Let Your Love Show in that First Dance!

After the seriousness of the wedding ceremony, and getting the reception off to a good start, newlyweds can be stressed by the time the First Dance rolls around. That can be unfortunate because this is the moment photographers wait for – when love and romance should be written all over their faces and in their body language as they draw close together. Try to remember to let go of all of the wedding hoopla and get lost in each other when it comes time for your First Dance. You want your love and joy to be reflected in your pictures so be loving and joyful! The wedding crowd may be watching you, some with teary eyes, but forget about them and just be with your beloved in that few moments, remembering how lucky you are to have found each other and to be at the beginning of a long life together. Your photos will capture that spirit and you’ll be glad you did when you see them.

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Feature Series - Spotlight on Locations

Willoughby, Ohio

In real estate, the big thing is location, location, location!  It can be the same with engagement photography. A location that is meaningful to you and your fiancé will make the photos more special in the years to come.  Whether it’s a city center, a park or a place that both of you value, the background of your loving poses adds elements of time, season and depth to your photos. Daniel’s photos are meant to last a lifetime…choose locations that will make you smile as the anniversaries add up.

Willoughby, Ohio is one of those towns built in the 1850’s that still holds some of its original charm and flavor. The historic district which covers nine blocks includes a variety of shops and residences and a public park. Thankfully, historians have preserved much of it, so it’s a great place for photography that blends the old with the new (the new being you and your fiancé!).

A bonus is that there is a castle nearby called Squires Castle. How many towns in America have an authentic castle?

Here’s the legend of Squires Castle.

What’s the Appeal of Black & White Photos?

The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in 2018 revealed that the royal couple was enthusiastic about black and white photography. Instagram photos from Kensington Palace included stylish B&W shots.

We live in a very colorful world, so what is so intriguing about black and white photography?

Black and white photos have a timeless quality to them, they seem to cement a scene in time, like an engraving in stone. There’s something “forever” about them because they’re a blend of reality and mystery. Why do our brains perceive it that way?

The first newspaper to publish a photo (in B&W of course) was in 1880. From then until 1977 when color photos began to appear regularly, people associated something “newsworthy” with a black and white photo in the newspaper. Even if the current generation has lived in a colorful world since birth, they’ve studied history in school and seen the old B&W photos.  We’re all wired to perceive B&W photos as important, historical and newsworthy.

Is it easy to turn color photos into B&W treasures? No, it usually requires editing and an “artist’s eye”. The photographer or photo editor has to work with light and shadowy areas, contrasts, and to figure out what kind of “look” the photo should have.

If you think you want some B&W photos in your wedding or engagement photography, take a little time before the photo session to look at existing photos and think about what you want to create with your B&W. The photographer can keep that in mind during the photo session so that post-session editing will be easier.