Beach Weddings by Deb and Gary Felton Studio 8.3 Photography has teamed up to create St.Thomas and St. John wedding packages that are of a high end value and quality. These packages are for the discerning couple that understands and want to focus on good photography. It’s for couples that know how quality wedding pictures can capture the beauty and emotion of their day in a unique way.
Gary Felton’s Studio 18.3 wedding pictures are not only essential but are priceless in value of memories and are worthy of becoming a part of your family’s history. You will not find any wedding package with this quality of photography anywhere, in other words, we not only give good photos, our photos are more than just technically correct they are special.
Add this to the Beach Weddings by Deb’s special touch and you will have a day that will exceed you expectations.
So by joining together Beach Weddings by Deb and Gary Felton has created a world class wedding package of exceptional value. Not only will you have the opportunity to get a DVD with high resolution negatives but a8×12 Custom Graphi Album.
Graphi Studio Albums are a timeless storybook of your perfect day. These albums are hand crafted in Italy using Graphi’s patented continuous page binding system with every page opening flat and having a perfect panoramic view. The books come in many formats from 8 x12 but can be upgraded all the way up to 16x 20 and are truly works of art.
With service and quality like this why would anybody trust thier memories to anyone else?
How can guest be the reason you get fewer professional pictures from your wedding Photographer?
No, I’m not talking about Uncle George and his two fingers over Aunt Martha’s head.
Weddings and families members with cameras go hand in hand. After all, a wedding is a joyous occasion and who wouldn’t want to join in by taking pictures of the bridal couple and guest. It’s a fun and cost effective way to get extra pictures, or is it?
Planning a wedding is a wakeup call to any one getting married. The cost involved for all of the vendors that supply your wedding services are not cheap. You would not have Grandma in the kitchen with the caterer while they are getting your reception meal ready would you? So why do guest think it is ok to stop the work of a photographer to get their shot of the arranged pose or group shot. What many guests don’t realize is that your photographer in most cases is being paid by the hour. Every time a pose arranged by the photographer is held a minute or two longer to allow guest to take their shots is money out of your pocket. Every time a photographer has to wait for someone to put a camera down to be in a group shot is money out of your pocket. Even if money is no object the missed shots that could have been but didn’t because of lack of time should be everyone’s concern.
It’s true the more pictures the better but wouldn’t it be better to have as many professional pictures as possible? Most photographers in the wedding business will work with the guest and are very polite and stand back while guest take the shots. I have seen everything from guest asking to have their camera used by the photographer, to asking them to wait until someone comes back from the restroom so that they can take the picture also. I have seen guest follow a photographer around asking for photography advice and how to fix their camera.
A classic example below shows what can happen to a special moment when other cameras are being used when the photographer is shooting. The red lights on the bridal couple are from guest cameras focusing on the couple. The photographer’s camera picked up the infra red which is on all of the digital camera these days. Since most photographers use cameras that pick up every detail they will also pick up all flashes from the guest.
Notice the light on Groom from guest camera
What’s the solution? I suggest having a person assigned to work with the photographer. Someone not in the wedding party. Let’s call this person the photo liaison. The requirements of this person should be close to a drill sergeant and the duties would be as follows.
Follow the photographer until he/she is finished. At the very least, until the guest shots are completed and they have left for the reception.
Have list of names of guest for group shots to be taken with or without the wedding party.
Start gathering the group together so that the photographer can move from one shot to another without waiting.
Run interference or when a guest asks the group to wait. Be prepared to say sorry can’t wait. Need to get this done so we can celebrate (or something to that effect).
Be prepared to ask for cameras not to be used while low light shots are done.
Be prepared to step in when guest want their camera to be used.
Have access to water, tissue, lipstick, powder for the bridal couple.
Water for the photographer would be nice too
Anything to get the best results from your photographer and the best pictures for you.
Also it would be nice to remember the photo liaison with a special thanks of some kind.
You have made the decision and picked a photographer for your wedding day. Before breathing a sigh of relief jot down a few of these tips from Make Up Artist Steve Moore of Moore Agency in Atlanta. “I always recommend that you use professional makeup artist but if you can’t remember these tips. ”
Stay away from tanning booths or using fake tan sprays or lotions leading up to your wedding day. The color orange shows up too much in photos.
Blend, Blend, Blend.
You can use your everyday makeup, but use more than you normally use every day. Many makeup professionals use airbrush makeup, the method of choice for high-definition T.V. because it’s light weight, waterproof and gives flawless coverage.
Sometimes less is more.
You can get dramatic with eye makeup but use less makeup for day weddings and more for evenings.
Don’ skimp on concealer
Use a moisturized concealer on the thin sensitive skin under the eyes. If your concealer isn’t moisturizing, blend it with a skin cream. For blemishes, first treat them with a natural or over-the-counter anti-inflammatory, and then cover with concealer.
Not all mineral makeup is created equal.
Titanium dioxide, a chemical used as sun block, can reflect flash, giving the bride a ghostly appearance. In 2009 makeup artist Annie May launched a line of mineral makeup especially formulated for photography called Advanced Mineral Makeup. It won’t white-out the bride under a flash.
Use waterproof makeup with staying power.
You don’t want to spend your reception in the bathroom reapplying your makeup. Foundation, eyeliner and mascara all should be waterproof. And in case you cry, have a tissue or handkerchief to gently blot your tears right at the eyes.
Keep your lips moisturized and colored.
Dry lips look dreadful in photos. Have someone carry your lipstick for you and touch up often. Matte and gloss lipstick both photograph well and be sure to use blended lip liner for enhanced definition.
Don’t forget the groom.
If the groom is red faced due to too much sun or partying, a little powder can help. That goes for the shiny heads, too. And it’s a good idea to slip a tube of Chapstick in the groom’s pocket for his dry lips as well as a handkerchief to dab well-wishers’ makeup smudges off.
Don’t sprinkle on glitter.
In photographs, it tends to look like little white spots, as if there’s something wrong with the camera.
Remember to apply foundation and powder to your neck, shoulders and décolletage – you want your head to look like it belongs to your body.
Don’t get buggy.
It may not seem the place to have this – but applying bug spray will keep the sand mites and mosquitoes away.
it will also stop red welts from forming on face and neck and make for a more comfortable photo shoot.
Meet Mr. and Mrs. David Engfer. Married March 16th, 2010 at Megans Beach in St. Thomas,U.S. Virgin Islands. A beautiful wedding uniting two familes. David a single father of 3 daughters and Ann a single mother of one son.
The day started at the Marriott Frenchmans Reef Spa with manicures, pedicures, Massages, for all following with hair and make up for the Ladies. A light luch and back to the Kiwi Cliffs Villa one my favorite Villas in St. Thomas to get ready for the ceremony.http://www.kiwicliffs.com/index.asp?wt=villa_home.asp
Blending of two Familes Ann Charest and Daving Engfer
Above is at the Ceremony at Megans Beach—Below is after ceremony toast. Reception followed at at Havana Blue on Morning Star Beach.
A day at Sapphire Beach in St. Thomas after the wedding.
In my last Blog I discussed How to choose a wedding photographer. Today I would like to discuss the questions that should be asked when you have narrowed down the list of potential photographers. Will the person you have been talking to, be the one taking the photos?
You are relating to a person who will be taking and recording a major day in your life. Make sure he/she is the one who will be taking the photos at your wedding. Some companies have multiple photographers. If you decide to commission just such a company, would you be able to view the photos of the person assigned to your wedding? Does the photographer who photographed the wedding also do the editing?
How would the guy or assistant in some lab know the color of Uncle Joe’s shirt or the true color of the bride’s flowers unless he was at the wedding too or that the photo of you and Grandma is really important. Do you have the equipment to take pictures in a church during the ceremony? Most churches will not allow flashes during the ceremony but there is professional grade equipment that can take pictures in very low light. Do you have a studio we could visit?
Has the photographer invested in a studio where clients can come and see his/ her work? Bottom line if they are serious about the profession and a full time experienced photographer they will have a studio or office. Like any business they will have proper professional facilities. What education, background or experience have you had?
Have they been qualified by an organization? Have they been honored by their peers, hold any awards, or certificates? Have they invested in advertising and industry standard annual membership reviews? Have they a degree in photography or Internship with a professional photographer? Are any of the above listed on their web site in addition to how long they have been in business?
Again with my two cents:
Now days any one can become a photographer, just have a decent point and shoot camera. When checking out their completed portfolios ask how the photographer captured certain pictures. Are the pictures displayed, ones that he took or some his assistants took? What type of imaging? If he uses raw imaging he has more control of color and content. Taking a picture in Raw is only the first step in producing a quality image ready for printing. If quality is of the utmost importance to a photographer then they should be shooting in Raw. That being said, I know many professional photographers who do not shoot in Raw for one of three reasons:
1.) They don’t know how.
2.) They don’t want to take the time to process the images afterwards.
3.) They don’t have the extra memory cards to hold the additional capacity of raw images.
Let me explain a bit here. If the photographer does shoot in Raw, the photographer’s computer rather than the camera will process the data and generate an image file from it. Guess which has more processing power: the digital camera or computer? If he uses the common jpeg he is allowing the camera to capture it and do the thinking.
Shooting in Raw will give the photographer much more control over how your images will look and the ability he has to correct images due to exposure or color balance that may have been committed when the photograph was taken.
This is my slant on the experience issue. This is where quantity over quality comes into play.
There are photography companies that believe if they bought state-of-the-art equipment such as a camera with as many fully-automated features as they can get, they can then hire less experienced and less costly photographers to do the photography at events. Then in turn they can supervise them from afar and photograph several differents events at the same time at reduced cost. The smart cameras would hopefully take care any the problems. In addition they do limited editing on images therefore they charge less to the customer.
Kind of like having Uncle Joe take the pictures only more expensive and you not left with the camera.
When cost is the major factor in looking for a photographer some customers don’t want to know the difference between excellent quality and fair quality. They don’t want to know that art cannot be created by a computer chip but needs a creative mind doing the work. They don’t realize until it’s too late what a sacrifice they made.
The adage “You get what you pay for” fits in here because the best work comes from people who have a vested interest and pride in their art and in their profession.
As a wedding planner here in St. Thomas and St. John I often get asked why I do not include photography in my services or packages.
Let me explain first that I like taking pictures and consider myself an amateur photographer.
But a little knowledge can be dangerous and with something as important as a wedding, I would not consider risking the wedding couple’s happiness to an amateur or part-time photographer.
Today let’s look at the difference between a photographer and a professional photographer.
With today’s economy it is very tempting to have Uncle George take the wedding photos. After all he has been taking pictures for years, he likes doing it, and his camera looks impressive.
First of all, ask yourself what would happen if Uncle George’s camera battery goes dead or the pictures were accidentally deleted.
What if (and this has happened) there was something on the lenses of his camera and every picture had a streak across the middle.
Would Uncle George and you still be able to talk to each other at family functions?
So, if I have your attention, I will give you my two cents. Wedding photography is an investment. It increases in sentimental value over time to become a treasured family heirloom. Fifty years from now you should be able to show your wedding pictures at your anniversary.
A true professional photographer will never run out of anything. They have back up equipment with back up files management which means your photo’s will never get lost or destroyed.
The pieces of equipment a professional has goes far beyond the camera’s and back up camera’s, it also includes an expensive array of lenses, lights, computers, printers, hand held flash meter, several different flashes and battery packs to name only a few.
A true professional photographer will be unobtrusive to the ceremony.
A true professional photographer spends hours behind the scene editing, making sure your photo’s are color-edited, retouched, and creating an album or online gallery.
Photography is a skill and an art. A professional doesn’t simply shoot a camera; he or she has to be able to capture the day. Your wedding is special and unique so should your album be. Let me first clarify – I believe creativity is innate in a person – and the best equipment can’t make an uncreative person a creative photographer.
Most wedding photographers in St. Thomas or St. John rely heavily on websites but when looking for a professional don’t assume that a website makes him or her a professional. Photographing a wedding imposes some of the greatest pressures a photographer will experience; that’s why skill is important. Photographing a wedding requires a special type of skill set, experience and a keen understanding of how to anticipate, in addition to great people skills and etiquette.
When checking out photographers website look to see if;
Do they include full albums or complete client online galleries on their website for you to look at or just the best shots of several?
Check their credentials for experience and education. Remember you get what you pay for.
Does the photographer belong to any professional association?
Are the group a shot choreographed, is everyone’s face showing or is anyone looking away or squinting into the sun?
How long has he or she been in business?
Will the photographer you talk to, be the one doing the photography on your wedding day?
Does the photographer do his or her own personalized editing or send them off to be done?
While these suggestions are a great place to start in looking for photographer only you can decide what is most important for your wedding day.
Just remember the photos will last long after the cake is gone.
In closing I could not have made my point as well as Judge Joe Brown , this video is hard to watch but a professional photographer would have had top of the line equipment that would allow him or her to shoot within the church, a rebel XT cost about $700.00 the Cannon series 1 that the Judge mentions cost $8000.00. So take a look and see why choosing a professional is so important
