SJA Studios

Crystal and Eric's Wedding at San Tan Elegante!

2012-01-25T08:01:00.000-08:00

This past Saturday was one of the nicest January days I have seen in years. The weather was absolutely perfect for an Arizona winter wedding. Although, you would never know it was winter! The temperature was in the high 70's with barely a cloud in the sky. This beautiful Saturday I was fortunate enough to be the photographer for Crystal and Eric's wedding at the San Tan Elegante in east Mesa.

I had never shot at The Elegante. So, when I went there to do my walk through with the happy couple, I was pleasantly surprised just how beautiful it is. The architecture is spanish style with fountains and garden patios on every corner. It also has a very large ballroom that can be divided up for smaller events and the perfect garden for wedding ceremonies. There is a big beautiful fireplace and old style lamps through out the property as well.

April, the catering manager, was extremely helpful throughout the walk through and on the big day. She provided lots of great suggestions for photo opportunities as well as helping with the schedule for the day making sure everything went off without a hitch.

Crystal and Eric looked fantastic! Crystal in her Ivory colored gown and Eric in his Chocolate brown pinstriped suit. We managed to get some really great images of the two of them as well as their two boys! How cool do these little guys look?

What a day! Beautiful couple, beautiful place, lots of great memories! Best wishes, you two!

That perfect moment!

2012-01-12T07:53:00.000-08:00

As a wedding and portrait photographer, I am always looking for that one special moment. That one second that captures who these people that I am photographing really are. Every day, these little moments go by unnoticed throughout our lives. It is my job to capture it and hold on to it to remember forever.

Now, I certainly don't mean that there is only going to be one image that you are going to love from your photo shoot. Whoever your photographer is, we all strive to capture as many perfect moments that we can. But after the shoot is over, and we are back looking at all of the images, there is always that one. That one image that really tells a story. This is what I am always striving for as a photographer.

Take the image above, this is from a wedding I recently shot where the weather wasn't cooperating all that much. It was really cold and nobody wanted to be outside any longer than they had to. But when you look at the photo, you would never know. Amber and Chris were having such a great time. They made it easy just by being themselves. I have no idea what he was whispering in her ear. What he said that made her smile. I just know that whatever it was, it made for a great moment and I am glad I was there to capture it.

A couple of years ago I got a call to photograph an engagement session for one of the players here for spring training. We shot a lot of great stuff that day but this one image I really love. Towards the end of the shoot, she decided to give her fiance a piggy back ride. Well, of course, all of the clowning around led to some great pictures. This one shot really seems to capture the couple at their very best. That is always what I am looking for. That perfect moment!

Another Beautiful Sedona Wedding!

2011-12-27T09:16:00.000-08:00

Every time I have the chance to go to Sedona, AZ to shoot a wedding, I jump at it. I don't know if any of you have been up to Sedona, but it is quite spectacular! Sedona is located about 90 minutes northwest of Phoenix, Arizona and is really worth the drive. The red rocks and beautiful surroundings make it the perfect wedding destination!

This time, I was fortunate enough to be photographing the wedding of Bethany and Eddie at the Sedona Golf resort. This is the first time I had worked there and it was a real pleasure. Everywhere you turn there is a great place for photographs. The resort is absolutely beautiful!

I made a trip with Bethany and Eddie to walk through the resort and chat about the wedding about 2 weeks prior to the big day. The Special Events Coordinator, Katie, was a tremendous help with planning how the day would unfold and how to get the best pictures of it. By the time we were done, we had the perfect plan for capturing the day.

The wedding day itself was a bit on the chilly side, with a storm having just been through the area. It made for really dramatic skies with lots of deep, beautiful clouds in the backgrounds. Perfect for photos! Check out the image of the location just before the ceremony!

We made it though the ceremony without any rain and the day turned out to be just perfect! A big Thanks to Katie and The Sedona Golf Resort for making it a great day for all of us! Best wishes, Bethany and Eddie!

Wedding day at The Ocotillo Golf Resort

2011-12-05T14:50:00.001-08:00

For Arizona, last Saturday was quite a chilly one! Temperatures were way lower than they usually are. That didn't stop all of the guests from coming together a the Ocotillo Golf Resort to celebrate the wedding of Amber and Chris. Although it was a little cold out, the day was absolutely beautiful, as was the Bride.

Amber and Chris were chosen from all of the people who entered into our free wedding package contest earlier this year. I was really happy to meet them and equally happy to have a chance to photograph their wedding. They chose the Ocotillo Golf Resort as the venue for their big day. What a great choice! The resort is really beautiful with lots striking stone work and gorgeous dark woods throughout the main buildings. The the outside ceremony area and surrounding grounds are equally as nice.

Karen, the resort's Event Coordinator, was a huge help bringing everything together and keeping it running smoothly. All this, even as the temperatures plummeted and the raindrops fell. She helped us on our initial walk-thru with locations and timing so that we could get everyone together and capture as many shots as possible with the limited amount of light we had.

Do to the sun setting soon after the ceremony, we didn't get to take advantage of all of the great locations the resort has to offer. We could have probably shot for hours if we had the time and the weather was a bit warmer. All in all, I think they had a great wedding and we got some beautiful shots!

Your wedding photos game plan!

2011-11-15T09:55:00.001-08:00

So, the big day has finally arrived! Have you got a game plan in place for how to approach your wedding photography? Have you sat down with your photographer and talked about what you would like to achieve and how to get it? There is a reason so many of the wedding images you see online or in magazines look so great. Planning!

Planning out your wedding photography is going to help you capture more of the day the way you imagined it. I'm not saying to not be spontaneous. There should always be a bit of that throughout the day. What I am saying is taking a small amount of time prior to the big day to come up with a plan will really improve your photographer's ability to capture the day.

Take the image above for instance. I joined the couple up in Sedona about 2 weeks prior to the wedding to walk through the location and chat about all the ideas we had. We knew we would be very limited on time and sunlight so we wanted to make the best of it. We walked through the resort and picked out the best spots for each part of the days photography. Not that that's the way it is always going to turn out. When we went to do the girls photos, we were way on the other end of the hotel. I had to quickly come up with a new plan so that the Bride didn't have to hike a long distance in her dress to try and get the shots.

The picture above was taking a few miles away from the location so a bit of organization was needed to achieve it. We searched for the perfect spot and settled on it before the wedding day. The couple and I had a a game plan in place to get the whole bridal party out to this spot right before sundown. We were dealing with some tricky weather so we had to be quick about it to make it work. We had vehicles ready to go and the wedding party gathered up in a matter of minutes. One quick drive out to the location and we were ready to go. Once we were there, it was all fun shooting the beautiful location. I think all of the planning helped the images turn out really nice. What do you think? Are you going to plan out your wedding photography to achieve the best possible results?

Photo tips for the Groom!

2011-10-25T12:52:00.000-07:00

I have a feeling that the one thing that guys dread the most about getting married is all the picture taking. It seems most Grooms have very little patience for this part of the day. They know it is important, but it can't be over fast enough! In order to make this process just a little less painful, here are a couple of tips I think you might find helpful.

First off, relax! Pictures go much faster when all the guys can just relax and have fun with it. You don't want your wedding pictures to be too stiff. A relaxed posture and relaxed poses will help give a sense of confidence. I try to make it fun for the guys. Joke around a bit and keep it light. I give a little bit of direction and then just let the Groom do his thing.

For the Groom's portrait, hands in pockets, weight on the back leg, very casual. It doesn't look casual. It looks cool and confident. I try and tilt the camera a bit to give a nice, slim, clean look. These can go very fast so the Groom doesn't feel bogged down right before the ceremony. I will do this same style pose with all of the Groomsmen and Best man as well.

For pictures with the bride, be playful if you are a playful person. Be romantic! Try and forget that the photographer is there and just interact with your new bride as you normally would. I know it is hard because most guys don't like being kissy, kissy with there ladies in front of other guys. This is the one time you want to put those feelings aside and just enjoy the fact that you just married the love of your life.

Photographers have different styles so I can't tell you exactly what to expect from your photographer. I try and just let things flow and capture then as it happens. Your photographer will want to try and show you in the very best way they can with beautiful shots of you and your surroundings. If you are open to just interacting with your new bride in a fun, playful, romantic way, you are going to get some stunning images to remember the big day by!

Finding the right wedding vendors

2011-10-11T14:45:00.000-07:00

Hiring the right team is critical to planning your dream wedding...and it  can also be quite stressful.  How do you find the right match for you? How do you know who to  trust? Where  do you go for advice? 

First of all, this is not an easy task and it's totally  normal for couples to  feel overwhelmed, frustrated or confused.  It's not like you plan a wedding every day! This is all probably brand new  to you, so be patient with yourself.

So  how do you pick the wedding vendors who are right for YOU? 
STYLE, PERSONALITY, and PROFESSIONALISM are the biggest things to look for. You want to hire vendors who your guests  will feel comfortable with. Because the more comfortable  your guests are  the more FUN they have. Each vendors should also match the style and  vision of your wedding. 
Here are 8 Must Ask Questions to ask ALL your potential  wedding  professionals before booking:

1.   How  many weddings do you do per year? How much experience  do you have?  This is an extremely important question. Ideally, your wedding  professional should have ample experience specifically  with weddings.  Not only will they be more skilled in their craft, this  also makes them a  valuable source of information and ensures that your wedding day goes  smoothly. 

2.   How  much do you cost?  Price is often relative, especially when you factor in experience, reputation  and expert skill. Generally, the most talented professionals have a higher  price tag because they are worth it.
 
3.   How  much is the deposit? 

4.   What  specifically is included in that cost?  Because packages often vary, it's likely that you won't be able to compare  one vendor exactly to the next without doing a little  figuring. The lowest  cost isn't necessarily the best deal. Some higher quotes  include services  that you have to pay extra for in other packages. Make sure you take this  into account.
 
5.   What  happens if I cancel? What happens  if you cancel? Find out if your deposit is refundable under any conditions. Does the  wedding professional have a back up plan if something  happens to them?
 
6.   Do  you use a contract?  If the answer is No, RUN! A contract is designed to protect both you and  the wedding professional. Don't settle for a verbal agreement that won't  hold up in court.
 
7.   Are  there any additional fees?  Taxes, service charges and travel fees can add up  quickly. Make sure you  understand exactly what is included and if there are any other fees you'll  have to pay. This should be clearly defined in your contract. 

8.   Do  you carry liability insurance?  The answer you're looking for here is Yes. This protects you in case an  unfortunate accident should occur on your wedding  day. It's also a sign  that this is a reputable business, since most "fly  by night" operations don't  invest in insurance. 

One  final bit of advice: READ YOUR CONTRACT. Make sure you  understand everything that's written and ask questions if you don't. There  IS no stupid question...except the one you don't  ask. Make sure you know  the price as well as cancellation and refund policies. 

GO  WITH YOUR GUT. If something feels "off" about the wedding  vendor...you're probably right. Make sure you feel comfortable with him,  you like him, and that his personality will be a good  blend with your  guests and reflect the tone of your wedding. Remember: if chosen wisely, the right wedding vendors will give you  expert help and advice on every aspect of your  wedding...for free! 

Source: Stephanie and Jeff Padovani

Delegating Wedding Day Duties!

2011-09-28T13:06:00.000-07:00

So, the wedding day is finally hear! All of the work and planning is finally about to pay off. Of course, there are still a lot of things that need to get done during the day in order for it to be just perfect. With so many things still to do, how are you going to pull it all off? Why, by delegating the duties to the people around you!

You have all of these great people, friends and family, there to help share in your special day. Little did you know, they actually want to take some of the burden off of you to make sure everything runs smoothly. This is the time to let them do that. That is what they are there for.

The two people that a Bride and Groom will need to trust the most with some of these responsibilities are the Best Man and Maid of Honor. They are usually a family member or a really close friend. They are the perfect people to turn to to help keep things on track. Don't hesitate to use them to make sure everyone is where they are supposed to be when they are supposed to be there. Have them work closely with you and your wedding planner, if you have one, to tie up any loose ends in the last few minutes before the ceremony and reception.

I know from my personal experience that I use the Best man and Maid of Honor to help organize the wedding parties and family members for photographs at the appropriate times. They are both a huge help in gathering the correct people at the correct times and moving things along. They can also make sure that your transportation is where it needs to be, that the cake or catering has arrived on time, or that the DJ or band know where to be and when. These are just a few of the details that they can assist you with.

Brides, don't forget about Mom! I know you want her to enjoy the day, but Mom can be a big help with all of the details. She can help out with any last minute dress adjustments, or check in with the florist to make sue all is well, or help make sure Grandma and Grandpa are where they need to be. All mom's love to help with this stuff. Don't hesitate to let them.

So, there you go! Your friends and family are your best advantage when it comes to making sure your wedding day runs smoothly. This way you can relax, take a breath, and enjoy one of the best days of your life!

P.S. Don't forget to give them a big thank you after all of their hard work!

Let's not forget the little things!

2011-09-13T21:38:00.000-07:00

So you put a lot of time into planning your wedding, right? You picked the perfect colors, the perfect bouquet, the perfect rings. All of the table settings and linen are just what you imagined. Everything is just right. You spent weeks deciding on which shoes to pick. You probably spent months deciding on your dress. Trying on one after another until you found the perfect one. All of the choices you made planning you wedding right down to the smallest detail were very important to you.

Now that you have put so much time into making these choices, it is important to make sure that your wedding photographer takes the opportunity to capture all of these little details. When your wedding is long over and you are remembering all of the good times you had, you will want to be able to see all of the little things that made the day so special.

When you are discussing your wedding day with your photographer, make sure to talk about how he or she is going to handle capturing all of the little things. Let them know that it is important to you that the little things that you put so much thought into are photographed. I usually do a walk through of the wedding location with my clients prior to the big day to get an idea of how things are going to go. This gives me a chance to see the bride's room and formulate a plan.

I will try and start the day shooting the rings and jewelry, the bouquet, the shoes, and any other little tokens that I think the bride might want to remember. I will shoot her favorite perfume bottle, or a bracelet her grandmother gave her, or maybe a piece of cloth from her mother's wedding dress as it is sewn into her's. Maybe there is a special note or card the the groom has gotten for the bride to read just before the ceremony? That would be nice to have an image of. All of these little things help to complete the picture of their special day.

At the reception, I will of course photograph the cake. But, in addition, I will capture the table setting and dessert bar, balloons and candles, as well as centerpieces and the guest book. Do you see where I am going with this? The idea is to tell a complete story. A story of how all these little things came together to form this one wonderful day. And the story is never complete without the little things!

Weddings and the Formal Family Portraits

2011-08-31T12:03:00.000-07:00

So, I'll admit it. As a wedding photographer, some of us tend to be a bit put off by the fact that we have to do formal family portraits. They aren't as challenging and interesting as the portraits of the bridal couple tend be. We tend to not look at them with the same level of enthusiasm, but more like an obligation. I personally think this is the wrong way to look at it.

Although there are definitely more artistic opportunities throughout the wedding day, the family portraits are some of the more treasured images you might capture. These are the images that the family will look at while sitting around the living room over a holiday weekend many years from now. These are the images that people will cherish long after some in the photo are no longer with us. These are moments that need to be saved.

The one thing that tends to be a bit of a problem with capturing these images is that they are always the last thing to be shot right before the reception. You know what that means? There is going to be a very small amount of time in which to get these images. As a photographer, we must work quickly and in cooperation with the family to make sure we get everything. That is why it is so important to have a plan.

I am very big on looking at the locations previous to the wedding with the couple to chat about all of our ideas. During that walk thru, we will discuss family portraits and how to go about it. I will find out from the couple who we are going to shoot, what members of the family are "must have" shots, and any special circumstances I need to know about. Are there divorced parents with new spouses? Are both parents or grandparents still with us? Does anybody not get along with someone else? It may seem a bit personal, but we want to know the situation so no one gets offended. This keeps everybody happy.

On the day of the wedding, we will have already chosen one spot for all family photos. This will keep things simple and move things along. We will quickly assemble all of the people required for those shots, take the photos, and get everyone back to having fun. I know it sounds a little cookie cutter, but the idea is to make sure we capture everyone in beautiful images together. We want to be able to look back at these many years from now and smile about all of the people that made this such a happy day!

You're off to the Bridal Show!

2011-08-17T14:46:00.000-07:00

So you just got engaged! Now what? Chances are, one of the first things you are going to do to start all of you planning is go to a local bridal show. This is, by far, one of the best places to get all of the info you need to plan your wedding. If you haven't heard of the bridal show, this is a large event where all of the wedding vendors come together under one roof to show off there services to prospective clients. That being you, the bride to be. It is a really great place to start the process.

As a vendor, I have been doing bridal shows for a few years now. I can tell you from my own experience that it can be a bit overwhelming at first. So much to see you don't know where to start. Don't worry! That is normal. Everybody feels that way at first. The best way to approach it is to have a plan.

As you can see from the picture above, that is what a typical vendor booth looks like. This one just happens to be my booth from the East Valley Bridal Show I just did last weekend. When you get in the show you are going to see rows and rows of these booths. Each one vying for your attention. Don't panic! We are all here to help!

Make sure you prioritize what you feel you need to take care of first and go on from there. It usually starts with the venue. That will determine the date of the wedding. Go in with a date in mind and then narrow that down according to the venues you like and their availability. After that, brides usually start looking at dresses and photographers and then on to caterers and cakes. From there, all the little things you want for you wedding.

Don't be afraid to talk with lots of people and get lots of literature to go over. Vendors have worked extra hard to put all the information they can together for you and are happy to help answer your questions. Most of all have fun! Planning a wedding doesn't have to be stressful. A bridal show is one way to get a lot of your planning done all in one place.

The Bridal Portrait!

2011-08-02T15:19:00.000-07:00

Oh yes! The Bridal Portrait! As a photographer who shoots wedding, I know that this is the most important shot of the day. Not to say that all of the photos of friends and family aren't important. Or the Groom should be short changes in any way. And we mustn't forget about the kiss! But when you get right down to it, a single, beautiful portrait of the bride is capable of capturing all of the happiness and romance she feels on that special day.

Contrary to popular belief, this is usually one of the easier images to get. I try and capture these images right before the ceremony just after the bride has finished getting ready. I find that most brides have finally put all of the planning aside and are now jittery with excitement and usually very happy. Now, that is not always the case. Sometimes the Bride might be trying to put out some last minute fires and hasn't quite had the time to settle down and start having fun yet. In that case, we will hold off on the bridal portraits until after the ceremony so the bride has had some time to relax a bit.

Whatever time we decide to shoot it, we try and make it fun! I mean, this is her wedding, right? This should be one of the happiest days of her life. That is what I want to try and capture. The love and happiness that has brought her to this point in her life.

I usually try and find a nice out of the way spot where the bride can relax. The bridesmaids are almost always there to cheer her on on keep the silliness and fun going. This gives them a chance to share in her happiness. We keep it light, tell a few jokes, and capture some beautiful images of the gorgeous bride. Something to help her remember just how special she was on this day!

Some tips for the budget wedding!

2011-07-20T15:52:00.000-07:00

You may believe that it’s impossible to have your wedding look extravagant without the big bucks, but fortunately there are a lot of great wedding tips on a budget available for you. Here are five great wedding tips for the budget bride and groom.

1. The Guest List
Most people want to invite a lot of guests to their big day. All family members, friends an co-workers. What you may not consider is that a big guest list will cost you much more money. Try to filter out the guest list a bit thinking of the people that are most important to you. That way you can make it a little bit smaller and less expensive.

2. The Invitation Cards
This could very well be very important section of this article. Pre-made and customized invitation cards can be very costly. A great alternative to buying these are to do it yourself. There are thousands of great templates online which you could use to design your own wedding invitation cards. Many of them are FREE! Others can be purchased for just a couple of dollars. When you’re done you could print them from your computer or you could just send them electronically by email.

3. The Wedding Dress
The bride’s wedding dress could become a story of it is own. There are a lot of possibilities online where you can get really cheap dresses. You may be able to find one used only once or even not at all. Ebay is a great place to start looking for possibilities.

4. The Decorations
Decorations are very important on a wedding, but it could also be very expensive to buy all the flower arrangements, centerpieces and other stuff from a professional decorator. All of this is totally possible to create yourself with a little imagination and creativity. Go buy yourself a book about decorations, check out ideas on YouTube, or just “Google” it.

5. The Alcohol Expenses
If possible, cut down your alcohol expenses to the minimum. This one of the most costly things at the reception party, so cutting these costs could really save your budget. If it is not an option for you to skip the alcohol, then you should at least try to serve a limited variety of alcohol.

Well, there you go! Just a few ideas to help you have a great celebration and still save a little money.

Source: Wedding - Five Smashing Hot Wedding Tips on a Budget

Stay Cool Tips for a Summer Wedding

2011-07-07T16:18:00.000-07:00

Well, if youlive in Arizona like I do, you know just how hot it can get durring the summer! For those of you who have decided to have your wedding during the hot months where you live, here are a few suggestions that I think might help:

1) Be conscious of the time of day. Morning tends to be the most humid time of day, while late afternoon is the hottest. This is particularly important if you're planning a midday ceremony. Try to avoid noon, when the sun and humidity are both at their peak and shade is at a premium. Instead, consider a sunset ceremony. As the sun goes down, heat and humidity will go with it, leaving plenty of shade and comfort. Also, with the rich sunlight off to the side, your wedding photos will look stunning!

2) Guests are usually invited to enjoy refreshments following the wedding ceremony in the form of a cocktail hour. However, because guests will be sitting outside for an extended period of time, it is a good idea to provide drinks before the ceremony. Lemonade, sangria, or iced tea will quench their thirst and add to the laid-back feel summer weddings are known for.

3) Flowers are another wedding staple that may not do well in the outdoor heat. Choose hardy blooms such as roses, gladiolas, and Gerber daisies. Keep them well-hydrated, and they should withstand a short bout of summer heat. Try to work with your local florist to keep the flowers in the cool indoors until the last possible moment prior to the ceremony.

4) Let us not forget misters and fans! Try and have the cocktail hour and reception in an area where misters are working to cool off your guests. These are a huge help in hot weather. For the ceremony, try passing out little paper fans to keep your guests cool. There are all kinds of great designs that can be matched your wedding theme.

Well, there you go! Just a few tips to help keep you and all of your guests cool and comfy on your special day!

Hip and Trendy Senior Photos!

2011-06-22T22:52:00.000-07:00

Somewhere along the line high school seniors decided that they were tired of the same old boring school portrait and wanted something different. They decided that it was about time that their senior portraits really represented them. Time to show what they love to do or how they love to look. They want to include something that interests them into their senior photos.

If you are a senior, you want pictures that tell all your friends and family what you are all about. Do you love baseball? Why not do something that centers around your love of that game? What about dance or a musical instrument? Not something cheesy with a fake background. Something cool that says "you".

Nowadays photographers are taking seniors on location and finding great spots for really powerful images. Even studio shoots are taking on a much more hip look. Look for cool locations that you wouldn't normally think would make for a great image. Got a great old chair or sofa? Use it! What about an old classic car or mechanic's shop? Sometimes the grungiest or most unusual places can make the best shots. If you take the time with your photographer to plan a shoot that will represent you in the best way possible, the shots are gonna be great!

Communication is everything!

2011-06-07T11:07:00.000-07:00

As if you don't already have enough to think about with your wedding coming up, it is important to take a small amount of time to meet with your photographer to collaborate on your ideas and vision for your wedding photography. I am personally very big on these pre- wedding walk-thrus of the location to chat all about our ideas and come up with a wedding day plan.

I am confident as a photographer that I could walk in 20 minutes before your wedding and come up with some ideas that would probably be very nice. The problem with that is I haven't included you in the process, so how can I really capture all there is about you? I think as your photographer it is important that I get to know you a bit and find out about your likes and dislikes. If you walk-thru the wedding location with your photographer prior to the big day you can discuss all of your ideas and let them know the things that are really important to you.

Maybe you are really big on all of the detail shots? The dress, rings, shoes, flowers, all of the little things matter to you. Maybe you are just the opposite and you really want to concentrate on the family pictures? Maybe there is a special place at the location or on the way to it that has great meaning to the both of you? Wouldn't you want your photographer to know about that so he or she could have the opportunity to include that in the day's photography?

For the image above, I did a walk-thru with the couple about a week before the wedding. I feel it is best to do the walk-thrus close to the wedding date and around the time of day as the ceremony. That way the light is going to be similar on the day of the wedding. The location was a local resort with lots of great spots for pictures. I saw this bridge as I was scouting the location before the couple arrived. I knew it would make a great shot and when I showed it to them, they were as excited as I was!

For the image below, the couple told me about a little lake with a cute pier that might be fun to shoot at. I would never have know about it if they hadn't communicated their idea to me. Making sure your wedding day photography is everything you want it to be is a collaborative effort. Don't be afraid to discuss your ideas and vision with your wedding photographer. Trust me, they want to capture all that is important to you on your big day!

Wedding day at ASU Old Main!

2011-05-24T12:42:00.000-07:00

It's funny how you can just about walk by something on a regular basis and still forget it's there. I had the privilege of shooting a wedding last Saturday at the Old Main building at Arizona State University. I actually went to ASU some time ago. Now I know it has been a while since I was there but I still was blown away to see this beautiful old building sitting right in the middle of campus.

For those of you who aren't that familiar with ASU, most of the architecture looks like it is from the mid 60's. It really doesn't look like a very old school. There are actually many new buildings with much more modern architecture since I went to school there. So image my surprise to see the Old Main building and realize that it was actually built in the late 1800's. I don't know what I was doing during my time at ASU, but I surely don't remember it being there.

I had no idea that this beautiful old building was actually dedicated on February 4th, 1898. That Teddy Roosevelt did the dedication to the Roosevelt Dam there in 1911. That this building so close to where I live and where I went to school is part of the National Registry of historic buildings.

Enough about history. I was just glad to be able to shoot this wedding at this great location. The weather was great! The bride and groom looked fantastic! The day went off without a hitch! We took advantage of all of the surrounding to capture some really nice images and had a great time doing it! This location just lends itself to wonderful photo opportunities. From the beautiful red brick to the old style arched windows and grand staircase, I am looking forward to many more opportunities to shoot at this wonderful location!

A windy springtime wedding!

2011-05-04T14:09:00.000-07:00

As a wedding photographer, I find that more often than not, I am at the mercy of the weather when it comes to getting the shots I want. You never know what the day might bring or what challenges you might be up against. Where I live and work, Phoenix, Arizona, the sun is shining bright most days of the year. While that sounds great on paper, as a photographer I am constantly looking into the sky and asking for some clouds or a bit of wind to add some drama to my photos.

The image above was from a wedding I shot last weekend at The Buttes resort in Tempe, a suburb of Phoenix. Although you can't see it in this image, the resort is really beautiful! It is actually built in to the side of a small mountain. Some of the lobbies and restaurants actually have part of the mountain side as walls of the room. It is a really cool idea! There are lots of desert style plants and flowers throughout the property, giving it a very spring time feel.

This particular day turned out to be a bit windier than we had hoped for. Not that it wasn't manageable, but it did make things a bit more challenging. Funny thing though, when we went to do this shot above, we couldn't get the wind to blow to save our lives! I saw the shot I wanted in my mind but the weather was refusing to cooperate. Thanks goodness our Bride and Groom, Aaron and Lauren were as patient as they were. After a bit of waiting, and lots of shots, we were able to capture a really beautiful image of the two of them! Just goes to show you, patients really does pay off! Thank you, Gods of Wind!

Location! Location! Location!

2011-04-20T16:36:00.000-07:00

One of the great things about being a wedding photographer is being able to shoot at all of these awesome locations. The venues here in Phoenix are really beautiful with a mix of desert and rustic locations, as well as the occasional golf course and mansion or museum thrown in. It is a really great mix of photo opportunities.

Last Friday I was lucky enough to be shooting at the Shenandoah Mill out in Gilbert for the Harris Wedding. This location is really quite a find. It is located just south of old downtown Gilbert right off Gilbert road. You wouldn't think such a rustic and cool locations was here, but there it was. Squeezed in between a housing community and strip mall just down the road is this very quaint, really beautiful location.

The building itself is an old mill that resembles a barn of sorts. The inside is all old wood and rustic lamp lighting with beautiful wooden stairs leading to an upstairs bride's room. Once up there, the bride's room has a great old 3 way mirror and dressing table. Perfect for getting shots of the bride getting ready.

The outside grounds are beautiful trellises and nice open areas of grass for the ceremony. Along the side of the main building is an awesome water wheel that looks as if it was made just for these moments. And in the very back, try not to miss the rustic old wrought iron gate that leads to the parking lot. There are terrific spots for photos everywhere you turn!

Part of the fun of wedding photography is taking the very best a location has to offer and mixing that with a very happy bride and groom. If you pick the right spot, it might just end up being something wonderful!

Don't sell yourself short on time!

2011-04-06T09:59:00.000-07:00

There is always a question when it comes to wedding photography of how to best use your time with your photographer. Most wedding photography packages are based on a certain number of hours of photography. You might get a package with 4 hours, or 6, or even 8. It all depends on what you think you might need for the days events and what your budget will allow.

If your budget is a big consideration when it comes to your photography, you might be pushed into getting a package with less hours of photography in it. If that is the case, how should you best use that time you have? I have this discussion with Brides all of the time. "When would you like me to start the day?" I say to them. With all that the Bride has to think about it can be hard to determine what would be the right time to start or how best to use this time.

For the record, I personally think some of the most memorable moments happen before the wedding. As the Bride is getting ready with her mother and all of her Bridesmaids. This is the time to get the pictures of the dress, the shoes, all of the jewelry and hair. This is the time to get the shots of mom or dad hugging the bride one last time before they send her down the aisle. This is the time when the Groom and his Groomsmen arrive and are all excited about the upcoming event. These are terrific moments and really shouldn't be missed.

If you want your wedding pictures to be everything you hoped they would be it is important to give the photographer the time he or she needs to make that happen. I think it is best to start at the wedding venue or Bride's home 2 to 2 1/2 hours before the event. This gives me enough time to capture all of the little things that make the day special. It gives me enough time to take the Bride and her Bridesmaids out for their shots before the wedding. It is the perfect time to take shots of Mom and Dad with the Bride.

I also feel this is the best time to get the shots of the Groom and his Groomsmen. I try to find some cool place at the wedding venue or church to take these images. I try and meet them at the location about 30-45 minutes before the ceremony. That gives us a little time to get some fun shots of the guys hanging out.

By taking the time before the ceremony to get a lot of these shots done, you are giving yourself more time after the ceremony for portraits of the Bride and Groom and then some family shots. Remember, there is only a very short window of time before your guests expect you at the reception. If I was to try and do all of this right after the ceremony, I would never be able to capture everything that I think the Bride and Groom want, or we would keep the guests waiting too long for their arrival.

If you are limited on the time you can have your photographer, and you have to choose what part of the day you most want them for, make sure to choose to have them come early and capture all of those so important moments. If you have to give up having your photographer at the later part of the reception, don't worry too much about that. Those moments are mostly candid moments that your friends and family will be capturing as well with their camera. Would it be great to have a professional photographer there? Sure it would. But, if you have to give up somewhere, give up time at the end of the event. Those precious moments that happen before the ceremony are just too important to miss out on.

Don't forget about the Groom!

2011-03-23T10:15:00.000-07:00

I know what your thinking, "I'm the Groom, what do I care about the photos? Just tell me where to stand and I'll be there." You think to yourself that this is something best handled by the Bride. She know what she wants. She's looked at a thousand wedding pictures. Well let me tell you right here and now that you would be wrong! Your bride wants you to be involved in the planning of your wedding. She wants to hand some of this stuff off to you so she can work on all the other things she needs to take care of!

One of the areas that you can be more involved in is collaborating with your photographer on what you would like when it comes to your wedding photos. We all know that every photographer has a certain style or look. That is probably why you picked that person in the first place. The one thing you might not know is that your photographer is anxious to here your ideas about your wedding photography.

I believe that the whole process from beginning to end with your wedding photography is a joint effort between the photographer and his clients. Finding out what is most important to my clients is what is most important to me. Yes, I can show up and do the standard stuff. I know the routine. I am quite capable of getting great shots on my own, but having your input and ideas really makes it more personal.

When it comes to photographing the Groom and his Groomsmen, the word I try and keep in mind is "cool". I know it seems silly but all guys want to look cool! I try and work with the Groom and his guys to come up with fun, modern ideas for their shots. It always amazes me how much more interested the guys are as soon as they see a "cool" shot. I know as a wedding photographer I am supposed to get those traditional shots that keep everybody happy. I love those shots as well. But, while I am doing those, I am going to throw in something a little more edgy and cool to keep the guys happy. That way their interest in their wedding photos goes from a whole little - to a whole lot!
So cool!

A Tlaquepaque Wedding!

2011-03-10T13:31:00.000-08:00

Sedona, Arizona! What a great place to have a wedding! I had the opportunity to photograph a really great couple last weekend for their wedding at the beautiful art and shopping village of Tlaquepaque. If you haven't been there before, it is really something to see! Tucked right off the main drag, Tlaquepaque looks as if it was taken right out of old Mexico and dropped into the beautiful red rocks of Sedona, Arizona.

From the weathered stucco building to the cobblestone streets, being in Tlaquepaque is like stepping back in time a hundred years or more. The building look old, but are quite beautiful. The stucco has stains where the rain has run off time and time again. The trees and foliage have grown up the sides of building and around arches and entryways giving a very warm and inviting look and feel. Balconies hang over the streets looking as if neighbors stand on them and converse with their friends below. Around every other corner is a beautiful fountain or stairs that lead to an upper deck with awe inspiring views of the red rocks.

There are a few different locations within the village that are available for weddings. We were located on the Patio de las Companas. A beautiful open patio with running fountains and arches surrounding. I though we might see snow or really cold weather but we got very lucky. It was a very nice 68 degrees out in the beginning of March.

After photographing the ceremony, we moved throughout the village and found all kinds of great spots to shoot the family shots and portraits of the couple. You can just about throw a rock anywhere and find a a beautiful surrounding. There are great big old style wooden doors and wonderful old railing throughout the property. We spent a little time taking advantage of the great locations and then headed upstairs to a banquet room for the reception and dancing the night away!

If you are looking for a wonderfully romantic and unique location for your wedding, I highly recommend Tlaquepaque and Sedona! In today's busy, modern world, it is a great slice of old world charm.

Wedding Photography - Price vs Value!

2011-02-23T18:14:00.000-08:00

I thought in this post I would take on a subject that comes up time and time again when connecting with clients for the first time. In almost every email, phone call, or meeting, the first question that my clients tend to ask is "How much do you charge." It is a very legitimate question but sometimes the price alone does not tell the whole story.

I can't hardly blame a person for asking this. I tend to be quite a bargain shopper myself. I am always looking to try and save a little here and there. The one thing I began to realize is that as I was always trying to get the lowest price, sometimes I wasn't getting the best value. Now I know everybody has a budget they either need to or try to stay within. That is the smart thing to do. But as you start to shop for your wedding photographer, here are a few pointers you may want to try and remember.

First off, make a list of the most important things you want out of your wedding photography. Do you want an album? If so, make sure you budget for that. Albums can cost anywhere from $100 to $1500 so you want to keep that in mind. Would you like an engagement session, or table card for your guest at the reception? What about a slideshow DVD? All of these items I just mentioned are things that add value to your wedding photography package. The price might be a bit higher but you are getting more for your money.

Next, what can you afford to do without? Do you need a DVD with printing rights for all of the images or is it more within your budget to only order the prints you want after the wedding. Chances are you won't really need all 700 images that your photographer is going to provide for you. That alone can save you quite a bit on your photography budget. Are you able to do without an album or slideshow DVD? What about the engagement session? Is this something you might want to skip. These are all options that might help you stay close to your budget but still get the photographer you want.

If you have found a photographer that you really love but think it might be out of your budget, talk with them about adjusting the package to try and stay close to your budget and still get the features your really want. Most photographers are more than willing to make adjustments to make sure you are happy. If the package includes and engagement session or an album but you feel you could live without that, see if the price can be adjusted to help fit your budget. That seems to work a lot better than just asking for an outright discount. If you love the work that your photographer does, that is probably the reason why they are priced they way they are. Remember, this is your wedding! Photography is one area you don't want to be too cheap with. Try and get the best photographer and the best value for your budget. You will be very happy you did.

A few tips for better wedding day photos!

2011-02-09T10:34:00.000-08:00

I thought in this post I might take the time to mention some great tips that help to get even better pictures on your wedding day. I know what your thinking, more stuff too remember! Well, I will try and make this as painless as possible. For the most part, there are just a few things to keep in mind that will make it easier for your photographer to capture really nice images of your big day.

First off, we should talk about the Bride's dressing room. This is usually the first place I will start taking pictures. Decorate the dressing room just as carefully as you would any other part of the wedding location. Cover up anything ugly with curtains or drape cloth. Have your girls clean up all the non-wedding messes like piles of blue jeans and tennis shoes or other clothing that are not wedding related clothing. Don't try to make it look too neat. Messes are fine if they are wedding messes. Empty boxes and bags should be placed somewhere outside the dressing room. It looks wonderful to have all the dresses hanging around and shoes lying around on the floor. Flowers also look much better in some sort of vases instead of the cardboard boxes the florist packed them in. If you can, try lots of candles or little Christmas lights placed on and under things. All these little touches can help make great pictures.

For you Grooms, try and find a place a little better than a closet to get ready in. The poor Groom is always stuffed in some tiny place where he and his groomsmen try and get ready. Maybe have you and the guys all meet in the lounge, bar area, or coffee shop for photos. Try and have the venue provide you with a decent room to get ready in if you can. Think of some way to make your photos with you and the guys unique... Smoking cigars, drinking martinis, having fun!

During the ceremony, try not to rush things. When you take each others hand to put the rings on, put your hand under theirs keeping their hand clear so the camera can capture pictures of the rings going on. I know I tell this to the couple all of the time but it is so easy to forget. If you grab their hand and cover it with yours, you won't see what you want in the pictures.

When it comes to the kiss, please take your time! You have been waiting all this time for this one moment. Don't rush it! Don't be afraid to kiss each other a few times. Your guests will love it and it gives the photographer more opportunities to capture this once in a lifetime moment.

As far as your portraits and family pictures go, try and sneak off right after the ceremony with your photographer. Make sure your guests know to proceed to the reception or cocktail hour while you have your photos done. The one big time waster is to start to chat with all of your guests right after the ceremony. You're excited, they're excited for you, but if you don't get going right away on your photos, it will take even longer for you to get back to your guests and all of the fun. We don't want that! We want to get great images and get you back to having a good time with your guests.

Well, there you go! Just a few tips to help capture great moments from your big day!

A Day at the Chinese Cultural Center

2011-01-26T12:10:00.000-08:00

What a great day for a wedding! The sun was shining and it was a beautiful 74 degrees out in the middle of January! Can you believe that? The rest of the country is covered in snow and ice but we are lucky enough to have mid 70's temperatures in January! On top of all of that we had a fantastic location at the Chinese Cultural Center close to downtown Phoenix. This is a great spot to get married! Beautiful Coy ponds, lush gardens, and lots of Asian architecture to admire.

We started out at the Doubletree Hotel just down the street. After a few photos of the bride and groom getting ready and some shots of the rings, flowers and dress, we made our way to the Cultural Center for the ceremony. Once at the location, we had a lot of fun photography everyone getting ready for the big moment! The ceremony itself was really beautiful. The bride and groom and their wedding party were on one side of the pond while their guests watched the ceremony from the other side. It was a very unique set up.

After the ceremony we made our way around the grounds for various family portraits as well as pictures of the bride and groom and their wedding party. The location made for some really fun shots. When we finished with those we made our way into the Golden Buddha restaurant for the reception where the guests were treated to some fabulous food and fun. Click Here to see more photos from the day! I hope you like them!

Let's talk engagement photos!

2011-01-18T22:03:00.000-08:00

So you two have finally decided to make it official! One of the nicest ways to show off your love for each other is through engagement photos. It is a great way to show a little of what makes you both so great to all your friends and family. In addition, it is really nice to have an engagement photo at your wedding for all of your guest to see.

I personally think that your engagement photos should be all about what you two are passionate about. Are you both wine drinkers? What about a shoot at a vineyard or your favorite wine bar? Do you both love to ride bikes or motorcycles? How about incorporating that into your engagement photos? Maybe you both love to walk on the beach or stroll through a park at sunset? Wouldn't that be a great way of showing a little of what you two are all about? Be a little silly if you want. A lot of couples are incorporating fun props like balloons and giant picture frames, or old antique cars into their engagement photos. Don't be afraid to have some fun with it.

One great thing about doing engagement photos is that it gives you an opportunity to work with your photographer before the actual wedding. That way you get to know him or her a bit as well as your photographer getting to know you both as well. This can make for a more relaxed atmosphere when it comes time to do the portraits on your wedding day.

Take the opportunity to share your ideas with your photographer. We photographers love to hear your ideas and share ours with you as well. A good collaboration between you and your photographer can make for some beautiful images!

The Bridal Fashion Debut!

2011-01-10T15:01:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the Bridal Fashion Debut January 2011! This past weekend was the biggest bridal show of the year. The one stop shop for everything a bride could think of for her wedding all under one roof. For me, as a photographer, it is a great chance to meet new people and start developing new relationships with new clients. For you Brides and Grooms, I hope it is a chance to get a lot checked off on your list of things to do.

I am actually fairly new to the bridal show circuit. I went several years marketing myself and my business in many different ways before giving it a try. I was silly to have waited. The bridal show is by far the best way for me to give my potential clients a chance to get to know me a little bit. I know when Brides are waking through a huge bridal show that they have many choices when it comes to their wedding vendors. This is a chance for me to let potential clients know that not only am I a good photographer, but I am professional and caring, with a little bit of funny thrown in on the side.

I know that there are photographer who are cheaper than I am. I know there are ones that are much more expensive than me. Ultimately it's not really about that. It's about you, the Bride and Groom. Making sure you are going to be nothing but happy on your big day. It doesn't matter if you're a florist, a caterer, or a photographer, we as wedding vendors want the very best for you. Nothing makes me happier then getting and email from a Bride and Groom who have just looked at their photos for the first time and absolutely love them. It is just the best feeling in the world for me.

I know the bridal shows are crazy and overwhelming and I feel for you when I see how tired you are of all the walking, but it's worth it! It's your wedding and here is your chance to make it everything you ever hoped it would be! Here is to wishing all of you the best wedding ever and all the happiness in the world!

Keeping it light!

2010-12-29T21:08:00.000-08:00

A wedding is an exciting and wonderful event. It is sure to be a great time for all involved. Sure there are a million things to plan for and remember but one of the most important things to do on the big day is have fun. As a photographer, It is my job to try and capture those fun moments in the images I take. Of course there are the more formal bridal and family portraits that everyone loves, but more and more these days people want to see those fun little moments that they might not even remember after that day.

Take the image above. It was taken right before the ceremony when we had a little bit of time to get the Bride and her sisters together. We did some traditional poses looking at the camera and towards each other. They looked great but it is always nice to have something different. This was a great time to have the girls be a little more playful and have fun with it. I always tell my clients to just pay no attention to me and try and be a little bit silly. Now, not everyone is as at ease with this as the next person so I try and have a few little jokes or playful comments at they ready to break the ice. It is important to to relax and just go for it. Sometimes what might seem silly at the time can turn out to be one of the best photos of the day. You never know what you might get.

If you are in the planning stages of your wedding, make sure and discuss with your photographer that you want some fun shots along with all of the formal and traditional stuff. Chances are he or she will have some great ideas to share with you. Make sure and tell them a little bit about the fun and silly sides of your personalities. That is surely something we don't want to miss on your big day!

Taking a great holiday photo!

2010-12-21T16:03:00.000-08:00

So the family is finally all together for the holidays. Wouldn't it be nice if just this once we could manage to get a good holiday photo with everyone in it? Or maybe you just want a nice shot of you and your sweetie with your awesome pet? Well, it's not really as hard as you think. Although the thought of trying to get all the kids, Aunts, Uncles, Grandmas and Grandpas together as well as any family pets can seem a bit scary, if you set it up properly, you should be able to do it with relative ease.

The first thing to remember is to stay calm! Ha Ha! Then, find the right spot for the photo. If it is possible, I would try and find a nice spot outside in the shade. Perhaps in the back yard on the deck or under a big tree. The reason for the shade is it is a lot easier trying to get a properly exposed shot in the shade. If you try and shoot it inside, the room will look all dark and the people in the shot will be all washed out from the flash. Some cameras handle this a lot better than others now, but chances are either your shot will look like the nasty blue flash, or it will have a lot of blur in it from the camera trying to expose for the lights in the house. If you try and shoot in full sun outside, then the part of the faces in the sun will be properly exposed and the shaded parts will be very dark or visa versa depending on how your camera chooses to expose the shot. The idea is to try and find a place where you can balance the light as best you can. A shady spot or a cloudy day is best.

Once you have everybody in the spot, you are going to want to try and arrange them as best you can for a nice photo. If any sun is shining on them, make sure it is shining on their backs, not the front of them. You can do the standard method of lining people up short ones in the front, tall in the back. Nothing wrong with it. You can also try and mix it up a bit and have it a little more casual. Move people around a bit. A few standing here, a few sitting there. Make it comfortable for everyone. Remember, the more at ease everyone is, the better the picture. If you are going to be in the photo like I was in the one pictured above, use a tripod, line up the shot and use the camera's timer to get the shot. This one was a little difficult because I had to keep running back to the camera for every shot. The when I would run to be in the picture, my dog Max would want to look at me and not at the camera. I took quite a few shots trying to get one that worked.

Finally, use an outdoor setting on your camera and turn on the flash. Your camera will probably not want to use a flash outside but you are going to want it. Set the flash to manual instead of automatic. That way it will always fire every time you take a shot. Do a test shot or two to make sure the flash is not too bright. You just want a nice balanced look with the outside. If it is too bright or not bright enough, you camera has what is called flash exposure compensation. You will find it under the settings menu. You can use that to manually boost or cut down the flash.

Remember, try and make it fun and don't be afraid to capture people being silly.
Happy holidays!

Who doesn't love a picture with their dog?

2010-12-14T22:01:00.000-08:00

Now I don't really claim to be a pet photographer, but I am a dog lover! After the many pictures I have taken of our beloved Max, my wife would have you believe I am an old pro at it. I recently had the opportunity to do some photography for a law firm that was building a new web site and wanted all new shots of the Partners, Associates, and staff. In addition, they were adding a page with some photos of the staff's pets and their owners. Well, far be it for me to turn down an opportunity to work with not only great people, but great doggies as well!

The idea was to capture members of the firm with their furry friends in a very casual and fun way. Nothing stiff or too posed. Just relaxed, fun shots. I personally think the easiest way to accomplish this is to put the people you are shooting as well as their pets as much at ease as possible. Since I am an old softy when it comes to pets, putting them at ease was not that much of a problem. A few rubs on the head and a "Good Boy" here and there seems to do the trick. They are going to do pretty much what they want to do. You just need to be ready to capture the right moments when they occur. As for the people, seeing there expressions as their pets behave in different ways can be priceless. That with a few jokes thrown in works every time.

I think these images have really captured just how great the relationship is between these owners and their awesome pets! In the end, isn't that what it's all about?

To pose or not to pose?

2010-12-06T11:42:00.000-08:00

That is the question! It seems as if wedding photography styles have changed quite a bit in recent years. In the past, it was common to use a more traditional portrait style when it came to wedding. Nowadays, the styles are much more varied and modern.

Photojournalism has become the favorite style right now. This is a much more casual and candid approach to wedding photography. Instead of posing the couple or family, the photographer just captures the moments during the wedding as they unfold naturally. Just as a news photographer might capture an event. Done properly, this can be a very natural form of photography that leads to many beautiful and free form photos. This is a great way to see the day as if it is unfolding before your eyes.

Traditional or portrait style relies more heavily on posed shots that are composed specifically to achieve a certain look. While a portrait style wedding photographer obviously can't pose every shot during the wedding, he or she will try and take the time to create specific shots that are conceived to create a beautiful image. This style actually takes a little more pre-planning on the photographer's part to achieve what the couple wants in the short window of time they will have to get all the shots. These shots with usually use artificial lighting provided by the photographer in addition to natural light to enhance the image. Of course, these styles can be finished in black and white, antique tones, and soft romantic looks to achieve the perfect portraits.

I personally think that a mixture of both Photojournalism and Tradition is a nice way to go. This gives the best of both worlds to the newly married couple. I can capture all the little moments as they happen and then take a few moments after the ceremony to try and gets some really nice portraits that still maintain a natural feel. I like to have fun with the couple and keep it light. That way the images have a more relaxed feel to them. The image above was one we took right before the ceremony. Is it posed? Kinda, but not really. I placed the couple there and gave suggestions but they made it feel real and natural.

I think the most important thing to remember when it comes to posing for your wedding pictures is for it not to look too posed or forced. Even a posed shot can look very natural if done the right way.

Wedding Albums!

2010-11-28T12:19:00.000-08:00

I am so excited to let you know that we are now offering beautiful Italian albums by Graphistudio! Graphistudio is known the world over for their extremely high quality albums and design work. I have attached a short video from Graphistudio here so you can get a little insight about the company and the high standards they have.

As a wedding photographer I am very careful about the vendors that I work with. It is of the utmost importance to me to make sure that the quality of the products I offer not only exceed but surpass my clients expectations. I know that your wedding and every little detail has to be perfect. That is why after looking for quite a while at several different album companies, I chose Graphistudios. I think that you will be very pleased with not only the quality, but all of the options you have when we are putting your wedding album together. From the beautiful paper choices, to the incredible cover options, such as metal, leather and acrylic, I think you will be very please.

When putting together the ideas for your wedding album, I'll have the Bride and Groom pick out the images they want and we will work together to create their dream album. One way to approach it is to think of your day as a time line. I try and design the albums for my clients with that in mind. It is nice to open the album and see how the day progressed as you flip through the pages. As I do this I will insert a portrait of the beautiful couple every few pages to show them off!

There are many way to approach the design of your wedding album. No one way is right or wrong. I think it is important to collaborate on ideas and come up with something that is truly unique. If you have any additional questions about your album design, please feel free to contact me.

A beautiful day at the park!

2010-11-21T13:04:00.000-08:00

Sometimes the best shots for me are the ones you might never expect. I had the opportunity a few days back to photograph a very cute couple for their engagement photos. I am also shooting their wedding this March. We decided on Papago Park to be our location and met there for our shoot. It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon and we were lucky enough to catch the light at just the right time.

I knew I wanted to take some shots up at Hole in the Rock. I don't know if any of you have ever been there but it is a little gem dropped right in the middle of town. It is a very easy climb to the top where you can look out over the entire valley standing inside the hole.

We managed to get up there just as the sun was going down. This shot is one of my favorites from the day. The setting sunlight was beautiful against the rocks behind Jana and Andrew and their expressions were just great! As a photographer, these are the little moments I hope to catch. A beautiful day, a great location, and a very happy couple!

My New Blog!

2010-11-20T09:59:00.000-08:00

Hi everybody!
If you have found your way here you will notice that my blog is brand new! I know, I know! What took so long? Well, I'm not sure. I have been working so hard on re-branding the company that a blog just slipped my mind. Now that I am blogging, I hope to be able to offer some good tips and a little insight into myself and some of the work that I do.

I'll try not to bore you too much with my personal life but I do have an amazing wife (Trish) and my my awesome dog (Max) that I might mention here and there. We are welcoming into the family another rescue dog in a few weeks. His name is Cabo! We are very excited about him joining our little pack!

I have posted my first post on how to find the right wedding photographer below. I hope this helps a little with some of the confusion when it comes to making this very important choice. Would I like to be your wedding photographer? Of course I would! But it has to be the right fit for you and your fiance. This is a very important day and everything needs to be just what you want.

As this blog grows I hope that I can not only give my ideas and advice, but learn from all of my clients, friends, and family so that I have even more that I can offer up here. So without further ado, here we go!

Tips on how to pick your wedding photographer

2010-11-19T22:35:00.000-08:00

Time to make that big decision!

Oh boy! So confusing! You just got engaged and so many things are running through your head. What date to get married on? Where to get married? Do we want to have the ceremony at one place and the reception at another? What wedding colors? The guest list? Oh my gosh, the guest list! Sounds like a lot of important decisions need to be made before the big day arrives.

You will probably start searching the internet, join a wedding web site, and buy a few wedding magazines. If you are lucky enough, you will live in a city that has a bridal show or two for you to check out. All of these things are an important part of the process and will help with choosing all of your wedding vendors and putting all the pieces together. One of the biggest of those decisions is going to be choosing the right wedding photographer. With that in mind, let's look at a few things you should consider before making your choice.

One of the first things your are going to notice when looking for your wedding photographer is his or her's photographic style or technique. Assuming that the photographer is technically proficient and capable, (which they should be, otherwise they shouldn't be telling people they are a wedding photographer) the style of photography that you choose is a very personal decision. There are traditional or portraiture styles which tend to lean towards very posed, formal shots. These are very popular with Moms, Dads and grandparents. Very nice. Very traditional. There is the natural light and soft focus styles. These are very popular for weddings. Natural light style photography is pretty self explanatory. Your photographer will use the natural light at a particular location or setting to capture your photographs. This could be on the beach at sunset or next to a lake with the fog rolling over it. Soft focus style tends to be very dream like and romantic. Most of these techniques are done after the initial photographs are taken in the post production part of your wedding photography. Last but not least is the photojournalism style. This is very popular nowadays. Your photographer will capture you in the most natural settings throughout the wedding day. This style tends to look more like snapshots and less like the shots were posed for. I myself like to mix traditional portraiture and photojournalism to get the best of both of those worlds.

Your photographer's personality is another big thing to consider. As you interview different photographers, you will be able to see if this is someone you are going to enjoy having around on the big day. Are they personable and friendly? Will they be able to work quickly with you and your entire families to get what you want? You want a photographer who is going to do great work and make it an enjoyable experience for the both of you and you families.

Is your photographer prepared for the unexpected? Does he or she have back up equipment in case of an equipment failure? I can't emphasize enough how important this is. The last thing you want is for your photographer to come to you and try to explain why they missed that all important moment because their camera failed. Do they have a back up photographer in case they are ill or there is an emergency? You never know what life might throw at someone at the last minute but it is nice to know that your photographer has someone to cover for them or will assist you in getting someone if they have to bow out a day or two before the event.

Does the photographer you choose have good follow through and business skills? Do they answer your emails and phone calls promptly? I think it is important to get back with my clients within 24 hours. I will actually try and do it the same day if possible. Nowadays, unless you are stuck in the Sahara Desert with no wi-fi, there is no reason for a vendor to not get back to their client in a timely manner. After the wedding is over will you be updated and informed about your photography? How long will it be until my online gallery is up? How long will it take to do the post production on the chosen images? How long will it take to get my wedding album? Make sure your photographer is keeping you in the loop.

How much will it cost? Ahhh, the age old question. A good question considering how tough it is for people financially right now and how much a wedding can cost. You can spend anywhere from $500 to $5000 on your wedding photography so let us not forget the difference between price and value. Yes, you will have a budget for your wedding and only a certain amount you would like spend on your photographer. Keeping that in mind I think it is important to make sure that you try and get the best value for your money. Does the photographer your are thinking of using meet the criteria you have laid out? Do you like his or her's style of photography? Do you like their personality? Are they going to be fun and enjoyable to have around on your big day? Are they prepared for the unexpected? Are they going to keep you in the loop and perform in a professional manner? If they are all of those things but just a little more expensive then the next photographer, then you might consider what you are getting for your money. Most wedding photographers are able to put together a package that will suit your needs. If you like one photographer but they are a little more expensive than another that you spoke with, you might try and adjust your photography package a bit so it falls within what you consider to be a good value. That might mean not getting the DVD of the images and only buying the prints you want online. It might mean having the photographer you really want for a shorter period of time on the wedding day. Most good photographer are more than willing to help you find a photography package that will work for you.

Well, there you go. Just a little food for thought for when it comes to making the big decision. It is a privilege as a photographer to be a part of such a wonderful event. Remember, your wedding day is one of the most joyous days of your life. Enjoy every moment leading up to it!

Steven J. Aquilino
SJA Studios
www.arizonaweddingphotographer.biz