Megan Hayes

This Great Gatsby styled shoot at Rancho Los Cerritos in Long Beach, CA has won my heart!  I attended a workshop recently where I had the opportunity to photograph this styled shoot and it was one of my favorite events so far this year. This venue has a rustic feel to the entire property that brings so much to the photographs and it’s simply a lovely location. Spencer and Ryan were such a sweet couple and made it easy to get good photographs. The cake you see is from My Sweet & Saucy and since I follow her on Twitter it was a delightful surprise to get to photograph one of her lovely creations. All the amazing vendors brought this shoot together beautifully. A big thanks to Gloria McCune and her mad styling skills!

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.

To see my first post from this day of shooting click here. This table of sweets was amazing and I hear tasted amazing as well. I love the personal touch with the custom signs for the treats. It was hard to stand there and take pictures of this yumminess when I really wanted to be scarfing it all down.
Pegy Rizzuto – Sweets Tables www.PremiereEventsGroup.com www.sscandyanddessert.com

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To see my first post from this day of shooting click here.

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

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This last weekend I had the opportunity to second shoot for Becker. The wedding was at the beautiful Rancho La Quinta Country Club in La Quinta, CA. Becker’s approach to shooting a wedding i s extremely relaxed and his number one priority on the wedding day is to give his clients the best experience possible. It was awesome to stand along side him and see up close how he interacts with his clients. Even though some of the groom’s family barely spoke English he still found a way to relate to them and make them laugh during the family portraits. Thank you so much Becker for letting me come along!

We started off the day shooting a few details and then headed to the clubhouse for the ceremony and reception. Although the sun was out it actually wasn’t too terrible hot for the ceremony which took place outside. The bride and groom were overflowing with happiness and their wedding day turned out beautiful.

A special thanks to The [b] School for the opportunity to shoot with Becker. Check out Becker’s post from the wedding here.

Dress: Carolina Herrera

Brides Shoes: Jimmy Choo

Catering: Rancho La Quinta Country Club

Makeup: Chroma Makeup Studio

Wedding Coordinator: Olivia Prescott

Florals: Artisan

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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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Had a blast at the SoCal Photog Shootout over the weekend in San Juan Capistrano at the Serra Plaza! This is just a little peek at the photographs, more to come soon!