Seeing each other for the first time. Whether it be at the beginning of the ceremony or ahead of time, this very special moment is one that should not be missed. I like to make sure we discuss this in detail so that I am prepared for that wonderful photo of that first look. If you are planning to see each other ahead of time, take a moment to think about the setting. I can help you make it special and make sure that I am in the correct position to get the shot.
Details! I have been getting a lot of requests for the flush mount albums. These beautiful albums really allow my album designer to include all the wonderful details such as the rings, shoes, flowers, place cards, table details and any other special touches that go into making your wedding uniquely yours. These details accent the other images and can really tie the album together in color and content. Check out the Leather Craftsmen 3500 or 8500 albums, as well as the Asukabook - all of which I carry.
Never too old to learn something new. Because digital photography is growing at such a rapid pace, it is every photographers responsibility to stay up on the latest trends, equipment and know what the client wants. I will be going to Photoplus Expo in NYC in a few weeks with Rie my album designer and we plan to bring back the latest products and equipment to our studio. We are both very excited to take a workshop on cinematography with the DSLR camera and hope to offer that along with our still photography soon.
Off season weddings. I used to be fairly slow during January, February and into March, but more and more couples are choosing these months to get married. The winter months are a great time to get discounted pricing from vendors and venues and I offer the same great deal. You can always call me or shoot me an email to see what the cost difference would be. I love to shoot year round so don’t be afraid to have that January wedding!
Shoot and burn. This is a hot topic these days. Many couples think that by asking for their images on a DVD only, they are going to get those fabulous looking final images that they can print themselves, but what you are really getting in most cases are the images at their starting point. Skilled photographers spend a lot of time working on your photo selections to make them look like what you see in a magazine. The DVD is great for choosing an image for a screen saver or to have an electronic catalogue of images once your web gallery comes down, but not always so for the display print or album. Yes, it may cost more but to get that final print or albums made through me, but the difference is huge. I am always happy to talk this through with couples and show them samples, so they can make the right decision for their needs.
Welcome back to First Friday Five. Here are five more useful tips to help you plan and have a successful photography experience at your wedding.
White chalk. It’s bound to happen that your white dress can get some dirt on it by the end of the wedding. I’ve learned to bring along some white chalk because it works wonders as a temporary cover up for those spots. I can always photoshop a mark out for a picture, but you may want to have a bridesmaid carry a piece in her purse as well so you can do a touch up throughout the day.
Second photographer. I have stressed the importance of a second photographer before, but now I have a perfect example of why I never leave home without one! We are at a very festive wedding shooting the hora – I’m down on the floor and the second photographer is on a ladder. Things get crazy and the remote to my flash flies off the camera, leaving me with only one camera to shoot with. The second photographer on the ladder captures the wonderful faces of the bride and groom as they are raised in the chairs. No one wants to miss that shot – and we didn’t!
Need more time? If you have contracted with me for unlimited time – Great – I love to shoot, however if you budget is tighter and you have only contacted for part of the reception, rest assured that you can always request I stay longer while at the reception. If you are only part way through dinner or the cake hasn’t been cut, you just need to ask!
Copyright. This is one of the most misunderstood parts of any contract. Many people contact me and say they want the copyright. Once we have a conversation about this, what they are really wanting is the ability to reproduce images if they buy a DVD. I never give up the copyright but I do give you permission to make enlargements for your personal use.
Formal family pictures. You need them and you will be sorry if you don’t have them later. While I love to approach weddings in a documentary fashion, there are certain groups that need to be photographed. We outline this in the planning session and I try to help you not go overboard with this. When ever I have shot a wedding without at least photographing the bride and groom with their immediate families, we were all sorry later. You can’t go back and repeat them (well you can but this is hard and expensive) and I have never made an album for a client where they have not included a sampling of these pictures.
Welcome to the second posting of First Friday Five. By the first Friday of every month I will be posting 5 tid-bits of information so that the photography at your wedding can run smoothly and you can have those wonderful shots you see in all the magazines! Here’s five more useful tips…….
Dress color matters! Bride’s maids dresses have come a long way. Great collections of dresses that suit every size and shape. The colors are fabulous too, but bear in mind that not every color dress looks good with every skin tone/hair color. Keep that in mind when choosing your colors. You want everyone to look great and that red or fuchsia dress may not look so hot on a read head. Some girls wash out in those paler shades too. Paying attention to these details all help in making photographs that look outstanding and leave an impression.
More on dress color! Following along with choosing a dress color that looks fabulous on your bridesmaids, you also need to keep in mind how the colors will look at an indoor reception. Taking formals inside keeps you from having to deal with the elements, but make sure that if you have a bright red carpet in your reception area, it works with the color of your dresses and flowers. Photos have an impact if the colors are not competing.
Planning sessions are a must. I try to get to know the couples I work with so that I can achieve what they are looking for in their photographs. The more information that can be discussed ahead of time, in terms of family dynamics, who must be in the formal photos, do you want a few minutes alone before the formals, are detail shots important, etc. – all these pieces of information help me to create a timeline that flows and you wind up with the must have images in addition to all the ones I capture that are candid. The planning session prior to the wedding is one of the most important tasks in planning your photography.
Don’t forget the guys! Getting ready photos are popular and really help tell the story of the day. Sometimes, the guys get forgotten though, and it really shows when you are looking at the proofs. If I am covering the bride and her friends getting ready I like to have my second photographer spend equal time with the guys. I can sometimes sense the resistance by the groom during a planning meeting, but I have never had them tell me they were sorry later. I have had some bride’s feel bad when looking through the proof gallery, that her guy was short changed!
To get an album or not? Well, that is entirely up to you. I always offer the option of getting an album later, however you get a better price if you book it with the wedding. That said, planning a wedding is a huge undertaking and can add up. There are many reasonably price album options available so approach the photography aspect with an open mind. Web galleries eventually get taken down so you will want something to have, be it an album, cd, proof book or loose enlargements for framing. Oh yes, I always store your images so even if it is a year or so later, my album designer and I are more than happy to get creative with your album.
Wouldn’t it be nice to get some useful information about wedding photography from a wedding photographer? Well, I thought so too! By the first Friday of every month I will be posting 5 tid-bits of information so that the photography at your wedding can run smoothly and you can have those wonderful shots you see in all the magazines!
Invest in your photography!! Your pictures are all that you will have left after the guests have gone – well, you will have each other! Don’t skimp on your photography. Guests with point and shoot cameras are nice and can grab some fun shots, but rarely do these images end up framed on your wall or in your album. So, let your professional photographer do what they do best and let the guests enjoy the day! Photographers need enough time to document the entire day, so cutting back on the hours is not always a wise decision.
Make up and hair. Even if you don’t wear make up on a daily basis or spend loads of time on your hair, because you are being photographed, this is a must. You don’t have to go heavy on either, but you don’t want to appear washed out or messy in the photos. At the very least, some powder helps keep the shine down and a touch of color on your lips looks great. If you are getting your hair done the day of the wedding, great, but get the cut or highlighting done a week or so before. NOT the day of! Mistakes can happen! I’d be happy to share some of these stories with you.
Choose a friend to help. Formals of the bridal party and family should be a time that is fun, whether they be taken before or after the ceremony. Rounding up all the folks to be in the pictures can be a chore, so appoint someone to be the “handler” and help gather those people in the photos. This can be someone who is special to you and not in the wedding party, but who knows who is who. Once these shots are taken, everyone should go back to the reception or wait for the ceremony so that the bride and groom can relax and have their photos taken without on lookers.
Consider taking your formals before the ceremony. Ever wonder how those beautiful photographs are taken? Well, it takes time - not forever - but it does take time. If you are inclined to be antsy and want to get to the reception, consider taking the formals prior to the ceremony. Rushed photos look exactly that way, rushed and poorly composed. If you can’t dedicate at least an hour to the formals between the ceremony and reception, your best bet is to take them prior to the ceremony, or some couples even choose to have them taken the next or a different day.
What to do about the weather? Well, there isn’t much you can do, but I always find it fun to use it to my advantage. I love cloudy and overcast skies because the quality of light can be beautiful. Don’t be fooled into thinking a bright and sunny sky is the best. Snow can be wonderful if you are adventurous and willing to go out in it for a few shots. Even rain can be used to make great images and I always carry and umbrella. Of course I would never force anyone to go out if they don’t want to, and always scout open doorways, windows and alternatives for making great pictures just in case.