KAYDEN STUDIOS
WEDDING GUIDE tips and wedding advice from real brides like you
fall in
LOVE +
LOVE LETTERS what our brides are saying
with kayden studios
ENGAGEMENT SESSION IDEAS
HIRING AUNT SALLY
WHY YOU SHOULDN’T HAVE A RELATIVE PHOTOGRAPH YOUR WEDDING DAY
SAY GOODBYE
to boring wedding photos
WE LIVE FOR MOMENTS LIKE THIS... Over the course of a lifetime there are few moments that can make time truly stand still. The moment right before you walk down the aisle and realize that this is what you’ve been waiting so long for. Your dad tearing up as he gives away his baby girl. When you see your husband for the first time on your wedding day and listen when he tells you he will love you for the rest of your life. Seeing everyone surround you as you dance your very first dance as husband and wife, and knowing just how much you are loved. These are the moments that we as photographers cherish with each and every wedding and what drive us to keep clicking away.
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IN THIS
ISSUE
CONTENTS 3 4 6 7 10 11 14 15 19
OUR STORY about the photographers of kayden studios FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS questions from brides like you THE KAYDEN STUDIOS EXPERIENCE say goodbye to boring wedding photos LOVE LETTERS what our bride and grooms are saying about us WEDDING COLLECTIONS kayden studios pricing and packages ENGAGEMENT SHOOT IDEAS if you are considering and engagement session, this article is full of fun ideas!
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WHY DO A FIRST LOOK 4 reasons why doing a first look can save you time and stress on your wedding day ALL IN THE FAMILY all about traditional family portraits DETAILS THAT DAZZLE your wedding story lies in the details REAL WEDDING ADVICE tips on how to prepare for a stress free wedding HIRING AUNT SALLY why you shouldn’t have a relative photograph your wedding day
THE DAY AFTER SESSION We will explain this new hip post wedding session ALL ABOUT THE ALBUMS we’re putting it all on the table with albums A WEDDING DAY PHOTO TIMELINE a typical wedding timeline to help you effectively plan out your wedding day
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OUR STORY
OUR STORY
ORANGE COUNTY PREMIERE PHOTOGRAPHERS We are Kara & Denis, a father daughter wedding and portrait photography duo based out of Southern California. We work out of our home studio in Orange County (Yorba Linda to be precise). We are passionate about what we do and love to document the extraordinary love stories of our clients. Since opening our studio in 2007, we’ve wholeheartedly dedicated ourselves not only to our craft, but to providing the best possible experience for our clients. We believe that one of the most important aspects to enhancing our clients’ wedding experience is by connecting and building a strong relationship with each other. By doing this, we find that our clients feel more comfortable and natural in front of our lens, which, most importantly, allows us to capture their uniqueness and what makes them special. We want our clients to be wowed with not only their experience on their wedding day, but also with each and every image they receive. We understand first-hand how much you’ve invested in creating such a beautiful and unforgettable day! As we snap away, we are 100% committed in going to every wedding with a “we will do whatever it takes to get that shot” mentality. We know that when the day is over, and the leftover cake has been eaten, the only tangible memory of your wedding day will ultimately be through your photographs. It is a huge privilege to be able to provide our clients with our unique vision on the biggest day of their lives. We want you to laugh and cry when you look at your photos. Time goes by so fast and it’s our job to document your story... beautifully. If you’d like to learn more about the Kayden Studios experience, we’d love to hear from you, and share our love for what we do. Feel free to contact us and request info, or call 714.390.9651. Blessings,
Kara & Denis
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Frequently Asked Questions DO YOU TOUCH UP ALL THE IMAGES ON OUR IMAGE DVD? Yes we do. Every image we deliver is post-produced with our unique style of post-production. This involves color correction, exposure adjustment, selective black and white processing, clarity adjustments, tone-mapping, and other corrections. Many photographers will not post produce any, or will post produce only “select” images from your wedding. This means that you may have pictures that are too bright, have funky skin tones, or other common photography flaws.
WHAT IS YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY STYLE? The Kayden Studios is well-known for developing a unique style of wedding photography that is heavily rooted in Fine Art and Fashion Photography while also influenced by Wedding Photojournalism. We love using creative lighting, unique perspectives, angles, compositions to bring out our clients personalities and beauty while telling their wedding story. We pride ourselves on not just being photographers, but rather artists that capture unique and expressive imagery.
MY VENUE IS REALLY DARK. HOW DOES YOUR STUDIO HANDLE THESE SITUATIONS? We have shot in the darkest of dark chapels and reception halls so there is no need to worry! If the situation allows, we will set up additional lighting to ensure we get bright, crisp pictures. For chapels that do not allow for flash photography, we shoot on camera with superb low-light performance and lenses with low apertures.
WE’D LOVE TO SET ASIDE SOME TIME FOR AN ENGAGEMENT SHOOT. IS THIS SOMETHING YOU DO? We sure do! We work with you to plan the engagement shoot of your dreams, including location selection and wardrobe recommendations. Additionally, we can even help you design pieces for your wedding using your engagement shoot photos for signin boards, guest books, save-the-date cards, thank you cards, table place settings, and much more.
HAVE YOU SHOT AT MY VENUE BEFORE? We have shot at countless popular Southern California venues so there is a good chance we are very familiar with your chosen location. However, if you found that perfect remote or special location, we will be sure to perform a thorough walk-through with you prior to your wedding day to ensure we can capture every angle. HAVE A QUESTION? We’d love to hear from you and answer your question in a future issue of Kayden Studios magazine. Please send your question to kara@kaydenstudios.com.
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The Experience say goodbye to boring wedding photos
For most of the wedding we follow you around, capturing your day as it is happening. We absolutely LOVE getting real laughs, real tears, real emotions and there’s no amount of posing that can recreate those real moments. To capture your true personalities is what we do best! When it’s time for portraits we scope out stunning backgrounds and look for the best light possible! In those great spots that we pick out, we tell you to scoot in close together for some sweet, romantic, silly and just plain adorable shots. You don’t have to know how to pose yourself or have experience as a super model. We will walk you through the process, tell you exactly what to do and make you look your absolute best. Then we’ll let the magic happen between you two love birds. All you have to do is be in love with each other and don’t be afraid to show it! Along with our creative romantic style, we also take all of the standard family photos & formal portraits that you, mom and grandma will love!
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REVIEWS
LOVE LETTERS FROM OUR BRIDE & GROOMS
Kara and her father are absolute magicians! A breeze to work with as well as fun! She kept me calm through the whole day from beginning to end. Kara really listened in our consults before the wedding of some of the shots I really wanted to get as well as she pitched quite a few great ones to us. I was afraid I would miss too much of the party at the reception being away but Kara knew the exact time for dusk and sunset shots and pulled us away for the most minimal amount of time possible. All in all getting all the shots on a high resolution disc within weeks of the wedding was terrific. Kayden Studios is a BARGAIN in comparison with some local “competitors” (I put it in quotes as I don’t see them as true competition since Kara and her team are heads and shoulders above the rest). If you are a bride looking for great photos and memories of your special day, you can’t choose anyone better than Kayden Studios to document it. If you feel their packages are too $$$, get other quotes and you will see that they are not. Also readjust your budget so that Kara is there. Your wedding flowers, sure they are important but they die in a few days. Your photos are there for a lifetime and are worth every cent of the investment!!!! Thank you so much Kara !!
Kym & Sean Mulhern
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what our brides are saying “Kayden Studios captured our wedding Perfectly and flawlessly with the ideal mix of images - artistic, candid, friends, family, intimate details. The photos are absolutely Gorgeous and beyond our expectations. We cannot say enough Positive comments about Kara’s and Denis’ grasp of lighting, exposure, content and color.” -Brenna & David “There are not enough words to describe how Impressed I am with Kara. She and her father were so much Fun to work with. They made us feel so relaxed and natural and they did our engagement pictures which turned out Beautiful but the wedding pics blew my mind! I couldn’t ask for better memories of our big day.” -Rochelle & Steven “Kayden Studios works for your satisfaction & are most Excellent on so many levels. They communicate at every step of the way and are Reliable and Trustworthy. We are incredibly satisfied with their professional work and feel blessed to have worked with such a stellar vendor!” -Monica & Juan
Our Brides Love Us! find out why and scan the QR code to see all of our five star reviews weddingwire.com/kaydenstudios
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ENGAGEMENTS
considering an engagement session? Engagements are such a special time in your lives! Romance is in the air and the anticipation of a lifetime together comes to a crescendo in the rush during the weeks leading up to your wedding, causing you to wonder: Is an engagement shoot necessary? After all, your wedding pictures share the beginning of your life, right? Shooting an engagement is important for several reasons. First, this time allows you to get comfortable in front of the camera with your photographer, figuring out how you work best together before the wedding. Next, you can
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showcase your personalities in a more casual setting, while creating some fun captures for wall portraits, your wedding sign-in book, sign-in board and Thank You cards (shot early enough, we can also provide the images for your Save the Date cards and invitations). Images also add another dimension to your wedding album, chronicling the story from engagement to your wedding day. Best of all, you can remember this special time forever away from the throngs of loved ones and friends. This is your time together.
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GREAT ENGAGEMENT SHOOT IDEAS: At the place he proposed: After all, what better way to capture an engagement than the place it all started! At your favorite restaurant: Meaningful memories happen with food, ambiance and your special song playing in the background. Doing your favorite activity: You both enjoy playing checkers. What better way to capture your personality than in the heat of game play, the agony of defeat, or the comedy of contemplating your next move? Where you first met each other: Whether your first meeting was a discussion at the library or fumbling for the door at the local coffee shop, going back to your beginnings is a marvelous memory worth capturing.
Images with your pet: What better way to capture your new family than by including a beloved shared pet in your session? Your favorite skyline: Your city is beautiful at any time of the year, and the skyline shares where you live now, a beautiful location that might change with time. A downtown urban session: Fun and funky, pictures in alleyways or in otherwise undiscovered locations of your area make for a more intimate view of the city. An amusement park: Nothing says fun like the Tilt-A-Whirl to go with your whirlwind romance. A romantic beach: In the morning, evening or any time of day, the sea meets an endless sky for a feeling of forever.
Vintage-styled, with old furniture and funky clothes: Bring out your nostalgic or avant-garde side with some dramatic, edgy modern shots coupled with retro stylings. At your favorite, cute coffee shop: Quirky and cozy, local mom and pop shops are a great way to take a quick break to refuel and to catch some local, architectural shots with you in the process. Seasonal: Catch the nuances of the seasons, including everything from a winter wonderland, to leaves of fall, to flowers in spring, to the lush, green summers in nearby beautiful fields and forests.
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LOVE THE DRESS
$395
THE DAY AFTER SESSION WHY DO A DAY AFTER SESSION?
WHAT’S INCLUDED:
Some of the best advice you will get is enjoy your wedding day because it will fly by so quickly! You have spent months planning for this day, and it is over in a few hours. So how exactly do you maximize that small window of time? One answer: instead of spending so much time with your photographer on your wedding day, choose to do a day after photo session with us. If you love your dress then it’s another excuse to get back in it for more stunning photos. Since you don’t have a reception to run back into, it will be a fun, relaxed, modern portrait sessions.
Included in each session is an online gallery and one or two locations. The disc of images is included with the purchase of any album.
8X8 COFFEE TABLE ALBUM - $695 DISC OF IMAGES - $495
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THE PROCESS
FROM SHOOT TO ALBUM The weeks prior to and directly following your wedding planning are busy times. Here at Kayden Studios we honor your busy moments with a special timeline which will help you to understand how we are working our hardest to avoid any unnecessary surprises: The day of your wedding: For a complete and detailed timeline of your wedding day, please refer to The Wedding Day Photo Timeline located on page 17. The night of your wedding: We gather all of our memory cards together and download your wedding images to secure hard drives. We even back them up in multiple locations, and put one set in a fire safe box. We know how precious these pictures are and take every precaution necessary. A week after your wedding: We begin editing your wedding images. After they are finished being edited and color corrected, they are retouched, archived and prepared for your online gallery. Four to six weeks after your wedding: We deliver your online wedding gallery information as well as an album planning form to help prepare you to choose your favorites for your album. Eight weeks after your wedding: You should return your album planning form to us no later than eight weeks after the wedding so we can begin the album designing process. Once this is done, Kara will begin designing your album. Kara has a bachelors degree in graphic design and will custom create your album uniquely for you. No one will have an album like yours! Twelve weeks after your wedding: We meet for your approval as well as to pick out your favorite components for your album in terms of materials, pages and style. We can also use this opportunity to take orders for portraits, wedding party member gifts, parent albums, and any of the other unique keepsakes we offer. Eighteen weeks after your wedding: Your album and artwork are ready for pickup!
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YOUR WEDDING
A WEDDING DAY PHOTO TIMELINE A wedding is a whirlwind of events, gone in the blink of an eye. One of the most important things for a perfectly executed event is having an organized timeline. If you are looking to effectively plan out your wedding day with your wedding coordinator or fiancé, here’s a look at a typical wedding photo timeline from our point of view. We are here to help assist you in planning out your day so that you don’t miss a beat. THE MORNING OF THE WEDDING We’ve just finished packing our bags and are now checking the weather forecast for the day. We go over the wedding information form and talk about our game plan for the day.
IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE CEREMONY Our coordinating skills really come into play as we direct all the family together for formal portraits. We are working off a list that you have provided us prior to the wedding. (see box below)
5 HOURS BEFORE THE CEREMONY We arrive at the preparation site to capture the groomsmen making their final preparations, the bride’s finishing touches of hair and makeup and to document the details, including the dress, rings and all other important details. 3 HOURS BEFORE THE CEREMONY We arrange for the “first look” with the bride and groom where they see each other before the ceremony. Immediately after this we begin formal photographs with the entire wedding party and the bride and groom’s immediate and extended families.
COCKTAIL HOUR We arrive at the reception site and immediately begin photographing candid shots of arriving guests and continue into cocktail reception. We do our best to enter the dining room before the guests arrive to photograph the decor. Right before the guests arrive we touch base with the catering manager or wedding coordinator to see if there were any last-minute changes to the reception schedule. SUNSET The sun is setting and we’d love to sneak the bride and groom out of the reception for a few sunset photos.
2 HOURS BEFORE THE CEREMONY This is our favorite part! Now the bride and groom’s portraits begin. We work in a variety of locations and capture a wide range of poses. 30 MINUT ES BEFORE THE CEREMONY The bride and groom head back to the bridal suite to freshen up and have some quiet time just the two of you. This is usually your last chance to relax before the excitement begins. During this time we coordinate with our assistant and set up any equipment we need during the ceremony. We take a last look around and find where the light is coming from to best document the ceremony.
RECEPTION At this time we strictly document the reception candidly as it unfolds, including the first dances, toasts, dancing, and cake cutting. But don’t worry; we are always available for any photo request you may have throughout the evening. Just ask! Before we depart, we will check with you to make sure there aren’t any further photos you would like or an overtime request.
THE CEREMONY We immediately split up to capture all angles of the ceremony from close-up intimate shots of the two of you, to wide-angle photographs capturing the entire scene. We are also capturing the reactions of family members and guests in the audience, all while trying to blend into the background as much as possible.
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Approximately one month before your wedding we will touch base via phone or e-mail to discuss your wedding day photo timeline. At this time we will also provide you with our Online Wedding Questionnaire to fill out with all your wedding details including locations, list of family photographs, special wedding day events, vendors and much more. This information will ensure we are all on the same page for an unforgettable and stress-free event!
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WHY DO A FIRST LOOK?
4 reasons why doing a first look can save you time and stress on your wedding day
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IT IS MORE INTIMATE
YOU LOOK YOUR BEST
The first look will most likely be the only 5 to 10 minutes the two of you will have alone all day. Think about it….when are you going to have a moment to really enjoy your wedding day together just the two of you? Even when you two see each other for the first time during the ceremony, you won’t be able to really talk about it until the ceremony is all over. It’s your wedding day! Take some time for yourselves and enjoy a few stolen moments together.
The first look is usually photographed prior to the ceremony, and shortly after the bride’s hair and make-up is finished. This means that your hair and make-up is fresh and will look the absolute best. You haven’t cried yet, or stood in the hot sun. Your groom will see you looking gorgeous. Right after the first look you two will begin wedding party photographs then photos of the two of you together. Why not take them when you look your best?
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YOU CAN SPEND MORE TIME AT YOUR RECEPTION
YOU WON’T KEEP YOUR GUEST WAITING FOR HOURS
Let’s face it, you’ve spent quite a while planning this gorgeous reception, and you want to be there from start to finish. Doing the first look before the ceremony will allow you to do just that. After the first look, you will take the bride and groom photos. This means that you don’t have to spend time after the ceremony to take these photos and miss out on part of your reception. Once the ceremony is finished, you can enjoy the cocktail hour without having to worry about missing out on mingling with your guests.
By seeing each other before the ceremony, it frees up time to take all the important photographs ahead of time such as: family portraits, bridal party photos as well as portraits of the bride and groom. However, if you want to stick with tradition then you will have to take all of these photos after the ceremony. This usually takes approximately two hours. You don’t want your guests to be bored as they wait for hours for you to finish up taking photos, when you could have done it before hand.
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Our first look was my absolute FAVORITE MEMORY of my wedding day! It gave us a few stolen moments to spend together before the hustle and bustle of the day began. It was so special! I wouldn’t have changed anything about it!
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TRADITIONAL GROUPINGS
ALL IN THE FAMILY Here at Kayden Studios we pride ourselves in capturing the
We prefer to keep the number of groups to ten or less for more
most natural, candid portraiture possible. This style showcases
intimate group shots, we always start with the largest group
your day as it was, helping to bring your personalities forward
and break it down after that to allow for mingling. As time
and documenting your day for a lifetime of memories.
permits, we love to include a picture of the bride with each of her bridesmaids and the groom with each of his groomsmen,
While we shoot the majority of our images this way, it’s also
since each person has been invited due to close, personal ties
very important to capture traditional formal portraits as well.
with the couple.
These group shots are best immediately after the ceremony. Since our most important goal is getting you to your reception
If you have ideas for any ‘can’t-miss’ portrait groupings you
on schedule, we allow 3-5 minutes for each desired grouping
would like to see photographed during this time, make sure to
to ensure maximum results with minimal time.
note them on your provided wedding information form. We’re happy to work with you to capture all of your special moments!
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DETAILS THAT DAZZLE
W HAT AMAZING A CCOUTREM ENTS G O I NTO THE MOS T BRE ATHTA K I NG DAY E V E R ? So many things are special about your wedding day. While they may seem like small details, the unassuming pillow your ring bearer carried might have been made from your Christening gown. Or those shoes with the delicate pearl buttons may have been your mother’s. These are the smaller, sometimes unnoticed details that tell the story of your special day, that we document for you at Kayden Studios. Whether it’s your bouquet or your shoe or your something blue, it’s all a part of your distinct personality as a couple, sharing your yesterdays while you prepare for your many tomorrows.
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1. FRESH FLORALS BY KATHY G’S ANYTHING BUT ORDINARY, 805-469-1265 2. DESIGNER PLACE CARDS BY KAYDEN STUDIOS, 714-390-9651 3. CUSTOM CALLIGRAPHY BY KENDALL ROSE, KENDALLROSECALLIGRAPHY.BLOGSPOT.COM 4. LIGHTING BY AUDIO VISUAL EVENT SERVICES, 1-800-488-4173 PRO-AV.COM 5. FINE ART ENGAGEMENT PORTRAIT BY KAYDEN STUDIOS, 714-390-9651 6. GROOM’S BOUTONNIERE BY KATHY G’S ANYTHING BUT ORDINARY, 805-469-1265 7. WEDDING INVITATION BY INVITATION DESIGN STUDIO, 714-573-4603 8. WEDDING RENTALS BY CREATE A PARTY RENTALS, 714-996-3805 9. GOLD AND PLATINUM WEDDING SET BY JEWELERS TOUCH. 714-579-1616 10. WEDDING CAKE BY COLETTE’S CATERING, 714-447-9190 11. WEDDING COORDINATION BY KARY H EVENTS, 800-653-5324 12. PLACE CARD TABLE ARRANGEMENT BY KATHY G’S ANYTHING BUT ORDINARY, 805-469-1265
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CLI E NT S P OTL I G HT
charlotte & brian I recently had the privilege of photographing Charlotte and Brian’s gorgeous wedding this last Spring. Warm weather matched the racing pulse of friends and family alike as the two said “I do.” Because weddings are a flurry of excitement and special moments between loved ones, family and friends, it is important to not only capture those smiles, demure glances and beautiful flowers; stunning photography also captures the wishes of the client. How can you be prepared for the biggest day of your life? Here, Charlotte and Brian share: THE BEST ADVICE FOR A BRIDE. “Make sure to have a close friend or relative help you keep track of time,” says Charlotte. “In the excitement of the events taking place, it’s so easy to run late, especially when so many of you might be getting ready together!” THE BIGGEST SURPRISE ABOUT THEIR WEDDING DAY. “We had an exciting moment when the ring bearer tripped coming down the aisle,” says Brian. “He’s this young nephew of mine and he really crashed. Then the flower girl went back, pulled him up, and they kept walking. Everybody loved that.” THEIR FAVORITE PHOTO MOMENT. “We thought the formal photos were going to be the most important,” says Charlotte, “but the candids turned out to be our favorites because we saw that everyone was in the moment as much as we were.” WHAT THEY LOVED MOST ABOUT WORKING WITH KAYDEN STUDIOS. Brian says, “Kara & Denis at Kayden Studios were amazing! I didn’t know what to expect from a photographer, so when I saw the pictures, they just blew my mind. They caught all of the details and got stunning photos our entire wedding! We couldn’t have asked for a better photographer!” HOW TO TAME THOSE WEDDING DAY NERVES. Charlotte says, “There’s no real way to not be nervous, but I tried not to think about it, pretending we were getting ready for prom instead.” WHICH ONE MOMENT WILL LAST FOR THEM FOREVER. Brian and Charlotte say they will most remember seeing Brian’s brother cry at the altar. “My brother’s a pretty tough guy, so seeing him tear up a little during the ceremony was enough to make me almost lose it. Thankfully, the photographer caught him with his hand coming away from his face! It was really a cool moment to see him so happy for me.”
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TIPS ON HOW TO PREPARE FOR A STRESS FREE WEDDING DAY
• Be sure to have a hair and makeup trial at least a month before your wedding. This will give you peace of mind to know exactly how you will look and give you the opportunity to change things in advance if necessary. Make sure to bring all jewelry to the trial to see how makeup shades work with the pieces. • Have your florist deliver your flowers to where you are getting ready, not the ceremony venue. Since you never know when the mood will strike for a great photo, you’ll want your flowers there and ready to go. • Find out what the rules for photographs are at the ceremony location. All venues are different, some restricting the location of photographs and even the times in which they are permitted. • If possible, arrange to have your formal photographs taken before the ceremony. Getting this step out of the way early in the day frees up the rest of your time to spend with your guests. You will be able to go straight to cocktail hour and catch up with loved ones without stress. It’s a new age, so it’s no longer considered bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the wedding. • Have food delivered to your getting ready location. It may be hectic, but take the time to have a bite before the wedding since it will be a while before you have the opportunity to nourish yourself during the reception. • Prepare an emergency bridal kit with clear nail polish, mints, a sewing kit, stain treater, Visine, safety pins, bobby pins, pain reliever and mini deodorant. • Allowing 50% more time for hair and makeup than you originally anticipated alleviates the number one reason wedding schedules end up running late. This will ensure you have plenty of time for all the portraits you want to take before the wedding. • Make sure you discuss a “rainy day plan” with your venue just in case Mother Nature doesn’t see sunshine in the cards.
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HIRING AUNT SALLY WHY YOU SHOULDN’T HAVE A RELATIVE PHOTOGRAPH YOUR WEDDING DAY Note: This story is fictional, but based on real disastrous stories we have heard from friends, family, wedding guests and clients. Here’s how it usually begins... “My Aunt Sally has an awesome camera, and she offered to photograph my wedding. We are on a really tight budget, so I think I am going to just pay her a few hundred dollars to shoot my wedding. I mean the photos she posts of her vacations on Facebook are amazing!” While Aunt Sally may be very good, here are a few reasons to go with a professional. Wedding photography is so much more than just having a nice camera. Aunt Sally may have a nice camera, in fact, let’s say Aunt Sally is quite wealthy and photography is what she loves to do in her free time. So, not only does she have a nice camera, but she has the best camera money can buy at the moment. We are already assuming that this Aunt Sally is more prepared than most Aunt Sally’s out there. Let’s even say that with her top of the line camera, Aunt Sally goes out several times a month to photograph nature and scenic photographs. She’s even had some of her work published. The big day finally arrives and Aunt Sally is feeling quite assured that she will do an amazing job for this wedding. Aunt Sally begins by photographing the groom. She is not familiar with her camera enough to manually expose photographs so she decides to set her camera on Auto. Unfortunately, the camera does not read black tuxes very well on the Automatic setting and begins to compensate for the dark tuxes by overexposing all of the photographs. Aunt Sally did not realize this however, so she just keeps on photographing as if nothing is wrong. Now it is time to photograph the bride. She looks absolutely stunning and Aunt Sally begins to photograph her right away. She pulls out her wide angle lens, which is her favorite lens for landscapes. Unfortunately due to her lack of experience photographing portraits, the wide angle lens distorts the bride, making her look much larger than she actually is. Now let’s assume that this is a simple wedding and it is time for the ceremony to begin. Aunt Sally didn’t have time to scope out the ceremony location before photographing and when she walks into the church she realizes that it is very dark. Unprepared, she didn’t bring any additional lighting equipment. For arguments sake, lets say that Aunt Sally is a lucky girl and a guest sitting in the audience happens
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to see her dilemma and offers her a flash that fits her camera. Grateful, Aunt Sally takes it and begins firing away. After about three shots, the wedding coordinator informs her that there is no flash photography allowed in the church. This is actually quite common, but Aunt Sally didn’t even think to ask about that. Dismayed, Aunt Sally hands back her borrowed flash to the generous guest, takes a deep breath and hopes for the best. A great idea sparks her mind, as she racks her brain for a solution. She decides that if she just raises the ISO settings super high then she can get enough light to properly expose the ceremony. She does this, and while the photograph is still very dark, she can at least see a little bit of what is going on. Unfortunately, little does she know that by raising the ISO so high it makes the photographs so grainy that they will not be able to be blown up larger than a 4x6 print. The Wedding March begins to play and the bride and her father start walking down the aisle. Like a pro, Aunt Sally snaps 20 rapid burst shots. She doesn’t realize that while they were walking toward her she needed to change her focus settings, and now all of those pictures are out of focus. The wedding ceremony is progressing beautifully. The bride and groom have said their vows. They are about to exchange rings and Aunt Sally realizes that she needs to get a telephoto lens to get that shot. She runs to her bag and changes lenses. Right as she finishes putting the lens on her camera she sees the couple kiss for the first time. Aunt Sally misses the shot. Aunt Sally was also so focused on taking pictures of the bride and groom that she forgot to photograph their respective families during the ceremony. After the ceremony, it’s time for family formals. Aunt Sally has no experience photographing group shots. She just tells everyone to huddle together and takes one shot of each group. She didn’t even think to check the back of her screen to see if anyone was blinking, and in about half the photos there are people with closed eyes. The reception has finally arrived and Aunt Sally is exhausted after working for 8 hours straight. She takes a seat, and decides to relax a bit. After all, she is family and is doing them a huge favor by taking pictures and saving them so much money. She hands the camera to her daughter who loves photography too and tells her to take photos for the rest of the night. Since Aunt Sally has no knowledge of how to edit images, nor does she even have the software to do so, she simply gives the bride and groom a DVD with all of the unedited images burned onto it. The bride and groom can’t wait to see their beautiful wedding photos! They pop the disc into the computer and begin looking through their Aunt’s beautiful work. Two hundred pictures into the 3,000 pictures Aunt Sally shot, the bride is already sobbing, as every photograph is either too dark, too bright, blurry, or just plain terrible. As if that wasn’t enough, the bride and groom notice that there is no photo of their first kiss.
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HIRING AUNT SALLY CONTINUED... While this specific story is fictional, the events and outcomes portrayed in it are from real instances that we wedding photographers hear about all of the time. To be perfectly honest, so many of our clients’ guests and friends have approached us during a shoot to tell us about their “Aunt Sally” experience, and how they wish they had hired us to shoot the wedding. While Aunt Sally had experience shooting nature photographs and all the professional gear necessary (which is highly unlikely), she didn’t have the following: 1. Experience and knowledge to direct large group formals. This is where the wedding photographer’s understanding of how to interact with the bride, groom and their family in a polite, efficient and timely manner under pressure is so important. 2. The ability to swiftly adjust their camera settings as quickly as the lighting changes. Much of the time wedding photographers have only a couple seconds to adjust settings on the fly. Any more than that, and the wedding photographer is almost guaranteed to miss something important. 3. The ability to work with lighting in all scenarios, and create their own lighting when necessary. Understanding light and lighting is something that comes from many years of training and experience. Being a master of lighting is impossible unless you have tried shooting in every possible lighting situation. 4. The expertise to be prepared for each situation with a secondary
7. The energy to work non-stop for 10-12 hours, often without
camera prepped with a different type of lens. Professional wedding
breaks. We know that this is a wedding photographer’s job,
photographers will always scope out the wedding venue prior to the
and we rarely get an opportunity to rest or take breaks. Our
wedding and plan ahead with what lighting equipment and lenses are
team spreads out their breaks during non-crucial moments of
necessary to get the best possible photos in that venue.
the day, and even then there is always one or two additional wedding photographers shooting while one is on break.
5. The knowledge of how to photograph on 100% Manual settings in order to create difficult lighting techniques. In these situations the
8. The experience and knowledge required to anticipate angles
wedding photographer must rely on their expert knowledge of the
and approaches to each moment of the wedding. Knowing
camera rather than the camera’s Automatic readings.
where to stand, and which angles to shoot from is something that only comes from many years of experience.
6. The knowledge of the camera’s advanced focus techniques.
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have their necessary equipment and accessories with them at all times. Professional wedding photographers will always have their equipment readily available on their person, or nearby. 10. Experience in taking additional shots of important pictures. For instance: during formals in case of blinking, awkward expressions, etc. While this list only states some of the more important key factors,
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The biggest mistake a bride can make is to undervalue her wedding photography. Countless brides have tried to save a few dollars by hiring a friend, or having a family member take their wedding photos. And countless brides have little but tears to show for it. Think of professional wedding photography as an investment in your future joy.
there is so much more that Aunt Sally would need in order to take professional quality wedding photographs from start to finish.
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9. The professional carrying cases and bags needed to always
BOOK YOUR WEDDING TODAY CALL OR EMAIL US ANYTIME AT KARA@KAYDENSTUDIOS.COM 714.390.9651
KAY DEN S TUDIOS
KAY DE N ST U D I O S. C O M
714.390.9651
“Kayden Studios gave us truly the best experience I could imagine with wedding photography! I would recommend their business to anyone!”
-Brittany & Alex Corfar
Orange County, California & World Wide 714-390-9651
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