Turn Engagement Photos Into Guest Books!

Shooting on average 20 weddings per year, I get some pretty hefty exposure to changing trends in wedding styles. On the topic of guest books and other means of collecting signatures and well wishes, I've seen everything from signed notes hung on trees to a family member mulling about with a video camera asking guests for candid statements. Those are great ideas, but how are they preservable? If I had a stack of note cards, I'd want to put them into a book anyway. If I had a video of verbal comments, I'd have to dig up the video from a buried Facebook feed or its disc from some trunk. The key to a keepsake is something you'll enjoy revisiting and something easy to access. I personally like books :).

Even in our advanced digital age, the good old fashioned Book still stands the truest test of time. Interesting, hm? Those who want guest books have long been tiring of traditional lined books with the frilly "Guests" inscription heading each page. And so, I've analyzed some trends in photo guest books and designed my own as you see in two samples here. Images from engagement sessions or pre-wedding bride/groom shoots work great for these! It's like a pre-wedding album. See more album layouts in my portfolio.

Design is collage style and fully customized (including a full front/back photo wrap cover) and designed by myself, taking cues from the atmosphere of the shoot. Guest books are created as an Art Book style album. Collage design means no guest is bound to lines. They can get creative with their personal statements. Paper can be chosen in plain, pearlized or linen textures. Designs are prepared strategically and spaciously with room for signatures and messages. Lighter and half opacity backgrounds are designed for dark colored marker pens and darker backgrounds are designed for metallic pens. Art Book albums lay flat when left open and stand a bind-tight test of time with acid free pages that won't yellow or degrade.

Your guests will be so floored and intrigued by your fabulous photo rich guest book, you'll need to put up a sign telling them you intend for them to sign it. (Because they won't think it's ok to sign fabulous images, you will have to remind them!)

Atmospheric Style

As the epitome of the Creative Person once said, "Creativity is an abstract which becomes someone, but which they cannot concretely translate for another to define or quantify." That creative person was me. And I just said that. (Made it up on the spot.)

In my perusal of articles from Professional Photographers of America, there is always one about defining style as a creative professional. The usual components which define a photographer's style involve light usage, adherence to digital effects (colors, filters), innovation of angles, personality or approach to subjects, and prop color coordination (attire, backgrounds). I get inspired when I read what other photogs say defines their style, but after the inspiration I come across a personal conundrum.

What is my style? Can it be defined? Does it need to be defined? Is there more to it than that?

The answer is: There's more to it than that. When I ask my clients what they like about my images, they usually say things like the quality of lighting or the naturalistic posing and atmosphere choices. Those are things I inherently look for in scenes, but I wouldn't say they define my style because every atmosphere and every subject is different.

The cookie cutter photographer feels the need to define her style so that the client has a preset idea of how her own images will look based on how she has shot other clients. Fair enough. The photog would also use that style definition to design her branding (look and feel of the website and products) so the client can relate colors and styles with emotions. I like that. It's a tactile way of relating to people when they know nothing about you. But setting one's style to a preset doesn't cater personally to each individual client. I like personal catering!

What I often tell clients is rather more like this. My style is quiet, natural and observant, but I cannot truly define it for you because you define it for me! Ha! So there. I do direct you according to atmosphere, but your locations define the style. Your attire defines it. Your colors and personal chemistry define it. I can't say all events look the same, and I can't say all babies have the same personality. This is my take on photojournalism. The style comes from atmospheric specifics unique to my subjects. We're talking metaphysics here! Moods and atmospheric elements that only exist the day I shoot and never recur the same way ever again. Did you know that the atmosphere is literally changing by the minute? There are no two same sunsets ever in the history of the world!

I like diversity. I eat it up. I like the fact that even if an event plays out the standard roster, there will still be something different and unique about it every time.

Some photographers feel they need to rejuvenate their ideas by looking at other photogs' work. I take that with a grain of salt. I don't want my ideas to look like someone else's. That doesn't mean I won't agree to do a requested shot a client has seen done [a million times] somewhere else. Innovation doesn't come from imitation. It comes from stepping aside and allowing my brain to come up with something rather than xeroxing it from somewhere. I'm more inspired by scenes I can experience first hand. I want my work to shine on its own without being borrowed from someone else. That's chain store stuff ;).

Albums Like No Other

Page spread from 10x10 Flushmount album, featuring floral composite.

Sometimes I wonder what happens to my clients' images if I haven't been commissioned to publish them into an heirloom quality album. I envision them inserted in a DIY low quality photo book template... or worse, logged away on disc in some box waiting to be unearthed by a future child who tries to view them on whatever technology is available, only to get disc misread errors. I can only guarantee that a DVD will last as long as the technology I'm aware of; I can't read the future. I mean, what could we fathom of 2012 when our high school mix tapes that spoke our passions were stored on 8-tracks?

As time attests, our most treasured heirloom images are best preserved in printed materials. Sounds old school, but who knows what could happen to the abstract "digital soft copy"? At the end of the world when the magnetic poles shift and we lose all our wifi's and databases and electricities for gosh sake, what will we do?

The spatial landscape, with portraits.

I'd like to plug in the value of professionally designed photo albums. I know that a lot of wedding clients asking for packages without albums are in the end making photo books themselves *hands on hips*. That's all a fine practice if you like templates and cheap book binds that come unglued after a couple years, but over here in the world of art and narratives, we don't like to make photo books. We like to make Storybooks. We want them to A.) documentarily mean something, and B.) last forever (or at least for a hundred years, and that's a pretty nice chunk of time).

You'll notice in these examples how intertwining event details really brings forth the vigor of the moment. The designs are totally different for everyone because the particular shapes and colors of their images physically determine the layout of that particular page. Space is an artistic cruciality; larger images and more open space make greater statements than a page filled with a bunch of little squares.

"First Look" composite with vineyard fauna and reception table card

I love the dynamism of The Composite (a.k.a. the collage). No template can do this for you, and I don't even want to fathom trying it with non-digital design methods (i.e. your parents' wedding album). It's fully an artistic digital design, like painting. The eye and skill for this is what you get with professional graphic design services.

If clients are not making photo books or wall decor, then images are sitting on a disc somewhere collecting time. Or they're sitting on Facebook being pushed down by updates. Is the internet the new 'attic treasure box'? Really? What happens to it in my End of the World scenario?

Individual images can make bold statements. Put them on your wall. Groupings of images can make bolder statements. Cluster them on your wall, or publish them into an album. One image is like one word. You can't always tell the full story with one word. Lots of words make a story. Lots of pictures make a storybook.

I want to be your historian. I'd love to archive some things for your museum. Ponder the value of that!

Outtro page, 10x8 Flushmount album.

Location Crusade: The Ameristar Hotel

Are you bummed about dreary weather? Chilly breeze twisting your face? Are you stomping your foot saying "I want my photo session in winter!" Well, p'shaw, Spring! Your fearless photographer is out scouting indoor locations for those who can't brave the weather but want to do sessions in winter.. or for those who need backup locale ideas in case of unsavory weather.

Today I scouted the interior hotel and lobby areas at the Ameristar Casino in St. Charles (hwy 70 and Fifth Street). Check out these sweet nooks.

Lounging lovers? Cozy up in the hotel lobby/lounge area.

Abstract carpets and marble fireplaces.

Intriguing stone-paneled wall with slits of light! Main walkway to the hotel lobby.

Textured wall with lighted waterfall, oo!

Skylit cobblestone walkway... wait, this is indoors? Yes! Just outside the casino entrance.

Skylight near casino entrance (insert foreground close up of lovers).

Daring red wall... for casting noir glances.

Chocolate brown curtains (across from the daring red wall).

If you're looking for other unique options for shoot spots in the greater St. Louis area, check out my earlier blog on this related topic, and stay tuned for more location scouting as I discover the hidden gems of lovely places to be photographed.

Branching Out to Babies!

Okay gang, I've officially branched out to photographing the wee ones! ...especially catering to busy new mothers with week day sessions that can be done in-home. I've covered a few infants and children previously, but I'm currently researching trends in baby photography and seeking a new refreshing angle to the genre. I'd love your comments on this topic to see what styles are getting parents excited these days.

What do we all think of baby photography trends? If you're a grandmother, father-to-be, newlywed or bachelor dude, I'm curious to know your impressions of baby photography this day and age. Do you find certain poses awkward? Angelic? Creepy? Heartfelt? What do you think works best and what is just plain thumbs down? Here's some eye candy to spark some opinions:

strangely bound Holiday Inn gift?

floating baby on a cloud of hands?

naked parents? (I'm with this kid's expression)

squishy faced babies in crocheted hats?

babies a-dangle in hammocks?

pregnant belly with hand hearts?

All these are fairly formulaic styles in artistic baby portraiture. Some of the more refreshing ideas I've gathered have involved babies wrapped with intriguing things, or placed inside of naturally shaped objects. I've even seen a few shots (which scare me) of babies appearing to have been left in random places, like wrapped and set on the fireplace mantle! Huh? Oh, I found your baby in the bookshelf.

"dear, where did we leave the baby!"

As far as my own designs for posing infants, I do enjoy naturalistic colors, shapes reminiscent of birth, and themes relating to growth as found in nature, such as seed pods, bird nests, flower blooms and fabrics reminiscent of floral membranes. I was recently very much inspired by Anne Geddes' new work called Beginnings. Peruse her work here to glimpse a few images. She was inspired by nature and the concepts of birth and new life, and worked that still life photography into pregnancy and infant portraits. I love her attention to the details of these intricate floral buds, seeds, intertwining nesting materials, and her analysis of embryonic shapes for babies to fit into. Often the amorphous blob of a baby's limbs cannot unawkwardly fit into things like baskets or teacups, whereas the natural fetal position amidst soft cottons and nestlike comfort suits them perfectly.
Nature seems the most fitting backdrop for babies. They've just exited the most natural place they'll probably ever know, just entering a crazy world just waiting to get its iPhones and high fructose corn syrups into their hands. A newborn baby has not yet been touched by the world and its influences, and I think that so unfamiliar concept is what really sparks my curiosity about infants and capturing them. Everything is new, unknown and pure. That is what should be captured and remembered about this too brief moment in their lives. They'll never again know that sensation of untarnished newness and purity.

Do I Need A Second Wedding Photographer?

I encounter brides who either say up front that they need a second photog for wedding coverage, or appear to not have considered the benefit versus overkill of having a second. There's always a budget, and as that means cutting out the extras in most cases, in other cases having the addition is critical. What to do!

The definitive answer is: It depends! It's based both on your preferences and your scenarios. This article will help you assess the particulars so you may consider whether you need a second or if having one would be overkill.

Situations Recommended for Second Coverage

If any one of these situations is true of your wedding day, you may want to consider a second photog:

• Two events happen simultaneously in separate places and there is not enough time for one photographer to cover both. Example: Groomsmen and bridesmaids getting ready in separate venues.
• You have an odd usage of processional/recessional space, like a long scenic aisle walkway which has steps, curves or people are entering the congregation from two different directions.
• Your ceremony is 30 minutes or less in a large space. There's only so much moving around and capturing as many angles as possible during short ceremonies, especially in large venues or if there's a balcony and you want overhead shots taken at the same time as aisle shots.
• You want to choreograph an off-altar First Look. Any short-lasting moment is best covered from two angles simultaneously. First Looks can be covered fine with just one photog, but having just one often means I'm stopping you in the middle of the action to make sure I get all the expressions. It depends on locales and circumstances.
• Your venue has challenging lighting, either outdoors at night or a dimly lit space with high ceilings. These situations require special spot lighting for best exposure and to capture low light effects. A lighting assistant is required to manage equipment. Check out Charge of the Light Brigade to see what I mean visually.

Situations Covered Well with One Photographer 

• All events are happening in the same venue and you have 6 or more hours of total coverage. Longer coverage means more time for one photog to cover pretty much everyone and everything.
• You're okay with less angles or less shot variation for short-lived moments.
• You have a longer than half-hour ceremony. The length offers more than enough time for one photog to cover everything from many angles. Two is overkill, unless you want overhead balcony shots taken at the same time as aisle shots.

It's a Toss Up

If you're still undecided, consider that getting a second will not necessarily allow you to shorten your total coverage hours (or lessen your package cost). I'm open to the possibility of adding a second for only a portion of your day, but this depends on locations and the particulars of your event. Consider too that having a second shooting the same subject from two angles may result in your second showing up in the backgrounds of some shots. Digital touch ups in such a case (to remove the  background photog) are done on a per-photo, as-requested basis. 

Having two is often a benefit to the photogs themselves. Coordination, equipment management and travel can more easily be arranged. For instance, if you have a limo traveling to multiple photo sites, things will go more smoothly if I jump on and off with you and not need to find parking separately. My second can assist with my travel at the end of the day. This indirectly affects the fluency of your schedule.

Hopefully this will aid you in your decision! As you can see, it often is very situational, and not everyone needs to have two photographers, but you can clearly see the benefits in certain situations. Most weddings I cover employ just me on site and they can be shot sufficiently as such, but I cannot be in two places at once. However, no one has ever complained that they didn't have enough coverage of their event when it was just me, and I've never once had someone say "You didn't get a shot of so-and-so or this-and-that!" I'm very observant on the job, and honestly I've quite well trained myself to notice a lot of things and somehow look at two things at once. It's a skill that's ever-enhancing ;).

To learn if your specific coverage requires two, I recommend we meet and chat about your particular venues, budget and wedding day schedule. It's also not uncommon to add extra coverage or add a second photog to your existing package within a week or two of your event date. It happens!

Prepare To Be Shot!

Most of us assume we know how to pose ourselves best for a portrait, but professional photography contains many nuances you may never even think to consider. This article evaluates my experience shooting weddings and preps you on what to expect and how to prepare yourselves for the big day.

Photography is probably the last thing on your mind as you get closer to your wedding, but if you consider these tips carefully, you'll be a well informed photo subject, which means your photos will be that much more excellent!

Candid Means Candid - Forget the Camera

I think this is funny. 100% of my clients say they prefer candid photography, but on their wedding days some seek me out to smile directly at the camera. I've even had some ask if they should! True candidity is synonymous with photojournalism; in it's most authentic sense that means the photographer is invisible and events unfold emotionally and authentically. If you want truly candid photography, tune me out. Sounds rude, but it's true. When you see the lens up, try to pretend it's not there unless I'm directing you to look.

Makeup reminder: Make sure your ladies don't wear glitter or shimmer makeup. Under flash lighting, it looks like dandruff!

Not All That Glitters Is Candid

About 80% of a wedding is generally shot candidly. The other 20% is carefully posed (family formals, couple/bridal party portraits). You don't want to have everything candid because when you look at your images later you'll be scraping to find any shot where your two faces are looking straight at the camera. Thus the significance of posing. You'll be pleased with stylized posing rather than your standard shoulder-to-shoulder face front shot. Additionally, believe it or not, many couples don't seem to know how to candidly interact with each other romantically in front of a crowd or camera in order for those great shots to truly be candid. Some direction is required for a portion of your day.

Novel Idea - Pose Yourself

Nothing would make bridal posing go more smoothly than working with a super model. I'm not saying you have to be one or even look like one, but anyone can totally pose like one! Watch a red carpet awards show. Notice how many preset poses they have to display to the cameras. Celebrities have been trained to show their best angles on cue. Nab some tips from them, remember to strike those poses, and you too will look absolutely awesome in every single shot. Guaranteed. If you don't want to think about this too much, simply work on your posture. KEY TERM! Slouching in photos tends to communicate disregard or carelessness. Plus, standing or sitting up straight and confidant will shave 10 pounds off ya!

Simple Pose-Yourself-Awesome Tactics
Try them in front of a mirror when wearing your gown, and I guarantee not only will you look radiant, you will feel 100% confident too. These work for any body type: 

1. Straighten the back, slouching adds pounds (work on your posture!)
2. Suck in the stomach, doing so regularly can tone your abs!
3. Hand on the hip (arm away from body) slims the upper arm
4. Weight on the back foot slims thighs and flatters curves
5. Turn a slight shoulder toward the camera to slim the shoulders and minimize chest
6. A chin to the shoulder creates a sleek, elegant neckline and playful flirtatiousness (see photo above)

I know you all are checking out those bridal fashion magazines... follow their lead!

Posture Posture Posture Posture!

The Shy Guys

Guys are often less gung ho about photos than ladies, but I have ways of peaking their interest. In these cases the goal is to make them forget about portraits and focus on their ladies. The candid look is more challenging for posed shots because moments often need to be created rather than truly being candid. Unposed direction still looks authentic. Creating interaction is my method of getting guys involved and captivated with their gals. It can involve jumping, running, dancing or simply looking at length into each others' eyes.

Make sure your groom grooms himself! Clean shave, trimmed fingernails and lint free!

What Is She Doing??

Photography is the creation of artistic media, and artists will often go to the nth degree to capture something they find impactful. If you see me hiding behind things, swiping items to put in shots, lying on the floor, lying on my back, seemingly spying on people or climbing on top of something, this is normal behavior. I stood on top of a DJ's amp system once for overhead dancing shots.

As always, I will adhere to your preferences as far as shooting and minding surroundings. Put your best foot forward and be shot with confidence! (Did I mention POSTURE?)