Megan Hayes

I have been contemplating this post for the past couple weeks as recently I’ve heard some very sad stories from brides about their wedding photographs. It hearts my gut every time I listen to someone tell me about the regret they have for not choosing their top choice wedding photographer or at least close to their top choice.

I wish for every bride to have a photographer that captures their day just the way they dreamed. I know that budgets, dates, times and so many other details factor into the matter but choosing the photographer you really love for your wedding will never be a regret.

I recently had a bride tell me about how she spent a considerable amount on her her dress, the decorations, flowers, cake and 2 receptions but decided to skimp by with a cheap photographer with not much experience. As she “confessed” to me she said that it’s been a year since her wedding and she’s only seen 2-3 pictures from her wedding that the “photographer” emailed to her. She’s so scared of what the rest of her pictures are going to look like that it makes her sick to think about it. She’s knows she’s not going to have detail shots of her decorations and some of the meaningful pieces of her wedding. Yikes!!

So after I said “Shame on you!” I started racking my brain on how to help brides make the best choice in hiring their wedding photographer. I know where so many brides are coming from and I myself had to learn the hard way with my own wedding as I didn’t know much about photography when my husband and I got married. My thinking was “Oh, she won an award in the fair. She must know how to photograph a wedding.” NOT TRUE!  There is so much more to wedding photography than just knowing how to take a good picture. A good wedding photographer is in touch with their clients emotions and can catch that look a bride gives her groom when no one else is looking. They make you fee comfortable and at ease so they can capture the best you possible. They know that every little detail took time and money to create and is a special part of what makes up a beautiful wedding day. Those traits don’t just come with someone who knows how to use a camera.

So here’s my top 5 questions to ask to help you choose your photographer:

1. Are you in love with their style of photographs and does their style reflect you best? (The nice albums, prints and number of hours in a package won’t matter if you’re not in love with the photographs that will go in those albums. The photographs are the most important!)
2. Do you feel comfortable with your photographer?
3. Do they have a good reputation with their past clients? Have you heard anyone rave about them?
4. Are they well organized and give you confidence that your wedding is top priority? (Can’t have your photographer forgetting to include your mom in the photos or a special relative that traveled a far distance for your wedding!)
5. Are they a professional? A professional spends time and money gaining the understanding necessary to properly and creatively photograph a wedding.  You don’t want a “weekend warrior” winging it on one of the most important days of your life.

I’d suggest making a list of your priorities for your wedding and budget for the most important accordingly. (Note: Your photographer should never be one of cheapest parts of your wedding so you may need to rethink your budget if that’s the case. Just remember you get what you pay for.)

In my opinion one of the most important choices you’ll make for your wedding day besides your man of course is the photographer you choose. Not just because I am a wedding photographer but because after the vows have been said, the cake has been eaten and the guests have gone home, all you have to remember your day is the photographs.  Your wedding day isn’t something you can do over so make sure you hire the best.

And because all posts are better with a picture here’s a pretty one for you. It’s a little sneak peek up an upcoming post.

I attended my first SoCal Photog Shootout last month and had the best time!  I was able to learn from great photographers, work with lovely models and photograph some amazing details. This event was by far one of the funnest things I’ve done to grow as a photographer and meet other photographers. Attending events like this one deepen my passion to do what I love and always teach me something new.

All the vendors, leaders, stylists and hair & makeup designers did a beautiful job at creating an awesome shootout. Thanks to each of you!

This post is just Part 1 of several. I’ll be posting more photographs over the next couple weeks. Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy the photographs!

LEADERS:

1. Robert Tran and Jessica Tincopa – www.jessicaelizabethphotography.com
2. Erin and Gavin Wade: www.gavinwadephoto.com
3. Matthew Saville – www.matthewsaville.com
4. Corina Shauntele – www.pixel2canvas.com
5. Nathaniel Kam – www.nathanielkamphotography.com
6. Tamara Young – www.tstylephotography.com

STYLISTS:
Hope Stanley – Bridal Stylist www.marymebridal.com
Special thanks to: Nate at Friar Tux in Orange for the tuxes! www.friartux.com

Sussanna Davidson for French Buckets – www.frenchbuckets.com
Mary Lallande for Jay’s Catering and Serra Plaza – www.serraplazaevents.com
Pegy Rizzuto – Sweets Tables www.PremiereEventsGroup.com

HAIR AND MAKEUP:
Makeup –
Jeanette Pulecio  – www.jennettepulecio.com
Lisa O’Conner – www.elementsofartistry.com

Hair -
Diego Ortega – www.DiegoOrtega.net
Assisted by: Kristin Macchio

Dinner provided by: Jay’s Catering www.jayscatering.com
Cupcakes by Fancy That! Cupcakes by Colette Bozek- fancythatcupcakes@gmail.com

Special thanks to Pixel 2 Canvas www.pixel2canvas.com for the giveaways!

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I had a great time with Sarah shooting her senior pictures at the Getty Center in Los Angeles, CA.  One of my favorite parts of doing senior sessions is hearing about their plans for the future. Seniors are right in the middle of one of the most exciting times in their life and they are full of dreams, excitement and smiles!  Sarah will be going pretty far from home for language school soon as she follows her passion and the Lord.  Congrats on being a senior Sarah!

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I’ve recently fallen in love with these Send Off Ribbon Wands. I think I mostly love them just because they are used in the send off scene in Sense and Sensibility which happens to be one of my favorite movies. I didn’t realize these even existed until watching the movie. I just love timeless wedding traditions and wish I would have thought to have these at my wedding.

You can get these personalized Send Off Ribbons online at weddingfavors.org and if you’d like to see the clip from Sense and Sensibility I’ve posted it below.

Last year I started a new tradition, a fun and creative Valentine’s Day inspiration shoot. It’s my one shoot a year where I get to be as creative as I want with the location and little details. I picked out all the decor and picked up the cupcakes from Nadia Cakes in Palmdale, CA. Below are several photographs from my Valentine’s Day inspiration shoot at the Ventura Beach Pier in Ventura, CA. I love the lace detail on the bride’s gown! (Thanks Luke and Sharon! You two were perfect for it!) This shoot was also featured in Sparkle & Hay wedding blog and you can see that post here.

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Bianca and Joel are two very sweet people and it was a joy to be part of their wedding day in Victorville, CA. They met in college while they were attending Pensacola Christian College. One of my favorite things about their wedding day was that you could sense just how much they loved their family and friends. Although it was Bianca’s big day she didn’t hesitate to congratulate her good friends on their pregnancy during her wedding reception. Her friends had been trying for a long time to have a baby and they told Bianca at her wedding that they were expecting. Joel and Bianca are a lovely couple and I am so excited for them as they begin their journey together as a married couple. Below are some images from their wedding. Enjoy!

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Celebrating Christ’s birth is quite miraculous and I absolutely love the Christmas season!! There’s something about the lights, music, manger scenes, busy stores, hot cocoa and cool air that makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside.

While we did get off to a bit of a late start on the decorating we managed to get it done this last week. We put the tree up on Wednesday night while watching little women and drinking some hot cocoa. Little Women was my pick of course. My mom has probably watched little women 100 times, it’s quite the family favorite.  We’re all decked out for Christmas now and feeling pretty jolly! Here are a few pictures of our tree and the pictures we took today for our Christmas card.  Merry Christmas!!

I love this guy.

And because we like to make silly faces…

Our tree and one of my favorite glass ornaments.