Category Archives: Wedding
JUST LEAVE THE IPAD AT HOME – Orlando Event Photographer
Now that graduation is over I have been reminded of one of my “pet peeves” and I see that many of you are not aware of how annoying this little trend actually is, so with that being said, I give you a PSA:
Dear people of the world, and especially people who attend weddings, graduations and school events. We ALL have children and family members we would like to see and capture in images and video, but when you lift your IPAD up and in the way of those of us trying to actually enjoy the events for ourselves, you not only block our shots, but you block our view of the event! Maybe it’s just me, but people used to be considerate of others, especially during a group event, but the IPAD craze is so out of control. I worked 3 graduations for the class of 2014 and during the last event I was in the center aisle attempting to capture each graduate as they marched in. A person seated near the aisle whipped out her IPAD and moved in and out of my shot for the entire processional. I was paid to capture the images for the families and the school…but I had to work very hard at not only making sure the graduates were each captured as they walked up the aisle, but to ensure that the IPAD was NOT in any of my shots. I politely cropped out the person with the IPAD from my shot, but could not crop out her device, which is very apparent in almost every shot as the graduates came up the aisle. So very sad. 
Let’s play “Can You Spot the IPAD”?
I was recently at a graduation I had been hired to photograph for a client and I stood, patiently waiting for the graduate I was capturing to have her turn on the stage. While I was waiting, I was run over, literally run over by two small children who were sent the the front of the room with their parent’s IPAD and were making lots of noise trying to troubleshoot and capture the graduate come across the stage, all while talking loudly and moving the device constantly. Another lady stood next to me on the side area and literally asked me out loud why her IPAD was taking photos that were so bright? Ma’am, I cannot answer you in public, in front of 500 people, nor will I fix your device when I am hired to work an event. She ran off and captured images anyway, none of which were of any use.
While I continued to watch people trip over themselves to run up aisles with an IPAD and observed people trying to move, shift and lift their heads to be able to actually see over the person’s IPAD in the row in front of them, the thought occurred to me that occurs to me more and more, ever since I became an event photographer. Why don’t more people actually want to be present in a moment and enjoy it? This is something I am trying to do more of myself. For me, I work and carry a camera all the time and it is my job to be looking, searching for the little moments and entails that my clients will want to remember. But when I am at events for my own family, I sometimes shudder at the thought of having to bring along my gear and have to sit through an event (or stand off to the side, so I can get my shot)…I hate missing my own events because I am having to look through a lens. The last few events for my kids I didn’t even bring along the big camera…just an iPhone. I captured some quick video and one snap of my kids “after” the event took place and actually sat and enjoyed watching them get awards and enjoy the moment as it happened.
I do weddings and events almost every weekend, and I cannot tell you how many times I am dying over an IPAD in a ceremony shot. There’s nothing like the father of the bride walking his beautiful daughter down the aisle…and wait, what’s that in between their heads? Auntie June with an IPAD, extended out so it’s actually in the aisle and now making a BIG, GIANT, SQUARE in between their heads, ruining my beautiful shot. I used to make every effort to Photoshop them out, but now the craze has become so common that I cannot possibly take the time to get all the devices out of the shots.
Has it come to this, people of America? Are we so Iphone and IPAD addicted that we cannot even attend an event and be present, physically and mentally present in the moment anymore, without an instant Facebook upload, Tweet or to be the first one to take a selfie as the event takes place. Even in church, people seem to forget the fact that a wedding ceremony is a sacred thing. I always get upset when the church gives me a 2-3 page document, describing what my “Rules” are when it comes to photographing a wedding in a church, and I’m told “no flash photography” and to “Be respectful”, but as I stand in the back of the church I witness countless flashes going off from the guests, and ALL of them have their cameras and phones out…ALL of them. I respect that they want it captured as well, but why are the professionals told in churches to be respectful and many times we are event told we cannot even be IN the sanctuary when the ceremony takes place, so we are told we can take photos in the balcony. Why is this the case when nobody else in the church is expected to respect the sanctuary? I can assure you that I am more respectful than many of the guests I see in ceremonies every weekend. This photo is still beautiful to me, and I love and adore these clients and their entire family. I just wish for them that they had all been able to actually see them walk down the aisle in person, and not through and LCD screen.
For those of you who are the guilty parties I am speaking of here, who make that split-second decision as you lace up your suit and tie and grab up the bulky IPAD before you run out the door, I implore you to PLEASE think twice before bringing it to your next event. Please be considerate of all the other people who want to either be present or capture the event discreetly. Discretion goes a LONG way, but in the age of selfies every five minutes, nobody has much discretion in their behavior anymore.
For those of you who won’t listen to me and bring along the IPAD, I have a secret for you…I’ve seen your IPAD images on your screen…I cant avoid seeing them from behind you as you lift and move your bulky device all over the place in front of me, and don’t think I don’t see your blurry, out of focus and underexposed image or video that is basically going to be worthless, because and IPAD ISN’T INTENDED TO BE USED AS A “PRIMARY” CAMERA OR VIDEO CAMERA…Think about who really wants your grainy, out of focus images? Does the bride want yours over the professional who was hired? How about the parents of the kids I was capturing who were graduating? Do you think your IPAD shots will be better from a side angle, as they are blurring while the child walks past? Digital cameras come in all shapes and sizes and you don’t need big and bulky equipment to capture amazing stuff. They are quite affordable too. In my opinion, if you can afford an IPAD, you can afford to invest in good camera equipment, so your IPAD isn’t lost, stolen or damaged at an event as well.
I rant, because I am the one who sits and studies images from every type of event I shoot for hours on end. I see and study each image and marvel at how many people have lost their minds at these events now days. PLEASE take my advice and the next time you go to an event, JUST BE PRESENT…bring your camera but use it AFTER the event is over to capture memories you can ensure will be amazing. Most event hire professionals to cover them anyway, so be at peace knowing your event will be captured so you can simply enjoy watching your child march down the aisle. Digital cameras come in all shapes and sizes and you don’t need big and bulky equipment to capture amazing stuff. They are quite affordable too. In my opinion, if you can afford an IPAD, you can afford to invest in good camera equipment, so your IPAD isn’t lost, stolen or damaged at an event as well.
The next time you leave for an event, please take my advice…LEAVE YOUR IPAD AT HOME. We ALL thank you!
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Also posted in Senior Portraits, Uncategorized
Tagged graduation, IPAD, IPAD at event, IPAD at graduation, IPAD at wedding
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ADVICE FROM YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER: HIRE A PLANNER & KNOW YOUR VENDORS! – Orlando wedding photographer
The great and wise Maya Angelou said, “When you know better, you do better”. So for the sake of informing so many new brides-to-be about how they can avoid wedding-day disasters, I am going to offer up some advice you can take or leave. I hope you take it to heart and listen intently to what I am saying, because I am genuinely saying it to help you avoid a wedding day disaster or dissapointment.
A little background on this post…
I work weddings almost every weekend and I see all kinds of things happen. Most of them are good things, actually amazing and touching moments and celebrations of love. The guests arrive, the couple is married, they dance, eat and celebrate with their family and friends and drive off into their “Happily Ever After”, all without a hitch, right? What the family, the friends, the weddings guests and the couple don’t always see is how the team of vendors they have selected works together, in sync to make sure the day goes off without any glitches. It’s like a well-coordinated dance with a partner and if one of the team members is not interested in having a “team” mentality and instead goes rogue things can fall apart quickly. But when a team works together and communicates well and plays nicely with the other team members, the end result is a group of professionals, a “Dream Team” so-to-speak that creates a unique and special day, with every detail just as the couple imagined.
Most weddings go off without a hitch, but there are always wedding disasters…to determine how big or what qualifies as a disaster, you have to know whether or not the “incident” actually effected the wedding day timeline, the wedding itself, or the bride and groom were even aware. Many times little things happen throughout every wedding day, so flexibility is a big part of getting married. You have to be good to “go with it”, because like I tell my brides, the most important thing is that you are getting married to the love of your life today, and while all the little stuff matters, you can’t let it ruin your whole day. That is easy to do…”let the little stuff go” when a bride and groom have the confidence that the team of vendors they have chosen has got everything under control and will handle, fix and take care of efficiently any unexpected issue that should arise that day. It’s very hard to do if you, the bride are feeling pressure to handle a situation the day of your wedding because you don’t have an advocate like a planner or someone to delegate resolving issues when they arise. I’ve seen my share of brides without planners, weeping in the hair and make-up chair, or yelling at grooms on the cell phone in frustration over having to handle every last detail while trying to enjoy their day. I hate walking in to a room and seeing my bride crying…in fact, I hate seeing my brides or grooms upset with any part of their day not going exactly according to their plans, ever…it shouldn’t ever be like that, in my opinion!
Now you have a little history, so with that being said, every once in a while I work an event that makes me say,
“I’m gonna have to blog about this”…
First, let me start by saying this is not a post to trash or rant about bad wedding planners or vendors…in fact, it is just the opposite! I want to show you how bad things can get when you don’t hire a good planners or professionals to work for you on your wedding day. I think you SHOULD hire a wedding planner to help with any part of the process you don’t feel you can handle on your own, but that is NOT all a wedding planner does or should do. A good planner does SO MUCH MORE and is worth their weight in GOLD! I see ALL KINDS OF THINGS…and I mean NOTHING shocks or horrifies me, after seeing so many wedding day disasters and tragedies from brides who didn’t hire a planner. I’ve also seen so many situations that could have gone terribly wrong, be avoided by having the right person in planer (a planner) there to put out fires and make sure your day goes perfectly, without a hitch, or if there are hitches and disasters, nobody is any worse for the wear, because they are handled so quickly and beautifully they do not even interrupt the wedding day!
I am going to walk you through a recent wedding day that was poorly managed by a “planner” who worked for a chair rental company, and clearly had not done many events. She was very sweet and pleasant but not confident and didn’t have much foresight to handle a situation before it arose. It happened to me at a recent wedding of an amazing young couple and their wonderful family. They planned their wedding rather quickly and I wasn’t even sure they would have a planner the day of, because everything was planned so quickly. I was so pleased when I received a call from their wedding planner before the wedding, because I know how important it is to have a planner assisting the couple and family through the important details of the day. After our phone call, I forwarded my wedding day photography timeline to the planner and received no response…that is never a good sign, but I had communicated with my bride, so I knew hat she knew the plan for the day and we were good. The wedding day arrives and I showed up, ready to begin. I found the planner, who let me know the bride would be late. I jumped right in and grabbed the groom and took advantage of the time to get some detail shots and the groom’s portraits, while we waited for the bride to arrive and capture the “first look”.
The bride was late and very late getting into her gown, because she was running around looking for items she needed, a job a good planner would have assisted with. I ended up working to assist finding items, boutineers, help with getting bride in her dress and trying to keep the ladies on schedule, as much as possible, so we didn’t run behind with their portraits…all things I have no problem doing, but these are things a planner assists with. The planner was all over the place, appearing to be working, but seemed frazzled. The bride was finally dressed and the first look portraits were under way. I now had only 20 minutes instead of a full hour for the couple’s portraits, so I had to really work hard to get everything I wanted to do in that amount of time. I could have taken more time, but that would have made the event start late, and I hate to ever be late for any part of the day, so I rushed to finish up with the couple and get them to the wedding on time.
As I moved on to begin capturing candids of the wedding area and guests arriving I noticed a large crowd of guests not entering the wedding area. The wedding was standing room only, as it was a small outdoor space. The guests did not know if they were allowed to move into the wedding area, so they stayed, cramped into the back of the room, blocking the aisle. I rushed to find the planner to let her know she needed to be directing the guests to get in place. She came in but looked frazzled and nothing happened, so ultimately I ended up making sure everyone was moved and positioned so we had an actual aisle for the bride and family to walk down. The wedding was now 15 minutes behind schedule and no planner in sight.
The wedding began and seemed to go well. I notice little things that a good planner would have made sure didn’t happen, like the ring exchange from best man and maid of honor to bride and groom. As the best man and maid of honor went forward to hand the rings to the couple they didn’t know if they should stay on stage or go back to their seats, so they awkwardly stood and started towards their chairs, but then ended up staying by the bride and groom. Nobody else probably noticed, but it was clear that the planner had not given instructions on how to handle that. After the wedding I was ready for family portraits in front of the wedding ceremony area and nobody was to be found. A large group of guests were blocking the corridor areas and no planner in sight. When I finally found her, she told me the entire family had been moved to a location in front of the venue and she wanted me to move the entire family across the street to another location for family portraits. That was not the original plan, but for the sake of crowd control I moved everyone across the street. I generally don’t ask to move large family groups, to keep the elderly grandparents and small children from having to walk far distances. In this case, the planner clearly had not considered that. As we came back to the area where the cocktail hour was finishing up the bride asked the planner, “Where are the cocktails?” The planner looked perplexed…the bride then looked around again and realized there was no bar service for her guests during the cocktail hour because they had set up in the reception area. The planner shrugged and acted like she didn’t know why it didn’t happen…my mouth fell open and I found that to be unacceptable!
Family portraits were completed on time and I was ready to head over to the reception area to photograph it for about five minutes before the reception began, and before anyone was seated in the area. I finished up rather quickly and was ready to get everything going, so the schedule didn’t fall any farther behind. I notified the planner that I was ready and guests could begin getting seated at the reception but she was running around with a hand-written sheet of paper with names, looking for specific family members to personally seat them before the other guests were allowed to enter the area, all because there was no seating chart. She didn’t want anyone sitting in the family area, so her plan was to find each person and individually seat them, before allowing the other 80 guests to come in and find tables. You can imagine how that went over…crowds of people standing around and people “checking in” with her at the entrance of the reception as she asked, “Are you family or friends”…”family of the bride or groom” then she checked her list to see where they should be sitting…it was a night mare. It took almost 30 minutes to find the family and seat them at the correct tables, even with me assisting and finding people for her. That kind of stuff should NEVER happen on your wedding day. A professional would never have that happen.
Once the family was seated it was a free-for-all for the guests, and when everyone was inside there were at least 10 guests who had no table or chairs to sit at. Another disaster…I had to jump in again and suggest we take the only remaining table with the guest book and set it up for them to at least have a table to be seated at. I moved all the guest book and gifts to the cake table and got them seated so we could begin the reception, and now we were 30-40 minutes behind schedule. I was already aware that since he bride only booked me for a few hours, I would be leaving early before the reception was over, so starting late meant the bride would miss a lot of important shots during the reception. I took the initiative to go and speak to the bride and work out a new “timeline” to maximize the remaining time I would be there to capture her reception. We brought the DJ in and he was flexible and understanding of how the day was going and was very helpful in making the effort to get everything done the way the bride needed it to happen. We decided on dances then toasts, then dismiss guests for the buffet.
The DJ did his part in making the transition to the timeline smooth and worked with me so well to ensure the bride got what she needed. After the dances we were to go right to the toasts. The planner was busy hand pouring champagne glasses for all 80 guests that she never made it to the bride and groom’s table. I had to go find a bottle of champagne and make sure their glasses were filled…again, that is a job I was more than happy to do, but it is something the planner should have noticed or delegated. After toasts the planner was fixing the couple’s plates but had no plan to dismiss tables for guests with the DJ. The DJ met her at the back table and said he would just go and figure it out on his own and he did.
As the night ended I was exhausted and went to say goodnight to my bride, who thanked me, telling me, “You should totally be a wedding planner…without you tonight things would have been so crazy”! I felt like I was the planner for that event, but at the end of the day will do and did anything I could to make sure my bride and groom have a perfect day. I am always happy to play nice, work with a team and jump right in to fix hair, seat guests, pour champagne, get you into your gown and do whatever needs to be done, but remember, you pay me to capture the day and every second I spend doing other tasks is a second of your special day I can’t capture for you.
ADVICE:
Here is where the advice part comes in…when you hire a planner, please make sure they are a kind of planner that can get the job done, with confidence. How do you do that? Interview them…interview several, ask questions, ask how they work with other vendors, ask for specific situations they can share where they handled something that went wrong and helped avoid a day-of disaster. Make sure that they are not just a nice person that works for a company that handles wedding rentals, etc. They should be a professional planner and that is all they do! Planning should be their specialty, and they should have lots of experience and testimonials from happy brides. Any good vendor can provide you with those referrals.
*Interview ALL vendors
*Have a timeline with your planner and one for your photographer and make sure both sync up
*Make sure your vendors aren’t just “yes” people…make sure they are confident and can handle dealing with people and situations the day of your wedding
*If you hire a planner, they should make it easy to organize your entire day…ask them for things they do to help with that/suggestions, forms, etc.
*Cheap isn’t always better…you get what you pay for
*Experience is gold with professionals…hire people who have worked events at the venue you have selected and know the layout and the flow of that venue
*Ask your vendors for recommendations before you hire…they KNOW! They work beside professionals every weekend and know who is top-knotch and who is not
“When you know better, you do better”…and now you know. 
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New Products for Wedding & Family Clients – Orlando Wedding Photographer, Orlando Family Photographer
Trying to find products that enhance your brand is not always easy. I always order samples of products to test the quality and check to see if they are something I would like to have for myself before I ever offer them to clients. The truth is, there are a million cool looking products you can find for photo gifts and keepsakes, but not a lot of them are quality items. I have testing countless books, prints, story blocks and gallery wraps and stuck with the vendor items I felt were above industry standard.
For a while now I have been on a search for something a little different for my wedding clients. I wanted something special and a one-of-a-kind item that I could customize exclusively for them. I found these amazing image boxes and USB drives and immediately fell in love. Last month I ordered my test samples and was so impressed with the products that I have now added them to my Platinum wedding packages to replace the DVD set I had been sending. I love them so much I ordered a set for myself for keepsakes and I am also making them available for an additional purchase for my family clients as well. See for yourself and let me know what you think of the new products. The USB drives are so small and compact they could fit in your wallet. I have designed several templates I can use to customize the image boxes, which will make amazingly cute keepsakes for the prints that come with my wedding packages. Talk to me about upgrading your wedding or family packages to include the USB drives, image boxes or both.
Thank you, Artsy Couture for the amazing products.
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Also posted in Family Portraits
Tagged Artsy Couture, Family photography, Image boxes, Photo boxes, Photography boxes, USB drives, Wedding Photography
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Nicki + Matt – Married at Bella Collina Country Club – Orlando Wedding Photographer
I always LOVE capturing weddings at Bella Collina, because it is like being swept away and transported to a Tuscan villa in Italy. When Nicki and Matt asked me to capture their wedding day I was thrilled to be able to work with them and Bella Collina again. Nicki had planned a vintage-themed wedding focused around “Love is the Key”. She and her wedding planner, Maria Balestriere from Blush by Brandee Gaar included the most amazing details to go along with her theme. The tables had vintage door knobs with key holes and each guest had their own vintage key attached to their name card. The place card holder was a covered in wood and lace and held each of the guests names. The cake by Priscilla Lucas at Party Flavors Custom Cakes was ivory with lace accents covering the tiers. Lee James Floral Designs stunned the guests with beauty by covering the entire area where the bride and groom stood to exchange vows with white rose petals, alongside two beautiful towering arrangements.
The bride had a vintage rose bouquet that was so romantic and lovely. We stole away and captured some amazingly beautiful portraits around the fountain area as well as the old rock wall near the towering oak trees. Bella Collina has such a variety of gorgeous scenery, you can get so many different looks for your wedding portraits.
The reception area was beautifully lit by Get Lit Productions and Phil from Soundwave Entertainment was the DJ for the event. It was a pleasure working with this amazing team of vendors as well.
Enjoy the sneak peeks of their beautiful wedding day.
AMAZING VENDORS:
Bella Collina Golf and Country Club
Soundwave Entertainment, DJ Phil
Get-Lit Productions
Party Flavors Custom Cakes
Lee James Floral Designs
Blush by Brandee Gaar – Wedding Planner, Maria
Heather Rice Photography
Make-up by M3 – Makeup
VIP Transportation Group
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Hillary + Bo = Married – Cypress Grove Estate House wedding photographer, Ritz-Carlton Grande Lakes Wedding photographer, Orlando wedding photographer
Hillary Staley and Bo Staley chose Cypress Grove Estate House for their intimate vow ceremony and the Ritz-Carlton Grande Lakes Orlando for the reception. The day was one I won’t soon forget. We really had an adventure taking portraits at the Ritz…we went off-roading and got stuck in the mud ( I pushed us out), then we headed out exploring the Ritz property. We shot in and around the garden area, rested in hammocks, and even got a little fly fishing in, while exploring the property. What a FABULOUS location for a wedding celebration!
Hillary and Bo, I absolutely ADORE you both! Congratulations and best wishes as you begin your new journey together. Welcome to the Heather Rice Photography family.
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Chase & Sarah’s Casa Feliz Wedding – Casa Feliz Wedding Photographer, Orlando Wedding Photographer, Winter Park Wedding Photographer
Chase and Sarah were married just a few days before Christmas and planned an intimate and beautiful winter wonderland for their nuptuals the the beautiful historic home and venue Casa Feliz in Winter Park, Florida. They included so many intimate and special details into their big day, like a wedding photo from their parents and grandparents on the tables and decor. I absolutely LOVED the idea of having the guests sign the wine corks. Enjoy this winter wonderland wedding and the beautiful memories that were made that day. Congratulations Sarah & Chase!
VENDORS: Heather Rice Photography
Venue: Casa Feliz Winter Park, Florida
Caterer: Arthur’s Catering
Florist and Event Planner: Suzanne Nichols Design Group
Tent Rental/DJ/Uplighting: Orlando Wedding & Party Rentals
Photo Booth: Photobooth Rocks
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A Sweet Disney Engagement – Disney Wedding Photographer, Orlando Wedding Photographer, Orlando Engagement Photographer
Rachelle and Timothy love all things Disney, so it was fitting that they wanted to incorporate Disney into their engagement session. We chose the Disney Boardwalk area for their super-sweet portraits. I’m looking forward to capturing their wedding this fall at the Lake Mary Events Center. Enjoy some “Sweetness” with these beautiful images today.
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Casa Feliz Wedding Bliss – Winter Park Wedding Photographer, Orlando Wedding Photographer, Historic Casa Feliz
I always love working at unique venues and Historic Casa Feliz in Winter Park, Florida is unique and full of charm. I love to explore the little alcoves and archways and quaint brick facades, and the house set behind the lush green golf course is perfect for portraits. I was so excited when Frank and Amanda asked me to photograph their wedding there in June. Their vintage details and bright, summer colors of yellow sunflowers and blue dresses and ties popped perfectly against the accents of the historic house. I had so much fin capturing their wedding day. I loved seeing the two of them swooning over one another and I can’t help but giggle when I look back and see all the pictures of Amanda, so clearly overcome with excitement she was wrinkling her nose as she smiled from ear to ear. ADORABLE!
Amanda and Frank had an outdoor ceremony and cocktail hour planned, but the thunder and lightning came about an hour before the ceremony, and was followed by a terrential downpour of crazy rain! I was fearful the bride would be dissappointed her dream outdoor wedding would now be moved inside, but Amanda took it in stride and smiled saying, “I LOVE the rain, and can’t think of a better way to have my wedding than an intimate inside ceremony”. The wedding was moved into a smaller room with a view of the golf course from the wall of windows. Frank and Amanda’s ceremony was amazing. Renee from A Lovely Ceremony was their officiant and the event was full of laughter and happy tears. I love the moment Frank wiped away Amanda’s tears during their vows. I got a little choked up myself.
The reception was a fun party as well. Everyone packed the dance floor and watched as Amanda and Frank stole the show. Frank and his mother shared a sweet moment as well as they danced the mother son dance. So many special moments to treasure. I always feel honored to have been chosen to be the one to capture the special memories for my wedding couples. Out of all the photographers out there, they chose me! Lucky, lucky me, to get to spend the best day of their lives with
I always have a great time working alongside amazing vendors, but it’s extra-special when I get to work with vendors I have had the pleasure of working with at other weddings, because I know the excellent work and professionalism they offer. When your wedding team works together well and have the best interest of the bride and groom at heart, the day is a guaranteed success! We all had a great time working together to help their celebration be the most amazing day of their lives. So many special moments to treasure. I always feel honored to have been chosen to be the one to capture the special memories for my wedding couples. Out of all the photographers out there, they chose me! Lucky, lucky me, to get to spend the best day of their lives with them, making memories!
VENDORS:
VENUE: Historic Casa Feliz, Winter Park, Florida
PHOTOGRAPHER: Heather Rice Photography
OFFICIANT: A Lovely Ceremony
RENTALS: Orlando Wedding and Party Rentals
CAKE: Perla’s Cakes
FLORIST: In Bloom
CATERER: Arthur’s Catering
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PHOTOGRAPHER’S CONFESSION #2: Let There Be Light – Central Florida and Orlando Wedding Photographer, Uplighting Your Event
PHOTOGRAPHER’S CONFESSION #2: “Let There Be LIGHT”It’s true, we hate to tell you this, but that ceremony space and reception ballroom area always looks 200% better when accented with dramatic uplighting. You’ve spent tons of time and money on the details, but the lighting really helps your photographer and videographer capture the ambiance in your video and images, and makes your details pop!
Your budget is something to consider when planning your wedding, but we photographers really have to confess that we hope you do factor in a little extra for uplighting into your big day’s budget…I kind of have a “thing” for warm amber uplighting in a room…I think it’s HOT!
Check out the before and after image in the top two photos taken at the Grand Bohemian Orlando. Both are beautiful and the space is a show-stopper all on it’s own, but when enhanced with the dramatic amber uplighting the mood really is transformed into a romantic space, perfectly accenting the mood and tone for the wedding ceremony.
If you are looking for uplighting vendors, check with your DJ. Most offer uplighting services for a nominal fee (varies based on the number of lights you get and the size of the room/rooms), but most offer packages where you can add on uplighting to your DJ package.
Thank you, Kristin Wilson from Our DJ Rocks and Mark Wilson from Photobooth Rocks for doing an amazing job of uplighting the Grand Bohemian Hotel Orlando wedding of Meme Mader Siqueiros and David Siqueiros on June 23, 2013. It is always a pleasure working with your amazing team of pros!
VENUE: Grand Bohemian Orlando
DJ: Our DJ Rocks
PHOTOBOOTH: Photobooth Rocks
UPLIGHTING: Our DJ Rocks
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PHOTOGRAPHER’S CONFESSION #1: MOTHER/SON WEDDING DANCE – Orlando and Central Florida Wedding Photographer
Photographer’s Confession #1:
I always have a hard time making it through the mother/son dance at the wedding without bursting into tears myself…I can’t help but picture the day, sometime in the future, imagining myself dancing with each of my boys as they get married. I always especially love the song choices for this dance. One of my all-time favorite dances was at the wedding of my bride and groom, Tommy and Nicole Downey Edwards and the DJ played “A Song for Mama” by Boys II Men…I wept that entire dance as Tommy and his mama embraced and cried together on the dance floor! What a moment!
Francisco José Expósito-León and Amanda ‘Kaydence’ Ferree were recently married at Casa Feliz in Winter Park, Florida,
Mother Son Dance
and I was so moved by his mother’s emotional expressions as she danced with her baby boy. It’s a moment every mother of a son will understand, right along with me.
So the next time you see me at the wedding and the mother/son dance is approaching, you might want to grab me a tissue…I’m gonna need it!
Mother Son Dance Wedding
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