Fat Orange Cat Studio
Website: www.fatorangecatstudio.com
my Kate Parker Wedding State & Budget: MA and RI, under $25k
Number of years in business: I’m celebrating my first year in business.
Preferred wedding locations: I love small, intimate weddings by the beach, in a barn, at a vineyard or under an old tree in your parents’ backyard. I also love Europe, so if all of these things are located in or near Paris, Venice, or an English countryside, I would not at all object.
Pricing information: My prices start at $2,000 for 6 hours of coverage and includes high-resolution digital files on disc. Prices will vary depending on the day of the wedding (weekday vs weekend), and any add-ons such as extra coverage hours, or products like prints and albums.
What makes you stand out? I think the way my business began makes me stand out. I started at the beginning of 2009 as a pet photography boutique. I named it Fat Orange Cat Studio after the many orange tabbies I’ve owned since I was a child, but it’s mainly in honor of the current orange cat in my life named Van Buren, or Veebs for short. The name “Fat Orange Cat Studio” is a bit of a misnomer however, as Veebs is more pleasantly plump than fat, and because I don’t have an actual studio. All shoots are done on location at or around the client’s home. My goal is to capture dogs and kitties being themselves, without the backdrops, artificial lighting, or props.
Because I wanted to keep my niche very narrow, I didn’t give wedding photography very much thought. But to my surprise I very quickly found myself building a small wedding portfolio alongside that of my pets.
My first wedding came about after I photographed a bride-to-be’s golden retriever. After seeing the prints, she insisted I photograph her wedding, which was a huge surprise to me. But since then I have booked several other weddings along the same vein: a couple hires me to photograph their dog, they come back asking me to photograph them. Our mutual love of pets brings us together!
As it turns out, wedding photography is very much like pet photography in that I’m running around trying to keep up with the action. But the best part is, the bride and groom actually listen to me when I say, “Sit! Stay!”
What’s the favorite part of your work? I’ve always been a very sentimental, nostalgic person. Being able to freeze time and give clients a snapshot of a happy moment or one that might otherwise have been forgotten is a wonderful privilege.
If you have any spare time, how do you like to spend it? I haven’t quite outgrown my love for Super Mario Bros on Nintendo, and luckily (or unluckily), neither has my husband, so after a hard day’s work we can be found playing video games together. I also love eating, knitting, and traveling. Even though I’ve lived in New England for nearly 15 years, as a transplant from the deep south I still very much treat the area – Boston in particular – like a travel destination. I never tire of exploring Boston’s old neighborhoods and haunts, and especially its historical colonial cemeteries!
Which charities are you donating to and why? I’ve chosen to donate to all three (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, the Pink Initiative, and the ASPCA). I have lost family members to cancer, am a huge fan of pets, and though I do not have personal experiences with diabetes, diabetes research is an important cause for many.
Maine, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire wedding photographer and my Kate Parker Wedding member, Claris Photography, shares advice for rainy day wedding fears. We wanted to post some of our favorite older blog posts from our old blog site. We loved the rainy day wedding series, so we thought we could re-post this for all to see! I think we all secretly hope that our own wedding will be on a perfect-weather day, but lets face it … the weather isn’t always cooperative. Take a look at this rainy day wedding to see how a little rain can make for a beautiful, fun experience!
My advice……..
Don’t sweat it! If you plan ahead a little bit for a rainy day (umbrellas, some fun shoes to walk around in etc) the rain can be worked into the photography portion of the wedding day. Maybe it still means most of the pictures are inside with the families and bridal party but find your adventurous side, grab your new spouse, and head outside for a few shots together under an umbrella. If you planned for a short ceremony and you had your heart set on having it outside, don’t let the rain get the best of you! Have umbrellas waiting for all of your guests and they won’t mind standing while you make it official!
They say rain on a wedding is good luck so just go with it……
All smiles on this couples rainy day wedding!
A couple sharing an umbrella makes for a very romantic shot.
Above: I love this shot, everyone is helping out the bride to make sure she’s rain free!
Below: Although the bride shares a quick pout, the day was filled with smiles. Remember to not let the weather get in the way of your big day!
Above: What a beautiful ceremony. The lily pond makes for a charming atmosphere.
Connecticut wedding photographer, Richard Esposito, was recently a guest on Good Morning CT talking with Kristen Cusato and sharing helpful tips on how to choose the right photographer for the big day. Check it out!
Just as many photographers have different takes on wedding day photography they also have differing views on the concept of “Trash the Dress”. See what the concept of Trash the Dress means to Connecticut wedding photographer, Richard Esposito and check out some photos below! KM
How do you define the concept of Trash the Dress? What does it mean to you? What does it mean to the bride?
On the wedding day the bride is always so careful not to get her dress dirty. I find most of my clients don’t know what to do with their dress after the wedding. They can preserve it, but I don’t know many that do. Some of my clients put their dress on ebay or craigslist! But wait! Why not be photographed in the dress some more and have some fun with it? To me it means more “cool” photos that’s thinking outside the box. To my clients, it means more “cool” photos that’s thinking outside the box. We even do some non trash the dress photos just so they have more photos for their album.
How about the actual “trashing”? Is this getting down and dirty with paint or mud or is it just getting more into the moment, something you wouldn’t attempt the day of your wedding?
It’s a little of both. I’ve only had 1 client say to me “let’s trash it”. And we did with dirt and mud. Most people are opting for a “Mess the Dress” session where they want the cool photos, but still want to preserve the dress.
Why do you do it? Why do you think the bride does it?
I do it to take my mind out of the box. Some of the poses and ideas we come up with can translate to new ideas on the wedding day. Anytime you can take yourself out of the normal way of doing things, it helps fuel the creativity.
How do you approach the session? Do you provide the ideas or does the bride present her own ideas or in other words, what is your vision compared to the bride’s vision?
What do you like to achieve during the session?
So far my brides have give me some ideas of what they want, then they ask me what ideas I have. We usually do both. My brides leave the vision up to me. I want to achieve creating an image that doesn’t just say “you got your dress dirty.” I want it to be a piece of art.
And we have the same questions for Boudoir…
How do you define the concept of Boudoir photos? What does it mean to you? What does it mean to the bride?
Some photographers go for sexy, steamy, or sensuous photos. You have to know where the line is and how far you can go before it’s considered too much. I find most brides do them as a gift to their fiancé.
Why do you do it? Why do you think the bride does it?
We don’t do them because we feel it doesn’t fit our type of client. We don’t want a prospective bride to be offended by images on our website, or have the idea that it’s what we think about when we photograph them. I feel I have to think that because I am a male shooter. One of my clients asked if I did them and I told her I would be more than happy to, but that they would probably feel more comfortable having a female photographer do the shoot. They agreed and I referred them.
Number of years in business: Taylor and I have about 10 years of professional photography experience between us. We began accepting wedding bookings in 2009, prior to that we were involved in commercial photography, primarily in the food/hospitality industry. I (Kerry) have a background in graphic design and for the past few years have also been the layout artist/photo editor for a globally distributed water sports photo journal which has helped hone my skills at photo retouching and album design. We both have always had a love for photography and people, so photographing people on one of the happiest days of their lives has become the perfect meeting place of our passions and creativity.
Preferred Wedding/Engagement Session Locations: We prefer natural, outdoor settings, but urban locations can also be great. With e-sessions, a location that means something to the couple will nicely complement the shoot and make them feel more comfortable. Of course, capturing the essence of two people–who they are, what they’re feeling and what they mean to one another–is the main goal of any wedding or engagement session. With that in mind, virtually any location can be “worked” to make the shoot a success.
Pricing Information: Our wedding packages currently start at $1875. E-sessions are $200.
What makes me stand out in the industry? There are so many great wedding photographers out there right now so standing out in the industry is a pretty tall order! Of course, we believe in our craft and are very proud of the images we produce, and our desire is to work with couples who feel a connection to the way we approach our photography. If we stand out in the industry to you, as a bride and groom, then it’s pretty likely we will be a great fit for you. Being a great fit for any couple that hires us is our ultimate goal.
What’s the favorite part of my work?
Kerry: I really enjoy the editing process. Opening up those images you’ve amassed from the day’s shoot and seeing them onscreen is so exciting! Then there are so many creative choices you can make in taking them from camera to print. So fun. I also enjoy absorbing the plethora of blogs, tutorials and interviews available online. There’s no end to the generous stream of instruction from top pros in the industry and I can’t get enough. Of course, nothing beats the basic action of picking up a camera and taking a picture and obviously, the more you do it, the better you become.
Taylor: Artistically speaking, being able to spend my days doing something creative and fulfilling is wonderful. It’s hard to say one thing that I enjoy the most but I do love photographing people. Each shoot becomes unique because every individual is different and we have the incredible privilege of finding and capturing those qualities and characteristics.
What do I like to do in my spare time?
Kerry: The main reason I love my life is that I get to spend almost all day, every day with my best friend, soulmate and Wife, Taylor. So in addition to getting to work together, my favorite spare time activity is spending time with Taylor. I have 3 children that I love hanging out with and I’m also a musician, occasionally playing out with a band or as a soloist. (Love outdoor stuff too!)
Taylor: I would have to agree with Kerry on being able to spend so much of our time together. I so enjoy being with him and find myself perpetually joyful in his presence. So, that’s pretty fantastic. I also love hiking, kayaking, camping, etc… anything that affords me the opportunity to be outside. I love music and I’ve been taking cello lessons for a little over a year and that has been a challenging but great experience. Lastly, I must admit I also have an affinity for the Golden Girls.
What charity am I supporting and why? The American Cancer, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, and the ASPCA. We’ve opted for all three because they’re all great causes and every family is affected by at least one of the issues that these charities address. (We had a hard time picking just one!)
Are you a wedding professional interested in joining the growing the my Kate Parker Wedding family? We would love to hear from you! Please email us and we'll be in touch with you soon!
Meet Kate Parker