a little bit for me, a little bit for you!
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Emily with Lola Floral is so incredibly talented. She is unique and elegant all at the same time. This event was put together for the Dinner d'Elegance tour which is an annual event with some of the finest examples of automotive art and design worldwide as the host of the new Pacific Northwest at the Le May Museum in Tacoma, Washington. The details in the centerpieces and emasculate, and don't even get me started on the working headlights hanging from the bar. Incredible work Emily!
Coordinate colors
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Wear Layers
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Things Not to Wear
Photographers are creatives, and we love to design. I design create and custom design guestbooks for all of my brides. Why? Because I love doing it, and my brides love them even more. Once your amazing engagment images have been edited. I work with my brides on choosing the right images, and adding personal touches to create an album that is a one of kind. When it comes to the wedding day, this guest book will be out on your welcome table for your guest to leave notes of love, advice, and praise.
What an incredible custom piece, that you will have for years, and one day hopefully pass along to your children. Now, why aren't all photographers doing this??
As Photographers we get distracted (well, I know I do anyways), which is not always a bad thing when it comes to the creative process. Although, the other day I was organizing a styled shoot, and I was thinking about which powered strobe I was going to use, debated between a beauty dish, and 5 foot octabox, and don't even get me started on lens selection. I thought to myself, I need to go back to basics, I need to remember my roots, and KISS!!! Yes, kiss my husband, but also Keep It Simple Stupid! So, don't over complicate things, and try to getting back to basics with these 3 photography tips.
KISS - Keep It Simple Stupid, don't over complicate your images. Make a plan for your day, and make a plan for your shots. Have a vision for what you want to accomplish, and don't over complicate the shoot. Try using simple repetitive patterns, leading lines, and keep the subject unmistakable. The Rule of Thirds can be as a guideline to creating visually gratifying images as well. The rule of thirds breaks your frame into 9 squares that are roughly the same size. Attempt to line up the subject of your image along these lines, or where the lines intersect. This rule gives simplicity to your images, and is more captivating then a subject being placed dead center of the frame. But, remember kids, rules are mean to be broken!
What? An image with less? Negative space, or the absence of clutter can be as powerful as the above, rule of thirds. Simply put, Negative Space is the space that surrounds an object in an image. This area often creates a simplification of the image, and creates greater focus on the subject. Negative Space can be very powerful, and should be uncluttered. This can often be achieved though different methods, such as compression - grab a 70-200mm and take advantage of the compression you can achieve with that $2500 paperweight. Shallow Depth of field - choose a low f stop 1.2, 1.8, 2.0, etc and use that bokeh to your benefit to declutter, and create beautiful Negative Space.
We often overcomplicate our light sources, flash, strobe, natural, overcast, direct sun, or not enough, this often creates boundless amounts of stress for photographers. Although, and easy way to alleviate this stress is practice in everyday situations. All you need are your eyes, and awareness of your surroundings. In everyday situations notice where the light sources is - lights, windows and the sun, and what is creating that source, and make note of the tone of light that is being producing. If you are out for a walk at high noon, look at how light is effecting faces, where are the shadows, highlights, and mid tones. If you were taking an image right then and there, where would you put yourself, and your subject to get the most flattering light. I often find myself in hotel rooms while brides are getting prepped for their big day. I make note of where light is the most flattering indoors in relation to windows. I often think of windows as large soft boxes, and if used properly you can reproduce the ever flattering Rembrandt Lighting, or silhouettes. Also, pay attention to how lighting acts at the edge of the window where it meets the curtains, and how the light is modified on your subject.
Weddings are a celebration of life, of love, and of two families becoming one. These celebrations are for the bride & groom, their families, friends, and relatives, and brides are increasingly thinking about 'how can I entertain my guest's at the reception'. There are many options out there, but one of the most popular, and in my option the best, are photo booths. I recently got to chat with a fellow business owner here in Seattle about why every bride should have a photo booth at their wedding. Nicolette with Photo Booths by Nicolette is an incredible resource for brides, and well, just fun! So, here goes the amazing 5 reasons that you SHOULD have a photo booth at your wedding!
Photo booths provide memorable entertainment for your guests. It’s the perfect break between dance songs, and a great activity for guests to do during a cocktail hour while you are finishing up your formal portraits. Friends and family of all ages will enjoy getting their pictures taken in a relaxed, fun-filled way!
Photo booth prints are the perfect personalized wedding favor. Your guests will keep their prints for years to come and remember how much fun they had at your wedding. You can personalize prints with your name, wedding date, a special message for your guests, plus colors, fonts and graphics to match your unique wedding theme.
You and your guests can close the curtain and let loose your inner child for images that would not regularly be captured in your formal wedding photography. Add props to add inspire creativity in your guests! You can also purchase a guest scrapbook to take home at the end of your reception that includes copies of the photo booth prints with handwritten messages from your guests. Online galleries provide free guest downloads and make it easy to share their images online via e-mail or social network sites. A disc of digital image files is also available for reprints and archival purposes.
Photo Booths by Nicolette are flexible to accommodate larger groups of guests with either a black curtain or open air setup. Our black curtain stand-up booth can comfortably fit 5-6 people per session. Choose an open air setup if you’d like to feature a great view of your venue in your images. Custom backdrops can also be ordered. Our booths feature a touchscreen interface so guests have control over when their pictures begin, and even whether their instant prints will come in color or black and white. Our booth features constant lighting so there is no distracting flash, and a live view screen so you can see exactly what your photo will look like. Guests take four pictures per session, and there is no limit to the number of sessions during your service period. A convenient countdown allows guests to get ready for their next pose and change up their props!
With monthly specials and photography packages available from Photo Booths By Nicolette, a photo booth for your reception is more affordable than you think. For a limited time, I am offering up to 3 hours of service with basic prints and a professional attendant for only $450.00! Contact Nicolette today for availability at (360) 463-9731 or photobooths@bynicolette.com!
By Nicolette Oliver, Photo Booths by Nicolette (http://photobooths.bynicolette.com)
This article came across my desk the other day, a wonderful read for photographers & clients alike... enjoy!
The explosion of digital photography, online sharing, home printing, and social media over the last decade makes it easier than ever to capture those everyday (and special) moments. We are thrilled that the art of photography has become more accessible to the hobbyist. Often times our clients have top of the line gear, similar to ours, and are well versed in how to use it. But even with all of the tools and resources so widely available, and the ability to capture the every day, nothing beats the work of an accomplished professional photographer to document your family, in its entirety. Yes, we know you’ll be in some of the images at your cousin’s wedding… and of course there are all your own family milestones… but the return on the investment of capturing who you are, today, is enormous. There is so much to gain from a custom, professional photography session, one that is created specifically for you, solely for that purpose.
“Yeah, I know… but really, why… why do I need to hire a professional to do that?”
Some portion of the answer is intangible (and emotional). Never have we heard from client “I wish I didn’t professionally photograph my family.” Rather, many times we have heard “I didn’t realize how important it was until after I saw the images.“ And occasionally we’ve even heard “I didn’t want to do it until I saw a friend’s images, then I realized I wanted the same for my family!”
The remainder of the answer is related to quality and end result:
• having a professional document what they see creates a story that is extremely different than one created by handing over your camera to your uncle or an aspiring photographer friend
• being able to relax and unwind, and pose yourself naturally, with a bit of professional guidance is far superior to striking your one go-to pose with your “camera ready smile” and hoping it works
• having an entire series of images, rather than just one good one, allows you to create wall galleries, or even albums, that pause and capture an exact point in time with your family
• having an entire series of technically correct images, rather than ones that are too bright or too dark, unfocused or incorrectly lit, will enable you to proudly share and display the end result without needing to rely on those infamous disclaimers (“I know it’s not in focus, but I love it anyway!”)
That said, high quality professional photography can be expensive – and that is because custom art commands value. Unless you have a bit of disposable income, you need to consider it as an investment the same way you would consider any other purchase for your home. You certainly don’t want to have to do it over (and pay twice!), or get less than what you expected. You should select your photographer based on their style, area of expertise, quality, reputation, brand, and your expectations for an end result.
Here are some points that we think are worth extra consideration as you plan your session:
• Experience: It is great to get a bargain with someone who is just building their portfolio. However for guaranteed results, you should be able to view an entire portfolio of images that demonstrate a consistency in style and output so that you can be confident in the end result you will receive. If you have doubts, ask to view a few complete sessions.
• Style: Consider whether you are looking for a classic portrait, timeless black and whites, ethereal storybook art or a photojournalistic “day in the life.” Spend time reviewing multiple photographer’s online portfolios to really understand their style and find one that resonates with you. Make sure you select a style because the end result is what YOU desire, not just what’s trendy on Facebook this week! Will that style stand the test of time and in 10 years, and will it still make sense for you?
• Product portfolio: Think about what you want to DO with your images. It’s best to have a goal, whether it be a specific family image for over your formal fireplace, canvases for a playroom wall, a classic framed display for a stairway wall or lovely coffee table keepsake albums. Once you select a photographer based on experience and style, make sure you review what products they offer, and have a conversation about your end goals to ensure they can deliver quality products that will meet your expectations. At the end of the experience, the art you purchase will be the final product and you need to love it.
• Stance on “Getting the Disk”: Do not assume that getting it “all” from a digital package is the best route to go. Deciding that you need everything in a digital format is a hasty decision to make if you haven’t even shot your session. Once you view your gallery, you may instantly decide which images you must have on your walls, and which in an album, and those that you want as digital files. Don’t rule out a photographer based on their willingness (or price point) to sell a session in a digital format… trust that they have experience in pulling together collections for clients that will meet their needs. You will want to enjoy your images everyday in your home…not left on a disk in a drawer.
• Overall Relationship & Style of Communication: You have to be able to connect with your photographer. If you enjoy a hands-on style, that is casual, in touch and friendly, you are going to need to find one that also works in that style. If the “feel good” aspect isn’t as important, but the end result is, that’s another consideration. There are many wonderful clients and many wonderful photographers, but like picking the perfect spouse, nanny or even best friend, not everyone is a fit, but there is someone for everyone. If you have doubts, pick up the phone and chat about how you connect best, and talk about your overall style and goals.
Typical client feedback from those who have invested in quality custom photography:
“A professional photographer has the patience and experience to capture amazing portraits. As a hobbyist shooter and their mom, my kids know most of my tricks, so getting them to cooperate is a challenge. Custom photography allows me leave the work and worry up to someone else, who I trust to capture images that will grace our walls for a lifetime.”
“I wanted two things… a healthy baby and newborn photos. What I got was a moment in time captured in the most beautiful photographs. Every time I look at them, I am reminded of those first few weeks with my son, when everything was new (and a little scary), and he smiled for the camera, before he even knew he could. I never could have captured that on my own.”
“I have multiple single images of my family that I treasure. They are beautiful and meaningful to me, for so many reasons. They are on Facebook, and printed in 5X7 frames next to my bed. But once a year I select a professional to photograph my family and from those sessions, I have full albums of images, each one technical perfection combined with artistry, and those are the ones that are displayed on my walls, are given as gifts to family members, and are showcased in beautiful albums.”
So do your research, find a pro who you click (no pun intended) with, and work together to create something that you and future generations will treasure forever.
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