Cultivating Ideas for Pre-Wedding Photography

Let's get down to ideas. Ideas about photo shooting. Ideas for your own shooting. What do you expect out of your pre-wedding photos? Is there any message that you want to express apart from you're getting married?

We believe there are stories behind every attachment. How both of your life cross-path and how you are amazed by each other. It's not just another story, but a story which carries the details and memories shared by both of you till the end of life. I know there are countless of things which you wish to be able to record down, make it into a movie or something. We always encourage clients to think about something which makes them feel at ease, something they both share and love doing, or even something fun which they have never get to try out before this.

Casual photo shooting. You can spice up your casual photo shooting session by adding something artsy or try out something new together. Don't be afraid to be a little bit bold, dare to come out with striking ideas. Not to worry too much about the result as you can always discuss with your photographer to blend in with his photo shooting style. You can choose activities you both are into, shoot at the place that you both first met, take it to the crowd or shoot it privately, and bring along your collection of accessories. There are just so many things in life you both must have enjoyed doing together. What you need to do is explore it and don't be shy to be different, flaunt your love stories!

Pre-wedding. You've just got to have photos for your wedding day, especially the album, to be shared with your friends and relatives at your wedding reception. What do you wish to capture? That's the key point. It's the solemnization, vows and rings exchanging that is beautiful. When both are committed to each other on a beautiful day, that's worth capturing. The happiness that radiates when you both hold each other close, promise each other that from this moment on, you both shall hold each other as long as you both shall live. The album will then be what's worth flipping through, when friends and family see the meaningful side of your story, that you both have taken it to the next step, and going to love each other forever and ever. And we believe that's truly wonderful.

So, let's put in your ideas, capturing the best of you celebrating this stage in life, put in the efforts and you will be amazed with the photos as we believe that the result is going to turn out superb!

The History of Wedding Photography

Every one who is having a wedding wants to have photo shoots during the wedding ceremony so as to capture those memorable moments. It is this very reason that wedding photography has actually been a major boost for many independent and small scale photographers. This spells out the fact that a modern photographer has therefore got to keep up with the technological advancements as far as photography materials and equipment are concerned.

Whether the wedding event will happens indoors or outdoors, is is very crucial that the photographs meet the required standard otherwise the photographer stands a chance to lose customers. He should be able to provide digital prints, slide shows as well as albums in which the printed pictures will be well stored.

Wedding photography has a history that is closely related too the invention of the modern camera and dates back to 1826 and is associated with Joseph Nicephore Niepce who had a hard time coming up with his first photo because it had to take him eight hours of exposure before he could come up with the print.

It is interesting to note that the first wedding picture that was taken was that of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. This paved way for the wedding photography that is the in-thing today in most wedding ceremonies. Note the progress in this photography, in that, in days gone, the photo shooting was not done during the ceremony but long after it was over and done with and after people had changed into 'more appropriate' attire for the photo shooting. Today there is an overhaul in the whole scenario in that there is a combination of traditional classical photos and capitalization on all the important moments throughout the day, not forgetting the fetish that people have acquired for family albums.

Traditional Albums Or Digital Photo Books

Looking at photographs has always been a nostalgic habit with most people. Photographs bring back warm and fond memories. They bring a sad smile or a happy tear. They remind you of that wonderful moment caught on camera, a moment that has been forever frozen in time, a moment that you will always cherish.

But old printed photo albums tend to become tattered at the edges. The photos start getting blotched. Some of those old black and white photographs are so grainy you can hardly make out who's who. So, what's the solution? You make them 'digital', of course. Here's what 'Digital Photo Books' have to offer as compared to traditional printed albums:

• They are less messy
Digital photos have better clarity and provide sharper colours. As a result your photos reflect the actual colours of the captured moment and are thus as good as what you saw with your own eyes.

• They are easy to organise
Whether on a holiday or a family function you normally get so excited that you just start clicking away that camera. So you end up with a whole bunch of photos and not a clue of how to organise them in a traditional album. But Digital Photo Albums make this job easier for you by offering some pre-designed themes for you to choose from. You can organise our photos date-wise, event-wise, add frames and backgrounds, plus add your own comments to each of them!

• They are easy to maintain
Digital albums are also easy to maintain in the sense that the photos that you add to your digital album can easily be edited, deleted, added special effects to and do with them as you please, which by the way is not a luxury with your traditional albums.

• They are easy to share
What makes most people happy is when other people comment on your photos. That's one of the many reasons that social networking sites enable you to post your photos online. That's why digital photo albums are gaining popularity. They can easily be shared with friends and family.

• They can be highly customised
You do not have much of a choice when it comes to printing a traditional photo album. But with the digital photo album you can choose the cover, the pages, the size, the colours and the whole gamut of features that goes into printing.

Your digital photo albums are designed and printed the way you want them, in a way that reflects your personality and choices. Digital Photo Albums are highly personalised, offering a much better and viable option when compared to your traditional photo albums.

5 Lightroom Tips You Must Know

I have been using Lightroom for a couple of years now and it is a very powerful program, especially if you are a wedding photographer and you have a large quantity of photos to cull and edit. Not only is it great for organizing you photos, but it is very good for editing them. It is most advantageous when used to edit RAW images because, as we know, RAW images keep every bit of information stored just as the image was shot. This is not to say that it is not good for editing.jpg, but you will not unleash the true power of Lightroom until you start editing your RAW files.

I'm going to share with you 5 tips about Lightroom that I feel you must know to improve your image workflow and also your editing capabilities. These are tips that I have accumulated over the couple of years that I have been using Lightroom and they help me tremendously. So, without further delay, let's get to it!

1. Use Brightness Instead of Exposure

Okay, okay... so the header of this tip is a little misleading. I am in no way saying to use brightness over exposure all of the time. But, there are times when you will have more control over your image when using brightness, opposed to exposure. The difference between brightness and exposure is that exposure takes priority on shifting the highlight range of the image. Say you take a landscape picture and everything is a touch underexposed, except for the sky. If you bump the exposure up by using the exposure slider, then you will potentially blow out the highlights and this is because when using the exposure slider, it increases the highlight area more than it does the rest of the tonal range in the image. Now, if you use the brightness slider, you will shift the tonal range evenly. This has the same effect when darkening and image, or lowering the exposure. You will notice that the exposure slider takes priority of the highlights and lowers them more than the rest of the tonal range. Don't believe me? Give it a shot and see what I mean. Take two of the same images, load them into Lightroom and look at the difference between brightness vs. exposure. By the way, +50 equals one stop of light on the brightness slider and +100 would be 2 stops of light, and so on and so forth.

2. Control Your Use of the Clarity Slider

The clarity slider can really make the details in an image stand out and also help out with inherent blur from the camera. What the clarity slider does is look for contrast in the middle of the tonal range and boost the contrast. In images with a lot of detail this can really make a huge difference. I usually set mine to +30 for starters and then gauge it from there. Now, there are times when you will not want to bump the clarity slider up because it can counterproductive. If you are editing a portrait, you will more than likely not want to bump your clarity slider up. As we know, every person has pores and those pores just happen to be in the middle to upper tonal range, which the clarity slider affects. When you are trying to get nice, smooth skin, you should try backing off of the clarity slider and seeing what it does to the skin. I usually start with -15 and make changes from there. The good thing is that you will not lose detail overall in the image, unless you make a dramatic adjustment, but you will start to see the skin smooth out quite nicely. With a few more adjustments, you will have some really smooth skin that look very pleasing. This brings us to our next tip...

3. Use the Adjustment Brush for Smoothing Skin

This is a feature of Lightroom's that I think is far better than anything Photoshop can accomplish, and it is much faster too. When trying to smooth the skin of a nice portrait, just grab the adjustment brush by pressing K and then click on the little arrows (one pointing up and one pointing down) to the right of "Effect:", and click on "Soften Skin". This will change the settings of the brush to lower the clarity and also lower the sharpness. I paint over the subject's face, being careful not to paint over the eyes, eyebrows, lips, or hair. Don't worry, if you do paint over one of these features, you can hold the "alt" on PC, "option" on Mac, to erase your brush strokes. Another quick tip is to press "o", for overlay, to see where you are painting. This will show the red mask of the areas that are painted. Once you paint where you want, turn the overlay mask off by pressing "o" again, and then adjust your clarity and sharpness sliders for your brush to get the overall intended result. Remember, don't overdo it. You do not want your subject to look fake.

4. HSL Works Magic for Skin Tones

As a wedding photographer, my goal is to always give my subjects pleasing skin tones. If I happen to have to correct the exposure of an image, chances are that my skin tones are going to need to be adjusted further than just white balancing. Of course, we all want to shoot a perfect exposure every shot that we take, but unfortunately, this just doesn't happen, or at least not for me. So, when I have to adjust the skin tones, I head to the HSL panel for the rescue. With an underexposed image, I start off by de-saturating the skin tones just a bit. Not too much or you're your subject will look like they have grey skin and we don't want that and I'm sure your subject doesn't either. The best way to do this is to grab the target selector tool, which looks like a target and is in the top left side of the HSL panel. Grab on the subjects skin and drag down. This will target only the colors that you grab with the target selector. Once you have lowered the saturation a bit and got it looking decent, I move to my luminance and brighten things up a bit. This will really make your subjects skin glow. (And it will glow a LOT if you are not careful.) This takes a bit of practice but you will get the hang of it by trial and error. This is probably the most complicated tip and takes some getting used to, but it will really help your workflow once you get the hang of it.

5. Post-Crop Vignetting

I absolutely love Lightrooms Post-Crop Vignetting tool. In my opinion, it applies the most natural looking vignettes of any method that I have tried, and I have tried a few. There is something about a good vignette that helps make and image complete. It takes your eyes and pushes them to the center area of the image and keeps them from going outside of the photo. This is another feature that I believe is better than anything Photoshop has to offer, because it looks so great and you can add one in about 5 seconds. I will give you a recipe that I often use. Once you are through editing your photo, scroll down to the "Effects" panel and use there settings for your vignette. Amount = -52, Midpoint = 67, Roundness = +20, Feather = 50, Highlights = 0. This should darken the corners just a little without interfering with the rest of the image.

Those are my 5 Lightroom tips that I believe every photographer should know, especially wedding photographers. Please e-mail me and let me know what you think. I would love to hear your feedback and I would be more than happy to answer any questions you may have. Until next time, happy shooting!

17 Great Questions to Ask Your Wedding Photographer

The wedding date is set! Already, the excitement is building for your big day. You want awesome wedding pictures. But the challenge feels daunting. You know your family shutterbug Uncle Ned is not who you had in mind. Chances are you have never hired a photographer before. So where do you start? You know you want to interview the candidates, but what do you ask them? Here are 17 great questions to ask photographers before booking.

1. Are you full-time? When did you start shooting full-time?

The truth is most wedding photography operations are very fly by night. The photographers are doing their photography on a part-time basis with negligible photography experience. Do you believe your once-in-a-lifetime event should be on-the-job training for your photographer? I didn't think so. A full-time photographer has already made the considerable life-long investment of their energy, time and money to create a valued and trusted service. Your wedding memories deserve your photographer's 100 percent commitment not a 20 percent commitment.

2. Why do you like to photograph weddings?

This question helps you to gauge who your photographer is as a person and artist. Take stock of the person's passion and energy. Does he/she seem enthusiastic or kind of flat? People who love what they do have a tendency to be very good at what they do and working with them is always more enjoyable and fun.

Also, knowing a little about what makes the person tick is a good way to feel out what kind of a personality "fit" you may share with the photographer. After all, you will be spending an entire day with your photographer, so do what you can to be sure the person you pick will be genuinely excited to be there and pleasant throughout that day.

3. Will you be the actual photographer to shoot our wedding? If not, who?

It's not uncommon for photographers and larger studios to have a network of shooters. If you learn the person you are talking to will not be the shooter then insist you talk to the person who will and also insist you see their personal portfolio.

4. What kind of input can we have on the shots? i.e. subject matter, shotlists and ideas from other wedding shots we liked?

A formals/posed groupings worksheet is sometimes necessary when planning when and how to get that part of your wedding completed and done in time. Lots of communication is key here. When working with a good wedding photographer, it is important when capturing the unique qualities and moments of your wedding to keep it open-ended for your photographer. A good photographer cannot produce every photo you can think of, but he/she can produce photos you never dreamed of.

5. (For self-described photojournalists) How much of your candid-looking work is posing and setting-up of shots or do you get shots as they happen without posing or reenactment?

"Wedding photojournalist" has become a buzzword which has lost its specific meaning with its surge in popularity among photographers. Often, the term "photojournalist" means candid-looking when used by photographers and studios to describe their own work. Often these photographers will set up and reenact a few things during your wedding day but rely heavily upon traditional portraiture for a lot of your photos... there is nothing wrong with this approach if you are comfortable with that. However a true wedding photojournalist has the talent and ability to anticipate, observe and "see" moments as they happen without the need to interfere with the natural flow of your wedding day.

6. Are the digital files available on CD/DVD? If so, are they high resolution?

This is a popular request by couples. The discs can vary widely in price. Also ask if there are any discounts applied to the CD/DVD after a certain time has passed from the wedding. For example, the photographer may offer the discs at half-price two years after the wedding.

7. What kind of improvements do you make to the files on the CD/DVD?

It is nice to have your pictures in hand to keep safe and make whatever prints you like. Keep in mind all digital images on the disc should be toned, adjusted and worked a little to make an adequate print. You should have some guarantee of the quality of pictures on the disc.

8. Do you have a list of references with contact info?

This is a rarely asked but very effective question. A real live person who has worked with a photographer will give you valuable, objective information.

9. Who do you carry liability insurance with?

Businesses that adhere to professional practices will deliver professional service and results to you. Chances are slim you will ever have to worry about insurance coverage. But accidents can and do happen. Would you let a roofing company put a new roof on your home that did not have liability insurance? How about a mechanic working on your car? I hope not.

10. What is the delivery time for the various products you offer?

It really shouldn't take half a year to receive an album, your proofs or any other products. Try to be timely with any input your photographer requires as far as albums, edits to help this process along.

11. With the albums, how does the design and picture selection process work? Are there any fees for changes we would like prior to the album's production?

You should have some input into important keepsakes of your wedding like an album. Some photographers charge extra for a certain number of changes to the albums they design for you prior to the printing and binding of any album. Make sure such fees are all clearly stated. Beware of time deadlines too, they are necessary to preventing production bottlenecks.

12. When will the proofs be ready? Is there a time limit for the online proofing galleries?

If working with a digital photographer, online proofing (when you first get to see your photos online) should be completed within a couple of weeks of your event. The time period of online availability for those galleries varies among photographers. Some post them for three months, others post for a full year. Check with your photographer.

13. What happens if the photographer is ill? What about back-up equipment?

Any successful, established professional studio should have a network of shooters available for emergency help. You should have a written assurance the substitute photographer will be a competent professional.

14. Should our event last longer than scheduled? Will the photographer stay, are there extra charges?

Most weddings will not exceed a six to eight hour time commitment from your photographer. If you think you will need more time, find out how your photographer handles extra hours.

15. What associations do you belong to?

Another useful way to gauge a photographer's qualifications and professional commitment.

16. Why should we hire you?

Again, this question is similar in spirit to Question 3. Your photographer's answer should communicate some excitement about the privilege to shoot your wedding.

17. May we see your second photographer's entire shoot from a wedding?

Wedding photography studios often promote themselves as two shooter "teams." They are often a husband and wife duo. They are usually not the 2-for-1 benefit they advertise. For the most part they are maybe one decent photographer and a person who is nothing more than a camera holder with with very little qualifications or experience. Have you seen an entire take of both photographers? Insist on seeing the second photographers entire shoot.

6 Types of Personally Designed Large Wall Calendars

1 - Personal Photo Calendar

A personal photo calendar is a great way to organise your own life. Choose 13 of your favourite photos of yourself and then write captions, if you like, to accompany each one. You don't have to include captions but these can be a great way to give yourself an extra reminder or to remember where and when a photo was taken.

2 - Family Photo Calendar

A family photo calendar is another good use of a personally designed large wall calendar. The large wall calendar is printed on high quality A3 materials with an acetate cover and 160gsm silk art paper monthly pages. Use a combination of photos of individual family members and family groups and add personal messages to each of the pictures and create a breathtaking and beautiful reminder of those you love most.

3 - Holiday Photo Calendar

The family holiday or a once in a lifetime trip is one occasion when we tend to take hundreds of photos. Unfortunately, we don't always make the most of them but by using a selection of 13 of our very favourites we can combine them into a beautiful large wall calendar that can be kept for oneself or given to a loved one in order to celebrate any occasion or event.

4 - Birthday Calendar

A birthday calendar can be customised with pictures taken throughout the recipient's life. Scan old baby pictures for the earlier months and progress through your loved one's life with photos taken at major intervals or milestones in their life. Use a graduation photos, wedding photo, and pictures of other major achievements in life.

5 - Wedding Calendar

Pay for a large wall calendar and receive a gift certificate that you can give the happy couple on their big day. Once their professional photos are back and they have had chance to look at the pictures that guests have taken, they will be able to choose their own 13 favourite photos and then have these printed as part of the large wall calendar. Everybody enjoys sharing their wedding photos and reliving the best moments from their big day and a large wall calendar is a particularly effective method of doing exactly that.

6 - Anniversary Calendar

Another use for wedding photos is to update them and print them as an anniversary calendar. Whether it's a 1st or 61st anniversary, you can include wedding photos and create a breathtaking anniversary calendar. Old paper print pictures can be scanned and added to the calendar design while modern photographers are more than happy to provide digital copies of wedding photos on request and these can be used if the wedding was celebrated more recently. Whether you want an anniversary calendar for your partner or for the happy couple you can create a large wall calendar to suit.

Wedding Photography Poses - Part Two

What you can't get enough wedding posing ideas?

Another traditional yet cool shot is of the groom getting advice from Dad. This makes such a good shot that you might even consider staging it. It's easy, the dad can straighten the grooms tie or point his finger at him while the groom crosses his arm and rolls his eyes as if not listening. There are so many fun and creative ways that you can compose those all-important before shots.

The father and groom together before the wedding are a wedding standard. And the groom and best man will probably be chatting alone off in a corner somewhere. This also makes a fantastic groomsman before shot.

If the bride and her party are getting ready at the site of the wedding, which is entirely common then the arrival shots of them in their street clothes bringing in their cloths and supplies is another great shot.

By all means capture the bride arriving to the wedding location and before she's in the gown.

You can take exterior shots of the wedding location along with portraits of the inside of the church or hall. Is there a gorgeous portrait hanging in the entry way? Take the photo. Are the isles decorated with lovely floral arrangements, don't forget to take those close-ups. Are the pews decorated? Take some unique photos of everything and anything. You can never go wrong with more photos vs. a few.

Group shots are another staple of wedding photography. The couple will want shots of the groom with the best man, with the best man and groomsmen with his parents, grand-parents, brothers and sisters and possibly with the bride's family too.

Later, you'll want pictures of the groom with the maid of honor and bridesmaids, but this will have to wait until they're ready. You can throw in a few fun ones too. This is where you can let your (and the wedding party's) imagination flow.

If you run out of ideas and feel inspired, why not ask the wedding party or families if they have any ideas for creative poses. You'll make a lot of new friends this way and possibly other wedding photography referrals. When the group sees how hard you've worked to create the perfect pictures you'll be the talk of the town.

There's no shame in making sure the bride and groom get the best possible wedding portraits. So whatever it takes do it! Trust me, you'll be appreciated for your efforts.

Traditional Wedding Anniversary Gifts

It's customary for married couples to celebrate their wedding anniversaries and tradition states that there are certain types of gifts that are appropriate to give for each anniversary. These gifts traditionally represent materials that symbolize a marriage built in strength. They appear to have evolved during medieval Europe, when women were presented with wreaths of silver for the twenty-fifth anniversaries and wreaths of gold for the fiftieth. If you've been invited to party for a couple celebrating a major wedding anniversary, use this following list of traditional gift materials coupled with updated gift ideas and you'll be certain to wow the celebrating couple.

First Anniversary.
The first wedding anniversary is associated with paper. You could give a card, of course, or you could push the envelope a little bit (quite literally, in fact) with a stationary set customized with the couple's initials. An inspiring book about love also makes a great paper gift.

Second Anniversary.
It is tradition to give a gift of cotton for a second anniversary. Clothing may be too personal of a gift to give, although, if you're close to the couple, a set of matching pajamas would make a charming gift. If that's too intimate, opt for a decorative pillow with some sort of inscription of love of heart on it.

Third Anniversary.
Leather is the custom for this one. Today it easy to find stylish, leather-adorned items for the home. Try a large picture frame or photo album. If you're going to album route, why don't you start it off for the happy couple and add a few picture of them to it before you wrap it up and present it.

Fourth Anniversary.
A fourth wedding anniversary calls for gifts of linen or flowers and fruit. Since it can be quite difficult to find a gift made of linen that's appropriate for a couple. Stick to fruit and flowers and send a nice big basket of fruit or an edible arrangement.

Fifth Anniversary.
After five years of marriage you're supposed to give something made of wood. You'll have a lot of options for this one, particularly when it comes of home d矇cor. Large wooden bowls make nice gifts as they are as functional as they are easy to look at.

Tenth Anniversary.
A decade of marriage is quite a milestone and, believe it or not, calls for a gift of tin or aluminum. So how do you make this special? It's easier than you think. Give the couple a selection of beautiful candles that come in tin containers. Or if they're, tea drinkers, a selection of tea tins. If you hit the antique stores for this one, you'll find a lot of neat collectable made of tin, as well.

Twentieth Anniversary.
After twenty years of marriage you're supposed to give a gift made of China. This one's an easy one. If you know you couple well, you'll be familiar with their current China collection, so get them a serving piece that complements that collection. If you'd prefer to steer clear of China, opt for a decorative sculpture or figurine.

Twenty-fifth Anniversary.
A twenty-fifth year wedding anniversary is known as the silver anniversary, so it makes sense that the gift you give should be on of silver. Since you're buying for a couple, you'll want to steer clear of jewelry and give them something they can both use together. As with most of the aforementioned gifts, items for the home work well. Choose a silver picture frame, a larger charger or a vase.

Thirtieth Anniversary.
The traditional gift for this anniversary is pearl. Aside from jewelry, items made of pearl can be difficult to find. Small pearls spoons make a nice gift. Since they're generally used for serving caviar, why not present them with a container of caviar for an extra special touch? You could also think outside of the box on this one and get the couple some pearl colored.

Fortieth Anniversary.
A fortieth anniversary is the ruby wedding anniversary. Gems, yikes! Don't fret. You don't need be quite so literal on this one (unless you've got the means too). Buy something that's ruby in color, such as a beautiful ruby-color vase or wine glasses. A luxurious ruby-colored throw would make a great gift the couple could share, as well.

Fiftieth Anniversary.
The traditional fiftieth wedding anniversary present is the gift of gold. Keep in mind that most couples who celebrate their fiftieth anniversaries pretty much have everything they need, so your gift doesn't need to be extravagant or made of real gold, just thoughtful. Gold candlesticks make nice presents. Make it special by offering to cook a candlelit dinner for them one night. A gold-plated frame with a sepia-toned copy of their wedding picture in it also makes a thoughtful gift. Again, it doesn't need to be expensive just special.

Choosing to give an anniversary gift based on the traditional materials is a fun way to commemorate the occasion. By using some of the ideas in this article you'll not only touch upon those traditions but also give them a present they will actually use. And remember, gifts are just a token of occasion. The most import detail is that you celebrate the couple and their years of love for one another.

Green Screen Photography - Exotic & Inspiring Wedding Photos - On a Budget!

Dear Reader,

Think about this... by using the special features of green screen technology you can turn your photography business into a highly prosperous business. The problem is most photographers simply don't know how. By using the information in this article you will learn how to obtain the right guide on using green screen to increase your profits.

You see, when two people give and start a life together as a married couple, it is going to be one of the most remembered times in their life. So what can a photographer do to make this time even more special?

Think about this... To keep these memories fresh in the minds of the new couple they typically hire a wedding photographer. But not many wedding photographers will offer the advantages of green screen photography.

By utilizing these simple green screen systems where other photographers don't you dramatically increase your chances of receiving more business.

Here's the thing... By using green screen you can not only create amazing bonuses other photographers don't offer you can add tens of thousands of dollars to your wedding photography business.

And the bad news is that this type of service was not available for weddings until recent times. Even today the greater numbers of wedding photographers either don't know about green screen photography or simply don't understand it enough to utilize it.

The good news is that to create the kind of photos that was more often than not only available to the extremely rich is now available to anyone easily. The thing is no one is actually doing it.

Now listen closely because what naturally happens after a wedding ceremony (prior to the reception) is most photographers will locate a nice place near by for the couples wedding photos and backdrop.

Let's face it... As a photographer you would know the amount of times you've been completely restricted by the weather and back drops right? In the end this stopped you from offering the outstanding photography package you were hoping to.

On the other hand, if you want to offer exotic wedding portraits that no one else offers, you can very easily (and on a shoestring budget) accomplish this by utilizing green screen and chroma key software as part of your package.

Here's how it works...

You simply choose a destination where you can access the right lighting, or a place where you can set up your own lights. Now you light up the screen with two lights facing the centre.

You use a third light on the newly weds while you take their photos. Make sure to take plenty of photos.

Now when you get back to your studio you only need to add in the background the best way that works for the newlyweds.

Here's an Example...

Should the couple wish to show their never-ending love for each other by utilizing a backdrop that represents the essence of romance you could do the following... You could create scenery as a impressive as a waterfall, a sandy beach in Hawaii or the sun setting behind the mountains of a beautiful range. This is the kind of photography that can get the attention of a couple looking for a wedding photographer.

And, here's the kicker... By utilizing such locations as backdrops it will help the bride (plus all her friends she shows the wedding portraits to) feel a much stronger connection with the photos you create for them.

And you know what? Because this is the bride's special day most people believe it is always the bride who loves to show off their wedding photos. But here's the thing... as long as the wedding photos aren't too feminine, most men also love to show off wedding photos of their friends as well.

Once you've taken the photos of the newly weds, ask the groom to step aside while you take some graceful shots of the bride by herself.

Take photos of her from the front with her holding her bouquet. Also take profile photos of as they are very popular too.

Here's what to do next...

When you're back at your studio you can simply add things like a set of marble stairs which leads to the entrance of an old gothic church. This can be the background. You could use a courtyard of a castle which can really be an eye catcher.

Here's the secret... make sure you use good quality software to darken the bride a little and make it look as if she is in shadow. Now use a picture of the ocean that has a sky full of deep reds and purples. This will add drama to the photo and make it a talking point so the couple will always remember you for your special green screen photography you created.

Why You Should Choose Leather Bound Photo Albums

There are a number of ways you can store your photos and share them with everyone - you can upload them into an online album or on a social networking site, email the pictures, store them in a thumb drive, and a whole lot of other ways. However, for those who are looking for a more traditional way of storing actual pictures, leather bound photo albums are a must-have.

Leather photo albums are far more durable compared to others with covers made out of plastic or other synthetic materials. What's more, this type of album, as it gets older and gets more used, ages gracefully. It gets a worn out look that adds to its appeal; when synthetic materials get worn out, they become damaged and need to be replaced.

Another thing that's great about this type of photo album is that you can have them custom designed. There are personalized leather photo albums available, and there are a lot of personalization options available. For instance, you can have the front of the album engraved with your name and the date the pictures were taken. You can also have a special title page created; this is perfect for leather wedding photo albums. On the title page, you can have the names of the bride and groom, as well as the date and place of the wedding. If you want the album to hold your child's photos, you can either have the front engraved with his or her name, or have a title page created with a special message for your child that he or she can read when they grow up. There are a lot of personalization options available which makes this type of albums a great choice for any occasion.

In terms of color, leather photo albums are available in a variety of colors. Gone are the days when a leather album is only available in brown - you can choose white (great for weddings), blue (great for keeping pictures of a baby boy) or the other colors available. The album can then match the pictures stored inside.

Personalized leather photo albums are a great choice for keeping pictures of your loved ones, as well as other special occasions in your life. You don't need a computer or internet access to view these images - a flip of the page is sure to take you down a trip to memory lane the easy way. These leather albums also make a great gift for any occasion!

Should I Hire a Photo Booth Rental For My Wedding?

Every bride has asked the question, "Is photo booth rental a good idea for my wedding?" In most cases, the answer is a resounding YES! Now if you are talking about the old school or DIY photo booths where only two person can sit on the bench or the booth is simply hideous to look at then I can understand your concerns. I would not consider that type of photo booth for my wedding either. Not only will those booth ruin the theme or decor of your wedding, it might stand out like a sore thumb. And let's not get into the liability aspect of the DIYer's photo booth. Fortunately, time has changed and modern photo booths are phasing out the old and self-built ones.

Before you book any photo booth rental, make sure you check out the vendor's website. Take a look at the photo booth design. Asked the vendor a few questions. Is it made out of wood? Is it easily transportable? Some vendors will charge for idling fees (the amount of time the booth is sitting idle at the venue) and some will not. That all depends on the vendor, staffing and how difficult it is to transport the booth.

Now the following question that brides often ask is, "Why do I need a photo booth if I already have a photographer?". Well, that's a great question! The photographer's job is to capture all the precious moments that happens on your wedding day with the bride and groom being the subject. Occasionally, he/she might snap a few shots of the guests and that's it. The photo booth's job is to grab pictures of all the guests that attended your wedding. Not when they are talking or daydreaming but when they are willing, happy and engaging! One thing I've noticed during our photo booth rental was how everyone genuinely had so much fun taking their photos. The photos shows the raw emotions of happiness - people laughing, waiting anxiously by the printer for the photo to develop, or gathering in groups to judge their latest adventure into the photo booth. Photo booth rental is a huge hit on all of our rentals.

The greatest thing about the photo booth is the sense of spontaneity. There's no photographer telling you how to smile, how to stand, or that your smile needs to be more 'genuine'. From the time your wedding guest pushes the touchscreen monitor until the four photos have been taken, the most crazy, fun, and humourous things could be captured onto film.

We also get to see the purest feelings of love displayed in the photos: a group of friends, packing themselves into the photo booth to make the silliest faces possible. an elderly couple - perhaps the grandparents of the groom? - sneaking into the photo booth for their millionth kiss together. and the bride and groom themselves, bride in groom's arms, for one of their first kisses together as husband and wife.

Recently we attended a very classy event at Caesar's Windsor, we captured some of these emotions onto video.

Unleash the party and unleash the love with your very own wedding photobooth!

Choosing Your Wedding Photograph Poses

Something that many couples don't consider until they are prompted to by their newly chosen wedding photographer, is what photographs they actually want to be taken. There is an assumption that photographers have a standard set of pre-wedding, couple, family and group photos, and the couple themselves don't need to think about it. Unsurprisingly this is not the case - you know your family and friends much better than your photographer (unless they are a member of your family!), and so only you will know which shots and which are the groupings you will want.

Pre-wedding Photographs

If your wedding photographer is going to be there while you get ready, do you mind having photos taken in your dressing gown with rollers in your hair? Or do you want to look perfectly put together in all your photos? You may want photographs taken of certain details of your wedding dress before you put it on; perhaps the laces at the back, or your bridal shoes. Once you are in your dress, do you want some pre-wedding shots of you and your bridesmaids, or your parents?

Couple Photographs

There is a new trend to have some couple shots taken before the wedding, but don't worry, you don't need to see each other before the wedding! You can reach round a door or the corner of a building to hold hands without ever seeing each other. After the wedding you may choose to have some photographs taken in front of your wedding car, or in a certain part of the venue's grounds.

Family Photographs

Your photographer will probably have some suggestions, which will probably be much the same as the 'standard' groups which are;

• the bride and groom with their bridesmaids and groomsmen


• with the bride's parents


• with the bride's family


• with the groom's parents


• with the groom's family


• with the bride's siblings


• with the groom's siblings

That's only seven photos, but I'm sure you would want more than that! What else you need will depend on your specific families; things get more confusing and complicated when you have step-families to contend with, or even cousins you are close to.

Other Group Photographs

As for your friends, well, you can have any group photos you want! Some to consider are;

• the bride and her hens from the hen party


• the groom with his stags who attended the stag party


• the bride and groom with their individual work colleagues


• the happy couple with any group of people who are special to them! Reading groups, gym buddies, school friends...any group of friends you have!


• Some newly weds have even requested that their dogs are brought to the venue so they can have a group photograph taken with their beloved pets!

Whatever pictures you want your wedding photographer to take, you should write them down in a list, and consider designating one of your bridesmaids or groomsmen who knows most of your guests to chase people down for their photographs to be taken.

5 Classic Wedding Ideas That Never Get Old

Choosing the right wedding gift is an art form that only a few people can master. The perfect wedding gift does not just have to be useful, it also has to mean something. Putting meaning into a wedding gift can be difficult. Some people do this by just buying something expensive. This is the main reason why most people buy expensive gifts just to show that their gifts have meaning. This results to specialty items like the Keurig B70 and the Senseo Supreme 7832. If you are looking for other gift ideas, here are five classic ideas that never get old:

Silverware

This is the classic wedding gift. People will really appreciate it if you give them the gift of silverware. This is because it is something that they can use. Silverware can be used for decoration or actual utilization. It would also be a nice touch if you have the silverware engraved if you plan to give it as a gift.

Digital Photo Frame

A digital photo frame is a great gift to give. You can store multiple pictures and these can be displayed in sideshow mode on the picture frame. This is a great wedding gift because the couple can store their wedding pictures on the frame and enjoy the memories every day.

His and Hers Items

This is also a cute gift idea. You can give items like towels embroidered with each of their names, mugs as well as salt and pepper shakers. The couple will really enjoy the items that you give them. Not only will they be able to use it, they will also remember you fondly every time they see it. This gift idea shows that you actually took the time to think of a good gift to give them.

Cash/Gift Cheques

If you do not know what to give them, cash or gift certificates are a good idea. This way, you can ensure that the couple will get something that they actually want. You can still put some meaning in your gift by enclosing a thoughtful note. This will ensure that the couple will still appreciate your gift. You should put the cash in a nice envelope and enclose the note along with it.

Coffee Makers

If you have the budget, coffee makers are the best gifts to give. You can choose special coffee makers like the ones from Keurig or Senseo. If you give these coffee makers as a gift, the wedding couple will surely see that you took the time and effort to think of a nice gift. Every day, when they use your gift to give them coffee, they will think of you and appreciate you as a good friend.

Wedding Gifts - 10 Wedding Gift Ideas

Sending wedding gifts to congratulate a couple for starting their lives together is one of the joy of life. Generally, Wedding gifts may include items that can be used for the wedding ceremony, reception, bridal shower or for the new household. Keepsake gifts that the couple can cherish for many years to come are also thoughtful choices. This article provides 10 wedding gift ideas that will be welcomed by the bride and groom.

1. Wedding Gift Basket
You can Send your best wishes with an elegant wedding gift basket filled with delicious treats and items that can be used for the celebration. The beautiful white basket is decorated with white flowers and white love birds, and contains a bottle of sparkling apple cider, two champagne glasses, a picture frame, candles, and gourmet snacks for two.

2. Wedding Time Capsule
The new couple will fill this wedding time capsule with memorabilia from their wedding day, honeymoon and first year together. They will Open the time capsule years from now on a special anniversary and share the excitement of that special day. This 25-piece gift set includes message to the future and envelopes, how to guide for the time capsule, check list of items to gather, message to the future writing paper, profile book for the bride and groom to fill out and 160 full color acid free stickers. Also included is a disposable camera to capture memories, a picture frame for your favorite snap shot, and a wedding cake candle. This is a wonderful gift for newlyweds to capture the joy of their wedding.

3. Unity Candle:
The lighting of the unity candle is a popular addition to the traditional wedding ceremony. The unity candle ceremony uses two taper candles with a large pillar candle (the unity candle) in the center. At the beginning of the wedding ceremony, a representative from each family (usually the mother of the bride and groom) light the two taper candles. Later in the ceremony (or at the reception), the bride and groom use the two taper candles to light the large pillar candle together. Lighting of the unity candle symbolizes the union of two individuals, becoming one in commitment.

You can send a heirloom quality unity candle set that includes hand-printed, hand-polished unity candle and a unity candle stand with matching taper candles for the wedding ceremony. The candle can be personalized with the bride and groom's first names and wedding date.

4. Wedding Shower Gift Box
This white and gold paisley gift box is filled with a shower registry, wedding shower games, a disposable camera, wedding bells candle, a champagne bottle candle, and Wedding shower treats. Congratulate the bride to be with this thoughtful and tasty delivery.

5. Spa Gift Basket:
For the bridal shower, You can send a spa gift basket to the bride-to-be to help her to relax for her big event. Inside this floral covered tin accented with butterflies, she will discover revitalizing body lotion, bath gel and bath fizzies, aromatherapy pillar candle, toes and nails bristle brush, ultra solft hand and face towel, as well as a relax & read pillow. She will also find a pair of ultra soft slippers. The keepsake container can be reused for storing photos and cosmetics. Send her this gorgeous gift to sooth any stress away.

6. Breakfast Basket:
The breakfast basket is another great wedding shower gift. This beautiful cloth lined white basket is filled with fantastic breakfast favorites. Included classic buttermilk pancake mix, New England maple syrup, Belgian stroopwaffles, cinnamon nut coffee, Perugina chocolates, cappucino rolled wafer cookies, and European sipping chocolates, and a Betty Crocker spatula for flipping the pancakes.

7. Personalized Signature Frame:
The personalized signature frame is a great alternative to traditional paper guest books at the reception. It is a wonderful keepsake from the wedding day that can be displayed for years to come. All you need is a wedding photo. Guest signatures are etched into the sturdy, high quality alloy surface. No special treatments are needed. The guests just sign at the reception and it is ready to display. Also includes guest instruction card, and micro-fiber polishing cloth to remove smudges. The signature frame comes with solid wood beveled frame and includes plexi glass, additional cardboard matting, black backing and hanging hardware.

8. Personalized Picture Frame:
This elegant black and white wedding-themed photo frame provides the ideal place to highlight a favorite wedding or honeymoon photo. The design is simple yet classic and is a fitting tribute to the new Mr. and Mrs. and the joy of their special day. Personalize with first names of the bride and groom, couple's last name and wedding date.

9. Personalized Toasting Glass:
This beautiful personalized toasting glass set complements any wedding celebration. Hand printed in an elegant font, these attractive toasting glasses can be used over and over again for anniversaries or displayed as a keepsake for years to come.

10. Personalized Keepsake Box
The new couple can keep their wedding treasures safe and sound with this attractive silver-toned keepsake box, just big enough for their beloved photos, artifacts, jewelry, or any other items that are near and dear to their heart. Lid includes a place for their favorite snapshot and enough room for engraving names and a date. A great personalized gift for the bride and groom.

In summary, a thoughtful wedding gift can deliver your best wishes and be remembered fondly for many years to come by the bride and groom. Some popular wedding gifts include wedding gift basket, wedding time capsule, wedding shower gift box, unity candle, personalized signature frame, toasting glass, and picture frame.

Fun Wedding Photo Ideas For Guests

Pictures are an integral area of any wedding day. Newlyweds are normally thrilled to get their pictures back from the photographer so they are in a position to relive their special occasion. But there are many special activities you can build into a wedding that involve photos.

One fun idea that lots of brides employ is to take photos of everyone as they arrive at the marriage ceremony, almost like you do at a college prom or company Christmas party. You can render a background and couples can pose either for a paid photographer or for whoever happens to pick up the camera. These pictures can be taken with a Polaroid camera for instant fun or with a disposable camera. If you want slightly higher quality photos, go for a digital camera.

This can be an excellent way to hold guests occupied and happy until the "official" reception begins with the arrival of the bride and bridegroom.

As an extension of that idea, you may take instant photos and create scrapbook pages or memory book pages with the photos. There can be supplies available so guests can create pages on site, or pages can be manufactured and photos simply placed into the prepared spaces. If guests don't wish to create pages on site, or the bride does not want this particular activity happening, the photos can be saved for later. As a gift for the bride and bridegroom, someone can create memory books with these photos.

If Polaroid cameras are utilized, another alternative is to have the people in the photo sign the Polaroid photo and place that in a basket somewhere. The the couple will enjoy considering the photos later.

While it's not an especially unique idea, many brides love to provide disposable cameras on each table at the reception so guests can capture candid shots of the reception and the table guests. These photos can be added to the newlyweds' wedding day album or they can be placed into a separate album showing the wedding from the guests' perspective.

A fun activity sure to be entertaining is to create a "silent photo guess" location. Here's how this works: prior to the wedding, someone more or less the the happy couple collects pictures of the bride and groom at various stages in life. The photos should depict the the couple doing things, not at Christmas or with their first birthday cake. In the correct way, the photos should include some action, but it should not be obvious in the picture what has happened or where the individual is.

Much like a silent auction, people will come along and observe the photos, then take a silent guess as to what the photos show. They invest write their guess on an item of paper and put it in a numbered basket that relates to with the number on the photo. Reading these guesses during the reception is entertaining and sure to be amusing. The bride or groom can provide the real answers. This is a specially fun activity at a comparatively small, family wedding day where the participants know the the happy couple very well.

If you wish to render field for guests to have their photos taken but aren't thrilled with the "prom night" idea, how about having a picture corner established somewhere in the reception hall or facility. Here, the wedding ceremony photographer will take candid shots of wedding day guests. They could be couples, but could easily be entire families, friends really enjoying your life, or the groom being carried on the shoulders of the best man. Whatever the pictures finish up being, they provide a fun, "let it all hang out" region for the wedding guests and a surprise for the bride and groom. Since they'll likely be occupied with all the reception details and having the time of THEIR lives, they could appreciate knowing their guests had a pretty good time too, as evidenced in the photos.

Make Extra Money For Your Wedding Day

You want the wedding of your dreams so therefore do not let the lack of money stop you from doing that.

Here are some simple and affective ways of making money for your wedding day.

1. Start creating and designing your very own wedding flower centerpieces and wedding bouquets for sale. There are two ways of making money here 1. sell the designs only or 2. sell the completed flower arrangement.

Why not make wedding flower centerpieces, wedding bouquets and sell them to add extra cash to your wedding bash. Get the training you require form my website to make the most splendid flower arrangements that any bride would be proud to walk down the aisle with.

Step 1: Purchase your flowers in any flower market early in the morning so that you will get the freshest flowers for the right price. Remember in this case it is very true "That the early bird catches the worm".

Step 2: With the help of your guide book you can either design the wedding flower centerpieces, wedding bouquet, wedding button holes and sell on the designs of these.

Step 3: You could complete the task by creating these wonderful designs and selling them to your local florist, or flower market.

Step 4: Advertise in three ways, through the internet, through placing a brochure of your product into your local shops as well as taking out free advertising in your local newspaper or magazine.

Step 5: Get the Mum's involved in the learning curve of creating these flower arrangements which will increase your output. I know my Mum was terrific at flower arranging and she just loved it.

Step 6: Commence this at least 12 months prior to your wedding and don't forget about the money you will save when it comes to you organising your own flower arrangements.

Just think about all the flower designs required for weddings, start with flowers for the church, the venue, the wedding flower centerpieces, the button holes, brides wedding bouquet, the bridesmaids flower arrangements and have great fun doing this.

You may not have time for this so nominate your mother, your aunts, or close friends to do help you with this.

2. Sell you very own digital photos online - Turn your digital photos into extra cash for your wedding bash

Make money from taking digital photographs and selling them online. Amateur DIGITAL PHOTOS are in HIGH DEMAND! With a digital camera, two hours of free time, and some picture taking fun, you can easily earn $200 a day enjoying the career of your dreams or just take this up as a paying hobby to help you with achieving extra cash for your wedding bash.

Get your friends involved in the photo wealth system and find your very own wedding photographer for the day. In fact turn your photo hobby into a competition to pick the person with the greatest flare for digital photographs as your personal photographer and again save money on your wedding photos. Have fun turning your digital photos into extra cash for your wedding bash.

3. Purchase wedding accessories and wedding invitation designs at discounted prices and sell them on to potential brides at a huge profit.

Step 1: Order a sample of each discounted wedding accessory through my wedding site.

Step 2: Mark up your profit on each of the items you have purchased - a guide line for that would be at least 30% - 50% per item.

Step 3: Photograph each item for sale and place each photograph in a scrapbook with a description of the item coupled with the price and ensure that the new profit covers cost of postage, your time and a decent profit just for you to go towards that extra cash you will make for your very own wedding bash.

Step 4: Advertise to encourage potential brides to hold a house party to enable you sell your accessories.

Step 5: Take the money in advance of the orders being filled, so that you can start collecting your profit immediately. Any person objecting to paying the full amount up front ask them for a deposit.

Step 5: Book onward parties from house party to house party to continue the momentum of your sales.

Step 6: If you wish to do this on a bigger scale recruit a few resources and share the profits with them.

Check out the great bargains on all accessories needed not just for Weddings, but also for any special occasion. So by you shopping in advance you not only save money but also can gain extra cash through the profits you chose to make.

4. Set up a fund raiser with friends and relatives to wash dogs to make that extra cash for your wedding bash.

Washing dogs - did you know that if you organise yourself and your 5 friends to each wash 20 dogs a month at 10 Euro/Stg/Dollars a dog you can make 1,000 Euro/Stg/Dollars per month and if you were to start doing this 6 months before the wedding you could earn an additional 4,000 Euro/Stg/Dollars less expenses. So go on contact everyone you know with a dog and organise 5 people to wash 4 dogs each Saturday between now and your wedding day and watch those figures accumulate in your favour. Requirements for washing dogs:-

5 volunteers, 5 brushes, 5 shampoos, 5 baby baths, 4 small dogs per person.

Location - back garden, a garden hose will also help. Lots of unwanted towels for drying the dogs or an industrial hair dryer. Go to your local vet for ideas on washing dogs.

Suggestion: The dogs you wash in the first month set up a monthly appointment for the washing of those dogs for the next 6 months. Make fun out of this and make sure that both of your get involved in this entrepreneurial venture. Remember you reap what you sow so the more organisation and hard work you put into this exercise the greater the reward.

Here are just four suggestions on ways to earn extra cash and save money for your wedding bash. Remember if you want the wedding of your dreams go for it. Life is for living right now.

So good luck and enjoy.

Top 5 Destination Wedding Invitation Designs

You will try to make your wedding items inline with your main wedding theme. For example, you may choose pumpkins as the main decoration elements if you are going to have a Halloween themed event. Of course the invitations should also match the main theme.

As a matter of fact, a lot of brides and grooms will opt for a destination wedding. This is because such an event is usually more memorable. When it comes to the invitations, you will want to know how they can express the idea of a destination event.

Here are the top 5 destination wedding invitation designs you can consider.

1. Air Ticket Design

Usually, your destination event will be hosted overseas. Your guests will need to prepare the air tickets in order to go to your wedding. As a result, it will be natural to go for the idea of an air ticket when you design the wedding invitations. In fact, such designs can be very unique. You can print the individual guest names on the cards. This can make your invites more personalized. Apart from the air ticket idea, it is also common for couples to go for a boarding pass design.

2. Passport Design

Of course your guests will have to bring the passports along with them when attending an overseas wedding. This is why a passport design is very popular when it comes to a destination wedding invitation. You can personalize the passport design for each guest. You can print their names and pictures on each passport. Your guests will want to keep this invitation after your event. It is not uncommon to choose this design together with an air ticket invitation.

3. Poker Design

A poker design is perfect for a Las Vegas wedding. As you may probably know, Las Vegas is a very popular destination for getting married. Most people will think about elements such as pokers and slot machines when we talk about Las Vegas. This is why you can choose a poker design for your Las Vegas wedding. You can print the design on a thick piece of card stock. Your guests will certainly love it.

4. Glass Bottle

A glass bottle can be related to the beach. A beach wedding can also be a destination event at the same time. So, you can choose a glass bottle as your invitation design. Of course it can be hard for you to print the wording on the bottle itself. Instead, you can print the wording on a piece of paper and put it into a bottle. You can even add some sand into the bottle if you are going to host a beach wedding.

5. Photo Invitation

It is always said that a picture is worth thousand words. A picture on the invitation can express the idea of destination wedding effectively. You can print a photo of the destination on the card. Your guests will know the theme of your event once they see the invitations. You can even print your own pictures on it in order to personalize the cards!

The Important Questions to Ask Your Potential Wedding Photographer

So, you've narrowed down your selection of potential wedding photographers. You've now got to decide between two or three. You like their work and they have similar rates and packages. But you still aren't sure who to hire. What else can you do to help make your decision? Contact the photographers who made it to your 'short list' and ask them some key questions...

The rates are important, yes and of course you'll want to inquire about them. But once you've got a fairly clear idea of the amount you can expect to pay, there are several other things you should make sure of as well...

QUESTION ONE - THE CONSULTATION:

When you're arranging meetings with potential photographers, be sure to ask if they give you a free consultation before your wedding date.

The answer to this should always be yes. Whether it's in person or by telephone, at least a few days prior to your wedding, you and your photographer should have a one-on-one discussion about the kinds of photos you envision for your wedding day. This is makes sure everyone is clear about your vision and your needs for your wedding photography.

QUESTION TWO - THE SHOT-LIST:

Does the photographer provide you with a detailed shot-list to fill out prior to your wedding?

This list is invaluable for you and for your photographer. On this list, you'll fill out the names of the wedding party and family members so your photographer knows who is who, without you having to take time from your wedding day to make extra introductions.

Then you fill out information about the various shots you want. Do you want photos of the wedding party getting ready? Bridal party and groom's party? Family photos before and after the ceremony? Photos of the cake cutting and the signing of the legal documents? How much time are you allotting for each activity?

All of these details (and more) can be arranged with your photographer weeks or months in advance by filling out this shot list. This ensures you and your photographer both know what to expect and how much time you have for each location and activity.

QUESTION THREE - DELIVERY TIME:

This should definitely be a deciding factor in who you hire. Always ask your potential photographers how soon after your wedding can you expect to receive your photos? Anything within 90 days is reasonable. More than 90 days is not.

QUESTION FOUR - CONTRACTS:

A VERY important thing to make sure of before hiring any kind of service supplier for your wedding - including your photographer - is if they provide a contract and invoices and/or receipts.

Don't hire anyone who doesn't provide you with some form of documentation for your transactions. Contracts and invoices/receipts are for your benefit and protection just as much as they are for the tradespeople and service suppliers you hire.

Always, ALWAYS make sure you get a signed contract upon paying any deposit fee.

QUESTION FIVE - DEPOSITS: Always ask your potential photographers if they require a booking fee/deposit. A professional photographer will require this, so expect them to say yes. The average professional photographer doesn't tend to charge more than 30% for a deposit, often a bit less. This deposit guarantees the photographer's availability for your date and time.

Make sure that the booking fee is refunded from the total sum agreed upon for your wedding photography contract.

QUESTION SIX - PAYMENT:

It's important to know in advance, when you're expected to pay the entire sum for your wedding photography. Some photographers will invoice you after your wedding, some require full payment by the day of. Either is acceptable, but more often than not, you'll be expected to make the full payment on or before your wedding day. This applies to paying videographers as well.

QUESTION SEVEN - WHAT'S INCLUDED?

Many photographers will quote one rate for their actual photography coverage and then charge (often exorbitant) additional fees for things like your high resolution images and your image retouching. These are services that should be included; charging additional fees is a bit unscrupulous.

In this age of digital photography, Photoshop (or an equivalent program) is exactly like a darkroom. Contrast and color are corrected and adjusted. Blemishes are removed, focus is sharpened, effects can be added, images can be produced in black and white as well as color.

Making these adjustments to photos is all part of a professional photographer's job and you should not be expected to pay extra money for it. If someone doesn't include this service in their pricing, hire someone else who does.

(Custom photo-albums with prints however, are not standard and it's completely reasonable to pay an additional amount if you should require this extra service.)

When you've asked these seven questions, it's a lot easier to make your final decision about which photographer to hire.

Wedding Photography Masterclass - How to Become a Wedding Photographer Part 1

Becoming a wedding photographer is not an easy task, along the way you will have to make some important decisions; my aim is to make it a little easier for you to decide which route to take. So let's start at the very beginning and take a look at what equipment you will need.

Camera Body:

The first and one of the biggest decisions is choosing the correct camera body. When you become a wedding photographer you will need to make a choice of what brand of equipment you want to use. In the professional world there are only really two brand choices, Cannon and Nikon but you will need to make a decision and stick with it as the cameras and lenses are not compatible between the two makes. In my opinion Canon is the best choice to go for simply because of the far superior optics and cutting edge camera design and functions, not everyone will agree with me here but this is my personal choice. There are many on the market some good and some bad ranging from 瞿400 for a Canon 400D to over 瞿5000 for a Canon 1DX. Both are good cameras but as the price suggests one is high end and one low end.

Every camera will boast a range of features and you will need to take into account the job that you want your camera to undertake when making your choice. Let's take a look at the features you will need to study...

Frame Rate:

Cameras at the higher end of the price range are not necessarily the best for wedding photography, they tend to be cameras with extremely fast frame rates up to 9 frames per second whilst shooting in RAW mode which is more suited to wildlife or sports photography. A camera that can achieve a frame rate of 3-4fps shooting in RAW is more than adequate. The more expensive faster cameras cost the higher price because of the added processing power they possess.

ISO Range:

As you will be shooting mainly in old churches and poorly lit conditions a camera body with a high ISO rating is required to get correct exposure but be aware the higher the ISO the grainier the picture will become. ISO in short means the sensitivity of the cameras internal photographic sensor, the higher the number the more sensitive the sensor will become to noise or grain. Some camera bodies cope with higher ISO ratings better than others for example, the canon 40D on ISO 1600 will look extremely grainy compared to a Canon 5D Mk II at ISO 1600 which will be smooth and literally grain free at higher ISO rates. Cameras with a larger sensor tend to be less susceptible to noise or grain at higher ISO settings.

Sensor Size:

You have many options for sensor size ranging from cropped APS-C to full frame 35mm equivalent. The larger sensors mean more depth of field and bigger pixels resulting in better picture quality. Cheaper cameras tend to have smaller sensors; if you want the best results from your lens then I would recommend a full frame 35mm equivalent.

Mega Pixel Count

Having a camera with the highest mega pixel size again is not necessary the best, as an example there are many cameras on the market with a mega pixel rate of 17 Mp for under 200 but the quality of the sensor and lens will be poor and this will result in a poor looking image. Yes you will be able to print out larger images with the added pixels but the quality will not be at a satisfactory level for professional wedding photography. As an example I will use the canon 40D again, it has a Mp count of 10.1 Mp and the images it produces will far exceed the quality of a cheap 17 Mp camera purchased from eBay simply because of the size and quality of the sensor used. Unless you need to produce prints of A2 in size a 10Mp camera body is fine.

Over all Feel:

Whichever camera you decide to purchase it must feel nice in your hands. Some cameras buttons and dials are set out better than others, go to your local camera shop and try out a few and you will soon get to know the layout of the various cameras available. Personally I use a pair of Canon 5D Mk II's as I feel that they suit my style of photography extremely well. With its full frame 35mm sensor, noise free high ISO rates and 3.9FPS shooting rate it is the ideal camera body to use and with a price tag of under 瞿1400 it's worth every penny.

Memory Cards:

Choosing the correct memory card can be so confusing! Ok, so you know that your camera takes one of the popular formats like Compact Flash II or an SDHC card but what size and speed do you need?

In my experience as a professional photographer I use the fastest memory card my camera will allow. Cards are listed in either x speed or speed in MB per second. Nearly all memory card manufacturers will list the maximum read speed but not the write speed which is the more important one for us as photographers to know. Sandisk are the only manufacturer that actually advertises the slower speed, so don't be fooled if you see a card that advertises a speed of 600X or 60MB per second when quite possibly this could be the read speed and not the speed the images are written to the card.

As a wedding photographer you will be capturing many important and priceless one off events and therefore will need a card that is reliable, imagine what it would do to your reputation if you were to lose all the images from a wedding! If you are in fact using a full frame DSLR and shoot in RAW then a card of 16GB will be a good start, but make sure you have a few smaller cards as backup. In my kit bag I have two 32GB cards and ten 4GB cards. Half way through the day I will transfer the images to my laptop as a backup and to save card space.

In the next Part of this Wedding Photography Master class we will be looking at Lenses and Flashes.

The Wedding Reception - Order of Events

Your wedding reception is a time to celebrate the beautiful union of a husband and wife and also a time to celebrate that the stress of planning and pulling off a wedding is finally over! While there is a suggested order of events that has been used traditionally, you can certainly choose to customize any portion of it to fit your personal circumstances, but keep in mind that this order has worked successfully for countless couples and is likely what your guests will expect.

Suggested order of events at the wedding reception:

1. The guests arrive at the reception. They may be there for a while before the wedding party arrives due to wedding photos being taken so you will want to have drinks and hors d'oeuvres ready for them to enjoy.

2. The wedding party arrives. You may wish to have the DJ announce the Bride and Groom only or the entire wedding party.

3. Toasts. This time honored tradition allows kind words of encouragement to the Bride and Groom and sets the tone for the reception. The Best Man offers a toast first and may be followed by the Maid of Honor and possibly other family members such as the Bride's father, but you will want to consider how long to leave the guests waiting before dinner.

4. Blessing of the meal. The DJ should ask everyone to take their seats for dinner before the blessing. The blessing can said by the Bride or Groom's father or Grandfather or other special person that the Bride and Groom choose.

5. Dinner is served. Whether this will be a buffet or sit down meal, the Bride and Groom are served first followed by the wedding party and parents. Then the DJ may want to call tables up one by one if it is a buffet, otherwise the guests should be served at this time.

6. The Bride and Groom's first dance. This is the time your song is set for life. You will always remember this first dance together.

7. The Daddy-Daughter dance and any other special dances. Daddy gets his "last dance" with his little girl. You may want to make this just the first part of a song and then the DJ can announce the wedding party as they enter the dance floor, or you can do two separate songs. After this you want all the guests to join in on the dance floor as soon as possible so they don't become lethargic after dinner and want to leave too early.

8. The tossing of the bouquet and garter. The bride tosses the bouquet over her shoulder to all the single ladies, keep in mind that single means "never married" and not divorced and the groom tosses the garter to all the single men. The lucky guy who catches the garter then gets to place it on the leg of the lucky lady who caught the bouquet.

9. Cutting of the cake. Now the DJ can announce the cutting of the cake. The Bride and Groom make the first cut together and then serve each other a piece with their fingers. This is a great photo op. Someone else, even the kitchen help, can then cut and serve the cake to the guests or place the slices on the dessert table for people to eat when they want or wrap up and take home.

10. Dance until they drop. Now guests should feel free to dance and party until their hearts content. The Bride and Groom are free to dance or leave early if they have a plane to catch or just want to get the honeymoon started.

Once again, this order is just a suggestion because this is your big day and everything should be planned to make it feel right for you. The most important thing is to just enjoy yourself and take some time to remember what is really important about this day-you got married. Everything else is really secondary to that.

How to Have a Vintage Wedding

Why go vintage?

With the rise of all-inclusive hotel wedding packages, it seems that many modern weddings are very predictable. There's the ceremony, the champagne reception, the photos, the wedding breakfast, speeches, cutting the cake, and a first dance... They even provide you with a master of ceremonies to announce each stage of the day as it progresses (watch out for the black-suited woman with her hair in a bun and a monotonic voice). Perhaps you'd like something different.

Enter the vintage wedding world!

In fashion and style, vintage is BIG. It's eclectic, unique and most importantly, individual - exactly what you want for your wedding day, where it's all about you.

How do you go about making your wedding vintage? Here's a few ideas:

1. A vintage dress - it could be authentic, or an imitation of a vintage style from the 1920s - 1970s. Check out the vintage clothing boutiques near you, and there's an array of choice online too. You could opt for a classic, Empire-line dress from a high street retailer for an inexpensive alternative to the current trend of strapless corset-with-meringue dresses.

2. Accessorize - from your hair piece to your jewellery, vintage accessories don't have to be expensive, but can look stunning and unusual. A lacy bolero or beautiful shoes could really make your outfit complete. If you've gone for a cheaper dress, why not splash out on your accessories for an indulgent finish?

3. Venue - choose a venue that isn't a generic hotel, but has something historic or Romantic about it. The ruins of an abbey, or the beams of an old lodge, could give your wedding a real sense of atmosphere, and make for some fabulous photography!

4. Cars - hiring classic cars for transport can add the finishing touch to your vintage look. Make sure the chauffeurs dress appropriately, and ask your photographer to experiment using the windows of the car for different effects, such as mirroring.

5. Chintz and glamour - You can add vintage colours, prints and patterns using fabrics (perhaps for napkins), tableware (you could use vintage cups and saucers as candle-holders) and favours; the possibilities are endless!

Tell your photographer that you're planning a vintage theme, and then they can produce some images with retro colouring: milky shadows and smoothed shades. A vintage wedding could give you the distinctive stylized day you've always dreamed of, and be nostalgic and enchanting for your guests.

The 10 Most Important Tips For Perfect Makeup on Your Wedding Day!

TIP #1 PLAN AHEAD

Every bride spends weeks looking at the stores, the magazines and searching online to find the perfect wedding dress; the perfect color bridesmaid dresses; the perfect shoes and other accessories. A bride always plans the venue months in advance. Unfortunately, many brides wait to the last minute to plan their makeup for their wedding. That truly is like waiting just days before to pick out a dress!

It is important that you are prepared and know what the perfect look is for your wedding day. It is not recommended that you try something drastic or totally new, but fine tune the look that makes you feel beautiful! Play with different looks and colors - remember - makeup washes off! Do not try a new look the day of your wedding! Promise!

If you are contacting a professional makeup artist or consultant; be sure to allot a time to meet with the consultant before your wedding day. The consultant will know what questions to ask you to make the best recommendations. Also, if you are not totally satisfied with the recommendations, you will have the opportunity to try different looks well in advance. The day of your wedding is NOT the day to change your mind or not be sure how your look makes you feel! You will be emotional! Remember, we offer specials for those brides who come with their bridal party for their first consultation!

TIP #2 classic vs trendy

Fashion comes and goes as often as the season changes. Trends range back and forth as easily as a pendulum keeps time. One thing for sure - the trend will change. When choosing your bridal makeup - make a decision if you want to look classic and timeless or if you wish for a trendy look of the day. One thing to consider is thinking far ahead when you, your children and even your grandchildren are looking at your wedding pictures. Will you still think you look pretty? That's a good rule to follow to determine if your choice of makeup will stand the test of time. You want to look like you. You just want to enhance your favorite features and create the illusion to cover the aspects of which you are not satisfied. It is important to look like yourself. Remember the groom asked the real you to marry him and he wants to see the real you at the altar!

There are a few timeless looks that are still trendy - the Audrey Hepburn look is a timeless classic yet one that is noticeable today. The colors you choose should complement you not make a statement for the fashion industry. Certain techniques that you know have come and gone in and out of style are certainly not what you want to use on your wedding day! Remember - beautiful, elegant, timeless, captivating...these adjectives are how you wish to be described.

TIP #3 TIME OF DAY FOR THE WEDDING

You as the bride should consider the time of day the wedding will be held as you plans your makeup. Time of day is critical to how well the makeup will photograph because of the varied lighting. Paying attention to details for each time frame is essential to have the wedding photographs of your dreams!

MORNING BRIDE

A Wedding makeup look for the morning should be soft and natural. This is the perfect time for a girl who prefers natural looks. Most of the morning brides have their wedding outside or at least take lots of photos outside. A photographer will take advantage of the soft natural light in the morning.

1. A bride may choose a matte foundation but also may prefer a foundation with a slight sheen or dewiness.

2. If the bride is prone to breakouts, this is not the ideal time of day for the wedding. You will want to wear very little foundation and concealer due to the softer light.

3. Use minimal powder to create the slight matte appearance. Heavy powder can appear artificial in the morning light.

4. Choose warmer, softer eye shades that complement your eye color. Bold eye shadow or too much eye shadow will be accentuated in the morning light.

5. Define the eyes really well with mascara and possibly opt for false eyelashes.

6. Eyeliner is a choice for the morning bride. Keep eyeliner subtle and soft. No black eyeliner and smudge the lines to prevent a harsh look.

7. A soft and natural lip is ideal for the morning bride. Nothing to bold or your lips are the only thing you will see in the photos!

8. Bridesmaids should also wear softer makeup shades and the dresses should be soft in color.

MIDDAY BRIDE

Mid-day weddings must take into account that the mid day sun may cast shadows on your face. This makes a huge difference if you are taking photos outdoors.

1. Avoid foundations with a sheen or dewiness. Sheen will reflect the light in the photos at this time of day. A lightweight foundation and a matte powder finish will photograph well.

2. Blush should also have a more matte finish. Avoid shimmer.

3. Keep eye makeup light and avoid dark colors. If it is to dark your eyes will look like two dark holes in the photographs. The highlight shade should be a shimmer to reflect light and this is the most important shade for this time of day. Mid tone and contour shade should be matte to avoid the eyes looking to shiny.

4. Eyeliner should be worn closest to the lash line.

5. Mascara is essential for long luscious lashes.

6. Blending is absolutely critical for the mid-day bride. The sunlight grows stronger and every makeup line will become more visible. There is no such thing as over blending!

LATE-AFTERNOON BRIDE

If you want to add a little more drama to your makeup, take advantage of the golden light in the late afternoon. This light is beautiful and forgiving.

1. You may use more concealer and foundation to cover any flaws on the face. Always powder - matte skin is essential for photographs.

2. Add color to your face as dusk approaches. Flash on cameras may tend to wash you out if you do not have enough color on. Always wear blush for a little color in the cheeks! Cheek color for this time of day is OK to have some shimmer. You may also choose a bronzing powder to give you the "warm glow" effect.

3. More dramatic eye shadow shades are appropriate for this time of day. A shimmer highlight is beautiful. Avoid using three shimmers.

4. Richer lip colors may be a preference for the late afternoon bride.

EVENING BRIDE

The evening bride is the glamour queen. More makeup and color will photograph well in the evening much better than any other time of day. You may choose darker eye shadow shades and make your makeup more dramatic.

1. More foundation and powder is acceptable to cover less than perfect skin.

2. Use bronzer generously to give your skin a glow. This adds dimension and prevents wash out from the flash.

3. Everything should be more defined - lips, eyes, cheekbones.

4. Shimmery eye shadow photographs best this time of day but no frosts. One of the three shades needs to be matte.

5. Seriously consider false eyelashes for an evening wedding. This brings more definition to the lash line to compete with the flash.

6. The Smoky eye is perfect for the evening bride.

7. Lip color and powder are essential at all times.

TIP #4 SKIN CARE PRIOR TO WEDDING

Good skin care is always imperative for the bride to have the most beautiful glowing look on her wedding day. A bride who is not already using a quality skin care routine should consider her options six to eight weeks before the wedding day. Soap is not a quality skin care routine and bargain discount items are not formulated to be the best for your skin. Choose a line that you can use all the products that are formulated to work together.

There are five essential steps to quality skin care.

1. Cleanse -should be suitable for sensitive skin, be fragrance free and non-comodegenic; avoid eye area


2. Tone - tightens pores and firms skin; anti-aging benefits


3. Exfoliate - removes the top layer of dead skin; as we age the renewal process slows; light exfoliation is suitable daily; microderm abrasion or similar should be performed two-three times per week


4. Moisturize - everyone needs to use moisturizer; dry or oily skin; keeping your skin in a moisture check is crucial for flawless makeup and anti-aging benefit.


5. Protect - foundation of any kind protects your skin from harmful irritants and free radicals in the air. If you prefer not to wear a liquid foundation, try a powder or even a tinted moisturizer.


6. Other products to help skin issues - ask your consultant about other specialty products for age spots, dark circles, very oily or very dry skin, facial masking etc.

The quality skin care routine should be used both morning and night. The myth is that if you go to bed with your makeup on it will age you seven days! Also, if you have ever Googled eye mites, you have learned that the little critters love to feast off dry dead skin cells in your lashes and old makeup! Do not go to bed with makeup on!

Remember a quality skin care routine allows you to create the perfect canvas of which to work with your makeup application! Broken eyelashes; missing lashes and red puffy eyes may be evidence the little eye mites had a Thanksgiving buffet on your eyes the night before.

TIP #5 WHAT NOT TO DO THE DAY OF THE WEDDING

Micro-derm abrasion - this product is absolutely amazing at exfoliating your skin and creating a soft renewed look. Microderm tends to bring red blood cells to the top of the skin as it oxygenates and renews skin so it should only be done at least two days before the wedding. Although, there are products that have a replenish step to sooth the newly exfoliated skin, it is never recommend to do this immediately before the wedding day.

Sunless Tanning - Using a sunless tanning lotion may help give you a warm glow that you desire for your wedding day. Be sure to test it weeks in advance so that you are totally satisfied with how the product applies and dries. Always exfoliate well before beginning application. After exfoliation, moisturize well to prevent streaking. Several weeks before the wedding you may choose to use sunless tanning lotion to obtain the depth of color and then maintain it every few days. Do not start a sunless tanning routine the week of the wedding. Be sure to check package labels that the lotion is safe for your face before applying to face.

Stay up late - We all know there are thousands of details, butterflies in your stomach, out of town relatives and friends the night before the wedding. Also the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner bring on much stress. It is critical for the bride to get good nights sleep so she may look her best on her wedding day. No bride wants puffy eyes and dark circles to remind her of the exhausting day years down the road.

TIP #6 FACE APPLICATION TECHNIQUES

On your wedding day, begin by using your skin care routine and end with moisturizer. Allow the moisturizer to dry before applying makeup. A bride may use whatever tool she prefers to apply foundation: fingers, brush or sponge.

A sponge is very sanitary and really helps with the blending process to help your foundation look smooth and flawless. A foundation brush will give you great even coverage. If you use your fingertips, be sure to wash your hands after applying your moisturizer and skin care products as these items can compromise the integrity of the foundation.

Begin blending foundation in the center of the face and blend outward. Finish by using downward strokes so the fine facial hairs will lay flat. On this special day you will want to blot after applying foundation to absorb any extra moisture. Powder will also absorb excess moisture, but blotting first will allow you to go longer before touching up.

Concealer is a great tool to cover flaws on your face. The key to using concealer successfully is only applying it to the discolored skin and nothing more. Concealer has different textures than foundation and will grab powder differently. Blending is essential. If you have really dark circles under your eyes, you may need to use a shade of concealer lighter than your foundation

You can outsmart puffy eyes by highlighting (not concealing) just under the puffy area. This will bring out the area to create an illusion to cover the puffiness. Use a highlighting pen or highlighting powder to create this effect.

Blemishes can be covered with a touch of concealer after you apply foundation. Apply concealer directly to the top of the blemish and stipple it to blend. Do not rub it or spread the concealer to the surrounding area as this defeats the illusion.

Powder is absolutely essential on your wedding day. It sets your foundation; adds a smooth softness to your look. Powder also absorbs more oil.

Facial Contouring is an application technique you may wish to try on your wedding day. The idea is to use three shades of foundation to create the oval face. Darker shades will assist in receding round cheeks and jaws or the square forehead. The lighter shade is applied to the center of the forehead, tip of the nose, each cheekbone and the chin.

TIP #7 EYES AND YES THOSE BROWS TOO

Remember, the eyes are the windows to your soul. The eyes will reflect so many emotions on your wedding day. You will want to use makeup that accentuates your eyes, not compete for attention! Most brides should stay away from eye shadows with a lot of color such as blue, green or black. Using natural shades such as ivory, taupe, beige or brown will bring out the sparkle in brides eyes.

Effectively prepping the eye area will ensure vibrant color that lasts all day long. Apply concealer to even out the eye lid. Use powder to set which will absorb any excess oils. Eye primer is also a secret tool of the trade to prevent creasing and allowing eye shadow to maintain its vibrant color.

Eyeliner is a personal choice for a bride. Pencils are most common, but the bride who does not normally wear a lot of makeup, may choose to line and define her eyes with a darker eye shadow. Liner should be thinnest towards the center of the face and gradually thicken towards the outer corner. Blending is a must because a harsh line is will make the eyes appear smaller. A trick you may wish to use is taking black eye shadow and a small brush and pushing it into the lash line. This defines the eyes and makes the lashes look thicker without a lot of lining.

Eye shadow should be applied that most flatters your eye shape. The standard eye, hooded eye, wide-set, narrow set, deep set and prominent all call for different application techniques to ensure the eyes are most flattering. These looks are accomplished with using shimmer shades to bring out features and matte shadows to hide or create depth. Be sure to ask what your eye shape is and for pointers for each one even for everyday wear.

Maintaining brows are also essential for the bride. If you do not normally pluck or wax your brows, I encourage you to seek a professional to create your natural arch. Then you can follow that arch and tweeze as needed. This is also a step you do not want to do immediately before the wedding. Sometimes tweezing and waxing may cause the tissue to swell or even bleed. Give yourself several days before the wedding to accomplish the idea look. Brows should be no further in on your face than directly over the corner of your eye. You can take a pencil; hold it vertical next to your nose to determine where your eyebrows should start. The outer corner should go just to the outside edge of your eye. Take the same pencil and hold it from your nose to the outside corner of your eye and you will see where the brow should end. The arch will be above the pupil of the eye. There is not set style for your brows; thick, thin, sparse or full. Groom and maintained are the only requirements.

Mascara is a must for any bride. I recommend several coats of mascara to have the fullest thickest lashes ever! Apply mascara first by just brushing over the tips called "tipping" to apply just a small amount of product. Go back and hold your want horizontal moving back and forth to make your lashes fuller. Then hold your wand vertically to create the lengthening illusion. You may wish to apply a coat of waterproof mascara at the end! If you use a lash curler, crimpers should be used before mascara. Try out a heated eyelash curler and you will be amazed at the results. A heated eyelash curler is used after mascara.

Be brave and try false eyelashes at your wedding. They really enunciate the eye and are simple to apply and so inexpensive giving you a very posh look!

TIP #8 LUSCIOUS LIPS AND HOW TO KEEP IT ON

Lips are also important for your wedding photos and to look your best. A bride should have defined and luscious lips but not overpowering her makeup look. A good rule of thumb is if you prefer to have a more dramatic eye or like your eyes better than your lips, you may wish to choose a more nude or natural lip. If you want to focus on your lips, have muted eye colors and go for a more bold lip with deeper richer colors.

Using lip liner, lip primer, powder, lipstick and lip-gloss will ensure your lipstick lasts until you eat. If you want to make your lips smaller or larger, you may also choose to use concealer to wipe out your natural lip line and gently apply lip liner just inside or just on the edge to create the desired effect. Begin lips by applying a lip primer. Then apply a lip line that will complement the lipstick shade. A bride should never have a defined line showing through the lipstick! Apply lipstick. Blot with a tissue removing excess moisture. Apply loose powder to lips to absorb any excess moisture. Apply lipstick again. Finish with a complimenting lip-gloss! When it is time for you to kiss your groom, just lick your lips and your lips will stay on you and not him!

TIP #9 CREATING BEAUTIFUL PHOTOS

Let's face it...you may feel beautiful all day long and everyone may ooohh and ahhh over how gorgeous you look...but if that look isn't captured in your photos that feeling will fade quickly. Many people hate being photographed and the reason is mostly they do not know the tips and tricks of photographing well. Follow these tips for beautiful photographs to last you a lifetime!

Determine if you are posing for a bridal portrait before the wedding pictures. A bridal portrait is typically photographed indoors and you can wear more makeup than you could if you were being photographed outside. Remember to review the tips on natural lighting if being photographed outside.

1. Warm up your skin by sculpting and bronzing your face. This will assure you do not look washed out in the pictures.

2. Be careful of wearing foundations and powders with a sheen. You may do this if you are being photographed inside but remember matte always photographs better.

3. Wear a little blush even if you don't normally wear it on a daily basis. It adds life to your face and brings out your cheekbones to frame your face.

4. Warmer cheek colors make the skin look fresh and glowing more than cool colors will. Don't forget to add a little bronzer!

5. Never wear frosted shadows on your wedding day. They always look to shiny and artificial in photographs. Stick to matter or shimmer eye shadows.

6. Make sure at least one of your eye shadows has a matte finish. Never use three shades of shimmer. It is ok, however, to use three shades of matter if you prefer.

7. Stick to warm undertones, including brown for eye shadow shades. They enhance every eye color beautifully.

8. Do not wear shades of lip or eye color that are too bold. Lips should be just a few shades darker than your natural lip color. Eye shadow shades should be deep enough to create definition and enhance your eye color but not dark enough to demand all the attention.

9. Pay particular attention to define the eyes very well at the lash line. This can be accomplished through several coats of mascara or false eyelashes.

10. Lips should be well defined for photographs. You can use a little concealer to erase the natural lip line and apply the lip liner on a perfect fresh canvas giving your lips the definition ideal for photographs.

11. Consider wearing either a blended brow pencil or a matte eye shadow to color your brows. This will make a remarkable difference in you photographs and how your brows define your face. Your brows should be well groomed.

12. Remember matte skin photographs more flawless than dewy or sheen on your skin. Keep powder handy to keep that perfect matte look all day!

TIP #10 KEEPING YOUR MAKEUP FRESH ALL DAY LONG

Initial application is the first step in keeping your makeup fresh all day long. Choose a foundation that is transfer resistant and layerable. This will keep the foundation from fading and if you reapply ensure the same shade!

Blot after applying foundation to absorb any excess moisture.

Use powder around the eyes to absorb excess moisture and keep everything in place.

Use concealer and lip primer on lips.

After applying concealer and lip primer, apply lip liner, lip stick and blot to remove extra moisture. Reapply another coat of lipstick and finish with lip gloss. This will stay on unless you eat it off or wipe it off with a napkin.

Keep pressed powder in groom's pocket, by the time you need it you will be with him!

Have a second lipstick and lip gloss in the grooms pocket to touch up before or after the reception!

Use Black Mascara and several coats for the most effect!

Final words:
Remember, this is one of the most important days of your life as a bride. Bridesmaid's makeup can be soft and complement them and the wedding color but it is your day. Your bridesmaids will appreciate consideration of what is most flattering with their features too!