INTRO

I present to you another couple that has taken a few minutes to write a few words of advice to future brides along with some great stories for random pictures they liked from their wedding experience.

Once again the pictures they picked were not your typical pictures you’d see on a photo-blog (Except probably the one I chose above) but when you read the stories you can understand why they’re so important to the bride and the groom.

I had a lot of fun doing their engagement pictures in San Fransisco and wedding in Idaho. You could tell they had a great love for good photography and that always makes things easier for me. Thanks for the great day Bobbiejane and David

To see more pictures go to the blog I wrote about them Part 1 - Part 2 or their galleries online

Jarvie’s Digital Review – by the Culbertsons

Finding a Photographer

We enjoy a more artistic approach to wedding photos instead of the boring and typical posed pictures that seem to all look the same. When looking for a photographer for our wedding, the first thing that we looked at were their pictures. This way we could see what the finished product was going to be, and if it fit our sense of style.  The photographer was important to us because we knew that the photos would be the lasting memories, and documentation of our very special day.  We really wanted them to portray our personalities, and not a cookie cutter, mass produced, blah wedding album. We were getting married in Idaho, where neither one of us was from, so we had to rely on the internet heavily to find a photographer instead of by word of mouth. At first it seemed a daunting task, but we feel like it was actually better to be able to see the finished product, and be able to rule out photographers automatically if we didn’t like their finished product.

Because we were definitely working with a budget, our next priority was pricing and packages. Luckily, Scott works with couples by offering discounts, and various ways to pay off the cost of his wedding packages. We were ecstatic that we had found someone whose artistry we loved, and could also afford to get the best pictures for our wedding day.

Advice about finding a photographer:

The photographer was really important for us to remember our wedding day, so we would recommend picking someone whose style you like since it’s your day.  Also, we starting looking for our photographer first thing so that we ensure that he would be available on our wedding date.

Scott; the man, the comedian, the photo master.

We were extremely impressed by the commitment that Scott showed us for our wedding pictures. Our engagement photo shoot lasted 7.5 hrs, with 10 outfit changes. A little over the top. We started at 2pm, and finished around 930pm, driving all around San Francisco, taking photos wherever an opportunity presented itself. He went above and beyond the norms of a photographer, and we couldn’t have been more happy with how he interacted with us, and how the photos turned out. He also kept us entertained!

When the wedding day came, we were surprised to find that there were 3 photographers instead of one to capture the best photos. Unlike other photographers, his package covered the entire wedding day. He was there for the wedding ceremony, as well as the reception, so that every aspect of our day was covered. He orchestrated the many family members in all of the photos very well, and was always looking for a good angle and gorgeous backdrop for our photos. He is also charming and handsome, and we were lucky to have him as our photographer, if you have any single lady friends, we believe he is single and willing to give free photos for life for finding him his mate.(haha)

Advice on photographs for the wedding day and engagement photos:

One of the best parts of looking at our photos now is being able to see how everything looked throughout the entire day since it was a blur to us. We would recommend knowing what specific photos you want. Look around beforehand at pictures you like, especially the poses used so that you can recreate them for yourself on your wedding day. Modeling doesn’t come naturally to all of us! For the engagement photos, I would keep it short and simple, 2 outfit changes max, it can become overwhelming if you try to do too much.

Pictures With Stories

Engagements:

We both loved this photo because it was so random. We pulled up to meet Scott, he was sleeping in his car on the streets of San Francisco, and there was this door right there.  We wanted to start the photo shoot right there! So this is what we got!

We loved this one because we wanted to be original, and Scott worked with our creativity to produce quality photos out of our odd ideas. We were waiting for our sandwiches at Ike’s, our favorite place to eat in San Francisco, we wandered down the street, and were inspired by the crosswalk, and the streets.

Advice from David and Bobbiejane (Plus pictures w/ stories) is a post from: JarvieDigital Photography Blog

When many people think of light diffusion for photography it’s mainly about the foreground.

For people photography that means the people are in nice diffused lighting. Diffused light we equate to soft light. Next to a window, a flash through a big softbox, a cloudy day and in shade. (BTW I think people there is a time for harsh light)

I shot middle of the day on Saturday and needed to diffuse the light on the subject because there was no shade around so I had someone standing practically right above these two with a diffuser even when for a minute or two the brunt of the sun went behind a small cloud.

What I noticed after is how different the background looked when the clouds were diffusing the light onto the water from when it was straight sun onto the water feature in the back.

Days where the lighting is Chaotic is my favorite because then you get so many different looks without having to try to hard or wait to long. (As long as you’re prepared for it all)

The way the light is reflecting off of the water in this one has a certain appeal and I can’t really decide which one I like more and I bet the results amongst a large audience would be pretty split.

It obviously means the background is much brighter than in the previous picture.

Because the sun was so much brighter at this moment the faces do seem to be lit up better, but in the previous one it would have been easy to add a little bit of additional light to the scene (via flash or reflector)

Diffused light for Backgrounds is a post from: JarvieDigital Photography Blog

2 days ago we talked about coming out of the SLC LDS Temple and some group shots… and more or less about the beginning of this wedding.

Read It

We shall now continue

We’ll focus on the kids themselves and then next edition we’ll end off with the reception

I think this is a picture one of my interns took as I was setting up a shot… he got in close and photographed this neat moment. Go Will!

In any case you’ll notice a distinct usage of plant life in their pictures… a couple of reasons, she loves plant life, she studies it up at Utah St and she is even did her reception at Cactus and Tropicals and so I’m thinking I’ve done more than a few weddings at SLC Temple so I wouldn’t mind at all focusing on some places I haven’t been to a lot since often I’m focused on the building.

OK let’s meet them

This is Bret

He’s older than you think… not like ancient or anything but he’s older than his brothers who we kinda met last time.

And this is Michelle

OK we hope to hear from Michelle and Bret later with their stories and advice from the day and hopefully learn about what pictures are special to them with some fun stories why.

But for now I took a quick peak at the pictures she posted on facebook to see what she was liking.

She put up that first one

A couple of my favorites I put up last time

And there’s nothing like a good ol fashion straight smiling at the camera kinda picture.

I think we often strive for something totally new and I know I try to get a lot of pictures where they’re interacting in their own way.

But heh doesn’t hurt to just stop a moment and say let’s get the safe, normal, nice shot. The one your grandma will probably be happiest with… why not… we have a lot more time to get the other stuff.

It’s no problem really… the picture right before the one above was this one

I just move over to the side and say ok look straight at me and smile.

I guess I don’t really say that I usually smile big at them and say “hi” or my other tricks to bring out that real smile… you past bride and grooms know what I’m talking about.

OK so we started taking couple pictures after the group shots at 4:19pm and we actually had more time than I often have at the SLC temple for couple shots (before we run off to a reception or luncheon) we had just short of 1hr

Relatives point out how he uses his brows to smile big and say to watch out for that… so what do I do? I tell him to do his thing real big… because hey why not that’s him… I do however make sure to please the rest of the audience with more “normal” foreheads.

While sometimes we’re scrambling to get to all the typical spots I loved that we had an opportunity to spend a bit of time in the garden area next to the temple. It wasn’t in the middle of the sun lighting, in fact it was a bit darker which means we can control our own lighting (like with a bit of softbox)

and I get to do my framing with the trees and leaves stuff I like to do

OK we’re done with this location… let’s go. (Says I)

Oh wait wait right there… I lied we’re not done… one more

In fact two more… we need another one with the temple.

OK so you’re getting primped and prepped for a minute or two… and scott has a happy trigger finger… Groom it’s your turn to shine.

OK let’s keep on going

I’ve actually never shot this spot… probably because it’s so tight… I’m smooshed up against the wall squezing for every last inch of room to shoot  so I can get them and the temple and not look funny.

If there wasn’t a building where I wanted to stand I would have shot this a bit differently… but so often I leave miss serendipity choose my shots.

I think that’s a big aspect of my photography. If you want to know how Scott Jarvie chooses many of his pictures the key word is serendipity… look it up. (I just did)

We came across most of these shots because we had to pass by this spot when actually heading to another spot.

You’ll see that again later… we were walking to the famous pedestal thingy they have at the SLC temple for the full temple shot and we never ever got there. Serendipity (and lack of time… took us another direction 200ft short … with might I add a much cooler picture)

this walking set

OK let’s back up for a second… back when we were closer to the temple near the reflecting pool

I don’t mind people walking around and doing their thing… it’s a highly trafficked public place after all.

Sometimes if forces me to take different shots… things I wouldn’t normally do. I’m certain in both these pictures above there were people directly to the sides of both these pictures. It’s as if they dictated the crop on my these pictures.

Very often the construction dictates how far to the left of the temple I can shoot.

It also leads me to frame up totally different pictures like above… where we don’t have to worry about people in the pictures at all.

And then there are just some shots where you wish the people weren’t there… but yeah that’s not going to happen… just embrace it  (and then cast a spell on every viewer of the picture to ignore the other weddings on the steps of the temples… these are not the droids you are searching for)

And then I had them… Oh I don’t know… I think they were just caught up in the hugging moment… I was just there to document.

OK folks that’s all he wrote…

Next time we’ll bring you flowers

Food

Fun

oh and Babies too!

Oh and don’t forget twue wove

The Happy Couple – Wedding Story pt 2 is a post from: JarvieDigital Photography Blog

I’m thinking about cutting this one down in more manageable chunks… plus it means that I get to string it along for more days. I mean I wasn’t supposed to tell you my tricks. I suppose it’s more like a mini-series with jack bauer just about to do something crazy right at the end and you have to tune back in to see what happens in the next installment.

So here we go.

I was here

This was the first picture of the day… I took it to test out the camera. I just got my 14-24 2.8 back from the shop not too long ago and I missed it for getting cool architecture stuff.

So we so often show off when LDS bride and grooms come out of the temples… like their mini-revealing and unveiling. Their version of walking down the aisle.

But what happens prior to that moment… the non-lds (mormon) in the audience might find this interesting.

I’ve often seen many photographers just sitting in a waiting room waiting for their bride and groom… they’re missing out… this is time to get to know the family and get some of those candids and solo portraits.

Such as…

Then the moment comes… they come out.

Many times for the actual ceremony she’s wearing a different more subdued dress and so she goes and changes into her wedding dress, so often this really is the first time most have seen her.

Except of course her mom who probably went with her dress shopping (with the card) and her sisters who she played dress up for, of course. haha

But I present Mr. & Mrs. Spencer

So sometimes up to 90 couples could come out of these doors in any given saturday in summer… don’t hate.

We do get to have moment like these all the time.

Grandma and Grandpa giving their congrats.

Notice of course how many people have cameras … haha… i love it.

And then after the congrats time is done we have spots big enough to do our group shots with 100 ppl haha

Oh but first let’s drop in as the bride and groom steel a few slone moments for themselves in the hussle and bussle of the moment.

Then we gather families to do some group shots… our brothers of the groom jump in for some shots…

We’ll be catching back up with them for some more antics at the reception

I’m not afraid to stretch things out for an interesting full building shot or get down and dirty on the ground

The bride felt a deep connection to her asian brothers and sisters so this next one comes to you care of the far east

The real talent in this day of age and the thing that people really seem to appreciate is how quickly you can get through these formalities. Pump out these group shots, make it fun, make it quick, without yelling, without being rude, without making enemies, without down time… and to do all this without suffering on the quality. Anyone could spend 15 minutes setting up some elaborate and picture perfect group shot. But do you have 100 thankful friends or 100 sworn enemies at the end of this (specially if it’s too hot or too cold)

Then you move on over to the side giving way to the next happily married couple and you don’t mind at all… because I’d take this for a small group over steps any day.

Ahh these two like eachother as well..

Then you could always move to another spot for some more group shots.

Some kids find much joy in doing a good jump shot.

And all the while perhaps the moms look on.

And then take advantage of having an amazingly handsome and caring and kind and talented photographer around.

So yeah these aren’t the typical pics I put on the blog… usually we stick to the highlights of the day… the tender and breathtaking pictures.

We stick to the best of… we find the tender moments…

We often just put the scenic stuff.

Or the details of the day

But this is me showing off the rest of the story

I’m not no hourly worker… you get the full story… the full day. I’m a documenter of events.

• Real
• Friendly
• Emotion
• Personality
• Bright, Crisp and Clean
• Love in all it’s forms and expressions
• The joy of it all
  

So stay tuned next time for what happens next

Kudos to my two students that helped on the event Will and Justin – Will found that flower at the reception place and they’ll have more pics to show off as they roamed the reception.

Meanwhile back at Temple Square – A wedding story pt 1 is a post from: JarvieDigital Photography Blog

Today we’re bringing you the words from a recent bride, who I’ve become good friends with after she interned for a summer, she’s like my little sister now. She’ll share her two cents about picking wedding photographers and interacting with them.

I’ve done posts previously on her wedding pictures – Bridals - Engagements

Then she’ll share a couple of her favorite pictures and why. In a style I like to call: “Pictures with Meaning”. Which is really neat because I typically wouldn’t put any of these pictures up on the blog (Besides that last one)… they all seem to have special meaning to her (which is why I took them… but usually they wouldn’t translate to a large crowd online unless we were to explain why… which is what we’re doing)

—-

Alright, now for the good stuff, the reason you came to this blog in the first place… pretty pictures I realize that not everyone is going to be as obsessed with my wedding as I am. Ha. Gotta keep it real. So I’ll just share a few of my favorites.

This is one of my favorite pictures of the whole day. It might not seem like much, but it was when all the groomsmen had arrived for the pre-wedding pictures, and my brother couldn’t find his tie, so he came out half dressed to ask my mom where it was. I don’t think I laughed so hard the rest of the day.

I love this series as well.

I really wanted all of my bridesmaids to be individual and true to themselves, so they all picked their own shoes, and I love how these shots showcase that.

I want to put this one in here too.

Jake and I did a first look, and even though this isn’t the most fabulous picture of us, we were both just so excited and I think this captures our joy.

And this one…. I LOVE this one…

I don’t think I need to explain why.

I’m not sure what I was laughing at, but this was after we cut our giant cupcake.

I can’t look at it without smiling. I just love Jake laughing in the back.

Instead of a guest book, we did sort of a “guest plant” where people wrote on little cards and then hung them on the plant.

This card was probably my favorite of the bunch.

My florists did an amazing job, and I’m so glad he got a shot of the table settings.

This picture is probably my most favorite picture of my dad.

Ever.

This one cracks me up every time.

We were trying to get through family pictures, which were starting to wear on me, and this little rooster decided to stop by. I’m so glad I can look back and remember this.

I’ll stick this one in here as well, because I had always envisioned a shot of Jake and I from the back showing our reception.

I never told Scott that, honestly because I forgot to, but he got it anyways.

I could seriously post tons and tons more, because honestly this was a very small snippet of all the wonderful photos. But I feel like that would get really boring haha.

If anyone has any questions for me, feel free to ask. I’m an open book

Carissa’s advice for the future bride + Pictures with Meaning is a post from: JarvieDigital Photography Blog

Well here we are again… where did we leave off?

Well we were fighting bad guys and saving orphans.

Ok Ok we were looking at pictures and hearing about the eventful day in which an eternal family was formed. (And saving defenseless kittens from savage wolves)

It went something like

Bobbie Jane met a boy

He took her into his arms

They sat there on the pier contemplating their future

Sometimes doing dip kisses

He then took her to the Temple

Now he’s married to Bobbie Jane

And now you’re caught up…

So finally we can get down to business and talk about the PARTY

(A celebration of love if you will)

A time for…

Yes  a time for lawn games

and FLOWERS

Lots of flowers

Flowers in bottles

Lots of random antique bottles that the couple has collected for a while.

And here’s the flower girl

I don’t mean the girl that carries flowers down the aisle prior to the bride walking down… but the girl who has a business where she decorates weddings and such events with flowers.

Her name is Laura and I’m sure she’d be more than happy to bring flowers to your wedding… Her Site – Her Blog

Those flowers got placed on a couple of tables… like this one.

This is what some of them looked like up close

Let’s just recap… flowers were everywhere and beautiful

OK let’s get this moving along we don’t have all day

Here’s where people signed in

Some people even dropped off envelopes in that little cage thingy

This was apparently the first one… What did it contain? We might never know… let’s hope it was enough money to buy a house and a ford fiesta.

Some instructions for the guests

Well I’m sure they weren’t confused about where to sit.

While people were working

While kids were bouncing

Grandpa was playing sitter.

And the couple… well she got ready and saw the setup they took some time out.

Turned on the TV

And watched…

Their wedding video

I think they saw their whole lives flash before their eyes.

Did I mention we ate.

And drank

(Gotta have some horchata to go with the tacos)

But then we scampered off into the fields of wild flowers

Ahhhwww… romantic place, romantic lighting… so fun.

And then back for some games

The groomsmen be chillin

Did I have to take many group shots… not so many really… but here’s my favorite one

And Yes… there was more Dew from the mountain or mtn if you will

And of course… More babies

And to follow that up… how about something completely different?

Hey you posed for it!

Yes I’m going to show the whole world… (ok well perhaps only a few hundred people)

I would show a nice regular picture right now but now that I think of it I didn’t do any “normal” portraits… you know didn’t want people thinking I was hitting on the cute single girl.

Anyway…

You know what would be cool right about now? A PINATA!!

It was a wedding… did any young love start to spread? Well let’s check in.

Who knows if that last couple is actually a couple or perhaps even married… but they were togetehr and I needed a third vertical oriented couple shot.

Now the moment you’ve all been waiting for for every reception I do…

Heck this is the reason you’ve read through the whole post up until now

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, children of all ages… I present to you… the one… the only… the undeniable… the indisputable… the Jarvie Window

(Much fan fare)

And finally the bride and the groom

well there’s not much more than can be said after that.

That’s a hard act to follow… you’d have to like have your own fireworks show to top that!

Bye kids… have a great life

Oh come on now… just go

And they lived happily ever after.

A Wedding Story: Idaho Pt.2 (The reception) is a post from: JarvieDigital Photography Blog

Ah how sweet I am.

There’s a story about this little guy… see he was in the trash heap. There were a billion (only a slight exageration) flowers at this reception, it was flower city, the flowers were all amazing.

This little flower didn’t make the cut… but I liked it grabbed it and carried it for a bit… not even sure why.

Then I started taking detail shots. I said to myself why not put this on the table and shoot it like a close up ring or something layong on the nice table cloth.

Bam! now it’s one of my favorites, but this might only be because I knew the story and I’m emotionally compromised and it might just be OK.

OK back to the task at hand… remember how I said I photographed a wedding in Idaho. Well I’m not even gonna talk about the reception much yet, maybe tomorrow.

Except to show you how it ended.

It ended with a Flash and a Whirl… get it?

Now you’ll be back tomorrow… it’s like crack, you must know, you have to know… you have no choice. You are getting sleepy, very sleepy.

Ladies and gentlemen I present to you Bobbie Jane and David

Come on out

You might remember them from such oldies as Couple in front of Golden gate amd couple on boardwalk

Or couple next to plane

Or couple at random picnic

Wait wait let’s back up… so we’re at the Idaho Falls LDS temple. David and Bobbie Jane get married inside and we’re all just chillin outside waiting for them to come out. I walk around and try to find the group, you can’t really miss her sisters… because they look so much like her.

It’s a good oportunity for me to shoot some kids.

And some candids of friends I don’t know yet (which I will know by the end of the day)

But here they come! About to open the door and make the grand exit to be seen by friends and family.

Anti climatic, I know… since you already saw the exit.

But this is them putting on a small show for their friends and relatives with cameras. Which is fine by me because while they get a few shots, I get pictures of them the whole day.

Let’s hydrate that bride on a nice hot day… water anyone.

Forget that! Water is so ordinary. (I wanted to say Blah-Zay but I can’t figure out how to spell it)

Maybe the water just magically turned into the Dew

I will disuade you from thinking any magic was involved and reveal the trick.

His buddies brought it and they replaced the water bottle in her hand.

OK so we’re gonna kinda FF through the group shots… but we’ll hit some of the more amusing ones… you know… to keep you smiling.

Oh fine these next ones aren’t funny but it goes to show how everyone wins when we go under the shade, it’s not hot and it’s better lighting. I had Marco and Will helping out so that we could light them up to get the temple in the back.

And of course I gotta show the other family so we don’t cause problems. haha

May I take this moment to mention Will had only started with me the day before and the next day he was off shooting a wedding and helping with lighting.

The girls did some more fun stuff at the reception but I’ll take a moment for david and his sisters… tadah

Don’t worry her sisters held eachother

Cute baby break

I’m just sucking up to all the girls… they’re a sucker for the babies.

On that note… how about Grandpa and the baby

Like how I put that one bigger? It’s because you need to be wow’ed right about now. Or I guess this would be more of an awwhhhh moment.

Yes sir I’d be smiling too. (Well I guess it’s more of a grin, but yeah that’s what I’d be doing)

OK now let’s say our goodbyes to friends and family like mom and other lady.

Now for the moment you’ve all been waiting for.

(Side Note: This would have been a perfect time to pull out a picture of me… but alas. I have none… wait I have one of me at the reception… I’ll do something fun tomorrow)

Oh Young Love

Do you want to see her boquet? Did I need to ask?

Don’t just stand there gazing into eachother’s eyes… do something put your arms around eachother and … oh there you go… already doing it.

Yes we get the point

Oh ok we get it… you like eachother.

Haha like how I made it seem like all they ever did was kiss. Such power I wield as the blog editor!

More tender ahhh moments.

Well we’ve been spotted!

That didn’t last long back into eachother’s embrace they go

One could almost hear them say… “Oh Bobbie Jane I love you. Oh David I love you more. No I love you most.etc ” And of course all the while Bobbie Jane would be speaking in a southern bell accent because I mean her name is Bobbie Jane she simply must have an accent.

Ok Ok … nuf of this sappy stuff… I present to you socks and shoes in grass.

Rings on hands

And clenched hands… “never let go!”

A funny face should make you smile

Bye bye Bobbie Jane and David we’ll see you at your reception tomorrow… where we took an awful lot of pictures. Because well… we did.

Stay tuned tomorrow for the exciting conclusion… Bobbie Jane is excited… are you?

A Wedding Story: Idaho pt.1 is a post from: JarvieDigital Photography Blog

(Shall I be more specific… I shoot people in the face… and if you don’t like that well then… Tough)

My name is Scott and I photographed a Reception and by “I Photographed a Reception” I mean that’s all I photographed.

Here’s my story:

This is Joel he’s a friend. He’s also a photographer. He’s also married!

He’s the groom. You could tell though couldn’t you. Without me saying you could tell… The coat, the flower, and yes of course the smile, the look on his face… you could tell couldn’t you.

This is Alicia, she agreed to marry Joel. Awww….

See here they are together. They like eachother.

Look they like eachother so much they’re showing it with a kiss of Joy after they’ve read outloud their thoughts to the audience

So like I said I photographed a wedding. Where you ask? Good question you…. Here

Where’s that? His parents house… pretty snazy I know. See take another look in B&W
Joel wants me to come back and do some photoshoots there… so if anyone is up for it. Aspens, Pine trees, green grass, water features, beautiful views of the mountains.

Well on with the story. I photographed a reception and at that reception there were a lot of people.

Say hello to smiling Grandma (I hope so she has the flower on that’s why I thought so)

Say hello to some parents (You ask which side? well here’s the funny part… I’m not sure… Usually I photograph for the entire day, maybe even two… by this time of the day I know everyone… but I was just doing reception pictures… but again he has a flower she has flowers, that’s how us photographers know who’s important. Oh and their interaction with the happy couple and all the relatives congratulating them)

People have fun on wedding days… look at this little guy having fun (well everyone seems to be having fun, it’s a wedding dangit! They’re all supposed to be happy)

Oh you want to see an upclose of the little dude with the hat… as you wish.

Two more please? Oh ok… done!

But really lets move on… Oh ok one more child.

But it was the day for Joel and Alicia… see how they were cutting a cake together. Such a pretty cake… if it weren’t their day I doubt they’d be allowed to slice that puppy up. Maybe they were just doing it anyway… but that looks like a happy smile and not so much a devious smile. Like: “I hope no one sees us cutting this thing up” Yeah well people cut up cakes to give to all their happy guests. Well let’s say they give to the guests to Make them Happy.

I even have proof they cut the cake.

They then fed the cake to eachother… (ready, set)

Giggle giggle she says… (scott doesn’t remember what happened here)

Shall we see another view of the cake?

Up close?

So if they brought cake to show how they can work together (cut something and feed it to eachother) and to make their guests happy, this begs the question what else did they do to make their guests happy?

I submit to you this picture into the evidence because the actual thing is gone… swallowed into the bellies of hundreds of people you don’t know.

I can’t tell in black & white… what is that?

Gelato that there is Gelato… It’s good because it’s Italian… and we all know everything Italian is amazing!! I will testify, I had some.

You could ask these two guys.

Oh they also had water for people and I’m happy to note… no one had a severe case of dehydration.

They did a good job making it an eye pleasing event for their friends and family. Like with flowers on tables like this one.

They wanted to remember people and they wanted people to share their thoughts, advice and perhaps make them laugh. So as people entered the venue they were encoraged to write a few words and leave them here.

Or like this bit of advice by “T”

People have good bits of wisdom.

Speaking of people I knew a few people at the event.This dude goes to church with me.

This guy lives near Joel and I was like… I know you somehow… How do I know you. We figured it out… Political events for a one Mike Lee (U.S. Senate Race)

I mean I don’t know him well enough to remember his name (even now) But he went home and added me on facebook. So we’re buds now!

I know these two guys as well they’re mutual friends with me and Joel …  They aren’t big fans of hair I guess Or it’s summer and they’re just keeping cool.

Well these guys were just chatting for a while… about what? I’m sure it’s about photography, since they’re both amazing photographers!

See the guy on the right was Joels wedding photographer. At the reception he became a guest and chatted up a storm.

His name is Kenneth and he’s from Europe… he’s a pretty big deal. Blog Him Up (That’s a new phrase it means check out his blog)

Hey don’t ask me why seperate your photographers, and do one for the wedding and family portraits and the other for the reception…I don’t ask questions, I just take pictures. I’m happy doing whatever I’m doing.

Me and Kenneth chatted for a while… I was jealous of his California Sun Bounce and Sun Swatter (on my christmas list) I can’t get myself to spending that much on something like that… but I welcome anyone to buy it for me.

I told Joel and probably Kenneth I found it neat that Joel picked two people from different eras with such different approaches to photography to do his wedding.

Oh and obviously two of the best in the universe… or galaxy… not sure which one.

…

More random Guests

Oh hey what were those crazy circle pictures that look like they’re looking out of a round window or a submarine. Looks like a caricature and is kinda funky… you know what I’m talking about Scott?

Yes I know what you’re talking about.

… This right?

What is that?

It’s called the “Jarvie Window” It’s a big deal why don’t you already know all about it? For shame.

Joel was pretty excited about it.

as were these people when they finally figured out why I was 2 inches from their face.

So right about this time you’re wondering what Alicia’s Ring looks like… maybe you want to see her, the ring up close all in this infamous Jarvie Window… I knew you’d ask… Bam!

So I’m about to wrap up… but I wanted to share the reason for the event.

What’s the reason, scott?

Well we have receptions so that people can express their love for the young couple so the young couple can express thanks for the part they played in their growing up and perhaps help young couples with this new segment of their live… WITH PRESENTS!!

Yay, we got a present they say!

What’s in it they ask… let’s check it out. It’s from our good friends

Apparently with an expression like that it must be a bar of pure gold or a puppy.

Well even better… now look ahead to the following picture to see the final conclusion.

The End

I Photographed a Reception is a post from: JarvieDigital Photography Blog

Lamborghini Formals – Teaser is a post from: JarvieDigital Photography Blog

(Above is a picture from a wedding… done 5yrs ago)

Oh how times have changed.

Back in 2005 I did my first wedding. By september of 2005 I was doing the 3rd? wedding… i think. My prices were a bit lower (and by a bit I mean the geo metro vs. steam roller comparison) But you know I’m a bit better (queue similar comparison)

Now and then

It was funny to edit an egnagement shoot I took this week compared to re-selecting re-editing pictures from 5yrs ago. I end up with more useable and awesome pictures in a simple engagement shoot than a full day wedding.

(Above – from engagements Done this week August 2010)

The thing is I never had complaints… not even back then. They always seemed to be very happy with what they got. Most all of them are still great friends and follow the blogs and communicate on facebook. They know the deal they got back then, back when they were poor college student and 300-500$ for a wedding was a the extent of their budgets and I was the right man for the job.

What changed

Photographers will often cringe looking back at what they did so long ago… and try to convince people they’re not the same person.

• What I’m doing is going back and saying maybe it’s not what I’m doing now but… a big part is the finished product…
• I didn’t have the lighting set ups i do now… Flashes or Reflectors
• I didn’t have bunch of  $2k lenses i do now.
• I didn’t have assistants.
• I was using a D70 a kit lens 18-70 3.5-5.6
• There was no bluring of the backgrounds and I think this was even before my big purchase of a 50mm f/1.8
• Oh and did I mention the experience of 140+ weddings

But what can I do about it now??

Well I teach simple quick edits in lightroom to vastly improve pictures. There was no Lightroom when I did this wedding… the first Beta of lightroom even came out after this.

We can’t redo what we did 5yrs ago… but we can re-edit.

What do I have at my command now?

• A calibrated Monitor 30″ to improve my ability to really see the picture.
• I can focus on color quality of which the d70 vs d700 nikon has come a LONG way
• Using an old 17″ screen back in those days compared to my 30″ now I can really tell which pictures are in focus!!
• Lightroom can help me cheat back a bit of in-focusness into pictures.
• D70 had lots of noise so tadah the noise reduction of LR3
• I now know if the colors were butt ugly how split tones desaturations and even convert to B&W can help.
• Did i mention I can do all these things and re-edit a full wedding in a fraction of the time it took back then.
• Doesn’t hurt that I’m editing much mucho less pictures. Partly because I’m just choosing less and because I had less good pictures from weddings back then.

I know many are just skipping to the before and afters and skipping all this write up. But keep in mind these aren’t a before editing after editing… these are the finals that I gave them back in 05 probably editing on photoshop elements

Oh and keep in mind I’m re-editing JPGs

How do I feel about the past?

Ask me if I’m proud of what I did in 2005…. Do it… ask me?

Yes… yes I am. For what I had and the training I had, the equipment, the times of day I had to shoot. The situations… I rocked it! They certainly got their money worth. They were taking a big gamble on me and it turned out alright for them. All of them… I’ve always charged less than I could have. Which made the gamble and the investment a bit easier to bare.

Aint such a bad strategy to under charge and over deliver. After all I owe my career and lifestyle and dream job to the trust that these couples put in me. That and the 15hrs a day for 5yrs straight.

Should you pay for something like this now?

Would I hire someone for $300 for that level of work now? No way! The cameras are soooo much better… the color quality alone is crazy better. The amount of training available to people just 5yrs later… they better be tons better than that.

plus there has been 5yrs of a constant influx of better photographers and lots more good hobbiests. That that level doesn’t cut it for 2010 even for free. But for 2005 people were pretty happy with that stuff. And as we’ll see the framing and moments and stuff were still there. Not perfect but they were pretty snazy.

But dang that D70 had terrible colors (reminds me of the canon 50d bad) and that lens wasn’t sharp… but then again I was shooting at some high f-stops.

Imma gonna show some side by sides now… I’m about done reminiscing.

Deciding why they were the way they were.

These pictures almost look like I had started shooting RAW but hadn’t figured out that RAWs absolutely have to be editing because it’s required… whereas JPGs are already edited by the camera software. So I don’t think I knew how to handle working in raw quite yet.

That being said I’m not even editing the RAWs since I can’t find them. But I do have the JPGs so It’ll be a bit different to edit them.

(Above … the original of the same picture at the beginning of the post)

ORDER: New edit, (sometimes BW), Original Edit from 2005 (at the end)

To go through all old pictures and present re-edits of the pictures go here

Some more edits after the break

Get your pics pimped… how?

If you’re a wedding from 2005-2008 I might be able to do something like this. I edited 100 of this weddings’ pictures. (My selections)

But it does take work and time and so I’m not sure how to do it yet or what it might cost.

One thing is for sure… the most votes on this blog post for your wedding will probably win a re-edit. So have some friends speak up for your cause.

A “New”-Old wedding: 2005 is a post from: JarvieDigital Photography Blog

I’m not sure why I can get away with doing these things and it works so well sometimes.

It’s really so simple and cheasy and yet it works.

I just have them look at me and say “serious, now smile and now look at eachother and giggle like girls or whatever.”

I do it all really quickly to capture the first real emotions and the spontaneity.

I don’t give them time to think of the request and try to make it posed and stale… usually they’ll do it as a reaction to the request and then when they find themselves looking at eachother smiling and laughing it usually sets off a trigger to make them do it more and more when they realize what they’re doing… so I’m ready to capture the whole sequence.

Obviously sometimes it’s better than others.

People so often look at pictures and comment on faces… they love such and such person’s face in this picture. Well this is one way to make this happen more often

“Now just look at each other and giggle” is a post from: JarvieDigital Photography Blog

This was from a year ago. I was working on getting the lighting working and decided to try a couple without lighting.

Sometimes if you pose them they just don’t get the vision that you’re just getting profiles and silhouettes but I think next twilight I’ll have to try to get them to look cool.

Grooms Men in Silhouette is a post from: JarvieDigital Photography Blog

This has kind of become one of my things I do at each wedding.

First of all I always stay until the Bride and Groom leaves… though there might not be much going on and though the families tell me I’m free to go, it doesn’t hurt to stick around just in case something happens so the families aren’t left saying and remembering how there was one shot they wish they would have gotten.

I usually drag the shutter when they leave with a low flash straight at them… I’ll pan along with them and sometimes even exagerate the pan of the camera to get some fun lines.

As you can tell it’s best when they’re waving good bye… and lots of fun when the car is decorated nicely. (The people that decorated the car will be so happy with your pictures documenting their hard work)

The Getaway is a post from: JarvieDigital Photography Blog

Jarvie Window in Simi Valley is a post from: JarvieDigital Photography Blog

From this same wedding I did a post about photographing downwards from upwards positions. Well it’s very easy when the subjects are much shorter than you.

One good consideration is that you can find cleaner backgrounds for the pictures (like on the right picture)

There’s something about having someone tilt their head upwards like this… they often come up with great expressions naturally.

Remember the things you make them do will effect the emotions coming from their face… ergo the look you get.

This was from a wedding reception in California on the 3rd of July this year and as usual taken at the lowest aperture of the lens 2.8 usually.

What’s up Kid? is a post from: JarvieDigital Photography Blog