My 15 Favourite Photos of 2014
Since it was such a great 2014 for me, I figured the best way to bring in the new year would be to select my favourite photos of this past year. I had such a wide range of clients that it was really hard to pick. There were some great events I was able to photograph, a whole bunch of portrait sessions and of course some truly wonderful weddings.
Since it was such a great 2014 for me, I figured the best way to bring in the new year would be to select my favourite photos of this past year. I had such a wide range of clients that it was really hard to pick. There were some great events I was able to photograph, a whole bunch of portrait sessions and of course some truly wonderful weddings. Looking back it always amazes me just how many wonderful people I met just this past year alone. I simply can't wait for 2015! Be sure to check back often for blog posts and new sessions I have. As always, wedding season is fast approaching, so if you have yet to book a photographer I still have some dates available.
Click on any of the images to see the blogpost!
6 Questions to Ask Your Wedding Photographer
A while ago a wrote a post on ‘things to consider when choosing photographer’ and went over some general points. This time around I figured I would talk more about specific questions you should ask the photographer you are looking to hire. Of course, there are many more then I will list here but from my experience in talking with clients, I find these are probably some of the most important ones. Read on to find out what they are!
A while ago a wrote a post on ‘things to consider when choosing photographer’ and went over some general points. This time around I figured I would talk more about specific questions you should ask the photographer you are looking to hire. Of course, there are many more then I will list here but from my experience in talking with clients, I find these are probably some of the most important ones.
1. What do I receive once it’s all said and done?
I listed this one first mainly because it is one of the most important. The times are definitely changing but there are still photographers out there that actually charge for prints or only include a certain amount of images in the package and then charging extra for more. Nowadays most photographers included all the finished photos on a DVD or USB stick but be sure to ask some more specific questions. For instance, if it’s a 4 hour wedding, approximately how many photos will you most likely get. It’s impossible to predict the exact amount, but any photographer should be able to at least give you an estimate. Keep in mind that a photographer may take over 1000 photos for even a 4 hour wedding. That doesn’t necessarily mean that those are all final images. They are usually narrowed down to the best of the best.
What I personally do is supply all the final processed photos on a USB stick. One folder has high resolution photos which the client can print. The other has watermarked low resolution photos which can be shared. I don’t give any restrictions to the photos other then that the client will not resell the photos as I still hold the rights. This is pretty common these days but it’s important to know exactly how your photographer deals with this subject.
One other thing that you NEED to ask is how long? How long does it take to get the photos. I don’t know any couple that isn’t anxious to see the final photos so be sure to find out the time frame of delivery. Personally I pride myself on delivery of photos within a month, usually quicker. Some photographers might be quicker, others might take a lot longer. I have heard horror stories of some couples waiting 6 months, even 8.
2. Is there a contract to sign?
This second question is just as crucial as the first. Many couples may get scared away as soon as they hear a photographer asking for a signed contract but it protects both sides. It ensures that, you, the client, has the date secured and will be provided the services promised by the photographer. Without a contract who’s to say the photographer in question doesn’t just change his mind and choose not to photograph your wedding. Trust me, I have had couples book me for this exact reason. Because their photographer bailed on them 3 weeks before the wedding. I’m not saying this happens all the time, but if it does, at least you know you are protected to a certain degree. Some things that the contract should outline are, cost of the chosen package, any deposit that is required, when that deposit is required along with the final amount, and how the rights to the images work and exactly what you are allowed to do with them. There are other things that can be included but the best advice I can give is to read it over carefully.
3. Am I able to share and print the photos we get at the end?
I touched upon this one in the first point, but be sure to find out exactly what you can do wit the photos once you get them. Will you have access to all the final photos? Are you required to buy prints for extra ones? Are you allowed to share the photos you receive on social media or other online methods? Like I said, most photographers these days allow you to print the high resolution images but there are still some out there with the old school frame of my mind that require you to ‘purchase’ prints.
4. What happens if we have to cancel the wedding?
No couple wants to think about this one but it does happen. There are many reasons that a wedding may be cancelled so I won’t go into specifics but what happens if you actually have to cancel yours? Or at the very least move the date? This comes back to the contract. Typically if you cancel, you are on the hook for the deposit. But read the contract carefully as some photographers may say the full amount is required upon cancellation. It all depends on the contract. I have actually had this happen to me a couple times. Each time, the couple gave me plenty of notice and I didn’t charge them anything. I was able to fill the spots so I wasn’t really out the money. If it was more last minute, it might be a different story. My point is that it all depends on the photographer. Some are flexible and some are a more strict.
5. If we need you longer how does that work?
When discussing timing for the wedding always ask your photographer his policy on staying longer if needed. I am always up front about this as I tell each client that if they need me for long it costs a certain amount per hour. Now, with that being said, I have had weddings where I stayed an extra 15 minutes to catch some important photos. I don’t necessarily charge for that but every photographer sees this differently. Usually if couples are aware of cost up front they will have a better idea of exactly what they can afford. It also helps with planning the wedding day, especially speeches and the such.
6. Is there an engagement session, and if so is it included?
For almost all of my wedding packages I include an engagement session. The last thing you want to do is book a package and then find out after you sign the contract that you have to pay extra for an engagement session. Another thing I offer is the option to decline the engagement session and simply add on another hour to the package. Every photographer has different options so be sure to ask. In keeping with the first questions, also find out how long it takes to get the engagement photos once they are done. Especially if you are looking to use some of the photos for invitations etc..
That's it for now. As I said at the beginning, there are many more things to ask but these should help get you started in the right direction when dealing with any photographer. If you are unsure of anything be sure to ask right away so there is no confusion down the road.
If anyone has another questions they would like to share please feel free to leave them in the comments section!
Steven + Cara Wedding
It was time for yet another wedding and this one was just as fun as the others I have done this year. Even though it was a smaller wedding, it actually made it a bit more intimate which really allowed for a good pace and some great photo opportunities. It also helped that Steven and Cara were such a fun couple to photograph. That also goes for pretty much the entire crowd of people that attended.
The ceremony took place at First Presbyterian Church in Fort William. It was my first time photographing in this particular church. You can tell from some of the wide angle shots below just how big it actually was. As the crowd gathered I captured some candid moments, and there were a lot of them. Then it was time for Cara to make her way down the aisle. Probably the cutest moment of the day were the two ring bearers dressed as the secret service. The rings were contained in a 'top secret' case so they had quite the responsibility!
It was time for yet another wedding and this one was just as fun as the others I have done this year. Even though it was a smaller wedding, it actually made it a bit more intimate which really allowed for a good pace and some great photo opportunities. It also helped that Steven and Cara were such a fun couple to photograph. That also goes for pretty much the entire crowd of people that attended.
The ceremony took place at First Presbyterian Church in Fort William. It was my first time photographing in this particular church. You can tell from some of the wide angle shots below just how big it actually was. As the crowd gathered I captured some candid moments, and there were a lot of them. Then it was time for Cara to make her way down the aisle. Probably the cutest moment of the day were the two ring bearers dressed as the secret service. The rings were contained in a 'top secret' case so they had quite the responsibility!
Soon after Cara made her way to the alter. It's often easy to forgot about other peoples reactions during this moment but I think I caught one of the best of the day when Steven could hardly hold back the tears. It's true emotion like that which makes my job all worth it. I'm sure it helped that Cara looked stunning in her wedding dress.
Once the ceremony was done Cara and Steven whisked off to Whitewater Golf Club where the reception and portraits would be taking place. I followed behind them anxiously looking forward to taking their portraits. Because the wedding party was so small, we were all able to hop on the golf carts and eventually make our way to one of the back greens that overlook the river. It turned out to be such a nice day that even the ride along the path was very serene.
We spent about 45 minutes total getting to the greens and then taking photos with some of the prettiest backdrops in the city. My favourite moment was when Cara's maid of honour secretly wrote lovely message in the bunker. Of course, this ended up being a great shot as we were finishing up.
It was then time to hop back on the carts and make our way to the reception. Before that began though, we took some time to get the family portraits done. It went by very quick as everyone pretty much did all the shots in one take. No blinkers!
After that I rushed into the reception area to take some nice details photos of the decorations. They were all very lovely. The cake area was particularly beautiful as there were old photos draped around it amongst a vintage looking mirror. I didn't have much time left after this so I got some nice candids of the receiving lines and then a couple speeches and the first kiss.
Whitewater Golf Club is always a great venue and with a such a beautiful day for the wedding it couldn't have gone any better. Cara and Steven were a lot of fun to photograph and I'm very happy with all the great photos I ended up capturing!
That Vintage Look
As a wedding photographer I’m always looking for ways to provide an even better customer experience. Something that shows that I am willing to go that extra step, often for no extra charge. For the last few clients that I have photographed for I have been choosing a few select photos and giving them a ‘vintage’ look. It has gone over very well which is why I am going to start offering this as part of all my wedding packages.
As a wedding photographer I’m always looking for ways to provide an even better customer experience. Something that shows that I am willing to go that extra step, often for no extra charge. For the last few clients that I have photographed for I have been choosing a few select photos and giving them a ‘vintage’ look. It has gone over very well which is why I am going to start offering this as part of all my wedding packages.
The best way I can describe what vintage looks like is by checking out a few samples of my last wedding with Michael and Madeline. You can see the before and after. Each photo is completely unique as you can see. Now, this isn't necessarily for everyone, but I really feel this is just one more way to offer yet another extra for every client. For free.
In case you are still looking for a wedding photographer or simply interested in a portrait session don’t hesitate to contact me anytime. Next year is booking up fast but dates are still available I would love to sit down and help you choose the right package. In the meantime enjoy the photos below!
Here are 3 photos before they were converted over.
And here they are converted over to a 'vintage' look. Remember each photos is completely unique. I go in and spend quite a bit of time making sure it looks just right and also matching it to the overall feel for the photos.
Madeline + Michael Wedding
It was the perfect August afternoon for Madeline and Michael's wedding. Going into the day I was more excited then usual. The reason being that it was at a location I had never photographed before. Monty Park. The ironic thing is, is that I have lived just around the corner from it for a long time and I didn't even know it was there. That is, until Madeline and Michael asked me to photograph their wedding. It is by far one of the nicest locations within the city that I have ever had the pleasure of working at.
It was the perfect August afternoon for Madeline and Michael's wedding. Going into the day I was more excited then usual. The reason being that it was at a location I had never photographed before. Monty Park. The ironic thing is, is that I have lived just around the corner from it for a long time and I didn't even know it was there. That is, until Madeline and Michael asked me to photograph their wedding. It is by far one of the nicest locations within the city that I have ever had the pleasure of working at.
I arrived around 1:30 to set up and begin taking photos of the guests and the wedding party getting ready. I've said it before, and I'll say it again, I always get so many great candid shots before the wedding starts. At around 2:00 the ceremony began. Everyone took their seats and the ceremony started. There were definitely a lot of emotions during the ceremony, a lot of those moments I was able to capture to. Once it was over all the guests mingled for a bit and the wedding party and the close family made their way to the other side of the park. It was then time to get all the group photos. There was a ton of space at the park, and I decided to use the beautiful wall there as a backdrop. We got the through the family photos fairly quick and then moved on to the wedding group photos.
I soon realized that this would be a very fun day taking photos of the group. They were just a blast to work. Shortly into the portrait session the entire group broke into 'I Want It That Way' by the backstreets. And yes, they pretty much sang the whole song with hand movements and all. After that we continued to take photos. Their outfits alone made the photos that much more unique. The boys went traditional with black and white and the girls did purple. But they all wore sneakers which tied everything together perfectly. Take a look at one of the last portrait photos on the steps and you will see what I mean.
Once we were done at Monty Park it was time for a quick pitstop at McDonalds. Instead of just using this as a break for myself, I kept my camera on me and got some great photos of them just hanging out there. These were some of my favourites from the day. The last stop before the reception was Waverly Park. You can't really go wrong with this location, with it's huge trees and great backdrop of the old P.A.C.I. Plus, I was able to capture my favourite photo of the day against the Magnus Theatre wall.
After all the portraits were done I had about 30 minutes left on the clock so I rushed over to the Italian Hall to get some quick detail photos of the reception. Once again I was pleasantly surprised by the decor. It tied into the entire theme of the wedding. The highlight of the reception decorations was the candy table. They even had personalized candy's with their name on it. Talk about attention to detail! As I do with all my weddings I want to give a big thank you to Madeline and Michael for letting me be a part of their wedding. They were easily one of the most fun and carefree couples I have ever had the pleasure of working with. I think the photos below really allow that to come through!
3 Brides - 15 Years
Who says you are only supposed to wear your wedding dress once? Well, tell that to these 3 ladies! My good friend Cora decided to dress up in her wedding dress along with her two friends Leesa and Jana-Rae. Why you ask? Well, supposedly it took them all at least 15 years into their relationships to say 'I Do'.
Who says you are only supposed to wear your wedding dress once? Well, tell that to these 3 ladies! My good friend Cora decided to dress up in her wedding dress along with her two friends Leesa and Jana-Rae. Why you ask? Well, supposedly it took them all at least 15 years into their relationships to say 'I Do'.
Jana-Rae was the most recent one to get married this past weekend so she is now part of the group. I hear this may become a yearly thing with I really hope it does. If they do it again, I am definitely going to make a photo session out of it. Since it was a holiday today, there weren't too many places open, so Starbucks was the destination of choice. Suffice it to say I was able to capture a few fun photos of them.
So, brides to be, don't forget that once you get married there is still plenty of opportunities to wear your wedding address down the road. You just have to be brave enough to do so like these 3 ladies.
Evelyn + Jim Wedding - Kenora
My biggest wedding of the year recently took place a couple weeks ago in Kenora, and boy was it a fun one. I don’t always get to do a wedding out of town but when I do it’s always a good time. Mainly because it’s exciting being in a different city with locations I most likely have never photographed at before. I find this definitely keeps the photos spontaneous. For Evelyn and Jim’s wedding it was a 2 day event and it really did fly by considering how much time I spent taking photos of them.
My biggest wedding of the year recently took place a couple weeks ago in Kenora, and boy was it a fun one. I don’t always get to do a wedding out of town but when I do it’s always a good time. Mainly because it’s exciting being in a different city with locations I most likely have never photographed at before. I find this definitely keeps the photos spontaneous. For Evelyn and Jim’s wedding it was a 2 day event and it really did fly by considering how much time I spent taking photos of them.
We arrived in Kenora on the Friday, checked into our hotel which was right on the water and got settled in. After grabbing some dinner and walking around we headed back to the hotel and eventually took a shuttle to the bbq. The BBQ was simply a way to celebrate before the wedding and for everyone to spend some time together in a relaxed atmosphere. It was at a beautiful house on the Lake just on the outskirts of town. The food was awesome and I was also able to get a few really great photos. It was then back to the hotel to get a good nights rest because Saturday would be a very long, but fun day.
Once noon rolled around I made my way to Jim’s house to take photos of everyone getting ready. This is often my favourite part of the wedding and usually results in some of the most candid and sincere photos of the day. I spent most of my time with Evelyn and all the girls upstairs. One of the highlights for me regarding the getting ready photos was being able to spend some time with there vintage Mustang and using it for some detail shots of the rings and shoes. It’s not often that I am able to have such a wonderful prop to use as a backdrop. After about 4.5 hours at the house I quickly rushed back to the hotel, showered and then was out the door to do some portraits by the water. Luckily the wedding itself was taking place a few minutes from the hotel on the waterfront.
I met everyone down by the waterfront and we spent some time getting some group photos as well as some more individual one of Evelyn and Jim. It was then time to head to the cruise ship where the wedding was taking place.
Once everyone boarded the ship we took to the open water. This was my first time on this particular cruise and it was extremely beautiful. Kenora has so many spectacular cottages on the water and I got a chance to see a lot of them. The weather was perfect so that helped as well. About 15 minutes after we left the dock it was time to get the ceremony on the way. All the guests were seated on the top level and Evelyn was ready to begin her walk up the stairs. Her father walked her ‘up’ the aisle and then it began. There is something to be said for having a wedding on the roof of a cruise boat with beautiful scenery all around you. It was quite picturesque. Everyone then congratulated them and was time to go downstairs for the reception.
The dinner too place on the main deck. I was amazed they were able to fit that many people in there but it worked great. Once the speeches were done and everyone ate we made our way back to shore for a quick stopover. Any guests that didn’t want to stay, particularly kids, had the option to leave. We then set sail one more time and that is when the dancing and fun continued. They had a DJ set up who was playing some great tunes and everyone was really enjoying themselves. Of course I was able to capture some more fun photos of people dancing and talking etc.
Before I knew it, it was time to dock one last time. That ended the night for me but some of the wedding party and guests made their way to Evelyn and Jim’s houseboat docked at the hotel. So the kept the party going a bit longer. This was probably one of the most unique weddings I have photographed in a long time. All the different locations I saw and people I met made it one to remember. As I do with all my weddings, I would like to say a big thank you to Jim and Evelyn for inviting me to be a part of their wedding day.
Amanda + Serge Wedding - Vickers Park
The weather in Thunder Bay this summer has been pretty unpredictable so when I saw that it was calling for rain the day Amanda and Serge were getting married I had my fingers crossed. Well... it ended up being completely sunny and very hot and humid. It ended up being the perfect day for a wedding. My day started at the ceremony which was held at Vickers Park. I had done plenty of portrait sessions at this location but this was my first wedding, and boy was it a very nice one.
The weather in Thunder Bay this summer has been pretty unpredictable so when I saw that it was calling for rain the day Amanda and Serge were getting married I had my fingers crossed. Well... it ended up being completely sunny and very hot and humid. It ended up being the perfect day for a wedding. My day started at the ceremony which was held at Vickers Park. I had done plenty of portrait sessions at this location but this was my first wedding, and boy was it a very nice one.
As usual I got there a bit early to get a bunch of candid photos of people arriving and mingling. Once Amanda arrived with the rest of her party on the shuttle bus I got into position. And then it was off to the races. The ceremony was short but very sweet. With everyone gathered around on their white chairs as well as some standing in the back, they all watched Amanda and Serge say their vows on a beautiful Saturday afternoon.
Once the ceremony was over we eventually headed for some shade and spent some time getting the wedding party photos. Luckily there are plenty of nice big trees and elegant backdrops to work with.
That was to be the end of my day but as it turns out I joined my girlfriend Anne who is good friends with the bride and groom for the reception. Of course I couldn't not bring my camera. Suffice it to say I ended up getting almost twice as many shots as I did at the wedding. It helped that Anne was with seeing as how she pretty much new half the people there.
In the end it was a lot of fun to photograph a lot of interesting people and of course very special moments. Congratulations to Amanda and Serge and thanks for letting me be a part of their day.
The Benefits of Doing an Engagement Session
For almost all of my packages I offer an engagement session but rarely do couples take advantage of it. Most of the time it is lack of interest or even timing in most cases. There are also some cases where couples are simply coming in from out of town to do the wedding. In this post I am going to touch upon the importance of doing an engagement session with your photographer.
For almost all of my packages I offer an engagement session but rarely do couples take advantage of it. Most of the time it is lack of interest or even timing in most cases. There are also some cases where couples are simply coming in from out of town to do the wedding. In this post I am going to touch upon the importance of doing an engagement session with your photographer.
Katie & Kurtis did the engagement well in advance. They then got me to create a great little customized engagement book for them which they shared with their friends and family.
Get to know how your photographer works
As I mentioned above, most couples usually meet their photographer for the first time the day of the wedding. There is nothing wrong with this, but it can be hard to feel comfortable behind the camera just like that. It often takes a little bit of time to relax and truly feel at ease when someone is taking photos of you.
So with an engagement session, it really gives you the opportunity to not only get to know your photographer as a person, but also how he shoots and the process in which he takes photographs. Plus, after spending an hour in front of the camera, come the day of the wedding, you will be a season pro!
Also, if for some reason you don't like some aspects of the way your photographer works you can always bring it up before the wedding. I have never had this happen personally, but you never know.
Melissa & Robert also got an engagement session done in advance of their wedding. It was really a great hour we spend together as we had a lot of fun, plus it allowed all three of them to be in front of the camera and get comfortable.
Get comfortable with your other half
Unless you have done numerous photo sessions with your loved one in the past it can sometimes be a challenge getting natural photos right from the start. It takes time to feel comfortable and not be too 'posed'. So by doing an engagement session you get to work out the kinks and really learn how to be at ease and get those great candid shots. Plus, it may even give you some ideas you want to try out for your wedding day.
Alisha $ Derek were honestly one of the most comfortable and natural couples I have had the pleasure of photographing. They decided to split up their engagement session into two separate ones. One a year before and another closer to the wedding. This also allowed us to use two different locations during two different times of the year. A great idea by them if you ask me.
Using the photos for your wedding
By have engagement photos done before you wedding, it allows you to use those photos for just about anything your heart desires. Couples often use photos from our engagement sessions for invites, the guest book or even a personal website for all the guests. It may even be something as simple as having some nice photos to put up around your house. Some of my favourite photos have been from engagement sessions. The pressure of the wedding is still a long ways away therefore couples are usually very relaxed and playful which in turns creates some truly natural photos.
Yet another option for the photos would be a photo book. I have done a few of these for couples and they have all turned out great. By doing one for your engagement session it gives you a good test run for a full on wedding album.
There you have it. A few good reasons to think twice about not doing an engagement shoot before the wedding. If you do decide to do one, be sure to schedule it for well in advance. That way you will have plenty of time to use the photos for the wedding.
5 Tips to Feel More Comfortable in Front of the Camera
When I take photos of couples some are more comfortable then others. Regardless, I always try and make it as natural as possible, that way the photos really do come across as sincere. With that being said there are things you can do to further ensure the photos don’t look too posed. In this short post I will list 5 simple ways to do so.
When I take photos of couples some are more comfortable then others. Regardless, I always try and make it as natural as possible, that way the photos really do come across as sincere. With that being said there are things you can do to further ensure the photos don’t look too posed. In this short post I will list 5 simple ways to do so.
Simply having Chellsea look back at Ryan created a dynamic and emotional photo.
1. Don’t look directly at the camera
It’s often really easy to just stare at the camera and smile. Now, there is nothing wrong with looking directly at the camera, but the problem with doing this all the time is that all the photos tend to look the same. Plus, if you are always smiling as the camera is pointed towards you, the photos will tend to feel unnatural. So, look away for some, perhaps look down or even change the angle sometimes where you are looking up at the camera. Anything to just add a bit of intrigue to the photo.
This was a fun photo done right at the end of the wedding. The picture frame tied in to the scattered frames hanging down from the trees.
2. Use a prop
To be honest, I don’t often bring props to a portrait shoot or wedding but they can be very useful. The sessions I have had couples use props have actually turned out quite well. This can be just about anything. Depending on the theme of the shoot or the emotion you are trying to emote, be sure the prop actually makes sense. One wedding I had the couple brought some bright coloured umbrella’s. It wasn’t raining, in fact it was bright and sunny, but it really matched the overall theme of the shoot and made for some very interesting photos. Another engagement session I had, we used bright coloured balloons. Unfortunately the session was cut short by a storm but in the 15 minutes we had, we got some fantastic photos. It could also be something as simple as your wardrobe. Whatever you choose, make sure it’s something that helps you feel comfortable behind the camera.
This engagement session was done at the Brickyard where Curtis originally proposed to Katie.
3. Pick a location that is familiar to you
Whether it’s an engagement shoot or even a wedding, sometimes it can be very helpful to stage it at a location that holds meaning to you. I did an engagement shoot with a couple where they originally got engaged at. It’s almost impossible not to relive those initial feelings and they often really come through in the photos. By having it a location you are familiar with, not only will you know the lay of the land, but things will just feel that much more natural. Not to say, you can’t do this with a venue you’ve never visited before, but a place you know could make a big difference.
4. Meet your photographer beforehand
Most photographers are great at creating a quick relationship with their client the day of but some are better then others. In the end if you don’t feel comfortable with your photographer, then it will show in the photos. It’s not always possible to meet with your photographer before a portrait shoot but at least with weddings I highly recommend it. Even just meeting over coffee a week in advance can make a real difference once the big day comes. Not only will you get to know the photographer a bit better, you can also get a sense of their shooting style, what they are thinking regarding location or anything else that will help the day of go smoother.
5. Look at other photographs
Be careful with this one. Don’t go out and memorize poses necessarily but by looking at other photos you can get a ton of ideas which may lead to ideas of your own. As I mentioned earlier, you might see some props that you like, or maybe even a location you never would have thought of. In previous posts I mentioned some sites for inspiration in general so feel free to check that out. Another obvious place to look is your photographers portfolio. If you haven’t already see what their style of shooting is, what other clients of their’s have done or anything else that might help.
In the end, just relax and have fun with it. If you don’t feel comfortable take a short break and try something new.
5 Ways To Get Inspired For Your Wedding
It can sometimes be daunting planning a wedding. Coming up with the right dress, the perfect caterer or even deciding on the colour palette for the wedding party. Luckily there are a lot of great resources out there. In this article I will outline 5 of them. Some may be obvious while perhaps one or two you may not have thought of. Read on to find out what they are.
It can sometimes be daunting planning a wedding. Coming up with the right dress, the perfect caterer or even deciding on the colour palette for the wedding party. Luckily there are a lot of great resources out there. In this article I will outline 5 of them. Some may be obvious while perhaps one or two you may not have thought of. Read on to find out what they are.
If you aren’t already on Pinterest, you should do so now. For brides to be it has a ton of ideas for everything ranging from wedding dresses to invitations. It’s really easy to create your own wall and basically pin any posts you like to it. That way you can go back and revisit it at anytime. Plus, you can integrate it with other social media sites such as Facebook which means it is easy to share posts with friends and family.
You are more then likely already on Facebook but this is another great site that has a lot to offer in the way of inspiration. The best way is to become fans of companies you like. Whether it is a decorator, a photographer or even a wedding planner. The advantage of Facebook is that you can also focus on local talent, that way if you something you like, you can actually deal with them directly.
Wedding Blogs
This one is pretty obvious but I figured I would mention it anyways. There are a lot of great sites out there that offer ideas and tips as well as real life weddings. What better way to get inspired then to look through actual weddings and see what other couples have done. Perhaps you are thinking of location ideas, a certain type of photography you want used, or even dress ideas. Some of my favourite blogs to check out are the following.
http://www.100layercake.com/blog/
http://junebugweddings.com/wedding-blog/what-junebug-loves/
There are many more out there so if none of these pique your interest to a google search and I’m sure you will find something that suits your needs. Of course, as always, feel free to check out my blog for tips and wedding write ups for past weddings that I have photographed.
Wedding Magazines
Usually at least once a week I will go to chapters and look through some of the wedding magazines on display. I love seeing what other photographers are doing out there and also, what some of the styles and trends are these days. It’s easy to just get in the habit of staring at a screen so it’s a welcome change to actually hold a magazine in your hands. Even go a step a further and buy a few of them. That way you can rip out some pages or bookmark certain things and create a scrapbook of what you like. Also, don’t forget that a lot of these magazines allow you to send in your wedding and they could feature it in an upcoming issue. Please be sure to check with your photographer before doing so as some of them don’t allow this. This will actually be the first year I will be sending in some weddings I shoot to be showcased. I think it’s a great idea personally.
Here are some suggestions for some of my favourite magazines out there.
Having been on Google Plus for the past year I have realized that it is a fantastic resource for just about everyone, especially couples getting married. Just like Facebook, there are groups you can join specific to your cause. For this, I think Google Plus excels because it seems to have a lot more photos as well as many more articles too. It also something called Circles, which you can essentially join to talk about what ever is on your mind.
There you have it! If you are struggling to find ideas for your upcoming wedding be sure to check out some of these options. I guarantee you will come away with a lot of great information.
What happens if it rains at your wedding?
It is impossible to determine the weather for your wedding day. Even if the day before calls for a cloudless sunny day, you just never know. There could always be that short sun shower or worse yet, a longer rainy period. So what are something things you can do to prepare for unforeseen weather?
It is impossible to determine the weather for your wedding day. Even if the day before calls for a cloudless sunny day, you just never know. There could always be that short sun shower or worse yet, a longer rainy period. So what are something things you can do to prepare for unforeseen weather?
Always have a backup plan
This one may seem obvious but you would be surprised how many couples just don’t plan for bad weather. As a wedding photographer I am always prepared to shoot in the rain because as they say, the wedding must go on. Luckily, up until this point I have really only had a couple weddings have some rain.
One of those weddings was down by the water which was about a 10 minute walk back to shelter. It only drizzled a bit and then it was over, but, had it rained more everyone would have had to walk at least 10 minutes before they were covered. There other wedding I shot had a lot more rain and actually threatened to make it an indoor wedding. The couple in this case had a covered tent for the reception which could have also hosted the wedding ceremony. It would have been really tight and obviously not as nice as an outdoor wedding but it could have been done. Luckily the rain passed and the outdoor wedding happened as planned.
It’s not always going to be ideal to have a backup location especially if your wedding ceremony is located somewhere away from your reception but if at all possible you should try to. If it simply isn’t possible, another option is to make sure you are at least in a large shaded area. Sometimes this is enough to allow the wedding to go on while the rain passes. Another option is to actually have a large tent you can set up just in case. This isn’t always ideal, especially if your have a large wedding and are also on a tight schedule.
In the end, if you are having your wedding during the rain part of the year or just don’t want to risk it, go for an indoor wedding to be safe. Save the portraits and any other photos for outside where timing and location is a bit more flexible.
As guests arrived before the ceremony, they needed a place to find shelter. What better place then the huge barn. As a photographer, it is moments like these that you have to really pay attention to. They are priceless.
Make sure your guests are comfortable
If you think it might rain, it doesn’t hurt to send out a gentle reminder for guests to bring umbrellas or dress appropriately. You could even take it a step further and have some umbrellas handy for guests that don’t have any. If it did rain and you already had chairs set up, make sure you have some way of drying the chairs off so guests aren’t sitting on wet chairs or drying them there selves. Wind plays a very important part as well. While guests are waiting for the wedding to start, and it’s a bit windy and cold outside, be sure to have an area where there is shelter. A place for guests to take cover while something passes.
Don’t let bad weather get in the way of your photos
Just because there is a slight drizzle or even a downpour, it doesn’t mean you can’t get great photos. As long as your photographer is open to shooting with a bit of rain a lot of great photos can be created in this kind of weather. Find some shade, shoot through a window, grab some umbrellas or even rain gear. If you are feeling adventurous and don’t mind getting a bit wet, get right out there and grab some unique and fun photos. Only do this if you don’t mind getting that expensive wedding dress and tux a bit wet though. Even something as simple as standing in a puddle while holding your pants and dress up can offer a different look for your wedding album.
For an engagement session, it was chilly and extremely foggy. This was by far one of my favourite sessions to date. To provided so many great photos.
I have had snow at weddings, rain, high winds and even fog. Each time, as a photographer, I embraced the weather and I was able to use it to my advantage. Your first priority is to make sure the wedding actually happens and your guests are comfortable but once that is figured out, don’t let the rain limit your creativity.