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WWW.NATIONALWEDDINGPHOTOGRPAHERS.COM
Each day I continue to receive more e-mails in reference to being listed on www.nationalweddingphotographers.com. A site for wedding photographers to be listed. But only the best wedding photographers… Recently we had redgeckostudio.com come on board. One of the top wedding photographers in Wisconsin, a couple more Indiana Wedding Photographers, South Carolina Wedding Photographers coming around and more.
This blog will continue to be filled with some great tips but I also felt like sharing the great news about more wedding photographers at National Wedding Photographers Website.
Being a wedding photographer, destination weddings are just one of the perks. Much like enjoying the wonderful energy of each wedding, shooting a destination wdding is no different. There’s just more of an adventure there. Just as the couple has the adventure of going somewhere fresh and exciting for their day and they get to turn it into a fun filled time of travels. Being a destination wedding photographer means the same for me. And just because there’s expenses involved for me to get there my stay and more. Don’t think that destination wedding photographers are going to put that all on you. I know that for me, it’s more about the adventure than the price. I generally don’t charge over what I would charge for a normal wedding. Instead, I take it as a fun excursion with a beautiful day placed in the middle. Your day.
Some couples look at destination weddings and think, “no, we couldn’t afford that”… That’s surely where the thoughts need to stop. With the average wedding in a local spot costing $24,000-$28,000.00, a destination wedding doesn’t have to break that mold. As a matter of fact, you can generally pull it off for less. One main reason, less attending. Only those that truly love you will travel for you, meaning the co-workers, clients and more won’t step up. So instead of having 200 guests at $75.00 per person, try 80… Sounds better right. Not to mention being able to offer a bit more and enjoy the company longer and hey, everyone gets a mini vacation….
First off, if you’re bringing 80 guests to a beautiful location, work with the hotel or inn. They want all the business you can bring them and you shouldn’t be paying full price for any of the rooms. Be sure to bring this up with the hotel so that guests can get that discount!!!
Same goes with the flights. Don’t book weekends that are going to cost your guests thousands. Be kind and mention the discounted rates to them. Even for airfare, American Airlines offers discounts for 10 or more of 10% off the published rates! That can save hundreds when combined together.
FAIR WARNING IS CRUCIAL! Those save the date cards, get them out ASAP! Guests will need the time to plan and save. It will be an unexpected vacation but one they will surely enjoy and you will enjoy having them be a part of your day.
Beware of the legal parts of being married in other countries. Some need blood tests or X-rays, some have extra fees, some require permits and more. Don’t let a snag happen upon arrival. PLAN PLAN PLAN…. One of the best ways around that is to hire a professional event planner to be sure all holes are filled before you take off.
Don’t stress… When planning a destination wedding, many of the little things you would deal with in a hometown wedding are out of your control. Even some of the big things. Try to let it go.
And set your watch to island time and your mind to island mentallity. The locals are going to move a little slower, get back to you on their time and in general, are going to be quite a bit more relaxed than the mainlanders would be. It’s just part of how it goes. Don’t stress if something is running late. It’s island life…
And for the big things, bring your own. From music to photography. Some of the resorts will work all that in. But those are two of the most important parts of your day. Especially the photography. It’s one of the few things that you will have after your day. Photographers will still work wit your budget and you’ll find many bands will do the same. It’s part of the adventure for everyone. THink about what’s important to your day and plan accordingly.
Most of all. VISIT… Before your day, take a little trip to your location of choice and dig around. Find the places you really like. Meet anyone that will be an integral part of your day. Most of all, just take it in and make sure this is the place for you….
Again, being a photographer is a great thing. Being a wedding photographer is even better. And being a wedding photographer that shoots destination weddings as well! Yea, that just rocks!!!
Shine on,
~Tim
Surely one of the best wedding videos ever put together. I don’t know, maybe being a wedding photographer in Ct. doesn’t compare to the UK… Maybe when I say destination wedding photographer I need to make the UK one of those destinations!!! Check it!
Brian & Eileen’s Wedding Music Video. from LOCKDOWN projects on Vimeo.
This is not just going to be about wedding tips or just about being a wedding photographer. But it’s going to be more of a rant I guess. So if you want to read on read on. If you don’t, ditch it. I understand.
And the first thought I need to get out here is a quick one about my style. And styles in general. As a Ct. wedding photographer heck, even a destination wedding photographer one of the questions I hear so often is what’s your style. And the question I have to everyone out there is why do we have to classify our work as any style. As a wedding photographer - portrait photographer - pet portrait photographer, I have to wonder why we can’t just let our work speak for itself??? Why do we have to be known as a photojournalistic photographer, a glamour photographer, a blah blah blah photographer. Why can’t we just share our work and let the calls be made from there??? I’m a wedding photogrpaher in Ct. I shoot RI weddings, NH weddings, weddings across the country and I don’t believe it’s because of “my style”… So when you’re looking for your wedding photographer, don’t worry about what they’re called or what styles they follow. Look at their work and make sure it’s something you like. Because in the end, that’s ALL THAT WILL MATTER…
Shine on,
~Tim
It’s been a fun season of wedding photography and recently I’ve been hearing a ton of great feedback. But not only that, in the past two weeks I’ve heard my business spoken of on a much larger scale. From Wedding photographer in Florida. to Boston Wedding Photographer to Destination wedding photographer. Now some of you may ask why that’s such a great thing??? Quite simply because I’m based out of Ct. and began on a much smaller scale as a Ct. wedding photographer in Central Ct. but have had things just blossom into pure greatness!!!
Now the other thing that I have come across with the past 3 weddings I have shot is more important to you. From wedding dresses to wedding cakes to wedding hair styles. There are many things to consider and make out the way you want them. And HAIR seems to have been a big one in the last 3. Not because they were super picky, but because they didn’t like their hairstyle on their wedding day. So I have a couple quick and simple tips…
Don’t get your hair cut right before your wedding. Weeks before, yes if you much. But not with in a week. Or even two. ( I had a bride with new bangs and she hated them on her wedding day. They wouldn’t do what they wanted because they were used to being pulled back as longer hair. She didn’t know how to style them and they frustrated her beyond belief for her day)
Do a test run on your hair. Make sure you like the style, make sure you like the stylist and make sure it is how you want to look in your wedding photography for years to come. You don’t want to be looking back at your wedding pictures with this “uggg… is that me” thought… Most recently I had a bride who had her hair all styled and when the sylist left the room she started to take it all apart to make it look the way she wanted. When in reality, he should have done that in first place.
And last but not least, don’t colour your hair the day before your wedding. Give it some time to tone down and work for you. A bride coloured her hair for her wedding day, only to then have redish orange hair with darker eyebrows that she used a redish orange makeup pencil to colour in her eyebrows to look a bit more like her hair… Just didn’t make for a good combination….
So while yes, I’m just a New England wedding photographer in Southern New England. I also run into these situations more often than I would like. I guess it’s just a good thing that I keep the bobby pins, hairspray, stain stick and more in my camera bag huh…
I have to go off on a bit of a rant here. And generally it’s about photographers. Wedding photographers, portrait photographers, maternity photographers, even glamor / model photographers. However, I’m not talking about published photographers, or accomplished photographers. I’m talking about the photographers that post on craigslist. Not all, but most… I read some of these posts and it actually scares me. For one, the thought of some girl going for some “model” shots to one of these so called photographers. Seriously, research them!!! If they don’t have a viable website and place to shoot DO NOT GO. I’ve heard about some of these guys putting up a sheet in their basement and that being their backdrop!!! NOT GOOD! DON’T DO IT…
And more so, the wedding photographers. OMG! These photographers that post wedding packages for $400.00 AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!! RUN THE OTHER DIRECTION. I recently had a bride contact me asking if I could do anything with her pictures. Taking by one of these photographers. There’s a reason that they’re $400.00 Seriously… Wedding Photographers are all over, but finding a real wedding photographer is key! Other than the rings, your new partner, and the dress, the photographs are all you have from the day. And they’re the only thing that truly captures the entire day. PLEASE, don’t use one of “those guys”…. Research your photographer. If they’re $400.00 there’s a reason. Even $800.00.. I was on a website for a wedding photographer in middletown and the only portrait that I honestly though was good was the portrait of her. (which was probably taken by someone else).. Are they serious. The portrait sittings start at $450.00.. You can get better pictures at JCPenny!!! Uggg…
When you’re looking for a photographer please find one that truly rocks!!! Just because they have a camera and can take pictures does NOT make them a photographer.
Shine on,
~Tim
So this is not about wedding photographers, portrait photographers, pet portraits or anything else of the sort. Or about the Wedding or Portrait blog by TAB Photographic
You see, a few weeks back we had the banks in turmoil. Right? And can anyone argue that it was mostly self inflicted??? Giving people mortgages that they may shouldn’t have had or gotten into? An “arm” loan or just more of a mortgage payment than they could chew??? Self inflicted right??? And it took them what, a week and a half to get 750 BILLION dollars passed??? Damn, what about giving every family in the country a $10,000 stimulus check instead and tell the banks to eat what they caused. Not that what I just wrote is a realistic option but just a bit confused here.
Because now, now you have the automotive industry. Not the entire industry but the US side of the industry about to go belly up. Sure, if they file for chapter 11, or 73 or 9 or what ever, they’ll still exist, they’ll still make cars and there will still be jobs. But come on, how much of this country is going to trust that they can buy cars from a company that just declared bk and feel good about it. What will it take? 6 months, a year, or more for the entire country to realize that, oh, okay, they’re back on their feet. What ever… Now you have the gvnmt saying, eehhhhh, I don’t think we should help them out. What gives??? Seriously, have we all thought about what that would mean? What losing those companies or even having them declare bk would mean???? How about this???
Being a wedding photographer brings such great joy to what I am blessed with. Not to mention being such an integral part of the day for all of the couples I work with. Let’s face it, they may have searched New England Wedding Photographers or Ct. Wedding Photographers or in yesterdays case, Wedding Photographers in MA. . Now here’s the thing with yesterdays wedding. Time….
Everything really rolled smoothly, the bride and groom had a great time, the ceremony went off with out a hitch, there was love and smiles galore… But when it came to the reception, things surely got tight. So that’s just something I feel like touching on this morning. The time that you have your reception scheduled for is huge…
In most cases, such as at the Publik House in Sturbridge Ma. yesterday, timing was crucial. It was a Sunday night, cocktail hour from 5-6 and then reception from 6-10… 4 hours isn’t that much time. And I think that’s just part of the issue. The bride and groom really couldn’t relax. And the staff was stressed out because the meals weren’t being rolled out soon enough, the cake not cut on time, this didn’t happen soon enough, or that happened too soon. I’m not placing blame on the reception site or the couple. All I’m trying to get at is the key to every couples day, the key to life… Communication…. If things are off schedule, the reception coordinator or couple should speak to one another that’s all… Keep it simple, hey, let’s do this a little later, or maybe skip that all together… Nice and simple that’s all….
Just communicate time lines and when things are off, let it be known to those that matter… I know that was a bit of a rant but just try to communicate and be honest with the reception site when you’re not on time. I’ve even been known to call the reception site when I know things are going a bit long for the couple…. Just some thoughts.
The other thing I wanted to touch on was the hair. Brides have more to do than just about any guy out there. And their hair is one of the major ones. Yesterday the bride also had new bangs… Just a quick tip, and she was still just as beautiful, but it caused her some stress. She couldn’t make them do what she wanted. So just keep it in mind… And below are a few tips on that….
Practice, practice, practice.
1. Time your practice session and make a list of all of the tools and products you will need.
2. Put everything in a basket and hide it away to bring out fresh and ready for your special day.
3. Schedule times for showers if you will be having relatives stay over.
4. If you are not dressing at home make sure there is a mirror and a counter or table to work from.
5. Make sure there are proper outlets, if not bring an extension cord.
6. Put on all of your pretty under things and cover up with a button down shirt or robe. This way after hair and makeup are done just slip into your gown!
Wedding Hair Dos: Is a stylist traveling to you?
1. Give exact, adequate directions and phone numbers. Many time brides give the directions they follow and forget the stylist may be coming from the opposite side of the highway.
2. Make sure you have a place set up for the stylist to work. (One bride assumed I would be working from the bathroom and one set me up in her dark bedroom until her father-in-law kicked my out so he could get dressed. Personally, I like to work from a large will lit dining room or kitchen table.)
3. Don’t assume the stylist can do extra people last minute. Make sure everyone who is having their hair done is mentioned ahead of time and arrives promptly.
4. Be ready yourself and prepare extra time for interruptions.
Wedding Hair Dos: Are you going to a salon?
1. Schedule your wedding day hair appointment at least eight weeks ahead.
2. Have a practice session at least a month ahead and bring a picture of your dress and your headpiece with you to the salon.
3. Record your travel time from the salon to where you are getting dressed.
4. Add on extra time for getting dressed and make-up if the salon is not applying it.
5. Bring a Polaroid camera to your hair appointment and take pictures of the front, side, and back.
6. Ask for more than one stylist to help with the wedding party. Three stylists for a party of six is the best bet for staying on schedule.
7. Schedule all nail appointments for the day before, this also saves time.
8. Don’t expect to get your favorite stylist to do your wedding hair is you desire an intricate Updo. This is a specialty service and best left for the resident expert.
As you now know, I am a wedding photographer located in Connecticut. This year more than any I have seen weddings on such a grand scheme to something a bit more family oriented. From 230 guests to 35. Such a different way, yet still, with out a doubt just as special. But this really makes me think about budget… Some couples need to work on a tight budget when it comes to their day, maybe they’re taking care of the tab 100%…. Other couples have the sky as their limit. There is no right or wrong, there is no way to take the special out of your day. Work with what you have and what’s realistic. Below are a couple links (just click the text) that will help you set your budget, stay on budget all while making your day a great one.
The Best Read – CNN article about a real couple and their realistic wedding
Wedding Wire Has Some Great Tips & Will Come Up Alot!
Tomorrows Post – The Cakes And Sweets…
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