Monday, March 22, 2010

Sneak Preview: Paula and Jonathan



I know that a little sneak preview should be of the Bride and Groom together, BUT, I just think Paula looks radiant, beautiful and glowing in this photo and I had to share it :) More to come soon!

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Chic. Classy. and Elegant.

Those are the three words that come to mind when I think about last Saturday's wedding. I'm not ashamed to admit that I squealed with excitement when I got Jennifer's email asking me if I would be able to shoot with her at the Grand Bohemian Hotel in Orlando. It's one venue that I've been DYING to photograph a wedding in, and it certainly did not disappoint. The hotel has so many places to shoot in and it makes for a very dramatic and modern backdrop. It truely was a beautiful day for a wedding!

Wedding Coordinator: An affair to Remember
Videographer: Seth Cohen
DJ: Tagas Events


































































































































































Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Coming soon...



I've got some great news coming up this week!

First, I can't wait to share my NEW logo! I purchased it from Simply Couture Designs. They are custom logo designers as well as websites but they also sell pre-made logos for a steal and once those are sold, they never sell them again. They go pretty fast so make sure to follow them on twitter to be the first in the know!

Second, I will talk about my change from a jpeg shooter, to a Raw shooter and the difference! Note: you don't need lightroom to shoot in raw!

Third, I'm really excited to start using off camera lighting. I'm always learning so much and from second shooting with Jennifer Werneth Photography this past saturday, I have realized what a blessing it is to be able to take that flash off your camera. It is so dynamtic, so dramatic, and I am completely motivated to learn more about this. It's incredible. Can't wait to share a few of the images soon!

Aside from photography, it's been a whirlwind of a week. Yesterday, I went into surgery and thank God everything went well. I won't go into too many details but it was my first time admitted to a hospital. I've never been to the ER let alone in surgery, so I was a little nervous, but I'm thankful everything went smoothly. I rested up all day yesterday and now I'm ready to work.

I also rented a bunch of goodies for this weekends wedding so I can't wait to use my new gear and test them out. It's gonna be a looooong fun day!

If you are already a fan on my facebook page, you may have seen this image, as well as other little news, but I'd also like to share it here on blog to hold everyone over until I can get more of these edited :)

Thursday, March 11, 2010

New Smyrna Beach engagement pictures



Ok, so I know this post is way over due but I've been so busy, not just with editing but with life as well. I'm happy to say that my husband and I found this really nice duplex house to rent and we move in just a few weeks! I'm so excited because our new home will be alot bigger, clutter free, and all vinal wood floors, no carpet! I hate carpet, so this new place will be perfect for us. I'll be sure to snap a few photos when it's all set and done :)

I've also received lots of goodies this week. I received a new sample album from Collages.net and it's so beautiful and better than I had imagined it! I was able to show it off on a client meeting today and they absolutely loved it! I personally love leather albums but it's also nice to be able to personalize the cover of your album with a photo, so this works perfectly too! I also ordered a new flash for off camera lighting, bought extra memory cards, and last but not least, I have a new 5D!! Ahhh so excited! Can't wait to share a few photos out of this camera soon! I will be second shooting a wedding tomorrow at the beautiful Grand Bohemian Hotel. I've been dying to shoot here so I'm very exciting and so grateful to be given this opportunity.

Hope everyone has a nice weekend! :)


















Monday, March 8, 2010

Rachael's business headshots



Rachael looked absolutely beautiful for her photoshoot. We had a great time at our mini session. She was looking to get a few head shots for her future website. I love these mini sessions because they are so laid back and fun!
















Friday, March 5, 2010

Engagement signature books



I wanted to share just a few spreads from a recent engagement album I finished. They are so easy to design because there is alot of white negative space that is intentionaly left that way so guests can sign and comment. Gone are the days of unpersonalized boring white traditional guests books with full of empty lines!

Engagement books make a great keepsake and I think it is something couples will enjoy over and over again for years to come. I include these in most of my packages, but if there is a couple who would like a book but had someone else take their engagement photos, I'd be more than happy to design and provide this book to you! Please email me for more info. I love these books so much! ;)







Thursday, March 4, 2010

Tips in shooting your first wedding



"Help! I've booked my first wedding! Please help me with any photography tips!"
We have all been there and have asked this question. It is both exciting and nerve wrecking at the same time. Even photographers who have been shooting wedding for years still may feel a little nervous before arriving to the ceremony and start the day. A million thoughts goes through ones head. How's the lighting in the church? The reception? Make sure you get all the formals. Make sure you take pictures of the details. What poses should I ask the bride and groom to do next? And so on and so forth......
Tip #1 - Know how to use your camera in different lighting conditions
The lighting conditions change in a wedding like you wouldn't believe.
Example: The bride and groom walking up the aisle in a church after the ceremony and then the church doors open, exposing them to brighter light as they exit. This is what I mean about a dramatic change in light. You were most likely using a high ISO, wider aperture, and lower shutter speeds to capture available light inside the church as they exit. Then the doors open. You know that they would be severely over-exposed if you left your settings the same. You only have a split second to think about changing your settings as the bride and groom are approaching you to exit.
The first thing I would do is increase my shutter speed, then change my aperture. It is alot easier for me to manipulate my shutter speed first. Since they are now exposed to brighter light, increase your shutter speed. You do not have to shoot wide open in bright light, so change your aperture as well and increase it. My final step is changing the ISO. When shooting outdoors, I usually keep my ISO in one setting, between 100 and 200, and just worry about my shutter speeds and f-stops.
Tip #2 - Have a shot list handy
I ask all my brides to fill out a form that lists the formal shots in order of importance. That way, in case we run out of time during formals, I at least have all the important shots. If I missed the bride and flower girl alone due to time constraints, I can always get that shot during the reception. It is alot harder to try to get the bride and groom's family together later in the day, so it is best to start out the formals with this type of shot and work your way down.
Make note of the important details the bride lists she wants shots of. This may include: Her something old, something new, something blue, and something borrowed. As you shoot more weddings, looking for these details to photograph will come naturally, so you may not need to have a details shot list handy with you all the time.
Tip #3 - Scout out the locations
If I know I will be shooting at a ceremony or reception location that I've never shot at before, I love to arrive a little early and scout out the locations. This makes me feel more prepared and I make mental notes as to which spots I would like to shoot at that location.
Tip #4 - Wear two hats
If the couple decided not to hire a wedding coordinator, be prepared to play a part of this roll. The bride and groom will be looking to you to tell them what to do next. This is especially true during the family formals. You will have to coordinate the groups and direct where you want everyone to be. If the bride is running late getting ready, you will have to politely step up and remind her that her Limo is waiting outside. You'll have to constantly keep track of the time to make sure things run smoothly and that you have snapped all the important details of the day.
Tip #5 - Be prepared
Make sure you have back up equipment and extra's of everything. Have an umbrella with you if you know the forecast predicts rain. You may need to step outside while shooting and you don't want your gear to get soaked and shut down on you. Be sure to get an itinerary or wedding agenda from the bride and groom so you know what's happening next. Have your route planned out if you are traveling from the ceremony to the reception. Have fresh batteries in your flashes before the reception. Have batteries and memory cards handy in case you run out during the first dances. You don't want to leave your gear on the other side of the room and have to run over to get what you need during the dances. Some photographers choose not to use tripods. But if you are in a really dark area that restricts the use of flash, and you lack a steady hand, that tripod is going to be your best friend.
There are so many more things to keep in mind but I can't list them all here. Feel free to contribute to this post. Most importantly, remember to have fun, smile and be confident :)