My calendar tells me that May will soon be saying hello to June, and that means more beautiful weddings and happy moments to capture. This post is about Time Lapse and the option to add moving pictures to your wish list, if your budget cannot afford a videographer.  A time lapse video offers you a little more than photos from your wedding day.  What is time lapse?   Time-lapse photography is a cinematography technique whereby the frequency at which film frames are captured (aka the frame rate) is much lower that that which will be used to play the sequence back.  When you replay this sequence at normal speed, time appears to be moving faster and lapsing.  Put simply: We are manipulating time. Objects and events that would normally take minutes, days, hours, or months can be viewed to completion in seconds having been speeded up by factors of tens to millions.

This Time Lapse from Jamie and Brad's wedding at the Reach Resort is a result of 300 images 5 seconds apart, stitched together. 

Jamie and Brad were married on May 2nd on a beautiful, sunny day.  Their wedding was relaxed and oh so lovely.
I adored Jamie's dress!  I love to capture brides veils and although she did not have one, everything she wore on her wedding day fit perfectly together.  Jamie's bridesmaids wore matching robes that added a great floral pattern and nice color to our photos.  Jamie had a surprise for Brad in the form of a little flask with their last name engraved on it attached to her garter.  Brad sent Jamie a sweet love note before the ceremony.  The three darling flower girls were just the cutest as they walked down the isle.  It was an honor to be a part of  their special day.

Our fine art wedding albums are designed to tell the story of your wedding day.  They take your wedding memories off of your computer and into your life.  A beautifully crafted album will last forever, as an heirloom to be shared with your family and friends.  I love to lay out the design using the most memorable and evoking images from your special day, and present them in an editorial-style layout.  The pages are thick and there is a luxurious and tactile experience with our wedding albums. Your wedding album will last a lifetime compare to a digital files. 

We also offer duplicate albums for family or close friends that would like their own copy of your wedding album.  

• 8x10"   hard cover, lays flat, luster finish delivered in special storage box 
  
• 10x12.5"   hard cover, professional luster finish, lays flat, thick pages, storage box

Getting Ready
Decide in advance if you want a quiet morning for your getting ready or if you prefer a room full of people around you. Every situation provides a very different energy.
When I show up first I'll photograph little set ups as a ring shots, bouquet, your wedding gown, stationary and special little items. Having them ready always helps. 

Hair and make up
To organize the program for your wedding day, ask your hairdresser and makeup artist an estimated time for their work and add at least 30 minutes as a buffer.

Ceremonies in church
Before you book your church make sure it is allowed to take pictures and if there are any other restrictions.

Outdoor ceremonies
Usually the best time for an outdoor ceremony is 2 hours before sunset, when the sunlight falls more evenly on skin tones (no harsh shadows) and so both the bride and groom are exposed to light equally.

Creative portraits
One of the most important moments of your wedding day are the creative portraits session. Be sure to allow at least 45 minutes/one hour for them. I’ll guide you at all, but it’s important to remember that the portraits require a little patience and, sometimes, an adventurous spirit.

Family Pictures
I always recommend to take pictures of family or groups (parents, grandparents, friends, etc..) immediately after the ceremony. It would be great to have someone next to me to organize the groups as I cannot know all family members. Family portraits should not take more then 30 min. Please count 2-3 min for each portrait. 

Indoor receptions
More lights there are, the better! I love the DJ lights, candles, lamps, etc…

Tent receptions
I like receptions in tents, because the white canvas works really well with the way I use the lights. To make it even better, add some glittering chandeliers or lanterns, and lots of candles on the tables.

Outdoor reception lighting
If you organize a reception in the open air, under the stars, I recommend you to add extra lighting, as strands of lights that shine and candles in jars. The additional lighting will help to ‘warm up’ your photos and create more dynamic. Otherwise, you will have a completely black background unless the receipt does not take place during the day.

No other camera operators at the wedding
This is a very important thing at your wedding. Guests flash or someone stepping into the isle during ceremony will affect your wedding pictures.
The best way to approach the situation is to have either "Unplugged Wedding" ( guests leave their camera and phones behind and enjoy those special moments with you completely ). Second - The officiant could inform the guests before your ceremony starts, that there is absolutely no use of DSLR cameras/flash and staying in their seats during ceremony.


The unexpected
Let your wedding day be as simple as it is. Do not let yourself be influenced by unforeseen events. Keep an open mind, be spontaneous, that’s the only way to make your wedding an unique event.

I love when brides have ideas, questions, and plans for their wedding photography.  This is an opportunity to work artistically together to create something beautiful and very personal for your wedding day.  

The following are some answers to frequently asked questions from Brides:

What are your prices?
Please inquire on my web site and fill out the contact form about your wedding.
I will send you my digital wedding guide with prices, packages and more information. 

Why are your prices not on your site?
We want to hear from you, and learn more about your wedding ideas and details.  So don't be shy, send us an email.

What is your style?
If  I described my style I would say it is unique style that is deeply rooted in wedding photojournalism, while influenced by fine-art and fashion photography. I love creative lighting, unique perspectives, angles and artistic post production refining to bring out our clients personalities and beauty while telling their wedding story. I pride myself on not just being a photographer, but rather artist creating unique and expressive imagery. 

Do you work internationally?
I am big fan of destination weddings and will happily travel to your beautiful wedding anywhere in the world. No place is too far. 

With travel, how can I feel comfortable that you will arrive on time?
For destination weddings, I fly at least 48 hours in advance. This allows enough time for me to scout the location and have a buffer if there are travel delays. 

How many photos will I get?
You will get all the photos from your wedding.  I can't tell you the exact number of pictures because the number varies based on length of the wedding, size of the party, and many other factors.  Usually it is from 50-60 images per 1 hour of shooting, of the highest quality after editing, that will be brimming with emotion and narrative. Usually the size of each photo is around 4Mb. Every wedding has a different feel, and that means you might get some additional images in black and white. 

Will you take also my family portraits?
Yes, of course. Often a wedding is the only time where all the family members will be in the same place at the same time, and I think its important to document that. However, I usually try not to spend more than 25-30 minutes for family pictures and maybe a large group shot right after the ceremony. Having a list ready who do you like to have a photos with always help speed up everything. 


How far in advance do I need to book?
I recommend booking the photographer right after the venue. In my experience, couples book with me 6 months to 1 year in advance. Every wedding is booked on a first come, first serve basis and receives this high caliber of work that I'm constantly aiming for. 

What is your background in photography?
I studied art/painting in the Art Institute in the Czech Republic and because my dad was a photographer 
I was fascinated with photography from an early age.  As far back as I can remember, I used to shoot and develop film with my father in a dark room he had in our home.  I have loved photography ever since, and have shot over 200 weddings in past 6 years. On my website, the galleries are a small selection of images to showcase some of the weddings I have shot, my style and locations.  

Can I provide you with images that I like for my own wedding?
Yes.  If you see a wedding photo that you love, or would like to recreate,  I would be more than  happy to do so.  Providing photos, ideas, or a Pinterest board definitely helps me to see your style.

Do you have insurance?
Yes. Many venues require to have Liability Insurance. 

What type of cameras do you shoot on and do you have a backup gear?
Yes. I always have multiple camera bodies, a number of lenses, flashes and more memory cards that I need at all weddings and everything is updated with new firmware. 
Having an assistant at every wedding help me speed up the formal portraits and staged shots of your wedding essentials and other important things.  All of my assistants are working with me on numerous projects and they are well trained and ready to solve any unexpected situations as well. 

How long until we will get our photos?   
You will get your photos edited approximately 5-8 weeks after your wedding.  The delivery date of your photos depends on the amount of images that need to be edited, and if you have a package that includes a fine art wedding album, the timeline can get extended up to two- three weeks more.  

Can I get my photos sooner?
Yes. There is a charge for expedited process. 

Do you touch up all the images in our image download?
 Yes we do. Every image we deliver is post produced with our unique style of basic post production. This involves color correction, exposure adjustment, selective black and white processing, clarity adjustments, tone-mapping, and other corrections. Many photographers will not post produce any, or will only post produce “select” images from your wedding. This means that you may have pictures that are too dark, have strange skin tones, or other common photography flaws.


Can I ask for an advance editing of my photos? 
Yes. I am able to correct and edit your photos further to your liking. I charge 25$ per photo, for 10 or more images I charge 20$ per photo. Ask for more info for a advance post production. ( anything that requires extensive, custom work in Photoshop such as removing entire objects from the scene, changing the size and shape of body parts or other objects in the scene, adding objects to a scene, and other custom work ) 

Do you offer 1hr wedding coverage?
No. My smallest package is a 3 hr minimum to create story like images from your amazing day, and is good for small weddings only.  I'm a wedding story teller and like to take special care of your day and capture from your Getting Ready to the happy dance with your Grandma.  I'll be very happy to suggest some other local photographers for a short wedding coverage. My next package is up to 6hrs of coverage. When  I travel to destination weddings  I offer whole day coverage or more.  Details and options provided after your inquiry. 

Is there an additional fee if we pay via credit card?
Yes. The retail adjustment fee for all credit card transactions is 4% of the total package price.

What else do you offer?
I specialize in underwater photography and could create amazing images for you as a wall art, albums, or special Save the Date invitations.   We also offer engagement sessions, Trash the Dress, and one on one photography mentoring.   I'm also excited to offer Honeymoon Photography.  I will capture all of the fun and excitement of your honeymoon adventure, and the romance you share during your destination visit anywhere in the world. 

Do you offer albums as well? 
I most certainly do, and they are just beautiful!  Please check my blog "wedding albums " about fine art wedding 
albums I'm providing. 


How can we book?
Easy. A deposit and WBR contract  are required to save your date. I can’t hold any dates without those two things.


If you have any more questions I am happy to answer them, please contact me here 

Ask a lot of questions and keep an open dialogue with your wedding photographer. I believe your relationship with your wedding photographer should be one of open communication and ideas.  Research and be sure to choose a photographer you feel best understands your vision, and is easy to bounce ideas off of. Every photographer is different, so when you look through portfolios, pay attention to these items to make sure you hire the best on  for you. Along with your relationship and communication with the photographer, pay attention to details, lighting, their style, and editing. My clients appreciate my calming, non-intrusive, and helpful presence, along with expertise in tying a great double knot. 

You have plenty of ideas for your big day. Maybe you have something in mind for the way your wedding decor is photographed, or maybe you have come across some wedding photographs that your wondering will be possible to re-create. Compile these ideas to share with your photographer long before the wedding date. A well prepared bride and groom help a photographer produce the images they are looking for. Research wedding photo ideas, detail and decor photos, and group shot ideas. It is a great pleasure to work together to create images that are are artistic and that you will love for years."

The sunset photo is is the perfect backdrop for your tropical keys wedding. The sun moves quickly during a wedding day and It is important we move quickly as there is only a short window of time from sunset until it is dark. Check the sunset times and plan to have your wedding ceremony about an hour before the sun goes down.  This will give us enough time to set up and capture those quintessential moments. 

Let's start here, you're not paying for the actual photograph ; you're paying for time, gear and expertise.

Most of the people  having this question in mind, think it's just about spending few hours and pressing few buttons. But that's far from the reality. The work which you see as a couple of hours assignment, is stretched far beyond that.
Let's break down factor involved which makes professional photography expensive.

1. Time 
You might see it as a couple of hour assignment. But what you may ignore is the Traveling time to reach the location, the set up time, time spent talking to the clients at venue, time spent in negotiations before the shoot, the actual shoot, transferring and backing up the data, post processing, reviewing with clients,  delivering the photos, designing album or scheduling a pick up. And we are not even going into time spent building relationship with client, marketing and office hours. Post processing itself may take over couple of days or many depending upon the number of photographs. Especially in case of wedding Photographers. There are easily 900 wedding photos to be selected from and downsize to 500-600 that client will receive.

2. Gear
Professional photographers don’t compromise with the quality of their gear. They buy professional equipment. They spend thousands and thousands and thousands of dollars getting multiple camera bodies, the finest lenses, flash equipment for every situation, tripods, light stands, backdrops, props, carrying and storage cases. Not only this, they buy professional licenses for software and different cloud back-up storage solutions, insurance and many other things.

3. Premium Services
Pro Photographers join communities to further learn and explore new dimensions. They have to pay for their membership to different premium photography communities. They pay for a premium account on photography services like Flickr, 500px and others. They pay for maintenance of website. They even need consultation with lawyer sometimes. Premium services may also include office and studio rent, electricity and phone bills etc.

4. Compromise
Professional Photographers don’t compromise. They will give you the best they can. They don’t back off from tough assignments. They would travel to any possible location and will shoot to the best of their ability. They give you their valuable time. They don’t run for multiple assignments within a day. They would rather do one quality assignment.

5. Technology
Pro Photographers keep themselves and their gears up to date with the rapidly evolving technology. They find things that perfectly match their clients taste. Their equipment are not of a hobbyist. They will be using the best technology available.

6. Experience
Experience is the one thing that may beat everything. And the Professionals are vastly experienced. They can advice you over a number of thing which you would not be able to decide. They know whats right and what could go wrong.

7. Uniqueness & Quality
Professionals have their unique style yet every shoot could look different. They know how to infuse freshness. The quality of photos are supreme.

8. Returns
The truth is that you get what you pay for. You will get photographs worth the money involved. And you know that there are no second chances.

9. Assistant and Help
They may have a small team working with them either on location or back in studio. The Photographer pays them for their work from his income.

There are several ways you can cut expenses when planning your wedding. For instance, booking your wedding on a weekday instead of a weekend may be a negotiating  point with vendors.  Ask about rate changes for special holidays or discounts for off days and weekdays. 

Hope this post was at least little helpful to explain all the cost and next time if you think a Photographer is charging more, do consider the above points. 

Wedding photos are meant to last the test of time.  Classic beauty and taste are always in style, while experimentation into newer editing techniques and effects may look dated in the very near future.  Your wedding day is meant to last as a beautiful memory for years to come.  Artistic editing and the added creativity of your photographer, in the right amount, lends to a breathtaking and diverse wedding album that you will always cherish and be proud of.  

I'm a firm believer in trying to get it as best you can in camera but post processing is a big part of finishing images. I always say is 50% shooting and 
50% editing. That special care you put into your images. I like to focus on Color Correction, Sharpening, and Light & Shadow with subtle refinements, basically lead the viewe'rs eye where I want it to go . The images will look natural and elegant, and even with many changes, the photo edits will be hard to detect. Editing images takes time and it's included in your Packages.  I love details and even a minor thing when the photographs are enlarged could mean a lot when printed.  Every image that my clients receive, is hand edited.

There are times when additional editing is required to create the perfect photos.  Close ups on the ceremony, faces of the bride and groom may require touches to blemishes or imperfections.  When you are dealing with hundreds of photos, this task can be formidable, but the reward of creating a wedding gallery that flawlessly captures your wedding day is my goal. 

Great editing is as important as the original image capture.  So much can be altered or added to the photograph.  Artistic editing with great care and time will take your wedding photos to a whole new level.  A beautiful wedding requires the skill full and experienced hand to create spectacular and timeless photographs. 

Every photographer is different. When you look through portfolios, pay attention to the details, lighting, style and how they treat the editing of their photographs. 

Often times the beach, water, plants, or other landscape details need to be cleaned up, lightened up, and touched up.