So few brides have a good grasp on what it will take to produce excellent photographs. So I am writing this little guide.
Some have asked me how to have terrific wedding photography. Information and patience is the key. If the photographer has provided you with a questionaire or similar, fill it out and get it back to the photographer as soon as possible. This information allows the photographer to anticipate the days activities. Likewise if you have provided your photographer with a "shot list" please also assign someone from you family that knows who everyone is to gather the necessary people for each shot.
If anything changes with the plans, notify the photographer in person or over the phone, voice to voice. Do not leave messages or send emails when it is an important change. You need to know that the photographer in question has received the information directly.
If you are having your hair/makeup done professionally, the day of the wedding, allow an extra half hour or so above and beyond what they actually tell you. You are paying them for the style, but you are paying us by the hour. I can't remember how many times I am left standing around in a church, ready and waiting, because the hair person took too long. But what happens is that the clock starts on the agreed upon time, whether or not the bride is ready to be photographed. This will almost always push the photography into overtime.
One of the biggest dilemmas that our couple face is when to take the formal photographs. Ideally, all formals would be completed prior to the wedding, allowing the couple to proceed directly to the reception. One way to reduce the amount of time the waiting guests need to endure is to do both sides of the wedding party separately prior to the ceremony and then the combined group following the service. Typically, I start with the groom and his groomsman, followed by groom and parents and groom and family. This allows the bride a few moments more to get ready. Then after the groom has hidden himself away, we will shoot the bride and bridal party with bride and parents and bride and family. Then following the ceremony all we need to do is entire wedding party, bride and groom, and family shots.
If you have chosen a classical style of portraiture for your wedding formals, this will take a bit more time to set up and should allow extra time accordingly.
"What about the type of photography you see in the magazines?" A typical magazine or glamour style shoot is at a location that is usually different from the wedding venue. These are usually shot prior to the wedding. If you do want to have a location photograph made, please discuss this in detail with your photographer. Most photographers will jump at the chance to do such shots as they are great for portfolios as well.
One thing I try to do for my clients to arrange a place for the groom to see the bride for the first time. This will give them both a beautiful memory and properly choreographed will give me a great photo opportunity.
If you choose to have your photographs done after the ceremony please have checked with your ceremony venue to be certain they don't mind staying open later. It will take at least 90 minutes for a small wedding party, for example a wedding party of 2 groomsmen and 2 bridesmaids.
For photographs you will need full cooperation of your wedding party. Make sure that everyone knows when the photographs will be taken and that are ready.
Adding videography, one bride just mentioned to me that the only thing we did wrong with her wedding was not insisting that they get videography as well. Our videography packages add on for only an extra $500 when compared to the going rate for entire videography crew is an average of $1500; it is quite a savings. The reason for the savings is that my videography crew can double as my assistance during the formals. This saves me a great deal of money and trouble, thus I pass the savings on the bride and groom.
Finding diamonds in the rough - after all the ceremony site photographs and the reception photographs are planned, you will want to have a look around and use a little imagination. Area gardens or parks, sometimes even just an outdoor evergreen will provide some special background or sentimental meaning to your photos.
And my last bit of advice, if you have provided a timetable of events for the reception to the DJ, fire off a copy to your photographer. The photographer and DJ need to work together to make your reception a flawless piece of art.
So now, relax and enjoy your special day.
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Family Portrait Time
So I was asked once...what is the best way to create a nice family portrait?
So, the first part of the answer is to...get a good photographer.
Our goal is to create portraits as individual as the subjects we photograph. Our tools include various styles, techniques and settings that make each portrait a unique work of art.
Memorable portraits take careful planning, and the clothing that you choose is very important to your portrait's sucess. These guidelines will help you to make important decisions about the clothing and style of your artwork.
In a family group, proper clothing coordination is critical. When decorating a home, a major concern is to coordinate the colors and tones of the walls, carpets, drapes and furniture. Similar coordination is necessary when selecting clothing for a group portrait. Choose clothing in the same tonal ranges so that no single member of the family stands out because the clothing is too light or bright as compared to the rest of the group. Proper clothing selection makes the difference between a portrait that appears to be a group of seemingly unrelated individuals and one in which every member of the family "belongs" to the group.
Clothing for small groups or couples should choose simple outfits within the same tonal ranges. When subjects appear in a mixture of light and dark tones together, there is visual confusion - as the light color comes forward, and the dark recedes. When this happens, one person becomes dominate and appears heavier than in reality.
Turtle necks or V-necks are flattering provided that neither is exaggerated in style. Avoid very wide or particulary deep V-neck garments or bulky cowlnect sweaters that completely hide the neck.
For closeup portraits, long sleeves are essential for teens and adults, as bare arms call attention to themselves and will overpower the face. The goal of any classical fine portrait is to direct the viewer's eye to the face(s) in the portrait. All other elements should be secondary. For individuals, simple long-sleeved garments in medium to dark tones of brown, gray, burgandy, green or blue are pleasing choices when photographed against a medium or dark background. When looking to achieve a more contemporary look and feel for your portrait, dress in lighter pastels, blues, green and pinks, when photographed against a white background will achieve a light airy high-key art portrait.
Because darker clothing is slimming, it often is a good choice for close-up, full-length or three-quarter portraits in which a medium to dark background is used. Bold stripes, plaids, and prints are visually confusing and do not photograph well. Brights colors such as pink and orange will overwhelm the face and ruin a portrait. Light colors that approximate flext tones will overpower the face and make the subject look unusually pale.
Women being photographs in full length should wear long skirts, pants or dark stockings in order to keep the eye from being directed toward the legs and away from the face. If feet are to show in the portrait, make sure that shoes and socks are in keeping with the visual intent of the portrait.
Don't forget that casual clothing copliments portraits made in outdoor environments.
Men should be clean shaven or facial hair should be carefully groomed, with their hair cut about one week prior to the portrait session. Women should be photographed whenever they are happiest with their hair in relation to the time it is styled.
Skin Tone Considerations
Whether working with light or dark complexions, the object is always for the face to dominate the portrait. Accordingly, skin highlights must be the lightest, brightest, or most intense areas of the portrait. So when a medium to dark background is used, all subjects photograph best in medium to dark tones, whatever the skin tone. Having said that, please allow me to completely contradict myself. One fabulous new trend in portraiture is the use of high-key or very light almost white photographs, where the dark areas draw your eye. We do both here and enjoy a wide variety of applications from both.
I hope this helps clear up the mystery of how to make a cohesive family portrait. Please feel free to call with questions, we love to help out. We also make house calls, at no charge, to help you determine exactly the size and style of portrait to decorate your home.
So, the first part of the answer is to...get a good photographer.
Our goal is to create portraits as individual as the subjects we photograph. Our tools include various styles, techniques and settings that make each portrait a unique work of art.
Memorable portraits take careful planning, and the clothing that you choose is very important to your portrait's sucess. These guidelines will help you to make important decisions about the clothing and style of your artwork.
In a family group, proper clothing coordination is critical. When decorating a home, a major concern is to coordinate the colors and tones of the walls, carpets, drapes and furniture. Similar coordination is necessary when selecting clothing for a group portrait. Choose clothing in the same tonal ranges so that no single member of the family stands out because the clothing is too light or bright as compared to the rest of the group. Proper clothing selection makes the difference between a portrait that appears to be a group of seemingly unrelated individuals and one in which every member of the family "belongs" to the group.
Clothing for small groups or couples should choose simple outfits within the same tonal ranges. When subjects appear in a mixture of light and dark tones together, there is visual confusion - as the light color comes forward, and the dark recedes. When this happens, one person becomes dominate and appears heavier than in reality.
Turtle necks or V-necks are flattering provided that neither is exaggerated in style. Avoid very wide or particulary deep V-neck garments or bulky cowlnect sweaters that completely hide the neck.
For closeup portraits, long sleeves are essential for teens and adults, as bare arms call attention to themselves and will overpower the face. The goal of any classical fine portrait is to direct the viewer's eye to the face(s) in the portrait. All other elements should be secondary. For individuals, simple long-sleeved garments in medium to dark tones of brown, gray, burgandy, green or blue are pleasing choices when photographed against a medium or dark background. When looking to achieve a more contemporary look and feel for your portrait, dress in lighter pastels, blues, green and pinks, when photographed against a white background will achieve a light airy high-key art portrait.
Because darker clothing is slimming, it often is a good choice for close-up, full-length or three-quarter portraits in which a medium to dark background is used. Bold stripes, plaids, and prints are visually confusing and do not photograph well. Brights colors such as pink and orange will overwhelm the face and ruin a portrait. Light colors that approximate flext tones will overpower the face and make the subject look unusually pale.
Women being photographs in full length should wear long skirts, pants or dark stockings in order to keep the eye from being directed toward the legs and away from the face. If feet are to show in the portrait, make sure that shoes and socks are in keeping with the visual intent of the portrait.
Don't forget that casual clothing copliments portraits made in outdoor environments.
Men should be clean shaven or facial hair should be carefully groomed, with their hair cut about one week prior to the portrait session. Women should be photographed whenever they are happiest with their hair in relation to the time it is styled.
Skin Tone Considerations
Whether working with light or dark complexions, the object is always for the face to dominate the portrait. Accordingly, skin highlights must be the lightest, brightest, or most intense areas of the portrait. So when a medium to dark background is used, all subjects photograph best in medium to dark tones, whatever the skin tone. Having said that, please allow me to completely contradict myself. One fabulous new trend in portraiture is the use of high-key or very light almost white photographs, where the dark areas draw your eye. We do both here and enjoy a wide variety of applications from both.
I hope this helps clear up the mystery of how to make a cohesive family portrait. Please feel free to call with questions, we love to help out. We also make house calls, at no charge, to help you determine exactly the size and style of portrait to decorate your home.
Friday, November 2, 2007
Wedding Season 2007
Well wow, the wedding season for 2007 is almost complete. We have two more booked weddings for this year and will probably have another two that book with small notice. This will finish us out at over 30 for the year.
We have made many changes in our business through this year. The biggest being the addition of videography services. We have a very dedicated crew who is doing top notch work and getting better and better every shoot. I am still personally handling all post production on the photography as well as the videography.
So like David Letterman, here is our two top 10 lists from 2007:
Things that I pray I get to do again:
1) Listen to the private comments of brides and grooms after they walk down the isle together as man and wife. What gems!!! My favorite from a groom, "I am marrying perfection today."
2) Watch little girls in their dresses twirl around under the trees in the evening light, dreaming of their wedding day.
3) Catch just the right moment in mid-air and groom and best man jump and slap a high five.
4) Capture a bride's first tear as it first begins to threaten it's escape and then as it wells up and overflows down her cheek.
5) Watch, learn and embrace a new ethnic custom in a wedding. In 2006 we did a Hindu wedding and this year we did a traditional African wedding.
6) That moment when my husband (videographer) and myself (photographer) will lock eyes across a crowded congregation at the phrase "til death do you part". Some people renew their vows once or twice after being married, we do it almost every weekend.
7) Hear the squeal of enjoyment from the bride and the happy tears that follow when she see's her wedding photos for the first time.
8) Talk a little child into smiling for the camera when he/she would rather be playing.
9) Capture that perfect moment when the father hands his daughter off to her groom.
10) and yes, I saved the best for last. That beautiful moment when I have heard back from the bride and groom, how much THEY LOVED THEIR PHOTOS!!!!
Things to never do again:
1) believe a groom when he says he will mail the check right after the wedding.
2) do a wedding without a completed contract and questionnaire.
3) stay at a wedding even though being harrassed and tortured.
4) Use stick on disk labels on DVD's.
5) Shoot without an assistant....or 3. :-)
6) Accept payment via postal money order for a wedding in Hawaii and be expected to return the change. - Common Fraud.
7) Overpromise and Underdeliver.
8) Use directions to a wedding provided by a venue - GPS Rules.
9) Allow only 30 minutes to find parking in Seattle. - Now we allow at least an hour.
10) Let a guest at a wedding hold, inspect, shoot with my camera.
So yes, we learned a lot this year, and more that I don't think would be appropriate to put up here. But catch me at our holiday party with some wine in me and I will tell you all some great stories.
We have made many changes in our business through this year. The biggest being the addition of videography services. We have a very dedicated crew who is doing top notch work and getting better and better every shoot. I am still personally handling all post production on the photography as well as the videography.
So like David Letterman, here is our two top 10 lists from 2007:
Things that I pray I get to do again:
1) Listen to the private comments of brides and grooms after they walk down the isle together as man and wife. What gems!!! My favorite from a groom, "I am marrying perfection today."
2) Watch little girls in their dresses twirl around under the trees in the evening light, dreaming of their wedding day.
3) Catch just the right moment in mid-air and groom and best man jump and slap a high five.
4) Capture a bride's first tear as it first begins to threaten it's escape and then as it wells up and overflows down her cheek.
5) Watch, learn and embrace a new ethnic custom in a wedding. In 2006 we did a Hindu wedding and this year we did a traditional African wedding.
6) That moment when my husband (videographer) and myself (photographer) will lock eyes across a crowded congregation at the phrase "til death do you part". Some people renew their vows once or twice after being married, we do it almost every weekend.
7) Hear the squeal of enjoyment from the bride and the happy tears that follow when she see's her wedding photos for the first time.
8) Talk a little child into smiling for the camera when he/she would rather be playing.
9) Capture that perfect moment when the father hands his daughter off to her groom.
10) and yes, I saved the best for last. That beautiful moment when I have heard back from the bride and groom, how much THEY LOVED THEIR PHOTOS!!!!
Things to never do again:
1) believe a groom when he says he will mail the check right after the wedding.
2) do a wedding without a completed contract and questionnaire.
3) stay at a wedding even though being harrassed and tortured.
4) Use stick on disk labels on DVD's.
5) Shoot without an assistant....or 3. :-)
6) Accept payment via postal money order for a wedding in Hawaii and be expected to return the change. - Common Fraud.
7) Overpromise and Underdeliver.
8) Use directions to a wedding provided by a venue - GPS Rules.
9) Allow only 30 minutes to find parking in Seattle. - Now we allow at least an hour.
10) Let a guest at a wedding hold, inspect, shoot with my camera.
So yes, we learned a lot this year, and more that I don't think would be appropriate to put up here. But catch me at our holiday party with some wine in me and I will tell you all some great stories.
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