Chicago Wedding Photography

Beach weddings are a wonderful idea for fun and more casual ceremonies. Weather permitting, there's little better than getting wed with the sun shining and the sound of the surf rolling in behind you. There is also no place where a cold beer is more appreciated, so all-in-all it looks like that a wedding Koozie is the ideal personalized wedding favor for the occasion! There are however many options to choose from though, some with very different looks and feel. So, if you think a Koozie will work at your beach wedding, read on for some of our best ideas and inspiration.Scenic Beach Wedding KooziesThe simplest beach wedding Koozie is just a picture of the sea, rolling surf and sand with perhaps a stunning sunset too with your required text added over the top. Obviously some photos might suit the location of your wedding better than others: ones with palms are ideal for Florida and LA, but might not suit beach weddings in Oregon or Maine so much! Most Koozie suppliers should have a good library of generic beach shots on file to choose from, and there's surely one that will suit your destination, whether it is the Gulf of Mexico or Alaska!To start off on your mission to find ideas perhaps try a search using Google Images to find something you like the look of to help the designers get the best match for you.Location Wedding KooziesTo make your beach wedding Koozies more personal why not look for, or even take yourself if possible, a photograph of the beach you are getting married on? Of course many beaches can look quite similar, so find a local landmark to include in your shot if you can: a building, rock formation or big prominent tree or palm perhaps. Something that people will recognize when they are there is clearly ideal if the Koozie is to serve as a reminder of the day for people who have travelled some distance. Do not worry if you are not able to get things 100% right in your photograph, there are a lot of tricks that a good Koozie designers can use to clean up and improve photographs that you send in. This could be erasing power poles, cars and people, to even increase the blue in the sky too for you.If you are finding it hard to get the perfect shot yourself, one of the tricks a good photographer uses is to take their shots either early in the morning or later in the afternoon, just before sunset. There is a different quality of light at these times and shadows are much more interesting. Besides it is much harder to get lighting right in bright sunshine sometimes, especially if the thing you want to take a photograph of is in the wrong place with respect to the sun.Another possibility, but one much more difficult to arrange or find, is an aerial shot of the place you are due to be married. Try asking your resort or hotel, if you have one booked, whether they have any imagery you might use as they often have such photographs taken for promotional material.Personalizing Your Beach Wedding Koozies Further

With so many things going on in your life you may just want to take the easy way out and stop at your local Chicago florist shop and pick up the first Mother's Day flower arrangement you see. But why not get her something different this year and skip the traditional flowers such as roses or tulips. Less widely know and exotic Mother's Day flowers will be greatly appreciated and give you mother something to talk with her friends about.An arrangement of lilies, irises, gerberas and proteas make for a brilliant display of color. Mixing and matching reds, purples, pink and yellow flower will give you an amazing look. How about a bouquet of flowers shipped in from the Pacific Rim. You can give your mother a unique Mother's Day gift that includes protea, anthurium, eucalyptus, and exotic greens. These flowers work well together and I am sure your mother would love them.I think one of the most unique Mother's Day flowers I have seen are arrangements with the Birds of Paradise. Nothing makes one think of a warm tropical island and sitting on the beach under some palm trees than when you see this flower in a bouquet. The Birds of Paradise with its bright yellow to orange flowers, large leaves, and unique shape truly sets it apart from other flowers.Going out of your way and getting a unique gift of Mother's Day flowers will truly make the day more memorable. With the variety of exotic flowers available and that they can be shipped to Chicago, it isn't that much more work to give your mother this special kind of arrangement. Not just any old Mother's Day flower but a unique gift she is bound to love.Get more information on ways to make it a special Mother's Day in Chicago

The bride is the most beautiful woman in her wedding. All the attention is centered on her. Every admiring look speaks of her beauty, her long trailing gown, and her entire appearance. Make-up can do wonders for making a woman's face beautiful and refreshed during her wedding. It can also highlight the beauty of a woman who is already endowed with a beautiful face. A woman should look good on her wedding. A wedding photographer will love taking shots of her together with the man she loves. There are some make-up tips that the bride should follow so that she will look her best in her wedding photography pictures.Before the Wedding DayThe bride should undertake beauty care programs such as regular facials. Facials can help rejuvenate her skin. There are even good beauty products that the beautician can recommend. Women should go for a relaxing massage at least once a week. Massage sessions can help relieve stress. Weather can also affect the skin. Extremes of weather can dry and damage the skin. Women should avoid the sun's rays as much as possible. The use of sunblock is also recommended for outside activities. A bride would not want to look toasted in her wedding photos.An aromatherapy session before the wedding also relieves stress and relaxes the muscles. A good night's sleep before the wedding can make the bride beautiful and stress-free during her wedding photography sessions. She also has to book for her make-up artist 3 to 4 months in advance. A trial session can also be done so that the wedding photographer will have a preknowledge on what suits her best.On the Wedding DayIf pictures for wedding photography are taken during the night, the bride needs to wear heavy make-up. But during the day, light make-up is best. A wedding photographer can take candid shots of the bride no matter what the season is. The bride will be beautiful with her bright, pastel shades make-up during a summer or spring wedding. Warmer and deeper shades will be ideal for her during a winter wedding. Since the bride is going to be photographed a lot by the wedding photographer, foundations with yellow tones will work best with flash wedding photography technique.The wedding is going to be an affair worth remembering. One last tip, but never the least, the bride should carry a powder compact, some tissues and a lipstick. They are necessary for touch ups and are excellent tools for best wedding photography pictures.

Hire a wedding photographer on your wedding day if you want to capture that memorable moment in your life. Your photographer can also advise you how to pose pleasingly and attractively. Therefore, an array of good poses should be suggested to the bride and groom to produce the best pictures. Composition is important in photography.For many hobbyists, photography has evolved into a rewarding business because today, brides and bridegrooms are willing to pay just to have their wedding pictures perfectly taken. Wedding photo specialists will stay in business because weddings happen so often nowadays. Time-honoured occasions like weddings need to have some professional wedding photographer to immortalize the images as the memorable moments happen.Some people say there are no rules in photography but your photographer should know better than them. Your photographer would surely know that photographic composition must be applied to any scene. Therefore, you must hire an experienced wedding photographer. Visual impact makes a picture memorable and it involves composing the image in the camera to make a natural balance of the images. Your pictures must draw attention and lead the viewer's eye to the photograph. Wedding compositions, just like in any other photographs, are planned and thought off. One of the composition tips is the rule of thirds which positions the most central elements in your scene along the lines intersecting 1/3 of the frame, vertically or horizontally. The best photograph compositions depend on the skill of the photographer and the cooperation of the bride and groom.Balancing elements would make a fascinating photo or leading lines towards the couple that may produce a great picture. Photographers at weddings may use symmetry and patterns to catch the viewer's eye. At a certain viewpoint, the wedding photographer may shoot from high above, or below at ground level or from any angle side, back, close up or use a telephoto lens to get the desired portrait. Also, the key to perfect wedding images are the background, depth-of-field, framing say for example with archways and plants, and cropping to remove what is not needed in the picture.Wedding photographers are good in experimentation because of their vast experience in the profession. In addition, digital cameras have given the wedding photographer the flexibility to experiment, unlike before when expensive films were being used. So trust your wedding photographer to do the job for you on your wedding day.

Most commercial photography has to do with photographing products and services. However, because commercial photographers are known as some of the most experienced and talented photographers around it comes as no surprise when they are often hired as wedding photographers too. As a matter of fact a fair majority of photographers will double as wedding photographers when they are not working on product photographs for businesses.The Rise of Commercial PhotographyIn the old day taking photographs which were to be used commercially was a time consuming and often expensive undertaking. There were few photographers who would want to spend the time taking pictures of products and then sorting through hundreds of them to find the best. Today, thanks to digital cameras and digital storage media like SD cards things are a lot simpler and cheaper. Most professional photographers will have the latest 18 megapixel camera with an exterior flash coupled with some backup memory cards. Compared to what professional photographers used to spend two decades or so ago this equipment is cheap both in the short and long term. The only real investment is purchasing a set of lenses most of which are going to be macro lenses if they specialize in product photography. The time it takes to complete a project has also been drastically reduced thanks to the fact that today's photographers can make on the spot decisions if the pictures they are taking are good and delete the ones that are not. That being said commercial photography is still very challenging and thanks to the latest cameras highly competitive.Post ProductionIn the past most post production was done manually so the options available to a photographer were limited. So, photographers either got their shot right or they had to do it again, there was no way for them to correct mistakes, replace the background or add colors. Today, post production is a major part of taking commercial photographs. Post production tools like Photoshop help photographers correct mistakes, fix blemishes and edit photos so that they can be used across an array of print and digital mediums. While using post production tools have become increasingly easier over the past couple of years making the right edits and adding the correct filters, balances and layers requires experience. It also requires an understanding of what the business wants to convey via the image.Even though the way in which taking commercial photographs has changed and made things easier it still requires skill and experience. Regardless, of if you want to boost the morale of your employees or improve your business's image via social media and print campaigns it is imperative to hire the best photographer for the job. Ideally, the best person will have lots of experience and be able to deliver results.

If you've been considering a photo booth at your wedding and weren't sure if it's a good idea... it is. It's trendy, fun and a good value. As a cruise director for Royal Caribbean Cruise Line I had an opportunity to observe people in a celebratory environment and was particularly tuned to what they enjoyed and how they reacted to entertainment as a group. After 3 years running a photo booth company, I am still amazed at the way people react to a photo booth at a wedding. I started to ask why!When I first heard the idea, it sounded stupid, until I saw it with my own eyes. Sure enough, this old idea, which we would casually pass up with hardly a second glance at the mall, is breathing new life into wedding entertainment. When people get in the booth together, a spark ignites, the child within them comes out and they play behind the curtain, seeing how silly they can make the photos and laughing the entire time. It's clear to me that photo booths are the new "chocolate fountain", that is to say, a new staple of entertainment at weddings and parties.So why is it that while every person there has a phone with a camera in it, they line up to play in the photo booth?
UNFAMILIAR ENVIRONMENT: On cruise ships, people were more childlike and open to silliness because they were out of their element. They looked to us (the crew) for cues how to act. When we showed them it was OK to be playful, they felt free to be silly and had a blast, moving out of their usual roles. A photo booth works much the same way.
NOSTALGIA: Everyone has been in a photo booth as a kid and being in one as an adult brings you back to your childhood. Older folks may not have been in one for 50 years and stepping inside is like stepping back in time.
PRIVACY: It is something like a game of peek-a-boo! We know we are going to show our photos to everyone, there may even be an external monitor, yet when that curtain closes we feel we have the privacy to loosen up, distort our faces and pop out laughing! Then we show them our 4 frozen moments of goofiness!
SPACE: No matter the size of the booth, you have to get close to others, breaking down our usual social barriers as we suspend our personal boundaries. This is exhilarating in itself but it also means the usual rules of conduct don't apply and we let ourselves "play" and interact with the booth and the people we are with. It's fun.
MEMORIES: The photo booth captures people who might not normally be photographed together. What a wedding photographer captures is quite different from what a photo booth captures. Strange pairings ofpeople who might only be together at your event are preserved forever. This could include family members mixing with college friends from the opposite coast, children with great-grandparents, and best buddies who have never met until now. It gives them something to do together;an experience to share.
ENTERTAINMENT: Most importantly, a photo booth works at a party because it is a source of entertainment. For all of the reasons above, it is very entertaining. It's less about the photos and more about the experience you have while you are in the booth. You squeeze, you giggle, pose and mug your faces, use props and get creative! Not everyone enjoys the dance floor, but everyone has a face!

When my husband and I got married and opted for a civil wedding, it's not about the money but meeting halfway - it is totally a different and long story. In most cases however, when a couple decides to go for a civil wedding, it has something to do with the budget. With that being said, how much does a quick and simple civil wedding cost?Dear judge, here's our witnesses, marry us now and make it quick!This is where you and your spouse-to-be go to the courthouse or the mayor's office together with a few witnesses (at least two of your closest friends who are of legal age or your parents/guardian if both of you are below 18) and say, "I do". Plain and simple. If you fall under this category, a budget of PHP5,000 - PHP7,000 should already be enough to get married. That is given that you only have two-four witnesses. Here's a list of what your PHP5,000 - PHP7,000 can cover up:

Marriage License Application Fee - When we secured our marriage license in 2011, we only spent around PHP200 - PHP250 max as far as I can remember. Make sure to check the City's Official Website fees as it may vary per city. Allotting PHP500 for this step is the safe way to go.
Officiating Officer Fee - This could range from PHP500-PHP2500 max depending on who will solemnize your union. You can choose from a mayor, judge or a registered solemnizing officer. Their fees may vary due to several factors like the date that you've chosen for your wedding. Some judges and mayors normally don't officiate civil wedding on weekends.
Wardrobe - Ladies can always go for those white/light-pink/peach dresses - those type that you wear to a Sunday Mass, just one notch prettier. While the gents can go for the smart casual attire.
Lunch, Dinner, whatever! - Simply put as, you need to treat yourselves to some food after the event. Wherever you want to eat, you definitely could already tell how much budget is needed for four-seven people, couldn't you?
Media Coverage - This part is totally optional but is definitely worth it! I mean what better way to look back on your wedding day than watching your photos and video? Nowadays, you'll find independent videographers and photographers who would cover events like debut, anniversaries and weddings for free just to build their portfolios. In fact, if you have friends who love to take good photos and can do decent video coverage with some smart editing, then you wouldn't have to spend a single penny on this one.Let's just say, you didn't happen to find anyone who can do this for free. There are still a lot of suppliers who can offer you their services for such a reasonable price. Some can even customize their service to adjust to your budget (wink). Again, this one is totally optional.

Don't get me wrong. I love the digital photography age. I love its convenience, ease of use, and cost savings. I love being able to digital edit and manipulate my images. However there are some downsides to the digital photography age. Mainly, too many people think that aunt Sarah, who loves to take pictures and has a pretty darn good digital camera, will do an adequate job taking their wedding photos. High mega-pixel digital cameras have brought amateur wedding photographers out of the woodwork. Why is that?Reason 1 - the image preview
Mainly because the photographer can see the image preview immediately after taking the shot. They can see, more or less, whether or not it turned out. You see, back in the day when photographers were using film, photographers did not have the advantage of seeing the image preview. They absolutely had to know what they were doing because they didn't get to see their work until sometime well after the wedding. A simple mistake of leaving the lens on manual focus when you thought it was on automatic focus or miscalculating the exposure settings or flash settings could ruin a wedding album. There was no "oops, that one was too dark. Or oops the flash was too bright on that one. I'll quickly adjust the settings and retake it."The digital image preview can have its drawbacks, however. A would be professional photographer can feel invincible with the power to quickly preview and adjust settings on the fly. But the image preview still doesn't solve every problem. For instance...- It is still very difficult to tell if an image is in precise sharpness from the small image preview.
- You could still miss seeing that strand of hair that was in front of the subject's face.
- If you are taken a group shot, you can easily miss if someone blinked during the shot.

Nowadays, hiring a professional wedding photographer is now a rising trend. To take photos with relatives and friends as a remembrance for this very memorable day of their lives. This is of course, you can save your money by making it simple, but sometimes it can place you in a risky situation that might occur at the day of the wedding. The couple can look back and find again as they captured those sweet memories they experience.The various benefits that you can get with a professional wedding photographer:• The professional wedding photographer is the one in charge handling the backing equipment to be use in order not to malfunction during the occasion.• Professional wedding photographers have done in many ways the different lighting condition in which they are in charge in delivering reliable quality kind of product.• Professional wedding photographers should have permanent photographs in getting photos during a wedding day, not just only for that occasion.• A photography company will have the right to prescribe albums and also giving some alternatives regarding printing which is not available to general public.• A photography company has to comply everything all requirements such as permits and licenses before you desire to open business to be legalized.• A professional should have a written contract in order to ensure during the wedding.• A pro photographer should produce good quality photographs in which it differ the distant range and it should be shots in a full body even how far the distant is.

Some people make a choice in budget wedding reception locations for reasons of frugality; others choose them because they just aren't comfortable with the idea of splurging on a wedding reception when the economy is in bad shape. What your wedding reception ends up costing in large part does depend on your choice of location. Let's take a look at a few of the least expensive romantic wedding reception locations there can be that don't require you to sacrifice anything in taste, requirements in suitability or beauty.Did you ever consider a garden wedding reception? You do remember how in the movie Meet the Parents, a couple was going to have their reception right here in the backyard of the family home (until Ben Stiller set everything on fire). If you or a friend should happen to have a beautiful and large garden, perhaps one with a deck or patio, you can get your reception underway with no rent whatsoever. All you need to do is to make arrangements for flowers, decorations and perhaps a canopy to protect the food and the gifts. Outdoor wedding reception locations such as a garden or a beach, as we'll see shortly, are wonderful in the summer - when you can be sure it won't rain.A beach wedding reception is something even celebrities who can afford so much more can't possibly resist from time to time. You could pick a quiet spot on a public beach of your choice, and you wouldn't even have to pay rent. All you would need to do is to make sure that there is no trash that the bash leaves behind in the end, and that it's legal to serve alcohol on the public beach.There are other great budget wedding reception locations for you if you want to take it indoors. Do you know of a cute little restaurant that you like in your neighborhood? They don't even have to have a private room for receptions. You could book the entire restaurant in advance, and if it's a small enough a place, it wouldn't cost you much. For food and drinks, you can ask your guests to bring their own alcohol. If dinner at the restaurant is too expensive, you could consider simply serving lunch or wedding cake.Museums are often a great choice for wedding receptions, and wealthy people usually choose them. A public building like a museum can sometimes (though not often) can be available for weddings and receptions at a very low price. The smaller regional museums are likely to be available for rent on the cheap, and should give your reception taste and classiness that no other location could ever hope to beat.