Which movie does this remind you of?

(These were taken on the beach at sunset on the day before their wedding in Kona Hawaii)

Cat and Jared got married last month.

I did their wedding pictures out here in Utah even though they got married in DC/NC

Sometimes it’s a much much less expensive option to get the formals (pre-wedding pictures), if you’re on a budget and can’t have it all might as well have one thing be really awesome, perhaps better than have everything be just a bit mediocre.

So for a bride on a budget consider doing a pre-wedding photo session and then perhaps going for the more risky less price on the wedding group pictures. Or perhaps do it the other way around.

So we did her bridals and formals all inside. A portion at the capitol and a portion at the SLC library.

We did go outside for a couple of minutes at the Capitol.

Couple shots before every wedding?

I could do this sorta thing for every wedding.

Either on a previous day or take some time prior to the actual event and take some great pictures of the bride and groom.
So often it’s expected that the couple shots come after the temple ceremony (LDS) or after the walk down the aisle ceremony. In both cases there is often very little time for couple shots with group pictures, luncheons and receptions coming up quick. I would argue many of the non-LDS weddings have even less time if the ceremony is later in the day (along with the nice light)

So I’m saying to all you brides and brides to be… put thought into your pictures. Sure we’ll get the job done in no matter what amount of time you give us. Just saying it might be better for you and me to plan for some morning pics or on a previous day.

In this situation this couple had to drive about 90 minutes (with traffic) to get back to where the reception was and had they not done pre-wedding pictures all of these pictures would probably not have happened. Even though we did take about 20-30 minutes for a few more after the ceremony on a nearby hill. (Coming soon)

I mean their reception location was stunningly beautiful and I had all sorts of ideas of amazing pictures, but they had guests to entertain and things to do. A reception to be had, the time for couple shots had passed and I’m sure everyone was glad the majority had long since been done.

Part of why I switched things up

Really to get better pictures is why I changed my pricing structure. I wanted to get better pictures with more serious clients.
I loved helping out the poor student, however it was time to step it up with those who were willing to aim for the best pictures ever and not just in word only. But would put in their part… where pictures would be seen as more important and not just a bystander doing whatever. I still love helping poor college students out but when they really have a passion for awesome pictures. We always find a way to make it work.
When they put more into it they get more out of it… and I’d gather perhaps they mean more to them!

In fact it’s getting to the point where I’m considering including this kind of thing (or at least bridal sessions) with Every wedding I do.

My blog posts hope to reach the following people in the following ways. (No particular order)

1. The client

By showing them their pictures in a short succinct recap, and giving them a quick method to show their pictures to their friends and family.

2. The clients friends and family.

By offering them a short recap of their friend or family member.
And also provide a link to the full gallery so they can see more if desired

3. Potential clients

By showing them what kind of work I’ve been doing recently.
After 4-5 years I keep on getting better every shoot.
It’s great to see many pictures from one shoot and know that I don’t just take a small handful of good pictures at each shoot.
Thus the longer posts

4. Friends and Family

Because they say they like to see what I’m up to.
They like to look at pictures. Or so they say

5. Other photographers

-I think that’s a huge bulk of my audience.

I write many posts of photographers interest only.
Posts with tips and tricks directly mainly to photographers, specially the aspiring and learning types.

I also try to include teaching moments through almost all of my posts.
Like for instance, this post.

That being said.

Here’s the link to the FULL GALLERY

This couple has yet to be married.

I’ll be in Hawaii when they get married.

They opted to do their wedding pictures on a previous day.

Why do people do their pictures on a previous day?

• They’ll thus have these pictures in time for their wedding reception or dinner.
• They’ll also have lots more time on their wedding day.
• They won’t freeze as much on their wedding day. (popular for winter weddings)
• We can pick any location.
• We can shoot at any time.
• It’s tons cheaper.
• They can even get another photographer to do group shots if I’m not available.

Why do I like formals?

• For many of the same reasons:
• We can shoot at any time. (not just smack dab in the middle of the harshest light)
• We can take our time and focus on better quality. (Wedding days are often very rushed)
• We have more fun.
• I can do more weddings this way.
• They can show off the prints at the reception.

This one is the product of Spencer … he decided he wanted to pick her up.
I welcome ideas, I don’t know what all a couple is wanting or willing to do.

Any when it comes from the couple themselves, it’s bound to be the favorite… because it was their own idea, their own moment.

You might be noticing a theme and ask yourself this question.

“Where are all the other people at the temple? It looks soo quite!”

Well there was no one else…
the temple was closed for cleaning.

These spots are usually so full of people that I’ve rarely shot these.

I rarely shoot the south side of this temple because I’m usually shooting middle of the day when the light works better on the other side.

I mentioned how with pre-wedding formals I can take more time.

Well I don’t often set up a light stand on the wedding day, but I did with these.
(There are many reasons why I’ve preferred a light stand over a person holding a flash, but usually opt for a person, I’ll explain more some day)

I can’t usually do a light stand for time constraints or bulkiness of my equipment.

It was fun trying out the other south side arches… I think this might be the first time I’ve shot only the south side and not the north side.

But it was a cold and windy day… so I only got a couple before we had to pack it up and get her back in her warm car.

Thanks ashley and spencer for choosing to stick with me even if I wasn’t around for your wedding day.

I hope you enjoy them half as much as me.

Hurray for my first ever in the corn fields picture. haha

It’s funny how we often go somewhere to take pictures where the look is iconic and yet you take pictures with a background that you didn’t even think about.
A background that looked like it could have been from anywhere.

It’s as if you go to the Beach to take pictures and yet it doesn’t look like the beach at all… no water, no sand, no glorious sunset or surfers. haha

I often go to a shopping center called Riverwoods and walk away with mostly nature pictures of a pond and a bunch of trees with no shops or buildings in site.

(Thought I’d add the picture in color too)

Seems like most of the time we go out of our way to go to some amazing place and our favorite pics are of the person in front of a wall… or maybe even with just the sky.
I could have shot this corn picture in any number of locations closer to me in tons of corn fields in my city.

Well on one hand it seems funny we put so much emphasis on location to the couples and even sometimes pay lots of money.
But there’s a lot of reason behind it and some of that is perception.

I really didn’t mean to write a schpeil on locations and even though I and many others have lots to say… I thought I’d mention that this time I took a picture that totally matched the name.

I went to wheeler farm and took pictures of the couple in the corn fields… never mind the fields were relitively tiny and a small portion of the location… but it was the first time for me and I thought their glamorous and stylish look would be a perfect juxtposition.

Here are a couple other pictures that did fit them very well.

I suppose going to a city park in the farm format and taking pictures of a old truck could be an example of my previous discussion.
On that note I was happy that my assistant pointed out the existence of the truck.

This was definetly part of wheeler farm and the look… so this does prove why a nice place with lots of options and well maintained is a good fit.
Think about the dress too… a nicely kept lawn is a good thing to keep a white dress clean… but if not… have them hold the dress. Could be fun.

This picture really could have been any any clump of trees

This following picture is a great example of a “this could have been anywhere shot”
We were taking pictures of the truck and there was a bridge i was being pointed to but I just loved how the light was hitting this little section of trees.
Trees that could have been anywhere but I just felt like it would have matched them and their look and the way I was feeling. So …. bammm

Another First : This was the first time I’ve done Formals (Pre-wedding pictures) and engagements at the same time.
His being gone for 6months in alaska was a big part of it.

Welcome to any city corner in the USA … nothing special and yet we drove to be here… just so happened to be right at sunset and into twilight.

Searching for places at night often results in just looking for places with lights on in the background.
Oh hey this old… whatever this is will do.

You can obviously tell that this was a fun shoot of a fun couple

Now with all that being said I will most certainly still keep picking awesome locations… because it’s more than just about one or two pictures in some cool unkown spot… but getting tons for the customer to choose from (in my line of work)
And it’s about perception… and how the spot makes them feel and how they’ll react when put in a certain location.

Yes you might be able to convince them the local dump is an awesome spot compared to the french villa or garden with millions of roses and tulips.
But why fight a fight you don’t have to. Why make it harder on yourself.

Well I’ve done it a few times and I guess it’s fun sometimes to win their trust by taking an ugly location and making it work. Could be something for them to “write home about”