Should You Hire a Wedding Photography Intern?

The ups of hiring a wedding photography intern are obvious. I mean, who wouldn't want college students working in your studio for free? But there is so much more to it than that. This brief article will identify a list of things you might want to consider before starting an intern program.

First, a little background. We are wedding photographers in Grand Rapids, Michigan and have only had an intern program for five months. We have actually just hired our second intern though we have a third lined up to begin in the fall. However, despite its infancy, our intern program has been extremely rewarding and we believe it's because we didn't start one too early. We took the time to work through the following points which we believe have been critical to its success.

The first question we asked ourselves is if we were ready to have an intern. And for the longest time, our answer was no. The bottom line is that our goal was to build our own business and then have interns help us sustain it. For some time, we were so immersed as wedding photographers in Grand Rapids, Michigan that we didn't feel like we had our own act together when it came to our systems and workflow. Honestly, we were embarrassed at the thought of welcoming someone in to witness our chaos.

Which leads to the next consideration? What would we be passing on to our interns? Chaos? Or a good example of a well run photography studio? So we nailed down our products and vendors. We documented all of our systems and workflow and evaluated it for inefficiencies. And once we felt as if we knew what we were doing, we kept doing it over and over until we were confident that we had something that worked.

And that's when we brought in our first intern. She was a student at a university who was thinking about becoming a grand rapids wedding photographer. We clearly spelled out that we would not be teaching photography or editing, but that she would be implementing our workflow systems. As such, we benefited from freeing up time. And she would benefit from learning what wedding photography really involves.

One of the most important things that we have done in this process is to continually document our systems into a manual which literally spells out exactly how we do everything. This has been a tremendous resource for helping our intern remember how to do everything. But more importantly, it's the resource which will make it easier for our next grand rapids wedding photography intern.

Another consideration that we've wrestled through is the criteria for selecting our photography interns. And more specifically, the issue of how much experience they have. We recognize that anyone pursuing our internship will likely have some experience and may even have a website. But some of the intern candidates have actually been marketing themselves as professional wedding photographers, and that's where we drew the line. It just seemed odd for them to present themselves as professionals online and then to be interning for us by day. So we've chosen to hire interns who are considering a career as professional wedding photographers, but by no means consider themselves to be such already.

And one final consideration is what we do not have our interns do. For us, we've chosen that we will do all of our own shooting and editing. We encourage our wedding photography interns to become students of their own style and to learn to do that themselves. But what we do offer is a realistic perspective at what it really means to be a grand rapids wedding photographer so they can make an informed decision about pursuing it as a career.

I'm sure there will be many more lessons and considerations. But for now, these have been the most critical and the most helpful in developing our wedding photography internship program. I hope they will serve you as well as they have served us.

Wedding Photographers Photoshop Editing Tip - Making Your Images POP With a Little Contrast

So you wonder what makes some images look more "professional" than others? I wondered the same thing for a long time until I finally found the secret. And that secret is the magic use of contrast. If you shoot in RAW (and I hope you do for many various reasons that we shall discuss in another topic) then you probably notice that the images come out looking rather flat. In my opinion, this is a good thing. If the photos came straight out of the camera with too much contrast applied, then you run the risk of having blown out highlights or loss of detail in the shadows. As wedding photographers, we cannot have that because some of the main colors we shoot are white (wedding dress) and black (tuxedo). So, today I am going to show you how to add contrast to your wedding photos without losing detail in your highlights and shadows. I am even going to throw in a bonus tip at the end of the article, so make sure and keep reading.

First, we need an image. I am assuming that you have already color-corrected your image and performed the necessary retouches. First thing we need to do is open the image in Photoshop. I am currently using CS5, but CS2 and up should work fine.

You will want to duplicate your original layer. A quick way to do this is to click on the original layer and press control + J (windows), or command + J (mac). This will duplicate the selected layer. Now that you have two of the same layers, we are going to focus on the top layer. Let's go ahead and name that layer. I find that this is a great practice and recommend you add naming your layers to your workflow. I am going to name mine "contrast".

After we name our layer, we need to change the blending mode of this layer. If you look right above the layer named "contrast" you will see a drop down box that says "Normal". We want to click on this and select "Soft Light". Once you do this you will immediately notice that the image has a lot more contrast. In fact, it has too much and does not look that good.

In order to make the photo look better we now need to lower the contrast a bit. We can do this by lowering the opacity of the "contrast" layer. I usually set my opacity to around 60%, or so. This is a subjective change and you can fine-tune this to your likings.

Because we have added contrast, we have essentially boosted our highlights and shadow areas. What we need to do is make sure that our contrast layer does not affect these highlights and shadow areas. We will do that by opening the layer properties and changing the way the layer blends the gray tones. Open up the layer properties by double-clicking on the "contrast" layer. Once the layer properties box is open you will need to adjust the "Blend if: Gray" value so that our "contrast" layer does not affect the highlights and shadows, within a certain range that we specify.

We want to move the slider on the black (left) side, to the right until the first number next to "This Layer:" is 10. After that hold down the ctrl (Windows), or command (Mac), while you are still hovering over the same slider and start moving it to the right, even more, until the second number is 30. You will notice that this will split the slider into two. What this is doing is blending the shadows so that there is not an abrupt change in the tonal value, for this would not look very pleasing. Do the same thing to the white (right) slider until the numbers are (from left to right) 225 and 245. So from left to right from the "Blend if: Gray", we have 10 / 30 225 / 245. Essentially, what we have done is tell the layer not to change any of the highlight or shadow values in a certain range and to also blend the values that we did change with the ones from the original background layer.

It is time to evaluate our work. Turn off the "Contrast" layer and look at how much different our image looks now. The image has great contrast without damaging our highlights or shadow detail and it looks more professional. Great job!

Picking a Necklace, Earring and Bracelet for Your Wedding Is Crucial

Wedding jewellery is one of the most important parts of a wedding and every bride is going to need it. Mostly brides tend to leave jewellery related matters for the last, however if you want everything to be right, you'd need to buy it well in advance.

On this special day you would want everything to be perfect and hence everything that you wear needs to match and that would include your hair style, the jewellery you wear as well as your dress.

You're going to be wearing the wedding ring for the longest time and therefore you should pick one that you love. Once you've picked the ring you should go ahead and get a wedding dress designed. After you've finalized the colour and design of the dress you would then need to proceed and pick the right wedding jewellery.

Regarding the necklace

If you're wedding dress is being designed so as to have a low neckline you should go ahead and buy a drooping necklace preferably pearl or rhinestone. Don't buy necklaces that are short as in this case it would look like it was choking you.

If you're dress has a high neckline you could skip the necklace altogether, but if you still want to wear something you could buy a long necklace so that it shows. However, you need to make sure that the design looks good when placed on top of the dress.

If you happen to have a strapless or off shoulder wedding dress you must definitely wear a necklace as you probably wouldn't look good without one. Another thing that you could do is wear a large pendant on a small and transparent necklace.

Picking the best earrings

Chandelier earrings are really popular and are worn by many brides, but they only look good when they're worn on sleeveless gowns. If your wedding dress has sleeves you must make sure that the earrings you pick are small.

Do you want a bracelet too?

Most brides don't wear a bracelet on their wedding day as they wear elegant gloves. However, if you do want a bracelet you need to make sure that it's not too fancy as it won't look good.

There are plenty of old vintage like bracelets that you'd be able to find if you search around a bit; these would be perfect for a wedding.

Whatever you choose, make sure that it's in accordance with your bridal gown.

Wedding Photography - Ideas For Taking Outdoor Wedding Photos

You only get one shot at this. Outdoor wedding photography requires a specific know how. Your photographer must be able to see the potentials and drawbacks to a specific photography venue. Here are some simple steps to ensure that your day goes great.

1. Preplan - Your wedding day will be hectic. You will not have the time to creatively structure a full photoshoot. You need to look at some ideas beforehand, and make sure that they suit your particular style. Visit the location and see what obstacles you will face. If you go in with a good idea of your surroundings, you can previsualize the shots you want

2. Timing - Most photographers know lighting is best in the ween hours of the day. Around 4-7 depending on the time of year. Problem is, a lot of brides think that the sunnier the day, the better. The truth is, bright sunlight creates harsh lighting conditions for good portraits photography. Plan the groupshots for later in the day if possible.

3. Punctuality - A wedding is go, go, go. If your bride has family members that are habitually late, then tell them to be there 30 minutes earlier than the shoot will actually start. This ensures that everyone is ready to go at the right time.

4. Use the sun as a backlight - If you have a flash, you can use the sun to create a nice rimlight for your subjects, without silhouetting their faces.

5. Study - Use photographers that you admire for inspiration. You can always use other photographers in order to inspire your own style. I always like to study photographers who have shot in similar locations in order to get an idea of what could be possible. By doing this you are allowing yourself creative flexibility. Just make sure to keep your work original.

6. Bring the proper equipment - Lenses and a camera are a must, but you should also invest in proper lighting equipment. I have found that good off camera flash equipment has helped my photography immensely. A wide angle lens can also help to capture your surroundings.

7. Stay with the trends - You always have to evolve your style to suit the needs of the current industry. Photojournalistic weddings have been popular for the last 5 years, however the industry is moving to a more fashion oriented wedding photography style.

8. Schedule a portrait shoot on a different day! - One great tip that I have found helpful is to schedule a shoot with the bride and groom, in their wedding attire, on a separate day. This will give you the opportunity to set up a great portrait session without the pressure of wedding deadlines!

11 Reception Tips Even the Bridal Magazines Don't Know (Or Forgot to Write About)

1. Be specific with your vendors. It's your dream wedding, so the better you articulate details of your dream to those you've hired, the easier it is for them to deliver on their promises for a memorable event. Tell your hall, pastor, baker, florist, photographer, DJ, etc., EXACTLY what your expectations are and how you want things done. If you are unsure how something might be done, ask them EXACTLY how they would suggest doing it. You make the final decision, however.

2. Be accessible on your wedding day. Your photographer, videographer, DJ, etc. should be able to reach you on your wedding day. Make sure they have your cell phone number and that you have theirs. You never know when (or why) you may need to get in touch with one another.

3. Seat older guests further from the music. A basic rule of sound is...the closer you are to a speaker, the louder it is. Younger generations are used to music being a bit louder; older guests will appreciate your thoughtfulness for seating them at a distance.

4. Make your bridal party aware of "the program." A considerable amount of time can be spent getting your bridal party together for important reception events, such as 1) the introductions into the room, 2) toasts & grace and 3) the bridal dances. If even one member of your bridal party is missing for any of these events, your celebration is delayed. Be sure to share with them in advance how important it is to be present and on time for these events. Let them know that once they are asked to be at a specific place, they need to hold off on going to the bathroom, smoking, making a phone call, etc., until afterward.

5. Give speeches & toasts before dinner. You want your guests' total attention during these special moments. The best way to ensure this is by giving all speeches and toasts back-to-back, and immediately before dinner. Traditionally, if the father of the bride is going to speak, he goes first, followed by other parents. Next, the Best Man gives his toast, followed by the Maid/Matron of Honor. If you, as bride and groom, plan on speaking, you're next. Grace is said last. There is no "rule" as to how many people (or who) should speak. However, if you have more than three speeches or toasts, ask each "presenter" to keep it under two minutes.

6. Speed up your buffet line. Your guests will be hungry. If you're offering a buffet, ask the hall or caterer to set food on both sides of the table for faster service. Savor the dinner's memorable moments, but remember that the sooner the meal is over, the sooner the party can begin!

7. Beware of the "quick snapshot." You can eat up as much as a half hour of dance time when you pull your friends and family out of the party for a group photo. Sure, it only takes a moment to shoot the picture, but it takes 10 or 15 minutes to get everyone together. Then, it will take you another 10 minutes to get back to the party, because you will keep getting stopped by guests who want to chat. So, if you need a family photo or a group picture of your college friends, try to pre-plan the photos and take them before dessert is served. Your photographer may be inspired to try some impromptu or creative composition. Remember: your photographer works for you; you are allowed to say "no" to anything that you feel infringes on your fun time.

8. Greet as many guests as possible before and during dinner. While it's only polite to make an effort to individually thank everyone for coming to your wedding, plan to do it earlier in the reception. If you try to greet everyone after the meal, there's a good chance that your guests will be impatiently waiting 30-45 minutes for the party to begin.

9. Don't be afraid to call it a night. Metro Detroit is one of the few places in the country where wedding receptions have been known to last an average of six hours. That being said, sometimes asking your friends and family to party for six hours can be a lot. In New York City and Tampa, Florida, for example, wedding receptions last an average of three hours. A five-hour wedding reception is considered LONG in those areas. If you feel as if the majority of your guests have simply had enough fun, consider ending the party. The old show business adage, "leave them wanting more," applies. Your wedding reception will be remembered much more fondly if it "ends with a bang" rather than "fizzling out." Choose a song in advance that fits your idea of an appropriate finale to signal the end of the party.

10. Assign end-of-the-night tasks ahead of time. You will be exhausted by the end of your party, and the last thing you'll want to do is "think" about anything. Ask responsible friends and family members to each take responsibility for cleaning up the hall, carrying and transporting gifts and other items home, etc. This will take the burden off you and give you the chance to properly say good-byes to your guests.

11. Don't micro-manage your reception. Allow the party to blossom and develop. Be in the moment. Don't rush things. Trust the people you've hired. You've spent hundred of hours planning....now let the party happen and enjoy yourselves

Riding into the Sunset in Style

Details, details, details. Paying attention to details, that's what makes a good wedding great. As the maid of honor or best man, a lovely send off for the newlyweds is a tastefully decorated car--announcing to the world "Here comes Mr. & Mrs. Happy Couple"!

Big Splurge

If you're the best man and you have deep pockets, a wonderful wedding treat is splurging for a vintage or customized car for your pal. Match the car to the personality of the couple. Are they sporty and nuts about the outdoors? Rent a custom Hummer H-2. Are they refined Anglophiles? Find a Bentley Azure convertible to take them to their honeymoon in style. In Chicago, a Hummer goes for $399 per day with 100 free miles from rentexoticcars.com. Exotic Rentals has locations in many major cities and offers a wide selection. Contact the luxury rental car office in your area to find out about inventory.

Flowers

Think romance when deciding on car wedding decorations. Soaped up windows with "Donna and James Forever" and cans trailing off the back leaves a bit to be desired.

Contact the florist that was hired for the wedding and inquire about purchasing additional flowers to decorate the car. An antique car looks splendid with carefully placed ivy woven around the chrome details.

Ribbon & Bells

You don't have to take all the fun out of car decoration. Bells and ribbons can be attached to the car calling attention to all who drive by. Try to pick ribbon in complimentary colors to the car. Tulle is another option. Purchase tulle by the yard and adorn the hood with a pretty bow.

For the most meager budget, a hand painted sign can be affixed to the trunk of the car spelling out the joyous news.

Balloons

Customize your balloons at a local party store. Have the bride and groom's name and wedding date printed on colored balloons. Hide wedding car decorations during the reception and sneak out to affix the balloons to the car, be careful no to obstruct the driver's vision!

Writing

If you must write on the car, be sure to select a glass marker for any personalize messages you transcribe as car wedding decorations. Soap or other non-specialized markers can damage paint and ruin a perfectly good honeymoon! Glass markers were uniquely designed to be applied to glass. The paint dries quickly and is removable with a damp cloth.

Execution

Step up to the plate and deliver an elegant departure for the happy couple. Scatter rose petals along the walkway to the car for the bride and groom. Have a chilled bottle of champagne waiting for them inside the backseat and perhaps a few nibbles of chocolate--the newlyweds were probably too busy dancing and greeting their guests to enjoy much of their own catering.

Take these suggestions for car wedding decorations and have fun. My most valuable tip is this, HIRE A DRIVER for your friends. They will be exhausted and perhaps under the influence of too many champagne toasts. Get them to their honeymoon safely and in style.

Most Efficient Ways To Plan A Wedding

Planning a wedding can be an exciting time, but it can also be an event filled with stress. Using the most efficient ways to plan a wedding will ensure that you don't miss steps or waste time that could be spent on other aspects of the planning process. This article will provide a simple outline that should help you prepare for your big day.

First, set the date. You can't really go about planning anything until you have a date chosen. After the date, you can think about where to have the ceremony. Decide if it will be indoors or outdoors. You can usually save money on decorations and flowers if you choose to do the ceremony outdoors. Take into consideration the time of year and how the weather can affect your special day. Again, preparation is the key to having a successful event.

After you have a date and place, order the invitations. Remember, if you have out of town guests coming, it is proper etiquette to give them as much advance notice as you possibly can. This helps them cover the financial costs as well as any travel costs that they might accrue from attending your special day. Try to mail out their invitations first so they can prepare accordingly.

It is important to have a notebook of some sort where you keep track of all of your important information. Once you have a notebook set aside for this valuable information, guard it with your life. If you lose your notebook, it can be a headache trying to sort out receipts and other information that might be lost for good.

The more time you have to plan, the better off you will be. There are so many things to think about. You will have to select your cake, flowers, dress, and so much more. Try to relax and remember that almost everyone feels the stress from an event like this at least once in their lifetime.

Sometimes leaving the honeymoon plans to the groom can alleviate a lot of stress for the bride. Let the groom plan the honeymoon and surprise you if you are a flexible person. Many brides have later said that they were happy they didn't have to plan out the honeymoon on top of everything else.

Some of the most efficient ways to plan a wedding include preparation. Do as much as you can in advance so that you don't have to stress out on your special day. If things get hectic, consider hiring a professional to help you with all of your decisions. With careful planning, this can turn out to be one of the best days of your life.

Tips for More Relaxed Wedding Photography Poses

We've all seen those stereotypical wedding photography poses a thousand times. After the ceremony, all the guests line up in different groups and have their picture taken. With a professional in charge, a scenic background is selected, and flattering lighting is ensured. Given all the different aspects the photographer has to think about, it's no easy task. They've got their mind on the technical, creative and social considerations, all at the same time. It's not as if there's no pressure either. Time is limited, and the outcome is crucial. It's a job for the true professional, and nerves of steel are needed. You certainly don't want to make it more complicated, but those standard line-ups of people always look so stiff. If you want to make your wedding photographs a little bit different, here are a couple of things to think about.

There are two main aspects to wedding photography, the formal and the informal. We'll talk about the formal photographs first. The key to this is planning. It's worth spending some time with your photographer beforehand to work things out, and maybe involve some other suppliers too. Decide on a location for the formal groups, that'll give the photographer a big advantage. To stop people from standing stiffly in a row, they're going to need help. To enhance their poses, give them something to work with. You might want to consider building a little stage area with some props. There's no stock solution to this, but a couple of chairs and a sofa are a good starting point. You can hire these for the day, so you can choose something as opulent as you like. Having people both standing and sitting beaks up the line, and it puts everyone in a more relaxed mood. Their poses will naturally reflect this, and it lends the photographer more scope to work with when they're giving direction. Another thing to consider is laying on some refreshments, and maybe some entertainment. A drink and a bite to eat will give the waiting guests something to do, and a small musical ensemble or some jugglers will help create a party atmosphere. This might not affect the photographs directly, but it will make people more relaxed, and a smile will come more naturally. It'll also buy you more time, so you can work on those poses and make sure everyone looks glamorous.

For the informal aspect, brief your wedding photographer to go looking for spontaneous photo opportunities. This could be happening at the same time as the formal groups, in which case you'll need a second photographer, but it's a worthwhile investment. Often, these are the most memorable images. They can be candid, or partly set up. The aim is to capture people at their most relaxed, posing as it comes most naturally to them, and distracted by the joy of the occasion. It might sound like an easier job, but it requires just as much skill. It's another task for the professional.

By achieving more relaxed wedding photography poses, you'll make sure your day looks quite different from your Granny's. Future generations will appreciate your efforts too, as they look at your pictures and feel some of the happiness of the moment. The key is to work with your photographer, and let them know what you want. They'll be only too happy to help.

Wedding Photographers Are Profiting From This Knowledge in 2012

Wedding Photographers, who are still selling wedding albums for a profit, know that the choice of photo book they sell, determines whether their album selling is successful, so it is critical that they choose the right album that will aid, and not frustrate, their success. If the wrong book is chosen, the result is either no sales at all, or sales at such a low price, that there is no financial reward and therefore no point in selling the album in the first place.

The first step in making the right photo book choice is to understand your competition. The competition you must know about to help you make the right album choice first time, are not fellow wedding photographers, but are the big department stores and shopping centres. This is because the Australian chain store giants have made a serious push into the wedding album market, and have been successful in capturing coffee table book sales. The retail moguls machine print albums fast, on mass, at the lowest prices, and they promote and inform wedding couples of their books, in store, online, and in print, radio and television media. Wedding Photographers who are still selling photo books for a profit, know this, which is why when it comes to choosing the right album to sell, they immediately eliminate Coffee Table Books. In fact, based on this knowledge, they immediately eliminate all books that can be machine printed, because chain stores have this market sown up, and a photography business cannot compete against a chain store giant, and there is no point trying.

In knowing your big and powerful competition, you now know the type of books you can never successfully sell for a profit, and knowing the books not to sell, brings you half the way to knowing the right book to sell and profit from. You now know that the book you need to sell, must be a wedding album the chain stores cannot quickly machine bind and sell as cheap as chips.

So, what type or types of albums are off limits to the chain stores?

Before answering this key question, it is essential that you understanding some important features of the wedding industry, in particular, the album market, and how and where different albums fit in the wedding market place. An example from the food industry may help you see the album market and the consumers' perspective, more simply and clearly. This knowledge will help you avoid the disappointment of wasting your resources on bad album choices that will return you no profit.

Most of us have chosen Fast Food at a Take-Away, and most of us have eaten in a comfortable sit down restaurant. Let's look more closely and compare the two choices and experiences.

Fast Food is quick, cheap, and made to a price, while the restaurant is an experience you remember because of the food, the people with you, and the service. The restaurant costs more, but you get so much more. The Fast Food is fast, but the restaurant meal is worth the wait. The Take-Away meal is so quick and efficient, it looks and tastes like it was made in a factory by a robot, The restaurant meal you chose from a menu, and it is prepared as a one-off by a Chef who most likely personally selected and purchased the ingredients at the markets early that morning. More thought and care went into your restaurant meal, which is the reason why it looks, smells and tastes delicious, and why it costs more and is worth more. Fast Food has its purpose, and is great for the kids or if you are in a rush, but for a special occasion, for a romantic one-on-one precious time to remember together, you will choose your fine restaurant every time.

When successful Wedding Photographers choose the right photo book to sell, their considerations are similar to choosing between a Take-Away meal and a meal at a restaurant. If they choose a Coffee Table Book, it is like choosing the Take Away Fast Food. Yes, it is cheap and quick and has pictures in it, and it will do for the kids birthday, but it pales when compared side-by-side with a beautiful wedding album that satisfies the expectations of wedding couples and also lives up to what is expected of a family heirloom for future generations.

Besides the Coffee Table Book being unsuitable to play a role as a true wedding album, it never was a profitable book, as you cannot add a reasonable profit, because its low price was always a factor in couples choosing the Coffee Table Book, so there was never real profit to be gained by Wedding Photographers selling it. Now of course, there is no point in selling them, because shopping centres can retail them to couples for $50 to $200.

So now, let's discuss the album choice that can profit you, which has to be an album that shopping centres cannot make by fast machine binding.

The type of photo book that is still profiting Wedding Photographers is known as the Compression Page Album, and it can only be hand bound, so you are not competing on price against the books printed by the retail giants. Compression Page Albums still provide photographers a profit niche protected from the big retailers. These albums are in a class of their own, looking nothing like machine bound books, and instead they have a charming elegance and style, a little like the comparison between the bustle of a drive-through at your local take-away, and the romantic ambiance that sets the scene for intimate and private sharing between a man and a woman.

From first glance, you know you've discovered a book that is completely different to the common crowd of photo books. A book set apart from the rest, not just because of the look, but also because of the quality that runs deep. Similar to the restaurant Chef who chose the ingredients for your delicious meal which wasn't simply eaten but instead savoured and remembered as exquisite, so the expert hand binders chose the glues, papers, cardboards, vinyl colours and textures, carefully creating the permanent library bound strong spine to last, so the Compression Page Album looks gorgeous for many long years.

In case you have never heard of Compression Page Albums, let me define this class of photo book.

Firstly, they are named due their compression page, which begins life as thick cardboard, before being compressed under many tons of pressure for a 12-hour duration. This pressure achieves a strong stiff and long lasting page. Before the compressed pages are ready to be used by the binder, they are hand trimmed and sanded until the page edges are smooth and flat. The smooth and flat edges make it possible to colour the page edge. The pages edge make an important contribution to the overall look and style of these albums, which is not possible in other types of photo book.

Of course, couples who are looking for a special wedding album and are prepared to pay accordingly, desire additional photo book features too. Features that attract couples to pay more for a photo book include, understated elegance, hand bound professional quality, compression pages, flush mount, stiff pages, lay flat spreads, no cut photo centre, professional photo paper, finger touch photo protection, richer colours and blacker blacks in image quality, long lasting album durability, and long 5-year replacement guarantee on binding strength. A photo book that looks rare, distinctive, and unique is also more likely to be perceived by couples as being worth a higher price.

Because of the proliferation of common machine bound photo books sold cheaply today, the Compression Page Album shines all the brighter, giving the discriminating wedding photographer a golden opportunity to capitalise and still earn good profits in 2012.

The stiff page makes the best showcase for a wedding photographer's work, while also being synonymous with luxury and superior quality. In fact, these photo books are the strongest form of binding and the longest lasting type of albums.

Wedding photographers also get far more word-of-mouth referral from compression page photo books, because just like the ease of remembering a delicious dish, comfortable decor, and charming service for far longer than queuing for your Take-Away, so it is that these albums make a lasting positive impression. Be sure to include your logo and web address in your closing design page, because friends of the brides will not forget this album, and your business will experience more growth.

Smart photographers know that the cheap albums now sold in their millions through big retailers, are not an enemy to profits, but are actually a friend and the biggest profit opportunity for many years, because most photographers today are either giving up and leaving the industry, or are capitulating to shoot and burns and making no profit from album sales. Compression page albums give photographers a greater opportunity to profit.

To profit from this absence of photographers selling wedding albums, you will have to work harder and smarter, because more than ever before, Brides have to see your albums to see the difference in your albums compared to common machine bound albums. This means you will show your compression page albums on your home page so that Brides know the instant they arrive on your website, that you sell unique albums. You will make your first impression as a photographer, by photographing your photo books to show off their class, style, and elegance. The smart profiting photographer today, prompts a huge 'WOW' response in the first second the Bride enters their website and sees their album product. After all, everyone who makes a profit out of photography has to sell a product, and the photographers' product is their photo book. A wedding photographer is in commerce, so don't waste your website, get commercial. Product comes first and makes the first impression. If you sell cars you show cars on your website, and the same applies to those who sell houses, flowers, coffee, or anything. Second, be proud of your prices. Have two or three albums featured on your home page showing album features and prices. Have images on your website that show your albums both inside and out, along with your album prices.

Your photography should take second place to your photo books. Show a few of your best shots from a few of your best weddings. Don't overdo your number of photographs. The best 'WOWs' are achieved from the first few images. Remember that you are only whetting the Brides appetite for your photography, so don't turn a tempting taste tease into an all-you-can-eat pig-out, or it will cost you big time. You want the Bride's experience on your website, to be a small and delicious taste of what is to come in your Photographic Studio.

Be sure to include some 'WOW' page designs, but again, not many. Remember, your website is an important savouring exercise, designed to elicit phone calls or emails requesting appointments in your Studio.

In your Studio, have two or three amazing Compression Page Albums. Never have more albums than that and never have any other type of album in your studio if you want to make profit from photo book sales. Display a few 'WOW' wall prints, but not many or you will dilute their impact.

Display your very best 'WOW' album in a premiere position on the far wall of your studio, placing it on a distinctive album stand under a light that attracts all eyes to it.

At the Studio appointment, first seat your couple, go through the formalities and the courtesies, and have bubbly already poured in two unusually attractive glasses. Have soft lighting, gentle music playing quietly in the background, and seat the couple on a comfortable lounge. Your two other 'WOW' albums should be on a coffee table in front of the couple.

After your introductions and indicating their drinks, let them know your will leave them for a few minutes to give them a little time to relax and settle, and invite them to watch some of your work. Set the display of your work in motion on a big screen. All the while the couple will have the feature album on the stand catching their attention and developing their interest. The five-minute view of your work should progress at a relaxing pace and needs to include some romantic wedding photography, some photo book spread designs, and finish with some product shots of your albums in the hands of couples. On the coffee table, also have swatches showing samples of available album cover choices.

That initial five minutes for the couple to be alone, is important because it allows them to relax and settle after their drive to find you, and as they make themselves comfortable, they are making themselves feel at home, and feeling at home, helps them connect to your work, connect to your albums, and connect to you.

When you return to the couple, ask them about themselves and what they are hoping for their wedding day. Take a friendly interest in their choice of gown, shoes, hair, makeup, etc. It is important to chat and share with them like a friend about location and date. It is also very important to compliment the bride and bride's mother about personal things that will look beautiful in your photographs. The bride and bride's mother must know that you feel that they are photogenic and the photographs you will take will look beautiful.

Ask them if they saw anything on your website that they liked, and ask them if they have had time to see your photo books, and invite them to walk over to view your feature album. It is important to have your feature album positioned so they walk over to it and stand as they view it. Always have all your albums closed so your couples are the ones who open them to view them.

At this point, tell them you will leave them again for a few minutes to view your wedding books privately. Give them five minutes alone, return with some finger food, and refill their glasses without being invited (if they decline, offer juice or water). While they enjoy your finger food, talk about your albums, describing the available choices, album features, print and binding qualities, describing to them what a Compression Page Album is, and informing them of the many benefits it means to them.

Remember to emphasise the benefits in everything you do and sell. Display on your website a standard 10% discount if they book a photography and album package, and the 10% discount should be presented showing 10% off the photography and 10% off the album so it sweetens the package. In your Studio, reward couples with a 20% discount if they book and deposit immediately before they leave, and again the 20% discount should be presented showing 20% off the photography and 20% off the album, so it sweetens the package.

Present the 20% discount offer at the end of the Studio appointment, and excuse yourself for five minutes, letting them know you want them to have the privacy to discuss their decision together. On your return, simply ask the couple what decision they have reached.

Never make the mistake of talking technically or going into detailed descriptions of your camera and lens equipment. Simply let the couple know that all your cameras and lenses are professional quality and produce impressive quality photographs, and you have enough back-up equipment on the day so equipment failure will not be a concern on their big day.

If you exhibit at wedding fairs, make your display look similar to your studio. Remember that less is definitely more. Always show only what will deliver an instant knockout 'WOW,' but don't overdo it, or you will reduce the impact you're wanting to generate.

Promote and exhibit your albums everywhere you can, and always work in a manner that delivers a service experience that exceeds couples' expectations.

Don't pressure sell or up sell. Great albums sell themselves. It is more about setting the scene as described above. Once you have everything in place, then it all hinges on you. Be friendly. Be helpful. Be nice. Don't waffle. Have a simple step-by-step process as described above.

You can expect to pay $500~$1,000 (AUD) wholesale for a compression page photo book from a supplier, and depending on how well you execute the advice in this article, will determine to what degree you profit, because retail prices set by Australian wedding photographers range from about $2,000~$5,000.

You can profit in 2012, just like other wedding photographers, but it does not happen by chance.

I hope this wedding album selling advice will help you to increase your profits from your wedding photography in 2012.

What Should People Wear to the Wedding?

If you're getting married soon or you have weddings to attend this season, you're going to have to consider wedding dress codes and what they mean. One way to find out what kinds of clothing to wear to a wedding is to ask others, possibly the mother of the bride or the bridesmaids, what they think is appropriate. You could also ask other guests what they are wearing, or as a last resort, ask the bridal couple themselves what they would like you to wear. There are clues you can use to find out for yourself what is appropriate to wear to a wedding. Here they are:

1. Check the invitation
There are clues everywhere in an invitation that will signal to you what is appropriate to wear to that wedding. Is the invitation on embossed linen with lots of big words in fancy script? That wedding is probably going to be on the formal side. Is it a colorful or simple wedding invitation welcoming you to come watch while they "get hitched"? That points to a more casual affair. If you can find out how many people will be attending the wedding, that will help you know if it is going to be a large, small, or intimate gathering. Intimate weddings can be more formal, but you'll want to check with the rest of the clues because they can also end up black-tie.

2. Consider the facts
Where is the wedding being held? Is it in a cathedral? At the justice of the peace? On a farm? On a beach? All of these will have their own wardrobe necessities. Make sure you wear comfortable shoes for an outside wedding, a hat or covering for a sunny beach wedding, and a wrap for a religious wedding: cover those bare shoulders! Also, consider the time of day. Daytime weddings before 6pm have different clothing requirements than those that happen in the evening. Also, consider the season. You'll wear different weights and colors of clothing in the summer than you will in the winter.

3. Use the clues in the wording
Often the invitation will tell you right out what kind of wedding attire to wear. For a daytime summer wedding, a woman will need a light, flowing, or short, "church" dress, a light-colored suit, or a light skirt and blouse. In the winter, she'll need a skirt and sweater set or light-colored suit. For a daytime summer wedding, a man will need a light-colored and lightweight suit, preferably linen, or a dress shirt and slacks, possibly with a light-colored blazer. In the winter, he'll need a wool suit or the dress shirt, slacks, and blazer. They should be light-colored unless the wedding is also formal. In that case, wear darker colors.

For an evening wedding, a woman should wear a short cocktail dress or a dressy suit in darker colors. Avoid sequins unless it is to a black-tie event. A man should wear a dark suit unless for a casual wedding. Then, refer to daytime wedding attire.

For black-tie optional, the woman's dress will become floor-length and the man may choose a dark suit or a tuxedo. For strictly black-tie, wear a formal, floor-length dress with formal jewelry and accessories. The only option for a man at a black-tie even is a tuxedo.

There are several things you should never wear to a wedding. Don't wear all white unless you are the bride. Don't wear all black to a daytime wedding. Don't wear anything sexy or revealing. Don't wear anything torn or dirty. And possibly the most important rule of wedding attire: never wear anything that will upstage the bride.

Starting a Wedding Photography Business - The Website

WWWhat?

Some photographers might tell you that you don't need a website but in today's highly connected world you are not going to go far without one. If you don't know how to design a site, don't have the money to pay someone else, or don't know anyone who wants to help you out, there are alternatives. Sites like SmugMug, Zenfolio, or even a WordPress photo blog allow a budding photographer a great way to start in the wedding photography business.

What do you need from your first site?

You'll need something that can grow with you, something that is SEO (search engine optimized) compliant, something that keeps new customers on your site, and something that allows your existing customers to order pictures. A combination of options can accomplish this, for example:

• Website with a link for your existing clients to Zenfolio or SmugMug

• Blog with a link for your existing clients to Zenfolio or SmugMug

• Just a SmugMug account

I personally started with SmugMug and then developed my own site. Now I have a Blog/HTML/Flash site mix. I use SmugMug as a gallery site for my existing customers and a blog to add new content on the fly. You can start with a website but I'd suggest starting with SmugMug, Zenfolio, or a WordPress blog.

Don't Be so Smug About It!

SmugMug is an amazing tool for new and existing professional photographers alike. It's customizable interface is second only to the amount of help found in the support forums. It will cost you $149.95 for a pro account for the year but to be honest it's a small price to pay to get your wedding photography business off the ground. It's features include unlimited storage, the ability to setup public and secure galleries, customizable pricing, professional prints, protection from downloading of your prints, SEO tools, and the ability to change the look and style of the interface to meet your needs.

As I said before it also has a great forum with lots of tips on how to customize the interface. If you're going to attempt to customize you'll need some knowledge of style sheets and a bit of HTML knowledge wouldn't hurt either. However, if you just want to go with SmugMug themes then no need to worry about that. It also allows you to use SEO tools which will help to drive customers to your site. I'll cover this in more detail in my marketing article.

While some photographers use SmugMug as their sole site and online portfolio if you truly want to drive customers to your site at some point you will need to move to a website which allows you to modify every aspect of the design and SEO compliance. However, SmugMug will work great for you in the mean time and once you've designed your own site you'll still want to keep a gallery service in place for your existing customers.

Find your inner Zen

Zenfolio is a service similar to SmugMug in that it provides galleries and ordering capabilities. It has a very nice interface that is intuitive and extremely easy to use for novice internet users. Everything about the service is extremely easy. It doesn't have as much flexibility when it comes to modifying the overall design as SmugMug so what you see is what you get, but to be honest it's a very beautiful site. It also has a lot of tracking ability within the site to help you get the most out of your orders and to know who is ordering what.

The premium service costs about $100.00 per year for unlimited storage. In my opinion Zenfolio is not a good service on its own. It works great as a customer gallery where your customers can order their prints from but doesn't work as a primary site. If you want to use Zenfolio when you first start up but don't want to design a website I'd say go with a WordPress photoblog that links to Zen for your private galleries.

WordPress Blog

I've just started my photoblog and did it for different reasons than a brand new photographer would do so. I have done it because it adds more links pointing back to my main photography site thus increasing my ranking in Google. It also allows me to show off new work without updating my main site all the time. For a new photographer it would be your primary online portfolio. To show people your work and to meet SEO needs. The reason I say use a WordPress PhotoBlog is because WordPress is easily indexed by Google. I'll go into that in the marketing article. A PhotoBlog is nothing more than a template placed onto a blog that lets you have images as your primary purpose rather than words.

There are lots of photoblog templates out there but to be honest my favorite is the one I chose. I am using a Pro Photo Blog template which allows for extreme customization without the hassle of knowing html or flash. The cost is $199 so its not cheap, but it is professional. Feel free to view my site for an example. Whatever template you chose you'll still need a gallery for your clients. If you'd like to keep your branding similar, go with SmugMug. If you just want dead simple, go with Zenfolio.

Read On

Make sure to take a look at my next article on marketing which goes into some things I've learned along the way. I won't be able to cover everything because to be honest the subject could fill books but I'll cover some highlights to get you started.

Wedding Photo Booth Guide

You've seen them in movies, at Vegas Casinos, Disneyland, anywhere there is fun happening! Now, on the most fun day of your life, you too can have your own photo booth. Yes, photo booths are a hot item at finer weddings today. This trend is growing as brides look for ways to make their wedding reception special and fun for all.

Part 1 - WHY A PHOTO BOOTH?

For over 100 years the traditional four-shot photo strip has captured and preserved unique memories like no other photographic product. In addition to capturing memories, its real value is as a form of entertainment.

Not everyone likes to dance at a wedding reception; goofing off in a photo booth provides just enough privacy to allow people to loosen up and play without feeling self-conscious. What's more, its appeal is cross generational; everyone enjoys it! If the booth has a gimmick like props, green screen or the booth speaks to them, visitors are much more likely to let their guard down. This makes for more spontaneous pictures. There is just something about getting shoulder-to-shoulder behind a curtain which creates a sense of camaraderie and fun, where people feel they can let go a little and enjoy a shared experience.

As the photo strip prints out, everyone loves seeing themselves. Most companies include the name and date of the couple at the top of each photo strip so each goes home with a keepsake of the wedding. In many ways this replaces the need for cameras on the tables and usually provides much better and more interesting pictures. The Bride and Groom typically get a collection of all photos taken by way of a photos disc, photo book or through online access. Not only does this offer them a look at how much fun their guests were having, but it captures those rare moments when family and friends, who are not often together, intermingle through the fun of the photo booth.

Part 2 - HOW TO SHOP FOR A PHOTO BOOTH?

First understand that not all booths are created equal. There is a large range in pricing, which is usually (but not always), an indicator of quality. A select few are full-time businesses, but for most this is a side business. While this means that there is a photo booth for every budget, to avoid being disappointed it is important that you define which features YOU feel are most valuable and that you compare several companies and ask plenty of questions. Here are some differences to ask about:

• APPEARANCE - There are booths, boxes, tents, pipe & drapes, kiosks and even a "pod"! Some photographers will set up a photo station where they take portraits and call it a photo booth. Be sure you see what the booth will look like; if none is featured on the website, there is probably a good reason. While the rate might be better for your budget, be aware of what is going to show up at your reception first! What you don't want is a surprise. Most brides spend months creating their perfect reception and don't want it spoiled by an unsightly product.


• FUNCTION - Each company will have their own special features to make their booth stand out. Find out what's available and decide which features you like best. Ask what special features come with the booth; Props, Green Screen, Speaking Booth, Video, Scrapbooking, Etc. Also ask how many photos it takes, whether it prints single or duplicate, are props sanitized (there are health concerns with reused props) and ask how the photos are delivered (DVD or online). Be sure and see examples of photos taken in the booth.


• PACKAGES & PRICE - There will be many similarities from company-to-company but each will include different extras for the price. Some will up-sell from a menu of options, some are all-inclusive. In my opinion, best practice is that there should be no extra charge to receive the digital photos from the event. A key feature of renting a photo booth should be that the photos are included. At the very least, know ahead of time what you will be getting. The prices range anywhere from $700 to $2000, but a quality 4-hour booth rental usually begins around $1200. When choosing, factor in booth design, special features and number of hours included. Don't assume it's the same number of hours for each company.

Part 3 - HOW TO USE A PHOTO BOOTH FOR A WEDDING?

Place the photo booth in an area of the reception where it will not interfere with other events like the cake cutting or dancing. It should be easily accessible, but out of the way of the action and service staff.

As is true with a wedding DJ, 4 hours of photo booth entertainment is usually just right. I recommend starting the booth during the cocktail hour. This gives people something fun to do and they become aware of the booth which will draw them back throughout the evening. Unlike the dance floor, the photo booth will attract guests throughout the dinner hour. After dinner there is usually a surge at the booth, so starting your 4 hours at cocktail hour gets the most out of your photo booth.

Generally in the last hour of a reception more interest in focused on the DJ and the dance floor. If traffic to the booth is slow, a simple announcement from the DJ will usually get things going. Not all booths look like a typical photo booth so guests might not be clear what it is. Once invited, it's usually a big hit!

SUMMARY

Photo booths are fun, they make people laugh and provide everyone with valuable memories! Informed shopping requires a little buyer knowledge and some comparison. If you are working with a planner, be sure and let her know your interest in a photo booth and get her opinion as to which companies she is comfortable recommending.

Rest assured that whether your focus is on quality of photos, appearance of the booth, entertaining features, price or a combination thereof, there is a solution out there which is just right for you. Be informed about what you are buying and be sure that you are comfortable with the professionals you've chosen to hire, and you'll have a great experience with your photo booth! For years to come, you and your guests will treasure your special day each time they run across their photo strips. Rent a photo booth today!

Wedding Photography - Capturing Those Priceless Moments That Last Forever

A wedding is a series of countless moments that just must be captured in time. Every couple wants to gather as many pictures as possible to revisit these moments after they have actually lived their special day. They say that the most important person in the wedding, after the priest of course, is the wedding photographer. So, if you are one, you must be proud as you are an integral part of the most memorable day in a couple's life.

Getting started

If you are looking at a career as the wedding photographer, you will be glad to know that it is quite a lucrative business. There are a few tips that will help you get started and actually promote yourself to potential clients. You surely already know the science of photography and own necessary equipment. The next thing to do is to build a good portfolio. Don't expect to be paid astronomical prices in the very beginning. You might want to start with pictures of weddings of friends and family and choose a few good pictures for your portfolio. Then, you ought to build a website giving your potential clients all the details that they might require. A website also portrays that you are a professional who knows his business.

Be prepared

After the initial efforts, you will definitely be able to get a good client base. Whenever you shoot at a wedding, make sure you meet the couple and the family to get a little insight. Being involved will allow you to get good pictures that are emotionally appealing. When the day of the shoot arrives, make sure you are ready. Keep the batteries fully charged and ensure that you have enough memory hardware so that you don't have to fumble half way through. In a wedding, there is no telling how many pictures you will get. It is helpful if you have a laptop to transfer the images. Also keep your lenses easy to access since you might have to make quick changes as the wedding takes its course.

Get the best angles

The last thing you want to do is capture only clich矇s. Clich矇s are good for one set of people but the other set demands images that they can actually frame. This is where knowing the families will give you an edge. Don't just focus on the wedding as an event. Consider it a play with all possible emotions. That is precisely what you want to capture. Study your venue to get interesting angles that will wow the people looking at these photographs.

Deliver

After shooting hundreds of pictures of the event, select the best ones. Present these images well and in a defined sequence. You must make sure that you stick to your delivery deadlines. The last thing a couple wants to do is to wait for their wedding pictures endlessly. If possible, you can even share the first five pictures as a sneak peek in a day or two. Digitization allows you to speed up the process and make sure your utilize that.

Finally, get creative. Make every wedding album unique and create endless memories for your clients.

Who Owns The Copyright To My Wedding Pictures? Wedding Photography And Copyright

One of the questions that we get asked most frequently by both clients and professional wedding photographers alike is "Who owns the copyright to my wedding photos?"

This is a great question because as we have now moved in to the digital age of wedding photography, the ability to effortlessly copy, share and print wedding photos has led to a situation where people want to be clear about what they can and can't do with their photos.

To answer the question "Who owns the copyright to my wedding photos?", very simply, the copyright for wedding photos belongs to the wedding photographer. As the copyright owner they can of course choose to sell or transfer the copyright to someone else. This, however, would be most unusual and indeed most unwise as it would mean that the photographer would no longer have any rights to use the images whatsoever. So, for example, they wouldn't be able to use them for their website to promote their business or even keep them on a disc in a drawer.

Transferring the copyright would also mean that the new copyright owner could charge for the use of the images, for example, selling them to the wedding venue or the florist. Indeed, if the photographer who took the images in the first place wanted to use them, they could even charge them too!

So what rights do you have to your wedding photos?

What is more usual today is for the wedding photographer to give the couple a DVD of their photos along with a usage licence that allows them to print and use the images for their own personal use.

In terms of social media and sharing photos online the photographer will normally stipulate within the licence that the images are not full resolution and that they must carry a watermark that credits the original photographer. In fact, some forward thinking wedding photographers are even providing a separate set of images that are already optimized in this way and can then instantly be used by the happy couple to share the occasion on Facebook with their friends and family.

Hopefully, this brief article has helped clarify the position regarding the ownership of copyright and wedding photos. Having said that, we still see many professional photographers advertising their services with the words "with full copyright". Do they really mean that? We don't believe so, but, it is a question worth asking when hiring a wedding photographer so that everyone is clear where they stand from the very start!

Wide Angle Wedding Photography

At weddings, there are a few things you're definitely going to want to shoot with a wide-angle lens.

1. The throwing of rice (of course, they don't actually throw rice anymore). You'll want to shoot this with a wide-angle lens so you get the bride, groom, and just as important the crowd throwing the rice (or rice byproduct) behind and around them.

2. You'll need this type of lens when shooting the interior of the church. The bride is going to expect a photo that takes it all in and your wide-angle lens will be your Get Out of Jail Free card when it comes to covering this all-important shot.

3. Group shots of the bridal party. This should be obvious but not always. I can't tell you the amount of times I watched family and friends standing far away from the group with a long portrait lens. Using a wide lens with group shots will allow you to get the entire wedding group into the shot.

4. Lastly, you'll want your wide-angle lens for shooting the bouquet toss and garter toss, so you can get both the tosser and the anxious crowd waiting to capture the prize (so to speak). Go wide, shoot from in front of the bride, and you'll get it all in one shot (but don't just take one shot this is where a burst of shots will pay off).

Tip - Whatever you do, under no circumstances, never use a wide-angle lens for a close-up portrait. If you do use a wide-angle for those single bride or groom shots you could easily distort the face, enlarging noses, etc. and that's a big no-no if you're looking for referrals. It's a big-nose no-no!

Go online now to search a free online Photography Community. Look for an online photography blog or forum site to post your questions about all your photography interests. Finding a Photography Community is the best way to learn more about photography with little or no expense.

Best of luck in all your photo shoots!

Wedding Photography Styles Revealed!

These days, there are some pretty distinct styles of wedding photography present in the market. The names for these various styles include: Traditional, Documentary, Photojournalism, Illustrative, Contemporary, Reportage, Candid, and many others. However, when shopping for a wedding photographer you should not assume that the name of the style fits the work. The best way to truly know your photographer's style is to look at their portfolios and albums. I will attempt to provide a very brief summary of the 4 major styles that are most prevalent:

TRADITIONAL
Traditional photographers often refer to their style as "timeless". The emphasis is to capture romantic poses in a classic style. There is also much more emphasis on taking posed photos of family and friends. A traditional photographer often has more interaction with the bride and groom, which can cause the shoot to take more time. These types of wedding photographers should be experts in lighting, posing and family portraits. Some will work off of a so-called "shot list" that the bride and groom are asked to complete before the wedding.

PHOTOJOURNALISM
In its purest form, photojournalism takes a documentary approach to wedding photography with emphasis on candid photos with little or no posing. Other names for this style include Reportage, Documentary or Candid wedding photography. A true photojournalist will capture emotion, laughter and the fun present at all weddings. The resulting wedding album will tell the story of the day in a creative, artistic way. Photojournalists interact less with the married couple throughout the day and will usually take less time.

ILLUSTRATIVE
Illustrative photography is a slightly newer style designation, but it has been around for a while. It contains elements of both photojournalism and traditional photography. An illustrative photographer will try to shoot a wedding in a more candid style, but will improve the circumstances when possible. This may include selecting the perfect outdoor background to shoot the couple in front of, or changing the lighting indoors to improve the end result. The photographer may ask the bride to get dressed close to an open window with natural light available, but then photograph her in a candid style with no posing.

CONTEMPORARY
Contemporary wedding photography has only just emerged as a style in the past few years. This style is about creating high-fashion types of images. Cover girl types of poses, glamorous make-up and edgy backgrounds are all part of Contemporary wedding photography. Studio lighting may be used to create images with impact. A very hands-on approach is taken with both the bride and groom. They will be instructed to create very deliberate poses, the types you may see in fashion magazines. If you are a more reserved type of person, this may not be the style for you. This type of coverage can be just as time consuming as Traditional wedding photography, but the results can be spectacular.

It's doubtful that most wedding photographers will neatly into any of one these styles. But when you meet with them, you may hear that they can provide you with bits and pieces of all of the above. The real test is the actual photos each wedding photographer produces. Ask all the photographers you meet where they fit into the above styles, but above all, look at their work!

Photoshop Image Editing for Wedding Photographers

Image enhancement can be interpreted as a technique by which the retouching of images is done based on requirements. Photographers find it is difficult to ensure consistent top-quality images with difficulties such as lighting, shadows, etc., play obstacle to clear live images. Improvising these images can be a tedious job with difficulties such as skin textures, stains, wrinkles, hair, teeth, holes, etc. Photo editing was a procedure that was followed since the dawn of time, only then it was done in the dark room by using air brushes and other tools compiled art. Developer technology has paid dividends to photo editing problems by designing software such as Photoshop.

Adobe Photoshop worked for each event/wedding photographer, making it easy to complete schedules successfully and at the same time gives the end of the image quality for customers. Photographers can also avail external photography agency selected outsourcing if he/she finds it difficult to work with image editing software like Adobe Photoshop. Outsourcing agencies are available worldwide. Photographers have the opportunity to seek good outsourcing agency and the selection of a good agency is based on several factors.

Outsourcing companies are built on the current state of the art infrastructure and software, which means that graphic editors can make use of resources, which provide excellent image editing and improvement of photographic services. Factors, as a photographer needs to look into before outsourcing to companies are:

1) Zero compromise in quality
2) Well trained specialists in Photoshop
3) Quick turnaround time
4) Affordable Prices
5) Available 24/7

Image editing compiles various techniques including image masking, image clipping, image manipulation etc. Graphic editors will glance at the photograph that requires editing and apply techniques like masking to cover portions of images that are disturbed or in-accurate. Masking is a technique in which a vector path is selected and drawn out of images for background replacement. Similarly Image manipulation is a technique in which images are color, contrast, temperature and drop shadow corrected. Wedding photographs have different exposures meaning they will have to be corrected for levels as well.

Special effects can also be added to the wedding images based on client's requirements. These features have widely been accepted by photographers because it helps them keep up with their daily schedules and also helps them buy more time to advance in the field of Photography. This can also mean search for more opportunities to make money or time to spend with family and friends. To sum up, Photo fixing agencies have come to aid photographers on a large-scale and with the ever-growing photo editing needs, agencies put across amazing deals. They also offer a free trial to learn their ways and strategies in the field.

Wedding Wishing Well

You have been living together for quite sometime now and don't want pots and pans nor several sets of bed sheets or tea towels for your wedding gifts. Have you thought about having a wedding wishing well?

A wedding wishing well is a modern spin on guests giving the newlyweds money as there wedding gift. This is normally done by having a wishing well or box in the wedding reception where your guests can put there card and money. Some guests prefer to have a separate card and envelope so the newlyweds don't know how much the guests have given them but wish ever way I'm sure the newlyweds would be grateful to just have your company.

A wedding wishing well is an easy option also for the guests as there is nothing worse than having to buy a gift when you have no idea what to buy. At least, this way the guests don't really have to think about a gift and the newlyweds can spend it however they wish. With the cost of weddings becoming greater and greater many find themselves having to sort financial assistance to get the wedding of their dreams and with having a wedding wishing well this will enable them to put the cash back off the loan or even fund there honeymoon or pay some off there mortgage.

So, once you have decided to provide your guests with a wishing well, you need to inform them of this when sending out the wedding invitation. Some couples like to include a little poem in there wedding invitation wording that is worded similar to this:

More than just kisses so far we've shared
Our home has been made with love and care
Most things we need we've already got
Like a toaster and kettle, pans and pots

A wishing well we thought would be great (but only if you wish to participate):

A gift of money is placed in the well
Then make a wish... but do not tell
Once we've replaced the old with the new
We can look back and say it was thanks to you!
And in return for your kindness we're sure
that one day soon you'll get what you wished for

Or

They have their dishes and towels for two
They have pots and pans and oven mitts too
So what do you get for the Bride & Groom
Whose house is setup in every room?
Their house needs repairs and some upgrades too
But you can not register for carpet and glue.
A well that holds wishes is the way to go
So lets make it easy for all that know.
An envelope will be provided for those who have room,
To give a monetary wish to the Bride and Groom
A wishing well will be on display at the reception hall

What To Look For In Your Wedding Photographer

There can be a lot of confusion for the recently engaged couple on what to look for in their prospective wedding photographer. Questions can range from what the photographer will wear at the wedding to whether the photographer photographs with film or digital cameras. Planning a wedding can be a stressful and confusing process. The following guidelines will help soon-to-be brides and grooms make an informed and solid decision regarding the employment of a wedding photographer.

How important is a wedding photographer?

At the end of your wedding day, the things that are going to still be with you are your memories and, hopefully, beautiful wedding images that will help you relive those moments for the rest of your lives. Therefore, hiring a wedding photographer is can be compared to hiring a personal historian- someone who will help document and record the tears, the laughter and the joys of the day. Entrusting your memories to a professional wedding photographer may very well be the most important decision you make in all of your wedding planning. Therefore, all care should be taken in ensuring that the professional you select is talented, skilled and fully capable of delivering the finished product.

Finding the right wedding photographer

1. What style of photography to you like? Do you and your fiancé prefer a primarily photojournalistic and candid approach or is a more traditional style more to your liking? Would you like your photographer to perform extensive post-production to your images (such as color tinting a black and white photograph) or do you prefer a more organic enhancement of your images?

2. How many photographers do you want providing coverage of your wedding?

Many photographers bring second-shooters along to help cover the wedding. Other photographers prefer to work alone and feel confident in their abilities to provide full coverage of the wedding solo. Talk with your fiancé about your preferences and whether or not you want an assistant to accompany your photographer.

3. Are your negatives and/or digital files included in the package?

Many wedding photographers now include the negatives and high resolution digital files in their packages but there are a number of photographers who do not. If you're working with a budget, you may want to look for photographers who offer the negatives and/or files as ordering prints from a photographer could cost you a lot of money.

4. What sort of photo album are you looking for?

Wedding albums range from the simple to the extravagant. Some photographers will offer a simple linen album that holds approximately 50 4x6 images. Other options are Flush Mount albums or Coffee Book Table albums. These albums can cost anywhere from $600 to $2000. Review your photographer's samples of wedding albums and talk about what you're looking for.

Remember, being informed gives you the tools to make a good decision about your wedding photographer. Knowing what you're looking for before starting your wedding photographer search will save you a lot of time and help you be confident that you've made the right decision.

Become a Top Wedding Planner - 4 Ways to Get the Experience You Need to Be Successful

Since you are interested in becoming a wedding planner, you will need to get experience planning and coordinating weddings and other events to learn some of the skills it takes to be a professional planner.

Here are 4 ways to get experience:

1) Volunteer to work for free

If you do not have any experience at all in this profession, start by offering to help family members and friends with their weddings and other events. You might also consider volunteering your time to organize charity fund raising dinners and gala events. Doing these things will give you practice in organizing and planning for large groups, working within time lines and handing all the details that make an event successful. Once you have planned some events for friends, you will need to get some experience working with seasoned professionals.

2) Intern with a wedding planner

As an intern you would work with a wedding planner and his or her team for very low pay or for no pay at all in order to learn the ins and outs of planning weddings and running a wedding planning business. Internships usually last for a specific period of time such as six months or one year. Be aware that many wedding planners accept interns expecting them to be interested in being a part of their team so be clear about what you want and be honest about your future plans to start a business.

3) Become an apprentice for a wedding planner

In an apprenticeship program you usually work along side a wedding planner to put together the final touches of a wedding. You might also work on the wedding day itself to get hands-on experience. Some programs include extensive training classes in addition to hands-on work so check before you sign up. Apprenticeships can cost you about $1000 or more.

4) Intern and apprentice with other types of wedding vendors

If you are not able to find an internship or apprenticeship program with a planner in your area, check other local wedding vendors, such as florists, photographers and caterers, who do a lot of weddings. See if they have programs or entry-level jobs that will give you opportunities to learn more about what it takes to create weddings.

With all programs you will be asked to complete a form outlining your previous experience and education and go through an interview process. Professionals are interested in people who have good attitudes, are willing to work hard and are serious about being in the wedding business.

High Definition Wedding and Event Photography

Perhaps you've seen ads from companies that specialize in Chicago HD weddings and event photography, and you're wondering what it is - and whether it's worth exploring for your wedding or event.

In a nutshell, HD photography and videography use the latest digital technology to capture images that are richer and that have more depth than traditional digital photos and video. Although the difference is not always obvious to the naked eye, it quickly becomes apparent when the images or video are viewed on an HD screen.

"HD" stands for "high definition," which refers in part to the image quality, and in part to the file format. HD files are usually about 50 to 200% larger in size than similar files saved in traditional formats. This extra data produces much finer detail, which results in a crisper, more defined image.

More and more people are choosing a Chicago HD wedding and event photography over more traditional videography, for two reasons. First, of course, is the difference in image quality. Second, HD files are more likely to be compatible with consumer electronics in the future.

But the improved quality can come at a price: In some cases, you can expect to pay 25% to 75% more for HD services than you would for traditional photography and videography.

Even so, you may decide that the extra cost of a Chicago HD wedding and event photography is worth it for you. For many people, there is no question that a once-in-a-lifetime event should be captured on the most advanced, most sensitive technology available.

Destination Wedding Photography

Couples that are looking for something very different from their usual surroundings are now considering the option of a destination wedding package. Part of this package includes the services of a professional photographer. In the west these photographs are usually taken on the day during the ceremony, be it in a 13th century gothic church or a shimmering white sandy beach in Australia.

In Asia the phenomenon known as destination wedding photography has a slight twist. Instead of the photographs been taken on the wedding day they are usually taken weeks or months in advance of the big day. This fashion of shooting pre wedding photographs in exotic locations is more popular in Asian countries like Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Japan and Malaysia than anywhere else in the world.

Many Asian couples are looking for exciting romantic fairytale European towns and cities to have their pre wedding destination photographs taken.

Central and Eastern Europe offer an unparalleled choice of romantic fairytale settings. With centuries of history behind them cities like Budapest in Hungary, Prague in the Czech Republic, Vienna in Austria and Krakow in Poland have magnificent castles and cathedrals which provide the perfect backdrop for pre wedding photographs. Budapest in particular is a fantastic city at the heart of Eastern Europe; known as the Paris of the east it has an amazing array of architectural styles including gothic, baroque and art nouveau.

Aside from the photographer and assistant most overseas pre wedding photography packages include the services of a professional makeup artist. The makeup artist plays an essential role in insuring that the couples look their very best for their pre wedding photographs. Usually the bride and groom bring their own wedding clothes of choice for the shoot although some photography packages also include the option of hiring wedding dresses and suits from a local wedding specialist. However in the end it's the professional photographer who's the dream maker creating memories the couple will look back on and treasure for a lifetime.

I have recently begun shooting overseas pre wedding photographs mainly for the Asian market in Budapest Hungary and surrounding Central European countries. Budapest in particular offers couples unparalleled opportunities to shoot their dream like photos in numerous fairytale settings around the city such as at the Buda Castle, Fishermen's Bastion, the Chain Bridge, the Parliament and the Freedom monument just to name a few. Couples who have had their pre wedding destination photographs shot in Budapest have all agreed that this beautiful city far exceeded their wildest expectations.

What's In My Bag For Wedding Photography?

Wedding photography is a difficult genre to summarize simply because each wedding is different. In other forms of photography, such as landscapes or studio portraits, you can be pretty sure what equipment you will need to get the job done. Wedding photography is different; one wedding could be outside in the mid day sun whilst another could be in a dimly lit church. The need for "gear" to cover every eventuality is great and in this article I want to share with you exactly what is in my bag when I go to shoot a wedding. Before I get into it, I want to confirm that I shoot with 2 crop body Canon 60D cameras so my lens choices below are suitable for crop body shooters.

1. Canon 10-22mm Lens

This lens is used sparingly and perhaps only takes one picture during each wedding! But it's invaluable because it has an extremely wide angle allowing for great shots of the venue and any architecture that is unique. I also use this sometimes if the wedding party is especially big (over 150) as it allows me to get everyone in without standing too far away.

2. Canon 17-55 2.8 IS

The workhorse. This lens is practically glued to one camera for the duration of a wedding because it is quite simply one of the best lenses Canon has ever made. It's focal range is great and most importantly it features Image Stablization which allows for handheld shots in low light. The 17-55 is also great for evening receptions as it's focal range allows you to get some candid photos in the tightest of venues.

3. Canon 70-200 2.8 IS Mark 2

This lens is expensive but worth it. If you can't afford it then I suggest either renting it or getting the 2.8 IS Mark 1. Another alternative is to purchase the Sigma 70-200 2.8 OS which is every bit as good as the Mark 1. This focal range is vital for a wedding ceremony especially those where the venue or officiant demands you stand well away from the couple as they exchange vows. It allows you to stand at the back of the church or on the balcony and still capture intimate moments with ease.

4. Canon 50 1.4

A great lens which costs around $400! It has a constant 1.4 aperture which allows low light shooting in the dimmest of receptions. A fantastic portrait lens and great for grabbing shots of the wedding party and guests.

5. Canon 135 2.0 L

This lens, a "Luxury" L series lens, is in my bag to achieve only one type of shot; bridal portraits and beauty shots of the bride. The detail it picks up, the colors and the vibrance are second to none. And the bokeh (or background blur) is so creamy it almost doesn't exist!

So there we have it, 5 lenses complete my lineup when I attend a wedding. To compliment the lenses, I also carry 4 Canon 430 ex ii speedlights which I place around the reception hall on Manfrotto Light Stands. I then bounce the flash units off the ceilings as the party in the reception is under way. They allow me to get shots I would never have been able to in darkly lit halls. Finally, I carry an array of SD memory cards ranging from 4gb to 16gb and a host of spare camera and flash batteries.

I hope you've enjoyed reading what I carry in my camera bag to weddings and I hope it helps you set your own gear bag in order.

Point and Shoot Wedding Photography

At some point in time everyone attends a wedding. Interestingly enough, many modern couples count on friends and family to take interesting or memorable photographs just as much as they are relying upon the professional photographer who is paid to document the day. In fact, it is becoming quite standard to see a disposable camera at each of the guest tables which is to be used by those seated to take candid images.

So, are there any good tips for a guest at a wedding using a standard digital point and shoot camera? The first thing to do is keep away from the "canned" images. No bride or groom needs fifteen different angles of the cake cutting, bouquet tossing or other traditional part of the day. Instead, seek out the "characters" in attendance - your pal, the groom, always talks about an Uncle he really loves or who is a great joker - go ahead and get a few good candid photographs of this guy cracking up the people at his table. These are the moments that people treasure just as equally as the "I dos".

The next thing to do is forget about deleting duds while all of the action is occurring. Even a standard point and shoot has ample memory for such an event and you can miss some great shots while "reviewing" things. It is also important to try to get in close to the action...sitting across a table or standing within easy range will allow you to use the optical zoom, which prevents a great deal of blur or camera shake from ruining images. If holding the camera steady for indoor shots without flash is too difficult, why not get a small tabletop tripod? Yes, as just stated above, it is best to forgo the flash while indoors at a wedding reception or party. It creates harsh shadows, red eyes and flattens the scene. This does not make a memorable image.

Try to use ambient lighting from windows, candles and doorways to best advantage, such as standing with it at your back, or to the side of the subject. Also, increasing the ISO can help, and the "noise" or graininess that results might give the images a bit of character or "age". The higher ISO will allow for short or faster shutter speeds which will eliminate blur.

Additionally, you can open up the f/stop or aperture on the camera as well, though this makes for a shorter depth of field, so you'll need to stay within easy distance of the subject. Remember that the idea of taking casual photographs at a wedding is to ensure that more intimate images are recorded. This requires a bit of effort, but can make a great wedding day gift for a bride and groom.

The Truth About Reportage Wedding Photography

Reportage wedding photography, sometimes also referred to as photo journalism, will capture the whole of your wedding day in its most natural form. Some of the best photographs in history were taken at the spur of the moment. Think of a reportage wedding photographer as a journalist covering an event; your wedding photographs will look nothing less than a glossy magazine spread.

If you have been looking for a wedding photographer, you must have stumbled upon the concept of reportage photography. This contemporary style of wedding photography has emerged as a hot favorite among young couples of late.

Reportage Photography is when the photographer takes natural shots at the wedding without the couple or other guests being aware of his presence. As a result, you get more informal and serendipitous shots instead of the more traditional formally posed photographs. Reportage wedding photography, thus, manages to capture the exact, unique atmosphere of a wedding, creating splendid memories that you can cherish for a lifetime.

Of course, no wedding is complete without the traditional, formally posed shots of the family, the bride and the groom, the bridesmaids, etc. However, a lot of couples these days prefer to intersperse these formal shots with the more adventurous and natural photographs taken by a reportage wedding photographer. The end result is a wedding album reeked in tradition as well as modernity, with a natural style and flair that captures the originality and uniqueness of the ceremony.

Leveraging his instincts, a reportage photographer can create a wedding album that will feature all the best moments of a wedding that often go unrecorded. Whether it is a moment of mutual affection between your Grandpa and Grandma, a momentary locking of the bride and the groom's eyes, or the slight nervousness in the bride's eyes as she walks through the aisle, a reportage wedding photographer can capture it all.

Besides the other advantages, reportage photography also means that the couple will not have to deal with a demanding photographer. They won't be followed about everywhere, nor will they have to deal with frequent requests for certain poses. This will make them less conscious and allow them to enjoy the wedding day without any hindrances.

Thus, you can have the classic, posed shots for the center of your grand wedding album. At the same time, you could have the reportage wedding shots to amuse your adventurous and wild self.

A good wedding photographer would ideally be someone with at least a little experience of photo journalism. A photographer who has covered public events as an anonymous photo journalist will have a better understanding of the nuances that go into reportage wedding photography. A reportage wedding photographer's job is essentially to make himself invisible in order to get the most natural shots. While it may be difficult to find the right person to do such a job, the end results are well worth the effort.

Communicate with your chosen photographer to make sure he understands what goes into making reportage wedding photography a success. In the end, if you take the time to make an informed choice, you will end up with photographs you can cherish for a lifetime. So choosing a good reportage wedding photographer is an important decision and plays a vital role in recording your wedding day.

Wedding Photography Tips

The wedding is normally one of the most important days in the lives of a couple. A great deal of planning and expense is usually involved and capturing the memories of the day is something that most people cherish. Pictures are a great way to capture and record many aspects of the wedding. So here are some wedding photography tips to consider.

The quality of the equipment used to take the wedding pictures is certainly a very important aspect. You can be the best photographer in the world but if your equipment is of poor quality, the results will be less than satisfactory. So make certain the equipment is suitable for the desired results.

Most people and even professional photographers use digital cameras. The resolution of the cameras is an important part of the quality and results which can be achieved. Cameras can range from 1 to 20 mega pixel resolution. In general, a higher resolution camera should be used for applications where larger pictures will be produced. A lower resolution camera will result in grainy looking pictures if they are enlarged too much.

So think about the types of pictures which will be taken and displayed and then make certain the camera has adequate resolution to handle these needs.

Lighting is also a vital consideration when it comes to taking good pictures. Many weddings take place indoors so limited lighting can be a factor. While some cameras have capabilities to handle low lighting situations, it may be advisable to use external lighting sources to enhance the overall results.

And lighting is a very important consideration when it comes to outdoor shots as well. Make certain the camera has adjustments and allowances to maximize the results from natural lighting environments.

Another very important consideration when it comes to wedding photography tips is the arrangement of shots and poses. Many amateur photographers simply have limited experience and ability when it comes to setting up shots and arranging the best possible poses.

Anyone can use a high quality camera and snap lots of pictures. However the ability to set up special shots and arrange people properly in poses can make all the difference in the world. This is why anyone who plans on taking wedding pictures needs to understand this and learn how to accomplish it properly.

A professional wedding photographer typically has a great deal of experience in this area and can therefore achieve desired results. They also understand how to be a part of the action and activity in the wedding without necessarily disrupting it.

But whether you do it yourself or use professional photographers, make certain these tips are followed and you should achieve the best results.

Top 5 Destination Wedding Invitation Designs

You will try to make your wedding items inline with your main wedding theme. For example, you may choose pumpkins as the main decoration elements if you are going to have a Halloween themed event. Of course the invitations should also match the main theme.

As a matter of fact, a lot of brides and grooms will opt for a destination wedding. This is because such an event is usually more memorable. When it comes to the invitations, you will want to know how they can express the idea of a destination event.

Here are the top 5 destination wedding invitation designs you can consider.

1. Air Ticket Design

Usually, your destination event will be hosted overseas. Your guests will need to prepare the air tickets in order to go to your wedding. As a result, it will be natural to go for the idea of an air ticket when you design the wedding invitations. In fact, such designs can be very unique. You can print the individual guest names on the cards. This can make your invites more personalized. Apart from the air ticket idea, it is also common for couples to go for a boarding pass design.

2. Passport Design

Of course your guests will have to bring the passports along with them when attending an overseas wedding. This is why a passport design is very popular when it comes to a destination wedding invitation. You can personalize the passport design for each guest. You can print their names and pictures on each passport. Your guests will want to keep this invitation after your event. It is not uncommon to choose this design together with an air ticket invitation.

3. Poker Design

A poker design is perfect for a Las Vegas wedding. As you may probably know, Las Vegas is a very popular destination for getting married. Most people will think about elements such as pokers and slot machines when we talk about Las Vegas. This is why you can choose a poker design for your Las Vegas wedding. You can print the design on a thick piece of card stock. Your guests will certainly love it.

4. Glass Bottle

A glass bottle can be related to the beach. A beach wedding can also be a destination event at the same time. So, you can choose a glass bottle as your invitation design. Of course it can be hard for you to print the wording on the bottle itself. Instead, you can print the wording on a piece of paper and put it into a bottle. You can even add some sand into the bottle if you are going to host a beach wedding.

5. Photo Invitation

It is always said that a picture is worth thousand words. A picture on the invitation can express the idea of destination wedding effectively. You can print a photo of the destination on the card. Your guests will know the theme of your event once they see the invitations. You can even print your own pictures on it in order to personalize the cards!