The new, yet not brand new, concept of trash the dress is catching on coast to coast... What a cool idea - the anti-bridal-bridal photo... A bride in a gorgeous dress in a place where one wouldn't generally place a bride... Very unusual, yet unique!
I have done trash the dress shoots (not as many as I would like) and I do have to say that they are a ton of fun! You get to throw lots of old school rules about the traditional bridal photograph out the window and have fun with various locations or scenes...
Lots of brides ask the question - "do you really trash the dress"... In some cases photographers will go as far as mangling a dress - it really depends on the brides interests... If they want to preserve the dress as a keepsake, then it is recommended that a second hand shop gown is purchased for the shoot. If the bride doesn't care about her actual dress or doesn't intend on preserving it for a generation down the line, then have at whatever comes to mind... In some cases you don't actually destroy the dress - more so you get it a little dirtier than natural... In some cases photographers have reported that the dress sees about the same abuse as a normal wedding day...
A few clients I have worked with just bought the dress via Craig'slist/Ebay or second hand and went at it... At the end of the day we really didn't destroy the dress. The brides commented that they could actually have the dress cleaned and preserved as they normally would... It really depends on how creative one could get with the shoot... If intentional staining (paints, wines, inks, dyes, mud, etc.) is desired for effect - then count the dress out for the preservation. If you just want to shoot in interesting locations - then chances are the dress is going to be fine...
A trash the dress session is a great way to have fun with bridal photos and have something unique to show your grand kids... Who knows what they will be doing in 40 years for their wedding and bridal portraits, but chances are they will think grandma was kinda cool by going outside of the box with her photos to document that time in her life!
Traditions are great ideas to preserve for future enjoyment - but new traditions are more fun to create!
Friday, April 24, 2009
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Out of town weddings
Yesterday we traveled to western Ohio to photograph Tony & Sara's wedding. What a fun trip and a wonderful scenic drive through the countryside. Tony and Sara live in Columbus, but grew up in western, Ohio and actually met at a local watering hole in town that was the mid-point between their respective home towns. Tony and I go back to our college days and we worked together at my previous employer. I remember some of the stories Tony has told me from his hometown and after visiting there, I now have that connection... Anyways, we will be posting a few images on this blog in the weeks to come - once I sort and edit their images! This brings forth a great topic for the blog.
We often receive inquiries from perspective clients regarding their out of town wedding plans and if we travel to their location. Sure, it is probably easy and less expensive to hire a local vendor. Local vendors have their advantages and disadvantages. If you currently live in Central, Ohio and were going back home for your wedding, it could be to your advantage to hire some of your vendors from C-Bus. Of course there are some vendors that it just doesn't make sense (caterer, cake decorator, etc.).
A photographer, DJ, videographer, or even the officiant are some of the vendors/players that would be beneficial to get from your current home city. In our recent weekend experience I really observed the 'local' vendors and thought a lot about why a client might want to consider bringing a vendor along!
Think about it - if you hire a 'local' photographer, you have to travel back home to meet with them on a limited schedule and if there are any problems, you need someone to remotely deal with the issues. The remote issues can range - but larger issues may be at hand. What is the selection available in your home town? If the town is smaller and more rural, chances are there are less vendor options available. The less vendors available in a category can mean less opportunity to choose the best fit. Sure, the locals you grew up with might recommend ABC studios for the photos - because everyone uses them.... That might be okay, but maybe you notice that they don't carry the style you like best.
I have known several friends that went back home for their wedding and found far less selection than here in C-bus and the flexibility wasn't there for certain vendors because they were the best known game in town. Everyone uses them or they are the best available vendor for your location. You have to ask yourself, can I do better by paying a travel fee to get a vendor from my new hometown?
Of course there is also the home-court advantage for certain vendors. A local photographer is going to know all of the best spots for photos, know their way around the county, city or town and they know the other local vendors. Being an 'outside' vendor this weekend only put me to a few disadvantages in terms of home-turf, but my clients knew what they wanted and where they wanted the photos taken - so that issue solved itself. Communication is what helped us through those issues. GPS helped us navigate our way around town, so that wasn't so much of an issue either!
On the same note - if you are going back home to a big city like Chicago or NYC, then you might know of a lot of options in those areas that fit you just right! Of course in bigger cities like those, the prices are likely much higher than here in C-Bus. You would likely be able to pay our normal fees plus travel and still make out with a lower fee - providing we are the photographer whose style and personality suits you best!
It is really a judgement call over a multitude of factors. Many clients are considering it, especially if they are going to smaller population areas where vendor selection is limited.
The next big hurdle for clients is when they decide to use a vendor from their new home is cost to get them there. Usually this is nominal and based upon the time required and any costs involved. We typically will negotiate with the client for time spent in the car/plane and any associated travel fees (hotel, airfare, fuel, etc.). We offer a general mileage charge to help figure out a fee associated with travel. Typically anywhere in Ohio where an overnight is not required, the fee is $50 to $250. If the trip is longer than a 2 hour drive to C-Bus, an overnight is required at a local hotel. These trips usually cost the client $250 to $400, depending on the city and location specifics. Outside of Ohio really depends on if it is drivable or flyable. We typically do what will cost the client less in terms of our time and it varies depending on the location.
Clients wonder why vendors might charge what they do for travel... What goes into it? For us it is the fuel, airfare, lodging, and our time. If we do a local wedding, it obviously costs us less time and materials to perform the services locally. If we do an out of town wedding, there is more time and expenses involved over a local wedding. I have seen some vendors in the past do flat rate based upon what part of the state, country or world they travel. Many offer travel on a time and expenses basis. The T&E method is probably the fairest to both the client and the vendor.
If you are shopping around for a photographer and need one to travel to your location, give us a call. We would love to discuss this option with you. We really enjoy traveling for weddings because it allows us to work outside of our element - which is a welcome change of pace!
We often receive inquiries from perspective clients regarding their out of town wedding plans and if we travel to their location. Sure, it is probably easy and less expensive to hire a local vendor. Local vendors have their advantages and disadvantages. If you currently live in Central, Ohio and were going back home for your wedding, it could be to your advantage to hire some of your vendors from C-Bus. Of course there are some vendors that it just doesn't make sense (caterer, cake decorator, etc.).
A photographer, DJ, videographer, or even the officiant are some of the vendors/players that would be beneficial to get from your current home city. In our recent weekend experience I really observed the 'local' vendors and thought a lot about why a client might want to consider bringing a vendor along!
Think about it - if you hire a 'local' photographer, you have to travel back home to meet with them on a limited schedule and if there are any problems, you need someone to remotely deal with the issues. The remote issues can range - but larger issues may be at hand. What is the selection available in your home town? If the town is smaller and more rural, chances are there are less vendor options available. The less vendors available in a category can mean less opportunity to choose the best fit. Sure, the locals you grew up with might recommend ABC studios for the photos - because everyone uses them.... That might be okay, but maybe you notice that they don't carry the style you like best.
I have known several friends that went back home for their wedding and found far less selection than here in C-bus and the flexibility wasn't there for certain vendors because they were the best known game in town. Everyone uses them or they are the best available vendor for your location. You have to ask yourself, can I do better by paying a travel fee to get a vendor from my new hometown?
Of course there is also the home-court advantage for certain vendors. A local photographer is going to know all of the best spots for photos, know their way around the county, city or town and they know the other local vendors. Being an 'outside' vendor this weekend only put me to a few disadvantages in terms of home-turf, but my clients knew what they wanted and where they wanted the photos taken - so that issue solved itself. Communication is what helped us through those issues. GPS helped us navigate our way around town, so that wasn't so much of an issue either!
On the same note - if you are going back home to a big city like Chicago or NYC, then you might know of a lot of options in those areas that fit you just right! Of course in bigger cities like those, the prices are likely much higher than here in C-Bus. You would likely be able to pay our normal fees plus travel and still make out with a lower fee - providing we are the photographer whose style and personality suits you best!
It is really a judgement call over a multitude of factors. Many clients are considering it, especially if they are going to smaller population areas where vendor selection is limited.
The next big hurdle for clients is when they decide to use a vendor from their new home is cost to get them there. Usually this is nominal and based upon the time required and any costs involved. We typically will negotiate with the client for time spent in the car/plane and any associated travel fees (hotel, airfare, fuel, etc.). We offer a general mileage charge to help figure out a fee associated with travel. Typically anywhere in Ohio where an overnight is not required, the fee is $50 to $250. If the trip is longer than a 2 hour drive to C-Bus, an overnight is required at a local hotel. These trips usually cost the client $250 to $400, depending on the city and location specifics. Outside of Ohio really depends on if it is drivable or flyable. We typically do what will cost the client less in terms of our time and it varies depending on the location.
Clients wonder why vendors might charge what they do for travel... What goes into it? For us it is the fuel, airfare, lodging, and our time. If we do a local wedding, it obviously costs us less time and materials to perform the services locally. If we do an out of town wedding, there is more time and expenses involved over a local wedding. I have seen some vendors in the past do flat rate based upon what part of the state, country or world they travel. Many offer travel on a time and expenses basis. The T&E method is probably the fairest to both the client and the vendor.
If you are shopping around for a photographer and need one to travel to your location, give us a call. We would love to discuss this option with you. We really enjoy traveling for weddings because it allows us to work outside of our element - which is a welcome change of pace!
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Engagement Photos - When, Where, and Why
Engagement photo sessions are one of my favorite sessions to complete with a client. It is a time when we are not pressed for time because the wedding day clock is ticking away. It is a great time to learn about the clients and for them to learn about me... I like to think of it as a warm up session for the wedding day.
Lots of clients ask me about when is the best time to have their engagement session. I typically recommend that the timing consider many important factors. One factor is the time of the year. Fall is a gorgeous time to have engagement photos taken. Winter is a nice alternative - but usually most of the shots need to occur indoors or quickly in and out. It is also more difficult to schedule winter sessions due to weather. Mid to late Spring is also a great time of the year. Many of the trees and plants are getting their spring blooms and are budding like crazy. Summer is also a good time if you can stand the heat... Usually early morning or late evening works best during summer for both the lighting and comfort level of the clients.
Beyond the time of the year, clients like to know how far out to space their engagement sessions from their wedding. This is really a matter of preference. If you want to announce to the world about your recent memorable moment and have the photos to prove it, do so right away. Sometimes it is good to establish a date first then just find the best season between the time you set the date to the wedding. I definitely wouldn't recommend doing them a week before the wedding or three years in advance. Sometime during the 12 months before the big day is usually appropriate.
Where is the best place for the photos? It really all depends on what your preference is - what fits you best. Determining the best location for engagement photos should reflect the personality of the couple. If the couple is into hip, urban scenes - by all means shoot in downtown areas with lots of pavement. If the couple is more in tune with nature - shoot in a park or out in a field. It really depends on what you like best.. In Columbus there are all sorts of options... Heck, we can even travel somewhere if you would like. We are up for a weekend trip to NYC or Chicago - even a trip to the beach for engagements are fine.
Why should a couple have engagement photos taken... Why not? Engagement photographs are a much more relaxed session of photography in your casual clothing - not in gown and tuxedo... It shows your true personality as a couple. It is also a great way to acclimate yourself to being the center of documentary (photographic) attention... Some people don't know their 'best side' or aren't used to photos being taken of themselves. Engagement sessions are a great way to segway into getting your wedding photos taken. Many clients that opt for engagements are really happy that they invested the time and money into their session. The session will create memories all in their own... We have experienced many memorable sessions with clients. One just last fall - we were shooting on the OSU campus and got inside without setting an appointment. The folks at OSU were so nice to us and allowed the clients down on the field and all around the stadium - even a trip into the press box...
Engagement photography is just one of many services we offer. It is a great way to photograph the clients in a relaxed, fun and stress-free atmosphere - before the big day...
Lots of clients ask me about when is the best time to have their engagement session. I typically recommend that the timing consider many important factors. One factor is the time of the year. Fall is a gorgeous time to have engagement photos taken. Winter is a nice alternative - but usually most of the shots need to occur indoors or quickly in and out. It is also more difficult to schedule winter sessions due to weather. Mid to late Spring is also a great time of the year. Many of the trees and plants are getting their spring blooms and are budding like crazy. Summer is also a good time if you can stand the heat... Usually early morning or late evening works best during summer for both the lighting and comfort level of the clients.
Beyond the time of the year, clients like to know how far out to space their engagement sessions from their wedding. This is really a matter of preference. If you want to announce to the world about your recent memorable moment and have the photos to prove it, do so right away. Sometimes it is good to establish a date first then just find the best season between the time you set the date to the wedding. I definitely wouldn't recommend doing them a week before the wedding or three years in advance. Sometime during the 12 months before the big day is usually appropriate.
Where is the best place for the photos? It really all depends on what your preference is - what fits you best. Determining the best location for engagement photos should reflect the personality of the couple. If the couple is into hip, urban scenes - by all means shoot in downtown areas with lots of pavement. If the couple is more in tune with nature - shoot in a park or out in a field. It really depends on what you like best.. In Columbus there are all sorts of options... Heck, we can even travel somewhere if you would like. We are up for a weekend trip to NYC or Chicago - even a trip to the beach for engagements are fine.
Why should a couple have engagement photos taken... Why not? Engagement photographs are a much more relaxed session of photography in your casual clothing - not in gown and tuxedo... It shows your true personality as a couple. It is also a great way to acclimate yourself to being the center of documentary (photographic) attention... Some people don't know their 'best side' or aren't used to photos being taken of themselves. Engagement sessions are a great way to segway into getting your wedding photos taken. Many clients that opt for engagements are really happy that they invested the time and money into their session. The session will create memories all in their own... We have experienced many memorable sessions with clients. One just last fall - we were shooting on the OSU campus and got inside without setting an appointment. The folks at OSU were so nice to us and allowed the clients down on the field and all around the stadium - even a trip into the press box...
Engagement photography is just one of many services we offer. It is a great way to photograph the clients in a relaxed, fun and stress-free atmosphere - before the big day...
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