Professional Pictures

I made my photographer's blog this weekend. Lovely.

You can see all the pictures he posted at Jason Angelini Photography

Other Weddings at Our Venue

Swept Away Studios This my favorite picture at Sunken Gardens hands down!

It's that gorgeous? This photographer has some beautiful stuff. This is my favorite of this wedding, but I also really like the one looking up from the hearts on the sidewalk. I've never noticed any hearts so I'm wondering if those are sidewalk chalk? Cool idea. She also got lots of beautiful pictures of the couples through the trees. They had their whole wedding at SG just like we will. Also, how did they get permission for sparklers? Unless the rule changed after their wedding... They didn't cover the frames or decorate the pillar. Which was the case with most of the weddings I found.

My second overall favorite group of wedding photos from our venue was from Loving Legacy Photography Here's my favorite shot:

This is the stage with the cool old tree growing out of it that I LOVE. This bride did all her group shots there, great minds. Mike informed me that the took the tree out, bummer! Beautiful first look shots too! Unfortunately this couple partied post nuptials at a hotel so I didn't get any reception decor inspiration from them.

This one is from P.L. Carrillo Photography

While I found most of these wedding pictures to be a little boring, I really like this shot. Adding cave picture to my must take photo list for sure. So, pretty! There are so many great spots for pictures I'm getting so excited. This couple dressed up their Garden Room Reception with rented lights. They chose not to cover the frames either. Although they turned the sconces off.

This one is by Maria Angela Photography Must find cool old gate!

This was another wedding where it was really hard to pick a favorite! I also LOVE the one of the bride and groom under the vines. So neat. They really wondered around for their photos and made the most of the gardens. I also love their pictures because besides being awesome they were one of the only evening weddings I found. They used the Garden Room, but they only draped fabric from the ceiling. Interesting effect, but I doubt, if we do our job, guests will be looking up.

This one's from Stephanie A. Smith Photography

This is lovely! I hope I can work out the time line so we can hang my dress from the trees. They had a small outdoor reception so no decor inspiration from them. Again they left to guests waving sparklers...hmmm...

Hilary Mercer Photography I don't think this beautiful tree is anywhere near our ceremony site, but what a great picture.

We've definitely picked the right venue. So many must take photo spots! I'm still completely in love with our photographer even after letting myself scroll through photography blogs all day. I also feel that even if we only have our centerpieces on white tables cloths (Mike's vision is much grander) the reception will be beautiful.

Engagement Photos

Outdoor Photo Shoot with Lara Coughlin Photography July 2011.

Disabled Bride Vs The Camera

Ok, so after my post the other day and all the uncertainity about just how many wheelchair users will be in the family photos on the wedding day with my dad and I both post op I started searching for wedding photos that feature at least one person in a wheelchair.

So far I turned up this beautiful outdoor engagment session by Sweet Caroline Photography. I think the hammock ones are my favorite.

Here's a bit of humor for you from Derek Pye Photography
One thing I have noticed over the years is that even the best clients will have an elderly relative in a wheelchair. This isn't a problem if you're shooting Reportedge™ as you can get some dramatic action shots using the chair. It´s a different matter with Traditional wedding photography as no one wants an ugly wheelchair in the shots and it messes up the composition, having someone sat down when everyone else is stood up. One solution is to carry a spare wheelchair in the boot and coerce a willing guest to sit in it on the opposite side, to balance things out. Alternatively if the cripple can stand a bit then get them out of the chair and prop them against a nearby wall. You can then set the group up around them.

Under no circumstances should you Photoshop the spastic out of the chair and onto made up legs. You will get complaints if you do this. Trust me!

So, there's the old photoshop new legs solution, in the worst case senario. In all sriousness I kept looking and while images are scarce I did find this wedding party shot by Whitney Lee, it has a very pleasing composition. Levels and distances (forgive me I do not know photography terms) and you almost miss that there's a wheelchair in the picture. I think the rich colors help too.

I also really love this one by L'amour Photography:

There's something to be said for that happy glow that makes even the most obsessive bride-to-be stop scrutinizing the chairs or bridesmaids dresses and think "wow, they look happy". I felt that looking at Stacy & Daniel's wedding pictures for sure. No, I wouldn't have worn those shoes or let two people support me down the aisle, but damn if I don't get warm and fuzzy looking at these pictures.

More Love For My Photographer

This picture is amazing. I adore it. Is it the groom pre-wedding kiss? Or Ex of the brides bemoaning her soon to be married status? It's such a fairy tale illustration. Wow, Jason.

Speaking of magic...

We Have Lift Off!

My to-do's are shrinking with every vendor we book. Today was the one I'd been looking forward to most, the photographer! I could barely sleep last night for excitement. It felt like Christmas. I'd been pouring over this man's beautiful pictures for years and now I was going to meet him.

You know how brides fall in love with the first dress they try on and refuse to believe it could really be the one? They try on more dresses and ultimately none can measure up and then in the end they buy the first one. That's how it was for me and my photographer. Years ago when we started planning I was on the local knot board and someone gave him a glowing review. I looked at and bookmarked his site back then.

When I came back to wedding planning for real I remembered that I had wanted this guy, but it couldn't possibly be that simple. Could it? I researched (looked at galleries online, read reviews on the knot and wedding wire and sometimes emailed) about 15 or so photographers. I Narrowed it down to 5 choices, but he was still #1. Out the 5 two were amazing and about a $1,000 over my max budget so they were out. Another one never replied to my email so she was out too. That only left two.

In the narrowing down process you do start to feel very self important. It's easy to see were people could easily take it to a dark place. For me it more like working again and hiring employees or better yet being a team captain at PE class and picking the best team mates. I hated PE and I was never picked any sooner than dead last, but I digress. This decision was the most crucial he or she would document everyone else's work and my day so I could keep it forever. BIG DECISION.

In the end I went with the one I loved first because he had the best deal. Flat rate for 10hrs of coverage. When I typed that I heard Don't Wanna Miss A Thing playing in my head! No purchase requirements at all. He comes and takes pretty pictures all day and when the proofs are up I can decided what I want to buy. Makes sense to me. My second choice would have covered 4hrs at a discounted rate and cost more per hour (plus who wants they're second choice?).

His name is Jason Angelini he's been a photogrpher for over 8yrs and shooting weddings for 4ish years. He told me he's about to hit 500 weddings. Here's his website: Jason Angelini Photography

Love this. And...

This


My favorite.
And so many, many more. Hurray! We have a place, a date, a time, a meal, a florist and a photographer. That's everything that needed to be figured out now. In the next few weeks the guests will get their save the dates and can start tasting some cakes.

Photography

This is a huge decision for me. I have a lot of wonderful photographers in my life, but I also have a no working guests policy. I keep adding names to the list instead of subtracting them. There are so many wonderful gifted photographers out there and I deserve to have one of them. The only things I will get to keep after the wedding will be the ring and the photos.

My new planner suggests interviewing no more than five of each vendor. I'm so decisive I'd been laughing at that advice, but this is the list where narrowing it down to five was really hard. I knew my budget and that I wanted a modern/photo journalistic approach. I also knew that I don't care about an album or prints (so long as I have some time to order them afterward). The trouble is, as with any creative professional there is no standardization in how they price their services. Some charge by the hour, some do a flat rate, some have packages and some have everything a la cart. Some limit the number of proofs and prints and some give you everything. I knew I wanted as many hours as possible and a DVD of all images.

That being said it's hard to compare prices because one is more than the other but gives more hours and includes a DVD or not..., etc. There was one or two I really liked and sadly erased from the list because regardless of what they were offering they were too expensive. It's much harder to compare the ones that are close in price. Like I said none of them charge the same way.

I narrowed it down to two front runners and two alternatives. I sent the gallery links to the bridesmaids and my mom for feedback. I read all the lists of "questions to ask" in regards to the photographer. I emailed the two who didn't share pricing information on their sites. I heard back from one which puts her leagues ahead of the competition I love quick responses. Also, I love her photos. Now I'm taking Mike's advise and writing out the minimum and maximum I would take or want from each to get a price range for each of them.

Not everything in wedding planning is magical. I didn't find "the one" when I picked the dress. I got resourceful and made it what I wanted. Very effective with fabric not so much with vendors...I want to choose wisely. Not solely on talent or likability, but some combination of the two.