What Your Wedding Album Should Have

Your wedding is one of those events in your life that may only happen once. You would want to remember that day until you are old. The best way to do this is to capture the moments in photographs. While videography is becoming more common, nothing beats the power of still photographs. You can compile the best images into one album with the help of a professional photographer.

Putting together an album is not as simple as tossing and shuffling photographs. You have to look into some qualities so it will become the perfect remembrance.

Style

Your photo album should be in line with the motif of your special day. Consistency is key when designing wedding paraphernalia. Just like you and your partner, everything should match so they will work well together. A well suited photo album is good on the eyes. It sets up the same atmosphere as your happiest day captured by your wedding photographer during the ceremony and reception. How you design your album reflects the emotions you felt during those moments.

Story Telling

When you are older and your grand kids ask you to tell them about your love story, the best way to narrate it is through pictures. The photos should tell a story instead of just presenting beautiful images. It may tell them how you first met until you reached the altar and had your first child. You can reminisce your most special day with your grand kids with all the memories still fresh through the photos. You can tell them about something funny that happened during the cutting of the cake. Make them laugh about how you and your spouse could not even dance well to the most romantic tune of the time.

The arrangement of photographs should be easy to follow. Not all photos may have the best quality when they were taken, but it is the story inside them that matters. You never know, the photographer may have snapped a trivial detail on a rather candid photo. Do not simply throw away some photos you think were half-blurred or out of focus. Put sections in the album and treat it like a book with progressing chapters. All these will be easy and possible by the help of your wedding photographer.

Durability

Say, 200 years down the line, people from the future found your album. While some pictures may no longer be clear, the album should be enough to summarise your love story. Use materials that are resistant to easy wear and tear. There are different methods on how you can preserve printed photos. Do your own research and place your photos carefully in an album that can let it age gracefully. Storage is also a factor so keep your album away from moisture or heat that can cause the photos to melt.

The photographer you hire may also create your album as part of their services. Make sure to add your input into it to give it a more personalised feel.

Essential Equipment for the Wedding Photographer

One of the first questions a photographer that is entering the wedding field will have is what equipment is needed in order to cover the day in full. That is a very good question and an arbitrary one at that. I am going to do my best to name some of the equipment that I find to be most useful. I will also try and name some equipment that is helpful, but not a necessity. Let's get started!

The first item that you need is obviously a camera. And not only one camera, but two cameras. Murphy is walking around and looking for his next victim and you do not want to have to explain to your clients why you cannot continue to cover their "once-in-a-lifetime" event. If you do not have two cameras, no problem. You can rent good quality cameras online for a very reasonable price. There is no reason that you should not have a backup camera. My suggestion is to get a camera exactly like the one you have and set all of the settings the same so that you will be able to work seamlessly. Another advantage to having an extra camera is that you will be able to equip it with another lens and have it handy for fast shooting.

The second item(s) on the list is, of course, are lenses. Notice that lens is plural, meaning that you need more than one. I have bought many lenses trying to get the perfect combination. The truth is that you can cover a whole wedding with two lenses, no matter what the size, or location, or condition of the wedding. The two lenses of choice are the 24-70mm f/2.8 and the 70-200mm f/2.8. Most every manufacturer of lenses makes these two focal lengths. The wide aperture is very important in wedding photography because of the low-light situations that you WILL encounter. You will use f/2.8 a lot. These two lenses will cover everything from a wide shot to a really zoomed in shot. Another reason that two lenses is good is because you only have to keep up with two lenses. When I use prime lenses, it seems that I am always having to retrace my steps and look for a lens that I hid somewhere think that I would remember to get it. (I guess I should add an assistant to this list so that you have someone keeping up with your gear.)

Third item on the list, a camera flash. I understand that most cameras have a flash built into them, but sometimes (and most of the time) they just don't put out the power that is needed. I recommend that you get a flash that you can tilt and swivel the head. This will allow you to bounce the light off of the ceiling and walls and give a much more natural look to your photos. Not only can you tilt and swivel the head of these flashes, but they also put out a lot more power than a built-in flash. In wedding photography, there will be times when you will need a substantial amount of flash power, like the reception when most of the lights are dimmed. You can pick up a decent flash for around $200.

And the fourth and final item on the list is a combination item. Memory cards and batteries. Be sure to have enough memory cards and batteries. These things are cheap and you should have plenty of them. It would be bad to run out of battery power and/or storage space. Here is why: My first wedding I only had about 20GB worth of storage space. I brought my laptop in order to dump my files that way I could format my card and never run out of space. I filled up a card and then started to dump the files. When I got back to my laptop, I found that someone had managed to step on my cord and unplug my laptop from the wall. It was off... Thank goodness I did not format that card. All of my images were there, but it was a big enough scare that I promised to always be prepared from then on. Batteries are the same. You cannot rely on charging batteries at the venue. Things happen unexpectedly and you have to account for those things beforehand.

This list is a bare minimum that I would carry to any wedding. It always helps to have backups of every item. For instance, a couple of flashes, a few lenses, tons of batteries and memory cards. I understand the cost associated with photography equipment and that is precisely why I wanted to compile a needs list of equipment for wedding photographers. I hope this article was informative and stay tuned for more tips in the near future.

Gift Ideas For Silver Wedding Anniversary

Life is a journey and is divided into various stages, right from birth till death. Everyone has to go through these different stages and 'Marriage' is an important stage of ones life.

Marriage brings together two unknown people and binds them in such a strong relationship that it becomes the most important. Everyone loves to celebrate their with their near and dear ones, friends and family. Each and every anniversary makes the relationship stronger and stronger. In this way the life goes on and people reach their 25th Silver Wedding Anniversary. Another unforgettable day in ones life is the and gifts are an important part of it. Now we will discuss about some Gifts.

Silver Wedding Anniversary is an auspicious occasion in ones life and should be celebrated with everyone so that it becomes the most memorable day for the rest of the life. On this day when everything is so important how can Silver Wedding Anniversary Gifts be left behind? Since it is the Silver Wedding Anniversary, silver can be a good idea as Gift as it will be traditional as well as modern idea. Jewelry made of silver as gift will add to the celebrations. Silver showpieces, silver crockery, watches with silver plated band, silver plates can be good gift ideas and will make the day most memorable for ones spouse. Besides these, if one can write a poem for one's spouse and get it engraved on a silver plate, nothing can be better than that. Diamond ring is the most sophisticated gift one can give to his/her spouse on their 25th Wedding Anniversary. One can even plan a holiday or go for movie, theatre, etc. Apart from these flowers, cakes, chocolates, cards are always there for celebration.

Wedding Photo Frame can also be a good Silver Wedding Anniversary gift as it will lock the beautiful moment for the rest of their lives. One can present silver Wedding Photo Frame or can personalize it. Jewel Wedding Photo Frame is another good idea. There are a variety of such wedding photo frames available in the market. These jewel photo frames are designed with beads, pearls, precious and semi precious stones, glass chips and mirrors. Embroidered photo frames are also available. One can also make such frames using their creative sense and present to their spouse as it will have that personal touch to make them feel special throughout their lives.

Gifts are so important as they show love and affection the person has for his/her spouse. Gifts make the special day unforgettable which one can cherish all their lives. Silver Wedding Anniversary Gifts should be chosen with great care so that the day becomes the most memorable day of the couple's life. Among all the gifts good gift idea as it will encase that wonderful moment for the rest of one's life. Rest assured that the person will be happy to receive a photo frame as a wedding anniversary gift.

Why Your Wedding Photography Initial Consultation is So Important

You are recently engaged and embarking on the hard yards of planning a wedding. The Service and Reception have been booked, and you come to the Photography. This is where the nightmare starts!

Wedding Photography is a mine field - so many products to chose from, so many photographers to chose from. Where do you start?

The internet is the place of choice these days. The thing to remember with your Google search is that the businesses on the first page are not necessarily there due to being the best - sometimes they are there as they pay big bucks to Google to be there. Getting a good page on Google is big business - and more competitive than the actual photography market!!! Moreover, it might pay to have a look further down the list rather than focusing on the first couple of pages - you might find better value for money this way.

Next step - getting a ball park figure. As a consumer, we understand the need to have some idea of pricing, so as to not waste the time of either party. Therefore, we like to know and work with a ball park figure. As business owners, many photographers are happy to give a ball park figure, however, are reluctant to send a price list via email. The reason for this is due to the fact that generally, price lists do not cover the detail of the products that are available. Also, when you buy a car, would you even consider without first having a look at the physical product? Photography is the same. To see and feel a physical product is vastly different to seeing it online. Hence, get a ball park figure, and if this is within your budget, make an appointment.

The next question is "How many photographers do I see?" Well, you have the choice on being overwhelmed on one or two occasions, or on lots of occasions. See, the thing with Wedding Photography is the number of choices. Knowing what you want is a good place to start when going to see a photographer.

You tell them what you want, and let them give you a quote. Doing the research online is a good way to find out what products are available. When you go to see your photographer, have a list of questions ready.

It is human nature to want to compare. However, if when you go to see the first photographer, the following is true, then consider if you REALLY need to confuse the issue by seeing another one-You LOVE the style and quality of photography, You LOVE the album design concept, You have a good rapport with the photographer (make sure it is the photographer you will have on the day!!!) and The package is within your budget -Makes sense hey!

During the initial consultation, the wedding photographer will provide you with loads of information. There are so many products available, and so many variations on each product, it becomes very overwhelming.

The photographer will be trying to get an idea of your needs by asking a series of questions. At the same time, you will begin to build rapport with the photographer. It is very important that you feel comfortable with the photographer, as they will be with you the whole day of the most important day of your life.

You are also going to spend a lot of time with them after the wedding. If the energy between the two of you does not work, then move on! Allow at LEAST 1-1.5 hours for the Initial Consultation, and remember to take a list of questions.

Don't skip the initial wedding photography consultation.

Cheap Photo Printing Services - High Quality At Low Prices

Nowadays, it is quite easy to find cheap photo printing services. Lots of websites are now offering great discounts to their valued customers due to the growth of mainstream photo printing services.

Cheap Photo Printing Services

The famous photo printing services online that gives quality services at low prices are Canvas People, SmugMug.com and SnapFish.com. Each of them offers different kind of special service that you may find helpful in enhancing the beauty of the project you're working on. Through these sites, you will be able to create an album of memories which would be great to give away as a gift or display in your house.

They also provide enticing printing ideas that you will absolutely love. Some of which are: large poster prints, specialized invitation cards, customized thank you cards, photo books, apparel, calendars and mugs, all of which includes unique photos of your choice. With all of these offers, you will surely enjoy printing out the memorable moments of your life.

Canvas People

Canvas People is one reliable photo printing service that will alter your cherished photo into an aesthetic canvas. It would be great for keeping your treasured family portrait. The canvas can also make a great wedding or birthday gift to your friends and relatives.

At this moment, Canvas People is offering a free 8x10 canvas, which is worth $49.99. You don't need any coupon code to avail the promo. Just keep the canvas unframed and select "no effect". You will only have to pay for the shipping price of the canvas that costs $14.95.

SmugMug.Com

SmugMug.com would be the best choice for professional photographers who need to upload hundreds of images at a time. The SmugMug.com became popular for their infinite image storage that will ease you from worrying if you're taking too much photos. They also store extra copies of these images in 3 places so you are assured that your files are secured and safe.

You also don't have to worry about spam and other irritating advertisements since SmugMug.com is free from such. All of your photos will be stored in high-resolution. For professional photographers, you even have the option of pricing your images and sell them online.

SnapFish.com

HP operates the SnapFish.com. It offers a vast collection of photo gifts that you may choose from. Some of their unique photo gifts include: baby bid, diaper bag, dog collars, puzzles, wall clocks and decorative pillow.

SnapFish.com best fits mothers because most of their promos are for babies. Their recent promotions are 20 free prints, less $2 on a $10 order and $5 less on $25 worth of order. They also offer free shipping on special occasions.

Existence of Cheap Digital Photo Printing

The existence of online digital photo printing has allowed customers to avoid from buying an expensive photo printer for home-use. This eliminates the need to buy photo papers, ink and other materials. Thus, cheap photo printing services are very helpful not only in giving excellent services but also by offering them at much lower costs.

Make Your Wedding Invitations - Using Vellum Paper For Your Wedding Invitations

Like most ideas, choosing to make your wedding invitations requires a lot of thought. If you have thought about something classy, you may want to use vellum paper. Vellum paper is a very shear paper. It comes in clear, cloudy and even in colors.

Usually when you use vellum you will use it to put your type on. It is then put in the front of a photo, a mirror kote card or a scenic design. This can give a very sophisticated look.

Add a couple punched out holes to the vellum and backer. Now you can string a ribbon through. Tie a bow with it and you will have a nice clean look.

You can also just use the vellum as a card. Usually when this is the invitation itself it is folded. This gives a darker background so you can read the type.

When you make your invitations with vellum you want to continue to use this for your RSVP and reception cards. You will use a standard white envelope. They do make the vellum envelopes but I don't think they are practical for this use.

By having this vellum you won't have to worry about typing over the background image. The sheerness of the paper gives that transparent look. You can use almost any backer you choose. This can be a great way to send a photo and not write on it.

You could easily use a 4 x 6 photo can put this on as an overlay. Use some post a note glue and they can easily detach the photo to frame later. You can write on vellum but if you want to make other RSVP cards standard white card stock is always a safe bet.

You may have to do some research for vellum paper. You don't want to confuse this will vellum card stock. Vellum card stock just means a smooth finish. Vellum paper is transparent. Both can be good choices but are totally different.

So if you want to make your wedding invitations consider using a vellum paper. It can allow you many color choices and photo backgrounds.

Weird Wedding Traditions

There are almost as many strange and wacky wedding traditions as there are cultures in the world. If you or your bride plan to use any of these weird traditions, it might be a good idea to give wedding cameras and photo album favors to your guests so that they can capture the fun and share the joy with their friends and families that could not attend. While most of these traditions had much deeper meanings many years ago, now they are practiced just for fun. Read on for some of the strangest wedding beliefs and traditions from all over the world.

In Germany, the wedding couples wear their wedding rings on the right hand. There does not seem to be any significance in this other than just a difference in tradition. They also have a strange custom that takes place after the couple is married as opposed to the usual traditions that take place just before the wedding. Once the couple says their I Do's, they go outside to find a log lain across either sawhorse or blocks. There is only one saw. The couple must saw through the wood, working as a team. The amount of difficulty they have is supposed to be indicative of what kind of marriage they will enjoy together. If they can work together and get the job done with relative ease, they will have a happy marriage. If not, they will have a rocky one. This tradition is simply called "Sawing."

In Blacking the Bride or Blackening the Bride, the poor wife to be is run down and covered in all kinds of terrible substances. They will use anything that smells badly and will even cook up some foul smelling sauces. Spoiled milk and rotten eggs are often used as well. The bride is then parade up and down the main street of town for all to see. This tradition takes place in Scotland. Some traditions hold that bride is blackened and some say it is the groom. There are also those who blacken both the bride and the groom. It just depends on the particular family. In all the rituals, however, the final act of the blackening is to tar the victim with molasses and douse them with feathers.

There is an Indian tradition that is called Mehndi in which the bride is painted in intricate patterns in ink. Her hands and her feet are covered in these beautiful designs. India's weddings are celebrated for days at a time and there are beautiful songs and dances that go with the mehndi tradition.

The Irish believe that it is bad luck for the bride's feet to leave the floor during her wedding day. It is said that fairies will get under her feet and whisk her away, never to be seen again. The point is that these evil little fairies love beautiful things such as brides and they will go to great lengths to get them. The bride is particularly vulnerable when she is on the dance floor so she has to be very careful to drag her feet while dancing. The person she dances with is held responsible should she disappear.

It is considered very bad luck to wear green to an Irish wedding. No matter where you are, your wedding traditions are a fun way to honor the past and carry on the ways of your family and their customs.