What Most Brides Don’t Know About Choosing A Photographer

Posted on June 27, 2014 by Kelly Cameron

Remember in “Father of the Bride,” “Runaway Bride,” “Bridesmaids” -remember those brides selecting a photographer? Do you remember seeing the photographer?

Hollywood doesn’t really prepare us as brides for what to expect on our wedding day. That’s okay -it’s not their job. It’s their job to be the lens capturing the love story -and what’s what we fall for, over and over again.

The LOVE STORY.

So your job as a bride is to enjoy the moments of your day. Your job is to make sure the day is planned according to what will provide the best celebration of your love story. And it’s my job to capture it. To be Hollywood for you as you star in the biggest romantic feature of all-time.

But before you start focusing on the timeline and the finer details, can I share a little secret with you that most brides don’t know? And it’s a little secret that makes ALL the difference.

Photographers? They follow you around nearly every second of your wedding day. They play a key role in orchestrating where you stand, how you stand, who you stand with, when you actually get to eat, shepherding your family and bridal party, and otherwise staging and capturing moments. They’re pretty much your shadow for every significant moment of your Hollywood romance.

And your relationship with your photographer is not far off from selecting a best friend. At least that’s the way I approach my relationships with my brides. Why? Honey, your best friend is intuitive to your needs. They know by your body language when you’re thirsty, when you need a break, when you’re uptight, etc. Your best friend is ready to assist when you need them, available to help and truly cares about you.

Just think about the difference between having your best friend as your wedding photographer. And then… think about having the indifferent desk jockey at the DMV for your photographer.

You see the difference?

Not all photographers approach their couples and their work in the same manner. And how your photographer serves you, especially on your wedding day, is something that will flavor the entire experience. There are plenty of photographers out there. Plenty that can offer a great deal. Plenty that can provide a lovely final wedding album. A few that can make the day a bit more fun than you thought it could be. But the little secret to avoiding a DMV experience while being overjoyed with your final wedding photos has an easy bit of math involved.

(Photographer)Personality+Art+Responsiveness = Happy Bride

If you click with your photographer, if they’ve been attentive and helpful through the process and you simply love their work, THEN you know you’ll have a Hollywood Love Story to show at the end of the wedding. You’ll have a beautiful experience and be able to look back on your day with pictures that make you fall in love all over again.

If you’re trying to fit the various vendors into your budget, don’t scrimp on your photographer. You won’t remember the food, flowers, decor, etc. nearly as much as you do the photographs or the experience of your day. In the end, all that remains are your memories and the photographs.

And those? They’re priceless.

Would you like to talk? I’d love to hear about your wedding vision and love story! Fill out the contact form below and let’s visit!

For the latest weddings and portraits, visit http://kellycameron.net -WARNING: Get cozy and grab your favorite beverage -you might be there awhile.

Big Hugs,

Kelly

Unplugged Wedding? | Can Your Guests Ruin Your Wedding Photos? | Photographer Kelly Cameron

Posted on October 29, 2013 by Kelly Cameron

To have an unplugged wedding or not? Know what an “unplugged” wedding is? It’s where you actually confiscate your guests phones and cameras and make them sit there and enjoy your ceremony without trying to document it. You’ve hired a photographer, you’ve hired an videographer. You’ve got your bases covered -and covered by professionals- so now you’ve asked your guests to *celebrate* with you, not work during your wedding.

True. Many family and friends want to capture each moment for themselves. Then they post it immediately to facebook, twitter, instagram, pinterest, yada yada. Before your professionals have a chance to show the gorgeously polished, high quality version of YOU on YOUR WEDDING DAY. TADA!! Now the whole world sees you, eyes half closed, in mid-speach, and that’s online. Immediately.

Congratulations…?

Even as a photographer, I have mixed feelings about guests photographing during a wedding. You’ll hear in the video below of “combat guests” who try to compete with your professional photographer in getting the best shots during your wedding, only to get in the way and compromise your photos. BUT, if you love someone and you are soooooo excited about their special day and want to capture it for yourselves -I understand that. Are you *HELPING* the couple? Or are you being selfish? Honestly, what are your thoughts on it?

If you’re getting in the way of the people the couple hired to take beautiful pictures, I lean towards selfish. If you’re staying on the sidelines, not throwing your flash around and messing up their photos, I say: Go for it, sister/mister. You’re totally entitled to take pictures, especially of people the photographer is NOT taking photos of. Take those casual group shots of relatives and friends you haven’t seen in ages. Take as many as you’d like of you and your sweetheart all dressed up and looking gorgeous for this special occassion. But get in every shot of the couple during their first dance because you want to expand your “wedding photography portfolio” on facebook? You’re ruining your friend’s wedding photos trying to capitalize on their expense. If you can do it from your seat? Awesome. If you hop up and down, distract people during the formal portraits, yell at the couple to look at you while their photographer is working, then get in every key shot (cake cutting, first dance, coming down the aisle, toasts, etc.)…?

It’s not about me, it’s about my clients. When guests -well meaning or not- cram in to monopolize a key shot, it compromises the photos they’ve hired someone to take. That’s why I think it’s FABULOUS to tell your guests in THREE DIFFERENT WAYS to keep photo taking restricted to their seats and to be mindful and out of the way of the professionals. Sure, they can take photos, but do so sparingly and focus more on CELEBRATING with YOU, not trying to Blair Witch Project your wedding, right?

Ways to communicate to your guests to leave it to the professionals:

1) Email all the guests a specific note regarding photography/filming during your wedding day.

2) Post it in the program.

3) Have the officiant announce before the bridal party walks out during the ceremony -THIS IS A MUST if you feel strongly about having your guests stay in their seats and photograph.

4) Write a song about it and have Justin Timberlake sing it as guests are being seated.

5) Have the officiant announce it before the bridal party walks out during the ceremony. Oh, I mentioned that already? It’s a good one.

Bottom line, it’s all up to you. You’ve heard it from a professional’s perspective, now you decide how you want to handle it for your unique, beautiful wedding, Dear One!

You’re the Expert on Your Wedding Vision

Posted on October 20, 2013 by Kelly Cameron

Who’s bossing you around with your wedding plans? Your mother-in-law-to-be? An older sibling? A well-meaning friend?

Listen, Honey, do you recall those same types of folks who told you how to proceed after you graduated from high school? Now they’re all up in your wedding plans, right? Just wait until your pregnant. You’ll see the same folks dishing out their “expert” advice. And it’s still going to drive you bonkers.

What I want you to do is this:

Politely smile and nod. Respond with an, “Oh, that’s an idea.” And walk to a quiet room where you can lock a door, close your eyes, look deep into your heart of hearts and connect with what YOU want for your wedding.

Drama’s for the birds. You don’t need that ship. Yep -I just said ship. What you need is stress-free goodness, a sense of humor and resolve to stay true to your wedding vision.

And maybe dancing a few times to this song. It’s a favorite.