Maja & Ari's Wedding -- Fruitlands Museum, Harvard, MA

We've heard it said by other professional wedding photographers that editing the hundreds of images they've captured at a wedding (the "post-production edits" as we call them) can be a drag.  A chore.  Nuh-uh! Nope! No way! For us it's a real joy because we get to re-live the fun and the love.  Again and again.  All the while smiling while we make a "nip" here and a "tuck" there to optimize what we've captured in camera.

Take the recent wedding of Maja + Ari, whose reception was held at the Fruitlands Museum in bucolic Harvard, Massachusetts.  Need we say more?  Who wouldn't smile at the sheer joy of expression in the following images?!

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts Maja, Ari, and family!  You were a true joy to work with, and we're so pleased everyone felt comfortable enough in front of our lenses to just be themselves.

Fondly ~  Chris and Vickie

p.s.  And if you were in attendance, do stay in touch with the couple as we'll soon be sending them the secure code for online image ordering from this fantastic day!

Ceremony:       St. Patrick Parish, Stoneham, MA
Reception:        Fruitlands Museum, Harvard, MA
Catering:          Fireside Catering, Burlington, MA
Music:              Get Down Tonight Entertainment, Salem, NH
Photographer:   Wakeen Photography, Grafton, MA
Cake:                Konditor Meister, Braintree, MA
Flowers:            AFloral.com
Beauty:             Juliana's Salon, Stoneham, MA
Bride's Gown:    James Clifford Collection
Bridesmaids:     Best Bridal Prices
Menswear:        Jason Anthony's Formalwear, Medford, MA

8 Steps To Choosing Your Wedding Photographer - A Photographer's Perspective

Ready to help you talk photography

It is no surprise that brides (or grooms) don’t instinctively know what to look for when deciding who will photograph the most important day of their lives – their wedding!  But if you ask a photographer, especially one who photographs weddings for a living like we do, rest assured, you’ll get advice with real value.  And guess what?  Price is not THE most important factor.  Read on to see why.

Personality

Believe it or not, this IS the first item of importance to consider because it will determine how well you’ll connect with your photographer. Unless you’re a natural performer, it’s not unusual to feel timid or unsure during posed portraits as opposed to candids. Finding a photographer you can relate to in personality is THE best way to overcome this awkwardness.

The couple spends virtually the entire day with their photographer(s), so being with someone who irritates or makes you feel uncomfortable is going to take away from the wedding experience. If you don't like your photographer(s), you won’t feel as calm or as confident as you might otherwise. Having that fun relationship with your photographer means you’ll be more relaxed in the photographs you’ll look back on for years to come.

Style

The style of a photographer is the second most important point to take into consideration. Have you seen some photos that many others seem to rave over but you’re just not that crazy about? The reason might not be because the photographer has done a poor job, but because his/her style is not yours.  If you swoon over soft, light-filled images with lots of sun flare or blown-out backgrounds, then a photographer who shoots everything using artificial lighting or mostly indoors is probably not the best fit for you. Always review the photographer's portfolio to be confident their style of imagery is a match for your wedding dreams.

Price

Let’s face it – price is an important factor for most people. Talk it over with your future spouse and set a reasonable budget. “Reasonable,” however, is a very subjective term, so you’ll need to ask yourself what aspects of your day are the most important for you, and set your priorities accordingly.  Some couples agree to compromise on their venue choice, or their food/beverage options, in order to pay more for the photographer who really “does it” for them.  Of course, you should still do your homework to get an idea of price ranges for your geographical area. Prices might seem high but remember that your wedding photography (and/or videography) is what will endure long after the wedding cake is digested and the dress has yellowed - you don't want to skimp on it!  You DO get what you pay for.

Professionalism
Your photographer should be licensed, insured, and tax-paying; in other words, a true professional! Naturally, you want to deal with an honest business person who’ll make your day joyously memorable and free of complications. Look through the contract carefully before signing to ensure everything is as agreed. Will the photographer advertised be the one there on your wedding day or do they send out another photographer in their place? Will they bring an assistant? How many photos will you get? How many can be retouched? How long will it take for the photos to be ready?  Do they offer payment plans?  

Reviews/References

After narrowing down your options, it is time to research a photographer’s reputation.  Do a search on Yelp, Google, and Wedding Wire, in addition to checking out the testimonials on his/her website.  What other brides are saying about your potential wedding photographer does matter.  A really good photographer often books the majority of his/her weddings through positive referrals.

Experience and Skill
Experience speaks to the length of time your photographer has been in business, but does not always guarantee the best results. Skill speaks to how talented the photographer is and you’ll have to trust your personal opinion in addition to any awards he/she may have earned.  In addition to experience and skill with the camera, your photographer should have the ability to relate well with the other professionals you’ve hired.  He/she must know well the natural progression of a wedding day, and be able to confidently direct your guests into combinations of groups for those all-important formal portraits.

Flexibility

Some photographers may refuse to even try something they normally wouldn't do. You should be careful about working with such people because it can end up being their vision only instead of yours. Don't be afraid to ask questions during the consultation.
 

Second Shooter/Assistant

Some photographers never work without an assistant. Some do.  It is worth inquiring about.  Weddings are notoriously busy with a multitude of happenings and expressions to capture, so having a second shooter can be a plus, providing you with optional angles and more depth to the photographic story being told.  Of course, if your wedding is extremely small, you might ask if you can economize on the photographer’s offerings by having only one shooter.

Sneak Peek ~ Lindsay & Adam

Lindsay and Adam met at the end of their high school days at the Worcester Academy and they've been an "item" ever since.  When Adam joined the Air Force and was moved to Oklahoma, Lindsay moved too so they wouldn't have to be apart.  And now finally, just before Adam earns his A.F. wings, family, friends and colleagues gathered together at the Harding-Allen Estate in Barre to celebrate their marriage!

This wedding was such a joy to photograph and we cannot WAIT for the big reveal, but in the meantime, here are a few of our favorites from the day.  The bride was gorgeous in her Paloma Blanca dress (this is the first bridal gown we've seen with pockets - what a concept!)  Coordinating bridesmaids dresses by Ann Taylor also had pockets, so all the gals could carry a lip gloss or a tissue, should some happy 'lil tears arise.

The wedding cake was created by the Harding-Allen's in-house designer, as were the stunning bouquets of blue hydrangea, white roses and white lilies.  DJ services provided by Bob Solano were ultra-optimized as Bob's saxophone accompaniment added a totally live music sound to the festivities.

Lindsay and Adam, may you share many years together full of blessings and good fortune!  It was our immense honor to share in your day!

Vanessa & Rich ~ August 20, 2011

The day had finally arrived!  We'd been looking forward to Vanessa and Rich's wedding for what seemed like soooo long.  Having photographed their E-session back in April, we were quite excited to handle the photography for their special day - we knew the wedding would be a blast for us!

Keeping with Massachusetts' summers as we know them, the day was quite warm and humid, and even tho thunder storms were forecast, we all lucked out with sunshine and dry weather!

The couple exchanged vows at the N.E. Dream Center (a gorgeous, scaled-down replica of Paris' Notre Dame), and the ceremony was presided over by Reverend Will Bard.  A reception following was held at Cyprian Keyes, on one of the most gorgeous golf courses in New England.  In fact, as we photographed the wedding party and family groupings before dinner, the couple was nearly creamed by a renegade golf ball as someone shouted 'fore'!!!  (a little something amusing to share with their grand kids one day, we hope!)

Vanessa had long prepared for what would make her wedding day a perfect reflection of her style.  The sequined bodess of her wedding gown (provided by Loren's Bridal of Sturbridge, MA) was absolutely stunning as you can see (click on image to enlarge).

Vanessa's matron of honor and bridesmaids were so beautiful in lilac-colored dresses by designer Justin Alexander, and the coordinating bouquets by Perro's Flowers were a perfect match of calla lilies, roses and hydrangea.  The groom and groomsmen wore very distinguished looking tuxedos from Men's Warehouse in black with pale blue vests and white boutonnieres.  The groom's niece served as flower girl, and there were two handsome young ring bearers as well.
 

The three-tiered wedding cake was beautifully adorned with coordinating white frosting with decorative swirls, lavender ribbon and roses of pale blue, provided by Gerardo's Bakery.

I (Vickie) personally fell in LOVE with the glass charger plates of Cyprian Keyes' table settings ... just love the beaded glass around the edges ~ very classy!  Everything looked just beautiful.

Special touches included having the guests sign-in on a drum head (cool!) rather than the typical guest book.  So appropriate since Rich is drum virtuoso for the band Shiver (formerly Ever Fading).  The lively dance music was provided by DJ icon Kevin Whitney, and videographer Tim Ethier was on board to document the festivities, "moving-picture style."  Super fun for us as Chris has worked with both Kevin and Tim at many weddings over the years!

So, Vanessa and Rich (and your wonderful families), we're Ever Grateful to you for a day we won't soon forget and we can't wait to show you the remainder of your images in the weeks to come!

All the best for many years of happiness, and best of wishes in your new condominium!

                                                      ~ Vickie and Chris

Sneak Peek ~ Vanessa & Rich

What a fantastic wedding day it was for "Nessa and Richie" on Saturday ... and we're so pleased and honored to have been their photographers.  Here is a little 'sneak peek' to just whet the appetite for more beautiful images of their day.

Remember to click on the image itself for a larger view.

Stay tuned ~ there's more to come!