Posted on October 27, 2011
Wedding planning season is just about here, and another year of some amazing weddings is behind us. I wanted to share some ideas and lessons learned from weddings I have shot and from weddings where I was also a guest. Hopefully these will help everyone that is out there planning their day.
Watch the slideshow.
Slideshows have become almost synonymous with weddings. Everyone wants to show friends and family all their cool trips and things they have done – after all, its a pretty important story of how you arrived at finally being married. However, while the 35 minutes of images might be cherished by you, don’t expect your guests to be mesmerized past 5 minutes.
Bust out the iMovie, or hire a company to help put the show together. PowerPoint is for the cream-colored walls of corporatedom, and doesn’t belong in your wedding. Keep it awesome and short, and you will leave your guests with something to talk about. And they can get to partying – which we all know is why they are there anyway.
Matt + Kara did a great job with keeping people interested in their slideshow.
Toasts are great, but keep ‘em to the key people.
Similar to the slideshow, toasts can run long. Guests that are hoping to eat, drink, and dance really don’t want to sit through an hour of people talking. Keep your toasts assigned to the key people in your life – the emotions will be more concentrated, the words will mean more, and your guests will avoid the sighs of when yet another person lumbers from the back to grab the mic. Don’t let the DJ or MC ask the crowd for additional toasts.
Some people live for this day. Let them have their moment.
Seeing each other before the wedding?
You might have read my earlier blog post on the topic…and the benefits are still the same. Consider finding a special spot near the ceremony venue where the two of you can spend some fleeting quiet and romantic moments before the intense day about to unfold before you.
By seeing each other before, the schedule will be more relaxed, you can control the spot for some great images, and the moment will most likely mean more than just keeping a secret for a bit longer.
Invest in the venue – then the photography.
This is near and dear to me! Most people hear “Always invest in your photography first.” And, while I agree to an extent, the most amazing photographers can’t provide truly amazing and captivating images in a lackluster venue. Take a stellar photographer, have her/him shoot a wedding in a wooded field with views and wilderness. Then take the same photographer and have them shoot a wedding in a Red Roof Inn’s conference room…and….well, you get the idea.
Amazing venue = GREAT images. Promise.
Spend some money and time in finding a venue that reflects who the two of you are. Whether its a wooded pond in the Gorge, an old barn, or an Herbary, spend your time finding a great place. This will make for a happy photographer (we love shooting in amazing places, really) and your images will, in turn reflect your personalities more – since the venue reflects the same.
Amazing venue = GREAT images.
Isn’t that the end goal of all this work in the first place?
Hopefully these tips will help shape your planning. As always, if you have questions on a wedding idea, feel free to email me and I will be more than happy to give you a second opinion.
Posted on May 22, 2011
Think about it….as long as we can remember, we were told to “Say Cheese!” whenever a camera was pointed in our direction. Eager parents always coached us to smile, hoping that years from that day we would all realize just how happy our childhoods were. Unfortunately, this early conditioning tends to strip out the emotion of today’s photojournalism.
On a recent shoot, the couple kept saying “Oh wait, I don’t think we were smiling…” to which I would tell them that was perfectly fine, I wanted to capture the real them – smiles, gentle caresses, or serious looks – regardless.
As a photographer, it is our job to be a part of your moment. Resist those childhood memories of forced smiles (we had plenty of non-forced ones, too) and allow the camera to truly capture the moment. Simply act as if the photographer is not even in the room.
Some of the best moments are captured when no smiles can be found.
Posted on January 16, 2011
Wedding planning season is in full swing! There are so many details to iron out and plan for. But, sometimes the smallest of details can make the most significant impact in your wedding photography. As a photographer, one of my greatest fears during a wedding shoot is a microphone. Just imagine….a beautiful beach or mountain meadow with the bride that spent so much time and effort on that amazing dress. The groom looking dapper. But, there, right smack dab between them stands a chrome-plated, 5 foot tall microphone stand with a huge black mic on it (and a long cable). Trust me….its horrible!
So, today’s pro tip is more of a suggestion…make it a REQUIREMENT! If your wedding needs a PA, please spend the extra cash and go wireless with lapel microphones. You will be so happy you did. Your images will be with you for life, so even your elderly self will thank you : )
Happy wedding planning!
Here, the officiant hides the mic behind her notes. A+ from the photographer!
Posted on November 15, 2010
As a professional that is a part of many weddings every year, a lot of people ask my opinion on what works and what doesn’t. Recently I was asked what I thought about the Bride and Groom seeing each other before the ceremony. So, I will share my thoughts with my blog friends.
Let me caveat this with the fact I am far more “progressive” when it comes to wedding stuff. I mean, on one of my recent shoots, I had the Bride in the mud along the Willamette River.
Waiting for the ceremony has a certain magic to it. There is a tension that is palpable – the bride sneaking a fleeting view of her Groom-to-be, or the groom anxiously awaiting at the altar. Plus, it keeps with one of many wedding traditions that people have come to expect. And, from the weddings I shoot, it just seems like fun to keep everything a secret until that big moment.
But, there are a lot of very cool moments when the B&G decide to see each other for the first time far from the eyes of the audience, and enjoy some fleeting moments together before that pinnacle moment in their new lives together. Recently, Jessica and Jeff met in a field, far from the wedding location. While the sun was lower in the sky, Jeff slowly made his way to Jessica as she stood in waist high grasses, waiting for her man. It was really cool to see.
And, don’t forget the schedule benefits of seeing each other first. Formal shots can be done before the ceremony, allowing you to hang out and be social with your guests right after the ceremony. And, that gets the party started a lot earlier. Plus, your photographer can still steal you away for a few minutes later in the evening when the light has changed and you could probably use a break alone.
Basically, it boils down to what is most important to you – sticking with tradition or having more time with guests and each other. Personally, as a photographer, I like being with the couple before the ceremony as it affords me more time to shoot – and more of those really cool moments with the couple.
Bottom line? It’s your day. Do what feels right.
Jessica + Jeff steal away for some private moments before their ceremony.
Posted on July 3, 2010
Hello Everyone!
Tonight I am excited to announce three new wedding packages that take the place of my previous flat rate approach. I have heard from many brides that they would like to see more variety, and more options in terms of choosing albums, books, and other goodies.
So, check out my website for more details, but here is a quick rundown:
- Element A: This is the minimalist package that resembles (somewhat) my flat rate. Best for smaller, more intimate weddings that don’t need all day coverage and as a base to design a custom package.
- Element B: This package is a great balance of shooting time (with a free session thrown in) and also comes with an amazing Italian-made album and DVD slide show.
- Element C: The big mamma-jamma. This package has a massive canvas wrap, two parent albums, a huge Italian album, and a really cool coffee table style book. There are TWO free sessions included as well as a whopping 10 hours of coverage. Bragging to your friends is also free of charge.
Again, check out the site for prices and specifics.
Now….to the really cool part! I have a little something for everyone.
For clients of mine that are already commissioned under the flat rate: If you wish to upgrade to one of these other packages, I will offer you a 5% discount off the difference in price! So, if you paid $2250 for the original rate and want Element C (at $4500), the diff is $2250. You would save about $115 on the upgrade. Plus, the additional cost is not payable until two weeks before the wedding.
For brides and grooms that have not yet contracted: The “old” rate of $2250 ($3150 for destinations) was a good deal. I will grandfather you in for that package if you still want it – but hurry! I will honor the original package (full day coverage, slide show, 1 year of Flickr Pro, etc etc) until July 15th, 2010. After that, it is gone!
Let’s face it - it’s Friday and it’s hella late. This is a lot of information and math sucks (I kid, I kid) so if you have any questions, give me a call or shoot me an email and we can plow through some elementary arithmetic and talk about photography!
Ciao!
Scott
Posted on June 17, 2010
As the Oregon wedding season is getting ready to launch (once the rain subsides) I wanted to share a very important topic with all brides and grooms to be – What to do with the guest camera issue.
Perhaps you have never even thought about it. Now is the time. If you invite 100 guests to your wedding, that is 100 cameras, and possibly 100 people trying to compete with your professional to get the shot. That is 100 flashes that are also jeopardizing your professional’s exposure. You should set some ground rules that allow your guests to relax and enjoy the day and keep your photographer from frazzled nerves.
1. Ask in your correspondence for guests to please leave their cameras home. Emphasize that you have worked hard at selecting a professional to do all the hard work and that everyone will have the chance to view images online. Guests should just relax and enjoy the festivities.
2. If you have a friend or relative that insists on shooting at the wedding, discuss this with your pro and make sure they can be accommodated. I remember one wedding where the bride’s uncle was an old-school shooter. I embraced his desire to take some shots of his niece and invited him along for some couple shots and even during the reception. I could tell he really wanted to be able to shoot, and by actually inviting him to be a part of it I was able to avoid conflict, and let him have his moment while still maintaining control.
3. Even if you ask guests to leave their cameras home, the plethora of iPhones and video-equipped phones will provide ample competition for your pro. As a professional, I have often set up formals and group shots and let the crowd “have their chance” where they can shoot away. However once they are done, I ask to be allowed to work. Discuss this type of arrangement with your photographer as well.
4. Of course you could do nothing. As documentary photographers, our job is to document your wedding. This includes your zany guests and their desire to record your day as well. Be prepared for many shots of other cameras and guests vying for position (which alone can make for some awesome shots).
Just think about what images you really want for your wedding…if you want the day documented as it unfolds, then let it happen. If you want truly “clean” images with no other interference, then be prepared to lay some ground rules for your guests. Either way, this is a very good conversation for you to have when selecting a professional photographer.
Scott
Posted on April 14, 2010
There has been a lot of talk lately about DIY weddings and the expense of hiring high quality vendors. It seems that more and more couples are opting to recruit a friend or family member to be their photographer. And, while I am a professional photographer, I will do my best to address this serious issue without bias. That being said, here are the top 10 reasons to hire a professional wedding photographer:
#10. We know weddings. We see so many weddings every year that we know what to expect. We know the best angles for the cake cutting, the bouquet toss, the first dance. We know what lenses to have ready and where to be to get the shots that mean the most to you. A friend or family member most likely does not know any of these.
#9. A guest is a guest! Let your friend or family member enjoy your wedding and not have to be a nervous mess. They will be working hard, doing something they most likely have never done before…and you have given them a huge responsibility. Is that fair to them?
#8. It’s all in the bag, baby! Photography is a very expensive contact sport. Us professionals have amassed a significant investment in top of the line cameras, storage, lenses, lighting, you name it. We have them repaired and maintained by the manufacturer. We have the sensors cleaned. We also have redundant equipment to cover us in the event of an equipment failure.
#7. We know our gear. As a professional, I am always shooting! Remember the stories about the high school football coach that made his players carry a football for an entire month? They could never set it down. The reason? It became an extension of them. My cameras are an extension of me and I can grab it, fire it up, make a change and get the shot in seconds. Most people that do not live photography will not have the same results and will miss “the” shot.
#6. It’s our business. While the devil may be in the details, we know the important stuff to cover with you. I always have a printed out time line that I bring to the wedding and will engage your vendors so we are all on the same page. We have liability insurance in the event someone is injured. I will call you and email you during the weeks before the wedding to ensure everything is crystal clear and we are all comfortable.
#5. The best computers. Most people think photographers only care about cameras. What good are the best cameras and lenses if my computer dies and I lose all your wedding images? Most photographers have redundant external drives, online storage, and offsite backups to protect YOUR images. I currently use a RAID5 array and 10 external drives (plus off site drives) to protect your images. Most people never think about this. Neither will your Uncle Bob.
#4. We have a network. Another element most people do not consider is the reach of the photographer. I have contracted with you to be there on your wedding. But what happens if I am in a car accident on the way? What if I am hospitalized? Most professionals have a diverse network of other professionals that are friends that will always ensure you are covered.
#3. Standards. Okay, so your high school friend is going to shoot your wedding. He shoots all day and gives you a DVD of your images…but they are in a RAW Nikon format and you cannot do anything with them…or maybe his monitor is not calibrated and they all look yellow…or maybe they are exported JPEGs at a small resolution and look horrible when printed. Professionals have all this stuff covered for you. 
#2. We like to edit. When you think about price, you are probably thinking “well they are only going to be there for 8 hours…why are they so expensive?” Most people don’t think about the time to email, setup meetings, research the venues, shoot the wedding, download and backup the images, edit the images, burn the assets, design layouts and albums, place orders, receive orders, ship items, and follow up. It’s a lot more than 8 hours! I typically spend a week after the wedding on edits and organizational tasks.
#1. It’s your best day. You were so excited when you said yes…the feeling of that ring on your finger. You have thought of this day since you were a little kid, and now it is approaching. Why would you settle on a non-pro to document it? As a professional, nothing bothers me more than hearing from people that say “our wedding images were horrible…we thought we’d save some money.” Basically, those memories are just that…
So, I know this sounds all doom and gloom. It doesn’t have to! Here are a couple of solutions to the problem:
1. Wait. If you cannot afford professionals, wait. Save your money and do the wedding thing right.
2. Hire a wedding planner. Most people think they are a luxury they cannot afford…but in reality they can save you a lot of money, guide you through some decisions, and be invaluable on the wedding day.
3. Remember about retainers! When you hire a professional, you will be asked to pay a retainer. This is typically 50% of the commission fee. So, think of it as a payment plan. 50% down, and 50% in the next several months. When broken down into these smaller chunks, it is often much easier to plan and afford.
I hope these help you make the right choices when thinking about professionals for your wedding. As always, contact me with any questions!
Scott
Posted on October 28, 2009
I have a new phone number, effective immediately: (503) 863-0303. The “321″ Florida number is no longer available.
As always, my email address is still unchanged.
Thanks!
Scott