Destination wedding photographer
Stacey and Michelle
Santa Monica Wedding
Wedding LAAC
Jason & Ken got Hitched!
Wedding Planners VS Location Coordinator
When it comes to weddings people often get confused between site/catering coordinators and wedding planners.
Typically the job of coordinators that are supplied by locations and catering companies only make sure the reception is set correctly as far as plates and cake. They also will make sure people are following the rules and guidelines as far as the venue. Wedding planners are the ones that help the bride with wedding planning.. timelines, vendors, day of management.
Every year I have several brides get the two confused. The brides think the word coordinator means wedding planner and on the day of when things don’t go right they look to the coordinator for help and the coordinator has to explain to the frustrated bride “that’s not my job.”
Unless you’re eloping weddings are overwhelming, especially the day of. You need a good wedding planner to help the day run smooth.
Erin and Scott’s Album
Erin and Scott were married at the Montage Resort and Spa in Laguna Beach, Ca. Here is their custom Queensberry wedding album.
Why Hire a Professional
Wedding Photography is very specialized. Watch the video below to learn why.
If I were looking for a photographer… (Read This)
They say about half of all brides are really unhappy with their wedding photographer. Most don’t realize THE IMPORTANCE OF a wedding photographer. The truth is THAT once the cake’s been eaten, the guestS have gone home and the dress has been boxed, all you have are the pictures. Here are 10 insider tips to help you find someone qualified to capture your big day.
•Hire a professional wedding photographer.
•You need to look at a photographer’s portfolio and love most, if not all, of their work. Stay away from photographers that overly photoshop their images.
• Read the photographer’s Yelp reviews. Yelp is an uncensored resource for reviews. Yelp does not allow businessES to take down bad reviews.
•Know who will be photographing your wedding before you sign a contract. Trust me. You’re smart enough to hire your own photographer… you don’t need anyone else to do it for you.
•Find out about their formal training. Did they go to school for photography?
•Ask how long they’ve been shooting weddings.
•Ask about professional backup gear. Do they bring a backup for their backup?
•Ask how they save the photos after the event.
• (Very Important!) You want a photographer that is going to get involved in your wedding. Someone WHO will research the venue. Someone WHO will help you lay out your timeline so that you get the best photos.
•Ask how long THEY SHOOT, THE TOTAL COST and everything else you can imagine…then ask again!
I’ve been shooting weddings since 2004. I graduated from Brooks Institute of Photography. After school, I worked with several of the top celebrity and fashion photographers. I got into weddings because I love them. As a professional wedding photographer, I know I have to be prepared for anything, which is why I bring at least 3 professional cameras to every wedding. (I bring a backup for my backup) After a wedding, I download all the images to two external hard drives, two computers, an online gallery, and a disc. I have a 5-star rating on Yelp because I get involved with my events.
Top 2017 Wedding Venue
The Los Angles Athletic Club located in downtown is the hottest place to get married in 2013. This private social club was created in 1880 by a group of distinguished Angelinos. The venue has gone through some major style renovations over the last couple years but has kept its vintage flair. I find myself marveling at all the different textures, colors, fabrics, and carpeting their incredible interior designer used in the design. If I could describe this club I’d say it embodies class, a unique style, history, and so much more.Here is why the LAAC is a no brainer…
In general Hotels are easiest places to plan weddings, because everything is already there catering, hotel rooms, parking, linens, tables, and chairs. You have hotel rooms for out of town guests to stay and a place to get ready so you don’t have to worry about traffic when it comes to planning your wedding day. However, most hotels are sort of boring as far as a wedding venue. In general, the ceremony sites are mediocre at best, the ballrooms are sort of plain and they cater to corporate clients. Which is why brides tend to choose private estates, historical parks, beaches and golf course for their nuptials.
The Los Angles Athletic Club ceremony site is located on the roof of the club, which means breath-taking views overlooking downtown Los Angeles. Their Ballroom is vintage and amazing. They have an amazing chef and 72 boutique style hotel rooms. The Los Angeles Athletic Club is the best location for the high fashion bride with unique taste who wants a no fuss wedding.
Photographer notes: This venue is unique that being the case you want a high skilled photographer that can overcome its many lighting challenges. First of all most photographers rely on bounce light to shoot a wedding. With this venue, you cannot rely on bounce light outdoors. I know that this seems like an obvious point but I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen photographers make this mistake with outdoor event venues like this. Secondly, the ballrooms vaulted ceilings make bouncing light nearly impossible. So what photographers will tend to do is point the flash right toward the couple, which in most cases is not going to look good. I’ve seen many photographers struggle with venues like this one and it’s mostly because this is a unique venue requires a technical photographer with tons of experience. You cannot rely on the bounce formula instead you have to have low light gear and balance the light.
