For Brides: Where Should I Print My Wedding Pictures?

This post is part of a series for brides (and grooms!) or for those who are helping someone plan a wedding. My goal for this series is to help you make informed and educated decisions about your wedding day so that it will be as beautiful as possible! If you're joining me for the first time, you can catch up here:

1. Should I Do an Engagement Session?
2. What Should I Wear for My Engagement Session?
3. Should I Do Bridal Portraits?
4. Making a Wedding Day Photography Timeline
5. How to Get Great Getting Ready Pictures
6. 6 Things Every Bride Should Get Ready for Her Photographer
7. Should We Do a First Look?
8. 5 Steps to Great Bride & Groom Portraits
9. How to Get Beautiful Ceremony Pictures
10. 6 Steps to Successful Family Formals
11. How to Get Beautiful Reception Pictures
12. Where Should I Print My Wedding Pictures?

I am ending this series with a post about printing wedding images because I think it's so important! In our day and age, everything has become so digital that people often loose sight of the significance of having tangible, printed things in front of them. There's just something about seeing your beautiful images in print and not just on a computer screen. And in my opinion, when you spend hundreds of dollars on wedding images, they deserve to be printed and displayed in your home! These are keepsakes you're going to treasure and pass on to the next generation.

What many people don't know is that you can tell a BIG difference between prints that come from a professional printing lab and prints that come from a consumer lab. Getting the color printed accurately on your images is very important and professional quality labs will give you drastically better results than other, cheaper options. Professional labs also offer higher quality photo paper, higher quality inks, and special coatings that ensure your images are resistant to things like finger prints, dust, and fading. In case you're still not convinced, here's a post by another photographer that shows you the difference between getting prints from a professional vs. a consumer lab.

I am happy to share with you that I offer professional prints directly through your PASS gallery. All you have to do is click "add to cart" on the image you want and then select the size and quantity. I also offer canvases and albums (I will do a post on this later but you can also tell a HUGE difference between canvases and albums from a professional lab versus a consumer lab).

If professional prints aren't quite in your budget, here's a few good consumer labs I would recommend:

1. MPix
2. Nations Photo Lab

If you found this post helpful or interesting please share it and/or leave your thoughts or feedback in the comments section below! I am sad to share that this is my last post in the "For Brides" series! However, I have some exciting blog posts and series coming up so please visit again soon!

For Brides: How to Get Beautiful Reception Pictures

This post is part of a series for brides (and grooms!) or for those who are helping someone plan a wedding. My goal for this series is to help you make informed and educated decisions about your wedding day so that it will be as beautiful as possible! If you're joining me for the first time, you can catch up here:

1. Should I Do an Engagement Session?
2. What Should I Wear for My Engagement Session?
3. Should I Do Bridal Portraits?
4. Making a Wedding Day Photography Timeline
5. How to Get Great Getting Ready Pictures
6. 6 Things Every Bride Should Get Ready for Her Photographer
7. Should We Do a First Look?
8. 5 Steps to Great Bride & Groom Portraits
9. How to Get Beautiful Ceremony Pictures
10. 6 Steps to Successful Family Formals
11. How to Get Beautiful Reception Pictures

Honestly, receptions are sometimes one of my least favorite parts of the day to photograph because they are often dark and I have to use flash and I always prefer natural lighting to flash. However, I have had the privilege of photographing some GORGEOUS receptions!! I also love the fun, candid pictures you can get during receptions! This is list is by no means all inclusive, but here's a few tips on how to get beautiful reception pictures:

1. Consider lighting when choosing the venue
I know I'm probably starting to sound like a broken record because I talk about lighting in every post, but it's just that essential to photography! When you're looking at venues, think about the lighting. If your reception will be during daylight (or partially during daylight), try and find a venue with large windows and lots of natural light or a venue that's outdoors. Also consider any lighting that an be added to your venue, for example, find out if you can hang bistro lights or lanterns or some other kind of additional lighting. Additional lighting can add a lot to your pictures!

2. Consider lighting when planning the time of your reception
If at all possible, it's always helpful to have your reception before the sun goes down or at least partially before the sun goes down. That way, your photographer can still capture beautiful natural light in your pictures for as long as possible!

3. Consider having your ceremony and reception at the same venue
Having your ceremony and reception at the same venue gives your photographer more time to capture your reception details. I usually take pictures of the reception details before the ceremony starts. If your reception isn't at the same venue as your ceremony, I highly encourage you to make sure you have a second shooter so that the second shooter can leave right after the ceremony and take all the reception detail pictures while the main photographer stays and takes family pictures. 

4. Make sure your photographer has time to capture the details
This is very important because most likely you've invested a lot of money into your reception and so you want to make sure that your photographer has time to capture all the beautiful details! I always plan to the bridal party in hiding at least 30 minutes before the ceremony (if the ceremony and reception are at the same venue) so that I can capture the ceremony and receptions details while they're untouched and before guests arrive. This gives me a very short window but I know exactly what I need to get and I quickly try to capture a wide shot of your whole reception, along with the cake, tables capes, gifts table, signs, and any other important details. 

5. Think about florals and decor
I may write a whole post about this later, but obviously the florals and decor you choose to use for your reception will add a LOT to your pictures. Don't worry, your reception decorations don't have to be super complex. A beautiful floral display can really speak for itself! 

6. Hire a Wedding Coordinator
Having a "Day Of Wedding Coordinator" is extremely important! If your venue doesn't provide one, I highly encourage you to hire a coordinator. The coordinator will make sure all vendors know what's going on and what's coming next. The coordinator will also make sure everything runs smoothly so that you don't have to worry about anything and you can fully enjoy your reception! I absolutely LOVE when my couples have a coordinator!

7. Make sure your DJ communicates with your photographer
I have found that one of the most helpful things for me to make sure I don't miss anything at a reception is when the DJ communicates with me and tells me what's about to happen! Even if you provide your photographer with a schedule ahead of time, that schedule may change slightly. Make sure your DJ tells your photographer when important things are about to happen like toasts, the cake cutting, bouquet toss, etc.

8. Consider Your Exit
I love pictures of the bride and groom happily exiting their reception! When you plan your exit, think about the time of day and what would look best in pictures. One of my favorite things to photograph during a daylight exit is bubbles! A few of my favorite exits to photograph at night are: sparklers, lanterns or glow sticks. Some other fun ideas i've seen or heard of are: confetti, glitter, rainbow sprinkles, streamers, and wild flowers.

If you found this post helpful or interesting please share it and/or leave your thoughts or feedback in the comments section below! Check back next Wednesday and I'll be sharing my next post in the "For Brides" series on where to get wedding pictures printed!

For Brides: How to Get Beautiful Ceremony Pictures

This post is part of a series for brides (and grooms!) or for those who are helping someone plan a wedding. My goal for this series is to help you make informed and educated decisions about your wedding day so that it will be as beautiful as possible! If you're joining me for the first time, you can catch up here:

1. Should I Do an Engagement Session?
2. What Should I Wear for My Engagement Session?
3. Should I Do Bridal Portraits?
4. Making a Wedding Day Photography Timeline
5. How to Get Great Getting Ready Pictures
6. 6 Things Every Bride Should Get Ready for Her Photographer
7. Should We Do a First Look?
8. 5 Steps to Great Bride & Groom Portraits
9. How to Get Beautiful Ceremony Pictures

Your ceremony is one of the most important parts of your day but it can also be one of the most difficult to photograph! Ceremonies are often in dimly lit churches or outside during the harshest sunlight of the day. Here's a few tips on how to get beautiful pictures of your ceremony:

1. Consider the Lighting
If you've been following along, you've probably noticed a theme in my blog posts by now: lighting is key!! When you're considering venues for your ceremony, think about the lighting. If you're planning an indoor ceremony try and find somewhere that has a lot of windows and natural light. If your ceremony location doesn't have windows, consider leaving all the lights on. I know that may not be the "look" you're going for, but I promise you'll be happy you did it. I've shot in an auditorium before with all of the lights off except for harsh spotlights hitting the couple on stage and it is not a flattering look! It would have been much better, and the lighting would have been more even if all the lights in the auditorium were on.

2. Consider the Time of Day
This tip is especially important if you're planning an outdoor ceremony.  I absolutely LOVE shooting outdoor ceremonies! However, if you plan your outdoor ceremony at noon, you're going to have very harsh lighting that will not be flattering in your pictures (unless you luck out with an overcast, non-rainy day!). Consider having your ceremony as close to the golden hour as possible (the golden hour is one hour before the sun sets). If it's not possible to have your ceremony during the golden hour, the later in the afternoon you can have it, the better. However, make sure you steer away from having your ceremony after the sun goes down if you want the best lighting possible!

3. Consider the Rules of the Location
Some locations (usually churches) have very particular rules about what the photographer can and can't do during the reception. Sometimes the photographer must remain in the back of the church and cannot use flash. I can work with these requirements because I have the equipment I need to have to perform under those conditions. However, it is always helpful to be able to get closer in order get more intimate shots and creative angles. 

If you found this post helpful or interesting please share it and/or leave your thoughts or feedback in the comments section below! Check back next Wednesday and I'll be sharing my next post in the "For Brides" series one part of the wedding day that can sometimes be the most difficult...family formals!

For Brides: Should We Do a First Look? | NC Wedding Photographer

This post is part of a series for brides (and grooms!) or for those who are helping someone plan a wedding. My goal for this series is to help you make informed and educated decisions about your wedding day so that it will be as beautiful as possible! If you're joining me for the first time, you can catch up here:

1. Should I Do an Engagement Session?
2. What Should I Wear for My Engagement Session?
3. Should I Do Bridal Portraits?
4. Making a Wedding Day Photography Timeline
5. How to Get Great Getting Ready Pictures
6. 6 Things Every Bride Should Get Ready for Her Photographer
7. Should We Do a First Look?

There are a lot of opinions on this topic! Before I share my thoughts with you, let me explain what a "First Look" is in case you haven't heard this term before:

What is a "First Look?" 
The first look is a special time when the bride and groom see each other for the first time before the ceremony. It's intimate and private with only your photographers (and videographer if you choose to have one) there to capture each moment as it unfolds.

Now, I want to preface my opinion but sharing that I think the decision on whether or not to do a "First Look" is 100% up to the bride and groom. Your wedding day is YOUR wedding day and not your mom's or your photographer's or anyone else's day. So ultimately, you and your fiancé need to decide together on what is best for you. Also, while I'm about to share my thoughts on all the benefits of doing a first look, I completely understand why people choose not to do a first look. Most of my couples decide to do a first look, but I have some that decide not do it and want to be more traditional. I completely understand that and I know there is definitely something special about your groom seeing you for the first time as you walk down the aisle!

With all of that said, my opinion is that doing a "First Look" has many benefits and should seriously be considered as you're planning your wedding. Here's some of the main reasons I encourage couples to think about doing a "First Look":

1. You'll Get Intimate Time Together
Wedding days are a whirlwind and brides and grooms usually have no private time together to connect and take it all in. During the "First Look," I always tell the couple that I want them to enjoy the time together and not worry about me being there. I far stand back with a zoom lens and allow them to embrace and interact without any direction or posing. My goal and hope is that they'll forget I'm even there! I also think having some intimate time together before your ceremony can ease a lot of nerves and pressure. During my own first look, I found that it really helped me calm down and be a lot less nervous and it was such a sweet time to talk and interact with Alex before our ceremony. 

2. You'll Get More Pictures
You're investing a lot of money into your wedding photography and you want to maximize the amount of time you have for pictures! Doing a "First Look" gives you more time before the wedding for bridal party pictures and bride and groom pictures. Instead of trying to cram bridal party pictures, bride and groom pictures, and family formals into an hour after the ceremony, you will have a lot more time if you do a "First Look." In addition, couples who do a "First Look" get a lot more bride and groom portraits. And I promise you, those pictures are some of the most important ones you'll take on your wedding day because you will cherish them and they'll end up hanging all over your house (90% of the wedding pictures displayed in my house are portraits of me and Alex that we took before our ceremony!). 

3. You'll Get to Your Your Reception Faster
Let's be honest, no one really like waiting around after the ceremony to get all the pictures done before entering the reception. Everyone is ready to get to the reception and party! Doing a "First Look" cutsout most of the wait time for you and your wedding party so that everyone can get to the reception faster and enjoy it longer. 

From the Groom's Perspective
What is it like to do a "First Look" from the groom's perspective? Obviously every groom is different, but here's a quote from my husband, "We chose to do a first look, and boy am I glad we did! It made the day run so much smoother and gave us more time to get the shots we really wanted. Now some of those images are among our most cherished."

Here's a shot of my husband and I during our first look (captured by the amazing Naisang Photography):

If you found this post helpful or interesting please share it and leave your thoughts or feedback in the comments section below! Check back next Wednesday and I'll be sharing my next post in the "For Brides" series on how to get great "Bride and Groom Portraits."

Caroline & Josh's Wedding at Hidden Cove at Lake Keowee | A Seneca, SC Wedding Photographer

Caroline and Josh have one of the most unique proposal stories I've ever heard! Josh had Caroline flown on a helicopter to an island on Lake Hartwell. When she arrived there were bottles scattered across the island with messages from Josh. When Caroline opened the message from the last bottle she was led to Josh. When she found him he got down on one knee and asked her to marry him!

Their wedding day was beautiful and we couldn't have asked for more perfect weather! It was 75 degrees and sunny and the the water on Lake Keowee was glistening and beautiful! Caroline and Josh had a lovely outdoor ceremony and reception (I love when my couples have outdoor weddings!). Their close friends and family members gathered together to watch them tie the knot on Lake Keowee and then they danced the night away at their reception. It was a wonderful day and I'm so glad that Josh and Caroline allowed me to be a part of it!

The Vendors Who Made this Day Possible:

Ceremony & Reception Venue: Hidden Cove at Lake Keowee
Wedding Dress: Allure Bridals from Bridal and Formal Shoppe of Pendleton
DJ: The Party Machine
Videographer: Famzing
Cake: Ellisons Cakes
Catering: Club Tiki Hut
Bridesmaids Dresses: Alfred Angelo from The Castle
Groomsmen and Groom: Dimitra Designs
Second Shooter: Sammi Evans
Hair: Ashley James at Studio 7 Salon