For this weeks Life Behind the Lens…

I’m excited about:
Anna & Calvin’s wedding this Saturday at Salisbury House. I’ve been dreaming of shooting at this location ever since I saw pictures, and I can’t wait for their gorgeous wedding to take place there!

Working with another wonderfully talented photographer, Robyn. I’m so glad we met via Facebook, and that we hit it off!

FINALLY organizing personal photos on my computer. I’m great at keeping client work organized, but up until recently, any personal photos were just a mess and impossible to find. Now that I have a system in place, things are much better.

Yes, this happened:

- I ate a Hershey’s kiss that had probably been hiding in my bag for 6 months
- My husband Jerod took me on a repeat date to one of my favorite places – Shelbourne Falls (instagram pic) and then topped it off with a concert
- Got the addendum for our tax return after a bit of a miscommunication with our CPA and nearly choked on my juice when I saw how much I owed after factoring everything correctly from my business. *sigh* Such is life.
- I had a good laugh when my capri pants ripped right up the leg immediately after I got into Cindy’s car to head to her engagement shoot. Thank God we were still in the driveway!

Things on My Mind:
Whether I should start a separate Facebook page for seniors or weddings to split things up more clearly (yay? nay?)
How much I love the beautiful weather we’ve been having lately!

When I heard a little bit about Ben and the way Cindy talked about him early on in their relationship, I knew it was something sweet and special.  And when Cindy called me last winter to let me know he popped the question, I was overjoyed.  I couldn’t be more happy for her!   And as I’ve gotten to know Ben a little bit over the past few months, I can just see how they have fun together, make each other happy, and really are an answer to each others prayers.

Here’s a sneak peek from their engagement session on Saturday, shot around Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, MA and a few nearby fields.  It was full of LOTS of sweet moments, but this one was one of my favorites!

More to come soon!

Yes, I still try to do written thank you notes.  And gifts.  I’ll confess to not being 100% organized this year and perhaps forgetting a few, but I’m trying my best to make sure I send something to every couple letting them know how excited I am for their big day, and how grateful I am to be working with them.  I mean, who doesn’t love receiving a little surprise in the mail?  I know I love it!

(Can we just talk about how pretty Ben & Cindy’s wedding invite is?  I love how it perfectly reflects their bright summery wedding!)

Maybe I’m a little old fashioned in terms of etiquette.  The funny thing is that I know my mother would scold me for how many times I forgot to thank relatives and friends for gifts over the years!   Case in point: I’m still working on some thank you notes from Christmas this year…

I think perhaps the ONLY time I hit 100% with thank you notes was for my own wedding.  I cranked those babies out in less than 2 weeks!  Obviously the trend didn’t stick.   But I still LIKE them, even if I’m not always great at sending them out. 

I’m curious:  Anyone else a fan of good old-fashioned thank you notes?  Am I the only one who struggles to remember to prioritize them?  I hope not!

One little feature I just discovered today is that I can actually embed the site right here on my blog! How cool is that?

Check out Abby & Glenn’s +site for their upcoming wedding at the Scottish Rite in September. And if you want to see the full-sized version, head over here and leave them a note in their guestbook!

You may remember that last week I did a bit of a recap of how my 101 in 1001 goal adventure is going.  One of the things I realized is that while I’m busting through the list pretty fast, I’m not so great at blogging about how and when I’ve accomplished these goals!  So today’s post is my first effort at jumping back in…and obviously, that means backtracking a bit.

Last spring, I FINALLY upgraded to a new computer, a 27 inch iMac!  Now I can check goal #56 off my list: Replace my laptop with a desktop computer, more suitable for photo editing. Woohoo!

I’m a Mac-lover at heart, so the choice was a no-brainer for me.  I knew I’d need the extra screen real estate for editing, so I opted for the larger 27 inch screen.  I choose the fastest one I could get, and upgraded the RAM myself to save some money.  Apple is notorious for overcharging for upgrading RAM, so going the DIY-route can save you a good chunk of change.

So far, I looooooooove it!  Working in Lightroom and Photoshop is so much faster than my 6 year-old ancient laptop, so I can deliver photos from weddings and senior sessions about twice as fast as I used to.  It’s pretty wonderful!

We started at the Grinnell Aquatic Center, where Jodi is a lifeguard, showing off some of her guard gear.

We then headed over to the Grinnell College aquatic center for some racing photos.  This was only a few days after the pool was undergoing repair for a piece of ductwork that fell from the ceiling into the pool (crazy!) and so we had to be all stealth-ly and get special permission for use of the pool.  It was definitely worth it, though!

I’m excited to announce that I’m now offering  Facebook announcements and timeline covers!   This is a great way to share upcoming celebrations with friends and family, perfect for a graduation open house, engagement party, or even a wedding celebration.  Since SO many people are on Facebook these days, this is a great add-on to traditional announcements mailed or given to friends and family.  Choose from a number of designs and customize it to coordinate with your photos or event!

Announcements and timeline covers are $15 each, or $25 for both.  Get in touch if you’re interested!

Since it’s been a year, I thought it was time for a bit of a recap.  Goals work best when you review them regularly, so I suppose this will be like an annual review.

The first thing I noticed is that I am moving pretty fast through the list!  I’ve already completed 24 goals, which is pretty good!  I also noticed that I’m focusing a lot on goals that are related to learning, like improving my skills with Off Camera Flash or participating in workshops.  I’m not doing so great at the personal goals, such as training for another 1/2 marathon or finishing several personal scrapbooks and albums.  :-(

The second thing I noticed is that I’m very behind on blogging some of these goals.  There are quite a number that I haven’t shared about, some are even from last summer!

As I read over the goals, I also realized just how much my interests have changed in the last year.  Last year, I was hoping to break into newborn and family photography, but I’ve taken my business a different direction to focus more on weddings and seniors.

For the goals I’m still interested in, I’m excited to see how they come to fruition.  Destination wedding?  Visiting Hawaii or Europe?  Definitely requires some planning!

I’ve also decided to add a few goals to the list!  Here’s what I have added since last year:

84. Attend Amanda Holloway’s Kitchen Sink workshop.
85.  Learn more about creative off-camera lighting for weddings.
86.  Travel more!
87.  Do a styled wedding shoot and submit for publication.
88.  Pray and discern where to donate some money from my business.
89.  Join PPA and/or WPPI.
90.  Visit a spa for a day of pampering.
91.  Play regularly on our churches worship team.
92.  Find a client management solution that I love!

Finding the perfect wedding photographer is all about finding that perfect fit, like a good pair of shoes.  After all, you’re going to be spending a lot of time on your wedding day with this person, you want to make sure their style, personality, and vibe fits you and your wedding!

Truthfully, there is no “perfect” photographer out there, and it would be a great disservice to all of the brides I speak with to try to convince them all that I’m the perfect one.  I may be the perfect wedding photographer for them, but not for everybody.  It is always my hope to help every bride find the perfect wedding photographer for THEM: the best fit stylistically, artistically, budget-wise, experience-wise, etc.  And that may mean referring a bride to another photographer who is a better fit than I am, which I am glad to do.  Perhaps that sounds crazy, but I think that’s part of good customer service, to know when you’re a good fit and when you’re not.

With all of this in mind, having been a bride myself and gone through this process, as well as being a wedding photographer who speaks regularly with a variety of brides, I’ve put together these wonderful tips for how to choose the perfect wedding photographer.  I hope you find these tips helpful!

#1.  Availability
Wedding photographers book as much as 2 years in advance for wedding dates, so make sure you start checking with photographers early in the wedding planning process.  Additionally, some photographers only take on a limited number of weddings per year in order to give their clients the best possible experience.  Check early and often with your favorite photographer to make sure they are available!  If you’re planning your wedding with less time, fear not – you may be surprised to find a few open dates on popular photographers’ calendars at the last minute, so it never hurts to ask.

#2.  Style
There are a number of different photographic styles for weddings, everything from very traditional portrait-style photographers that only come for the ceremony and family formals, to photojournalistic photographers that concentrate on moments and details.  Make sure you LOVE the style of the wedding photographer you chose, and make sure it’s a style that you see executed consistently and beautifully across all of their wedding images.  Look for images that jump out at you and make you feel something!  For me, my style is a mix of photojournalism and portraiture.  I love the candid moments that tell the story of the day, but I also value the legacy family photos as well.

#3.  Portfolio
Your wedding photographer should have a portfolio of images that you’re excited about and that features a variety of weddings.  Ask to see an album or gallery from a single wedding.  If the portfolio only features shots from the same wedding, or the photographer doesn’t have one at all, this may indicate that their wedding photography experience is limited.

#4.  Personality
Your wedding photographer is someone you will be interacting with before, during, and after your wedding day.  They will also be interacting with your family and friends, and be present during some of the most intimate moments that even your best friends may not get to see!  Your photographer also works with all of your other vendors, including your DJ, videographer, reception venue, and wedding planner.  In all of these cases, it’s important that you get along with your photographer and they have a friendly personality.  If you’re laid back and flexible, make sure your photographer can jive in that kind of atmosphere.  If you’ve planned every last detail down to the T, verify that your photographer is organized and detail-oriented.  Often, the brides I work with become friends, and I think that’s a good sign of a great professional collaboration.  Could you be friends with your wedding photographer?

5.  Experience
The perfect wedding photographer may be new to the scene, or a seasoned pro with years of experience.  The most important factor is consistency – will your photographer deliver the same quality work you see on their website portfolio on your wedding day?  Do they have experience shooting at your venue and know how to accommodate to any challenges the location may present?  Are you comfortable working with someone who has a fresh perspective, but may have few weddings under their belt or be unfamiliar with your venue?  These questions often come down to personal preference, but at least take the time to find out how much experience your photographer has.

6. Professionalism
In the age of Craigslist, Facebook, and inexpensive digital cameras, it seems that everyone is a professional wedding photographer.  I’m not knocking Craigslist or FB, or even inexpensive cameras, BUT, be cautious of the ease with which anyone can claim to be professional.  They may not be insured or could even be operating illegally by avoiding taxes.  Make sure you view their website and galleries of their work.  Check for membership in professional organizations like WPPI or PPA.  On your wedding day, it may seem like an easy place to cut corners, but trust me – you do not want to cut corners on photography.  Hire a professional that you can trust to deliver quality work and provide excellent customer service.

7.  Referrals
Your perfect wedding photographer may be the photographer your sister used!  Why not ask your trusted friends, family, and co-workers who they loved working with on their own wedding?  You can also find referrals on many photographers’ websites or places like Wedding Wire. 

8.  Package Details
This is often the first question asked when I speak with brides, and is definitely an important one.  Each photographer will have their own packages they offer, and you’ll want to make sure your photographer offers what you’re looking for.  In the age of digital, don’t overlook options for an heirloom wedding album or canvas!  Ask about how many hours they include on your wedding day, an engagement session, second photographer, and any other extras you may be interested in.

9.  Price Point
Staying within a pre-determined budget is often a top priority for brides when choosing the perfect wedding photographer.  There is quite a range of prices for photographers, though in Iowa it seems that the average is around $2500-3500 for a full day of wedding photography.  Look at the prices listed on a photographers website, but keep in mind that many photographers will do custom quotes as well!  Don’t discount a photographer that is outside your budget, because there may be a way to make it work.

10. Go With Your Gut!
In the end, you have all of these factors to consider, but I encourage you to go with your gut!  If there’s a photographer that you absolutely love, and has a style that is perfect for your day, but is a bit more than your budget, figure out a way to make it happen.  I bet you won’t be disappointed when you look at your wedding album for years to come!  Was there one photographer that you got along with super well and just clicked with?  They are probably the perfect wedding photographer for you.  When it all comes down to it, be confident in your decision, and you will most likely LOVE your wedding photographer!

Feel free to share your own tips on how to find the perfect wedding photographer!