Always a Blogsmaid

The Ins and Outs of Wedding Photography

The Q:  I'll be honest, I'm a little clueless about photography. But the one thing I do know is that I want some portraits, and it seems like everyone is busy being a "photojournalist".  I don't want someone old fashioned, but how can I find someone who can shoot a good portrait?

The A:  This is a pretty fair question.  Photojournalism, or a less obtrusive, less posed style of photography has been the growing trend in weddings photography for the last 5 or 6 years,at least.  And because it's in demand, many very accomplished photographers who can shoot a fabulous portrait or family shot simply don't showcase them on their websites.  (To be honest, it's more romantic to browse through shots of a bride and groom walking off into the sunset vs. a couple you don't know sitting on an ottoman with their siblings.)

So, when you're browsing for photographers look for wedding photographers who also do portrait work- maybe baby pictures or fashion photography. If you like the photojournalism of their wedding work, you can also check out how you feel about their more stationary subjects!  But the other thing is to ask to see actual, full wedding albums when you are interviewing your photographer.  Brides and Grooms will always pick some portraits for their album, and it will give you a sense of the breadth of the photographers work.  Here are examples of both styles by Elisabeth Millay, a Brooklyn Based Photographer.
 

Photo Round Up

The Q:  I have a few really large group photos that we want to have taken at the wedding, beyond bridal parties and stuff.  I have made a pretty thorough shot list, but my photographer is freaking out a little bit that we won't have enough time to get all of them done.   Is there anything that we can do to get these to go faster?

The A:  Totally, but I should verbalize that from the Photographers P.O.V. he knows that each of these photos can take about 5 minutes (good rule of thumb when making your timeline, btw) so he/ she is probably concerned about you missing too much of your day taking group shots. 

However, that said, you need to do 2 things.  First you need a family "Captain"- someone who can help ID all of these people in the various photos AND who has a booming voice.  The next thing you need to do is to organize your shot list.  If there are shots that can be done pre-ceremony, great.  If you have a ton of post-ceremony group photos, I suggest working in the REDUCTION format.  Take the largest group shots first, so that you can dismiss any guests who aren't needed in later, smaller group shots.  Have your "Captain" line up the guests for the next shot while one shot is going on, and have him or her get guests who aren't needed out of the photo area- many bodies cause confusion. 

The main thing is that you don't want 30 people standing around while you and your new hubby take photos with you MOH and BM, or your Mom and Dad.  If they are "off duty", they are free to head to the cocktail hour, or leave the ceremony site, or generally do their own thing.  If they are on "stand by" they will get antsy. 

How I Met Your Mother......

As the nosiest wedding guest on the planet, I'm obsessed with ANY and ALL opportunities to provide guests with "back-story" about the couple at a wedding.  I love finding ways to give out tidbits of info in the wedding program, on the table numbers, whatever.   In our busy and crazy lives, it's not uncommon to be attending a wedding for a dear friend AND to not know a lick about the groom, or vice versa. (Actually, I was in this position a couple of weeks ago when the groom turned down the aisle and I said "So THAT's the lucky Bobby!").

Now, add to my list of ideas for delicious personal details, these "How We Met" albums created by L.A. based Isabel Lawrence Photographers.  Isabel Lawrence already stages some of the most gorgeous and artistic engagement sessions that I've ever seen, but now they do one better: They will create a magnificent keepsake album/scrapbook from your engagement session with the story of how you and your sweetie met in gorgeous calligraphy.  It's not just an amazing conversation piece for your guests to leaf through at the cocktail hour, but it will be an heirloom for your curious kiddies someday. 

I think it goes without saying that this idea, with a lot of work and a creative hand, could also become a great DIY project.  However, there is something to be said for Isabel Lawrence's amazing photographs.  Here are some photos of the stunning books.

Free Engagement Shoot This Sunday

Brides and Groom's NY photographer Christopher Duggan is doing a free engagement session for some lucky couples this coming Sunday (October 12th) in Central Park.  It's an annual event, so if you are looking from some great photos, act fast. Here is Christopher's message:

"Fall is the perfect time to get outside and make some pictures.  Of course you know that this Sunday is our semi-annual Free Engagement Day.  There are only 2 spots left, so tell your friends to call today if they want to join the fun.  (888) 379-1359  They won't find an opportunity like this anywhere else."

Girlfriend in the Picture

The Q:  My brother is 27 years old and has a girlfriend who he's been dating for a year or so.  I like her fine, but my brother is a life lone serial monogomist who is never without a girlfriend and I have lost track of the girls that he's brought home for dinner/ holidays/ wedding dates, etc.  Anyway, we are doing our family photos between the ceremony and the reception, and as she is his date, she'll be with him en route to the reception site.  I feel awkward about our family photos because I don't want to take this huge family photo with this girl in it and then in a year or two when he marries someone else, have his ex-girlfriend in our family wedding photo.  I also don't want her just sitting around like a wall flower or feel like I dislike her.  I don't, btw, I just think my brother is a big fat baby who can't make up his mind. How can I handle this to make it as unawkward as possible but not immortalize their dating in photos?

The A:  I have to say that you may like her fine, but you are CLEARLY not in love with your quasi sister in law, otherwise she'd be in the "practically family" area.  Still, I understand your position.  I suggest that you keep the photos with Nana and Pop and the full family restricted to only siblings and spouses and then consider doing a set of sibling shots with you and your hubby and your siblings and their spouses/ girlfriends.   I think then, if they stay together, you can keep that photo framed and if you don't, well, you have all those great family portraits with your parents, right???
Regardless, she, like everyone else, will have to do some waiting around, so I think as long as she's included in one or two shots it will be OK.  You should ask your brother to give her a heads up about which shots she is in or give a NAME LIST for each of your pictures on your shotlist to the photographer so that he can call each person up by name for each of your portrait shots.

Action!

I had mentioned a couple of weeks ago our clients Debbie and Sonny had gotten married, well, their photographer, Roberto Falck, sent us some of their photos and I thought I would share.  Actually, I'm sharing not just because we loved Debbie, but because I think they really show how getting comfortable and moving around can make for some AWESOME shots!  Don't worry about just posing, hang out together and let your photographer capture the fun!

The Wonderful Karen

Sometimes, it's interesting how when you RE-visit someone, you fall in love with them all over again. In this case I'm talking about a vendor and the wonderful work of Karen Mordechai.  I had worked with her on this LOVELY wedding last summer (I THINK it was last summer, but I just realized it was 2 summers ago!!!!) for Marlene and Todd.  I had seen a couple of the photos but reached out to her to send them to me for a blog post I was doing for Real Simple, when I realized just how GORGEOUS these photos were.
I had to share a  couple with you. Venue:  Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture and the Ceremony "house" was made by the groom!

Engaging Shots

The Q: Should I bother taking engagement shots with my photographer? It isn't included in my package, but I'm not sure if it's worth the splurge.

The A:  It's funny, because I think engagement shots should always be included with a package, if for no other reason than it's good for you to build a report with your photographer and figure out how comfortable you are with posing and being in front of the camera.  But, I do understand that they take time and not every photographer can offer these within a package nor would everyone want them.

So, that said, I think engagement shots are great practice and I think if you want to submit any announcements to the Times or anything like that, a professional engagement shot goes a long way.  Some people use these photos on their wedding website or for their save the dates or other stationary items.  Other people never look at them once they get their wedding photos done.  If you fall into the latter category, it may not be worth the splurge.