Variety Is Everything!

You hire a professional photographer for their experience. What does that mean? Their ability to use the camera? Their years of running a business? It's really so much more.

The most important thing you can look for is Variety! How many different poses, lighting scenarios, formal vs candid, color vs black-and-white, dramatic vs light and airy. The majority of photographers are good at one or two, better photographers have picked up a few more but a true professional has mastered all.

In a quick, easy and efficient way a photographer should be able to walk you through a session that includes as many varieties of shots as possible. Sometimes in the same pose the settings on the camera and flash can be changed in a couple seconds to create a totally different look.

So, when researching photographers actually look at the galleries. Don't just look at a few nice shots from several different clients - look at one clients gallery and see just how different the shots are in that one clients gallery. If they're all natural light only - run. If they're all the same light recipe - run. If they're all the same pose - run. If they look like they could have been taken with a phone - run.

Learn to identify what makes a good picture. Then reach out to us. :)

Covid is creating more intimate events

Traditional weddings pre-covid at major venues were productions. There was a strict timeline. It was a whirlwind of activities and in most cases you'd blink your eyes and it would be over.

What we're finding with many Covid weddings is a more intimate personalized experience. We've had weddings with as few as 8 total people present and They • Were • Awesome!

From the flow of the day to the relaxed atmosphere there's zero stress. Surrounded by the closest of close loved-ones you can take more time to appreciate people and catch up. For dramatic pictures like the sunset above, we can go off and take 20 minutes to get every type of sunset shot possible without feeling we need to hurry back to cut the cake.

We've even found that the ceremony and vows seem deeper, more heart-felt and personalized instead of rushed and read from paper. The eye contact is stronger, the hugs are closer and tighter and the love is deeper because you're going through something that wasn't planned and you're going through it together. You're starting your journey during a worldwide pandemic and you're doing it together - hand in hand and with a love that can only get stronger.

Rescheduling due to Covid-19?

Is your summer wedding going to have Fall Foliage? Are you considering pushing it off to 2021 entirely? We can help.

First, we have a page on our website addressing all the legalities of moving your contract. Essentially our goal is to keep the existing contract exactly as is and simply move the date.

When choosing a new date please be sure to communicate with us to ensure someone on our staff is available for the new date. Our extended team will always be able to service any date you choose, but it's a whole lot easier when we're communicating.

Some couples are choosing to have their ceremony on the original date with very close family (according to CDC recommendations) but push the reception off to another date. In such a case, we will honor both days at no additional charge by covering the ceremony on the original date PLUS move the contract to the new date.

For those moving to 2021, we will not be assigning the photographer until 2021.

Something important to keep is mind is the timing of the day and sunset. If you had a late spring or early summer wedding that's moving to the fall you may find a 8pm sunset is now a 5pm sunset. This could throw off the ceremony time and when we do pictures. You may have to either push the ceremony up earlier in the day or consider a first-look to do formal pictures before the ceremony.

Remember - your guests get it. If you have spring colors in the fall, they get it. If you had favors or signs or even invitations and save-the-dates with the original date, they get it. Don't go out spending thousands to re-do all that. It's a waste of money and anyone at your wedding that would think otherwise shouldn't be there.

With the extra time comes extra time to plan and extra time to save. If you wanted the Photo Booth but it wasn't in the original budget, add the dang Photo Booth. If you wanted to videographer but it wasn't in the budget, add the Videographer. Same goes for late-night stations, dessert bar, open bar - whatever. You have so much extra time to make it exactly how you want it.

In the end, remember, it's all about your relationship, your love and your future. Keep the love strong and try not to let the delay also delay your life. If you want to still get legally married during quarantine and start on your family plans, you absolutely should. No one is going to judge you. Your lives are too important to be ruled by this inconvenience. Live it the best way you can.