Wedding Photo

When it comes to choosing an anniversary gift for a couple celebrating their wedding anniversary, it can sometimes be difficult to find something that will appeal to both partners and still be appealing. This is particularly true of traditional anniversary gifts, usually based on a material specific to each anniversary. However, anything that helps the couple remember and once again celebrate the big day can also make a great anniversary gift and this is why updating their old wedding photo album can prove a thoughtful and very well received gift.

Adding The Personal Touch

Personalised photo albums not only enable you to add the pictures or yourself, or enable the recipients to do this instead. The front cover can be personalised to include a favourite picture, or even a montage of pictures, and can also include a text caption or personal greeting on the front cover. The presentation box also offers the same level of customisation as the cover with a number of other options also open to choice.

Look For Quality

A hand bound wedding photo album can use a photo montage on the cover to tell the story of the whole day in a single picture. You can either create the photo montage yourself or have a professional service do this for you. Virtually any number of photographs can be used and it's even possible to have the finished item converted to black and white or to a sepia display in order to give it an even more professional look. Combined with the inclusion of your names and the date of your wedding, a personalised wedding photo album is a superb touch.

Anniversary Gifts

Wedding photo albums can obviously be used to present pictures taken on the big day. You can add your own pictures as well as those sent to you by your guests, cropping the images and mounting them on the individual mounting sheets. Alternatively, wedding photo albums do need updating from time to time; either they become worn and tired looking or you simply fancy a new look for yours. Updating your album with a personalised, high quality modern album is a great way to help ensure your best photographs stay safe and good looking.

Options

Small and large photo albums are available, with each proving ideal for pictures of different sizes and shapes. The A4 wedding photo album, for example, has 60 pages which will hold pictures up to A4 in size on both sides of the page. The natural portrait shape of the album does mean that portrait pictures work best, and especially for the front cover (a second image can be added to the rear if you like).

Updating Wedding Photo Albums

Wedding photo albums are something that most couples and their friends and family will cherish over a lifetime. The regular leafing through of a photo album, though, can lead to occasional damage and this is when it becomes necessary to update your photo album in order to protect your pictures and ensure they still look their best. Updated photo albums also make touching anniversary gifts.

A wedding anniversary can be made immaculate when utilizing photographic wedding gift ideas. When you are trying to create the perfect wedding gift for a couple, you can never go wrong by using their wedding picture. With the use of modernized technology, you can come up with so many gift ideas and options with a scanned version of the photo or even with the original wedding picture.

Photo Frames

A popular wedding gift is an engraved photo frame. If the married couple have been married for several years or even over a decade, you can honor them by restoring their older and worn down engraved frame as an anniversary gift. You can go even further by purchasing a side-by-side frame to place the older picture and newer picture in it side by side.

Personalized Photo Blankets

Where would wedding gift ideas be without the warmth of a photo blanket? Technology makes it possible to take an older photograph and turn it into a beautiful and creative piece of artwork. When you create a photo blanket, you typically have one of two options. One way is to weave the picture into the blanket using fabric, which can take much longer and can be costlier. A much less expensive option is to get a screened blanket and it only takes a few days to have it created.

Photo Painting

It can be a pleasure to see an old photograph remade as a painting on canvas. Even though this gift is much more expensive than the others mentioned, it can be very personal and unique. The artist will take the requested photo and recreate it as a painting exactly how it looks on the picture. This order normally takes about 4 to 6 weeks to have completed.

Personalized Photo T-Shirts

If you want more humorous and lighthearted wedding gift ideas, get them a catchy T-shirt to wear. You can create a personalized shirt for them to wear by placing their wedding photo on the front and a cute slogan on the back of it. Some popular slogans are "Married 50 years and Still Going Strong", "Just Got Married", or "Just Hitched".

Modern Photo Gifts

Commemorative plates and original vases created with an original photo have always been a popular choice. For easier display, put the flowers in a vase or add to the plate an easel for simple display.

Now that you are done with all the wedding preps, think back again. You might be missing out on something that is also important. Did you consider buying the thank you cards that you have to send out right after the wedding? These thank you cards are very important, because it is just right to give your warmest appreciation to the people who took time to attend your wedding, and were generous enough to give you presents.

Thank you cards are small notes in a hard cardboard paper where you can include your thanks. You can purchase these cards from the same company you have ordered your invitations from, in order to save money, in the hope that you will get more discounts from the owner since you are ordering in bulk. Make sure to buy more than what you need, because you might end up receiving more gifts that may come after the wedding. After all, getting extras will be better, in case you make errors as you write the thank you notes.

If you have missed out on ordering the thank you cards together with your wedding invitations, you may buy it from books stores and choose among the multitude of designs. You can also make one for yourself, by printing out a monogram or any scene from your wedding, then include your note.

Try to make your thank you note as personal as it can be. Here are some tips:

1. Do the note with your own handwriting. This will give it a more personal touch to the card and the received will surely feel your sincere appreciation.

2. The note should include the gift that you have received, and how it will be useful for you.

3. If the guest took time to travel long distance just to be in your wedding, make sure to mention your thanks for this effort. A short line will be very much appreciated by the receiver.

4. If you were able to have some of your wedding pictures printed already, try to look for a photo where you are with the person whom you will be sending the thank you card to. This is another remembrance for them to keep, which they will surely love to have.

5. You may also want to consider sending thank you cards to people who were able to attend your wedding shower. Your shower is also part of your wedding, and your appreciation will be very much appreciated by the people who took time and effort for your wedding.

6. Sending out a thank you card to each wedding suppliers and coordinators is also a nice thing to do. After all, these are the people who have helped you to make your dream wedding come true.

7. Make sure to send your thank you cards on time. Wedding specialists say that the best timeframe to follow in order to send your thank you cards is at least within 6 weeks from the time you have received your wedding present.

One great option and novelty idea that can add color to your celebration is a unique digital wedding album. One of the most exciting types of digital photo album is the magazine style photo album. The magazine style design is becoming as some of a fad today and it is the most preferred digital design layout by marrying couples. This type of photobook is sometimes known to photographers and brides as montage wedding album and coffee table photo book.

All the terms mentioned in the preceding paragraph refer to revolutionary design concept that will flush mount albums. You should not be confused if such digital image compilation is alternatively referred to as magazine style, coffee table digital photo album or even wedding photo album. All these refer to photo albums falling under the same category.

A digital wedding album is classified under the general category of digital photo albums. Still these products may still have marked differences in terms of style, layout design and quality. The albums using the magazine style are usually those that utilize the flush mount design concept. It is made out of a hard bound cover material and have rigid pages composed of digital prints that are mounted dry on a card. In magazine style ,where flush mounting is applied, the rigid pages are not matted as those we normally find in a conventional model. Instead, the pages in this type of book are at mid-range between a typical coffee table book and a conventional photo album.

A "pure" coffee table book may have pages that follow the typical design layout described as magazine style. However, it may still have some basic differences from the typical photo albums that are flush mounted. The pages of the former can still be thin just like those found in traditional coffee table book. It is more of a photo album trying to project a coffee table design concept.

In most instances, these terms that are used to refer to photo albums are used loosely and interchangeably even by professionals and the preference for one particular term is motivated more by marketing objectives. Thus, it is important that you are very clear about what you are referring to when talking about your album or book.

Another aspect is the front covers. For the flush mount photo books, the front covers are usually hard bound made out of vinyl, leatherette or leather. On the other hand, the coffee table versions, they may consist of photo images wrapped around the pages and you may have the option of a hard or soft cover. The magazine style photo albums which are flush mounted oftentimes use metallic inserts with metallic or acrylic prints or even pictures that are wrapped around are used for the panels of the cover of the digital photo album.

With careful use of flash, you can make your photo looks natural as though no flash had been used, instate it will enhance the photo further reducing contrast and yet looking very natural.

It as been a dream of all photographers to look for the balance in lighting whenever they photograph a subject and most of the time the quality of available light isn't always perfect. I will share my experience in making use of flash wisely I am able to enhance my photo rather than by just using the available ambient light.

Before we get started let me clarify a few things with regards to my flash photography techniques that I will be sharing with you.

o Let me define the term flash in this article - it is what some people call "Speedlight" which is the add on flash mounted on the camera hot - shoe type and not either the studio strobe type of flash or the pop-up flash build in the camera..

o The flash photography techniques I'm writing in this article are mostly applicable for "on the field" or "on the move" photography and not studio photography.

o I'm a user of Nikon D-SLR and Speedlight, some example of my photography work shown here are not a standard recipe as each camera system may have a slide different reading hence require some slide adjustment.

Ambient Light plus Flash Photography

I use flash most of the time but using flash does not mean you will spoil the ambient light thus making the photo looking unnatural. Why just use available light alone if your photograph turns out to be horrible. I will show you by understanding some essential techniques, mixing ambient light with flash you can make a better image.

By using the flash I will be able to highlight the shadow areas and avoid shadows under the subject's eyebrows thus making it a better photo than it would have been without flash. But this does not mean that the image will turn up flat. Make sure you get your reading right.

Let's try two examples:

1. Say you are taking a wedding couple in a shaded park under a shade with a sunlit background:-

o Shoot in manual mode because you need to be in control of your exposure metering for accuracy and consistency.

o Meter for the ambient light, get your exposure right, turn off your flash and take a test shot. With the correct exposure you will get a perfect natural surroundings but the wedding couple will be little under exposed or with some shadows around their faces.
o Now turn on your flash and adjust your flash to TTL-BL mode which balance flash automatically with ambient light (as I'm using Nikon). Adjust your flash compensation. Start from 0 EV compensation and slowly go up until plus 1.7 EV. How much is enough? There is no one correct answer to that as it depends how much flash you need to use as a fill in flash. In this example you surely need a stronger fill-flash to match the sunlit background.

2. Say you are taking the bride out door

o Again always shoot on manual mode.

o Meter correctly for the available light.

o Adjust your flash to TTL-BL mode. As for out door, I usually start from -1.3 EV because Nikon Speedlights on TTL-BL mode balance flash automatically with ambient light and I will always shoot with flash firing straight on. The real idea is to use the flash as a fill-light only and to lift the shadows.

The above two examples clearly tells you by just adding flash with the correct exposure set by reading the ambient light together with the right amount of flash value to be fired you will have a perfect and balance natural looking image. Who says by using flash it will look unnatural and spoil the ambient light?

I will be following up with an article entitle Flash Photography Techniques - Bouncing the Flash next to share my photography experienced with you. By bouncing the flash you are able to soften the light and reduce or eliminating flash shadow.

Remembering The Wedding Day

The wedding day is supposed to be the most memorable day for the bride and groom and the happiest day in their lives. However, nerves, rushing around, and even family concerns can lead to us forgetting some of the most enjoyable and cherished moments from the big day. Rather than lamenting the loss of these memories, we have photos taken by professional photographers and also amateur photographers, in the shape of wedding guests. All of these photos serve as a reminder of the most special of days.

Creating A Custom Wedding Album For Your Own Big Day

If your wedding day approaches then photographs are just one area that you need to arrange but they are an important one, and an area that you specifically will benefit from. Have custom wedding albums created using your favourite pictures from the big day and you can even leave the ordering until after the honeymoon. Pick a photo for the front cover, another for the back cover, and then mount your own photos on each side of the photo album.

Updating Old Wedding Pictures With A New Wedding Album

Old wedding photos can become damaged and this especially true of older photos. The picture itself can become faded or the material on which it was printed can become damaged, ripped, or torn. Rather than throwing them away or making do with them as they are, it is worth scanning them on your computer and having them professionally printed. This allows you to keep a digital copy in case it is needed in the future and also allows the professional printing service the opportunity to work on your photo in order to restore some its past glory.

Creating A Photo Album As A Gift For The Happy Couple

Custom wedding albums also make great personalised photo gifts to give to the happy couple. Choose the size that you want and any other optional extras, pay for the customised wedding album and then receive a photo gift certificate in the post. This can be presented to the happy couple on or before their big day giving them one less thing to worry about and providing them with a beautiful photo gift that will last a lifetime.

Photo Books

A photo book is an alternative way to print and show off your best wedding photos. The cover is customised in the same fashion as the photo album cover but instead of mounting your own photos on every page, a professional printing service will print the pictures you choose directly onto each and every side of the photo book design. Use a single photo per page or create more unique designs using multiple photos and even adding your own text if you wish.

There is an old saying that a lady should be in the newspaper only three times in her life: when she is born, when she is married, and when she dies. You may not have too much control over the first and last of those, but it can be nice to put your wedding announcement in the paper. There is a certain protocol for how this should be done.

Some couples will put an engagement announcement in their local newspaper. This is usually a black and white photo of the couple which has been professionally taken in some sort of scenic location. It is not the time to submit a snapshot taken on the fly, because these pictures will be seen by thousands, and you want to look your best. Wear something that will look good in black and white. The trick is to look polished without looking like you tried too hard. For instance, wearing all of your bridal jewelry in the picture would be too much, but a simple strand of pearls could add the right finishing touch to a classic outfit (think Brooks Brothers). Before taking the picture, be sure that the groom has a fresh haircut and no 5 o'clock shadow (it will look awful in the grainy newspaper image).

Many more couples will decide to skip the engagement announcement and wait to do a wedding announcement. These typically show the couple on their wedding day, dressed in all of their finest. This is the time for the bride to be fully decked out in her gown, veil, and bridal jewelry (some people do take these picture before the wedding, depending on the newspaper's deadlines). Even people who do not know you will be looking at your picture, because many people read the wedding announcements in the paper just for fun.

Some brides will post an announcement in the city where they presently live, others will do it in their hometown, and others will put an announcement in both. If you have been a resident in your current city for only a brief time, it might make more sense to announce your marriage only in your hometown paper, where all of your old friends and relations can see it. However, if you have no remaining ties to your hometown, it would make sense to skip that publication.

Along with the photograph, most newspapers will include some biographical information on the newlyweds. Expect to be asked about where you attended high school and college, as well as about your current employment. The announcements will also include information about when and where the wedding took place. Many will also mention the honeymoon destination. In the old days, the wedding announcements tended to go into greater detail about the wedding, describing the bride's attire, and naming all of the members of the bridal party, but many newspapers no longer allot that much space for each announcement.

For many newspapers, all you have to do is submit your information and your announcement will be published, but this is not the case for New York brides. The ultimate wedding announcement forum is the New York Times Sunday Style section. Not only do you have to provide extensive background information on the newlyweds and their parents, but there are very particular requirements about photographic submissions as well. The funniest one is that the couples should only send in photos where the eyebrows of both people are "on exactly the same level". (I am not making this up!) The Times states up front that not all submissions will be published, and there is definitely a pecking order involved. Many a bride has wondered what she can do to get her wedding photo into the New York Times (above the fold even!), and the best advice is usually to be a Rockefeller or a Vanderbilt, marry a member of Congress, or become one yourself.

Wedding announcements are a good way to spread the word about your happy news. It is fun for your family and friends to read your announcement in the newspaper. They also make a wonderful keepsake for your wedding album.

The wedding photographer may just be the most important part of your wedding ensemble well, aside from the person who conducts the ceremony. This person is responsible for chronicling your big day and making sure that every memory is captured on film.

Because you want the whole day to go smoothly, being organized is essential. Whether you, someone in your family or a wedding planner is handling the events of the day, here are some tips to make the photo sessions run smoothly:

1. Make a list of all the photos you want. Be specific about who is in them, the location and what time the photos are scheduled for. So, if you want a picture of you with all of your cousins outside under oak tree-write it down! Once you have your detailed list made, go over it again to make sure haven't left anything or anyone out of the photo shoot.

Then, make sure the wedding photographer gets a copy of the list as well as the planner or a trusted friend. This way, you can make sure the wedding photographer knows what to expect and someone else is there making sure nothing is skipped.

2. Tell people when and where to be for the photo shoot. A list is great as long as you notify everyone on it. Be sure to tell let them know of the times, places and attire for their photo and to be on time. If you have to, tell your chronically late friends and family members to be there earlier than necessary. This is especially important for photos taken before the ceremony so the timing of the actual event isn't delayed.

3. Make sure that you and the wedding photographer have a clear understanding of what you are getting. If you didn't discuss black and white photos with him prior to the shoot but have some listed, he may not be prepared.

Also, if you want candid shots, make sure they are included in the price you decided on. Discussing the details of film type, poses, candid, and number of shots ahead of time means that when you get the bill, there won't be any surprises.

4. Be respectful of the process. Yes, this is your day. But if you're feeling chaotic, just imagine how the photographer feels trying to reign in all the chaos around him for a photo. Bridesmaids, groomsmen, parents, children, friends, family-everyone milling about, talking, and getting in the way.

The wedding photographer is used to dealing with a lot of people at once, but to make sure you get what you want and keep him happy by being organized. It may even be necessary to politely ask those not in photos to leave the room.

Following the steps above can really ease your mind and make the whole process run smoothly for everybody involved. You can make sure the ceremony starts on time and that everyone gets to the reception before all the food is gone! The wedding photographer is responsible for recording this day so treat him well and you'll be happy with the results.

The "First Look" is typically staged in an a visually interesting area, the "First Look" is when the bride and groom have the opportunity to see each other for the first time dressed for the wedding before the ceremony. It also provides a fantastic photo opportunity of the bride coming up behind the groom who has his back turned to her, then the emotions flow as he turns to see his beautiful wife-to-be, in her gown for the first time. Fun and romantic photos you won't get the traditional way.

Why has the "First Look" become so popular with Brides? What are the benefits of a "First Look"?

I know what you're thinking...I want my fianc矇's "first look" to be when I walk down the aisle.
True, that look he'll give you when he sees you walk down the aisle is priceless. But, seeing you before that event will not change that magical moment. That look on his face as you walk down the aisle, will be there no matter what. The "First Look" emotions at the actual wedding are also tied to the emotions of your Father giving you away, the emotions of having all of your family and friends surrounding you and the emotions of realizing that it is, your wedding. However, when you get down the aisle, you don't get to hug, kiss, laugh together, jump around or dance, you immediately turn to the wedding minister and begin the ceremony. A quiet time to see each other before the ceremony is the sweetest thing. With a first look, you get the chance to be giddy and romantic together. Those genuine, "oh my god, you're so beautiful, I can't believe we're getting-married" photos are the photos you will cherish.

There are several other reasons why a "First Look" is a great idea.
First, you will be able to get a lot of your photographs taken so you can mingle with your guests when the ceremony is over. Just after the "First Look" couples can take their bridal party photos and Intimate couple bridal photos. Then, the only photos that are left after the ceremony are a couple of family portraits. You'll get to attend your own cocktail reception and have a drink or two, maybe even some Hors d'oeuvres!

Most importantly, having the time dedicated to couple photos will ensure there will be relaxed, romantic and amazing photos of the two of you. Couples who do not have "First Look" photos taken often have a few photos of the just the two of them because of the limited time to do the intimate couple Bridal photos, bridal party photos and the family portraits in 60 minutes before the reception begins. (Family photos alone take a minimum of 35 minutes no matter how you prepare and ask everyone involved to cooperate.) This can be very stressful and very distracting from the your wedding celebration. Most likely, you will miss the cocktail reception and time with your friends and family.

Here is a sample Wedding Day Schedule with a "First Look" photo session:
Bride and Groom getting ready
Bridal Portraits
First Look
Intimate Couple Bridal Photos
Bridal Party photos
Return to dressing room for final touch-ups
Ceremony
Formal Family Photos and Cocktail Hour
Reception

Another reason a "First Look" is a great idea is because you will be taking your intimate couple photos right after your hair and makeup has been done. You'll look your best for the photos that will most likely mean the most to you.

Respectfully there are couples that still prefer to not see each other until she's walking down the aisle. Every wedding day is so personal and unique. The Bride and Groom's preferences are followed above all else. From my perspective, however, the "First Look" is a great addition to the wedding day experience!

If there's a day that every married couple will forever cherish in their hearts is the day they got married. Such beautiful moments can be captured and showcased in the most distinctive manner by using elegant wedding photo frames. However, without good knowledge on the various types of picture casings available, finding the right one may seem tricky.

The most popular picture cases would be the decorative casings that come in a wide array of classic finishes and elegant designs that will sweep you off your feet. Whether you are an individual with an eye for cases adorned in shiny jewels, authentic silver, glassy enamel or gold leaf pictorials, rest assured that you will love these types of wedding photo frames. These casings are also branded as the best gifts you can ever give to a newlywed couple since they can only hold one picture at a time.

The other type of wedding photo frames are the collage casings, which are best used by couples who would like to showcase not one, but several pictures all engulfed in one casing. It really doesn't matter whether your snapshots are reserved, outspoken or just fun pictures taken at the reception garden, as they are all bound to command attention from any onlooker. What's more, with these kinds of picture casings, you can easily personalize them by adding ornamental mats printed with adorable messages, poems, marriage vows or notes inscribed on them.

Scrapbook wedding photo frames are also another fabulous type that you can use to showcase some of your favorite marriage pages in a stylish scrapbook casing. Using these casings is the only way that you can create unforgettable moment collections and awesome reminders like cake napkins, invitations, vows and much more. Put your best art foot forward and see how unsurpassed you can be when it comes to personalizing and coming up with an incredible scrapbook page for your entire ceremony.

The other picture casings that are also popular in showcasing relic moments are engraved casings that come adorned in vast finish designs and sizes, all meant to instill a lasting memory of your marriage ceremony. These casings are mostly made from three precious metals that comprise of silver plate, pewter and authentic silver, which give an all impressive look on any of your pictures confined within them.

Last but not least is the shadow box wedding photo frames rated as the best when it comes to preservation of very exceptional marriage mementos. These casings can exhibit various items such as invitations to your ceremony, imprinted napkins, bride's cloak, bridegroom's boutonniere and marriage cake figures, just to mention a few. No matter what the picture size or shape it may come in, the shadow box case has room for it.

So, whether you are already married or planning to get married, be sure to have all those stunning moments captured and displayed in a more fashionable and elegant manner that will make every eye bulge with delight.

Your wedding is one of those events in your life that may only happen once. You would want to remember that day until you are old. The best way to do this is to capture the moments in photographs. While videography is becoming more common, nothing beats the power of still photographs. You can compile the best images into one album with the help of a professional photographer.

Putting together an album is not as simple as tossing and shuffling photographs. You have to look into some qualities so it will become the perfect remembrance.

Style

Your photo album should be in line with the motif of your special day. Consistency is key when designing wedding paraphernalia. Just like you and your partner, everything should match so they will work well together. A well suited photo album is good on the eyes. It sets up the same atmosphere as your happiest day captured by your wedding photographer during the ceremony and reception. How you design your album reflects the emotions you felt during those moments.

Story Telling

When you are older and your grand kids ask you to tell them about your love story, the best way to narrate it is through pictures. The photos should tell a story instead of just presenting beautiful images. It may tell them how you first met until you reached the altar and had your first child. You can reminisce your most special day with your grand kids with all the memories still fresh through the photos. You can tell them about something funny that happened during the cutting of the cake. Make them laugh about how you and your spouse could not even dance well to the most romantic tune of the time.

The arrangement of photographs should be easy to follow. Not all photos may have the best quality when they were taken, but it is the story inside them that matters. You never know, the photographer may have snapped a trivial detail on a rather candid photo. Do not simply throw away some photos you think were half-blurred or out of focus. Put sections in the album and treat it like a book with progressing chapters. All these will be easy and possible by the help of your wedding photographer.

Durability

Say, 200 years down the line, people from the future found your album. While some pictures may no longer be clear, the album should be enough to summarise your love story. Use materials that are resistant to easy wear and tear. There are different methods on how you can preserve printed photos. Do your own research and place your photos carefully in an album that can let it age gracefully. Storage is also a factor so keep your album away from moisture or heat that can cause the photos to melt.

The photographer you hire may also create your album as part of their services. Make sure to add your input into it to give it a more personalised feel.

One of the first questions a photographer that is entering the wedding field will have is what equipment is needed in order to cover the day in full. That is a very good question and an arbitrary one at that. I am going to do my best to name some of the equipment that I find to be most useful. I will also try and name some equipment that is helpful, but not a necessity. Let's get started!

The first item that you need is obviously a camera. And not only one camera, but two cameras. Murphy is walking around and looking for his next victim and you do not want to have to explain to your clients why you cannot continue to cover their "once-in-a-lifetime" event. If you do not have two cameras, no problem. You can rent good quality cameras online for a very reasonable price. There is no reason that you should not have a backup camera. My suggestion is to get a camera exactly like the one you have and set all of the settings the same so that you will be able to work seamlessly. Another advantage to having an extra camera is that you will be able to equip it with another lens and have it handy for fast shooting.

The second item(s) on the list is, of course, are lenses. Notice that lens is plural, meaning that you need more than one. I have bought many lenses trying to get the perfect combination. The truth is that you can cover a whole wedding with two lenses, no matter what the size, or location, or condition of the wedding. The two lenses of choice are the 24-70mm f/2.8 and the 70-200mm f/2.8. Most every manufacturer of lenses makes these two focal lengths. The wide aperture is very important in wedding photography because of the low-light situations that you WILL encounter. You will use f/2.8 a lot. These two lenses will cover everything from a wide shot to a really zoomed in shot. Another reason that two lenses is good is because you only have to keep up with two lenses. When I use prime lenses, it seems that I am always having to retrace my steps and look for a lens that I hid somewhere think that I would remember to get it. (I guess I should add an assistant to this list so that you have someone keeping up with your gear.)

Third item on the list, a camera flash. I understand that most cameras have a flash built into them, but sometimes (and most of the time) they just don't put out the power that is needed. I recommend that you get a flash that you can tilt and swivel the head. This will allow you to bounce the light off of the ceiling and walls and give a much more natural look to your photos. Not only can you tilt and swivel the head of these flashes, but they also put out a lot more power than a built-in flash. In wedding photography, there will be times when you will need a substantial amount of flash power, like the reception when most of the lights are dimmed. You can pick up a decent flash for around $200.

And the fourth and final item on the list is a combination item. Memory cards and batteries. Be sure to have enough memory cards and batteries. These things are cheap and you should have plenty of them. It would be bad to run out of battery power and/or storage space. Here is why: My first wedding I only had about 20GB worth of storage space. I brought my laptop in order to dump my files that way I could format my card and never run out of space. I filled up a card and then started to dump the files. When I got back to my laptop, I found that someone had managed to step on my cord and unplug my laptop from the wall. It was off... Thank goodness I did not format that card. All of my images were there, but it was a big enough scare that I promised to always be prepared from then on. Batteries are the same. You cannot rely on charging batteries at the venue. Things happen unexpectedly and you have to account for those things beforehand.

This list is a bare minimum that I would carry to any wedding. It always helps to have backups of every item. For instance, a couple of flashes, a few lenses, tons of batteries and memory cards. I understand the cost associated with photography equipment and that is precisely why I wanted to compile a needs list of equipment for wedding photographers. I hope this article was informative and stay tuned for more tips in the near future.

Life is a journey and is divided into various stages, right from birth till death. Everyone has to go through these different stages and 'Marriage' is an important stage of ones life.

Marriage brings together two unknown people and binds them in such a strong relationship that it becomes the most important. Everyone loves to celebrate their with their near and dear ones, friends and family. Each and every anniversary makes the relationship stronger and stronger. In this way the life goes on and people reach their 25th Silver Wedding Anniversary. Another unforgettable day in ones life is the and gifts are an important part of it. Now we will discuss about some Gifts.

Silver Wedding Anniversary is an auspicious occasion in ones life and should be celebrated with everyone so that it becomes the most memorable day for the rest of the life. On this day when everything is so important how can Silver Wedding Anniversary Gifts be left behind? Since it is the Silver Wedding Anniversary, silver can be a good idea as Gift as it will be traditional as well as modern idea. Jewelry made of silver as gift will add to the celebrations. Silver showpieces, silver crockery, watches with silver plated band, silver plates can be good gift ideas and will make the day most memorable for ones spouse. Besides these, if one can write a poem for one's spouse and get it engraved on a silver plate, nothing can be better than that. Diamond ring is the most sophisticated gift one can give to his/her spouse on their 25th Wedding Anniversary. One can even plan a holiday or go for movie, theatre, etc. Apart from these flowers, cakes, chocolates, cards are always there for celebration.

Wedding Photo Frame can also be a good Silver Wedding Anniversary gift as it will lock the beautiful moment for the rest of their lives. One can present silver Wedding Photo Frame or can personalize it. Jewel Wedding Photo Frame is another good idea. There are a variety of such wedding photo frames available in the market. These jewel photo frames are designed with beads, pearls, precious and semi precious stones, glass chips and mirrors. Embroidered photo frames are also available. One can also make such frames using their creative sense and present to their spouse as it will have that personal touch to make them feel special throughout their lives.

Gifts are so important as they show love and affection the person has for his/her spouse. Gifts make the special day unforgettable which one can cherish all their lives. Silver Wedding Anniversary Gifts should be chosen with great care so that the day becomes the most memorable day of the couple's life. Among all the gifts good gift idea as it will encase that wonderful moment for the rest of one's life. Rest assured that the person will be happy to receive a photo frame as a wedding anniversary gift.

You are recently engaged and embarking on the hard yards of planning a wedding. The Service and Reception have been booked, and you come to the Photography. This is where the nightmare starts!

Wedding Photography is a mine field - so many products to chose from, so many photographers to chose from. Where do you start?

The internet is the place of choice these days. The thing to remember with your Google search is that the businesses on the first page are not necessarily there due to being the best - sometimes they are there as they pay big bucks to Google to be there. Getting a good page on Google is big business - and more competitive than the actual photography market!!! Moreover, it might pay to have a look further down the list rather than focusing on the first couple of pages - you might find better value for money this way.

Next step - getting a ball park figure. As a consumer, we understand the need to have some idea of pricing, so as to not waste the time of either party. Therefore, we like to know and work with a ball park figure. As business owners, many photographers are happy to give a ball park figure, however, are reluctant to send a price list via email. The reason for this is due to the fact that generally, price lists do not cover the detail of the products that are available. Also, when you buy a car, would you even consider without first having a look at the physical product? Photography is the same. To see and feel a physical product is vastly different to seeing it online. Hence, get a ball park figure, and if this is within your budget, make an appointment.

The next question is "How many photographers do I see?" Well, you have the choice on being overwhelmed on one or two occasions, or on lots of occasions. See, the thing with Wedding Photography is the number of choices. Knowing what you want is a good place to start when going to see a photographer.

You tell them what you want, and let them give you a quote. Doing the research online is a good way to find out what products are available. When you go to see your photographer, have a list of questions ready.

It is human nature to want to compare. However, if when you go to see the first photographer, the following is true, then consider if you REALLY need to confuse the issue by seeing another one-You LOVE the style and quality of photography, You LOVE the album design concept, You have a good rapport with the photographer (make sure it is the photographer you will have on the day!!!) and The package is within your budget -Makes sense hey!

During the initial consultation, the wedding photographer will provide you with loads of information. There are so many products available, and so many variations on each product, it becomes very overwhelming.

The photographer will be trying to get an idea of your needs by asking a series of questions. At the same time, you will begin to build rapport with the photographer. It is very important that you feel comfortable with the photographer, as they will be with you the whole day of the most important day of your life.

You are also going to spend a lot of time with them after the wedding. If the energy between the two of you does not work, then move on! Allow at LEAST 1-1.5 hours for the Initial Consultation, and remember to take a list of questions.

Don't skip the initial wedding photography consultation.

Nowadays, it is quite easy to find cheap photo printing services. Lots of websites are now offering great discounts to their valued customers due to the growth of mainstream photo printing services.

Cheap Photo Printing Services

The famous photo printing services online that gives quality services at low prices are Canvas People, SmugMug.com and SnapFish.com. Each of them offers different kind of special service that you may find helpful in enhancing the beauty of the project you're working on. Through these sites, you will be able to create an album of memories which would be great to give away as a gift or display in your house.

They also provide enticing printing ideas that you will absolutely love. Some of which are: large poster prints, specialized invitation cards, customized thank you cards, photo books, apparel, calendars and mugs, all of which includes unique photos of your choice. With all of these offers, you will surely enjoy printing out the memorable moments of your life.

Canvas People

Canvas People is one reliable photo printing service that will alter your cherished photo into an aesthetic canvas. It would be great for keeping your treasured family portrait. The canvas can also make a great wedding or birthday gift to your friends and relatives.

At this moment, Canvas People is offering a free 8x10 canvas, which is worth $49.99. You don't need any coupon code to avail the promo. Just keep the canvas unframed and select "no effect". You will only have to pay for the shipping price of the canvas that costs $14.95.

SmugMug.Com

SmugMug.com would be the best choice for professional photographers who need to upload hundreds of images at a time. The SmugMug.com became popular for their infinite image storage that will ease you from worrying if you're taking too much photos. They also store extra copies of these images in 3 places so you are assured that your files are secured and safe.

You also don't have to worry about spam and other irritating advertisements since SmugMug.com is free from such. All of your photos will be stored in high-resolution. For professional photographers, you even have the option of pricing your images and sell them online.

SnapFish.com

HP operates the SnapFish.com. It offers a vast collection of photo gifts that you may choose from. Some of their unique photo gifts include: baby bid, diaper bag, dog collars, puzzles, wall clocks and decorative pillow.

SnapFish.com best fits mothers because most of their promos are for babies. Their recent promotions are 20 free prints, less $2 on a $10 order and $5 less on $25 worth of order. They also offer free shipping on special occasions.

Existence of Cheap Digital Photo Printing

The existence of online digital photo printing has allowed customers to avoid from buying an expensive photo printer for home-use. This eliminates the need to buy photo papers, ink and other materials. Thus, cheap photo printing services are very helpful not only in giving excellent services but also by offering them at much lower costs.

Like most ideas, choosing to make your wedding invitations requires a lot of thought. If you have thought about something classy, you may want to use vellum paper. Vellum paper is a very shear paper. It comes in clear, cloudy and even in colors.

Usually when you use vellum you will use it to put your type on. It is then put in the front of a photo, a mirror kote card or a scenic design. This can give a very sophisticated look.

Add a couple punched out holes to the vellum and backer. Now you can string a ribbon through. Tie a bow with it and you will have a nice clean look.

You can also just use the vellum as a card. Usually when this is the invitation itself it is folded. This gives a darker background so you can read the type.

When you make your invitations with vellum you want to continue to use this for your RSVP and reception cards. You will use a standard white envelope. They do make the vellum envelopes but I don't think they are practical for this use.

By having this vellum you won't have to worry about typing over the background image. The sheerness of the paper gives that transparent look. You can use almost any backer you choose. This can be a great way to send a photo and not write on it.

You could easily use a 4 x 6 photo can put this on as an overlay. Use some post a note glue and they can easily detach the photo to frame later. You can write on vellum but if you want to make other RSVP cards standard white card stock is always a safe bet.

You may have to do some research for vellum paper. You don't want to confuse this will vellum card stock. Vellum card stock just means a smooth finish. Vellum paper is transparent. Both can be good choices but are totally different.

So if you want to make your wedding invitations consider using a vellum paper. It can allow you many color choices and photo backgrounds.

There are almost as many strange and wacky wedding traditions as there are cultures in the world. If you or your bride plan to use any of these weird traditions, it might be a good idea to give wedding cameras and photo album favors to your guests so that they can capture the fun and share the joy with their friends and families that could not attend. While most of these traditions had much deeper meanings many years ago, now they are practiced just for fun. Read on for some of the strangest wedding beliefs and traditions from all over the world.

In Germany, the wedding couples wear their wedding rings on the right hand. There does not seem to be any significance in this other than just a difference in tradition. They also have a strange custom that takes place after the couple is married as opposed to the usual traditions that take place just before the wedding. Once the couple says their I Do's, they go outside to find a log lain across either sawhorse or blocks. There is only one saw. The couple must saw through the wood, working as a team. The amount of difficulty they have is supposed to be indicative of what kind of marriage they will enjoy together. If they can work together and get the job done with relative ease, they will have a happy marriage. If not, they will have a rocky one. This tradition is simply called "Sawing."

In Blacking the Bride or Blackening the Bride, the poor wife to be is run down and covered in all kinds of terrible substances. They will use anything that smells badly and will even cook up some foul smelling sauces. Spoiled milk and rotten eggs are often used as well. The bride is then parade up and down the main street of town for all to see. This tradition takes place in Scotland. Some traditions hold that bride is blackened and some say it is the groom. There are also those who blacken both the bride and the groom. It just depends on the particular family. In all the rituals, however, the final act of the blackening is to tar the victim with molasses and douse them with feathers.

There is an Indian tradition that is called Mehndi in which the bride is painted in intricate patterns in ink. Her hands and her feet are covered in these beautiful designs. India's weddings are celebrated for days at a time and there are beautiful songs and dances that go with the mehndi tradition.

The Irish believe that it is bad luck for the bride's feet to leave the floor during her wedding day. It is said that fairies will get under her feet and whisk her away, never to be seen again. The point is that these evil little fairies love beautiful things such as brides and they will go to great lengths to get them. The bride is particularly vulnerable when she is on the dance floor so she has to be very careful to drag her feet while dancing. The person she dances with is held responsible should she disappear.

It is considered very bad luck to wear green to an Irish wedding. No matter where you are, your wedding traditions are a fun way to honor the past and carry on the ways of your family and their customs.

Custom Wedding Anniversary Invitations for All Anniversary Parties

A Wedding Anniversary is an occasion that should be celebrated in a big way. When you select the unique Anniversary Invitations that match the particular milestone and theme, you can set the tone for your party and move on to other planning details. Regardless of whether you decide to use an online template or design a custom invite, shopping online makes it so much more simply. You can find the perfect Anniversary Party Invites for your special event, regardless of whether it is a First, 10th, Silver 25th or Golden 50th.

An Invitation for an Anniversary doesn't have to be the boring and just like all those pre-printed ones at your local retail store in the corner mall. By shopping online, many sites offer personalize and instant preview features that allow you to add you very own special invitation wording, photo and then, best of all, you can instantly preview your very own party stationery you just created!

Planning the Wedding Anniversary Party Details

If an anniversary is on the horizon, it should be celebrated in a big way. Anniversaries Wedding Invites should fit the theme of the party and the milestone that is being celebrated to make sure that you get the most from the stationary that you choose. By finding the right invitation cards, you will be on your way to planning an event that will be fun, enjoyable and remembered for a long time by all.

Enjoying Anniversary Invitation Cards

The Internet has made it quick and easy to have personalized Anniversary Invitations. With just a little time and effort at many of the e-commerce sites, you will be able to customize an invite to ensure the personal touch that you want and need are included. So, take a quick look, and you will be simply amazed at how helpful many of the websites will be in your search.

50th Anniversary Celebrations

A gigantic celebration for a 50th Golden Anniversary is totally justified, since few couples actually reach this particular milestone. Designing customized Golden 50th Invites allows you to ensure your marriage stationery is much more personal and unique. Adding a before photo and today's picture of the lucky couples to the invite has really become a favorite and is an instant conversation subject.

The Ever Important Silver 25th Anniversaries

Celebrating the 25th Silver occasion can be great fun, too. Since this milestone is considered the "silver" one, it lends itself as an excellent theme and a wonderful way to celebrate your family member or friends fun milestone. Just go to the e-commerce sites offering creative styles and make your anniversaries parties invites selection that you will be proud of. A few sites even offer same day shipping means that there is very little waiting to receive your order!

Remembering the Anniversary Party

The stationary that you choose can also be a memento of the party celebration. If you take the time to custom create it with photos and your own sayings, it will offer you a unique way to remember this special Wedding Anniversary event. Just take a look at the vast selections available online to help you to find just the right one.

Customized stationery for occasions like these can be quick and easy if you avail yourself of the many features and tools offered by a few of the better online shops. There are a few that offer a wide variety of designs for you, or they will allow you to create your own. Regardless of the method you select, you have many ways to make your Wedding Anniversary Party truly special.

The first thing you may need is a very creative photographer. Check out the photographer's portfolio to see if the photographer is indeed creative.

Then once you've found your photographer, look around the Net to see what you think are creative wedding photographs. Granted, ocean shots are very creative, but you may not be having your wedding in Maui. On the other hand, you may admire shots that contain distant mountains, but if you live in South Florida, that's just not going to happen.

Most creative shots are creative because they properly use the venue of your wedding. For example if you are getting married in a huge gothic cathedral in Europe, then many of your creative shots will include the rounded stained glass windows that serve as fantastic backgrounds for any photographer.

Outline shots taken against the sun, or even the moon require not only a good eye but also a knowledgeable photographer to get the settings correct. Special shots that take in a huge amount of background but yet have the bride and groom centralized in the shot are often taken with a different kind of lens, such as a fisheye lens.

Anytime you find a very creative shot, save it on your computer and then you will have many such shots to discuss with the potential photographer. Some very creative shots merely just happen. For instance shots of the bride and groom dancing in the dark may simply have required a bit of photographic artistry on the photographer's side.

Allowing a bouquet of flowers in the foreground with the bride and groom in the distance is sometimes very creative. Another may have the bride and groom feeding pigeons, or swans together.

The couple jumping joyfully with their feet bent under them is highly creative with the bride's veil floating upward to show their joy. The ubiquitous hands with rings picture can be made more creative by taking such a picture against the bride's garter. Or perhaps with both their hands positioned against a bible with the bride's bouquet off center, would be more creative in your eyes.

The bride bent backwards in her new husband's arms as they embrace is always very nice and extremely creative. It carries the mood of the wedding through the picture and into the viewer's hearts.

Many wish to see a picture of the groom's hand against the bride's butt as long as it does not offend any mores. A picture of the bride and groom being reflected upon still waters is exceedingly creative.

Some other creative shots may involve the bride and groom playing peek-a-boo around a large pillar or column and giggling at each other lovingly. Arms and hands that are wrapped around each other always make for creative pictures of the couple. Before your wedding practice a few in front of a large mirror so that your pictures will appear spontaneous and very loving.

You may also desire for the photographer to be located above you for a very creative perspective. A church balcony should offer that chance. Placing the bride two feet higher than the husband and wrapping her arms around his is often a great way to show off that new ring too. You and your photographer just need to look for photo opportunities that are creative.

I remember back to when I got married and the sheer frustration of browsing through all the photographers in my area led me to almost give up completely! Of course, that was impossible and seeing as it was the one "task" I had to complete in the planning of my wedding, I decided to make sure I did it right. I want to share my tips on what to look for when choosing your wedding photographer to spare you the frustration I went through and to separate the wheat from the chaff.

1. Transparent Pricing

Yes, pricing is number one on my list! Many photographers like to hide their prices to force you call them. This in turn allows them to start the "hard sell" on you. It's also likely they will have other hidden extras somewhere down the line too... be it extra charges for printing photographs or extra to cover your reception at night. Make sure any photographer you are considering has a transparent pricing structure in place and has a "no hidden extras" clause in his or her contract.

2. A Portfolio From A Full Wedding

Ask your photographer to show you an album from a recent wedding instead of the hand picked "best of the best" you will see on their website. This gives you a great chance to see if the photographer can seamlessly blend all the parts of your big day together to create a set of memories you can cherish forever. It would also be wise to ask to see photographs from weddings where the weather was bad or where the reception hall was particularly dark to ensure the photographer can handle all types of situations.

3. Meet Your Shortlisted Photographers

A big part of wedding photography is personality and how well the photographer and happy couple get on in each other's company. That's why I always advocate meeting your potential photographers in person before you book them on their photographs alone. This allows you to see if you can work together, if your photographer has good "people skills" to be able to manage your wedding party and to see overall if the photographer has what it takes or just talks a good game on his or her website!

4. Word Of Mouth

This is the one time where that constant nattering on the street corner can actually pay off! Most people get married and practically every wedding has a photographer! So ask your friends if they have any recommendations for you or indeed if they know of any photographers to avoid. The industry revolves around word of mouth and if a photographers has a bad reputation in your local area then you can bet that there is a reason for it. Also check on internet forums for reviews of wedding photographers and you'll be sure to find either positive or negative reinforcements.

5. Trust YOUR Gut

You know the wedding photography style you are looking for. You know the types of people you like to be around. You know exactly what you desire from your photography. When you are considering photographers, it's wise to trust your gut and give more thought to those who catch your attention when you reach their website. Only you can make the decision so after all said and done, trust your instincts!

I hope this article has been helpful in your search for a wedding photographer. You are planning for one of the biggest days of your life and you must be so excited! Try to relax and enjoy the process even at those times you feel like calling it all off!