|
Encore! is back. When I blog about a wedding, I want all the photos to tell a story. Sometimes photos I love don’t quite fit. Encore! will feature one (or two!) of those photos every Friday. Despite what bridal magazines and websites may tell us, weddings are not all about the bride. Grooms matter! I love this photo captured by Michael of the handsome Devin straightening his bow tie before walking down the aisle. Move over Daniel Craig, we have a new James Bond!
 
no comments
Did you watch Mitch & Cam’s wedding on Modern Family? I was excited to see one of my favorite wedding venues on the show – the beautifully rustic Calamigos Ranch in Malibu. I loved photographing Bailey and Aleksey’s wedding at Calamigos last summer. They held their ceremony outside amid the tall oaks and redwoods. The parasols were a beautiful added touch.
 The day started with getting ready photos.
 Bailey had beautiful vintage touches with her classic pearls and lace garter.
I couldn’t resist taking a photo of the bride before she put on her dress.
One last check in the mirror before seeing her groom for the first time.
Aleksey fixes his tie as he waits for his bride. I loved the outdoor chandeliers in the walkway.
The bride and groom decided to see each other before the ceremony. I loved capturing that moment.
Quick portrait before the bride was whisked away into hiding.
The father of the bride walked Bailey over the bridge and down the aisle.
How beautiful is this arbor? The flowers were all done by Malibu Event Planning and Design.
Photographing through the chandeliers.
The happy couple walked down the aisle.
After the ceremony, we explored the grounds.
Awesome bridal party.
Bailey and Aleksey loved all the greenery. So did I.
The couple’s program and place cards shared a theme.
The first dance is my favorite part of the reception.
I have no idea what was so funny, but his expression was priceless.
The bride and her maid of honor watch the groom dance with his mom.
The bride and groom made their grand exit surrounded by their guests and lots of bubbles.
Now that’s a sweet ride!
Congratulations Bailey and Aleksey! Wishing you all the best!!!
It’s the best of times and the worst of times if you’re looking for a wedding photographer. Let’s start with the good. There are so many great wedding photographers creating beautiful works of art for their clients. My fellow photographers inspire me every day. Couples can choose between traditional photographers, photojournalists, fine art photographers, fashion photographers or a little bit of each. Most wedding photographers not only take beautiful photos, they also run ethical businesses. Which brings us to the bad: There are some photographers that mislead brides and grooms. One website that’s exposing these unethical photographers is stopstealingphotos.com. Some studios are using other photographers’ work in their portfolios, on their websites, blogs, facebook, and online ads. Not only is it unethical, it is also illegal to post another photographer’s work without his or her permission. Some of these photographers say that they were inspired by another’s work. I’m inspired by many photographers, too – but I don’t claim their work as my own. I also love Adele, but I wouldn’t send clips of her singing as my audition. As if it’s not difficult enough choosing a wedding photographer, now you have to make sure the photographer actually took the photos you love! Here are some questions to ask potential photographers before deciding on the photographer for you: 1. How many weddings have you photographed? Have all of those been as lead photographer? We all start somewhere and there is nothing wrong with hiring a photographer who is starting out. However, would you pay $5,000 for a photographer who had only photographed one wedding as a 2nd photographer? 2. Ask to see wedding albums or photos from complete weddings that tell the story of that day. A good photographer will be able to share fifty or more great and unique photos from one wedding. 3. Read public reviews of the photographer, however do so with some skepticism. One of my favorite make-up artists received one negative review from a client amid dozens of great reviews. She’s still awesome in my book. Don’t be afraid to ask for references. Especially helpful are references from couples whose weddings are in the photographer’s portfolio or blog. Planning a wedding is exciting and finding the right photographer can seem daunting. Hopefully these questions will help in your search. If you have any questions about wedding photography (even if they’re not about Polka Photos), just let me know! And Happy St. Patrick’s Day! In honor of the day, here are a few images from Alexa and Matt’s wedding that show off the Irish bride’s Celtic tattoos. To Alexa and Matt: May you be poor in misfortune, Irish bride Alexa shows off her Celtic tattoos. She and her husband Matt had a beautiful and green wedding in Los Angeles. Go maire sibh bhur saol nua!
We are movie buffs. Every year Michael and I watch all the Best Picture nominees. This year, as usual, there were so many great movies. We dissect the movies down to small details. Frames that are out of focus, writing that’s too expository, booms visible in the shot, overacting. In the end, what matters most is the story. The same is true about wedding photography. We are there to capture all the moments of the day. The bride as she clasps her hands nervously while sitting in the make-up chair, the groom’s tears as he sees his beloved for the first time that day, the couple as they take their first steps together as newlyweds. Our photos tell the story of your day. If you’ve visited Polka Photos before, you’ll notice that our website has been redesigned and there are new photos in our portfolio. Each photo is part of that couple’s story. In the coming weeks and months we’ll be sharing some of those stories on our blog.
Do you ever feel like you don’t have enough time? Our last year was a blur. We photographed more than 40 weddings, partnered with two clients to raise over $700 for charity, redesigned our website, and watched all of Breaking Bad. We also took countless walks together, spoiled our dog Ollie, and fell in love more each day. Wishing you all a Happy Valentine’s Day!
Aww. Happy Valentine’s Day, you guys! |
|
.jpg)
.png){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.png){kind=small}