I am by no means an authority on photography.  I’m actually very much an amateur still, but I currently edit for high-in-demand wedding photographer as well as second shoot for a bunch of up and coming wedding photographers…. and I’ve been to a lot of weddings.  :)  So as someone engrossed in wedding photography, here are my unsolicited thoughts on wedding photography if I was a bride.

- Find a focus for your wedding and splurge on that. My girlfriend spent a ton of money on her flowers and skimped on everything else because flowers were most important to her. As for me, photography would obviously be my highest priority. I would spend whatever it took to get the photographer I wanted; I would rent a gown, slash my guest list in half, make all the invitations and decorations myself, use fake flowers just to get the photographer. That’s just me. Thankfully, the photographer I want is still under $10,000, and evidently, my sister tells me I could ask for an industry discount! woot!

- I would only hire a photographer with a second shooter. I would require to see portfolios of both the first and second shooter. I’ve seen so many weddings with moments missed because there was only one shooter or the second shooter was mediocre. If you’re paying for a second shooter, make sure the shooter is good, or else you’re just wasting a second shooter

- Make sure you know what you’re getting.  Some photographers, even though they give you all the files from your wedding, you may only be getting the 4×6 size files; make sure you know what kind of files you’re getting… i.e. high resolution files. Also, some photographers may be cheap to hire, but when you go to buy prints from them, the 4×6 ends up being $20. Make sure you see the pricelist. Also, make sure you know if your photographer is shooting in film or digital.

- Decide what kind of “look” you want. For myself, I want wedding pictures that look fresh out of the camera like Jasmine Star or GH Kim. Even though I LOVE Amelia Lyon or Max Wanger, I don’t want to look back at my pictures and decide that I actually don’t like that look anymore. Fresh out of the camera style is timeless. Besides, I could always apply that “look” later on.

- Magazine style albums are expensive.  To just merely print one for a client, it usually is at least $500-800.  So with the cost of designing the pages/layouts and actually making a profit, the photographer will charge you anywhere between $1500-3000.  So don’t fool yourself and think you can get a magazine style book for $200 (trust me, brides think it’s possible, but they’re just being unrealistic)

- With photography, 75% of the time you get what you paid for.  If you’re paying $1,000 for your photographer, you better not expect to get a top of the line photographer with high resolution photos and a photo album.  It’s possible….anything is possible, but it’s highly unrealistic.  For a decent photographer and a decent package, expect to pay $3,000-5,000.  Also, make sure you get references from the photographer.  If they take great pictures, but the brides thought they were a jerk, why hire them?

- It’s better to get the kind, patient photographer with mediocre pictures than the jerk photographer with the amazing pictures. On your wedding day, you want everything to go as smoothly as possible.  You’re not going to want that photographer who gets in the way or yells at your guest.  The photographers I work with are the kind, patient photographers, and although I hear the criticisms that they’re pictures are over processed or over posed or boring or plain or whatever, you get your money’s worth in their personality.  They genuinely care about you and do what they can to help you through the day.  That’s why I appreciate these men that I work with so much.  Even though their photography style is not exactly what I would personally want for my own wedding, I would highly recommend them for how well they work with their clients. (also… most of their clients have been referred. so that’s another thing to take note of)

- Take engagement pictures with the photographer who’s shooting your wedding.  Think of it as an interview process.  How they are in your engagement session is how they’ll be at your wedding.  This is your opportunity to get used to having a camera in your face and getting to know your photographer.  This way on your wedding, you know what to expect.

- Take your bridal party pictures before the wedding.  Why? Because dresses aren’t wrinkled, make up is fresh, hair is still pretty, and you still have energy.  I’ve been at too many weddings where the bride and groom try to squeeze these pictures in between the ceremony and reception and they’re so exhausted they end up cutting out a lot of the picture time.  If it were me, I would regret not having good pictures.  Also, taking pictures before the wedding allows for the bride and groom to have a “first look” before the ceremony.  This is the first time the bride and groom get to see each other; it will probably the only private moment the bride and groom can share that day.  I think it’s good to see each other before the ceremony because then you get rid of your nerves by seeing each other.  

- I will be hiring a photographer with a tilt-shift lens.  Google it… it’s AMAZING and I love it . Here’s an example below from Chris+Lynn

That’s all I have for now!

Week 20 Topic: Black and White

My picture for this topic.

For more about the One Two Squeeze project or to see other photographer’s interpretation of this theme, visit One Two Squeeze!

This was my second time flying flying with Katy and also my second time to Vegas with her. It was a short, one and half day trip where we met up with Ang while she was on her business trip. We had a good balance of relaxation and fun. I had some tasty crab and sorbet at the Wynn and laid by the pool and got a nice tan at the Hilton. Anyways, Katy loaded me up on peanuts and pretzels on the airplane, and let me tell you… Those peanuts and pretzels really saved me when I’ve been out and starving.

I am soooo super exhausted from prepping for the surprise wedding shower! I wish I had more pics to post.. but it was loads of fun!

So about two or three weeks ago, I found myself in New York again. I finally had my fall and was super excited. I was so excited to be in New York with other tourists! This was my seventh time in the city but only the second time with non-New Yorkers. And boy did I have a blast! Never have I felt so comfortable to whip out my camera at every single moment! woot! I loved the touristy freedom I usually don’t get to enjoy.

We had a mini impromptu shoot. Two lovebirds. I love! Besties…so cute! I wish Alice was there to partake in some photoshooting, too!

I love riding the bus and the bart… but sometimes weirdo people approach me.

I’ve never done the typical Halloween festivities. In fact, I usually don’t dress up. As a kid, I dressed up once as a cheetah. I wore footy pajamas and my mom made a mask/headdress for me. Then in college one of my costumes was a army person, then another I wore volleyball gear but everyone thought I was a softball player, so I just went with it. After college I was Waldo from “Where’s Waldo?” and a Raider football player. Needless to say, I was a newb when I tried to carve my first pumpkin (I used a swiss army knife and a plastic knife because I didn’t know there was such a thing as pumpkin carving knives). Anyway… I digress…..

This year was my second time attempting to carve a pumpkin, and I enjoyed it thoroughly. And although I tried, unsuccessfully, to make a dinosaur, I rediscovered my fondness for beady eyes. Maybe that’s why I dated that guy Dan back in college. haha. He looked like a (good-looking) muppet with beady eyes.

Wow. The past few days have been really long…. I can’t wait for a break. In fact I’m anxious for a break.

The colors of fall are so amazing. Autumn is my favorite season and it never fails to amaze me in beauty. It’s so interesting how fall is colored by dying plants, but yet those browns, reds, yellows and oranges are so brilliant… more brilliant than the greens and colors of spring. I love fall. And aren’t the colors of these pumpkins just the perfect color?

When I was in Japan, I had the tastiest sour apple juice. I’ve never seen it since.. not even for the rest of my Japan trip. So I was super excited when I saw it at a Japanese grocery story in the south bay. Well, I kind of saw it. The sour apple juice look like this but it was green, this particular bottle in the pictures was just the plain apple juice. Nonetheless I’m certain that I’ll find the sour version of this little guy.