Thoughts on Photography

Every day I'm looking for new ideas to incorporate into my photography. Lately, I've been saddened at how many photography sites look the same. Sometimes I wonder if I'm doing enough to make my pictures stand out. I don't want to do what everyone else is doing, but want to come up with my own new ideas. If you're new at hiring a photographer (which probably 98% of my clients are) and you see the picture of the rings in the flower, or the bridal party jumping and this looks like such a new fantastic idea to you ~ unfortunately we all do them. These are easy requests that can be done by any photographer. Here are two questions that I think are important to ask any photographer: (which I'll answer as well)
1. How are you going to incorporate the couple's personality into the pictures? (My Answer: I like to brainstorm with the couple before the wedding and find out as much about them as possible. I want to know their hobbies, their passions, their love story to this point and more. How can I refelct their personalities in the pictures if I don't know their personality? Also, I'm a huge fan of candid photographs that the couple doesn't know I'm taking. I like to let the couple have time to be themselves without worrying about someone taking their picture - even though I secretly am.)
2. What role do you see yourself in my day? (My answer: I'm mostly the observer. I shoot all candids until it's time for formals. I don't like to stop action to pose people. I feel like a bride should get ready and I might suggest a spot in the room that has good light and a nice background, but I'm not going to have her pretend to put her veil on for a shot. I want her to put her veil on as she normally would and I'll capture it. When formal time comes, I like to get the family and bridal party shots done as quickly as possible. I want to spend as much time with just the bride and groom as possible. Once the formals are done, I go into candid mode for the rest of the night. I like to be a fly on the wall. Everywhere, but not in the way.)

I think of a photographer as an artist. I know I've done the bridal party jumping shots before - what can I say, peoople like them. I just hope I also add some unique creative ideas to my craft. If you're like me, you'll want your photographer to come up with their own images and not duplicate everyone else's work and you'll want to make sure your photographer knows enough about you to really show what makes you unique.

Thank you

I photographed Anne's daughter's Bat Mitvah and this is what she wrote me:

Dear Colleen,
I just wanted to let you know that we think the pictures are beautiful! We are so pleased and excited that the event was documented so thoroughly. What are you doing November 24, 2012? Only sort of kidding. My son's Bar Mitzvah is then. Hope to see you long before that as we have been singing your praises around town. Thanks again,
Anne

I always apprecieate these kind words. So, thanks Anne. You made my day! :)

Bride's Choice Award 2010

I received an e-mail the other day saying that I will be one of the recipients for the Bride's Choice Award 2010 from wedddingwire.com
I love that site because it has your customers rate you, so you can see how your doing. I go through and read other vendors ratings too. It's nice to get an idea of what really made a couple so happy they wanted to rave about their vendor.
Well, I just wanted to post the good news!

Need to Catch up with my Blogging!

I've been slacking on my blogging. So I'm trying to catch up. Here is a slideshow of the pictures from my July 19, 2009 wedding:

Bob & LeeAnn ~ July 10, 2009

The wedding this past Friday really meant a lot to me because I know the couple personally. The ceremony left everyone crying when Bob gave LeeAnn's two daughters necklaces and said to them, "Today as I married your mother, you became my family. Kaitlin and Alexis, I promise that I will always take care of you,and do my very best for you." Another touching part of the ceremony is that they involved the two girls in the candle lighting ceremony to show that they were uniting as a family. Even the groomsmen were teary eyed during the recessional.
Later, after the couple had past through their guests blowing bubbles at them, LeeAnn grabbed some of the bubble containers and gave them to some children she saw in the minister's office. She didn't know them, but wanted to share the fun with them.
At the reception, the couple thought of every little detail. They even had sand buckets for each kid with the child's name on it and filled with toys, erasable markers, and coloring books.
My family and I were invited as guest as well and we stayed the night and spent the next day with the couple and their families. The amazing thing was that the couple not only planned the wedding and brought everything they needed for the wedding, but packed food for everyone for the entire weekend!
LeeAnn and Bob really knew how to show everyone a good time and I hoped they enjoyed themselves as much as we did!

June 27 Wedding ~ Emily & Chris

My June 27th wedding was really enjoyable because everyone was so energetic. Both families had a lot of pep and everyone was out on the dance floor. The groom's mom was the best. I don't think she sat out a single dance! She even danced to the more contemporary music. I hope I enjoy myself that much at my own kid's weddings.
This Friday, I have a wedding in New Philly and am looking forward to the out of town trip. The reception will be at a beatiful lodge, so I'm definetly looking forward to shooting some pictures there.

Carole & James ~ June 5, 2009

There were a lot of reasons that this was a really spectacular wedding:
1. They had a beautiful ceremony with lots of singing and chanting.
2. They released 60 monarch butterflies in the park outside of their reception hall!
3. The reception hall was right on the beach, so we got to take some fantastic sunset pictures.
4. They had a live band and lots of guests who loved to dance.
5. This wedding was on Friday. (The best part about this was I then had Saturday off :) )
6. The couple and their wedding planners (Dramatic Affairs) worked really hard to make sure every little detail worked out. They really thought a lot about their guests when planning the day.
7. You could just tell that the couple really loved each other. Of course everyone is in love on their wedding day, but sometimes people are shy in showing their affections. Not Carole and James. They were cuddly and sweet to each other all day long, which makes for great candids of the couple.
The couple was so nice that they even made sure my assistant's name was printed on a seating card. (This had never happened before, so Heather was really happy when she saw it. The card usually just says "Photographer's Assistant" or there are two cards with my name on it.)
I'd have to say that June 5th was a great day! Beautiful wedding and beautiful weather!