by Judy | May 31, 2009 | Weddings
It’s easy to lose track of time on your wedding day, and that’s completely understandable with everything a bride needs to do now that the big day has arrived. But it is very important that someone keeps an eye the clock, because any delay at the beginning of the day will translate into lost opportunities later, when the curtain is up and the show is in full swing. You see, weddings are carefully orchestrated events with each scene carefully timed–the use of the church, the hired time for the limousine, the allotted time for the formal photography,the start of the cocktail hour to the dinner seating of the guests.
One wedding I recently worked had the bride arriving 45 minutes late for the photo shoot, which translated into many lost photo opportunities because the limo driver, and then the officiant, were rushing us to pull things back on schedule. When the ceremony finished, there was no time for formals in the church because the sanctuary lights were off and the priest was already off to prepare for weekly mass. And, the planned stop for photos at the place the bride and groom met was out of the question because that would have required additional time with the limo-at an extra cost.
So, the bottom line here is to be realistic about your timing to avoid unnecessary rushing. Do as much as possible in the days before the wedding day. The manicure should be done the day before. Hair and make-up stylists should be given plenty of time early in the day. Bridesmaids and Groomsmen should clearly understand the importance of not only getting to the church on time, but to be ready early!
It’s true that the festivities can’t start without the bride and groom, but it will be much more relaxing and enjoyable if everyone is ready to start on time. So make sure that when you are planning the agenda for the day, that you allow enough time to do everything you are planning. Talk your professional services providers about the amount of time they will need to do their job for you so everyone is where they are supposed to be when they are supposed to be there. For the bridal couple, the wedding party and their families, the day will feel like it ended before it began, but if you allow enough time for preparation, travel, and the formal portrait session, the service professionals will be ready to do their best work to make your special day the best it can be!
Heidi & JR showing off their rings.
If you know of any wedding day scheduling nightmares you would like to share, please tell us in the comments section.
by Judy | May 25, 2009 | Weddings
The Vivid Visions Photo team had a great time celebrating with Rebecca and Ben as they tied the knot. The scene was Baiting Hollow Farm Vineyards-a horse farm, horse rescue and vineyard winery combined into one property on Long Island’s gorgeous North Fork. The theme was western cowboy country, and the mood was set by the great love the Bride and Groom clearly have for each other.
Congratulations to Rebecca and Ben! We wish for you a wonderful life together, filled with love, laughs and not too many meadow muffins!
by Judy | May 14, 2009 | Weddings
Our last post about saving money on wedding photography discussed how eliminating the pro photographer can lead to disappointing images. This time, we’ll compare the cost savings of the “Friends and Family” method with the value received from pro photographer services
“Friends and Family”:
Your wedding guests are just that-guests, and once they get caught up in the celebration that your special day deserves, they may be too distracted to capture the important moments. And, you are gambling that they know how to use a camera properly in the varying light that churches and reception halls are notorious for. Lighting for ambiance creates real challenges in capturing properly exposed images. The usually come out too dark, or if they are well-lit a slow shutter speed means blurry pictures. But let’s look at your actual costs-disposable film cameras cost about $5 to buy, and another $10 to develop the film and make the prints. If you have 100 guests, you’ll have about 10 tables, and most likely 2 cameras per table with 27 exposures each.
Total Cost: $300
Total Prints: 540 4×6 prints-if all exposures are printable.
That’s right, you’ll get the good, the bad and the ugly. So you may get 540 prints, but you might only get half or less that are truly keepers. There will be many that are too dark, too light, poorly composed (chopped off head, a thumb in the lens), out of focus or just plain indecent. Yes, your guests may also share some very nice digital images, but there is no guarantee that they will suitable for enlarging-especially if they are taken with a camera phone.
Professional Photographer:
Proper coverage of a wedding or special event is a big job. We anticipate the action and then snap the shot at the decisive moment with the camera and lighting at the proper settings. We make sure that there are captures of the details, such as the flowers, invitation and place settings, the special moments before, during and after the ceremony, and the festive atmosphere of the reception. And we have contingency plans in place in case of bad weather or other unexpected occurrences. No matter how many there are in your wedding party, we will pose them so they look their best in the gowns and tuxedos that you selected specially. We’ll make the rounds at the cocktail hour and the dinner to make sure that everyone is included in the photos, so your record of the day includes your specially selected and invited loved ones.
The total cost depends on the options chosen, but let’s match “Friends and Family” and go with just coverage, processing and proof prints, based on Vivid Visions Photo current price list.
Total Cost: $575 for 5 hours of coverage and unlimited images captured in that time frame
Total Prints: 200 usable images guaranteed and mounted in proof album with typically 100 to 200 additional prints provided
Extras: Password protected online gallery, DVD or CD of all proofs delivered formatted in print and email resolutions. All images presented will be keepers. They will be properly lit, optimized for color and dynamically composed.
When you have put so much effort into making sure your special day is as perfect as it can be, you’ll want to remember it in photographs that are the best they can be.
by Judy | May 9, 2009 | Weddings
Dropping the pro photographer is a recipe for Heartache (Part I)
Even before Vivid Visions got involved in wedding photography services, I would cringe when I heard of brides planning to forego the hiring of a professional wedding photographer in order to save money. The photographs of your big day are the record of what is one of the most important days of your life. I know it is easy to underestimate how valuable these photos will become to your family as you travel through life. But do you really want to count on your guests to capture those once in a lifetime shots of your first kiss as Mr. & Mrs, the bride dancing with her father or the mother of the groom brushing a stray hair off the forehead of the man who will always be her little boy?
Yes, professional photography services can cost a few bucks, but be careful that you are not mistaking cost for value. Pro photographers make their living capturing beautiful images and preparing them for presentation. We spent countless hours preparing for the shoot, and have made a considerable investment in quality gear that will help get the job done. We are continually training to keep up with the latest techniques and trends, so we can work seamlessly with the other professionals you have hired to make your special day uniquely yours. Plus, our only reason to be at your wedding is to provide the photography services. We won’t be distracted by seeing Cousin Emma for the first time in 15 years, and be in the ladies room for the wedding party introductions. We’ll be capturing the festivities so you will have a record of your day. When we take a break, we will tell you, so you will know where to find us if you need us.
The price a pro photographer quotes you reflects the cost for materials such as photo prints and proof albums, the time it takes to capture the images and then the studio work later to sort and select the keepers, plus the layout, design and printing of the photobook, album and enlargements you have ordered. Very often if you express early in the consultation that you truly are working on a tight budget, we at Vivid Visions (and other studios too) will help you customize a package to fit your budget. That might mean reducing the amount time spent at the wedding, or waiting until your finances are better to purchase an album.
You only get one chance to properly record your wedding on film. Do you think it is wise to gamble on the photography skills of your friends and family? In part II next week, We’ll compare the cost savings of a “Friends and Family” approach to the value you receive when you hire a pro. In the meantime, here is a sample of the type of images you can expect from a pro photographer’s portfolio:
Adrianne & John were blessed with a beautiful September day at Martha Clara Vineyards in Jamesport.
by Judy | May 7, 2009 | Weddings
We’re ready for anything!
April showers bring May flowers, and for photographers, May flowers also means the start of the wedding season. Vivid Visions is gearing up for Rebecca and Ben in a couple of weeks. They are planning a beautiful ceremony and reception at Baiting Hollow Farm Vineyard. I really am looking forward to capturing their special day because Rebecca and Ben are animal lovers, in particular horses, and they are incorporating equine elements in many aspects of the wedding. I don’t want to give away any surprises, so we’ll wait until after the wedding to post some preview shots.
The preparation work for a wedding begins in our studio several weeks prior to the big day. We use the information forms that the couples have completed to provide important details planned for the day so we can incorporate these elements into the shot list. Then a few days before the wedding, as we polish our lenses and test the gear, we also track down the invitation, and review the planned shots so we can arrive ready to begin shooting. It is important that we capture the details and the unguarded moments because that is where we capture the true emotions, and record the photos that become the family treasures in years to come.
Sometimes things don’t go as planned-it’s the nature of weddings really. A rainy June day or a sweltering July afternoon are common occurrences. So the Vivid Visions team plans for the worst and hopes for the best. Usually we get the best. Mother Nature likes a happy bride too!
But the law of averages being what they are, sometimes the weather does get in the way. And in 2009 Vivid Visions had a chance to experience the extremes of nature. Bridget and Scott were married in 90 plus degree weather, and although it was an indoor setting, the reception hall’s air conditioner just couldn’t keep up with the heat. Everyone wilted early, including the flowers. But we still found a way to capture the moments that mattered.
And, Sherri and Russell planned a beautiful New Year’s Eve celebration for their wedding to ring in 2009. It was a wonderful ceremony and reception-once everyone battled through the Blizzard! The weather did severely limit the photo opportunities out of doors, but we managed to capture a few snaps to remember how the last snow storm of 2008 and the first of 2009 was an uninvited guest to the wedding.
So, the moral of this story is to be ready to activate a “Plan B” in case forces beyond your control insist on having their way. Vivid Visions will be ready, and we’ll do our best to make sure you are too!
by Judy | Apr 11, 2009 | Weddings
He popped the question, she said yes, the diamond is gorgeous and the wedding will be spectacular! The caterer is top-notch, the gown is divine, the music is perfect and the photographer wants HOW MUCH?
But Uncle Joe has a nice camera and he is always showing off his photos at every holiday. Maybe he can do the photography, and then there will be enough money to add the Viennese Table to the reception.
STOP RIGHT THERE (please).
Think about the last wedding you attended. Remember the mountains of food? You were stuffed before the cocktail hour ended, and the band was good, but do you remember their name? They certainly weren’t U2, or even Glenn Miller for that matter.
Now think about the photography. Did you receive a photo with the thank you notes? Maybe you visited the couple’s wedding blog and saw a beautiful sunset image with them walking through the park or down the beach. And maybe one image of the bride and her father just before they walked down the aisle brought a tear to your own eye as you dreamed of your own wedding day. Oh and the flower girl and ring bearer were just precious!
Long after the food is nothing but a stain on your favorite dress, and you have found a new favorite band, the only record of your wedding day-that most special day of days-will be your photographs. Do you think Uncle Joe is up to the task to capturing the memories you hope to treasure forever?
When you hire a professional photographer, you are paying for professional quality images, captured in a professional manner-respecting the sanctity of the ceremony, the comfort of your guests, and the contract for services you both signed.
When you hire a professional photographer, you are buying more than a person to take pictures during your wedding, or any other event for that matter. You are investing in a priceless record of a once in a lifetime occasion. There are no retakes in wedding photography. Your photographer only gets one shot to get it right.
If ever there were a time to hire a professional, wedding photography is that time.
Part II in next week’s post-Find out exactly what your investment in a pro photo package pays for.
Comments welcome!
Tell us what you think about the value of professional wedding photography. Did you learn the hard way by having Uncle Joe take the pictures? Did you have an unpleasant experience with a pro? Post your comments here.
