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.