New England Bride Magazine Featured Images - Both July and August 2009 Issues

I am honored once again to be featured in New England Bride Magazine.  I am not only in one, I am in June and July's issues.  I have all the pages with my images shown here.  I thought that one of the articles in particular would be tremendously helpful for my brides and groom when planning their time with me (their photographer) - Here it is: 

"Posed Pictures in a Snap"  - Formal Photos Fast!

Don't want to miss the party while you're having those formal portraits snapped?  You don't have to miss much when you're working with a professional (and organized) photographer.  Find out how you can get all the shots you need for a killer album and be back mingling with your guests in a flash.

 

Dare to Defy

If you are willing to be a bit less traditional and see each other prior to the ceremony, you can have your formals done ahead of time.  Some couples opt for this in an effort to maximize time with family and friends but it's not the answer for everyone.  Many brides still want that element of surprise as they make their way down the aisle to their bedazzled groom.

Get Ahead

Another option is to do some of the formals ahead of time, with the bride and groom separately so as to preserve the traditional nature of the ceremony.  You may want to have your groom and ushers meet beforehand followed by the bride and her maids.  That way, the only portraits that need to be taken after the ceremony are those that include the couple themselves and the entire wedding party.  Again, this will cut down on the time you'll need to take away from the festivities.

The A-List

In today's world, a who's who list that the photographer will use as a blueprint is a must.  This worksheet should include everyone that needs to be photographed during the formal session and the nature of the relationships.  A photographer needs to be highly skilled at managing some of the often sticky relationships -divorce, death, significant others - that may play a role in the taking (and ordering) of formal photos.  Share as much history as you can with your photographer so that she is aware of and can manage family members and friends in a way the keeps everyone happy.  This will help the bride and groom remain stress-free, and also make the formal portrait session move along quickly.

Plan B

While outdoor photographs are almost always more desirable, be sure to have an indoor backup plan.  Be sure that if you aren't using your function facility as an alternative, you scope out a locale, like an art museum or hotel lobby with a backdrop that will provide some depth and interest to your pictures. It's a good idea to ask your photographer for some ideas - most will have great suggestions based on years of experience.

Team Work:

The secret to great formal shots that won't take too much time is coordination.  Most photographers will try to keep the formal portrait session to under an hour.  A good function coordinator is key in helping the photographer round up key people and keep the session moving along.  If the appropriate information is shared and everyone works well together, the bride and groom can have great formals and focus on the celebration  at hand. ( tell advise all of my clients to select 1 or 2 of their bridal or groom party to round up the key people.  Since I am not familiar with these people visually this will ensure every person is ready and waiting for our formals.  This allows me to move through the process quickly and seamlessly and will save a ton of time).