We all know that planning a wedding is no easy task. You’re preparing for one of the biggest days of your life. You want everything to be perfect, but there are so many details to cover that sometimes it’s easy to overlook an important detail.   So, we’ve gone through and found ten useful tips to help ensure the smoothest possible wedding planning experience.

 1. Budget:  It’s incredibly important to establish the size of your budget from day one of your wedding planning. Your budget will decide how big or small you’ll be able to go. Knowing how much you have to spend will also make the entire planning process easier because you’ll know how much money can be spent on, say, flowers for example while still having enough for the dress of you want.

 2. Get Help:  This one is especially for the bride-to-be. We know it’s YOUR wedding, but trying to plan the entire event by yourself is a mistake. You’ll just find yourself becoming extremely stressed out. Don’t forget that weddings are supposed to happy. Find some people you trust to help you plan everything. Having some help will prevent anything from getting overlooked. Who knows, they might even have some ideas you like better than your own.

 3. Be Open Minded:  Everyone has their own vision as to what they want their wedding to be like. But a wedding is a very emotional day for everyone, not just the bride and groom. Expect input from both sides of the family and take all suggestions into consideration. Being stubborn will only hurt people’s feelings or make them feel disenfranchised with the whole thing. 

 4. Stay Organized:  From day one of your wedding planning and on, you’ll be juggling vendor names, contact information, color ideas and more. You need to keep track of everything. Get a notebook or folder to keep your notes and info in. Or better yet, create a digital document that you can easily e-mail to friends and family. 

 5. Choose Vendors Wisely:  Before you go rushing off to choose your caterer or DJ, do a little background research into them. Have they had any issues delivering on the big day before? Are they reliable? Will they show up on time? Be sure to ask around. The internet is also a great tool when it comes to doing a little bit of investigative work on your own.

  6. Pay ‘Em Upfront:  When you have chosen your vendors, pay them in advance. It’s a gesture they appreciate because it establishes your confidence in them. If there are any price negotiations involved, it will get the out of the way before hand. You don’t want to be stuck on your wedding day arguing and writing checks when you should be dancing and working the room.

 7. The World Doesn’t Revolve Around You:  Remember to take into consideration holidays and other obligations your immediate family might be involved when planning your wedding date. You can’t expect everyone to drop everything suddenly. Don’t feel like you have to rush the wedding. If you’re planning on spending the rest of your lives together, what are a few more months?

 8. Be Strict About the Guest List:  The number of guests at your wedding affects many different aspects of the event; catering, seating and budget. Be clear that only the number of guests indicated on the RSVP should be at the wedding. Too many people could put you over budget. It could affect seating arrangements which can be a big issue depending on your venue. Clear communication will keep your wedding day free of any little surprises.

 9. Plan for the Worst:  Despite all the careful planning and precautions you have taken in preparation for your big day, you still need to be prepared for the unexpected. The weather is always a wild card for kind of wedding. If you were planning on taking photos outside and it’s raining, keep an alternate indoor location in mind. The same goes for outdoor ceremonies. 

10. Relax and Enjoy:  Undoubtedly one of the hardest parts in preparing for your wedding as well as one of the most overused pieces of advice. Regardless, we can’t emphasize this enough. This is supposed to be a happy day for you and everyone else. Don’t lose sight of that. Keep this in mind and your wedding day will truly be one of the happiest days of your life. 

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LiquidLightImages…Hawaii Wedding Photogrpher

Elegance On The Edge…

http://liquidlightimages.com/

1. Not Finalizing the Wedding Day Schedule:
“Talk to your photographer before finalizing the schedule for your wedding day. There is a lot to consider in terms of photographing and natural light. Certain times of day are more photogenic than others (midday sun casts harsh, unflattering shadows on the face while late day sun casts a beautifying warm glow on everyone).”

 2. Not Sticking to the Finalized Schedule:
“Pay attention and respect the schedule you and your photographer discuss prior to your wedding. Being an hour late can make or break your images. Don’t just assume it only takes 10 minutes!”

 3. Letting Relatives Get in the Way :
“We have a name in the industry for a guest who shows up with pro photo equipment and takes ‘unofficial wedding photos’ — we call him Uncle Bob. Uncle Bob may think he’s doing you a favor by taking more shots for the couple, but usually he just gets in the way and makes us miss our shots.  Tell Bob to leave the camera at home and just enjoy his time at the wedding without working.”

 4. Not Explaining How You Like to Look in Photos:
“Beauty is really very subjective. I ask my clients to send a photo of themselves before the wedding that they like and one that they don’t.”

 5. Not Getting a Second Shooter:
“Sometimes brides want to save a little money or feel that it is too obtrusive for more than one photographer to be present on the wedding day. But consider this: The second photographer offers another unique point of view throughout the entire day that you would not have had photographed.”

 6. Not Getting Help Organizing Your Guests:
“Designate someone that you trust and who knows your family and friends to be in charge of organizing people for portraits. That person can gather the people needed, direct them on what shots they will be in, and then release them when they are done. It keeps things moving quickly, smoothly, and enjoyably.”

 7. Trying to Make Things “Perfect”:
“Just have fun — whether it’s getting a little cake on your face or some little detail that didn’t turn out 100 percent like you had hoped, go with it, have fun, and keep smiling. The photos will be so different if the bride is scowling at her new hubby, don’t you think?”

 8. Skipping the “First Look”:
“A ‘first look’ [aka taking your couple photos before the ceremony] is so much better than trying to rush bride and groom portraits after the ceremony — especially if your ceremony ran a little late (which most do). You end up trying to hurry up and get to the party.”

9. Trying to Pose:
“A good photographer gives direction for a reason: to get the best moments and shots from the day. The best thing to do is relax and act naturally. Be in the moment. Be hopelessly in love with each other — the pictures will turn out smashingly!”

 10. Waiting Too Long to Book Your Photographer:
“If you find a great photographer, book them! Good photographers book a year or more out and won’t be available forever. Nothing is more frustrating than choosing a wedding photographer and then finding out that they booked out your date a week prior.”

11. Looking at the Camera All the Time:
“Some couples want candid photographs, but they always feel like they need to look up at the camera and stop what they are doing. It could be an instinct, but remember — unless the photographer asks you, try to act natural for the best journalistic shots.”

 12. Not Providing a List of “Don’t Takes”:
“Let the photographer know before the wedding if there are certain photos you don’t like. It can be anything such as ‘I don’t like the photos you took of us not smiling’ or ‘I don’t like wide-angle close-ups; they make us look weird and fat.’ It totally throws off a photographer’s creative approach when a bride spills her feelings while you are in the zone.”

 13. Asking for Too Many Shots:
“If clients have done their homework and have chosen an experienced and reputable wedding photographer, then chances are that photographer does not need to be provided with a two-page spreadsheet of photo list.”

 14. Not Choosing a Photographer You Connect With:
“Make sure that we get along. I work with clients for sometimes two years or more. If we don’t get along, it’s going to be a very long and very bumpy ride.”

 15. Skipping the Engagement Session”
“Engagement sessions increase the confidence and comfort level of the bride and groom in front of the camera and allow the bride and groom to practice having their photo taken in a fun, no-stakes atmosphere. Ultimately, an engagement session will let the bride and groom see why the photographer might tell them to do something funny, and this leads to wedding day comfort and trust in the photographer.”

 16. Not Hiring a Professional Photographer:
“Choose someone who is a professional and not just anyone with a digital camera and a website. Make sure the photographer has the experience and ability to consistently capture the moments of your wedding no matter what situations may arise. You should expect to spend between $2,000 and $6,000 for any decent wedding photography.”

 17. Falling for Photography Trends”
“Too many times, brides fall for something trendy in photography. It is critical that these images stand the test of time and are valued for each following generation. Trends are fun but rarely last! Look for a photographer with a classic shooting style, and be wary of too much Photoshop and digital ‘tricks’ and manipulations.”

 18. Forgetting the Details:
“Think about spending a few minutes to decide what other elements are important to photograph — did your sister make special wedding favors? Are you carrying important heirlooms with you? Bring an extra invitation, and try to keep those special elements easily accessible for photos.”

LiquidLightImages…Hawaii Wedding Photogrpher

Elegance On The Edge…

http://liquidlightimages.com/

LiquidLightImages…Hawaii Wedding Photogrpher

Elegance On The Edge…

It’s the photographer’s wife again with some helpful advice.  Please, please, please when working with a vendor be sure to GET IT IN WRITING and ALWAYS READ YOUR CONTRACT!

 You don’t want to be stuck with something you did not plan for or thought you paid for it and it wasn’t in the contract.  If you have it all in writing there will not be any misunderstandings of what has been agreed upon, even if it’s your friends that you’re hiring.  This will protect you, your vendor, and your friendship. 

 Always, always read the contract thoroughly.  Never sign something that you have not read through.  If you have questions on your contract ask your vendor before signing it.  Do not be shy about asking your questions, it’s your day.

http://www.liquidlightimages.com/ 

Liquidlightimages ~ Elegance On The Edge…

 It helps to establish a relationship between you and I long before your wedding day and it will show in your wedding images.  I spend about 2 hours or so with the both of you, watching, listening and getting to know you, all while photographing you.  I take mental notes of your individual personalities and even your quirks, how you interact with each other and how you interact with me.  It helps me to learn how to communicate to you.

 On your wedding day I won’t be your photographer, I will be Aaron your friend that happens to be a photographer that you happen to have hired.  When the walls are broken down and you trust that I will do my best and that I have your best interest at heart, you will be relaxed and comfortable and it will show in your images.

 Most people are not comfortable with having a camera in their face, and this can be very intimidating.  Even for those who like to take pictures, especially those Facebook & Myspace snap shots, it is totally different when someone you hardly know is taking the shots; and I am up close and personal.  My whole job is to capture you all day long, along with every moment of the day.  People are not use to that, so the engagements session breaks the ice.

 The engagement session allows you to get great shots for a slideshow, prints for the reception, “Save The Date” announcements, invitations, our new Engagement Books and it will help with completing the story of your album when I build it.

 These are just a few of the reasons, but it gives you an idea. So think twice before booking without an engagement session.

For more info:
808.330.4404
aaron@liquidlightimages.com

LiquidLightImages…Hawaii Wedding Photogrpher

Elegance On The Edge…

LiquidLightImages…Hawaii Wedding Photogrpher

Elegance On The Edge…

LiquidLightImages…Hawaii Wedding Photogrpher

Elegance On The Edge…

The most important question you should ask is, “Are you the photographer who will be photographing my wedding?”

When hiring a photographer you are not investing in images, (files, pictures) or albums, you are investing in the photographer’s talent and creativity to photograph your wedding.  So your first thought should be, “Who is the right photographer to capture our wedding images?”  Start off by making appointments with several photographers to view their work.  You may save yourself some time by viewing the photographer’s website before meeting with him or her.  It is very important to get out there and look!

When meeting with a photographer, be sure that the work you are viewing is the work of the photographer you are meeting with and he or she is the one that will be photographing your wedding.  Some photographers do all the work personally. Then there are studios that have one, or possibly several, associate photographers. If hiring a photographer from this type of studio you may not get the photographer you initially met with.  Point in case: meet with the photographer that will be photographing your wedding.

Personality and rapport are extremely important.  Your photographer is your most intimate vendor next to your wedding planner/coordinator (if you have one).  It is very important that the both of you feel comfortable with the photographer, because he or she will spend the better part of the wedding day with you.  Even if you think a photographer’s work is the greatest, if you do not like their personality, attitude, and you do not feel comfortable, it will show in the images.  You are investing in this person’s vision, creative abilities, professionalism, character and personality.  Ask yourself, “Would I invite this person to my wedding?”, because that is exactly what you will be doing.

Along with your memories, your photographs will be the only things you have left once your wedding day has past. Be sure to hire the right person for you. A good match between you and your photographer will create great images and pleasant memories to look back upon.

For more info:
808.330.4404
aaron@liquidlightimages.com

LiquidLightImages…Hawaii Wedding Photogrpher

Elegance On The Edge…

 In the last 6 months we here at LiquidLightImages have been receiving many inquires for weddings as close as 2 weeks to 1 month to the wedding date.  The sad part about this is that we are booked for almost all inquires and the bride and groom are left scrambling to find a photographer. By this time their photographer of choice is booked and their budget already spent.

Once your wedding date has been settled and your reception venue secured, booking your photographer should be one of your higher priorities.  Good photographers are hard to come by and they get booked fast, especially after a bridal expo.  The only memories left to show after your wedding day will be your photos, your album, your wedding dress, and your rings.  Fifty years from now, you will be able to look back at your photos and album and remember that day as if it was yesterday. You will be able to smell the fragrance of the flowers, taste the food, and how your heart skipped a beat when you saw each other for the first time that day; everything will come back so vividly.  

 We recommend booking your photographer at least 9 months to a year out, even up to 18 months.  The earlier you start looking and the earlier you book your photographer the happier and less stressed you will be.  One advantage of booking your photographer early is being able to budget the cost for it. When looking at a photographer you really like and knowing this is the photographer for you, but he or she is a bit out of your initial budget, you have time to adjust to the new cost.  Booking your photographer early will allow you to plan ahead for your budget.  Don’t settle for less than you deserve, especially when it comes to photography, the one thing you will be able to share with your family and friends, is the memories of your special day.

 This is a once in a lifetime event.

For more info:
808.330.4404
aaron@liquidlightimages.com