Wedding Album Design Options

The Personalised Wedding Album

The personalised wedding album is a little different to the standard wedding album because you can design the cover yourself by including a favourite photograph. You can also choose between three different sizes of photo album or you can alternatively choose a photo book that negates the need to mount your own pictures as every picture chosen is printed directly on the high grade pages of the photo book.

Customised Covers

Customising the cover of a personal wedding album is the first step in creating a beautiful looking wedding memento. The standard design of a photo album allows you to choose a single photo and have this printed on both the front and back cover but you can pay a little bit extra and choose a second photo to have printed on the back instead. The size and orientation of the photo or photos will depend on the design options that you choose for the album itself.

Other Design Options

• Three sizes of photo album exist. The large photo album is perfect as a wedding album and you can choose whether you want portrait or landscape prints. It will hold photos up to 10' x 8' in size and this is the size of cover photo that you can use too. The large photo album affords 100 sides of self mounted photos.

• The medium photo album can hold photos up to 8' x 6' in size and again this is the size of cover photo that you choose. The book is printed in landscape orientation so landscape photos work best and there are 60 sides that can be customised by mounting your selection of photos.

• Small photo albums offer a 6' x 4' photo on the cover and each of the 60 sides can contain photos up to this size too. The small album is designed especially for use with landscape shaped photos.

Presentation Boxes

Once the album is complete, you can also choose whether or not you wish to include a presentation box with your order. The photo album is crafted using high grade Italian ivory colour paper, parchment tissue interleaves, and a tough satin cover and all of these materials are designed to last for years. However, a presentation box or tin can further prevent the wedding album from falling foul of physical damage or accidental spills.

The Wedding Photo Book

A wedding photo book is a great looking and convenient alternative to the photo album. Rather than mounting the photos on each page yourself, they can be professionally printed directly on to every side of the book pages and you can also include a presentation box or tin with this high quality photo memory gift too.

What Will You Buy for Your 10 Year Anniversary Gift?

The choices for wedding anniversary gifts are wide and vast and there is not just one option for gift-giving. There are a couple ways your can go when you give a partner or a couple a 10 year anniversary gift.

You can go traditional, dating back to the 1920's or you can go modern for the couple or partner that has collected most household items already. Here are the two categories most people choose from; traditional or modern.

Traditional Gifts:

For a more traditional gift, the 10th year anniversary is signified by a gift that is aluminum or tin. Gifts that are aluminum or tin would include a vase (with flowers in it of course), or an aluminum watch (perhaps with 10 diamonds?), a tin jewelery box or keepsake box (Ralph Lauren makes some beautiful ones) or aluminum tableware including decanters, platters, serving bowls or candlestick. Any of these gifts would be considered traditional.

Modern Gifts:

Then we have the more modern alternatives. Diamonds are always a safe choice provided that your personalize your gift in some way. Some ways you can make your gifts personal would be to engrave the inside of a ring or watch or you could use diamonds or a gemstone (perhaps a birthstone) to signify the number of years you have been together (such as 10 diamonds or pearls, etc).

Gifts for Men:

When considering jewelery for men, consider jewelery that is not too much hassle and can be taken off with ease so bracelets may outweigh other alternatives such as rings or necklaces. Men like pieces that are easy to take care of and easy to take off as they may not want to wear their jewelery all the time.

Wedding Album Gifts:

Another option, if diamonds aren't your style, could be an updated wedding album or wedding photo. Preparing an updated wedding album could mean having your photo enlarged and put into a new album (which may websites now offer) or even creating a calendar with selected pictures from your wedding day. You could also add comments about each picture and reflect back on the 10 years you have spent together.

Plan A Surprise Party:

Alternatively, you may want to plan a surprise party for your loved one. This can be a great idea as you can invite all of the guests that attended your wedding and even play a few hits from your wedding including your first dance song, your mother-son song, father-daughter song and so on.

There are many options to choose from for this special time. The important thing is to plan ahead and not walk into the day without having thought about how you are going to make your partner feel special; that is the best gift of all.

Unique Wedding Ideas to Keep Kids Entertained at Your Wedding

If you're going to have kids at the wedding, the number one thing to remember is to just RELAX, and understand well, ummm there are going to be kids at the wedding. Most parents will be diligent about keeping their little tikes in line. You certainly don't have to provide a daycare or anything for that matter, but I presume if you're reading this article, you're probably the kind of gal that wants to figure out some ideas to entertain your little guests.

Below is a list of unique wedding ideas to keep all your little kids entertained at your wedding, so you can enjoy the day with very little interruption.

1. Have a Kid attendant, or several for that matter. This is a perfect job for the teenagers, that would love to be part of your wedding. A lot of teenagers babysit anyway, so they will be used to keeping them occupied. Having a couple, rotating in shifts, will make sure they can also get involved in the more grown up activities.

2. Have a special play room monitored by the Kid attendant. Don't have a play room area? Then create a special corner for kid activities. One idea, that I think makes this work even better, is to have a couple corners with separate age divisions, with age appropriate activities.

3. "Professional Kid Photographers" - Have groups of kids separated and with Group Leaders, that help them take pictures to capture the wedding day from their viewpoint. Later take these photos and make a special "Wedding from the Kid's View" scrapbook.

4. Bubbles - Utilize your Kids attendants to have a special bubble line. This could be a special dance or entrance that the kids provide the bubbles. The Kids attendants will have their group of kids to help stay organized.

5. Have a little larger budget for kid activities? Hire a clown or entertainer that keeps the little ones preoccupied in their activity room. Have movies playing, music, and crafts. This also lets mom and dad enjoy the wedding, while the entertainer and the Kids attendants enjoy their own day of fun.

6. I'll throw this obvious one in here, but have a craft table. This seems to be one that a lot of people gravitate towards. Just keep in mind the activities should be non-mess as possible. Now back to the more unique ideas.

7. And my personal favorite. Have your wedding at a ZOO. The photo opportunities are amazing, and nothing says fun, for the kid in all of us, than a Zoo.

Kids can keep things interesting for sure, and there may be an outburst or two, but you can also count on them providing a tearful memory and plenty of smiles, as you celebrate your special day. So if you're going to have kids at your wedding, expect the unexpected, do your best to have some options, and let your designated Kid attendants handle the rest.

Why Fine Art Wedding Photography Matters?

In the past, photography has been looked at as a very boring and limited way of expressing your idea through pictures, especially when it came to wedding photography. Talking about models and media, you see their pictures have an absolutely different flavor, brightness, color and flamboyance which were never really there in the ordinary wedding photographs. It was however realized by some photographers that they need to put some life to wedding photography and the result of those efforts was fine art wedding photography. The ways pictures are taken and edited in this form of photography make it a completely different thing than the conventional photography that has been done in the past.

Fine art wedding photography is the use of coloration, discoloration, blurriness, prominence, dimness and a number of other effects that are used to make the pictures look special. This is a completely different way of taking pictures and the photographer who takes such pictures works in an entirely different way as opposed to how conventional photographers used to do. It is not about telling the family to stand together, asking the short ones to come forward and taller ones to go in the back and taking the picture. It is not about telling the couple to stand hand in hand, look towards the camera and give a cute smile. These things have gotten old and photography has moved on.

In fine art wedding photography the photographer makes use of everything that comes into the camera lens and even those that don't. He will make use of shadows, reflections, deflections and elevations to come up with a photo that speaks for itself. What difference did it make in the conventional and old photography whether you were laughing or crying because the pictures looked all the same? In the modern photography techniques, every expression on your face changes the whole look of the picture. For example, the photographer will make use of some black & white colors, dry leaves and dark shadows in a picture where the bride has tears in her eyes just to make the impact of the picture powerful.

Use of bright colors, greenery, birds and flowers in the pictures where the couple is laughing and smiling makes the pictures memorable. Modern softwares and tools are used for editing to enhance the pictures. Hundreds of new effects are used to make the pictures look more than wedding pictures and fine art wedding photography is thus the best choice in today's weddings. At the same time, you will notice that these modern techniques don't focus faces only. Wedding is not all about faces and if it was, why would people buy the most expensive dresses they can to wear on the weddings? So if you have spent thousands of dollars on your wedding dress, jewelry, shoes, venue and preparation, why not giving them some highlight in the pictures as well? This is only possible through the new fine art photography

Photos to Include in Your Wedding Photo Album

Wedding is one of the most awaited moments of one's life. Decision to marry takes a lot maturity as you and your loved one will be together forever and start to make a family. And to have the best wedding photo album as a memoir, your photography contract must be well discussed and planned. You don't want to have unorganized wedding photography, so you should explain and discuss it with your wedding planner and with the wedding photographer.

Weeding is the best moment to take pictures of your life as a couple, to be captured and be remembered for the rest of your life. Love conquers all and you can conquer the wedding plan and end up perfectly satisfied with what you expected. Collaboration with each other and making meticulous and organized moves are the keys to achieve this.

You don't have to worry about the wedding poses, as long as you are confident about the beauty you possess. You are beautiful in your own way and the confidence about yourself will end up with you looking great in your wedding photo album. Any pose that makes you comfortable will be perfect, but you should also follow creative ideas of the photographer to make it more fun and perfect. As you pose for your bridal portrait don't pressure yourself - you might end up looking scared and not ready. Just remember the love and sharing you have been through and it will make your face look more lovely. If you have your own wedding photography ideas, don't hesitate to talk to your photographer about them. an input to your wedding photo album. This way, you can be sure you will get what you want and avoid the clich矇 ideas that have been captivated over and over again. Whether it is something adventurous, something fierce or something that shows pure happiness, the love you have for each other will always surface.

The must have photos include the couple smiling, kissing and showing intimate love that must be felt by others in the day of your wedding. It is up to you how much of a time span you want your album to cover. Some people decide to include only the wedding day, while some include everything from engagement to honeymoon. Your wedding day will go by very quickly and you should spend enough time taking photos, making sure you get all the pictures you plan to include in your wedding photo album.

Editing a Wedding Album

So the Honeymoon is over, you had a great time and everybody is asking about your wedding album. What you have is several hundred unretouched images in no particular order. The studio has deleted all the obvious no-gos but you are still left with a formidable task. You have seen the sample albums at the studio and you wonder if you can ever make yours that good.

A wedding album is foremost a story. It has a beginning and an end. Traditionally, the fronts piece is a close up photograph of your invitation surrounded by flowers from your wedding. An alternative could be a romanticized shot of the outside of your church, a montage of items relating to the wedding (garter, necklace, rings, boutonnières or other mementos). Following are highlights from your preparation photos. Must haves are getting dressed, primping in the mirror and making an entrance on the stairs. Don't skimp in this area because anticipation is most of the fun of a wedding.

After the pictures coming down the aisle, try to set the scene with wide angle shots of the church followed by medium action pictures, then sprinkle in a few close ups for detail and facial expressions. Alternate viewing angles and include pictures of the parents in the pews. Make an effort not to place two similar pictures next to each other for an interesting viewing. Three pictures in a row depicting a moving event can mean much more than a single photo. Take advantage of the multiple photo montages but place them sparingly for the best effect.

Park portraits can start off with a bridal portrait, then a bride and groom portrait. Different shots of the wedding party can be followed by family pictures and more bride and groom portraits. End up on a dynamite close up of the bride and groom.

If you decide to include table shots, make sure you have every table covered. Split up the dancing pictures into groups, separated by table visits, group photos and fun shots. The reception story works best if the photos are place in chronological order. Every story has to have a happy ending so save a few romantic images for last. You should seriously consider allowing the studio to make your choices for you and arrange your album for the biggest impact. They are experts on what most people like and with a few hints from you as to which images are your favorites and must see photos, the studio will surely come up with a winner.

Wedding Advice: What's The Point Of A Photo Booth Rental?

Personally, when I see a photo booth at a wedding, I jump at the chance to have my photos taken. And if my daughter and I see one when we are out and about, we race to see who can get to it faster! Let's face it... photo booths scream FUN. However, if you are not completely sold on the idea of renting a photo booth then there are some things you should consider:

BENEFITS:

1. It doesn't matter if your guests go one time or a dozen times to get their photos taken; your guests are guaranteed tons of fun.


2. Some photo booths offer instant uploads to Facebook and Instagram which makes it even more fun for everyone to share.


3. Some companies will print extra strips of the photos for all the guests to take home, and/or for a scrapbook for the bride and groom.


4. A great way to keep guest entertained while you and your family are taking formal photos.


5. Have the photo booth AS your wedding favors. It is a great way to save money.

SOMETHING TO CONSIDER:

Make sure you juggle the time of your booth rental correctly. If you are having a smaller wedding, you don't want the dance floor to become empty because everyone is swooning to get their photos taken. So consider having it available during the cocktail hour OR start the dance floor partying AFTER the booth rental is done.

All in all, there are some mixed opinions about whether it is a good idea to have one or not. If budget is a concern, you should try the following:

1. Go to a bridal show and book on the spot. Many vendors offer a discount during the bridal show. So do your homework, find out which vendors will be at the event and be prepared to make a deposit. The potential savings could be huge.


2. Sign up for Groupon or Living Social or other internet deals. Frequently these deals are offered at a hugely discounted price if you catch them!


3. Ask your photographer if they offer these services if you bundle their services with a photo booth or portrait studio.

Can you imagine your grandparents going into a booth wearing silly props and making crazy faces and you actually get a copy of those photos in a scrapbook?! That idea alone is absolutely priceless...

Hands down, photo booths are fun and fast becoming a staple at weddings. So look for deals, ask around because they are a trend that isn't going away any time soon. So dress up in the wildest miss-matched props, step in the booth, and say cheese!

Photo Booths for Hire and Your Wedding Day

Have you finished all of your wedding planning? This can be very stressful because there are so many details to take care of. You must plan for things such as your wedding venue, your wedding dress, shoes and jewellery. You also have to account for little details such as wedding favours. You know what you want your wedding to look like, but it won't happen unless you plan and coordinate all of the details so that you day will be a special one.

This process is a little bit easier if there is an overall wedding theme. Have you come up with a wedding theme? Or do, you basically want a beautiful and traditional wedding that is fun and affordable? This should be pretty easy to accomplish. You might not be able to get all of the things that you want, but there are ways to compromise and plan for things that will fit into your overall wedding budget.

Have you ever thought about getting a photo booth for hire? It is a new concept that many brides are using on their wedding day. One of the best things about photo booths is that you can use them for many different things. There are many ways that you can use photo booths as an exciting wedding solution.

First, these booths are a great form of entertainment for your guests. They are the same type of booths that you grew up with as a child. Do you remember how you and your friends used to pile into them and have fun? You still have photo albums filled with many of these old photos. Whenever you see them, it still puts a smile on your face. Just imagine the thrill that your guests will get when they see these same types of pictures if you give them out as wedding favours. The photos will be personalized according to your preference. Include your wedding colours, wedding date or any other important details from your special wedding day.

Don't worry about the photo booth sticking out like a sore thumb. It will not distract from your wedding decor. Many of the companies that provide booth rentals will help to decorate them in whatever decor that you would like. In addition, many companies will also provide you with an on-site scrapbook where guests can put comments next to their pictures.

As you can see, not only can these cute little photos be utilized as personalized wedding favours, they can also double as a wedding guest book. These photos will be a fun and creative way for you to remember the guests that came to your wedding. In addition to the scrapbook, many companies will also give you a DVD or flash drive that has all of the pictures that were taken on your booth rental. This means that you can make copies of your favourites and put them in frames at a later time.

In conclusion, consider a photo booth rental when planning your wedding. It is a wonderful way to get your guests to mingle and have a grand time. It can provide beautiful wedding favours for your guests. It can also provide pictures for your wedding guest book. A photo booth is a great way to preserve memories of your special wedding day.

To The Layman: Why Is Wedding Photography So Expensive?

There are 2 kinds of people in the world. Those who know the going rate for wedding photography, and those who don't. Those who do usually gasp and be amazed at the prices they rake in per wedding, and soon after go on their daily lives. For those who don't, now is the cue to do the above. Wedding photography can cost up to US$3,000- $10,000, depending on the experience of the photographer.

The upper limits often put people in awe of how much these wedding photos cost, after all it was all in a day's work. But is it really just a day's work? More often than not, what people fail to see is the sheer amount of hard work required to prepare for the big day (yes, it is the photographer's big day as well) and the work that follows. Those au naturale shots you see? Not without the hours of effort from the photographer on end.

Weddings were never an inexpensive affair to begin with. From the caterer, to the DJ, to the venue - all these sum up to a substantial amount of money. For the uninitiated, today we shall unravel the mystery as to why these esteemed bunch of photographers deserve the amount they are quoting.

Wedding photography is no walk in the park, that you should already know by now. Work begins even before the wedding day starts. Photographers have to ready their equipment, which does not come cheap. Just the camera for example, is at $2,500 a pop. Photographers usually have a back-up just in case of a malfunction of the first. Not to mention other special equipment such as lenses for different scenes and situations, extra battery and memory card backups etc.

At the wedding itself, the photographer devotes 6-10 hours of his day (on a weekend, no less) to capturing the essence of the event of your lifetime. Anyone who has been through a day of wedding would have no problems seeing how demanding and stressful it is for anyone who is not a guest. Other than having to be on standby for planned shots, the photographer also has to be on the lookout for great candid shots that would mark the occasion and emotions for the newly-weds and their guests for years to come. That we are talking about non-stop, hardly any breaks kind of back-breaking work. If the client's pockets are deep enough, the photographer might have some to spare for an assistant photographer.

The event does not end there for the photographer. What happens behind the closed doors of the photography studio is the photographer crouched over the computer, editing the images so that your eyes are not half-closed or your beloved little cousin is not making a face at the group shot. And contrary to popular belief, perfecting a photo does not take the same time as snapping your fingers. It takes time, and a lot at that.

So, let's summarize what has the photographer has done to deserve the top dollar. First, there is the preparation stage where he has to spend time making sure he has all the necessary equipment (and beg, steal or borrow if he doesn't have it). Time is also required to create a shot list, and coordination if the couple requires some must-have shots of their guests. If the wedding venue is somewhere unfamiliar, it would also help if the photographer could conduct a recce of the place to seek out the good photo spots. Without stating the obvious, the photographer gets busy again after the actual event, going into post-processing of the pictures to create that perfect album in your eyes. ALL of that - takes time.

Other than your wedding favours, wedding photos are the only other souvenirs you bring home to remind you of your beautiful nuptials forever. Surely you do not want to compromise on this just to pinch that few pennies? Pick a wedding photographer whom you can trust and just relax, and focus on being the happy bride or groom you are supposed to be at your wedding.

Tips For Taking Great Engagement Photos

Just when you thought that getting the proposal out of the way was the hardest part of the long rode to getting married, you suddenly realize that there are a few other details that need to be taken care of before you walk down the aisle. One of these things has become very important to most couples especially now that we live in the digital age of sharing everything and that one thing is getting great engagement photos taken so that you can tell everyone that you're engaged to get married in the coolest possible way. 

Your engagement photos are something that you'll have forever and they're the first thing that really lets the world know that you're engaged and that you're madly in love with the person you're going to marry. So, as you can see (and as you probably already know), these are very important photos, which means that you want to make them as great as you possibly can. To make sure that you don't end up with some lame engagement shots I've put together some tips, thoughts and ideas that will help you get the end result of awesomeness that you're shooting for.

Obviously one of the first things that you need to find is a great photographer that you feel comfortable with. You want to make sure that whomever you end up choosing has a personality that aligns with yours and that your ideas will be incorporated into the photo shoot as well. A great place to find a photographer is within your group of friends that are already married (if you have them). If not, nearly every photographer has some type of website portfolio so that you can get a great feel for their style and ability. Also, once you find a photographer that you think could be a potential fit, be sure to meet with him or her over coffee or something so that you can discuss pricing, ideas and expectations. Getting a photographer that has their own agenda will make for a very, very long day of shooting and your photos will reflect that.

Once you find your photographer and you set a date for your shoot, the next thing is to find various locations where you would like to be photographed. Great places to have in mind are spots that have some type of emotional meaning to you or somewhere that reflects your personality so that it will show through clearly in your photos. This is a great topic to discuss with your photographer and if they have shot other engagement photos around where you live they might have some great suggestions for you as well. Try to be as open-minded as possible and remember that you're paying some good money for these photos; so be sure to get all of the shots that you want. Your photographer will be more than willing to shoot tons of shots, but first you will need to step up and ask.

One of the last things that you should think about after selecting your locations is what clothes you're going to bring along on the shoot. If you're doing a multiple-hour shoot there's no reason why you should only bring one set of clothes. You should match your choice of clothes with your choice of locations and they should also math your personalities. I would suggest bringing as much stuff with you as possible because as you're running around shooting you never know what fun, new place you're going to find. Of course, that's all part of the fun.

So there you go, I've hopefully helped you prepare yourself for your upcoming photo shoot. Congratulations on your engagement and be sure to have fun - hopefully you'll only be doing this once!

Our Wedding Anniversary Memory Book Can Be the Idea Gift

If you are looking for a gift for the coming 50th wedding anniversary, the memory books will be the perfect option. In fact, they are absolutely suitable for the purpose. However, to make your gift special, you should give some effort to that as well. This is why creating your own anniversary memory book would be the best thing that you can do. This will not only help you make the gift more beautiful, it will also show how much you care for this day and for that beautiful experience. What's more, creating the book will be a lot of fun as well.

With the advent of the internet, creating our wedding anniversary books has become even easier. There are some simple steps that you have to take to accomplish your task. First of all, you have to search through the wedding day pictures of the celebrity couples over the years. Save them in your computer.

Now, there are some sites that will let you create your own memory book. So, pick such a site and upload these pictures to these sites. You will find that the site will give you a lot of choices in terms of size, style, looks, designs and every other important area.

So, all you have to do is to choose the best options for you. You will also have the opportunity to add texts of your choice. That will certainly be a nice way to express your feelings. Creating the books with the help of such online services is very easy. Well, some of the sites will also offer you a step by step manual so that you can follow it and successfully create a books according to your personal taste. Sometimes, the site will also allow you to call their custom care executives to clarify any doubt. So, you will enjoy your interaction with them.

You can also look out in the local craft stores. They will have a huge collection of scrapbooks. There, you will get all the necessary products to create the best memory book. Buy the hard cover scrapbooks and decorate them with ribbons, stickers, emblems, fabric, paper photo frames etc. to make it meaningful, collect photographs and memento's to commemorate the last 50 years of wedding. That way you will be able to preserve the memories of the 50 years as well.

Another idea in this regard would be the group memory book. You can ask your friends and relatives to share some memory of the happy couple and send them to you in advance. You can collect them and make a beautiful book as well.

Wedding Photographer and Wedding Videographer - Reducing the Cost

According to Conde Nast Bridal Infobank, the average cost for a wedding photographer is $2,600. For having your wedding videotaped, you could expect to pay anywhere from $1,000 up to $7,000 or more. While realizing that these wedding photos and wedding video will serve as a lasting memory of your wedding day, you may not want this to be a lasting expense. Following are some important things to consider when selecting yours and wedding videographer and methods for reducing costs.

The Wedding Photographer

• Shop around! Photographers' fees vary widely depending on experience. Spend time researching to select the best available wedding photographer within your price range.
  
  


• Hire a wedding photographer that gives you your negatives. This way you can make as many copies as you wish without having to order them directly from the photographer. If you choose one that will not provide you with the negatives immediately, find out how long they keep them on file so you can obtain them when they are ready to dispose of them.
  
  


• Be sure to look at the photo packages available to make sure yours won't cost $50 for a 5x7.
  
  


• Hire the photographer to stay for the most important aspects of the reception - the first dance, cutting the cake, the bouquet toss, etc. - then send them home when all that is left is dancing so you're not paying for their time.
  
  


• Leather albums are expensive. Consider putting together your own album. Just be sure to use acid-free paper.
  
  


• Ask your wedding photographer to work entirely with color film. Black and white photos increases costs substantially since they are often printed by hand.
  
  


• Hire an advanced student from a reputable photography or film program to photograph or tape your wedding. Many students will charge a flat-fee.
  
  


• Consider placing a disposable camera on every table at the reception for your guests to capture some fun moments as well.
  
  


• Inquire about any assistants they may have as you are generally billed for their time involved as well as the photographer's time.
  
  


• Ask if the wedding photographer processes and develops their film and prints. Costs are generally higher if this aspect of the job is outsourced.
  
  


• Check references. Beware of any photographer who insists that you pay in full before your film has been developed.

The Wedding Videographer

• As with your wedding photographer, be sure to shop around when it comes to selecting a wedding videographer. Fees vary widely depending on experience and demand.
  
  


• The length and nature of coverage plays an important role in price: how many cameras and camera operators will be at your wedding and reception, how long they will stay and how much editing does the wedding videographer estimate will have to be done. The least expensive coverage typically provides one camera and operator recording the wedding and handing you your wedding video at the end of the ceremony.
  
  


• A good rule of thumb is to be prepared to pay at least as much for your wedding videographer as you pay for it.
  
  


• Ask about the payment structure and whether there are any hidden costs. How much is the retainer? Under what circumstances is it refundable? Is it part of the total cost of the wedding video? Does it guarantee the date? When is the balance due? Decide what you're comfortable with. These conditions may be negotiable. If you're not comfortable with the financial arrangements, find another videographer.
  The contract is how you and your videographer communicate. It's where you come to an agreement and record what will happen with regard to your wedding video. Make sure that everything you want from the wedding videographer and everything he expects from you is written into the contract.
  
  


• If you opt to capture your wedding on video, find a videographer that offers packages with one camera coverage and limited editing.
  
  


• Consider asking a friend that owns a video camera to shoot the day for you and create your wedding video.

While realizing that wedding photos and a wedding video will serve as a lasting memory of your wedding day, it does not have to be a lasting expense. Use these tips to select one that works with your wedding budget.

First Wedding Anniversary Gift Ideas

"Happy 1st Wedding Anniversary!"

Isn't it wonderful to hear those words from your spouse? After a year of marriage, both of you still remained strong and are still in love with each other. This is a very special day for both of you. If you haven't thought of a gift to give to your partner yet then let me help you choose one! Below is a list of special and unique gift ideas you can give to your partner.

Here are the traditional 1st Wedding Anniversary Gift Ideas

The traditional gift for the first wedding anniversary of the married couple is represented by paper. So, we will give you a list of ideas on what to give to your partner.

1. A bouquet of paper flowers. You can give your spouse a bouquet of rose paper flowers. You can make them yourself if you are good in art or you can also buy them from flower stores. The best part of this gift is that paper bouquets never die unlike the real flowers.

2. Tickets. Buying tickets are a way of celebrating the paper anniversary in a non-expensive way. Purchase tickets base on your interest, for example, if you want to go to an amusement park, concert, museum, festival or a sports event. If you have the budget, you can also opt out in buying a tour ticket for the two of you have a romantic getaway.

3. Photo Album. Give your partner a silver colored photo album with your wedding picture in it. Most of these photo albums have a unique design on it with a subtle background of happy anniversary wishes. If you can't find a good photo album, you can also buy a photo book and place in it the best photos you have together.

4. Books. If you and your partner loves reading novels and other kinds of books, then this would be the best idea.

5. Paintings. Give your spouse a work of art that shows passion and love.

Apart from this, there are still many gift ideas out there like the "message in a bottle" concept where you can place a personalized poem or romantic love letter in there. You can also put a little twist by putting a "treasure map" in it. Insert this into the bottle and put a cork in the opening. Put some designs on the bottle like putting a ribbon on it. Just be creative!

Top 10 Locations for NJ Wedding Engagement Shoots

We, at Abella Studios, have shot thousands of engagement shoots throughout the NJ area and have noticed a pattern, as we continue to return to the same locations time and time again. I thought it may be helpful to provide the location information and some images captured at each to couples who are currently researching same for their NJ Wedding.

Engagement shoot locations...

1. Lambert's Castle, West Paterson, NJ - Built by business tycoon Catholina Lambert in 1892, Lambert's castle is one of the area's most popular places for engagement and wedding day pictures. This small but versatile location offers unique architecture, surrounded by beautiful trees and an excellent view of New York City. This location is great for any time of the year, visit in the summer for lush green scenery, or come in the winter time and have a snowball fight!

2. Branch Brook Park, Newark/Belleville, NJ - Located in Newark and Belleville, Branch Brook Park has the largest collection of Japanese cherry trees in the United States. With over 360 acres, and 4,000 cherry blossom trees, this park offers endless opportunities for photography. The perfect time to visit Branch Brook Park is in mid April, when the trees are in bloom, the beautiful pink and white blossoms will make a perfect background for your engagement pictures.

3. New Jersey Botanical Garden, Ringwood, NJ - The Botanical Garden in Ringwood is one of the largest and varied landscapes in the area. Over a dozen formal gardens surround the Skylands Manor, which was built in the 1920s. No two photo shoots are the same here because of the enormous variety these gardens have to offer. Visit this state park spring through autumn for a gorgeous engagement shoot backdrop.

4. Hamilton Park, Boulevard East, Weehawken, NJ - If you are looking for a view of New York City, this is one of the best around! Hamilton Park lies just north of the Lincoln Tunnel on a cliff overlooking the NYC skyline. This small park has manicured landscaping and unique features, giving you a garden setting, with a city view. Schedule an engagement shoot here in the early morning and watch the sun rise over New York City.

5. Frank Sinatra Park, Hoboken, NJ - Hoboken is the birth place of Frank Sinatra, and this park is dedicated to his memory. It's located on Pier A, at 1st Ave and Sinatra Drive, stretching out into the Hudson River. The view of New York from here is great, and the surrounding park and Hoboken Streets offer many photo opportunities. A late day engagement shoot will provide perfect lighting and mood.

6. Liberty State Park, Jersey City, NJ - Come here any time of the year for the historic buildings, and a great view of lower Manhattan. Over 1200 acres of walkways and wide open fields are available for tons of picture taking possibilities. Visit the historic ferry terminal or take a stroll to the south end of the park and view the Statue of Liberty.

7. Central Park, Manhattan - There may not be a more diverse location in our area as Central Park in New York City. Lakes, gardens, fountains, castles, fields, wooded pathways, and city streets are all available here. This park remains a very popular choice for an engagement shoot because of it's unique and diverse features. Any time of year is great for pictures here!

8. Belmar, NJ - Looking for something a little different? Try a beach setting for your engagement pictures! Belmar is a short drive away, and offers wide open beaches and a boardwalk. Take a stroll on the beach, write your names in the sand, and even walk into the water if you dare. Schedule an engagement shoot in the late afternoon for beautiful light during sunset.

9. Lewis Morris Park, Morristown - Take a walk off the beaten path and into the woods of Lewis Morris Park in Morristown. Summer time here offers a lush green canopy, which changes to a vibrant, colorful background in the fall. Trails run through the park's 1100 acres, and make for a fun and unique NJ engagement shoot. Bring your hiking boots!

10. Verona Park, Verona - Last but not least is Verona Park! Located on the corner of Bloomfield Ave. and Lakeside Ave., it's close and easy to get to, which makes it one of the most popular parks for NJ engagement and wedding photography in the area. Verona Lake is surrounded by fields, trees, beautiful bridges, and long winding pathways. Take a walk around the park, or rent a paddle boat and head out onto the lake!

Photo Booth Rentals For Making Your Wedding Day Unique

A photo booth rental is a great way of adding a unique touch to one of the most special days of your life- wedding day. It can ensure that the day is not only memorable and fun filled for you but also for your guests. You can immortalize the beautiful moments of your life by these photo booth rentals. Funny faces, laughter, innovative posses can all be captured and kept for a lifetime. An exclusive photographic memory of your guests can be captured and gifted as souvenir to them. Brides these days are opting for the photo booth rentals rather than the traditional types of photographers as it adds fun and an engaging element in the occasion. It provokes innovative memories in the form of photographs forever.

You can hire the photo booth rentals online for making your wedding a great hit. You can choose from different colors -black and whites and vibrant colored for an ever lasting impact. You can also opt for the photo guest book for your guests where they can leave a personal message with their pictures. These photo booths are elegantly styled according to your taste and theme of the wedding. You can have unlimited number of pictures of your D Day without burning a hole in your pocket.

You can go for vintage or the digital look of the photo booth rental for your wedding. The vintage look would aim at invoking the vintage feel like the old school feel that will make your guest nostalgic of the best time of their lives. You can have these unforgettable styles booths for a classic feel of the booth. Digital booths can be hired by the techno savvy people, these booths are very light weighted and mobile. These are cheaper than the vintage photo rental booths. So if you are looking for the high resolution pictures in a cost effective way, you can go for the digital photo booths. Choosing the right kind of photo booth rentals for your wedding is made really easy by the various options that can suit your needs and budget perfectly. Get photo booth rentals and make your wedding day the most memorable day of your life.

Wedding Photography: How to Become a Successful Wedding Photographer

Once in while I receive e-mails or phone calls from aspiring or beginner wedding photographers asking me for advise on how to become successful in the wedding field. My first question is always what their motivation is to become a wedding photographer. Some will reply that they heard from somebody that it is easy money, or that they got a cool camera that takes great photos or that they would like to make some money on the side etc.
While it is true that wedding photography can be a very profitable business achieving success in the wedding industry is not just a matter of getting a camera and start shooting. Wedding photography involves artistic talent, human sense, complete mastery of photographic techniques, business knowledge, and a strong desire to learn and deliver the best to the wedding couple.

Here I have summarized some points that I believe will guide beginner wedding photographers:

1. Learn photography before anything else. A wedding photographer is expected to be a master of the craft. You will be in charge of capturing people's most precious life moments. The wedding day is not the place to learn photography.

2. Just because you got a brand new camera it does not automatically make you an effective and reliable photographer. Photography goes beyond cool toys and gadgets. Learn composition and develop a unique artistic vision. Some of the great photographs of all time were taken with manual cameras.

3. Master the digital workflow, including color management, digital image processing, file management and image correction and enhancement.

4. Learn to love photography more than anything else. Don't come to the wedding photography field with just dreams of making money. It is true that there are many successful wedding photographers that make a lot of money. However according to the Professional Photographers of America the average photographer in America makes about $24,000 a year.

5. Focus on delivering quality more than quantity. Seek with all your heart to capture unique photographs.

6. Develop a style that is recognizable and unique. Don't try to be like somebody else. Clients look for unique photographers, with a unique vision.

7. Give wedding photography all your heart and effort. Long when you are gone your photographs will last forever. It is a great way to be remembered.

8. Open your heart and your mind and great photos will happen. Concentrate on the human aspect of weddings, the details, and emotions and be ready to capture them. Let the camera become an extension of you.

9. Share your technical knowledge and make connections with other wedding photographers.

10. Participate in wedding photography image competitions. It will give you the opportunity to have your work evaluated by peers and the motivation to improve your work quality.

11. Learn something new everyday. Take advantage of professional photography organizations such as Professional Photographers of America (PPA), WPPI, etc. Attend their seminars, workshops. Participate in Internet wedding photography forums and learn and share tips, tools and techniques.

12. Don't neglect the business aspect of wedding photography. Learn to manage your business effectively. Take business courses and seminars.

Capturing Wonderful Candid Wedding Photography

A candid wedding picture is a mixture of storytelling and photography. It will create memories that are even more personal and unique. The wedding photographer will be the eyes during the wedding ceremony. They will be taking pictures of activities and turn them into a work of art.

The traditional photography depends on staged and posed setting. The candid photography takes a narrative route. There are some couples that like to have candid shot rather than a traditional wedding picture since it has a more personalized and human touch to the event. There are others that choose to have a combination of both candid and traditional pictures for their wedding album.

The wedding photographer that will shoot photographs must have experience in candid photography and has to be able to shoot a broad variety of subject in different lighting and setting. The wedding photographer has to be knowledgeable in both formal and candid pictures. However, some only focus on one type of photography. You will find some couples will choose to hire a photographer that concentrates on candid shoots and another photographer to focus on the formal photos.

The photographer that will focus on the candid photography will aim to create a story of your wedding using photos. The pictures can be shot randomly or in series. It can start from your preparation and up to your departure from the wedding reception. It will make a compelling presentation of what had happened during your wedding day. After all, during your big day you will need someone to give you full account of the moments that you missed.

You can work with your chosen photographer before the ceremony to make sure that he knows what you want for your pictures. You can also explain what kind of activities that you want him to focus on, but that will not mean that you will limit the photographer's subject choice. Remember, candid photos are informal and real representations of your wedding ceremony. It may need some light editing but it does not have to retouch your pictures totally.

The photographer must have long zoom lens on his camera to be able to shoot from afar. He must also make sure to turn off the click sound and the flash in his camera that can be distracting during solemn moments. The key to a great candid photography is spontaneity. It is best to try to ignore that camera entirely to get wonderful wedding photos.

5 Unique Wedding Guest Book Ideas For a Unique Wedding

Why is a guest book so important for weddings? Why is it important for the wedding couple?

Guest books are important for the couple because it is the record of the guests and their wonderful comments for the bride and groom. It is considered a treasured memento of the couple's wedding that they can go back to year after year as they celebrate their anniversary. Many couples do this reminiscing thing while celebrating their wedding anniversaries to bring back the memories of the celebration- a get-together of families and friends who have given their thoughts and blessings to the couple for a new-found life together.

If you are planning for your wedding, it is an important task to look for unique wedding guest books that you can choose from to make your wedding celebration unique and complete. This task should be personal and you are obliged to pick yours according to your preferences as a couple and as a complement to your wedding.

1. Themed Wedding Guest book

Themed weddings usually call for tie-ups of other elements such as invitations, attire and many others. If you don't have a particular theme for your wedding, the usual thing to do is to tie your wedding guest book to the color scheme or motif.

A classic and elegant wedding calls for an elegantly designed one with either white or ecru pages, and a motif hardbound cover. You may also want to personalize your guestbook by ordering it from an online stationery store or wedding accessories shop. Finding these personalized guestbooks are easy as the click of your mouse.

2. Photo Wedding Guest Book

There are two types of photo wedding guestbook that you can use during your wedding. The traditional way of taking Polaroid photos during your wedding is one way to have instant photos of family, friends and guests. Take some snapshots of you and your partner with each of your guests [an individual or group or family]. However, in this day and age, the digital camera is a handier piece of gadget that most people are fond of using. However, printing the photo could only be done after the wedding if this is the case; so make sure that your guests sign on specific pages especially for them.

The other type of photo wedding guest book is where the book itself has photos of you and your partner. Normally, photography studios offer this service as an inclusion to their normal photography services. This is apart from the wedding album itself, but this guest book contains photos of the wedding couple during the pre-nuptial photo shoot. The guest book is usually a magazine-type and hardbound, and each page has photos of the couple which appear to be part of the design. This is passed on to the guests during the wedding reception where they can write their well-wishes and congratulatory notes.

3. Wedding Guest Book Plate/Platter

A ceramic plate or platter is a fun and very unique way of having your guests sign and wish you on your wedding day. A large plate/platter is better for weddings of more than 50 guests and you can keep this as a home decor [usually a focal point of a particular room]. Don't forget to provide a fine-point marker to your guests to ensure that their messages will stay permanently on the ceramic surface. You can order these guest book plates/platters online and some stores may also include special markers as well.

4. Monogrammed Wedding Guest Book

This is another personalization method that you can apply to your wedding guest book. You can order a custom-made wedding guest book which bears the monogrammed initials of the bride and groom. This is a simple addition to your personalized or themed wedding guest book that doesn't cost too much but adds a unique touch to it all in all.

5. Quilted Wedding Guest Book

Quilts by tradition are a great way to involve family and friends to create an entire piece [i.e. blanket or tapestry as the most common] out of patches of fabric that are sewn together. Taking this tradition to create a wedding guest book is a unique and interesting way of involving your family, friends and guests to piece together their wishes and good lucks.

Provide your fabrics of choice to each of your guests and make sure to provide also some fabric markers. You can ask you groomsmen and bridesmaids to hand out the fabric pieces and markers to your guests. You can also task them to collect the completed pieces and keep them in a box so you can take all of their wishes with you after the reception. The task of sewing the fabrics together can be done by you and your partner or you can ask family members to help out. You can frame the quilt once it's sewn and display it on the wall of your home.

These are just a few of the many ideas that you can apply when you are planning for a unique and interesting wedding guest book. Use your imagination and picture how you would like your wedding guest book will look like. If you are stuck with ideas, you can browse the internet for more info, samples and ideas from wedded couples as well.

Wedding Photo Journalism

Most of the people think that the meaning of a wedding studio photographer is just the same as a wedding photo journalist. Actually they both are distinct in their own ways. Both of them render the use of different skill and creativeness. The creativeness is the main thing that matters and creates the difference in both of the cases. The former one will not do anything to change the moment. The latter one can however make alterations. The former will only be a silent observer. In this way he will be able to capture those emotions and scenes of the family which they would cherish remembering upon later on.

The work of such a man is only to capture an emotion. This should be done with no alterations. It does not at all mean that you do not capture the portraits of the families. You can do them but a great judgment is required in such a job. There are many lights available which can be used such as blending lights or the normal lights can also be used. It is upon you that when do you feel it right to use whichever light.

There are many ways which help you to capture pictures in different ways. Some of them are by staging the moments, etc. also the camera can be rotated sideways. In this way you get a longer view of a smaller place. Also special effects can be added depending upon the situation. Also, by doing so, the flaws in the photo would be avoided and also the families would be happier than before. The moment also looks original when you try and do something like this. It is not that if you do not keep the photo original, the moment does not look good. In some cases, the photo becomes better than the original when you do something creative like this. Also, you should be able to tell stories to people when you see your camera. This is when you are known to be what is called as a good photo journalist.

The elements which are used in the determination of the moment should not be lost. It should be taken care of by a good wedding photo journalist that such locations, elements, places, characters and objects should not be missed upon. Also, by doing so, the blend of the background comes into picture. And by just seeing the surroundings the people should be able to recapitulate what happened when the photo was clicked. After all, a photo is only able to define a specific moment. Also, stage moments should not be missed upon in a wedding. Ethics should be followed if you are a true photo journalist.

How to Become Successful Wedding Photographer?

Wedding is an important occasion for all of us. We all want to keep this happy moment of our life memorized with us. In this case, a camera and a bit of photography can help us. With the help of a camera, you can make these happy memories live forever in your photos.

Many photographers have gained success in this field through wedding photography, while many of them are still struggling. However, you can easily be a good photographer by following some tips. Passion and motivation are required to be a dexterous photographer. Moreover, myriad of people may tell you it is an easy process to earn money through wedding photography.

However, it is not an easy job for the newcomers in this field. Shooting randomly with a camera will not make you successful and expert in this field. Nonetheless, you have to be keen enough to learn the techniques of wedding photography from some professional wedding photographers. If you do your work with the desire to deliver, then you are bound to be successful. Moreover, you can start your career by delivering the newly married couple with some outstanding photographs.

Hence, I am describing some important tips for the beginners in this line. Firstly, do not come in this line without learning photography. If you have come in this profession without knowing anything, then you will be disappointed with your feedback. It will be difficult for you to get further jobs or contracts. Thereby, I request all the new comers to learn photography before coming in this line.

It is pertinent to state that a quality camera is a pre-requisite for a good photography. Nevertheless, the camera alone will not give you money. Conversely, your talent and skills would grant you distinction. Having a brand-new camera does not indicate that you are a proficient photographer. You would find many people who came in this field and were not successful. The main reason behind the failure was their reluctance to learn from the others or being creative.

Try to keep pace with the modern technology and latest ideas. Do not focus on earning money only. You should be able to deliver some quality photos in exchange of money. Do not count your photographs; try to count the quality of your photographs. Try to build a unique position of yours in this field. Do not try to follow some others. Build your skill in such a way that photographers are bound to follow you.

Fun Wedding Guest Book Ideas

A guest book is a nice idea at a wedding because it will give you a lasting record of the special people who were there for your celebration. While the typical guest book can be lovely, it is also a bit boring. These are some great ideas for fun and unique guest book alternatives.

If you like the book format, it is nice to personalize it a bit. Rather than a generic guest book, create your own. You can make it special by including photographs of the bride and groom, or decorating it to go with the theme of your wedding. Brides who are skilled at scrapbooking can have a ball making their own custom books for guests to sign. If you are not the crafty type, use one of the sites which will allow you to upload your photos online and create a custom printed book. Or better yet, have your guests personalize the book for you; set out a pretty scrapbook with a Polaroid camera and some markers. Your guests will have a great time snapping a fun picture and putting it in the memory book with a congratulatory message.

Another idea is to have your guests sign an object other than a closed book. The nice thing about this is that you will have a special piece to display in your new home and enjoy all the time. You will get much more enjoyment out of it than you would a closed book gathering dust on a shelf. One popular idea is to have your guests sign a picture frame that will be used to mat one of your wedding photos. If you plan to have an engagement portrait done, it would be nice to display it in the mat while it is out for guests to sign. With the popularity of pre-wedding photo sessions these days, you could even include an image of the bride somewhere beautiful like a beach, all decked out in her wedding gown and jewelry.

Other things to have your guests autograph include platters, large bowls, and tall vases. One really incredible idea would be to have the guests sign in a special pen that would create a resist on a clear glass bowl or platter. After the wedding, take a glass etching solution to etch the uncovered part of the glass. When the resist ink is washed away, you will be left with a frosted glass bowls showing all of the names still written in clear glass. This would be an incredibly elegant and understated wedding memento that you will treasure for years.

For an outdoor wedding, a really sweet idea is to set out little pieces of paper in a special shape for guests to write a brief message upon. When they are done, they can hang them on a tree with a little ribbon. If your wedding is indoors, you can create the same set up with a small table sized tree. Choose a shape of paper that means something to your wedding or ties in with your motif. It could be doves, flowers, cowboy boots, seashells, you name it. The signatures and cheerful wishes will be delightful fluttering from a tree branch.

As couples look for more ways to personalize their weddings, they are getting even more creative in their approach to the guest book. The thing that your guests sign does not even need to be paper. For instance, if you were having a destination wedding, complete with a tropical bridal gown, beach wedding jewelry, and the works, you could use this theme as inspiration for your guest "book". Set out sand dollars and Sharpies for your guests to inscribe their best wishes. The collection of messages can be kept in a pretty clear glass hurricane lantern in your new home. Or if you are having a Zen style wedding, set out smooth river rocks for your guests to sign.

As long as you design a guest signing station that fits in with the style of your wedding, you can feel free to be as inventive as you like in creating a cool alternative to the traditional guest book.

Tacky Wedding Invitations

Can a wedding invitation really manage to be tacky? Sadly, it can! There are many well-meaning couples out there who in trying to be romantic or clever end up designing an invitation that turns the stomach of the guests who receive it. These are the things that make wedding invitations tacky, and how to avoid making the same mistakes.

First of all, it is important to understand that whether or not an invitation is tacky or not has nothing to do with what it cost. An inexpensive invitation can be elegant, and a pricey one can be done in exceedingly poor taste. It is what is written on the invitation and how it is made that counts. Original wording and "clever" images tend to be among the top offenders. Compare these two types of wedding invitation wording: "Mr. and Mrs. Walter Hall request the pleasure of your company at the wedding of their daughter Sarah Ann, etc., etc." is as classic and timeless as a pair of pearl earrings; in other words, it is tasteful, and like pearl earrings, fits any style of occasion.

Then there is this: "On this day we will marry the one we laugh with, live for, dream with, love. Come and witness Sarah and John as they start their journey together with one heart, etc." Blech! Too much information, and too personal. It is also redundant; if you are getting married, people assume that you are in love, it is not necessary to spell it out in syrupy prose. You may think it is romantic, but most of the guests will find the wording too saccharine. All that really should be written on a wedding invitation is the basics of who, what, where, and when. The "why" part is self-explanatory.

Being too cutesy is another common thing that makes a wedding invitation tacky. Just because they offer "Precious Moments" wedding stationery does not mean that you should choose it, even if you really love large eyed child figures dressed as a bride and groom. Another common trap is getting carried away with overly cute photos of the bride and groom. While personalizing your wedding stationery with your photo can be a nice detail, they should not be captioned like they were part of a scrapbook. Especially not if the captions are puns playing on the themes of love. Save that for your actual wedding scrapbook, and include a single elegant photo on the invitation.

Tackiness can also come in the form of poor manners. A perfectly lovely engraved wedding invitation can become tacky with the inclusion of bridal registry information on it. Using your wedding invitation to snub a family member for not giving you enough money is also always in poor taste. When in doubt, the best thing that a couple can do is to stick with a classic invitation and simple wording. You can never go wrong with that, and no one will find you tacky!

How To Get True To Life Colour In Your Photography

White balance is the way we assess and establish the colours and tonal range of an image. It refers to the "all over" colour tone itself. Colour tone is the general colour that's cast right over the whole photo. When you take a photograph at home, with no flash, you will at times notice a blue colour tone cast over the scene.

Getting true white balance is one of the most imperative elements of taking pictures. When you have the correct white balance you will notice that colours look like they do in real life. Skin tones look actual also, instead of appearing plastic or too yellow. Accurate white balancing becomes a very significant element of portrait photography for this reason.

How do we produce correct colour? First we must to comprehend that there is no single set white balance for each situation. Each white balance feature on your camera, like Tungsten for instance, is not accurate for every occasion. Tungsten makes your photos look quite blue if they are shot in regular light. When you take photos of a subject that is underneath yellow lights it can make your scene appear too yellow.

Photographing in Tungsten will take away the influence of yellow and then take your photo back to a standard colour tone again. "Auto WB" is the accepted selection for most newbie photography enthusiasts. This is okay as long as you fine-tune your white balance in Photoshop or Lightroom later on.

You will discover that if you take pictures in auto WB regularly, your photos just won't look very natural. You will find that your pictures just don't reproduce the correct colours that you see with your naked eye.

Shade and cloudy are two favourites if you want to "warm up" your pictures. They offer a warm colour cast such as yellow, to overlay onto your images. This may be a great shooting mode especially at evening or dawn. Shade and cloudy can emphasise the vitality in your warmer colours. This makes sunsets and sunrises to look vibrant. This is a good preference for sunsets.

Shade and cloudy settings are not always suitable for portraits. The last thing we wish for in our wedding images is a yellow hue over a photo of the bride and groom. Tungsten is not correct either. We certainly do not want the bride and groom appearing too blue.

Auto doesn't always work for portraits because of the way the digital camera is built. The digital camera you have does not always understand what colours should be represented accurately. When you decide on auto white balance you give the camera free reign to do as it pleases. This doesn't work when you want true to life vibrancy.

True to life colour is dependent on "teaching" the camera to recognize colour. This is where custom white balance comes in. When you put a grey card in front of the digital camera and set your custom white balance to it, it then understands what's happening. It then sets all colour on both sides of that grey tone. It's quite difficult how it does this.

As a photographer all you need to understand is that colour needs to be true, and a grey card is the method to do it. Basically modify your white balance setting to custom. Then shoot a grey card with the right exposure. After that it's central to "set" the custom white balance from this photo.

You will notice that for that precise photo session, your colours come to life. You'll be able to see subtle colours like light pink, magenta and lemon yellow as they really are. White balance is one of the primary things to generating a superb image. If you follow these straightforward measures, no longer will you feel baffled about why you are not producing true colour. It will honestly change the way you look at photography forever.

Wedding Photo Albums Best Reserved To The Pros

The pros and cons of digital and film photography have been debated for years with no clear closure on which is better. Digital photography may appear to have the edge when it comes to more convenient storage and instantaneous display. However, some professional photographers would rather have a photo album particularly for those priceless pictures taken for weddings.

While digital storage of wedding pictures is fine, these pros say that prints of wedding photos gathered in an album can better capture the emotions during the bride and groom's special day. They emphasize, however, that the album has to be professionally organized, for which the following pointers are offered:

• Establish a close working relationship with the photo artist, designer, or studio staff member. Ask for and study samples of their previous projects.
• Discuss with them what your expectations are regarding the album's layout as this will largely determine how the photographer will shoot the wedding photographs.

One basic area for discussion is if the album would relate the wedding story from beginning to end. Other points to cover are where the focus or emphasis will be. Will there be more portraits? Will the album revolve more on candid shots? Is a balanced mix of candid pictures and portraits preferred? The next major consideration is the selection of the photographs that would constitute the album. Most professional photographers would allow that the couple chooses the photos in their wedding album, only providing some advice along the way. Ideally, the pictures that should be chosen are those that relate the wedding story and how the subjects would want to recall that day.

Another important element that would go into the album is its cover. There is an enormous collection of cover choices from book-binding companies so much so that one can be overwhelmed by the wide variety of options. As a rule of thumb, the choice should be made on the basis of the personalities of the couple, the style of their wedding, and their style preference.

In summary, it should be emphasized that buying a photo-book from an online source is different from ordering a hand-crafted, custom-designed album from a professional photographer and design studio. A wedding photo album has to be produced with quality in mind, with editing and layout tailor-fit to individual tastes and preferences. After all, a wedding album contains mementos and memories that married couples are expected to cherish in their lifetime.

Wedding Photography Techniques - Bride, Groom and Groups

Always Keep the Bride and Groom to the Front

Remember, the Bride and Groom should be most prominently portrayed in every shot. When posing groups you should try to avoid placing anyone directly in front of or behind the Bride and Groom. The only exception to this is when using steps to compose very large groups.

Height Difference

Another potential problem with groups is height difference. Use the potential problem of height difference to your advantage. If there are steps available you can use them to elevate the smaller people, if not then you must arrange the group in a composition which pleases the eye.

You can however often use height difference to your advantage, use it by carefully positioning subjects so that their faces, when viewed together run in a smooth flowing composition. Do not be afraid to use the ground as a starting point for posing Bridal party group shots.

Bridesmaids are often asked to pose on the ground in front of the rest of the group. You can then build up the composition by placing any smaller children next to the Bridesmaids and eventually working upwards using smooth flowing lines toward adults in a standing position.

Some photographers will always position taller people near the center and taper off to smaller people at the ends. I prefer to work on a flexible basis and treat each situation independently sometimes using smaller people near the Bride and Groom and working towards the edges with taller people. This approach can give more emphasis and prominence to the Bride and Groom.

Positioning the smaller of the two nearest the camera can compensate for height difference between the Bride and Groom. This technique, in the Brides case, will not be required too often; society readily accepts that on average females are smaller than males. However you may encounter, as I once did, a couple where the Bride was taller and had specifically asked to be made to look smaller, even if it meant posing her husband on a step!

The Bride

Pay particular attention throughout the day to the Brides appearance. She is the most important person in your photographs. Before firing the shutter always check that she is looking her best.

Pay specific attention to the stance of the Bride. She should be posed by asking her to stand at a slight angle to the camera. The foot nearest to the camera should be extended forward three or four inches towards the camera with the knee slightly bent. Now ask her to transfer her weight to the foot farthest away from the camera.

Her head should be turned towards the camera and tilted slightly. Avoid straight limbs, for example arms and wrists should always suggest a gentle curving, almost flowing movement.

Ways of Becoming a Professional Wedding Photographer

Try to Follow reputed wedding photographers

This is the best way to know each other's style and technique and this is possible only when you are following another professional wedding photographer. There are some professional photographers who create their own blogs with dummy photographs and this inspires other novice photographers. Copying of any other's work results in duplicate but copying in an intelligent manner, definitely has an overall impact on the said photography work. There are a number of professional photographers who blog and this helps others to understand his or her work in a better way.

Try to attend some expert photography workshop

Regular workshops and conferences helps budding photographers to understand the basic concepts and tricks of the profession. These seminars are organised throughout the country and thus you get an insight into the world of professional wedding photography and the customers and clients you have to deal with. You come in contact with an array of photographers who are masters of this trade and you also get to know about the emerging trends and latest in the world of videography or photography.

Try shooting some dummy weddings to sharpen your skills

Wedding is an auspicious and special moment in anybody's life, so there is no room for errors and thus it is the perfect platform to fine tune your photography skills. It is on such occasions that you get a live and real time experience and perfect upon your shooting skills. There are many renowned and professional photographers who take with them novices and beginners, so that they can see and learn from their experiences. it is how you can learn to take natural and perfect shots apt for a special occasion like wedding or anniversary. So starting your photography career in a wedding is the perfect launching pad in your professional life.

Try being professional in your photography sessions

The first lesson in being a professional is to understand the fact, that to "earn bucks you got to spend bucks". You cannot succeed in being a professional photographer if you do not invest in the best of best of photography gadgets like state of the art digital cameras and SLR's with ultra powerful lenses. If you do not have a professional equipment in your possession you cannot think of excelling in your career path, be it in photography or any other thing. So if you have perfected this art form, a career in photography can be extremely rewarding and high revenue earning for you.

Mother of the Bride: Three Tips to Look Your Best in the Wedding Photos

As the mother of the bride, you will want to look your best and most beautiful for the forever wedding photos. Be sure to use as much time as the bride has allowed for the planning of her wedding to take care of the details of your look and overall beauty.

The following are three tips for the mother of the bride to consider when planning for your daughter's big day and your special time as well. Make the time and effort now and until the wedding to orchestrate your perfect, most glamorous look.

1. Decide on the Style of Your Dress

As soon as the bride has picked out her dress and the bridesmaid dresses, it's your turn to pick out your dress or outfit for the wedding. By that time, the colors and the formality of the wedding will have been decided.

First and foremost, the formality of the wedding will be your primary guide for choosing your outfit. Is it formal or semi-formal?

Secondly, of course, you will need to consider your body type and your personal style when choosing your outfit. You want to feel like yourself and your personal best that day.

Lastly, the wedding colors will come into play. Choose your most flattering color while keeping the wedding color palette in mind.

Typically, the mother of the bride as well as the groom's mother will want to avoid any hue of white, red or black.

Also, avoid any pastel color that will make you look washed out in the pictures.

2. Don't Dress Too Sexy or Too Frumpy

Many mothers of the bride fall into two categories of mistakes - either they dress too frumpy or dress a little too sexy. It appears in "too sexy" (whether it's intentional or not) that they are competing with their daughter. Striking the right balance of modern, chic and age appropriate is the goal for your outfit, hair and makeup. 'Chic' is probably the best word to keep in mind while shopping.

Personal shoppers as well as makeup artists are excellent resources for these tasks if there is any doubt in your mind as to any part of your look.

3. Take Pictures of Yourself in Your Wedding Day Outfit Ahead of Time

Before you make your final outfit decision, take photos of yourself in it along with your planned style for your hair and makeup. A picture is worth a thousand words! The photo will show you if you are going to photograph well in the color you've picked out, whether your makeup needs tweaking and how your hair is going to look with your outfit.

In addition to showing you how the outfit looks on you (be sure to include the shoes you plan to wear!), the photo will show you where you need to make changes in your makeup - too light, too much, right color of lipstick, right color of blush? All of those things that will show up in the wedding photos. It will also help you decide your final hairstyle - an updo or loose - that looks best for the occasion.

By following these steps, you can save yourself time, and alleviate any worries ahead of time - well before the big day arrives. You can rest assured that you will look your best from head to toe and enjoy the planning and festivities with ease.

Spice Up Your Engagement Photo Session

Your engagement photo session is almost as important as your wedding photo shoot. The photos do not only serve as souvenirs, but can also be used as save the date cards and wedding reception displays. So, make the photo shoot fun, creative, and memorable by spicing things up.

Have fun with props.

Cool and creative props add some extra oomph to your prenup photos. These also make your photo's theme look more realistic. For instance, if your theme is Sunday Picnic, collect a picnic basket, a comfy mat, and some snacks. If you're an artsy-craftsy person, you can create props for a more personalized feel. No time to DIY? Just look around your house for some cute props you can use or buy them from stores.

Choose your wardrobe carefully.

Pick clothes that are appropriate for your theme to achieve the look you want for your pictures. You'll definitely look awkward wearing a couture dress when your theme is country. Another thing to consider when choosing your wardrobe is comfort. You'll sure feel confident when you're wearing comfortable clothes because these don't restrict your movement.

Create a theme.

Choosing a theme is fun since it releases your creative juices. Avoid using more than one theme because this ruins the purpose of the shoot- and that is to tell a story. It's a good idea to choose a theme that reflects your personality. For instance, if you and your fiance love to drive around, you can opt for a Road Trip theme.

Experiment with different poses.

Practice your poses prior to the day of the engagement shoot, so you'll be prepared when you get there. Have a trial photo shoot with your fiance. Ask someone to take photos of you to see how you'll look on the actual photos from the e-session.

Pick a location that is special to you and your fiance.

The shoot will be more memorable and special if you pick a place that means something to you and your fiance. It's nice to have a photo shoot at a location that has been a part of your love story. It could be the place where you first dated or your favorite hang out spot. You will be more comfortable to pose and move around in a place that is familiar to you.

Let your love for each other show.

Act like how you would when no one is looking. This way, the photos will look natural and not forced. Show how in love you are with each other to help your wedding photographer capture romantic shots. Friends and family will definitely enjoy browsing through your pictures because of the love and beauty captured by the camera.

Top 10 Places For a Wedding Photo Shoot in Townsville, North Queensland

Townsville is a magnificent city located in North Queensland Australia and there are a plethora of places where you can have a great wedding photo shoot and in this article we will look at some of those great places where you could take those shots.

Top Place 1 - Anzac Park

The number one place where people take photos for their wedding in Townsville is definitely in the Rotunda at Anzac park. This is a solemn place but also lends itself to stunning photos. The park has luscious green lawn and backs onto the Casino Marina. Great shots can be achieved by doing the photo-shoot in the afternoon around 4.

You should be aware that during the wedding season which is traditionally from April to September, the park can get extremely busy.

Top Place 2 - Customs House

Customs House is located just across from Anzac Park and many great group shots have been achieved with this historic building being the main backdrop. Once again be aware that you will need to be patient to get these photos during the peak wedding period.

Top Place 3 - The Strand

The Strand has become the centre piece of Townsville. With its well manicured gardens dotted along the seaside and pristine beaches this location will give you the best beach photos you could imagine. Whilst you are limited as to where you can take photos from, this is changing however checks with the council as to where wedding photos can be taken.

Top Place 4 - The Rock Pool

The Rock Pool is located towards the northern end of the Strand and this location allows for magnificent photos with Magnetic Island in the background. The only thing to be aware of is that at the weekend, when most people have their weekends, the Rock Pool is very busy so it may take a few attempts at getting those photos completed.

Top Place 5 - Castle Hill

Castle Hill has a 360 degree view of Townsville looking back towards Mount Stuart as well as out to Magnetic Island. If you are looking for a sea view and island back drop then this is a great location. If you are planning to use this location, always check with your limousine company to make sure they are happy to drive you to the top as some companies do not allow this due to the winding nature of the road.

Top Place 6 - Maritime Museum

The Maritime Museum located on the harbour Side of the Ross River in South Townsville, is a small reminder of the maritime importance of Townsville. Equipped with boats and its own light house there are some great locations for photos for your wedding photo shoot. If your into sailing or boating on the Great Barrier Reef then this is certainly worth a look for your wedding photos.

Top Place 7 - Mount Stuart

Mount Stuart over looks the main city area of Townsville. The Rotary lookout at the top of the mountain allows for some great photographs of the city with Castle Hill in the backdrop. This is a great location for scenic wedding photos of Townsville. Just be aware though the 10 kilometre drive up Mount Stuart can be a little precarious.

Top Place 8 - Picnic Bay

Picnic Bay located on Magnetic Island is a great location for photos for your wedding day. With the city of Townsville in the background you will be sure to get some great seaside photos. Another great idea for this location would be to get night time photos with the lights of Townsville as a great backdrop.

Top 9 - The Old QR Railway Station

The Old QR Railway Station is a great location for Wedding Photos. Located on Flinders Street in the centre of the city this is a great building for special photos. There have been many couples take black and white photos at this location.

Top 10 - The Palmetum

The Palmetum is set on the picturesque banks of the Ross River in the centre of suburban Townsville. The Palmetum has a range of different settings that you could use for your photos. The gardens have been designed to showcase many of the different environments you can experience in and around Townsville such as rainforests, wetlands, the dry tropics and more.

This location has become very popular for those looking for a wedding in the park and personally I do recommend it.

10 X 10 - The Most Important Wedding Photography Shots to Take on the Day and 10 Great Tips

10 Shots you need to get at the Wedding

1. Bride arriving with father (or person elected to give the bride away)

2. Bride, father & bridesmaids before the ceremony

3. Bride and father walking up the isle

4. Bride and Groom together for first time

5. Bride & Groom the kiss

6. Bride & Groom signing the register

7. Bride & Groom walking down the isle

8. Bride & Groom posing full length

9. Bride & Groom with parents

10. Bride & Groom cutting the cake

10 Great tips to help

1. Camera & Back-up. Be sure your camera is working!, really, have you checked it lately! and be sure you have or have access to a backup one if need be.

2. Batteries. Are they charged up? Have you got 2 or 3 sets of spare? You might just need them, OK, you may not but imagine your just getting to the first dance and the batteries go!

3. Memory cards / Films. Get plenty, it's all very cheep and if your not hiring a professional you'll be saving £100's anyway! As with batteries, you wouldn't want to get the camera out for the first dance and find. . . . . . . . .

4. Camera Settings. Do you know what they do? Take just 5 minutes, with your coffee in the morning maybe to just read through them, you'll probably get through it in just a week, and the things you'll learn will probably not just surprise you but help you in all your photography from weddings to snapshots of the Dog!, believe me, it's better than filling your head with all the rubbish in the news each day. !

5. Location Use the best locations you have, if that means driving 10 minutes to the park, then do it!, the photos will be around for generations to come to spend 10 minutes going to a good spot don't settle for a rubbish location if you can easily get to a better one.

6. Weather be prepared, this is one you have no control over!, and if you do please give me a call I've got a great idea. . . . . Seriously though, if it does rain, as it can in the uk at any moment, don't let this drown the good spirits, use it to your advantage! having just 2 umbrellas in the car will enable you to do 3 things : 1. Give one to the bride and Groom to keep them out of the rain, or have the Best man or Chief bridesmaid or both maybe even with one each hold them whilst they are in the rain! 2. Hold one your self, this will keep you out of the rain and your camera dry. 3. You'll get some great shots of the Bride and Groom in the rain.

7. People Obvious yes. but as it's all about people, capture lots of people shots. Especially unaware ones, go for something different than just asking them to say cheese!

8. Smile although you'll not want all big cheesy smiles on all the shots, one of the best ways to get people to smile is to simply smile your self! one way that can get the smiles out is to ask them not to smile while you are smiling.

9. Back up your work these days back up is cheep and essential. As soon as you can backup your shots

10. Enjoy the Day!, its a wedding, your there to enjoy the wedding too, not just get the photos, unless your just there to get the photos, though even then, enjoy your self, you'll relax more and it will show in your photos.

Wedding Spots in Ocean City, Maryland

Ocean City Wedding Spots - Getting married in Ocean City and you are not sure where you'd like to have the wedding location or reception? Allow me to inform you of the places that make for some great Ocean City Wedding Photography spots and give you my thoughts about them. Please keep in mind that these Ocean City venues are looked at from a photographer's point of view and what I've experienced there working.   

Seacrets - A great place to check out, you can't go wrong with Jamaica USA in Ocean City. Often times couples book their dance club area which can fit a lot of people. What I liked most was the staff was off the hook friendly, and being there as a wedding photographer, they let me go everywhere I wanted to go to get the good shot. This place offers some great sunset shots, out by the palm trees and on their pier, plenty of little hidden areas that will make for some interesting photos. They have their own catering and chatting with one couple they said it was at a really good price. Keep in mind in the summer this place is a mad house but in the off season its cozy and relaxing.   

Fager's Island - Pretty close to Seacrets which offers a nice reception area, hotel close by, great food and the staff was really nice. There are so many cool places in Fagers to get great photos; you often getting lost and you can take a couple to like 10 - 15 different spots and make 50 -75 images unique. Plenty of palm trees, a gazebo on the water, the upper deck reception area is a little tighter but for smaller weddings this is a really good place.  

Lighthouse Sound - This little gem is hidden away right outside of Ocean City, a little ways over the first Hwy 90 bridge in into Bishopville. It's located right on a golf course which is a good thing because you have beautiful landscapes to get great photos on and one thing to consider is adding some time with the photographer as you might like to take a golf cart to some of these very pretty photo spots. You'll end up having Ocean City on the bay as you backdrop which makes for an awesome photo. The staff is great, food it good too, I like the huge fireplace they have indoors, and the overall area is able to accommodate a lot of guests. If you get a chance to get you and your guests together for a group photo, you have a couple of hills to get height on the crowd.  

Golden Sands - this hotel and condominium is located around the north end of Ocean City right on the beach. You can get married right on their little patch of sand or you can get closer to the water and have your ceremony there. Depending on the time of day and weather conditions I might lean towards closer to the beach, were you'll have more sun, the building itself is cuts out a lot of sun for sunset ceremonies. They have a really lovely reception area up on their top floor; hope you aren't afraid of heights. Nice dance floor, easy to accommodate a lot of guests, and even though you are up so high take advantage of the rear of the building on the 22nd floor for some quick photos of the sun setting.   

The Clarion - another hotel not too far away from the Golden Sands, and every bit just a good. What I found unique about this place, if you foresee bad weather, this place has several giant rooms for having the ceremony and reception. The whole inside offers a lot of great spots to take some fun and unique photos and chances are you will have sun for your wedding, you have the beach right there. keep in mind the building will shadow you and your guests quite a bit, so by getting closer to the water, you'll enjoy some better photo opportunities. They have an onsite coordinator here, Lisa I believe who is super nice and will bend over backwards to help you.   

Ocean Pines Beach Club - Located on the Ocean side of Coastal Hwy and not be confused with the Ocean Pines Yacht Club and Ocean Pines Country Club. If you aren't careful you'll find family and friends heading to the yacht club or country club and might miss out. Here is another place that has their own patch of sand close to the main building structure and if you are planning a sunset wedding you might find a very distinct shadow going on here which depending on your timing you might deal with as they have a nice huge deck to place chairs on for your guests to sit on. They have a nice little second floor section where all the brides end up getting ready at. The poor guys end up hanging out in the basement area, down under the deck. Part of the deck wraps around and makes for some lovely sitting and eating outside. Plenty of spots for a DJ or Band to set up and while the guests are relaxing you can roll out on the beach for those beautiful sunset photos.   

The Beaches - Ocean City beaches are some great beaches to get married on. Unlike the Delaware beaches right up the road they don't require permits to be on the beach or get married on the beach. Getting married in Delaware isn't as easy as in Maryland where you can walk right out there on the beach with the wedding minister and say your vows and walk right back off. All the beach ceremony's I've photographed, it happens 100 percent of the time, were you have very friendly and accommodating people that step aside for you to get married and often times they cheer, clap, and whistle when you get to "you may now kiss the bride". To get the better photographs I'd recommend scheduling your ceremony around Sunset whenever possible and the next best time would be around sunrise. Those high noon weddings always end up with dark shadows under the eyes and lots of other unpleasant features. 

And if you can decorate the beach a little with an archway, flowers, tiki torches, or something. A naked beach is ok, but it really reflects well and looks like wedding photos when you have things to enhance the photo. For brides I'd stay away from heels in the sand, it's a no brainer but every year someone does it and it's difficult on the bride to walk in. Also a runner would be pointless, as it will get ripped to shreds.    There are many other wonderful places that I have not mentioned here that I could turn this article into a full blown book, but I wanted to name a few of my favorites.  

Some other ideas for wedding locations in and around Ocean City, Maryland that I've photographed and liked:   Assateague Island State Park Coconut Malorie Catched 54 (used to be known as Sharks Cove) Ocean Pines Yacht Club - Ocean Pines Ocean Pines Country Club - Ocean Pines Ocean City Inlet on the Beach Harrisons Harbour Watch - Inlet area The Hilton - Ocean Side Fresco's - Bayside Macky's - Bayside Princess Bayside - Bayside Princess Royale - Ocean side Carousel Hotel - Ocean side. Have a Happy Wedding Day!

Golden Wedding Anniversary Gift Ideas

"Go for gold!"

Celebrating 50 years of marriage together is a fantastic achievement. This is probably the most celebrated out of all the wedding anniversaries. So, what is the best gift you can give to your spouse during your golden anniversary?

Gifts to make for the Occasion

Taking the time and effort to make your loved one a very special gift is a sweet romantic gesture. In this article, I will give you some tips on what to make your spouse during your golden anniversary as a gift.

1. Make a CD that includes all of your favorite songs together. Choose songs that will make both of you feel nostalgic just by listening to it. Once you have created the CD mix, wrap it in a gold-colored wrapping paper with a gold-colored ribbon.

2. Make a photo album. This is a good anniversary gift idea since you can go back to the highlights of your marriage together. Include pictures of the places you visited, your first lunch together, first breakfast together, or even the holiday escapades.

3. Create a poem or a love letter. If you have good writing skills then you could write a poem for your spouse. This is a creative thing to do to show your love and sweetness. Write a poem with a golden colored ink and put it in a golden frame.

This will really show your love for your spouse and how much you really care. It is also a wise decision to make anniversary gifts as it keeps the cost down. These homemade gifts can also be combined with a purchased anniversary gift you have. There are still lots of fantastic ideas for you to make for your anniversary. I will discuss it to you in the next article.

Gifts to Buy for the Occasion

1. Give your partner a personalized present. There are lots of numerous gifts out there but a personalized gift makes it unique and sweet.

2. Give your spouse a golden photo frame. A golden photo frame is a good anniversary gift with your pictures in it. Find the most meaningful photo the two of you have got and place it inside the frame. Also, write a letter when giving it to your partner.

3. Buy tickets. You can buy tickets for a sports event, a movie or a concert. When giving it to your spouse, wrap a golden ribbon around it.