digital images.

It's a constant debate in the photographer's world -- should I offer my images on disc? There are some professionals that will send you off with a bill and a CD of images, leaving you to do the work of obtaining prints and dispersing them to family and friends. When I tell prospective brides that I do not offer a disc of images, many presume it's so that I will force their friends and family into buying prints at a higher price. It isn't about the money, it's about preserving the integrity of the work, and making sure that the photographs you share with your family reflect your good taste.

In the day and age of the Internet, it's hard to know how those images will be used and when they will show up. However, many print shops, including Wal-Mart and Costco, have taken strides to protect the copyrights of the photographer's work. However, it's about more than just copyright protection, it's about brand-name protection.

Imagine for a moment, if you will: you go to the grocery store and buy a bag of Cheetos, impatiently waiting to dive in to their cheesy, crunchy goodness. You tear open the bag, and what's inside are a few handfuls of some twisted corn something-or-others, but they are most certainly not Cheetos. Disappointed? Yes. Now what if that was your experience every time you bought a bag of Cheetos for a month, would you keep buying Cheetos? Probably not.

The same is true with photographers and the brands that we create -- our names. We work hard to uphold a certain style and image with our work, knowing that when people see the art that we've created, they will associate it with us, the brand.

What happens when we send our work out into the world, uncontrolled, is that we are now diminishing the brand that we have worked so hard to create. The image that is printed from the disc at a retail print shop is of lower quality than the print we would provide from a professional lab. Give that copy to Aunt Mary, who scans it into her computer and e-mails it to your cousin that couldn't make it to the wedding, who brings it to work and shares it with all of her friends and the high-quality photographer has a very low quality print. Regardless of how amazing the image is, her friends are all wondering why you didn't hire a professional photographer.

A better alternative is to find a photographer that offers an online gallery of your images. This allows the guests to peruse the images from the comfort of home, purchase quality prints, and saves you the headache of figuring out which photos on the list Cousin Susie really wanted.

hire a professional.

I’ve heard the answer all too often – “I’m having my mom/sister/uncle/best friend take care of that.” The words make me cringe.

This is your wedding. You have dreamed about this day since the first time you made a veil from paper towels and had your neighbor friend walk you down the hallway to the “altar” in front of the TV in the living room. Every perfect detail has been thought out and choreographed in your head like a beautiful ballet…suddenly, the CD skips and the dancers are thrown off and the performance suffers.

Why do wedding professionals hate to hear these words so much? It’s not because we are greedy and want to take money – I would gladly lose business to a well-trained competitor than to know a bride didn’t care enough about her wedding photographs to make sure they were done right. It isn’t about the money. It’s about peace of mind.

Amateur: Shows up 25 minutes after the ceremony starts, slips in to set up cake minutes before the guests are let in for dinner. Botches gorgeous cake while setting up in a hurry. Cake is still frozen in middle.
Professional: Has an appointment with reception site for specific delivery time. Baker arrives, sets cake up with plenty of time to spare. Guests enjoy delicious, frost-free cake.

Amateur: We’ll just plug the i-pod into the speaker system and set in on random. I can make a great mix from my giant CD collection so we have a little something for everyone. Guests mingle for a little bit, but are all gone by 10.
Professional: Works with you and your fiancée to discover songs that are important to you and songs you absolutely don’t want to hear – like the one that reminds you of your ex-boyfriend that can’t take a hint and is still calling after 5 years. He gets the crowd up and moving and having so much fun they don’t notice that you slipped out for a breather.

Amateur: Has the nice camera, can take shots of the ceremony and important stuff, the rest will be snapshots the guests take with the throw-away cameras on the tables. Will burn CD’s for anyone that wants one. Parties with the gang Friday night, hangover keeps him in bed, doesn’t even call to say he’s not coming until 30 minutes before the ceremony.
Professional: Will take photographs of your entire day, so they tell a story, not just a collection of snapshots. All prints are done on high-quality professional paper, so they not only look better, but also last longer. Contract in place requires them to find you a comparable photographer if for some reason they can’t make it on your wedding day.

Amateur: Goes to grocery store, buys variety of flowers, arranges flowers in a vase. Many are wilted by dinner. Guests talk about the centerpieces (and not in a good way).
Professional: Has better quality flowers and a knack for creating stunning arrangements that people are wowed by. The simplest arrangement can make a room look 100 times more beautiful and inviting. Even if the florist gets her flowers from the grocery store, your guests will never know it.

These are all “horror” stories that I saw first-hand in my days as an event manager. What bride wants to spend her day worrying about what could go wrong?

Not everyone can afford to hire the best-of-the-best in every detail of her wedding, but there are ways to afford to have all professionals taking care of you on your wedding day. Rank all of your desires in order of importance and splurge on those things that matter most to you. Ask the vendors that you have hired for referrals and let them know what you are looking for. They may know of someone who fills a need and fits your budget and you can rest easy.

By hiring a professional and building a relationship with him or her as you plan your wedding, you allow yourself to do what a bride is supposed to do on her wedding day: relax, have fun, and bask at your glorious moment in the spotlight.

on being a photographer.

I come from a very creative gene pool. My mom is a talented artist of many mediums; my sister, equally as talented. I somehow missed out on getting the drawing gene, but the fire for creativity burns fiercely inside me.

A few years ago, when I went back to school to finish my business degree, I had to fulfill an art requirement and drawing, painting and sculpture were all off the table. I knew we had an SLR hiding in a closet somewhere, so I signed up for photography 101 with the amazingly talented Brendan Regan. I learned how to print a contact sheet, I learned how to develop film, make a print, and learned how to manipulate the settings on my camera for the desired compositional effect. All of this, I expected to learn, as that was what I paid my money for.

What I didn't expect to learn was that I had a passion for this medium, and even better, a talent for it. It didn't take much coercion to register me for 102, and subsequently, 103. It was somewhere in the many hours I spent in the darkroom, by myself, in complete bliss, that I realized that I wanted to be a photographer when I grew up...which is what brings me here today.

four things to think about before you hire a photographer.

Choosing a photographer is probably one of the most stressful choices to make when planning a wedding. Choose the right one, and you will be delighted to share your wedding album for years to come. Choose the wrong one, and you'll reach for Uncle Harry's snapshots before you let that album see the light of day. Here are a few helpful hints when you begin to interview potential photographers:

1. What does their portfolio look like? Do you like their style? If you want something more photojournalistic and prefer candids to formals, don't waste your time looking at more traditional photographers. Don't limit your review to only wedding photos, ask to see some of her other work too. Are the images on the page in front of you something that you would hang in your own home? If the answer is no, chances are, you won't like the shots they capture commemorating your wedding day. It doesn't make him a bad photographer, just a bad match for you.
2. What does the service include? Do you want a photographer that will spend your entire day with you, capturing every moment of the day, regardless of the length of time? Some photographers include a set amount of hours, while others have unlimited coverage. Does their price include a second photographer? Does the price include both the wedding and reception locations? Do they offer an online gallery of all the images or do they give you a CD and task you with sharing with friends and family? Don't be afraid to ask a bunch of questions; better to know than to wonder where your photographer is when it's time to cut the cake.
3. How do your personalities mesh? If you feel awkward around your photographer, it will be more of a challenge for her to capture you and your family genuinely. Photography is an intimate art and the camera is very telling on how well the photographer jives with his subject. By the end of your wedding day, you and your photographer will most likely be friends, and your wedding portraits will certainly capture that.
4. How much are they? At the end of the day, you need to hire someone that fits into your budget, but don't let price fool you. The most expensive photographer isn't necessarily the best, and someone who doesn't charge much for their services might have excellent photos, but terrible service. Ask if the photographer offers a package -- many do, and slightly discount their prices as part of the total package. Also ask about off-peak rates as some photographers will give you a discount for having a wedding outside of prime wedding season. Lastly, if you have found the photographer of your dreams, and he is a little out of your price range, ask if payment plans are available.

blog.

My name is Eunice Brownlee and I am a photographer in the Denver metro area. I specialize in weddings and events, but I am happy to help you with any of your photographic needs.

As a former event manager, I also have a smattering of contacts from the industry, from DJ's to bakeries to florists, and I plan on sharing my favorites with you here.

It is my hope that you will use this blog as a resource to help you plan your events -- whether it's a wedding or a surprise party, or just a small gathering of friends.

Feel free to e-mail me if you have topics in mind that you would like me to discuss.

Of course, please visit my web site as well.