Hitz Photography

An evening with Fay Sirkis.

Tomorrow night, June 17 at 6 pm we have a special treat for the photographers and image artists in the  South FL area. Fay Sirkis is flying in from New York to present us with a three hour seminar. She will share with us her techniques for transforming photography into art. This is a fantastic opportunity to learn from one the world’s most successful artists. The seminar is specially for the PPGF - Professional Photographers Guild of South Florida. You may not know, but Bill is the president of such association- does that makes me a first lady? :-).

Anyways, I’m so excited. I’ve been a fan of Fay since I started working on my art and I’m truly looking forward to meet her tomorrow for the seminar and for dinner, see if sitting next to her some of her talents rub on me!!! YEY!

If you are a photographer and you’re not a member yet, you’re missing a lot!  go to PPGF and check it out!

Is it OK if my guests bring their own cameras?

Yes, but.

Yes, we don’t mind cameras, not even bigger/better cameras than ours. We don’t get jealous or feel threathened by other people taking photos. We’re nice like that!

But here’s when you, (not us,) need to be clear about when to allow everyone to take pictures. For example, members of your wedding party should not take pictures during the ceremony - that’s a big no-no. Not parents either. It looks, well… not nice. During the formals, if you have enough time to let everyone, thats fine, but be aware that when you’re having a church ceremony in most cases you have somewhere between 10 to 30 min to have all the formals done. You should concentrate on the ones that are going to end up in your album or as presents for your family members. The guests will have plenty of time to take pictures with you at the reception. The other point is that it can be a little stressful and tiring to pose for ten cameras. Not counting that you’re going to spend three times the original amount of time dedicated to the formals. Plus in many cases you’re going to have the well known case of people looking in different directions in all the pictures.
And yes, that’s a little nightmarish for us too.

Other than that, as long as we don’t trip with someone and break our equipment or our backs, anyone can shoot as much as they want!

It’s a different case with other vendors. In general, photography contracts stablish that no other vendors can take pictures of the wedding. Before giving permission to any of your vendors (and that includes cousin Jane doing your flowers) read your contract and ask your photographer. They’re usually O.K. with that if you ask them nicely :-).  Most of the times photographers are happy to share photos with the florists, makeup artist, etc.

As for venues, some of them have rules if they have an exclusive photographer when they are the sole provider for the event. Churches are more flexible now, but some don’t allow flashes, and in very few cases -but they do, believe me!- don’t allow cameras at all but the main photographer’s.

So many photographers, who should you hire?

At a certain point in your preparation you have to pick one. I know, it’s hard when there’s so many options. But if you come to think about it, and you are anything like me, there’s not too many. Wait and see.

Why is it so difficult to choose a photographer? Well, maybe because most people don’t know exactly what they want or don’t know what to look for.If you start off making a list of possible studios, go ahead and find a pattern. What do they have in common? are they modern, semi-photojournalistic, fine art oriented, fashion oriented, design oriented? unconventional? original? what caught your attention from them? do they seem like fun? do they seem creative? experienced? hip? That would give you a rough idea of what you like. Then go see them.
Now here’s where it gets complicated. It’s like Internet dating - sometimes your idea of a person, doesn’t fit the original. If you don’t like what you see, move on, but if you do, then work it out.

In your photographer’s consult, first look for a connection. If your prospect photographer works with assistants, (most do,) it’s  good to meet them too. I presume that if you’re consulting, you have already visited their website, read their bios, seen some of their work and in some cases even their fees. So now is the moment to get personal. Are these people nice? Really? Really, they need to be nice. Of all your vendors, this is the one person that is going to be sharing with you every minute of -guess what? the most important day of your life! Yes! This is when you have to be surrounded by people who’s calm, nice and have good energy. A photographer that feels pushy is going to be pushy. A photographer who dresses sloppy for consult is going to dress sloppy. People in general tend to have major traits that don’t change. Look for those and see if you can spend your special day having this person around. I’ll tell you a secret, photographers are studying you in the same way.

For you the wedding day could be the most fun filled day, but for the artist it’s a work day. He or she has to be attentive to detail - unless he’s 100% photojournalistic, which no one is unless they work at The Herald, wear khakis and don’t retouch, - be able to direct, make you feel confident, and be a catalyst in your moments of stress (read as bridezilla moments,) and definitely not add to your worries. He or she has to make you feel that you don’t have to worry about a thing as far as photography goes.

To tell the truth, we look for the same in our brides. We believe in having a personal connection beyond the signed contract. In this modern, stressful times, we rather surround ourselves with people who have great disposition and energy. But then again, who doesn’t?

Jackie

Bridal Show At The Douglas Entrance

We attended and documented the select Bridal Salon at The Douglas Entrance. Decorations were by Fetes & Events and Mystique Flowers. Here’s a taste of their beautiful work.