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THE IMPORTANCE OF A SITE CHECK WITH YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER
If your photographer has not yet worked at the location of your wedding or event, then part of the planning with your photographer should consist of a site check - ideally, together. The more I learn and understand about where I am shooting, the more free I feel to think and plan ahead, both logistically and creatively.
If your photographer has not yet worked at the location of your wedding or event, then part of the planning with your photographer should consist of a site check - ideally, together. There are times when this is not possible, especially for events which require travel, and I will touch on this as well.
Many of the weddings and events I photograph are at private estates, which serves as a perfect example: since I am not yet familiar with the interior or exterior surroundings, I’ll want to learn as much as I can about the space prior to working there. What directions are each room and the yards facing during certain times of the day? If I’m able to do a Site Check, seeing in person how the light and the surroundings reflect off each other is invaluable. Aside from being able to plan for natural light, it’s equally important to plan for artificial light - especially if we need to go to Plan B because of inclement weather - so knowing where to plug in, options for accessibility, space, background, etc. is important. In older or historic homes, I’ll go to the extent of plugging in my phone charger to test an unused outlet that is located in an area we’d like to consider for photos. The more I learn and understand about where I am shooting, the more free I feel to think and plan ahead, both logistically and creatively.
On quite a few occasions in my career, a Site Check was simply not an option. Here are some food for thought regarding Site Reviews with your photographer:
1. A-good-old-fashioned Map: Send a Google Map link to your photographer, this way it can be viewed both Standard and Satellite. On the phone, review the geography and any necessary details. If at a venue, review their web site together as well.
2. Facetime or Google Hangouts: agree on a time of day that coincides with your wedding or event timeline so you can do a virtual walk-through with your photographer. Although we are used to holding our phone vertically, I suggest holding horizontally for this purpose.
3. If they haven’t automatically offered, ask your photographer to arrive early to your wedding or event. In my opinion, this should NOT be considered a part of your “coverage” (if you’ve contracted your photographer for 8 hours, and early arrival requires an additional 1-2 hours, I believe you should not be charged for that additional time, as it’s part of the planning process – and if we happen to snap a few photos, it’s just icing on the cake).
If we as your photographer have already worked at the location, it is likely unnecessary to do a site check, as long as we have solid and consistent communication during your planning process. That said, I recently did a site check at a venue where I’ve shot 4 weddings, but the last wedding was over 10 years ago – so visiting there refreshed my memory and there were some additions to their garden, which was helpful to see in person. Also, it gave me an excuse to meet my client and their parents, which makes them happy and more comfortable with me – so even though I didn’t “need” to do a site check, doing so was a win-win for all of us.
Email me anytime for topic suggestions and feel free to comment, ask questions and share. Thanks for reading!
Peace, Love & Happy Planning,
Dana Siles
MY FAVORITE VENUES TO PHOTOGRAPH (AND WHY)
Providence Public Library is a historic landmark in Providence, Rhode Island. The interior is romantic, spacious and beautiful. Creatively, a photographer couldn’t have a bad backdrop if we tried!
Part II: Providence Public Library, Providence, Rhode Island
Click to view Julia & Jason's wedding
Occasional posts are dedicated to the topic, My favorite Venues to Photograph (and why). To be clear, our job as your professional photographer is to be able to work in virtually any lighting and environmental condition. Most of us would agree that the only part of the day we need “control” over our light and/or surroundings is during the posed and group photos of our client(s) your loved ones. In my experience, some venues are easier to photograph and/or allow more creativity and flexibility than others, thus allowing your photographer to go above and beyond with our camera to do our very best for you.
How do I define my favorite venues to photograph?
Practicality: Let's face it: we are in New England! We've had cold days in September, warm days in November and rainy days in July. Does the venue provide a seamless Plan B if the weather suddenly shifts (and it may)?
Position of the sun throughout the day: The light may be perfect at 4pm at a particular venue. But if we are taking the posed photos at 10am, are there different background options, or are they limited (ie, choosing between phone lines or the busy street as the backdrop)? If high noon is the only time to photograph, do we have shady options so that you do not roast in the sun on a hot July day?
Inclement Weather: some venues that are perfect on sunny days for photos may have limited options if inclement weather occurs. Are there areas which provide shelter that are spacious enough to work in and/or allow some dimension and creativity? Having just a little bit of flexibility can go a long way for your wedding and event photography.
Providence Public Library is a historic landmark in Providence, Rhode Island. It is quite the opposite type of environment and vibe as Rosecliff, discussed in Part I, but beautiful and practical in its own right, especially for winter wedding photography.
For outdoor photos, the southeast facing terrace is ideal, especially early morning while the sun is facing the building and late day when the sun is completely behind it (or anytime on an overcast day). In addition, Waterplace Park is lovely and is only .6 mile away, so you can enjoy a 12 minute walk through the city or take a quick 5 minute drive to get there.
The interior of PPL is romantic, spacious and beautiful. Creatively, a photographer couldn’t have a bad backdrop if we tried! One of the ideal areas to photograph groupings is upstairs, just outside the bridal suite. There is beautiful natural light and outlets for your photographer to plug into if necessary. It’s out of the way from your guests, but not far from everything else: so you can easily disappear for just a few minutes at any point if needed. And for photos of the bride and groom together, utilizing the library itself with the books is a must, and will allow for some quiet time for you (literally - shhhh)!
Alexandra Kreher, Sales & Event Manager for Russell Morin Catering & Events adds, “The Providence Public Library is a gem in Downtown Providence. It presents the setting and feel of a Newport Mansion, while being tucked in the center of the city. The location not only offers plenty of nearby accommodations, restaurants and entertainment, but also includes its own timeless charm, which is the perfect backdrop for any event, especially weddings! The space is versatile and absolutely exquisite, offering an ideal and dynamic location for every aspect of a wedding – and most notably for photography.”
Lastly, it’s important to note that you should ask your planner to suggest timeframes that work for any venue based on the season, and in order to maximize the quality of light and how that reflects on the surroundings throughout the day.
Click here to view Julia & Jason's wedding day story. Click here for more Venues and Friends who I recommend in the wedding/events industry and beyond. Email me anytime for topic suggestions and feel free to comment, ask questions and share. Thanks for reading!
Peace, Love & Happy Planning,
Dana Siles
MY FAVORITE VENUES TO PHOTOGRAPH (AND WHY)
PART 1 | Rosecliff, Newport, Rhode Island
Rosecliff in Newport is one of my favorite wedding and event venues to photograph in Rhode Island. I’d compare the light and environment of Rosecliff to a thumbprint: no two days are alike, which is inspiring.
PART 1: Rosecliff, Newport, Rhode Island
Occasional posts will be dedicated to the topic, My Favorite Venues to Photograph (and why). To be clear, our job as your professional photographer is to be able to work in virtually any lighting and environmental condition. Most of us would agree that the only part of the day we need “control” over our light and/or surroundings is during the posed and group photos of you and your loved ones. In my experience, some venues are easier to photograph and/or allow more creativity and flexibility than others, thus allowing your photographer to go above and beyond.
How do I define my favorite venues to photograph?
Practicality: Let's face it: we are in New England! We've had cold days in September, warm days in November and rainy days in July. Does the venue provide a seamless Plan B if the weather suddenly shifts (and it may)?
Position of the sun throughout the day: The light may be perfect at 4pm at a particular venue. But if we are taking the posed photos at any other time of the day, are there different background options, or are they limited (ie, choosing between phone lines or the busy street as the backdrop)? If high noon is the only time to photograph, do we have shady options so that you do not roast in the sun on a hot July day?
Inclement Weather: Some venues that are perfect on sunny days for photos may have limited options if inclement weather occurs. Are there areas which provide shelter that are spacious enough to work in and/or allow some dimension and creativity? Having just a little bit of flexibility can go a long way for your wedding and event photography.
To kick off this topic, Rosecliff in Newport, Rhode Island is one of my favorite wedding and event venues to photograph in Rhode Island. I’d compare the light and environment of Rosecliff to a thumbprint: no two days are alike, which is inspiring. The creative opportunities are endless: although I have worked at Rosecliff numerous times throughout the years, I always manage to see and shoot differently, allowing each series of work to have its own perspective unique to that day.
The front lawn faces west, so early day photos with the mansion lit in the background are lovely. The Rose Garden, which features a statue of Venus, runs along the entire south side of the mansion, with a lovely view at each direction which allows for incredible flexibility no matter what the sun direction. And on a clear night, the moonrise above the Atlantic Ocean on the east-facing back side is remarkable. A good photographer can shoot in nearly any direction at any time of the day at Rosecliff, so it really is among the ideal venues, creatively speaking.
Google Maps: Rosecliff, Newport, RI
Since the interior is so spacious, if inclement weather occurs, your photographer can easily work in another part of the mansion without having people in the background - and without sacrificing space and beauty, which is a bonus. In addition, the back terrace provides shelter, so if it’s rainy without wind, you can still use the lawn and water as your backdrop.
Philip Pelletier, Director of Special Events for The Preservation Society of Newport County adds, “Rosecliff, built in 1902, was modeled after the Grand Trianon at Versailles and was created as a showcase for extravagant entertainments. The snow-white terra-cotta house features the largest private Ballroom in Newport and a heart-shaped staircase along stunning panoramic ocean views from the back lawn that can all provide an amazing backdrop to frame your wedding portraits.”
It’s important to note that you should ask your planner to suggest timeframes that work for your specific venue based on the season in order to maximize the quality of light and how that reflects on the surroundings throughout the day.
Click here for more Venues and Friends who I recommend in the wedding/events industry and beyond. Click here to view the Rosecliff Gallery or Ashley & Nick's wedding at Rosecliff. Email me anytime for topic suggestions and feel free to comment, ask questions and share. Thanks for reading!
Peace, Love & Happy Planning,
Dana Siles
