nc wedding vendors

Indian Wedding + Vendor Chat with IWP Photography

May 6, 2010 by Tabitha

I had the opportunity to interview half of the husband and wife team (Hitesh and Mica Parekh) from IWP Photography, a wedding photography firm based in Raleigh, NC that specializes in indian weddings. Feature below is that interview and a few photos from their recent clients, Arti and Naraj’s indian wedding ceremony.

TD:What is the story behind IWP Photography?

MP: IWP Photography was started as Tesh’s Fine Art & Photography back in 2007. We changed the name after our son was born in 2008. IWP are his initials. The name means so much more to us…it reminds us why we do what we do every time we mention our business name! We specialize in Weddings & Professional Event photography, Commercial Photography and Food Photography.

TD: Can you tell me about your approach to working with brides?

MP: Our approach is simple. Listen, Listen, Listen to what the Bride says she wants and create a package to fit her perfectly. This is one of the most important days in a Brides life and we want to make sure that her dream of how her photography will be is met.

TD: What about your style of photography?

MP: Tesh, the lead photographer and owner of IWP is a master at lighting. Also, he knows his camera just as good if not better than the manufacturer which means that he mostly creates the finished images in the camera instead of in post production mode using a certain program. We have very little time in post production and that is so important to us.

TD: How many people shoot for IWP Photography?

MP: 2 photographers, Tesh is the lead and Mica is the 2nd photographer

TD: What advice would you offer to brides when selecting their wedding photographer?

MP: We have a whole article on this and can send it to anyone that would like to read it. From that list, number one for us is a photographer that guarantees their work.

TD: What is your favorite time of the day to shoot weddings?

MP: Evening weddings offer a type of magical lighting that you can’t get any other time of the day, but any time is great for us. Since Tesh is a Master of Lighting, he can recreate any light tones he needs for the photo. We love weddings especially because of that special moment between two people at the very time that they commit themselves to one another forever….that makes all the work so rewarding!

TD: Lastly, what is the one thing you cannot start your day without?

MP: A to do list! And number one on the list is prayer and giving thanks. We are so blessed to be able to capture moments in time that can be seen for a lifetime or longer…that means everything to us.

TD: I love your list of things that you can’t start your day without!!

To view more photos this Arti and Naraj’s wedding, please visit IWP Photography’s blog. Mica, thank you so much for answering my questions and sharing photos from this beautifulwedding.

Tags: indian weddings
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Free Engagement Session by Winstead Photography

February 7, 2010 by Tabitha

Roger at Winstead Photography is offering a complimentary off-site engagement photo session, including a free 8 x 10 print to all new clients, who book his services during the month of February.

Roger serves clients throughout North Carolina and beyond, including for destination weddings. To learn more about Winstead Photography, please visit their website. And if you’re on Twitter, you can follow him here.

Photo Credit: Winstead Photography

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Feature Fridays – White Thread Inspiration Blog

December 18, 2009 by Tabitha

If you are a bride in the Carolinas and are seeking inspiration for your wedding, please be sure to checkout the White Thread blog, edited by Dina Holland.

I first met Dina (she has such a warm spirit) back in June at a social media workshop for wedding professionals in Raleigh, presented by Liene Stevens of Splendid Communications. Since then, Dina has launched a very inspiring wedding blog “…to showcase the unique, personal, love-filled weddings being held right here, throughout North & South Carolina.”

If you are a recently engaged bride and want to see how other Carolina brides before you have done their wedding in style, I invite you to visit and subscribe to the White Thread’s blog.

Get Inspired!

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Vendor Chat with Mari Palmer of Bel Canto Designs

May 12, 2009 by Tabitha

I was so excited to learn about today’s featured creative artist, Mari Palmer of Bel Canto Design, in part because she is a local wedding vendor based in Apex, NC which is located just outside of Raleigh-Durham and also because I am fond of these vintage jewelry. Bel Canto Designs is a unique company in that they “specialize in finding and restoring vintage jewelry and then giving it new life”. Last week, I had the opportunity to ask Mari a few interview questions about her company and products. They are as follows:

TD: What is the story behind Bel Canto Designs?

MP: It all started when my daughter was fundraising for a chorus trip. We worked together to make earrings for her to sell and it did quite well. After that, friends wanted me to do their daughters weddings and then every Christmas my friends’ husbands would come to find their wives presents. Then a little over a year ago, I signed myself and a friend up to do a wedding show. It was really to get her going in photography. It ended up being a launch for Bel Canto. The reason for vintage? As I was preparing for the wedding show, I came across a vintage haircomb and fell in love! It grew from there.

TD: Do brides usually come to you with something already in mind or do you have to help them discover their particular style and work from there? What is the process of bringing her vision to life?

MP: Just finished a wedding where the bride described her venue, brought me her colours and I was able to design her bridesmaids necklaces. Sometimes a bride will have a photo for me to work from. Sometimes just a “feeling”. I can usually help her after I have seen the dress she has chosen…as well as the bridesmaids dresses. If the brides are local, I have them come over with their dresses. If it is online, they send lots of pics!

TD: How long does it take to restore these beautiful pieces of art and what exactly does it involve.

MP: My husband is the “restorer”. He is an engineer and therefore great withdetail work. He buffs them to remove old makeup then adds any missingrhinestones and/or touches up the silver/gold finish. It usually takes a fewdays but a group of pieces are done at once.

TD: What is your personal favorite piece of vintage jewelry you have restored thus far and what was your fascination with the piece?

MP: I don’t really have a favorite piece. I am afraid I am fickle and fall in love with new finds all the time! It is a joy finding a beautiful vintage piece with [a] nice flow of design and then envisioning it as another piece of jewelry.

TD: Lastly, what is the one thing you cannot start your day without?

MP: I couldn’t start any day without Jesus….and a cup of coffee with my husband!

Mari Palmer also tells me that she is “…a voice teacher with a full studio….mostly of teenage girls! Those young ladies have grown up and married. In some cases, I have done their jewelry. That is how I discovered I enjoyed working with brides to be. It was so much fun seeing the dress, hearing about the “vision” then designing the jewelry.”

To learn more about Bel Canto Designs as well as view more from her collection, please visit her by clicking here to visit her storefront’s website. Mari Palmer also has a blog, so please be sure to check it out regularly to see more featured products including custom designs.