It's the Journey...

Alright, time to get all sappy and deep on ya'

Too many times, and I've done this myself, we seem t be looking so hard for where we are headed that we totally miss where we are.  Look around, slow down, enjoy it.  Life is interesting and wonderful and amazingm don't be in such a rush to miss it.

What does this have to do with weddings?

Not a lot.  Or does it?

While planning your wedding, include your significant other and family and friends, it will give you memories to last the rest of your life.  Take your time, start planning early.  When it feels like work, step back, relax and look at it again.  You are about to make the largest commitment anyone can make.  You are also about to make a million memories.  Make them good ones.

On the day of the wedding, relax, enjoy it.  Don't worry about all the things that can go wrong.  I can guarantee you something will.  If you worry, you let the whole day go by and you miss it all.  Will it really ruin your day if the chair covers aren't the EXACT right shade of pink?  Or if that one little hair won't go the way you want it to?

My point is "Stop and smell the roses".  Enjoy your time and your day, eventually you won't have many left and you'll wish you'd slowed down earlier.

-B

Friday, May 8, 2009

While I sit here drinking my coffee and trying to wake up, I'm thinking about what possible advice I could give to all the brides and grooms our there about to embark on this amazing journey called a wedding.

Stay with me here, it's early still........

How about some recommendations?

Yeah, people I know and work with that do a great job!

I'm not going to go crazy here, just a few:

Apple Blossoms Floral Designs and Gifts  Great people and beautiful fresh flowers!

Special Moments Wedding Planning  Tammy & her crew are just amazing.

Grant Hemond and Associates, Mobile DJ Service These guys always do an incredible job.

A Loving Unity Wedding Officiant  Real People that know their stuff and can really help with the largest commitment you will ever make.

Made For Each Other Wedding Officiant  Kathy is sooooo sweet and makes everyone feel right at home.

South Town Fever What an amazing band.  Lots of variety and they are all great entertainers.

It is so important to hire vendors you can trust.  The number one reason "Bridezillas" exist is they didn't have faith in their vendors!  Then that leads to communication break down.  Once that happens, all hell breaks loose, dogs and cats start living together, MASS HYSTERIA!  You get the idea.

-B

Blogs

There are too many blogs out there. I don't mean the people making them, I mean the companies that host them. I've created another blog on Blogger.com. Isn't the whole purpose of a blog to share with the world? Well, the company I chose to host my blog doesn't get found by search engines easily so here's my new blog:  http://bciphoto.blogspot.com/

I will have links on both to each other and from each other until I get it all straightened out.

Tip for the Day

Don't eat yellow snow.

Hmmmm, maybe this is the wrong blog for that.

OK, here it is:

When looking for a wedding photographer, use the internet to narrow your search.  If you don't like the images on their website, you probably won't like what they do for you.  Common sense would say that they put their best images online, so if their best isn't good enough, why waste your time?

Once you have your short list (try to keep it under 10), call them.  Very important!  See who you can get on the phone or get to call back quickly (at least in a day).  Emails are not the best way to communicate, the phone is still king.  Ask if your date is available and ask all the questions you have.  Then use those answers and same questions when speaking with the next potential photographer.  It's very likely you will narrow the field to 3 or so photographers very quickly.

Set appointments to meet with those 3.  See them in person, see their work.  Get a feel for them as a person.  Can you be around this person for say.... 8 to 10 or more hours without wanting to choke them?  Did they make you feel comfortable?  Do you respect them?  If you answer no to any of those questions, I suggest you keep looking.  Normally, there will be one that stands out in a good way.  That's likely your photographer.

Let's recap, you've chosen work you like, found out how easy they are to reach, and figured out if you get along.  Doesn't that sound like the right way to choose a photographer?

-B

Tips, not the $$$ kind either!

Tip #1

Did you know that you should at least talk to a wedding coordinator, if not hire one?  These people know about all the options out there for weddings, some may apply to you and you didn't even know about them!

It has been my experience that today's Wedding Coordinator won't necessarily save you money, but get you more for the money you are spending, in effect, they become nearly free!  You get a planner and help on the day of your Wedding, and better stuff!  All for next to no cost?  Too good to be true?  I see it every day.....

Tip #2

Extra photography sessions.  OK, shameless plug here.  Do yourself a favor and get that engagement session or bridal session with your photographer before the wedding.  I suggest an engagement session.

Here's why:

Not only do you get some cool photos, you get to try out your photographer.  A lot of people are trying to save money by skimping on the Engagement Session, then they get their photos back from the wedding and are not happy.  Well, if they had done an Engagement Session, the photog, and you could have gotten to know each other a bit and you could give some feedback on what you liked, or didn't.  At the very worst cas, you could hire a different photographer if you have irreconcilable differences, it will cost you your deposit and any monies paid in most cases, but it could be worth it in the end.

Weddings can only be done once, allow your photographer the time they need to do it right.  Engagement sessions are the first step in making great Wedding Photographs.

-B

Website.......again......

I looked at my website today.

I liked most of it, but it was really hard to read.  Howcome nobody told me this?  Come on, somebody could've said something?

Anyway, it's readable now.

-B

Tip for today.....

So I've decided to give out some wedding tips here and there.  No big deal, just another way to keep up with my blog.

Today's tip:

BRING FLIP FLOPS or some other COMFORTABLE SHOES to your reception so you can change into them for dancing.  Your feet will appreciate it!

Oh, this is not a tip, EAT SOMETHING on the day of your wedding, no passing out on my watch!

-B

SEPPA

Derica and I just got back from beautiful Athens, Georgia from the Southeastern Professional Photographers Association Semi-Annual Convention.  Wow, that's a mouthful isn't it!

What an experience, incredible photographers from all over the Southeastern US, everywhere from Maryland to Florida.  Lots of  to learn from and get ideas from.  That's why we go to conventions, to get inspired.  We have some ideas up our sleeve, so stay tuned!

The educational programs put on by the PPA and it's affiliates are second to none.  I have learned so much in the two short years I've been involved with these organizations and my only wish is that I had become a member many years ago.  If you are a bride or a customer looking for a photographer, I suggest you ask how involved your potential photographer is with their education.  Too many photographers open their doors, buy lots of equipment, sell their work, and never take the time to learn and improve.  That is a huge disservice to our customers.  The "mood" in the photography industry is constantly changing, people's tastes change.  For example, can't we all pick out wedding photographs from the 70's?  They just look a certain way.  What if your photographer never took the time to learn and adapt since then?  Wow, I'd hate to see those wedding photos!  Ask your photographer what organizations they belong to.  If they don't belong to any, then ask yourself how much they care about your photographs!

OK, I'm back off my soapbox now.

SEPPA is also a NATIONAL level print competition.  The best of the best go here to compete.  Each entrant can submit up to 4 images.  Almost everybody puts in 4, it's expensive and time consuming, so "Play hard or GO HOME!".  This was my first time entering this level of competition.  There were nearly 800 entries.  The "Holy Grail" of print competition is a MERIT PRINT, that is a print receiving a score of 80 or above.  Only about a third of the entries reached that level.

I am incredibly proud to say that 3 out of my 4 prints were awarded "MERIT" status and were on display as exhibition prints at SEPPA this year.

This is an amazing achievement (even if I do say so myself).  I'm sure you've all seen photographers that have a bunch of letters after their name.  Those are degrees awarded for service to the photographic industry, teaching, and print competition.  I am on my way to having some of those letters after my name and these 3 merits are each worth their weight in gold (well, more than that really) toward earning these degrees!

Sara and Jason's Engagement Session

I just love Sand Key Park.  There are so many different scenes to photograph there.  Sara and Jason were great fun for Derica and I to photograph.  They even dared the cold water!  It was kinda chilly that day so I wasn't sure if they'd go for it, but they did!  Made for some awesome photos!

Jamie & Casey's Wedding...

Sun, sand, the Don Cesar, a cool groom, a gorgeous bride, what more do you need for an awesome wedding?

Saturday was an amazing day for a wedding at the Don.  Jamie and Casey are such a great couple and Melissa and I captured a lot of great moments.

Here's their sneak peek!