Cody & Laura's wedding

From our first consultation I knew that I was going to enjoy working with Cody and Laura on their wedding day.  They are just fun, easy going and very much in love!  We had a great time with their engagement shoot last fall and their wedding on Saturday was just as fun! 
Planning on a wedding at the end of March can be stressful not only for the wedding couple but for the photographer as well.  With the winter and spring that we had been having there was probably a better chance of needing to wear a warm winter coat than not but on Saturday we were blessed with very pleasant temps and little to no wind.  Without a cloud in the sky the scene at the Church of the Land, part of the Living History Farms, was absolutely beautiful.  The location matched Cody & Laura's vintage style perfectly and the touches of yellow daffodils gave hope that spring was indeed on it's way. 
There was a lovely service performed by the "Marrying Judge" Judge Joel Novak.  He blended humor, advice and kindness to make it a very unique wedding for Cody and Laura.  He also told me to swing from the rafters if it meant that I would get a good shot for the couple!  This was quite refreshing as it seems there are more and more rules being implemented on photographers (because of a few that were disrespectful). 
Following the wedding we were able to again take advantage of the nice weather and get a few more outdoor photos with Cody, Laura and their friends.  I had a great time getting to know all of them, and plan to work with many of them again soon!
Here are a few shots from Cody and Laura's wedding.  I want to thank them again for inviting me to be a part of their special day.



Do you know someone who is getting married, a senior in high school or a family looking an experienced photographer that will give amazing results but is also affordable?  Inspired Images is your photographer!

-Erik Inspired Images

 

To find out more about how Inspired Images can capture your event click here to get connected!

 

  

7 reasons why your wedding photographer should take your engagement photos

 

Getting your wedding photographer booked is a huge step in your wedding planning! Here are the reasons why it’s wise to use the same photographer for your engagement session.

1.     Builds Trust – The chances are that when you and your fiancé book with a wedding photographer you have never worked with the photographer before.  Maybe you heard of them from one of your friends, met them at a wedding show or found their website and enjoyed their work.  When you book your engagement session you will get a chance to work together and meet several more times before your wedding.

2.     The photographer can learn what buttons to push – Not everyone is comfortable in front of the camera and working with your wedding photographer in an engagement session allows the photographer to get to know you better and see what they need to do to make sure that you are comfortable.  This will only help on your wedding day and by the time you take your wedding pictures everyone knows each other well and it makes for a much smoother wedding experience.

3.     You get to learn how the photographer works – Every photographer is different in their approach.  Some photographers like to be hands on, some like to allow the action happen.  You will get to see how they work and what they need from you to produce images that you will love!

4.     See that you do look good in photographs! – I hear it from nearly every wedding couple that I meet with, “we’re not very photogenic, you’re going to have your work cut out for you”.  Booking an engagement session with your wedding photographer can put your mind at ease, when you receive your photos, knowing that you really can be photogenic with the techniques the experienced photographer used.

5.     It’s affordable – Many wedding photographers include engagement sessions with their packages.  Inspired Images includes an engagement session with two of their packages and it can be added to the other two.  I recommend that even if your photographer doesn’t include it you should check into the cost to add it in.  Typically it’s inexpensive and as explained before the benefits are greater than just the great images that you will receive. 

6.     The sessions are relaxed and it’s easy to go to different locations – The wedding day is a fast and sometimes hectic experience for a wedding couple.  It’s tough to balance the desire to plan a lot of time for photographs and also not make your guests have to wait. When you book your engagement session with your wedding photographer the session is much more relaxed without all the wedding day stresses.  You can explore unique locations, schedule your photos for the ideal time of day and be sure that you are going to capture beautiful images of the two of you. 

7.       It’s a nice addition to the album – When you have your wedding photographer take your engagement photos they will be able to use the images in a number of exciting products.  Many wedding couples like to reserve a few pages in their wedding album for some of their favorite engagement photos.  As mentioned the engagement photos occur in a much more controlled situation and often times can be just as stunning if not more stunning than the actual wedding photos! 

Can you think of any other reasons?  Be sure to let us know! 

To find out more about Inspired Images and how they can help make your engagement session special click here to get connected!

Erik - Inspired Images

  

Top 5 things you should know about hiring a professional wedding photographer



 

Whether you are newly engaged or have been into the wedding planning process for a while there comes a point where you need to get your wedding photographer booked.  Here are 5 things that will help your decision.

1.       Wedding photographers book up fast!  Before falling in love with a photographer’s work, check to make sure that they are available for the date that you have chosen.  It’s not uncommon for dates to be booked a year to a year and a half in advance or even more for popular dates. 

2.       Make sure that you like the photographer’s style.  Take time to look through a photographer’s website as well as any sample albums/books that they can share with you.  You will see a wide variety of images but also should be able to recognize a trend in the way that their images look.  Don’t expect the photographer to be able to change this for you, this is how they shoot and you should make sure that you enjoy their style of photography.

3.       If you want amazing wedding images you need to plan time for them.  Everyone wants incredible wedding photos but many times they don’t just happen, they need to be planned and mapped out with coordination between the wedding couple and the photographer.  It’s an exciting and nerve wracking day and the clearer you can make the plan, the easier it will be for all involved.

4.       Photographers can offer great advice!  Photographers have a unique perspective as they typically shoot one to two weddings every weekend.  They get to see many venues, meet with many people and can offer you valuable insight that can help your wedding day be even more special.  Don’t be afraid to ask them about more than just photography!

5.       Make sure your personalities match.  This might seem obvious, but a photographer is going to be as close to you as anyone throughout your wedding day.  You should make sure that you enjoy their company.  A photographer may be able to take amazing photos but if they are bossy or impolite they can be a distraction not only to you but to your guests.

Have anything that you would add to the list?  Let us know in the comment section, let's see if we can make it into a top 10!

To find out more about Inspired Images and how they can help make your wedding day special click here to get connected!

-Erik Inspired Images