Pretty women - Getting ready for the wedding

Girls getting ready...

It almost sounds musical.

I hear Barbara Streisand singing
"Pretty women... blowing out their candles
or combing out their hair
even when they leave
they still are there... they're there."

That is the song I hear when thinking of Lindsey and her "girls" getting ready, and I'm pretty sure I can't get a shot of her looking bad!

For more pictures, head over to Lisa-Marie-Photography.com to see my website and Facebook page...

Think about having most of your make up on before the pictures are taken.

The photographer should take pictures of your gown so your children can see all the details some day.

 Lindsey borrowed her sister's wedding shoes. 

 Her groom, mother and grandparents prepare the stage at her church.

 You want to feel like you are seeing the story play out, like you can feel the mood.

 If you don't have a second shooter for the "getting ready" shots, see if the main photographer can slip in at least a few shots of the groomsmen preparing.

 She writes a love letter to her love on the left.  Her sister buttons her dress while bridesmaids look on (right)

 Lindsey had lost her father to cancer and wanted to honor him with this display on stage.

 This is a drawing one of her bridesmaids did of her wedding gown.

 Since this is her home church, it seemed appropriate to get detail shots of these things that were dear to her.

 Lindsey and her flower girl.

 Sometimes, the best groomsmen moments are when they are "helping" the groom get ready. :-)

 For more pictures, head over to Lisa-Marie-Photography.com to see my website and Facebook page...

How to get a good silhouette photo!

Make sure the source of light is behind the subject.

Make sure there are no obstacles in the background or foreground that will obscure the shape of the silhouette.

Make sure your camera settings are correct for the time of day, available light, etc.

If it is dark  and the shutter speed goes below 1/50 of a second, use a tripod to steady the shot.

We were on our way home from a senior shoot and saw a beautiful sunset over Grapevine Lake. We parked the car, and ran up the hill to get a few shots.  This one is SOOC... Straight out of the camera.

For more photos, click here to get to my website or Facebook page!

copyright Lisa McNiel

www.Lisa-Marie-Photography.com

How to be a good wedding guest and still get good pictures!

One time I was the main photographer at a wedding and as the bride and groom were cutting the cake, I took a step back to get the framing right on the photo.  A young woman stepped right in front of me and started snapping photos.  Completely understandable... so I just touched her shoulder lightly to let her know she was in my shot.  After the cake-cutting, she turned to me and said, "Don't ever touch me again." I am not making this up.

Don't be that guest.

Even if you are really, really proud of your camera and you want that shot sooo badly, let the hired hands do their thing and get the shots for the bride and groom.

However, and other photographers disagree with me on this, you can stay in your seat during the ceremony, and take photos with your flash OFF, as long as it doesn't disturb the people around you.  If you only take on automatic, and don't know how to turn off your flash, just wait to see the pictures on Facebook, because you might be ruining it for other people and even for the bride and groom!

At the reception, be sure you are not getting in front of the photographer with your camera to get a shot, and if he or she is trying to get a shot without flash, wait until they are done before you use yours because your flash can ruin their shot!  Besides you can be getting pictures that they won't have like the people and details at your table. :-)

These are photos I took as a guest, from my seat.  They are not meant to be a professional offering or there would be a gazillion more, from closer up, pictures before and after, etc. etc. etc.

But, after he saw them, the father of the bride requested copies so hopefully I did not get in anyone's way, annoy anyone, or ruin any pictures for the paid photographer, but was still able to offer a gift to the family.  Mission accomplished! :-)

For more pictures, head over to Lisa-Marie-Photography.com to see my website and Facebook page...

For more pictures, head over to Lisa-Marie-Photography.com to see my website and Facebook page...