Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Are expensive wedding photographers really worth the money?


It's your wedding. And out of the myriad decisions you will make in planning one of the biggest and most important days of your life, hiring the right photographer may very well be the most important. After all, the wedding cake will be eaten, the flowers will eventually wilt and the wedding reception will be over when it is time for you and your betrothed to head home and prepare for the honeymoon. After all is said and done, it will be the images of your day that will help you to always remember all of the emotion, laughter, tears and sacredness of that day. The scary thing is, what if your wedding photos are, well, less than satisfactory?

Let's be honest. Weddings are expensive, sometimes even ridiculously expensive. There's the dress, the tux, the flowers, the cake, the rings, the venue, the food, the alcohol, the officiant, the DJ or musicians. And don't forget the honeymoon. It all adds up very quickly. And if you're like many couples, the financial burden of planning a dream wedding can take its toll on your finances. Even if you're fortunate enough to have parents paying for most or all of your wedding, it's still a hefty sum of money to hand over for even the most financially-endowed of parents. And this is when a couple can become very vulnerable to a certain idea that can have a lasting impact on the wedding. That idea being: "What if we hire an affordable photographer?" Affordable. Sounds good on paper but let's dissect this a bit.

What is an "affordable" wedding photographer?

An "affordable" wedding photographer is usually a photographer who is just entering the industry and often has little to no experience shooting weddings professionally. They often price their services well below the market average in hopes of building up a portfolio. While this practice is certainly common and can turn out well for both the photographer and the clients, there are a few things to consider before hiring your affordable wedding photographer.

1. How long has the wedding photographer been in business? 2. How many weddings has he or she photographed? 3. Why are their prices so low? 4. What is the quality of their work in comparison with a photographer who is two to three times more expensive? (Be sure to be honest with yourself here. You may want to believe that their work is comparable but more often than not, that is simply not the case). 5. What do you, as the client, expect out of your wedding photographer and can the "affordable" photographer really actualize your photography visions?

A case for the more expensive wedding photographer

In the case of wedding photography, do you really want to entrust a lifetime of memories to a photographer you found on craigslist.org or on an Internet search for "affordable wedding photographer"? Do these low priced photographers really have what it takes to ensure that your wedding images are truly exceptional? Hopefully, you only get married once. Similarly, the decision you make in regards to who you entrust with capturing your wedding day is only made once. You may save a couple of grand by opting for a more affordable photographer than your first option, but you may very well regret that decision in the future.

It's your wedding. It happens only once. Be sure that the professional wedding photographer you hire is up to the job.

Saturday, February 9, 2008

Beach Weddings

Are you planning to get married in a special never-to-forget kind of way? Then, a beach wedding is a definite choice. Nature shall add its own grandeur to the extraordinary ceremony. The cool breeze, the soft white sand under your feet, the vast gently moving expanse of the sea, and the sun or the moon light - all these, infuse a sense of sanctity to the occasion; and make the event truly memorable.

Beach weddings are a refreshing change from traditional weddings. They are more creative, innovative, and are happily different. A beach wedding can be in a very relaxing environment. The guests, and the kids can have great fun on the beach. You, and your guests can let the hair down, and dress comfortably in casuals.

You can plan your beach wedding in any way you like. There is plenty of flexibility, and a complete freedom of choice. If you want, the wedding ceremony and the reception together, both can be held on the beach itself. There are no rigid dos and don'ts. You have the choice of hiring out everything, and being completely relaxed. Alternatively, you may save some money by letting your imagination take over, and arrange everything yourself. The latter can be a great fun by itself. Beach weddings can be cheaper than the traditional ones.

Beach weddings don't always require a permit, especially if you don't need a section of the beach to be blocked off. You can just go ahead, and do it. However, be sure to check with local authorities about beach permit, and beach rules in advance. How late can you stay? Can you play loud music?

You would do well to select a beach with care. If feasible, and in case it gets too breezy, you can think of a cove on the beach. Fix the time of the day for the wedding - early morning, sunrise, sunset, or night. Make sure that you do visit the selected beach at the chosen time before the D-day. What are the noise levels like? How breezy, cold or hot does it get? Don't forget to check the tide schedule. You wouldn't want to be surprised by a sudden high tide, would you?

Do take care of the insects, and sunshine on the beach by arranging sunscreens, and insect repellants. The elderly guests may require proper chairs, and umbrellas. Seagulls can be of quite a nuisance value. They love to gatecrash! But, as long as you keep the food covered, they should stay on the sidelines.

With a little planning, a beach wedding can be wonderfully romantic, and memorable. Don't deny yourself the pleasure of a refreshingly different type of a wedding. Go ahead, plan your beach wedding meticulously, and have fun!


Friday, February 8, 2008

Wedding Day Dos & Don'ts

You've worked your tail off for months to make this wedding the wedding of your dreams. Everything is all set and you are ready to walk that aisle… But before you do that we want you to go through our list of wedding day DOs and DONTs. These are simple reminders that could spell the difference between a wedding day success and a wedding day disaster. 

DOs
Eat a good satisfying breakfast. Chances are you will not be able to eat a full meal for the rest of the day. 

Have a dip in the tub. This will help calm your nerves and help you feel relaxed.

Prepare early. Have your make-up and hair done ahead of time. Have your attendants arrive early too.
Apply white or colorless polish. Unless you are wearing a colored gown, do not put on colored nail polish as it will overpower your whole attire.

Bring a bridal pouch with you to carry your wedding day necessities. You do not want to be calling on your mother, sister, best friend, or wedding planner everytime you need a lip gloss. 

If you haven't written your vows and speech yet, write them neatly in a small index card. Do not ask somebody to write it for you.

Eat a little before leaving for the ceremony. Keep a candy or two in your pouch.

Keep an emergency kit in the car. Stuff it with panty hose, safety pins, bobby pins, spot remover, aspirin, needles and thread, a pair of scissors. 

Keep a blush and lip gloss with you for touch-ups.

Spend some time with your guests especially your family.

Enjoy your wedding day. 




DONTs 
Do not overdo the make-up. You do not want to look like a vampire on your wedding pictures.

Don't be late. Allow extra time for the unforeseen - traffic, detours, etc.

Do not trust your wedding rings to your ring bearer. Ask a more responsible adult to safekeep them for you.

Do not ask unexpected guests (most of the time, invitees who did not RSVP but decided to attend in the end) to pay for their meals (this happens). 

You do not want to ruin the most important day in your life by getting involved in the details of the wedding. Leave that to the wedding planner.

Do not forget to bring your sense of humor with you. You will need tons of this especially when things are not going the way you wanted to. 

Thursday, February 7, 2008

Wedding Photography - How To Choose The Right Wedding Photographer

By: Hayden Barile

How to choose a wedding photographer. This Article will Detail 5 Tips you can easily follow to make choosing a wedding photographer a more enjoyable and productive process. These 5 tips can ensure you are better prepared to meet and choose the right wedding photographer and ensure you get what you are looking for.

1) Ask to see a single wedding portfolio. If you want to truly see what you may be getting when you hire a wedding photographer you want to make sure you ask them to show you an entire single wedding they have photographed. As a photographer its easy to piece together many various "Best of " shots and wow and dazzle visitors with great shots that come from unrelated weddings. But as a prospective client you want to see how this photographer has captures a single wedding in its entirety to give you a better idea of the results they and you can hope to get from your wedding day. After evaluating their portfolio ask yourself is this the style you looking for and does it look like they capture what you expect from your wedding day?


2) Have an idea of what you want in terms of time and number of photos. Wedding photographers offer packages based on number of prints and deliverables. Some by the time they are photographing in addition to the deliverables. Either way you want to clearly understand what you is will be getting in terms of time the photographer will be shooting, and what will they deliver in terms of prints to you. What size will the prints be? Will they make an album for you? Will they shoot Digital? How many prints will you get? Some photographers are still shooting film, however ask you photographer to show you both and the costs associated with going with one or another. Typically a wedding photographer to shoot film will have to spend more than $300-$500 for film and processing which is why Digital seems to be the preferred tool of the modern wedding photographer.

3) Ask the photographer how much Extra Prints and Wedding Album will cost ? Ask your photographer after the agreed package what it will cost for extra prints in the future? Will they hold on to the negatives or original files indefinitely or give them to you after a year or two. Most photographers will never give their negatives away , however some may have a time period which they hold on to them. How much will extra wedding albums cost for the inlaws ? These are questions you need to ask as the photographer will charge for these if they are part of or outside the package you decide on. Extra prints and albums are a lucrative area for wedding photographers. If you are looking to save money buy and build the Wedding Albums yourself

4) Ask about cancellations or backup photographers. In the event of unforeseen circumstances People do get sick and unforeseen events can happen. Wedding photography is no exception. Look at the contract and ask the photographer what happens for cancellation on their or your side.

5)The Best Wedding photographers in Orange County are not Cheap. Photographing a wedding is not as simple as snapping a few buttons. Many very talented photographers won't step near weddings because of the pressure. Don't expect to negotiate a cheap price based on this preconception that it's just pressing the shutter a few times. Good photographers will spend a day scouting location gathering supplies, checking equipment, a day at the wedding, and a few days gathering preparing results from a wedding to present back to clients. Making trips back and forth to the lab for reprints, preparing albums can take more time than one thinks. If they hire assistants this is costing the photographer and you as well. Treat a photographer and their craft with respect and you will be able to negotiate better, and find a package you are happy with.

Keep these 5 things in mind and you will be on your way to finding the right photographer faster.