This week wiped. Me. Out. I had a great time speaking to NBCCD photography students about my career in photography so far, as well as some of the behind the scenes stuff that I do. It was supposed to be an easy day for me, but being a nervous over-achiever I spent three days working on my presentation, while my nights were spent tossing and turning. It all worked out though, and I had a good time, which makes me wonder if there is a path for me in teaching photography in addition to doing photography.

I had plenty of fodder for this week’s video – we’d been watching the Planet Earth series, so I considered this video of ducks jumping, or the Great White Shark attack. I also considered sharing this video of “Bon Joviver”, but ultimately a few sleepless nights put me in that emotional 7-10 zone that leads to happy-crying at YouTube videos, so I knew it had to be this:

Have a great weekend!

I’m a hard-core list person. I’ve been obsessively tracking every book I’ve read and every movie I’ve watched since 2004 (151 and 524 respectively). I recorded every song I listened to for 6 years with last.fm before realizing that the top 10 artists hadn’t ever changed and finally deleting it (Fleetwood Mac was #1. By a lot.). And then, of course, the to-do lists. In every notebook, on loose paper, on napkins, on scraps and post-its and the backs of envelopes.

I’d looked for and used a number of sites and softwares to keep track of things, but none really worked for me until I found TeuxDeux. My main problem with services like Evernote and Google Docs (which I still use for other purposes) was that items too easily fell down the list – out of sight, out of mind. TeuxDeux constantly pushes forward my goals – anything on the list for today that I don’t accomplish will automatically be moved forward to tomorrow. At the same time, I can cross out the things I have accomplished – very rewarding – and the previous days are greyed out to take up less visual space. It’s in the cloud, so I can’t lose my list if I have computer problems (a big feature of last year, albeit one that had better be fixed by my new Mac!), and also syncs to my iPod app in case I have ideas on the go. (Note: the browser version of TeuxDeux is free, but the app is not.)

Maybe my favourite feature of all, though, is the “Someday” goals. This is where I log the things that have no particular due date, I just don’t want to forget them. I log blog post ideas, my New Year’s resolutions, things on my business to-do list, even things I want to eventually check out from the library… and of course my 30 before 30 goals. This way everything is together and stays at the forefront of my mind… after all, I can’t achieve my goals if I forget what they are.

And yeah, it’s pretty.

How do you stay organized?

(This is the last in a three-part series called “Picture Perfect: Wedding Photographers and You” which I originally presented at the Wedding Showcase in January. Read Part 1, 5 Things Your Wedding Photographer Wants You to Know here; and Part 2, 5 Questions You Should Ask Your Wedding Photographer here.)

There are all kinds of things you can do to get better photos out of your wedding day – these are just 5 easy ones.

1. Make sure to eat. 

Don’t let yourself suffer from hanger! One great way to keep a level head on your wedding day is to keep those blood sugar levels stable. You might find yourself in the middle of your portrait session and realizing that you’re starving, so make sure you have some mess-free snacks and water on hand to calm the cravings and your nerves! Granola bars fit easily into tiny clutches and dresses with pockets, or you can just designate someone to hold your snacks! You won’t regret it. Photographers: you won’t regret having your own snacks, either.

2. Communicate with your photographer. 

Both in the lead-up to your wedding and during your wedding day, it’s best to keep your photographer in the loop about your plans, especially if you’re changing your mind as the day about your timeline or photos as the day goes on. We’re here to help and we want to make sure that you have the best experience possible, so always speak up if there’s anything you want to try or want to have done differently – remember, we only get one shot at this, so if there’s anything you want to do or don’t want to do – let us know!

One time your photographer really wants your input is considering where to do your portrait session. If you’ve planned the rest of your wedding day, why leave that part up to me? Consider your regular life – what do you like to do? Where do you like to go? Your portrait session should reflect you.

3. Give yourself more time than you think you’ll need. 

You can’t rush baking a cake: it’s either done or it’s not. The same goes with great wedding photography – great, unique, awesome images don’t just happen; they take time to develop. You and your photographer need to warm up and get into a groove before those iconic images can happen. So if your family has gotten ready slower than anticipated and the traffic is bad and suddenly the hour you planned for your photos has been cut down to 15 minutes, your expectations will need to change. Knowing that, why not make it better for everyone and plan lots of extra time in your day – it will keep you and your photographer relaxed and happy, and your wedding photos will reflect that.

(Since you’ve probably never planned a wedding before, your photographer may want to help you build the timeline of the day to make sure enough time is allotted in different places. Talk to them about it!)

4. Consider a First Look. 

A “first look” is wedding-industry-speak for when the couple sees each other and does a portrait session before the wedding ceremony.

I absolutely love these and recommend them to all my clients.  They follow the natural excitement and flow of a wedding day – from the giddiness after you first get dressed to the nervous excitement right before you see your partner, and then you can have this beautiful, private moment with just the two of you. Then you have the ceremony and typically afterwards your family swarms you so you get the hugging and jumping and hugging of “yay we’re married!” followed by the family portraits – and then do you really want to leave your family at that point? No, you want to party! A first look allows you to get the portraits in without having to abandon your wedding in the middle of the event.

First looks are also a great choice for winter weddings, when the day gets dark faster – you can get all of your portraits (even the family portraits!) in before the ceremony, and then get to rockin’.

5. Consider the light. 

Finally, your wedding photographer will love you forever if you consider the daylight when you’re planning your wedding timeline. No one really wants to do an outdoor portrait session at high noon in July, while your flowers wither and the sun beats straight down on your hot, sweaty, melting face. On the flip side, we absolutely DO want to do portraits outside within an hour of sunset – that’s called the “golden hour” and when you get that beautiful, dreamy, yellow light that photographers swoon over and makes the best pictures. If you can sneak away with your wedding photographer for a half hour at sunset, you’ll make their day… and yours!

To summarize, make sure to talk with your photographer about your plans for the day. Building a great timeline will keep you relaxed and in the best light (literally), and having food will keep you from being hungry. You can thank me later.

January,

I would rank you “exceeds expectations” for sure. It started out so mild, and that alone is enough to win my favour, but there’s more! I also had a great birthday – and nailed down my 30 before 30, got a 20/20 at the optometrist, and finally got some freaking Pad Thai up in here. Thank you, Thai Express. Plus, to my continued amazement, HERE NB included me in their article on “Who to Follow” New Brunswick twitters, so get on that.

On the business side of things, I kicked things off by laying out some of my 2012 goals – and writing up a formal report on 2011 for myself! ; had a bunch of great, multi-hour conversations with new clients (seriously, life is so much better when you and your photographer connect!); represented at the wedding showcase; photographed my first boudoir marathon; and got some education with the Anna Post presentations and with two great workshops that have spurred still more behind-the-scenes action.

This month I’ve also been sharing the presentation I gave at the wedding showcase, as well as other resources, so if you’re planning a wedding for this summer, check out some of this stuff: my booking dates for 2012; 5 Things Your Wedding Photographer Wants You to Know; 5 Questions You Should Ask Your Wedding Photographer; resources for wedding planning; and notes on wedding etiquette via Anna Post. I hope they’re helpful!

I’m pretty much over the moon looking forward to my trip to Las Vegas for the WPPI conference in February, but until then…

January, you were pretty great.

xoxo,

K

I just realized it’s almost February. I’m already looking ahead to the summer and I’m so excited for all that I have planned for this year and the great couples I’ll be photographing. So far I know I’ll be shooting in Fredericton (obviously), Moncton, and Kings Landing, and I’m wondering where else my business can take me! I do have dates still available, so if you are still out there looking for a great photographer, it is not too late. I want to help you have a fun, stress-free, wonderful experience with your wedding photography, so even if I’m booked I’ll try to help you find someone. All you need to do is get in touch!

Booked Dates for 2012:

June 16

July 8

July 21

August 11

September 7

October 6

October 13

October 20

I actively avoided Twitter for several years, and didn’t join with my  business account until April 2011  - at the urging of Jasmine Star in her creativeLIVE workshop! – so it makes me laugh that less than a year later I’m included on this list of New Brunswick’s “Twitterati” from HERE NB. Follow me here, you may or may not regret it.

This week I’ve been serving up blog posts fast and furious, so now I’m about to settle in for a snowy day of workshop-watching and business-planning. Here’s a video that sent a chill down my spine… until I was reminded that John Hughes is dead and it’s just a SuperBowl ad. Alas. But still…

PS: Want to sign up for my brand-new newsletter? Click here to subscribe. I’ll be sending out updates once or twice a month and you can check out anytime. Promise.

On Monday I had the unusual pleasure of meeting Anna Post and hearing her speak twice. She’s every bit as lovely as you would expect someone in the manners biz to be! In the afternoon she gave a half-hour presentation on business etiquette, and in the evening the main event – a longer presentation about wedding etiquette. Since the business etiquette presentation was all the standard stuff (turn off your cell phone, answer your emails), I only took notes (NERD) for the wedding portion. Here are a few tips I thought were interesting:

ON WEARING WHITE: It’s only a tradition because Queen Victoria did it. Wear white if you want to. Don’t wear white if you don’t want to.

ON BILINGUAL WEDDINGS: For the invites, you could do two languages on one side; one language on either side; or individual language cards. For the vows, she suggests translating them word-for-word; for the rest of the ceremony and reception, a summary is usually fine. The main point is to make sure that all of your guests feel included and know what is happening.

ON RECEIVING LINES: These are particularly great for 75+ guest weddings, where you might not be able to guarantee going around to meet everyone at the reception. Other than that, do it if you want to!

ON INVITATIONS: Not everyone on your guest list needs to receive a save-the-date. The “official order” for naming the participants on the invite goes mother > father > bride’s family > groom’s family… but you can save space by saying “together with their families.” Don’t make any mention of gifts on your invitations.

ON USING THE INTERNET: Email RSVP is great, but don’t make it your only method of RSVPing, as it might frustrate some of your guests who are less comfortable with computers; put your registry information on your wedding website, not on your invites (and while you’re at it, register for a wide variety of items and price-points, in up to 3 places – one online and one in town is especially good for convenience); in turn, put your wedding website link on your enclosure, but not on your invites.

ON CASH BARS: Ooh, Anna threw down on this one! She’s against them.

ON THANK YOU NOTES: “In an ideal world, within 24 hours”… but in our actual world, within 3 months from your return from your honeymoon. Sorry, people to whom I’ve told you have one year, apparently not so much!

As always, I think the most important part of a wedding (other than the actual marriage) is that it reflects you and your values. Trust your judgment, respect your values, respect your guests, and do the things that have meaning for you. As Anna says, weddings are not just “the bride’s day” but actually “the bride(s) and groom(s)’s day to share their wedding with their guests.”

(While at the Wedding Showcase I presented an information session called “Picture Perfect: Wedding Photographers and You.” Read Part 1, 5 Things Your Wedding Photographer Wants You to Know here.)

If you’re searching around for things you should be asking your photographer in the pre-booking meeting, the internet feeds you tons of crappy questions like “what kind of camera do you use?” and “what is your style?” (barf. I feel like either you can tell this from looking, or you don’t really care.) That said, it helps to have some conversation points while you and your photographer are figuring out if your personalities match, so here are 5 questions I think you should ask:

1. What does your package include?

Everything that the photographer is offering as part of a package should be clearly described, and included in the contract you will both sign. Go over the contract together and make sure that you understand everything. Find out how many hours are included; what kind of final product you’ll receive (prints and/or digital files? How many? Edited or unedited? In what format* on what media? Watermarked or not?); and how much is the retainer fee. Take the time to clarify the details, such as what happens if your photographer stays at your wedding longer than the time booked (for example if your wedding runs late); what kind of printing licence you will receive; when payments are due and what happens if payments aren’t made on time; and travel and other associated fees where applicable.

*Format: not everyone makes the distinction between “digital negatives” (which are usually unedited files straight from the camera, often in RAW format), and edited files (corrected for colour and contrast, and in printable JPG format).

Two Pro-Tips:

a. a professional photographer will require a signed contract and a non-refundable retainer for your wedding. This protects both of you: you’ve secured the services of your photographer to the exclusion of all others; your photographer is protected from loss of income if your event is changed or cancelled.

b. a professional photographer will NEVER “give you the copyright” to the images – we need that to display, reproduce, and profit from our work. Instead you would get a personal printing release (also called a licence for personal reproduction of images), which lets you make prints, cards, books, and anything else your heart desires, as long as you are not profiting from the images.

2. Do you have back-up equipment?

I don’t think it matters what equipment a photographer uses, so long as you like the work they are producing. That said, any experienced, professional photographer will have at least two cameras and two lenses, because problems can and do happen! Having back-up equipment protects you and your photographer from the worst case scenario: missing out on your wedding. Case in point: I had a camera die on me in the middle of a wedding ceremony this past year! (Yikes.) I could have missed the couple’s first kiss (and everything after that), but because I came packing, instead I was able to quickly switch to using my back-up camera… and they never noticed anything was wrong! Back-up equipment = peace of mind.

3. Can we see a complete album or wedding?

This question is admittedly debatable. If you’ve seen enough of your photographer’s work that you’re already completely comfortable with them, skip it! If you’re not quite certain, it is another great question to ask for peace of mind. Seeing a complete album of final images from a wedding will let you know what the photographer is capable of throughout the many changing environments and lighting conditions of a wedding day, and give you a better idea of their skills than a few choice images in a portfolio. While you’re viewing the images, ask yourself if you can see yourself in them – what you see is usually what you get!

(If you’ve seen a whole wedding or several weddings and still aren’t sure your photographer is right for you, maybe you should cut your losses and hire someone else whose work you’re more confident about. Trust your instincts!)

4. How long will it take to get my images?

Every photographer has a different turnaround time, and it will often depends on what point in the season your wedding occurs. You should have a rough idea of how long it will usually take to see your images, and your contract should also include a firm deadline for delivery. (Once you’re married it is probably going to become very important to you to see your images ASAP, so in your eagerness remember that if the contract specifies 1 year for delivery and it’s been 5 months, you can’t fairly complain yet. But if it’s been 5 months and the contract said 1 month? Complain early and often.)

5. What do you love most about photographing weddings? What do you most dislike about them?

Now that you have the key details worked out, this is a question that will kick off a conversation and help you get to know your photographer better. Photographers are often asked how they do things, but rarely asked why they do things, so dig in there! It will also give you a better sense of their business, of their personality, and if you would be a good match for each other.

That’s about it, so chime in below if you think I’ve forgotten anything!

This is Ms. O, from Sunday’s boudoir marathon. Isn’t she gorgeous?

While at last weekend’s wedding showcase, I photographed the runway show. The show was presented by Anne’s Wedding Apparel, Moore’s Clothing for Men, Eclips Studio Inc., Savi Jewelry, Big Mitch Productions, and Grower Direct. I look forward to seeing some of this stuff in the wild this summer! :)