Hi everyone!
Today’s Behind the Lens (BtL) {#behindthelens} feature post is turning the spotlight on Laura Kuah, Owner and Creative Visionary of Laurentina Photography, a full-service photography + videography studio focused on the individual client experience. She photographed her first wedding in 2009 and in the summer of 2011 started Laurentina Photography. Laura specializes in social event photography (including weddings, private and corporate events), as well as portraits, head shots, marketing, and commercial images.
See photos from each photographer from the shoot: BTS Photos by me // Brittany Drosos // Joffoto.

LAURA M. KUAH, LAURENTINA PHOTOGRAPHY, RESTON, VA
www.laurentinaphotography.com | IG: Laurentinaphoto
If there is one thing I remember the most about meeting photographer, Laura Kuah, it would be her big smile. We met at a coordinated styled shoot a few weeks back and I can still remember like it was yesterday when we met on that unseasonably warm Sunday afternoon in the parking lot at Burke Lake Park as we await the arrival of others to arrive. She was warm and inviting, and was so easy to talk to it was as though we’d known each other for a long time. {It’s no surprise because you can feel her warmth in her beautifully captured images from the Winter Styled Shoot…}
After being introduced to photography more than a decade ago in Italy, it is easy to see her unique photo-journalistic style in her images. A travel enthusiast, Laura speaks conversational Italian and, a true photographer at heart she dreams of shooting a destination wedding anywhere in the world.
Inspired by capturing the details {her favorite part of the wedding coverage is the “Getting Ready” portion}, a small, but often overlooked memories that take place during each event. When she is not behind the lens, Laura is a foodie, loves wine tasting and running long distance races. She lives in Reston, Virginia with her brown tabby cat Gioia, aka, her furry assistant.

“AT THE END OF THE WEDDING, WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE, THE NEWLYWEDS (AND THEIR FAMILIES) WALK AWAY WITH TWO THINGS: MEMORIES AND PHOTOGRAPHS. THAT IS WHAT MAKES WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY A PRICELESS ART FORM.” –Laura’s favorite quote

Alright everyone, check-out all the beautiful images from the styled shoot below! Good luck trying to pick your favorites, if you do, please leave comment / feedback in the comment box below. And read on for Laura’s five tips for engagement and wedding portraits.

Laurentina Photography’s // Top 5 Tips for Engagement & Wedding Portraits

1. Always have professional hair and makeup done. A professional hair stylist will make your hair look balanced and flattering from EVERY camera angle. They will also make the most of your hair type. Similarly, a makeup artist will bring out your best features. They will be able to match the right colors/hues to your skin tone and outfit. Highlighting and contouring your features will make you look (and feel) your absolute best!
2. Schedule your shoot for the hour after sunrise or the hour before sunset (golden hours). Golden hour is the time when the light is at its softest and the most dimensional. My favorite time of day to shoot is during the “last breath of light” (at dusk) as it is truly warm and magical. For non-winter weddings, the golden hour usually happens during dinner or after dinner.
3. For engagement shoot (color is key, but matchy-matchy is not necessary). Wear colors and patterns that complement each other. Check-out the color wheel to see which colors work well together. Avoid wearing all black (just for its slimming purposes) as the camera will pick up speck and dust {great tip!}. Save white and off-white hues for the wedding day. If you have lighter skin, pastel and neutral tones might help enhance your features after a long winter. Make sure your skin tones do not fade into your outfit (i.e. brown top for someone really tanned). {yikes!}
“I’m a fan of wearing contrasting colors and having one accent piece of clothing/accessory for the photo (statement necklace, scarf, hairpiece).”
4. Inhale, exhale, relax and be yourself. This photo shoot is about you. It is your special day and you should enjoy every moment of it. Work with your photographer and have fun showing off how much you love each other! Make sure you clothes are comfortable and depending on the season, bring layers (cardigan which can easily be slipped off for portraits) and even comfortable shoes {if you are like me and cannot walk in heels}.
Don’t forget to schedule some “me” time before or after the session if you are the kind of person who gets nervous prior to photo shoots: a soothing latte, a walk in the park, meditation or even a massage will surely help loosen the nerves!
5. #PrintYourPhotos… more than a hashtag… as a professional who has worked with brides since 2009, I cannot tell you how many clients have come up to me to say that they (unfortunately) lost all of their wedding photos due to their computer crashing or the USB getting lost in the move. That is the most heartbreaking thing for a photographer to hear. Last week, one of my first brides emailed me to say that she lost both the online gallery and backup CD during her overseas moves. She did not have any of her photos printed (made into an album) and her wedding was over 8 years ago! Professional prints (printed on acid-free, non-archival paper) lasts over 100 years and stands the test of time. Don’t lose your photos to a hard drive glitch. Print your photos!
These are some great tips for all the newly engaged couples out there, so be sure to share with you family and friends! For more tips, check-out Laura’s “What to Wear“.
These are some amazing images and tips! Thanks so much Laura for sharing!
‘Til next feature post!
Xog

P.S. if you are a photographer or know a photographer who should be featured in the Behind the Lens (BtL) Series, please leave a comment below with link to their website or social media account. You can also email me at alwayscreatingblog@gmail.com. You can also use hashtag #behindthelens or #BtL on IG or Facebook!