I know I may seem biased being that I am a professional photographer... but having beautiful photos can change your life. And I am not just talking about hiring a professional for family portraits, I am talking about the photos you take every day of your kids and loved ones.If you are a mom like me you know time moves by WAY TOO FAST. That teensy tiny smushy baby is now a toddler. And then that toddler will soon be off to kindergarten. Then you blink and boom-- you are dropping your baby off at college.There are so many big and little milestones over the course of your kids lives. And if I am being real, it’s probably impossible to hire a pro like me for ALL those little moments. For most families even being able to afford one professional portrait sitting a year is a big expense.So what’s a mom to do in those in betweens?Well with digital cameras being everywhere, including in your purse, you are probably documenting your kids yourself.As a mom you are the keeper of memories. But how well are you keeping your memories?If you are tired of missing moments because:-they are blurry-too bright-too dark-getting not so cute expressions-having photos that look a mess (though you don’t quite know why)… then I am here to help! Let me walk you through 5 simple ways you can change your photos for the better (even on an iPhone)-- and more importantly change your life simply by documenting it beautifully.
1)Let There Be (Good) Light
Photography is literally the art of capturing light. So it makes sense getting your photos to have better light in them would be a game changer for you. Here’s some things that you really need to know to see massive results--Avoid taking photos outside in direct + bright sun. - Professional portrait photographers avoid taking photos outdoors anytime between 10am -2:30pm or so (depending where you live) because this is literally such an unflattering type of light. Plus your kids will look squinty and not relaxed. I know as a mom sometimes this is exactly when we are out at the park with our kids and the moments are happening. One work around is to either find some shade OR take a wider shot-- if your kids are small in the frame the harsh light is less noticeable and so are their expressions.--Turn Off That Flash. A built in camera flash has to be one of the most unflattering types of light ever invented. And yet, if I had a dollar for everytime I saw someone using their flash--when it wasn’t even necessary-- I’d have my son’s college completely paid for! Do yourself a favor and turn your flash off. Your photos will thank you! --Open the Curtains. If you are shooting indoors you want to use all the natural light that is available to you and turn off your indoor lights. So open those curtains and blinds. Make your room bright as can be. Face your kiddo towards the light too so it’s actually hitting her face! It makes such a difference!
2) Burst Mode is for Movers
It can be so hard to capture fast moving toddlers and kids. Lately it seems like my son can simply not sit still for a photo. And though that annoys me, I still know how to nail the shot because I know how to work my camera. A DSLR has a few settings you can use to keep those wiggly kiddos in focus. But you can also simply use your iphone to do a better job (if you don’t have a DSLR). Do you know about iPhone’s burst mode? It allows you snap many pictures at one time. The thought being if you take 15 pictures at a time at least one will turn out good. ;) It’s so simple to use. Open the iPhone camera app (do not use a third party app). Instead of simply tapping the circle button to take a photo press and HOLD IT DOWN. It will keep shooting for as long as you hold. Soon after, I recommend going through the frames of your burst and choosing 1-3 of the best ones in the set and DELETE the others. That way you won’t be confused by the bad ones or fill up your phone.
3) Move B, Get Out My Background
One thing that nearly all professional portraits have is a subtle, soft, non distracting background. This allows you to focus on the person-- your kid-- in the photo rather than having your eye jump around the frame and get distracted. A tool photographers employ on DSLRs to do this is opening their lens up really wide to create a blurry background. But even if you don’t have a DSLR, you can still think like a photographer. As you are about to snap a picture, PAY ATTENTION to what’s going on in the background. -Are poles or tree branches “growing” from your kids’ head?-What about other people? Are they pulling focus in the background?-Any other eyesores in the frame? By paying attention to what’s behind your child, you can frame your photo better. Often you can simply move an inch or two to the left or right or up or down and you can eliminate those distractions from the frame. You may also decide to get in closer to eliminate distractions too.
4) Fill Your Frame
This lesson kind of plays off of the previous tip regarding watching for distractions. In that lesson I just mentioned you can “get closer in” to your subject to also help avoid distractions. And while “zooming in” on your kiddos does help crop eye sores out of the background, that’s not the only reason to do it. In portraiture, professional photographers often fill their frame with just their subjects face. It is such a powerful way to really see someone and is more eye catching than a whole full body shot. You can fill the frame with details too-- like little hands or feet. It’s always very powerful. To do this, especially on a phone camera, I recommend using your legs to help you zoom rather than the “zoom feature” on your camera. You see unless you have a proper zoom lens, which the iphone does NOT, you are actually just cropping into the photo and degrading your photo quality when you use the camera to zoom. How do you zoom with your legs? It’s quite simple. Just walk in closer to your kiddo. Get up in there. Find some cool angles! That is what pros like me do!
5) Laugh Together, Make Memories Together
The best photographers are the ones that really have FUN behind the camera and make the client forget they are being photographed. I believe a client should always leave a shoot saying “Thank you! That was really a lot of fun!” You are a mom, not photographing a client. But still… Why should photographing your kids be any different. They will want to be photographed if you are having fun and engaging with them while doing so. Photo time should never be a chore. Be super silly. Fake laugh till you real laugh. Go to cool and fun locations. Make a dork of yourself. Involve your kids in the whole process. Act like a pro photographer in this simple way and you will find yourself not only achieving pro results, but you will also be making brand new amazing memories while capturing your kids! I just threw a lot of info at you! And I know it’s good stuff. But sometimes when learning a new skill and art form it’s nice to have someone hold your hand and personally walk you through everything you need to know!
I’m actually doing exactly that in my FREE photo class which will have you capturing beautiful memories of your kiddos in just five days!
SIGN UP HERE ---> http://ashleightaylorblog.com/signup
We start next Monday, so you definitely want to be sure to reserve your spot asap and get in at the beginning so you don’t miss a thing. There will be daily lessons delivered to your inbox, along with a private group for support, and video trainings which will even be recorded for you busy moms out there. I will personally be holding your hand and sharing my secrets as you learn how to take your photos and memories to the next level with ease, confidence and joy!
Love it or hate it, social media is here to stay! And while it can be a great resource and add a lot of fun to your wedding planning process, it can also ruin your big day! Wait what? As a wedding photographer, I have seen it happen. The good news is you don't need to fall victim to the social media induced wedding day blues. Here's three ways social media can really ruin your wedding experience and what to do about it so it does not happen to you!1) FACEBOOKSharing big life moments on facebook has become the status quo. It's easy on a big day like your wedding to want to update your status, check out all your likes, and all the lovely words of congratulations people are writing on your wall! However, I am always amazed by how many brides spend a lot of their time in the hair & make up chair looking at their phone & facebook on their wedding day.The Problem: There are three big problems with this. 1) It makes it much harder for your hair and make up artist to do their job when you are constantly checking your phone for updates. 2) It doesn't really look that great in photos to see a bride engrossed in her phone. It's totally not that idealistic image of a bride looking excited as she's being primped, but rather one where a bride looks concentrated on something else other than her wedding day. 3) The biggest problem of all is that it is actually taking you out of the moment of enjoying what is actually happening. Your wedding day only happens once, but your facebook wall will still be full of messages tomorrow. It's so much better to live in the day rather than the social network because, well, YOLO.The Solution: Turn your phone off or give it to your MOH so you don't feel tempted to check it. Maybe your friend can even periodically check your fb for you and report back. But you should really do your best not to check it and enjoy the moment!2) PINTERESTPinterest is practically synonymous with wedding planning these days. Most brides have several pinterest boards dedicated to wedding inspiration-- everything from their dream decor to must-have shots they want for their wedding pictures. I do love Pinterest and think when used wisely it can be a great resource, but it also has its pitfalls.The Problem: Pinterest creates a LOT of unrealistic expectations for your wedding day which can lead to a lot of disappointment for brides. Keep in mind this: when you are pinning photos you are pinning one or two of the BEST photos of someone's wedding. So your pinterest board is not actually representative of every shot every person gets in one wedding but rather a "best of" compilation of photos from hundreds of different weddings. And there are a lot of unique factors to each wedding such as location, scheduling/timeline, whether or not a couple did a first look, weather and lighting conditions, etc which may make recreating these "best of" shots hard to accomplish. Each wedding is unique so it is very unrealistic to think your full wedding folio will look like the highlights from many other weddings. That's not to say your photos won't be AMAZING, it's just to say they might not be a shot by shot recreation of your pinboard. Beyond just unrealistic expectations for photos, pinterest can also create unrealistic expectations for what is doable in decor. A lot of stuff that is popular on pinterest is from styled photo shoots-- not even real weddings-- and to execute that look for a real event would cost $$$$.The Solution: I am not saying you need to get rid of your pinterest board, just to keep your expectations in check. Use the boards to figure out the overall style you'd like for your pictures or decor, and then find a vendor who fits that style and can create something ORIGINAL just for you within that style. Your original photos created by a photographer you trust are going to be so much more genuine, beautiful, artistic and meaningful than recreations of shots on your pinboard. And heck, a few of them may even end up being popular on pinterest down the road too ;)For further reading on how Pinterest affects your wedding photos I'd highly recommend reading 
Wowww! TELL ME MORE!?!?
Every bride is absolutely breathtakingly beautiful on her wedding day. And of course she wants to have photos to document it. It's just as important knowing how to pose a bride and groom solo as it is to pose them together. I am really good at getting my clients feeling relaxed and confident, which makes them look stunning. Part of how I do this is being confident myself-- showing them the poses I want from them as well as the facial expression. When my clients see that I am confident in explaining the photo and pose I am after, they feel more at ease to give it to me. And then I can capture stunning photos like the one below! Note, Skylar is a REAL bride and not a professional model (but I bet you can't tell from the photo!). I highly doubt a hobbyist or travel photographer could capture a portrait SO strong and confident.
Another big aspect of wedding day portraiture is group shots, whether they be family formals or bridal party. There are a TON of elements that go into creating a fabulous group shot, from posing the group so that everyone can be seen, to making sure everyone is looking their best, to simply getting a large group of people to focus and look at the camera all at the same time. You need to be loud, good at handling all kinds of personalities (I've dealt with my fair share of rowdy groomsmen), and, frankly, bossy. If your photographer can't be heard and take charge of a group, the group portraits will certainly get out of hand. Fast. And nobody will be happy. But a true pro wedding photographer can handle groups, and make even the most wild groomsmen look as slick and cool as this:
2. A wedding photographer must excel at capturing candids.While wedding photographers have to be able to step up, take charge, and direct portrait sessions throughout the day, they just as easily and readily must be able to hang back and capture candids. The modern approach to wedding photography that I, and most other professional wedding photographers, subscribe to is a mix of creative portraiture and photojournalism. These candid moments are some of the most precious photos to my clients because they tell so much of the story and the emotions of the day. I am always happy to quietly hang back, unnoticed, and click the shutter just as a tender, funny, or emotional moment happens in front of my lens. I love this moment below of my bride hugging her mom and sister:
...or this moment full of laughter during the reception....
...or all the anticipation that fills these two photos, which were taken right before the bride and groom saw each other for the first time...
Having an eye for candid moments is a must for wedding photography. But a huge part of capturing amazing candid moments is knowing how to look for them. Shooting weddings week in and week out really trains the eye for looking for these emotional moments, so you can be prepared to capture them when they happen. There is an art to candids, even though they appear so happenstance. It's the fact that candids don't look contrived in the least that you know a skilled documentarian took them!3. A wedding photographer must be able to see and photograph details as still life.Couples spend so much time, thought, energy and money on the little details that make up their wedding day. From the rings, to the shoes, to the flowers, to the decor... all of it is special. And almost all of it will also be gone, put away, and forgotten after the wedding day is over. You invest in wedding photography because you want to invest in your memories. So while you of course want some to capture how great everyone looked (via amazing portraiture) and all the stolen moments (via candids), you also probably want all the physical details you put so much work into to be remembered as well. Details or "still life" photography is an art form in itself and is a major part of a wedding day too. It's important your photographer know how to photograph your details to make them look truly special...
Whether it's vignettes of vintage items, like the books above from my bride Lauren's wedding, or beautiful floral arrangements, like these beauties below from Skylar's wedding, I take care to photograph my clients details like they are great still life masterpieces. And my couples always appreciate having their wedding details documented! I mean, how else can you show off how awesome and unique your wedding was to all your facebook friends?!
4. A wedding photographer must be able to handle various (and unexpected) lighting conditions.This is a BIGGIE. Hands down the toughest thing about wedding photography is knowing how to successfully handle all kinds of various lighting situations. Not only does each wedding I shoot have different lighting conditions (some days are overcast, others extremely sunny, others partly cloudy) but even within one wedding day I deal with many different types of light. From getting ready indoors in a hotel, to portraits outside, to a ceremony which can happen in all sorts of light conditions (a dark church, indoors but backlit, outdoors but with harsh or uneven sun), to the reception... there are just SO many different kinds of light I deal with on any given wedding day. Being prepared and knowing how to handle whatever comes your way is key. The experience of years of shooting weddings, enables me to be prepared and confidently and competently handle whatever lighting issues I'm dealt with. But I have seen amateurs, inexperienced/newbie wedding photographers, and even pro photographers who work in studio/controlled light environments fail at handling these light issues on a wedding day.And trust me, the last thing you want is to get your wedding pictures back only to see they are over exposed, under exposed, or that your photographer put you in unflattering light for portraits. And sadly, this happens a lot.Here is an example of a difficult lighting situation-- a dark church with NO windows. Oh and did I mention, church rules state no flash? Most photographers probably wouldn't know what to do when faced with this tricky situation. But as a wedding pro it is my job to handle it. And I think I handled it well. Using a 135mm 2.0 lens and the high ISO capabilities of my 5dmkii I captured these precious moments:
On the opposite end of the spectrum was 
After Nikki + Dave's ceremony, the couple asked that we do some portraits on the beach. It was really important to them. But the light? Yeah, it was still really harsh. Most photographers know to look for open shade to take flattering portraits. But what do you do when there is NO open shade? Again, this is something I am used to dealing with. Wedding timelines being what they are, I don't always get to take portraits during the best lighting times of the day. But I know I still must deliver gorgeous images to my clients. So I know how to work with light in a lot of different ways... here are a couple portraits I took of Nikki + Dave on the beach. The even light I created by back-lighting them makes them look gorgeous!! Harsh sun? What harsh sun?
5. A wedding photographer must be able to catch fast-happening (and important) moments.The final thing that in my mind makes wedding photography it's own special art, is that wedding photographer must be able to quickly capture very important moments. And when I mean quick, I mean QUICK! When the important moments come a long, they happen fast, and your photographer better be ready. A first kiss and a recessional last all of about 30 seconds, and yet 2 huge moments need to be documented perfectly in that short time. Here's a recessional photo from Nikki and Dave's wedding that I just love:
Then there is the bouquet and garter toss. Literally a FAST moment, as within seconds a bouquet goes from the brides hand to lucky single lady! Below is a great fast moment captured-- a lucky single gal catches the bouquet, and another single gal looks like she's about to fight for it!!
Fast moments happen, and even for a pro it is not possible to catch all of them. However, that is why I always bring a second shooter to the wedding. With two sets of eyes on everything, and two cameras going, the odds become very small that we will miss a moment. I'd say 90% of most professional wedding photographers bring a second shooter with, and this is definitely another huge reason why a pro is so valuable to you. Because not only will you have one person shooting your wedding who knows how to handle all kinds of wedding-specific situations, you will actually have two people doing this! Score!I know this was quite the long post... hopefully you made it through! Because the point is, Wedding photography is not just photography. Wedding photography is it's own special species of beast, and you need someone behind the lens with enough experience to handle it. A true wedding photographer is a specialist. In just the same way you wouldn't go to your general family physician to treat lung cancer, you shouldn't go to just anyone who says they are a photographer for your wedding photos. I get that wedding photos aren't as severe and serious as cancer! But we are talking about the photos, and in turn the memories, of one of the most important days of your life. Don't you want to make sure your memories are in the most capable hands?
2. Details Count!!!Blogs need to show details! Detail photos are what they show to inspire other couples, so details of course count! Put thought into the details you would already have to spend money on-- like the bouquets, bouts, centerpieces, shoes, cufflinks, other accessories! If there is cohesiveness among the standard details, we are already on a good track to get published!!
Really going the extra mile on details is what can make or break a wedding for publication though. Extra special touches like programs, menu cards, a unique escort card display, fun favors or anything else unique you can add to the decor are super important! These extra details give you more opportunity to infuse your wedding with your style, colors, and even theme! And like I said, blogs want to see as many details as possible!!!
3. Don't Think You Need To Spend A Ton!Just because blogs love details doesn't mean you have to spend a ton of money or break your budget. I know for a fact that blogs LOVE weddings with a lot of style that were done on a budget-- that's a great sell to their readers. If your budget is tight, turn to DIY and re-used/up-cycled items. The more creative you get, the more unique your details will be!My bride 
Turning to vintage, used, or up-cycled materials can save you a ton of money and give your wedding a unique look!! 
4. Get Help!Weddings are overwhelming! Get help!!! Enlisting the help of others will not only keep you sane, but it can help you get your DIY projects done quickly and have some fun doing so! But I also highly recommend hiring a wedding planner. Seriously, no matter what your budget or your desire for publication... EVERY bride should have the help of a wedding coordinator/planner. A planner can actually help save you money by keeping your vision in check, telling you what details are worth spending on and what you can save on, and by making sure all your details are perfectly displayed on the day of!! Seriously, get the help of a planner AND friends/family! You'll thank me ;)
5. Pick Venues and Vendors That Rock!A gorgeous venue can be a detail in itself. Don't underestimate the power of a beautiful venue for your ceremony and reception!! A big venue like 
Vendors are just as important as a venue! Awesome, talented, creative vendors (especially in the planning/design, floral, cake, photography and stationery departments) can really make or break the look of a wedding! If you really have your heart set on getting published, you should hire vendors with a track record of getting their work on blogs. The below photo features florals by 
6. Plan Ahead With Your Photographer!Let your photographer know you want to submit the photos to publications after the wedding. That way they will be able to plan a timeline with you to allow for enough time to photograph all the important detail shots. One shot that is so important (that there isn't always time for) is a shot of the empty, but decorated ceremony set up, like this photo below! I always shoot a wedding as if it was going to be published and try to get all the shots publications love! You never know what can make it to a blog, and also I think it's very important my clients have photos of all their pretty details. I think the reason I have had so many of my real weddings published is because I shoot with an editorial eye.
These are my tips for the couple that hopes to one day have their wedding featured on the sites they turn to for inspiration. However, please please please don't get lost in the idea of getting published. You're marrying the love of your life. And that's what counts!!!Hope this was helpful!xo,Ash
I've also had many couples get more elaborate with props-- especially when they come up with a theme (see my next tip for more on themes)! If you want to bring multiple props that is great! Begin collecting early. Search through your own house or garage for stuff, or maybe even at your parent's or grandparent's for family treasures. Thrift stores, yard sales and flea markets are also GREAT resources for finding fabulous props without a high price tag. The key is to begin thinking and collecting early.
2. Base your theme off of pop culture. Do you two love a certain genre of movies or music? Or maybe just one movie, artist or song in particular? If you two have a strong link to something in pop culture go ahead and run with it in your engagement session. For example, 
On the other hand, 
3. Lastly you can base your theme around an assortment of things you like. 
Ultimately, a theme can be anything you want and you are only limited by your imagination. Think about the things you and your fiance love to do most together and begin brainstorming. Then search google and other wedding blogs like 
Another way to truly be personal is to hand make a prop for your session. My bride 
So those are my four easy tips to having a gorgeously styled, super cute, unique engagement! Hope you enjoyed and found it helpful!
Does Phunky Booth have on-site prints? No, Phunky Booth is not a booth that spits out prints on site.So how do I get my Phunky Booth images?Your high-res Phunky Booth images will be on your wedding DVD. You will have printing rights to them, just like with your wedding images. You will also get an online proofing gallery for your Phunky Booth pics so guests can view them and order prints if they choose. You will also get a online slideshow of your Phunky Booth pics which is great for sharing on facebook, twitter, email, etc. The slideshow will also be showcased on your wedding website!In addition to everything listed above, you have the ability to order the following products with Phunky Booth pictures:-Add extra spreads to your wedding album. This is cool because we can lay out lots of images in a grid on a spread and you can relive the most hilarious Phunky Booth photos every time you pick up your wedding album!-Order a 6x6 or 8x8 Phunky Booth album as a companion to your main album! Nothing funnier or cuter than a whole lovely album of PHUNKY photos!-Order thank you cards!-Order loose prints (and maybe even send them to guests in your thank you notes)...but how will my guests be able to see the Phunky Booth photos?We make little print out cards to hand to your guests with links for how to view the photos. In addition be sure to share the links to your slideshow, or better yet, your wedding website that I designed for you. If you share these links online (particularly via email or facebook/twitter) they will be sure to find the photos online!
If you are shooting my wedding when do you have time to operate Phunky Booth?Good question! We set up your Phunky Booth either just before the ceremony or during cocktail hour. We open the booth during the reception (sometimes even part of cocktail hour if the timeline permits), but only during "down time" or open dancing. We do not leave it open during main events like "the grand entrance" "first dance" "cake cutting", etc because during those times we want your guests to have their attention focused on YOU. We also do not leave it open during dinner because people are eating and also this is usually when we refuel on our vendor meal break. But other than these few moments, the Phunky Booth is open. If we weren't doing a Phunky Booth during these "down time" periods we JUST photograph candids and open dancing shots. But to be honest those are so easy, you really only need one photographer covering that. So for Phunky Booth weddings during down time one photographer captures candids and open dancing shots and the other operates the Phunky Booth, which actually works out perfectly. And you get more photos of your guests this way too!!How much space does Phunky Booth take up? Where will we put it?The phunky booth is a mini-studio set up, and therefore requires about a 12x12 space to set up. Preferably indoors, but if it is an outdoor wedding than by a wall is better. We work with you and often your wedding or venue coordinator BEFORE the big day to plan where we will set it up. I need about a 12x12 space. I like it to be out of the way enough to not mess up your pretty decor but I don't want it to be so far out that guests can't find it!What if we want a different background than just plain white... something that matches our decor?You are welcome to provide a custom background to match your decor if you want. Please check with me for dimensions.
Besides hiring you to set up Phunky Booth is there anything I need to do to make it a success? Like, should I supply props?Yes!!! The Phunky Booth is truly a collaborative effort between ME the photographer and YOU the wedding couple! I want every Phunky Booth to be different so I ask that YOU supply the props. 
Soooo.... that's my introduction of the Phunky Booth!! Hope it was helpful and has you alllll excited! Of course leave comments with your thoughts or questions!xoxoAsh
I have TWO Canon 5D Mark II's. One is my main camera and one is my back up. Also sometimes AJ uses it when he second shoots for me. 5D Mark II is the top of the line for a pro camera. If you are paying at least $2500 for your photographer, I think you should expect that they have at least a 5D, 7D (even though it is crop sensor) or 1D (if they are Canon shooters, not sure what the Nikon equivalent is!) However, I honestly don't think the camera body is EVERYTHING. I know plenty of people with 5D Mark II's who don't know how to use it properly and definitely do not deliver pro-quality images. On the other hand I know super skilled photographers, who don't yet have the savings for a 5D, and they shoot AMAZING stuff on a crop-sensor camera. In fact, the first 1.5 years I shot I only had a 40D (a higher-end crop-sensor camera). So I definitely believe a skilled photographer can deliver high quality images with anything from a 40D or higher. They key is really having skills to shoot in manual and having an eye for composition and an ability to direct people on camera. The fancy camera? That's icing on the cake!My back up to my back up is my 40D. As I mentioned above this camera is what I used at the inception of my business and it has always yielded fabulous images! It's definitely still a handy and old reliable part of my bag!
The 50mm 1.2L - This is my go to lens. It's medium range and basically sees what we see with our eyes. I absolutely LOVE the colors & bokeh (blurry backgrounds) it produces. I also love shooting at low apertures so being able to go down to 1.2 is always fun! This lens also focuses pretty fast and holds the focus well! So that's why I LOVE it and use it the MOST! I use it for details, some portraits, and getting ready.
The 35mm 1.4L - I use this lens a LOT! Not as much as my 50mm, but I still love it. This lens is wide but not too wide. There is no distortion on the edges which means it still can be used in portraits. I don't use it too much for portraits but I will use it a little to mix things up and some variety to a portrait session! I love the low aperture-- the bokeh and colors are just beautiful! I use this lens for most group shots on the wedding day-- family formals, and bridal party. I also use this lens for the majority of the reception because it's wide angle allows me to tells a great story.
The 135mm 2.0L - This is my prime alternative to the 70-200mm which most photographers use for ceremonies. I like it more for a few reasons-- it's lighter and I can hold it steadier, it opens wider which lets in more light for dark church weddings, it's still very close and can capture reactions in a big church, it produces beautiful color and focuses fast. This lens is also beautiful for portraits and sometimes I do use it in portraits...but mostly this is my ceremony lens!
The 85mm 1.8 - I LOVE this lens! Eventually I probably will want the 85mm 1.8, but I do love this one just how it is! It focuses fast (where as the 1.2 focuses much slower), and it's much lighter than the 1.2! It also yields beautiful color & images. I use this lens primarily for portraits, along with the 50mm and a touch of the 35mm. It gets close up for beautiful expressions and gorgeous headshots, but you have to back up far if you want a full body shot! I sometimes will also use this lens in smaller ceremonies.
The 100mm Macro 2.8 - This is a fab macro lens and of course I use it most for ring shots and other little details at a wedding, but it's also a GREAT portrait lens! I use it for jewelry details, lockets or brooches on bouquets, beading and lace detail on a wedding gown, and anything else little and special that might pop up! I also use this lens TONS in boudoir sessions as both a portrait lens and to capture small sexy details like a woman's eyelashes. This was one of the first lenses I ever purchased, and while I don't think it should be every photographer's first big purchase, I think it is might lovely and handy!
The back ups: 28mm 1.8 + 50mm 1.4- These were the two lenses, along with the Macro and 85, that got me through my first 1.5 years of business. They are affordable prime lenses and work FANTASTIC! The quality is amazing. While I definitely see an improvement in color and clarity with my L lenses, these lenses still rock and get the job done. Again, it's more about the photographer's skill than the gear itself. An L lens can only deliver so much without a good photographer using it, and conversely these more affordable lenses don't really hold a good photographer back! So while I don't really use these two much anymore, I still think they are awesome and recommend it to any photographer starting out or looking to experiment in shooting PRIME only. These lenses now act for me as a back up, in case GOD FORBID, a lens should break at a wedding. This awful scenario does seem to happen a lot so it's always good to make sure you're covered with back ups. And that's what these lenses do for me!
PART 1: Researching VendorsAt the early stages of planning it can be overwhelming trying to find vendors. How does a bride find her perfect dream team?? What avenues yield the best results in finding a reliable vendor? Here's my thoughts.
What events do you try to cover in all your weddings?I always try to get getting ready shots for the bride (the groom depends on where he gets ready and how much time you have contracted me for), family formal portraits, bridal party portraits, bride and groom portraits, ceremony coverage, candids of the couple, bridal party, family and other guests through out the day, your decor details, and at least some of the reception. To me the story of your wedding day does start with getting ready and I LOVE to photograph that. The other events I listed are also so important to capturing the iconic images of your day that you will treasure for a lifetime, and I would not miss ANY of them!
Can you give me an example of a standard 6 hour timeline?Sure thing! Here is an example of a recent 6 hour wedding I did. As you can see many of the traditional events were captured, though they were condensed into a short amount of time. Also the couple did skip a few traditions, which did allow for everything they wanted covered to be covered. The six hours is perfect for couples who want to work with me but are on a budget, or for couples who are not having a very traditional wedding.
Still have more timeline questions? Leave them in a comment below, I am happy to answer them!
Below is the "color corrected" image. For you photogs or photography enthusiasts out there, the color correcting is done in Lightroom. I actually do not color correct the images myself. I send them to 
Lastly, we have the fully edited version. All the images I blog and put in your online slideshow are fully edited. You will receive these bonus edited images (which usually ends up being between 40-75 images) in addition to all the color corrected ones. Additionally, ALL images that go into your album will be fully edited. Any prints or other products you receive in your collection, or that you choose to buy, will all have been fully edited by me.So how is the fully edited image below different from the color corrected image? Well as you can see this one is a little more fine tuned. Instead of brightening the whole image, I was able to JUST brighten the skin of the bride and bridesmaids. I also slightly upped the saturation/contrast of this image and slightly warmed it. I did not choose to warm it up quite as much as the color corrected image. I like this version best because it is the most natural looking to me, while still being bright and having vibrant colors!
Here is one more example of one image going through all three stages:
As you can see in the example above, the sooc image seems a little dark because they were back-lit. Also the colors are a little cold and blue-ish. The color-corrected image is much warmer and brightened just a bit. It is definitely an improved version of the sooc image! Lastly, the fully edited image is a bit more fine tuned. I not only brightened the entire image, but I also went in and brightened the bride and groom's skin which gives them a little more pop! I warmed the image but very subtly and also added a subtle amount of contrast and saturation. I love that my final edit is classic-- the colors are true to life, but still very vibrant. Which is a defining aspect of my style. I also love how the bride and groom pop a bit more than the original sooc image!Brides also often ask me if I retouch skin or edit out pimples and such. To be honest, I don't usually need to do this much. I shoot in such a way (with the lens wide open) that seems to make every one's skin look creamy and smooth. I also always try to overexpose the skin just a TAD, which is another little trick that makes skin look smooth. Our eyes read brightness as smoothness, so if the skin is just a tad bright our eyes read it as smooth and delicious! However, if someone does have a blemish they are unhappy with I will go ahead and take it out when I fully edit an image (for the blog, slideshow, album, canvas, or professional print). Color corrected images, however, do not get treatment like blemish removal.My final note on this whole retouching thing, I really try to keep your images looking natural. That means having YOU look like YOU. Sometimes I get requests like "can you edit me so I look 15 pounds thinner?" or "Can you make my nose smaller" etc. The thing is, and I am gonna keep it real here, I am a PHOTOGRAPHER, I ain't a magazine retoucher so, no I really can't do that. I just don't have that skill. But even if I had that skill, I'd still have to say no. Because I want you to look like you in your pics. I want you to feel confident in who you are. I want you to see that the beautiful girl in your photos and know it isn't retouched, it really is YOU. Exactly how you are! Because seriously? All my brides are gorgeous inside and out!What about engagement, mr. + mrs. and boudoir sessions? Are those images color corrected or edited or both?For an engagement, mr. and mrs., or boudoir session you will receive 50 images. All these images have been fully edited by me! You will not receive any images that have only been color corrected from one of these shoots. For boudoir sessions I spend the most time hand editing the photos to make sure everything is looking its best, which is also why boudoir sessions cost more than regular portrait sessions! But again, no magazine retouching here!Why do you outsource your color correcting for wedding images? How does it benefit me as a client?I outsource my images for a few reasons. For one, it is a MAJOR time saver. Color correcting around 1000 images takes some serious time on my part. And in the thick of busy wedding season, I can get really backed up with edits. Before I started outsourcing it would take me wayyy to long to get my clients their images. And really, that's not how I roll. I don't like taking a long time to show my clients their pictures. I mean, I remember what it was like to be a bride! Waiting to relive your day is AGONIZING. So anything that helps me turnaround images faster to clients is my friend!The other reason I outsource is because honestly? I am not a specialist in color correcting. I did not get into photography to become a color corrector...I got into photography to take fabulous images. And to work with happy, fun, vibrant people. So while I can do a basic and decent job at color correcting, it's neither my strong suit or my passion. But the cool thing is that it just so happens to be someone else's strong suit and passion. And that means they do a way better job than me. By outsourcing to someone who is more skilled in-- and more passionate about-- color correcting, I am able to deliver my client THE BEST product possible! Which is what I aim for in every aspect of my business....I hope this post was informative and may have answered some of your questions regarding how I process my images, and for my clients I hope you have a better understanding of how your final images will look when you receive them! If anyone has any more questions on this topic, or even any other FAQ they'd like to see answered here on the blog, please let me know below in the comments section! I am happy to help!