How to Get the Most Out of Your Photographer, Part One: Hiring the Perfect Photographer

It's coming up on Oklahoma's Wedding Season!  Planning a wedding can be very stressful.  First, you have to pick the venue and book that...next on to the reception venue - if that is different - then your dress!  Oh my goodness, the dress. We mustn't forget that the dress may take up to 8 weeks to get in....

Then comes the photographer.  You know that the photographs are what will last forever.  Even ten years after I was married, I look back to the photos and it brings memories flooding back.  But how can you know that you have hired the right photographer for you?

When you are looking for a photographer, don't forget some simple ideas that might help you decide whether a certain photographer is right for you or not:

1.  The first thing you should do is to LOOK AT THEIR WEBSITE!!  I know this may seem strange to say...and yes of course you would!  But how is their website set up?  Do you love it?  Do you love their photography?

2.  Ask to see some of their work in print.  We all know that most photographers post their best work on their website.  The colors are vibrant and the music makes you settle in and "fall in love."  Ask to see an entire wedding, if you so choose.  That way you can see exactly what you might expect from them.  From staged to spur of the moment photos.

3.  Ask how the photographer edits their photos.  You might not care about what programs they use, and that's fine.  But ask if they personally retouch each photo.  That might not mean that they run each and every photo through Photoshop, but they may.  You just want to make sure that they are taking the time to color-correct and enhance each photo.  I have seen some photographers who run every single photo through the same "ritual" and every photo winds up looking exactly the same with the same fade to black look around the outside.  (Now, I'm not dogging the black around the edges.  Sometimes it really does add to the color intensity of the photo....just not EVERY SINGLE PHOTO.)

4.  Be very honest with your photographer.  If you are expecting something special from your photographer, let him or her know.  We're not mind-readers...and every bride and groom couple is different.  Some people enjoy the romantic look, others more bold.  Some want to push the envelope...others want to look like a model.  Which leads me to my next point:

5.  Pick the photographer that most captures your style.  Your photos will last forever and you want to like them for that long!  When I got married, I just had a photographer that did the "stand and pose" style.  If I could have had something different, I would have!  But now there are so many options, you can pick a photographer that fits your "photo personality."  Find that one and stick with them!

6.  And last but NOT least....Find a photographer that you trust.  One that has good business sense.  One that you feel like is going to take care of you.  Get it in writing.  The last thing you need is more stress, so find that one photographer that you feel the most comfortable with.  And enjoy your day!

Look back soon for some tips on what to ask of your photographer to capture every moment during your ceremony!!

á bientôt!

My beautiful children!

I love taking pictures of the kiddos.  This one started to capture my middle, Sydney, and her cousin because they matched.  All Sydney can say is, "I want to match Izzy."  Okay, kiddo.

Izzy is on the left and Sydney is on the right.

Aren't they just adorable?  I know, I'm lucky I have such great subjects for my photography. :)

Next up is my youngest, Tyson, in his Christmas outfit provide my Aunt Mac and Uncle Nate:

 

And last but not least, my oldest, Libby...in all her wonderful, beautiful make-up...also provided by Aunt Mac and Uncle Nate.  Thanks guys.  My whole house is still sparkly.

I am so blessed to have such wonderful children.

á bientôt!

Libby's Ballet Recital

Well, first grade has brought on more than homework and all-day school.  Libby started ballet this year.  With that came weekly practice and two big time recitals - one in December and one in June.  Now, if you knew Libby, you would know that she is one of the girliest girls I've ever met...so dressing up in a pink costume and getting to wear make-up is right up her alley.  I'm really glad.  I thought when I had her that I would not know what to do with such a girlie girl.  But, I've decided that when you see the look on their face when they love that Christmas present that is just make-up and glitter or when they see themselves dressed up thinking they are as pretty as a bride, it doesn't matter.  It's what makes them happy and glowing that makes me happy.  And she is beautiful.  First inside, and that flows to the outside.  I'm so proud of her.

á bientôt!

Congratulations!

Thanks to everyone who came to see me at the Oklahoma Bridal Show a couple of weeks ago.  It was such a blast.  It was non-stop action from 1-5 pm!  Wow!  I was privileged to speak with a lot of brides who are planning their wedding dates for this year and next year.  As part of the festivities, I offered a drawing for a free Bridal shoot or Engagement Shoot.  I completed the drawing last week and here are the four lucky winners:

Kirsten K.

Crystal B.

Jami Mc.

Ruth F.

I look forward to working with each of them and am so excited to see what the shoots bring!  I can't wait to get started on the work!

For those of you who are sad, no worries!  Come see me at my next Bridal Fair.  I am sure to have a drawing there as well.  :)

á bientôt!

Fayetteville wedding!

I had so much fun getting to do a wedding with my two sister-in-laws Rachel and Naomi.  The wedding was such a fun time...despite the fire alarm that started wailing 20 minutes before the wedding!  What an adventure.  It turned out to only be a few busted pipes and a water-works show in the offices at the church. Gotta love that extra cold weather....it was 4 degrees when we drove in Friday night.  The wedding rocked, though.  The groom and groomsmen put on quite a show for me while we were waiting.  Can't wait to post them!

á bientôt!

Thunder Basketball!!

So, my dad got tickets to any Thunder basketball game he wanted to go to as his Christmas present at his work. The lady who gave them to him got six tickets so that all the adults in my family could go. So fun! It wound up that the tickets were on the Terrace Suite level...ie: we got really great food for free (all you can eat), had a box that had six reclining chairs, a bar type thing we could eat at and watch the game at the same time, and two HD televisions where we could watch the basketball game or any other thing on TV we wanted to. Nice! We had such a good time!

I didn't take a camera, so the pictures I have posted on Facebook are only with my phone. The video is the same...taken with my phone. But, you get the idea. :)

Thunder Video!

Thunder Pictures of the Fam!

á bientôt!

OK Bridal Fair!

Come visit me at the OK Bridal Fair today! It's from 1-5 at the Cox Convention Center in downtown OKC. Can't wait to visit with you!