Golden Hour | Bridal Business

You've probably heard the term Golden Hour before. And through common sense, you are probably able to figure out that it has something to do with sunrise and sunset. But do you know why this is so important in the world of photography?

Why does Golden Hour matter?
As someone who primarily shoots their sessions outdoors, in natural light, there are a lot of factors to consider when planning -- location, time of year, crowds, etc -- but most important of all is light. A beautiful location is absolutely nothing without the proper light. Why? Because unless there is open shade available, we cannot shoot there.  During the middle of the day, you are limited to areas of open shade -- where you are just inside the shade so you can still get natural light on your faces without actually being in the light or without being so deep that your skin looks blue!

The best way to avoid this is to shoot during the Golden Hour(s), the 30-45 minutes following sunrise/preceding sunset, when the sun is in that perfect spot to create a soft, warm glow that you cannot get mid day. Mid-day light creates very harsh shadows (think bags under your eyes!), blown out highlights, and is overall unflattering for skin tones. In comparison, the light during golden hour is much less contrasty, creating butter-soft skin and soft shadows.

When is Golden Hour?
I probably don't need to tell you that the sun rises and sets at dramatically different times throughout the year, however, this does make it a bit tricky when planning session times as it is always changing. Enter "Golden Hour" -- an awesome iPhone app that will tell you the exact time for that day. Also www.sunrisesunset.com, where you can create an entire month long calendar which is crucial when planning engagement sessions weeks or even months in advance.

What about my wedding?
It goes without saying that your entire wedding cannot take place during Golden Hour. When arriving at your venue, one of the first things I always do is find a location for your first look, wedding party portraits, and family portraits. These will be the areas of open shade discussed above so that we can avoid the harsh, mid-day shadows. They may not be your favorite part of the property, but I promise that you will love your pictures so much more if you choose light over location! In order to embrace Golden Hour (and incorporate some of those "favorite" spots we may have missed earlier), I always request 10-15 minutes for sunset portraits when we are developing your timeline. It typically ends up being in the middle of the reception, but most find it a welcomed break!

Oh and as if all that wasn't enough, here is just a peek at what you can look forward to during Golden Hour...


OPEN FULL POST

First Looks | Bridal Business

Let me start this post with a disclaimer: I think first looks are awesome -- Rob and I did one on our wedding day and I have never regretted it. It is still one of my favorite moments from our wedding day and I love looking at the pictures and remembering what we talked about during that private few minutes of an otherwise crazy day. 

That being said, I am the first to recognize they aren't for every couple. First looks are something I talk about at every initial meeting with clients; I want to be sure that I am planting the seed early enough that they have time to think things over and make an informed decision. The last thing I would want would be for someone to decide at the last minute, based off my recommendation, and then regret it!! 

Which also leads me to my next disclaimer: while I always bring it up, I never, ever try to sell it, per se. I simply lay out the information to educate my couple so they can discuss what is best for them. If they decide against it, it truly doesn't make a difference to me either way -- I just want to make sure you have the best wedding day possible! 

While I know this may have all been said before, let me explain some reasons why I think first looks are beneficial on your wedding day.

OPEN FULL POST

Business Coaching Session with Katelyn James | Personal

The nervous excitement started as soon as I set my alarm for 11:45pm. You see, I finally saved up enough to book my coaching session with Katelyn James and the sessions "go live" at midnight upon release of her monthly newsletter. I sat with Granger in the hall, lit only by the light of my laptop, pressing refresh until the moment it arrived in my inbox. My fingers couldn't move fast enough as I filled out the booking form and then finally pressed, 'Submit'. A few minutes later the confirmation e-mail arrived and I was booked. I WAS BOOKED!! Granger didn't understand what all the fuss was about, but I knew.... I knew that this was a huge turning point for my business. In two short months I would be learning from someone I followed since 2010, before I even dreamed about getting into photography. I started my Google Doc that night with a list of questions and continued adding to it for the next two months...

Fast forward to September; that nervous excitement was still lingering as I made the drive to her home. I was fortunate that I already had the opportunity to work with Katelyn; she shot our second anniversary as well as had Rob and I 'model' (I use that term loosely!!) for a styled shoot at her Workshop Experience. She, Michael, and Bokeh welcomed me into their home once again as if I was family instead of just a client. We caught up for a minute and then dove in immediately, covering everything from shooting and editing to blogging and client experiences. I'm not sure if it was the excitement or just the length of my list, but before I knew it we were wrapping up to head to lunch. My head was spinning -- in the best way possible!! I was bursting with new ideas and techniques that I wanted to try out immediately.

After lunch I had one last treat -- headshots in the infamous parking garage. You laugh, but that light is legendary! This was actually one of the parts of the experience that I was most excited for. As an introvert, I am still working on taking charge during posing (just another area where Katelyn is a rock star!). I listened as she effortlessly flowed from one core pose to the next, all while making me feel as if *I* was the one who was the pro :) We packed up and headed back to the car and my heart sank a little bit -- I definitely was not ready for the day to end! But as I drove home, that nervous excitement slowly crept back in, this time for the direction that I could see my business heading over the coming years. I cannot wait to implement the ideas we brainstormed and revamp an amazing client experience. 

Katelyn, "thank you" simply does not suffice; you are such an inspiration and I am grateful to have had the opportunity to learn from you. You know how occasionally when a person makes it "big", they lose all the great qualities that got them there in the first place? I can honestly say Katelyn is at the complete opposite end of the spectrum; she is one of the most genuinely kind people I have ever met -- she cares about YOU and your business and wants to see you succeed. It's kind of amazing and why it makes me so happy to be part of this industry, having the pleasure of working with people like her!

Here are some of my headshots from Katelyn and some behind the scenes pics :)

OPEN FULL POST

Off Camera Flash | Tips

A few weeks ago, I wrote about a really fun (and helpful!) photographers group I joined that is dedicated to the growth and knowledge of others in the industry. Each month the topic varies, but this past session was of particular interest to me: Mastering Off Camera Flash. The reason being? I am shooting my first wedding as lead photographer at the end of September and the ceremony starts at 7:00pm! I know sunrise and sunset times like the back of my hand, but for all the non-photographers reading, that translates to: it will be completely dark! So.....I really needed to nail this!

Stephen Gosling, of Stephen Gosling Photography, was our guest speaker and came in guns blazing, asking how many of us considered ourselves natural light photographers? I raised my hand. "Well, that just means you don't know how to use flash." Gulp. Oh, in case I didn't mention it, Stephen is very blunt. Personally, I loved it -- it helps me when people don't sugar coat things! But he didn't stop there. He spent about an hour explaining and demonstrating the ins and outs of off camera flash, then set us loose to try it on our own.

All in all, I wouldn't say I left being a pro -- like all things in photography, the only way to truly grow is to practice! A huge thank you to Stephen for giving up his evening to teach us a little bit about his specialty; it went a long way! I took the "test" time really seriously, probably a little too serious -- see the results below! 

OPEN FULL POST

Wedding Day Timelines | Bridal Business

I will be the first to admit, I am serious, all in, "Type A" personality -- organization is my second love. Think I'm exaggerating? My movies and books are all arranged in alphabetical order. The shirts in my closet are first arranged by color and then by sleeve length within color. I keep a calendar for personal, work, and blogging, a to-do list on my phone, and a day planner, that way I am never without one of them! It may be a tad overzealous, but it's what keeps me sane. 

This obviously held true on my wedding day as well. I had an Excel spreadsheet that detailed every 15 minutes from 10:00am to 10:00pm. No, not just for me. For myself, Rob, my parents, the bridal party, guests, and all vendors. To an outsider, this DEFINITELY sounds a tad overzealous, but to the right person this can be a dream (or nightmare). We didn't have a wedding planner, so my mom and I were doing everything ourselves. This timeline was my way of being in control without having to actually be in control! That sounds like it doesn't make sense, but listen... The more I planned in advance and spoke with vendors and family, the more I was able to let go on the day of because I already trusted that everything would be done according to the timeline. And you know what? It worked! With the exception of my mom's speech (which never actually made it's way to the timeline... see!), we didn't miss anything. 

I've said it once and I'll say it a million times (no matter how cliché) -- your wedding day goes by in the blink of an eye. ENJOY IT! The easiest way to ensure this happens it to coordinate with your vendors regarding what you want to see happen and when on your special day! It definitely does not need to spell out every 15 minutes, but be sure to include all major events. Here are a few tips when planning out your timeline:

OPEN FULL POST

Sparkler Exits | Tips

I recently joined a few different "photographers only" groups on Facebook -- many are there to cross-post when they are looking to provide a bride with referrals or for photographers to ask questions and brainstorm ideas. The photography community in general seems to be a very giving place when it comes to knowledge sharing and I am eternally grateful for that; I can't tell you how much I've learned in such a short time just from the kindness of others. 

All of this is to say, that one of the groups, Shoot & Share of Northern VA, is a bit different from the rest; in addition to being an open forum, there is also the added element of teaching! The group is led by Abby of Abby Grace Photography and each month she takes the time to plan an event for fellow photographers to learn something new and grow. 

I attended my first event last week and the topic was focused on sparkler exits. This was absolutely a perfect first topic for me; I had yet to have the opportunity to shoot a sparkler exit, but as a growing trend in the wedding industry, I wanted to be prepared for when I was responsible for one! Turns out, timing was perfect; just last Saturday I was second shooting a wedding with Megan Chase and we had a beautiful sparkler exit at the end of the reception.

It was great to spend the evening meeting some new friends, sharing tips, and getting a bit of practice. I left feeling even more excited for the next event in August to learn a bit about off camera lighting! Here are some of the fun practice shots I took!

OPEN FULL POST

Experiences Second Shooting | Tips

Let

Ashley is an avid crossfitter and you can tell by those amazing arms!!

me start this by saying, I am absolutely in no way an expert on second shooting! However, I, like many other newbies out there, understand how difficult it can be to get selected for a second shooting gig. 

Let's be honest, we live and work in an over-saturated market filled with tons of talent... which isn't a bad thing if you are a bride, but is hard to deal with when you are trying to fill your portfolio and learn. Second shooting can be a catch 22 -- it's hard to find someone to work with you if you don't have any experience, but you can't get any experience if no one will work with you! 

All that being said, I have been so incredibly fortunate thus far to have not one, but two amazing photographers who have selflessly given me advice through absolutely no gain of their own. First is Ashley, from Jen + Ashley / We Are The Mitchells -- Ashley has been so kind to let me second shoot with her and asked for nothing in return. I badger her with questions and always get an answer with a smile :) Second is Abby from Abby Grace Photography, who openly shares so much knowledge and wisdom about this business that I wouldn't know otherwise. 

I am eternally grateful for their help and I think it speaks volumes to the character of the people working in this industry.  I really want to pay it forward by passing along some tips that I have picked up along the way. Without further ado... 


OPEN FULL POST

Having Strangers take DSLR Family Pictures on Vacation | Tips

You

Cut off our feet, but otherwise a pretty solid "stranger" picture.

probably know the feeling... you hand over your camera to a stranger and they start twisting the lens round and round trying to get it to focus, staring at the LCD screen telling you they can't see anything. All the while, you are smiling (full of anxiety) and thinking, "Why are they doing that? Did they see it in a movie?!"

While DSLRs are incredibly popular these days, the thought of handling one still intimidates many which is why it can be hard to get a nice family picture taken while away on vacation. Sure, you value all the images you took, but sometimes you just want 1-2 good pictures of you and your significant other to remember, 'oh yeah, we were on the trip too!' In order to combat the fear of handing over your DSLR to a stranger, I've put together a couple tips for a smoother experience:

- Prepare your settings.
The first thing I do is switch the camera to aperture priority mode -- this will allow you to set the aperture and ISO, leaving the camera to scan the scene for exposure. I usually do a test or two on someone else who is with me before handing over the camera. Most importantly -- you should be shooting in RAW! This will make it much easier to "save" anything that is off in the exposure in post processing.

- Be patient selecting.  
Take your time picking out the right person! Scan the crowd for someone else with a DSLR who might be more familiar with the settings. Or try a family who might take a lot of pictures of their kids! As sweet as they may be, an older grandma who has never touched a DSLR might not be your best choice here; although I have heard that it is simply best to pick someone you can outrun... :)

- Give pointers. 
Let them know to look through the viewfinder since the LCD screen won't be on. Also point out what button to press before stepping into position. I also always mention that they should place the "red dot" (the focus) on one of our faces -- This will ensure a better read for the exposure as well as a clearer image, of course.

- Say thank you! Then double check their picture... 
This one is huge! Make sure you are grateful for their time, but then take a minute to review their picture after they have stepped away. I wouldn't recommend checking in front of them and then asking for another picture. However, you never know when you will be in paradise again, so if it's important to you, feel free to ask someone different.

Truth be told, it still might end up being a cruddy picture. If all this fails, try getting a wireless remote and taking your own images! Fellow photographer Abby Grace has already created an awesome post on DSLR "selfies", so check it out here.

Just for fun, here are a couple images we had taken by others on vacation...


OPEN FULL POST