Thursday's Thoughts | Album Design

When it comes to a blog post series, I try my hardest to be diligent in my task, but because I am a one woman show it takes a back seat to shooting, editing, bookkeeping, having a life, pulling my hair out, etc.  So I'm excited for another post in the series Thursday's Thoughts.  Ironically, today is not Thursday, but I had a few spare minutes before the next editing block - so why not.

I want to talk a little bit about albums.  As a side note, this blog post is not going to be about wedding albums in general and why you should order one (okay, I might force you to listen to a few sentences about that), but instead the design and story of albums.  So I've mentioned it several times and it's plastered all over my website and wedding collection sheet, but I believe a wedding album is one of the most important purchases you will make on your wedding day.  A wedding album serves as a tangible product to carry around with you and share your wedding day with everyone who cares to see.  But, more importantly, you will have this to show your children (and their children) for generations to come.  For me personally, I remember sitting on the floor leafing through my parents' album.  It wasn't fancy, it wasn't big, and they weren't a lot of images, but to see my Mom and Dad on the happiest day of their life (next to me being born, of course!) was extremely fulfilling and interesting to me.  The best part was that the pages were not jam packed full of photos; there were 1-2 per page making those images all that more poignant.  Of course, my favorite ones were of my parents.  I remember analyzing my Dad's silly looking tux from the early 70s and my Mom's gorgeous long hair, her choice of bouquet, and of course her gown.  It made me wonder if she painstakingly planned her wedding just as I had.  Either way, I was so happy to be able to have a small view of this important day in their lives.  

Now.  You know what's coming next.  I don't judge anyone for only wanting the digital files of their wedding day.  Of course you want them, so did I.  But.  I beg you to PLEASE make an album.  It doesn't matter what type of album and it doesn't even matter if you print the photos out and slide them in an album.  At least generations after you can see your love, your choices, and your day.  When I design an album, I give my couples the option of choosing their own images or allowing me to.  Ninety-eight percent of my couples choose their own images.  But the one thing I want to stress is that less is more.  Less is more in every aspect of life, but when it comes to your wedding album you want to make sure you're not filling the pages with clutter.  It's important to only use the images that truly make up your wedding day story in every form: the people who stood next to you, your parents, what you wore, your ceremony, and of course the bride and groom.  Everything else is fluff and can be printed out and stored in a box for safe keeping.

I just designed a new sample album and want to share what my idea of a perfect wedding album design looks like.  I decided to use Laura and Nick's beautiful wedding from earlier this year in Philadelphia.  Each image is 1 spread.  One spread=2 pages.  This is a 10 spread/20 page album, which I include in my first collection.

To see each spread larger, click on the image.

As you can see, if covers the main parts of their wedding day; the meat and potatoes, if you will.  Of course they have hundreds of additional photos, but these are the ones that tell the story of their day.  It shows what they wore, who stood by them on their day, and how happy they are.  

A wedding album is a family heirloom and should be treated as one.  It's more important than any piece of furniture or jewelry that my be passed down because an album is the legacy of a family and how it was created.

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Thursday's Thoughts | Moments Vs. Details

For today's Thursday's Thoughts I want to discuss documenting moments on a wedding day versus photographing details.  Details have become such a huge part of a wedding day.

A lot of today's photographers go to the same workshops and learn how to place the shoes and jewelry for the prettiest shot.  What results is an "insert this weekend's bride's details here" look.  In part, this is due to the surge in social media such as Pinterest as well as the hundreds of wedding blogs that feature image after image of "stuff".  And, honestly, this has only become extremely popular in the past 5 years.  Understand, I'm not saying the bouquet, dress, shoes or rings are not important because they are, especially the rings.  I'm specifically speaking about the actual wedding day and what's going to keep you going back to your wedding album year after year.  Now, this being said, I do photograph details and I love doing it.  However, I do try to incorporate the location and lighting of each wedding individually to give a sense of time and place.

I think showing the details and remembering exactly what you wore helps tie into the story of your day, however, it should not BE the story of your day.  When you look through your images or your album, you want to see what is at the core of your soul and most important to you: your family, friends, and loved ones.  Because, unfortunately, there will come a day when those people in your wedding album will no longer be here.  I'm definitely not trying to be morbid, but it is so, so true.  Seeing your loved ones in photos on your wedding day, the best day of your life, will always bring a smile to your face and always bring you back to that very moment.

A wedding day is a chapter in your love story and this chapter should consist of all the main characters in your life.  The details of what you wore are merely there for descriptive purposes.  It's important not to get too caught up in the "stuff" on a wedding day and focus on every fleeting moment.

Although details have become a part of what I photograph on a wedding day, my love will always lie in these moments.  Capturing these split seconds of time is literally priceless.  And it doesn't matter if your photographer can photograph your ring with the best macro lens so you can see every facet in your diamond, if he/she doesn't understand how to document your day then all you have in your wedding album is stuff.   I'm proud to admit that I don't have a degree in Photography, however, I do have a degree in Journalism.  And this has made all the difference in my wedding photography career. 

Check out our last Thursday's Thoughts on a First Look!

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Thursday's Thoughts | The First Look

I love reading and writing blogs, which is why I choose to keep one for my business and continue to update it semi-often.  I yearn to write more about photography and wedding-related topics, personal posts, and fun things as opposed to just sessions.  So I created Thursday's Thoughts.  My goal is to update my blog with non-session posts on Thursdays to create a conversation about something...anything..that's been on my mind.

Today I want to discuss First Looks.  This is a rather controversial topic among brides and grooms (and sometimes their parents).  When I ask a couple if this is something they are planning on doing, most times it's an immediate yes or no.  And, usually, the no comes from the groom.  I think it is ingrained in our heads to see the bride for the first time when she's walking down the aisle.

It's important to realize that there is no right or wrong answer when deciding to do a First Look.  Couples who decide to do it, do so for a variety of reasons:

• Time.  Time is a rare thing on a wedding day and even when you think you have more than enough, you never will.  Some couples opt to do a First Look to save the time their guests are waiting after the ceremony.
• Cocktail Hour.  Some brides and grooms want to join the party early and mingle with their guests during the cocktail hour.
• The moment.  It's true, when your groom sees you for the first time walking down the aisle you can't have that private moment.  You won't be able to wipe his tears and hear him say how beautiful you look.  Having a moment for just the two of you on your wedding day is hard to come by.  
• The pictures.  Some couples just like having those photos for their album and feel it completes the story of their day.

There is really only one reason not to do a First Look: 

• Tradition.  A lot of couples envision seeing each other for the first time on their wedding day when the church doors open and there is the love of your life waiting at the opposite end of the aisle.  Of course there is the superstition of seeing each other before the wedding = bad luck.  But, let's be honest, seeing each other before the wedding is no worse than a black cat crossing your path before you walk into the church.  That's just silly and definitely NOT the reason to forgo a First Look.  If tradition is your thing, stick with it and wait for that big moment that you dreamed of your whole life.  It will be worth it.

If you opt for the traditional route, there is an option to still feel close before the big moment.  Some couples stand on opposite sides of a doorway or wall, holding hands soaking it all in or reading letters from each other.  This can be the best of both worlds; you still have that private moment (and get a cute photo!), but don't have to break your tradition.

No matter the option your choose, make sure to discuss it and ensure you both feel comfortable with the reasons you decided to or not to do a First Look.  I'm completely impartial and always work with my couples on a timeline that will suit their choices and beliefs.  Don't forget, the most important part of your wedding day is the moment you say "I Do" and vow to spend the rest of your days together. :)

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