Keeping Your Energy Up For Photos!

Your wedding photos are a record of your wedding. (Of course, in addition to the memories you have in your head.) You want your pictures to turn out well but honestly it can get exhausting by the end of the day having been smiling for 9 hours straight. One of our previous blog posts provided a tip on how to look great always. Here are some additional tips on how to keep your energy up for your wedding photos.

Choose the right photographer for you: Ask your photographer about their style, how they approach their work, and what your wedding day will look like. You want to have an overall idea of what the flow of the day will be like and when you can take care of yourself and each other. (breathing, bathroom, eating breaks, etc.)

Make sure you schedule some privacy time: What you do during this time is up to you. You want your photographer to capture most of your wedding day and events but not necessarily all the events of the day. You don't want to feel like you always have to be "on camera" and ready to smile. It is ok to have some moments where you just want to be yourself and to take some time not to smile. (Jaw and face exercises?)

Keep family portraits to a minimum: Everyone at your wedding will want a picture with you. Just make sure that everyone gets at least one with you. This doesn't mean you need to have pictures with your immediate family, extended family, first cousins, second cousins, first cousins once removed, etc. This will also be draining for your family members if somehow they qualify to be in all of these pictures! Have a group picture or be ok that you have the rest of the day to make sure you get a picture with everyone.

Sneak out with your honey for pictures during dinner: Unless there are speeches or something going on, your guests are pretty much preoccupied during this time and won't really notice the bride and groom are not at their seats. This is a great time to take pictures because you are now married, likely had something to eat, relaxed, and on your own with no audience members.

Have loads of fun: Getting your pictures taken shouldn’t feel like a chore and your wedding definitely shouldn’t feel like a photo shoot for Vogue. For those who hate having your photos taken, just relax and remember this is your day. If that fails, a little bit of liquid courage is also ok. Cheers!

 ~Monica
Owner and Lead Designer @Wishahmon



Photo Credit: Kris Holland

Customized Wedding App for Smart Phones

Everyone has a smart phone these days and everyone is taking pictures with it, even at weddings. One of my friends attended a wedding overseas and showed me the entire wedding on her phone. I didn't even flinch or think anything of it. (My dad freaked out slightly.)

Years ago, it was a cute and chic thing to put disposable cameras on every guest table so that you can get pictures of your wedding through their eyes. The downfall were: You wouldn't get great pictures after your guests had a couple drinks (although funny), you had to take the pictures to get developed, and you had to develop the entire roll of film which is expensive!

If you would still like to see your wedding through your guest's eyes, you can do so digitally, through social media, and on your customized app! The wedding party app allows you to collect pictures from your guest's smart phones as your wedding is happening. (This is a free app too!)

This is how it works, you introduce your app on your wedding website (of course, you would have one!) Your guests download the app and start taking pictures. It is so easy. Just remember though, no matter how good the pictures are from your guests, leave the glamour shots to your professional photographer. This app is in NO WAY to replace him or her.

~Monica
Owner and Lead Designer @Wishahmon

Connect your app to your personalized wedding website.

 

Your personalized cover page on your app.

Pictures taken by guests are shown instantly on your website! Great way to share with guests unable to attend your wedding!

 

 

Your guests can interact with each other and leave comments.

Photo Credits: Wedding Party

Carisa and Richard: Finding Your Photographer

This is part 4 of the new blog series about Carisa and Richard's wedding planning process up until their wedding on August 31, 2013. In addition to sharing with readers their love story and wedding planning adventures, insights and tips for brides and groom's planning their own wedding will also be shared!

Now that you got engaged, have set the date, found a venue, found someone to marry you, you want to make sure that all of your wedding moments are captured for you to enjoy for years to come. Having a photographer at your wedding is essential. Finding a photographer can be tricky. There are so many people (including your friends and family members) that tell you they can shoot your wedding for you. There is a huge trust factor in your photographer. There really isn't a way to recapture your wedding without redoing the entire wedding.

Hopefully, I have convinced (or scared) you into hiring a professional wedding photographer. I finding your photographer, I suggest asking your friends and family (the ones that aren't upset with you for not letting them shoot your wedding) for referrals. After getting a couple of photographer names, take the time to look at their portfolio and see if you like their photography style.

Basically, there are two main styles of wedding photography:
1) Traditional Style (also called classic or posed). These photographers concentrate most of their efforts into posed portraits, and rarely capture candid moments. This style is sometimes viewed as disconnected, old fashion, and can add stress by needing time to setup every shot.
2) Photojournalistic Style (also called modern, documentary, artistic, or fine art). Similarities exist between traditional and photojournalistic approaches. The main expectations of each style are very different; Traditional style is being portrait oriented, and Photojournalism is being candid oriented.

After you decide on the style of photography you like, meet up with the photographer and make sure you want them to be part of your special day. It is an honor for any vendor to assist with a wedding.

Carisa and Richard found their photographer, Fritz of Fritzology before they found me. As stated in Carisa's first blog, Fritz referred them to me. Carisa and Richard got their engagement pictures done by Fritz at the Calgary Stampede this year. This place was iconic to them because they had met at the Calgary Stampede. Capturing their engagement and celebrating the 100th year of Calgary Stampede was just perfect. Check out some of their engagement pictures. They are simply adorable. Fritz is simply amazing! (Lots of photos ahead because I had a hard time picking the best!)

~Monica
Owner and Lead Designer @Wishahmon

Photo Credits: Fritzology