothly with posing and she makes it so easy! Her cheerful comments and encouraging words while she is taking photos adds a lightness to the air and makes the process enjoyable and natural. April was amazing at always finding the perfect spot with the perfect natural light for the most “epic” shots 🙂

Her communication is always done in a timely manner and she is always so helpful with any questions you may have. She sets you up with a detailed timeline for your wedding day so you know exactly what photos will be taken at what time and where everyone needs to be. Her organization leaves you with no question marks and she’s always willing to adjust where need be to accommodate your day! My husband and I, as well as our families, are beyond thrilled and blown away with the photos that we have to share with family and friends for a lifetime. I have truly never felt more comfortable in front of the camera and I believe that it comes across in the photos because of the peaceful atmosphere that April creates. I couldn’t be more thankful for this experience.”

Mom of the Bride’s experience:

“Thank you April Maura !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Words can not even describe the joy we felt when we received our pictures .Looking at the pictures brought us back to the day of the wedding . Every time we go back to look we see something different that we missed in our 1st viewing .Wedding days can go by so fast, I feel we can look at the pictures and go back to that day in the many years that pass. We appreciate your sacrifice and time and willingness to travel to get the engagement pictures. Thank you for your kindness, and being professional . I can go on and on about you. Yes if any one needs professional pictures for the wedding April Maura is the one to choose!!!!!”

Venue: Secret Garden Events | Photographer: April Maura Photography

Meeting friends in the industry…growing my community:

For example, connecting with an acquaintance from college, Lauren, from Heritage Flowers.

“Lauren is a dream vendor to work with for a wedding! The quality of the flowers she chooses, her artistic craftsmanship, and her friendly personality sets Heritage Flowers AZ as one of the finest florist in Arizona. Lauren is a joy to be around and is a real professional. She has an impeccable response time. Lauren’s heart for this industry goes past the wedding business…but for her couple’s and their marriage. Her vision and heart for them is contagious! Lauren is attentive to each and every detail with florals to the point they look like they come from a magazine! When I refer my couples to her I know that they will be well taken care of and it’s always an honor to work with her. I whole heartedly recommend Heritage Flowers AZ and her floral experience she offers couples!”

Witnessing firsthand an incredible venue experience: The Paseo

“The Paseo wedding venue is one of my favorite Arizona outdoor wedding venues!!! The day I photographed a wedding there there was a heavy downpour of rain. The staff at the Paseo were really accommodating and helpful with working with the rainy weather. Right before the ceremony the rain lifted and the Paseo staff took the extra steps of wiping down all the ceremony seating. They truly make your wedding day special and with ease. Their outdoor wedding venue is ideal for an Arizona wedding in rain or shine. If it rains they have a massive barn to accommodate your wedding guests. Their grounds are well kept and offer greenery and desert backdrops for some amazing wedding day pictures. The Paseo staff is family owned; they are a great team and pleasure to work with on your special day! They will take the extra steps to being really helpful on your wedding day. After the ceremony, during couple portraits Kayla assisted us in the rain to capturing beautiful couple portraits. I was impressed with their amazing customer service! If you’re a bride looking for your wedding venue you would be very blessed with this stunning and friendly Arizona wedding venue!”

Venue: Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale | Photographer: April Maura Photography

You…

You continuing to ask questions and continuing to read…Thank You…We could not do without your support. We want you to know that YOU matter to us and YOU are the reason we continue sharing wedding tips, couple’s love stories and marriage wisdom.

Cheers to a new year full of possibilities, new dreams, and new goals.

Grace and Peace,

April and Taylor

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