TIPS AND TRICKS ARCHIVES

Should You Have an Unplugged Wedding Ceremony? | Carina Photographics

What is an Unplugged Wedding Ceremony?

As a wedding photographer, I often ask my clients if they are considering having an unplugged wedding ceremony. Most people answer they are not sure what that means, or else they have no idea how to do it. I’d like to explain a little more about them, some of their benefits, and how you can easily ensure one for your big day.

Everyone these days has a camera in their pocket, residing on their cell phone. Cameras on phones have come a long way, and people naturally love to take photos and videos during their friends and loved ones’ wedding days. While most of the time these are fun and awesome keepsakes to have, problems can occur when people use their camera phones during wedding ceremonies. Married couples pay thousands of dollars to professional wedding photographers to have their wedding days preserved through photos. Wedding ceremony rituals can happen in the blink of an eye (think ring exchanges or the big kiss) and hands quickly popping up with cell phones can easily block or mar the images of a carefully-placed wedding photographer positioned behind them.

Several of my wedding clients have opted for an unplugged wedding ceremony. This means that couples request their guests put away their cell phones during the ceremony. This significantly lessens the chance of a guest blocking the wedding photographer’s view, and also prevents distracting glowing screens from cluttering the final images. Not only that, but it actually ensures that the guests are giving their full attention to the ceremony itself, not playing with phone settings.

How to Have an Unplugged Wedding Ceremony

Many people like the idea of an unplugged wedding ceremony, but they have no idea how to coordinate it. There are many simple ways to ensure one for your ceremony. Some of these options include:

~ Have your officiant make an announcement that you would prefer all guests keep their phones and cameras off so as to enjoy the ceremony undistracted. Have the officiant offer that the images from your professional photographer will be shared with guests at a later date.

~ Post a sign in your ceremony venue with your request. You can either buy a chalkboard sign and handwrite, or purchase one on Etsy. Some options include: “Welcome to our unplugged ceremony. Please turn off all cell phones, cameras and any other device and enjoy this special moment with us. Thank you!” or “Welcome to our unplugged wedding. We invite you to be fully present with us during this special moment. Please, no cameras, cell phones or other electronics until after the ceremony. Thank you!” or even “There’s a girl here taking pictures. We asked her to come. So please rest your cameras. Our ceremony needs only one.”

~ Alternatively, you can add your wording or request to the ceremony program that each guest receives when entering your venue. Try a Google search to find wording that is right for you!

So you see, having an unplugged wedding ceremony comes with several benefits, and is very easy to do. Want more advice? Wedding photography information? Want to see if I would be a good fit for your wedding day? Give me a call at 612.220.8227 or send me an inquiry!

Looking for More Advice and Opinions? Check out my other help articles:
To Look or Not to Look? Having a First Look on Your Wedding Day
Wedding Day Photography Tips
Engagement Photography Tips
Top 10 Things to Look for When Hiring a Wedding Photographer
Six Tips to Help Plan Your Wedding Day Timeline
How to Care for Your Digital Photographs

To Look or Not to Look? Having a First Look on Your Wedding Day

By Joanna Carina

Wedding Day First Looks

As a wedding photographer, there is one issue I see a lot of couples struggle with when planning out their wedding day. Should they do a First Look, or should they wait to see each other when they first walk down the aisle? I have worked with couples in both scenarios. While both ways can work well, there are a few distinct advantages to going with a First Look prior to your wedding ceremony.

How Does it Work?

The First Look begins with some quiet time for just the two of you…alone. The walk down the aisle in a very public wedding ceremony would cause all eyes to be focused on you. Alternatively, your First Look, where you see each other alone before your formal portraits, is often extremely special for you both. You are able to exchange letters or gifts, calm your nerves and think about the events ahead. This quiet time for the two of you also helps to prepare yourselves for the events to come. It is amazing how couples relax once they have held their First Look.

Another Benefit

Another benefit of First Looks is that your hair and makeup are still fresh and you are still comfortable in your wedding attire. Often times, wedding days and wedding wardrobes can be heavy and hot, so people look less and less fresh as the day progresses. Seeing each other in top form will happen if you choose to do your First Look right away.

After the First Look

After the First Look time has finished, we take some posed photos of the two of you. While we still refer to these photos as “posed”, rest-assured that we use our expertise to create images of you that look relaxed, natural and intimate. These photos are the ones that most often end up on walls and in prints or albums. We like to take these photos alone, away from bridal party and family members, to continue to capture candid emotions and moments together.

Formal Portraits

Once your portrait time is finished, you are able to regroup with bridal party and family members and complete as much of your posed, formal group portraits as possible prior to your wedding ceremony. Once your ceremony is complete, you are then able to spend as much time as possible mingling with your guests and not forced to break into posed photos afterward while wishing you could be somewhere else.

All-in-all, including a First Look into your wedding day is an amazing experience, and one I highly recommend!

Want more advice? Wedding photography information? Want to see if I would be a good fit for your wedding day? Give me a call at 612.220.8227 or contact me!

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Looking for More Advice and Opinions? Check out my other help articles:
Wedding Day Photography Tips
Engagement Photography Tips
Top 10 Things to Look for When Hiring a Wedding Photographer
Should You Have an Unplugged Wedding Ceremony?
Six Tips to Help Plan Your Wedding Day Timeline

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Wedding Day Photography Tips | Carina Photographics

By Joanna Carina

Wedding Day Photography Tips

As a wedding photographer, many of my wedding clients ask if there is anything they need to know to help prepare for the their wedding day photography. There are a number of guidelines that I like them to give them, not only so they know what to expect, but also so they can help make the photos look their best. I’d like to share the tips I give everyone so that you can help make your final photos look clean, polished, natural and beautiful! Following are some of my most helpful tips for your wedding day photography:

~ Try to arrange to have natural light in the rooms where both of you will be preparing. Natural light looks great in wedding day photographs.

~ Keep the area near the windows free of trash, bags, snacks, etc. This is the area that we would prefer to take your photos during your wedding day preparation.

~ Make sure your shoes are comfortable. If not, feel free to bring along your formal shoes for your wedding photographs, but wear the comfy shoes to get around.

~ Consider a coordinator. Wedding planners, wedding coordinators, and even day-of coordinators can help take the stress out of your big day and help things run smoothly without needing your attention. So you can relax, enjoy time with friends and family, and really focus on the best things about your day. No need for you to sweat or take care of last minute issues on one of the biggest days of your lives!

~ Make sure to task someone with bringing an emergency kit. Especially if you are DIY couple, you will need to make sure you have a number of items to help in case something goes wrong. Spend a bit of time on Google to find lists of the most important items to have, then make sure a bridesmaid, personal attendant or other helper can be ready in case of emergency.

~ Allow more time than you think you need to get ready. It’s better to be safe than be rushed – often somewhere along the way people get delayed. Planning extra time into your preparation will help keep things running smoothly.

~ Brides: Consider a hair/makeup trial run. While often times, things can go just fine on the first attempt, you never really know until you see yourself as you will look in real life. Also, you can pair the trial run with your engagement photos, so you are able to see what you look like in photos before the big day!

~ Brides: everyone in the bridal suite should be in their dresses before the bride. Please have all bridal details together prior to the wedding photographers arriving (i.e. wedding dress, bridesmaids dresses, jewelry, wedding rings, shoes, bouquets, veil, invitations, and any special keepsakes.) We will photograph these items prior to your prep time.

~ Grooms: everyone in the groom’s suite should be in trousers and shirts for wedding photographers to start. We will capture groom’s details first (i.e. shoes, tie, cufflinks, boutonnière, etc.) Then we will photograph groom prep time.

~ It is typical to allow around two hours for all of your posed wedding photos.
– 60 minutes for first look / couple portraits
– 30 minutes for wedding party
– 30 minutes for family formals
Specific details and timing will be planned out prior to your big day.

~ Last but not least, eat, drink, and be married! Most of your wedding day is going to be photographed candidly, so you can relax, enjoy yourselves, and forget that your wedding photographers are even there. We’ll worry about getting the best photos of you and your guests without needing any assistance. So kick up your heels, enjoy yourselves, and leave the photography to us!

Want more advice? Wedding photography information? Want to see if I would be a good fit for your wedding day? Give me a call at 612.220.8227 or send me an inquiry!

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Looking for More Advice and Opinions? Check out my other help articles:
To Look or Not to Look? Having a First Look on Your Wedding Day
Engagement Photography Tips
Top 10 Things to Look for When Hiring a Wedding Photographer
Should You Have an Unplugged Wedding Ceremony?
Six Tips to Help Plan Your Wedding Day Timeline
How to Care for Your Digital Photographs

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Engagement Photography Style Tips | Carina Photographics

By Joanna Carina

Engagement Photo Tips

As an engagement photographer, my couples ask me a lot of questions about their engagement photography and prewedding sessions. Today I thought I would answer some of those questions.

You know the old saying “Practice Makes Perfect”? If you want to feel more comfortable in front of a camera on your wedding day, it would help to practice. Engagement photography and prewedding photography is the perfect opportunity!

Engagement Session Details

Typically, engagement sessions last around 1-2 hours. It really depends on the location and/or activity you’ve chosen. When outdoors, we generally work in the last two hours before sunset. When indoors, we can work almost any time of the day. I want to create a memorable experience that works best for you. Please don’t hesitate to ask if you have suggestions or ideas in mind.

Your engagement photos are perfect for Save-the-Date Announcements, Guest Books, Engagement Albums or Gift Prints. They are often cherished by couples simply because they show you spending time together. They capture you during an activity you enjoy without wedding day formality.

Where to Go

Selecting locations or activities that are meaningful to you will almost always result in better engagement photos. Think about how you like to spend time together and activities you both enjoy.

Some location ideas include:
> A favorite park
> A beer brewery or winery
> An art museum
> The college campus where you met
> Riding a rented trolley, canoe or boat
> On rides at a fair or carnival
> A destination or public garden
> On a picnic
> Around a barn
> A bowling alley
> An antique store
> Skating at a rink (summer or winter)
> A playground
> A baseball field

Style Tips

~ Consider dressier options (sport coat, dress, etc.)
~ Be comfortable. Select clothing that compliments you well.
~ Avoid matching, but compliment and coordinate together in color, style and level of formality.
~ Choose solid colors (not white).
~ Avoid sleeveless tops, baggy clothing, large logos, clashing patterns, cargo shorts/pants, sweats or track suits, athletic shoes, flip-flops, crocs, and men’s sandals.
~ Bring multiple outfit options. I can give advice on which options work best together.
~ Layers and textures translate well.
~ Remember details! Accessories, nails, shoes, etc. The level of care on the little things add up. Choose neutral nail polish if using.
~ Brides: consider testing your hair/makeup during your photo session. Professional hair and makeup will add some glamour.
~ Don’t stress! Engagement photos will be fun if you let yourself enjoy the experience. Consider having a date night afterward to celebrate your engagement!

More Info

Feel free to check my Pinterest “What to Wear // Engagements” board for visual representations of wardrobes that work well together. And be sure to let me know if you have any other questions. I would love to help you achieve the engagement or prewedding photography of your dreams!

Need some ideas for what you can do or where you can go for your engagement photography or prewedding session? Take a look at my Engagement Photography Ideas blog post for more information too!

Top 10 Things to Look for When Hiring a Wedding Photographer | Carina Photographics

By Joanna Carina

Top 10 Considerations When Hiring a Wedding Photographer

Welcome to the wild and sometimes crazy world of wedding planning! I would like to share a helpful roadmap full of some insider tips about what I consider to be the top 10 things to look for when you are looking to hire your wedding photographer:

1. PORTFOLIO

This first one is a given. You are drawn to photos that you like, of course. Make sure to really look through the wedding photographer’s images and try to describe, even just to yourself, what it is that attracts you to these images. Look at elements such as posing, expression, lighting, composition, color, exposure, etc.

2. PERSONALITY

When you meet with a wedding photographer, how well do you click? Is it easy to talk to him/her, or do things feel disconnected and awkward? Does their working style fit with what you envision? Do you like the ideas they propose for working together? Do you feel confident that they can do an excellent job with your wedding day? Plan to spend a few minutes chatting to get to know him/her and see how you mesh. Remember, your photographer will be the one vendor you are with the majority of your day, not to mention during other meetings, your engagement session, etc, so you should find someone you can connect with and trust that they will work well for you!

3. INSURANCE

Make sure to check that the wedding photographer is insured – both for liability as well as equipment. If a guest (or even you!) were to get hurt, who would cover medical bills? And if the photographer were to have gear broken or stolen during your event, would he/she request that you help with the cost? You want to make sure to be covered against anything imaginable, so always verify that a photographer is fully insured.

4. BACKUPS

Another form of “insurance” is having full backup equipment. Not just limited to an extra camera body, does the wedding photographer also have extra lenses, extra lighting, extra memory cards and batteries, etc? There isn’t one moment to be missed during a wedding, so photographers have to be able to grab new equipment at the drop of a hat if the need arises.

5. PRICE

There are as many pricing strategies as there are wedding photographers. Some photographers price in packages, and others price a la carte. Some include digital files or albums, some do not. Make sure to discuss with your fiancé(e) what you are hoping to receive from your wedding photographer. Also, make sure to discuss whether you have a set budget in mind, or if you want to compare value of various photographers. Lastly, make sure that the photographer’s price is not the only option you consider when you are shopping around. We have heard horror stories of what happened when people have hired purely on price. Just remember that your wedding photography will be the only keepsake left from your wedding day, so make sure all of these factors are weighted equally.

6. HOURS OF COVERAGE

Some wedding photographers price their coverage hourly. Some give “full day coverage”. And others give packages with a set number of hours. It helps to have a ballpark idea in mind of what you are hoping for, but make sure to request that your photographer help with planning out the timeline of your wedding day. Then you need to clarify how much of the day you actually want your photographer present. For example, do you need your photographer present during your visit to the hair salon in the morning? Or do you want your photographer present up until the very last dance is finished, lights are brought up and guests are leaving? In our experience, 8-10 hours of photography coverage will ensure you get the majority of the important details from your wedding day.

7. NUMBER OF PHOTOGRAPHERS

Unless your wedding is very small (max 50 guests), many weddings would do well to have two photographers present. From having more details and candid moments captured, to having both bride AND groom expressions captured during first looks and walking down the aisle, some images are only possible when there are two photographers present.

8. ALBUMS

A wedding album is the most important keepsake you can receive from your wedding day – don’t underestimate its importance as your first family heirloom. Make sure to review the quality of the albums of the photographer. Look at cover materials, paper finish and thickness, number of pages, the style/design of the layout, whether it includes a box or other protective case, binding quality, etc. There is a vast range of albums available, so make sure you will be getting great quality and value in your biggest family heirloom from your wedding day.

9. PRODUCT OPTIONS

Also make sure to review the full range of product options offered by the photographer. Do they offer both wedding AND engagement albums? Prints, canvas, metals or other wall art? Digital images or not? Parent albums, gift albums, greeting cards, or any other extras? Sometimes it’s hard to know what you might want to order from your wedding images, so make sure that you have a good variety of options that you are interested in considering when the time comes.

10. PROFESSIONAL

This last item might be the most important. Make sure that work with a professional wedding photographer. I know that the term can be widely interpreted. (Full-time? Part-time? Occasional? How many weddings have they photographed? etc.) Asking a friend or relative with a DSLR to be your photographer, if they have no experience photographing weddings, can potentially lead to disaster and you could end up with no or very few usable photos from your wedding day. For some people, photography may not be that important, so it may not matter if you have photos to look back on from your day. But if you do want to make sure you get beautiful, high-quality photos artistically capturing every facet of your wedding day, make sure that you can trust that your photographer is a professional and can work through any scenario or challenge that may be presented.

More Info

I hope this road map and tips will be helpful to you as you navigate your way through the world of wedding photographers. If you have any questions or would like to learn more about working together for your big day, contact me soon. Best of luck and happy wedding planning!

Looking for More Advice and Opinions? Check out my other help articles:
To Look or Not to Look? Having a First Look on Your Wedding Day
Wedding Day Photography Tips
Engagement Photography Tips
Should You Have an Unplugged Wedding Ceremony?
Six Tips to Help Plan Your Wedding Day Timeline

Infrared Wedding Photography | Carina Photographics

By Joanna Carina

Infrared Photography MN

Today I’d like to highlight something that I’ve been doing for awhile now but haven’t talked about too much on my website. I offer something special to my clients that is really fun and unique – infrared photography. What is infrared photography?

Infrared photography is a special type of photography. A camera must be altered to be sensitive to only the infrared wavelengths of light. In layman’s terms, it means that the images you see are altered color-wise. When you are using infrared photography in natural scenes with a lot of greenery – such as grass, plants and trees – the green shows up as white. This give them images a dreamy, storybook, otherworldly feeling. I process the photos into black and white, but the white grass, plants and trees really makes them pop out and feel unique. My clients often gasp at the sight of them. Once we turn them into a canvas, metal print or framed art, they are truly a sight to behold.

Infrared Photographer

If you would like to work together with me in a natural setting for your wedding or engagement photos, contact me soon to discuss how we could work together!

Six Tips to Help Plan Your Wedding Day Timeline | Carina Photographics

By Joanna Carina

Wedding Day Timeline Planning Tips

It seems like something so complicated: plan the timeline of your entire wedding day, even though you’ve never planned a wedding before in your life! Thankfully, there are some tips that you can keep in mind to help you plan out and organize the time needed for the events on your big day. Here are a few:

1. Allocate more time than you think you need for all events

The makeup artist took longer than expected. The dress had wrinkles and needed to be steamed prior to wearing. The limo was delayed by road construction. The florist didn’t arrive on time with the bouquets. The dinner took an hour longer than the catering company anticipated. If something were ever to be delayed, chances are it would happen on your wedding day. So make sure to plan in more time than you think you need to accomplish everything. That way, you can probably accomplish all of your events without adding additional stress.

2. Delegate, delegate, delegate!

Prior to your big day, make sure to delegate any tasks that must happen on the day itself. Things like paying any vendors, organizing posed photo subjects, and announcements, can be delegated to members of your wedding party or family. This will help things run much more smoothly and quickly.

3. Leave plenty of time for your first look or couple portraits

Many times people don’t give much thought to these photos, as they are more concerned with figuring out the family portraits. However, the portraits of the bride and groom alone often end up being the most cherished photos of the day. These are the ones you gift to parents, relatives and friends, as well as hang on your own wall. Make sure to plan at least half an hour for your portraits, and more if you are able.

4. Be at the ceremony location a minimum of 30 minutes prior to the ceremony

You’ll want to be finished with all hair, makeup, photos and travel well before the ceremony starts. It is safest to plan on being ready at the location 30 minutes, and sometimes one hour, prior to the ceremony. This way you are prepared in case something runs too long. At the very least you have time to breathe and relax before the big moment!

5. Plan 3-4 minutes per photo grouping

When planning out how much time you will need to take formal photos, a good rule of thumb is to add 3-4 minutes per photo. That is assuming all participants in the photos are ready when needed! And don’t forget to make sure everyone needed for the photos is aware of where they need to be prior to your day. (I’m personally guilty of that one – sorry Laura!)

6. Arrange for most reception activities to happen early

Make sure to plan the cake cutting, first dance, parent dances, bouquet toss, and any other special events early in the evening. Often times, many relatives and friends won’t want to stay too long after dinner. This way you will ensure that most people are still available to watch the fun!

Wedding Day Timeline Planning Tips

If you can keep these six wedding day timeline planning tips in mind while organizing your day, you will be much more likely to keep your day running smoothly – helping to alleviate any unneeded stress on one of the biggest days of your life.

If you’re looking for a wedding photographer for your big day, contact me soon to discuss how we would work together!

Looking for More Advice and Opinions? Check out my other help articles:
To Look or Not to Look? Having a First Look on Your Wedding Day
Wedding Day Photography Tips
Engagement Photography Tips
Top 10 Things to Look for When Hiring a Wedding Photographer
Should You Have an Unplugged Wedding Ceremony?
How to Care for Your Digital Photographs

TIPS AND TRICKS ARCHIVES

What is an Unplugged Wedding Ceremony?

How to Have an Unplugged Wedding Ceremony

Wedding Day First Looks

How Does it Work?

Another Benefit

After the First Look

Formal Portraits

Wedding Day Photography Tips

Engagement Photo Tips

Engagement Session Details

Where to Go

Style Tips

More Info

Top 10 Considerations When Hiring a Wedding Photographer

1. PORTFOLIO

2. PERSONALITY

3. INSURANCE

4. BACKUPS

5. PRICE

6. HOURS OF COVERAGE

7. NUMBER OF PHOTOGRAPHERS

8. ALBUMS

9. PRODUCT OPTIONS

10. PROFESSIONAL

More Info

Infrared Photography MN

Wedding Day Timeline Planning Tips

1. Allocate more time than you think you need for all events

2. Delegate, delegate, delegate!

3. Leave plenty of time for your first look or couple portraits

4. Be at the ceremony location a minimum of 30 minutes prior to the ceremony

5. Plan 3-4 minutes per photo grouping

6. Arrange for most reception activities to happen early

Wedding Day Timeline Planning Tips

NAVIGATE

CARINA PHOTOGRAPHICS

FAMILY, SENIOR, ENGAGEMENT + WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY