Shoot & Share 2019

We are thrilled to share our results from this year’s Shoot & Share Photo Contest, our first year of participation. It was a last minute decision (we only remembered to submit in the final hours before the competition closed so mad-panic-grab-at-50-almost-randomly-selected-images lesson learned: we are marking the date on our calendar next year! #parentlyf).

Here is a description of the Shoot & Share Photo Contest in their own words: “The Shoot & Share Photo Contest is the world’s only free & fair photo contest. Enter up to 50 photos in 25 categories. Anyone can enter photos, and it’s totally free! View the photos randomly and vote for your favourites. No one knows who took the photos, but everyone votes for the winners. The photos with the most votes win!”

In total, 583,150 images were entered in 25 categories. By the final round, 174,215 unique voters had participated from 144 different countries. They had spent 15,809 cumulative days casting over 90 million votes. It was quite the adventure progressing through the 12 rounds of voting!

As the final results are now available, we want to congratulate the photographers who had significantly better results than we did. They have truly inspired us. We are looking forward to putting some of that inspiration into good use - with our own spin, of course. We are looking forward to next year’s Shoot & Share Photo Contest already.

In terms of our results, feel free to check out the image below:

Results for Poppy & Sage Photography from Shoot & Share 2019: x1 Finalist, x1 Top 10%, x3 Top 20%, and x3 Top 30%.

We are grateful for both the opportunity and the votes cast for our images. I (Em) want to:

a) Recommend the competition for fellow photographers (or anyone really!). Honestly, just do it! We watched from the sidelines last year mostly driven by intimidation. If you have been considering joining in, make 2020 your year! Here are the categories so hopefully some resonate with you:

WEDDING

The Wedding Couple
The Bride
The Groom
The Wedding Party
Ceremony / Reception
Wedding Details

PORTRAIT

Birth
Newborn
Babies / Toddlers
Kids
Teens / Seniors
Families
Maternity
People Portraits
Pets / Animals
Lifestyle / Documentary

WEDDING/PORTRAIT

Engagement / Couples
That Just Happened
Emotion / Excitement
Passion Portrait
Styled Wedding / Fashion

PERSONAL / OTHER

Share Joy
Creative Projects
Phone Photography
Travel / Landscape

b) Most importantly, take a moment to acknowledge Pete. Our image that placed as a finalist was one that Pete took (this image alone was “favourited” - or shown some love - 45 times by voters) and was edited by me (I edit all of our images):

 
 

Our image that placed in the Top 10% was also one that Pete took:

 
 

I am so incredibly proud of his talent and unique eye. Just in the time I have known him (10 years!), Pete’s growth has been exponential and he teaches me. As I recently shared on instagram (check out the accompanying image Pete took here that has since placed in the Shoot & Share Photo Contest), “Photography has always been my (Em's) baby. Pete came along and, to be honest, my passion frustrated him sometimes. Understandably so. If I go to someplace I have never been before (especially overseas), I feel naked without the camera. I always rationalise the situation by stating that we may never visit x place again (we both favour new adventures as opposed to reliving fond memories). Also, I don't want to rely on my longterm memory. Photography had to either be shelved under an individual hobby category (with me being more mindful of his feelings and compromising somewhat) or Pete would jump in the photography world, too. This is some straight fire he shot recently. I am learning from him. <3“.

Lastly, two more of Pete’s shots for good measure… yep, I am loud & proud ;):

 

Thank you for sharing in our delight and we’ll be over here counting down to next year’s contest. ;)

 

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P.S. I was going to leave this post at celebrating Pete’s outstanding work but then I realised that one of my images is the beautiful half (Samantha) of the couple that includes the handsome groom (Johnré) above so - hey, why not include it, too! They are a lovely couple that we have been truly delighted to work with.

Information :: We Welcome Everyone Equally!

We want to make something perfectly clear: at Poppy & Sage Photography, we welcome all people. From all countries. From all backgrounds. From all heritages. Our ideal client(s) comes from any one of 195 countries. Racism has no place in our business model (or life, for that matter).

We welcome everyone equally. No prejudice. No judgement.

We have updated our FAQ page with this section:

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Do you welcome cultural weddings?

Yes! We absolutely do. As stated in our “About” section, we believe that all people are equal. And equally beautiful. Furthermore, we enjoy travel, especially to off-the-beaten track locations. One thing we have learned from our travels so far is that we can all learn from each other. We would love to hear your unique story and it would be our privilege to capture it!

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Feel free to contact us here:

Bridal Shoot :: Crisp White & Green Inspiration at Fort Lytton, Australia

The shoot below was a fun collaboration between Emunah Events, Makeup by Hayley Gervais and the lovely model Georgia. The shoot took place at Fort Lytton National Park. Fort Lytton has enjoyed some notoriety with the filming of Unbroken (Angelina Jolie) and The Railway Man (Nicole Kidman) so we figured that it should be good enough for us. ;)

All jokes aside, this was such a fun shoot. Georgia was amazing (you can find her instagram here). We shot this mid-morning during Brisbane’s hot & humid summer and Georgia did.not.complain.once. She was a trooper. Georgia’s wonderfully bubbly, make-the-best-of-the-moment personality really shone through.

Hayley, from Makeup by Hayley Gervais, is responsible for the conception of this shoot. It was a real treat to work with Hayley. Her stunning work - both hair & makeup - enhances natural beauty; it doesn’t distract from it. You will find Makeup by Hayley Gervais listed among our preferred vendors (here). Looking forward to working together soon!

Emunah Events. Honestly. We are obsessed with Carissa & Serena’s work so any opportunity to work with them is a no-brainer. As this was a simple, crisp shoot (sometimes less really is more), we wanted classic elements that would pop. As always, Emunah Events delivered. (You will find the Emunah team listed among our preferred vendors, too.)

None of this would have been possible without the above team. Thank you to each of you for such a memorable shoot.

Meet Jenn :: Jenn Terrell (United States)

We kicked off a new series last month featuring traveling photographers from around the world. We make no secret of the fact that we love travel. We love learning about other cultures. We love contributing to a smaller, more interactive space. With this in mind, we are going to be sharing local stories by local photographers from around the world throughout our posts this year.

For this month’s feature post, we had a chat with Jenn Terrell based in the United States. Readers are in for a treat as not only is Jenn lovely to converse with but her work has been internationally recognised (including by National Geographic Your Shot & Vogue Italia). We hope you enjoy Jenn’s feature and her inside scoop on her part of the world: Arkansas, United States. All images below were taken by Jenn and cover food, art and people found in her corner of the world. Enjoy!

This image was published by Vogue Italia and involved the following vendors:
Photographer: Jenn Terrell
MUA/Planner/Creator of the amazing crown: Veronica Jaquelinne Lopez
Model/Queen: Lagrea K Higgs
Gold Dress: Rosie Rose Designer
Venue: The Ballroom at I Street

 
 

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Tell us about where you live: I live in Bentonville, Arkansas in the United States.

What makes your town, state or country unique?: Bentonville is the location of the headquarters of Walmart. Because of that, several people travel to Bentonville each day for business, etc. On any given day you can hear a number of accents from different people at local stores. Bentonville is also in the Northwestern part of the state. There are lots of beautiful trails, mountains, waterfalls and more all over the state.

Jenn took this image of Hubert Neal, Jr painting in his studio. He is a Belizean American artist currently living in Bentonville. His work can be found at hubertnealjr.com. (Photography by Jenn Terrell)

Jenn took this image of Hubert Neal, Jr painting in his studio. He is a Belizean American artist currently living in Bentonville. His work can be found at hubertnealjr.com. (Photography by Jenn Terrell)

If I traveled from the opposite side of the world, what should I visit in your town, state or country?: Definitely visit Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. The place is a never ending wonderland of art. It is an amazing place!

Beautiful Bentonville creating the backdrop for this image. (Photography by Jenn Terrell)

What is something quirky we would find in your town, state or country?: I would say find people and talk to them, especially in Arkansas. Make a friend, grab a great cup of coffee and hit the trails or relax by the lake. I have also had a lot of luck thrift shopping here. I have found everything from a leather coach laptop bag for $25 to vintage cameras with lens that work on my personal camera.

Coffee or chai/tea?: There are lots of coffee shops in Bentonville and Northwest Arkansas in general. My favorite, hands down, is Onyx Coffee Lab. The one in Bentonville looks like something out of this world. The coffee is amazing and even the signature drinks are very unique. The vibe inside is really nice, too. It is great for photoshoots or relaxing with a friend.

Food recommendations?: The food here is also amazing! Many of the restaurants downtown are owned by chefs or have an executive chef. My personal favorites are Oven and Tap Restaurant (pizza and other delicious entrees), Little Beans (El Salvadorian Food), and Table Mesa (Mexican).

Best breakfast cafe?: The Station Cafe is great for that old school cafe vibe with delicious pancakes and biscuits and gravy. So good!

Three reasons for why someone should visit your town, state or country?: Three reasons to visit Bentonville are easy! One, Crystal Bridges Museum of Art. Two, you will make friends and, three, enjoy amazing food!

Chef Aria Kagan presenting at a Brightwater Salon event where an artist is paired with a chef for a night of food and art. Brightwater is a local culinary school. (Photography by Jenn Terrell)

This image was taken at a Brightwater Salon event where an artist is paired with a chef for a night of food and art. Brightwater is a local culinary school. (Photography by Jenn Terrell)

Any local legends?: Every now and then Alice Walton (daughter of the creator of Walmart) will come into Onyx and grab some coffee. I have also seen her on a golf cart in the Neighborhood Walmart parking lot.

There is also the Bentonville Film Festival every spring. Celebrities from all over come to Bentonville for it. You will see celebrities in the restaurants downtown and out and about. Once I saw Jon Heder (the guy who played Napoleon Dynamite) at Oven and Tap.

Jenn’s description for this image: “The gentleman looking out the window is Eric Trautman. He was my first landlord here and just a gentle soul. He has helped several local artists get their start”. (Photography by Jenn Terrell)

Train, bus, car or walk?: Bentonville is a smaller town so renting a car is probably the best option. That or getting an uber everywhere.

Best accommodation?: 21C Hotel is definitely the best in town. Celebrities stay there when they come in. If you are looking for something a little more budget friendly, there are plenty of Airbnbs in town that are fabulous. Eureka Springs is also only about an hour away and it is a gem of a small town. There are lots of treehouses and cabins that can be rented there.

This image was taken outside of 21C Hotel. (Photography by Jenn Terrell)

Number one thing you miss when you're away?: When I leave, I will miss Onyx Coffee, the amazing food and the great people that I have met in Bentonville. Tanyard Creek (15 minutes away) also has a beautiful waterfall that only takes a short hike to access.

Jenn tells the story behind this one: “I took this photo of Laverne Cox in Fayetteville (20 minutes from Bentonville). Her lecture was part of a series put on by the University of Arkansas. They bring in amazing speakers like her periodically”. (Photography by Jenn Terrell)

This image was taken by Jenn of her friend, Roxana. Roxana is from El Salvador and they met in Bentonville. Jenn says of Roxana, “She has been one of the most amazing people to know”. (Photography by Jenn Terrell)

 
 

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You will find Jenn here:

Information :: Wedding Ring Shot Inspiration

We recently stumbled upon a polarising discussion between photographers. The key question was this: should you, as the photographer, provide props for detail shots (such as ring boxes, ribbons, trays, stamps and so on) or is it something that the client should take the lead on? There were two camps:

One side, against photographers providing props, questioned if it could it be perceived to be intrusive in a way? Could the photographer potentially incorporate elements that are not sentimental to the couple? The photographers in this camp were arguing that photographers should use creative elements either supplied by the couple (keepsakes) or things that could be found at their wedding venue(s), such as a plant, for example. That each client’s images should not have stock standard elements that come from recycled kit. Furthermore, all the images should be cohesive (documented and authentic rather than fabricated).

However, the other side of the debate, pro photographer provision of props, suggested that the extra preparation (and investment) could demonstrate attention to detail by the photographer. Could it be categorised as going above and beyond? Thoughtful even? The photographers in this camp wanted their clients to feel looked after and with nothing left to chance. To guarantee ‘pretty’ images for their clients. To have some control over the quality of the styling. Furthermore, in some cases, styling was an essential part of the photographer’s brand and a unique selling point (especially those with a background in food or product photography, for example).

Each photographer has their own aesthetic and, like a lot of things in life, there is absolutely no right or wrong here. Furthermore, we would hope that most people could agree that there are waaaaaaaaaaay bigger issues in life. When all is said and done, it is up to the client to decide how they want their day documented - whether that is a style that incorporates a photographer’s individual styling kit or is more organic & bespoke. Personally, we love true to life and we love a good creative challenge. Ultimately, we want the images to showcase you as a couple and incorporate your style and story - whatever that is.

We looked through some of our recent shoots for ring shots, in particular. (The discussion referenced above heavily featured ring boxes as there has been a definite trend for Mrs Box ring boxes or equivalent so rings were fresh on our mind at the time of writing.) We found the diversity in our shots interesting. We have done some of these shoots alongside a stylist or two with impeccable taste (sometimes we are spoiled rotten!). We are proud of those images. We can appreciate a stunning piece of heirloom jewellery and we love to showcase it without distraction. However, we also found it interesting how much we like seeing ring shots ‘in the wild’, too. There is a sense of adventure to these. Relatability perhaps. A feeling that the ring is more than jewellery now and is an important part of the person wearing it. See what you think and feel free to discuss even the smallest details with us- as we say around here, “If it is important to you, it is important to us”. We welcome all ideas - including those that are outside of the box, so to speak. Here are 100+ of our favourites:

Update: this image placed in the Top 20% of its category in the 2019 Shoot & Share Photo Contest. It placed at 3585/18829 submissions.

Finally, one with a difference: the devoted aunt-of-the-bride inspecting the rings for the first time. <3