heather_claypool

<p>The squatting pose works on everyone! Simply have the bride squat down, hold the bouquet just at her waist with a soft smile, then go in close! She'll naturally be looking up at you (which you can exaggerate if you stand on a chair or step stool) which will elongate the neck...Very flattering! Good Luck!</p>

<p>Missy...Jean...<br>

Do you know if this is template specific? </p>

<p>Wow! It doesn't look like mine is working either! Looks like I'll hae to put in a ticket! Thanks so much Missy!</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Zookbinders has a very nice matted album. They're not "slip-in" pages...they're actually hand mounted. Pricey, but nice...classic.</p>

<p>Try Miller's. They have a nice press-printed book, and you could simply include a couple all black pages at the end to attach your other items...</p>

<p>I create my own gift bags, though my albums tend to be a bit heavy and make a gift bag a little useless. But if your product isn't that heavy try using a gift bag (I chose white) and color-coordinated tissue paper and ribbon (I used lavender...my logo colors). If you scrapbook, maybe tie a tag on the bag with your studio name on it. This of course, is the budget option. If cost is not an issue, try this... <a href="http://bellagrafica.com/home.php">http://bellagrafica.com/home.php</a></p>

<p>Zookbinders has a great photobook...It's still not the high end true "album", but it's a good entry level book. The thing I love about it is the fact that all the pages are seamless, so a 10x20 spread won't have a huge gap in the middle like some of the other books do (helpful if you use panoramas here and there). I've used their Photobooks for years and have just ordered my first Photobook "Plus" (it's a larger version with thicker pages...under $200). </p>

<p>When I look back on my wedding day, I remember it as a blur...litteraly. That being said, this image really works for me. Not seeing the bride's face makes her somewhat anonymous...she could be any bride. And the blur of the dress and the bridesmaid tending to it might as well be a metaphor for the day itself. As for the Bridesmaid facing the camera, she's OOF, but you can tell she's smiling which again, is what's important. <br>

I do agree that there could be more focus on the bride as opposed to the dresser in the background...and the blur on the smiling bridesmaid would be more appealing if it were due to shallow depth of field instead of camera shake, but besides that I think this image shows some raw emotion...without the attempts at Photoshop Salvation. </p>

<p>Ooops! Sorry Neil... I just saw you said something about the timer too! </p>

<p>Yes! I bring a kitchen step-stool (2-3 steps) to shoot formals simply because at 5'3, if all my subjects are looking at me they're all going to be looking down...way down! :) For reception/packed dance floor shots I prefer the monopod idea though. An alternative to the remote trigger is using the timer function...</p>

<p>Another vote for LumaPix! Couldn't live without it! Plus, you can use it for so much more than just albums! Christmas Cards, Gift Tags, I've used it to design Thank You cards for couples made out of their photos... great stuff!</p>

<p>I always bring stickers (one set of boy-themed and one set of girl-themed) to bribe flower girls and ring bearers! "Smile pretty and you can have one of these"... :)</p>

<p>Set aside the bridal mag for a bit and check out a recent copy of Vogue. Don't focus so much on what they are selling, but on the posing and the "feel" of the ad. Look at arm and hand plcement in particular and think of how you can apply the same technique to a bride's photo. Look at the drama that different light and shadows create. Jewelry ads are great for inspiration! </p>

<p>Didn't post right the first time...trying again...</p><div></div>

<p>Trying to mix up the traditional "ring shot"...</p>

 

<p>It's an internal DVD burner on an HP laptop. I'm on Windows Vista, burning JPG's. No common denominator I can think of... I have had people tell me that their computers can't read DVD's and so they take them to the nearest photo finishing store and even the store can't open the files... One client just happens to be a friend of mine, so she brought me the disk and I was able to view the files just fine... </p>

 

<p>Hi! First, let me say I'm not 100% sure that this is the correct area to post this question in, but I thought it was a good start. <br>

I've been shooting and burning CD's and DVD's for a little over 7 years now, and for some reason I keep having clients tell me they can't open the files on my disk. I have no idea what I'm doing wrong, and I check to make sure that the files are in fact present before I mail the disks. It's not a problem to burn a couple disks every now and then, but this is getting to be a big problem for me now. Any ideas as to what I may be doing wrong? <br>

Someone once suggested there's something I need to do to make sure the disk can be read on any computer...I've never heard of that though...<br>

Any help would be greatly appreciated!</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Guestbook: White House Custom Color. I know there are others that make them, but I like the flexibility with these...and the price! The standard paper (unhinged) without the UV coating is best.<br>

Albums: I use Zookbinders, but I'm hearing good things about Finao and Miller's. I used a Collages.net album for one client last year and was pleasantly surprised with their quality! I'd use them again!<br>

Good Luck!</p>

<p>Hmmm...could she be under the impression that you do photobooth-type shots of the guests? They typically bring hats, boas, sunglasses, etc... </p>

<p>I started using <em>showit web</em> for slideshows partly for this reason. I still put a couple stills at the beginning of the post, but then move on to the slideshow...</p>

<p>BE CAREFUL!<br>

The books <em>are</em> nice, but I've had to have nearly every one of mine re-made due to panoramas not lining up properly. I design ny albums myself though, so if you're working with a designer it may not be a problem. The issue for me is that the pages are hinged which means panoramas don't always line up like they do on say, a Zookbinders press-printed book. With Zook, you can design the entire spread (in 16x8 for example) and drag and drop the entire spread into their ROES system. With WHCC you may design a full spread, but you can only drag and drop half of it at a time. It's a bit of a gamble. Of course, if you don't do panos this isn't a problem. <br>

Don't get me wrong, they are still great books...and I still use them...just not for panoramas! </p>

<p>"Boot-Scootin' Bride"<br>

Canon 40D<br>

17-50 mm lens set to 29mm<br>

f 2.8<br>

ISO<br>

1/250th</p>

<div></div>

<p>It's a sharp, clean shot. It works for me in B&W and I think the bride's expression is fine. The sequin on the veil is a little bothersome, but could be quickly cloned out. I would agree that it would work well as a part of a series. Nice shot!</p>

<p>I'd like to see it in black and white to highlight the emotion. The groom just doesn't look as "into it" as the bride does, so my feeling is that black and white would draw you into the emotion and the light on the bride's face more. </p>

<p>I second shoot quite a bit and the first thing I do is ask the main shooter what they want from me and where I should be during key points during the ceremony and reception. I aim to A) keep out of their shots B) supplement their shots from opposing angles and C) grab any other shots they request of me. <br>

I'm a constant shooter (aka UZI), but I realize that too many duplicates will just make life harder for everyone. Last weekend I second shot about 700 images, and delivered about 400 from about an 8 hour day. I don't know what the main photographer will deem 'useable", but another photographer I shoot for has told me his gallery usually includes 80% his images and 20% of mine. If you are shooting 300 images, then 90 from her is well over that. <br>

Hope that helps!</p>