Vendor Advice and Trends - Austin from Donald & Trenholm Photographers on Wedding Photography

Austin Trenholm from Donald & Trenholm Photographers shares with brides some helpful tips on choosing the right photographer for their big day. You can check out just some of Austin's work below or you can visit their site at www.donaldtrenholm.com to see more!

- Make sure you like your photographers. Generally people don't like getting their picture taken by anybody. If you don't especially like your photographer then you won't be comfortable while being photographed.

- Ask to see lots of work. Ask to see the last wedding they did. Anybody can put together a website with good images if they take enough photos. A good photographer will make quality work every time.

- Talk a lot ahead of time about what kind of photos you like, or just some of the favorite things about your wedding so far. Those details help a photographer ensure to get those extra shots that may not be the most obvious, but you'll love! Consistent communication is a large part of our success as photographers.

- Doing an engagement shoot or any kind of pre-shoot will help you become more comfortable in front of the camera and also help the photographer know exactly how to make you look your best on the wedding day. Everyone photographs differently.

- Show your photographers photos of your dress ahead of time! We love dresses and it helps us plan for photographing it.


Austin also shares with brides a few trends he's currently seeing in the photography world...


- The trend today is a very stylish one. We are seeing a lot of dresses and hair styles that are reminiscent of times past, 30s and 40s style. We love that.

- Digital! Although we do have a special place in our hearts for film, digital is king. It allows for so much creativity that it is the best way to work. Today's digital cameras and equipment are so good that there is simply NO excuse for missing a moment. We also love this!


Check out some of their work below...

2009 Vendor Advice and Trends from Megan Farley - Megan Dey Photography

Megan Farley from Megan Dey Photography gives some great advice when booking a photographer! Check out Megan Dey Photography to see her work: http://www.megandey.com/

- Don't shop based on price. There's a reason for the price difference, I promise. When looking at the photographer's work, do you see relaxed, posed photos or stiff people? Do they look like they're having fun?

- Take a look at the shadows. Are they harsh? If it was a bright day, are the person's eyes dark? A true photographer knows how to avoid or correct these situations.

- Look at the quality of the album. Are they hard bound or soft bound? The nicer the book the more it's going to cost, but with that, the more ooohhh and ahhhs you're going to get when people see the finished product.

- Ask how long it will take to see your photos and receive your album. My clients see their photos when they return from their honeymoon. I also have an album design all done, so when they get back, their album is ready to view. I do allow for my clients to make changes; it just depends on how long they take to make those changes.

- Don't forget about the details. You (the bride and groom) put A LOT of thought and planning into the big day so make sure your photographer will key in on all of the details. You shouldn't have to tell them, but as you hunt around for the right photographer look at their work. Does it show some of the smaller stuff such as the DIY projects you spent time on? Or if you hired an event designer, you want to remember what it looked like as I'm sure you won't have time to take it all in.

- And, make sure you connect with your photographer. This person is going to be with you for a long time on your wedding day and you want to make sure you get along; and for most of my clients, become friends :)

Also, check out some of Megan's incredible photos!

2009 Vendor Advice and Trends from Lena Hartford - Hair That Moves

Lena Hartford from Hair That Moves talks about choosing the right hair style for the big day! Check her out at http://www.hairthatmoves.com/.


Above photo by Emilie Inc. Photography


When choosing a hair style for your wedding, some brides like to follow “wedding trends” from magazines and there are THOUSANDS of options to choose from so picking the right style for you can be daunting. Here are some pieces of advice when thinking about a hair style:

Classic vs. Trendy

-A classic style will look the best in photos when you look at yourself years down the road. If you are choosing a hair style that is trendy - great! - but it also needs to compliment your dress and overall look and feel of the wedding; not overpower them. For instance, if you are having a formal ceremony, a formal updo with a long veil and several pieces of décor is appropriate. However, a formal style may not fit a beachside or outdoor ceremony. I would recommend a soft look to go with the natural background.

Consultations and Trial Runs

-The most important part of choosing a style comes at your consultation. This appointment includes talking about these details and asking a professional for their take on what may work for each situation. For instance, a style that is not secure to withstand the windy elements of a beachside ceremony may not be a good choice.

-Other things to consider when choosing a style is the overall feel of the wedding, the ceremony location, the types of weather you could run into, dress style, and most importantly, what you are wearing in your hair. Some styles will hold a heavy veil or big décor better than others.

-I recommend bringing pictures of styles or parts of styles that you like and dislike. This allows me to get a clear vision of your desired outcome.

-Once you are able to choose an overall look, you will start creating this style. Sometimes, brides are uncertain about what looks best. In this case, I find it important to try several different looks so you are able to see how you look and feel in each one.

-I allow 1-2 hours for a trial. Your vision for the day needs to be the most important part of this. Once you find it, you will know.

-I always need my brides to “love” their look. After creating this style together, I draw diagrams and take notes and photos so I can recreate this look on the day of the wedding.

And finally,

-I recommend having this consultation 1-2 months before the wedding so the season and feel of the wedding is fresh. If you are coloring or trimming your hair, I recommend about 2 weeks before the wedding so it is fresh but settled.

2009 Vendor Advice and Trends from Meagan Gilpatrick - Maine Seasons Events

Meagan Gilpatrick from Maine Seasons Events gives some advice to brides about Wedding Planning! Website: Maine Seasons Events

Image by Sharyn Peavey Photography

Some morsels of advice when working with a Wedding Planner:

1. Be prepared to communicate your likes and dislikes, bring pictures, magazines, etc. to convey your wedding vision.


2. Be clear on who is contributing financially and how much.


3. Follow the lead of the planner when prompted to make key decisions relating to vendors. The coordinator will keep you on track with your planning timeline.


4. Be prepared to listen to the recommendations of the planner. They have experience and inside working knowledge of how things will work best, and they know which things to avoid.


5. Prioritize your top 3 areas of focus for the wedding: Is food the most important element to you? What is second and third? Photography and music? Or is it décor and location? Having the key wedding elements prioritized prior to planning can ensure your budget is allocated in alignment with these priorities.


6. Once you have made a key decision, don’t change your mind. Make thoughtful and rational choices and stick to the plan. Changing details increases expenses, time and work for everyone involved. Make sure that you choose things you really love and feel good about, then once you have decided on your flowers, food, colors, etc., don’t continue to look at pictures in magazines, read wedding blogs, etc., searching for ideas - you will inevitably find a picture of something you think you like more than what you have already chosen. Trust your first instinct and don’t choose something unless you feel confident about it.


7. Having said that, be prepared to choose your battles - a venue that you love may have restrictions that you don’t like. Is the venue location worth having to end your reception by 10 in the evening? Maybe it is. If so, it is always worth asking for an extension, but if the final answer is “no”, then be prepared to work with that.


8. Obvious, but worth mentioning: Be kind, be polite, be friendly. Treating vendors with respect and trusting their professional talent to do what they do best is simply good manners, use them.
   

Some current trends in weddings:

1. Color, color, color! Customizing every element of the wedding to tell a color story, integrating everything from beverages, stationery, table linens and the bride’s shoes. Couples are choosing non-traditional color combinations to create unique and memorable events.


2. Personal Accents: Many couples are getting hands on with their wedding preparations, from designing their own invitations, to building the Chuppah, sewing their own veils and making their own wedding jewelry. Couples utilizing a skill or talent to create personal and unique wedding elements is an increasing trend now.


3. Many more couples recognize the value and in many cases, the necessity, of having an independent professional coordinator throughout the planning process and increasingly, on the actual wedding day. Hiring a wedding planner or coordinator for some element of the wedding - even if it is only for rehearsal and wedding day coordination, and planning for this service in the budget is a critical step for many couples.


4. Thinking outside the flower box when choosing table centerpieces: food, vintage toys, buckets, tea tins, recycled and repurposed items are finding their way to the table tops of today’s weddings.