One of the biggest things I’ve learned over the past 7 years of running my photography business, is how important a solid workflow is.  Getting systems in place to run your business as productively as possible is CRUCIAL to your success and also maintaining your sanity and having a life apart from work, lol.

I’ve tried alot of different platforms, searching for the those that work best for me and offer the best price + most convenient features.

Some of the main things I look for in why I choose and like a platform are: reasonable price, mobile app option, aesthetically pleasing interface, no hidden fees, takes care of an aspect of my business so I don’t have to hire an employee for that task, creates a better client experience, saves me LOTS of time, quick customer service replies, etc.

So, if you value those same things, save your time searching and use these platforms (with FREE discounts) for getting a good workflow in place and saving you tonssss of time and money! P

HONEYBOOK:
$200 off (50% off)

This is the main one for your Client workflow.  It’s great for any small business, not just Photographers.  Honeybook is basically your personal assistant that organizes all client emails, scheduling, contracts, invoices, reminders, timeline checkpoints, etc.

The reason I love Honeybook, above alot of others I’ve tried, is because it offers EVERYTHING you would need and want in a client management software.  Honeybook is always improving and listening to its’ users in what additions they may want to see and in turn, implementing those as quickly as possible.
It’s also great for beginners, because it has templates setup within your account to give you an automatic starting point for your contracts so that you don’t have to Google search for hours trying to find a contract to customize.
Honeybook is incredibly user-friendly AND has an app so you can access all your files from clients while at the airport or on your way to a shoot to refresh your mind about the couple and their favorites type of images; )

TRY HONEYBOOK

PIC-TIME:
2 Free Months

I switched over to Pic-Time from Pixieset last year and it was theeee best decision.  I don’t have anything again Pixieset, but I am unapologetically a huge sucker for aesthetic and software design.  Pic-Time has theee most clean and beautiful userface and that’s just the kind of beauty pick-me-up  I need in my life when I’m working my bum off delivering pics; )

One of my favorite things about Pic-Time is how incredible the Shop attached to each gallery is.  I have increased my sales by 70% the last year, doing little to nothing other than using Pic-Time and offering the linked Store so that clients can order their desired products directly through their gallery!
Another thing I’m sold on is the very aesthetically beautiful and curated so that NONE of the offered products are tacky photo products ; )

TRY PIC-TIME

BLOGSTOMP:
20 % off
Use: CHANTELMARIE at checkout

I truly do NOT know how I lived without this for so long.  Blogging is already overwhelming enough and incredibly time-consuming when thinking about resizing images for web.  When I finally discovered Blogstomp, no joke, my life changed!  The time it took for me to create a blog post decreased immensely!  I was no longer anxious about the idea of slowing down my computer by dragging a ton of images into Photoshop and doing monotonous tasks.  Blogstomp is incredibly fast, it allows you to set the exact dimensions of your images for your blog + name them with SEO rich titles.
All you have to do it set your specifics and then just drag and drop into the platform.  From there, you can choose to use pre-set layouts to create diptych (side-by-side) images or just ‘Stomp’ one single image.  It is 100% ESSENTIAL for anyone that blogs.  

TRY BLOGSTOMP

FLOTHEMES:
20 % off
Use: CHANTEL20 at checkout

Not only do Flothemes have the most beautiful layouts, they consistently produce useful, free information.  I love Flothemes not only for their pretty design, but also for their: amazing customer service, constantly improving and offering updated themes, and all the resourceful knowledge they provide on their IG and blog.

I also use their Flohub, which allows you to create incredibly designed Pricelists from pre-made, customizable templates and embed them into your web address.  They allow you to have the documents private, password protected, or viewable to everyone.  These are soooo useful for elevating your branding and/or launching product/education.

TRY FLOTHEMES

ATLAS SUPPLY CO:
20% off
Use: CHANTEL at checkout

Gorgeous, high quality leather backpack. Has incredible compartment separators for diff camera bodies, lenses, and even a section for your laptop! I love this cuz when I shoot with a million digital + film cameras, I need a one-stop-shop to carry all my gear; )

TRY ATLAS SUPPLY CO

PELICAN CASE:

Thisssss case has legit changed my life and sense of security for my gear, lol. I went through a few years where I was traveling a ton for weddings and alot internationally. I was that classic American, who took a way oversized carry-on bag and somehow just slid right on through gate check. I would have anxiety every time I was boarding the plane, hoping that I could shove my carry-on (of my photog equipment) into the oversize bin, even though I knew it was much larger than the diagram measurements.

After going to Australia for Christmas and facing the fear of almost having my carry-on checked (of my photog equipment), and because it was way oversized, a fault of my own, I knew I had to get this issue under control so I could travel in peace!
This Pelican Case is theeee perfect size to fit a lot of equipment and is approved for all international carry-on guidelines. It’s crazy how much equipment it fits in it and how every single plane I’ve been on for the past couples years, both domestic and international, both large and tiny, it has fit perfectly in the oversize bin!
Honestly, I’m not generally a rule follower and feel like I can always finangle my way around something…but with carrying on camera equipment, I don’t mess around with the rules anymore and this Pelican Case and been one of my most essential purchases for my business.

TRY A PELICAN CASE

KISS BOOKS ALBUMS:
$50 free towards any order

I’ve spent a lot of years going through different album companies and really trying to find the most affordable + reasonably priced albums.  The reality is, a nice album, with printing on good paper + retaining image and quality is just going to be a little more expensive than Shutterfly.  It is WORTH the investment.  Kiss Books is incredibly competitive on their pricing and the amazing product that they offer.  I don’t shoot incredibly high-end weddings, so I wanted to make sure I wasn’t offering a Couture priced wedding album to my clients.  Another huge thing I pay attention to is the quality/color matching of the printing.  I love my images to be printed in a matte finish, but also not lose the integrity of the color with too much fade and texture.  Kiss Books is top of the line with their paper quality and printing and I couldn’t be more pleased with how they match images in their final product.

TRY KISS BOOKS

PHOTOFLASHDRIVE:
15 % off
Use: CHANTELMARIE15 at checkout

When I started out, I used to give my clients their images on a CD!  An actual CD with all their final images lol!  When it came to weddings, I would have alot more images for them so I would give them multiple CD’s because they didn’t all fit on one!…v 90’s of me, but also v inconvenient for them!
When I finally discovered Photoflashdrive and that you could deliver all images on one beautifully branded 32GB flash drive, I was ecstatic.  My next hurdle to jump was finding a company that wasn’t overseas (cuz i didn’t want to wait), and that didn’t require a huge bulk over (cuz I knew my branding would change)…
When I discovered Photoflashdrive, I thought it was too good to be true.  You can order just one single flash drive, fully customized in any size 4-62GB.  The prices isn’t hugely increased because of a single order and they’re located in the US.
Photoflashdrive constantly has amazing sales going on and is just so convenient for me when I’ve run out of drives or want to stock up, they’re pricing allows both options.
They also offer a sample order to see how your logo or branding prints on their product!  You’ll feel very profesh and legit and your clients will LOVE them!

TRY PHOTOFLASHDRIVE

UNRAVELED ACADEMY:

As I’m taking a step in different directions this year with my business, I will no longer be offering my online mentor sessions.  My only education source I’ll have will be my course on Unraveled Academy, live April 2019!

I’ll be sharing my full course with 6+ sections and videos of my process shooting Couples, titled: EVERYDAY LOVE: CAPTURING COUPLES AUTHENTICALLY.  
I’m sooo excited to share all my secrets, tips and tricks on a subject I’m so passionate about and something that has brought my most favorite and viral images.

Also, when you sign up for an Unraveled Membership, only $15/month, you have access to tons of Courses from different artists, within different categories and new content released monthly!
I’ve been loving getting educated on aspects of photography I don’t get to focus on and overall improving my skills constantly!

TRY UNRAVELED ACADEMY

SKILLSHARE:
2 FREE Months

I have been wanting to use Skillshare for a couple years now!  I finally signed up for a free trial and have been obsessssssed with all the variety of info they offer!

I’ve really been wanting to learn more about video and motion graphics, so I’ve been using those courses on their site to add these skills to my resume!

There’s access to 25 thouuuusand classes!…in all the subjects I’m interested in most: photography, design, illustration, business, etc.

If you haven’t tried this, 100% at least try the free trial and enjoy some education!

TRY SKILLSHARE

BONUS:

GIGI PIP HATS:
Use: CHANTELMARIE
for Free Shipping!

Cuz I wanna look cute while working at home or out on shoots; )
My fav Gigi Pip hats are:
Scottie: Classic black wide brim (I wear this like every time I go out)
Monroe: Theeee best brown rancher hat. Again, flat brim of course.
Bre: The stiff straw hat I have in 2 colors.
Emma: My next purchase- a felt, brown wide brim!

All of these items I included are truly sooo essential to my business running smoothly.
Hope you enjoy!

The post 2019 Photography Software and Workflow Discount Codes appeared first on Chantel Marie.

I loved this Fall wedding in Millcreek Canyon soooo much!  It was the perfect evening in September, not too cold in the evening, just right for spending all night celebrating and eating all the cheeseboards!

The bride, Jordie, wrote this beautiful piece on their wedding website of their love story and the story behind her favorite things about her wedding in Millcreek Canyon.
Enjoy the tale in Jordie’s words…

“Nearly 6 years ago I (jordie) was working as a waitress at a pizza place which was going under…So, to maintain employment I applied at a call center… yep a call center.

The day of my interview I was skeptical to say the least, especially because the recruiter that was supposed to be doing the interview didn’t come into work that day and was fired shortly thereafter.
After waiting two hours for someone to do the interview, a tall, dark haired, scruffy guy walked out and asked me to follow him.  After a ten minute interview he asked me if I could start tomorrow…I did.

After nine months of unsuccessful phone sales, I was offered a position as the Administrative Assistant, reporting to that same tall, dark haired, scruffy guy…let’s call him Aaron.

Two years go by and we find out that we are a killer team.  We planned incentives for the agents at the call center ranging from segway rides and food truck parties to baby photo day, and the most outrageous Halloween celebrations you’ve ever seen.

In the fall of 2013, I took a promotion and began reporting to someone else.  Months went by and I realized that not reporting to Aaron made me miss him, bad.

A couple months later we were texting and I got a major surge of courage.

I texted him:

“i’m crazy about you”

He responded:

“Ditto”

The rest is history.

Fast forward three years: one brand new home, six tubes of my favorite mascara (Marc Jacobs Velvet Noir, get it), four pairs of Sperry’s (Aaron’s shoe of choice), one dog adoption, a few more promotions,  we decided it’s time to get married.
I mean, it was more nagging on my part, of course, but who wants to hear that part?!.. Just makes me look less cool, and I’m the coolest.

Here are the details of the Wedding Day:

Our location was always going to be in the woods for the ceremony, but having it also become our reception location was a surprise.  Millcreek Canyon, The Terraces Campground, more specifically, became the obvious choice for our Fall wedding.
Naya,, our pup was able to roam as she liked, there wasn’t a noise restriction, we had massive amounts of parking and alcohol was allowed (very important to the Groom).

Photographer was a no-duh. Chantel and I have been friends for years, sharing a love for beauty outside the mainstream expectations.  Also, have you seen her work… why would I not?.. Talented little fairy.

Flowers were beyond perfect. Lexie and i had been in Lester Lee’s art class in high school together and I’d loved her talent then and knew she’d nail it…which she did.
My bouquet, oh my bouquet..it’s of course sitting in my office on display right now.

Food was a lucky win. Ramblin’ Rose doesn’t take on tons of events, they’re able to pick and choose their catering gigs and for whatever reason (probably because Chantel connected us) they agreed to do our wedding. Kristen and Candice just get food. I will forever put butter, honey and salt on my baguettes!

Jack Rose made drinks for all of our guests. ranging from Old Fashioned’s to Lime Rickeys.  Their perfect caravan added such a sparkle to the whole night.

Opal Artistry did the caligraphy on the drink menu, such a fun surprise to have her talent as part of the day as well.

Aaron and I wanted to make it as “us” as possible. so in an effort to do so…
-I have a thing for triangles, they were everywhere including on my wedding ring.

-With a little help from our friends, we built the centerpieces out of copper piping. our metal of choice, and the item we’ve worked with most in personalizing our home.

-His favorite little Italian candies, or “chips” , as they’re called, sat in copper triangle dishes on every table.

-Our favorite games sat on the tables, I don’t think anyone played them though, let’s just pretend.

-Tree trunk rounds painted with our logo/monogram hung on the streets guiding guests to the reception.

-A personalized fountain ALMOST was the main feature of the night.  Aaron worked tirelessly the days before the wedding to finish it and it still gave him hell. The thought was there honey, still so proud.

-My greatest regret was not taking a moment before my dad walked me down the aisle and telling him how much I love him and how he’s been the hero to my story my whole life.  I wanted to take that time to give him a huge hug and tell him that I’m happy.

-The ceremony was performed by his mom, a lutheran pastor, but more importantly his MOM.  We did a tree ceremony where each of our mothers brought a jar of dirt from our childhood home and poured it into the tree pot.  We then watered the tree together. Luckily, both sets of parents still live in our childhood homes, that could have been awkward…
The sun beamed down on us so beautifully, even with Naya’s incessant barking going on in the background. Dogs at weddings… good luck to those that try it.

And now, months later, our washing machine is recovering from the rugs, the thank you notes have been sent, our house is covered in wedding pictures (my mother says it’s a little much) and my toned wedding arms are looking more saggy every day.

Our hope is that our children and grandchildren will see this one day and know of the love we have for each other. It’s real, imperfect, and everything we need.”

Love, Jordie & (kind of) Aaron

`

“`

`

v    e    n    d    o    r    s

venue: Millcreek Canyon, The Terraces Picnic Area // floral: Carpe Diem Design // Dress: Kristen by Sottero & Midley + Grace Skirt by BHLDN // Veil: Sonnet Veil by BHLDN // drinks: Jack Rose Caravan // food: Ramblin Rose Cafe //

The post Fall Millcreek Canyon Wedding | SLC, UT | Aaron + Jordie appeared first on Chantel Marie.

Here are my favs and exactly what to get!   FOR 35mm:   Color: Kodak Portra 400   …(my absolute fav) Fuji 400           …(budget-friendly) B&W Kodak Tri-X Illford    FOR Polaroid:   Polaroid 600 Camera:   COLOR   B&W  Polaroid SX-70 Camera: COLOR B&W  Polaroid Land Camera    COLOR     ———–   Email or comment below if you have any questions!   If you still need a film camera or want to purchase one as a gift… Shop THE FILMSHOP by Chantel Marie   To learn more about where to send your film to be developed and other FAQ’s: CLICK HERE

The post Where to buy film for your 35mm or Polaroid camera appeared first on Chantel Marie.

I flew out to Arizona back in August to shoot with this gorgeous couple for their Engagements.  We shot at dusk in the Arizona desert landscape and they dressed in casual, stylish clothes to feel like a little desert road trip.

The dusk timing in Arizona really highlights the desert landscape in such a beautiful way that just makes you want to stop and stare for hours (if it would only last that long; )

I loooove shooting couples sessions where they wear everyday outfits that you’d actually see them hanging out in, it brings such a real and true-to-life feeling to the pictures.

Also, desert Engagements are theeee dreamiest!  I love shooting them during all hours of the day because it feels like the light is so much softer and you can always get such a good variety of lighting scenarios.

Hope you enjoy these road-trip style, desert Engagements of Ladd & Hannah!

The post Arizona Desert Road Trip Engagements | Mesa, AZ | Ladd + Hannah appeared first on Chantel Marie.

One of my favorite things about Portland is all of the renovated, old homes that I get to see while shooting!
We shot this in-home couples session of Kyle & Andrell in prep to welcome their new baby girl in a few months!

Like most people, they weren’t super used to having pictures taken of themselves so they really liked the idea of just hanging out and shooting their home where they’d feel most comfortable.  We did some cozy in-home shots in their first-home they purchased in Portland, OR.

Andrell wore a cream, Fillyboo maternity dress that felt so feminine + special to showcase her little baby bump.
And, of course, their first baby, Gigi the cat, was included in as many photos as we could trick her into ;)

The post In-Home Session with cat | Portland, OR | Kyle + Andrell appeared first on Chantel Marie.

Some of the best gifts for our people, or ourselves (lol),  are tangible products of our photo memories!  Soo, with the holidays and Christmas coming up, I wanted to get these options available for you so you have plenty of time to plan printing + mail times if ordering online!

It can be overwhelming to know where to print your photos, what kind of photo finish to choose, how to use your photos for creative print products that aren’t tacky; ) and basically just know what to do with your digital photos.
So, let me solve the problem and do it for you!

This post is for:
A. Anyone that is one of my past clients (or family and friends of) and has an online photo gallery from me
B. Anyone that loves film and has interest in film cameras + accessories or has a loved ones that loves film!

Here’s a breakdown of my favorite photos products (printed through me) and some things from my Filmshop (my online store that sells vintage cameras + accessories) that you or someone in your life who loves film will enjoy!

____ P H O T O   P R O D U C T   G I F T   I D E A S ____

A 35mm or Polaroid Camera
   from my Filmshop for Yourself or a film-interested loved one.

I have an ongoing Collection of 35mm vintage film cameras + Polaroid cameras in my Filmshop.  All cameras are cleaned, curated, and tested by me to ensure that you are getting a working product and that it’s a cute style; )  They are for every level of photographer, from beginning to advanced, I’ve categorized what camera is best for what type of photography level.
All film cameras in my Filmshop are in tested, working condition, with a link to an online film manual to learn more about how to use it, and confirmation that the film for the camera is still available for purchase and not discontinued.

A Camera Bag/Accessory
   from my Filmshop for Yourself or a film-interested loved one.

Whether it’s for your vintage camera, or to add some old-world charm to your digital setup, I have a curated collection of vintage camera bags, straps, and other accessories for purchase online in my Filmshop!

Linen Wedding Album:
   for your: Parents/Grandparents, Yourself

If you’re looking for a slightly quicker option for an album, that it all self-designed, this is for you!

This album provides museum grade printing with a smooth matte finish (flat finish that I reccomend for EVERYTHING, none of that glossy fakey photo look).
There are 3 sizes of album to choose from, a minimum of 20 pages (10 spreads) and maximum of 76 pages (38 spreads).

Production Time: 18 business days + shipping time.
Plan your time accordingly if you’re wanting to do an album for Christmas gifting to your parents or grandparents!

Fine Art Paper Magazine:
   for your: Parents/Grandparents, Yourself

A good option for a more low-key (cheaper) album-type option is a magazine book.

These books are just as their titled suggests: a magazine, editorial layout + look.
Printed on matte-recycled paper (the flat finish that I reccomend for EVERYTHING, none of that glossy fakey photo look).
They’re available in a pack of 2 with a minimum of 16 pages (8 spreads) and maximum of 60 pages (30 spreads).
With the pack of 2, this can be a good idea for both the parents + in-laws!

Production Time: 4 business days + shipping time.
Plan your time accordingly if you’re wanting to do an album for Christmas gifting to your parents or grandparents!

Print Pack:
   from your Couples session or Wedding

These packs are so great to help you stay focused on the exact task: choose 24 photos to order.
It takes away from having to decide how many photos you’re going to order, which ones, etc. It keeps you on task by knowing that all you have to do is choose the size (4 to choose from) and then 24 of your favorite photos…or 48…or 72;)  It’s always nice to have boundaries, cuz life is all about overwhelmed us these days lol.
The Magazines are printed on recycled matte paper (the flat finish that I reccomend for EVERYTHING, none of that glossy fakey photo look) with a small white border that gives them a classic, timeless look.

Production Time: 1 business days + shipping time

Framed Prints:
   for your Parents/Grandparents, or Yourself from your Couples session or Wedding

One of the most inconvenient parts of ordering photos is knowing you’ll have to find a frame, which is usually more expensive than you feel like it should be.  Sooo, my favorite, favorite thing about my Print shop is that you can choose from 5 different frame finishes (White, Wood: Barnwood, Natural Wood, Walnut, Black) and all standard print sizes.
The print and frame come all completed and shipped to you ready to hang immediately because they come with hanging hardware!!…or ready to gift to your family or friend!

Production Time: 3 business days + shipping time.

Barnwood Frame

Natural Wood Frame

Walnut Frame

2019 Minimal Photo Calendar (3 styles):
 for your Parents/Grandparents, or Yourself from your Couples session or Wedding

So, you know how almost every year at Christmas, you (or someone in your family) gives your parents or grandparents a calendar of the fam that’s a little bit tacky…I mean it’s suuuuper cute and very meaningful, but overall, aesthetic-wise it’s basically just not that pretty…Well, look at these: clean, minimal, modern calendar options!….to go along with your all your beautiful pictures we took together ; )

These are one of my FAV products in the shop.  Modern photo calendars.  They don’t take up a ton of space, but still have great visibility. They come in 3 simple designs: beautiful wood stand, clip, or spiral.  It’s a pretty easy decision, you can’t go wrong with any of the 3, if you’re like me and want everything in your home very curated lol.

Production Time: 4 business days + shipping time.

Photo Session Giftcard
from Chantel Marie

It’s always a nice surprise when someone wants a Couple’s session or is saving up for their Wedding Photos, and then all of the sudden they’re gifted that very thing over the Christmas holiday; )…

Email me to book a session and receive a Giftcard for your lover, friend, or family member and I’ll hold the credit for 1 year.

Film Product Giftcard
from my Filmshop for Yourself or a film-interested loved one.

I’m continually adding new things to my Filmshop as others sell out and there’s a constant update of pretty film products!
If you know someone close to you that dabbles in film or wants to, this is the place to buy a tested, curated and cleaned 35mm camera or Polaroid!

If you’re not quite sure what gift to purchase, Email me to buy a Filmshop Giftcard for your lover, friend, or family member and I’ll hold the credit for 1 year so they can peruse all the pretty vintage things they have to choose from!

***If you are a current/recent client of mine: all of these photo products are included, visible, and ready to order within your Final gallery.
***If you are a past client and your gallery has expired, BUT you wish to order any of these items, Email me, so we can get it back up and accessible for you.

For other Photographers, the platform that makes this printing access available to me is Pic-Time.  I could not rave about this platform more for delivering my client galleries + printing photos and products.
Click here for 2 free months when you sign up! 

The post 2018 Holiday Photo Gift Guide by Chantel Marie appeared first on Chantel Marie.

Ok, in the realm of wedding venues in Salt Lake City, UT, I have no idea why more people aren’t taking advantage of the Salt Lake Masonic Temple!
I shot this fall wedding for Stacey + David on the side lawn of the Salt Lake Masonic Temple and I couldn’t be more obsessed with the whole situation!  The indoor space is INCREDIBLY gorgeous as well and is where we were able to get all these dreamy, moody getting ready photos.  I would suggest the indoor as an amazing spot to do the wedding ceremony + dinner as well, as it has a huge variety of different room to choose from + an industrial kitchen AND a florist fridge for all your wedding florals to stay perfectly prepped!

Anyways, I could rave all day about this venue and the fact that I’m so happy I got to experience the uniqueness of it with Stacey & David.
They were married under a custom floral archway adorned with dark hues and fall tones.  After the ceremony the white tent area held a romantic setup of simple plates amongst tall candles and greenery.

September weddings in Utah are one of my most favorite times for an outdoor wedding.  It’s warm, but still cool enough to be able to celebrate outside all day and evening!

Enjoy this wedding with moody, lifestyle shots + mountain Formals session, and an evening under the stars.

The post SLC Masonic Temple Wedding | SLC, UT | Stacey + David appeared first on Chantel Marie.

WHERE DO I BUY FILM?

35mm FILM //

LOCAL: If you forget to stock up on film before a shoot or you just have the itch to shoot that day, your safest bet is the photo store in your area.  When I lived in Utah it was: Pictureline or Nichols Photo Lab , now that I’m in Portland it’s ProPhoto Supply, Blue Moon Photo, or The Shutterbug.
Other accessible places that are hit or miss are: Walgreens, Walmart, and even some grocery stores will carry one option.
I have found them at Smiths in SLC, UT.

ONLINE: My favorite places to buy film online are Amazon: THIS, THIS, and THIS, Pictureline, B&H Photo, Ebay 

Polaroid FILM //

LOCAL: If you forget to stock up on film before a shoot or you just have the itch to shoot that day, your safest bet is the photo store in your area.  When I lived in Utah it was: Pictureline, now that I’m in Portland it’s ProPhoto Supply, Blue Moon Photo, or The Shutterbug.
A random place for Polaroid film that has saved me on procrastination days is: Urban Outfitters.  They generally always have Instax Wide Polaroid Film in stock + sometimes carry the trendy/colored 600 Film packs.

ONLINE: My favorite places to buy polaroid film online are Amazon, B&H Photo, Polaroid,  Ebay, Urban Outfitters.  

For Polaroid 600 Film

For the FP-100C (Land Camera film) that has sadly been discontinued (although, I personally believe they will bring it back at some point), its a bit more of a search on Google, Amazon, Ebay.  I’ve found it HERE, HERE, and HERE.

HOW DO I KNOW WHAT FILM TO BUY, THERE ARE SO MANY OPTIONS?!

Alot of selecting a film stock is based on look-preference, price, accessiblity, etc.
My favorite types to shoot with are: Portra 400 (cuz it’s the most gorgeous), Kodak Gold (cuz it just seems to always look good) and Fuji Film 400 (cuz its cheap)
As for black and white film: I always use: Illford or Tri-x400.
I mainly stick with 400 ISO.  It’s just a good general/safe ISO.  Also, unless I have a flash, I never really shoot film at night.  It’s too hard sometimes to get the right light when its super dark and usually I only have 400 Film Speed on hand so I’m not prepared to tackle such low-light.  But, again, that’s a preference.  It can be done, so totally feel free to play around with it!

HOW/WHERE SHOULD I STORE MY FILM?

If you’re buying extra film and keeping it at your house or studio, it’s important to make sure it’s not subject to any extremes of light or temperature.  You’re likely fine keeping it in a place at room temperature, but the best storage option for longest use is in the fridge in a plastic bag or container.

WHERE DO I DEVELOP MY FILM?

My favorite options are at your local photo stores.  I don’t have a huge preference on how the scans are processed or specifics with pushing and pulling because the whole reason I shoot 35mm film is for the simplicity, allowance of mistakes, and the messy/undone vibe.  So, unless you’re shooting more fine art film, I don’t find those factors too important for me personally.  With that being said, I have alot of options for where to develop.

LOCAL: your Professional Photo Stores
Utah:
Nichols Photo Lab: I loved this place because I could just drop off the film without having to mail it in and then they would just email me the scans, usually within 1-2 days!

Portland:
The Shutterbug: I like this place for a cheaper price and quick service, BUT they don’t email scans so you have to bring your own flash drive in when you drop-off and then go back to pick it up to see your scans.  Otherwise, they give you a CD option…which do we even know what a CD is anymore?!  
Pro Photo Supply: Really high quality but pricier and at least 5 days out on returning scans via email.

MAIL-IN:

I don’t know why this freaks me out so much to send my shot-through rolls in the mail…but it does. haha  So, on top of the conveniece of just dropping off at my local photo store, I prefer not to pay for the shipping + stress of anything getting lost in the mail…that is just my personal preference though because I’m not too picky about labs and scanners.
I know tons of photographers that mail in their rolls all the time and don’t ever have a problem.  Total preference.

Labs + State:                         

Indie Film Lab
AL
Nichols Photo Lab
UT
The Find Lab
UT
Richards Photo Lab
CA
State Film
KY
The Shutterbug
PDX
Pro Photo Supply
PDX
Blue Moon Camera
PDX
Citizens Photo
PDX

(Thanks to those that sent me recommendations on IG, in addition to the few I’ve tried)

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The post Where to buy & develop film + What kind of 35mm film to buy appeared first on Chantel Marie.

OMG.  I turned 30 this week!  30 is a BIGGG deal!  It feels like such an adult number and I’m kinda shocked at how quickly this age came!

On my birthday I shot an amazing Portland elopement and then came home to my husband dressed up with a packed picnic!!  We drove to a park by the river and ate pretty cheeseboard food, drank sparkling drinks, snuggled on the blanket, and watched the sun fall over the water.  It was so lovely and the perfect time with my dude to celebrate 30!

Soooo, in honor of my 30th bday, I wanted to share 30 things that I find sooo useful to me these days.

Apart from the obvious family, friends, puppy, shelter, clothing, etc..here are 30 small, random things I find myself using almost every single day!

Images via Pinterest, In Frames Photography

• Ice Roller
  I wake up looking forward to using this.  It flushes any swelling out of my face, wakes me up, and is amazing preventative care for youthful skin.  I get depressed when I forget it when I’m traveling, its ESSENTIAL.
• Polaroid Camera
  I always carry either a polaroid camera, disposable, or my film camera in my purse so I can capture my own life moments on film: )
• Film Camera
• Long Cell Phone Cord
  Why would Apple ever even make a short phone cord, it is the death of us.
• Sparkling Water
  Basically, I’m addicted.  I drink it plain or I add the Mio + Stay Calm powder and its amaaaazing.
• Yetti
  No better way to get all my water in for the day.  I take this everywhere.
• Gigi Pip Hats
  I basically wear hats everyday…whether its baseball cap for grungy days or workouts or cute stiff brims for getting dressed up.  This shop is my fav local place, owned by the kindest gal!
• Crude Skincare
  Basically, I didn’t know how good my skin could feel until I started using Crude.  I’m entirely obsessed and will not put anything else on my skin.  Also, I love dewy so this only enhances the routine with the oil glow.
• Pelican Case
  More on the work side, but this durable protecting case was one of the best decisions I’ve ever invested in for my equipment.  Plus, it fits all intentional size carry-on restrictions so I never have to stress that they’re gonna make me check it!
• Face Mist
  One of the keys to keeping your skin youthful and avoiding wrinkles and lines is to moisturize.  I mist this on my face a few times a day when I feel a little dry, and I carry one in my purse for traveling when I know I’ll be extra dry.
• Teva Sandals
  I always thought these were such weird granola shoes, but I couldn’t have been more wrong.  One of my best friends convinced me of their necessity for hikes w the pup and adventures in the mountains…Now, I wear them allllll the time!  Sometimes I even forget I have them on and wear them to the gym to workout in hahha
• NARS Geraline Lipstick
  My go-to color!  Sometimes I only feel like wearing a lip color if it’ll stand out and this is the perfect stand-out-but-not-too-crazy shade.
• Thick Straws
  I just use straws for everything and I know I’ll only drink my protein shakes if I have a straw, sooo, thick straws are a must.
• Power Crunch Bars
  The lowest carb protein bars that literally tastes like a wafer candy bar!  I eat one everyday.
• Stay Calm Magnesium
  A magnesium supplement in powder form.  I put it in my sparkling water and it adds a little sour, raspberry lemon flavor thats amazing and giving me the calming effects of magnesium.
• Lemonade Mio
  I carry this in my purse and take it everywhere for times when I want to grab an unsweetened iced tea, but still need a little no-calorie flavor.
• IT Cosmetics CC Cream
  Again, with the dewy skin glow…This is life-changing, your skin will literally GLOW.
• Tinted Sunscreen
  Obvi I’m obsessed with protecting my skin, so sunscreen is a must and this recommendation from my friend, @lashbrowtan, is my new fav: light, moisturizing, zinc protection, and a little color.
• NARS Highlighter
  Wow, I didn’t realize half of my list here would have to do with skin and dewy, glow…soo, this is another essential in that little recipe ; )
• Brooks Running Shoes
  Ok, running shoes are never cute.  And if they are…they’re probably not that great of running shoes.  Brooks + Saucony are my two fav running shoes brand: used them all growing up and when running Cross-Country in college.  They are lightweight, amazing support and theee best running shoes in my opinion.
• Headphones
  I’m basically always wearing my headphones: I get up in the morning and do my routine + clean the house and walk the dog, all while listening to a podcast with my headphones in ad helping me focus.  I’ll talk my dog to the park and listen to a podcast or make calls while walking laps around the field.  My headphones make menial tasks go super quickly and help me power through them.  Carry them everywhere!  Bonus points for wireless, cuz, multitasking.
• Books
  Here’s a few of my absolute fav books.  I have a lot of these as hardcopies, but also will listen to a lot on audio while I edit and travel.

The Alchemist
Purple Cow  
Principles   
Steal List an Artist  
Rising Strong  
Happiness is an Inside Job 
You Are A Badass   
You Are A Badass at Making Money 
Big Magic  
You Can Heal Your Life 
Essentialism

• Brow Tints
  If you’ve never had your brows tinted or think its a scary thing that’ll ruin your face or brows…you must find someone you trust and allow them to work their magic!  A simple brow tint that fills in all the holes and slightly darkens your natural brow will make you feel like a million bucks.  I’m pretty much addicted and love wearing no makeup with my brows done.
• Pretty Bralettes
  TMI: I’m a no-bra or bralette girl only.  Lightweight and pretty just boost my mood.
• Epsom Salt Baths
  Unfortunately, like VERYYYYY unfortunately, when we moved to Portland we moved into an apartment with no bath tubs.  Baths are my #1 form of self-care so it’s been an uphill battle to say the least haha  But really, a lavender salt bath solves half your problems.
• Apple TV
  For all the hours I spend editing, I watch ALOT of TV…
• Doc Marten Boots
  My go-to for footwear at shoots are boots.  It’s kinda the safest bet in case you’re trekking through a field or have to stand in somewhere tricky.  Durable, cute boots are a must.
• Sunglasses
  I have the most sensitive eyes on the planet + with contacts I basically can’t leave the house without wearing sunnies.  Investing in a couple good, polarized pair of sunnies has been the best decision.
• Dry Shampoo
  I think we all now by now we’re not supposed to wash our hair too often, plus, saving those curls you put in for days to come is pretty nice.  My friend told me about this scent of my fav dry + CHEAP dry shampoo and I almost can’t believe how good it does smell!!
• Hair Scrunchies
  After dying my hair in high school from suuuper dark to suuuper blonde over and again, I’ve been on the mend the last couple years getting my hair healthy.  I do put my hair up a lot but use scrunchies so it’s not as harsh and prevents breakage.  Plus, they’re cool kids 90’s : )
• Moleskin Notebooks
  I have a million notebooks around at all times for whenever I have an idea or wanna remember something or have a concept I wanna write out.  I always need to write stuff down so I don’t have to just keep it all in my head.  Also, I find journaling really, really helps me when I’m feeling no-good feelings to just get everything out and move on.
• Gold Eye Masks
  Love these to wake my eyes up in the AM and feel fresh AF.

Enjoyyyy!  Let me know what ya’ll can’t live without on the daily!

The post 30 OF MY FAVORITE THINGS FOR 30 YEARS OLD appeared first on Chantel Marie.