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Happy Spring! Don’t forget PLAN B.
In the North East, the best weather prediction is that it may suddenly change! Now that we have entered the (Snowy) Spring Season, it’s important that you and your photographer do not solely rely on the best conditions to execute important photos. If you make a Plan B that is just as solid as your Plan A, it will relieve a lot of potential stress the day of.
One thing that can get overlooked during wedding and event planning is making a Plan B, specifically regarding photography. As mentioned in the post My favorite Venues to photograph (and why), Part I, many pro photographers would agree that the only part of the day we need “control” over light and surroundings is during the posed and group photos of you and your loved ones. In the North East, the best weather prediction is that it may suddenly change! And especially now that we have entered the Spring Season (ahem, with snow today here in New England), it’s important that you and your photographer do not solely rely on the best conditions to execute important photos. If you make a Plan B that is just as solid as your Plan A, it will relieve a lot of potential stress the day of. This freedom to plan ahead is one of the benefits from doing a Site Check together.
Keep things in perspective: as mentioned in the post Let it Rain!, I really do believe that when one door closes, another one opens, and sometimes we are fortunate enough for an even better opportunity than originally anticipated. It’s important to remember that down the road, what will truly matter to you when looking through your photos is simply reminiscing about these memories with your loved ones; and it won’t matter to you that it was taken indoors because of rain instead of outside on the beach as originally planned. What will resonate is remembering how you felt at the time the picture was taken. This I can promise you.
All of this said, why let some rain or cold stop you from having fun outside? I suggest keeping you and your family warm, dry and cozy (or cool if the reason for shooting indoors is because of intolerable heat) during the family & wedding party photos. But when it comes to photos of just you two together, I suggest taking the “must have” photos first, under shelter, while you look and feel nice. And then later, perhaps after the formalities, have fun together braving the elements! This is what umbrellas, boots and warm scarves are for (or in this case, your leather jackets)!
Email me anytime for topic suggestions and feel free to comment, ask questions and share. Thanks for reading!
Peace, Love & Happy Planning,
Dana Siles
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
LET IT RAIN!
Our job as your photographer is to get our job done in any and every lighting and weather condition. Naturally curious, most photographers find that challenges inspire us, not hinder us. So while our client may feel stress about a sudden change of plans, we may actually feel sparked as we problem-solve; this mindset is common among us creatives, and luckily, exactly what you need on your wedding day or event. Let it rain!
I’ll never forget when Katharine called me, the day before her wedding, stressed and close to tears. The forecast was for rain on their wedding day, and the entire cocktail hour and reception were to be outside on the big lawn of her parents home in Maine. There was a lot of ground to cover - literally - as the entire setting was larger than two football fields between the rolling hills, trees, the tent and dock on the water. It was a lovely setting and definitely one that you’d want a sunny day for… or not…
One of Katharine’s main concerns was the photography. “Are you sure you’ll still be able to get photos outside?” The house itself and the entire setting was so important to Katharine - it’s not a venue - it’s her home, with memories and deep meaning. I responded by saying what I truly do believe: that when one door closes, another one opens - sometimes, an even better door. And this proved to be true.
As mentioned in the post My favorite Venues to photograph (and why) Part I: Rosecliff Mansion, Our job as your photographer is to get our job done in any and every lighting and weather condition. Naturally curious, most photographers find that challenges inspire us, not hinder us. So while our client may feel stress about a sudden change of plans, we may actually feel sparked as we problem-solve; this mindset is common among us creatives, and luckily, exactly what you need on your wedding day or event.
If you’re feeling adventurous, taking the time to brave the weather can offer a great and fun photo opportunity. And remember, in Asian culture, it is considered good luck when it rains on the wedding day. So bring it on, rain!
Email me anytime for topic suggestions and feel free to comment, ask questions and share. Thanks for reading!
Peace, Love & Happy Planning,
Dana Siles
