Monday, February 28, 2011

Kate turns 1 year!

We got an early start celebrating Kate’s birthday! She turns 1 year on March 16th. The birthday hat was really not her thing, but the cupcake sure was! We have really had a good time with Kate. She is such a good girl, smart, learns quickly and has been a wonderful companion for Mark; who works from the house. We have also met some wonderful dogs and owners taking her to training. Paul and Tracy with Unleashed Unlimited have been terrific and Mark has been dedicated to teaching her. Happy Birthday, Kate!
 
 
 
 
 
 

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Avoid wedding photography blunders

After a break for holidays and vacations, J. Mark Photography is back full swing with Spring wedding season. We haven't blogged on our tip series, recently... so with weddings gearing up, this is a perfect time!


1) Build in time for photography
As a general rule of thumb, you should probably allow about 1 ½ hours before the ceremony for pictures. Thirty minutes for the groom with groomsmen, then thirty minutes for the bride and her girls which leaves 30 minutes for the guest to arrive. Give your photographers plenty of time for pictures before the ceremony. Your photographers are really good, but they can't create "time". This is the one day in your life that you need to be really organized and tell everyone your expectations. But, wait.... we are not finished! We still have family, the whole wedding party, and you as a newly married couple. These need to be taken immediately after the ceremony. You want to get to your guest as quickly as possible, so to tell your family not to leave! We promise...you won't be sorry! Don’t forget to give a copy of your schedule to the photographer, your wedding party and your family members. The key is to get everyone on the same page.

2) Create a list and on-deck-circle
We talk with every couple about this topic and it is so important, we even have this in our agreement. Get together a list of " must have" photos. This is going to take some time on your part but it will definitely pay off when you see that you have all the images you wanted. We know all the standard groupings, bride with parents, groom with parents, but if YOU have a list and someone you have appointed getting one group ready while one group is having pictures taken, the process will go much faster.

3) Have you talked to your photographer, lately?

The days leading up to your wedding can be really hectic. You confirmed the food, your cake, the limo, the DJ, the flowers.... But rarely does a couple call us to confirm their photography! Why is that? We hope that the reason is pure confidence! But, your wedding photographer needs to know what you want. It is pretty well proven that mind reading does not work! This is why communication "before" the wedding day is very important. Be sure to share your wedding day schedule, ceremony events and reception timeline with your photographers. PS. A picture is worth a thousand words and surfing the web is free. Spend some time looking at wedding photography - see something you like? Send us the link or sample!
4) It is raining and you have planned an outdoor wedding

Before the wedding establish your rain plan. Work with your venue to find a good indoor spot. If the forecast calls for rain, purchase cute and colorful umbrellas for pictures of you and your groom making the best of the weather! J. Mark Photography has never had a rain out (knock on wood), but it could happen. What we like to call "informal" formals is a great option. Space may be limited, but we can always find a way to have everyone randomly find places to sit or stand in a room. These make great pictures.

5) It’s hot, sunny and you’re melting

If you’re planning outdoor photos for a summer wedding, you may want to consider asking your makeup artist and hair stylist to stick around until the ceremony or even until you’re done with post-ceremony photos. This way any drippy makeup or droopy tendrils can be quickly fixed by the professionals. As an alternate, you could make sure that a hair and makeup-savvy bridesmaid is on call for quick touch ups! Plan ahead, visit your venue an hour or two before your planned wedding time. Look for shade or a covered patio. Think about fun colored paper parasols.

6) Two members of the family simply don't get along

Anticipate, anticipate, anticipate! It is your wedding day and you would hope the family feud would be set aside. But sometimes it just doesn't. You know your family better than anyone, and you know who is getting along with whom. Make your decision about how you’re going to handle family photos and inform everyone of that decision. If you have your list from tip #2, you can better coordinate family groupings!

Derek and Crystal - Bling was the theme!


We had the honor of photographing Derek and Crystal's wedding last weekend. The ceremony was held at the St. Thomas More Catholic Church. The mass equaled the beauty of the facility. It was a lovely marriage ceremony. Then off to The Oasis for a fun filled reception. First, let me say hands down, I can't think of a more gorgeous place for sunset pictures! The clouds lifted just in time for great colors. The Oasis staff did a fantastic job. Bling was a recognizable theme throughout the reception. Flowers and rhinestones on Crystals dress matched the cake, which matched the cake knife, which matched her shoes, which matched the lovely flowers by Rebekah at The Glass Fountain. Orange and bright pink were the colors of the day! Crystal surprised Derek with a grooms cake that was a replica of his orange corvette. Lots of little details that didn't go unnoticed! We fired up the photobooth and could hardly keep up with the line of guests waiting for fun pictures! Check out the last photo in this entry for an example from the Bride and Groom. Everyone had a blast, including the photographers. Derek and Crystal ended with a very "bling" exit to sparklers!

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

"Love" in the making - Valentine Engagement Session


Bonnie can't wait to marry Joe! First, he is a simply awesome guy and second, he has a great last name... "Love". Mr. and Mrs. Love will have a church wedding and a reception at Bella Notte on Main in Round Rock. They are such a cute couple and super fun to work with. After a very cold winter and one cancellation due to a rare Austin snow storm, we made out with a beautiful day for this session. We can't wait to see which picture they select for their Save-the-Date cards. Joe works in IT and Bonnie is in commercial insurance and both are avid bike enthusiasts. We look forward to participating in the "Love" wedding.