Where do I start? The location was perfect, the couple a ton of fun, and the weather was beautiful. Lets just say it was a great engagement session for Christina and Chase, and I can’t wait to photograph the wedding in April.
When I pulled in to the farm one of the first things I saw was this swing. Immediately I started to think of “You know what would make a great picture…”
Did I mention a perfect field for doing engagement photos?
Contact Us Today to schedule your own photo session.
Every once in a while I get a chance to help out a charity that is doing some good in the community. On the 29th I have the privilege of photographing at the Climb for Life event in Raleigh.
Join us Saturday October 29 for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Climb for Life at the Wells Fargo Capital Center in Raleigh. It is going to be a lot of fun, with registration starting at 9 am and the first wave starting at 10 am. Visit the Raleigh Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation for more details.
“Shoot the wedding as though you are looking through the eyes of their loved ones.” – Jerry Ghihonis
This is something I try to do for all my couples, and is one of the reasons I I try to get to know each couple through talking with them and things like photographing an engagement session. This wedding was different for me, because I have known the bride and her family for about 17 years. It was great because I knew many of the people so I could anticipate some of the actions and reactions and capture them, however it also put me to some extent on that emotional roller coaster called a wedding.
With the new site I will be moving posts over from the old blog to this site so everything will be together in one site, this is one of those posts from a wedding I shot last May.
This weekend I had the pleasure of photographing Samantha and Nathan’s wedding the the beautiful Prestonwood Country Club in Cary, NC. Last November we did their engagement session at Atlantic Beach, so based off that experience I knew the wedding was going to be a great time, and believe me it was.
The day started early with Samantha and the bridesmaids getting ready, and was not without its periods of laughter as they told stories about the rehearsal dinner the night before and other past events.
Once the ceremony was over the nervousness about the wedding were replaced with joy and happiness, and it was time for some pictures.
The Father of the Bride surprised the couple by bringing a vintage Cadillac for them when it was time to leave the reception.
After the formal pictures with friends and family we took a few minutes away from everybody. It gave the happy couple a few minutes to catch their breath before going into the reception, and allowed me to take some cool pictures.
And then it was time for the reception. The first dance was to Tim McGraw’s “It’s Your Love” which fit the couple perfectly. The first dance set the tone for the rest of the reception, which seemed to fly by.
Going with a Local Wedding Photographer
Destination wedding brides have a few options when selecting a photographer. One option is to select a photographer already in the area. Which may work well if you are traveling to an area where a guide/interpreter/photographer is necessary. A local photographer should know the area, what areas to avoid and when, and what the cool little spots are for getting the best pictures. They also may have photographed at your venue before, and built up a good rapport with the staff and the managers. This will work in your favor if something out of the ordinary is necessary. It should also help keep you and the photographer avoid getting in trouble for breaking the venues rules unknowingly.
Another benefit of using a local photography company is there will be minimal or no travel expenses added to the photography package. Sometimes minor travel expenses are unavoidable, such as when a ferry ride is required to get to the wedding location. A photographer who travels to your wedding location with you will require things like lodging, airfare possibly, and possibly a rental vehicle.
Local wedding vendors work together often, and are a good source of referrals. So ask the photographer who they would recommend for things like a wedding coordinator, a DJ, or the cake. Chances are they have a list of people or companies they recommend.
And a final reason you may want to consider using a local photographer is they should have resources where they can find a replacement person or gear if there is an emergency and the need arises.
Bringing a Wedding Photographer with You
Recently I had the opportunity to photograph what was for me, a destination wedding. When I got there I saw so many different opportunities for great photos with the couple. It was like I could not put the camera down, or I might miss something. It wasn’t that the area was so special, it was that it was new to me and full of possibilities. That excitement is one of the benefits of bringing a photographer with you, you are putting him or her in a new environment and saying “go have fun and make some beautiful pictures of me.” For me, I had a blast, took a lot of great pictures, and the bride was ecstatic about the results.
Your wedding day is already a stressful event for most brides, especially so for destination brides. Having that friendly face of the photographer that you know from back home and has already done your engagement session may help relieve some of the stress. Unfortunately, some brides do not have a chance to meet their photographer in person when they are having a destination wedding. This can create some uneasiness for the bride, especially if they don’t care for who they booked, even though they sounded great over the phone.
A language barrier is also a possibility, depending on the destination. Often if you are at a resort this will not be an issue, however this is not always the case.
Having the same person photograph your engagement photos, destination wedding pictures, and reception/party back home can make it much simpler for the bride. You only need to book one photographer, instead of multiple photographers. Also the pictures will have the same look to the way they are finished. This way all the photos should seem to flow, with only the location changing.
No matter which option you choose, we hope you have a great destination wedding.
Welcome to the new website for Chris Niemann Photography. Please bear with us as we finish updating it and working the bugs out over the next few weeks. If you find anything wrong please let us know.
Thanks,