Wedding Videography: Why Use a Professional

Photography has always been deemed a critical component of weddings. In the past, however, many brides have accepted the offer of a friend or family member to camcord their wedding …… only to be disappointed with the results.
Hiring the services of a professional videographer is actually more necessary than what people realize and many disappointed brides can atteste to that fact. As a result, PROFESSSIONAL videography is gaining ground as far as weddings are concerned.
Here are some of the problems associated with amateur equipment and experience.
· The operator is unfamiliar with the flow and demands of the event. (Weddings are actually more difficult to record than most, if not all other events, due to so many key moments happening within such a crammed timeline!)..
· Use of a camera without an adequate tripod and other support or weight devices will pose a problem in stabilization and results in shaky footage.
· Most people only have one camcorder and a single angle makes for very boring coverage. (Okay, call me Simon, but it’s the truth.)
· Inadequate battery capacity limits recording time. (Wedding and reception can coverage last for hours!)
· Inferior sound capabilities result in inability to understand or even begin to hear what's being said.
· ALL consumer grades and even some semi-pro equipment cannot handle low lighting conditions. Low or other difficult lighting situations with these camcorders often results in grainy or even non-existent footage.
· Lack of editing software, equipment, and knowledge of how to properly edit a video means a long, single angle video that only you and Mom might enjoy..... hopefully!
· Last, but not least, it puts a great burden on one who would otherwise be your guest. It may also jeopardize feelings being hurt.
Even better than hiring a professional photographer and videographer separately, ask your photographer who they would recommend. They have had the opportunity to work with most of the videographers in your area. Also, since videographers often supply samples of their work to photographers in hopes to get referrals, your photographer has probably seen edited footage of many. Wanting to recommend a videographer who matches their style, some photographers have even partnered with a particular videographer. This ensures you have a team that works well together, respects each other's responsibilities and needs, and whose common goal is to deliver a premium product in BOTH your photography and video. That way, you DO get the best of both worlds!

The Perfect Make-up for your Wedding Photography

Every bride desires her complexion and make-up to be flawless in her wedding pictures. Here are a few tips to help you achieve a beautiful look that will last throughout your wedding day.
1- Make-up color should match your shoulders, arms and neck. If you are planning to tan, wait until you have achieved the color you desire to actually purchase your foundation and then tan only for maintenance.
2- Concealers can cover blemishes and even skin tones. Make sure they are well- blended for best results.
3- Powder "sets" your make-up. For brides with oily skin, or for those who perspire, keep a compact handy to freshen up as needed.
4- Shine can appear as a white area in pictures, because it reflects light so use matte finishes. Avoid the urge to use glitter and glosses.
5- Use waterproof mascara. Not only is it more stable, but in the event you do cry, your mascara will not run. Several light coats ensure long evenly coated lashes.
6- Never tweeze on your wedding day. Do so a few days ahead to ensure time for any blotching or bumps that arise as a result will have time to fade.
6- If possible, use the services of a make-up professional. Not only will you benefit from a beautiful application, but their knowledge of color and density, will make it well worth the investment. Otherwise, practice ahead of time to ensure you have the right combination of make-up and colors.
7- Many companies now offer lipstick with lasting color. Or, apply regular lipstick and powder, then re-apply lipstick. And remember, check your teeth to ensure no lipstick smears!

Wedding Photography and Special Effects with Photoshop

Photoshop is a computer software program that enables photographers to achieve many special effects in photography today. One popular look in wedding photography is to convert the bride to black and white and leave her flowers in color. While this is a popular effect, it is only the tip of the iceberg as far as what can be achieved in Photoshop. Photoshop offers many conversion options, limited only by the imagination.
Some basics include: conversion to black and white or sepia (which is the brown and tan look of an antique photograph); super-imposing photos for a double-exposed look; muting or enhancing the colors; adding ragged and other type borders; softening part of the photo while leaving the remainder as sharp and clear; altering color composition to soften, brighten or change completely; add a glowing effect; etc.
More complicated techniques allow us to open the eyes if the subject blinked, or remove a person from a picture altogether. We can even take a favorite shot of the bride and groom and put them in the setting of their honeymoon location.
Obviously, Photoshop opens a world of possibilities today. If you can imagine a change you’d like in a photo, it can be achieved in Photoshop. As said earlier, we are limited only by our imagination. So dream…….. and request the effect you are wanting!

Wedding Photography: To Tan or Not To Tan?

In today’s society, getting a beautiful tan is easy. There is an abundance of tanning salons available, many now offering "spray tanning" in addition to tanning beds. Tanning offers a nice warm glow to skin tones and can be a beautiful asset to your wedding day photography. The question, however, is this. How much tan is appropriate and what are the considerations?
The ideal tan is a medium tone. Many brides want the deep dark "Hawaiian" tan for their special day. Too much of a tan looks harsh and unnatural, actually detracting from the pictures. Also, especially if you skin tone is pale to begin with, too much tanning could result in a burn and peeling rather than a nice even tan. Strive for a color that looks natural.
Spray tanning can prevent burning and peeling but there are two considerations:
1) It usually only lasts a few days, and
2) it can smear on your wedding dress, especially when perspiring on a warm day.
If you are considering a spray tan, I would suggest trying it a few weeks ahead and wearing light clothing the next few days to determine how much rubs off and when. That way, you can plan for the ideal time to get sprayed before your wedding.
My recommendation? Do get a tan, but don’t go overboard. A healthy natural glow looks best!

Choosing the Right Wedding Photographer

Choosing the right photographer for your wedding can be a monumental task. After all, once your day is over, the only way to share those precious memories is through your pictures. Need it be said? NEVER trust your wedding day photography (still pictures or video!) to an amateur! The reason I encourage you to use a professional is that even many professional photographers hate shooting weddings because of the demands of the day, Wedding events are fast-paced, with events happening simultaneously (especially while both bride and groom are getting ready) and moving from one location to another. Critical shots may be difficult to get because of a wedding party member arriving late or guests arriving early. Camera-toting guests, although well-meaning, often interfere with or crowd the scene, making it difficult to achieve the best angle for a shot. Also, flashing at the same can causing exposure to be off. So, if professionals, who are experienced can find shooting weddings frustrating, how much more the amateur will.
First of all, in choosing the right photographer, you will see that each has his or her own unique style. Do you like mostly candids? Look for a photojournalist. Do you want your "posed" shots to look more relaxed? Avoid those whose pictures tend to have the "tin soldier, say "cheese" look And, consider the backgrounds. Do you really want everything posed at the altar or do you prefer a variety of backgrounds? Note in their "show albums" how & where your photographer poses critical shots.
Secondly, do you like that potential photographer? This may seem an odd consideration, but it is important to hire an individual you feel you can work with. Do they seem "approachable" or do you think working with their personality style would be difficult? If your photographer makes talking pictures enjoyable, your pictures will reflect it. By the same token, if he/she is arrogant or unapproachable, then your picture taking can be frustrating & cumbersome and the final product will also be affected.
What type of album options does the photographer offer? Can you order either the traditional leather album or do they also offer the new coffee table book style? Do they have the capability and knowledge to offer special effects? (Ask if they are proficient in Photoshop.) Are they versatile enough to shoot color but in a style that can also be converted to black and white. (The beauty of true black and white photography lies in its simplicity – i.e., details, close-ups, interesting angles, unique textures, etc) While any photograph can be converted to black and white, true black and white is more about artistry than converting a color photograph.
Another consideration is the gender and number of photographers you are hiring. There is a definite advantage in having a male/female team. While the bride and bridesmaids are getting dressed, they will be comfortable with a female photographer in the room taking shots of the hanging dress, girls doing each other’s hair, make-up & painting toenails, the bride’s re-action to the just delivered bouquets, etc. It is not until everyone is completely ready that a sole male photographer could enter the bridal dressing room. By that time, many of these images are forfeited. Another advantage to having two photographers is that you get two perspectives. My husband and I shoot together and often will shoot the same pose. He will stand off to the side a bit and take his picture after mine. When the pictures come back from the lab, I may have taken a frontal full length shot while his is a close-up of just the couple’s faces to get their expressions from a side view. This option also enables you to get a far greater number of pictures because of time utilization and efficiency.
So, basically, it boils down to three things: Style, Personality and Capabilities