Your Weddind day

We get a lot of questions about what to do on your wedding day. Brides want to know what looks best, what we see other brides doing. I really recommend that they look up a local wedding planner, but short of that we provide some help and I'm gonna pass that along to anyone that wants it.

First off for today's entry, a short list of what you will probably need to get started.

#1 You need a DATE and place to get married - Sure it sounds silly to remind you of this, but I've seen brides looking for a place a month or two before their wedding date and not being able to get their first choice.

#2 You need some wedding officiant (minister/priest/judge/justice of the peace) to perform the ceremony. A church and their minister don't always come as a package.

#3 A Guest List - you got to know how many people to expect for food and drink. Of course Wedding invitations are included in this.

#4 Your Wedding party - Don't assume your Maid of Honor is available. Also Remember Gifts for them, extra hairspray, and a backup emergency kit of goodies.

#5 A program for your wedding - who is in it, songs, etc.

#6 A reception hall for the party you want to have.

#7 Decorations and other items for the church - Flowers for the pews, candles, Unity Candles, isle runner, guest book, flowers for mothers, offerings etc.

#8 Decorations for the Reception - Table center pieces, Cake topper, fountains, napkins with your names on them, streamers, glasses for toasts, a cake cutter, and anything else you might see fit.

#9 A good DJ is a must. He is the life of the party

#10 Transportation - Your car, a limousine, a horse drawn carriage are all good options.

#11 Photography and Video Services - When it is all over all you have are your memories, pictures and/or Video.

This list is pretty complete, although I am sure people will add more to it in the comments.

I'll go through a typical wedding in my next post. Be warned it is more involved than you think!!

Qustions to ask your Photographer before you book

Questions to ask

First off one of the questions I’ve gotten the most of has been regarding they type of equipment that we use, which changes over the years, and even what we might use at any given wedding varies. Some weddings require different lighting; some require the use of special lenses for the cameras to capture the images you desire. I prefer Canon Cameras, simply because that is what I learned on when I started out with film cameras. Nikon makes great cameras, but I don’t know how to use them in a dark room like I do the Canon cameras I own. In reality, the camera is just a box that captures images. The photographer you select is the important part, with today’s technology almost anyone can aim a camera and get a picture that is properly exposed. Look at the images the photographer you are interviewing has taken and see if you like those and then ask them are these the images you have taken or are these the images of the photographer that will be shooting out wedding? I say this because some larger Photography studios will show their best work and then send out a different photographer to your wedding. Get to know the person who is shooting your wedding, not their sales person.

Other Questions I get from people that I think you should ask are,
· What kind of training do you have, how do you keep sharp?
· What kind of continuing education do you have? Groups you belong to?
· How many Weddings have you done?
· How long have you been shooting weddings.
· Do you have References?

· Did you take these photos?

· If you get sick am I still covered.

Remember to get a contract when you Book your wedding, if it's not in writting you could get taken.

Introduction - Selecting A Photographer

I know.. I'm a wedding photographer and of course I want you to select us to do your wedding, Our first few tips are going to be about selecting a photographer. I all efforts to be fair, you can ask me the same quesions I pose.

INTRODUCTION

One of the most important days of any couples life starting out is their wedding day, it is one of the rare occasions where family and friends come together all to share in one of life’s most important rituals when a man and woman become Husband and Wife. Young girls plan this day long before they ever fall in love, I know one of our nieces already has her colors for her brides maid dress picked out, know the season she wants to get married in, and even how she envisions the day will progress. Of course guys might never admit it but we see our fair share of grooms involved in the planning of the wedding ceremony and reception that follows.

Most weddings cost in the range of fifteen to twenty thousand dollars by the time you add in all the costs of items like a dress, food, music, decorations, hall rental, limousine, and cakes. You plan months in advance (sometime over a year) to bring your day into reality. When all the food is eaten, and all the dancing is done at the end of the evening you will take with you the memories of one of the greatest days of your life. Of course you have selected a photographer to share your day with you and to capture those memories forever.

I know in the above section I said “share” your day with you, and that’s the relationship you will have with your photographer. A good photographer will be there to help you when needed, suggest poses, and capture those intimate moments without interfering. Your photographer will be there for all the events, they will be there when your veil is placed on your head, when your mother fixes that stray hair, when your maid of honor(or mother, sisters, etc) pins the boutonnière on the groomsmen, they will be there when you walk down the isle, when you say I DO, for that first dance and all the other events, perhaps even when your carriage takes you away for the evening.

Because your photographer is so involved in your day, it is important to select one who has a proven track record of capturing the style images you desire. I suggest you ask a lot of questions, this guide is meant to help you in finding a photographer that you will be happy with sharing your day with.

My next Entry to this blog will be some questions to ask your photographer so become a follower to keep updated.

First Post

This is a blog for timely wedding tips for brides planning their wedding, I'll have tips for lots of things like selecting vendors, locations, etc.

I'll be adding tips as time permits, hopefully on a weekly basic). In the mean time feel to check out our photography website at Starrphotos.net.

If you have any suggestions or comments please leave them in the comments, I will read those.

Thank you
George Starr