Chicago Wedding Photography

As a Yorkshire Wedding Photographer, I often write articles about camera technique and photographic style. Today I'm writing for the wider photographic community about photographers' backup strategies so if 'tech-geekery' is not your thing then other articles I have written may be of more interest. The topic of this article is really important and one that I have been meaning to talk about for some time and is definitely helping me sleep more easily.Clients often ask me about my backup strategy, especially wedding clients, and without going into too much detail I explain that backup and the redundancy plan of those backups will mean that I will always have a minimum of 3 copies of a wedding or commercial job to rely on in the event of a disaster. Disasters do happen and those disasters come in all manner of forms from natural phenomenon such as fire, electrical failure and flooding through to simple human error such as driving over a laptop - yes this has happened to me! Having worked as a photographer for over 10 years now, I have been very secure with my backup strategy, it was much different back in the days of film when there would only ever be one set of negatives so they ALWAYS lived in a fire proof safe but digital images allow me to easily make copies - so I do and in copious amounts!What follows is an explanation of my backup strategy that I use day in day out and it helps me sleep very easily at night.In the field I use (A) Sandisk Ultra II 4 gb compact flash cards in my Nikon D700 cameras. I never use cards bigger than this because if a card fails, is lost or stolen at least I have a job spread over a number of cards and all would not be lost. At a typical wedding I shoot at least 24-30 gigs (that's around 2500 images) so if I shot 16gb cards, the stakes would be a lot higher! Once I have filled a card up, I then copy it in the field to 2 devices at the same time (B) A Jobo Giga One digital Wallet and a (C) MacBook Pro The digital wallet originally shipped with a 40gb hard drive but I have modded it with a larger 160gb drive to get more stuff on it. Once the wedding or the job is finished and I have backed up the whole collection, I will drive home with the Macbook and my assistant will drive home with the digital wallet so that we have at least 2 sets in different locations at all times.Once I get home, I then connect the Macbook to a (D) 4 TB external hard drive and make another copy which stays at my house and that drive never leaves home. So at this point I have 4 copies of every job I do - you may think it's overkill, but storage space is cheap and I like to sleep soundly at night! The next stage of the strategy takes place at my office where I hook up the Macbook via a Gigabit ethernet Switch to my (E) iMac which then takes all of the images and copies onto a (F) Verbatim 2TB Raid hard drive system Raid drives are awesome! in layman's terms, a RAID is basically 2 separate hard drives that are configured to mirror each other (they can be set in other configurations, but the most secure method is mirroring) so once I copy onto the RAID I am effectively getting 2 separate copies. Should one of the drives in the array go down, I receive an email notification and all I have to do is replace the faulty drive and the system then builds another backup from the healthy disk. So this is my 'live drive' now propagated with the job I have just shot and I now have 6 copies, 2 of which are off site. The last step in my strategy is to backup my live drive and my archive drive on a regular basis via a (G) Hard Drive dock. This device allows me to hot swap hard drives without a caddy and so at least once or twice a week I bring drives that I keep offsite to the office and make backups of my 'live drive' and my 'archive' drive. Should I ever have a data disaster, I'm now confident that my work is safe and I would be able to work off offsite drives. Just to seal the deal I also have Time Machine set up on my MacBook Pro and iMac so I think I've got all the bases covered with the copies.Some people may ask where do writable DVDs come into the workflow? Well to be honest, I stopped using them at the start of last year's wedding season after reading a lot about how the format degrades over time so I made the decision to stop making DVD copies. I'm actually really happy about that because writing disks was a really lengthy operation after a 12 hour wedding shoot!This discussion has been about my digital assets and how I look after them, but I do want to talk briefly about my website and how I deal with it's security/backup as I did have a website 'infraction' before Christmas which led to a loss of service for a few days. My website is built on the WordPress platform and although WordPress is one of the world's most popular CMS systems, it needs a lot of 'tweaking' to make it secure and robust. My web consultant has installed several security plugins which protect against various types of web-borne threats bit I also make sure I have my own copy of my website available should anything happen. Of course my web host takes daily backups but they can be difficult to deploy should they be needed on a weekend or evening, therefore I have a plugin installed which makes regular backups of my WordPress installation and files to a cloud based solution called Sugarsync. I can now re-deploy my website from a clean copy should it get attacked and my down time will be minimised.I hope this article will help you understand what professional wedding photographers do to protect their digital assets and inspire you to take a similar approach to protecting your important images.

Choosing the perfect location for your pre-wedding photoshoot is a tough decision to make. And it gets even harder when you're getting married in Vegas because you have so many tourist attractions to consider. But not to worry! I've compiled a list of the best locations in the city so you don't have to keep searching anymore.Below are the Top 8 Vegas Attractions:1. Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Garden
The Bellagio Hotel also has a conservatory and botanical garden that can serve as wonderful backdrops for your wedding photos. Each year, the conservatory changes into 5 different themes-Chinese New Year, Holiday, Summer, Spring and Fall. So if you want to catch a particular theme, you may want to arrive at the right season. Nevertheless, every theme is absolutely breathtaking that it won't really matter which one you get to see.2. Bellagio Fountains
The Bellagio Fountains is simply one of the most romantic attractions you can find in the city. Go ahead and strike a pose as the waters dance, lights change, and soothing music plays along in the background.3. Gondola Rides at the Venetian
Always wanted to go to Italy? Take a gondola ride inside the Venetian Hotel and feel as though you're drifting through the canals of Venice.

So you have started planning for your marriage, right? Confused on deciding the budget? Want a frugal budget that will be plenteous to your guests? Well, you have good news. One of the most important and pricey expense for your wedding is the chartering of a photographer. Of course, you wouldn't want to hire a photographer who is not good in this business. For this, you should be ready to spend a good deal of money for hiring them. In today's world, wedding photographers are in demand and due to their extensive use of digital technology; they incline to charge a high price for your wedding. Wedding photographer budgets are "you get what you pay for" budgets so spend enough on them.These days, if you want a quality and professional wedding photographer you should be equipped with a minimum of $1000 for the day. This is just the lower limit and with a higher price you'll be able to get better wedding photographers. But depending on your area, location and other external factors, the prices may differ. The number of guests attending your even is an important factor because the more number of guests will keep him occupied for more amount of time thus a higher price is charged.Keep a list of wedding photographers and compare the rates. Comparison is the best way to get the best results. When you compare the photographers, you'll be able to know how to choose the better and short list to 3 or 4 wedding photographers whom you think will be best suited for your special day. Once you do this, comparison of rates play a major role. If all the photographers are equally skilled and professional, you can decide the one for you by comparing the rates.The rates may vary with different photographers because of their services. Some provide you only the basic things like photos and albums, while some provide additional services like video formatted pictures, re-touching and graphic oriented pictures. So decide on what you need and then go for the best rate.Now, there is another important thing to be kept in mind when negotiating the rates with a wedding photographer. Inquire about the contract and how they take it up. Some photographers will not give any receipt or sign any contract. Insist such photographers to sign a contract and if they still refuse, don't opt for them. Any professional wedding photographer will have a written contract to be signed by his clients and it generally includes commonly listed points given below.o Deposit fee and refund: You may have to pay a deposit fee to reserve the photographer on your wedding day and it will be refunded after the contract ends.o Other expenses related to your wedding to be included in the bill: They may quote the price including expenses incurred on your wedding like Travel expenses.o Proofs and prints: They'll let you know what you get with the photos. Almost every photographer offers a full proof of the prints with the photos.o Cancellation policy: How to cancel their service at any point of time before the wedding, if applicable. Some photographers offer this policy but most of them don't.

A wedding is a very special day in everyone's life. May it be their own, their friend's or a family member's, a wedding is something that deserves an extra dose of fondness while attending it and even when reminiscing about it through pictures. It is such a special day that every moment is actually memorable.This is the time that your family and friends are gathered into one celebration of life. Everything is prepared and well-planned. The entourage gowns and suits, wedding decorations, food and drinks, and a lot more are prepared for everyone to enjoy. There is one thing that should not be forgotten, however. Always make sure to contact a wedding photography studio to capture each of these special moments in print. You can take pictures yourselves, but wedding photographers will always be able to do it better. After all, it's their profession.Professionals of wedding photography can give you insights on how to best capture moments during the ceremony and the reception. The following are contemporary photography techniques they can tell you about:a. Indoor Photography - As the term implies, this is done indoors such as a church or an indoor reception venue. Pictures are taken only inside where the lights have been adjusted in order to capture just the right hues for every photo.b. Outdoor Photography - This is often held in parks, the beach and other outdoor venues. Photographers make sure that they get the right angle because they are using natural light this time. However, for evening events, they make sure to have the right lighting facilities to create the best photos during the shoot.c. Posed and Candid Photojournalism - This is when pictures can be taken indoors or outdoors but the shoot can either be choreographed or candid. Either of the two can look good in print, but it will still be up to the photographer how to capture the emotion of the subjects.d. Studio Shoot - This is when couples go to the studio to have their pictures taken before and after the wedding. An advantage you get from studio shoots is the availability of all types of photography equipment.e. Digital Prints and Albums - This is the end result of every pictorial showing activities before and after the wedding. Here, you can make suggestions to the photographer as to how you want the photos to come out. For example, you can give your preferences regarding the layout that you want in your album.

Have you tried setting up a business that interests you most and you feel like you really enjoy doing it aside from the fact that you are making more profits out of it? Do you have the guts and talents in organizing events and the genuine interest in people and places? Why not start a wedding planning business for both fun and profits?Wedding always captures everyone's attention and gives a refreshed feeling of pure joy. Being a great wedding planner means being a troubleshooter in every wedding set-up you are working on. Like any event-organizing business, a wedding planner is not only concerned with planning for the reception and the whole entourage but must handle all the preparations for all wedding conditions and post-wedding activities that will have to take place. A wedding planner must act on his/her tasks with sincere concern and pride in everything he/she does to make every wedding successful.Here are the 7 top qualities that could make you a great wedding planner for both fame and wealth in your wedding business.1. Being Cool. An ideal wedding planner always acts on a cool and calm manner. The success of every wedding celebration mainly lies in your hands and if something goes out of the way, you should be able to act quickly on it with a ready alternative plan on hand while staying calm and cool along the way.2. Charm and Elegance. You are a living and complete testimonial of your wedding planning business and your charm and elegance greatly attracts everyone's attention and signals buying potentials. Communicate with your charms and elegantly show your genuine interest in people and places. Be flexible and warm to every personality type. Be ready to network with other providers for further growth.3. Great Negotiator. A wedding planner is not just concerned about the wedding itself but more of a great multi-tasker in preparing everything for a truly flawless event. The future couple relies on your fantastic power to make everything happen from hiring a band and photographer, ordering flowers, getting help with venues, and getting a caterer. With all these terms in mind, your task is to get the best services for a lower cost from your wedding network. This will give you an edge in the business plus the fact that your network of providers and vendors could even promote you or give you more clients in the process.4. Money Expert. You don't need to be a bank manager to deal with money issues here. Plan everything well and always look for ways to reduce costs without sacrificing quality and wisely budget every area of the wedding expenses covered on your services to avoid getting short of cash.5. Stay Organized. Organization is your key to promotion here. Watch out for your calendar closely and see how good it is to keep track of everything and act on them before due dates come to avoid running out of time.6. A Wealth of Information. A great wedding planner must be geared up with all knowledge in everything he deals with from themes and colors, music, fashion, current trends or even fads, traditional and modern wedding etiquette and great deals for honeymoon. Knowing various traditions and religious ceremonies is even a plus factor to help a wider client perspective.

Brides have a lot of things to think about when planning for the big day. She has to consider everything to make her look the most beautiful as all eyes will be on her. It is normal that during marriages, all guests checkout the bride and groom to see how they have dressed, how good they look, and all the adornments they are wearing and so on. For the special day, the bride just has to concentrate on herself as all the work such as hiring a wedding photographer, taking care of the wedding videography, catering and planning will be undertaken by the family. There are a number of tips which brides can use for their big day so that they look truly beautiful on their special day.The big day is supposed to be an enjoyable day for the bride where she is relaxed and happy. She can either hire a consultant to help her with the planning such as choosing the clothes or she can do all the planning by herself. Make up will be essential and to make things easy, the bride can have a make up bag where she can keep all the necessary things. Few days before the special day, she can do a complete make up test and see how she will look with the different shades. It is very important that the make up matches the color and the design of the gown. The make up bag can be quite handy even on the special day itself, where the bridesmaid or an assistant can do the touch ups and keep her looking good. Waterproof makeup such as mascara and eye shadow are the best to use for special days.It is essential not to rush with the bridal gown. Brides should consider their figure, weight, and height when ordering bridal dresses. The gown should be made to a suitable length and it should be comfortable for the bride to wear. Moreover, it should match the theme of the special day. There are a huge variety of designs available and brides should take their time in picking the perfect one that will make them look stunning on their special day.As soon as the gown is chosen, it is time to pick a nice pair of shoes which will match the gown perfectly. The color and design should match the gown and it is important for the bride to make sure that the shoes will not make her look too tall is she already tall. For tall brides, it is advisable to go with flats.Moreover, the bride should also make sure that she is taking good care of her face and body. By the time the special day comes, her skin should be flawless and this can be achieved by using good toners, cleansers and moisturizers. Brides should also make sure that they are getting enough sleep and are eating well balanced diet so that they look fresh and energetic on their special day.

IntroductionSince many couples dream of having their weddings in Spain it could help if they had some idea of the ideal Spanish wedding. What better to start than by setting the theme with a quintessential Spanish wedding dress? With it traditional features one can claim to have wed a Spanish bride.Spanish Wedding DressesSpanish traditions on Spanish wedding dresses are very elaborate. Black is the preferred color which is meant to symbolize the bride's character that is just about to be uncovered by the groom. A matching black veil is desirable while one can also opt for one that is mantilla since it could help them frame their face to the admiration of the attendants.Other colors that are also allowed are white and red so the bride will be fine in any of these. A black shawl draped over one's shoulders may turn out to be a good addition to the bridal gown as long as it complements the gown's color. Several materials of bridal gowns have their origin in Spain and so will make up the Spanish bridal attire. Chiffon, silk, taffeta, organza and tulle are some of the favorite materials from which the gowns are made. The different designs will then be adorned by additional features such as crystals, beadings, diamante and various exquisite embroideries.Where to get your Spanish wedding dressesWhile making the choice of a Spanish bridal gown may be difficult, where to buy one need not be a problem. Major fashion houses particularly those providing wedding attire will always have several collections for your sampling. By consulting your local wedding directory you will find a shop near you from where you can buy a wedding gown. One can also consult their wedding planners more so if they are in unfamiliar location. These will give them an idea of where to get the best bargains. Furthermore attending wedding exhibitions will expose one to a large number of fashion houses with the latest designs in this industry. Finally the internet is one of the most convenient tools to do your search. It will be very convenient if you are looking for detail, want to make comparison in terms of prices, features or colors. One can also find great discounts and buy the dress online without much hassle.How to order for your Spanish wedding dressesThe fact that there are many should not fool one to not making preparations to choose their gown early. The general rule when ordering a Spanish wedding gown is that one should order at least nine months in advance. The process of buying the dress can take any course but eventually one has two broad options. The first one should involve physically selecting a wedding dress and paying for in the fashion house or department store. This requires that one go the shop physically to make the order after which the dress is made and they may be asked to go and try it on if finally packed. The other option is to carry out the whole transaction on the internet. The choice of what option to use lies with the bride.

Photography is taken to enhance the scenic beauty of nature. There are so many spots and locations in Chicago which has serene beauty. It is process of creating the art of developing moving pictures. When you make a visit to various spots you cannot take photos with beauty. There are many photographers in the city that covers the serene of the city awesomely. The following are the list of photography who resides in and around Chicago.

digital photo processing by wolf camera
central camera and co
Schroeder photo wedding photographer
Finger printing

Wedding albums come in a range of different styles and layouts. The two different styles that are most popular among professional photographers at the moment are Flush Mount Albums and Self Mount Albums.The main difference between these two styles is that the pages of the flush mount album are made up of large printed photographs, which are then creased in the middle. These creased photographs then go together to make up the pages of the album itself. So the printed photos run flush from edge to edge of the open pages. In self mount albums the pages are made up of card or board and come with adhesive on the pages, so that the photographer can mount their images onto the pages themselves. Much more like a traditional wedding album.Each style of wedding album has its advantages, which I have listed below.Self mount albums are cheaper to purchase than flush albums, and until recently they were restricted to just one size image per album. However, it is now possible to have the adhesive laid out in such a way that up to 4 different image sizes can be stuck on any page without leaving any adhesive exposed. There is also no need for design software to be used when designing the layout of images. Ideal for those who are not computer savvy! Self mount albums can also be held in stock, and loaded as and when they are needed, reducing turn-a-round time. Perfect for photographers who have a large foot fall through their studio.Flush albums are the latest trend in wedding albums with a very modern look and feel. As the open pages are made up of large printed images, the layout of photos that will go into the wedding album must be designed using software to create one collage or design to spread across the open pages. The fact that the layout of images need to be done using design software means that it is possible to get really creative with the images and their layout. Panoramic and group shot also look really great spread across the open pages.The two different styles of wedding album will be attractive to different photographers, depending on their style of photography, needs and budget. As ultimately a professional photographer must be able to present their images in a way that best suits their style and pleases their clients.

Quirky Wedding IdeasIn recent years the traditional wedding appears to have been replaced by more quirky affairs. The days of the 'white' wedding seem to be numbered. Couples are now looking to bring their personalities forward and indulge their imaginations a little when it comes to the 'big' day. Remember, your wedding doesn't have to take the form of a Star Trek convention to be deemed quirky or unusual.Here are some alternative ideas that will hopefully inspire.What to wear?You may have had the idea of that traditional white dress in your mind for some time now but why not open yourself to other possibilities and inject some of own unique personality into the proceedings. You could use a favourite era or cultural elements for your inspiration. There was the bride-to-be who picked up her retro 1950's wedding dress from a car-boot sale in France! Maybe you always wanted to be a Bollywood actress or Japanese geisha? How about choosing an unusual colour?Arriving in style When we think of unusual ways to get to the church in time, we tend to think of the horse drawn carriage and vintage car. However, it seems that every mode of transport conceivable is now available for getting you there on time. What about arriving in an American police car or in Kit from the Knight Rider television series?You can turn heads and get your wedding guests talking by pulling up in anything from a rickshaw to a JCB, a tractor to a hot air balloon.Location Location The 'unusual' wedding no longer implies skipping the country to marry in Las Vegas or on the beach of some tropical island. You now need look no further than your own back door to nab that quirky wedding venue. You can 'tie the knot' in a lighthouse, on top of a Scottish mountain or in the midst of a pine forest. Or you and your beau could maybe marry on the main deck of a 19th century sailing ship, on a train, on a film set in a film studio or even in a museum! With changes to the law in England and Wales, you can get married at night - how's that for unusual!