Smell that? That's that new website smell! Way better than a car, certainly a Fiat. Well, the new Fiat with the cappuccino machine sounds like they got something right! God bless the Italians! This must be why the Pope lives in Rome...
Over the last six weeks I have completely overhauled and relaunched my wedding photography website, www.adamtaylorweddings.us . It now includes over 70 images and a pretty awesome menu feature that is fun and interactive.
Fun AND interactive? You betcha.
As a professional photographer, I've always photography websites all the same and tedius as all hell with the same templates, with flash graphics and file viewers.
I don't want to wait for a site to load. Nor do I care much for logos or music or launch menus or anything else that is going to keep me from the work. That's not to say there aren't some good ones or that my website is the be-all-end-all photography website.
The new site is remarkably user friendly and the pictures are large and take up the screen. So barring all disaster, it should be a fantastic viewing experience for you too.
Saturday, July 21, 2012
Monday, July 16, 2012
Finding a Wedding Photographer in Los Angeles
FINDING A WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER:
Hiring a photographer for your wedding can be a daunting experience- this is the person who is going to capture every detail of the event you have spent months or even years planning. You want to choose someone whose work you will love for years to come.
Most people have digital cameras or at least know someone who has one. It can be tempting to have your cousin shoot your wedding to save you some money. But be warned, this hardly ever works out well (unless your cousin is a professional photographer!). This isn’t the time to let someone hone their amateur skills. Good photography is much more than simply clicking a button. It takes technical skill and creative artistry.
The first step in finding suitable candidates for many brides is often the internet. More often than not, though, internet listings can be overwhelming due to the sheer number of photographers listed, and there are no quality rankings. So how do you find a photographer for you?
If you’ve already chosen your venue, finding a photographer who has worked there recently is a good bet. Most likely the venue will not give out specific vendor information, but you can try a simple internet search using the search terms of your venue. Photographers will often categorize pictures on their sites by venue name. Take a look through the images you find and see if any speak to you and how you envision your wedding captured. From there, you can click through to the photographer’s wedding site to check out more of their work.
Another way to find a photographer is through word of mouth. Friends, family or coworkers who have been thrilled with their own wedding pictures are all great sources. Maybe you’ve seen someone’s pictures on Facebook and admired them. This is the time to ask for the name and contact information! Photographers love to get referrals. Just make sure that you take a look at some other weddings the photographer has shot. Photography is an art, and a good photographer should be able to make each wedding he or she shoots look completely individual, even with their own personal style. You don’t want carbon copy pictures of your best friend’s wedding!
Once you have some photographers you’d like to contact, flip through wedding magazines and browse through online image catalogs for the wedding pictures you really like. Imagine where you will display your pictures. What kind of shots do you want? If you have a clear picture of what you’d like, you will be able to recognize a photographer who has the style you want, and whose style truly fits you.
Hiring a photographer for your wedding can be a daunting experience- this is the person who is going to capture every detail of the event you have spent months or even years planning. You want to choose someone whose work you will love for years to come.
Most people have digital cameras or at least know someone who has one. It can be tempting to have your cousin shoot your wedding to save you some money. But be warned, this hardly ever works out well (unless your cousin is a professional photographer!). This isn’t the time to let someone hone their amateur skills. Good photography is much more than simply clicking a button. It takes technical skill and creative artistry.
The first step in finding suitable candidates for many brides is often the internet. More often than not, though, internet listings can be overwhelming due to the sheer number of photographers listed, and there are no quality rankings. So how do you find a photographer for you?
If you’ve already chosen your venue, finding a photographer who has worked there recently is a good bet. Most likely the venue will not give out specific vendor information, but you can try a simple internet search using the search terms of your venue. Photographers will often categorize pictures on their sites by venue name. Take a look through the images you find and see if any speak to you and how you envision your wedding captured. From there, you can click through to the photographer’s wedding site to check out more of their work.
Another way to find a photographer is through word of mouth. Friends, family or coworkers who have been thrilled with their own wedding pictures are all great sources. Maybe you’ve seen someone’s pictures on Facebook and admired them. This is the time to ask for the name and contact information! Photographers love to get referrals. Just make sure that you take a look at some other weddings the photographer has shot. Photography is an art, and a good photographer should be able to make each wedding he or she shoots look completely individual, even with their own personal style. You don’t want carbon copy pictures of your best friend’s wedding!
Once you have some photographers you’d like to contact, flip through wedding magazines and browse through online image catalogs for the wedding pictures you really like. Imagine where you will display your pictures. What kind of shots do you want? If you have a clear picture of what you’d like, you will be able to recognize a photographer who has the style you want, and whose style truly fits you.
What to Ask Your Wedding Photographer
WHAT TO ASK YOUR WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER:
So, you’ve found a photographer you might want to hire to shoot your event. What important things should you ask at your meeting? What should you expect?
Often, similar guides will advise to ask what the photographer’s style is. This is pretty easily assessed when you look at their work. A more interesting and telling question is to ask “What is your favorite style of picture to shoot?” Most photographers can and will shoot both posed shots with candid ones. If your photographer tells you they prefer taking posed family pictures and you were really excited about getting all the candid action shots of your reception, then you have a problem, because it may not be that photographer’s strength.
Make sure that the person you are meeting is the one who will be taking your pictures. This is quite possibly the most important piece of information and is pretty simple, You must like your photographer. That’s really it. You are spending all day with him or her. For me, I really want to like my client as well. In fact, the more fun and personable my client is, the more I can do to make them look good. After all, I’m not a dentist. I don’t want to pull any teeth to get a smile.
Find out whether or not you will get discs of your images, or whether you will purchase prints from the photographer directly. If cost is a factor, the second option can end up costing more over the long run. Ask what the average turnaround is for getting your pictures. Some brides wait months to get their shots! Opt to pay more for a better photographer than to pay for more prints/books/etc. Quality over quantity.
Ask, on average, how many pictures the photographer will shoot. Remember that not every picture will be a keeper, but with a good photographer, you should have a lot to choose from (often too many!). Ask to see multiple pictures from the same wedding, instead of the photographer’s single best shots. Look at how the photographer tells the story of the wedding he or she is shooting from beginning to end. Do they notice the details you’ve spent time planning? Do they capture all your guests? Do they catch great candid moments? Are they able to get great results in multiple locations (ceremony and reception, indoor and out)?
Ask the photographer if they’ve shot weddings in your venue before. If so, they will have a great advantage of knowing the lighting and set up, and even specific rules of the venue. You can also ask to see weddings they’ve shot in those locations or similar ones. Also ask how they shoot in different lighting conditions. How do they handle backlit situations, hard light, dark rooms. When you look at the photos, look for the detail in background to see if you can see it! In Photoshop, you can bring the levels up, but if the image doesn’t have the detail in the first place, it will look faint. Look for detail in the prints and don’t get fooled by heavily Photoshopped images.
Make sure your photographer is a professional. Union or Association memberships and insurance will tell you that your photographer takes his or her business seriously and is current on trends and equipment. If you can find a photographer in the International Cinematographer’s Guild, then you’ll be working with one of the best in town. Ask where their work has been published and if they have won any awards.
If you have certain shots you would like, ask your photographer if you can give them a list prior to your event. Make sure that you can get your ‘must’ shots. Also, send your photographer shots that you like. Tear them out of magazines. The more info you can provide, the better.
Ask your photographer about what kind of equipment they plan to use. Will there be any wires or cables for lighting that guests may trip on? Any tripods that might get in the way of décor? Ask about his or her cameras equipment to get an idea of their level of knowledge.
Ask what your photographer does in case of an emergency. Will the photographer find someone suitable if they are ill? Does your photographer have extra equipment if something goes wrong on the day of your wedding? These are valid questions.
Make sure to ask your photographer how much they charge for overtime if your wedding is running late. You don’t want any surprises on your day.
Look at the photographs in the photographer’s albums or website. Do you like them? Does the photographer show a knowledge of lighting (images aren’t too bright or too dark)? Does the photographer take interesting pictures? Do people in the photos look happy and natural? Does the photographer use light to get flattering and beautiful shots? Ask to see what other work they do besides shooting weddings. What do they shoot for fun. This will give you an even better idea of what kind of eye they have.
Make sure you ask for clarification on anything that isn’t clear on the contract. The photographer should be able to explain every clause to you.
Hopefully these tips will help you find a photographer that you like!
So, you’ve found a photographer you might want to hire to shoot your event. What important things should you ask at your meeting? What should you expect?
Often, similar guides will advise to ask what the photographer’s style is. This is pretty easily assessed when you look at their work. A more interesting and telling question is to ask “What is your favorite style of picture to shoot?” Most photographers can and will shoot both posed shots with candid ones. If your photographer tells you they prefer taking posed family pictures and you were really excited about getting all the candid action shots of your reception, then you have a problem, because it may not be that photographer’s strength.
Make sure that the person you are meeting is the one who will be taking your pictures. This is quite possibly the most important piece of information and is pretty simple, You must like your photographer. That’s really it. You are spending all day with him or her. For me, I really want to like my client as well. In fact, the more fun and personable my client is, the more I can do to make them look good. After all, I’m not a dentist. I don’t want to pull any teeth to get a smile.
Find out whether or not you will get discs of your images, or whether you will purchase prints from the photographer directly. If cost is a factor, the second option can end up costing more over the long run. Ask what the average turnaround is for getting your pictures. Some brides wait months to get their shots! Opt to pay more for a better photographer than to pay for more prints/books/etc. Quality over quantity.
Ask, on average, how many pictures the photographer will shoot. Remember that not every picture will be a keeper, but with a good photographer, you should have a lot to choose from (often too many!). Ask to see multiple pictures from the same wedding, instead of the photographer’s single best shots. Look at how the photographer tells the story of the wedding he or she is shooting from beginning to end. Do they notice the details you’ve spent time planning? Do they capture all your guests? Do they catch great candid moments? Are they able to get great results in multiple locations (ceremony and reception, indoor and out)?
Ask the photographer if they’ve shot weddings in your venue before. If so, they will have a great advantage of knowing the lighting and set up, and even specific rules of the venue. You can also ask to see weddings they’ve shot in those locations or similar ones. Also ask how they shoot in different lighting conditions. How do they handle backlit situations, hard light, dark rooms. When you look at the photos, look for the detail in background to see if you can see it! In Photoshop, you can bring the levels up, but if the image doesn’t have the detail in the first place, it will look faint. Look for detail in the prints and don’t get fooled by heavily Photoshopped images.
Make sure your photographer is a professional. Union or Association memberships and insurance will tell you that your photographer takes his or her business seriously and is current on trends and equipment. If you can find a photographer in the International Cinematographer’s Guild, then you’ll be working with one of the best in town. Ask where their work has been published and if they have won any awards.
If you have certain shots you would like, ask your photographer if you can give them a list prior to your event. Make sure that you can get your ‘must’ shots. Also, send your photographer shots that you like. Tear them out of magazines. The more info you can provide, the better.
Ask your photographer about what kind of equipment they plan to use. Will there be any wires or cables for lighting that guests may trip on? Any tripods that might get in the way of décor? Ask about his or her cameras equipment to get an idea of their level of knowledge.
Ask what your photographer does in case of an emergency. Will the photographer find someone suitable if they are ill? Does your photographer have extra equipment if something goes wrong on the day of your wedding? These are valid questions.
Make sure to ask your photographer how much they charge for overtime if your wedding is running late. You don’t want any surprises on your day.
Look at the photographs in the photographer’s albums or website. Do you like them? Does the photographer show a knowledge of lighting (images aren’t too bright or too dark)? Does the photographer take interesting pictures? Do people in the photos look happy and natural? Does the photographer use light to get flattering and beautiful shots? Ask to see what other work they do besides shooting weddings. What do they shoot for fun. This will give you an even better idea of what kind of eye they have.
Make sure you ask for clarification on anything that isn’t clear on the contract. The photographer should be able to explain every clause to you.
Hopefully these tips will help you find a photographer that you like!
Thursday, July 5, 2012
How to Choose the Best Venue (and get the best pictures)
Thanks for checking out adamtaylorweddings.blogspot.com
This blog is created so that your can find great tips for maximizing the photography options at your wedding. You can always checkout www.adamtaylorweddings.us for my latest wedding portoflio and more information about my work.
HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST VENUE (AND GET THE BEST PICTURES):
In this section, I will detail some things for couples to keep in mind, from a photographer's perspective, when planning weddings.
One of the first questions couples ask me during a meeting is if I've been to the location they're getting married at. Having shot well over a hundred weddings and hundreds of episodes of television on location, if your chosen spot is in the Los Angeles or OrangeCounty area, the answer is most likely yes! I have shot at golf courses, beaches, California missions, every style of church, public gardens, restaurants, hotels, even Duke's in Malibu!
Weddings take place at all times of the day- mornings, afternoons, sunset, when it's raining, when it's 111 degrees in Woodland Hills, in the sun, in the shade. People get married all the time. My favorite weddings are the ones where the couple finds the right spot that is perfect for them!
I was putting together a set of images for a 2011 brochure this week and found a common theme in the images that had the most impact- they were all day exterior weddings in the shade in some sort of garden. One couple, Emily and Derek got married at the Kyoto Grand downtown which has a beautiful rooftop garden, a few others were from a ranch in San Juan Capistrano, one was from Descanso Gardens (one of my favorite choices) and various others- all outside. As a general rule, portraits outside are going to be the nicest. Portraits inside can often look sterile and staged.
What makes Descanso Gardens my favorite? I've been there a few times at different times of the year and the pictures always turn out beautiful, with the exception of the rose garden, believe it or not. Why? The pavilion faces west and the sun barrels right down into the lens (not a good thing!). It is incredibly difficult to shoot a wedding there at sunset because there's nothing you can do to get around the angles of the sun. It's worse than the beach at sunset!
Oh, yes, the beach. Nothing is more romantic than a walk on the beach, holding hands. Couples always want to go to the beach for engagement pictures or sometimes for wedding pictures. The problem is that unless it is overcast, the pictures are will have a great background, but the stars of the shot (the couple) won't match up. With too much sunlight, pictures look washed out, even with a great photographer. There's no protection from the sun and everybody is going to sweat! To sum all that up; when planning ceremony or portrait shots, keep in mind whether or not you will be in full sun. Pictures with filtered light always make for more flattering pictures.
So what else do I, as a photographer, want in a venue? Variety. My goal in a wedding is to keep it moving, shooting a little here, a little there, groups in different places, families in another. That way there's lots of choices and the colors are saturated. The great thing about a public garden is that the depth of plants and trees blow out really well on a long lens- you can get a nice blurred effect in the background that couples often like. Golf courses are usually fantastic places to get married because of the scenery.
Again, there are lots of trees and everything pops against the green grass. Another beautiful place to get married is somewhere like California Plaza in downtown Los Angeles where there is lots of texture in the buildings and everyone is in the shade. So when you look at potential venues, keep in mind whether or not there are multiple places to shoot. You want a great mix in your pictures, not every portrait in front of the same backdrop. Despite the popular magic hour people aim for, only rarely do brides and families get together to shoot portraits precisely at dusk when the sun is long in the sky. No matter what, I'm always going to photograph people in the shade so that way the light is filtered and soft on the skin. Using a camera flash is also pivotal in getting excellent portraits during the day.
Another nightmare for your photographer is a busy venue that backs couples up one after another with precious time at the site. There are a handful of locations in LA that do this because they are beautiful and popular to get married at. I won't name them, but I would tell any couple to find out the venue's photograph policy ahead of booking. Some chapels won't allow your photographer to shoot you coming down the aisle or to move around to get the best coverage of your ceremony.
Some venues give you a very short amount of time to take portraits before you are ushered out the door to make room for the next Happy Couple. Think about your priorities when booking- what pictures are important for you to have as keepsakes? Are you okay with a shorter length of time at an historic venue? You've spent a lot of time planning and it seems a shame to be rushed out the door.
Daytime receptions or a dusk cocktail hour are great! After a ceremony, I like to fade back a bit and shoot on my long lens for candid portraits. These close-up shots of faces, expressions, movements and gestures are so telling of the personalities of the guests. I love to shoot these shots. They always look fantastic and genuine! But again, there's got to be some light to shoot freely and not have to worry about a flash distracting your guests.
For your reception, the photos will more journalistic in nature. The most important thing for your reception is that you enjoy yourself. Your happiness will come through in the pictures, and that will make every one of them memorable.
So, that's my advice on choosing a venue. Choose a place that's pretty and with lots of natural light so that you will have a variety of shots.
This blog is created so that your can find great tips for maximizing the photography options at your wedding. You can always checkout www.adamtaylorweddings.us for my latest wedding portoflio and more information about my work.
HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST VENUE (AND GET THE BEST PICTURES):
In this section, I will detail some things for couples to keep in mind, from a photographer's perspective, when planning weddings.
One of the first questions couples ask me during a meeting is if I've been to the location they're getting married at. Having shot well over a hundred weddings and hundreds of episodes of television on location, if your chosen spot is in the Los Angeles or OrangeCounty area, the answer is most likely yes! I have shot at golf courses, beaches, California missions, every style of church, public gardens, restaurants, hotels, even Duke's in Malibu!
Weddings take place at all times of the day- mornings, afternoons, sunset, when it's raining, when it's 111 degrees in Woodland Hills, in the sun, in the shade. People get married all the time. My favorite weddings are the ones where the couple finds the right spot that is perfect for them!
I was putting together a set of images for a 2011 brochure this week and found a common theme in the images that had the most impact- they were all day exterior weddings in the shade in some sort of garden. One couple, Emily and Derek got married at the Kyoto Grand downtown which has a beautiful rooftop garden, a few others were from a ranch in San Juan Capistrano, one was from Descanso Gardens (one of my favorite choices) and various others- all outside. As a general rule, portraits outside are going to be the nicest. Portraits inside can often look sterile and staged.
What makes Descanso Gardens my favorite? I've been there a few times at different times of the year and the pictures always turn out beautiful, with the exception of the rose garden, believe it or not. Why? The pavilion faces west and the sun barrels right down into the lens (not a good thing!). It is incredibly difficult to shoot a wedding there at sunset because there's nothing you can do to get around the angles of the sun. It's worse than the beach at sunset!
Oh, yes, the beach. Nothing is more romantic than a walk on the beach, holding hands. Couples always want to go to the beach for engagement pictures or sometimes for wedding pictures. The problem is that unless it is overcast, the pictures are will have a great background, but the stars of the shot (the couple) won't match up. With too much sunlight, pictures look washed out, even with a great photographer. There's no protection from the sun and everybody is going to sweat! To sum all that up; when planning ceremony or portrait shots, keep in mind whether or not you will be in full sun. Pictures with filtered light always make for more flattering pictures.
So what else do I, as a photographer, want in a venue? Variety. My goal in a wedding is to keep it moving, shooting a little here, a little there, groups in different places, families in another. That way there's lots of choices and the colors are saturated. The great thing about a public garden is that the depth of plants and trees blow out really well on a long lens- you can get a nice blurred effect in the background that couples often like. Golf courses are usually fantastic places to get married because of the scenery.
Again, there are lots of trees and everything pops against the green grass. Another beautiful place to get married is somewhere like California Plaza in downtown Los Angeles where there is lots of texture in the buildings and everyone is in the shade. So when you look at potential venues, keep in mind whether or not there are multiple places to shoot. You want a great mix in your pictures, not every portrait in front of the same backdrop. Despite the popular magic hour people aim for, only rarely do brides and families get together to shoot portraits precisely at dusk when the sun is long in the sky. No matter what, I'm always going to photograph people in the shade so that way the light is filtered and soft on the skin. Using a camera flash is also pivotal in getting excellent portraits during the day.
Another nightmare for your photographer is a busy venue that backs couples up one after another with precious time at the site. There are a handful of locations in LA that do this because they are beautiful and popular to get married at. I won't name them, but I would tell any couple to find out the venue's photograph policy ahead of booking. Some chapels won't allow your photographer to shoot you coming down the aisle or to move around to get the best coverage of your ceremony.
Some venues give you a very short amount of time to take portraits before you are ushered out the door to make room for the next Happy Couple. Think about your priorities when booking- what pictures are important for you to have as keepsakes? Are you okay with a shorter length of time at an historic venue? You've spent a lot of time planning and it seems a shame to be rushed out the door.
Daytime receptions or a dusk cocktail hour are great! After a ceremony, I like to fade back a bit and shoot on my long lens for candid portraits. These close-up shots of faces, expressions, movements and gestures are so telling of the personalities of the guests. I love to shoot these shots. They always look fantastic and genuine! But again, there's got to be some light to shoot freely and not have to worry about a flash distracting your guests.
For your reception, the photos will more journalistic in nature. The most important thing for your reception is that you enjoy yourself. Your happiness will come through in the pictures, and that will make every one of them memorable.
So, that's my advice on choosing a venue. Choose a place that's pretty and with lots of natural light so that you will have a variety of shots.
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