Clearwater Wedding Photographer

The “first look” in wedding lingo refers to the moment when an individual – more commonly the groom (but technically could be anyone) – sees the bride for the first time. For many brides, it is the moment they dream of – a tearful groom, an emotional father, or a roomful of bridesmaids gushing over the dress. Here are five reasons every bride should schedule the “first look” before the wedding ceremony: Gives you more time to enjoy the wedding and the guests. If a couple opts out of seeing each other before the ceremony, it severely limits the amount of photos that can be taken. The bride and groom cannot be in the same space (or near the same space, to avoid accidental glances), resulting in mostly bride/bridesmaid, groom/groomsmen, and immediate family photos. This also means that the majority of the photography will occur shortly after the ceremony, taking away time that could be spent at the reception or with your wedding guests. Relieves an...

Allows the bride/groom to preemptively identify and address issues (before they occur). In the same way that a “rough draft” allows a writer to edit mistakes before it is published, a wedding timeline allows the bride/groom to identify possible issues before they occur. There are many moving parts to a wedding and simply placing them on a piece of paper allows individuals to begin discussing the finer details. For instance, a bride might be dreaming of sunset photos with her groom, but in writing out her timeline, realizes that she will need to shorten some of her preparation time or start the ceremony earlier to accommodate. Without putting it all on paper, the bride might not have realized this oversight, resulting in disappointment. Coordinates all necessary parties (i.e. vendors, wedding party, etc.). There is always someone who is notoriously “late to the party.” However, if you don’t have a clear wedding timeline, it may result in everyone being late...

A: I’m a lifestyle photographer, which means that I capture life naturally, as it happens. I pride myself in capturing candid moments that are often missed by others. At the end of the day, I want to provide families with portraits that they are proud to hang on their walls – portraits that capture emotion and feeling. Every bride has an artistic vision for their wedding – whether big or small. I want to frame their vision and memorialize it for years to come. Does that mean I never pose couples or families? No, but it means that I when I do pose individuals, I try to do so naturally – capturing individual personalities. This often occurs through “unscripted” posing, which means that I provide verbal prompts to couples or families to encourage certain actions. For example, I might tell a couple to gaze over the water and then into each other’s eyes to elicit emotion (but I’m not dictating how they do so or working from a specific set of ca...

We all know that camera gear is going to change from photographer to photographer. Many brands, lens types and flash systems guarantee that. A photographer’s camera bag is almost as unique as a fingerprint. So, here is mine: Canon 1DX Canon 6D Canon 24-70mm 2.8 L Canon 50mm 1.4 Godox X2T-C Godox TT600 x 2 Godox TT685c Godox S2 S-Type Bracket x2 SanDisk Extreme 64GB x 3 (compact flash) SanDisk Extreme Pro 128GB (SD card) SanDisk Ultra 64GB (SD card) Of course there are other things that have found their way into my kit as well: Fairy Lights (like these ) Extra Batteries Rocket Blower A couple of Light Modifiers (like these ) Camera Strap DJI Mavic Mini (Drone) Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Of course, not everything fits in one bag, but I do try to condense a good portion of it into this . Whatever doesn’t fit in the bag, makes it’s way into my car. From an outsider’s perspective, this may seem like a lot of stuff and it is, but quality pictures begin with quality equ...

What to look for and where to look Although often overlooked in the wedding planning process, tuxedos play a critical role in the wedding itself. In fact, there is hardly a wedding photo that doesn’t include a groom or groomsmen’s tux. Frequently people wait to look for tuxedos after all other factors have been considered (i.e. the bride’s dress, décor, location, etc.). However, there is something to be said about prioritizing the groom’s appearance (in addition to his groomsmen). Here’s what you need to know: WHO? : The groom is not the only individual at the wedding wearing a tux. In fact, several members of the wedding party, including some attendees often wear a tux. This might include: groomsmen, father-of-the-bride, father-of-the-groom, and the ringbearer. Ideally all of those renting a tux would rent from the same location and attempt to schedule a fitting on or around the same time. This ensures unity within the wedding party and prevents stragglers...

Me: How do you want to remember your wedding on your first, fifth, tenth, and twenty-five anniversary? Jessica (Bride): Fun. Memorable. Personable. Passionate. Mission accomplished.

So you’ve reached out to a local photographer, who has agreed to meet with you to discuss their wedding packages and photography style. You know that you should come prepared with a list of questions, but you are unsure what they should consist of. Here’s a good starting point: Who will be shooting my wedding? Many photography businesses consist of more than one photographer. Althought there is typically a primary photographer, it is not unusual to have other photographers on staff or contracted to provide photography services (especially on busy days or when the primary photographer may be unavailable). It’s important to clarify this, prior to booking your photographer, so you aware of who to expect on your Big Day. 2. What’s your cancellation policy? Nobody plans on cancelling their wedding when they book a photographer. However, unexpected events do occur. In the event that it is needed for your wedding, you will want to be aware of the individual photographer...

A: About a year in advance. Photographers book weddings on a first come, first serve basis. If you wait too long to reach out to a photographer, there is a good chance they have already been booked by another bride – especially if you choose a highly sought after date (such as a weekend, a date near a holiday, or a date with numeral significance – 2/2/22). Booking your photographer earlier also allows for more frequent communication with the photographer during the planning process. Want to set off fireworks but are unsure how it would be best captured in photos? Having your photographer booked and ready will allow for a more certain answer. Also, in the same regard, the more time you spend communicating with your photographer, the more comfortable you will be with them on your Big Day. After all, your photographer is the vendor that you will see the most and spend the most time with. Added bonus – wedding photographers often are willing to take engagement photos as we...

Photographers – myself included – often stress the importance of having a second shooter at your wedding. This leaves brides with many questions. Is this just an up-sell? What does a second shooter do exactly? Why can’t a skilled photographer cover everything? Here are three key reasons to secure a second shooter at your wedding: Simply put – your photographer can’t be two places at once. Even a highly skilled photographer cannot split himself in two, capturing all of your priceless moments. For instance, bridal parties typically get ready all at once due to a limited amount of time available. If the primary photographer is spending time with the bride, capturing the father’s first look and the bride getting ready – then he might not be present when the groom’s son reaches over to help him with his tie. Having a second photographer increases the chances that you will capture all of these fleeting moments as they happen – and not after the fact or in a stage...

For many couples, save-the-dates serve, not only as an announcement, but as a sneak peek or first impression of their big day. As such, they should be a reflection of the couple and their vision for the wedding to come. Many families and friends hold onto them for years – often enshrining them on their refrigerator or placing them into frames or shadow boxes. Thankfully, Etsy offers an assortment of save-the-dates to fit every bride and budget. For the minimalist Allow the pictures to speak for you! These save-the-dates are simple and elegant – containing only the necessary info. The template is easy to use and allows for any necessary edits. Editable Template $8.83 https://www.etsy.com/listing/763632172/modern-minimal-photo-save-the-date?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=save+the+dates&ref=sr_gallery-1-1&tr_rank=2&organic_search_click=1&pro=1&sts=1 For the romantic For the romantic, every detail ha...

Why do I love being a photographer? This. All of this. The couple below contacted me because they wanted to commemorate their 50th anniversary in photos. Like many couples, they were apprehensive about the experience and unsure what to expect. What kind of posing could they expect? Would the photos appear natural and yet beautiful? Would the entire session feel like one long awkward exchange between the couple and photographer? Common questions – often unasked – by many clients. I’m happy to report that it only took a short introduction, a few well-placed jokes, and some simple posing suggestions to ease the couples’ fears and create lasting, beautiful images that the couple and family could cherish for a lifetime. Why do I love being a photographer? I love making the photography experience enjoyable – and in return – creating lasting memories and photos. Want to learn more or schedule your own session? Comment below or – if you are shy- send me...