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You have been hired as a photographer for a wedding but what do you do with people that want to "step" in front of you when you need to get the shot? Over the years I have had a couple people with "cell" phones, or some that were just oblivious and wanting to get a better look step in front of me. ONLY once was I somewhat forceful to get in front of a lady with her cell phone because I was being paid to get the shot of the wedding cake! The bride and groom saw it all unfold and later told me that it was the Groom's bossy aunt and it was exactly what needed to be done lol! Remember you have hired a photographer and we promise to get you the shots that you "must have" and then any other shots as time allows. We are being paid to get the kiss, the cake cutting and all those critical moments that unfold on your busy wedding day so trust that we will do whatever we need to even if it is pushing Aunt Florence aside....politely of course! Some of our couples have indicated on their invitations that no children are allowed at the ceremony but may attend the reception. We have received invitations personally that noted that request and I always thought it was rude UNTIL many years ago and we started doing wedding photography!! We have had times during a church wedding that the officiant did not want anyone in the aisle, however there have been children standing in the aisle that couldn't sit still in the pew. So fast forward to the kiss, or the vows and ring exchange, shots that you typically want to get but cousin Joe's kid is standing in the aisle to see better. At this point I will step ahead of the child even though the officiant wasn't fond of that idea because I'm not going to miss a shot that some kid is trying to prevent. Bottom line, keep track of your children and don't make the photographers have to hurdle a pew to get the shot!!!

You have hired a photographer for your wedding but are you supposed to tip them? I don't think there is a right or wrong answer to this question it's what you feel is appropriate based on the service that you received. If you are going to tip your wedding photographer, a 2nd shooter or assistant is typically given $50 while the primary photographer is given anywhere between $100-200 customarily. Over all the years we have been doing wedding photography I would estimate about half of our clients tipped and half did not which is alright. We charge a fee for our services and that fee is what we need to survive and keep our livelihood going so tipping us is just icing on the cake. If you feel that your photographer has gone above and beyond such as helping with last minute details, or place settings, or pinning on flowers then by all means let them know how much you appreciated the extra effort. We have been tipped during family sessions where animals and a lot of small children were involved as those are some frustrating sessions at times. Do what you think is right based on the service that as provided.

Finally summer has arrived and with it a very BUSY time for weddings and family sessions. This year I purposely didn't book as many weddings as some years which was difficult for me to say no, but our youngest daughter was due to have her first baby in mid-June. As things often don't go as planned, the baby decided to arrive early on April 30th! After a few weeks in the NICU she is now home and doing well. God Bless those nurses and doctors of the NICU, they are wonderful people, but I digress. We are in full swing for wedding season and so far the ceremonies have been absolutely beautiful with a few indoors and a few outdoors. We also have a lot of family sessions coming up. Whether your kids and grandkids are coming home to visit, or you are planning to vacation in the beautiful Black Hills there are MANY beautiful opportunities for family portraits! We have many waterfalls, beautiful hiking trails and some of the best backdrops ever to have your photos taken so be sure to schedule a session while you're here, we'd love to spend some time with you and show you our little piece of heaven!

So you are getting married, or you have a big family reunion coming up and you need a photographer but what does a "contract" mean? Many photographers will tell you that a contract is necessary for larger events and weddings, but why? Well it's very simple, it's to protect you and the photographer. By signing a contract the photographer has agreed they will not book another event that day and should things change for you, most contracts state that "IF" the photographer has the new date available your booking will be moved. Requiring a contract for a family reunion is in your best interest if you are the one needing a photographer otherwise IF someone comes along before your event and needs a wedding photographer (which probably pays more) the photographer may be inclined to book the wedding and not be able to accommodate your family session! Plan ahead, know what you need and "talk" to your photographer. Remember we are not mind readers and we need you to communicate with us throughout the entire process whether it's planning a wedding, family reunion, newborn session or a senior session.

CONGRATULATIONS YOU'RE GETTING MARRIED!!!! That means that there was a proposal and you accepted....now what? One of the first things that you need to do is pick a date and venue. A lot of venues book well over a year in advance so finding the perfect location on the date that you choose could be challenging. Second to finding the venue would be choosing a photographer. Most of us book 9-12 months in advance so once you know your date and venue find the photographer. Catering, DJ's/Bands, Flowers, Cake Designer, a dress, bridal party and all those things will fall into place. DO I NEED SAVE THE DATE CARDS? Some people like to include their engagement images and send out save the date notices so that people can plan well in advance of the wedding. Typically save the date cards would be mailed out approximately six-months prior to the wedding which gives people enough time to plan and make arrangements if they need to travel to the venue. WEDDING INVITATIONS - what is the proper etiquette on mailing those? Most people will say that 6-8 weeks prior to the ceremony is a good rule of thumb unless you are doing a destination wedding and then you should focus more on 12 weeks in advance. Typically if the Bride's parents are paying for everything then their names go on the invitation. If the groom's parents are splitting costs or chipping in money then both sets of parents should go on the invitation. For all practical purposes anything over 100 guests is considered a large wedding. Different regions and cultures could consider it small but for most areas that is a large wedding. It is customary to include "plus one" for all married, engaged or cohabitating couples when you send out the invitations. RSVP - that's exactly what it stands for Respond so very promptly, but yet people DO NOT always adhere to that in our culture! Having planned a wedding in the past few years it was frustrating not getting the RSVP's back when we requested and then some that returned them but didn't show up on the wedding date was equally annoying. Things happen and plans change because most things are out of our control, but if you say you are going to be there and something comes up a phone call or text message to the bride or her parents would ALWAYS be appreciated so they have a more accurate head count. One last thing I have learned and heard over the years.....DO NOT WEAR WHITE unless you are the bride! There have been many instances in the recent past where a bride got completely upset and let it ruin her day simply because someone wore a white dress and she felt they were trying to put the spotlight on themselves. My personal opinion is that a white dress or shirt with some additional coloring in it would not be a huge issue, but be careful as you don't want to be "that person" that ruined the wedding because of a questionable clothing choice!!

Some of my favorite photography sessions are with newborns and toddlers, I just love the babies. Kids grow up WAY too fast and the world is changing on a daily basis so being able to capture some lasting images helps their parents relive the times when they were younger and learning from everything! Kids are naturally inquisitive and it's so fun to watch them ponder things, and problem solve. I especially enjoy when you can see the lightbulb come on and they figure something out even if it's as simple as getting a toy to move, or dressing a dolly. I have spent time with many children over the years and feel blessed to have captured some lasting memories. There is one little girl that captured my heart a year ago when her mama asked me to take some newborn images. I have been capturing her smiling face ever since and we do them every 3 months. She just turned one and they are having a celebration this weekend that I was fortunate enough to be invited to! I am excited to capture some images of Charlee Denise as she plays with her birthday cake, or whatever a one year old does with a birthday cake! I truly enjoy having repeat clients and when I'm asked to be there for their milestones, and get invited to a birthday party where I'm the guest and not a photographer....so much fun! I can't wait to photograph more milestones as the little one continues to grow and find her way in this world.

I'm sure this has happened to everyone out there whether you take professional photos or just casual family, landscape shots. You arrive at a Wedding, or a family session and after looking at the background you wonder how in the world am I supposed to make this work??? Even in a lousy location you can have an amazing shoot if you take a deep breath and realize it's not a deal breaker! USE A HIGH COMPRESSION LENS CHANGE HOW YOU SHOOT - GO VERTICAL USE YOUR SUBJECTS TO BLOCK A DISTRACTION CREATIVE CROPPING Sometimes the "entire" background may not be a Debbie downer, so if you can reposition people slightly to one side, have them sit on something to block out something behind them, or have them stand as a group (bridal party, family) and they would probably need to be tucked in close together depending on what you are trying to eliminate or minimize in the background. If you have ever shot photos at Indian Springs you know that behind the falls are houses, there is also an annoying green hose, several things that through creative cropping can disappear or be less of a distraction from the subjects in the actual photograph. If you turn them around to the other end of the sidewalk you have power lines, street signs and vehicles to deal with, but take your time and weigh your options. Living in the Black Hills we are blessed with some absolutely "breathtaking" landscapes and backgrounds but I have also had people that want photos in the "city" or at a park with a lot of distractions so you just need to get creative and do what you do best.....take the photos!! Believe in yourself, you can do it!

Hopefully you were fortunate enough to spend time at the showcase yesterday as there is always something for everyone. Whether you are looking for a venue and in the early planning stages of your wedding? Maybe you need a caterer? A photographers? A DJ or band? Or maybe you said yes and are still looking for the perfect dress.....there is a lot to choose from at the showcase. Black Hills Bride offers a great planning tool in their magazine with some of the things you "may" not think about when you first start planning your big day. It is definitely a good resource with a lot of great information. It seemed to be much better attended this year vs last year....was it due to the weather and no being cold and windy? Are there more weddings being planned again post Covid? Were people just looking for some entertainment on a Saturday afternoon after the holidays? Whatever the reason the foot traffic and turn out were incredible, there really wasn't any down time which as a vendor is much appreciated! We personally had the chance to meet SO many wonderful couples and some were in the early planning stages, some appeared very overwhelmed and some knew exactly what they were looking for! Looking for DJ's in the Black Hills - DJ Marek, Colt 45 Entertainment, DJ Jay Williams & Complete Events are some of our "go to" people when a couple asks if we can recommend a good DJ service in the hills. There are many to choose from but our experience with these specific businesses has been wonderful and they are always willing to please, go above in beyond in making sure everyone at the reception has a great time! There were plenty of vendors there that had food samples and were offering wedding catering. Some of our favorites over the years have been: Angel's Catering and Receptions Anything's Possible Catering Cheyenne Crossing Spearfish Canyon Lodge Smokin' Hot Catering They offer a wide variety of menus and great food. All of them seem to have something for everyone and try to accommodate any budget. If you want to learn more about them go to the Black Hills Bride on line version and search for vendors. Bridal gowns, bridesmaids dresses and attire for the groom and groomsmen were also shown yesterday at the two fashion shows. They also offered a black wedding dress which didn't suit my tastes, but it was elegant just not what I would want at a wedding, but to each their own!! There truly is something for everyone and they have a lot of good info posted on Black hills bride as well. If you are in the very early stages of planning you may have been overwhelmed with all of the VENUES that the hills provide. I get overwhelmed and I'm not planning a wedding lol!!! We met one of the owners, Ashley who purchased Silver Spur Ranch in Belle Fourche, SD along with her husband. It was formerly known as the Barn out West. They are working to add vendors to their list and promote their venue. If you haven't seen it then you should take a drive and check it out, they have a lot to offer. Historic Ranch A in Beulah, WY is also a wonderful venue and has an absolutely gorgeous back drop for weddings plus the big lodge and the cabin that can be rented. Some of our other favorite locations are Sylvan Lake, Elkhorn Ridge, Black Hills Receptions, The Barn at Aspen Acres, The Woodlands, Ruby's Garden, Rock Valley Gardens & Spearfish Canyon Lodge. They all have something unique to offer and you won't be disappointed. Now onto the photography piece of things, It's been said that you need to get the venue and photographer right away as we tend to book 9-18 months in advance and some of the venues are further out than that so you don't want to delay once you have a date. When you are looking for a photographer you have a lot to choose from and there were MANY photographers at the showcase yesterday, each having something unique to offer and A LOT of varying price tags for relatively the same package. We were probably the most affordable photographer there and have been for several years, but does that mean we are CHEAP or we don't edit our images, you don't receive all of the edited images, it takes forever to get them back??? ABSOLUTELY NOT, it means that we love what we do and we believe that everyone should be able to have some amazing wedding images no matter what their price range. I still work a FT job and photograph weddings on available weekends. I don't believe that ANYONE should have to take a loan out to hire their wedding photographer and that's why we will always offer affordable photography & videography options. Some offer ALL DAY packages which YES you will pay more for, but it is ALL DAY and that makes for a very busy, full day! I believe that engagement sessions should be included with any complete wedding package as well and you shouldn't need to sell a kidney to get the photographer you want. We also keep our deposit reasonable and for that reason it is non-refundable. If you choose to you pick a different day and we have that day available we will transfer the deposit to a new day. If for some reason you choose not to get married the deposit is still non-refundable. By offering the complimentary engagement photography that is a perfect opportunity for you to get to know us and feel comfortable interacting with us as you will be spending a lot of time with us in your personal space on your wedding day! We are very easy going and love to have a good time! Take time to research your vendors or talk to some of their previous couples. If they don't want to give you any names or phone numbers maybe you should move on because it probably won't be a good fit. Those of us that are comfortable in what we do would love nothing more than to have you speak to former couples and look at their images on line! Word of mouth is sometimes the best form of advertising!!! MAKE SURE YOU LIKE THEIR STYLE before you hire them!! Happy Planning!!

One question that I have been asked numerous times over the years is "how many edited images" will I receive? The truth is it varies between weddings and whether or not you select a six hour package or a micro-wedding for two hours and so many other VARIABLES, because no two weddings are the same. Quite a few photographers will deliver several hundred images or maybe a 1000 or more and in all reality only edit 100 of them, that's what I said 100! This practice is WRONG on so many LEVELS and is not what I am about and it's definitely not why you are paying a professional!!!! You don't want to pay someone that picks out 75-100 images to edit because they "think" those are the best images and then they throw in the rest without doing anything to them, but yet are charging you for editing.....WRONG WRONG WRONG. On average we shoot approximately 150-250 images per hour. Is that set in stone? NO, it's not and it can't be because every wedding is unique and many factors have to be taken into consideration. For example, some families just have "natural eye closers" which make it difficult to find a shot of the bridal party or parents where everyone has their eyes open! FOR THIS REASON ALONE I will often shoot the "group" photos in a rapid succession so that it may be number 5 or 6 of the sequence, but we will get one that is golden! Editing an image means getting rid of face blemishes if someone woke up with a giant pimple the day of the wedding, or you have a teenager in the bridal party that can't control their hormones and had a severe acne break out....I will do my best to get rid of blemishes. One thing I can't control is the wind, so if hair is blowing into someone's face we will often times try to reposition you so that the hair stays out of the face! We have had weddings where we shot 2000 images, but in rapid succession that means that there were several of the exact same pose so I choose the "best" of the edited images like the one where the bride/groom look primo and then take a look at the others in the photo, after all the wedding couple are the ones paying for the photos so they need to look great! We've also shot weddings where the background is challenging and there are giant power lines visible. I will do my best to get rid of those, or street signs that detract from the image. I try to remove things that you may miss initially when you look at images, but in the long run they would bother you like they do me! I can't make promises as "some" things are not able to be edited out of the image. If a photographer tells you they edit "every" image, they are either very new to the game or have too much time on their hands! Color correction is something that we do routinely and slight cropping or straightening of an image, but typically it doesn't go beyond that for most images. There are the cream of the crop shots that we go above and beyond to make them exactly what the couple wants. If you have a very short ceremony and then a reception with a dance, keep in mind there are only SO MANY SHOTS of a drunk "Uncle Eddy" that we can take..... If you have an "idea" of how many images you think you should receive with your selected package, be honest with your photographer so that everyone is on the same page going in and there aren't any grey areas where someone is upset. We are PHOTOGRAPHERS not PSYCHICS and we can't read your mind. In all reality the package price for "my" photography allows more for editing images than the actual wedding day normally because it's a delicate balance. Our contract includes a list of photographs and we ask you to choose the "must have images" and then make secondary choices on those that you would like to have if we have time. I do not put a specific number of images in the contract as it's all based on individual weddings, and some are large with large families which will naturally result in more images but I do NOT want to give you 10 images of the SAME POSE and no visible changes because that is not what you paid for. Some ceremonies are more intimate and a handful of guests, so there would be slightly less than a HUGE wedding, which hopefully makes sense. Be up front with your photographer so that everyone is on the same page and things will run a lot smoother when both sides know the expectations!

Congratulations, you popped the question and now you're engaged!!! Photographers have so many different styles and no two are the same, so here are some questions to consider when you are booking the person that will spend the most time with you on your wedding day, and be all "up in your business", invading your "personal space", and capturing lasting memories. Do you have an assistant? Having one or two extra photographers is always welcome as you can capture different angles and make sure that nothing gets missed. But what about needing a safety pin, hair spray, a lint brush, hairspray or someone to hold a filter to block out sunlight.....do you have this person who is able to help? We normally have three of us at every wedding so that two can be photographing and the other will help with some images, but is there as a "runner" to get things, or find people, etc. 2. Weather.....the weather in the Black Hills can change rapidly, are your photographers equipped to handle it? Snow or rain can leave some photographers baffled in how they handle things, and if they are even able to get the shots that you requested. We have umbrellas for the bridal party, as well as covers for our equipment and are usually checking the weather several times a day prior to your ceremony just so that we are prepared. 3. Do you have extra equipment if something happens and a camera or lens is rendered inoperable? We do have extra cameras and lenses so that if something happens during the day, or just prior to your big day we won't be up a creek without a paddle so to speak. 4. Is your photographer able to take control? Don't be afraid to ask this question as there are plenty of issues that will come up during the day and if the photographer isn't able to take control and move on, it can be sheer disaster. I have only had to gently nudge one lady out of the way at a wedding as she stood up right in the front of me with her cell phone when I needed to get the couple cutting the cake. Turns out it was the groom's aunt and she had been pushy her entire life so the couple thought it was quite humorous when I stepped in front of her and said I'm getting paid to get this shot! I have been a crisis negotiator for 25 years in my FT job and can resolve almost any conflict that arises so you are in good hands. 5. How long will it be for me to see all of my edited images? I cringe when I hear that people who were married 5-6 months ago still do not have their images. Your photographer needs to be up front with you and let you know how long they normally take to edit images and get them back to you. We typically have them ready within 4 weeks. During peak wedding season it may be closer to 6 weeks before you receive them, but being up front with the couple tends to reduce unnecessary stress for ALL involved! You will get your sneak peek, typically somewhere between 12-15 images, within 24 hours of your wedding ceremony.

Whenever possible we go with natural lighting as it provides for some amazing images. There is normally plenty of natural lighting at an outdoor ceremony but it can get tricky when we move inside for the reception and dance! Once inside a building there are still opportunities for natural lighting that the windows provide but what happens when the sun goes down? Is your photographer prepared for tungsten or fluorescent lighting? What about no light at all? Did you tell them before your wedding day that you wanted specific shots after dark or at sunset? Did you tell them there would be limited lighting on the dance floor.....as in "very dim" or completely dark? No two weddings are the same and no two will have the same lighting situations so be thorough in what you ask them to do. Natural light - provides for the best images of rings, portraits plus all kinds of close up photographs and there should be plenty of it available. Whether you have an outdoor ceremony or indoor there should be "some" natural light, but some of the older churches can provide lighting issues for some photographers if they are not prepared. If I know I will be shooting in a church I personally like to "SEE" the church prior to the wedding day so that we bring the right equipment and won't be caught off guard.  Artificial lighting - in my opinion, this should be saved for the dance floor and other dark shots if Studio strobes (ambient lighting) - sometimes using the ambient lighting with artificial lighting will give the effect you are looking for and make for beautiful images. Speed lights and strobes make for some amazing sunset shots, but again your photographer needs to be in the loop on what you are thinking and in that same requirement if they are unable to accommodate what you are asking they will probably recommend you to another photographer who will better suit your needs. We normally travel with on-camera lights, but adding in mounted lights, umbrellas, and extension cords would be something that we need to bring if the bride and groom are looking for something special on their big day. Nothing will stop a photographer dead in their tracks faster than walking into a church or reception venue and realizing they DO NOT HAVE THE PROPER EQUIPMENT!!! So to avoid confusion or your photographer having the deer in the headlight look be open and honest with them so they are fully prepared. A reception is definitely the most difficult aspect of the wedding to capture as there are more lighting obstacles. Make sure your PHOTOGRAPHER IS PREPARED! NO PHOTOGRAPHER wants to delivery images that appear "yellow" or insufficiently lit to their couples all because they had no idea what was going to happen. Be open and honest with your photographer and your day will be beyond your wildest expectations!!! This photo of Micah & Katie was shot as the sun was setting but the natural lighting was spectacular!

So you booked a session but you aren't sure what to wear. I always tell people to take into account the location and weather that is forecast for your shoot. If it's 100 degrees and you are doing some branding shots you probably don't want to wear a wool blazer or you will appear sweaty in the images. Stripes.....I have met "very few" people that can actually pull off a look wearing stripes, so be very careful if you choose to go this route. I am reminded by one of my siblings about the "pants" that my mom made them wear growing up which had stripes, it definitely is an acquired taste! Whether it's an engagement session, senior or branding session most people typically have a couple of outfits they would like to use. It's always ok to bring extra outfits in case the background setting is not complimentary of something you thought you would wear. I have had clients bring 5-6 outfits with the intent of only using a couple of them. In my experience couples doing their engagement photos tend to bring a dressy outfit and then a more casual one just to mix it up a bit. Senior photo sessions if you have something you want to incorporate in your photos please bring it with you, unless it's a horse or something and then hopefully I am coming to you for the session. For example if you were active in a sport, you might bring a letter jacket, or a volleyball, a football, baseball jersey, etc. If you were a marching band member your instrument may be appropriate. I typically don't recommend wearing white but some clients have their heart set on it so we will have a conversation prior to the session so that expectations are met on all sides.