It’s engagement season! Wedding planning is in full swing for 2017 and 2018 and now is the time to book your photographer! I’ve been working on some beautiful, new, custom products that will be included in all wedding packages this year- I’m so excited to share them with my couples!
We also have special rates for a limited time on destination weddings and elopements- contact us for more information and to book your free consultation. Happy Planning!
As a documentary wedding photographer, my goal and biggest challenge is to deliver authentic, emotional, story-telling images to my clients that they didn’t even realize I captured. Usually just getting the authentic and emotional part is great- it’s not always possible to hide completely, especially at a more intimate wedding. But as long as you can get those shots without getting in the way, you’ve done your job and you’ve done it well.
Here are 4 tips for getting those authentic images without taking away from the moment itself.
Get to know your couple and your timeline.
I always offer a complimentary session to my couples when they book me for their wedding. Why? So we can get comfortable with each other and I can see how they are as a couple. They will photograph better on the wedding day because they already trust me. It’s easier for them to be in the moment. I will also be able to read them better as a couple and anticipate those little glances and stolen kisses. It’s imperative to know the order of events, who the key players are, and when, where, and with whom moments are likely to happen.
A beautiful moment during the father/daughter danceLeaving the Ceremony
Once you know the schedule it’s not too difficult to catch the traditional moments. But it’s also important to capture the not-so obvious ones. And here comes the second tip:
2. Anticipate un-planned moments.
Like when mom helps the bride put on her dress and then takes a good look at her. Or how the room responds to the best man’s jokes. This kind of anticipation requires skill that may come naturally to some- if you’re like me, you’ll need to hone that skill with extensive people-watching. It’s the difference between capturing the moment and missing the moment and when it starts to click for you, you feel like a rock star!
An exercise that has helped me is to consciously watch, listen and take note of people’s reactions in a social setting. You can feel the beats as someone tells a funny story or in more emotional situations you can feel the pause, almost like a moment of realization, before the tears come.
This bride was hilarious! It wasn’t difficult to anticipate their constant laughter!
Getting last minute advice from the mother of the groom
The happy couple and parents share a laugh
3. Use the best lens to tell the story.
Our goal is to not distract from the event, right? So that means mostly staying back, out of the way. Pick the lens that will best serve the story happening in front of you without being too close. Use a wide lens to get establishing shots and capture big movement and action. A good time to use a wide angle is to show the hustle and bustle as the bridal party is getting ready or when the couple is getting jiggy with it on the dance floor with their guests. The beauty of the wide angle is that it’s easier to get a full story in one image. You can capture not only the reaction, but what everyone is reacting to!
Castle Park Events Center- establishing shotThe Grand Exit
Use a zoom when there are intimate moments and subtle expressions that a wide angle would miss. It’s also key when you don’t want people to know you’re getting a shot of them. I use it for the ceremony and various times throughout the reception. In fact, my 70-200 mm is on my camera probably 75% of the wedding. It’s more difficult to get the entire story in one shot with a zoom lens. To remedy this, I try to get the entire story in 2 -3 shots. I can then tell that story as a series in the wedding album.
Telling the story in two imagesYou’d never know I shot this from the back row!Another beautiful father/daughter dance with the 70-200mm
The detail shots are also a key component of the wedding day. Most couples have spent thousands of dollars and/or hours on the decorations and details. Use a macro lens or extension tube to get that close focusing and beautiful bokeh for stunning detail shots.
Wedding details
Wedding details
Wedding Decor
4. Find the good light!
We all know that emotion trumps just about everything- BUT lighting can make or break any image, no matter what the content. As a documentary photographer I use available light as much as possible and when I do resort to creating my own, I do it in the most natural way I can that reflects the tone and atmosphere of the location. Most weddings do not have ideal lighting the entire day. Find your good light and get into position first and then find your moments. And if it’s not working move move move!
Guests often like to shoot at weddings as well and I’m of the opinion their images are just as important as the pros! But it’s difficult for guests to be discreet when they’re using smartphones and ipads- the lenses on these devices are wide and make it nearly impossible to capture special moments without getting in the way.
There’s a new product on the market that will interest both hobbyist and professional photographers- Light is a new camera technology company that has a camera with a variety of focal lengths that is not much bigger than a smart phone! I often use my smart phone camera when I’m on the go but I’m always frustrated by it’s limitations. I’m very interested to try Light’s new product!
When Camille contacted me about documenting her Harry Potter-inspired engagements and wedding I just about soiled my robes! I’ve been a Potter fan since way back when Harry got his acceptance letter to Hogwarts and I knew their wedding would be exceptionally epic and a true pleasure to witness.
They chose Union Station in Ogden Utah for their engagements- the classic brick building, beautiful landscaping, and train yard were perfect for both a formal look and HP magic. It rained off and on the day of the shoot which made for gorgeous saturated colors and interesting skies. We even got a shot with a rainbow!
We started out at their new home, did some more traditional/formal shots at Union Station just before sunset and then transitioned to Harry Potter-inspired shots when it got dark.
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Gorgeous couple, awesome shoot! Their amazing wedding will be up soon!
One of my favorite parts about being a photographer is creating beautiful products for clients. There’s nothing more fulfilling than seeing your own work in print and knowing that these images will be enjoyed for generations. The technology we use for photo storage today will be obsolete in 20 years. But an image printed by a pro lab on high quality paper will easily last 100 years.
Today I wanted to share with you my album design process- I try and make it as simple and pain-free as possible.
The album format works best when the images create a story. Most of the albums I create are for weddings and tell the story of the couple on their wedding day- we start with the bride and groom getting ready, usually surrounded by the bridal party and close family, and we end with the grand exit at the end of day. Albums can also be made from documentary family shoots- a day in the life of your family- or from birth stories and fresh 48 sessions. Whenever a client pre orders an album, I shoot specially to complement the storytelling album medium.
After the images are delivered, my clients go through and pick their favorite images and moments. I then take those images and complimentary images that complete the story and design a custom album. The layouts I use are simple, clean and timeless. Motifs, design elements and text can be added to provide consistency, explanation, and meaning.
Here’s the proof from an album I designed last year- Kelsie and TJ had a gorgeous wedding at The Grand View in Ogden, Utah. The editing style was chosen by Kelsie- it’s a very film-esque look with creamy tones and soft shadows that really complemented their wedding colors and lighting in the venue.
When the album design is complete I send the digital proof to my client for them to approve. Images can be switched out and simple design changes can be made. The client also chooses the type and color of cover at this time. They sign off on the design which is then sent to a professional print lab to be printed and bound. I double check the album for printing errors or shipping damage before delivering it to the client.
This particular album is a 12×12 with 15 spreads, thick lay flat pages, and an italian leather cover.
The final product is high quality and beautiful. Smaller versions can be ordered for parents as well. There are a lot of options when it comes to album design. If you’re looking for something more original and artistic, these hand bound albums from SC Albums SoHo Collection are so dreamy! I just got my account set up and I’ll be placing my first order soon!
I just have to share one more image from this wedding- this bridal party was so much fun!
All Things Wedding Utah is a new website featuring wedding vendors from all over the state. It’s a great resource for engaged couples! They have vendor lists, giveaways, featured weddings and helpful tips for planning a wedding.
Aiko and Joey’s wedding day couldn’t have been more lovely! They were married in the LDS Mount Timpanogos Temple in the morning and had a reception that evening at the Castle Park Event Center in Lindon, Utah. I have never seen so many people at a reception before! They had so many friends and family come to wish them well, which isn’t surprising because they are one of the sweetest, kindest, and most loving couple I’ve ever met. The food was amazing (sushi!) and their closest friends and family put on a fantastic show! Congratulations Aiko and Joey!
Couple sessions are some of my very favorite to shoot! It’s an opportunity to show each person’s individual style and personality and also how they are together. Engagements document the beginning of a lifelong relationship- anniversary sessions document how their love has grown and changed over the years. Plus we have so much fun!
These sessions were with four different couples from last season. Apart from all being really really ridiculously good looking, they were amazing to work with and all around beautiful people! Can’t you just feel the love?
Love is in the Air! Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and all the couples that got engaged over the Christmas holidays are planning weddings!
Premier Weddings of Utah has just published their Winter 2016 edition and several real NBPhotography weddings from 2015 are featured! The magazine is a great resource for engaged couples- check it out and share with friends and family that are planning weddings!
When Aiko told me she had always dreamed of doing her formal wedding photos at the Salt Flats I could hardly contain my excitement! It is a location like no other- especially for a photo shoot. It is well worth the 2+ hour drive from Salt Lake City. Aiko and Joey came well prepared with an array of fun props and a willingness to get a little salty. Luckily the Flats weren’t completely covered with water- it’s a little bit of a gamble in the springtime and early summer. The weather wasn’t exactly what we’d been hoping for- cloudy and very windy- but we made the most of it and got some epic shots. Aiko’s dress was especially incredible in the wind!
The very talented John with Auteur Weddings did the videography- we had a fantastic time with this couple!
Use a zoom when there are intimate moments and subtle expressions that a wide angle would miss. It’s also key when you don’t want people to know you’re getting a shot of them. I use it for the ceremony and various times throughout the reception. In fact, my 70-200 mm is on my camera probably 75% of the wedding. It’s more difficult to get the entire story in one shot with a zoom lens. To remedy this, I try to get the entire story in 2 -3 shots. I can then tell that story as a series in the wedding album.
Natural Bourne Photography 