Often, brides and grooms don't want to see each other before their ceremony. It's viewed as "unromantic" or "bad luck" or "untraditional" to do so.
Well... as it turns out, the tradition isn't so romantic at all! It comes from a few different ideas - including the ever romantic bride buying and not letting her see the groom was a way to ensure she wouldn't run away! In fact, the tradition of the veil comes from the groom not being able to see the bride first and try to trade her in. Not very romantic after all, hunh?
So please please PLEASE consider seeing each other before the ceremony. It's so important, for the photographs as well as for the couple.
Changing the Tradition
Often, clients want to keep the tradition but due to time constraints it becomes difficult to get enough "formals" between the ceremony and reception. Also, the groom is usually so nervous by the time of the ceremony that the whole bridal gown - first look thing makes for photos that look like a deer-in-headlights. Really, why would you want to waste that $3000 dress on a lost moment!? You could be wearing a burlap sack for all he'll care!
Our solution? The "First Look" Ceremony. Dave and the maid of honor take the groom out to private location, where the groom is blindfolded. Then Dave steals the groom's wallet. I mean, sorry - that's a different plan.
Then the bride comes out with me - the groom's blindfold is removed and the couple sees each other for the very first time.
It's private, special, and very memorable!
Most of our clients thank us for "talking them into" a First Look Ceremony. The moment is so special to our couples and we're so happy to be a part of that. Bonus: These are hands down the best pictures of the day! ...And you'll want that extra half-hour to decompress, un-nerve and steal a private moment for just the two of you before the crazy wedding-day fun begins!
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Back from VPPA!
Fabulous news everyone...
6 Award Winning Prints!
Assuming most of you haven't sat through a print competition before. But let me tell you... TIME STANDS STILL! Liz and I drove 4 hours to the annual State convention and print competition this year. Unfortunately for us, comp started at 8 am so we woke up at around 4 am to ... arrive fashionably late. This was my first state competition (I've always been a wuss before) so I really wanted to watch every print as they came around. Little did I know there were over 500 prints entered! Since there's always so much fabulous work entered by big name photographers, my only goal was to not get laughed at. Really, it's a higher standard than you'd think My first print came up around noon on Friday. "The Green Flash." But here's the cool thing: The audience gasped! Which is awesome, because even if the judges didn't like it, at least I felt like I didn't waste my time. But they did like it! It scored a red ribbon at a 79.
Then I fell asleep for about an hour... (hey, I was up late.) I wake up to Liz poking me in my arm and whispering "Empty Vessels is up!" Again, my heart stopped. One of the judges actually got up to get a better view. It took them a long time to enter in a score. Also a red ribbon, this time at a 78.
The next day of judging, I waited FOREVER for these prints to come up! The first one was "Coming Home" - another audience pleaser! Red ribbon at a 78. Then "Triumphant Tulip" came up. It was my case filler this year and didn't think it would go above a 68 really. It got a red ribbon at a 77.
Next up was "Sicilian Sunrise"... which is actually a Sicilian sunset but I typed the name wrong and it was too late to change it. I hoped I wouldn't get dinged for it. The judges call out 79. And then...
"CHALLENGE!"
The print was called back up. Time stopped. And one judge says "Now wait a second guys... I think we missed something here" {Oh please, oh please, oh please say you missed something good}
..."This is a beautiful print! I think it's deserving of merit." {Woohoo!} The judges panel discussed the print pointing out it's merits and flaws. I was praying that they wouldn't get up and look closer. (So was Liz.) Then they rescored...
At the awards banquet, there was a slideshow of all the blue ribbon prints. Out of all of them, mine was the only one left out! :(
Want to see my prints? (It wasn't an option.) Here they are:
6 Award Winning Prints!
Assuming most of you haven't sat through a print competition before. But let me tell you... TIME STANDS STILL! Liz and I drove 4 hours to the annual State convention and print competition this year. Unfortunately for us, comp started at 8 am so we woke up at around 4 am to ... arrive fashionably late. This was my first state competition (I've always been a wuss before) so I really wanted to watch every print as they came around. Little did I know there were over 500 prints entered! Since there's always so much fabulous work entered by big name photographers, my only goal was to not get laughed at. Really, it's a higher standard than you'd think My first print came up around noon on Friday. "The Green Flash." But here's the cool thing: The audience gasped! Which is awesome, because even if the judges didn't like it, at least I felt like I didn't waste my time. But they did like it! It scored a red ribbon at a 79.
Then I fell asleep for about an hour... (hey, I was up late.) I wake up to Liz poking me in my arm and whispering "Empty Vessels is up!" Again, my heart stopped. One of the judges actually got up to get a better view. It took them a long time to enter in a score. Also a red ribbon, this time at a 78.
The next day of judging, I waited FOREVER for these prints to come up! The first one was "Coming Home" - another audience pleaser! Red ribbon at a 78. Then "Triumphant Tulip" came up. It was my case filler this year and didn't think it would go above a 68 really. It got a red ribbon at a 77.
Next up was "Sicilian Sunrise"... which is actually a Sicilian sunset but I typed the name wrong and it was too late to change it. I hoped I wouldn't get dinged for it. The judges call out 79. And then...
"CHALLENGE!"
The print was called back up. Time stopped. And one judge says "Now wait a second guys... I think we missed something here" {Oh please, oh please, oh please say you missed something good}
..."This is a beautiful print! I think it's deserving of merit." {Woohoo!} The judges panel discussed the print pointing out it's merits and flaws. I was praying that they wouldn't get up and look closer. (So was Liz.) Then they rescored...
"80." and a blue ribbon!
Then Snowdog came up. It was probably one of the last 15 prints to score. At the print critique in July, it got an overwhelming "AWWW!!!" from the audience - plus it's my dog so if there's anything that I wanted to do well, it was this one! Scored a 78 and another red ribbon. Well, in my opinion, my dog deserves a 100 and a best in show ribbon - which is the first time 78 was a bad score. This must be why photographers don't enter prints of their own kids. The critique is way too personal!At the awards banquet, there was a slideshow of all the blue ribbon prints. Out of all of them, mine was the only one left out! :(
Want to see my prints? (It wasn't an option.) Here they are:
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
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