There are SO many amazing photographers in the world - how do you find the one that’s perfect for you?  Well, not only do you need to blog-stalk them, see images from a full wedding, and find out all of the details about the specific packages that they offer, but you also want to ask these questions:

1. Will I receive a DVD of images from the event?
2. How many images do you post-process (the more the better!  All of those amazing images you fell in love with from their website and albums are post-processed.  If the images on the DVD you receive are SOOC (straight out of camera) you should know and understand this.)? Can I see multiple examples of before-and-after images?
3. Do you color correct all images?
4. How soon after the wedding will I receive my proofs?  My DVD of images?  My album?
5. Do you write up every event on your blog?
6. How soon after the event will you blog?
7. What types of images do you include in your blog post?
8. Do you shoot in film or digital?  Color or black and white?  RAW or JPG?
9. What is your contingency plan if you are ill or otherwise cannot attend my event? {Be sure the answer to this is specifically stated in your contract}
10. Who retains copyright to the images?  Reproduction rights?

{Read the rest of this entry…}

While the focus of the wedding is on the bride and groom, getting fabulous photos with your family and friends is also probably high on your list of priorities. The perfect wedding party shot can be difficult, as your photographer has to contend with a very large group of people, making composition and posing more difficult, as well as some potential personalities difficulties. Here are a few quick tips to ensure your wedding party pictures are everything you hope for:

1) Acquaint your party with your photographer’s style.  While doing an engagement session with your photographer is often a great way for you to learn more about how he or she works, your girls and guys obviously generally don’t have a chance to meet with and shoot with the photographer prior to the wedding. If you are hiring a non-traditional or more artistic photographer, it may be a good idea to send your party a link to his or her site prior to the wedding. I find that when I want to do some non-traditional poses or more quirky shots, bridesmaids and groomsmen almost always are better at working with me if they have seen some of my work before and have a rough idea of what the finished product might look like. Just as great trust between you and your photographer can lead to better photographs, anything that can be done to encourage trust between your wedding party and the photographer can help immensely.

{Read the rest of this entry…}

We’re starting a fun new series on EAD - Library Vendor Spotlights.  The goal is to give you a glimpse into the minds of our fantastic Library vendors and let you get to know some amazing people from the wedding industry just a little bit better (and hopefully of course to give you some inspiration along the way!).

Our first Library vendor spotlight is the utterly adorable Andria Lewis of Andria Lewis Events.  Her blog is called The Planner Pages and she’s based out of Memphis, TN but serves all of Tennessee, Mississippi and Arkansas.  You can find her on Twitter too!

EAD: What is the single best piece of advice you can give to brides and grooms as they begin to plan their event?
AL: Slow.Down. My biggest frustration for (not with) brides/couples is that as soon as they become engaged they run out and start visiting every, single, little venue they’ve ever passed on the street. They begin having appointments with florists and caterers who either are not their style or who are way out of their price range. Then, when they become overwhelmed and frustrated they call a wedding planner. I hear SO often, “Oh, why didn’t I hire you from the beginning?!”

Even if a couple is not hiring a wedding planner, I want them to know that it is most important to slow down and do some research and be flexible in your dates and wants. It is also important to know that the word ‘perfect’ does not exist in the world of weddings. Your wedding will be great! But, it won’t be perfect. And that’s okay.

{Read the rest of this entry…}

The time has finally come to sign the contract to secure our wedding venue!

I can understand how stressful this can be to brides.  It is not only a big financial commitment but usually one of your first wedding related commitments.  For people that are pretty indecisive (like me) this can be quite a big deal.

As I mentioned before, I’m a Wedding Specialist at a Boston Hotel and used to being on the other side of things.  I am constantly putting contracts together for Brides and Grooms and because of this, I feel extra prepared and a little less hesitant about signing my own.

There are a few things that you should really look out for in your contract.  Every venue is different so this may vary but here are some tips.

via Real Simple {source}

1.) Make sure you know what you are signing for.  Speak with the Wedding Specialist to see what you are responsible for,  IE: food & beverage minimum, package minimum, deposit, etc.

{Read the rest of this entry…}

I recently spoke to a new acquaintance of mine who was married several years ago (before I was even shooting weddings!). She discussed how displeased she was with the photographs, and how looking at them made her sad. What a tragedy to have such disappointing photographic memories of such a happy day. After speaking to her, I thought about a few steps brides and grooms can take to ensure they are thrilled to pieces with their wedding photographs, as they should be!

LOOK AT THEIR PHOTOS…AND NOT JUST THE PORTFOLIO
The portfolio on a photographer’s site is the best of the best. They are the images the photographer is most proud of, but they often don’t represent every wedding they’ve photographed, or they don’t showcase the full set of images that will be delivered to the bride and groom.  At the very least, take some time to peruse the photographer’s blog to see what kind of work they are shooting week in and week out. While most photographers I know are very consistent in their work, I have occasionally come across some who showcase stunning work on their main site, but pop over to the blog and out of focus, poorly toned photos are de rigeur. If possible, you may also ask to see a full set of wedding images, to get a better sense of what a final photograph looks like, and what constitutes a full set of wedding images.

{Read the rest of this entry…}

I’m splicing this post with pictures from one of my biggest inspiration sources: Amy Atlas. A designer known mainly for how fabulous she is at creating decadent dessert tables. As you can see from the pictures: beyond words gorgeous. If you haven’t visited her site, DO IT! You won’t regret it! GO NOW!

Step 3: Going for it!

What’s the best way to learn something? Trial. By. Fire. There’s no real better way to get used to something then to just jump in with two feet [and one heart] and swim to the deep end! Best thing you can do to immerse yourself [and overwhelm yourself]: put up a website. There are plenty of resources out there, and plenty of people willing to be hired and help you get out there [craiglist, much??]. BUT- take your time building it up. Start a splash page and a blog. Post everything. Link to everyone that inspires you. Do NOT put up pictures that aren’t your own on your site- no matter how much you love them. That’s the first way to strip all credibility from you. You’ll get enough under your belt to make your site look schmancy fancy soon enough. Until then- wait it out.

{Read the rest of this entry…}

Some monograms I’ve produced for past clients will be the eye candy featured here today. Wish I had more handy! Monograms are my WEAKNESS! The best way to tie everything together! :)

In my journey through this career that I’m immersed in, I’ve learned quite a bit about what NOT to do. Almost as much as what TO do. Funny enough, the nights spent with tear-filled eyes are the most growingly painful, and the most character building. How do you work in an industry full of love and emotion, yet have a thick-skin to potential clients rejecting you on a weekly basis? Or being displeased with your services in any capacity? Or trying to talk down your price even though you KNOW you charge under what the going rate should be?

There are a million questions that go along with how to start a business. But… weddings as a business?? Now, THAT is intense. Bringing love into the picture creates a whole new ball game. I just want to show you mine- what players I’m using, who my “biggest hitter” is, and my score board so far. Hopefully it’s inspiring to someone. That’s why I’m writing… for that someone!

Step 2: The Experience.

{Read the rest of this entry…}

Splicing my post with some sweet sources of inspiration for your big day!

I was asked by one of my clients the other day how I’ll know when I’ve “made it” as an event designer. I replied immediately “when I see myself being published all OVER the place- print, web, everywhere!”. And I still think that’s true! To be “someone” in this industry, you need to be accessible to anyone, and you really need to keep up with the times and trends. Something I tend to do lurking from my own quiet corner of the world.

But really, the more thought I put into it, the more I knew that I already have made it. At least, for myself. My heart is in 100% of what I do. How I work, who I am, and what I love all become totally intertwined into this dream job that I’m living each day. And THAT makes me a success. Don’t you think? My next short series will be a play by play about how I got to be where I am, and maybe even a post on where I’d like to go. Not sure how many of you readers are interested in planning, or in my story, but here it goes anyway… as real and candid as it gets. And please, feel free to comment with questions! I’ll answer ‘em, promise you! It may not be the answer you’ll want or need, but it’ll be real!

{Read the rest of this entry…}

So you know all the details of our ceremony now…lets get to the party!!

Here are some shots my sister took this weekend when we went to see the venue…this is the reception hall when you first walk in.  Pictures just don’t do it justice-it’s amazing!

This is the dance floor area…and the two steps lead up to the tables for the wedding party…

{Read the rest of this entry…}

Although photojournalistic and more editorial photography is popular with modern, chic brides, I find that most clients still, understandably, want a few traditional formal photographs of them with their family. While my coverage is primarily more candid or creative in nature, I still think capturing a few of these “formals” is valuable for satisfying many parents’ tastes and also serving as a historical photograph. I typically recommend that couples try to keep a “formal list” as short as possible, dedicating about 15-20 minutes to knocking these out so we can spend the majority of their coverage taking creativity-laced and emotion-filled images. While the photographer will generally manage and direct these photographs, being organized as a couple and communicating your requests to your family and friends can greatly help to speed up the process and ensure it goes as smoothly as possible.

Mid-setup at last weekend’s wedding (me in the black suit behind the gentleman in the beige suit).

I recently photographed a lovely wedding for a wonderful Indian couple. While formals usually have some importance to most of my couples, I find that particularly in the Indian community, these photographs are so incredibly important to the family, and I am happy to spend a bit more time shooting them. When my bride sent me her list of photos, I was a little nervous that we might be shooting for hours, it was so extensive. However, she had developed the most organized plan I had ever seen, and the shoot went so fast. She first prepared a spreadsheet with all of the groupings she wanted, and then assigned a letter (for her or her husband’s side) and a number to each photograph (e.g., “Bride, Groom, mom, dad, mom’s sister, son — Card #J2″). She also prepared a spreadsheet with the name of everyone that would be in any of the photographs, and then wrote the card numbers for the photographs they would be in (e.g., “Jane Doe, Cards #J2, J12″). Each guest that would be photographed received the second spreadsheet, and “cards” were called out by an assistant.

While this process required a considerable amount of work on her part, I have never had a formal session go as quickly and painlessly as it went that day. Particularly if you have a large guest list/large number of people to be photographed (we probably had 100+ involved), her extra preparation helped my job to go smoothly, guests to be clear on when they were needed, and helped keep the roar of yelling out names to a minimum.

Do you have a plan for your formal photos?  Do tell!

So in the past two week I’ve met with a few clients who are having an event at a private home/estate. With this comes great flexibility [set up time, vendor selection, decor choices] but also great risk and responsibility [especially if it isn’t YOUR home, and if it’s located in a neighborhood of any kind]. The main foreseeable problems, right off the bat, consist of a few things: parking, inconveniencing the neighbors, and noise restrictions.

So, let me break them down a bit in the way I see fit.

1. The parking situation, most likely, will not be easy. My suggestion is to find a local church or business center that may allow you to rent or use their spaces for your event. If it’s a couple blocks away, offer the guests a trolley. Yes, it may add a tad more expenses than you anticipated originally when you started planning, but the convenience for your guests will be worth it! Plus, this way the driveway of the home you’re at, and right out front of that, looks clean, beautiful, and UN-cluttered with cars for that big grand exit you’re thinking of […or is that me?]!!

2. For the noise situation, the best thing you can do is speak with the city. I’ll be honest- I’m not quite sure that the city will grant permits to anyone- home or not- for “sound” after 10 or 10:30pm. I believe it’s a general respect thing for the community surrounding you. Which is why this ties so much into the 3rd point, below…

Really and truly- that third one is a biggie. Probably the biggie-est. So, I’ll tell you what I’ve told them: offer the olive branch.

3. The absolute BEST thing you can do for dealing with the neighbors near by is be preemptive about it and TELL THEM, up front, and personally. I’m not saying you need to notify all the neighbors within 2 blocks but definitely the immediate near-bys are important. More than that, say it with more than words. Say it with effort. Say it with food. A few examples:

Fresh Baked Cookies

{Read the rest of this entry…}

Many of my clients have been asking me lately for my thoughts on the merits of doing creative portraits before the ceremony versus waiting for the iconic look down the aisle being the first glimpse of the bride in her wedding dress.

My recommendation is to first take light into consideration. If you are having an evening wedding at sunset or thereafter, you may find yourself facing some limitations regarding the portraits that can be taken post-ceremony. While your photographer should be capable of using lighting techniques to take creative portraits even if it is dark outside, clean, beautiful photographs are generally best captured with the assistance of some natural light.

I also recommend that couples think about how eager they will be to celebrate with their friends and family after the wedding. While some couples are fine taking off for the whole of the cocktail hour and greeting guests at the reception, many brides and grooms want to spend the cocktail hour socializing, sipping and having fun. It can also be a bit of a challenge to get into “portrait mode” after a long day of preparation and the release after the ceremony, as many people naturally want to get right to the party!

You should also think about the locations that are important to you for portraiture on the day of the wedding. If you want to go to three different locations in your city, finding the time to do so after the ceremony may be extremely challenging, and you may wish to consider doing these photographs beforehand to ensure you receive all the photographs you desire and keep your guests happy!

{Read the rest of this entry…}