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Below are the 20 most recent journal entries recorded in
osquip650's InsaneJournal:
| Wednesday, May 9th, 2012 | |
| 12:51 am | Why Should You Hire Professional Wedding Photographers Wedding Photographers are gaining popularity through out the whole of America, in fact, through out the whole world. This increase in popularity could be attributed to the fact that wedding photojournalism attracted the attention of people in a big way. Wedding photojournalism earlier concentrated on celebrities, their weddings, how they enjoyed the cake cutting ceremony and the kind of outfit they wore on their wedding day. It was only after vibrant pictures of celebrity weddings were published in magazines that people began to realize how it could benefit them to hire wedding photographers. However, even today, there are several people all over America, who prefer letting their friends and family click photographs and try to capture memorable moments of their wedding day. However, there is obviously a stark difference in the quality of images that are captured. fotografies gamou Then again there are several wedding photographers out there who claim they are professionals but it is only after you see pictures that aren't exactly like what you expected them to be, do you realize the kind of training that the photographer might have received. Thus, to get wedding pictures that look brilliant and more over make you look spectacular, you should hire wedding photographers who not only claim that they are professionals, but also have authentic proof that they are. One of the best ways to judge the kind of work you can expect from any particular wedding photographer is by going through his previous work. Hiring good professional wedding photographers would mean that you would have to spend a little more money for your wedding; but then again, once you see pictures of your weddings, where in the photographer has managed to capture the most precious moments in the most versatile way, then you would not care so much for the money that you paid to have them clicked. However, on the other hand, if you do not hire a professional wedding photographer, then you might have to spend quite a lot of money in getting the photographs edited and look better than they did initially. Thus, its always better to not really worry so much about the $500 that you might have to pay extra to the professional photographer, as long as the wedding day pictures turn out to be great. fotografies gamou Hiring Professional Wedding PhotographersWhether you have a Seattle wedding or a wedding in any other place in the world, you could always hire professional wedding photographers online. Most of the wedding photojournalists are part of one or the other photographers association. Thus, you can easily find them online, through their personal websites or through the website of the association. Other than this, in places like Seattle, you can hire wedding photographers in Seattle by meeting the photojournalists personally fotografies gamou. Some of the wedding photographers in Seattle also emphasise on getting pictures pre and post the wedding ceremony along with capturing moments of the wedding day itself. You can expect a good wedding photographer to not only be professional but also friendly and you could expect him to capture you when you least expect it. Current Mood:  artistic |
| Tuesday, May 8th, 2012 | |
| 11:29 pm | Looking For A Wedding Photographer Questions To Ask Wedding pictures are a treasure for many couples as it captures and seals moments in time that are precious to them fotografies gamou. This is why it is important for one to choose a wedding photographer that will capture those moments in the best way possible. Here are a few things to keep in mind when selecting such a person. One of things a person should consider is how they want their pictures to be taken. Everyone has a different style that appeals to them. Some photographers are more traditional in their approach while others may take a more journalistic style. There are others that may even do both styles. Some couples love a more traditional approach and some like to have pictures that are in the moment. It is important that the couple sit down with the photographer and see what he or she has to offer. If they are a true artist and devoted to their craft, they may offer suggestions that might help to enhance whatever ideas you already have in mind. It helps when you can look at the portfolio to see what they have already accomplished. This provides a chance to see what style they are use to and if it is what you are looking for. There is also a chance to see how other photos have turned out and if you like it, most likely the same style will be right for you. One will also get a chance to see how well this person works in difficult settings. This could be things like dim lighting and other tricky situations. Dim lights do not help to create great pictures so this could be an important factor. It might also be a good idea to find out what kind of equipment is normally used and if an assistant will be needed. When you have decided what you want to do, it is important to make sure that everything is put in writing. This includes things like the pricing, number of prints, size of the photos and when they will be available. In case of a mishap, you will have documentation to prove what was agreed upon. Photography cost quite a bit of money and has to fit into the budget. It helps to know what different professionals have to offer so that you are able to decide as a couple what the best price will be fotografies gamou. You will also have to think about how the photos will be used and who you will be giving them to. This will affect the budget as well and not just the fee that has to be paid. Finding a wedding photographer can be easier if you know exactly what you want. There are many places online with examples of pictures taken by professionals so that you can see what appeals to you. It is also best to ask different friends and relatives who they suggest especially if they have photos that you admire. This could save you time and money. Current Mood:  thoughtful |
| 10:27 pm | Reasons to Hire a Professional Wedding Photographer Every couple looks for ways to cut costs when planning a wedding. One that some couples consider is to skip the professional photographer, relying on a friend or other amateur to take the event pictures. Although this can be tempting, there are many reasons why you should definitely hire a professional photographer instead. There are some areas in your wedding where you can safely try to save money. For example, if you order your groomsmen gifts online instead of buying them at an overpriced specialty shop, that is being smart. Your groomsmen will still get great gifts, but you won't have to spend a fortune to get them. In some instances, you can get away with doing your own wedding flowers, and you can definitely make fantastic looking invitations on your home computer. Some elements of a wedding, though, should never be done on the cheap. If the bride's mother attempts to make her gown, and she is not a talented seamstress, the results are likely to be regrettable. The same is true of the wedding photography. These days, everyone has a digital camera and fancies themselves an expert, but the truth is that a real photographer is an artist. Having your uncle Harry take the pictures is no substitute for having your portraits taken by, and printed by, someone who really knows what they are doing. The wedding photos are something that you will have for the rest of your life. If the wedding cake was a little dry, or the band wasn't quite as good as you had hoped, at least you will be able to forget about those details over time. However, if your pictures are lousy, you will be reminded of it every time that you open your wedding album. There are no do-overs. Even a skilled amateur photographer is not as good as hiring a real wedding professional. The professional photographer will know which moments are the most important to capture, and will make a point of getting them for you. On the other hand, your uncle might miss something important because he is chatting with his brother or dancing with his wife. The relative who volunteers to take the pictures will be a guest first, and your photographer second. That is definitely not good enough when it comes to your most priceless memories. fotografies gamou Some couples think that they can find a middle ground by hiring a student to be their wedding photographer. While this might be better than leaving it up to a relative, the chances are that you will still end up with less than stellar results. A student who is not experienced with weddings is surely going to miss some of the key shots, and their eye for composition and beauty is unlikely to be as refined as that of the professional. It is just too risky to try to save a few bucks by eliminating a professional photographer for your wedding. If you leave the photography up to someone else, there will be nothing you can do if the pictures are not great when you see them after the wedding. Why take a chance on something as important as the memories of your wedding. Current Mood:  hyper |
| 8:55 pm | How to Hire a Destination Wedding Photographer and Videographer Life is all about change. Change is exciting and refreshing. That is primarily the reason why so many couples nowadays opt for destination weddings. It is a pleasant change of scenario. The constant input of suspense and surprise is what keeps such weddings, wild and memorable. Once you are done with hiring your travel agent, resort, save-your-dates and invitations, come to the most important person to be hired on the crew, the photographer/videographer. Whether to hire a local photographer or someone from one of the referrals How do you go about gauging the person's talent and worth To make things simple, look for the following while hiring your destination wedding photographer/videographer fotografies gamou. Spontaneity and creative use of backdropWeddings are quick-paced. Capturing timeless moments depends on quick reflexes and thinking. This comes only with experience. Some of the amateurs are naturals, yet finding one can be difficult. Look through the portfolio and see how the photographer cum videographer has used the background, the location and the lighting. Does it exude the right feel and mood If you are satisfied, tick off the creativity box and move on to the next aspect. Variability in styleSome photographers cum videographers are stuck with either too much of candid photos or too much of 'moments' photos. Choose the person who has variety in his/her style. fotografies gamou You don't want a boring album with too many photos that look similar. Thus, open mindedness towards different styles will be a great plus. Familiarity with the locationThe person need not know every nook and corner of the destination. Yet, a fair knowledge regarding good spots for photographing will be an added advantage. Again, if the photographer stumbles across a new spot during a routine survey of the location, he/she should be open minded enough to try the location at least, instead of sticking to the 'usual routine' spots. As for videography, you need to mention, very clearly, as to what you want on record. Some videographers offer to do a 'movie-style' engagement video, wedding video and later, trash the dress video. If you do not want your intimate or personal moments captured on video, put it on paper and voice out your thoughts to the videographer beforehand. Basically, hire the professional who has quite a few trick up his/her sleeves and is sensible. Other aspectsLook for these aspects as well: Does the person work alone or does he/she have any qualified assistants What is the photographer's budget strategy for your wedding Do they customize it to your needs or is it all some generic standard package Does the package include editing, album-making costs, travel expenses and permit fee Some countries require an external photographer to obtain a permit, by paying some fee. Current Mood:  tired |
| 7:23 pm | Three Inventions That Changed Wedding Photography For Good Weddings are among life's most important events. For this reason, many people want to keep records of their weddings. They want to be able to show their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren (if they live that long) how 'fabulous' they looked on their wedding day fotografies. And the more vivid the 'record' that can be kept, the better. Now while wedding photography is integral part of modern weddings, with even couples in the remotest parts of the world making an effort to at least get a photographer for their weddings, this has not always been the case. After all, photography is a fairly recent invention; it having been invented in 1826. Worth noting too is the fact that photography, in its early days, was an expensive venture; meaning that much as they would have loved it, many wedding couples could simply not afford the 'luxury' of wedding photography. There are three inventions, or rather advancements in the technology of photography, that have helped to truly changed wedding photography - for the better. One of these was miniaturization of the camera. Today, cameras are expected - by definition - to be relatively small and easily portable. But that has not always been the case. Early cameras looked more or less like today's X-ray machines. They were the sorts of machine that filled a room! And they were definitely not the sorts of machines that one could carry around. Their use tended to be limited to studios where they were kept; so that people who needed to be photographed had to go to the studios for the purpose. This meant that they were largely useless, as far as wedding photography. A couple that wanted to be photographed on their wedding day couldn't get snapped during the ceremony itself, but rather had to wait till after the ceremony - to go to the studio and get snapped. This was off-putting - and for couples that were not too sentimental, it is something they couldn't bring themselves to do. Second was the development of color photography. As well all know, weddings are usually highly colorful events. Yet early photography was in black and white, meaning there was no ways of bringing out the color in them fotografies gamou. This, of course was to change in the early 20th century when color photography - though expensive then - came into being. Through this invention, even couples who were financially constrained found themselves being tempted to bear a considerable expense, just to have the wedding photos in color. Third was the development of digital photography, a relatively recent invention. One thing that digital photography was known to do is to turn everybody into a photographer: a great departure from the situation before, when photography was an art for the 'specialist' photographers only. fotografies gamou Thus in modern weddings, you will not only see the official photographer with a camera, but also the friends and relatives of the couple clicking away, some on their phones (as many phones nowadays come embedded with digital cameras). Another thing that digital photography has done is to make photography inexpensive. Thus a couple can take as many photos on their wedding as they want, without the worry of running out of photographic film - a major concern with traditional wedding photography. Current Mood: depressed |
| 5:42 pm | Wedding Photography - Family Pictures - Where, When, How Your ceremony has just wrapped up. You are dazed and euphoric. You exit the scene. Hugs and kisses all around - maybe even a Receiving Line. Usual first order of business after all that - the Family Pictures. Yet, while the Family Pictures are important, you should keep in mind that there are bigger fish to fry, namely the Bride Groom's Shots (with the Wedding Party Photography sandwiched in between). So, my goal as the Wedding Photographer is to get the Family Shots done as quickly as possible. Under the best circumstances, they are a breeze. Conversely, they can be maddening (mostly for the Couple). Firstly, you have to decide where to do the Family Shots. fotografies gamou If your ceremony and reception are in one location, it's a non-issue. If not, then you usually have a couple of choices: (1) doing them at the ceremony site; (2) doing them at the park. If there is a spot at the ceremony site, that is ideal because (1) everyone, including and especially the elderly members of the families, are already there. Some elderly family members cannot make the trek into a park; (2) if the pix are to be taken at another location, such as a park, everyone is required to find their way there - which can take a lot of time and can result in some people getting lost - which can be a real problem if a missing or late person is someone important, like the Groom's father. If the Family Pix only include the immediate families it should be a simple endeavor. If there are large families, including cousins and aunts and uncles, then there is one item that in my books is essential for the Family Pix to not become annoying and prolonged: A List with all the shots. Why is this important You'll have 25-40 people standing around waiting for their turn. If you don't have a list you'll have any number of people giving suggestions as to what picture to take next (and it's amazing how often the most irritating member of the family - irritating to the family itself - chimes in with their opinions, which stresses everybody out - especially the Bride and Groom). Meanwhile, it ends up taking too much time, which makes the waiting people restless. That's when people disappear - to go to the bathroom, to have a cigarette, to go and get something from the car, to get out of the heat, etc. All of this can be a serious waste of time, which can affect the amount of time there is to get the Bride and Groom's shots - by far the most important shots. In addition, any occasion on the Wedding Day that the schedule is running late is a cause for stress, which the Bride usually seems to take on more than anyone else. Remember, "Happy Bride, Happy Day". Now you might be wondering if having the List somehow limits the scope of the pictures. Absolutely not. The List is not carved in stone, but having it as a foundation to work from, there is always room for additional spontaneous shots that had not been thought of earlier. With respect to the List itself, I recommend starting with one side of the family, let's say the Groom's side, ending with his parents. With his parents still there, we segue to the other side of the family, starting with the Bride's parents - for the dual parents shot - then move into her side of the family. One final note about the List. It must be in the hands of a trusted and capable person. This person is preferably someone who knows almost everyone (like the Bride's sister) and who is not timid. They need to be even-keeled, yet bold, because it can be quite chaotic with so many people milling about. And that's the story for Family Pictures. Current Mood:  refreshed |
| 3:33 pm | Wedding Photography and the Economy - Is it Really Worth It I don't know about you, but I know I was not wise enough to make the right moves to be rich today. My family is not historically financially well off either. Working my way through these down economic times is a tough. If you're getting married soon you might want to read on to help you focus. The obvious truth is that economics affect the financial decisions you make regarding your wedding. Non of this means you cannot have a great wedding. After all there are many places around the world that do not require a lavish wedding. However, in nearly all of these places you will find a photographer. This is where an experienced photographers come in. Experience to make the less than lavish (and the lavish) look great on your wedding day. Photographs are items that all of us cherish at one time or another, e. g. baby photos, school plays, graduations,. . . this is especially true when our family and friends get together for an event such as a wedding. Make sure your wedding photographer is capable of capturing those treasures. How would you like to be served You must decide if you want the simple 'stand against a wall and smile with your arms around your family' photographs, OR do you want 'all of the emotion of the day brilliantly captured' photographs. Do you want that photograph of your husband to be with the rare tear on his face to show He loves you. You want to see that moment everyday you look at your wedding photographs. Isn't it a special moment that would make you tear-up tooPhotographs may not be important to everyone: Honestly, why spend one single dime on photography if your expectations are simple and you are not worried about great moments of emotion being captured in a photo Just about anyone can get a group of folks standing and smiling in front of the cake with the bride and groom in the middle. An overly dark suit of the groom which you can't see and the bride's dress details blown out so much that it's to the point of only looking like a white table cloth. Heck, you can save some money on the dress too because it'll never be seen to remember in print either. When Photographs are important to you: Experienced Professional Photographers. . . * will capture the great moments for you. * will treat you as if you are special to them. * have access to the best albums in world. * will have the tools to do a complete service for you. * will be on time no matter what. * will be there for you! We're now in the digital age: Fact of the matter is there are so many "professional" photographers these days due to the advantages of digital photography. You have to ask though, why wasn't photography in so much demand many years ago when film was the only option My guest is that many did not see it as an easy buck as they do today. Watch out for those who have a business card and website and say they are "professional" photographers; Many of them just picked up a camera at Best Buy on their way to meet with you. fotografies gamou. . . their first camera ever. Everyone is trying to find a way to survive in this down economy. Our economy is hurting you and the photographer you may decide to hire. fotografies gamou You want to save money; they want to make a few dollars to help make ends meet. Though you two are not on the same page! You want to save money but you also want absolutely beautiful wedding pictures captured by someone who cares about your wedding day and the work they provide you as a client. Again, they want financial ends to meet. The unfortunate truth is that once your wedding is over you can not repeat the day to have it professionally captured due to the many errors made by the less experienced photographer. The nitty gritty is that EXPERIENCED PROFESSIONAL photographers cost money. There is no other way to put it. You rarely will get away with a quality photography product that did not cost more than you expected. This is because quality is learned over time and effort (training, practicing, etc). It's kind of simple really. People get college degrees and make more money than those without. Even if they do the same kind of work. Why Training, experience, dedication. . . . . . or maybe they should go to Best Buy and buy a certificate from the printer paper products section and print a degree. I dunno, but you should seriously consider being true to yourself and think about how you will feel when you look back at your wedding pictures. Do you want to talk about how bad the photographer was or do you want to cry and laugh as you think about the day while looking at great photographs That's something you have to put your money into. Current Mood: restless |
| 1:32 pm | Wedding Photography Tips for Beginners - How to Capture Candid Shots of Guests The wedding day for the bride and groom is a once in a lifetime event. It is a very unique day where emotions run crazy and anything can happen. As a photographer you need to capture this feeling: that it is a one of a kind day not only for the bride and groom, but also for everyone invited to the wedding. The photographer needs to focus not only on shots of the bride crying or the groom looking nervous, but also on candid photos of the guests. Guest candid shots help convey the uniqueness of this day to the bride and groom. It could be a photo of an uncle teary eyed, or the shy, college roommate tearing it up on the dance floor that confirms their feelings that everything seemed different on their wedding day. Obviously the best way to catch candid shots is to pay attention to what people are doing around you. But to take this one step further, you need to know what is going to happen before it happens. This means you need to start to really pay attention to the flow of events so you know what to expect. An example of knowing what to expect during the ceremony: when the priest is talking to the bride and groom. You should get your normal couple shots of the bridal couple at this point. Great. But for the next few minutes you know that the priest will keep talking, and the bride and groom are pretty much going to look the same. This is the time to turn around and see what the guests are doing. But remember it needs to be candid fotografies gamou. So what I do is I kind of take a general sweeping look at the guests behind me and face forward again. Nobody knows that I was looking at him or her, it just seems that I was looking around. Still facing forward, I have in my head the image I want to shoot of one guest in particular who I think looked to be in a moment. So I set my camera settings, then quickly turn around and get the shot before the guest realizes he or she is a photo opp. Another example of knowing what is going to happen before it happens is when the music starts and people are still too shy to get on the dance floor. But you the photographer, because you have this sixth sense for these things, know that all the little kids at the wedding are going to go play on the dance floor. Start setting your camera to a high speed setting and get out there. And remember kids are great subjects for candids. Know where they are during the wedding, and I can promise you some great candids. Try these tips at your next wedding. Thanks for reading! Current Mood:  confused |
| 11:57 am | Why Hire a Professional Wedding Photographer In this day and age there are many couples planning weddings who believe that there are many different alternatives to hiring a professional wedding photographer. Many couples choose to have a family member or friend take their wedding videos and pictures. Others decide to allow friends to take the pictures, enabling the use of disposable cameras, or trusting friends to have remembered their digital cameras and to take worthy images of the event. While these may be good ideas, they do not usually work out well for the bride and groom in the long run. Family members and friends rarely have the professional caliber photography equipment that is necessary to record an event as special as a wedding. Your wedding is a once in a lifetime event for the vast majority of couples. If your relative or friend gets distracted during the ceremony or have inferior equipment, your memories of your special day could be compromised, ending in a large amount of disappointment for the bride and groom later. Someone who is related or otherwise close to the bride and groom will be easily distractible, something that you do not want in your wedding photographer. A professional wedding photographer is someone who is professionally trained with a proven track record of success. They have sample pictures or portfolios to back up their work, and are a neutral third party. Much like a wedding planner, the professional wedding photographer is there to make the bride and groom's day easier, more enjoyable, not to interfere. They can provide you with the high quality images of your wedding day that would otherwise be missing. The second option for amateur photography at a wedding is the disposable cameras. Some couples pass these out to guests at the door, others choose to leave several on each table at the reception, encouraging their guests to take all of the pictures. One of the problems with this method is that disposable cameras do not offer a good quality image. They are actually extremely limited in their functions fotografies gamou. Though they are readily available now with a flash built in, they do not have many exposures per camera, they are expensive, and there is very rarely any zoom functionality available, little less the kind of zoom available to a professional wedding photographer. A professional will have excellent equipment made for just the kind of pictures that you will want to commemorate the day. They also have photography training and expertise that allows them to see shots that others will not, including those that your guests may take that you will not want. Where disposable cameras often generate dark, grainy pictures, a professional will have the appropriate experience to ensure that your photographic memories are of the highest quality. While there are alternatives to having a professional wedding photographer, they should be used in addition to the profession, not instead of. A professional will be able to provide you with the high quality images that you will want, not the random, dark photographs that you will not. Current Mood:  cynical |
| 10:48 am | Affordable Wedding Photographers Everyone knows how important and stressful planning a wedding can be. It is one of the most sacred days in anyone's life and also has the dubious distinction of being one of the most expensive. From planning the reception to the actual ceremony, the cost can quickly spike into a range that will leave a dent in anyone's wallet. Adding to that cost is the wedding photographer fotografies gamou. With some highly professional services charging upwards of $5000 for a complete package, things can quickly snowball into the unaffordable range. Luckily, there are a number of affordable wedding photographers available to help get things done for the right price. What To Do FirstThe first thing to do when looking for an affordable wedding photographer is to find a resource where they are listed together. Wedding photographers generally service one particular area, especially if they are not going to charge the heavy upscale package prices. Without the proper resource you can find yourself scouring through a Yellow Book or endlessly rummaging through the internet without finding anything useful. Weddingchannel dot com alleviates much of the stress in finding an affordable wedding photographer by allowing you to search for the service based on your zip code. Putting in a New York City zip code will give you dozens of different companies that provide wedding photography, and thanks to the way each one is displayed, you are a simple click away from seeing their starting price range. One such studio servicing New York City is Ben Correira Photography. The lightest package on your wallet is the Silver Package, which is described as "designed for the couple who wants limited coverage of their special day and would like to print and create their own albums fotografies gamou. " At $1000, it is relatively inexpensive as compared to the more gaudy packages that different photographers provide and features six hours of coverage time on the wedding day and unlimited shots. As with all photography services there is a gallery on the website, so you can have an idea of what type of photographs to expect. This is incredibly important, especially when you are looking to get a deal on the service. Affordable Does NOT Mean Sub-ParRemember that affordable wedding photography does not mean it has to be sub-par photography. Also, there are usually deals to be found depending on the time of the year, which can help you further save on the wedding. Using the same process for a Los Angeles zip code merited a bevy of results as well, though this time the searched was refined explicitly for photographers who provided their services starting under $1000 to get the most truly affordable packages. One of the first photographers to come up is Magic Wedding Photography and Video (magicweddingphoto. com), which has several outstanding reviews. For under $1000 the service offers two video packages, whereas their most inexpensive wedding photo packages start at $1399 for the month's special. The price of each package usually revolves around how long they are going to be around, which is important to take into account gamos. While some may be interested in capturing the entire day, the lull of the beginning can be set aside for capturing all of the important events later on. Current Mood:  listless |
| 9:32 am | Photographers Guide to Wedding Photography - Ghosting As an experienced wedding photographer in Liverpool and Manchester, I have found ghosting to be a major problem that arises on a regular basis. It is caused when light is reflected from either inside the lens barrel or elements. When photographing a wedding, it can often occur as strong light sources such as huge windows (Often seen in fantastic Tudor style buildings used for weddings), are a favourite haunt for photographers wanting to make the most out of the surroundings. Liverpool, Merseyside and Manchester are littered with venues like this and are regular haunts for me on a daily and weekly basis. It is often the case that as soon as the camera is pointed towards the subject (Let say the bride - sitting on a medieval seat right in front of the window), the risk of 'Ghosting' will be dramatically increased fotografies gamou. Doing little or nothing about this could potentially destroy what would be a fantastic photograph. However, some simple techniques can solve the problem. . . Firstly, good lenses 'Claim' to reduce the risk of ghosting, although I have yet to find one that completely stops this. Secondly, using a good UV filter will also help, but again, these can only 'Help reduce' the risk and it is often the case that shooting directly towards will still result in slight ghosting. Using packages like photo shop can also help, as spending time darkening the problem area will help reduce the negative effect ghosting gives. The best and simplest way I have found is to step sideways away from the window and angle the camera till no ghosting can be seen. Take a photograph, check it, move further sideways, take another and so on until no ghosting occurs. Many of the images I take are on angles anyway and so if I move away from 'Straight on' towards the window, lets say left, angle the camera to add a funky look to the image and then press the shutter, ghosting is minimized and a cool looking photograph is captured. When photographing weddings, one of the most important elements is that you do not keep the bride waiting. Photographers who are standing around for too long attempting to get the perfect shot will only cause concern for the bride and cause negative feeling towards you. I find as a photographer that its best to play it safe. That is why funky angles are common place in many of the photographs I take fotografies gamou. Should you as a photographer REALLY want the straight on image in front of the window, then either get the lens, filter and spend time editing or simply use the angled option, thus helping reduce the time in post production. An after thought. . . Ghosting can be a desirable effect. . . Shoot a few straight on and they may just work. Remember photographers are (Meant to be) artists, there is no right or wrong way. It is not maths. fotografies gamou . . This is just a guide. . . Current Mood: blah |
| 8:02 am | Reasons to Hire a Professional Wedding Photographer Every couple looks for ways to cut costs when planning a wedding. One that some couples consider is to skip the professional photographer, relying on a friend or other amateur to take the event pictures. Although this can be tempting, there are many reasons why you should definitely hire a professional photographer instead. There are some areas in your wedding where you can safely try to save money. For example, if you order your groomsmen gifts online instead of buying them at an overpriced specialty shop, that is being smart. Your groomsmen will still get great gifts, but you won't have to spend a fortune to get them. In some instances, you can get away with doing your own wedding flowers, and you can definitely make fantastic looking invitations on your home computer. Some elements of a wedding, though, should never be done on the cheap. If the bride's mother attempts to make her gown, and she is not a talented seamstress, the results are likely to be regrettable. The same is true of the wedding photography. These days, everyone has a digital camera and fancies themselves an expert, but the truth is that a real photographer is an artist. Having your uncle Harry take the pictures is no substitute for having your portraits taken by, and printed by, someone who really knows what they are doing. The wedding photos are something that you will have for the rest of your life. If the wedding cake was a little dry, or the band wasn't quite as good as you had hoped, at least you will be able to forget about those details over time. However, if your pictures are lousy, you will be reminded of it every time that you open your wedding album. fotografies gamou There are no do-overs. Even a skilled amateur photographer is not as good as hiring a real wedding professional. The professional photographer will know which moments are the most important to capture, and will make a point of getting them for you. On the other hand, your uncle might miss something important because he is chatting with his brother or dancing with his wife. The relative who volunteers to take the pictures will be a guest first, and your photographer second. That is definitely not good enough when it comes to your most priceless memories. Some couples think that they can find a middle ground by hiring a student to be their wedding photographer. While this might be better than leaving it up to a relative, the chances are that you will still end up with less than stellar results. A student who is not experienced with weddings is surely going to miss some of the key shots, and their eye for composition and beauty is unlikely to be as refined as that of the professional. It is just too risky to try to save a few bucks by eliminating a professional photographer for your wedding. If you leave the photography up to someone else, there will be nothing you can do if the pictures are not great when you see them after the wedding. fotografies gamou Why take a chance on something as important as the memories of your wedding. Current Mood: complacent |
| 6:30 am | Starting a Wedding Photography Business - Photography and Office Equipment Photography Equipment and Your Home OfficeSetting up a wedding photography business entails you have the appropriate gear to get the job done, on location and at home. But it doesn't mean you have to go into debt to get it done. I've seen photographers buy brand new top of the line gear spending over 10 grand only to find that they weren't able to make the business work. I started with 2 Rebel EOS cameras and some moderately priced lenses. In fact you might already have these or better. I'll go over briefly some items you'll need just to get started. I'm not going to cover top of the line items, just the minimums. You can upgrade as you go along. In my business I've moved on to Canon 5d's, Canon L series lenses and the whole shebang, but it didn't happen overnight. While the gear may be similar to other types of photography one major difference is the amount of backup items a wedding photographer has to have. BackupsThe most important lesson that I can't stress enough is to have backups of everything; back up cameras, back up lenses, back up computers, back up images, back up memory cards, back up everything. Because while you may never need any of them, the one time you don't have a backup camera, your shutter will lock up and you will have just cost a bride and groom their images. Even with photographer's insurance at this point you'd be hard pressed to justify the failure to the insurance company, not to mention the bride and groom. I've had memory cards fail, hard drives dropped, cameras lock up, images deleted, and computers crash. Luckily I heeded the advice of wedding photographers before me and had backups in place. So in closing, backup, backup, backup! Photography EquipmentIf I was posting in a forum I'd get flamed for telling you this next bit. When starting off don't go out and buy the top end camera gear. There are three different categories camera gear falls into. Consumer (average joe), pro-sumer (avid hobbyists) and pro (for people who do this for a living). The problem is when you start off in wedding photography you're not doing this for a living yet. You're trying to do this for a living. So live within your means and purchase gear that will work for your price range. I started with Rebel EOS XT cameras and while I wouldn't want to go back to using them I see nothing wrong with them. Cut your teeth learning on a Rebel EOS and you'll be that much better when you can afford a 5D. When it comes to lenses there are lots of options, but if you're on a budget most Canon lenses won't be on your plate and that's ok. There are other lens makers out there that put out quality products. I'm also only listing a workhorse lens and 1 fixed lens. I'm not going to go into the telephoto lenses because in my opinion they aren't a requirement. I didn't get one for a year until I could afford the Canon 70-200 IS L series lens fotografies gamou. I'm also only listing Canon gear but if you're a Nikon fan the go for it. Here is a listing of some essential items, remember double what you see here and backup, backup, backup. EOS Rebel XTI or XS without the Kit, the lens in the kit isn't worth the money Sigma 24-70mm F 2. 8 EX Dg lens, less than half the cost of its Canon counterpart and to be honest I still use it as my workhorse lens. I'd be hard pressed to pay over double for the slight gain in quality that you'd get for the Canon 24-70 L series lens. There is also the Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2. 8 XR Di LD lens which is close in quality to the Sigma and a bit cheaper. I used it for awhile and now it is my backup lens. Canon EF 50mm f/1. 8, very inexpensive and great for low lighting. But it is fixed so if you haven't shot with one before remember, there is no zoom, your feet are the zoom. 4 GB memory cards, as many as you can afford. Regardless of what some might tell you the brand doesn't matter. I've had the most expensive ones fail and some of the cheapest ones are still going strong, backup often and change your cards often. Don't buy larger than 4 gigs or you'll be tempted to put a lot of the wedding on one card, BAD IDEA. Canon 430ex II flash. You could go with a cheaper flash, but to be honest I wouldn't. Lighting at receptions requires at least the power of a 430ex II flash. Your backup can be a Sigma or something similar. Later on upgrade to the 580's. Tripod and Monopod. You may not like shooting with these but in low light conditions they can help to limit camera shake and help to sharpen your pictures. Camera Bags. Backup batteries for you camera and flash (as many as you can afford) Office EquipmentYour office will need just as many redundant (backup) items as your photography gear. I'm not going to go into specifics about processors and such, because they change too often. Needless to say you'll need a computer that can handle Photoshop or whatever graphics program you are using. I'd say you need a second computer in case yours crashes but if you can't afford that you'll at least need to be able to gain access to another PC if yours dies. You'll need a large amount of hard drive space within the PC/Mac and at a minimum one external hard drive with a large amount of space. If you can't afford an external hard drive then you'll need to back everything up to DVD's. After every wedding you should backup all your images onto the computer's hard drive and a second external hard drive or DVD set. Then whatever you do don't leave your external drive or DVD's in the same location. I keep mine at a close friend's house. If your house burns down your customers will only care if they get their images or not. There are lots of other things for your office that you can buy for your wedding photography business but this should cover the essentials. Current Mood: ecstatic |
| 5:09 am | The Biggest Marketing Tool in Wedding Photography Business There are many ways to advertise your upcoming new business in photography, but there is nothing that beats Online Marketing. Here are only a few reasons why not having an online presence is a very bad move in the photography business. fotografies gamou Most of the brides start their search by looking on internet. Most of the time people will search for your business online even if they are discussing with you offline. Your competitors are already having a website and can advertise on your business name too. A business without a website raises eyebrows. New generation brides and grooms are much more internet savvy and want similar vendors. Having highlighted the negatives, let me tell you some of the benefits of having a website in this particular business. You will have your own internet based business, as well as an official business email (not a free email like yahoo or gmail). You can put your entire portfolio online. This can include your best pictures, wedding albums of past clients. You can also create online slideshows with music effects to look way better. You can use free online marketing ideas like joining community sites, blogging and interaction in forums. You will build more contacts that will bring you additional revenue. You can utilize paid online marketing options like Google Adwords or banner advertising to drive more clients to your website. You can list your business on online yellow pages and directories. Some of these options are free and will bring you more clients and recognition. You can list yourself on online maps and local listings that are gaining prominence with GPRS enabled devices and search engines. Those are some of the key benefits. However, there is something more that makes websites the biggest marketing tool to wedding photographers. The key to this marketing strategy lies in the fact that wedding photography business is still predominantly a local business. Most of your clients will come from your area and city. Most of the photographer's don't like to travel either. As such it is quite easy to find your clients. But on Internet this is even more easier. Modern online advertising technology allows you to pick clients from a very specific location down to the block level. This means that you can show your advertisement to people who are living close by. Also, certain online agencies allow you to pick people based on demographics, so your advertisement can be shown only to people of right gender or age. Think of it this way, you can place your ad right before prospective brides looking for a wedding photographer. No other tool available there allows you to so precisely pin point your prospects and show them with the right advertisement. You can only imagine the response rate such a strategy will generate. Current Mood: lazy |
| 3:53 am | Wedding Photography - My Creative Tricks and Tips Techniques, 4 Stunning Effects, 4 PicturesThe Zoom Drag (1/10th of a second, f/4, 70mm->24mm) This shot is perfect for dancing couples at receptions. The couple captured in a moment in the center of the frame - a background of streaking lights blurred in bocca behind them, it's simply beautiful. To achieve this effect, I've found a dark scene on the dance floor where there are a bunch of small ambient lights in the background. I have a flash a external flash on my camera and I'm bouncing it off the ceiling to get good light onto the bride and her father. Putting the shutter at 1/10th of a second, and the aperture at f/4, I'm zoomed in all the way at 70mm on my 24-70mm lens. I brace myself, because as soon as I click the shutter, I zoom out as fast as possible, hoping to get to 24mm as soon as the shutter closes. If executed correctly, the couple will be sharp, captured by the flash of my camera, while the lighting in the background will be dragged across the background. Getting the timing right takes some practice, but it's worth it. The Open Shutter Spin (1/50th of a second, f/2. fotografies gamou 8, 24mm) Another technique that will give you stunning images at a reception. Find a similar setting, dark dance floor with lots of cool source ambient lights in the frame. Position your flash to light a dancing couple, choose a focal length, and then brace yourself for the shot. Hold the camera out from your face a little bit, and as soon as you press the shutter, rotate the camera counter clockwise (clockwise if your lefty) as fast as you can. This will freeze the couple in the center of the frame, while dragging the ambient lights in the surreal and beautiful to create a beautiful framing effect. The Candid Shot (>50mm) It's always the case. A moment is happening, you lift your camera to your eye, frame the scene, and then-the bride or groom stares you in the face and the moment is ruined. Catching candid moments without ruining them is hard work. So I cheat. I use my super-secret spy lens from Photojojo at . This lens, looks just like a normal lens, but it has a 45 degree mirror in it and a circular hole in the barrel that lets you take pictures sideways. You have to see it to believe it, but this attachment lets me take pictures of moments through the entire wedding without anyone ever looking up and ruining my picture. Candids just got a lot easier folks. The Budget Ring Flash Another tech trick. Ring flashes produce vibrant light that makes your clients look like high-fashion models. . . but. . . they cost somewhere between $300 and $500 dollars. The Good News is, I've found the "CoCo Ring Flash". Google it! This baby takes the light from your external flash and uses fiber optics to re-route the light into a circular pattern JUST LIKE A RING FLASH! And it's only $50 at stores like Amazon. It looks fantastic, and you'll clients won't will be thrilled with the unique images you can produce with it. That's all for now, keep shooting and innovating your creativity! Check out my website to see examples of me using these techniques as well. Current Mood: ecstatic |
| 2:38 am | Wedding Photography Tips for Beginners - Properly White Balancing Your Photos Part 1 A wedding by its nature can last many hours and have many different locations. For these reasons will find yourself taking pictures where there are many different light sources that will affect the white balance of your photos. For example, you may be shooting in a church that has a lot of candles and tungsten lights, but later in the night you may find your flashes competing with the lights on the dance floor. In part one of this article, I am going to give you some tips on how to be aware of your light sources, and tips on shooting images with correct white balance in basic situations. In part two, I am going to continue these tips in more complex lighting situations. The first and most important tip I can give is to shoot in RAW. RAW is much more forgiving than JPG. In JPG, your image is stuck with the white balance setting you had on the camera when you shot the photo. With RAW, even if you had your white balance set wrong on your camera while shooting, you will later be able to adjust the white balance while editing your photos. Moreover, most of the programs to edit RAW have a white balance tool. This means while editing your photo in one of these programs, you just need to click on the white balance tool, and then click on a part of the photo that should look white fotografies gamou. You are shooting a wedding right Then in almost every picture you will either have a bride in a white dress to click on, or else the white shirts of the men in the wedding. If that doesn't work, sometimes you can click on the table napkins in the background, or another trick of mine is to click on the whites of a person's eyes in a photo. But this white balance tool only works if there are not competing sources of light. So on to the next tip. The second tip I can offer you is to pay attention to your light sources. It is easy to recognize when your light source is sunlight, but also recognize when your light source is tungsten or fluorescent. Furthermore, you need to make sure there are not competing light sources when possible. This means if you are using a fill flash, it may need a colored gel to match your main light source. Don't worry; this is a lot easier than it sounds. The color temperature of a flash without any gels is made to match natural daylight. So if you are using the flash as fill outside during normal daylight hours (that is, not sunrise or sunset) you don't need any colored gels. The same goes if you are shooting indoors and your main light is the daylight coming in through the windows. I find myself in this situation a lot when I am shooting the bride getting ready. It is usually still early in the day and most of the light is natural daylight. If there are some small lamps on in the room, I may turn them off so that the only light sources are the daylight coming in the window, and my fill flash. I hope these tips help you begin to recognize the many different possible light sources you may find during a wedding. In part two of this article, I will explain how achieve correct light balance in more complex situations. Current Mood: high |
| 12:57 am | Why Hire a Professional Wedding Photographer In this day and age there are many couples planning weddings who believe that there are many different alternatives to hiring a professional wedding photographer. Many couples choose to have a family member or friend take their wedding videos and pictures. Others decide to allow friends to take the pictures, enabling the use of disposable cameras, or trusting friends to have remembered their digital cameras and to take worthy images of the event. fotografies gamou While these may be good ideas, they do not usually work out well for the bride and groom in the long run. Family members and friends rarely have the professional caliber photography equipment that is necessary to record an event as special as a wedding. Your wedding is a once in a lifetime event for the vast majority of couples. If your relative or friend gets distracted during the ceremony or have inferior equipment, your memories of your special day could be compromised, ending in a large amount of disappointment for the bride and groom later. Someone who is related or otherwise close to the bride and groom will be easily distractible, something that you do not want in your wedding photographer. fotografies gamou A professional wedding photographer is someone who is professionally trained with a proven track record of success. They have sample pictures or portfolios to back up their work, and are a neutral third party. Much like a wedding planner, the professional wedding photographer is there to make the bride and groom's day easier, more enjoyable, not to interfere. They can provide you with the high quality images of your wedding day that would otherwise be missing. The second option for amateur photography at a wedding is the disposable cameras. Some couples pass these out to guests at the door, others choose to leave several on each table at the reception, encouraging their guests to take all of the pictures. One of the problems with this method is that disposable cameras do not offer a good quality image. fotografies gamou They are actually extremely limited in their functions. Though they are readily available now with a flash built in, they do not have many exposures per camera, they are expensive, and there is very rarely any zoom functionality available, little less the kind of zoom available to a professional wedding photographer. A professional will have excellent equipment made for just the kind of pictures that you will want to commemorate the day. They also have photography training and expertise that allows them to see shots that others will not, including those that your guests may take that you will not want. Where disposable cameras often generate dark, grainy pictures, a professional will have the appropriate experience to ensure that your photographic memories are of the highest quality. While there are alternatives to having a professional wedding photographer, they should be used in addition to the profession, not instead of. A professional will be able to provide you with the high quality images that you will want, not the random, dark photographs that you will not. Current Mood: recumbent |
| Sunday, May 6th, 2012 | |
| 12:24 am | Looking For A Wedding Photographer Questions To Ask Wedding pictures are a treasure for many couples as it captures and seals moments in time that are precious to them. This is why it is important for one to choose a wedding photographer that will capture those moments in the best way possible. Here are a few things to keep in mind when selecting such a person. One of things a person should consider is how they want their pictures to be taken. Everyone has a different style that appeals to them. Some photographers are more traditional in their approach while others may take a more journalistic style. There are others that may even do both styles. Some couples love a more traditional approach and some like to have pictures that are in the moment. It is important that the couple sit down with the photographer and see what he or she has to offer. fotografies gamou If they are a true artist and devoted to their craft, they may offer suggestions that might help to enhance whatever ideas you already have in mind. fotografies gamou It helps when you can look at the portfolio to see what they have already accomplished. This provides a chance to see what style they are use to and if it is what you are looking for. There is also a chance to see how other photos have turned out and if you like it, most likely the same style will be right for you. One will also get a chance to see how well this person works in difficult settings. This could be things like dim lighting and other tricky situations. Dim lights do not help to create great pictures so this could be an important factor. It might also be a good idea to find out what kind of equipment is normally used and if an assistant will be needed. When you have decided what you want to do, it is important to make sure that everything is put in writing. This includes things like the pricing, number of prints, size of the photos and when they will be available. In case of a mishap, you will have documentation to prove what was agreed upon. Photography cost quite a bit of money and has to fit into the budget. It helps to know what different professionals have to offer so that you are able to decide as a couple what the best price will be. You will also have to think about how the photos will be used and who you will be giving them to. This will affect the budget as well and not just the fee that has to be paid. Finding a wedding photographer can be easier if you know exactly what you want. There are many places online with examples of pictures taken by professionals so that you can see what appeals to you. It is also best to ask different friends and relatives who they suggest especially if they have photos that you admire. This could save you time and money. Current Mood:  curious |
| Saturday, May 5th, 2012 | |
| 11:01 pm | Good Reasons To Obtain Indian Desi Wedding Photographers Photographs at a wedding are so very important for the bridal couple. These snap shots are going to be stark reminders of this very special day for as long as the married couples life together. Indian Desi Wedding Photographers are available to make this incredibly important day especially memorable gamos. fotografies gamou Taking photographs cannot be done by just anyone. There are many factors to consider when doing this. The last thing a newly married couple wants is a bunch of photographs that have been messed up. The photographer must be able to capture the subjects looking at their most natural. This is achieved by combining light and composition in a way that creates stunning selections of images. This is what creates photos that are worthy of being kept for a lifetime. Such pictures are obtained when a couple feels comfortable with the person taking the pictures. Couples should make sure that choose a person that knows what he or she is doing. Many people do this for a living or even part-time to earn some extra money. If the photographer is part-time couples should especially ask to see some of the previous work that has been done. Even with professional full-time companies this should be the case. Indian brides often want something that is unique to the traditional Asian wedding. They want the best that money can buy and also want the photographer to understand what is required. Indian weddings can be very different to traditional affairs of this nature and thrown into the mix is weddings that are attended by large amounts of people. As this race traditionally has huge extended families it is very likely that there will be a huge crowd at the celebration. The picture taker needs to understand all of this and also to be aware of timing within in the Indian culture. Certain companies specialize in these kinds of ceremonies and some of them have client bases that are seventy percent Muslim, Sikh or Hindu. Many of them have female photographers if this is required. Some of them are even experienced in taking pictures at Chinese ceremonies. Many of these are based in the United States as a result of the large Asian community in the area. Most of these companies offer quotes that include free travel. Couples can go into the offices of these larger companies or they can look at their websites to get a feel for the quality of work and their prices. Most often there will be certain Wedding photography packages that can be chosen. Furthermore, many of them will issue couples with a free no obligation quotation. Many of these Indian Desi Wedding Photographers will not only do Bridal Portraits or wedding photographs they will do photography for other occasions as well. This could include events photography or corporate get togethers. These functions could be team-building exercises or company awards gala evenings fotografies gamou. As there are many of these companies around, time should be spent selecting the best company to use. Make a list of the companies that were impressive in terms of price and of course the quality of work. Couples seeking to get married should not be scared to ask for a discount. Current Mood:  nerdy |
| 9:48 pm | Tips For Outdoor Wedding Photography - How to Get the Best Pictures Possible Outdoor wedding photography creates an eloquent story of your special day. The beautiful scenes, the sunlight, and the fresh air really sets the scene for romance. Unfortunately, light, clouds, wind, and even the elements are never the same from moment to moment. Since the natural elements are quite different from the indoors, there are several things you will need to consider in order to help even the best wedding photographers to get good pictures. Choose A Good BackgroundLike with indoor wedding photography, there are things you want to include in a background because they add to the picture and things that are best left out. Standing on the edge of a hill with the mountains in the backdrop, for instance, would make stunning pictures. Having a car in the background is not what you want to see. If it does happen, it isn't the end of the world. For wedding photographers, this might mean they will shoot from a different angle or use a different lens and focus setting to blur out the background. Small settings work just as well for wedding photography as large backdrops. A small background needs texture in the background to help set up the scene for you. This could include things like a fountain, architecture, shrubs, and even walkways fotografies gamou. Many couples actually prefer the smaller settings for the intimate feelings wedding photographers can create with them. Natural LightingStrong natural sunlight can make it very difficult to take good pictures. It creates very distinct shadows on the photographs and very bright areas. While it does create dramatic photographs, it isn't always the best. In this instance, the shade or even a cloudy day creates a nice soft lighting for photographs. About an hour before sunset and sunrise are the times when the lighting is the best, mostly because the light takes on a golden color that adds a nice touch to most locations fotografies gamou. Consider Black And WhiteBecause of the rich textures usually found in outdoor wedding photography, having the photograph make some or all of the portraits black and white can be a nice touch. The added texture from foliage and architecture is highlighted just enough to keep the pictures interesting. fotografies gamou As an added benefit, eliminating the color from a photograph also works well with pictures taken in the strong light. Worse Case ScenariosHaving wedding portraits taken outdoors means you and the wedding photographers will be dealing with nature. Swarms of little flies or dust make small little marks in the pictures. If it is extremely windy, very hot, or cold, it will show up in the faces of the subjects as well. Things such as snow and rain show up as marks in the photographs. If you are having the pictures taken inside of a large gazebo or covered structure, the snow or rain in the background can actually make a nice background for your portraits. However, it is always a good idea to have an alternative plan in place in order to prepare for the unexpected. Whether you are in an exotic location or downtown Chicago, wedding photography taken outdoors is a great way to get unique backgrounds for your portraits and even the ceremony itself. Along with the beautiful scenery, however, comes the realm of possibilities and unexpected occurrences. Planning, careful selection of the location, and even the time the pictures are taken will have a huge impact on the final story wedding photographers capture. Current Mood: irate |