Monday, August 31, 2009

Bogging yourself down with too many groups.

Many brides give me a long list of groups they want on the day. They have no idea how long it takes to do so many groups. For example ten groups taking 6 minutes each (depending on their size and the discipline of your guests) will take about an hour to do. It’s difficult because you also don’t want anyone to feel left out. I also recommend that any photos that you want done as individuals is done before the ceremony to take a little pressure off the schedule after the ceremony. For me it’s really funny when a bride swears at me when I produce HER list at cocktail hour.

Sunday, August 30, 2009

Sample of a good schedule: Part two

This is for a wedding in June or July in Ravello. Held in the Cathedral.

7:30 Get out of church – a lot of kissing and a big group photo takes you at least half an hour often more
8:00 photographs of the two of you (we run ahead to Cimbrone -15 minutes to get to Cimbrone if you weren’t sensible with your dress and shoe choice or it could take an hour)
8:15 Guests make their way up to the Villa
8:30 Guest arrive
8:45 Final guest arrive and you join them and finally have a drink and snack
9:15 unfortunately now we need to do groups before it’s too dark and already boring pictures will be even worse. The bigger your list the longer it will take. So think- Do you really want to be doing loads of boring group shots when it’s cocktail hour and one of the best moments for reportage?
10:00 Dinner and speeches
11:00 Dancing and cake
12:00 Start of after party

Saturday, August 29, 2009

Sample of a good schedule: Part one

This is for a wedding in June or July in Ravello. Held in the Cathedral.

3:00 Boys get ready at Cimbrone
3:30 Photographer shoots putting on of ties and sharing a toast. And some loose Tarentino style black and white groups and portraits.
4:00 Photographer leaves and boys go back in the pool – hair and make up starts
4:05 The photographer starts with the bride (also staying at Cimbrone)
5:00 The groom leaves with his friends and family to the piazza with a second photographer – shooting reportage
5:30 The bride can have a few portraits and groups with friends and family
6:15 Bride leaves for church
6.30 Church

Friday, August 28, 2009

Should I feed my photographer? – Part two

There are always brides who will take it to the opposite extreme. They will insult some poor guest by putting the photographer on their table. Spelling out, you are on the bottom ranking old chap. Although I am very grateful for the kind gesture of putting me on a guests table I find it does distract me from my work. I do have to loose a little time to socialise when I sit with guests, even if it’s just enough not to be rude. During dinner between courses I like to be on the hunt and during the food I download and check photos. It’s best to organise a separate room, even the hotel’s staff quarters, so that I don’t have to be spreading out equipment at the table.

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Should I feed my photographer? – Part one

This is a difficult one. In Italy the photographer considers the meal as part of the deal. However we consider it a privilege and so you just need to let us know if you feel it’s asking too much. That way I can organise something with the venue but I do need to organise something since I cannot work more than five or six hours without a at least snack. I run around a lot and I have to refuel. I don’t expect to eat what your guests do but a simple pasta and a coke will do nicely. And maybe a quick espresso. So no you don’t have to feed your photographer but at least let them eat.

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Italian folk music for your wedding

Looking for entertainment which will please both young and old can be difficult. But choosing music which appeals to both because it maybe new or because it’s fun, will make the wedding enjoyable for all. The only music I have found which involves young and old would be Italian folk music and dancing. Everybody loves it and though it’s sometimes new for destination couples it’s antique roots some how make it familiar. Contact Marco at Wedding Music in Ravello.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

My Favourite colour schemes.

  1. From Lavender to Deep Purple.
  2. Beiges and Creams with touches of Black.
  3. A multitude of crazy colours but having a theme, all pastels, all darks or shade of pink.
  4. Shocking Pink with Baby Pink.
  5. Greens and Whites are pretty
  6. Yellows, I hate to say it, they have crept into my heart, especially bright and pastel yellow
  7. Never been much of a fun of Reds for weddings unless the bride wears Red shoes
  8. I love Black and Xream, bridesmaids dresses are so stylish in Black

Monday, August 24, 2009

10 Top Tricks to help you look your absolute best on your wedding day! #10

10. Good attitude

There is nothing uglier than a controlling, grumpy, sulky, spoilt brat of a bride who has forgotten the reason she is there in the first place. If you are relaxed and having a ball, you will see it in the pictures. You will radiate love if you concentrate on those feelings. Tension, stress and irritation all show up in photography. No one is gorgeous in these states of mind. Having a little trust in the people you have chosen to create you dream, will go a long way to improving your enjoyment on the day. And if you have fun, so will everybody else, and of course my job will be easy. Does it really matter that the ponies are a different pink? So many brides tell me, “it all has to be just perfect, I am a detail person.”

Well while those brides are checking up on the wedding planner (who is doing the 100th wedding) she is missing the best light and the party. You’ve got to let go! This is such a common syndrome among brides and I often work hard in the preparation to loosen them up. For their sakes and of course my own, I want the best pictures possible. So if you are a control freak, promise yourself (and me) that for just one day you are going to let go and enjoy. Or else what is the point of the party.

Sunday, August 23, 2009

10 Top Tricks to help you look your absolute best on your wedding day! #9

9. Hair Up or Down

Many brides, especially Italian brides choose to have their hair down, loose and flowing. But it not something I recommend, unless your ears are big and stick out like mine. The reason being that by the time everybody is done hugging and grabbing you, it’s all going to go flop and look stringy and messy. Basically, anything but pretty. I love simple buns (very high to low) and I have developed a fetish for plates and retro styles. Just have a peep at what Prada and McQueen have been suggesting. And unless you want to be cheeky, ironic and a little pulp forget ringlets. Yes, especially for your bridesmaids if you ever want them to talk to you again.

Have to say that I love love love hats. Feathered, netted, big or small, Philip Tracey rocks my boat . One of his master pieces can turn a damsel into a diva.

Be seriously careful when considering glitter sprays and gel. And horror of horrors the silver foil some Italian hairdressers like to sprinkle in trusting brides hair. NO no no!

Lastly don’t do anything really drastic colour or cut wise just before your wedding. You may end up hating your wedding pictures just because you thought you could look like the model in the photo if you had her hair. Be realistic and remember to work with what you have.

Saturday, August 22, 2009

10 Top Tricks to help you look your absolute best on your wedding day! #8

8. Eye drops.

We all know those nasty burny eye drops are no good for your eyes but for just one day in your life keep some handy. Often brides have blood shot eyes from exhaustion, stress and of course tears. Making them white, realistically can be difficult. So with just a little pain on your part, your eyes can sparkle for the day. Hey no one said it would be easy

Friday, August 21, 2009

10 Top Tricks to help you look your absolute best on your wedding day! #7

7. The security of Touching up

Now I don’t recommend completely changing the way you look. But I see no reason why brides should not enjoy the advantages supermodels have enjoyed for years. Just take a look at some of these before and after images to get an idea of what I mean.

So if you choose me to be your photographer, I recommend that you discuss with me any complexes or insecurities you have. The touching-up I do to your wedding photos is subtle, so you can’t recognise the changes unless you compare them to the original image. If you want me to do anything above or beyond this, e.g. removing the bump on the bridge of your nose, you need to let me know!

Thursday, August 20, 2009

10 Top Tricks to help you look your absolute best on your wedding day! #6

6. Shoes, shoes, shoes… glorious shoes

Practise walking in the shoes you plan to wear on your wedding day. Especially if you are getting married in a little European village, otherwise you may find you’ll resort to being bare foot on your wedding day. Wear your shoes while you do housework, you can wrap them in cling film to avoid damage. Besides, you do realise very few people will actually see your shoes (yeah sorry about that) but they will notice how you are walking and whether you are still dancing at the end of the night. Though you would be quite entitled to kick off your shoes by the end of the night.

I have a terrible shoe fetish. I salivate and the mere sight of a pair of peep toe pumps so I understand your desire for the sexist shoes possible. But some sexy shoes can make a girl look very “unsexy” if they are going to put her in immense pain on her wedding day.

Consider having handy, a pair of comfortable shoes. (Sorry these won’t fit in my camera bag, but bridesmaids can come in extra handy here.) This way, if you want to walk around a city, up a steep hill or dance the night away at the reception, you have the option to do so in comfort and without risking falling over!

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Top Tricks to help you look your absolute best on your wedding day! #5

5. To tan or not to tan

“Why are models so pale?” is a question I often get asked. The answer is simple, if you are pale and you fake tan.. your skin tone will be uneven, you will get blotchy, wrinkly and it just won’t look good.

So –n o fake tan! It may seem a good idea to have a nice tan on your wedding day, but using fake tan leaves your skin looking streaky and orange, even when applied by a professional. Not to mention the risk you run of having your fake tan rub-off and stain your beautiful white wedding gown…

If you can’t resist, use sun beds a week before and make it just a blush. Italian girls really tend to over tan themselves and can look a little leathery in pictures. But I repeat, stay away from fake tan. The paler you are, the more yellow you will become. Your hands will look like you smoke funny stuff in pipes and your feet will always look dirty.

However if you are already quite dark and want to add a little gold, I love the Dior shimmering self tan on dark skins.

Now I know a whole bunch of you will ignore my advice and give me loads to touch up. But PLEASE do not get sunburnt before your wedding (especially bikini straps if you are wearing a strapless dress). You will be uncomfortable and look ridiculous.

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

10 Top Tricks to help you look your absolute best on your wedding day! #4

4. Taking care of yourself

Look after yourself in the days leading up to the wedding. Drink lots of water and get plenty of sleep. In particular, ensure that you do not stay up late the night before your wedding. Resting both physically and mentally in the days leading up to your wedding will make a big difference to your appearance and particularly your complexion. Taking “Rescue remedy” can also be a great way to calm your nerves before the ceremony.

Monday, August 17, 2009

10 Top Tricks to help you look your absolute best on your wedding day! #3

3. Posing

Now I know this is a swear word in the wedding world, but if you want to look nearly as good as the girls in magazines, you’ve got to do a little posing. This is usually a very embarrassing concept for most brides, who have often never even had their picture taken professionally. While one is finding the perfect pose, one wastes a little time and often we have to go through one or two that don’t work and make you feel silly.

But, I find plain, classic wedding photographs dull. So whilst I love reportage, I also like making you look gorgeous, so think that something must be said for half an hours worth of funky flattering posing.


So we want posed pictures but we find posing embarrassing. Why? Probably because the first time we ever try it is in front of a complete stranger on our wedding day. So here’s a little tip. I often ask brides who are very good in front of the camera “where did you learn to do that?” they nearly always reply. “I have been practising for years in front of the mirror”

Still not convinced. Let me help you out here. I have big ears and I hate them. But I know when I am having my picture taken, to turn my head a little to the side, so you only see one ear. This way you can hardly see how my ears stick out. If you shoot me head on… well that is a whole other story….

Right I feel you are with me now. The thing to do is to go through some mags and collect a whole bunch of poses you adore. Practise, practise, practise… even as a couple. You will save a whole lot of time on the day and you will naturally look amazing.

Sunday, August 16, 2009

10 Top Tricks to help you look your absolute best on your wedding day! #2

2. Posture

Stand up straight and you instantly loose 5kgs. I find the sexiest posture is a little left of the one suggested in finishing school. I prefer the stripper approach… bum out (therefore legs extended upwards), boobs out, lower back gently arched, shoulders dropped back and down. Your head should float up from the base of your neck.

This takes a little practise and no doubt not possible the whole day, but during important moments (portraits) try and ‘extend thy self’. Nothing worse than a slouching bride, and few things are as embarrassing as your wedding photographer telling you to tuck your tummy in.

Saturday, August 15, 2009

10 Top Tricks to help you look your absolute best on your wedding day! #1

1.Exercise:

Okay, so you don’t want to hear it, but there is no product or service in the whole world which will make you look and feel better. Even if you have never exercised before in your whole life, just 40 minutes, three times a week, a few months before your wedding will change everything. Exercise is a fantastic out for stress. So firstly, you will be less likely to turn into a horrid and stressed bridezilla. Then as an added bonus you will look a whole lot better. Less bloated, tighter, harder, smoother and your skin will glow. Forget drastic diets, they make you tired, irritable, saggy, yellow faced and quite unlovable. Eat! Eat! Eat! And include lots of fresh vegetables and fruits. It gives you all the energy and stamina that you need. Especially on the big day! Eat something decent (and if possible before hair and make up).

On the morning of your big day, do a light work out. The ideal is gym because there is nothing like weights to tighten muscles instantly. But anything will do, even a brisk walk or swim in the sea. You will relieve stress, freshen the mind and be a blushing bride with rosy cheeks.

Friday, August 14, 2009

What is out? – part two

Long transparent gloves are ugly girls. So are big puffy skirts and bustiers don’t do anything for making us look skinny. Arms look bigger and even unfortunately even the skinniest of us all are prone to back fat.

A very long veil, I promise you, will only torment and torture you on the day. It will dust the town. Get hooked on the carpet as you walk down the aisle. People will stand on it and it will make you hot. Most brides spend hundreds on their veils, walk out the church and desperately ask me, “can I take this thing off now?”

Thursday, August 13, 2009

What is out? – part one

Pointy shoes are out and thank goodness for it. Round toes and peep toe shoes are in. Heels are in but if you can’t cope then keep some pretty sequence slippers handy. Darlings that’s what bridesmaids are for.

Shiny eye make up also simply won’t do. Unless you are a child bride and you are marrying at 17 don’t wear shiny shadows. Again there are exceptions but nearly everybody looks older and sillier and the camera doesn’t like it much either.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

What is hot? – part two

Much to my delight the 1920’s have made a come back. This look is delightful and fun. And naturally very sexy. The part I like the best would have to be the hairstyles. I love 1920’s waves and hair up in delicious organic shapes. Round toed shoes and long strings of pearls. Cleavage and sequence with dropped waste lines. And it’s almost always a good idea to make the men wear complimentary outfits, like tuxedoes. Deco jewellery is also exquisite.

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

What is hot? – part one

Gloves: don’t even think about any gloves which go past your wrist. No chiffon or satin girls, unless the satin is brushed. Go for the classic and timeless look of Jackie O. The 1950’s look is going to be huge for a long time in wedding photography and styling. It’s clean and glamorous. It’s the new classic and rightly so. Think Channel and remember to keep it simple. Get the majority of your images shot in black and white. And you may consider a little hat and veil. Understated chic.

Monday, August 10, 2009

Shorter, lighter, easier, prettier and sexier.

What’s next? Shorter… finally you can walk where you want to, be cooler (pardon the pun) and not look like a cake with icing. I think if I see another corset with metal fish bones I will cry. Girls they bend and all those bits that are holding you in when we start off, will be divided in half and look horrible. At the very least it will give you stomach ache. Big dress equals big heat wave. Less enjoyment, more sweat, more runny make up and it will be dirty by the time you exit the church. You will spend a lot of the time during the day trying to keep it clean. All in vain. Watch this space for our small collection of wedding dresses to be released early next year.

Sunday, August 9, 2009

Looks I love.

I want to start a craze, a craze which will save brides every where. Do you know the very first thing every single bride says to me when she puts on her wedding dress? “I am hot”. They sweat. Make up runs. They turn pink. They can hardly move or sit. They don’t feel sexy. They feel stiff. For 90% of us, white is such an unforgiving colour and the poof meringue style dress suits few. And those pointy witch shoes have to go girls. They look like yachts. At best the good witch from oz. I want to introduce a crazy idea and wait for it girls. Take a deep breathe….

Saturday, August 8, 2009

Why are eloper’s photographs always better?

When you Elope you gain the most precious element of a wedding day; Time. Time to take gorgeous pictures. AT a relaxed and fun pace. Planning shooting around the best natural light time. Other things however become more difficult to do in two. Like dancing, it can feel silly and forced especially disco dancing. But slow dancing works. During dinner you won’t want a photographer to keep on shooting. SO the pictures are considerably less reportage. But can still be kept natural and fun. Avoiding ridiculously posed images. One way to keep the party going. Is to arrange a boat ride or a fun trash the dress shoot for a grand finale. Never is the photography more important than when you elope.

Friday, August 7, 2009

Boats are sexy

Boats are one form a transport you could consider for your wedding day.
On a boiling day in summer, a boat ride is about the only form of transport tolerable. It gives amazing light on the faces and gorgeous scenery. It’s entertaining and relaxing at the same time. Then you can go to places, which are normally hard to get to. SO much better than a bus ride. If you want great couple shots even a tiny fisherman boat can be fabulous. Though unless you are comfortable with allowing for loads of couple shots and TIME (the demon that chases us), I don’t recommend doing couple alone shots on a boat on the actual day. It takes time and guests don’t like the couple to be away for too long. Unless of course you are eloping.

Thursday, August 6, 2009

Fun Italian weddings

For quite a few years now I have preferred not to do Italian weddings. Just because they were sometimes a little too formal and dry. Everyone seemed annoyed to be attending, even the bride and groom. But lately I have found there to be a new hybrid of Italian brides on the loose. She is over the ringlets and eating. And she has an absolute ball on her wedding day. She encourages dancing with beautiful Brazilian dancers and by having a good time herself. More and more they are choosing informal venues, even venues which you get to by boat.

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

How are Italian weddings different?

Italian weddings are serious affairs and many people wear black. They do not have speeches and there is not always dancing. They give small gifts to their guest to say thank you. The main activity during Italian weddings is eating. There can be up to ten courses with lemon sorbet between the fish and meat. Need I say more? There are exceptions to this rule. And this summer I finally went to a few Italian weddings which were a huge amount of fun.

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

It’s rude for any one other than the bride to wear white.

I really thought this one was common knowledge but I keep going to weddings where the sister of the bride is wearing a short mini dress. No one notices the bride. And when you are wearing a meringue and someone wears a sexy dress and stands next to you will look silly. Very silly. So be slightly conservative when you chose bridesmaids dresses. You must not make them ugly but they should not be super sexy. Unless you are not marrying in a church and you wear a super sexy bridal dress.

Monday, August 3, 2009

Colour coding your guests

If you have ever worked as an extra in the film industry you will know how the work with colour in crowds. For example dressing the whole crow in varied shades of blue. The image naturally seems more harmonious. Sometimes I will go to weddings where the bride has chosen shades of pink and then every time I try to shoot the crowd two or three people will be wearing, rusty orange, yoke yellow or brown. So then, you can’t see the bride. When you look at the image you just see the people who are the contrast. By asking your guest to wear shade of a colour which compliments your choice of colours you will really improve your images.

Sunday, August 2, 2009

Time waits for no bride.

We always run out of time. No matter how small the wedding and if a bride runs twenty minutes late we spend the rest of the day trying to catch up. Time is the most important, unrelenting, consistent and annoying element of any wedding day. Good pictures take time, even reportage works best during daylight as do groups. Historical venues have time limits and restrictions. Food is a religion in Italy and it’s a sin to keep pasta waiting. Churches and town halls are often fully booked (i.e more than one ceremony per day) during the summer and so your ceremony will be rushed along if you are late. Sad as it is, unless you are eloping your wedding day will be run on a tight schedule. And I recommend you are a little early if you want to have a good time.

Saturday, August 1, 2009

Don’t travel on your wedding day

So I know I have harped on about this before but I just cannot emphasis it enough. Try not to spend a lot of time travelling on your wedding day. Now this might sound obvious but some brides want it all. SO they get dressed in Positano… then they take an hour and a half windy road drive in the summer heat and chaos. They get married in the Duomo in Amalfi and then they have their reception in Ravello. Which between traffic, robots and the walking will cost at least 40 minutes of time. And I mean at least. So you if you are lucky you will loose 2 hours and 10 minutes of party and shootings and daylight. A WASTE GIRLS!!!!!!!! It’s the one thing you can’t order extra of – TIME.