THE TOP 10 TIPS FOR CHOOSING YOUR PERFECT WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER!

Let’s face it – Unless you’re in the business, you probably have no idea where to start
when selecting your Wedding Photographer!
So here are our Top 10 Tips, to help ensure you find the Perfect Photographer for Your
Wedding!


1. PORTFOLIOS, GALLERIES, SAMPLES…
The most important aspect of the whole process is that you fall in love with the photographer’s work!
If you don’t ‘click’ with their images, then move on…

It’s also important to note that many photographers work very hard to make sure their portfolio will blow your mind…sometimes they even use models & professional lighting. Make sure you see what their ‘normal’ wedding photos look like; otherwise you might be in for a shock when you see your own wedding images!


2. EXPERIENCE IS ESSENTIAL
Everyone has to start somewhere…But it shouldn’t be on your Wedding Day!
You need to trust that your Photographer is experienced, equipped for all circumstances, has the experience & knowledge to go with the flow & deal with everything that might happen on your Big Day.
…After all, this is a huge, once-in-a-lifetime event, & you don’t want to be the guinea
pig for someone less experienced than you deserve!

Make sure you ask the important questions:
· How many weddings have you shot?
· Do you have a back-up camera body, & alternate lenses?
· Will you bring an assistant, or a Second Shooter?
· Have you shot at our location before?
· Do you shoot weddings for a living, or as a hobby?


3. THE RIGHT ATTITUDE
Your wedding photographer will be an integral part of one of the most important days of your life, & at the end of the day, they should be there to help make your day Perfect (sometimes, as the Verge girls have done, it comes down to the little details; getting you a glass of water (or champagne!), helping you with your dress, or making sure your hair looks flawless!).

Regardless of how talented a photographer is, or how many awards they have won, if you have no chemistry with them, then your wedding photos won’t truly reflect yourpersonality, style & the emotion of your day.

It’s important that you feel comfortable with them as you’ll be spending 99% of the Big Day with your photographer.

· Do you feel relaxed around them? Are they relaxed & friendly, or are they bossy & overbearing?
· Do they look smart & professional?
· Do they instill confidence in you?
· What’s their style? The way they act – are they casual, laugh-out-loud types, or quite demanding?
· Do you ‘click’ with them?

You’ll only be able to judge these things once you meet them face-to-face.
THE GOLDEN RULE – HIRE SOMEONE YOU TRUST 100%
Don't commit to any photographer if you’re less than 100% confident in them. Don't waste your time if you don't absolutely love their work, & make sure you have great chemistry with your photographer. Once you've made your decision, just step back & let them work their magic.
You'll be seeing them after the wedding too, so be sure you enjoy working together, & that they're easy to contact.
The more questions you ask, the more confident you will feel when making the final decision on which photographer to choose.

When viewing portfolios, think about the images:
· Do they look artificial & composed, or are they natural?
· Do they evoke emotion?
· Is there a good mixture of portraits & groups?
· Do they tell a story of the entire wedding day?
· Do they capture detail well (expressions, dress details, etc)?
Also ask the photographer for references. It is often useful & reassuring to find out from
past clients if the photographer was punctual, friendly, enjoyable to work with, etc


4. SECOND SHOOTERS
A second photographer is a great way to ensure that no details are missed from your day; you can capture a wider range of angles, & allows for more artistic freedom within your images.
Many people don’t see the point in having a Second Shooter, & may wonder if the Primary Shooter is not competent enough on their own, but a second shooter is a fantastic (and often essential way) of capturing every moment of your Special Day. How else would you capture the groom’s expression as he sees his bride for the first time? Or capture the long-distance shots during your ceremony…from a balcony!
Second Shooters are well worth asking your photographer about!
Trust us…you’ll appreciate them once the Big Day is finished!


5. IS YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER…WELL…YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER?
Many photographers employ an impressive Salesperson to WOW you & ‘sell’ you on their photography… But is the person you meet, trust and ‘click with’, the person that will actually be shooting your wedding?
If you’re unsure, just ask!
It’s essential for you to meet the actual photographer who will be with you the whole day, to decide on which photographer you hire to capture those beautiful memories.
*When in doubt – refer back to Tip #3


6. BUDGET IS THE KEY
It’s very true what they say: Price plays an important factor in your decision, so you should definitely ‘shop’ on price (to create your shortlist), but the essential key is to not ‘buy’ on price.
All photographers are definitely NOT the same!
If two photographers are priced $1000 apart, and you wonder why the difference is so big, then you should ask about how much experience they have?
How much do you love their work?
What’s included in their packages (Are you comparing apples with apples…are you
truly getting VALUE for money)?
Are they simply building a portfolio, or is Wedding Photography their full-time profession?
In most cases, there’s a reason for the price difference!!
You’ll find it when you start to look closer…


7. YOUR PACKAGE – WHAT DO YOU GET?
Do you know exactly what you get?
Packages can be very vague. You should figure out exactly what you’re getting for your cash.
So, your photographer is asking for $3000. What do you actually get? Albums? Prints? Hours? Discs?
How big is the album?
Do you get the images in digital format?
If so, who has copyright? Is the photographer’s logo watermarked across them all?
Is editing included?
What are the hidden extras (if any)?
How much more will you have to spend to get exactly what you want?
Do you have a list of things you definitely want?
If not, see 7.1. below…


7.1 MAKE A LIST OF WHAT YOU WANT
It might sound simple, but you’d be surprised how much variation is out there!
Some photographers offer a disc of all the photos. Some only offer a selection of images in an album.
What’s important to you? Write down everything.
Seriously; everything - Albums, coverage, prints, digital copies, wall enlargements (what size?), second shooter…
Write down everything you can think of that you want from your photography. Then, compare that to what your prospective photographer is offering.
On rare occasions you’ll find those photographers (like Verge Studio) who are flexible
with their packages…
When in doubt – Just Ask!
If you love their work, AND they’ll give you everything on your list, AND they’re in your
budget…BINGO!


8. CONTRACTS...UGH
They suck. We hate using them, but contracts are super-important as a matter of communicating. They will explain exactly what you’re getting, what the photographer is responsible for, what you’re paying for, & what happens if things go wrong.
So, how’s your photographer’s contract? Make sure you read it. You’ll want to understand absolutely every point in it, & if you don’t then you need to ask someone.
Ask the photographer. Ask your mum. Ask a mate. Ask someone!
If your photographer is hesitant to discuss the details of their contract (or if they simply don’t even have one!), that’s a huge red warning flag!!


9. WHAT DO THEY ACTUALLY DO?
Is your Photographer a Photographer?
Or is your photographer really a truck driver/doctor/golf instructor /student that has an expensive camera, & shoots weddings on the weekends? Give them a call during work hours & ask them! Make sure that whatever the answer, you’re 100% happy with them when you Book & Pay your deposit.
**Remember - deposits are normally non-refundable!
***When in doubt – refer back to Tip #3


10. VIDEOGRAPHY. VIDEOGRAPHY? VIDEOGRAPHY!!
Deciding to hire a Photographer is a no-brainer.
Videography is a bit trickier…
Some companies offer both services, but remember that these are two completely different skill sets…so make sure that you’re happy with the individual people responsible for each of these jobs.
Some photographers & videographers just outright refuse to get along with each other,& spend a lot of time getting in each other’s way. Some are absolutely amazing at working together…
How’s yours?

Just keep in mind that you’re paying for their services, so if your photographer isn’t willing to work with your videographer & vice-versa, maybe you need to find someone who will remember that it’s Your Wedding Day!
They should be working harmoniously to make sure your Wedding Day memories are captured perfectly for you, forever…


Simply give Verge Studio a call if you have any questions about Photography for Your Wedding Day.
We would be honoured to help make this the most incredible day of your lives!


Happy Planning!
Love, The Verge Girls xo



Verge Studio Photography - Wedding Photographers, based in Perth's gorgeous Swan Valley!!
www.vergestudio.com.au

The Wedding Etiquette Nobody Actually Understands, but Everybody Wants To Know!

WEDDING  INVITATION   ETIQUETTE

You Can Never Give Too Much Notice!
Save-The-Dates typically go out three to four months prior to the wedding, but if guests are spread far and wide—or you're throwing a destination wedding—more time is better. No one will complain about having extra leeway to plan. Send invitations six to eight weeks beforehand, with an R.S.V.P. request of two to three weeks prior to the event so you can get a final head count.


K.I.S.S (Keep It Super-Simple)
Wedding invitations should include the full names of the couple marrying and those of the hosts (if they’re different), the place and time, and that’s it. "No children" isn’t included on the invite; it's implied by the names on the envelope. Nor should you list registry information on the invitation—family and attendants can spread the word when asked about it, or you can provide it on your website.


Titles Do Matter
This applies to all event, but particularly for formal functions! If the wife is a doctor, her full name comes first, as in "Doctor Aaron and Mr. Gary Lawrence." When the husband is a doctor, the titles appear as "Doctor and Mrs." and if both husband and wife are doctors, the envelope should say "Drs. Sharon and Gary Lawrence." A single woman (unless she's a doctor) should be addressed as "Ms." If she's under 21, use "Miss."


Anatomy of an Invitation
A typical invitation includes certain customary elements: the host line, request line, bride and groom line, date and time lines, location line, and reception and R.S.V.P. lines. Although every invitation should have all these lines, they can be worded and arranged in countless ways to reflect the style of the occasion and the changing times.


Tricky Wording? Sorted!!
Two phrases are the most traditional; one indicates the ceremony will be in a house of worship, the other that it will not. But informal wording is becoming very common. Just be sure that whatever phrasing you choose indicates that guests are being invited to a wedding ceremony or the reception only.

• At a Place of Worship: Request the honor of your presence...
• Informal Ceremony: Would be delighted by your presence at the marriage of their children...
• Informal Reception Only: Invite you to join them at the wedding reception of...

R.S.V.P
Brides today generally include paper, envelope, and stamp to encourage guests to respond to their invitation in a timely manner, even though traditional etiquette doesn't actually call for them. It's not rude to omit these, but it might be risky.

• R.S.V.P. Line on the Invitation: It goes in the lower left corner; you can also include mailing address, phone number, email address, or website.
• On a Separate Card: A traditional fill-in-the-blank version provides the first letter of Mr. or Mrs.; or try a single line, such as "Please let us know whether you will join us," with space for writing.

Extra! Extra!
Where To Put The Other Info?
If your event won't include a full meal, it's courteous to inform your guests. Use phrasing such as "and afterward for cocktails" instead of the classic "at the reception."
If you want to stress the importance of the style of dress -- black tie, for instance, or casual attire -- place that information in the lower right corner, or on the reception card. The only thing that should not be included anywhere on your invitation -- not even as an insert -- is your registry information.

Many thanks & full credit to http://www.marthastewartweddings.com/343536/7-wedding-invitation-etiquette-tips/@center/272440/wedding-etiquette-adviser

If there's anything else we can do to help with YOUR wedding,
please contact the friendly team at Verge Studio!
0421 255 884     |     www.vergestudio.com.au

10 Tips for Hosting the Perfect "I Do" Day!

Obviously, lush flowers and a gorgeous venue are some of the elements of a beautiful wedding, but picture-perfect decor doesn't ensure an epic party. Score a 10 out of 10 for overall experience by following these simple yet effective tips that will have your guests talking about your wedding for years to come.

1. Ask for Song Requests

To ensure everyone is having a great time and dancing the night away, have your guests request a song via the invitation response. Give this list of songs to your DJ, along with the name of the person who requested each song. That way, if the dance floor starts to thin out, the DJ can play songs off of the request list. This pretty much guarantees that the person who requested the song will get up and dance and encourage others to do so as well.

2. Don't Let Your Friends and Family Talk Forever

Many fun events have been driven into the ground by deathly long speeches. To keep the party popping, ask your speech-givers to keep their toasts short and sweet.

3. Remember to Thank Your Guests

Speaking of speeches, it's important to let your guests know how much you personally appreciate them coming. It's hard to believe how often this simple step is overlooked. Bite the bullet, make the speech (keep it short, of course) and just genuinely thank your guests for dropping their lives that day to share it with you.

4. And Keep Them in the Know

The best weddings are the ones that are organised and follow a timeline. When the events of the day unfold in a timely manner, and the bridal party and guests alike are not left standing around wondering what's next, where they should go or what they should be doing, the entire day seems flawless.

5. Add in an Element of Surprise

Who doesn't love a special surprise at a wedding? You could hire a group of singers or dancers disguised as wait staff to break out into song or dance during dinner, or you and the groom could perform a practiced dance routine yourselves for the first dance. A 'wow' factor can be memorable and will ensure your guests have a blast!

6. Opt for a Short Ceremony

If possible, try to keep your ceremony simple and short in length. A long, drawn-out ceremony takes away that guest energy level at the onset, and sometimes it cannot be recovered for the reception.

7. Give Birthday Shout Outs

Does your BFF have a birthday on the same day as your big day? Or is it his parents' anniversary too? Have your MC acknowledge any birthdays and/or anniversaries with a dedicated song during the reception. People love attention. Plus, it's just a sweet gesture.

8. Hire a Great Band or DJ

After all, they can, in fact, make or break a party. Look for a high energy performer, while being careful not to choose an annoying personality to be your MC. Great vocals, great dance moves and great spunk will have everyone up on their feet until it's time to go home. Seamless song transitions and the ability to read the crowd when they want to hear more of the same sound or a desire to switch to a different sound is where a DJ's talent also comes into play.

9. Provide Transportation

If you're hosting a destination wedding or your wedding is in a remote location, be sure to provide transportation for guests from their hotel to your wedding and back. This way people don't have to worry about organising their own Designated Driver, which guarantees that they can party harder.

10. Allow Your Guests Plenty of Free Time

This is particularly important if you have a destination wedding, or a bunch of guests in from out of town. Back to back activities after a long trip will run them into the ground. Let them have some time and space to explore and they'll be refreshed and excited at all of your events.

Many thanks & full credit to http://www.brides.com/blogs/aisle-say/2014/06/how-to-entertain-wedding-guests.html

Tom's Top Tips for Photography!

Hey Vergers,

For the past couple of weeks I have been doing Work Experience with Kate and Megan here at Verge Studio and I’ve learnt and developed my photography skills whilst working here. I thought that it would be interesting to share this with you to maybe help with your skills!

1.   Use What You Paid For...

     Instead of letting the camera choose what is thought to be the best picture possible on the auto setting, learn how to use other settings on the camera so you can get the best image that you possibly can. The best setting in my opinion is Manual, because you can alter the picture to become the best it can be.

2.    Move!

     Move around whilst taking photos instead of standing in the ‘normal’ photo-taking position. A lot of people using a camera would just stand still, but taking pictures from different angles can bring more life into the picture being from up high or down low.

3.   Thirdly: The Rule of Thirds

     Using the Rule of Thirds you can develop a fantastic shot. The Rule of Thirds is pretty much splitting the images into thirds and placing the main attraction of the photo on one of the lines. This makes the main attraction stand out and brings more life into the image.

4.   Embrace the Space

     Leaving Space in the picture can make the image far better. Having space in the image can create a lot of feelings like mystery, movement, depth etc. Having feelings like this in your image can create a great atmosphere. Leaving space in the picture can also help blur out the background and create a far better image with one main feature.

These are the best skills that I've learnt with my camera for a long time. They really helped me develop my photography skills and I've noticed with some of my practice shots, just how much of an improvement I've actually made.

Overall I've had a fantastic time here, and it’s such a shame it has to end!

Tom =)

Photoshop vs Art; Where do you stand in the 'Perfect Bodies' Debate?

Did you read the latest article from Huffington Post Online about 'Photoshopping' famous old paintings?

Well we sure did!
If you haven't read it yet, it's essentially a look at modern society's perception of  physical 'perfection', in stark contrast to the natural women who have been muses for artists over hundreds of years!

As visual & creative people, We LOVE how the author demonstrates the disproportionate nature of our totally impossible goals to look like those fabulous models in magazines (especially when it comes to media & the widespread use of 'Photoshop' to brazenly & unnecessarily alter models' bodies).

With quite a humorous result, they've used Photoshop to update some of history's most gorgeous paintings to fit current ideals of beauty.


Here's one example from the article (keep looking to see the change):
 
Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres, "Grande Odalisque," 1814 reimagined by Lauren Wade

From natural, carefree, healthy & soft;
to bony & underweight.....hmm.

We think it's a fabulous way to remind us all that women today are naturally already BEAUTIFUL !!
As the saying goes: "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder"

Check out the article & some other great examples here.



DISCLAIMER:
We aren't anti-Photoshop, we just question it's apparent overuse in current media.
Would love to hear your comments!







Tags: Photoshop; Photoshop Fail; Photographer; Boudoir Photography; Perth; Beauty; Beautiful; Huffington Post; Glamour Photography; 

" It's Raining Bumps and Bubs"

Happy Monday Vergers !

We have been super busy lately here at Verge with an influx of Mums-to-be and new babies, which has been so much fun!

Working with the Mums-to-be has brought us beautiful ideas to showcase Mother Nature at her best; There's nothing more beautiful than a glowing Mum-to-be and her gorgeous Bump.

This has us talking around the office  about  whether or not you would find out the sex of your baby and we came up with some of these Pros and Cons

Reasons to find out:

·         You only have to agree on one name.

·         You can buy gender-specific clothes.

·         You can decorate the nursery.

·         You may feel more connected to the baby.

·         It may make the baby feel more real.

·         It helps reassure you that everything is okay. 

        Reasons to wait:    

·         The Surprise can be exciting

·         The last few weeks may be more bearable not knowing (build-up of excitement!)

·         It's the way people have been doing it for centuries.

But we are all super excited here in the office that we are expecting a little baby girl in August (Congratulations Andrea)!!!!!!!

This has made us all go gaga here and we can’t wait to share some more of the awesome shoots we have done with these Mums and Bubs soon.

Enjoy the rest of your week 

K xxx

 

What a month we have had.....

Happy Monday Verger's

Wow what a busy month we have had so far, we have renamed it Mad March here at Verge.

At the Beginning of this Month we had the pleasure of having a stand at the "Dusk Bridal Fair" held at the Perth Convention Centre, as part of our promotion at the event we had an amazing competition running for all our visitors to go in the draw to win a trip to the beautiful Koh Samui !!  (which we will be drawing at the end of May). We had such an Awesome time over the Two day's and we got to meet so many lovely couples  : )

This month we have also had the pleasure of photographing some stunning weddings each as beautiful and unique as the couples involved, we truly do love our job!

This month our Boudoir shoots are in focus and to highlight how much fun these shoots are we are running an awesome promotion "Book a Boudoir shoot and bring a friend for free!" how cool is that!

I shall sign off for now as we continue to work through Mad March!

A XX 

How do I choose a Boudoir Photographer?

J’Adore Boudoir Photography!!

...but we’ve noticed that there are quite a few studios popping up lately, who are also advertising Boudoir (The most recent photography trend to sweep across Europe & land here in Perth)!

Boudoir Photography is an incredibly powerful art form, not just for the images, but for the way it’s making women across the world feel empowered, beautiful & confident!

**Not to be confused with the ‘Glamour’ style from the 1980s!**

So we just wanted to give a few pointers to the ladies (and gents!) who are looking at having their very own Boudoir Experience. Please pass this info on to them & have a read through yourself, to make sure you select the best photographer for YOU!

Point #1

Trust your instincts!

Those of us who adore the beautiful & empowering Boudoir genre are 100% dedicated to providing a unique, personal, relaxed & professional experience for each of our clients.

Just remember: Not all photographers are the same...

This leads us to...

Point #2

Do your research!

Your Boudoir experience will be a sensual, beautiful, emotional & somewhat vulnerable one. You need to feel completely comfortable with that person behind the lens.

Although Boudoir is not necessarily about being ‘nude’, you will be revealing a very personal & private side of yourself, to be captured in the most artistic & gorgeous way!

a)      Look through their website & facebook page, to get a feel for their personality.   **If they don’t have a website – be on high alert!!**

b)      Most importantly, make sure that you feel a connection to their images. If you don’t, then they aren’t the right photographer for you. Simple.

c)       Check out how long they have been in business. Are they a start-up, trying to begin a portfolio, or are they going strong. The majority of small businesses close their doors after 3 years! So use this as a guide.

When it comes to price...

Point #3

Know what you’re getting for your money!

Once you’ve shortlisted your potential Boudoir Photographers, give them a call & have a chat. Are they up front about their pricing? Is it easy to understand? Are their packages within your budget?

Be careful with amazingly cheap offers. You get what you pay for...

**Hint: It may seem like an unbelievable price on the surface, so dig deeper to make sure you won’t be stuck with hidden extra costs later!**

**Remember the old adage: Quality over Quantity – Do you want one beautiful art piece...or 10 ‘snapshots’**

So, having saved the most imperative for last, our final (but most important) piece of advice...

Point #4

How will it make you feel?

There’s a very fine line between empowering, beautiful & feminine imagery, to feeling objectified.

Sensual vs Sexual.

Arty vs Tarty.

At the end of the day, the photographer you choose to help capture your beautiful Boudoir Images needs to be someone who makes you feel relaxed, pampered & comfortable enough to be yourself!

Here are some other questions to ask yourself before you begin your search for your perfect Boudoir Photographer:

-          Would you prefer a male OR a female photographer?

-          Would you feel more comfortable with a professional team OR a solo photographer?

-          Would you feel best at a home studio OR a city studio?

We hope this info has been helpful, & inspires you to have your own incredible Boudoir Experience soon!

Love,

The Verge Girls xo