Chicago Wedding Photography

Wedding albums are sell-able items for weddings. Couples often spend on the wedding album as they are one of the most valuable items to come from the wedding. Wedding albums today come in a variety of packages, formats and styles. Online printers provide creative, convenient and affordable services to produce customized wedding albums. Below are points to consider when choosing to print a wedding photo album catalog.Orientation - Orientation is an important factor to consider for the wedding album. Orientation can either be vertical or horizontal. A vertical layout is unique and can be ideal for portrait and still life shots. A vertical orientation can also appear to be more formal. Horizontal layouts are best for landscape shots and photos with dramatic backgrounds. Horizontal album layouts may also fit more photographs. Online printers offer full color front and back printing of photo album catalogs on offset printers. Customers are free to upload their preferred layout and design or have the layout done professionally for a minimal charge.Number of photos - When having wedding albums personally printed, customers have a choice of how many albums they would like to have printed. A wedding photographer usually surrenders an unedited collection of wedding photos in a DVD format to the couple. The couple can bring this disc to an online printer for an album catalog layout and printing. Customers can choose to print 2x3, 3.5x5, 4x6, 8x10 or 8.5x11 sized photo prints. Online printers also offer canvas printing services using digital printers. Customers can choose to print a photo canvas of a prenuptial or ceremony photo. Photo canvas prints range in standard and custom sizes of 8x10 inches to 55x 100 inches. Customers can choose to have photo canvas prints with a two-inch border all around or no borders.Cover-Customers can choose from standard catalog cover stocks on an online printer's website. Printers also provide added conveniences such as free sample stock kit deliveries. Cover design can be customized and uploaded onto the website. Online printers offer wire-o binding of photo album catalogs.

How do you tell the difference between one wedding photographer and the next? Searching through the sea of wedding photographers can be a big task. When I got married, I was given the task of selecting our wedding photographer, and I looked at websites of many different photographers. Some were more expensive and some were less expensive, but often I couldn't tell the difference between the actual pictures. If I could tell that I liked one photographer's work better, I didn't know why. This left me with very little confidence in selecting a wedding photographer.I want you to be able to choose a wedding photographer with confidence. So let's answer the basic questions.Why can't I tell the difference?The reason that you and I could not tell the difference, is that most of the work that is put online is the best work of the photographer. All of the photos you see on websites are great photographs. If they weren't, they would not make it on the website. If you had a camera and went out to shoot a thousand pictures one day, I am sure you could take at least 1 good picture.This is exactly what some photographers do. They shoot weddings and come up with 2 or 3 good pictures from the wedding. These are the photographs that are posted on their website. You will never see the other photographs. A poor photographer will only be able to take 1-10 good photographs from your day. A good photographer will be able to shoot 30-70 great photographs from your wedding day. A great photographer may be able to shoot 50-100 great photographs.Real weddings?
Another trick that photographers use to build up their online portfolio is to use fake wedding shots. Some photographers will hire some models and go to a beautiful location and spend a whole day taking photos. They will put these shots on their website and while the shots are great shots, they aren't from real weddings. The photographer gets the opportunity to spend half an hour perfecting each shot. They may fiddle with the pose. They may take the shot and realize that there's something distracting in the background. They will not have this much time on your wedding day. You will not get any photos that look like these on your wedding day.Some photographers may even go to a workshop where another professional photographer teaches them on how to take great photos. In these cases, the teacher is the one who actually poses the model and sets up the lighting. Will your photographer actually be able to create those shots themselves?

There are things you as a couple can do to end up with better cake cutting photos and to have a better experience. Knowing where to place your cake, how to stand, and what the traditional steps of this wedding ceremony are will help you will feel more comfortable during the cutting event. Follow these tips, from start to finish, to get the most out of your wedding cake photography and experience.There are several important steps to cutting a wedding cake, and each is a moment that can come and go very quickly.To get the best photos, it is important for you to take it slow and pause when you are doing each of them. Everyone will want to see what is happening, and your photographer will need to capture each shot.For the best wedding cake cutting photos, move your wedding cake away from a wall and out of the corner. Ask your venue coordinator or wedding planner to move the cake into the open before you cut it. This will prevent you from having your back to the crowd or to your wedding photographer.When you and your new spouse cut the cake, face the crowd. Make sure the cake is facing the crowd, as well. The front of the cake should face out so that it can be seen in the photos.First and foremost: Do not rush this important event and take it slow.Before you begin, make sure you have everything you need:- Knife or cake cutter
- Cake Lifter
- Two Plates
- Two Forks
- Napkins
- Champagne (optional, but recommended!)

For wedding favors with a touch of luxury you cannot go wrong with choices in silver and gold. The best thing is they do not need to cost the earth and add a nice touch of sparkle to your tables.You will find a range of different wedding favors in silver and gold at favor stores and choices range from silver or chrome plated items to gold colored almonds and candies. The best thing is that you can easily get away with mixing the two colors together as well to get the best of both worlds! Here are a few ideas for silver and gold favors for your wedding guests:

Confectionary: sugar coated almonds and chocolates are available in a range of colors, but look particularly good in silver and gold. Put them in pretty tulle wraps or clear plastic boxes to show them off to their full effect.
Chocolates: look for luxury chocolates wrapped in silver or gold paper/foil and present them on pretty silver colored plastic trays which are available from wedding favors stores. You can also get chocolates which have been dusted with edible gold powder.
Cakes: mini cakes and cupcakes have and continue to be very popular both as wedding favors and as a substitute for a formal wedding cake. You can decorate them simply with a silver or gold colored chocolate or almond, or have them more elaborately decorated with edible gold leaf, powders and icings. Have them presented in silver or gold cake cases or wrappers.
Cookies: just as with cakes you can have custom cookies made and decorated with silver and gold colored icings.
Candies: although it may be harder to find candies in metallic colors, you could substitute with yellow, orange and clear colored candies. Try mixing colored candies in your wedding colors with chocolates sugar coated in silver and gold and present them in clear plastic boxes.
Chrome Plated Favors: favor stores are full of chrome plated goods such as bud vases, photograph frames, coasters and bottle stoppers to name but a few. Some items may also be available in a gold colorways, however creating goods in gold coloring can be more expensive than creating them in silver which is why silver colored items are more common.
Packaging: if you want to use a different style of wedding favors then you can still coordinate your packaging in silver or gold. Favor suppliers have a wide range of packaging options such as metallic card boxes, bags, fabric wraps and tins. If you have the budget then why not look for inexpensive silver plated boxes which you could fill with candies to create wedding favors which will become treasured keepsakes.

The proposal went off without a hitch and now your planning for your big day. You now have to convince your significant other to have pictures taken for your engagement announcement. Having your picture taken before your wedding doesn't seem like it should be part of your wedding preparation. However, it is as important as choosing your venue or picking out you cake flavor. If you are looking for a unique way of announcing your engagement to your friends and family, then having an engagement shoot is your best bet. Your engagement sessions photos are also great for sending out save the date cards. The process of deciding on where and who you want to take your engagement pictures should be your first steps.You may or may not want to use your engagement photographer to shoot your actual wedding. However, this is a great way to make that decision. You'll get a chance to see if you have a connection with your photographer. That can be a personality connection or a creative connection. You will also get a chance to see if you like their work and if it fits the style you are looking for. It's one thing to look at their portfolio and make a decision off of that or seeing yourself in their work. There could be a benefit to selecting your photographer to shoot your wedding. Most photographers offer engagement photos as part of their wedding packages. This can often save you money that could be spent on other items for your wedding. It really depends on how certain you are that you want to go with the photographer.You also may know ahead of time that you won't be using your engagement photographer to shoot your wedding. This would occur if you are having your engagement photos taken in an area that your wedding ceremony won't take place. You may have a place that's special to both of you that you want to have your engagement photos taken. This may be a different state or even country than you plan on getting married in. So, you would be hiring a photographer to just shoot your engagement photos. This is not uncommon and most photographers are willing to shoot you engagement photos for a single session. Ask your photographer to allow a few minutes for warm up shots. This will allow you to get comfortable of having the camera around.Your location is either going to be a special place the two of you have picked out. This could be the first place you met or some other significant spot that signifies your relationship together. You can always leave your engagement shoot location up to your photographer. They may be more familiar with locations in their area. You can ask for several locations they may recommend and then research each one to see if it fits what you had in mind for your shoot.You can inquire as to why they picked the specific locations that they have given you. Check to see if your photographer offers you to have multiple locations that you can take your engagement photos at. Check to see how much time you are paying for and what it includes as well. Some photographers may only be charging you for the photo shoot and may not include rights to the photos. You may have to pay separately for rights to the photos or a disk with a release letter to reprint.Now that you have your photographer and your location it's on to the shoot itself. Now you can decide how creative you really want to be. Don't be too serious or it will show in your photos. You should focus and try to show your love during your shoot. If you stare at the camera you are not going to get great shots. Pretend the camera isn't there and just focus on each other. You may want to research other photographers and look at the engagement shoots for ideas of your own. Using a pose or prop that another couple used won't take away or show a lack of creativity on your part.You could decide you want to have several shots with specific clothes and then have another set of clothes for other shots. You may need to let your photographer know that you want a wardrobe change though. You may want a romantic beach shot in bathing suits and then a serious formal shot in a field of flowers. Obviously, a wardrobe change would have to occur. You may want to incorporate props like the date of your wedding for your save the date cards.You might even decide to get out of your comfort zone by having wigs or hats that show your goofy or funny side. It really is up to you how creative you are going to be in your shot. If you let you photographer help you with your posing and props. There's a chance you could be disappointed after you see your shots. It's your engagement session that should incorporate you and not what you r photographer thinks you are.Picking the timing of when you shoot your engagement photos is very important as well. You shouldn't pick the time of day when the sun is full. You are not going to get great photos if you do because of the harsh lighting and shadows. You want to go out about an hour or so before sunset to take your engagement photos. It's also best to have your engagement photos take months in advance of your wedding. This will give your photographer time to edit the pictures and get them back to you for changes that you may want. You will also have time to pick out which shot or shots you want to add to your save the date cards.

Many things can go wrong at a wedding, but the most heartbreaking mishap is one that relates to the photography. By avoiding the mistakes detailed below, you can choose the ideal photographer to give you picture-perfect snaps of your special day.Ignoring the photographer's style and personalityEvery photographer has a unique style. It can be a traditional approach, documenting the important ceremonies and the popular poses. Or it can be photo-journalistic style that focuses more on capturing the moments and emotions than the poses. There is also an artistic approach where the photographer uses unusual or irregular camera angles, hand-coloring of images and other off-beat styles. Choose a wedding photographer whose style you like. You should also hire a particular photographer only if you like him/her on a personal level.Not establishing rapport with the photographer before the weddingMany people do not realize the importance of the wedding couple and the photographer getting to know each other before the event. You must have a pre-wedding session with your photographer so that you become comfortable with him/her. The photos on the big day will definitely show you in a relaxed frame of mind and add that extra charm to your smile.Giving more priority to products than the artWhat use are bad pictures in a beautiful album? If your budget is limited, do not make the mistake of compromising on the photography and hiring a cheaper photographer just to be able to afford a smart album. You ought to know your priorities. The album can always be replaced with a better one whenever you can afford it, but you cannot recreate the wedding day!Not hiring an experienced professionalAn amateur or inexperienced photographer is not likely to produce the results that an experienced professional will. Even if an expert photographer costs a little more than you had budgeted for, he/she will more than make up for it by delivering photos that you treasure for a lifetime.

Indian weddings are not simple ceremonies that include the matrimonial bonding of two people in front of families and friends; it is also an elaborate display of their customs, traditions and beliefs. In fact Indian weddings are the most extravagant kind in the whole world. Rituals and ceremonies start off many days before the commencing of the actual wedding. Families from both sides enthusiastically participate in each of those ceremonies. Some of these ceremonies are actually pretty funny and enjoyable. Let's have a look at some of the very funny ones.1. Amongst the different provinces of India, Gujrat has perhaps some of the most exaggerated and colourful ceremonies associated with the wedding. One of these is called the Sagai which takes place prior to the wedding ceremony. It is actually the engagement ceremony and in order to gain acceptance the bride has to travel on foot to the groom's house with a container filled with goodies on her head.2. Another similar tradition that is followed by all grooms-to-be in Gujrat is called Jaan. In this ritual, the groom goes to the bride's home to seek the blessings of her mother. When he arrives he lowers his head and then clutches his nose which is symbolic of his humility and that he understands the bride's parents are making a huge sacrifice. The mother-in-law then gives her blessing and tries to catch his nose.3. There is another famous Indian wedding tradition which is quite funny. It is called the Saptapadi. In this custom, the groom assists the bride in touching seven betel nuts with her toe of right foot. During this time the couple recite seven vows. After this ritual seven married women who belong to the bride's family slowly pass by the couple and while passing each of these seven women whispers a blessing in the right ear of the bride.4. Aeki Beki is a really hilarious and fun game that is played by the bride and groom once they reach the house of the groom after wedding. They are provided a liquid mixture of water, milk and sindoor. Coins and rings are then hidden in this mixture and whoever has success finding the ring more times out of seven is said to rule the household in the future.5. In some Indian weddings, when the groom arrives at the bride's home, he gently places his foot over the bride's to show his support to the bride. His feet are then washed by the bride's mother with milk and water.

Couples have been trending away from traditional seated wedding dinners for the last few years. One of the most popular new styles to emerge from this trend is the cocktail party wedding reception. A cocktail reception is typically very glamorous, relatively affordable, and a lot of fun! Check out these tips for planning a cocktail reception that everyone will enjoy.Because they are non-traditional by nature, it makes sense to choose a unique venue for a cocktail reception. Depending on the size of your guest list, it could be a loft, an art gallery, a wine bar, a museum, or perhaps a tent. While you certainly could host a cocktail reception in a more standard venue like a wedding hall, country club, or ballroom, you would lose some of the special ambiance that gives this type of celebration its hip and chic reputation.One thing that clearly distinguishes a cocktail reception from a traditional seated wedding dinner is...the lack of traditional seating. You won't find a dozen round tables for ten at a cocktail party. The vibe is much more mingle and sip than sit down for an extended time. That said, it is important that you have adequate seating for all of your guests. Sufficient table space is also crucial. If you have ever tried to hold a drink, balance a plate of appetizers, and eat all at the same time, you know why! A good arrangement is a combination of small tall tables with stools (preferably the kind with backs) and low sofas with side tables and coffee tables. This type of furniture can easily be rented if your site does not have it.Since the focus at a cocktail reception is not a full meal, the menu will be a bit different. For one thing, you won't have a cocktail hour followed by a traditional reception with dinner, given that the whole party is like an extended cocktail hour. A cocktail reception tends to be shorter in duration, which can help save money for the couple on a budget. The menu should mostly be easy-to-eat finger foods and small bites. Since you will not be serving dinner afterward, plan on a much larger quantity of appetizers than you would for a 45 minute cocktail hour. The closer to a typical meal time your reception will be, the heavier you should go on the hors d'oeuvres.Passed hors d'oeuvres of all types should be served by waitstaff. You will also want to set up several displays where guests can help themselves, including a cheese display. Think creatively about what your guests might enjoy. You can add a few interesting stations to your cocktail reception to make the food really special. Options include a tapas bar, raw bar, sushi station, and a mashed potato bar. Sometimes couples also have a pasta station; while not exactly an appetizer, pasta is inexpensive and filling for those who will find appetizers alone to be too light. Naturally, you will want to have a full selection of cocktails, wine, and beer for this style of reception. Many couples also incorporate a signature drink, which is both chic and can trim the bar bill a bit too.Since a cocktail wedding is non-traditional, the bride will likely want to select an interesting dress and unique bridal jewelry. A princess style ballgown would be out of place for this celebration. A cocktail reception is the perfect excuse to choose a chic short wedding gown, worn with a fascinator and unique handmade bridal jewelry. 1950's or '60's retro inspired dresses are also fabulous for the bride. Round out the evening with music provided by a jazz trio for the perfect background to a chic cocktail wedding reception.

You are a wedding photographer or looking at becoming one in the near future. You have grasped the technical side of photography and how important lighting is when shooting a wedding. Another component of photography is the addition of filters on the body of the camera and the inclusion of them when post editing.Filters have been around for some time now before the introduction of software such as Photoshop and Lightroom. Filters are designed to blur, sharpen images and can also be used as a blockout for UV rays from the sun.The addition of filters is used for creating soft blurs, changing colour contrasts, making the photo images look rustic or even the grunge look. Manipulating images to make them look more suttle to the human eye is very appealing.When shooting wedding photography on location in the direction of Sun you require filters such as UV protector to block and guard against the harmful suns rays. The inclusion of a polarizer is necessary when shooting in direct sunlight. This will allow for a balanced image as opposed to an overexposed photo.New technology such as Photoshop and Lightroom has made it very accessible for the photographer to manipulate images from the office room. The wide array of filter functions available has made it possible to increase creativity and make wedding photography a brilliant art.Photography is an art and has been around for generations. The inclusion of filters on the camera and also software applications can create a photograph that is perfect to the human eye.There are many filters that have been developed for specific purposes such as colour dampening, enhancing richer colours, correction filters, blurring etc. The key to photography is understanding what filter you require for the particular shoot you are on.A good starting point is to have a UV filter on you at all times when shooting wedding photography. Whether you are a professional or an amateur make sure you know that lighting is crucial and the addition of filters are used of creation, balancing and protection from the suns rays.

It is amazing what a long way the Internet has come. What started
out as a useful source of information has exploded in ways that weren't
imagined at its conception. People have truly made the Internet
their virtual world, with blogs, websites, and online photo
albums. In today's society with friends and family moving further
away from each other than ever, Internet photo album have proven to be
an excellent way to stay in contact and share the little moments that
are so important in any family's life. Large cities have seen an
increase in this type of photo sharing due to their large number of
migrating families from other regions of the U.S. Chicago is one
of those cities. As a result the use of Internet photo albums in
Chicago is becoming increasingly popular.

Let's face it, the world of wedding-based entertainment is filled with a ton of options, some might actually say that there are too many. They range from DJs and bands to dance instructors and audio/video specialists. The only thing that seems to be consistent among these many options is their hefty prices.In the last 5+ years, wedding budgets have begun to drop when it comes to your typical wedding. Income limitations or the current economic environment had made it difficult to realize the dream wedding outside of a reality show script. Because of this fact, brides and grooms have started realizing one important aspect of their special day: creativity. If they can't book their favorite band, load in the perfect DJ or serve the fresh lobster, they have opted to add in certain style elements and personalization that have turned out not only making the event even that much more unique, but also keeping the overall costs well within reason.One of the most debated aspects of your typical wedding is the dreaded wedding slideshow. Why do I call it dreaded? One word: boring. Nothing stops a party dead cold than the typical couples slideshow. A string of 100+ pictures of the bride and groom dating, traveling or frolicking. That's right I said frolicking. Now there is definitely something to be said of the short string of childhood pictures towards the beginning These pictures usually border on entertaining, but they never end up lasting long enough. The main body of the presentation in one star wipe and one dissolve into another forcing that much needed extra trip to the bar by your average wedding guest. And we wonder why Aunt Sylvia is already two shots to the wind just minutes before the tossing of the bouquet.The good news is for those out there ready and willing to make just one extra step in producing something quite memorable, there are now options. Thanks to the ease of current technology and some simple digital know-how even the most basic creative type can sit and create a masterpiece that will be talked about for years to come. In fact, some people out there already have some of the digital skills necessary for what needs to happen.STEP ONE: Figure out your styleFigure out what you think you want. It could be a series of clips from your favorite TV show, a clip from a live concert or footage from your home movies. Take a moment and decipher what successfully describes you and your future spouse.STEP TWO: Go out and get itThere are currently a ton of software applications out there that can successfully copy anything on the internet. Anything. From that video montage on YouTube to the DVD in your closet. I specifically like ishowuhd, an app that rips any DVD or even YouTube clips right off the playback from your desktop.STEP THREE: Arrange the story

Starting a successful photography business from the ground up can be challenging. However, with these tips you can be well on your way to starting a successful portrait photography business!First thing's first: you will need a camera. I recommend starting out with a digital SLR (dSLR) camera. Yet, there are so many dSLR camera's on the market, how do you choose a great camera? Research. Conduct online research by reading consumer reviews from multiple blogs and websites, search professional photography forums, and ask professional photographers for their advice. You shouldn't choose a camera on a whim and you shouldn't purchase one simply because it's on sale: doing your research will pay in the long run!Next, learn how to properly use your camera and edit your photos. If you want to run a successful business and produce images prospective clients are willing pay for, you will need to take your camera off of "auto" mode and learn how to control the settings yourself in manual mode. I have found online search engines and photography forums the best places to learn how to use your camera in manual mode. Additionally, many professional photographers write photography tips and FAQ blog posts, so do an online search and visit the blogs and websites of local portrait photographers to get an inside scoop on how to use your camera. Several photographers teach workshops and/or offer mentor sessions, so contact your favorite photographers via email to see if they are willing to provide a mentor session or workshop to assist your learning.Once you've learned how to use your camera, practice! Gather your family and closest friends and offer free mock-portrait sessions in order to provide you practice on how to use your camera and allow you to become more familiar with shooting in manual mode. Use these images to build your portfolio and gain experience.Once you're comfortable with using your camera and are happy with the results you have been getting, evaluate. Do you still want to start a business? If so, it's time to start taking legal steps before you officially start a business and begin charging for your work.Get legal. Search for the requirements to legally run a business in your city and state. You will need a business license, sales tax license, and fulfill all requirements set forth by your city and state. Make sure all of your licenses are approved before starting your business!Optional: protect yourself and your equipment. As a business owner, it's smart to protect you and your assets. Once your business is legal, protect yourself by purchasing business liability and equipment insurance. This covers you if your client trips and falls during the portrait shoot and lands in the hospital (potential lawsuit!) or if your precious new lens crashes to the ground during a lens change. You wouldn't want to start a business just to go bankrupt, thus, this optional step is highly recommended to be successful!Decide what to offer how much to charge for your services. This is an important and often overlooked step: don't choose a starting price based on what other photographers are charging or a random price you feel is fair. Carefully calculate the money you've spent starting your business (equipment, software, education, licenses, insurance, business cards, website fees, etc), how much it will cost to maintain your business, evaluate many hours you spend on a session (time spent driving to/from the session, shooting, editing, backing up and posting files, etc), calculate how much of your income you will have to pay to sales and income taxes, and how much excess you will need above all of the factors listed above to pay for the cost of living and still earn profit. Most new photographers start out charging too little; once the joy of starting a new business wears off, many photographers find themselves unable to stay financially afloat and resent owning a photography business, ultimately closing their doors in less than a year. Start off right and remain successful by creating a firm price list for your services that keeps your business profitable and brings yourself value.Now that your legal ducks are in a row and you know how much to charge, it's time to start getting clients! Build an online presence by starting a website and blog. There are several websites that offer insight on how to purchase your domain and start a website, so turn to your trusty search engine for help. As a photography business, it's important to make your images stand out on the web; photography website and bog templates are available and are a wise investment to be seen as a professional to your prospective clients. Website templates will save you time and money if you are unfamiliar with coding and web development. A great way to extend your online presence is by creating a Facebook business page; however, it's important to have your own domain website in addition to a Facebook page to be understood as a professional.