Guest Blog Post: Shutterbug Photo Booth on the uniqueness a photo booth can bring to your wedding

 

Photo booths at weddings have taken the industry by storm. 10 years ago, they were not that popular and now, it’s hard to imagine a wedding without one. Heck, even us Marry Me gals will hop in to the booth to make some memories. For this month’s guest blog post. We have asked our friends (and photo booth trailblazers) at Shutterbug Photo Booth to tell you what sets them apart from other photo booths and how using a photo booth at your wedding produces much more than a roll of photos.

If you love what you read, we encourage you to visit Shutterbug Photo Booth in person this January at the Wedding Palace Bridal Show taking place at the Ottawa Convention Centre.

 

The sleek booth design, high resolutions print-outs and customizable logos have ultimately changed the way the photo booth concept is perceived. As one of the first photo booths in Ottawa, we have had the honour to capture countless priceless memories for our clients. Four years later, there is no end in sight and we’re here to explain why photo booths are an integral part of the wedding, along with a few tips when picking out your booth.

The wedding from your guest’s point of view:

Remember the days of disposable cameras?  A very popular idea where guest would take it upon themselves to shoot the wedding from their eyes, leaving the newlyweds with great photos as captured by their guests. In theory, this was a fantastic idea, however, many times this process proved not only to be costly but typically produced unusable, poor photos. The average person is usually not a great photographer and fuzzy shots, thumbs on the lens or black photos due to the lack of light were commonly seen.  Along with bad shots, guests could go home with the camera, forget to take pictures and if a good picture was captured - not everyone could see the end results. Modern photo booths provide this popular idea with a different spin - ensuring the quality of photos are consistent, professionally shot and easily accessible. Photos are perfect every time and guests receive instant print-outs, holding onto great memories. All guests can enjoy each photo through the event gallery while the newlyweds receive the high resolution digital copies. Problem solved.

Get the party started:

 

Speeches, slides shows and dinner followed by nightly entertainment – it’s time to party! Pumping music fills the air, but not all guests were created equal. Although Uncle Sammy may think disco isn’t dead and also believes that having two left feet is a compliment - he may not feel the music suits his taste.  Cue photo booth!  A vibrant mode of amusement, guests rock the photo booth all night long. You’ll be eagerly waiting to see as each shot gets bolder and more creative as the night goes on. As we scan the weddings we see disperse groups all entertained by the photo booth: from the people watching and waiting for the results on the outside monitors, to a group of creative guests whispering about their next move and to some laughing so hard they can hardly speak. Of course, there is always the few, who love it more than they should. Watch out!

 

Wedding favours your guest will keep:

Favours have been a great way for couples to show gratitude, leaving a small token of their appreciation to each and every guest. Every wedding has a budget and usually plays a significant part in the couple’s final choice. A fine line between budgeting and having favours left on the table, many couples have found that the ‘bomboniere’ or wedding favour can be combined with the use of the photo booth.  Serving as multipurpose function, photo booth budgeting makes for an affordable keepsake.  The best part, these favours are actually taken home, hung on the fridge or posted at work, allowing the guests to reminisce about the good times they had. Be prepared to have your wedding remembered for a long, long time.

Everyone’s personal photographer:

Let’s clear the air – we are NOT a replacement for photographers and photographers are not replacements of us! Photographers capture the newlyweds and wedding party in an intimate and unique manner, defining the photographer’s personal style. A photo booth on the other hand captures you and your guest’s unique personality (whether it be silly, serious, romantic, or even perhaps a pirate). This specialized contraption is an enclosed space, allowing guests to go through amusing props where the imagination is the limit. To add, there will never be the need to ask “can you take a picture of us?” or “remember to send me that photo”. Just gather your friends and family, close the curtains and strike the most ridiculous or sophisticated pose preferred.  The unique feel of privacy reveals each person’s true personality. The enclosed space allows for an element of surprise, capturing that exact moment. 

A defining element:

It is very common for couples to strive to have some unique aspects to their wedding.  As an experienced photo booth company, we have yet to hit the whole population. Even though the concept has gained popularity – from wedding magazines and shows – it still remains an awe factor, as most guests will see the photo booth for the first time. We still hear many guests utter “I’ve never seen this before!” or “This is a great idea!”, translating into a unique and memorable wedding. Another outstanding concept is the debut of “Shutterbug Photo Lounge”, which has re-created this astonished look among guests.

 

Booth Education:

A wedding is a onetime deal and the booths have to stay par with the perfect day. Some good questions to start with are: Is the booth enclosed? Do they have sample printouts? How will the guests receive a copy? Is there a gallery? Will you receive a digital copy? What is their experience with weddings? (as your wedding is a one day event).

 

With all these great reasons we are reassured that we love what we do – being a wonderful addition to one of the best days of your life. The out-of-control laughter, smiles and gasps of bewilderment only propels us to create better experiences for our clients. As the photo booth concept gains popularity in the media, more booths will pop up and it is important to ask the right questions. As with everything, all booths are not created equal and when choosing your booth, it is best to talk to a few vendors to ensure that their services match your expectations. This will result in the best possible experience for you and your guests.  With so many great features, the photo booth is here to stay! Happy planning.

Guest Blog by Melanie Rebane Photography - The Keys to Choosing your Wedding Photographer: Personal Style, Pricing and Professionalism

Choosing a photographer can be one of the most overwhelming parts of the wedding planning process. There are so many to choose from, each offering something different – different photography styles, different photo packages, and different personalities. Not to mention that your photographs will be the one thing that lasts long after the wedding is over. In today’s blog post, photographer Melanie, the lead photographer from Melanie Rebane Photography, offers her own pearls of wisdom about how to choose your wedding photographer. Here’s what she has to say…

There are literally hundreds of articles to help you choose a wedding photographer. A newly engaged couple can be completely overwhelmed by the advice and seemingly hundreds of photographers' websites but I would like to help simplify it a little for you from the other side of the camera lens.

 

Why is it so expensive? What can I expect to pay?
Let’s get this out of the way first. Many established and experienced photographers have invested up to $40 000 (or more) in the best equipment, all of which will be accompanying them to your wedding to ensure that it is captured perfectly. Running a professional photography business IS expensive. You are not just paying them to shoot on your wedding day, but also for all the behind the scenes work that takes place throughout the process, from planning to shooting to processing and design. You can expect to pay approximately $3200 on the lower end to $7500 or more for an established professional wedding photographer, depending on the products and services you include in your wedding package.

What to expect from a professional photographer?
You should expect a professional price list, contract and good communication with your photographer regarding your engagement shoot and wedding timeline planning. On average, wedding photographers provide their edited wedding images within 3-4 weeks of your wedding date. Albums take a little longer for design, changes and printing but, on average, 3-6 months is the turnaround from the beginning of the design to final printing. Don't be afraid to ask your photographer for references from recent clients before hiring them.

Experience is also important, albeit the hardest to quantify. A photographer’s experience should shine through their work in their ability to capture the story of the day by anticipating the key moments and all the meaningful details.  They will engage with your closest friends and family with ease, enhancing the experience of the day and capturing the personalities of your guests. They will have a consistent and established style and look to their work that will give you a good idea of what your wedding will look like too. You will find the work of experienced photographers gracing the pages of your favorite wedding magazines and blogs.

Can I reasonably expect to receive the digital files of my photographs?
Many, but not all, photographers provide low resolution watermarked proofs on a disc for you to share. Others provide edited photos on a disc printable to a certain size (i.e. 4”x 6”). Some provide web-only, watermarked images with images ordered for print on a disc. This all depends on how they have set their pricing to run a professional business.

 

For reasons of integrity, professional photographers prefer to have larger prints ordered through them so that they can be retouched and perfected. It is a mark of their work as professionals to have their work shown the best it can possibly be. Be sure that you understand the terms and conditions of the copyright of the images and at what size and resolution they are being offered to you for personal use. Ask if there are additional charges to get what you hope for so you can accurately assess your overall costs.

Why do I need the album?

The albums and prints are the true final products of a photographer’s work, not the disc. For major milestones such as your wedding, there is nothing more cherished than a book that will tell the story of your wedding day for generations. Sadly, few people appreciate the design and retouching work that goes into creating a stunning wedding album or print and rarely do people take the time to print the jpegs on their discs after a year has passed.

Beyond the Pricelist: How do I evaluate one great photographer against the next?
All photographers being equal in pricing and professionalism, personal style should play a strong role in making your choice. You would not buy your wedding dress because it was “good enough” or because your friend bought the same one; you buy the dress that best reflects your personal taste and personality. It is no different when choosing your photographer. Meet the photographer. How your personalities work together and how they would work with your friends and family is a huge factor in the selection process - they are with you all day for one of the biggest days of your life. Their personal style and yours should have some common ground. It is a sure way to know that they will capture your day in a way that is a genuine reflection of you as a couple.

 

How to review a photographer’s portfolio with your personal style in mind.
Here are a few tips to consider when browsing the thousands of wedding images out there to find a photographer that will reflect your personal style as a couple: 

• What is the story? When you look at wedding photos ask yourself, “What story are they telling?”  Images should give insight into the personality of the people in them, the emotions of the day or the context around them. Remember, your future generations and friends will be looking at these photos and you want them to have a sense of who you were, not who you were pretending to be. Your photographer will be telling your story.
• Is there a connection? Are you able to connect with the people in the wedding photos? Do you have a sense of who they are? Are they happy? Awkward? Do they look natural? Is that how you want to feel/look on your wedding day?
• Is there variety and depth? Are you seeing close-ups and wide-angles? Are you seeing details and candid moments? Are you seeing a variety of lighting conditions, both daylight and evening? Are you seeing only the couple or their cherished guests as well?
• Do the bride and groom look amazing? Are the images flattering? Are these the photos that say “We looked beautiful AND we had the time of our lives”?
• Special effects and trends? No matter how cool or interesting a trend may be, there is nothing more classic than a clean photo that is true and well exposed. A black and white photo will be treasured and always be pleasing. Be sure that collections are balanced with classic shots as well as artistic/trendy images.

 

 

Melanie Rebane is a professionally trained photographer based in Ottawa, Ontario. She has had a number of weddings and style files featured on such blogs as Style Me Pretty, Wedding Chicks, Destination I Do, and Wedluxe - Canada’s Luxury Wedding Magazine. We have had the pleasure of working with her on some of our own Marry Me Productions weddings. We hope you find her tips useful when it comes to selecting your own wedding photographer!

Guest Post from Andrew Geddes Photography

Ottawa may lack some of the features that larger cities can offer your wedding day but one thing we're not lacking is professional photographers.

In our line of work, we work closely with the photographer the day of the wedding and we're always surprised with the jaw dropping shots they can create (sometimes it takes forever to choose what photos to use in this blog!).

When it's all said and done, the only thing that you have left over from your wedding day are your photos, so we can't stress enough how important it is to hire a professional for the job.

This week, we were lucky enough to have one of our city's incredibly talented photographers Andrew Geddes from Andrew Geddes Photography http://www.andrewgeddes.com/ stop by and do a guest blog post for us from the eyes of a wedding photographer. Listen up brides- this is fantastic advice entitled "Five Things Wedding Photographers Love"

The wedding season is in full swing! I thought I'd share a few quick tips on how to get the best possible photos on your big day. I can't speak for every wedding photographer, but in my experience the following five items can help make your wedding images outstanding.

Engagement Shoots
Once you have booked your wedding photographer, doing an engagement shoot is a great idea. Not only do you get beautiful pictures of you and your fiance, but it's also an excellent way to get to know your photographer, and to see how he or she works. We're all a little camera shy, and your they will no doubt give you tips on how to look and feel more comfortable in front of the lens. Also, your photographer can put together a fabulous guest signing book, featuring the engagement images, which makes for a beautiful addition to your reception.

Wedding Planners
An experienced planner can make a huge difference in the quality of your wedding photos. I've found that they help us photographers out in three major ways:

1 – They make venues look great.

2 – They help weddings run on time. This ensures that the time set aside for photos doesn't slowly disappear due to scheduling problems.

3 – They make for happier, more relaxed brides (and grooms and mothers-of-the-bride...). Stressed out people look, well, stressed out, which isn't especially flattering.

Lots of Time for Photos
Wedding photography is likely one of the larger investments you'll make for your big day. In order to get the most bang for you buck, you should discuss your itinerary with your photographer before you finalize it. They can provide valuable input on how to maximize shooting time and get you back to your friends and family ASAP.

In my case I'm shooting candidly most of the day, however, brides often book me because they're after artistic couple shots. Wedding photographers are used to working fast, but the more time you give us, the better, and more varied your shots will be.

Family Photos List
Photojournalistic wedding photography is the way to go (in my humble opinion), but you might be disappointed if you don't get some family group shots. To save time, alleviate unnecessary stress, and make everyone happy (including your wedding photographer) be sure to have a list of family groupings ready to go.

Cage veils and Other Standout Items
I'm far from an expert on bridal fashion, but I have seen enough weddings to know what makes great weddings great - attention to detail. Whether its help from your planner in selecting an awesome venue and decor, or your own unique fashion sense and style, photographers love things that help make a wedding stand out. Unique accessories, colours, themes, and anything else that personalizes your wedding, will ultimately make for fresh and exciting photos.

If you have any questions about this post, or about wedding photography in general, feel free to get in touch with me over at my website: http://www.andrewgeddes.com/

You can also see what I've been up to lately over at my blog: http://www.andrewgeddes.blogspot.com/

Must-Have Wedding Day Shots

When you think about it, all you have left over from the most magical day of your life are your photos. Any bride will tell you that the day goes so fast, it's so easy to forget to gather your high school girlfriends together for a shot or a generational shot of your grandmother, your mother and yourself.

Sure, your photographer does this for a living so they will most likely capture the major shots but you don't have this day to do-over so it's important to ensure you have every personal shot you want for your wedding day.

How do you do this? Weeks before your wedding, you sit down and list all the photos that you must have before the day is over.

Good news... In Style Weddings has already started the list for you. Head to www.instyleweddings.com/photography to download their list of 40 photos your photographer can't miss.