Tips, tricks, and hacks on weddings, photo shoots, and other events, as well as highlights on some of my favorite and most recent shoots as a photographer/videographer in the Lexington, Kentucky area.
An unplugged wedding is where you ask your guests to turn off their phones, cameras, tablets, and other mobile devices during your ceremony.
When guests use their own cameras, there are many ways that this affects the photography that you’re actually paying for. Guests often times are taking photos at the same time we are, and their flashes interfere with our cameras, leaving you blown out completely (and unsalvageable) or having weird shadows or lighting throughout the photos.
Read MoreI was contacted by Jimmy on Alignable (check out my link here). He had started his own computer repair company and he was in need of some good headshots for his website and social media presence. He expressed to me that he would feel a little uncomfortable and he was hoping to find a reasonably priced photographer that would be non-judgmental and hopefully friendly enough to help his comfort level. I assured him that my assistant and I would help to make sure he had an enjoyable photo shoot.
We met in the downtown area of Lexington to try to capture a more corporate look. I could tell he was a little nervous, but it wasn’t very long until we were laughing and Jimmy was camera ready. The sun didn’t always cooperate with us during the shoot, but Jimmy showed great patience as we walked around and looked for appropriate backgrounds. Throughout the shoot, I could see his confidence growing and his smile showing more as well. He left a glowing review (below). All in all, I think we got some great shots that he will be able to use for his company!
Read MoreA wedding typically lasts 10 to 12 hours. As your photography/videography team, we are scheduled to be there between 4-10 hours of that. If we take getting ready shots and are there all day, we try to eat a big breakfast before we get there, but that only lasts so long. We are often running around like crazy all day trying to cover the whole wedding, and don’t have time to snack or take a break. We’ve literally been known to run to the bathroom to cram down a sandwich or pretzels that we packed in three minutes and then get back to it.
Read MoreFamily pictures are usually very high energy, but not quite as high energy as a new puppy! When Nicole asked me if we could do a shoot for her brand new family member, there was no hesitation. I love animals! They had previously used me for their engagement pictures, and eventually, their wedding photos as well. Naturally, when they got Blue (yes, named because of his beautiful blue eyes), they wanted me to capture the joy and love they had for him.
Read MoreNot sure what to wear for your maternity session? Check out these great tips to help you prepare:
Remember, the main purpose of this session is to show off your baby bump, so be sure to wear more clingy clothing to your session. It doesn’t necessarily have to be tight, but you want it to be more form fitting so you can see the bump. Just be sure that it’s still comfortable for you.
We suggest wearing shirts with some kind of sleeve on them – they are more flattering for photos. Things like a dress with 3/4 length sleeves, or a form fitting tank top with a sweater/cardigan over it are always a good idea.
You’ve made a big investment in photography (and possibly videography as well) to help capture your big day. You want to make sure you absolutely look your best. Although, I’m sure you do a very nice job on your everyday makeup, I strongly recommend looking into hiring a makeup artist. At the end of this article, I will give you a link to a site where you can find quality Kentucky hair and makeup artists for your special day.
Here are 5 reasons why having a pro artist is important:
Read MoreMaternity pictures are a fun way to remember the beauty of pregnancy without remembering the aches and pains that come along with it. Typically, a shoot lasts 45 minutes to an hour and the mother is anywhere between 28 and 36 weeks pregnant. During that stage, the mother usually has a very visible baby bump, but isn’t too uncomfortable to participate in the shoot.
When Beverly arrived for our scheduled Maternity shoot, she was running a little behind. I definitely have grace for pregnant women in these situations because they are taking on a major life change. It’s worth noting that this is going to be the FIFTH child for this couple and she deserved extra grace on that particular day… because she was in active labor!
Read MoreMany of the couples I work with ask me whether or not they should have a first look. If you’re reading this, you’re probably wondering the same thing. In my professional opinion, I think there are a lot of benefits to this idea. I love first looks. I know that they are a tad bit ‘untraditional,’ but let me take a minute to explain the benefits of a first look.
Read MoreWhat do you want covered?
First, you need to decide what important details you want covered. Do you want a lot of getting ready shots prior to the ceremony? Do you want us to stay for the entire reception? These details will affect the length of time you will need us there. If you want us to stay until your reception exit, and you want a lot of candid, getting ready shots, you will need full day coverage. If you just want a few getting ready shots, that will knock off some time. If you want us to stay for just the main events in the reception and not until the last guest leaves, then this will also shorten the day. By deciding on a start and/or end time, this is the first step to booking your package.
Read MoreGage contacted me to ask if I could assist him with capturing a very special moment. He was planning on asking his girlfriend to marry him and we wanted to do it before a Woodford Reserve Distillery tour. The grounds are beautiful, so I was confident that we could grab some great pictures. We made a plan that I would plant myself in front of the building and pretend to be taking some pictures of the grounds as they arrived with their group of family/friends. He would casually stroll by and land in the place we chose together (for the optimal backdrop).
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