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Wedding photography is encompassing more aspects of a wedding couple’s relationship than ever before. There is the surprise proposal, the engagement portrait session, the rehearsal dinner, the wedding, and the Sunday brunch.  There are four reasons I love engagement photography!!

1. The session can happen when the light is at its best in a location of your choice.

2. There is plenty of time to relax and create playful images of couples doing what comes most natural.

3. It gives me, the photographer, a chance to get to know the couple before the big day.

4. If the wedding day has a tight schedule where portraiture is given only a small amount of time, in an engagement session, you can create very romantic portraits with no time constraints.

I was fortunate to have the pleasure of photographing Liz and Adam this past weekend at my favorite East Hampton beach. I hope you enjoy these photographs.

Engagement portraits at the beach

Engagement Portrait Session at the beach

If time allows, plan an engagement portrait session along with your wedding day celebration!! If you haven’t proposed yet, check out an earlier blog I wrote on “The Proposal”

https://debkalasportraits.com/engagement-photography-secret-proposal/

 

 

 

 
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The most important day of your life is approaching, your wedding!!  Finding the best wedding photographer for you can be a journey unto itself. Having been a wedding photographer for over twenty five years, I have five suggestions for what to consider when making your decision for your wedding photographer.

1. Personality: You are going to be with your photographer during the planning stages of your wedding, the day of your wedding and after your wedding. Is this someone you feel comfortable with, enjoy, and can talk with?

2. Experience: Make plans and watch reality take over! A seasoned professional will be able to meet any situation as it unfolds ensuring complete coverage of your wedding day. Some questions to ask might be, how long have you been a wedding photographer and how many weddings have you photographed?

3. Competency: Look carefully at all of the samples you are shown in the initial meeting. Do the albums tell a complete story, are the products well-made, is there a variety of books and sizes and are they archival?

4. Pricing: Make sure you understand the pricing structure. There is a fee for the wedding which may or may not also include products. What are the prices for prints and albums? It is important to have a large enough budget that encompasses the wedding fee and the products.

5. Second Photographer: The biggest advantage of your photographer having a second shooter is that two locations or activities can be covered simultaneously. One photographer can be photographing the bride getting ready while the other is photographing the groom.  At the ceremony, one photographer can be on the ground level, the other in the balcony. At the reception, you also gain two perspectives for the activities making sure everything is covered.

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Choosing your wedding photographer

At my studio, I consider the job complete when I can present a beautiful bound album to the bride and groom that carefully and beautifully portrays their wedding day. “The day goes by in a flash”, and the album can be enjoyed for many years to come.

Also check out a previous blog: 5 Tips For Planning Wedding Photography https://debkalasportraits.com/5-tips-for-planning-wedding-photography/  for more information.

 

 

 
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The Ring Fits and She said YES!!

This is the story of a very special engagement photography session. It took place on August 31, 2012 – the day of the beautiful Blue Moon. Most guys that I speak with about photographing their wedding proposal have an idea in mind of how they want it to be orchestrated. This case was no different:

The Idea
This young man had grown up riding horses in the Hamptons and had a special location in mind – a giant field lined by beautiful trees and near a large pond that he used to ride by. This was easily arranged.

The Ruse
So how did he get his soon to be finance to the spot? He told her: “There is a photographer in the Hamptons who needs a model to photograph at this location. It has to be when light is best (at 7am!). Can you help her out and be the model?” Thankfully, she agreed.

The Moment
I arrived at the location with the attractive young couple and proceeded to set-up “the shot.” After a few exposures, the young man turned to his lady, spoke softly, dropped to one knee, and presented the ring.

Engagement Photography

The “Phew!”
She was surprised and elated. They embraced and laughed. I asked if she was caught off guard and her reply, “I was planning to spend the rest of my life with him anyway.”

Secret Engagement Photography

The Big Difference
This engagement photography session was unique: it was my son proposing to his girlfriend! I knew the backstory, which started months before in search of a ring. It turned out that my brother had the family heirloom rings: a platinum band surrounded by square cut diamonds from my son’s great, great grandmother and a platinum wedding band with diamonds from his grandmother. The big question was: would it fit?  We had discussed several scenarios for finding out what size ring she wears, but all were vetoed acknowledging she was too smart and would figure it out.

Engagement Portraits

In the end, the ring fit perfectly and she said, “Yes”.

Click here to read: The Hidden Camera Wedding Proposal.