When and Where Should I do my Engagement Shoot?

When should I have my engagement photo taken and what do I wear? Do I suggest a location or will the photographer? How will I view my images one they have been taken? All fantastic questions- after all, you’ve never done this before (in theory).

Once you have secured a professional photographer to handle your wedding, you can set up your engagement photo. The season and location might determine where the shoot takes place- studio or outdoor, perhaps both. The one thing you need to know before you schedule this session is that unless otherwise noted in your package- you will be charged a sitting fee. This is the amount of money the photographer will charge for you to “sit” in front of his camera. You are paying for his time as you would any professional. If a photographer does not have a sitting fee and if it isn’t included in your package, you are likely not dealing with a professional.

A professional does nothing other that take photos, thereby, this is how he earns a living. Some sittings can take five minutes (head shots,) an hour (engagement,) three hours (bridal,) and it is not uncommon for engagement or bridal shoots to be more elaborate- thereby, time consuming.

Most of what drives your cost when dealing with a photographer is labor (time)- the reason for that is, the more time he takes with you, the less time he can take with others- so you will pay for that time- like an attorney. Further, the more time he takes, the more images he produces, the more work there is in editing and color correction and burning of the images to a disc.

So, find out the sitting fee (be assured a weekend sitting will be a rarity as professional wedding photographers photograph what on the weekends? Weddings- you guessed it)- and don’t be surprised if Monday is a difficult day to acquire an appointment as it might be their only day off in the week.

If it is winter, you might find yourself committed to a studio shoot (if the photographer does not have a space in which to shoot- you are dealing with an amateur and will be lucky if he shows up to your wedding after you pay him- luckier yet if he is still in business when it comes time to produce the albums and product you have paid for in advance). Depending on the background, clothing selections can be made. I find these tips to be relevant in all settings. No patterns or stripes, no clothing which will date the image (nothing too trendy), your clothing should complement one another unless it is very “you” to clash (you in business attire and him in cargo shorts and a t-shirt)- but that clashing should not extend to colors or patterns. You don’t have to match, but you should harmonize. If you don’t understand, ask your photographer for further instruction (pay him enough and he’ll come over and hand select the items for you).

Discuss in advance whether the photographer has allotted enough time to allow for more than one clothing look and or location. Do not assume. Manage your expectations by clearing up how much time he has set aside for you and if it is included in your package and you feel it might not be enough or you want multiple locations- negotiate a price with him/her. For example- it is becoming a trend for couples to request a “fashion” style shoot, which would entail hair and make up, multiple carefully selected (and paid for possibly) locations and TIME. If this is of interest, do the leg work- find places which interest you, inquire with the venue to see if they would be open to you being photographed and if so, what would the charge be. These are lasting images- so don’t be afraid to invest in them to reflect your personality as a couple. I recommend “tear sheets”- look through magazines and pull out images you find appealing- show them to your photographer- scanning and emailing ahead of time if you can and make sure he understands your desire PRIOR to the day of the shoot.

Once the photos have been taken- the photographer likely will need to do some corrections and then forward them to you via CD or DVD (depending on the number taken)- likely you will view this on your computer (make sure you can read CDs and DVDs) and make your selections.

Know what comes in your package and be prepared to pay for anything over the included portraits (printed, mounted, sprayed and archival- museum quality) or reprints (machine prints). If you determine you can not part with a single photo- you need to inquire as to the cost of obtaining a hi-resolution file of the images from the photographer. This could run you anywhere between $500 and $3000.00. This would give you the rights to make your own prints- otherwise you will be viewing a low resolution copy (do not attempt to blow these up- it is a $250,000 fine for each infraction) and likely have a watermark on them.

No matter where you shoot or with whom, you want the images taken to reflect your relationship- so relax, have fun and try not to take it so seriously!

For Clever articles on wedding planning go to Soveryclever.com or click here.

Senior Portrait Perfection

It's that time of year! Here are a few tips to make sure your son or daughter's senior portrait will not embarrass them for years to come. If you are not inclined toward a cookie cutter type senior portrait, ask friends for recommendations. Ideally, a photographer who will offer you a couple different outfit changes and both studio and location photos for one sitting fee will be the best option.

Let your son or daughter have a say in their clothing and hair style if you don't want to fight about it from the moment you set the appointment. If a formal (suit or dress) photo is something you are committed to, allow your child to have some input on a more casual look for a location shot. This ensures you are both happy with the outcome- after all, the bulk of the wallet photos will be handed out to their friends and they need to have a positive feeling about their image.

As far as clothing, whether you are dressy or casual, try to select timeless fashions. You don't want to look at the image on your wall in five years and think- "oh, why did I make him wear that!" Steer clear of trendy items which will date the image or loud patterns or colors which can be distracting. After all, this is a photo of your child, not your child's clothing. Avoid logos and labels- as they can both date and distract.

The day before the shoot is not the day for a hair cut- give it at least five days for your child to be comfortable with the length and style so they are not insecure or uncomfortable in front of the camera- for most people, this is already a foreign and unnerving experience. If your son is always clean shaven, this is not the time to debut a goatee or fledgling beard- likewise, if your child wears glasses at all times, at least some of the photos should include them. The point to the photo is that you remember your child as they are and as you know them.

Have your child bring their IPod or MP3 so that if the photographer has the capability- music they are familiar with or enjoy will be playing during the shoot. So much of our culture is built around music- it is a simple way to relax everyone involved.

Eat a bit before you arrive so no one is cranky, hungry or even over full and annoyed. A light snack is best and carving out a little extra time to spend with your child following the shoot can make for a nice afternoon.

Most of all- have fun and don't be offended if your child would prefer to conduct the shoot without you there. But, make sure to manage your expectations by making them clear to the photographer.

Locations for Your Bridal Portrait

Not every bride is cut out for the studio and we love that.  The bridal portrait is a great opportunity to showcase your personality and interests.  The first step is to look through for images that appeal to you (be realistic- if you live in Austin, Texas, you are unlikely to find a location which looks like Venice, Italy)- pay attention to what about the image is appealing.  Is it the lighting, the location, the time of day it seems to be taken, the effect of the image (black and white, color, sepia tones, colorized, high contrast) or the style (elegant, edgy, sophisticated).  

When I recommend you be realistic- this is critical.  We'd all like to do a sitting which rivals Carrie's in Vogue when she was featured as the Fortyish bride- the floral abounding- easily thousands of dollars, a perfectly appointed setting and artificial lighting- but alas, few of us has the budget for such an elaborate bridal sitting.  If you do, I highly recommend the effort and expense- if you don't, make sure the photos you select in magazines reflect real possibilities.

The venue where you are having the ceremony or reception is a good option if available- this will make for a  lovely presentation of your portrait the day of the wedding.  Consider interesting architecture in your city- landmarks you identify with, places you enjoy (the state fair is not off the table for some, but the dress is at great risk)- a downtown setting is an option for a more urban bride- but like the Arboretum, which is wildly popular- keep in mind it is a public domain and you will be subject to, well, the public.  There is no privacy like a closed studio if you find you are not comfortable.  

A great deal can be accomplished in the studio- most images in wedding magazines are in studio- lighting, floral, back ground, and props can create stunning portraits.  Don't categorically reject the studio, do both- you might be pleasantly surprised.  Either way, shooting in studio and on location will give you more content than you imagined to make your selections.  

My Brother's Wife's Cousin's Pool Guy is a Wedding Photographer

They make cameras in cardboard boxes and sell them at the grocery store- why should I be spending thousands of dollars to hire a photographer for my wedding?  True enough, they do make cameras in cardboard boxes and sell them at not only grocery stores but convenience stores!  Not only that, but now, with the advent of the digital camera- you can see what you are shooting- so ANYONE can be a photographer without the expense of learning with film.  So, why hire a Professional?  As a matter of fact, virtually everyone knows SOME ONE who dabbles in photography.  So, again, why the professional?

Well, if this is truly to become the most important day of your life, the beginning of a blessed marriage- how would you feel if you had not lasting images to commemorate it?  The stories are endless... 

"the camera was not set properly..."   Hire a professional who knows the equipment and uses professional equipment.

"the photographer didn't show up..."  Hire someone who does wedding photography for a living and this will not happen.

"the photographer took a better wedding and forgot to tell us..."  Hire an ethical wedding photographer with an excellent reputation and the chances of this happening to you are zero.

"the photographer lost the film/digital cards (cf)"  One card or roll of film could fall through the cracks and could happen to anyone- BUT, a professional has safe guards in place to ensure the safety of your wedding images.

"the photographer set the quality too small so he could put more images on the one card he had and I can't make images over the size of a wallet photo!"   Hire someone who has double equipment and enough digital cards to shoot in raw mode (huge files) three to five thousand images.

"the photographer's camera failed and he missed the whole ceremony and reception..."  Again, a professional will have double even triple the amount of equipment necessary to shoot your wedding.  

Do any of these scenarios sound scary on the big day?  

Now, what does being a professional wedding photographer mean?  Well, what does being an attorney mean?  You went to school to learn your craft, you have spent some time training in your field, you work full time in the field of law.  Now... if you had a major legal crisis, would you hire someone to advise you who was pre-law in undergrad but decided not to pursue law school?  Would you retain someone who likes to read law review and watches Court TV all day, but works as a manager of the produce department at the local grocer?  NO- actually HELL NO!

So, in the planning of the most important day of your life- would you hire someone who cleans pools during the week and has shot a few weddings on the side with his cousin's camera?  Would you hire someone who is in school for interior design but has taken some photography classes?  Would you hire a woman who quit her job after having a few kids and decided to get into photography because all her friends think she takes amazing pictures of her children?  OR- would you prefer to hire someone who shoots at least a wedding a weekend, who has been referred to you by your ceremony location, your reception location, your consultant and your decor designer- someone who may or may not have gone to college to earn a degree in Fine Art Photography, but still has a great deal of experience and has earned the trust of fellow vendors?

Now, in hiring someone who has invested their time, energy and expertise into creating and generating relationships in the wedding industry where you are planning your event, you are paying for security, comfort, artistry and professionalism.

As photography will be the most distinct memorialization of your wedding day (other than your memory and possibly your wedding video), I can not caution you more strongly to do the research, hire a professional and recognize you are paying for their education, experience, artistry and professionalism.  Your photographer invests in his/her field- they do not do dry wall during the week to supplement their income.  They pay for top tier (read expensive) equipment and multiple sets of it, advertising (to reach you), the best possible products in the form of albums and portraiture and framing, studio space, likely employees to help with photo editing and production, accounting and PR.  Photography is like any other "business", if you are hiring a professional.  

TIPS FOR RECOGNIZING AN AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHER

If the photographer you are meeting doesn't have a place of business to work in or shoot in, he likely isn't a professional.  

Pay attention to the quality of the materials he is showing you.  If they do not meet the standards of what you would like to show friends and family- they are likely not investing in the highest quality options available to professionals.  Many vendors of albums will only deal with trade- meaning you have to be a professional.

It is critical you ask to see a website, a great deal of work and possibly a studio- most amateurs will have only done a couple events, have not invested in a website for marketing purposes and can not justify renting studio space as it is not their full time job.

Ask to see their equipment- make sure there are multiple sets of cameras, flashes and plenty of digital cards to hold your imagery.

Ask about education, experience and for some references in the form of churches, consultants or reception venues who might have worked with them.  Often these are the best referrals other than friends and family.  Anyone can run an ad in a magazine.  

As far as advertising, make sure the magazines you are looking at are relevant to the scale of your event.  If you are planning a wedding for $10,000, do not call the Hotel Adolphus and ask for a copy of their vendor list.  The vendors on this list will likely be too expensive to accommodate your budget- instead, discuss with your reception location and ask for a trusted photographer who works with them a great deal.  Additionally, if you are planning a wedding for $200,000- do not pick up the free magazines available at the bridal fair- they CAN be full of vendors who do weddings on the side- ask your consultant for referrals.  

Age- which is not to say an eighteen year old person might not be an amazing artist- but, have the photographed weddings before?  If so, how many?  Weddings are a specialty like any other-  they are fueled by emotion and conflict, fast paced, things change constantly and the unexpected will happen every time.  A skilled and experienced professional will know how to deal with unusual or unexpected lighting, weather, equipment failure, conflict and so so with grace and preservation of the big day.  

Planning Your Engagement Sitting

The first question I get regarding this special day is timing.  There are no hard and fast rules here. I love to do the engagement sittings soon after the engagement because there is so much excitement and energy between the couple.  Translating that energy into highly personal images which are a reflection of the bride and groom is an art in itself.  

Give some thought to your identity as a couple- who are you?  What do you enjoy doing?   Where do you like to dine?  What hobbies do you partake in together?  The more information you can impart to your photographer, the better chance you have of the images being a lasting reminder of the journey you are beginning.  Have the photographer photograph you sharing a bottle of wine on the patio of your favorite hang out.  Do the shoot at your family ranch on the grounds on ATVs, on the porch of your parent's home on a bench in front of the fire.  It's a special day which will create images you will cherish for decades to come- give it some thought and personalize it.  

Clothing seems to be a stumbling block- here are some rules.  No patterns, no prints and no styles which will date the images.  You don't want to look at it in five years and think- I can not believe we wore that!!  Keep it simple.  Basic styles and colors which are complementary to one another- they do not have to match, but they must blend well.  Whether you prefer a casual look or a dressy look is a personal preference.  Be comfortable- do not force your fiance who prefers to be in a suit to show up in jeans and boots and not feel like himself.  If you loooove heels and jeans- do it!  If he likes to be dressy- let him!  A great photographer will turn it into something spectacular.

Finally- try to take some time for the two of you after the shoot.  Plan a nice lunch where you can share the experience, relax and reflect on the marriage.  After all, it's a marriage- NOT A WEDDING.

Planning For Your Bridal Portrait Session

As well as each bride is unique- so should be each portrait session.  It is much more a southern tradition to have a completed portrait of the bride for viewing at the reception, but it's become so popular brides across the world have determined it a wise investment.  

Give yourself a good six weeks prior, but check with your photographer to ascertain how much time he/she needs to prepare a framed portrait (and please, never assume framing is included in the cost of a portrait).  Try to plan ahead to give yourself time for a final fitting so the dress is at it's most comfortable for your "trial" run.  You will learn a lot on the day of your bridal- such as, how comfortable your undergarments are, whether you like the shoes you selected, how cumbersome or surprisingly effortless it is to move in your dress.  This is a great opportunity to make little changes which will enhance your comfort for the day of- after all, this is the most fun you will have in this ensemble without being nervous!  

Make sure you wear all your accessory items the day of your bridal so you can get an idea of how they will look- you might determine you don't care for your jewelry or don't like the way your dress falls with the dream shoe Carrie wore in her wedding to Big.

It's a good idea to eat a bit of food, so you are energized and not feeling weak during the sitting.  In advance of the day, look through wedding magazines and tear out photographs you like- it could just be the "feel" of the image, but be prepared to explain what it is that caused you to tear it out of the magazine (and please be realistic- if you are five foot tall and planning a session in studio, you are never going to appear six feet tall as you are riding a horse in an open field).  The tear sheets will help the photographer to better understand your style and the mood you are shooting for.

If you are a drinker- today is the day to have a few drinks!  Mimosa is an excellent choice- light, refreshing and full of sugar.  Champagne is a popular drink as it is certainly a festive day for you and perhaps a chosen friend or family member.  Try to take some time out for the balance of the day- have a fabulous lunch with friends or your fiance' after- it will really get his attention to see you in trial hair and make up for the big day!

Speaking of hair and make up- try hard to use the same artist for both your portrait session and the day of- you don't want any unpleasant surprises- but if you do dislike the work they do the day of your portrait session- do not hire them again!  Tear sheets in this case are also a very good idea.  Artists work well with visual representations of your ideas.

Bringing a friend or family member along to help is a great idea- don't depend on your photographer to manage you or the dress- they have their own set of priorities.  Make certain you select someone who won't make you want to choke them or off yourself prior to the end of your session.

Be patient with your photographer- often times, their vision will not be realized to you until you see the imagery- I tell my brides and models- "the more uncomfortable you are, the better you look"- it's true right?  High heels and push up bras are a great example of this!

Most important for the day of your bridal session- have fun, relax and enjoy.  

Kristin & Eddie- The Biltmore in Coral Gables, Florida

Honestly, after having done weddings for twelve years, the one Carmine and I just completed in Coral Gabels was among the most spectacular.  It wasn't so much the vastness, nor the scale, but rather the absolute splendor of the locations selected.  The bride's attire, each piece of which was selected at Stardust Celebrations was a tribute to the historic and dramatic atmosphere the Biltmore is celebrated for.  Timeless and elegant, Kristin Brown, was truly majestic nestled into the alternately quaint and grand setting.

In praise of the Eddie's Cuban heritage, the menu cards were affixed to the inside of the lid of an authentic cigar box, which featured a chocolate cigar.  Hand rolled stogies were offered on the luxuriously appointed terrace outside the lavishly adorned grand ballroom.  Guests were treated to hand prepared Mojitos and a variety of festive latin music performed live by a local band.

Marsha Ballard French and Jenny Cline, of Stardust Celebrations handled the planning and execution of the this affair flawlessly to the absolute awe of the guests.  To preview a few of Kristin's bridal portraits, visit lidestriphoto.com under the bridal portraits category and to view a smattering of the event, click on location weddings- Kristin and Eddie.