Stolen Wedding Photos (Don't Worry - It Didn't Happen to Us!)

Last week a thief in Milwaukee stole cameras and 9 rolls of film from an in-progress wedding. (Again, this didn't happen to us.) Despite everyone's best efforts, nothing was found and the culprit was not apprehended. Which means about 3/4 of the couple's photos were lost. If you're interested, here's the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article.

Losing photos is a concern for every photographer, so we go to extraordinary lengths to avoid the possibility. First, we shoot 100% digital, so making backups is simple. Periodically throughout each wedding we download memory cards to a laptop, and keep the images on those cards (in our pockets) - that way we have two copies stored in separate places.

After the wedding we create another copy of all images on our server (for those of you who are counting, we're now up to three copies.) Then we pick through all images, editing and enhancing the ones we select... and we create separate copies of those images, and back those images up to the server as well. At that point we erase the memory cards, but if you are still keeping track, we still have two copies of all the original files, plus two copies of the edited files.

So - barring a catastrophe, your images are safe. While we definitely feel for the Milwaukee photographer, and even more so for the couple who lost some of their wedding day memories, a few simple steps could have avoided a catastrophe.

First Dance Songs

A couple still in the wedding planning stages recently asked for music recommendations. While the best reply is probably, "Choose what you like - it's your wedding and everything should reflect your tastes," that's probably not helpful to someone who has no idea what they would like to play, especially during key musical moments like the first dance, father-daughter dance, etc.

So, here's an unscientific survey, in order of frequency, of the songs we've heard most often this year during the bride and groom's first dance:

• At Last - Etta James
• It Had To Be You - Harry Connick, Jr.
• True Companion - Mark Cohn
• Come Away With Me - Norah Jones

Also popular are mixes, especially when the couple developed their own dance routine for the middle/end of the song. It's always a crowd pleaser when the music shifts from gentle and romantic to something uptempo or funky.

But, if you're concerned about your dance skills, stick with sweet and romantic - that never goes out of style. If nothing else you won't look back at the video twenty years later and wonder, "What was I thinking?"

Advice on Tipping

We don't expect to be tipped, but many providers do (or at least they hope to be.) The local ABC affiliate in New York put together a guide to tipping wedding providers that should prove useful.

Most of the advice makes sense, although we were surprised that tipping delivery workers (equipment rentals, cakes, flowers, etc) was expected. In many cases you won't even see them, since you'll be busy getting ready while your venue is getting set up.

Also a little surprised that tipping bartenders, wait staff, etc is expected, since they typically are paid a rate where tips are not assumed to be part of their compensation (unlike restaurant wait staff, for example, who are paid a couple dollars an hour in salary,with tips assumed to make up the bulk of their pay.)


In the end, you should do what feels appropriate, but the advice from WABC should at least give you food for thought.

JMU Arboretum Photos

For all of you who mentioned that if we discuss a location we really should show photos, here you go: A few images from last weekend's wedding at the Arboretum.

Location Bridal Party Sessions

A growing trend is for couples to request wedding day bridal-party photo sessions at locations other than the ceremony or reception site. We've done four or five this year, and clearly it's a growing national trend - check out this article from the Chicago Tribune.

Keep in mind that many locations require the payment of shooting fees. For instance, if you want photos taken on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., the National Parks Service charges an average of $250 for the privilege (including a $50 application fee just to consider your application.) Even a location like the Arboretum at JMU charges $50 for engagement or wedding photos; the fee is, fortunately, included in the overall cost if you book the spot for your wedding.

A couple factors to consider. Taking your wedding party to another location takes longer than you might think, even if you all ride together in the limo. (And your guests will be waiting while you're gone.) Many of our couples choose to do separate location photos before the service - that way they can allow as much time as necessary without inconveniencing guests. And don't underestimate how eager you'll be to get to your reception after you're finally married - what seemed like a great idea when you're planning your wedding might feel like an imposition (to you) when you'd rather be dancing, socializing, and celebrating.

Heat

The last couple weekends have been incredibly hot in Virginia, so we thought - after two successive outdoor weddings in 90-degree plus weather - it might be nice to post a photo from a winter wedding at the Homestead in Warm Springs, VA.

We'll be just outside Charlottesville for a wedding this weekend, so think cool thoughts!

And More Wedding Planning Tips...

Since we've gotten a lot of response from our recent wedding tips posts, here's another. Check out the article I Do's & Don't's: Straight-Shooting Wedding Advice from the NY Daily News. They're big on making sensible budget choices, especially on items that "most people won't remember anyway," as well as saving money on flowers and your gown.



On a different note: This weekend we photographed a wedding at JMU's Arboretum; it's the first we've shot there in over a year. (We tend to shoot more weddings in Charlottesville, Northern Virginia, and Richmond than in the Harrisonburg area.) It's a beautiful location - even in Saturday's 95 degree weather - but it's low on frills: the staff sets up chairs but that's about it... the rest is up to you. And if you have more than 150 guests, as Leah and Adam did, you'll have to rent and set up additional chairs on your own.
The reception was at the Festival Center - adjacent to the ISAT building - where the staff are both efficient and skilled (the two don't always go together, in our experience.) The space is a perfect size for 200-300 guests; while it holds up to 500, anything over 300 might feel a little tight, especially if you want your guests to be able to mingle freely.

Taking "Right Place, Right Time" to Extremes

Some amazing photographs of the May 12 earthquake in China have surfaced, photos that exist because of the timing of the quake — in midafternoon, when several newlywed couples happened to be having their wedding photos taken near the town of Bailu.

Note while the wedding party looks slightly worse for wear, the groom is nonetheless up for a little texting.


The Associated Press reports (here's the article) that the photographer, Wang Qiang, was set up outside the century-old French missionary church there, no longer in use but still popular as a romantic backdrop for wedding portraits. He had already taken some shots and was waiting for the couple he was photographing to change clothes when the quake struck; he started recording what happened as the church started to crumble.

For more quake photos by taken by Wang, check out this Chinese news site - while you're there you can try out your translation skills.

The closest we've come to a disaster at a wedding (unless brides fainting at the altar can be considered a disaster) is when a carriage horse fell at Natural Bridge while bringing the bride and her father to the service; the combination of concrete and rain and metal shoes made for terrible footing. (Picture quality isn't great, but we were about 300 yards away at the time.) Oh - and note the Natural Bridge employee looking "official" so he doesn't have to participate.


The horse was actually calmer than everyone else - he simply stayed down until they unhooked his traces, then he got back to his feet and patiently waited to be hooked back up. Three minutes later they were on their way again.

And in case you were worried, here he is later, looking understandably sheepish but otherwise fine.

While it pales in comparison to an earthquake story... hey, that's fine by us.

Tips for Allocating Wedding Funds

According to a recent news newscast on South Bend, Indiana's WSBT, "Weddings are said to be recession-proof, but the same can't be said for couples' budgets. As the economy takes a hit, many nearly-weds are looking for ways to scale back on a lavish wedding without sacrificing a special day." For example, we recently photographed a wedding held at the home of the bride's parents. As you can see, the setting was beautiful and relatively inexpensive compared to renting a venue, even when you factor in rentals.

And the fireworks were a fun touch, and were a surprise for the bride and groom.


Here's a summary of tips from the article:

Save On:

• The guest list (reduce it, in other words)
• Invitation costs
• Favors

Splurge On:

• The location
• Photography

To check out the full article and the rationales behind their tips, click here.