Perfect Wedding Day?
Published December 20, 2010 | 
One thing I tell all my brides is that no wedding is perfect, not matter how hard you try. Most problems are small and go unnoticed by guests, others are big and unforgettable, while others seem so terrible at the time but find yourselves laughing about it later and it becomes the sweetest most memorable moment of the wedding day. Just know something will go wrong and just roll with it and go with the flow. Don't look for it and don’t wait for it either. But when it happens, delegate the problem to someone else to fix or solve and go enjoy your guests.
Please understand I'm not talking about life threading situations here. For example, A lot of time and money is spent on the wedding cake that is beautifully decorated and it is the center piece at most receptions. I was at one wedding where the cake was unbalance and about ready to fall over any moment. Someone ran to the bride in a panic pointing back at the cake and said "your cake is about to falling over onto the floor!" Remembering my advice she just shrugged it off and said "well, do the best you can to fix it please. If it falls, it falls". She proceeded to enjoy her guests. The cake layers were taken apart and set on the table by helpful guests. The cake did not look as good, but tasted the same. She could have fretted over it, ran to the ladies room and cried. That bride had the right attitude and understood her priority. As a result, she enjoyed her reception and now has a funny story tell her friends and future children about her wedding day.
I've seen video slideshows whose audio did not work, DJ's wireless mics whose range could not reach the head table for speeches, speech that when too long, drunk guests, not enough food for guest and too much food left over, brides who did not get a change to eat before the food was taken away. I was at a wedding where most of the confirmed guests did not show up. The list goes on and on. As hard as you try, stuff just happens.
Believe me, there are plenty of people who will jump at the chance to help in most many situations. Just be sure to recognize them and send them a thank you note. Don't stress over these non life threatening issues. They may be disappointing, but just shrug them off, go with the flow, laugh them off and enjoy your day with your guest.
Not inviting someone to your wedding
Published December 20, 2010 | This is a good question and one that is asked by most couples. Most everyone, sadly, have members of their family that don't get along or who don't get along with someone else they what to invite to their wedding. There are a couple of ways to handle this, some extreme and some not so extreme. It mostly depends on the dynamics of your situation. Not knowing the family dynamics in detail I can only give you guidelines I would consider.
First and foremost, this is your event, your wedding, your party. Invite the people you like and who you want to have a good time in celebration with. Weddings tend to have their own set of stress factors so don't willing add to that stress.
6 Great Tips for Winter Shooting
Published November 6, 2010 | Some people, regardless of how harsh the weather gets, will brave the tough elements in search of the crisp winter light. Planning well in advance will help make your trip more enjoyable.
Winter brings out the toughest elements in our climate, with many people putting away their camera bags ‘till early spring. But, if you do put away your camera you are missing out on the raw beauty that this magical season brings.
Here are a few tips to make the trip more enjoyable.
How to get the perfect exposure, part 2
Published November 6, 2010 |
If you are still unsure about getting the correct exposure, there is a cheap but very effective device called an 18% grey card that can limit your frustration, if used correctly.
When light falls upon a certain object; if the object is too dark your camera or meter will automatically give you an over-exposed reading. This also happens when we take a reading from something that is too bright – the meter gives us an under-exposed reading.
We need to find a mid-tone object for our meters to read the proper exposure.
Sometimes if we are taking pictures in a high contract scene a mid-tone object is impossible to find. 18 % grey is the mid-tone between pure white and pure black.
An 18% grey card will record the exact light that will touch any object. Start by placing the grey card where you are going to take your reading, point your camera or light meter at the grey card – your meter should read the exact light that falls upon the card.
These cards can be used for all types of photography. If you are taking a portrait place the grey card beside the subjects’ face. This will give you an exact reading and help to capture perfect skin tones.
We don’t need to understand the full science of how this works, but knowing a little doesn’t hurt. All light-meters are calibrated to produce an exposure of 18%. The grey card reflects the exact same reading.
This card is not very expensive, and most decent camera stores should sell them. The 18% grey card should become an important part of your equipment.
How to get the perfect exposure, part 1
Published November 5, 2010 | Did you ever take photos and were disappointed in finding that all you were getting were wash-out boring images. The problem is that you didn’t set your camera's expose properly.
Whether we use a digital or film camera, we need to be able to calculate exposure properly. But first, we need to understand how the aperture and the shutter work together. We also need to know how our cameras handle light, and the relationship between the light and f/stops.
Lets take a quick look at the main elements.
Aperture and f/stops: the aperture is an opening in the center of the lens through which light passes. The amount of light which passes through an aperture is indicated by f/stops. The lower the f/stop the more light that passes through this aperture. Opening up one full f/stop doubles the amount of light entering the camera. F/4 admits twice the light of F/5.6.
Shutter: the shutter is a mechanical device that controls the length of time that light is allowed to enter the camera. Each time you open the shutter by one, we double the light, when we close down the light by one we half the light. Opening the shutter at 1 second allows twice the light as that of a ½ second.
Most digital
Getting the perfect exposure isn’t easy, but there are several different ways of making it easier.
Using a light meter: there are two types of light meters,
- Reflected-light meter (the same that is built into your camera) works by pointing the meter at your subject.
- Incident-light meter: instead of pointing the meter at your subject, you stand beside the subject and point the meter at the camera. The light that falls on your subject will also fall on your meter and will tell you how to best set your camera for a good exposure.
The most common way is to use the meter built into your camera. All modern day cameras have a reflected-light meter built in to them. But don’t point the camera directly at your subject from 10 meters. This will more than likely underexpose your image. Take the exposure reading up-close, then return to the starting position and take your image.
It doesn’t matter which metering system we use, if we don’t point them in the right direction our images will return too dark or too bright. The key is to know where to point the meter. If you are unsure take three or four images at different exposure settings. Don’t let a perfect picture moment pass by without recording it flawlessly.
DVD Slideshow Production
Published August 8, 2010 | Slideshow production companies are popping up all over the Internet. People are taking their digital and print pictures and having them placed on DVD’s as slideshows for personal use and for gifts for all occasions. People everywhere are hiring professional slideshow production companies, such as RicKara Photography, to make engagement slideshows for wedding receptions, graduation slideshows, anniversary slideshows, birthday slideshows, memorial service slideshows, vacation slideshows, holiday slideshows, and just about anything you can think of slideshows. But how do you know which slideshow company to choose?
It use to be that when we took our photos of our special occasions: weddings, vacations, reunions, birthdays, holidays, anniversaries, family, friends, pets and so on, that we’d get the photos developed and place them in a photo album or a shoe box. A couple of our very favorites would be placed in frames. But, the photo album or shoebox would then sit on a shelf or under a bed or in a closet or somewhere where they’d be neglected and hardly ever looked at. In the meantime the photos themselves are drying out, cracking, and turning yellow. When we do go to look at them they’re never as good as we remember because they’ve aged.
Placing our photos on CD's or DVD's the photos will last much longer. They will not crack, fade or yellow. Future generations can enjoy the same quality in a hundred years as we can today.
Turning your photos into slide shows, also called video albums or photo montages, makes the photos fun to watch and more people will enjoy viewing them with you. So how do you know if you've found a quality slideshow company? An important rule of thumb to remember is, "If the price seems too good to be true, then it usually is". No real slide show creating company can give you quality work without putting quality time into it. The less the price, the less amount of time going into it. You might as well go buy yourself the cheapest slide show software you can find and do it yourself. A quality slideshow creating company has invested thousands of dollars to be able to produce the highest quality work for the consumer. And they will spend the time needed to clean up your photos like removing red eye, color correcting old yellowed photos, removing crease marks and such and create a quality DVD that you can be proud of. The more time a company puts into creating your slideshow, the higher the cost of that slide show. Of course a higher price doesn't always mean better, there will always be those who overcharge. When comparing prices, don't forget to compare the contents of the package. This will make a tremendous difference in the pricing and the quality of the slideshow you receive. But don't fall for bogus charges such as transition charges. What are slideshows without transitions? So shop around, compare prices, packages, and view some slide show samples.
Viewing samples is very important to choosing your company. If you’re satisfied with just the simple fade-in, fade-out photomontage style slideshows, then you have a lot of companies to choose from. If you want something fun, exciting, emotional, creative and unique, then there’s very few companies to choose from. Your memories are precious and your slide shows should reflect each occasion in a unique and creative way. To a true slide show creator, such as RicKara Photography, creating quality slideshows is comparative to an artist who is creating yet another masterpiece that is worthy of displaying to everyone you know.
Disposable Cameras for Weddings?
Published August 7, 2010 | Disposable Cameras for my wedding? Yes! they are also called single-use cameras, but they will never replace a professional photographer, of course. But they could save money on the overall photo budget, provide memorable fun for you and your guests, and occasionally turn up a priceless casual shot.
Disposable low-price wedding cameras are a popular wedding favor at many wedding receptions. These cameras are placed on each wedding guest table, usually accompanied by a printed card encouraging guests to use these cameras throughout the reception to capture unforgettable moments that may be missed by the professional photographer. They also are a wonderful and fun activity for the guests. If your reception is going to be indoors, I recommend the disposable cameras that include a built-in flash. They cost a little bit more, but will provide better picture in the lower light of indoor banquet rooms.
While the professional photographer is busy orchestrating beautiful pictures of the wedding party and family, many things are taking place throughout the reception that are well worth capturing. Wedding guests may use these cameras just like any other camera, simply point and shoot.
Disposable wedding cameras are available in many styles to accommodate just about any wedding theme. Many of these cameras can be ordered with a custom photos on the camera like an engagement photo. You can also include a courtesy card to place on your guest table with a decorative imprint and instructions.
Your professional photographer will collect the cameras before the reception winds down and chances are good that the pictures will be waiting for the happy couple upon their return from their honeymoon. And along with the prints or a CD of the images, the photos can be posted on popular social Websites like Facebook so everyone can see and enjoy them. You may even get a photo good enough to be included in your wedding album.
Your professional photographer should be able to order and provide the custom layout design for your camera and help you save even more money by buying in quantity. If guests know that they will have a chance to see and download the pictures they take, they tend to take much better pictures.
Key Digital Camera Features
Published July 26, 2010 | In this article, I will provide a list of the key digital camera features that you should think and know about when buying a new camera. Here’s a summary of what to look for:
1.Resolution
Resolution determines how sharp your image will be, how much you can enlarge a photo before the pixels start to become distracting, and how much you can crop a photo and still be left with a decent image that you can enlarge and manipulate. Get the most megapixles you can afford.
2.Lens
The lens is the eye of your digital camera. Look for the following in your lens:
- You’ll want good-quality optics that focus a sharp image on your camera’s solid-state sensor. The best way to gauge the quality of the lens is to take a test photo or two. A vendor’s reputation or lab tests in magazines are other ways to evaluate a lens.
- The lens also needs enough light-gathering power to let you shoot inreduced light levels. A camera’s light-gathering capabilities are measured in something called f-stops. The magnification power of the lens (how large or small an image appears to be from a particular shooting position) is another factor. A digital camera’s lens magnification can usually be varied by zooming in and out to make the image larger or smaller.
- A related factor, the zoom range, is another key characteristic to look at. Where magnification tells you only how large or small the image can be made to appear, the zoom range tells you the differencebetween the two. Some lenses have only a small zoom range, say 2:1,whereas others have a longer range, up to 12:1 or more (which means the image size can be varied up to 12X).
What’s the difference between magnification and zoom range? Magnification deals purely with how large or small an image appears to be. For example, one lens may extend from a 28mm (35mm equivalent)to 85mm (35mm equivalent) magnifications, a 3:1 zoom range. Another lens might go from 35mm to 105mm (both 35mm equivalents) and also qualify as a 3:1 zoom range optic. However, the second lens would provide more relative magnification.
3.Storage
The kind and amount of removable storage is another key feature. The more storage space you have for photos, the more pictures you can take before “reloading” your digital camera. Most cameras use CompactFlash, Secure Digital, or other electronic “film” media.
4.Exposure controls:
Except for the least expensive models, all digital cameras include automatic exposure controls that adjust the amount of light reaching the sensor based on the lighting conditions of your subject. If the illumination is low, an auto exposure system uses a wider lens f-stop or exposes the sensor for a longer period of time. If there is a lot of light, the exposure system reduces the amount of light reaching the sensor. Cameras with more versatile automatic exposure controls let you specify what type of exposure to use. For example, when shooting action, it’s often preferable to use the shortest shutter speed possible to freeze the motion and to adjust the size of the lens opening instead. Conversely, if you want a lot of your image to be in sharp focus (say, objects very close to the camera and very far are both important), you may be able to choose an exposure mode that favors maximum depth of field (more on this in future posts). You probably want a digital camera that can handle several different exposure modes and lets you set exposure yourself.
5.Focus controls
Most digital cameras also have an automated system for sharply focusing your images. Some are more versatile than others, and many cameras also let you focus manually to ensure that the subject matter you want to emphasize is the sharpest.
6.Viewfinders
Digital cameras generally have four ways to let you preview and compose your images prior to exposure. The color LCD panel on the back of the camera shows you the same image that the sensor is capturing. The LCD is often hard to view in bright light, so digital cameras also may have optical viewfinders that let you see a non electronic version of the frame. More-advanced cameras might include a second LCD (EVF) in the camera, where it is shielded from the glare of the surrounding light. Single lens reflexes (SLRs) let you see an optical version of the picture through the same lens used to take the photo.
7.Other equipment, other features
Finally, as you choose your digital photography gear, think about accessories, such as tripods, filters, add-on lenses, external electronic flash units, scanners, printers, ect. Even the storage media you use to archive your photos, such as CDs or DVDs, can all be important.
Little History on Photography
Published July 26, 2010 | Photography is the art of reproducing pictures of people, objects or places in their exact likeness. These images can be transferred on any photosensitive material. Photography includes taking and printing pictures.
The backbone of photography is the camera, the instrument or device that works on the principle of optics. The camera and photographic techniques have undergone phenomenal changes since the time the first camera was made. The earlier model did not contain the film; instead, it had a small light-shield box with lens and translucent screen on either side. The image that traveled through the lens was stored on the screen. Known as 'camera obscura,' it was no more than a sketching device for artists.
Then the scientists discovered the quality of silver nitrate that changes its color when exposed to light. This was the beginning of photogram, a method of making permanent images.
They would place objects on the paper dipped in silver nitrate and expose it to the sunlight. After sometime the area covered under the object stayed white while the rest of the space turned black. However, the image formed was temporary, so the method did not last long.
Over the centuries, the principles, the method and the material used in photography went through many changes. After experimenting with various methods like Daguerre and calotype process, finally collodion, or the wet plate technique was universally accepted.
Modern photography has given a totally new meaning to the entire perception of life and privacy. Photography has made it possible to capture and preserve special moments, in private and in public life. History became more authentic with pictures, and photographs served as evidence in many cases. People made their family tree in their albums. Suddenly life was so much more fun and meaningful.
With the tremendous technological advances in the art of photography, it is no more just fun and frolic but has acquired the dimensions of a full-fledged profession. Photography has many branches and types, such as:
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Aerial photography is the art of taking photographs from the air.
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Art photography is devoted to beautiful pictures for the sake of beauty only.
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Studio or advertising photography is dedicated to promotion of products and institutions.
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Photojournalism takes pictures of events to support the news story and to create awareness among the people.
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Outdoor and travel photography is focused on taking pictures of landscapes and natural places.
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Sports photography records images of the sporting events and games that take place in the world.
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Some types of photography like the macro and scientific and macro or close up photography are restricted to specific fields and are not widely known.
The charm of photography lies as much in the end product as in the process of taking pictures. Looking at an album is like taking a trip down memory lane; it makes us feel highly nostalgic and emotional.
A Picture Perfect Wedding
Published July 26, 2010 | Weddings are definitely one of the happiest moments in a person’s life. But, this momentous occasion does not always come as blissful as the event itself. Days and even months before the big day, couples usually get too stressed with the smallest details.
The process of listing down and cutting down everything into specific details—the wedding date, the venue, the reception, the caterer, the designer of the gown and suit, all the way down to the wedding coverage—are the areas where stress usually ushers in.
Due to hectic schedules, most couples usually do not pay much attention to one of the crucial things in any wedding—the wedding coverage. Despite the overwhelming tension and excitement, couples do not have to be nonchalant when choosing their wedding photographers if they want their fun times and precious memories recorded very well.
WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY PREFERENCES
To avoid making this slight neglect that usually leads disastrous results, couples have to decide first what kind of wedding photography they would want to have.
Most wedding photographers today categorize the types of wedding photography into two: the traditional or classic style and the wedding photojournalistic style.
The most common style used by wedding photographers today, the traditional or classic wedding photography is considered as a “timeless” and the “safest” style because you normally see in countless wedding albums. Characterized by classic poses of subjects aware of the camera, this style involves so much control from the photographer because he is in-charge in arranging individual and group shots before, during, and even after the wedding.
Having excellent portraiture skills, expect the photographer to focus more on the quality of the photograph by making the subject look great from the littlest details. Expect typical wedding photos like pre-ceremony pictures, formal shots of the bride and groom posing with brides maids and ushers, cake cutting, garter and bouquet toss, and the like when you choose a classic wedding photography. This style is ideal if the couple would want to keep portraits of family members for their wedding album.
If the couple is adventurous and unconventional, then you might want to consider the wedding photojournalistic style of photography on your big day. An increasingly popular style today, wedding photojournalism offers fresh and new style of taking photos in the occasion. Characterized by candid shots of the subjects unaware of the moving camera, the photojournalism style lets the attendees act freely to capture their pure and true emotion.
Sourcing style from his experience in journalism, the “photojournalist” pays more attention to minute details and candid shots rather than arranged ones. He’s more into eyeing interesting moments and capturing those in his lens to produce a narrative collection of images that tell a story.
Although some traditional poses will be present, expect photos that show actual emotions of the bride and groom and of other participants throughout the duration of the wedding when you choose the photojournalism style.
In order to avoid ruining the documentation of your wedding, here are some tips in making your wedding a picture perfect one:
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Weddings are one of the most exciting chapters of one’s life. Make sure that you choose a wedding photographer that can meet all your standards. Meet with the photographer before hand the so you could discuss the details you want.
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Inform the important participants about the schedule of photo sessions and make sure everyone attends the rehearsal to cut down the stress.
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Have a reception area so guests can be informed about the itinerary. This will set the occasion in order.
