Exposures by Rah

02/02/2024

Sneakily replacing phones in wedding photos with kittens: a series 😹
•
My unpopular wedding opinion: DON’T have an unplugged ceremony 📱 hear me out…
•
Here’s the REAL solution to the phone 🤳 problem at weddings👇
•
But first, save this ceremony script and send it to your officiant 💍 or tag them in this post!
•
Have you seen those “unplugged ceremony” signs explaining that phones are prohibited so guests stay present in the moment?
•
The problem is, weddings are once in a lifetime so the human instinct to document kicks in and people sneak photos anyway.
•
And TBH, I can’t blame them! I’m all for it at the appropriate times, just not while anyone is walking down the aisle pleeeeeease!
•
Here’s the solution:
•
Moments before the ceremony begins, right before the music starts and parents are escorted down the aisle, have your officiant use the following script to let guests know WHEN it’s okay to use their phones:
•
“Friends and Family! Before we get started, may I please have your undivided attention for one moment? I have a very important request from the happy couple. Alex and Morgan value your undivided presence during their ceremony, but they understand how excited you are to be celebrating with them! That’s why instead of having a fully unplugged ceremony, they’re going to give you a perfect photo opportunity once everyone has reached the front of the aisle. At that time, I’ll ask you all to pull out your phones so Alex and Morgan can give you a few fun photo poses and you can snap your heart out. During all other times throughout this ceremony, starting now, we ask you to respect the wishes of Alex and Morgan by eliminating all distractions. Please silence your phones, put them away & don’t take them back out until I give you the okay.”
•
*cue the processional music*
•
If you completely take phone privileges away but only use a passive sign to communicate that strict message, people will likely ignore your request. Why not compromise and give guests what they want so you can achieve the kind of professional photos YOU want?
•
As a wedding photographer, I’ve found this verbiage to be extremely effective in keeping phones out of photos. I don’t have time to replace them all with kittens 😹
•
PLUS! It’s really nice to get the immediate gratification of cell phone coverage while you wait for your professional media to be delivered.
•
What do you think? Will you be incorporating this ceremony photo opportunity concept into your wedding ceremony? Let me know in the comments!

01/14/2024

A macabre wedding soirée at BlueBridge Events Centre for Stephanie and Derek is officially on the 2024 Exposures by Rah books! It's such an honor, too, because Stephanie is actually a fellow vendor here in the northern Michigan region. She makes the most incredible cakes - taste & design are 10/10!! Northern Michigan brides, you won't go wrong with Crystal City Confectionery 🙌 and that's coming from someone who's eaten a *LOT* of wedding cake in her time 😹🙋‍♀️

Stephanie and Derek have a vision for the most incredible 80's themed engagement VIDEO that we're going to shoot this spring and I can't wait for you to see the incredible magic we're going to make there.

Thank you to Stephanie and Derek for putting your trust in us, and welcome to the Exposures by Rah family

01/11/2024

*Exposures by Rah is adding more associate photographers, videographers and photo booth attendants for the 2024 season!*

If you're interested in applying for open positions or learning more about working with us, read this blog post & follow the easy instructions to apply for any opportunity listed (there are multiple!)

MULTIPLE ASSOCIATE OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE Associate Positions Available: Lead photo, 2nd photo, & photo booth attendant Date: October 5, 2024 Time Frame: Photography 11am-8pm, Photo Booth Attendant will be needed from 5pm-10pm Location: Willowbrook Mill, Northport, MI Couple Names: Jillian + Brando...

05/22/2022

Take a step back to observe and breathe deeply at least 3 times on your wedding day. First, take a moment during your vows, then take a moment after the ceremony, and finally take a moment on the dance floor to be present in the moment making mental snapshots of what’s happening all around you. Use all your senses - what do you smell, taste hear, see and feel? These snippets of mindfulness will end up encapsulating the feelings you’ll transport back to when you think of your wedding day.
•
•
•
•
•
•

05/21/2022

I hope you make time to stop and smell the lilacs 🥰
•
•
•
•
•

04/29/2022

The love of my life and I are ready to take on the next chapter! We’re getting married in Jamaica next week, and I’ve decided to throw a little gas on the beautiful glowing flame that is our life...

Let me back up a sec to give some context to those who are new around here - We're traveling wedding photographers who specialize in helping couples feel natural and unposed in front of the camera in some of the most astounding and scenic locations all over the world!

Ready for the gas on the flame part?

We want to kick off our marriage right with lots of excitement and we want to help other engaged couples do the same...

That’s why we’re holding a contest and offering engaged couples the chance to win a wedding photography package with us worth up to $5000!

This contest is available to enter for:

💍 Couples who are getting married in the US and don’t want to pay travel fees to vendors

💍 Couples with a love story they really want to tell through photos

💍 Couples with unique themes to their wedding

💍 Couples who are visibly crazy about each other

💍 Couples who are absolutely STOKED on the idea of having insanely gorgeous wedding photos.

💍 Couples who have NOT booked their wedding photographer (but who HAVE officially booked a venue and set a date).

⚠️ Because of our limited date availability, your odds of winning will dramatically increase if you’re getting married in 2023 or 2024 ⚠️

All you have to do to enter is find the contest link in my bio and answer a couple easy questions for your chance to win! Bonus points if you leave your wedding date in the comments after you enter!

This is the first picture we ever took together in 2013 🥹 just little BABIES! Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ll just go stare at my packed luggage for a few more days until we leave for Jamaica 🤣🎉
•
•
•
•
•

04/23/2022

Associate Photographer Ashley will officially be shooting Kayla and Michael’s wedding on the in September 🎉🎉🎉 That’s a win for everyone involved 🙌 So excited to be adding this to our 2022 calendar 🤗

04/02/2022

After a long anticipated wait and some rescheduling, Nick and Jeanna used the force to align the galexies and bring this day together so they can tie the knot in their Star Wars themed wedding!
•
As huge Star Wars fans ourselves, Don and I can’t wait to see and photograph all the details they spent so much time dreaming up! I have one word that should send chills down your spine when you think about the photos to come: Lightsabers 💫
•
See you soon!!

03/31/2022

Anthony and had a triumphant return to the Keys for their wedding at

02/23/2022

A little Disney themed wedding inspiration for engaged couples who are considering it! Check out the hidden Mickey on the cake 🥲

Locations: Disney's Polynesian Resort, Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa and Loews Portofino Bay Hotel

02/23/2022

www.YourDreamWeddingPhotographer.com

01/21/2022

I want to thank you all for the birthday love from every corner of my life! Don Highway made me blueberry pancakes, we went for a beautiful snowmobile ride, and we topped it off with dinner at Boone's Long Lake Inn with Don’s parents, Brian and Debbie Highway. The perfect way to mark 35 years of life! It’s also my last birthday as an Armstrong since we’re tying the knot in May 🥲 Working on invitations and our website the last few days has been a lot of fun!
•
I’m also super excited to say that Katie and Cody made it official and secured their wedding date with Exposures by Rah today! It’s been a quiet January on social media because my focus has been on editing and delivery (excited to be sending more albums out this weekend!) and these photos to come are some of our best work to date!
•
For now, I hope you enjoy this photo of me and Clover (who turned 16 yesterday 😭😭😭) in North Carolina 🥰

01/16/2022

2023 brides! Have you booked your venue yet? When and where is your big day happening?
•
Engagement photo credit to associate Sebastian!
•
Like what you see? We should talk about working together! We’re holding a contest right now - the link for you to enter and win is in my bio 🥰
•

01/08/2022

Calling all fiancés!! Answer this question for a chance to win an engagement session from Traverse City Photographer] : If you were to marry your future spouse at the place where you met them, where would it be?
•
Comment below and include your actual wedding date👇
•
📸: Traverse City Photographer] Associate Courtney
•

01/02/2022

Happy New Year! Are you on the hunt for your wedding venue now that the calendar has turned to 2022? I’m doing a series of live venue tours over the winter to show you an insider’s look at locations where you can host your wedding. My goal is to be helpful to you in making a venue decision! I plan to do the first one this Wednesday 1/5. Since I’ll be live on Facebook in my private group for brides to be (link is in my bio if you haven’t joined yet), you’ll have the chance to ask all your burning questions while I’m in the tour, but I’ll make sure to cover these core questions:
•
How many people can your venue accommodate?
•
Are there any special partnerships or ways to save (ie weekday/offseason deals or a preferred vendor list with discounts)?
•
Is there an on site coordinator?
•
What colors, themes or decor have you seen used here that compliment the space?
•
What happens if the weather is too bad for an outdoor ceremony?
•
What’s the parking situation like?
•
What are the acoustics like in the reception area? (In case your band or Dj needs to know to bring extra sound absorption panels)
•
How long do we have access to each area?
•
Can we see the getting ready areas?
•
Can couples and their helpers (or vendors) arrive the day before to set up?
•
When does everything have to be cleaned up by?
•
Which method of contact will yield the fastest response from you?
•
If someone wants to book their date with you today, what are their next steps to take with you?
•
If there are additional questions you’d like to me ask, leave them in the comments and then tag the venue(s) you would attend a live tour of. Here’s a list of ideas…

12/25/2021

Merry Christmas from our little family 🥰 and happy birthday to my dad, Bobby Baby, who would have turned 68 today 🥲
•
My Christmas wish is that you’re able to hug the people you love the most, participate in all of your holiday traditions and maybe even make some new ones.
•
Stay safe out there, and DON’T FORGET TO SNAP A FEW PICTURES WITH YOUR FAMILY!
•
Love,
(From top to bottom, left to right)
Don, Sarah, Milo, Kindy and Clover

12/13/2021

An awesome shot from Exposures by Rah associate photographer Ian! You’ll never go wrong by having your fall wedding at Crystal Mountain 🎉 So excited to deliver Stephanie and Logan Wetekamp’s full wedding album this evening!
•
•
•

11/30/2021

Here are the 10 emojis you’re searching for in this picture:
•
1) Talking head
•
2) Spider web
•
3) Bear
•
4) Turtle
•
5) Rock
•
6) Cloud
•
7) Footprints
•
8) Diamond ring
•
9) Wheat grass
•
10) Flower
•
Happy hunting!!
•

11/28/2021

Does this iPhone photo from my front porch do this sunset a justice?

Nope.

But it was worth a shot 🤷🏼‍♀️

11/24/2021

These two WON our Enchanted Mirror for their wedding day 🥰 Can’t wait to celebrate with Briana and Ty next November!
•
There’s still time to enter and win The Enchanted Mirror for your wedding! Go to www.PhotoBoothContest.com for details!

11/23/2021

Hi don’t mind me just traveling the country, riding my bike in cool places with the love of my life and shooting dream weddings with the most amazing couples over here 👋
•
Pinch me 🤩
•
❤️

11/21/2021

Want to know the secret to getting the kind of wedding photos you’ve always dreamed of? Keep reading!
•
Step one: Find a team of photographers who genuinely care about getting to know you and your fiancé. If you’re trying to connect with a complete stranger behind the lens, it’s going to show non your pictures. Notice how .puente and look comfortable and relaxed in these portraits?
•
Step two: Make sure your photographers are absolute MASTERS in all conditions of light. This ensures that no matter the weather or venue, you’re going to get the kind of photos you’re going to love.
•
Step three: make sure you hire your photography team to stay at least 30 minutes past sunset in order to achieve portraits that glow like these.
•
Step four: choose a beautiful venue like 😍
•
Step five: check our availability by commenting your date below!
•
•
•
•

11/13/2021

What you see vs what I see 🥰
•

11/12/2021

8 tips for having a simple wedding
•
👉 Pick a venue with a stunning setting that looks great as is. Wedding decor piles up quickly and soon your spare bedroom AND basement are overflowing! I’ll digress, but finish by saying the less you have to decorate, the less stressed you’ll be 😬
👉 Ditch the frills - nobody’s even going to know about those personalized corn hole boards sitting outside. If you start to feel plans are getting too complicated, walk away from things like this in the interest of keeping things easy.
👉 Make your wedding party happy by giving them freedom to wear what they want. Use a color palette and take advantage of sales - they’ll appreciate the ability to buy something they feel good in, can afford and likely wear again. Plus it’s one less thing on your plate 🙃
👉 Have your wedding and reception the same place.
👉 A simple wedding means A list guests only!
👉 Remember that you’re not competing with celebrity weddings - it’s easy to play the comparison game, but don’t fall victim to that slippery slope!
👉 You *really* want simple? Two words: All Inclusive.
👉 You and your partner can start simplifying your wedding plans by making a priority list! Put your top 3 priorities in the comments and tag your partner so they’ll do the same 🥰
💍 EXTRA CREDIT 💍
Save this post and come back to it when you and your partner are discussing your top priorities.
•

11/11/2021

7 Ways To Make Sure Your Wedding Is Memorable
•
1. Hire an officiant or celebrant who is engaging and funny 😆
2. Feed your guests a late night treat - burgers, pretzels, and pizza make for great dance floor fuel!
3. Bubbles. Fireworks. Sparklers. Smoke bombs. Confetti. Flower petals. All are memorable ways for your send off!
4. Hire entertainment that knows how to keep the party energetic 🙌
5. Give your guests a personalized keepsake that they’ll definitely take home - like a printed photo with a custom frame from our Enchanted Mirror Photo Booth 😉
6. Create lounge areas for guests to relax and chat away from loud music
7. Do something unexpected for your guests that really speaks to you as a couple!
•
Did I get you with this one? 😹 What other ways can you make a wedding memorable?
•