Nikon Digital Camera Blog

A wedding is such a special time, most couples want it photographed professionally. After all, hopefully it is a once in a lifetime event so preserving it right is important! Some couples prefer to have their wedding pictures taken in a church or home or hall where the weather is not a factor. Others want the backdrop to depict the beauty of nature and, perhaps, their own personal interests as well.

Those choosing to get married in the Virginia Beach area could have no more beautiful backdrop against which to have their wonderful event photographed with nature. This area of eastern Virginia is replete with a wide variety of locations that would be ideal for such a special day.

The number one choice for outdoor wedding pictures in this area would be the beaches.  Situated at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, Virginia Beach has both bay and ocean beaches such as Baylake Beach, North Virginia Beach, and Sandbridge Beach. These and others provide many locations for a wedding party to pose with the ocean, piers, or sand dunes as a backdrop.

Since Virginia Beach is on the ocean, it is no surprise that no less than twelve lighthouses don its horizon. Many of these make unique backdrops for wedding pictures. For example, the original Cape Henry Lighthouse was built in 1792 but in 1881 was replaced with an iron one. Both are still standing erect at the ocean’s edge where they guided ships to and from the ocean and bay.

Two extensive bays intersect the city, Lynnhaven Bay and Lake Smith reservoir, leaving miles of waterfront property and many beautiful homes hidden off dead end roads. Some of these homeowners are flattered when asked if a couple’s wedding pictures could be taken in their yard.

Another possible wedding backdrop would be one of the many beautiful public parks in Virginia Beach. Perhaps your photographer will recommend the best possibilities if you are not familiar with the area. A spring wedding could include the dazzling beauty of the flowering fruit trees at Brookdale Farm. Perhaps the wedding colors could be picked to match the blossoms, making a picture perfect scene.

Those desiring to incorporate the historicity of Virginia Beach into their pictures might consider two buildings. Lynnhaven House was built in 1725 by Francis Thelaball II. It still looks the same today and even has people there during tourist season, dressed in period costumes. The Old Coast Guard Station is a100 year-old building on the beach. It would blend the beach and history into one backdrop.

We have only scratched the surface of ideas for natural, beautiful background to wedding pictures. Each would add the uniqueness of Virginia Beach to the uniqueness of your wedding. Instead of being content with drab indoor pictures, why not consider adding Virginia Beach itself to your wedding pictures!

Following these tips will have your wedding pictures be unforgettable. If you’re interested in a professional in Virginia Beach, consider the services of Del Haven Studio, an accomplished Virginia Beach Portrait Photographer.  View their website portfolio for proof.

A wedding is a wonderful occasion, both for the happy couple, and their friends and family. But the cost of a wedding can frequently cause a lot of misery both before and after the big day. The average cost of a wedding in the US last year was ,000, and £20,000 in the UK. I don’t have to tell you that’s an insane amount of money to spend on a single day. As the recession gets worse and job security declines, brides and grooms to be are become incresingly wary of such expensive weddings and are naturally looking for a cheaper way. Among the drastic measures being taken are asking guests to help with food or music, trimming down invitations to close friends and family only, and the idea of a ‘pre-worn wedding dress’ has appeared in recent years, which was unheard of just 10 years ago. Yet the photography is one area few are prepared to compromise on, and with good reason. Your wedding pictures are one of the few lasting memories you have from that all too fleeting day, and of course it’s something you’d want done perfectly and in style. Here are a few tips on how to stay within your budget for wedding photography without having to take a cut in quality.

1. Have faith in Google

There aren’t many photographers around today that don’t have a website, and one of the best ways of finding and comparing wedding photographers in your area and price range is through search engines like Google. Yet with the market being so saturated it’s easy for couples to miss out on some amazing photographers and great prices by not using the power of Google enough. Spend some time trawling through the Google results beyond the first few pages. By ensuring you take your time on your search you can get the best possible short-list of potential wedding photographers to choose from. Also don’t just go for the obvious search terms – make sure you vary your searches, and always include a few local areas and towns to find photographers who are slightly further afield but willing to travel. For example for my wedding I not only searched for “Wedding Photographer in Sussex” – we also looked at other surrounding areas such as Kent, Hampshire, London and Surrey.

2. Watch Out for Hidden Costs

Nowadays the vast majority of photographers use digital cameras rather than older film cameras requiring development in a darkroom. All of which has meant that wedding photography prices have become a lot simpler. So I’m amazed that so many photographers still charge their customers an extra fee for each print on top of the booking! My money saving tip would be to stick to the photographer who will give you a CD with ALL the pictures in high resolution. Armed with this CD you can then trot down to your high street photo printers and get the prints you want in the size you want at minimal cost.

3. Albums and Extras: Do It Yourself!

You remember the old flowery, faded, peeling wedding albums your aunt insists on showing you every time you visit? Yeah, they’re dead now. Today you have stylish wedding photography books have become hugely popular, and many photographers charge significant premiums to include these with your package. Yet if you’re willing to make a little effort yourself and you have some creative flair, there are many photobook services now where you can design one at home and get them printed at bargain prices. Ditto when it comes to canvas prints or blow up posters really – as long as you have high quality original image files from your photographer, you can pretty much do it all yourself!

4. Yes, There are a Few Swindlers Out There, But You Can Easily Avoid Them

Everyon’e heard a story about a couple who got scammed by a so-called “photographer” who ran off with their money. Such criminals, who it must be said are few and far between, lure couples in with a too good to be true package, often stolen photos, and once they receive the deposit you never hear from them again. It is a heartbreaking and cruel practice. The thing is, if you’re vigilant they’re pretty easy to spot and avoid. Firstly, ensure that any payment of deposits or fees are done via bank transfer – its the most secure method of payment, and can be traced and reversed in the event of a problem. And be sure to get a proper contract from the photographer which makes clear what you are getting and what you are paying for – this provides protection to the couple. Finally, and probably most importantly, the phrase “constant vigilance” applies here – go and visit the photographer before money changes hands, make sure you see examples of their work and ask questions about how everything will work – a good photographer will put your fears to rest.

5. Dont be Overzealous in Your Moneysaving Crusade!

Now this one may sound counter-intuitive when it comes to ‘credit crunch weddings’ but I feel it’s an important one. Whilst trying to get the best possible deal and price beware of taking things too far! Like I said, the photography is quite possibly THE most important part of your wedding, especially when you look back. There are a lot of amateurs out there with little experience, talent and lacking in the proper equipment. Judging from their prices alone you’d think you’ve struck gold. But sometimes the biggest bargains can be found by going up one price point. Remember that if you don’t look at your photographer’s work and go “wow” what is the point in spending all that money on a professional?

Most couples making wedding day plans have a lot of things that they do take into consideration.  They think about coordinating the date for vacation times. Or they coordinate the wedding day for the family to be able to make it into town.  Or they plan it based upon maybe available venues, like the church or the restaurant.

But one of the biggest things they fail to plan for on the wedding day is the photographer. This is no small issue.  And I am not just saying it because I am a wedding photographer.

No planning the wedding day with the wedding photographer in mind could mean all the difference in the world. Especially when you think about the fact the photos are going to be the thing that captures that day for a lifetime.

What are some of the factors when you start planning with the photographer in mind. The date and time.

Let’s begin talking about time.  How many couples would want their photographer rushing through the photo shoot?  I am pretty sure most people will not raise their hand to that.

Not even thinking about your photographer, most of the times the bride and groom will do just that. The couple or family basically rush the photographer to try and take all the pictures.

How so you ask?  Well a lot of times, the couple will schedule the ceremony for let’s say 1-2 pm.  With the reception starting at 2:30. How many shots can a photographer make when he only has a half hour to work with? Not that many.

Worse thing to consider, what if he does manage to take all the photos? Do you think they are going to take good quality shots when they are rushed?  Of course not.

So plan the times for the wedding and the reception with enough space in between to take all the photos.

Second thing to consider when planning with the photographer in mind is your photographer’s availability.

Most probably don’t realize this, but most good photographers will be booked months in advance. If you do deal with a large photo company, they very well could have several photographers on staff.

Well without considering your photographers availability on the wedding day could turn into a disaster. Because when you reserve that special day, without making sure your photographer is available, come wedding day you might get a shock when you find somebody totally different.

This can happen when dealing with a large photographer company. You may not even realize that they have a staff of photographers and if the photographer you liked is booked, unless you ask, they might not tell you.  When your wedding day comes, they might just outsource their work or a second rate photographer might show up.

So be prepared and don’t let this happen. Planning that special wedding day can be truly wonderful. Be sure that you also plan it thinking about your wedding photographer.