Home for the Holidays

Wednesday 15 January 2014

Home for the Holidays

The Gardner family had never had a formal photo shoot and as the girls are starting to build their own lives far away this seemed to be one of the best, and last chances to have them all together. A similar gift from Judy’s family 25 years ago resulted in some precious black and white images.

"We are grateful that Amanda was able to come on relatively short notice. She gave generously of her time and talent and was reassuring in her leadership. The shoot was at Woodhaven, our family property that has stunning woods, gardens and much family history. The late afternoon winter light was a special opportunity. We had a good time together so the process itself was memorable and a gift."

Thank you all for being such willing subjects and open to everything I suggested. Photographing your family was truly a pleasure!

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WHAT TO WEAR

Essentially you can wear whatever you like, but here are a few ideas...
• White is not great - with digital it often gets blasted out.
• Wear your favourite colours and those that suit you best - that bring out the colour of your eyes.
• Wear bright, fun, happy clothes, but in a group keep it simple. You don't all have to match, but too many different colours and patterns gets messy and distracting.
• Props are a must! Be it a fabulous hat or your child's favourite toy or a costume they won't take off. These little details are what make you unique and your session more fun.

WABI SABI

Wabi Sabi is the Japanese philosophy of finding beauty in imperfection and of appreciating transience and the natural cycle of life - growth, decay and death. It admires the bud as much as the bloom, which then fades to become the seed to create a new flower. It reveres the dents, the scratches and all other marks that time, weather and loving use create. I have always loved peeling paint, crumbling brick and corroding metal. This collection of work celebrates these, and in some pieces, combines them.Click on the photo to see the posts on the collection.

THE RIGHT PHOTOGRAPHER FOR YOU

Choosing the right photographer for your wedding is one of the most important decisions you will make. When shopping around, look for work you admire. No two photographers see and shoot the same way and their packages are all very different. Photography should be viewed as a creative service not as a product - you are selecting an artist to capture your day. Art is something you buy because you love it and want it in your home. Photography is the same - if a package includes all the 'extras' it is useless unless you love the photographs. So, to begin with, forget about the budget and all the added options and really focus on style. Albums can be done later...
So... style - look at their body of work - do you like one image, a few, all? Can you see yourself in their photographs? Look at the expressions on their faces, and how the images make you feel. Do they look forced or natural? You want to be comfortable on your wedding day and you want the images to be elegant and romantic so they will stand the test of time. And try not to make special requests for a specific shot or style of another photographer. Trust your photographer and give them the freedom to do what they do best.
Talk... you don't have to become best friends, but you should like your photographer and want them around on your special day. And when asking questions, be sure they are relevant to you and not just from a list found in a bridal magazine.
Discuss the details on what they offer and the schedule; both of the day (to ensure enough time is given to capture the photographs that are important to you) and when you will receive the photographs. Bear in mind that with digital, photographers spend much more time editing the images.
Once happy that you have found the photographer that shares your vision you can be sure you'll have the beautiful memories captured that you will treasure.

MINI SESSIONS

BEFORE OR AFTER

In the olden days, who one married was decided by family and more often than not the couple were not permitted to meet prior to the wedding day for fear that they might refuse the impending nuptials. Obviously today, love has already blossomed and the choice made to live happily ever after. As such, I do sometimes like to arrange to do all the formal portraits of the bride and groom with their attendants and family before the ceremony.
Here are the primary reasons this works so well...
• We need not worry about the logistics of hiding from each other before the ceremony.
• If all the formal photographs are taken before the ceremony, the couple, their families and guests can all head to the reception together allowing everyone more time together.
• It is far better to have natural light for these photographs and with late afternoon ceremonies, often it is a fight against time to get good light.
• It is more relaxed and less rushed.
• The first time the couple sees each other is private, they can talk and kiss which is not an option at the ceremony.
How it would happen...
The bride and groom would not see each other until they are completely ready. At the chosen location, the groom will wait for his bride to arrive, then she'll ask him to turn. This is the best bit! Wonder, joy, and maybe even tears. And without the nervousness of being before a large audience. I'll shoot this, but from a distance to give you both a few moments alone together.
We will then do the shots of you both together, separately, and then ask attendants and family to join us for all the formal portraits. This also saves time as doing everything separately takes much longer.
Depending on the chosen site for
these photographs, I may also steal the
couple away for a few more photographs
later. I do work spontaneously,
so if something amazing appears -
an incredible sky for example,
I do love to take advantage of it.

TRASH THE DRESS

After the I do's are done and the party is over, most brides box up their gown in an airtight package and shove it in the back of a closet, never to be seen again. However, might I suggest doing a Trash the Dress session instead. Fear not though, we will not actually destroy the dress, and do nothing a good dry cleaner can't fix. Many brides hate the fact that such effort and expense has gone towards a dress that will only be worn once. This way you get to put it on again without the nerves of the upcoming nuptials. We can go anywhere and have the luxury of time without the worry of keeping guests waiting. Click the photo above to see the full post.

BEFORE AND AFTER

I spend countless hours on the computer and feel that processing the image is as important as the initial taking of the photograph. Through editing, images can be transformed; sometimes the alteration is subtle and sometimes dramatic. No two photographs are processed in the same way, so each is a unique piece of art. I use colour, texture, vignetting and other techniques to alter the image and enhance its mood. Above are a few examples of images straight out of the camera and then after processing. Click photo to view full post.

Wednesday 15 January 2014