5 Places Where You Can Use Pre-Wedding Photographs

If you are one of those excited couples who believe that you are entitled to have the best wedding ever, there is nothing wrong in that. You rightfully deserve to have the best wedding for yourself as it is a once in a lifetime opportunity where you join hands with your partner to enter a world of marital bliss and have two souls walking towards a single goal. A wedding includes several arrangements that come together to make a successful event and one of the most important aspects is the photography. Professional wedding photographers are always at hand when you get to approach them whenever you intend to.

Most professional wedding photographers offer wedding packages to the couples which often include pre-wedding photography along with capturing the best moments of the wedding day. These sessions are something that not all couples prefer due to the added costs but is often recommended for various reasons. Apart from getting to know your photographer and his style of capturing photographs, you get benefitted by the following ways.

• Wedding invitations - While you prepare and print wedding invitations, you can always include the pre-wedding pictures in the invites o give it a personalised look. You could choose the best-looking photograph of you and your partner and flash it on the card for people to see and appreciate your idea.

• Wedding favours - While you are confused with what to give away as wedding favours to your guests, you can personalise little keepsakes with your pre-wedding photographs. This would make great gifts and memorable for them as it consists your photograph which would make them reminisce your presence in their lives.

• Personal Websites - If you have unique ideas of creating a website to your name or want to have a social presence and announce your wedding, you could use these photographs to create collages and virtual banners which could make people know about your presence and how you want to make your wedding day special.

• Frames for the loved ones - It is natural for your family members to miss your presence after you are married and therefore engagement photographs are the best pictures to present family members with where they can keep them close. This would make them feel your presence whenever they miss you after you are married and away.

• Keepsakes for yourself - You could create photo albums or frame the best pictures to decorate your house. This would not only make you remember the day whenever you look at the photographs thus making it a great keepsake for you and your partner.

The Importance of a Pre-Wedding Shoot

Most photographers include a pre-wedding shoot as part of their packages as they feel it is important to get to know their clients before the wedding day. This way the client can sample their style of photography and dispel any fears they may have about being photographed, so on the wedding day they will look more natural and relaxed.

The shoot takes place approximately 3 months before the wedding day it is typically outside using natural light which is more flattering and enables the photographer to capture the couple naturally. Often photographs are taken of the couple individually as well as together this gives them the experience of how they would be photographed on the wedding day.

There are countless advantages of a pre-wedding shoot; building rapport with your photographer, as it's a long day to have a stranger with you on your wedding day. Understanding how your photographer works and seeing the results of your pre-wedding photographs of the day and give you confidence that your photographer will capture fantastic shots of you both on the wedding day.

If your photographer has not photographed at your venue before it is a good opportunity to combine the visit to the venue along with your pre-wedding shoot. If you're wedding is taking place in Autumn or winter you may like your pre-wedding shoot to take place at your wedding venue in the summer, this way you will have a selection of contrasting seasonal images from your wedding venue.

Wherever you choose to have your pre-wedding shoot embrace the experience, as it's a great opportunity to have some relaxed spontaneous images together with a professional photographer as you may not have had any pictures taken professionally of the two of you before.

It's important to the photographer to understand how the couple wish to be photographed and find out if there are any concerns the couple have regarding public affection or which side they prefer to be photographed. Or there may be a considerable height difference between the couple and they wish to see how the photographer can approach this. Viewing the pre-wedding photography images with your photographer is just as important as the shoot itself, this way you can give your feedback to the photographer so they are aware of your preferences.

They will have options and make suggestions on how best to use your pre-wedding images. These options may include a sign frame, guests can write their personal message around the mounted image on the wedding day instead of a guestbook. This way your favorite image from the shoot will be on display at your wedding. The concept is a real talking point and you'll have a lasting memory displayed on your wall of the messages your guests have written on the day.

An alternative is a photo guestbook this would have a selection of your favorite images from the pre-wedding shoot alongside blank pages where your guests can write their own personal message.

Creating a Wedding Photography Business

re you fond of taking pictures of anything and everything? Do you know how to use a digital or film camera, preferably a digital SLR? Do your friends and family always compliment your work and say you have a fantastic eye for detail and photography? Do you like attending big gatherings and meeting lots of new people and making them smile?

You should think of starting your own wedding photography business if you answer yes to all these questions. Most people in the wedding photography business started out in taking pictures of their family and friends and just developed to being asked to photograph their weddings. After a few weddings, they liked what they did and just continued doing it. Even you can do that too.

First, do a few weddings of friends and family and if they like the photos ask them to spread the word. This is the best way to get customers, word of mouth. your friends and family could also help in spreading a good word about your work since they've already experienced working with you. It is an advantage if you've already worked with the people they know since most of them would prefer that. Knowing them will help you since you'll know specifically what they're looking and they'll be more comfortable and natural around you.

Next, build a website. If you want wider audience viewership you can place your portfolios online or it can also be in books. It would be a lot more convenient for your possible client to check your work first before driving over to your place to discuss a possible job especially if they will come from a different area. The website comes if your wedding photography business doesn't actually have a physical studio. If more people can see your work there's a bigger possibility of more clients coming to you. Make sure your website focuses on the weddings you've shot, the wedding photography packages you offer and your contact details.

A wedding photography business could be very profitable if you have already clients lining up to get your service. Keep in mind the importance of talking to your clients and building a good relationship with them so they'll be more at ease with you making it easier for them to express what they want in their pictures. Befriending clients and communication with them before the wedding day makes the job easier to handle and lessens the stress that they go through. It is best that you can provide what your clients have in mind because you are taking the snapshots of one of the most important memories of their lives.

Getting Started in Wedding Photography

Introduction

Is your photography equipment gathering dust because your desire to be creative is gathering dust as well? Don't let it! By sticking to some basics, and doing your homework, wedding photography can be a very stimulating and rewarding pastime. People are always getting married, so the opportunities for photographing weddings - and making some cash to boot - are there if you want to inject some life into your hobby.

Wedding Photography Has Challenges!

I'm not silly enough to suggest shooting weddings is a walk in the park. But it is worth pursuing for the artistic and financial rewards. Think of any challenge that makes your senses tingle - mountain climbing, acting in a live play, catching that 12 pound trout with your fly-fishing gear.... it's stimulating and rewarding. And because these pursuits require preparation, practice, and immediate focus (pun not intended), they require a direct cooperation of your intellect and creativity. Sounds like serious hobby material to me!

This was my reason for going pro. Hobby-level photography just wasn't cutting the mustard, so by advancing my skills, equipment, and experience, I can still have fun with my favourite pastime, yet increase the rewards ten-fold.

What is "Pro"?

The definition suffers various interpretations, but "going pro" has more to do with acting professionally than it does with owning $20,000 in camera equipment. And you're pretty well there if 1) your equipment is reliable, 2) you have backups, 3) you can take sharp photos that are well-composed, and 4) you maintain a professional's attitude that includes friendly respect for your client. There's more to it than that, but it shouldn't be shrouded with mystique, snobbery, or elitism - you have the tools. Going pro doesn't mean you're primary income is from photography, but rather it refers to your approach, mindset, and maturity. So - want to be a full or part-time pro? Dust off your camera - and creativity - and start your research.

As Always: the Basics

The major elements to consider when shooting a wedding are no different than any other subject matter: lighting, film choice if you're not digital yet, and equipment. Emphasis on preparation is needed for weddings for obvious reasons, so, cover the basics by doing the following:

-a recon visit to the chapel/church/synagogue/whatever 2 weeks before and knock off a number of exposures.

-have 2 camera bodies at your disposal, and preferably the same for lenses and flash

-install fresh batteries in all equipment

-make sure you have more memory cards or film than contracted

-hire an assistant to re-load your film camera if you're still shooting in this medium

-have a signed contract with the couple which covers the checklist of photos to be shot by you, and various disclaimers (see the reference section below)

-beg/borrow/steal/buy a 28-200 or 28-300 zoom. (You'll love me for this).

So, that's most of it. A wedding isn't a formal portrait sitting, so although posing is involved, keep in mind every shot isn't gonna be a keeper.

Equipment

I assume that if you've read up to this point, you've got some good equipment, with hopefully more than one camera body. Duplicating your equipment is a good idea if you're stuff is between consumer and "pro-sumer" level. A Mamiya or Hassablad medium format with a Metz flash will likely not fail you, but that's the stuff of a full-time pro who has lotsa $$$ for equipment. Your gear may be cheaper than this, yet will create images comparable to the more expensive - BUT but it doesn't have the lasting power. Anything mechanical suffers from what's called MTBF: Mean Time Before Failure - it's an engineering term that basically separates the high-end well-designed gear from the cheaper grades... Don't argue - I experienced this principle on the very first wedding I shot. Please duplicate all your equipment.

Have your camera bodies cleaned every year or so. More often if you shoot a lot. Dust and dirt create havoc in the best equipment, because every time you change lens or film roll, environmental contaminants (dust and flying particles being the worst...) will find a home in the nooks and crannies of your camera. The expensive high-end cameras that Nikon and Canon make have amazing dust and moisture resistance... as long as they are closed shut!

Also, I can remember instances where not having complete command over my equipment caused hiccups in the photo shoot. Whether it's a manual flash for which you can't remember the gain number, or a piece of failed equipment that you have a backup for at home (like a sync cord!), excuses don't cut it. If this is what you want to do, then practice enough to gain the knowledge and respect for your inventory: you need to master every technical aspect of your equipment.

Remember I mentioned using a zoom? It's a life-saver if the officiator gets crabby when you get too close for his or her liking. You can be 12 feet away, yet zoom in on the ring exchange, the "kiss", etc. The added bonus is that people's faces look more natural when shot a distance away, because you're avoiding what's called perspective distortion. Too close, and noses look bigger and more prominent.

Do Your Research

Find the wording for a contract that suits you. Include disclaimers for failed equipment, botch-ups at the lab, etc, stating that you'll refund on a pro-rated scale if not all was lost. Also, get paid before-hand. Don't do the job unless they agree with this arrangement. Pre-plan with the couple using a detailed checklist; there are many examples to be found on the Internet. Agree on the various family shots and portaits, as well as the standard ceremony pictures. It's well worth doing a dry-run before the wedding. By dry-run, I mean travelling to the location, finding a parking spot, and take a few exposures of a human subject at various distances. Then you're familiar with the environment, and will feel prepared on the big day. You won't need to do this as you gain more experience.

If you're shooting film, brand and type is a personal choice. Print film, when processed and printed at a good lab, will include colour compensation, which is great for removing colour-cast produced by light sources such as fluorescent bulbs. And the bride's wedding dress will be pure white. I've read on the net that Fuji film adds a green hue... I've yet to see it! Their Reala film is sharp, with nice skin tones. Other films to look at are mentioned in the reference section below; only use pro film stored in a refrigerator.

Let me emphasise the importance of using a professional lab for developing and printing the photos... so many one-hour shops and chain stores do not maintain the quality control they're supposed to. The general public seem to be satisfied with grainy, out-of-focus prints, mainly because it's status-quo I guess. After getting introduced to the quality product of a pro lab, I've never gone back... VERY sharp pictures, far less grain, nice colour balance, etc. My subjective experience is that Fuji film printed on Fuji paper is awesome. Now that I'm digital, my proof albums are printed by uploading the high-res photos to my favourite local lab. Most labs now have a web interface for uploading photos for printing, and are often ready in a couple business days.

Another good exercise is to look at others' wedding albums to get ideas of where to stand for the important shots. Remember - you're the pro, so don't worry too much about being conspicuous during the ceremony. Research the net for "wedding photography"... you'll get tens of thousands of hits, most with example photos.

Practice

Try and get invited to as many weddings as possible! Bring your camera equipment, and you'll find that the shots you take may not be covered by the "official" photographer. Give your prints (or copies of...) to the couple, and you may be surprised at the results. Word will get around, or at least you'll have a reference or two when you take the plunge.

Assisting an experienced photographer is a good way to get your feet wet as well, although you may not get paid. I didn't start this way, but I occasionally see ads here and there from people offering to assist. Give it a shot if it interests you at all.

Once you feel prepared, create a web site and advertise. Look on the Internet for other examples, and if you're not web-savy, have a friend do it for you, or hire someone. I've garnered enough business from my own web site to justify it's effort and expense for the next long while! Plus it's another creative outlet if you're at all slanted towards graphic design and creative writing.

Pricing

Typically, wedding packages are offered at three levels: basic, deluxe, and premium. The first is for the budget-conscious, and can range anywhere from $400 to $1,000. This will cover the basics of the ceremony, plus some before and after shots, candids, preparation, etc - all at the prime location, all taking up somewhere under 250 exposures. Level 2: $800 to $1,200 or $1,500 will generally include pre-ceremony shooting of the bride and groom getting ready (at home or the chapel), bridesmaids, etc, and some of the reception. It will also cover portraits during that time. Running time: 2 to 4 hours, up to 350 exposures. These figures are very general, and some wedding photographers charge way more, and shoot tones of exposures.

The big kahoonah is the whole day: pre-ceremony, ceremony, and formal portraits including travel to some outdoor park with luscious greenery, many shots of relatives, etc. Could very well include portable studio lighting. Then you're at the reception till the couple leaves... that could be 10 o'clock in the evening! Be prepared to shoot up to 400 exposures or more. The price for such a day of shooting can start from around $1,500 and go as high as three to five thousand, depending on a number of variables such as whether there's a second shooter, custom leather album, etc.

The majority of wedding photographers fall within these price boundaries, but there are also exceptions... this is just a rough guide. Some photographers (such as myself) simply charge by the hour.

The Big Day

Show up early so you can get candids of people arriving, getting prepared... or perhaps even the bride getting ready at her home. The more expensive packages will involve a lot of pre and post wedding shots, so again, whatever is contracted, have enough film or memory cards available. Just before the bride arrives, check your remaining exposures (film or memory card), and swap it out if you're getting close to capacity... this is where having an assistant is invaluable, handing you another rig so your coverage is seamless.

I won't go into every shot you SHOULD take; there's lots of other places to find that info. I'm just covering the high points; the important things to have prepared, and to remember. This is HER big day, and you're answerable to the bride for the results. It's important the couple see a professional doing his job, covering all the important shots, and producing an end-product they'll rave about.

If your day includes shooting the reception, stay alert, low, (don't drink...) and take tons of candids of people smiling - using that zoom I mentioned! The reception may be where the relatives are photographed; remember - you've checked the place out, right? So you know where people will be standing for the various mother/father/grandparent/sibling shots.

Oh - and by now, you might need new batteries in your flash unit. You DID bring extras, right?!?

Shoot away like mad, but make sure you get the couple leaving. This'll be the last shot in the...

Wedding Album

There are as many approaches to this part as there are weddings you'll shoot. But a good formula to start with is to offer an album with all the good shots, start to finish, as part of the over-all package. For film shooters, the negatives are sometimes handed over, but some times kept. Professional studios will not release the negs, as they stand to make significant income on reprints for the in-laws, etc. Another good reason for this is creative control - the client only sees your best work, making you look better, so - the approach it up to you. For digital shooters, provide a burned CD-ROM of the photos, less any garbage shots.

A tip here... provide something extra over and above the agreement as a gift to the couple... giving is better than receiving. I usually print a ready-to-frame 13 x 19 enlargement for the couple.

You may ask - "Should I shoot digital?"

Well, DUH! This article was written a few years ago, long before I began shooting digital. The answer to the question is an emphatic "yes!". A good DLSR made by Canon or Nikon is a perfect match for wedding photography, as the turn-around time is decreased significantly. I simply offer a burned CD-ROM of all prepped images to my client as part of the package. By prepped, I mean adjusted for color, contrast, highlight/shadow, sharpness, and any cropping or straightening that may be required. And do shoot in RAW format, as it gives you a couple more stops of wiggle room both ways. I picked up a 4gb Extreme II card on eBay for less than $60.00, so there's no reason to not shoot RAW. With my 8 megapixel camera, I can shoot over 400 exposures!

As for the wedding album, use a reputable lab that offers uploading over the web, or just bring them in on CD-ROM. The lab I currently use only charges 22 cents for a 4X6, and they can turn around a 300-exposure job in a couple of business days.

Conclusion

Why go through the bother and expense it takes to photograph weddings? The thrill. It took my favorite pastime to another level, and although I'm not athletic, the challenge and the experience must be similar to going "extreme"! If this sounds interesting to you at all, then do your research, get prepared, practice, hang a shingle, and make history. You'll love it.

Wedding Photography Advice - Advice Other Brides Wished They Followed

Your wedding pictures are going to be your keepsakes of the union between you and the person you love. For many brides and grooms, they do not put too much thought into the photography aspect, other than hiring the wedding photographer. However, if you really want to have pictures you can be proud of, pictures that are going to stand out against every other wedding pictures you have seen, you need to follow our wedding photography advice.

It is typical for brides to get all kinds of advice about their wedding from friends, family members and even vendors. However, following everyone's advice can be a little nerve racking and frustrating to say the least. If you are looking for great wedding photography advice from one source; look not further.

1. The most important thing a bride can do for her pictures is to have fun. It is vital to enjoy yourself for our wedding pictures and let the day go how it may. Stressing out over every little detail on your wedding day is going to ruin not only your day but also your pictures. If you are not enjoying yourself and relaxed in your wedding pictures, it will show.

2. If your photo session is a pre-wedding shoot, you need to keep your mind of the wedding planning. Instead of focusing on those things, think about why you love your future husband. Relax and reminisce about all of the fun you two have had. The sparkle in your eyes will add the extra oomph that otherwise would not be there.

3. Be confident. Many brides allow themselves to become overwhelmed with the wedding photo shoot. If you want perfect wedding pictures, forget about the photographer and simply do what he or she says. Act like you own the photo shoot and take advantage of the photographers directions.

4. Don't be afraid to have fun with your wedding photographers. Often, some of the goofiest poses and images are the ones that can bring a bride right back to that day in the years to come.

5. Place your trust in the photographer you hired. He or she is not going to ask you to do anything that is going to make you look bad. The overall goal of the photographer is to please the couple in the end. Therefore, he or she might have some off the wall poses that are stunning in the end.

Over the years we have found many brides to be disappointed in the wedding photos as the years go by. Most of them look back on the day and realize they were not relaxed, enjoying themselves or confident. Our wedding photography advice is going to help you enjoy your wedding photos and be proud of them for many years to come.

Budget Your Wedding Photography

Most couples struggle with wedding budgets and look for ways to make their money go further on their big day. Some seek alternative options for the photography. There are other articles which address the WHY of hiring professionals over amateurs or friends. But what about the question of HOW MUCH? How to budget for this vital piece of one's total wedding package?

£300 buys a lot of beer

Somehow I managed to avoid ever watching an episode of the BBC reality show "Don't Tell the Bride." Until earlier this year, that is. Episode 3, I think it was. How much did the groom decide a photographer was worth in his initial planning? £300 pounds, if memory serves correct. That's 2.5% of their £12,000 budget. For US readers, that's equivalent to roughly $500 out of a nearly $20,000 budget.

Beer money: An affectionate term for the pay sometimes offered casual snappers who shoot weddings on the weekend, on top of their full-time jobs.

All in a day's work. And another day. And another...

Most wedding photography assignments involve at least a full day of shooting. For many large markets, £300 is simply not reasonable as a day-rate. And this doesn't take into consideration the pre-production (consultations, usually a pre-wedding portrait session, a venue visit, etc) and post-production. The post-production work involves the largest expenditure of a wedding photographer's time and can include downloading and archiving the raw image files, preparing the proofs for presentation, uploading the proofs to online preview galleries or printing them into books, consultations regarding image selection for print enlargements and albums, and producing high-resolution disks, custom prints, albums, coffee-table books, and the other little things which add value to the photography.

And that only just begins to cover a photographer's true cost. A freelance photographer destined to survive needs to consider marketing, maintaining and upgrading camera and computer equipment, software, training, taxes, pension, health, and all of the little overhead costs which keep a business running smoothly. Then there's paid vacation. A photographer's wage or salary is simply a slice of the whole pie.

To entertain a £300 contract in London, for example, a photographer needs to have other assignments running the same day and/or production work to complete on upcoming or previous assignments (or perhaps a really generous trust fund; a man can dream). In other words, the shooting session takes only a portion of a day's work. With a modern wedding, there's simply no time for anything else on the day. Couples expect a photographer's presence for 8-10 hours on average. It's a full day, and then some.

Start with 10%

Many wedding experts advise allocating at least ten percent of the wedding budget on the photographer. Following that advice, £1200 from the BBC couple's budget would have allowed them to hire many photographers at a basic rate at least. Bumping that figure up to the 20-30% range could buy additional luxuries, depending on the photographer: larger album options and cover materials, smaller copies of the album for parents and gifts, additional prints, note cards, etc.

Ask

Found a photographer you really like but you're a bit short on budget? Don't be afraid to ask about deals or make an offer your budget will allow. They might be willing to adjust their services to accommodate you. Be prepared to give a bit of ground, however. Perhaps they will strike a second photographer from the contract, the pre-wedding shoot, or adjust the album options. Most wedding photographers don't bite, so don't be shy.

Ask about gift registry options. Many photographers' websites include a store offering gift certificates or credits to help subsidise the cost of the wedding photography.

5 Reasons To Book A Pre-Wedding Shoot With Your Wedding Photographer

Wedding photographers all over the world are embracing a new wedding photography trend, the pre wedding shoot. Many are offering a short photo shoot in the months leading up to the wedding, so that they can get to know the bridal couple and find a style that suits them. The shoot may be included in the wedding photography package or it may be an optional extra depending on the wedding photographer.

1. Get used to being in front of the camera
Pre-wedding shoots are usually fun, relaxed and informal. They give a chance for the couple to get used to being in front of the camera, to play around a bit and have some fun. There's nothing like a stress-free rehearsal to make it easier on the big day itself, when the lens will be focussed on the bride as the star of the show.

2. Get to know your wedding photographer
Pre-wedding shoots give you a chance to get to know your wedding photographer and for them to get to know you, your style, your likes and dislikes, so that on the day itself everything goes smoothly. Building a rapport with your photographer makes it easier for him or her to get those relaxed and spontaneous photos that capture the emotion and essence of your wedding day.

3. Get some great portraits as a couple
You don't often take the time to get professional portraits taken as a couple. The pre-wedding shoot offers a wonderful chance to get some informal portraits of you together in a location of your choice. Usually the wedding photographer and the couple will choose a location within easy distance, but after that anything goes. Edgy urban or picturesque rural, dramatic mountains or romantic sea-shore, you could set your shoot anywhere you like, even the local park or at home in the garden.

4. Try out styling ideas for your wedding
Talk to your photographer about styling for your pre-wedding shoot. This could be an ideal opportunity for a rehearsal session to try out ideas with your make-up artist or stylist if you have plenty of time to spare before the shoot. However beware of getting over-complicated at this stage, as the emphasis should be on having a fun, relaxed time together in front of the camera.

5. Pre-wedding shoots are often part of the package so come at no extra cost
Quite a few photographers offer the pre-wedding shoot as part of the wedding package, so it costs you nothing to do. You don't have to order prints from this shoot unless you really want to, and it is the printing that costs. What you do with the photos from your shoot is up to you. You could post them on Facebook or put them on your wedding website, if you have one, to share with your friends and family. Or you could select a few images to add to your wedding album or photobook. Even when a pre-wedding shoot isn't included in the wedding package, photographers will usually be happy to charge a very reasonable rate for a weekday shoot, if you are booking them for your wedding.

After your pre-wedding photo shoot you and your wedding photographer will have had a chance to get to know each other and can define the style that will be right for you on your wedding day.

What to Look For in Wedding Photography Packages

There are thousands of wedding photographers offering thousands of different photo packages to make your wedding day complete. Some just charge a few hundred dollars to show up on the day and shoot, others charge thousands for elaborative packages with endless options. How do you choose from so many, and how do you know you're getting the best deal?

The average cost for a wedding photographer can vary based on several factors. Much depends on the quality of work of the photographer and expertise he delivers. Depending on your budget, the most important thing is to get the highest quality photos, with or without all the extra frills.

First of all, here is what they should offer as a basic minimum:

1) Full photographic coverage, an online album and ALL of your digital negatives. Most offer unlimited number of pictures taken but some packages may limit the number, check for this.

2) For optimum flexibility with pricing, you should be able to choose from different time range packages, starting from a minimum of 4 hours to complete full day, from pre-wedding photos until the party into the wee hours if you want.

3) You should have printing rights to all photos.

Extra touches in wedding photography packages can include:

1) DVD slideshow to music. This is something most people want, especially if they are able to choose the music, as it sums up the day in one beautiful presentation.

2) Extra 8x12 or 11x14 enlargements which the couple gets to choose.

3) A wedding album (ranging from 30 - 300 photos). Buying extra pages in your album is usually an option.

Above and Beyond Packages:

1) Pre-wedding photo session such as the bride and groom getting ready or an engagement photo session.

2) Includes an album from the engagement photo session you can show to your guests at the wedding.

3) Fancy extras such as coffee table art books, digital magazine style albums, hybrid albums, canvases, acrylics, or blocks.

A meet and greet engagement photo session is a great way to start your wedding storybook, and also to see the photographer in action before the big day. This is a sure-fire way to be certain you have made the right choice in photographer.

It is always a good idea to compare photographer prices in your area. If you live in a big city you may be paying more for a photographer based there compared to a smaller town. It doesn't necessarily mean the quality is better because they charge more. If you get an out of town photographer to try to save money, they may charge extra for the commute. Compare and research.

Keep in mind that additional photographer hours can cost up to $150. You can also choose to have a second photographer to capture impromptu moments with your guests while you are being photographed with your spouse. This can cost from anywhere between $300 - $600.

One thing to remember is that if you are able to buy the basic package first, then purchase add-ons later, make sure the photographer will honor the original package price and you are not penalized for adding the extras. As you have no idea how the photos will turn out until after they're taken and developed, it is a reasonable request.

Of course you can choose to create an album yourself with the online photo CD you will receive, but this can be extremely time consuming in the aftermath of a busy time. If you want to leave it to the professionals, all wedding photography albums should come with life-time warranty and be of top quality.

Some wedding packages offer complete services which include DJ, videographer and full photography package. It is worth comparing how much this all costs separately before going for the 'package deal' which may not be a deal at all.

3 Secrets To Capturing Real Moments and Emotions In Your Wedding Photography

Who wants ordinary snapshots from their wedding, right? Here's 3 secrets to capturing real moments and their underlying emotions -- and they're not what you think! I've been a professional wedding photographer for 30 years and I've invested a lot of time over those years with hundreds of brides and grooms, and their moms and dads, on their wedding days and afterwards.

So I've experienced what it is people, just like you and me, who wish their photography to embody all their tears, smiles and laughter, capture the relationships they have with their loved ones, and document their life's most meaningful moments, really desire to get out of their wedding photography when it's all said and done.

With all this first-hand experience if I were asked today to boil down how to have your wedding photography portray natural emotions and real moments to just its 3 most relevant keys, the most important factors of all, they would have to be these:

Secret #1 - Disconnect from the "Smile For The Camera" Mode Ever since you were a little child, your parents would take your picture telling you to look at the camera, hold still and smile.

That's how they took pictures, and in so doing, they trained you to "mug" for your pictures and "play to the camera". Today, you're all grown up, and you may be out on the town one night with your friends, and someone in your group pulls out their cell phone or camera and aims it at you and your friends, and what do you all do?

You "assume the position"! You all stare at the camera, staying motionless... smiling... waiting for the picture to be taken.

Just as you were trained to do ever since you were a kid.

But those aren't the kinds of images you wish to have to remember your wedding with - unless you're an average bride who's okay with average photos, but we've already established that you're probably not that bride. So you may feel more strongly that the best photos of you have always been those where you're not aware of the camera.

You'd be right about that.

It's because those "candid" photos are capturing you being yourself.

When they're done well, that is, when they catch "definitive moments", they capture your personality, your essence. Were you aware people act differently when they know they're being observed?

Just like you may drive more conservatively than you normally would if you knew there's a police car behind you. This is why television shows like "Big Brother" actually hide their cameras, so they can capture people as they really are, being themselves doing what they do, rather than mugging for - or doing things affected for - the camera. You want to be photographed on your wedding day as the person you are - not be made into someone you're not. And not get a bunch of "smile for the camera" shots. Your guests will take plenty of those.

Unplug yourself from "playing to the camera" on your wedding day and you'll get real moments instead. Because you'll be having real moments of genuine, natural interactions that can be photographed -and those will make for some great memories. And great photos.

Secret #2 - Tell "Stories" With Photos. Not Just "Take Pictures" People become photographers out of a love for taking pictures. And when they get into wedding photography, typically they look around and say, "okay, what pictures should I be taking?" Then they see what other wedding photographers are doing. And they do the same.

(which is why you're seeing many of the same shots from photographer to photographer).

But the result is simply a compilation of random pictures from the wedding.

Emotional impact however, rises when one photograph builds on the next, and so on, compounding the depth and layers of the story being told.

You see, there's a difference between taking pictures - and telling stories with photos. Sequences of story-telling photos also fill in the moments between the bigger moments - and tell us more about what happened, how it happened, who the people were, and how they felt. They shows us Action and Reaction. Cause and Effect. And not having any gaps, the series of story-telling sequences reveal more about the story than if there were only one picture to tell us what happened. Your wedding isn't just one story, it's a compilation of many stories. They're stories within stories: There's the story of you and you new spouse, of course. But there's also the story of your mother and you. The story of you and your father. The story of you leaving the family home forever, the story of starting a new home, of you and your best friends... On your wedding day, what comes together, in one place, at one time, are all these stories of your life. Carry these [1] sequences of [2] story-telling images of [3] these stories and sub-stories over to your wedding album, depicting them therein in a story-telling format - and they trigger fuller, more complete memories of your wedding every time you look through your album - because they form stories. Whereas other wedding albums are mere scrapbook collections of pictures.

Secret #3 - It Takes A Certain Type Of Photographer To Take A Certain Type Of Photo Your photographer's empathy goes a long way to getting the type of heart-touching images you desire from your wedding. The camera doesn't know what photos to take. That task is obviously up to the photographer. Some photographers routinely use "shot lists". Those are ideas for photos they can get throughout the day. Those ideas might be based on what the studio likes to sell (i.e. "clink champagne glasses and smile at camera"). Or they might be based on what the photographer envisions your wedding to be. Their "artificial" moment, not your "genuine" wedding moment.

Being pre-conceived and contrived, all those shots aren't based on what actually happens at your wedding. You want photography that comes out of what actually happens at your wedding.

Otherwise, they're not real moments. And only real moments have real memories - with meaning and feelings - attached to them.

So say you found a photographer who agrees to document your wedding as it unfolds rather than use those pre-conceived shot lists. Terrific! That's a good start.

But now... what makes a photographer take one photo of "this", yet not a photo of "that"?

I've found that the best, most meaningful, height of emotion wedding photographs, are only captured when the photographer's "trigger finger" is directly connected to his or her heart. Something in the photographer's emotional chemistry tells them when a particular moment is significant to document. It's like second nature. It just happens.

They don't even have to think twice about it. Here's an illustration of what I mean:

Assume Photographer #1 is at your wedding. He or she's unmarried, doesn't have children, their biggest joy in life is partying.

Now, understand I'm not making any judgments here... other than how a person's "chemistry" influences what photos they're prone to take.

That photographer is likely to have a particular zeal for party shots. It's just them, it's how they're wired. To them, that's what a wedding's all about.

Now say another photographer has children, maybe lost a parent. They may be more sensitive to child/parent relationships. To them, a wedding's about family dynamics.

Being different people, the two photographers have different outlooks on life, wouldn't that be fair to say? Both photographers are at the same party. At some point while people are dancing, your father comes over to you. He has a tear streaming down his cheek.

He knows the time has come to let go. It's been on his mind and in his heart. His "little girl" is off to start her new life. He's feeling it. He hugs her closely. No words are exchanged. The second photographer spies that and he just knows he needs to document those endearing moments.

The first photographer sees it too but its significance doesn't quite register with him in that magnitude. It's not in his "emotional lexicon" to "get" the significance of it all. He's involved with taking shots of some people dancing. And so he continues to do that.

The moment was lost on him, you see. And because of that, the moment was lost.

Forever. Because it wasn't documented by the photographer. Moral of the story: you could have the most meaningful, sentimental, personal moments happen - but if the photographer doesn't "get" it in his or heart, then he or she won't get it in the camera either - and then you'll never have it to remember your moments by.

For pre wedding photography services, check here.

Tips to Take to the Beauty Salon for Perfect Wedding Day Makeup

The day you get married is the day you want to look your best. Your hair, dress, shoes are picked out and the accessories are stellar. So it's time to focus on your wedding day makeup. You may think of doing it yourself, but it's a good bet that you'll be nervous and really busy on the day of your wedding. Instead, entrust your visage to the experts at the beauty salon; they know what to do...and who in their right mind would argue with the bride?

Researching the Perfect Look
If you're planning your wedding, you may have a bridal magazine (or 17) lying around your house for dress and decoration research purposes. Those magazines are also a great resource for hairstyles and bridal makeup. Cut out your favourite bride looks and bring them along with you to the salon.

Take a Hint
Your dress, your hairstyle and the time of your wedding should all be factors in your makeup choice. If you are having a retro-50's inspired wedding, a focus on your lips ( and your hips) may be in order. A daytime, out door wedding might call for a light, fresh, rosy glow, while an evening ceremony might inspire a sexier, smoky-eyed stare. Take your cues from all the planning you've already done. Also, make sure to highlight your assets: thin lips may need lighter colours and fuller lips can handle darker shades.

Try, Try Again!
Your makeup trial at the beauty salon or beauty school should be scheduled for about one month prior to your wedding. Take all of your pictures and ideas to your makeup artist. Don't be put off by the stylist having his or her own ideas about the way you should look, but be firm about the look you want and work with him or her to create the stunning look you deserve.

Go for the Glow
Every bride should be glowing on their wedding day - you're no exception. Regardless of the look you have chosen, try to let your natural beauty shine through and avoid caked-on makeup. As your stylist will tell you, your makeup will have to be a tad heavier than usual so the cameras can be your friend and not your enemy, but a heavy hand won't do you any good so be wary of too much makeup. For a stay-put, all day look, be sure to ask your makeup artist to use a bit of primer underneath your sheer foundation. Also, avoid using too much self-tanner or bronzer on your face before your wedding. Traditional bridal makeup focuses on shades of pink, plum and peach for an innocent look. The focus should be on either your lips or your eyes, not both.

Be Ready for the Big Day
Once you have chosen your look and perfected it with your stylist's help, you are ready to stun everyone with your beauty on your perfect day. Every blushing bride needs her secret arsenal of beauty product with her on the day of. After the ceremony, before pictures and during the reception, you may require a touch-up. Here's what you should have in your bag of goodies:

Water proof mascara
Oil-blotting sheets
Pressed powder and a concealer stick
A stick of mini deodorant
Lip-gloss
Breath mints
Your wedding day look makeup should be just as dazzling as your dress, shoes, decorations and everything else you've painstakingly chosen for your big day. Look through those magazines, book your appointment at the beauty salon, and breeze through your perfect wedding day makeup.

Makeup Styles for Every Occasion

You will find many different makeup styles in the media and the world at large.

Whether you're going to a big party or the grocery store, there is a makeup style out there that is perfect for your lifestyle.
Here is some information about popular styles to choose from so you can select the one that is best for you.

Natural Makeup
This style is made for women who just want their makeup to provide a light facial enhancement. Rather than transforming the way you look, the natural approach involves simple changes in the way your skin, eyes, and mouth look on their own. The colors here are similar to the ones that are already existent on the face, but adding them can still make a difference.

Evening Makeup
If you are planning on wearing evening makeup, you already know that bold and sexy is the way to go. While natural makeup is great for everyday looks, sometimes it needs a little flirt and pizazz. That's where the nighttime makeup styles can come into play.

Prom Makeup
Prom makeup has a tendency to be more elaborate than many other forms of makeup because prom is supposed to be a night where teens stand out from one another. The fancy dresses and up-do's require some bold makeup to make everything flow well. Fake lashes, thick mascara, and dark eye shadow can be pretty popular for this makeup style.

Bridal Makeup
Bridal makeup is usually pretty soft and natural to mimic the soft sophistication of the bride's dress. While some brides will still go for bold looks with their eye makeup, most go for natural colors and then enhance them with fake eyelashes. During a wedding though, most brides just want their natural beauty to shine through.

Gothic Makeup
Gothic makeup is one of the most extreme styles of makeup you could come across. This is usually full of dark eye shadows, eye liners, lipsticks, and more, all of which pair well with the dark clothing gothic people tend to wear. It is safe to say that gothic makeup is not made for everyone, but it could be right for you.

Anti Aging Makeup
In the battle against aging, you can actually use the kind of makeup to wear to help you look and feel younger. Many makeup products out there actually contain chemicals that are meant to help older skin, and these products likely will reduce wrinkles and the appearance of them as a person wears that. If you are worried about looking too old or you think that signs of aging are forming on your body, you can use that to counteract the trends.

Celebrity Makeup
Celebrities are usually on the cutting edge of makeup styles. Access to the hottest designers and stylists and constant exposure to cameras and paparazzi has made most celebrities place makeup high on their list of priorities. Find out what these fashion leaders are wearing on their faces these days.

Airbrush Makeup
Airbrush makeup is any makeup that is applied with an airbrush rather than with the traditional tools that you might associate with makeup application. Instead of using your fingers, brushes, or sponges, you instead have a professional spray gun to give you more even, precise, and flawless coverage. Airbrushing is easy to remove, long-lasting and is hygienic.

Permanent Makeup
Also known as cosmetic tattooing, permanent makeup has become hotter and hotter over the past few years. It used to be used as a technique mainly by models, actresses, or others in the entertainment business who wanted to shave lengthy hours sitting in the makeup chair. However, more and more women are learning that they too can shave off this time in front of their mirrors.

Mineral Makeup
Although mineral makeup has been around since the 1970s, it has really taken off in popularity in the past few years. There are many different reasons to look into using mineral based makeup, including the fact that it is less likely to clog pores, and might actually improve skin health with regular use, since you are applying nutrients and minerals directly to the face. It's loved because it is light, natural, and gives a long-lasting glow that can be seen all day, so you don't have to keep reapplying it over and over again like you might with regular pressed powder.

Fresh Wedding Makeup Ideas

To achieve the flawless radiance that every bride wants, you need to have great makeup. The trend right now going into autumn is for slightly more dramatic eyes than in the summer or a bolder lip color. The results are a sophisticated elegance that will make you look incredible. Find out how to pull it off with these fresh wedding makeup ideas.

Choosing the cosmetics for your wedding is likely to come way down on your to-do list after choosing your wedding dress, veil, hairstyle, modern or vintage bridal jewelry, and so on. That said, everyone will be looking at the bride's face, so makeup is really quite important. The key is to select the colors and style that suit your complexion and the overall flavor of your wedding attire and location. The general trend for fall is makeup that is timeless and sophisticated, rather than beachy or bohemian.

A very chic look for brides right now is red lipstick. It is a timeless color, very ladylike, and also a bit bold. Nothing exudes confidence more than a great red lipstick! Start by choosing the perfect shade of red for your skin tone. Typically people with warm undertones look best with an orangey-red color, while women with cool undertones should opt for a blueish-red. Go to the cosmetic counter at your favorite department store and work with a beauty consultant to find your perfect shade of red. The trick to achieving staying power with a bold lip color is using a neutral lipliner to color in your lips (not just around the edges). Then apply the lipstick, blot, dust lightly with powder, apply lipstick again, and gently blot. The result will be sultry red lips that last through lots of kisses.

Purple is an absolutely huge color for fall 2011 weddings, and this is even true for bridal makeup. A gorgeous look is to create a smoky eye using shades of purple instead of black. Shades of plum look great with almost any eye color. Rich purple hues will bring out the green in hazel eyes, set off baby blues, or enhance brown eyes. Keep the plummy tones above the eyes to avoid accidentally creating the look of purplish circles under the eyes. Pair it with a wine colored lipstick to complete the look. This is a beautiful color palette for an evening wedding. It would also look wonderful for a bride wearing a Jazz Age gown with vintage inspired bridal jewelry.

If dark lipstick isn't your thing, then head for the other big trend for wedding makeup: lots of eyelashes. You can create a look that is both chic and understated (and perhaps even a bit French!) by emphasizing your lashes and wearing a neutral lipstick. The trick is to line the eyes with black liquid eyeliner. Then have your makeup artist fill out your natural eyelashes with false eyelashes. Believe it or not, false lashes do not have to look obviously fake. Glue single lashes in place along the outer edges of the eyes rather than using a full strip to achieve a fabulous yet believable effect. Finish with a couple coats of your favorite waterproof mascara. Your eyes will look incredible in the wedding pictures.

One more lovely look for brides is a soft gray smoky eye worn with pink lipstick. The gray tones are less harsh than a black smoky eye, and when paired with feminine pink lips, the effects are almost angelic. This is a lovely makeup plan for the bride who wants to achieve a youthful yet sophisticated look for her wedding day. When you have the perfect makeup, you will look simply gorgeous for your wedding.

11 Useful Tips For Wedding Makeup

Every woman knows how important the bridal makeup is. The choice of make-up should reflect your taste and style as it is not only about wearing an ivory evening dress, but it is also good to give some space to the specialist you are entrusted with. It may be that the makeup will give you more value than you imagine.

However, it happens to see women with fashionable, overlooked and unnatural maquillage: unforgivable mistakes, especially in the day of the wedding. Shaking your own style is never a good idea.

If you are also getting married, here's some useful advice on getting a perfect wedding makeup for "yes"..

Get started soon
Once the wedding date is set and the location is chosen, in addition to the quest of the wedding dress. It is also necessary to focus on the tattoo and wig specialists. Better not risk, even better ones are booked several months in advance. If you do not know how to choose then ask some friend who has recently got married.

Do research
Before presenting yourself to the beauty salon, look for some inspiration in fashion magazines or photos of some red carpet or special event. Perhaps a Hollywood look seems to you to be exaggerated, but it's always good to have a starting point for your wedding make-up.

Present yourself to the test dressed in Ivory color wedding dress
It seems trivial, but it is not a detail to which everyone thinks. Appearing to the wedding dress with ivory dress (possibly of the same shade as the chosen dress) is crucial, as it will help you understand how the make-up will work for your big day. If you have the veil, bring that one or one of the test to see the general effect that can also be viewed in Ivory lace dress for wedding.

The test of bridal makeup? With her hair picked up
Even if you think you do not collect hair for your wedding, you need to go to the test with your free face, to better understand the effect on your facial features. In this regard, we suggest you go to the make-up artist with curly eyebrows and fresh face of anaesthetist.

Do not forget your favorite products
Do you have a lipstick preferred? Take it to the make-up artist and ask to use it or keep it as a reference for your bridal maquillage.

Fake eyelashes? Yes thanks
Even if you have never used it throughout your life, let yourself be tempted by fake eyelashes. Provided they are not too vivid and of great quality. And the mascara must be strictly waterproof, to withstand a tear river and be perfect throughout the ceremony and above all for the photographs.

The choice of the brush
One way to understand which blush nuance is best suited to you? Choose a shade that suits your lips. Additionally, a good advice is to apply a greater amount than you need. The reason? It does not stand out in the photos. Then retouch it during the day.

Glorify the lips
Red lipstick is not banned by the colors of this season's bridal look. If you want to dare, do it. For all the other, the top shades for a bridal look remain the same, the soft and delicate ones like pink and bare. To give a touch of light choose the glossy variant that goes well with your ivory lace cocktail dress for any occasion.

Take photos and take notes
The emotion of the test of bridal makeup could play bad jokes. That's why it's best to document as much as possible the make-up session, with photos and notes of each used product. Very important: look and photograph both with natural light and inside a room.

Put everything black on white
To avoid any nasty surprises, ask the makeup artist to sign a contract or write in writing all that you need and especially the agreed price. It will help you to have no bad surprises on the wedding day!

Just think about yourself
Some makeup / makeup might try to convince you to use a makeup that you do not like. Remember that the final choice is just for you and that it does not count on modes or excesses, the important thing is that you are beautiful and the end result is elegant and refined.

Hair and Makeup Tips For Summer Brides

Summer is one of the most popular seasons for weddings, thanks to the long sunny days and balmy evenings. All of that sunshine and warmth, however, can wreak havoc on your hair and makeup. These are some tips about how summer brides can look cool and fresh even as the temperature and humidity rise.

You have to plan strategically for a summer wedding, especially for an outdoor event. Your everyday beauty products may not make a graceful transition from an air-conditioned office to a hot and humid garden or beach wedding. When you are going for your pre-wedding hair and makeup trials, be sure to let the stylist know that you need products that will withstand warm weather.

The biggest problem with summer hair is frizz. This can be true even for brides with straight hair, and frizz can be an absolute nightmare for curly haired brides. The best way to combat frizz is by prepping your hair with products that are designed to keep it looking smooth and neat all day. There are smoothing serums and pomades available for every hair type, and they can be a bride's best friend on a hot summer day.

Choosing a sensible hairstyle will also help you stay looking fresh as a daisy. Keep it simple and unpretentious, and remember that elaborate hairdos are prone to wilting in the heat. Unless you know that your hair will not go flat or frizzy on a hot, sticky day, wear it pulled back to keep it off your neck and under control. Another tip is to choose pearl or crystal bridal jewelry for your hair instead of fresh flowers which will die in your updo. If you love the idea of wearing flowers in your hair, look for bridal jewelry such as hairpins that are designed in a floral motif. Not only will they wear better over the course of your wedding day, but you will be able to use them again for other special occasions.

Summer makeup should look light and fresh. A heavily made up face just doesn't look right on a summer afternoon in the garden or on the beach (this goes for the guests too, by the way). When makeup is applied with a lighter touch, it will also be less likely to melt in the heat and make a mess of your face. Of course every bride wants to wear a little makeup to enhance her features and conceal flaws; the key is to choose the right products.

Preparing the face is the most important step for summer bridal makeup. If you are prone to looking shiny or oily, start with a mattifying or oil absorbing gel. You can apply it all over your face, or just in your t-zone, as needed. Brides of all skin types should use a primer before their foundation. This gives your makeup a perfect surface over which to glide, and it will also give your foundation better staying power. If you plan to wear eye shadow, an eyelid primer will help to prevent your makeup from creasing or disappearing.

When it comes to foundation for a summer wedding, less is more. Even if you use a fairly heavy formula in the winter, for the summer months it is important to lighten up. Often a tinted moisturizer is the ideal weight for a hot day. A good rule of thumb is that you should still be able to see your freckles through the makeup; that way you will know that your look is fresh and summery. Attack any trouble spots like undereye circles or blemishes with concealer, while allowing the rest of your face to have a more natural (yet polished) appearance.

Finish your wedding day makeup with a cream blush for a natural flush. Choose a lipstick in a pretty and soft color; give it staying power by lining your entire lip with a neutral lip pencil before applying the color. With these tips in mind, you will look like a fresh and radiant bride for your entire wedding day.