Chicago Wedding Photography

As an experienced wedding photographer in Liverpool and Manchester, I have found ghosting to be a major problem that arises on a regular basis. It is caused when light is reflected from either inside the lens barrel or elements.When photographing a wedding, it can often occur as strong light sources such as huge windows (Often seen in fantastic Tudor style buildings used for weddings), are a favourite haunt for photographers wanting to make the most out of the surroundings. Liverpool, Merseyside and Manchester are littered with venues like this and are regular haunts for me on a daily and weekly basis.It is often the case that as soon as the camera is pointed towards the subject (Let say the bride - sitting on a medieval seat right in front of the window), the risk of 'Ghosting' will be dramatically increased.Doing little or nothing about this could potentially destroy what would be a fantastic photograph. However, some simple techniques can solve the problem...Firstly, good lenses 'Claim' to reduce the risk of ghosting, although I have yet to find one that completely stops this. Secondly, using a good UV filter will also help, but again, these can only 'Help reduce' the risk and it is often the case that shooting directly towards will still result in slight ghosting. Using packages like photo shop can also help, as spending time darkening the problem area will help reduce the negative effect ghosting gives.The best and simplest way I have found is to step sideways away from the window and angle the camera till no ghosting can be seen. Take a photograph, check it, move further sideways, take another and so on until no ghosting occurs.Many of the images I take are on angles anyway and so if I move away from 'Straight on' towards the window, lets say left, angle the camera to add a funky look to the image and then press the shutter, ghosting is minimized and a cool looking photograph is captured.When photographing weddings, one of the most important elements is that you do not keep the bride waiting. Photographers who are standing around for too long attempting to get the perfect shot will only cause concern for the bride and cause negative feeling towards you. I find as a photographer that its best to play it safe. That is why funky angles are common place in many of the photographs I take. Should you as a photographer REALLY want the straight on image in front of the window, then either get the lens, filter and spend time editing or simply use the angled option, thus helping reduce the time in post production.An after thought... Ghosting can be a desirable effect... Shoot a few straight on and they may just work. Remember photographers are (Meant to be) artists, there is no right or wrong way. It is not maths... This is just a guide...

Retro-themed weddings seem to be growing in popularity by the day (even celebrities are getting in on the act), and so demand for specialist vintage wedding photographers with relevant knowledge and experience is growing with it. While there's no substitute for rolling up your bloomers and testing the vintage waters yourself, it helps to be armed with some ideas so you don't feel like a bemused Marty McFly stepping out of the DeLorean for the first time when you dive into the shoot's planning stage. Here are some tips that will hopefully stand the test of time travel...Polaroids are People-Pleasers!If there's anything that makes a vintage-themed wedding more authentic, it's dead technology. Sure, if the wedding is '20's themed, then sourcing a camera from that era is probably out of the question, but Polaroids are still old-timey enough to delight the happy couple and wedding guests alike regardless of the wedding theme's decade.The trick is to take people by surprise; start by taking Polaroids of people before and during the wedding service and if anyone asks, tell them they'll be in the official wedding photo album. Then, once the ceremony's over and you've snapped the bejesus out of the newlyweds, race on ahead to the reception venue and hang the Polaroids up in an attractive display so people can see pictures of themselves and their friends as they arrive. The delight on guests' faces will make the extra effort worthwhile.Location, Location, LocationSometimes the couple will have a location in mind for the post-service photos but often they'll be looking for guidance from the professional (that's you!). Here are a few thought-starters:

Heritage-listed buildings - check with your local heritage association or tourist board for suitable places close to the wedding venue.
Parks with bandstands - hell, you could even hire a couple of violinists to play while the couple embrace in matrimonial bliss!
Old farmhouses and barns - these timeless buildings work for any era.
Virtually any building with a weatherboard exterior - a touch of wear and tear on the wood is a bonus.
Abandoned buildings - for the more adventurous couples, a disused school or hotel could provide an unbeatable backdrop by tying into the whole time-warp theme. It's not everyone's cup of tea though, so approach with caution!

If there is one day that you want to remember forever, it is your wedding day. You spend months if not years planning this one day, and when it is over you will want to go back in time so you can relive it all over again. Even if things don't go exactly as you planned, it will remain one of the most important days of your life.Most people hire videographers and photographers to capture their wedding day, but those services do not capture the true magic of the day. The magic comes from your guests. They have loved and supported you throughout your lifetime, and now they will come together to share tears of happiness as you walk down the aisle and say "I do" to the love of your life. They are just as important as the elaborate cake, the table centerpieces, and the flowers.A photo booth hire will allow your guests to take center stage at your wedding. They can climb into the booth alone to record sentimental videos that you will later receive compiled onto one DVD for your enjoyment. They can also climb into the booth in small groups of two to six people, posing for fun pictures that will later be compiled into an album for your memories. The best booths also expand so you can take large group photos.You can still have a photographer and videographer to capture your wedding ceremony and all the fun at the reception. The photo booth is more of an opportunity for your guests to contribute to your wedding in a sentimental and fun manner.The perfectly posed pictures captured by your photographer will hold a special place in your heart forever, but the images that your guests capture in the booth will serve as heartwarming memories that remind you why your big day was so special. These images will capture the personality and spirit of every guest at your wedding.Incorporating the Photo BoothEveryone will want to get into the photo booth once guests realize it is there, so make sure there is plenty of opportunity for everyone to take their turn. One way to incorporate the booth is to place it right at the entrance of the reception hall. If your reception is being held right after the wedding ceremony, guests will have some time to wait while the wedding party takes pictures with the photographer. This time can easily be filled with time in the photo booth.All of your guests may not get through the line for the photo booth before wedding party pictures are over and you make your grand entrance to the reception, but there will be time for them to finish up later in the reception. Guests should be asked to step out of line to watch your entrance and perhaps eat, then they should be free to dance and live it up while going into the booth in different groups to record video messages and snap pictures.You may also choose to create a door prize for the silliest picture snapped in the booth. This encourages all of your guests to go into the booth. It also encourages them to think creatively when taking their pictures, so you have better memories to look back at later on.

So - you love photography and have been asked by a friend to take pictures at their wedding. Why is it that it seems like every professional photographer will recommend you don't do it? Are they a bit biased? Maybe they don't want to be blamed for encouraging you to take the photos if you make mistakes and ruin the wedding photos...I'm a wedding photographer that realizes every professional started out by photographing a "first wedding" at some point. While I will still recommend you give the couple a monetary gift so they can hire a professional photographer, if you are going to go ahead and do the photography yourself, I want to help you do the best job possible!I remember spending more than a hundred hours working HARD to prepare for my first wedding. Learning as much as I could online. Buying wedding photography books. Taking practice photos (indoors and outdoors). Visiting the church and reception site. Taking more practice photos. Begging people (family members, relatives, friends) to pose for me so I could practice arranging...IT IS possible for an amateur to successfully photograph a wedding - but you have to be willing to work really, really hard. And be willing to dedicate a lot of time to preparing for the wedding! And make sure the couple knows it is your first wedding so that they have low expectations. Then you can blow them away with your good results!LEARN ABOUT LIGHTINGDo you know how to take well-lit photos in a variety of settings? Can you take nicely-lit photos that primarily use natural light while indoors? Or do you use "blast-flash" on all your subjects?There are three basic settings on the camera that control exposure. Do you know what those three are? If you are a student of photography you should immediately know the three I am referring and should know how they interact!#1 - Do you know what ISO refers to and what settings work best for various lighting conditions? If you stepped outside for some photos at a wedding, what would you move your ISO to? If you are indoors, what ISO setting will give you a good mixture of quality and light capture? At what ISO setting does your camera begin to take grainy photos? On my Nikon D300 I will shoot indoors at ISO 400 all day and end up with beautiful, grain-free results. If needed, I can go up to ISO 800. I try to avoid going higher than ISO 800 - but will do it if needed (there are tons of Photoshop plug-ins, free and paid, that can be used to lessen the grain).#2 - Do you know what shutter speed you can comfortably shoot at without taking blurred photos? Four bits of advice relating to this one:

Your wedding is one of the most important days in your life and your photographs taken that day should show it so you have the memories to share for year to come. While weddings can be expensive and you may be tempted to skimp on some areas, your photographer should not be one of them. These are memories that you cannot get back.If you decide to get married in Toronto you have an overwhelming number of photographers who will be willing to cater to your needs during your big day so it can be hard to choose which one will do the best job. The location of your wedding is also going to directly show in your photographs and may help the mood to be set. You want to have the best photographs possible on your special day.One of the best places for wedding photography in Toronto is at the Queen's Landing. It is a hotel featured right on Lake Ontario and the Niagara River. It is a very scenic location offering fruit orchards and vineyards along with golf courses and a gazebo. The hotel is a mansion style with beautiful stained glass ceilings, marble flooring, and spiral staircases which will work fabulously during your day to allow you to capture those moments in the most elegant setting possible. Your wedding will have a very romantic setting for the event which will come across in your photos as well.Another location that you may consider is the King's Garden Banquet Hall for your wedding. This should be a focus if you want to have a wedding that is mainly indoors. It is a very low key and intimate setting that will offer you privacy and elegance all in one place. The ambience provided will come across in your photographs and allow you to remember the memories of that day when you look back years from now.If you enjoy being the center of attention, and you should on your wedding, you ought to keep the Waterside Inn in the front of your mind as a location to consider for your big day. They only host your wedding that day to ensure that you are the top and only priority to make the day as best as it can be for you and this is directly seen in the photographs you will bring home from the event. Everything from the votive candles to the crisp white linens along with the lighting will help shine elegance on your big day as you say "I do" and commit yourself to the one that you love.When you decide that you are going to get married choosing a photographer is one big thing that you have to decide on but it's not the only one. Your photographer and the location of your wedding both work together to set the scene and mood for the pictures that are taken during your big day. Be sure that you choose the best setting for your wedding that will allow you to capture your big day in the best way possible.

Tier cake stands are designed to support different levels of a cake. This kind of stand comes in various numbers of tiers. 3 tier wedding cake stands usually are the most popular in the market. If you have decided to buy a 3 tier stand, there are plenty of them available in different finishes. Below you will find some popular choices.For people who want to get elegant stands for their cakes, 3 tier stands made with glass and metal should be good choices. They usually feature sculptured metal and frosted glass and look quite simple yet can display your cake beautifully. Besides, this type of stand does not cost much money. It is perfect for couples who want to get nice cake stands on a budget.Another stand that is good-looking yet inexpensive is one that is made of glass. This type of stand can be an elegant addition to your tableware collection after the wedding ceremony. It comes with many different shapes for you to choose from, like round and square styles. Various colors are also available, ranging from simple clear glass to ruby red coloring.Of course, a 3 tier wedding bead stand is great for couples who want to incorporate cake designs from contemporary to traditional. This stand goes perfect with a jewelry or artwork design and add a stylish touch to the display of cakes of various styles and sizes. It costs a little higher than the former two but surely will make an elegant statement at your wedding reception.

Many wedding photographers avoid taking large groups. You should never refuse to shoot a large group, there is always a demand for groups if you pose them correctly.Most photographers who say there is little money to made with large groups, usually do not have the creativity to pose the groups.In fact the opposite is true, you will get many reorders for groups shots if you take the time and effort to ensure that your customers are happy with the shot.You often see wedding photography where the photographer has posed the group in a long straight line. In order to get the group to fit the frame they then have to walk backwards or use a very wide angle lens. The effect of walking backwards to make the group fit the frame is that you end up with lots of sky, lots of ground and an unattractive looking group somewhere across the middle of the frame.There are two methods I advise you to use when shooting big groups.The first is to shoot from a high angle, for example from a first floor window above the group. This can often be achieved at the hotel. Directing the group from here is not easy, but you will gain the advantage of a group which can be five or six deep and whose faces can all be seen.The other method is to use a set of stairs, often available at the church or at the hotel. Ensure the bride and groom are at the foot of the stairs and get arrange everyone else in an ascending manner from there. Before you press the shutter check quickly that you can see everyone's face.Also beware of your depth of field when using stairs, you will probably be shooting at least f8 if not f16.So, don't be afraid of the big groups!

Shooting wedding photos on a foreign location is fascinating. The out of the ordinary scenes and locations can really make the creative juices ebb and flow. However, whenever you are photographing outside your country of residence, you have to take care of ALL the legal issues connected with photographing on a foreign land.If you are a new destination wedding photographer, here are a few things you will require to address while planning such a foreign assignment.Passport and VisaIt is obvious that you need to carry a valid passport that is definitely not close to expiry. Visa applications can take really long time depending upon the destination. You will have to apply for a business visa. Hence, make sure you have sufficient time to get your visa ready. For other passport and visa requirements, contact your embassy in the destination country.License/Work PermitSome destination wedding resorts require that the outside vendor carry a license for the services he or she is providing. For more information, clarify with the resort your clients have chosen and also with the tourist information center at the destination.Some destinations, such as Mexico require that you obtain a work permit as a freelance photographer (even if only for a few weeks). The best place to clarify such doubts is to call the local embassy of that country (For example, calling up Mexican embassy situated in the USA for more details).Insurance These days it is always better to be equipped with cover-all travel insurance. While travelling, a photographer will have to carry equipments that cost thousands of dollars. Unless you insure them against damage and theft, you cannot be at peace. Make sure your insurance agent covers the theft, loss or damage on a foreign land as well. Thus, you need to look for travel insurance, which not only covers medical problems, but also extends the insurance to personal belongings.

1. Know Your AudienceKnowing who your intended audience is an obvious, but sometimes overlooked step in the process of developing your slide show. For instance, if you're showing your slide show at your wedding reception, perhaps you'll want to include some pictures of the guests, and not just pictures of you and your fiancee.2. Shorter is Sometimes BetterAfter you've determined who your intended audience is you can start to get an idea as to how many pictures you'll want to include in your slide show. We've found that video montages that are between 8 - 12 minutes in length are ideal for wedding receptions. This usually works out to about 3 songs and 75-100 pictures. While you can certainly display more photos during your slide show, you want to be careful not to subject your guests to an extremely long slide show. Some people have elected to develop two slide shows. One that is their "personal" slide show that will be given to their parents or kept for themselves and the other is their "reception" slide show that will be shown during the big event.3. Choose Quality PhotographsWhile recent advances in digital photo restoration have allowed torn and poorly developed photographs to be brought back to life, there is only so much that the software can do. Pictures that look great printed (correct lighting, framing, developed properly) will also look great while scanned. Pictures that are extremely dark or grainy, while perhaps improved somewhat, will still not appear the best. 4. Choose a Variety of PhotographsEven though you may love all the pictures of your dog Rusty, you're audience may not want to sit through all the pictures of him. Instead of showing 10 pictures of ole' Rusty, perhaps choose the best 2 or 3. Using a variety of photographs can keep your audience interest.5. Landscape pictures show better than Portrait pictures

A wedding photo collage is an interesting idea with lots of great possibilities. You can create them for yourself or for family, friends and anyone else you want to share your memories with. Here are just a few ideas for those looking to share their big day in a special way:1. You might want to make a photo collage of your wedding for your parents or grandparents.   You can do this as a special gift shortly after your wedding day using pictures that you have selected from the photographer or someone else who took pictures at the event.  Try to select ones that the recipient would like, making it as personal as it can be.  For example, your grandparents will probably like a collage of just family, whereas your folks might prefer a mix of family and close friends.2. You can combine photos from your wedding with others such as your first date, destination vacations and other special occasions and give them to your husband or wife as an anniversary gift.  This will have much more meaning than the usual anniversary presents, and you can take a trip down memory lane together.3. If you want to do something really unique, make your photo collage into a jigsaw puzzle.  You can take your favorite shots from your big day, e.g. the first dance, cutting the cake, family table pictures, and upload these to an online service that will turn them into a unique wedding photo collage puzzle.  These can be great for everyone, as they combine the memory of your special day with a fun activity for kids and adults alike. After all, who doesn't like a jigsaw puzzle?Whatever you decide, make sure it's done right.  Look online for companies that specialize in digital wedding photo collages, and choose one that offers a wide selection of options. Most good online stores will have some of their past work displayed so you can get an idea of what the photo collage may look like. If you can't decide what to choose, they will suggest a photo collage for you.If you go the puzzle route, there are only a select few companies that do this, at least professionally. You want to  make sure the company you choose specializes in digital photo jigsaw puzzles.  It shouldn't be too difficult to determine this. You can order them in a variety of puzzle sizes depending on skill level, from 35 pieces all the way up to 1500 pieces.  Prices usually range from  around $80 to $250.So don't just throw those wedding photos in a boring old album, make a photo collage today.  Better yet, make a wedding photo collage jigsaw puzzle!