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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.

wedding_1photogs_049

 

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 days are getting shorter, the nights are getting cooler, and fall family portraits can be just as lovely as summer photographs. There are still the same approaches to family portraits in the months of September and October, with a few changes to keep in mind.

Location: This may be a state park with hills, trails, logs and tall grasses, a pumpkin farm with all of its activities, your own backyard and somewhere to include the colorful fall leaves.

Dress: Something warm. Sweaters with natural colors: ivory, tans, browns, deep reds, burgundy, greens, and dark blues. A hat or scarf can add touch of color. Jeans or Khakis give a family portrait a presentable casual appearance.

Time of Day: To take advantage of the best light, fall portraits happen in the late afternoon.Typically I like to start an hour and a half before sunset.

Pets: If you are thinking of making a photograph suitable for a holiday card, bring your pet or pets! They are part of your family too! It helps to have a friend or relative come along to care for your pets when we are making other photographs.

Once all of the above has been decided upon, come to your session relaxed and ready to have fun. I prefer keeping the children active so their smiles happen naturally. My team and I will take care of everything else.

Family portraits in the fall

Family portraits in the Fall.

Book your session soon while the temperatures are still comfortable.

 
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For all those who have had the good fortune to own a horse knows there is great value in having equestrian portraits taken throughout their horse’s career. Important moments could include a portrait at the farm, in the pasture, competing in a horse show, a championship ribbon pinning and more. Besides being a horse photographer, I am also a horse owner and understand the connection between the horse and rider very well.

My show jumper Adam had a tremendously successful career from 2001-2007. He stopped show jumping in 2008 and in 2011, at the age of 23, he had an injury and could no longer be ridden. My son and I recently took a trip to visit him in Virginia at a beautiful retirement farm. Also at the farm is my former horse, Unique. Below are some photographs of both of my horses; Adam and Unique.

Equestrian Portraits
Unique

 

Equestrian Portraits
Adam

You and your horse can be photographed anywhere, anytime in any location. The photographs are treasured memories of times spent together with “the love of your life”, your horse. Please check out my other blog pieces on equestrian photography http://blog.deborahkalasphotography.com/horse-photography-a-guide-to-exquisite-equestrian-portraits/.