Anything you resolve to do, you start on Monday. That way you can cheat all weekend before you get down to business on whatever habits you have decided to change.
It's time, it's Monday! What is your motivation?
As I am writing this my friend Erika asked a question. Have you read any motivational books(other than the Bible)? My response is as follows:
1. All life questions can be answered in a Mercer Mayer Book. (more in depth blogs to come). For example: how to deal with life when you are mad :)
2. Books written by or about UCLA Coach John Wooden. I know I am passionate about athletics and sports, but the book I just read can be applied to life...ALL life, ALL business, ALL sports.
The title is Coach John Wooden: The Power of a Lot of Little Things Done Well.
I read the book in three days and I will read more very soon.
Have you read any inspiring books or perhaps something else inspires you? I want to know! Good luck on your New Year's Resolutions! Kill it!
Did you mean to check out our weddings, Senior Site or Teen Site? Just click here!
Be Inspired!
xo Amber
We (Shelly and I ) submitted several pieces of work this year. Let it be said again: I work with some truly amazing people! I simply have the opportunity to put these stories into images. This year, we went public or the public went with us.
www.amberjphoto.com
RUSTIC CHIC GOES PUBLIC WITH AMBER J PHOTOGRAPHY
In January we were featured on Rustic Wedding Chic. Lisa and Jason’s wedding at Maple Shade Farm in Delhi was give the nod by one of my favorite wedding blogs of all time and I literally jumped when I saw the acceptance note.
KNOTSVILLA GIVES US THE NOD
In March of this year Knotsvilla Wedding Blog published our Winter Wonderland Wedding at Mallozzi’s in Schenectady. Nicole and Glen’s wedding was a fine display of the beauty winter can bring for a wedding. We were once again thrilled as Knotsvilla is clearly one of the best blogs out there!
www.amberjphoto.com
www.amberjseniors.com
On the senior side of things, one our photos of Kiera was published in Senior Study Hall magazine and were are waiting right now to hear back from another publication (TBA!)
Instasenior on Instagram featured a session from Molly’s senior portrait session with us and we hope to just keep rolling with this!
It's only April and we have SO SO much coming our way this year that I really just look at this year and think, wow! God has truly opened doors and closed some others.
PS: we have installed a wonderful program for teens: www.epicteenimages.com. If you have a young teen, capture them now before they aren't so young anymore :)
There are approximate 1.5 million wedding venues in upstate NY, ok just kidding there are not that many, however there are a plethora of venues and chances are, any one photographer has not shot at all of them.
I have been asked a number of times “have you shot there before?”
It’s a good question and I understand why it’s asked, but it’s not the right question. It would take me approximately 25 years with a wedding every weekend in a different place to shoot at every venue. This is not a scientific approximation and no actual math was done here, but you get my drift. Just because your photographer has not actually shot at your venue of choice does not mean you should dismiss them!
Barns are some of the darkest venues around...but we specialize in just that!
ANSWER YOUR OWN QUESTION
*Look through your photographer of choice’s blogs and galleries and see what they capture and how they do inside with their reception shots.
*Request a full gallery from your photographer so you can see a sample from beginning to end. MOST reception halls have a terrible light source, if they can shoot in a dark reception hall in Albany, NY they can shoot in a dark hall in the Hudson Valley.
*A PROFESSIONAL photographer should have no problem knowing how to work a dimly lit room whether it be a venue they have worked 100 times or never before.
I’M NERVOUS YOU HAVEN’T WORKED MY VENUE
*Ask your photographer to walk through the venue with you and discuss prime ideas for wedding photos.
*Find out if you can do your engagement session in the same place and you can get a feel for how your photographer will handle the venue and it’s enmities
*Personally, if I have not shot in a venue I will ask for a walk through well before the wedding so I have an idea of what will look great and what will not.
A NEW VENUE CAN BE BETTER
I have found a new venue can stimulate a photographer's creative senses. When I find a new place to shoot I am excited about the opportunity to shoot something different.
SO WHAT DO YOU ASK?
If your photographer has not shot in your venue before, it’s not time to panic.
Ask to see work produced in dimly lit areas (if you aren’t satisfied with what the website showcases).
Ask if they would walk through with you.
Ask what their experience is and how they handle a dark reception hall or barn.
Be up front if you are only going to have a candle light vigil at your reception at 9pm and work together on how to produce quality images.
YOUR VENUE IS NOTHING NEW
That is not to sound mean or demeaning. Your venue was chosen for what you loved about it, but for a photographer your venue is all about shadows and lights and textures and “where do we go if it rains”.
A professional reads all that in mere minutes of seeing a location, so unless your spidey senses tell you otherwise. We crazy photographers got this whether it’s a venue that is new or old, you just go on and get married :)
PS: We may not fear dark shadows, but we may fear water fountains - seriously...
Oh the woes when an excited bride produces 50 million images of all the things she would like to see come out of her wedding day photography. We (photographers) sit there watching an ecstatic reaction and gleeful smiles as every swipe left produces a perfectly captured and insanely beautiful wedding image from Pinterest.
We smile.
Our insides tie up a little.
We breathe.
We sit there toying with talking about reality and worrying about destroying such high hopes!
I have met several photographers who despise and are even insulted when Pinterest ideas are put on the table. Don't be mad, but a realistic approach to your wedding day photography will produce a happier you when you get your images back.
DON'T Be HATIN'
I don't hate Pinterest. I find it's partnership interesting to say the least. This is where it's helpful.
1. Clear ideas of what YOU, the bride finds appealing
2. Colors you seem to gravitate to
3. Emotions You find endearing
4. Moments that YOU find important
5. Your sense of humor
6. Your detail savvy
7. Other interests you may have (horses, wine, jobs, travel)
Education is MY responsibility.
We all laugh at the blog of Pinterest fails right? Check one out here and enjoy :FAIL
A LITTLE EDUCATION:
1. I'll explain what goes into setting up your favorite shot (A little education can go a long way!) Sometimes the time commitment can be unrealistic for the pace of your wedding day.
2. Choose your absolute top 5
3. Now choose your top 2
4. Understand, your photographer will do all they can to capture every special moment. Giving them too much direction may actually derail how talented they really are and produce a lesser quality of awesome.
INSPIRE:
As a couple you are unique and THAT is most important. Use Pinterest for inspiration, not as a weapon fighting reality. Your professional photographer will probably do you better than Pinterest :)
You, the soon-to-be bride and groom have a LOT going on as you plan for your up and coming wedding day. In so many ways, I envy you. Weddings have a come a long way in the past decade or so with the internet, social media and of course, Pinterest. There are million or more choices out there and that includes wedding photographers.
It's over-whelming for me to see how many people have started there own photography business. In a sea of facebook jump starts, I don't envy the job of pouring through countless calls for your attention.
A few simple steps could ease the pain:
1. WHO RECOMMENDS US AND WHY? Word of mouth. Almost all of my brides have come to me by recommendations from either a friend or a venue I have worked for. Ask around. If you already have your venue booked, ask the venue director. Chances are they are not going to recommend someone who they don't feel will suit their couples.
On a secondary note, if someone recommends a photographer, find out why. Do they have first hand experience with the distinguished work of a certain wedding photographer or are they simply recommending their best friend, daughter or cousin? Know the source.
2. PORTFOLIO INVESTIGATION? Look over their online portfolio. As you are looking through, decide what you LIKE about a certain portfolio. Is it their candid style? Is it their detail shots? Are they portraying a certain artistry you enjoy?
3. A PHONE CALL INSTEAD OF EMAIL? Call. Get on the phone first with your photographer. You may be able to tell right away if their personality will fit yours and believe it or not, that is vital to a successful telling of your wedding day story.
4. WHY A CONSULT? Your photographer should always be willing to meet you in person. Rarely will I book with a bride who I don't have a face to face consult with. We need to talk and get to know each other a little, after all I am going to be with you every step of your wedding day... that's a big deal!
5. WHY CAN'T I FIND PRICES ONLINE?
Most photographers are pulling their price list from their sites. Why? For me personally, I would not want to be passed over or judged on my services based on my price list. It is the last point I discuss with a bride simply because I want to know what a couple wants in a photographer first. There is a relationship that needs to be established that goes far beyond just a hired service. I need to be the right photographer for you, not just a piece that fits in the budget process. After all, I am re-telling the priceless story of your wedding day!!! Price points are always important, but should not be your only deciding factor :)
Always check and ask about insurance, experience and legit business standing. A photographer should always, at the very least have a DBA (doing business as) in their county and insurance. An official facebook page is not proof of business. ASK!
Those are just a few ideas as you begin looking for the wedding photographer that is right for you.
Happy planning!!!!!
I saw a post, then another, then another all on how burlap can be incorporated into a rustic and chic wedding. So, instead of coming up with a post all on my own, I figured I would list a few links that I liked!
A unique post by Emmaline Bride here focuses on a variety of uses for burlap. It gives ideas on shoes, save the dates, and weddings. So cool! But it is definitely for the hands on bride.
I limited myself on explaining a few aspects of why we are turning our attention to rustic, chic and country weddings. The first and foremost reason is because I absolutely adore them and when you combine photography and passion, you can help but produce something filled with excitement and love.
However, the less romantic side of it all comes down to the technical aspects of barn and farmhouse weddings. Lighting.
A bride came to me this week with an inquiry about her wedding in a nearby barn style venue. Her main question was about the lighting and if I would be able to photograph there. Honestly, I am not used to those kind of questions from brides, so it was cathartic for me to answer her.
Now, I know most venues for receptions and churches offer less than stellar lighting. The most challenging, by far are the old dark barns and sweet farmhouses that cast very little flattering light.
The romantic wood planks and high wooden archways that enhance the fairytale atmosphere can plummet a photographers ability to capture the enchantment.
I have focused my energy in the past few months to become proficient in photographing at these types of venues. It's necessary. With venues stretching from Albany, Oneonta, Roxbury, Hudson and Lake George this was something I was noticing not being done very well!
Nothing should stop you from having the most romantic country wedding ever...just make sure you have a photographer that knows how to showcase it from the camera ;)
November 1, 2012 - marked the "one year ago" date. The day I actually walked out the door of my full time job as a writer and photojournalist for a weekly paper in Stamford. So many maybe's ahead of me it was mind numbing.
Personally: Irene had just devastated so much of what I knew to be home, my slight quandary seemed a little less dramatic. My maybe's turned into knowing. I KNEW photography was what I wanted to do. There have been some ups and downs along the way, if I told you any different ..that would be a lie. My confidence ebbs and flows with the tide of my personality. Just like you, sometimes I feel like I've nailed it, sometimes I scratch my head wondering what I did wrong. It's what make me.. me.
Professionally: I am learning to love light. Sound weird? It's a love/hate relationship. As a photographer you have to learn light. Sounds professionally anemic to say that, but I know many people who shy away from truly learning what light is about. I have A LOT still to learn, but the very concepts that used to make me queasy, I find more thrilling. Speedlights, off camera lights, sunlight, soft box, low light..it's all starting to pull together as I find my niche.
Someone asked me what I would like to specialize in...and I had to think. Honestly, it came down to one word. Emotion. Trust me with your emotions and everything else falls into place.
Here it goes. It was a hard decision to make, but I had a wonderful, fantastic, super fabulous photographer friend...(I won't mention any names Crystal George). Who has talked me through a few business lumps and bumps. However, she did stress one thing to me...and that was to specialize.
At first, I had no idea how to do that or what it truly meant. Now that I have been on my own for nearly a year, I get it.
No photographer can do it all. A photographer can be good in a lot of avenues such as newborn work, seniors, children, brides, pets, sports, weddings..you name it, there is a genre for it. However, I don't believe a photographer can be THE BEST at all of these things. So, in the past few months as I have looked through the year I asked what work to I absolutely LOVE the most.
I categorized by:
Do I feel passionately about it?
Where do I enjoy investing most of my energy?
During a session..which one do I feel most alive in?
What's working?
What is the most fulfilling?
Where and I am working really hard to be better?
It came down to two areas: children and everything to do with weddings :)
Children
I was surprised by this actually. Choosing children over some other categories, but I can see why now. After a year of shooting various events and sessions, photographing children has brought me a sense of accomplishment. My style and my personality definitely cater to making a professional child shoot work. I know what parents are looking for and I know what a child will love and hate. All this to say..having two children of my own to practice..never hurts! This also includes families. I feel they go hand in hand. While some people love to have their children photographed exclusively, some may also want to figure in a total family shoot. Of course!
Weddings:
From engagement shoots, client meetings to the big day..I truly love every aspect of it. There is a challenge to produce high quality work in a fast paced environment and I truly enjoy it!
Furthermore, I adore the relationships it fosters. The brides are friends, the families become a part of me and I don't say that because it sounds nice, I say it because it's absolutely true.
Relationships are a lot about who I am and I find relating to children is very easy and fostering solid friendships with my brides and their families is making my life richer.
It's not to say that I don't enjoy other aspects of photography, but at this stage of my career, it's full throttle with children and "I do"...and it will be my passion to be great at both of these :)
I am only going by personal experience on this one, so if you know or recommend another caterer in your area feel free to contact me and let me know at amberjphoto@gmail.com
Catering is a crazy business especially in the wedding industry where good food is demanded and delivery is expected to be right on time. Not an easy to feat to conquer, but those who do it earn my absolute respect!
Heather Clark owns T.P's cafe in Stamford, NY. I have attended several events in which she has catered. I can say no one has left hungry or disappointed. She delivers promptly and her food is absolutely delicious. She has experience in catering large and small venues and her staff is always courteous, kind and helpful.
I might be a little excited when I arrive on the premise and I know it's her food that coming on in!
Vern's Restaurant In Davenport
My first introduction to Vern's was last year at a wedding reception. I can't even remember how many different choice there were, but I will admit...I went back for seconds. Their menu is versatile and their staff was prompt in delivering the food on time. They are capable of hosting on site parties as well using their own venue for receptions and gathering.
I do remember they had this shrimp salad I fell in love with and the meat they prepared was done just right.
Brooks BBQ
The name speaks for itself. However, no one can go wrong when Brook's comes. Their family owned operation is phenomenal in it's service and passes any taste test. The owners are kind and willing to do whatever they can to make sure your event is catered with top notch diligence.
I have never had a piece of chicken or potato salad I didn't enjoy. Best of all, it's service with a smile.
Service here is a must. The wait staff is efficient and attentive, but they don't monopolize the event. They are always available and I never lacked for food on my plate. I entertained a chicken parm here and finished every last bite. The food was fantastic, but even better I watched them accommodate a wedding party that arrived a little later than they were supposed too. Despite the delay, this staff was ready to go, the food was served up with a little extra deliciousness and the evening went beautifully.
.jpg)
