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Wedding photography blog sharing tips for planning your wedding

“How wedding details can make all the difference”

When it comes to planning a wedding, it’s all about the details. Like never before, today's couples can find so many sources of inspiration for their wedding day, from Pinterest to Instagram, so many options exist for them to gather ideas. Wedding details can range from unique floral designs, custom invitations and paper goods, to custom jewelry, handmade signage, unique menu items, and guest welcome bags to name a few. These details give today's couples so many unique ways to express their individuality.

Small Details, Big Impact:

Once the big details like the venue and wedding date are set, the little details are where a couple’s personality can shine through. 

Table décor can be a way to incorporate the wedding colors, and is a subtle way to add a touch of personality. Tables don’t necessarily need to be decorated with only florals. Consider a collection of beautiful candleholders clustered together, a pop of color with ribbon, or something made lovingly by hand. Even the way the table number is displayed can have a touch of personality. With these do-it-yourself elements, couples can point them out years later and say, “I made that!”

Make it Personal:

Cocktail hour can be enhanced with cigars, signature cocktails, and snacks with personal relevance. If there is a unique menu for cocktail hour or dinner, having it artfully displayed brings a pop of flavor to the table. Some couples have a lot of fun thinking of catchy ways to draw attention to drinks or appetizers. 

When it comes to wedding finery, there are even more opportunities to add personal significance. Little touches like a mother’s veil or a grandfather’s handkerchief bring an emotional weight to even the smallest moments. As brides consider their “old, new, borrowed and blue,” incorporating personal items can create a precious memory. A heart cut out of dad’s blue chambray work shirt, or an antique locket with a treasured picture intertwined into the bridal bouquet are just two ways that small details can have big impacts.

 

Wedding Tips:

As photographers, we feel it is our job to capture all of these expressions of individuality throughout the day. After all, it is such a big part of the wedding planning process and is a reflection of the couple’s tastes.

Here are a few suggestions we make to our couples to ensure we capture their details:

  • Bring a complete set of your stationery, including “save the date” cards and invitations, for us to photograph. 
  • Make sure that we have the wedding rings as well as the engagement ring to photograph all three as a set.
  • Set aside jewelry, shoes, dresses, and any other accessories they might wear so we can photograph those for wedding day preparation photos.

When it comes to weddings, the difference is in the details. We want to do our best to make sure when you get your photographs back, you can see yourself in every bit.

From cigar bars to personalized cuff links, here are a few of our favorite wedding details we have captured over the last year.

Capturing great candid moments!

What makes a great candid photo? For me it's capturing real emotion at exactly the right moment in time. For my clients, a great candid photo is one that will impact them emotionally when they see it again many years from now. Having been a full-time photographer for over ten years now, and having photographed hundreds of weddings all over the world, as well as fast paced professional sports events, and special occasions of all types, you would think that capturing a great candid would be easy for me. Truthfully, it is easier now than it used to be, but there are many things that go into capturing a great candid photo. Over the next few blog posts, I want to share with you some of the things I’ve learned over time to help you improve your skill in candid photography. Simply having a camera and being at the right place doesn't always mean you'll capture the moment as I feel it should be captured.

My approach as a wedding photographer is to look for the little moments that I call “Emotional transactions”, that are occurring all around me, throughout the wedding day. I have always felt that it’s the photos of these intimate moments that often have the greatest impact, and truly convey the emotion and feel of the wedding day. From my perspective, as soon as your subject knows that he or she has a camera pointed at them, they change their behavior, and the opportunity to capture that candid moment is gone.

One of the most important things that I try to ingrain in all of my interns and associate photographers is to always be alert and anticipate when a great candid moment may happen. Some moments like the groom’s expression when he sees his fiancé in her dress for the first time are obvious, but what about the little private smiles, their hands nervously clasped while they are on the alter, or their reactions after the ceremony as they exit the church, and are alone for the first time as a married couple. All of these moments can make for great candid photos, but you have to be looking for them constantly.

Your choice of equipment will also have a big impact on your ability to capture great candid photos. One of the most valuable pieces of advice I can give to photographers who are trying to improve their candid photography skill, is to learn your equipment like the back of your hand. Knowing your equipment well allows you to react instinctively to moments as they happen without having to worry about your camera settings. Teach yourself how to adjust anything on your camera without having to look at it and keep things simple. If you’re carrying three camera bodies with you all of the time, there is no way you’ll have the time, or energy, to react quickly when a moment presents itself.

I typically work with one camera body and 2 lenses during a wedding ceremony. That doesn’t mean I don’t have backup equipment within reach all the time, it simply means that during that one portion of the day I have one or two of my favorite lenses, and a camera body in my hands. I find that when I have too many equipment options available, I tend to get too caught up in technical decisions and my reaction times are slower. The KISS (keep it simple stupid) concept applies here! Some of my favorite lenses for capturing candid moments are telephoto lenses. Telephotos in the 100 to 300mm range allow me to keep a considerable distance between me and my subjects so that I don’t influence the moment. Trying to shoot a wedding with a wide angle lens means that you will have to be very close to your subjects and it can create an awkward invasion of private space which is exactly what you are trying to avoid. Choosing the right lens for the situation is critical to candid photography. Speaking of equipment, there is a new camera that I can’t wait to try out called the Light L16, which combines 16 lenses, of varying focal lengths into one compact body, which would seem to be a great fit for my purposes. If it works as advertised, I think one of these may find it’s way into my bag.

In the next post I’ll discuss how to anticipate and react to moments that create great candid photos. Stay tuned!  

One of our images has been featured in The Huffington Post!

Thinking of ways to spice up the traditional wedding? Many couples are choosing to drop the traditional customs of a wedding and adding their own flare. Check out the article about switching up your conventional ring bearer for a special pup, a groomsmen or an elder family member. Make sure to check out our fun shot from Vanita and Joe's wedding of their ring bearer who was also a groomsmen! Take a look here!  

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/how-to...

Two of our images appeared in Story Mix Media!

Two of our couples were featured in an article by Story Mix Media on lighting and three great ways to grab your guests attention and create the perfect ambience for a romantic night. Madeline and Graham's gorgeous reception under a sunroom lit with bistro lights gave their reception the perfect golden hue and under the stars feel to the night! Brooke and Brian's image of their outdoors, waterfront and sunset lit reception accompanied by a beautiful fall night sky allowed for a backyard style rustic country evening. Take a look here!

Our images were featured in Plan The Day!

Our bride Natalie and our images from her wedding to Trey were featured in Plan The Day! Natalie and expert wedding consultant Meghan Ely tell brides why you shouldn't neglect your bridesmaids when it comes to the wedding preperations! Having your girls by your side on the biggest day of your life is important but so are the words "Thank you". Don't forget to say them! Check out the article here!

We have been featured in Charm City Wed!

Kylie and Grant's woodland, chic waterfront wedding was featured in Charm City Wed! From farm tables, table settings accented with a rosemary sprig to bistro lights. Kyle and Grant's wedding gave the perfect airy, polished and minimalistic feel to the reception, held at the family estate. Rain or shine the elements couldn't stop this Maryland waterfront wedding from happening. Check it out here

We were featured in the BridalGuide.com

It's always exciting when one of your industry's leading publications features your advice on weddings, so were psyched to see some of our tips featured! If you're looking for ways to save money on your wedding without effecting the wedding day experience, check out these tips in the Bridal Guide!