http://www.rocknrollbride.com/2010/07/how-to-get-the-best-from-your-wedding-photographer/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rocknrollbride%2Findex+%28Rock+%27n+Roll+Bride%29&utm_content=Google+Readerj

The highlights:

1-  INSIST ON A PRE-WEDDING SHOOT

2- CONSIDER A “FIRST LOOK” AND PRE-CEREMONY PHOTOGRAPHS

3-  THINK TWICE ABOUT GROUP PHOTOGRAPHS

4-  SCHEDULE IN ENOUGH TIME

5-  TELL YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER OF ANYTHING PARTICULARLY SPECIAL

6-  BOOK THE RIGHT PHOTOGRAPHER

And, well, what’s a blog without a photograph??  Just some random stuff from the past….

There were some looming clouds in the sky that day that were threatening rain.  Happily, the rain did hold off and everything worked out perfectly!  As many of you know, I love a cloudy day and happen to think that the day was just beautiful.

I’ll start with a few details….

Men have no idea how much work these dresses can be!  Thankfully, Kim had lots of help.

This is the moment just before Kim & Jon first see each other that day.  I took this shot very quickly as I knew that they were both extremely anxious to see one another!

We headed outside for some photos before the signing of the Ketubah and the ceremony.  Because the ground was a little wet, we were sinking into the dirt a bit.  The closer we got to the river, the muddier it seemed to get.  Needless to say, we didn’t venture all the way out but you can still see the river in the background.  Thanks to Kim especially for braving the elements in her heels!

Ceremony!

I was just taking some test shots before the ceremony to check my lighting.  While looking through the camera, I saw this couple waving at me.  I figured that their enthusiasm deserved to be blogged. 

And on to the reception!

Photographing the Hora is always exciting!  I love the energy and I especially love that all of the guests are actively involved.  I usually end up dancing around too….while photographing, of course. 

Judging from her expressions, I am fairly certain that Kim wasn’t overly thrilled about the chair lift part of the dance.  She did do it though and she looked great!

Parent dances:

And, of course, the fun party shots…

Towards the end of the night, “Don’t Stop Believin’” by Journey was played.  During the song, a large group gathered into a circle and started singing loudly.  An “air microphone” was provided by the woman in the middle of the group.  It was quite entertaining!

If you didn’t click the link above, I know you are at least humming the tune by now.  Nobody can resist Journey!

Kim and Jon, congratulations again and thanks so much for letting me share in such an important day in your lives.  Oh, and…. “Hold on to the Feeliiiiiin’!” 

I first met Christy years ago while working at a portrait studio in Marlton, NJ.  Christy is an awesome photographer and had come to the studio for an interview.  What an interview that was.  My good friend, Sandi, and I were feeling extra goofy that day and it made for a very memorable hour indeed.   There may have been singing and quite a bit of laughter.  Christy was hired instantly.  She fit right in and was the perfect addition to our small/ quirky group of photographers and friends.

So, anyway…. Christy & Nick… Nick & Christy….. where do I start??

The best way that I can think to describe them is as flexible, goofy, athletic, sports nuts that both love the beach and are known to break out things like slip n’ slide on a hot summer day or twister in the winter.  They are two people that clearly know how to get some fun out of life, laugh and induce laughter often.   Yep.  I think that accurately sums them up.  : )

Needless to say, we had a blast during the portrait session.  I got to climb a tree which I try to make excuses to do as often as possible.  They got to play in the playground, do headstands, and dip their toes in the Cooper River.  Good times indeed.  Here are some favorites!

The little girl on the right in this photo was screaming, “EXCUSE ME!! EXCUSE ME!!”.  Apparently, adults hanging upside down and preparing to kiss in a playground do not take priority over the kids waiting their turn to use the handlebars appropriately.  Fair enough.  Haha!

This kid, on the other hand, was quite impressed with their feat….

And, well, just to keep it interesting….

Head or feet first?  These are big decisions. 

Schultz & White…

Awwwwww…

First they climbed the tree…

It looked like fun…. so I decided to climb too…

Game on!

Head over heels….. buddum ching. 

Lastly, we headed over to the Cooper River…  People, please know, goose poop is worth cool pictures.  : )

And a little yoga and meditation to end the day…

Namaste.

Anyway, here is a link to the latest blog:

http://lafflerphotography.com/blog/?p=4862&cpage=1#comment-10005

And, here is the original blog from our wedding day…. in case you didn’t catch it:

http://lafflerphotography.com/blog/?p=2936

**  BTW, 9 days later, our streets are still a disaster.  I have not driven my car yet (thank you, SEPTA!) and thinks that Mayor Nutter forgot that Fishtown and South Philly exist.  **

ANYWAY!!!

The wedding couple completely understood and did, indeed, have a local friend photographer that was able to make it for the rest of the wedding.  I had only planned to be there for about an hour.  If I was to be their only photographer for the day, I would have skied there for sure!  Word is that it was a beautiful wedding and that mostly everyone was able to make it.  The birthday party was rescheduled and I am looking forward to that next week!

Anyway, being that I was looking forward to the wedding and birthday party, I decided to do a few “detail” photographs in my backyard with some details from my recent wedding.  Anyway, here are the results!
I love that my shoes were called “Melissa”.  

and also that they had big red hearts….

for our wedding, we made 1,000 paper cranes.  my Mom then got me these beautiful and unique crane earrings from ETSY (sorry don’t know the seller as they were a gift!).  they are handmade and folded silver.  really beautiful and thoughtful.  i love these and wear them often!

a set of  my Grandmom’s pearls.  I, apparently, love the way pearls look on snow.  don’t you?

just an fyi:  this was on snow that was over 2 feet high.  at one point, they started sinking into the snow.  i had to dig them out. shhhhh, don’t tell my husband!

i also love pearls in trees….

yes, my engagement ring was a surprise and yes, my husband designed this one himself….. i love it!

This just cracks me up….

i first met nina & josh in august when i photographed their newborn son, zachary. they told me about the beach wedding that they were planning and i knew right away that it would be fun. basically they rented a stunning home in brigantine, nj, got married on the beach and had the reception inside the house. we left before midnight…. though i am sure the celebration was still going on long after. it was such a fun, laid back and emotional wedding. everything about it was perfect!

a few details….

while nina was getting her hair done i noticed her mom watching and kind of drift off into a daydream. it was really sweet….

what the girls were doing….. what the boys were doing….

the beautiful beach ceremony… only a short walk from the house

both josh & nina wrote their own vows. they were beautiful. it was an emotional ceremony with more than a couple of tears…

i mentioned little Zachary, and here he is! every time i have seen him he is so pleasant.
beautiful baby. beautiful family.

the super fun bridal party!

these crack me up!

i knew nina & josh were going to be great for photographs and they were. they didn’t hold back at all and were up for most anything. they are so in love and that really shines through.

apparently everyone wanted a peek at the bride.
how cute that in the one i told them both to look at the view…. and they did. haha

off into the sunset! …and on to the reception!

it was so dark outside that basically i was just taking pictures and hoping for the best. i especially love that in this one, one of the guys has 2 sets of glasses on his head.

a broken glass…

led to some massive mid-party cleaning! they all look so good doing it too….

the night was absolutely beautiful. the ocean was still warm. there was a cool breeze. and so many stars in the sky….

congratulations, nina & josh!! thanks so much for letting me be a part of your day!!!

below are just a few pics that Todd Laffler, our fabulously amazing photographer, took for us!

FOR MORE, CHECK OUT HIS WEDDING BLOG ABOUT US:
WEDDING BLOG!

us jumping into this marriage thing (buddum-ching):

we actually do this one more often that you would think…

Carl is always making me laugh! gosh… i love him!