Dawn and Chris’ Wedding
Dawn and Chris were planning to get married at Blue Jacket Park when a never ending storm decided to come through. Instead of holding them back, they quickly moved the wedding indoors and made the best of the their day. Here are a few of the pictures from their day, as you scroll through the images prepare yourself, when I told the groomsmen to do something fun, one of them went for total shock!
Aaron and Teill are Engaged
Here are some engagement shots from Aaron and Teill’s Engagement Session. They are a great couple and these pictures show how much fun they have together. I can’t wait until their wedding next spring.
I will post a few more soon.
Orlando Modern Bride
Copyright 2009 – Scott Todd
So during my photoshoot, last week, I wanted to try something new and here’s the result. I wanted to create a modern bride type pose and at the sametime capture some of the moon up in the sky. I like the way this picture came out and I’d like to make a few tweaks the next time I try it.
What do you think about this picture, do you like it? I look forward to hearing from you.
Fall Wedding in Orlando
Copright 2009 – Scott Todd
Okay, so I added the image above because it’s one of my favorite from the shoot last week, but here’s the problem, there’s another picture that is very close to this one, so I thought I would post them both, and get your opinion of which image you like best, think of it as election day!
So what do you think, which image do you like best, #1 (Above) or #2 (Below)? The winning image will be added to the rotating slideshow on the frontpage of my website (http://www.stoddphotography.com), so I’m counting on you to help me!
Until tomorrow, happy voting.
Copright 2009 – Scott Todd
Orlando Evening Wedding
Copyright 2009 – Scott Todd
As a wedding photographer, I’m always looking for some way of adding new images to my collection, here’s an image I took last week at an incredible Orlando park. This is a typical wedding bridal portrait that I included with a Signature Level 1 Wedding Collection. This portrait session gives you the ability to capture the beauty of your gown in a setting where your not worried about getting it dirty. If you like the idea of a trash the dress session, but don’t really want to trash the dress, a bridal portrait is a great alternative.
I’ll talk to you tomorrow.
Scott
A Wedding Photographer should Capture Monents
There are a lot of Orlando Wedding Photographers and so one of the way I try to differentiate myself from the other photographers is that I focus on creating a great images. The way that I do this is to capture the actions that are occurring, but more importantly, you’ve got to capture the reactions to those actions. It’s these reactions that create the special moments that you want captured, it’s the difference between a great shot and a snapshot. This is a great example of capturing a reaction and thus a moment.
Here is an image I took a few weeks ago at the Omni ChampionsGate Resort [Link]. Just before I captured this image, the couple was clowning around and then he started laughing really hard and that’s when I captured this moment.
That’s it for me, today I’m finishing up the Orlando Young Professional September Social pictures and I’m hoping to have them up tomorrow. Talk to you then.
Scott
Blue Jacket Park Photo Shoot
Here are a few images from a shoot I did at Blue Jacket Park [Link] in Orlando with Heather.
Blue Jacket Park is located in the Baldwin Park area of Orlando, which for over 30 years served as the home of the Orlando Naval Training Center. The park has several cool features which make it a great location for a photo shoot. From engagement photos to a bridal portrait, you can’t go wrong here.
Here she is on the foot bridge.
Here is another image of Heather, this time atop one of the many hills in the park.
Here she is on front of the awesome water feature.
And here she is sitting on the stairs which lead to the water feature.
So if you are looking for a place for that perfect photo shoot, don’t forget about incredible Blue Jacket Park.
Why Editing Matters
A few weeks ago, I discussed how some brides are becoming Orphan Brides [Link], meaning that their photographer is not taking the time to edit, crop and print their wedding images and instead electing to provide the bride with the images burned onto a cd-rom, we call these photographers, “Shoot and Burners.”
Recently, I wanted a new profile picture for Facebook [Link] and so I grabbed my camera gear, set it up and went to work to create a self-portrait. The picture below, is the one I selected and as you can see it has a lot of “stuff in the background.” Stuff that would distract you from the subject, which is me! Take a look:
After I captured the image, I went to my computer, the digital darkroom, and began editing the image, cropping out the background, framing me properly in the picture, and cleaning up the whites of my eyes. These edits produced the image you see below.
Here is another example on the power of editing, the image below is a picture I took of Catina Mack, the National Anthem Performer [Link] during the Red, Hot, and Boom on July 3rd [Link]. I like the image and selected it as a keeper for Catina’s use. The only problem was she had that microphone and stand coming out of her shoulder.
When I took the picture, I saw the microphone and stand behind her and knew it was going to be an issue, but since it was in an area that it could easily be removed, I took it anyway and then edited it out in the digital darkroom. This edit gave me the image below, which I think is much better.
This new image, takes away the distraction and allows you to focus on the subject. If you are choosing a photographer who doesn’t edit the images and only provides them to you on a cd, you should remember, you get what you pay for. Editing images is a very important part of the photography process and you are short changing yourself if you allow a photographer to shoot and burn.
What do you think, don’t you like the edited pictures better?
My photographer gave me a cd of images!
Don’t become an Orphan Bride
It’s sad to say, but there are many brides out there that are about to become Orphan Brides. In case you’re not familiar with the term, an Orphan Bride is someone who gets married and their photographer only gives them the pictures on a cd or dvd. We photographers call this type of photographer a “shoot and burner”, because they shoot the wedding, burn the images to a disc and are gone. Rarely do these “Shooter and Burner’s” edit, crop, or organize the images. Once the wedding is over, the bride gets a disc filled with images just as her photographer promised, however in most cases, she has no idea what to do with them.
But can’t she just take the disc to Wal-Mart and have them printed?
Yes, however, in the majority of cases, this never happens and here’s why. During a typical wedding, a photographer will probably take 1,500 – 3,000 photographs. Not all of these photographs are usable and many are duplicates. The duplicates are made to ensure that we capture the perfect image, everyone’s eyes are open, everyone has a smile on their face, everyone is happy, etc.
With all of these images, it becomes a very time consuming, labor intensive process to sort through these images looking for the keepers. In fact, a professional photographer will probably spend 1 – 3 hours after the wedding, sorting and organizing the images in order to deliver you the usable images. So faced with the thought of all of this work, most brides fail to ever get their disc filled with images developed as they thought they would.
What if I have this Disc with Images?
If your photographer has given you a disc full of images and you need help organizing, sorting and editing, please contact me and I will be happy to help you get your images printed or organized into a photo album for you.
That’s it for today. Scott
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Plan the Thank You Cards before the Wedding
Copyright Daniel Krieger
This is an awesome image captured by NYC Wedding Photographer Daniel Krieger and one I really like. The picture captures a nice moment between these newlyweds and sends a nice message at the same time. The picture also illustrates how with a little planning and working with your photographer, you can remove one more thing from your post wedding to-do list and that’s order thank you cards. Here are the 4 simple steps needed to plan this:
The first step is to plan this kind of picture before the wedding by telling your photographer that you would like a thank you picture added to your photo list.
Second, you’re going to need the sign, so you need to plan and order the sign at least 2 weeks before the wedding. Personally, I like the simple and elegant “Thank You” message shown in this picture.
Third, you and your photographer will need to choose the location; it could be in front of your church or venue or in another location close by your ceremony or reception area.
Finally, you will need to determine how you want this image printed. There are three potential ways to order these. You could order them as postcards (4×6, 5 x7, or 4×8.5). Postcards would be ready to mail, simply write the message and address on the back of the card and mail with no envelope. You could also order them as greeting cards (5×7). You’ve seen them during the holiday’s, your picture is on the front, there’s blank space on the back, put it in the envelope, address and mail. Finally, you could get them in a folded card (5×7), the picture is on the front, and then there’s blank space on the inside for your thank you message. You would then place them into an envelope, address and mail.
Because the picture is taken during the time you have your photographer, the only incremental cost would be for the printing of the thank you cards.
Here is my basic prices for these items:
- 24 – 5×7 photo cards – $29.95 (includes Envelopes)
- 24 – 5 x 7 Postcards – $39.95
- 24 – 5 x 7 Greeting Cards – $79.95 (includes Envelopes)
If you are interested in this type of service, please let me know when we are discussing your wedding package and we can add it on and then you can cross another thing off your list.
Well, that’s all for today – talk to you soon. Scott
Trash the Dress Photo Session
So the wedding is over and now it’s time for some fun in your beautiful wedding dress. A popular post-wedding photo session is the “Trash the Dress” session. The thought of actually trashing your wedding dress may seem strange, but in reality, the dress only gets wet and / or dirty (the two things you want to avoid most on your wedding day) and can easily be cleaned. So read on how to plan the perfect trash the dress photo session.
When to schedule it.
A Trash the Dress Session can occur anytime. You can choose to do it directly after the wedding reception (rare), the day after the wedding ceremony (more common), or after you return from your honeymoon (most common). Some people even schedule it for a time on their honeymoon, so if you are coming to Orlando on your honeymoon, I will be happy to take your trash the dress photos.
When scheduling your trash the dress photo session, you will most likely want to schedule it for the golden hours of photography, which is the first and last hour of sunlight in the day. This is the time of the day when the sunlight is the least harsh and the sun produces more warm colors and the light is diffused making the perfect time to capture these beautiful pictures. If these times are unavailable, then you can schedule it for anytime, especially if you are working with a professional photographer who can work with the light to capture the perfect shots.
The Location
One of the great things about a trash the dress photo session is that it can be held anywhere. The beach, your home swimming pool, the hotel pool, or anywhere else you can think of. The options are endless, so let’s be creative and together we can find the perfect spot.
The Bride’s Attire
In most cases brides will wear their actual wedding gown for the trash the dress session, however, in some cases you may not want to actually trash your original dress, so you could purchase a discontinued dress or even wear the dress from your rehearsal dinner.
For this photo session your shoes don’t have to be fancy; in fact, if you are going to take the pictures on the beach or in a pool, then bare feet will work. One important thing is your jewelry; wear all your wedding day jewelry and we’ll capture some great pictures of them.
In most cases, the hair and makeup will be done by the bride. If you want it done professionally, then it is possible to get it done for a discount or free if you find a make-up artist willing to provide services for free in exchange for picture they can use in their portfolio. This option would require you to sign a release for the make-up artist and for the photographer to be willing to release the images. If you are interested in having this done by a make-up artist, please let me know when you book your session and I will be happy to help you find a make-up artist willing to provide the services for free. I will also release the images for the make-up artist to use in exchange for helping you.
If you want a bouquet, then check with your florist when ordering your wedding flowers. The bouquet for the trash the dress photos should be very simple and you could easily pick up a good one at a low price from the grocery store. Publix always seems to have a nice selection.
The Groom’s Attire
Grooms could wear their tuxedo especially if the trash the dress photos were being taken the day after the wedding ceremony. If it’s scheduled for a time other than the day after the wedding, then you could approach the tuxedo shop and ask for a low price loaner for the session. The other option is for the groom to wear more casual clothes, maybe dress pants and a dress shirt.
One Last Tip
Remember, these photos are casual and fun. Unlike the wedding formals which are very structured, these photos are relaxing for both the bride and the groom. So relax, enjoy the opportunity to goof off and you will have a great time with your trash the dress photo session.
Are you ready to schedule your Trash the Dress Session? If so, complete the contract form below and we can plan your dream trash the dress session.
Talk to you soon – Scott.
Capturing that Magical Wedding Memory
Take a look at this picture. Here I am on my wedding day! I’ve just gotten in the car and my father-in-law is driving me and my bride to our wedding reception.
There is a great story to this picture and whenever my wife and I see it, we laugh about it – it’s one of the funny wedding memories we had on our wedding day, so let me share with you the story.
After our wedding pictures were completed, we walked out of the church and got to my father-in-law’s car, he wanted to drive us to our reception. My wife got into the left side of the car and with her door open, the photographer positioned himself to get that classic shot of the bride and groom in the car. I walked around to the right side of the car and as I was getting in the car, my wife asked me to hurry up, so trying to get into the car quickly, I slammed the left side of my head into the car door frame and at the exact same time, managed to close the door onto the right side of my head, thus sandwiching my head between the door and the car. I sank into the seat of the car, smiled for the photographer with the best, I’m not in pain look I could muster, and then crashed in pain as we drove away.
To this day, my wife and I smile everytime we see this picture because we think back to that painful event (the door slamming, not the wedding)!
There are many little special moments that occur at weddings and that’s what I try to capture in my pictures. I may not know every backstory, but you will and it’s a great pleasure for me knowing that you will get many years of enjoyment from your wedding pictures and many stories you can share with your children and grandchildren.
Now here’s a great video clip of a wedding photographer helping his clients create and capture that moment they will remember forever.
So, what will your special moment be?
That’s it for today – Have a great weekend.
Scott
Wedding Photography Thursday – Your Engagement Session
© Scott Todd 2009
Welcome to Wedding Photography Thursday, my goal is that each Thursday, I will share with you my thoughts on wedding photography in the hopes that it will give you an understand of my photographic philosophies.
To kick this weekly series off, I thought we would discuss the very popular engagement session. This session has become a staple in most Wedding Photographers packages and I believe it’s for a good reason. I believe this session plays a critical role in the Wedding Photography Process and it helps me as your photographer capture better images during your ceremony.
At its most basic form an Engagement Session is basically a portrait sessions. These photos can be used for a variety of reasons including engagement announcements, wedding slideshows, in wedding albums, or framed for display in your home or your parent’s home. In most cases these photos are a combination of candid shots and some natural posed shots. I like to treat these shots as fun casual shots that document this special transition time in your life.
My wife and I were married in 1997 and way back then, the photographers didn’t have an option, they had to shoot with film in their cameras, so engagement sessions were not being included in the packages because there was hard cost (film and development) involved. Today the cost involved are really more soft cost (time and labor) and it’s more feasible to use this opportunity to introduce the couple to working with me as their photographer.
This session allows me to put you in front of my camera before your big day, it allows you to develop a comfort level with my style and it increases your confidence in me as your photographer. On your wedding day you don’t need to worry if I’m doing a good job for you as you will all have that confidence from the time we spend in this session. This is one less thing for you to worry about on your big day.
Some couple worry that these photos will be mainly staged poses and while they can include that, I like to capture the candid photos as well. Think of the two of you walking down Park Ave. in Winter Park, window shopping in front of The Collection, or walking around Lake Eola or even walking on the beach at sunset. This session can be anything you want!
My Engagement Session Offer
I believe that an engagement session should be an opportunity for a bride and groom to try out their photographer. The current trend in the market is for the engagement session to be included with the wedding package, however, I offer prospective couples a free engagement session separate from the wedding package, because I want to use this as an opportunity to earn your business, I want you to see how I communicate, how I think, how I capture the images, how I post process the images and earn your trust, respect and confidence. On your wedding day, I want you to see me and think, he’s got it covered – Great!
So my advice is simple, don’t hire a photographer until you get to see how you look from his (or her) point of view. Ask them to give you a sample of their work, ask for the free engagement session before you book your wedding and use this opportunity to help you make the right decision for your wedding day.
So what do you think? Are you ready to book your free engagement session? If so, complete the form on my contact page. [Link]
Well, That’s it for me today, I hope you have a great day. Scott