Preparing for your senior session.

Not sure what you should do to prepare for your session. Don’t worry. Follow these few tips and you’ll be good to go.

Hair & Clothes: A little more then a week before your session is the best time to get a hair cut. This will allow your hair to adjust to the new cut or style. This is also a good time to plan out your outfits. I would suggest 3. One dressy one more casual and one fun look. Avoid shirts with large logos.

Sleep: The night before your session make sure you get a good nights sleep. This will help avoid puffy eyes and dark circles.

Photo Day: The day of try to avoid being in the sun too long. You don’t want to be red and sunburns can be very hard to retouch. It is also a good idea to pack a comb and girls some touch up makeup and a small mirror as well. If you are an athlete bring your gear and your uniform. Its always a good idea to febreze your gear the morning of.

Girls

Nails : Clear nail polish or a french manicure looks best. However if you would like to wear a solid color make sure to put a fresh coat of polish on the day of the shoot. Chipped polish will show. Avoid dark blue or black polish. They may be trendy now but they wont be in just a few years. The darkness of the colors will also pull your eyes to your nails and we want you to stand out and not your manicure.

Makeup : Apply your typical makeup before your session as you are getting ready. The day of your shoot is not the time to try a new look. Use light concealer and powder if necessary on blemishes this helps with photo retouching. Try not to use a make up that has SPF in it. The SPF has a reflective quality and may give you a shinny look in your photos. Use a new tube of mascara to avoid clumps.

And most importantly of all remember that it will be fun.

A few ways to add some personality to your wedding.

As a wedding photographer I'm luckily to be a part of so many couples special day. I love seeing all the little details they have done to really make their wedding a little extra special. Here are some of the unique ideas I've seen.

Clinking Glasses: Everyone knows that at a wedding all they need to do is clink their glasses for the bride and groom to kiss. Why not make it a little more special. Announce to your guests or have place cards on the table explaining that in order to make you and your new groom kiss they must stand and share a story about either you, your groom or the two of you as a couple. You will be surprised how fun it is and how well your guests enjoy being part of your day.

Honor your mothers: Dad gets to walk you down the isle but what about mom? She is just as special. Nnd you don’t want to forget about your soon to me be mother in law either. A beautiful way to honor them during your ceremony is with flowers. Ask your florist to include two removable sprays of flowers in your bouquet. As your fathers kisses you and gives you away take an extra moment to walk over to each of your mothers and present them with a flower and a kiss. Tell dad ahead of time but keep it a secret surprise for your mom and mom to be.

Reception Remembrance: Give each of your reception tables a name of a place that is special to you and your fiancé. For example the street name of your first apartment. Leave a little card at each table explaining how that place is special to you.

Memory Box: Keep your guests entertained during the cocktail hour while making a great keepsake of your wedding. Have pens and decorative note cards available at a table for your guests to write down memories or wishes for your future as husband and wife. Have a gift box or jar to collect the cards in. This makes a great time capsule to save for your 1st or 5th wedding anniversary,

Dance the night away: Keep everyone up on the dance floor by knowing just what songs each of your guests like. Leave a place on your R.S.V.P card for your guests to write down 3 of their favorite songs. Give the list to your DJ and get dancing.

Have a ball : Are you and your husband to be big sports fans? If so you will love this alternative to the traditional guest book. Set a fun guest sign in table with a ball for them to autograph and display some fun famed photos of the two of you at your favorite game. Guest will love this fun idea and the ball can be displayed in you home instead of sitting in a closet where many guest books end up.

What are you doing to customize your special day?

Maine Wedding Photographer attends a Shoot With Beckstead workshop.

Last Friday I attended a Shoot With Beckstead workshop in Brunswick Maine. David Beckstead is a world wide destination wedding photographer. When he is not traveling for weddings he is on the road teaching other photographers with his Shoot With Beckstead Workshops. Here are a few of my shots from the workshops.
To view more images from the workshop go to our fan page on facebook.
To learn more about Becksteads workshops : http://swb.bigfolioblog.com/