I’m a wedding photographer

 

You've dreamed of this day for what seems like an eternity. Now it’s Saturday morning, you’re about to become one with your soul mate.  Your preparations start at around 9am, when you head to the salon to get your hair and makeup done.  You’re excited because it's your dream wedding, and you're going to look amazing. 

 

You may not realize what goes on behind the scenes of every wedding.  It takes months of preparation to get everything lined up just perfectly.  You start by looking at wedding dresses; this will be the first thing that your new mate will see as you walk down the aisle, so your dress has to be perfect.  The next year or so that you take to plan the wedding will be hectic as you scramble to research the DJ, the venue, the church and the wedding photographer. You'll need to get quotes and references, and make sure you get everything booked.  Each vendor requires a deposit, adding to the stress of what is about to be the most important day in your life.

 

Few realize that being a service provider at a wedding also calls for preparation.  As a wedding photographer, I spend countless hours researching different poses, ideas for various shots and locations. I belong to several photography groups where my peers and I can get expert advice from many well-known photographers. 

 

It's not unusual for me to attend the rehearsal so I can meet all the attendants and to get a feel for how your perfect day will begin.  I often start as early as the bride, as I meet her at the boutique or salon and we get some great candid shots of her preparing for the most important day of her life.  I normally follow her around, getting whatever she needs.  Once, I had a bride who lost a filling in her tooth, so I made a quick dash to the pharmacy to buy some filler to get her through the day.  As a photographer, I carry an abundance of supplies, and not just my camera.  I’ve been known to carry BandAids, Neosporin, toilet paper, safety pins, hair pins, etc.  You just never know what you might encounter throughout the day. 

 

My day normally lasts anywhere from 10-12 hours, even if my services have been requested for 6 hours. Many times I put in a 10 hour day on photography alone. 

 

After the "I do’s", the party begins and the bride and groom can let their hair down.  I follow them around town as they make their stops to various locations for some fun shots.   A typical night on a wedding shoot ends for me at around 9, depending on the time of the wedding. 

 

So, now it’s Sunday and the bride and groom awaken to their first morning as husband and wife; I wake to somewhere between 700-1400 pictures that need to be sorted.  The first step of organization requires sorting them into 4 folders; formals, ceremony, reception and getting ready.  This makes my job easier when it comes to uploading to the online gallery for viewing.   Photography is a full time job and many photographers, like myself, also have other full time careers.  

 

Some people don’t understand everything that goes into "processing" a wedding. 

 

It's far more complicated than just clicking a button on the top of the camera and then burning the images to a disc.  A wedding photographer will spend countless hours sorting through images, getting the best shots moved to the correct folders.  We manually adjust the lighting; sometimes this is achievable in camera, but not always.   We  check for skin tone; we check to see if all the people in the photos have their eyes open.  Sometimes it requires manipulating images to swap out a head or a set of eyeballs.  This all takes time, and sometimes just one image can take up to an hour or more to make it perfect.    We spend, on average, 100 hours processing, depending on the wedding. 

 

Edie and I make up DML Photography.  We both have full time careers in addition to providing outstanding service to our photography clients.  2012 is coming to an end and we are finishing up our last wedding of the season.  We want to thank all our existing and new clients who have trusted us to capture their most important and precious moments.

Please take a moment to enjoy the weddings from 2012

Tolbert ♥ Walker

Novachek ♥ Petrey

Gordon ♥ Hish

3 week mentoring class- Shooting in different light

Haze

Sidelight

Silhouettes ( with a little sunflare)

Sunflare

Glow

Front light

Back lighting

I would like to introduce you to Alexis.  She is a senior at Normal Community West High School.  She is one of 5 of my Senior Representatives that represent DML Photography.  I had the pleasure of spending the afternoon with her as she got her hair and makeup done for this evening’s session.  More to come of this gorgeous senior. 

Today I spend the day with 2 Senior Reps.  Kirsten and Hope were both a pleasure to work with.  We started out the day at Girl Friday, a very relaxed salon that also has a little boutique within.  Both girls got their hair and make up done.  We tend to photograph better if we feel beautiful so what better way then to get our hair and make up done.

Senior sessions were held at the beautiful Ewing Manor in Bloomington.  This was their mini session for their rep cards.  Being a senior rep for DML Photography, they get 2 sessions.  They get their mini for their rep cards and then during their senior year they get a full session that lasts up to 2 hours with unlimited locations and clothing changes.  For each referral they get that books a senior session, they get a $10 Visa Gift card.  In addition they get a $50 print credit to go towards their senior full session.  Their referral also gets the $50 print credit in addition to 10% off their session.  

Meet Kirstin!  She's a Junior at Normal West.  I have photographed her before and I must say that just over the last year she has changed so much.  She is truly a very lovely young lady.  

Meet Hope!  She's a Senior at Heyworth High.  I have known her since she was I believe in the 4th or 5th grade.  I have seen her grow and mature into a lovely young lady as well.  

I love forward to working with both these Seniors this year!  

October 2011 I met Stephanie and Tay for a bridal consultation.  After meeting with them I knew that this would be a great relationship, both very easy to talk to.  My wedding package includes a 2 hour engagement session which we did in late April and finished in May prior to the wedding.   June 2, 2012 was the big day! 

I met up with Stephanie at 9 am as she prepared for her big day.  I met her at the nail salon for her pedicures with all her ladies.  From there we went to the hair studio where her friend was there waiting to do her hair and her makeup.  I love meeting the bride as she gets ready because that gives me time to meet all the ladies and do some female bonding.  It helps to bond so that at the wedding as I’m taking everyone’s pictures I will know most of them by name.   Edie, my partner and owner of EDFG Productions met up with the guys and hand breakfast prior to them getting ready. 

Wedding was scheduled for 4 pm and we all made it in time.  3:30 we were outside taking pictures and all of a sudden the sky got very black.  Within 10 minutes it started to pour and yes it was an outdoor wedding at Tri Lakes.  But did that stop this gorgeous wedding from happening or did that put the party in a panic?  NOPE!  Everyone took the bride inside and put her in the back by the kitchen while everyone pitched in, bridal party and all, to push table and chairs out of the way.  There was to be a wedding at 4 and Mother Nature was not going to spoil this family’s fun!

Wedding lasted about 15-20 minutes and then it was party time!  I must say that by the end of the evening, I did not feel like just a photographer working for this happy couple, but they and their families made me feel like family. 

Stephanie and Tay, I wish you many, many years of marital bliss and I know that you will have many fun memories along the way.  Please know that not only am I your photographer but I’m also your friend and if either of you ever need anything don’t hesitate to let me know.   I hope that everyone enjoys the newest sneak peeks that are within my blog.  Thanks for letting DML Photography capture your special day. 

Teresa & Edie thanks you for letting DML Photography and EDFG Productions make another “Memory that will last a lifetime”!

Happy 6 month Birthday to Ms. Addison!  She was such a doll today, hamming it up in front of my Nikon!  A couple months ago I sent out a casting call to model one of my new dresses I purchased and her mother reached out to me right away, and boy am I thrilled she did.  Shanena and her mom Barb were both great big helps in getting Ms. Addison to smile for the camera.  I hope to work with this family again.  I will be reaching back out to this family for Ms. Addison's one year cake smash session.  Hope you enjoy looking at the sneak peeks.

May 5th I had the pleasure of getting my youngest ready for her Junior Prom.  Had a blast and she turned out stunning.  I spent over $700 by the time all was said and done but it was well worth seeing the joy come from her.  Dress was purchased from M2 out of Champaign and Hair and make up from Girl Friday out of Bloomington.