photography Archives - Wedding

July 16, 2019

Types of Wedding Venues

If you’re planning a wedding and have yet to choose a venue, a simple internet search will reveal an overwhelming amount of choices of venues in your area. Before you walk down the aisle, it’s important to consider a few tips about the different types of wedding venues before settling for one. The different types of wedding venues range from a hotel and house of worship to botanical gardens, state park, private residence, beach and winery or vineyard.

Types of Wedding Venues

The most popular types of wedding venues include:

House of Worship

If you’re opting for a religious wedding, hosting the ceremony in a house of worship is a great way to celebrate your union. These sacred places work well for traditional weddings. They’re typically available for ceremonies only, but many offer event space where you can host your reception as well.

Hotel

Hotels make great wedding venues, especially if you’re hosting out-of-town guests. It’s a convenient way to stay on-site so no one has to worry about transportation costs. The hotel also makes a great venue for taking photos of the bride.

Make a Guest List

Start by making a guest list. Assign them a ranking based on how important it is for them to attend your wedding. For example, one group can have family and close friends while another group can have old school buddies and co-workers. Add the lists and see how many people you would like to attend the wedding. Determining the approximate number of people will help you to search for a venue that can accommodate your guests.

Not All Budgets Are Apples to Apples

Rental prices will vary from one venue to another. For instance, some venues will include a coordinator. Others will include chairs, tables, and linens so you won’t have to spend extra to hire them. Some locations will allow you to serve your own drinks and refreshments while others will provide all the drinks and refreshments so you won’t have to deal with it. Don’t discount a venue because of the price tag. Many venues have a list of preferred vendors that can give you amazing discounts.

Consider a Rain Plan

Your venue of choice may look great on a sunny day but it always helps to brace yourself for inclement weather. The trick is to have a backup plan. For instance, if you go with a tent during hurricane season, you might have to arrange for an indoor location in the event of a tropical storm. Even though tropical storms are rare, there’s no harm in preparing for the worst just in case.

Handicap/ Ada Access

Some historic buildings are gorgeous but some of them can have special building permits that don’t require them to have access for handicap guests. This may require you to make special arrangements, especially if your guests need to have ramps to access the building.

Bottom Line

If you are recently engaged and looking for a wedding venue other popular types of wedding venues include a country club, mansion, restaurant, loft/modern space, and a park/ garden. Each location has its own pros and cons. The most critical thing, however, is to consider what’s most important for your day.

May 3, 2019

Engagement Photo Tips for Photographers – Get the Shot!

Unlike the usual photography of a wedding, engagements sessions are a bit different since they allow the photographer to connect with new clients prior to the big day. There is plenty of time to decide on poses and get to understand the couple well. As a photographer, consider the client’s engagement goals to avoid making mistakes during the engagement session. Maybe they want a few photos to show off their dress or want to know you better as their photographer. Whatever the reason, planning your session ahead of time is the key to a smooth engagement session. Below is a guide for when it comes to engagement photo tips for beginners.

Engagement Photo Tips for Photographers

A few engagement photo tips for photographers include choosing a great location, knowing what to wear, bringing all of your gear, and much more.

Location

Success starts with a good plan. Instead of rushing things, start by asking the clients if they have ideas on any location. They are likely to choose a place they previously engaged in or somewhere with sentimental value. Whatever the choice, take a day off and travel to get a rough idea of the place. Check out the possible shots, conditions or even the look of the lighting in the area. Ensure you have a permit to shoot before the day as well. Nothing can be more embarrassing than realizing photography is prohibited on the ranch on the engagement day. Also, try as much as possible to focus on unpopulated locations free from distractions.

What to Wear

Any new couple will ask for ideas on what to wear during the session. It requires no fashion skills to choose the right outfit rather make suggestion depending on the theme, location or season. Advise on clothing that complement each other to make the couple stand out during the session. If you plan to shoot on nature trails, then let the bride focus on simple colors that match the environments. Avoid white colors which tend to show flaws easily.

The Gear

Here, you need to keep everything as simple as possible. Have a gear bag to make your movement easier when shooting. Nothing can be more embarrassing than having to stop every time or asking the couple to assist you in carrying your heavy gear. Three lenses are enough for the session. If you need close shots, then zoom lens can do better. For the ring shots, go for macro-lens while wide angle lens as they are perfect for embracing the background.

Give Direction

Remember, the couple that you are shooting may or may not know much about posing or taking photos in general. You should guide them in every step of the way. Explain in detail how to prepare and pose for the shoots. Give them a number of poses and tell them how to place their hands. Don’t start with complex poses as this makes it difficult for clients to understand. Instead, explain the basic positions and make the whole experience fun.

Provide Variety

Don’t be afraid to try new photo ideas. You will be surprised how wonderful it could actually work out. What else can make you stand out of the rest than showcasing your variety of styles? Go an extra mile and break the rules.

Cut it Down

At this point, the engagement session is over. The next step is to select the best photos. Give a different pose with the same or different expression. Compare the flaws to find the best.

In Conclusion

Engagement photography is a complex task. This is why couples choose to hire an expert photographer. Use the above engagement photo tips for photographers to ensure that you’re capturing the couple’s best moments and that the couple is enjoying this experience.

March 28, 2019

Wedding Photography Tips for Brides – Capturing the Important Moments

Your wedding photos will be one of the most endearing memories that you’ll have from your big day. It creates beautiful memories that last forever. The album represents a solid record that can be shared over the next generations. Hence, you should put a lot of effort into planning out your wedding photos since you’ll have them for a lifetime. Below is a guide to how you can make your wedding photos authentically yours and some wedding photography tips for brides.

Wedding Photography Tips

Be Prepared for the Unexpected

Anything is possible on your wedding day. Things may take longer than expected or may not go according to plan. Expect to get dressed late, your cake damaged, flowers arriving late among other possible misfortunes. However, you need to understand that mishaps happen. Since weddings tend to be complex, it’s important to set a realistic schedule with extra time for a wedding photography session. This way, you’ll be able to know that there is a set time for every thing that’ll go on on your big day.

Let Your Guest List Take Account of the Photographers

Including them will be advantageous to both of you. First, it will give the photographers enough time to prepare for the shoot. Secondly, an invitation will guarantee a place for your photographers ensuring every moment has been captured.

Transportation

Arrange for inclusive means of transportation with your photographers. They should move with you wherever at whatever point you go. If possible, let them ride with you in the limo to the wedding or reception.

Artistic Portraits

Time is of the essence when it comes to making creative portraits. Ensure to spare at least an hour doing this. The photographer will guide you in every step. Patience and determination is the key to making these creative portraits.

Spare Enough Time for Hair and Make-Up

It’s important to confirm with your artists on how long it will take to complete your hair and makeup as the delays will definitely drag the big day behind. Always have a plan to complete the process before the program begins. Spare at least an hour to get your hair and makeup done. Doing this will ensure you have enough time for a photo session.

Get Ready

It’s important to decide on how you will ready during the wedding day. Decide if you want a peaceful and lonely morning, a morning with a few friends around you or getting ready in a filled room. Every preparation comes with unique motivation and a different environment.

Family Group Shoot

It’s advisable to take family group shoots immediately once the ceremony is over. In case you have large groups, then consider taking photos at the reception.

Indoor Receptions

Indoor receptions will require more illumination. Ensure you blend the right colors to match your wedding décor. For instance, pink, purple and orange colors will do wonders. Avoid low lighting such as green.

Tent Receptions

Tents are an ideal choice when it comes to wedding photography. The white canvas provides a good background when taking photos. Complement it with lots of candles and gleaming lights.

Outdoor Receptions

This type of receptions requires extra illumination to help warm up your photos. It also adds an element of liveliness to your album. Consider using lots of candles in hurricane vases to make it work.

Church Celebrations

It’s important to check with your church whether they allow photography. A professional photographer is flexible to work anywhere, a concept which may be different from what your church is used to.

The Bottom Line

With these wedding photography tips for brides, you should be well prepared for your big day. Be sure to plan in advance and come up with a realistic schedule to stick to, and you should be able to make the most out of the wedding photos that you’ll keep for a lifetime.