2018 Trend: Embracing Smaller Wedding Parties

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wedding photographer, wedding photography, wedding planning, weddings

Large wedding parties are seen by many as a “status symbol” of sorts.  Many of us want to have the most grandiose wedding possible, right?  I get it – allow as many of our friends and family to participate in our wedding day.  Admittedly, in some cases, having large wedding parties is unavoidable.  10+ Bridesmaids, 10+ Groomsmen, etc. are just required due to the size of families and their circles.

Looking back at 2017, larger wedding parties (10+) were oft the norm but many expect wedding parties in 2018 to be smaller.  Where we can cut those numbers in half (4, 5, or 6 at the high end – including maid-of-honor), I think this expected 2018 trend just makes more sense.  Here’s why…

Personally, I think smaller wedding parties are actually better for a number of reasons.  First, it is more intimate and easier for the couple to manage. It’s much easier dealing with 4 bridesmaids/groomsmen as a Bride/Groom opposed to 13 bridesmaids/ groomsmen, right? Additionally, the more you have, the less important they are individually and the more money it costs for the Bride/Groom and/or the bridesmaids/ groomsmen.  From a photography standpoint, pictures with you and 5 or 6 bridesmaids takes a lot less time than if you have 10+ bridesmaids. As such, photographers can actually focus more time on you with each of them, as well – quality over quantity.

When planning your wedding, save time, money, and proverbial “wedding party drama” by narrowing down the wedding party list to your most important/ indispensable subset of friends and family. For most, I think this is sage advice. Let me know your thoughts and experiences!

Chuck Jackson is a wedding photographer for PhotoActive Photography in Tampa, FL. Check out http://www.photoactivephotographytampa.com to see stylized wedding images and samples from other photography genres, including events, portraits, and modeling, as well!

Should you order prints for your wedding photos?

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brides, selecting a wedding photographer, wedding photographer, wedding photography, weddings

Bridal preparation

~ Written by Chuck Jackson

Most photographers offer an eclectic mix of wedding packages to fit all wedding budgets. Although most modern photographers offer clients edited wedding images digitally on DVD, USB drive, or some other media, consider packages which include photo albums and loose prints, as well. Why do we still do this in the digital age? Because more often than not, most of your digital images will never be printed and remain on your PC and wedding DVDs forever – even after telling ourselves we will print them once we get the digitals. Why should we care? We can simply share them on social media or on our family website for the world to see, right?

There are 3 main reasons I urge printing wedding images on the front end…

1) There is still something special about the portability of having a 4×6 print of your handsome groom or beautiful bride taped to your mirror or on your office desk in a lovely frame. There is still something magical about giving a loved one an 8×10 print of you and your spouse from your wedding day. Having a beautifully designed coffee table book of your wedding day to show off to your friends and family when they visit your home is one of the best reasons to order a photo album. Sharing your wedding images on social media is great but you cannot touch and feel it – which brings everything to another level.

2) Just ask yourself, “How many of my vacation photos are still in that same ‘My Pictures’ folder that have gone un-printed?” While we have the best intentions to print the ones we love most, we are all busy and sometimes we never get around to doing it (and trust me – I am guilty of this, too).

3) Additionally, as a keepsake your wedding album can be passed down to future generations as a tangible reminder of your love and dedication to family. If the power goes out, you can still view your album/prints! Computer crashes, you can still view your album/prints! Don’t like sharing via social media, you lend/give albums/prints!

Consider investing in a custom designed photo album and loose prints at the front end and you will be happy you did!

Bridal

Chuck Jackson is a wedding photographer for PhotoActive Photography in Tampa, FL. Check out http://www.photoactivephotography.com to see wedding images and samples from other photography genres, as well!

Brides: Factor enough time for photography in your wedding day schedule!

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selecting a wedding photographer, wedding photography, wedding planning

Bride and Groom

Written by Chuck Jackson

Brides: When planning your wedding day, please make sure you leave enough time for the photographer and/or videographer to adequately do their job(s). As a photographer, there are few things worse than feeling rushed and not being able to take the pictures you really want for the bride and groom on their big day. As professionals we will work with what we have but there is a give and take equation that means the best work may elude you if time is short.

Although there are many factors to consider, here are a few guidelines that work for me. In order to deliver the best possible photos (quality and quantity), generally I like to have 45 – 60 minutes for post ceremony traditional/posed shots, 1 – 2 hours for preparation photos, and at least 2 hours of reception photos. Ceremony lengths are what they are but I recall having one wedding ceremony that was literally 7 minutes long (procession to altar and back again) – that was WAY too short.

In summary, time is money but with ART, time also allows for QUALITY and QUANTITY of photographs/video footage. It can take time to get those “perfect” shots so do not leave your most important day to chance: be proactive and discuss scheduling with your wedding planner and photographer and you increase your positive outcome potential immensely.

B&G Formal Portrait

Chuck Jackson is a wedding photographer for PhotoActive Photography in Tampa, FL. Check out http://www.photoactivephotographytampa.com to see wedding images and samples from other photography genres, as well!

Off camera flash for wedding receptions

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off-camera flash, wedding photographer, wedding photography, wedding reception

Bride and groom during their first dance

Written by Chuck Jackson

During wedding receptions, I always try to use off-camera flash in addition to no flash and/or on-camera flash. For me, this varies the look and feel of the images so everything isn’t looking exactly the same. Furthermore, some effects can only be achieved with an off-camera flash/light source. Without a light source emanating away from the camera, it is impossible to capture images like the above or below.

The Bride during her first dance

If not for any other reason than adding texture and depth to the images using light and shadow, this is a good option to have. It is also a wonderful technique for mixing it up a bit by adding partially silhouetted images to the shot list (see shots below of the Bride and Groom and Bride and her Father).

The first dance of the Bride and Groom

Father and daughter dance

The other HUGE advantage to using off-camera flash units (studio strobes in particular) is that their power can light up the room and subjects to such a degree that you can still shoot at ISO 100 or 200 without any problems. This may be harder to do with less powerful speedlights (on-camera flash heads used off-camera), but still a viable option for adding dimension to your images using light and shadow.

Chuck Jackson is a wedding photographer for PhotoActive Photography in Tampa, FL. Check out http://www.photoactivephotographytampa.com to see wedding images and samples from other photography genres, as well!

Bounce you fool, bounce!

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bouncing flash, flash photography, wedding photographer, wedding photography

Kristen preparing for her wedding day

Written by Chuck Jackson

For me and my photography and lighting style, I prefer not to use direct flash in most instances – particularly when covering events of any kind (weddings, in particular; sometimes it works better for direct flash but I avoid it if at all possible). Light modifiers for on-camera flash can be great but they still place light on the subject in a linear, direct fashion, which can still (even though mitigated by a softbox, bounce card, etc.), produce some undesired shadow behind the subject. One of the best alternatives, is to simply bounce the flash off a near wall or low ceiling.

In the shot of the bride, Kristen, above, I bounced the flash off the ceiling at about a 90 degree. Notice the pleasing shadows and light on the bride. Also notice there is not harsh shadow behind the bride as there’d be if I used direct flash.

Below is an example of what bouncing flash off the near wall (at about 90 degrees horizontal and 45 degrees up angle to the camera right) looks like! The speaker is well-lit, but not too much so and there is still some dimension to him due to the light and shadow.

The secret is very simple: If you are indoors (with relatively low, non-color casting ceilings), most experienced photographers have preached “bouncing” the flash off the ceiling (with white or off white color; any colored surface will create a color cast on the subject when light hits it) when possible as gospel for achieving softer, more pleasing light on the subject (versus direct flash). While I too do this, there is a one more thing…

Do not simply bounce the flash off the ceiling, bounce the flash off of a wall at about 90 degrees to the subject (angled up about 45 degrees)! Make sure the subject is within range of the flash’s light being bounced and have at it (the closer you and the subject are to the wall, the better; but not too close…)!

This non-direct flash approach leads to more creative lighting and better pictures! Give it a try and you’ll love the results!!!

Chuck Jackson is a wedding photographer for PhotoActive Photography in Tampa, FL. Check out http://www.photoactivephotographytampa.com to see wedding images and samples from other photography genres, as well!

Choosing engagement session locations

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brides, engagement sessions, wedding photographer, wedding photography

Greg and Melissa’s engagement session

Written by Chuck Jackson

Engagement session locations can be wide ranging. When considering an appropriate location to do the Bride & Groom’s engagement session, I always use their personality and “likes” or preferences as my guiding factor. The location and theme (if any) must say something about who the couple is, what they are all about, and/or what makes their relationship special.

I ask them to reflect on a special place in their relationship, their favorite place to spend time together, or a place that epitomizes the kinds of activities they enjoy doing. This not only empowers the happy couple, but helps ensure that they will be motivated and excited about their engagement session. When direction is needed on my part, I offer couples a variety of choices and let them decide.

Ultimately it is all about the Bride & Groom so their input is critical in deciding the location for their engagement session.

Ashley & Andrew’s engagement session

Chuck Jackson is a wedding photographer for PhotoActive Photography in Tampa, FL. Check out http://www.photoactivephotographytampa.com to see wedding images and samples from other photography genres, as well!

Awesome wedding lenses!

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wedding lenses, wedding photographer, wedding photography

Laura & Brian at sunset

Written by Chuck Jackson

As a wedding photographer, some of the most important, if not THE most important, tools of the trade are our lenses. Given the fact that we often shoot in low light situations, fast lenses (defined as f/2.8 or faster) are a definite must have for any wedding photographer’s toolbox. Furthermore, the depth of field control provided with these fast lenses makes for even lovelier shots!

For me, I have 3 favorite lenses (in no particular order): I love my Nikkor 85mm/1.8, my Sigma 50-150mm/2.8 OC EX HSM, and my Nikkor 35mm/1.8. Since I shoot weddings with two camera bodies at all times, I almost always have my 50-150mm/2.8 on one body (because of the extreme versatility of this lens’s focal length) and something else on the other body (usually the 35mm/1.8 or the 85mm/1.8, depending upon the situation.

Note: My 4th favorite lens would be the 18-55mm/VR lens for wider angle use, however, my style favors tighter composition in many cases so this is normally not one of my initial choices.

Chuck Jackson is a wedding photographer for PhotoActive Photography in Tampa, FL. Check out http://www.photoactivephotographytampa.com to see wedding images and samples from other photography genres, as well!

Lastings & Depree’s first dance

Why should your photographer take your wedding seriously?

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selecting a wedding photographer, wedding photographer, wedding photography

   

Written by Chuck Jackson

While we would like to think every wedding photographer takes their weddings seriously, sadly, this is not the case. Many times, weddings are nothing more than another job in the minds of some. This is a mistake to be avoided when selecting your wedding photographer. “How do you do this,” you ask? It starts when you begin talking about your wedding with the photographer…

One of the first questions I ask the bride and groom is to describe their wedding vision to me. Everyone envisions their special day quite differently and this comes out clearly as they begin to express the details of the day. Everything from the theme, the colors, the look & feel, the style, etc. can differ, and differ significantly, from wedding to wedding. Your wedding is uniquely yours!

Why do I take being a wedding photographer so seriously and enjoy it so much? Simply put, I consider myself to be a visual family historian. Capturing the joining of two families and their histories together is an important day in both family lineages that will continue on for generations. Additionally, when meeting with clients, I believe it should be made clear to the bride and groom that their wedding is NOT just another job, but a part of their heritage. As your wedding photographer, we are capturing precious moments in your family history that will be passed down from generation to generation. This is what we like most about our job and why we SHOULD take it seriously.

Interestingly enough, some photographers approach weddings as just another job, just another paycheck, just another high-stress”bridezilla” experience. You want a wedding photographer that approaches YOUR wedding day as the keeper of some of your family’s most cherished records – your wedding pictures and memories. Not only should good wedding photographers chronicle your wedding day from start to finish, they should do so meticulously, capturing as many moments and memories as possible. Photographic images represent the thoughts and emotions associated with specific moments in time and, in that sense, a picture is truly worth a 1000 words.

The joining of families through marriage is an age-old tradition. It has been a pillar of every society and culture since we’ve recorded history. Wedding records often provide key insights into family histories and genealogies, and even that of entire communities, when other records were unavailable.

This is the legacy of the wedding photographer – WE are the keepers of some of the most important records you will pass on to your children and your children’s children.

Chuck Jackson is a wedding photographer for PhotoActive Photography in Tampa, FL. Check out http://www.photoactivephotographytampa.com to see wedding images and samples from other photography genres, as well!

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Benefits of off-camera flash for wedding photography

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off-camera flash, wedding photography

Written by Chuck Jackson

Last year, I changed my approach to photographing wedding receptions. Previously, I confined myself to using my studio strobes to the posed formals – now, I’ve expanded the role of strobes in my wedding photography! An example of how I captured the Bride and Groom having their first dance using an off-camera strobe at their wedding reception is above.

Instead of just relying on ambient light and on or off camera flash, I started using studio strobes in addition to those techniques. I have been very pleased with the results! I find myself now shooting dimly lit reception halls at ISO 100 which is really cool (in comparison to the 640, 800, 1000, 1250, or 1600 with or without a single camera mounted flash)! Furthermore, I’ve also used these flash units during the actual CEREMONY of the wedding, as well (See example below where two off-camera strobes were used during the wedding ceremony).

Since I use two camera bodies for weddings, I go back and forth between my standard on camera flash (when used) to allow me the flexibility of maneuvering around and capturing the wedding from various perspectives on one camera body and then using my Radio Popper controlled strobes (allowing me to trigger the strobes without line-of-sight from across the room) with my other camera body to ensure I have all the bases covered.  Doing this also allows for an increased level of flexibility and significantly diverse and beautiful looking imagery to make your Bride and Groom very happy!

Chuck Jackson is a wedding photographer for PhotoActive Photography in Tampa, FL. Check out http://www.photoactiveweddingphotography.com to see hundreds of wedding images and samples from other photography genres, as well! 

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