we have decided to expand our presence to print! we have an ad in the Cavanagh's wedding planner - GET YOURS HERE! - and are really excited about that, and now we are thrilled to be going to the KNOT, too! After all we were rated by real brides to be in this magazine! We are still excited about that!
it's funny to make these kinds of decisions, as we hope that our clients continue to refer us to their friends and family. we do feel that being able to establish a brand and presence gives us more value and supports those referrals. so, we have gone to print!!
this may help if you are trying to build an ad.... (especially if you are a photographer)
first, it is NOT easy! i've been reading and exploring a LOT of design books. as the 'album lady', design principles are really important. there are actually RULES! it's not as easy as it looks - hopefully, it looks easy, as that is a sign of good design. easy on the eye, pleasing, and something draws you in. for an ad, it needs to be eye-catching. while the image is important, especially for photographers, the design layout also conveys an important message. comparing the designs of MANY ad campaigns, there are certain elements that i'm drawn to, and that from a 'design and marketing principles' stand point,there are elements that work well. Uncluttered, bold but elegant, STYLE, classic with an edge, and DIFFERENT. as i page through books, everything looks the same... cluttered, hard to read, TOO much. i was so tempted to put several images in the ad, and i think this is difficult for photographers - we want to show our work! but, in the end ONE really great shot says so much!
then, there is the text, what to write?!?! writing copy is another task. write too much and no one reads it. use the wrong font, and no one CAN read it! and say the wrong thing and you risk appearing unapproachable, amateur or unprofessional. i see a lot of claims in ads that aren't really true, or at least are unqualified. claims such as, 'the best...', 'the first..', 'the most...', 'the ultimate...' - what is that? the best according to whom? i think this is kind of off-base, yet you do want to stress your strengths, concisely and simply, and honestly. text is tough, if you are writing an ad, take your time and be sure your text is not cliché, uninspiring or misleading.
finally, SIMPLICITY. i think this one word speaks volumes. clean, simple, easy to read, with STYLE. these are the elements of an effective ad. remember, the idea is to appeal to someone enough to get them to contact you! you need to stand out to be noticed, and once noticed, convey a likable message and finally provide the means that you are able to be contacted, and make that clearly readable.
after hours of debate and several different layouts, the final print ad includes a photo of Megan+Michael taken in front of a plain orange wall along a hallway at the Carnegie Museum. unexpected, different, boldly set-off by the black background. gorgeous bride and groom 'lost' in the moment, unaware of us there. the pink sash of her dress is unique, too. we do not use models, ever. our photos are only of real weddings, real people, real moments. that is important to us - it's honest. the text is simple and we are proud to let people know we are a KNOT 'best of weddings' pick. it's a qualified claim.
so here you are... the final product. easy... 
i hope some of this is helpful if you are trying to come up with an ad. if you need help, let me know - my fees are pretty low.
i thought this would be a cool way to make sure i continue to try to learn another language - of course when i get lost 
, i can always switch it back to english! 
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