Lisa McCraw- Cleveland & Destination Photographer

Rainy days and Monday might have gotten Karen Carpenter down, but Thursdays are a whole different story!  This past Thursday, Noelle and Paul ventured into the rain with their English Bull Dog, Morty in tow for an afternoon of engagement pictures.  It was one of those early spring Cleveland days where the weather was completely unpredictable; ranging from barely a sprinkle to a complete downpour in just a matter of minutes.  Noelle, Paul, and Morty were great sports, even during times when the rain had a sideways trajectory.  We shot these at the amazing Old Arcade along with the eclectic E 4th area proving that a little rain never hurt anyone and maybe even added a bit of enhancement!:)

The wedding book is ready where it’s at.  Most photographers will shoot many, many photos on the wedding day in order to obtain the dozens or so “Wow” images for the wedding book design.  It can be an overwhelming task for the couple to begin work on their wedding books, so I wanted to take a minute to create a post where couples can refer to while making their wedding book selections.  Here are some tips and instructions to make this easy and fun!

Step 1:  Make your photo selections. Many photographers utilize the “coffee table” book format and I am no exception.  When selecting images keep in mind to select images that match the artistic format of the book.  Although they might hold meaning for you, selecting mostly posed family photos at the church might not enhance the artistic quality of coffee table books.  Many photographers will have a “Favorites” folder within your event and this is a great place to get started.  These are typically images that the photos have retouched and know to be the best options for the wedding book.  Sometimes couples wait quite a while before working on their books.  My best recommendation is to review your contract regarding the required timelines.  Many photographers will not honor any book submissions over 1 year past the wedding date. (My procedure: Once you have made your selections, send me an e-mail with the image numbers.  We need to have this info in an e-mail so we can communicate it to the designers. I also do not place a time limit for submission but we might have to charge fees for accessing archived events.)

Step 2:  Select Your Layout. The company I work with allows you to select a “style” to give the designers an idea of your preferences. Layout preferences are as personal as how you take your coffee so make sure you review all of the available options. Avoid the temptation to micro-manage this.  If you have very specific layouts in mind, your best bet is to create a book from one of the online book sites such as Shutter Fly.  Part of what you are paying for is the services of a graphic designer and they have particular printing specs and design specs they need to follow to meet the manufacturer guidelines.  Most photographers will pass along any design fees to their clients since it is most likely not included in the initial photography package.  Graphic design fees can be very costly so avoid them by selecting a design style closest to your own personal taste. (My procedure: Once the initial design is prepared, most photography packages include 5 simple changes.  A “simple change” is defined as moving one image to a different page, etc. Any changes after that are considered billable.)

Step 3:  Select a Cover: Many wedding book manufacturers have some very artistic covers.  Most likely not all are included in a photography package so make sure to ask the photographer if the covers you like are in the “upgrade” category.  Most photographers will require that all upgrades are paid at the time the book is approved and submitted to the manufacture. (My procedure: Once the images are selected, the layout style is selected, and the cover is selected (some covers are considered “upgrades”),  your information will be placed in the design queue.  Once I receive a draft, I will send it along to you via e-mail in a PDF format.)

Step 4: Parent Books: Most wedding book manufacturers print parent books as a reprint of the primary book. Parents can often create their own designs using their own photo selections, however, there is most always charges for this to cover the additional design costs. (My procedure:  Parent books are typically reprints of the primary book.  However, parents can select their own books for design but these books will fall into the “Event Book” category and will be different from the primary book.  My company charges for this service since these are different books altogether. )

Step 5: Be Patient: Book company are often international and receive many, many orders daily.  Most companies draft designs on a first come first serve basis.  You really don’t want this process to be rushed anyway, so try to forget about it until you receive your draft:).  (My procedure: Patience is always a virtue:)

Step 6: Review the Draft: Once you receive a draft, take a look and submit any changes to the photographer who will pass these changes along to the designers. Make your changes as detailed as possible such as “Move left side image of page 003 to bottom left of page 004.  Again, any changes considered by the book company to be excessive will most likely have a fee attached.  (See Step 2) (My procedure: Ditto.)

Step 7:  Be Patient: If you have opted to submit changes, you will most likely be placed in the queue all over again.  If you have approved the design, a typical manufacturing time is anywhere from 4-8 weeks depending on the time of year. (My procedure: Ditto:)

I hope these tips help! It’s always less stressful to know what to expect in the process. This can be a really fun process and a time to relive all of the special moments from your wedding day so ENJOY!!

BTW, these images are from the wedding of Jessica and Keith–It’s a great example of selecting diversified photos that tell the story of the day.   Great job Jessie!

This week, we lost a music great; Etta James.  The song “At Last” is an absolute wedding staple used frequently for First Dances.  It shows up in other wedding related places as well; even a wedding planning I know and respect (Amy Hissa) named her event planning company At Last Event Planning. (Check  out her website out at www.atlasteventplanning.com. We love her so much, we actually shot her own personal wedding!)

Anyway, I meet a lot of couples throughout the year and they all touch me in some way. However, if any couple earned the right to define their day with “At Last”, Michael and Michelle best embodies the song’s meaning.  Michael and Michelle knew each other in high school and, like many people, life intervened and they went their seperate ways.  Years later, Michael and Michelle reunited, fell in love, and were married Thanksgiving weekend of this year. They even endured living in different states during the wedding planning process; with Michael living in Florida and Michelle in Ohio.  As I have mentioned to Michael on a couple of occasions, he was one of the happiest groom’s I have ever seen.  As a matter of fact, when I mentioned this at their wedding reception, a teary-eyed Michelle thanked me profusely for the observation and explained what a long road is has been for them. It was such a sweet moment.

So, congratulations Micheal and Michelle!  “At Last”  your life together has begun!

Your wedding photography is an investment to protect like any other major purchase you might make.  Knowing a few simple facts can assist you to get the most from your hard earned dollars:

10.  When making your photographer selection, choose one whose artistry you trust and then let them go for it. Once you have made the decision of who to hire, rely on your judgement and theirs.  Part of what you are paying for is a professional artistic eye and their experience in the wedding industry.  Typically it’s ok to send over photos of other artists to give the photog an idea of your preferred style but don’t over do it.  Some photographers may begin to be offended at too many artistic suggestions.  Any good photographer takes pride in their creative ideas and “the hunt” for the money-shot reigns supreme.  You don’t want your photographer to spend more time on your wedding day reviewing a long list of “must haves” rather than actually shooting.

9.  Separate the Weekend Warriors from the Real Deals. Now that bigger box stores sell DSLR cameras, there are many non-professionals who mistakenly think that wedding photography is an easy way to make money. The request of a simple equipment list will go far to make the distinction between the hobbyist and the full-time professional photographer.  Professionals have mucho back-up gear; camera bodies, flashes, lenses, etc. and can easily describe to you what is in their arsenal. The weekend warrior typically doesn’t have the resources to provide the appropriate back-up equipment. Back-up gear is an absolute necessity and a camera phone doesn’t qualify:). Also, any professional is going to protect themselves with a business liability insurance policy.  It’s completely ok to ask anyone you are interviewing if they carry one.

8.  Read your contract. I know it seems like a no brainer, but you would be surprised at how many people do not do this.  Make sure you know what you are responsible for. It’s kind-of a joke amongst vendors in the wedding industry that they are going to start including things in the contract like, “Failure to perform X,Y, and Z, will require the client to purchase a new BMW for the vendor.”  Of course no one would ever do this…the point is that so many don’t review their contracts.  Bad idea.

7.  On the wedding day, set aside an area for the photographer to shoot beautiful photos of the dress, shoes, accessories, etc. Make sure the area is not cluttered with items and is clean.  If possible, hang the dress in a pleasing manner; such as on a bed post, mirror, door frame, etc. Set out all of your accessories so the photographers can arrange in an artistic way. Many brides are purchasing specialized hangers for their dress along with utilizing specialized accessories such as “I Do” stickers for their shoe bottoms.

6.  Don’t be afraid to do a “First Look”. There are many reasons to consider a First Look.  See my blog post for further information.

5.  Timelines, Timelines, Timelines. When preparing your timelines, remember to include items such as travel between locations, photographer set-up and tear down, down time,  receiving line. etc.  Photography does take some degree of time to set up to optimal lighting scenarios, change camera settings, etc.  To get the best of your wedding photography experience, it is absolutely imperative that the photographer is allotted enough time to get the job done properly.

4.  Save Big Bucks with minimal Photoshopping. Although most photographers will perform some photoshopping as part of wedding photography package, some tasks are just not going to be included in the typical editing rates. Tanning, removal of braces, weight loss, and other cosmetic enhancements are extremely time consuming tasks for any photo editor.  Wedding photographers work with massive quantities of images and it’s not practical for any photographer to include these type of edits as part of a typical package.  Also, this type of editing can be very costly for the consumer.  Save big by trying to take care of these thing, if at all possible, naturally prior to the wedding day.

3.  Please make sure to take care of your vendors. Wedding days can be very long work days often entering into the 10-12 hour mark.  Make sure you include photographers in your meal count, provide water on hot days, etc. Photographers are especially sensitive about this issues since they are typically one of the few vendors who will be with you the entire day.  Honestly, providing a hot meal is considered an issue of respect…I have known photographers who will turn down weddings based on the meal provision alone.  Wedding photography is a very physical job and photogs, like most people, need food and water to perform their best.

2.  Make the Best Possible Book Selections. The wedding book is really where it’s at.  Although it’s nice to have DVDs of your images, the purpose of the DVD is to house the image proofs- it’s not intended as a slide show.  Many times, photographers will include their own favorites folder in the image presentation.  Consider including these in your image selections since these are images the photographer considers to be the best of the best.

1.  Above all, enjoy your day! Just know that life is never “perfect” and some things are probably not going to go as planned. Try to let things things roll off your back since the camera doesn’t lie- you want to look and be happy on the most important day of your life!

Dear L Mac,

I’d love to do an engagement shoot but my fiance’ isn’t too keen on the idea. What should we do?

Melissa- Cleveland, Ohio

 

Thanks, Melissa for your question.  This is a topic I am asked frequently!

There are many positive reasons for enjoying an engagement shoot.  Of course, the obvious reason is to use the images from the shoot for Save-The Dates or for other wedding day decor such as sign-in mattes, card boxes, or displays.  One other great reason for doing an engagement shoot, (especially for camera shy grooms:)) is to become familiar with the photographer’s shoot style.  It can be such a plus to have this “practice run” so that on your wedding day, both of you gain experience in front of the camera and are comfortable with your wedding day photographer.

Engagement shoot DVDs are great keepsakes and add to documenting the wedding process in a more relaxed environment. Have fun with it! Choose locations you both love such as places you like to go as a couple or places of significance such as where the proposal took place.  It’s also great to involve pets, create signs or props; anything to enhance  and reflect your personal style.

I hope this helps! In the end, my vote is to definitely do the engagement shoot and enjoy!!

 

 

It’s all in the detail. If you’ve ever attended a wedding that really had that “wow” factor, more than likely lots of attention was paid to details.  Amber and Will’s wedding was nothing short of amazing…and the details were exceptional.  From the choice of venues, (The House of Blues and the Great Lakes Science Center), to the guitar shaped groom’s cake, to the guitar-shaped photo frames, to the DVDs given out as favors with their printed “rocker” logo; this wedding was absolutely magical (or musical!:). Amber has a definite future as an event planner- it was that good!

Congrats Amber and Will- your hard work paid off and seriously impressed all in attendance.  We LOVED working with you!!

Little Grace, the daughter of Stephanie and Chris has arrived!

We first met Stephanie and Chris when we had the privilege of shooting their fabulous wedding.  Chris has to be one of the funniest guys we have ever shot and their wedding was filled with love and humor.  Although their wedding was a couple of years ago, we recently saw Stephanie and Chris at two other fantastic weddings- the wedding of Leah and Nick, and at Stephanie’s sister’s wedding, Jen and Jack.  (Now Auntie Jen and Uncle Jack.)

It was at the wedding of Leah and Nick that we discovered that Stephanie was expecting. She was as beautiful as ever.

By the time Jen and Jack’s wedding arrived, Stephanie was very pregnant at 8 months.  She was the matron of honor and quite the trouper; despite very swollen feet. (I couldn’t resist to take a photo of the feet!)  I admire Stephanie so much for hanging in there during photo time, at times walking fairly long distances. It was a fantastic day and Stephanie dove right in to support her sister.  (Of course Chris was just as funny and entertaining as ever!)

Congratulations Stephanie and Chris on the birth of Grace!  Amazing Grace has some amazing parents!

Yesterday, I received a beautiful note from my bride, Erin.  Erin and Andrew had a gorgeous wedding this summer- I was so happy to be apart of it.  I first met Erin and Andrew at their engagement shoot; they traveled up to Cleveland from their home base of Cincinnati for the shoot and to do some planning.  After learning that Erin was a classical music teacher, I knew we were going to hit it off.  Being from a musician family myself (my mother is a classical pianist and a Northwestern alumni), I have a deep appreciation for the discipline and artistry it takes to study music.  Erin is not only artistic, but is also gorgeous, quiet, and polished. Andrew, an attorney, is clearly analytical; which I also appreciate and admire.

Law and music, although thought to be more yin and yang, also hold many similarities. Both require years of study, memorization, and dedication. Both professions, although finite in many aspects, also possess room for interpretation.  The law has it’s passionate defenders, musicians are simply passionate by nature.

I think it’s a great match…and I wish Erin and Andrew a lifetime of beauty.

 

 

As a child and a young adult, I took dance classes.  It was a big part of my young adult life as through the years, I studied to the point of pre-professional level.  Although my dance career was abruptly cut short by an injury while majoring in dance in college, my love of the art never faded.  My story is definitely one where one door closes, another opens since I now enjoy a very bustling career as a wedding photographer.

With this in mind, you have to know that I pay special attention to a wedding’s first dance.  I am especially intrigued with the choice of music selected for a couples’ first public intimate moment of the first dance. So much so, that I decided to do a little research on the topic to see what trends have occurred over the last few decades.  The results are really revealing and solidify the idea of the more things change, the more things change the same.

Here are the top 10 first dance selections of the 1960′s. (According to Weddingsday.com)

1.  All the Time In the World- Louis Armstrong

2.  At Last- Etta James

3.  Beyond the Sea- Bobby Darin

4.  Can’t Help Falling In Love- Elvis

5. Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You- Andy Williams

6. Dream a Little Dream of Me- Doris Day

7. Fly Me to the Moon- Frank Sinatra

8. I Believe (In You and Me)- The Four Tops

9. My Girl- Temptations

10. The Look of Love- Dusty Springfield

 

Ok, now here are the Top 10 First Dance Songs of 2011 (According to djshelpline.com)

1. Heaven – Bryan Adams

2. Unchained Melody – Thе Righteous Brothers

3. Forever – Kiss

4. Love Mе Tender – Elvis Presley

5. I Cаn’t HеƖр Falling іn Love wіth Yου – Elvis Presley

6. Whеn Yου Sау Nothing аt All – Ronan Keating

7. Frοm Thіѕ Moment – Shania Twain аnԁ Bryan White

8. Jυѕt thе Way Yου Arе – Billy Joel

9. Yου Mаԁе Mе Love Yου – Al Jolson

10. Don’t Know Much – Linda Ronstadt аnԁ Aaron Nevil

Elvis wins the prize!

Many of us girls dream all of our lives about the happiness of our wedding day.  We grow up creating images in our head of walking down the aisle, of the first kiss, and of dancing the night away with our new husband. As little girls, we stage plays of the perfect day, practicing for when the real fairy tale day arrives.

The fairy tale absolutely came true for Nicole, who married her best friend, Anthony in June. What’s striking to me about Nicole’s wedding was how truly and honestly happy she was that day.  She was not only a stunning bride, but her smile remained a constant throughout the day.  Nicole is a beautiful person both inside and out and I loved working with both her and her family planning the day, but there was such an ethereal glow about her on her wedding day that was so special.  Her infectious love for Anthony and her family really stuck with us; now that’s amore!