A LIST OF ADVICE AND FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS.
SOME DO'S AND SOME DON'TS FOR WEDDING ATTIRE.
1. WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO TAKE MY PHOTOGRAPHS? USUALLY, THE BEST TIME IS LATE AFTERNOON/EVENING, OR REALLY REALLY EARLY IN THE MORNING, JUST BEFORE THE SUN COMES UP. I DON'T GET A LOT OF CLIENTS WHO ENJOY GETTING UP BEFORE THE CRACK OF DAWN TO GET THEMSELVES AND/OR THEIR FAMILIES READY, SO THE FORMER TIME IS USUALLY THE MOST POPULAR.
2. WHAT SHOULD I WEAR FOR MY SESSION? NATURALLY, THAT DEPENDS ON WHAT WE'RE DOING. BUT I ALWAYS ENCOURAGE MY CLIENTS TO TRY NEW THINGS. DON'T BE AFRAID TO WEAR BRIGHT COLORS. EVEN IF--*GASP!*--THEY DON'T MATCH. TEXTURES AND PRINTS ARE FUN TO EXPERIMENT WITH ALSO. AND ACCESSORIZE TO YOUR HEART'S CONTENT. THERE ARE TIMES WHEN I WILL ENCOURAGE AN ENTIRE FAMILY TO WEAR BLACK OR CREAM. AND THERE ARE TIMES WHEN I SUGGEST A LOT OF COLOR. I'LL ALWAYS HELP YOU IF YOU'RE WONDERING WHAT TO WEAR. A REALLY BASIC RULE OF THUMB? CHEAP FABRICS AND CLOTHING WILL LOOK OBVIOUSLY CHEAP ON FILM. UNLESS YOU'RE A RIPPED PEICE OF MAN--CANDY THAT WANTS A FEW GREASE--MONKEY SHOTS OF YOURSELF LOOKING TATTERED AND GORGEOUS IN A THREADBARE WHITE T--SHIRT, LEAVE THE FADED AND/OR WORN LOOKS AT HOME. IF WE'RE DOING A STYLIZED SHOOT THAT CALLS FOR IT, I'LL NEVER FAIL TO LET YOU KNOW!
3. IS IT IMPORTANT TO HAVE MY BOUQUET FOR MY BRIDAL AND CEREMONY SESSIONS? YES. YES, AND A THOUSAND TIMES MORE, YES! IF YOU'RE GETTING MARRIED IN AN LDS TEMPLE, YOU'LL ALSO WANT TO BRING YOUR FLOWERS TO THE SHOOT WITH YOU AND YOUR GROOM (ALSO CALLED THE BRIDAL/GROOMAL SHOOT) THAT WE'LL DO AHEAD OF YOUR SCHEDULED WEDDING DAY. YOUR FLOWERS ADD A MYRIAD OF POSSIBILITIES FOR DIFFERENT SHOTS. AND THE ADDED COLOR AND VARIETY BRINGS NEW LIFE AND ORIGINALITY TO WHAT COULD BE A VERY CLICHED LOOK.
4. IS IT IMPORTANT THAT MY BOUQUET BE MADE OF REAL FLOWERS? YES. THIS IS A STICKY SITUATION FOR A BRIDE ON A BUDGET. FLOWERS FOR A BRIDAL PARTY CAN BE EXPENSIVE, BUT THEY'RE WORTH IT. AT MY OWN WEDDING YEARS AGO, MY MOTHER AND I MADE MY BOUQUET OUT OF SILK FLOWERS. I WAS A VERY CASUAL BRIDE, AND I DIDN'T MIND IT AT ALL. IF YOU'VE DECIDED TO GO WITH SILK FLOWERS, THEN MORE POWER TO YOU. FROM AFAR, SOMETIMES YOU CAN'T TELL A DIFFERENCE IN A PHOTO. HOWEVER, IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO GET A CLOSE UP OF YOUR BOUQUET WITHOUT THE SHEER AWESOMENESS OF MY TACK--SHARP LENS CAPTURING EVERY SINGLE THREAD, WHICH BECOMES A PROBLEM. IF YOU WANT THAT BEAUTIFUL SHOT OF YOUR FACE NEAR YOUR FLOWERS, OR THE SHOT OF YOUR RINGS IN THE BLOOMS, TO NAME A FEW, SILK ISN'T GOING TO CUT IT. YOU CAN GET SOME FLOWER ARRANGEMENT VENDORS TO HOLD YOUR BOUQUET OVERNIGHT, AND "FRESHEN" THEM UP FOR YOU IF A FLOWER OR TWO GETS CRUSHED AT ONE OF YOUR SESSIONS. I'M MORE THAN HAPPY TO SHOOT THE NIGHT BEFORE FOR A TEMPLE CEREMONY TO HELP CUT THE COST ON BUYING SEVERAL BOUQUETS (OR THE TUX/SUIT RENTAL, FOR THAT MATTER).
5. WILL YOU POSE YOUR CLIENTS OR WILL YOU TAKE CANDIDS? BOTH. THOUGH I PREFER CANDIDS, AS THEY SHOW OFF YOUR HAPPINESS AND WHO YOU REALLY ARE. WHILE WE'RE SHOOTING, I'LL ALWAYS LET YOU KNOW HOW YOU'RE LOOKING AND IF I NEED YOU TO TRY SOMETHING ELSE OR MOVE AT ALL. YOU WON'T FEEL ON YOUR OWN WHEN IT COMES TO BEING IN FRONT OF THE LENS. I'M THERE TO HELP AND MAKE EVERYTHING LOOK NATURAL.
6. CAN I BRING MY PET DOG OR PET CAT WITH ME? ABSOLUTELY! YOUR PET IS A PART OF YOUR FAMILY, AND IF YOU'D LIKE HIM/HER TO BE DOCUMENTED, PLEASE DO. LET ME KNOW AHEAD OF TIME SO WE CAN WORK OUT ANY ISSUES WITH PETS AT THE LOCATION WE'LL BE SHOOTING AT.
7. CAN I BRING MULTIPLE OUTFITS? YES. I HAVE A FLEXIBLE TIME LIMIT, AND AM EXTREMELY INTERESTED IN GIVING YOU AS MANY GOOD SHOTS AS POSSIBLE. WITHIN REASON, WE CAN DO SEVERAL DIFFERENT THINGS.
8. WILL YOU BRING PROPS? CURRENTLY, I DON'T OWN A LOT OF PROPS. IT MAY HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE LIMITED SPACE IN MY APARTMENT! I HAVE A FEW SCATTERED ITEMS THAT YOU ARE WELCOME TO USE DURING OUR SESSION. IF YOU'VE GOT SOMETHING OF YOUR OWN THAT YOU'D LIKE TO TRY, BY ALL MEANS, BRING IT! YOU MAY THINK YOU'VE GOT NOTHING TO USE, BUT CONSIDER COMMON OBJECTS THAT ARE SPECIAL TO YOU OR YOUR FAMILY OR CHILD. THE SIMPLICITY OF THOSE IDEAS CAN SOMETIMES LEAD TO THE BEST AND MOST ORIGINAL SHOTS. IF YOUR CHILD LOVES HIS PIRATE COSTUME OR HER PORCELAIN DOLL, CONSIDER BUILDING SOME SHOTS AROUND THOSE ITEMS. YOU'LL BE SURPRISED HOW ADORABLE IT WILL TURN OUT WITH A LITTLE THOUGHT AND PREPARATION. LET ME KNOW OF YOUR IDEAS AHEAD OF TIME SO I CAN HELP YOU BRAINSTORM.
9. WILL YOU PICK THE LOCATION OR SHOULD WE? I LOVE IT WHEN PEOPLE HAVE THEIR OWN IDEAS FOR A LOCATION. ESPECIALLY WHEN THOSE IDEAS STEM FROM WHAT THE SUBJECT ENJOYS DOING. I HAVE MANY DIFFERENT PLACES THAT I CAN SUGGEST FOR MANY DIFFERENT LOOKS, BUT YOUR IDEAS ARE MORE THAN WELCOME. IF YOUR FAMILY ABSOLUTELY LOVES THE WATER, CONSIDER TAKING A COUPLE OF COMICAL SHOTS OF THE WHOLE FAMILY STANDING TOGETHER IN A POOL. NOT EVERYTHING HAS TO BE DONE IN A TRADITIONAL WAY. WITH ME, YOU DON'T HAVE TO CHOOSE. WE CAN GET BOTH TRADITIONAL SHOTS AS WELL AS NON-TRADITIONAL. AGAIN, TALK TO ME AND I'LL HELP YOU IRON OUT A SOLID PLAN.
10. I HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CONTRACT, THE PHOTOS I RECEIVE ON A DISC, ETC. I TRY TO MEET WITH ALL MY POTENTIAL CLIENTS WHO ARE SERIOUS ABOUT CONSIDERING ME AS THEIR EVENT PHOTOGRAPHER. THE DIGITAL AGE IS A WONDERFUL THING, BUT THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT BEING FACE TO FACE WITH A NEW PERSON. IN OUR MEETING, I'LL GO OVER THE CONTRACT AND ANY OTHER QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. CAN'T MEET? THAT'S A SHAME, BECAUSE IT'S GREAT TO GET TO KNOW YOUR PERSONALITY AND YOUR FACE AS WE'RE DISCUSSING YOUR DETAILS AND YOUR EXPECTATIONS. BUT, WE CAN ALWAYS SKYPE. IF WORSE COMES TO WORSE, AND I CAN'T MEET WITH YOU BEFORE YOUR EVENT, LET'S MAKE SURE WE EMAIL BACK AND FORTH. SEE MY "CONTACT INFO" PAGE.
10. I HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CONTRACT, THE PHOTOS I RECEIVE ON A DISC, ETC. I TRY TO MEET WITH ALL MY POTENTIAL CLIENTS WHO ARE SERIOUS ABOUT CONSIDERING ME AS THEIR EVENT PHOTOGRAPHER. THE DIGITAL AGE IS A WONDERFUL THING, BUT THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT BEING FACE TO FACE WITH A NEW PERSON. IN OUR MEETING, I'LL GO OVER THE CONTRACT AND ANY OTHER QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. CAN'T MEET? THAT'S A SHAME, BECAUSE IT'S GREAT TO GET TO KNOW YOUR PERSONALITY AND YOUR FACE AS WE'RE DISCUSSING YOUR DETAILS AND YOUR EXPECTATIONS. BUT, WE CAN ALWAYS SKYPE. IF WORSE COMES TO WORSE, AND I CAN'T MEET WITH YOU BEFORE YOUR EVENT, LET'S MAKE SURE WE EMAIL BACK AND FORTH. SEE MY "CONTACT INFO" PAGE.
SOME DO'S AND SOME DON'TS FOR WEDDING ATTIRE.
(FOR WHAT IT MAY BE WORTH)
A. DON'T PICK YOUR WEDDING GOWN SOLEY BASED ON TREND. PICK SOMETHING THAT MAKES YOU LOOK ABSOLUTELY STUNNING, EVEN IF YOU WERE PLANNING ON A DIFFERENT LOOK. FOR EXAMPLE, LONG AGO IN A TIME FAR, FAR AWAY, I SEARCHED EVERYWHERE FOR ONE OF THE ONLY CREAM DRESSES I COULD FIND IN UTAH COUNTY SIMPLY BECAUSE I KNEW THAT CREAM AND CHAMPAGNE WOULD FLATTER MY SKIN TONE FAR BETTER THAN WHITE. REMEMBER THAT YOUR GOAL IS TO LOOK LIKE A KNOCKOUT. WHEN I WAS IN HIGHSCHOOL IT WAS ALL ABOUT FINDING THE BIGGEST, FLOOFY--EST DRESS IN THE BRIGHTEST COLOR WITH A TON OF BEADING AND OVERSTATED JEWELRY. HINT: THAT LOOK HARDLY FLATTERS ANYONE. WELL...MAYBE KIM KARDASHIAN. ANOTHER HINT? FASHION MAGAZINES OR EVEN PINTEREST CAN HELP YOU FIGURE OUT YOUR OWN SENSE OF STYLE THAT YOU WANT TO CONVEY WITH YOUR ATTIRE: DRESS, HAIR, MAKEUP AND ACCESSORIES. I HIGHLY SUGGEST TRUSTING A TRAINED PROFESSIONAL TO HELP YOU WITH THESE THINGS.
B. IF YOU'VE DECIDED ON A DRESS WITH SOME CREAM OR COLOR IN IT, PICK YOUR BOUQUET ACCORDINGLY. SO YOU'VE DECIDED YOUR COLORS ARE GOING TO BE FIRE--ENGINE RED AND YELLOW? THAT'S AWESOME, BUT PAIRING THOSE COLORS WITH A PEACH--TONE DRESS IS GOING TO CLASH. DON'T BE DISCOURAGED ABOUT PLAYING AROUND WITH COLOR. JUST BE SURE THAT THOSE COLORS WILL COMPLIMENT EACH OTHER AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, YOU. IT'S OK IF YOUR BOUQUET DOESN'T MATCH YOUR WEDDING COLORS. SO LONG AS THEY WORK WELL WITH YOUR DRESS, YOUR SKIN TONE AND YOUR ACCESSORIES (INCLUDING YOUR GROOM), YOU'LL BE FAR MORE PLEASED WITH THE RESULTS.
C. DO TRY SOMETHING ELSE WITH YOUR GROOM IF YOU DON'T WANT A BLACK TUXEDO. IF BLACK ISN'T GOING TO FLATTER YOUR DRESS OR YOUR COLORS, OR IF THE GROOM ISN'T THAT EXCITED TO RENT A TUX, TRY A NICE SUIT OR GO WITH AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT IDEA. A BEAUTIFUL GREY OR TAN SUIT CAN LOOK AWFULLY SVELT (DEFINITION: GOOD. HOT. DAPPER), AND GOOD NEWS: HE MIGHT ALREADY HAVE ONE THAT'LL WORK JUST GREAT. DITCH THE TUX IF IT'S NOT YOUR THING.
D. IF YOU GO WITH THE TUX, DON'T GET TOO CONCERNED THAT HIS VEST MATCHES YOUR COLORS, EITHER. BE SURE THAT IT COMPLIMENTS YOUR LOOK AND THAT HE DOESN'T FEEL RIDICULOUS IN IT (LADIES, I KNOW YOU USUALLY MAKE THE ULTIMATE CHOICE IN WHAT YOUR GROOM WEARS, BUT IF HE'S PUTTING UP A FUSS ABOUT HIS HOT PINK SATIN VEST, HE MAY HAVE A POINT. ASK YOURSELF: IS IT A SIMPLE GIMMICK TO MATCH MY WEDDING COLORS OR WILL IT STAND OUT AS MASCULINE AND TIMELESS A FEW YEARS FROM NOW? OR BETTER YET: WOULD MICHAEL FASSBENDER WEAR IT? ;)).
E. THERE IS NO RULE THAT SAYS YOU HAVE TO HAVE 1/4 INCH--THICK ACRYLIC NAILS GLUED TO YOUR HANDS. IF YOU FEEL DAZZLINGLY BEAUTIFUL AND WOMANLY WHEN YOU'RE WEARING THEM, THEN PLEASE DO, BECAUSE YOU SHOULD FEEL YOUR MOST AMAZING ON YOUR WEDDING DAY AND IN YOUR PHOTOS. BUT IF THEY MAKE YOU WANT TO CRY BECAUSE YOU CAN'T PICK UP SMALL OBJECTS AND YOU'RE ALWAYS GETTING SOMETHING CAUGHT ON THEM, DON'T FEEL BAD ABOUT LEAVING THEM OFF. YOU'LL SAVE SOME MONEY, TOO.
F. DO WEAR YOUR MAKEUP A BIT HEAVIER. HOWEVER, DON'T WEAR A LOT OF HEAVY FOUNDATION AND POWDER. WHEN I SAY "HEAVIER", I MEAN THAT IF YOU DON'T USUALLY WEAR EYELINER, IT MIGHT BE A GOOD TIME TO DO SO. IF YOU ONLY EVER WEAR BEIGE EYE--COLOR AND NUDE LIPSTICKS, FIND SOMETHING THAT WILL LOOK A LITTLE MORE GLAMOUROUS. IF YOU DON'T USUALLY WEAR BLUSH, TRY A LITTLE. WHENEVER YOU CAN, ALWAYS USE A PROFESSIONAL. I'M PRETTY GOOD AT DOING MY OWN MAKEUP (ANYONE WHO KNOWS ME UP CLOSE IS FREE TO CONTEND THIS), BUT A GOOD STYLIST CAN ABSOLUTELY TRANSCEND YOU TO A WHOLE NEW LEVEL. AND YES, THE DIFFERENCE ON FILM IS QUITE NOTICEABLE. I'VE GOT SOME RECOMMENDATIONS FOR GREAT PEOPLE IF YOU NEED THEM.
E. DO GET YOUR OUTFITS TAILORED TO YOU. MOST TUX OR SUIT RENTAL PLACES AND MOST BRIDAL SHOPS ARE MORE THAN EQUIPPED TO HANDLE THIS. TOSSING ALTERATIONS MAY SEEM LIKE AN EASY WAY TO SAVE SOME CASH, BUT IT ABSOLUTELY MAKES A DIFFERENCE IN HOW YOU LOOK IN YOUR PHOTOS. IT'S FAR TOO TIME CONSUMING AND SOMETIMES LITERALLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO PHOTOSHOP THOSE PROBLEMS AWAY. A GAPING NECKLINE ON A BRIDE OR TOO LONG OF SLEEVES ON A GROOM WILL KILL YOUR PICTURES, AND THERE'S ALMOST NOTHING I CAN DO TO FIX IT, ASSUMING I WANT TO SPEND THAT KIND OF TIME ON EACH INDIVIDUAL SHOT--WHICH I DON'T.
IF YOU HAVE FURTHER QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS ABOUT YOUR SESSION, YOUR ATTIRE, OR ANYTHING ELSE, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO ASK. THE MORE YOU INVOLVE ME, THE MORE I CAN HELP YOU GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR PHOTOGRAPHS.