Today I am doing something that is long overdue. I am engaging in the tedious task of going through my bulk email and unsubscribing from most of the senders. Looking at all these emails all at once has brought all... Continue reading

Just what do I think I'm worth? One of the things I learned quickly upon starting Paper Swan Photography was that figuring out what to charge--and what to provide--is one of the most difficult parts of the job. When I... Continue reading

This morning as he was heading out to work, my husband called me and said to get outside with a camera, because he had never seen the snow on the trees quite like it was, and I should get some pictures. For Manhattan, is was, in fact, a rare and beautiful sight! Continue reading

Any photographer will tell you that the best thing anyone could do for them is to recommend them to a friend who needs their services. We are certainly no exception to this rule, and we want you to know how much we appreciate it when someone suggests us to a friend. No good deed should go unrewarded!! I am very happy to announce the beginning of our Referral Thank You Program! If you suggest us to someone else, and they book a wedding with us, you will receive a free gift certificate for a 2-hour on-location-in-Manhattan portrait session! (Retail: $300)... Continue reading

If you're looking for creative ways to save money on your wedding, chances are you've considered taking on some do-it-yourself (or, hopefully, do-it-with-friends) projects like favors, centerpieces, or decor. Want to stretch your dollars even further? Think about the colors and theme for your wedding, and plan on swooping in on the craft and party supply stores immediately after the appropriate holiday when you can find discounts of 50-75%, or more, on silk flowers, ribbon, tulle, and other seasonal crafty supplies. Christmas yields not only poinsettias and evergreens, but also a plethora of rich red and white roses and sparkly... Continue reading

One of the most important things you can do to get better portraits and group pictures is to block out specific, significant chunks of time. From a distance--eg, 3 months before the big day--the scheduling for your wedding day looks easy-peasy. After all, the ceremony is only an hour, maybe two, and you can occupy your guests with cocktails and hors d'ouerves until you're ready to start the reception, which is only a few minutes away from the ceremony. Aside from a few things like cutting the cake, speeches and first dances, the reception will mostly be socializing and dancing...We'll... Continue reading

The last couple of weeks have been intensely focused on our new and improved Paper Swan Photography website. The new site features more galleries, FAQs and pricing information, and, of course, this blog. In the coming weeks and months the site will grow to include more about Paper Swan and its photographers (Yours Truly and hubby Matt), a downloadable brochure, pricing and FAQ pages for events and portraits, and more. Along with the website itself, I'm working on some other online goodies like a Facebook page, a quarterly newsletter, and pulling together other wedding and photography resources for you, which... Continue reading

I am very excited to be posting this, our first post on the new Paper Swan Photography blog! Even better, I'm watching the status bar creep along as the files for our new website upload. If all goes well, we should be ready to run by tomorrow night! What is Paper Swan Photography? Paper Swan is my dream. Back in 199...erm...I was a bright-eyed teenager hoping to go to college to become a professional photographer. Unfortunately, circumstances didn't allow it and I instead pursued a career in business and web development. A few years ago, I became reacquainted with my... Continue reading