Vow Bridal Show - The Art Of Weddings

Posted on January 28, 2008

WOW! That was a great show! What made it a great show for me? I got to speak with NUMEROUS brides, moms, couples, grooms, grandmothers, sisters, and the whole family unit “nine yards” about wedding photography. I really liked the spot I was in too. I signed up to be in this show late in the game, because in the past, the VOW show was only open to print advertisers in VOW magazine, but Kim Wadsworth - Editor Of Vow - National Make Up Artist - And all around nice lady opened up the show to all, so, on a whim, I got in at the last minute. I’m certainly glad I did. I was great meeting with all of you and I’ll be following up with the 30 people that wanted to talk more in depth with me this week.

But, what would a photography blog be without pictures?

So, here’s what my display looked like.

Thanks to all that made such great comments on the photos and albums I brought with me. The Norfolk Botanical Gardens was using one of my Wedding Albums to show couples what a great Renaissance Court Wedding might look like, so if you saw that album at their display area and you didn’t know who took those photos. (it was me!)

Now below were my neighbors at the show. These are the ladies that run the wedding events at The Lesner Inn (over on Shore Drive) I’ve always liked working there, and I’ve done a great many weddings there. The Lesner is a great place to have a wedding. If you haven’t found a venue yet and are looking for a charming place with a spectacular view, great food, an organized, competent, and involved staff, the Lesner Inn is “it”.

The fashion show started, and I’d been curious about that Freeze Frame contraption that was down the way from me, so I had to try it out. It’s one of those photo booths that you go into that takes 4 pictures of whatever mug you’re sporting at the time and spits out a strip of pictures. I tried to give it a different twist (probably should have followed the instructions and lined my head up with the line and all that, but if there’s a rule out there, I’ll probably figure out how to break it and rationalize that it was MEANT to be broken) haha

The sound system and production used during the fashion show was top notch. It got your attention. So here’s just a couple of quick shots I took while watching a little bit of the show. I was actually pretty well occupied during the fashion show. I was still talking with several people.

Great day! Thanks for reading!

I’m STILL working on slideshows from LAST SEASON. I don’t feel guilty though. I just started offering them for the upcoming season, so doing them for last year’s weddings isn’t something the couples contracted for or knew they were getting, but it’s GREAT PRACTICE!

Wedding Photography Buzzz

Posted on January 19, 2008

NEVER have I gotten so many reactions from an image I had displayed at a bridal show than I did from bringing this image from Addie’s Trash The Dress Bridal Session.

I had the above image printed 40 x 30 on canvas. It was displayed on a easel and looked just as great as I thought it would.

There were several different reactions. Some good, some great, and this is what got me. Some HORRIFIED. There were oooooo’s and ahhhhhh’s, there were twinkles in the eyes of brides to be as they thought of doing this sort of thing. And, there were “THERE’S NO WAY I’M GOING TO DO THAT WITH MY DRESS!” and conversely, from some Mothers accompanying their daughters, “THERE’S NO WAY YOU’RE GOING TO DO THAT IN YOUR DRESS!”.

THOSE reactions had me explaining this session ALL DAY long. (it was pretty funny actually)

So, I thought it would be a good thing to show you how I did it, and how no REAL wedding dresses were injured during the photography of this session.

The trick is to have a stunt dress. “What the heck is a stunt dress?” you ask? A “stunt dress” is any old dress from the “we’re just about to set this dress on fire lowest price ever please take it before I scream” clearance rack, or even better (from a thrift store). Find a dress that fits well, and will look good in photographs on YOU. I was able to find this dress for Addie in about 30 minutes of looking for one.

I scheduled the session with Addie for sunrise, because that’s the kind of lighting I wanted for this. I know that sounds kind of brutal, but for art’s sake, it works the best.

The bride arrives at the beach before the sun comes up dressed in her REAL wedding dress. The session started with a traditional bridal portrait session at sunrise. At this session, I fired off the first frame at 6:53 AM.

This is the slide show of the TRADITIONAL BRIDAL PORTRAIT SESSION in her REAL dress.

After we were done with the traditional session, it was time to put on the STUNT DRESS. So, with the help of her mom, sister, future mother in law, and I with my two trusty blankets, we made a changing room for her to slip out of her REAL dress and into the STUNT DRESS.

After the REAL dress was safely zipped up into it’s protective carrier, we were ready to begin the trash the dress portion of the session.

The first frame of the Trash The Dress session was fired at 7:25 AM. REAL dress was unharmed, and was worn to the wedding on December 28th, 2007. (I have the pictures to prove it.)

Here is the slide show of the TRASH THE DRESS PORTION of the BRIDAL PORTRAIT SESSION

So, I hope this was as informative and fun as I tried to make it!

Now! OnOn (no pun intended!) to the next subject.

I’ve also started doing slide shows of engagement sessions too! So, meet Filipe and Katelyn below.

They’re getting married in July of this year, almost a year to the day from when I shot this engagement session. Katelyn (btw) is going to be doing a Trash The Dress bridal session after the weather here warms up a bit. (so, now I refer back to this post if I get horrified looks again!)

Here is the slide show of the Engagement Portrait Photography Session.

Lastly, I’ve started a promotion!

I’ve created the post cards, but I’ve yet to mail them to presently booked clients and the public at large, but, until May 1st, 2008 I am offering a $250 savings on beach bridal portrait sessions. This basically makes the session itself free of charge and gives you 1 5x7 print. This offer can be used as a booking discount of $250 for a wedding photography package, or you can get an engagement session instead of the bridal.

Ok! My fingers are going on strike! (for now!)

Steven and Ashanti’s Wedding Slide Show

Posted on January 19, 2008

I already posted some images of Steven and Ashanti’s Norfolk Botanical Gardens Wedding last year at the end of the summer. This post about their wedding photography has gotten ALOT of traffic from their friends, family and guests.

I’ve finally gotten around to doing their slide show. I sent it out to their guests late this past week and it got slaughtered with traffic and WONDERFUL comments. So, I thought I’d revisit this wedding and post the link to the slide show.

The slide shows are new this season ( 2008 ) but I’ve been going back to all the weddings from 2007 and late 2006 to do slide shows for those couples too.

Here is Steven and Ashanti’s Wedding Photography Slide Show

Enjoy!

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