Top Tips for Christmas Photos

Now December's finally here and there's a dusting of white on the very tops of the mountains, I can at last acknowledge that it's THAT time of year. Yes, the fat man in the red suit will soon be making his rounds and turkeys are beginning to look nervous.

Christmas, maybe more so than any other time of year, means lots and lots of photographs will be taken. Kids opening presents, mum in her posh frock, grandad asleep in the big chair after the Queen's speech, dad monopolising the new Scalextric (or maybe that was just at my house?), and lots of other memorable moments you'll want to keep forever.

These days, everyone has a digital camera on their phone or a little point-and-shoot always to hand, so I thought I'd share a few "Top Tips" to help make your Christmas photos really special this year.

1. Children
Let's face it, when there are kids in the house Christmas is all about them, and of course you want photos of them to share with the rest of the family. The golden rule when photographing children - especially your own! - is never, ever tell them to smile (unless you're exceptionally lucky and your offspring are unusually accommodating). The best you're likely to get when shouting "Smile!" and pointing a camera at them is a general display of teeth.
Much better to engage the child by either saying or doing something silly to get their attention and making them laugh genuinely, or simply talk to them about something that interests and excites them (like the new remote control car they've just torn the wrappings from) and act like the camera isn't even switched on.

2. Don't pose it
Christmas morning is just magical, you don't need to stage it to capture wonderful present-opening photos. Just pay careful attention to what is in your shot and don't try to cram in too much or your shot loses impact. Zoom in close on faces as presents are unwrapped - often children will hold their new acquisitions up for inspection and admiration so anticipate the moment they turn towards you to show you their new toy or game and be ready with the shutter. Include your tree or decorations in some shots to 'set the scene' but don't overcrowd the image. Candid shots of the children playing with their new toys (or reading their new books) are guaranteed to become favourites over and above the standard "grin at the camera" snaps.

3. The grown ups
Adults hate having their photo taken as a general rule, and people can feel embarrassed in front of a camera. Avoid asking anyone to "say cheese" unless you want pictures of people cringing.
The best shots are the ones where the subject didn't realise the camera was there, so if you have a good zoom lens, use it to capture people in conversation, or just sitting in the living room together. Natural makes the best, and most "real", photo memories!

4. Ladies
Us girls do sometimes like to put on a posh frock, and for some of us it's a once-a-year event! When you're photographing mum in her swish new Karen Millen, have her turn very slightly away from the camera and look back - this slims her figure and adds grace. Make sure her back is straight but her shoulders are relaxed. Never shoot upwards as this can be very unflattering, best to angle the camera downwards slightly towards her face, which slims the jaw and chin and makes eyes appear larger. Don't mention smiling and there should be absolutely no reference to dairy products. Just tell her she looks great and you'll get a lovely natural smile (if she's anything like my mum, anyway!)

5. Flash
Sometimes it can't be helped - you're photographing indoors in winter and it's just not light enough to shoot steadily without flash. Wherever possible though, avoid using direct flash when you're photographing faces - it's very harsh and unflattering and will show up every line and imperfection. Grandma won't thank you for that.

6. Experiment
We photographers have accepted that the days of film have joined leg warmers, bell bottoms and the mighty Ford Capri as a fond and distant memory. The up-side of that, though, is that photographs are now so cheap to produce that it's possible to shoot loads and loads of images until we get one we like, without worrying about the time and cost of developing. So if your camera is a sophisticated one with different modes and settings, play around with them and see what effects you can produce with the different options. For example, try out some candlelight shots. Takes a bit of practice but the results can be really striking.

7. Details
A little attention to detail can really enhance an album and help to tell a story through images. Take a few extra images showing your table centrepiece, your decorations, even the food you serve - it can really add colour and interest to your Christmas photo collection.

8. Don't lose focus
The key to smooth photo-storytelling is in organisation. Make sure you're familiar with your camera and its settings and that you have plenty of spare, charged batteries to avoid any faff on Christmas day. Check that your lens is clean, and that you have film or a memory card in there before you start shooting (oh yes, it happens!) Make sure you're shooting at a high enough resolution to make decent sized prints - many new digital cameras have a small file setting which is just big enough for web use, and it would be a real shame to take that masterpiece on a low-res setting (yep, that happens too!)

9. Shoot what you see
You're behind the camera so you're telling the story as you see it. Don't just take the snaps that you think are expected. Document the things that trigger a response or an emotion. One of my favourite photos from my childhood is of my Grandad and my sister just sitting dozily on the sofa together on Boxing Day. It'll never win any awards, but to me it's incredibly poignant as it epitomises a happy childhood memory. Enjoy yourself and shoot what's important to you. This is YOUR story, so tell it!

10. Print them!
It's so easy now to dump a memory card onto a computer's hard drive, maybe upload a few to FaceSpace or transfer some favourites to your phone. But one thing that I honestly believe will never be replaced is the family photo album. Seeing your images in front of you, as real, tangible photographs and presented mounted in a beautiful book, just cannot, as they say, be beat. Make the effort this year to get all your favourite shots nicely printed and display them as they were meant to be displayed. After all, if you've put all our "Top Tips" into practice you'll have some cracking images that deserve to be shown off!

Have a very happy Christmas and see you in 2012!

With warmest wishes from all at Sally Marie Photography Ltd xx

All Blog content ©Sally Marie Photography Ltd - No reproduction without express permission.

Ashley and Phil's Wedding in Chester

On 7th August 2011 we had the privilege of photographing the wedding of Ashley and Phil at Doubletree by Hilton Chester.

This is the finished design for their album. There are many more complete wedding albums to view on the website.

For full details of our luxury wedding photography services please contact weddings@sallymarie.co.uk or call the studio on 01341 28 11 93.

All Blog content ©Sally Marie Photography Ltd - No reproduction without express permission.

Photography Training Course - Wedding Photography Workshop

On Sunday the first Wedding Photography Workshop took place in Halesowen, West Midlands.

All of the attendees had been on a previous photography business course with Sally Marie and were ready to tackle the practical side of photographing a wedding.

The day began with coffees and introductions and then into one of the training centre's purpose-built classrooms for some background theory on approaching a wedding, from sales and marketing through to posing, lighting and even image presentation. The morning was an intense, densely-packed information session and delegates were given a booklet of course notes to help with posing, essential shots and dealing with all the many elements that make up a wedding.

After a light lunch, the delegates changed into smart attire (in order to pose as extra guests for setting up authentic-looking group shots - the men even had buttonholes!) and we headed outside into the drizzle, armed with white brollies, cameras and a classic Jaguar decked out with wedding ribbons, to start the portfolio-building section of the day.

The rain was unforgiving, but our stunning model groom, Jack, and model bride Chloe in a fabulous vintage wedding dress and veil, braved the elements and posed patiently with our "chauffeur" for the delegates to pose them and get their shots.

As the rain clouds cleared we headed to the park for some scenic shots, beginning with group posing techniques.
After that the delegates were let loose on the very patient Chloe, in order to put into practice the techniques we'd covered in the morning's classroom session on bridal posing. The delegates concentrated on body angles, correct arms and hand positioning and interacting with the 'bride' to get the best from their shots.
Everyone was then set a "10 Shot Challenge" - where they were given a one or two-word title, such as "colour", "S Curve" or "posed hands" - and had to create just one shot for each heading. This helped them to get into the habit of thinking carefully about the composition, content, lighting and posing of their shot before firing the shutter.

Everyone did very well in the 10-Shot Challenge and it was clear that they were really putting attention to detail into making the shot perfect before pressing that shutter.

After a confetti session with some slightly over-enthusiastic confetti cannons, we set about finding interesting backgrounds around the parklands to add shape, colour and texture to our portraits.
The afternoon flew by and soon it was time to head back to the training centre for a last coffee, Q&A session and to re-cap what we'd learned. The delegates were then presented with framed certificates for their completion of the workshop.

Throughout the day we were all being discreetly filmed by Gwynplaine Media, and a short video from the day will be online soon, so watch this space!

The feedback from all of the delegates was phenomenal, and everyone wanted to know when the next course will be! So, we'll also be posting a diary of classes and workshops for 2012 very shortly.

If you'd like to express your interest in attending the next Wedding Photography Workshop or any of our other photography training courses, please e-mail training@sallymarie.co.uk or call 01341 28 11 93. Places are limited so please let us know your interest and we'll be in touch as soon as dates are confirmed.

All Blog content ©Sally Marie Photography Ltd - No reproduction without express permission.

Sam and Gareth Collect Their Jorgensen Wedding Album

Well, yesterday was a beautiful sunny day in Barmouth; the sky was blue and clear, the sea was sparkling, the sun was shining and the beautifully renovated studio was nice and cool (and well stocked with orange juice and champagne!)

It was an extra special day for Sam, who got married last year at Seiont Manor and came all the way from Yorkshire to collect her stunning Jorgensen wedding album.

She practically had to prise it out of my hands, it was such a work of beauty! Even the box was a piece of art in itself.

Sam and Gareth opted for a weighty 40-side album due to the number of pictures they chose, finished with classic gold metal corners.

The cover was off-white textured vinyl featuring an atmospheric shot, an unusual and very deliberate choice by the bride and groom, who wanted an image that was clearly theirs but didn't show their faces. They selected a close-up of the ring exchange, encapsulating Gareth's uniform and rank, Sam's dress and both rings, embossed in gold underneath the picture with their names and wedding date.

Inside, the images were double-matted, white on black pages, to give each picture definition and dimension. Whilst this is a fairly traditional presentation, it was given its own character with the use of quirky, computer-cut mounts, fusing tradition with contemporary character for a really unique look.

This stunning Jorgensen album simply breathes quality; the feel of the cover, the weight of the pages gives this sophisticated wedding album its chic, effortless class.

For the more discerning bride, who desires something more prestigious and breath-taking for her wedding album, come and take a look at our Jorgensen sample albums and see the incredible quality for yourself. Call the studio for an appointment on 01341 28 11 93 or e-mail us at weddings@sallymarie.co.uk

All Blog content ©Sally Marie Photography Ltd - No reproduction without express permission.

Wedding Photography Blog Series - Part 11: After the Honeymoon - Your Champagne Viewing Session

Once again, my apologies for the break in Blogs while the studio was undergoing renovation - we had a flood just before Christmas which, after a lot of drama and upheaval, now sees us back in a beautifully re-modelled studio and viewing/meeting space.

Which brings me nicely to the next part of the Wedding Blog Series - the viewing session! At Sally Marie Photography, every aspect of the wedding journey is part of our luxury experience, from the moment you first come to browse through our sample albums until... well, the journey never really ends! Our wedding couples remain firm friends, and we often photograph newborn babies and family get-togethers as the years go on and families grow. One of the most enjoyable parts of the journey is the day you come back to the studio after your honeymoon to re-live the joy of your wedding day at your champagne viewing session. The glasses of bubbly (customised with your names and wedding date for you to take home as a keepsake!) and delicious chocolates will be ready and waiting when you come in.

Relax in our comfortable sofas and enjoy a beautiful slideshow set to music, as all the images from your wedding day are displayed on our crystal-clear wall screen.

After your viewing session, your images will be uploaded to your password-protected online gallery for friends, family and guests to view, and for you to make your final selections for inclusion in your wedding album. We like to give you the opportunity to take your time over this part, and go through your choices together in your own time at home, to make sure everything is absolutely as you want it. There's no pushy hard sell here!

Once you've selected your favourites, you'll then have the option to upgrade the size, cover or material of your wedding book if you wish. We'll then put together a layout design draft for you to approve (or make changes if necessary) before it goes to print. You have control over your album design and it won't go to print until you're 100% delighted with the layout and design.

Our albums are made in Italy and orders usually take around 4 weeks from confirmation to delivery. You can even order smaller versions or copies of the wedding album for parents and guests.

To see examples of our beautiful wedding books, call the studio for an appointment on 01341 28 11 93 or drop us a line at weddings@sallymarie.co.uk.

COMING UP NEXT: Wedding Photography Blog Series - Part 12: And In The Future...

All Blog content ©Sally Marie Photography Ltd - No reproduction without express permission.

Photography Training Course - West Midlands

Well, a little break from the Wedding Blog Series while our studio is being renovated... more to follow in a couple of weeks.

In the meantime, it's been a very busy month attending lots of bustling wedding fayres (the next one at Chester Doubletree Hilton on 27th February) and meeting lots of fantastic couples planning their weddings for this year and next. It seems Will and Kate have set a trend!

I also wanted to let you know about a new training course aimed at those just starting out in the business of wedding and portrait photography, or existing photographers whose business needs a boost. It's called "Kick Start Your Photography Business" and is held in Halesowen, West Midlands (just off M5 Jn3) on Sunday 17th April 2011.

For more details please see the website at www.sallymarie.co.uk/training, or call the studio on 01341 28 11 93.

Remaining places are expected to fill quickly as our magazine advertisement goes out at the end of this month, so get in early and book your space!

All Blog content ©Sally Marie Photography Ltd - No reproduction without express permission.

Wedding Photography Blog Series - Part 10: The Big Day (Cake Cutting and First Dance)

The cutting of the cake is a very traditional shot and still used in many wedding albums. Historically, the bride and groom's hands holding the knife should both show off their new wedding rings to the camera. Close-up detail of the cake lends a splash of colour to an album, and can look amazing as part of the page background design in a contemporary storybook wedding album.

Recently, couples have chosen a creative or artistic image of the cake itself in place of the traditional cake-cutting shot. One of the reasons for this is that the cake-cutting photograph is often "staged", as it needs to be taken before the guests enter the room for the wedding breakfast. The real cutting is often carried out by catering staff, especially if the cake is to be served as dessert. If you do wish to pose for a cake-cutting photograph, it's best to set up a "mock" cake-cutting prior to the meal before your guests enter the room. This way the shot will look tidy and you won't have people crowding around with their own cameras distracting you! Later in the evening, your DJ, entertainer or master of ceremonies will announce your first dance - that's if you're brave enough to show off your fancy footwork on the dancefloor! At this point you should be the only couple on the dancefloor. After a couple of minutes parents may join you, followed by the other guests. Choosing a song for your first dance is a very important task as it will always be part of your wedding day memories. For some couples this is easy, if you have an appropriate "special song" that's meaningful to you both. If you're stuck for ideas though, look out for our upcoming "Wedding Supplier Interviews" blog series - where I'll be posting an interview with a top wedding entertainer who will reveal the most requested first-dance songs for weddings!

If you would like to discuss your wedding photography plans or request a wedding photography brochure, please call the studio on 01341 28 11 93 or e-mail weddings@sallymarie.co.uk

COMING UP NEXT: Wedding Photography Blog Series - Part 11: After the Honeymoon - Your Champagne Viewing Session

All Blog content ©Sally Marie Photography Ltd - No reproduction without express permission.

Wedding Photography Blog Series - Part 9: The Big Day (Speeches)

Happy New Year!

If you're planning your wedding in 2011, this multi-part blog series will help with ideas and tips for your big day, especially from a photography perspective!

The speeches are very much looked forward to at a wedding; it's a point in the day when everyone can enjoy a little humour and of course plenty of emotion.

Capturing people's reactions to the speeches are a crucial part of the story of your wedding album, and will evoke some of the strongest memories of the day.

It's also a great way to add a little visual humour to your wedding storybook!

A toastmaster or the best man will sometimes introduce each speech on behalf of the wedding party. Traditionally the father of the bride speaks first, thanking the guests for attending the wedding and welcoming his new son-in-law to the family. He will also acknowledge the support of the groom's parents and may toast them. The bride's father may also tell an amusing or heartwarming anecdote about his daughter or offer advice on married life. Finally, he proposes a toast to the bride and groom.

The groom's speech is historically more serious than the best man's, and should include plenty of complimentary references to his new wife! He will echo the brides's father's thanks to the guests and to both sets of parents. The groom is usually expected to raise a toast to the bridesmaids and thank his ushers and best man.

The best man (and it is becoming increasingly more prevalent to have more than one!) also thanks the bridesmaids and toasts the bride and groom. His speech is often the most humorous but should be lighthearted and not humiliate or embarrass anyone. The best man may also read cards from friends and family unable to attend, and thank the staff at the venue.

It is not unusual, especially in recent years, for other members of the wedding party, or even guests, to say a few words before the cutting of the cake. (As a general rule of etiquette, brides wishing to address their guests should speak after the groom and before the best man.)

During the speeches guests are more relaxed and will be laughing and smiling naturally. There is also a great deal of heartfelt emotion to be captured and it's a brilliant opportunity for candid pictures. At this point of the day I usually switch to a fast zoom lens so that I can stay well out of the way and let the guests forget there's a camera in the room, and of course it's best not to distract those making speeches as they'll probably be nervous enough!

If you would like to discuss your wedding plans, please give the studio a call on 01341 28 11 93 or e-mail weddings@sallymarie.co.uk.

COMING UP NEXT: Wedding Photography Blog Series - Part 10: The Big Day (Cake Cutting and First Dance)

All Blog content ©Sally Marie Photography Ltd - No reproduction without express permission.