Design A Bespoke Photo Album To Celebrate Your Wedding Anniversary

It's fairly safe to assume that almost every guest attending a wedding will bring along their own digital camera, smartphone or tablet capable of capturing images. The result of this will be that, at the end of the day, there will be a huge collection of images amassed and these, taken as a whole, will present a far more accurate and touching picture of the day itself than any official collection could ever hope to manage. Rather than the somewhat staid and posed imagery usually associated with wedding photo books you'll be able to enjoy candid images of moments such as the little bridesmaids hiding under the tables or granny throwing some shapes on the dance floor. When gathered together, these will form a chronicle which warms the heart each and every time you look back through it.

You might even call a volume of this kind a memory photo book, and the good news is that digital technology has meant that creating such a book is now incredibly easy. Most people are now familiar with the concept of online photo albums. In the past, a photo album would usually have meant a fairly scrapbook with the actual photographs physically taped or glued onto the pages. Not only would this not look particularly stylish but it would also wear pretty badly as the years went by. Storing your pictures online, on the other hand, keeps them safe whilst making them easy to share with friends and family all over the world.

Rather than creating photo albums in the classic sense, however, you can bring together the best of both worlds, by combining the flexibility of digital technology with old fashion top of the range production values. This allows you to design photo books for weddings which take the form of stunning bespoke volumes, produced to the highest standards whilst boasting genuinely personal content.

Actually creating the book is simplicity itself. The first step is to gather together all of the photographs from your wedding and then go through them selecting the ones which you wish to feature. The key will be to combine large, formal images such as group portraits with smaller, more intimate photographs in a manner which, when taken together, will present a fully rounded and totally accurate record of your special day. Once you've made your selection, you just have to upload them to the website of your choice and then set about designing your book. 'Designing a book' may sound like a complex process but, in truth, the software has been designed to make it extremely simple. You'll be guided forward one simple, logical step at a time, making choices over factors such as the size and shape of the book, the number of pages and the design and construction of the front and back cover. Having settled all of this, you'll be able to design the layout of each individual page, juxtaposing images for visual effect or laying out the events of the day in chronological order. As you'll be able to preview the book throughout, you'll be able to ensure that you're completely happy before actually opting to have it printed. When it is, the materials and techniques utilized will be of the highest possible standard, meaning that it will look stunning and stay stunning for many years to come.

Wedding Photo Disasters and How You Can Save Them

So the wedding day has come and gone - it was the happiest day of your life, and the months of careful planning paid dividends as the day went without a hitch. The honeymoon was a glorious vacation with your soul mate and you're looking forward to spending the rest of your lives together. Friends and family tell you how wonderful your big day was and you can't wait to see the photographs and to show them around.
 
But your photographs are a disaster! Tears and tantrums ensue. Your memories of your special day are in tatters. It doesn't matter whether you've been let down by a professional photographer or whether Uncle Dave usually takes great photos but had to borrow a friend's camera for your wedding and didn't know what all the settings were. The deed is done, your photos stink, and you don't have a time machine to go back and retake them.
 
Once the tears have dried, the blame has been laid, and the arguments are settled it's time to start thinking about how to move on. In this digital age it is important to realise that with photographs you don't have to settle for what you see. Just get your photos scanned to create a digital version. From a simple pimple on your face to global problems with lighting and colour, the latest photo enhancement software allows you to fix them all. With a little investment of time and money you can develop the skills to fix any photo problem. Even the most basic of photo editing programs can create jaw-dropping improvements to your photos and there are plenty of free tutorials on the web to help you develop your skills. Sure there are programs at the top end of the market with bells and whistles you can pay a few hundred for, but there are plenty of programs available for a more modest investment and these are more than adequate for most problems. Just explore all the tools and try the preset adjustments like auto-levels and auto-colour. Learn about "layers" so that you can make non-destructive improvements and also undo your changes, and always work on a copy of your photo and not the original.
 
If you have neither the time or the inclination to try it yourself you can always use the professionals, but the most important thing is to realise that you don't have to settle for second best when it comes to the photos of the special events in your life.

Wedding Clipart Ideas to Celebrate the Two of You

You can add a unique flair to your special day with wedding clipart that will allow you to personalize everything from your invitations to your thank you cards.

Your wedding is the event of a lifetime so you want it to be breathtakingly beautiful without being outrageously expensive. From the engagement announcement to the webpage, bridal shower, and ceremony, clipart can help you make the entire experience both elegant and memorable while also reflecting your style and personality. Your special day can be all you ever dreamed or imagined, and it doesn't have to cost a fortune.

Invitations:

Invitations can be very expensive, so why not make your own? By choosing your own images and wording, you can make your invites more personal and even create a theme that can be carried through to all aspects of your wedding, including place cards, programs, and favor tags. By using clipart, your invitations can reflect the tone or mood you are hoping to create, whether it be traditional, semi-formal, casual, or country.

If you are planning a Christmas wedding, decorate your invitations with colorful poinsettias or festive wreaths and trees. For a Valentine's ceremony, choose fun Cupid images, intertwined hearts, or a bouquet of red roses.

Are you planning a winter wonderland theme? Design invitations adorned with sparkling snowflakes or cartoon snowmen. If you are having a destination wedding, choose images that reflect your location such as palm trees, sunsets, or mountains.

Of course, if you are looking for something more traditional, you can design invitations using bride and groom images, intertwined rings, doves, or flowers.

Thank You Cards:

You can create a unified look or follow a theme by using the same images you chose for your invitations. Or, you may wish to create something unique that gives your guests a memorable token of your special day. Mixing clipart pictures with actual photos will help you to design an original card that will allow your family and friends to feel like they are part of your life together. Choose a wedding picture, a photo from your honeymoon, or even a snapshot taken in front of your first house.

An elegant black and white sketch of a rose, cute kissing teddy bears, or colorful hearts make great images for thank you cards, and when they are an expression of your personality, guests will truly feel appreciated.

Bridal Shower Invitations:

The bridal shower is a tradition that sets the stage and builds the excitement for the main event, so of course, the invitations need to be extra special. Again, if the wedding is following a theme, create invites that reflect this or use images that represent the couple's honeymoon destination.

If you want something traditional, use clipart pictures of cakes, gowns, or hearts. If the shower will be an afternoon tea, try designing an invitation using a sketch of a Victorian hat or dainty cup and saucer. For a kitchen shower, make a border of appliances and utensils, or welcome guests to a personal or lingerie party with an invite that includes a few sassy, lacy, and even sexy images. If that is a little too risque for your taste, you can choose something more subtle such as perfume bottles or a Victorian love token.

Stag and Doe:

This party is a great time to celebrate and help the engaged couple prepare for their life together. Find a cartoon stag and doe, follow the theme of the wedding, or go with a separate theme that will make the party fun and interesting.

If the party will have a Hollywood theme, create invites or tickets using clipart images of marquee signs announcing the bride and groom's names and the date of the event. For a western theme, use pistols, cowboy hats, or saloon doors.

If the couple are going on a honeymoon, design an invitation that reflects this destination such as the Eiffel Tower for a trip to France, a gondola for a vacation to Italy, or palm trees for a tropical getaway.

Again, more traditional pictures can be used such as a dancing bride and groom or champagne glasses.

Scrapbooks and Albums:

Your wedding album is a special keepsake, and with the programs and resources available today, it can be so much more than just pictures. Using clipart images will help you create a stunning scrapbook that will capture all your memories and keep them alive for years to come. Remember to print images on scrapbook paper, as this will help maintain their life and quality.

Choose clipart pictures that reflect memorable moments from your special day such as dancing couples for the first dance, champagne glasses for toasts, or a just married sign for when you are driving away at the end of the day. Choose wedding rings or flowers to enhance photos of the ceremony, a beautiful confection for pictures of the cake cutting, or a charming image of hugging children to compliment snapshots of the ring bearer and flower girl.

Clipart images will also help you design elegant borders or fun stickers to complete your scrapbook or wedding album and add those finishing touches to your creations.

Website:

Designing a website is the newest trend in wedding planning and provides a great way for the couple to include guests in the experience from the engagement to the honeymoon. Clipart images can add some color and creativity to your pages while also allowing family and friends to see your excitement and personality. Rose petals, rings, churches, gowns, and cakes are just a few ideas. You can even use clipart pictures to design an elegant table with feather pen and a virtual guest book for visitors to sign, or use fireworks images to decorate your honeymoon page.

There are so many wedding clipart ideas that can help you personalize every aspect of your special day and make your wedding experience unforgettable, yet affordable.

Wedding Day Scheduling - Timing and Logistics

One of the most important areas in which couples planning their weddings usually need advice is with respect to the day's schedule, especially as it relates to the Wedding Photography. After all, most of them have never been married before. Your wedding day is akin to one day on a movie shoot - and as complex. So, a properly planned day means less stress, as well as the ability and flexibility to deal with the unexpected. As the Wedding Photographer, regardless of what is happening, I will always shoot whatever is available (working under pressure and unideal circumstances is the job of any useful Wedding Photographer). But, as with other things, good Wedding Pictures benefit from a relaxed bride who does not feel rushed. As I say, "Happy Bride, Happy Day".

Even under the best of circumstances it is a challenging day for the bride and groom:
(a) They have probably not had a very good night's sleep, heading into probably the most eventful day of their lives (which runs 14-20 hours);
(b) They are making the biggest commitment of their lives (which hopefully entails no doubt whatsoever :-) );
(c) They are juggling the egos, insecurities and relationships within and between their families;
(d) They are praying for the weather to hold up;
(e) Hopefully they have delegated the myriad tasks throughout the day to reliable and capable people, otherwise they find themselves constantly having to be involved in areas they shouldn't have to worry about;
(f) I could keep going here, but you get the idea...

The point is, you can and should have fun on your wedding day. Good planning will go a long way to making that possible. Time allocation is critical to two parts of the day:
(1) Bride's Hair and Make-up (with the bridesmaids often in tow). It is well worth making the appointment earlier because I can't tell you how often the bride is rushing to put on the dress in time to get some pictures taken and then to head off for the ceremony. Hair and Make-up can easily take longer than expected - regardless of what they tell you. Besides, you're probably going to be up early in the morning anyway, so you might as well get down to business. If you are ready ahead of time you can relax. You don't want to be rushed and stressed out when the day has barely begun.
(2) Pictures (Family, Wedding Party, Couple).

How much time should be allotted for between the end of the ceremony to the time the wedded couple must appear at the reception? Depends. Here are some questions that must be answered before you can come up with a number:

o How much mingling time is there going to be right after the ceremony?
o Is there going to be a receiving line right after the ceremony? If so, how many guests? If you have 200 people it will take at least 45 minutes.
o Where are the pictures going to be taken, at the ceremony location or at a park? If the latter, how far away is the park?
o For Family Pictures are all the family members going to be driving to the park? That can take time and some people end up taking forever to get there. Additionally, the size of the families (or more accurately, those who are going to be in the pictures) affects how much time is required.
o Is there a Videographer? If so, additional time will be required.
o Depending on the time when the post-ceremony pictures begin, how much quality light is going to be available once we get to photographing the newly married couple (can anyone say, 'most important pictures'). If it's a bright day, there is more leeway with light, but you can't count on that. Also, what looks like 'enough' light to you, may not be great from the photographer's perspective.

Here is a typical Wedding Day scenario: Ceremony starts at 3pm. Finishes at 3:45. 15 minutes of mingling. Family Pix taken at the ceremony site - average sized family - 30 minutes. Couple and Wedding Party drive to the park. Including travel time and walking into the park, pictures commence 30 minutes later. Wedding Party Pix - 30 minutes. Couple Pix - 45 minutes. Drive to Reception Hall - 20 minutes. Arrive at Hall at between 6:30 to 6:45. Total time from end of the ceremony to arriving at the reception - about 3 hours.

Possible issues:
(1) The Couple do no get to enjoy cocktails with their guests before dinner;
(2) If there is a Receiving Line then the post-ceremony activities will be rushed and/or dinner will need to be pushed to 7:30;
(3) If it's a darkish day, there might not be very good light for the Couple Shots if they are done last (which is usually the case);
(4) If the Family Photos are taken at the park there may be some delays if everyone doesn't arrive at the park on time;
(5) If there is a Videographer you can add 30-45 minutes to the schedule, which, like the Receiving Line, puts pressure on the schedule.

Conclusion: With dinner usually being served at 7pm, this schedule works fine, though there isn't that much room for maneuvering. In this case, there would be more flexibility, and less stress, if the ceremony began at 2pm or 2:30pm. If there is a Videographer and a Receiving Line, then the Ceremony should not begin later than 2pm, preferably earlier.

If everything is happening in one location, you can cut about 45-60 minutes from the above scenario. In this case, you wouldn't have to worry about lighting for photography (unless it's raining of course), and the couple would be finished in time to either spend some cocktail time with guests and/or to have a rest before the Reception. In this scenario, keeping the Ceremony starting time at 3pm is a good idea because if you have it too early then your guests will be waiting around too long for the Reception to begin.

For the uninitiated, it's easy just to accept what you're told and given by the various vendors, but generally speaking they are only concerned with their own domains. So, for example, you may have your heart set on the church or venue where your ceremony will take place but if they tell you that the space is not available until 4pm, then, as you can tell from the above scenario, you will be limited with respect to the rest of your day. Does that mean you can't use that venue? Not at all. It simply means adjustments may have to be made to plan (eg) Maybe the Couple do their photographs before the ceremony.

As a Wedding Photographer, my responsibility is to get the shots no matter what - and I do. But experience has revealed to me that when the logistics are solid then the day runs smoother, the bride and groom are happier - and the pictures are better.

Wedding Photo Ideas - Best Ideas For Creative Wedding Photos

Wedding photography has an important role in every wedding celebration. It creates memorabilia of the most wonderful event of a couple's (bride and groom) life. Therefore, professional wedding photographers are supposed to capture some of the best moments during the wedding celebration. It is a tough and quite complex task for wedding photographers to create unique wedding photos. This article will discuss about some of the most popular ideas to capture wedding photos.

Focus On Capturing Emotions
The magical secret of capturing the best wedding photographs lies in capturing real emotions of people at wedding venue, especially the bride and the groom. There are several emotional shades appearing on the face of bride. It can be sadness of losing her family, excitement for a whole new world, happiness of getting her beloved for lifetime, and many more. Similar emotions appear on faces of other people (including the groom) during the wedding. An experienced wedding photographer is supposed to capture all these moments.

Avoid Too Much Posing
There are several occasion where people want them to be captured in a specific pose. Such kind of posing is OK to some extent. However, repetition of same pose again and again will make the wedding album boring. Therefore, when it comes to capturing routine photos, the photographer should avoid too much posing. Rather, they should capture photos of guests and family members in natural gestures.

Think Romance and Be Creative
Wedding photos are a treasured gift for the couple getting married. It will l bring all those fun filled moments and nostalgia in front of them whenever they will see their wedding album together. Therefore, perfect blend of creativity and romance in wedding photos is required to make it a real treasure for bride and groom.

To attain this purpose, photographer needs to capture photos in several romantic gestures. Taking help of natural sites will enhance the effects. For example, capturing private moments of married couple in a boat, kissing each other at the time of sunset and sun hiding behind them, bride and groom stealing some private moments from the guests and family, can be the most loved photos for married couple.

Take Bride and Groom's Opinion
The bride and the groom both have several dreams about their wedding. They plan a lot about this most auspicious moment of their life. They also plan about the wedding photos in different moods. Their opinion is very much valuable for wedding photographer. These opinions should be incorporated in wedding photos.

Apart from aforementioned tips, wedding photographers should also use the advance features of their camera or the photo editing software to bring creativity and magical touch in wedding photographs.

Starting Your Own Wedding Photography Business

So, you've decided that you are interested in becoming a wedding photographer. You have a nice camera and you love taking pictures of family and friends. So, you have everything you need to quit your job and become a wedding photographer. If only it was that easy. I think that is one of the biggest problems with the wedding photography industry today. You have too many photographers who think because they have a camera that they can call themselves a wedding photographer. There is a lot more than just taking great pictures to succeed in running a wedding photography business. If you have the talent, but feel a little uneasy about starting a wedding photography business. I've come up with a few tips that should help you get your wedding photography business off the ground.

The biggest challenge in getting any business off the ground is start-up cost. A camera would be a good start. The problem is that the majority of professional quality cameras start at about $1,800. Why that might not sound like a lot. That's just the camera body and does not include any lenses you will need. The lenses you will need to start can vary in price range, but a good start would be around $500.00. This would be the bare necessities to get started. Flash equipment and off camera lighting are a need, but not from the start. You can work on building up your equipment as you grow.

Setting up a home office is very important. This is where you will keep tracking of your clients as well as other important paperwork. For tax purposes you will need to keep all of your receipts. A home office provides a centralized location to keep it all together. It also provides you a place to edit your photos and meet potential clients. I will get into editing your photos a little bit later.

You will need to apply for a business license. Check the area you are in to see if a business license is even required. It's not really difficult to get one and in most cases can be done online. You just have to make sure that if you shoot a wedding in another city or state to obtain a business license in those locations as well. It gives you credibility as well as protects you from fines if you are caught doing business without a license.

You will need to open up a business checking and savings account at a bank. It's best to keep your personal and business accounts separate. For one it makes it difficult to keep up with personal and business expenditures. It also can cause major headaches if a tax audit is accessed against your business. The fees are usually minimal so that shouldn't discourage you from opening one up. Shop around and see if the banks have free business checking or some other programs for small businesses.

You will need to obtain insurance. This will cover you from any liability and malpractice suits. Malpractice would come from a client suing you for not full filling your obligations. Liability will protect you from any damage that may occur while you are shooting a wedding. You never know when your equipment could start a fire or someone trips over your equipment. These are things you don't think about until it's too late. There are many professional photography organizations out there that offer very inexpensive insurance.

In the past you could get by with a business card and word of mouth. The reality is that today the internet and social media marketing are an important part of any wedding photography business. You will need to have a website setup and make sure you have e-mail as well. You don't want to use a yahoo or g-mail account as your business e-mail. This doesn't look professional for one and also may scare aware potential clients.

Put together a marketing plan that includes sites that you want to advertise with. There are wedding sites that cater to brides looking for wedding photographers. These sites do charge you to advertise, but your return on investment can be rewarding in the long run. If you haven't already joined twitter or Facebook you should. This is a great way to drive potential clients to your website and give you even more exposure for free. You should also familiarize yourself with linking your website to other wedding professionals. This will also get you out in front over potential brides for little to no cost.

Part of your marketing plan and one of the most important parts or having a profitable wedding photography business is referrals. You probably haven't shot any weddings or if you have your portfolio probably doesn't contain much material. So, you are going to have to take advantage of each wedding you do have by making your customers happy. This will allow you to get referrals and even obtain repeat business. You would think making your customers happy would be obvious, but not all wedding photographers care. In most cases quantity over quality is the norm. Your quality will translate into happy customers and repeat business.

One of the last items you will need to start your wedding photography business is part of the quality process I just spoke about. Computer software is a must in today's wedding photography. Software such as Photoshop will allow you to take a raw image and make adjustments to them. You can use these programs to fix a spot on a dress or adjust tones in the photo. You have the ability to crop out unwanted parts of a picture with this software. The software can't be run without a computer. So, you'll need to purchase a computer that has the specs to handle your software. If you already have a computer you want to use. Make sure you check with the software maker to see if your computer specs will allow you to run their software.

The most important aspect you have to keep in mind after starting a wedding photography business. It took you awhile to develop your photographic skill. So, it's also going to take you awhile for your business to get going. If you ask anyone who has started a business the first thing they will tell you is that it takes lots of hard work. You may fail even after all your hard work, but it will definitely fail if you don't put any hard work into at all. If having a wedding photography business is your dream then you have to give it all you have from the start. There are probably a lot of areas that will be new to you. Just take it as part of your learning curve and doing everything you can to make it work. If you give it all you have and work hard. Your reward will be a successful and profitable wedding photography business.

Top New Wedding Trend

A top new trend in wedding accessories will entertain your guests as they arrive at your reception to find a unique wedding guest book signing station.

The first step is to have a photo collage of yourselves, the bride and groom created and framed. The collage should represent the both of you from childhood to your engagement. The most suitable layout would be photographs of the two of you growing up. Photographs of both of you together in the middle and then photos of each of you throughout your childhood on either side.

Frame the collage and have it set up on an easel in the entrance of the reception or a corner of the reception hall. This will give your guests something to view and keep them occupied while they wait to sign the guest book. It is also a way for guests to get to know each other as they reminisce over the pictures and how they all know the bride and groom.

Next, purchase a large frame and mat to fit inside the frame. Perhaps a 16x20 frame for an 11x14 picture to fit inside. The mat will serve as your guest book. Guests will sign the mat directly and then the signed mat will frame a favorite wedding photograph, or the collage of yourselves that was made. Or, you could have a wedding photo collage created.

Guests are entertained viewing your couple collage while signing your unique mat guest book and you are left with a unique keepsake to frame a special wedding memory and to cherish forever.