Category Archives: Arts & Entertainment

Wedding Photography Careers

14 Apr

A Career in Wedding Photography

No matter what the economic climate at any given time, one industry that always seems to do well is the wedding industry, including wedding photography. If you love taking pictures and have proven to have a special talent for it, you may want to consider monetizing your talent by taking pictures for couples who are getting married. Whether as a part-time hobby or a full-time career, this can prove to be interesting, challenging, and lucrative.

Is it For You?

There are certain things to think about if you’re considering a career in wedding photography. First of all, do you really have the talent? Though it’s true that almost anyone from the age of about three on up can take a picture, only some people have the talent to take truly good pictures that best translate moments and feelings. And when it comes to a specialty like taking pictures of a marriage ceremony, it can get even trickier. You need to take many staged pictures, while still capturing the feeling and excitement of the event. It’s more of a challenge than some people think, so it’s worth some careful consideration.

Where and How to Learn

If you’ve decided that wedding photography is something that you’d like to get into, your next step is to learn the particulars of this field. Even if you are already an accomplished photographer in other areas, taking a class on this particular venue would probably be beneficial for you. Specialized photo classes are often offered through your community, or by some colleges. There are books on the subject, as well as instructional videos. And of course, one of the best ways to learn is by watching and asking questions of someone who is already established in the field. Offering free assistance to a good wedding photographer and then watching carefully and asking questions can be an effective educational experience.

Getting the Jobs

If you feel you’re ready, your next step is to get wedding photography jobs. Spread the word among friends and family, take out ads in the newspaper, and create your own business website and market it. Develop any unique style that you have when it comes to this field; anything that can set you apart and get people talking. In other words, brand your name and your style, and eventually you won’t have to go out looking for clients, they’ll be looking for you.

Wedding photography can be a lucrative career, and if you are creative and enjoy the challenge, you can make a name for yourself in the industry. With the right attitude, you can keep this career exciting and rewarding.

Running Wedding Photography business

14 Apr

Running A Wedding Photography: Planning Your Business

One of the most lucrative businesses, when it comes to having a talent for taking good pictures, is wedding photography. One reason for this is because, despite how the overall economy is doing, people simply aren’t going to stop getting married. And people aren’t going to stop wanting photos of the events. Here is what you will need to keep in mind:

Planning Your Business:

The first thing that you want to think about when you’ve made the decision to run a wedding photography business is how big you want the organization to be. Do you always want to work completely on your own, or do you eventually want to hire help? Will you be working out of your home, or would you prefer an outside office? These decisions will affect the direction that you will go with things such as advertising, incorporating or scheduling work hours. But these are something that must be taken care of in order to avoid any major confusion late on as the work progresses.

Sit down with pen and paper and start formulating a plan. Whatever you decide at the beginning won’t have to be set in stone; you can always make changes in your goals as things progress. Having a business plan outline to follow at first, however, can help you stay on track.

Advertising:

For any business to be successful, including wedding photography, advertising is an absolute must. That being said, there are several different ways to advertise, and what you choose will depend on a lot of factors. If you will be running a business from an office and will have one or more people working for you, then advertising in the newspaper, yellow pages, and even through direct mailing is a good idea. If you will be running this part time from your home, and it will only be you, then you might want to advertise through word of mouth and strategically placed flyers. No matter what other methods you use, though, it is always a good idea to have a work website.

Hiring and Managing Employees:

If you’re going to be hiring people to work for you, you want to make sure that you study all of your state and federal tax laws pertaining to having employees. You also want to develop a guideline for hiring requirements, and a guideline for your employees to follow as well. It helps everyone when you clearly specify what is expected of everyone, and what they should expect from you.

Budgets for a Bride

14 Apr

Breaking Down Budgets for a Bride

As the nation continues to recover from recent economic stress, some areas of spending are on the rise. Many Americans are enjoying more secure and stable jobs with better income and long-term financial stability. In turn, experts say wedding expenses and spending headed back up. 2008 saw record levels for bridal budgets with many couples reportedly spending almost $30,000 on average.

However, some frugal couples are bucking the trend and prefer to tie the knot over more modest measures. There are a number of things couples can do and areas where shortcuts to spending can be created in order to ensure the overall cost remains low. Two main budget breakers include:

1) The Venue: Consider booking your wedding during an off-season or booking far in advance in order to secure a better rate. A lot of couples are opting to host their own wedding at a venue that means a lot to the family (ie: a family farm) or is conveniently located for travel. If you spend a little more on decorations or recruit friends to help, any venue can help make the day memorable.
2) The Food: Experts say you should expect to spend one third of your budget on food. This expense may be included in the venue cost, but by keeping them separate, there is money to be saved. Don’t forget to consider the cost of the cake!

In the end, brides that choose to have a modest budget under $10,000 will have to make some important decisions regarding where to cut costs. In many cases, the biggest splurge will be on the dress, but even in those cases, some women are choosing to wear modified family heirlooms.

Wedding Photographer Blunders

14 Apr

Wedding Photographer Blunders

It’s a day every woman has dreamed about since she was a little girl. For many couples, the most important part of their wedding is preserving the memories for a lifetime and beyond. Choosing the photographer to capture your big day in photos is often as important as choosing the flavor of wedding cake. Whoever you decide to trust with this tremendous responsibility, let’s hope they avoid these common and catastrophic photography blunders.

1) Don’t dance: Great wedding photographers should be neither seen nor heard. Don’t distract from the guests and let them have center stage. Simply stay in the background and make sure Aunt Marie’s Macarena is suitably caught on film.

2) Don’t share technical problems: It doesn’t matter if this is your third wedding or your three hundredth wedding, take care of minor and major malfunctions quickly and quietly. Letting the bride (or, heaven forbid, mother of the bride) know there is a glitch will only add to the stress and worry of what can already be a stressful day. Just fix it as soon as possible.

3) Don’t relax too much: This includes drinking alcohol or taking off your shoes. You are getting paid to do what you love to do. Don’t let the quality of the photos dramatically slide downhill as the evening goes on. Make sure you wear shoes that can keep you on your feet all day and night.

Some people believe the person entrusted with documenting this once-in-a-lifetime event has a job as important as the figurehead performing the nuptials. Take the time to research a great photographer that you know will see things the way you do.

Tagged With: professional wedding photography

13 Apr

Running A Wedding Photography: Planning Your Business

One of the most lucrative businesses, when it comes to having a talent for taking good pictures, is wedding photography. One reason for this is because, despite how the overall economy is doing, people simply aren’t going to stop getting married. And people aren’t going to stop wanting photos of the events. Here is what …

Continue reading »

A Career in Wedding Photography

No matter what the economic climate at any given time, one industry that always seems to do well is the wedding industry, including wedding photography. If you love taking pictures and have proven to have a special talent for it, you may want to consider monetizing your talent by taking pictures for couples who are …

Continue reading »

Celebrities At Mardi Gras 2012

12 Apr

Celebrities At Mardi Gras 2012

It’€™s going to be a star-studded Mardi Gras this year. The city is no stranger to celebrities of all types from movie stars to sports stars. This year a couple of the parades feature quite a few notables to look out for.

The Krewe of Orpheus is going to feature two icons of the 80s at their king and queen. Poison frontman Bret Michaels and pop star Cyndi Lauper will serve as this year’€™s King and Queen. The krewe was originally founded by New Orleans-born Harry Connick Jr. Other celebrities invited to roll with the krewe this year include award winning actress Hillary Swank and Mariska Hargitay from Law & Order.

The Honorary Muse for this year’€™s Muses parade will be Hollywood actress Patricia Clarkson, a New Orleans native as well.

In the most opulent parade, The Krewe of Endymion will be featuring quite a few celebrities, too. The Grand Marshall of the parade is Maroon 5, led by their frontman Adam Levine. If a band as Grand Marshall wasn’€™t enough, country starts Big & Rich will also be featured in the parade. Famous newscaster Anderson Cooper will also be riding as a special guest of the krewe.

The biggest celebrity spot, however, is the coveted “King of Bacchus.” This year, the Krewe of Bacchus has chosen actor and comedian Will Ferrell. It should be a great Mardi Gras this year. Here’€™s to catching some beads or receiving a shoe from a celebrity!

Mardi Gras Tips

12 Apr

Mardi Gras Tips

Anytime hundreds of thousands of people all arrive at the same alcohol-fueled party in a city known for loose inhibitions, and signature cocktails, one thing is bound to occur: A good time peppered with accidents and injuries.

If you are one of the merry revelers celebrating the Carnival season in New Orleans, there are basically two rules that apply- Cut loose, but be safe. Because it’s sometimes hard to focus on safety and fun at the same time, these tips provide a foundation to guide you.

PARKING

When parking, avoid leaving anything of value in your vehicle. Lock important things in the trunk. It’s been said that the best place a thief can hide is right out in the open. And with so many people coming and going, it would be easy for a car thief to slip into your vehicle with nobody the wiser. The crowds may not necessarily be a distraction. In fact, they may be an invitation.

Also, make sure you don’t park in front of a fire hydrant or other restricted areas. These areas are generally prohibited because parking there could lead to some public tragedy. Would you want to be the one responsible for a tragic fire because firemen couldn’t reach the fire hydrant?

It may be best just to stay away from driving altogether. Finding a parking spot is very challenging. And if you’ve been drinking, it’s not a good time to drive. New Orleans is known for its public transportation. Take a street car, taxi, or a bus. Its cheaper than a ticket and safer than driving drunk.

PERSONAL SAFETY

Be smart. Large crowds can breed criminal actions such as pick pocketing, purse snatching and more. So don’t carry huge sums of money on your person. Woman should also wear their purses across their torso to ward off would-be purse snatchers.

Also, don’t become distracted by your cell phone. If you lose your friends, you may not ever find them.
Furthermore, stay in well lit areas where other people are around.

Never leave drinks unattended either. This opens up the possibility of being drugged. Speaking of drinking, know your limits. Getting sick will do nothing but ruin the experience. There is magic in the air during Mardi Gras. Don’t miss it by blacking out.

CHILD SAFETY

If you have a child, make sure they know their name, address, relevant phone numbers and more. It’s easy to get separated in the crowds. The worst thing that can occur is losing a child. Also, write down relevant information and stick in their pockets. This way even if they are lost, it’s more likely you can be reached when the child is found.

It’s also important to introduce your child to a nearby officer so they become familiar with the local police’s uniform. This also gives your child a resource to turn to in the event of an emergency.

Of course, never leave children alone. Keep a close watch out to who they are talking to, where they are, and more

Follow these suggestions and Mardi Gras may go off without a hitch for everyone.

Mardi Gras: Krewe of Endymion

12 Apr

Mardi Gras: Krewe of Endymion

When one thinks of Mardi Gras in New Orleans, images of cocktails, smiles, beads, parades and floats enter one’s mind. This year, partiers will no doubt experience the same festivities. However, this is one added bonus: Revelers can take part in history. The Krewe of Endymion will showcase the world’s largest float when the parade rolls Saturday, Feb. 9.

It’s one of the 2013 Mardi Gras’ biggest attractions. Literally. At 365-feet long, the megafloat built to the theme of “Pontchartrain Beach Then and Now,” tells a story of the local beach attraction that most of New Orleanians grew up attending. It’s complete with a lighthouse segment, dedicated to sunbathing at the beach, and will project sounds of a roller coaster and laughing clown. It will also emit smells of popcorn and cotton candy.

The $1.2 million-float is big enough to house 250 riders on 25 float segments. Because the riders add up to 1,000 pounds to the weight of the float, its structure needed to be outfitted with industrial strength material to hold up the weight. Additionally, a specialized heavy-duty tractor was located in order to pull the float. The tractor is capable of pulling 190 tons. A spare tractor will be on hand just in case the first one fails.

One of the biggest concerns of Captain Ed Muniz was navigating the tight turns on city streets as the float snakes through its usual parade route, tossing out unique throws (Beads and trinkets) to throngs of people along the route. Have no fear, Muniz said. With the help of the New Orleans Police Department, the float has already made a dry run with success.

The creators didn’t set out to build the largest float. It’s just that in New Orleans, people seem to always seem to make ordinary tasks bigger and more festive than before. Plus, to capture the true essence of Pontchartrain Beach, the float had to house a roller coaster, Ferris wheel, carousel and gigantic clown head.

Take part in history. Come out and see Endymion roll.

 

Mardi Gras Parade Etiquette

12 Apr

Mardi Gras Parade Etiquette

This year, Mardi Gras season is going to look a little different. With the Super Bowl in town, parade dates have been changed to welcome football fans down to the Big Easy for the big game! There are probably going to be quite a few guests in the city for annual Mardi Gras antics as well. Whether your a native or this is your first carnival experience, it’s good to keep a couple of things in mind.

If you’re heading out to parades Uptown, everyone is going to be staking their spot out on the neutral ground. As tradition goes, you can pitch your plot the night before after everything has been cleared away from the night parades, but plan on getting up early! Those spots are up for grabs for early birds. As long as you’ve got one person minding the space then you’re ready. If you do lose your spot, be cool. Most people, even if they’ve pitched camp in your spot, are willing to share. In fact, sharing is a part of the celebration. Whether your surrounded by neighbours or strangers, chances are someone is going to offer you beer or food. If you accept, it’s good etiquette to share back.

If you don’t know yet you will know soon that there are plenty of hands in the air grabbing for beads, boas, and more! There can be a lot of pushing and shoving and grabbing. It’s important to remember that it’s all in good fun! As New Orleanians say, “Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler!” Let the good times roll. Have fun!

Tagged With: wedding photography

12 Apr

Wedding Photographer Blunders

It’s a day every woman has dreamed about since she was a little girl. For many couples, the most important part of their wedding is preserving the memories for a lifetime and beyond. Choosing the photographer to capture your big day in photos is often as important as choosing the flavor of wedding cake. Whoever …

Continue reading »

Running A Wedding Photography: Planning Your Business

One of the most lucrative businesses, when it comes to having a talent for taking good pictures, is wedding photography. One reason for this is because, despite how the overall economy is doing, people simply aren’t going to stop getting married. And people aren’t going to stop wanting photos of the events. Here is what …

Continue reading »

A Career in Wedding Photography

No matter what the economic climate at any given time, one industry that always seems to do well is the wedding industry, including wedding photography. If you love taking pictures and have proven to have a special talent for it, you may want to consider monetizing your talent by taking pictures for couples who are …

Continue reading »