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Dani

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When I arrived at the cottage I was blown away. The view was breath taking.

Andie and Chris got married on the edge of the water on the rocks. It was pretty magical, but my favourite part of this wedding was how Andie and Chris (along with the maid of honour  and best man) put their hearts and souls into their decorations. A DYI wedding is not only a great way to save money, but it is also a great way to showcase your personalities. Andie and Chris spent hours creating their flowers, signs and decor for their day. It was one of the elements that Andie expressed she wanted to have lots of photos of.

When I spoke with Andie about the day’s photography requirements, she also mentioned that the sunsets were glorious on the lake and they would really like to get a sunset silhouette. Both Andie and Chris were so gracious and humoured me throughout the evening as the lighting conditions changed and I once again called them down to the water’s edge for yet another shoot. Not long after the six o’clock ceremony finished, I asked the couple to stand in the location they got married in. The light was starting to set and was the most beautiful-warm, orange colour. This is one of my favourite shots from the day.

Later once the sun began to get much lower in the sky, the three of us went down to the water’s edge to get some pictures with the sun setting and some silhouettes. Silhouettes are fun to photograph and often put your subject at ease, as they know that it isn’t about every detail. Andie and Chris were a joy to photograph and seemed to have a great time coming up with shapes for me to photograph.

As the sun went down so did my light. Instead of using a flash and ruining the ambiance Andie and Chris had created with all of their candles, I shot using available light (mainly from the candles and porch lights). The pictures are more true to the evening then they would be if the stark-light of a camera flash was thrown on everyone.

Andie and Chris were also kind enough to let me turn my camera to Abbey (their Great Dane). Anybody who knows me knows that I am a dog lover. I adore them, and Abbey was a real gem to photograph. She had a fantastic time frolicking through the water.

Thanks again to Andie and Chris for letting me part of their intimate affair.

Katrina and Steve are high school sweethearts. And they are just that, very sweet. I met Katrina, her mother and Steve (who was one of the few grooms) at the Owen Sound bridal show. Over the next few months, the planning for the big day continued. I shot the couple’s engagement pictures at the Murray’s Tree farm.

Katrina and Steve also decided that like a lot of couple now a days, they would see each other before the ceremony; we would do the formals at this time.

It was on the day of the rehearsal that I heard about what Katrina and Steve had planned for each other. Steve’s family are farmers and they also owned a John Deere dealership in the past. Now, one of the things I have learned about my community in the last year is that their love of the yellow and green grows deep. (The only comparison I can think of is Toronto’s love of the blue and white; if you don’t know what I mean, you must not be Canadian.) I thought it was cute that their surprises for one another all played on the Deere theme. As for her surprise, Katrina had a John Deere garter specially made.

As I mentioned, Steve’s family are, well, country folk. And it’s not (be any means) that Katrina is a princess or even a girly-girl, but she is a her new mother-in-law called her a “townie”. (And, this is really funny if you know how close Steve’s farm is from the busting metropolis of Mt Forest. So, please keep in mind I use the word “townie” with a grain of salt.) In their speeches, many people touched on the fact that Katrina brought rubber boots to the farm on her first visit.  These boots where more fashion than functional.

So we have a country guy who likes tractors marrying an “urban” princess. This might be why when Steve pulled up with his surprise for Katrina, in my head I was singing Jason Aldean’s I can Take you for a Ride on my Big Green Tractor:

And I can take you for a ride on my big green tractor,
We can go slow or make it go faster,
Down through the woods and out to the pasture,
Long as I’m with you it really don’t matter,
Climb up in my lap and drive if you want to,
Girl you know you got me to hold on to,
We can go to town but baby if you’d rather,
I’ll take you for a ride on my big green tractor,

Despite my love for my new found rural life, I know very little about tractors. I know there are green and yellow ones, and I know there are some by other colours. That’s it. Therefore, what I say here I learned later. This is an old tractor that the Corley family owns. It’s a collector item that up until recently looked like it had seen gentler days. The tractor was restored, so that Steve could drive up on it when him and Katrina saw each other for the first time.

I still get a kick out of Katrina’s face when she realizes this is the old tractor and not a new one.

Here’s some pictures of Steve finding out about his surprise.

Thanks Katrina and Steve for letting me part of your day AND for sharing your secrets and surprises with me!

Here are some more pics from the day.

I really loved this wedding, especially Katrina’s awesome, purple flowers. Stay tuned for a post on painted roses!

Your wedding is a big deal; it might be the first time you’ve ever hired a professional photographer. What you need to know is that for this to be successful you need to have open communication. Tell me what you expect. Don’t assume that I’m going to do something the same way your sister’s wedding photographer did things. Each photographer has their own process. It might be different than what you envision.

Tell me anything you might think is important. Don’t worry about coming off like a control freak. I get it! What do I want to know? Let me know if there are any rifts in your family. Tell me if you have an aunt that is going to be bossy because she thinks she’s a photographer. Maybe you have a special relationship with a cousin or uncle. Is the ribbon around your bouquet your deceased grandmother’s? I want to know this! Were you married in the same church as your parents and you want to recreate a shot from their wedding album? Tell me! Don’t be afraid to send pictures that you like and don’t like to me. A photographer should not get offended that you want to help. I want to make sure that you are happy.

2 Have a game plan.

Discuss with me what photos are “must haves”. I often ask my clients if I could take only one photo today what would it be of? Also, know how long you want to take formal pictures for. Do you want to do 15 minutes of formals or 45 minutes of formals? If formal shots are really important to you then take longer; if you want nothing but candid shots of you at the reception, then let’s head off to the party. This goes to the whole communication thing. I can’t stress how important it is to have a relationship with your photographer!

3 Have an engagement shoot.

Wherever you do your engagement shoot make sure you do one! I know not everyone likes getting their pictures done. (Trust me, I prefer the side of the camera I am usually on!) But sometimes this is the only time that I have to get to know you and your fiancé before the day of your wedding. The more time we spend together the more comfortable we will be together, and; therefore, the more comfortable you will look in your photographs.

As a side note, pick an area for the engagement shoot that is special to you. This isn’t always possible with the wedding, so make sure that you do something really cool for an engagement shoot. Maybe you both love winter time or there is a park where you go together for hikes. Think out of the box! Maybe you meet in a martini bar; do the shoot there.

4 Know how you like to smile.

You’ll be smiling a lot on your wedding day. A lot! Not everyone has a preference about how they like to smile, but many do. Practice in the mirror. Do you like your full toothy grin or your demure closed mouth smile. We almost all have a big ol’l smile when we belly laugh. It’s genuine and open, but formal pictures are more contrived.

You and your groom should practice at least smiling if not posing. I guarantee you’ll feel goofy when you do it, but practicing how to smile in the mirror and looking directly into it pretending it’s the camera will payoff. Did I mention you’ll feel goofy?

5 Clean up the area where the bride is getting ready.

If you have a make up artist come to the house, you will want to set her up in an area where she can put her supplies out, where she has enough room to move and where she has sufficient light. This is often the kitchen or the dining room. If you are getting ready in a hotel room then she will be set up somewhere in the room/suite that is big enough to accommodate her, her chair and her supplies. Give the make-up artist her space, but make sure the space around her is free of clutter.

You have spent all this time getting ready; you’ve hired a professional to capture all the beautiful moments, so make sure that the background is as beautiful as you are. The setting matters. It is a shame to look at the photos and not like them because the background is filled with dirty dishes or grocery bags. Throw this stuff in the sink or a closet. Better yet, if it is to go with you to the next stop then put it in the car so it will not be forgotten.

6 Have the invites and other details associated with the wedding available on the wedding day.

These include things like the invitation, flowers, keep the date cards, shower invites, rings… Anything that you want to remember about your day should be photographed.

7 Have a professional makeup artist do you and your bridal parties make up.

I know, I know since Kate Middleton did her own makeup everybody thinks they can do their own too. I’m here to tell you that you’re wrong. I’m sorry! I’m not normally harsh, but this is your wedding day and um well, you’re not Kate Middleton. (But could you imagine? Let’s for a moment.)

8 Make sure the mother-of-the-bride and the bridesmaids are ready before the bride.

Think about if you want the picture of you getting your dress on. I love the picture of the mother or maid-of-honour tying or zipping up the back of her daughter’s wedding dress. It is a special moment. (Be prepared for some moms to cry here.) Now, think about that picture with your mom in her lounge wear. Not really the same picture is it?

Have everyone dressed before the bride, this way when you get your dress on everyone is in their best.

9 Let him have a cold one.

One if this things I often hear is the bride tell the groom to make sure he is ready for the photographer when he/she shows up (he won’t be) and “don’t drink any beer!”. Now by no means am I saying that your groom should be two sheets to the wind before the ceremony, but a beer or two will loosen him up. Especially if he is a little stiff for pictures. Again, I am not saying he should hide a mickey in his tux, but just something to take the edge off is he needs it.

10 Kiss classy during the ceremony.

Even if you feel like you and your soul mate are the only people up there with you and the officiant, remember that the “now you may kiss the bride” kiss is being witnessed by all you friends and family.

So what I’m trying to say is be classy. You have a whole life ahead of you of full-on smooching. Just save it for the two of you. You want a nice memorable kiss, but leave any tongue action for later when you are alone. The good news though is the kiss too can be practiced.

Parting Words

The best advice given to me on my wedding day was by my friend Jill. She said that after you’ve walked down the aisle (or across the field or down the beach) take a minute to look around and breathe it all in. This is a big day, but relax as everyone you love and care about is there with you to celebrate. It’s amazing; take a moment to feel the love. I know it’s cheesy, but it’s one of the rare moments in life when all we love is right there laid out before us. Take advantage of it. And then go have an awesome party!

The Proof is in the Pudding

A common question from clients is, “What is a proof?”. And the confusion is warranted because depending on the photographer “proof” can have many meanings. In short, when you get a proof from me it is a picture from me that has been colour-corrected, maybe the exposure has been adjusted, but there is no Photoshop magic. (And how we love the Photoshop <3, don’t we ladies?)

Don’t forget all wedding packages come with a proof book to help you choose the pics for your wedding album.  If a picture calls for it to be converted to black and white, I’ll usually do that in the proof book so you have an idea of the overall feel of the photo.

Digital Proofs

What about digital proofs? All your proofs are available online in your password protected gallery. (Remember, the point of this is to share it with all your friends and family!) You will also be given a proof disc.  These are the files from which your proofs were printed. They are low resolution files (meaning they will look like ca-ca if you blow then up past 8×10 inches) with my website on them. Feel free to email them to Nana in Maine or post them to your Facebook wall.

So that’s a proof.

Happy planning,

Dani

When I met with Isabelle, we hit it off right away.  (She’s the first person I have ever met that actually–LITERALLY–ran away and joined the circus when she was younger!) She was looking for a wedding photographer that could capture their day without taking an overly traditional approach. I mean, come on, how traditional could an ex-carny be?

Isabelle looked stunning in the ever-conventional lilac wedding gown she picked out. I have to say she rocked it.  Jessica Rabbit would be jealous. This was a very small wedding held in a restaurant downtown Oakville, but that didn’t mean that there wasn’t a ton of thought that went into the details.  At every turn there was a sentimental detail.  Isabelle’s wedding band was engraved with the names of her boys (Mike, Brodigh and Christopher), while Mike’s ring included the boys and Isabelle; Isabelle’s bouquet was tied with a scarf that had belonged to her deceased mother; she left a Kit Kat–Mike’s favourite–at the hotel bedside for her groom; her something blue was one (adorable) blue toenail the tiara she wore had been a present to a best-friend, Kristina, for her wedding.

Here are some of the initial pics.  I am sure I’ll blog more, but from now some straight-from-the-camera details.

It just goes to show you that even if your wedding is a small one putting some thought into the little things really pays off.

Happy planning,

Dani