Trust Your Memories Only To A Professional Wedding Photographer
December 19, 2008
It is a must the one gets a professional photographer for her wedding day. Wedding pictures will last a lifetime, keeping memories of this very special day. It will live longer than the flowers and the catered food, therefore, you would only want a photographer who understands what you want and can be relied upon to capture every minute of this special day.
Hire a professional, look for the following:
1. A valid and legal sales tax license.
2. Ask latest proof of business insurance.
3. Specialized and well kept professional equipment (includes a medium format camera aside from a professional 35mm camera).
4. Membership in any professional association.
5. A permanent studio.
Things to consider:
Level of experience. Check his background and ask for names of persons that he has photographed. Call them and ask if they were satisfied on the photographers work.
Personality. Is his ideas same as yours? Can you communicate with him easily? Meaning he understands what you want or what is your idea regarding the style of photography that you want to be achieved.
Style of photography. Do the images that are presented appeal to you? Do you like his style?
References. Ask for references and meet with them personally so you can take a look of his works as well as ask them if they were happy with the outcome of with his work. A person who is hesitant to give references is definitely not the photographer that you should hire.
Packages. Ask about each package that he presents to you. If you are not comfortable with the packages, can he make one to satisfy your needs?
Accomplished work. Ask how long will it take for him to finish your album, your bridal portrait and all the photos taken during the wedding.
Price. Can you afford his services? If not, is he worth the price difference as compared to others youve met? Take the time to ask all that you need to know and make sure you understand all services and photos include in the cost.
Payments and deposits. Should you cancel, can he give a refund? If he, in any circumstance, does not show up, what happens? Does he have a partner to take his place just in case? Make sure you clear all of this to him as well as discuss with him all your concerns. His answer should be able to convince you that he can be trusted.
Contract. Check and read it carefully before signing. If there is anything that you dont understand, ask him or ask that he leaves you the contract overnight so you can study it. Be certain that everything you both had agreed on is in the contract.
When looking at the photographers work, look for the following:
1. Each sample album must consist of only one wedding. Does he have a lot of sample albums?
2. Does he have a recent actual wedding that he could have you look at? Look through his most recent wedding album.
3. Study each album well and see if the album is telling the story of the wedding and not just filling the album up with similar photos.
4. Are the portraits clear and did the photographer capture the subjects mood?
5. Are all the photos done artistically? Is there a play of light and shadow?
6. Are candid shots taken? Are they clear and well composed?
Remember that photos will remind you of and will bring!
Interesting Wedding Night Rituals from Around The World
December 8, 2008
Weddings are occasions of lasting traditions and rituals. All over the world, peoples beliefs, culture and history has affected this memorable event. It is common knowledge that wedding ceremonies are different all over the world, but did you know that the diversity extends even on the wedding night? Read this to know the interesting activities that couples, families and friends do before letting the newlyweds reach a night of wedding bliss!
It is customary in an American wedding for the bride and groom to hop into a get-away car with tin cans attached to the rear of the car, off to their secret honeymoon, immediately after the wedding. Did you know that this rooted from escaping a Celtic wedding night tradition?
In Gaelic cultures, it was a tradition for friends and family of the couple to mess with the couples wedding night. In the olden days, when couples spend their wedding night in a barn, girl friends of the bride would dress her for bed and ask each of the male guests to kiss her good night. The friends would do other things to prevent the groom from seeing her new wife. Even if the couple finally comes together, they would disturb the union by making noise outside the barn and even peep into the couple, while drinking the night away. The couple waits for everyone to get too drunk to eventually leave them alone. This kind of prank is something that newly weds want to get away from, thus, they keep their honeymoon destination a secret and speed away after the wedding.
More Celtic wedding night ritual come from Scotland: sleeping in the barn on the first night, sprinkling water on the marriage bed for luck and staying for a week with the bride’s parents before moving into the newlyweds home.
The Germans and the French do a similar tradition of disturbing the wedding night, called Chiverie, known in the US as Shivaree. They make noise outside the place where the couple spends their first night together. Some even play around with the room where they will stay, like put plenty of balloons, spread food all over the bed, and hide alarm clock everywhere, just for fun.
The Romans believed that it was bad fortune when the bride stumbles when entering the newlyweds house for the first time. Thus, after the wedding, male friends of the couple would carry her over the doorstep. At present, the groom is expected to do the job himself.
In Benin, western Africa, they value virginity. The brides mother rewards her with cash if shes a virgin at their wedding night! In the morning, the sheets that the couples used are inspected for bloodstains. Some mothers even “fly the flag” out the window, showing off their daughter’s bloodstained nightgown. Seriously!
For the Chinese, at the night of the wedding, candles designed with a phoenix and a dragon is lit to drive the evil spirit away. The newlyweds will drink wine from goblets tied together with a red ribbon, while arms intertwined. Then the bride will be given half-raw dumplings, which symbolize prosperity.
Marquesasian (from Polynesia) brides have a notable wedding night ritual: they are expected to have sex with all the male guests and then saving the groom for last. Now that can make your wedding night extremely unforgettable!