Jennifer Lynn Event Photography

Katie | Senior Portraits

2011-09-05T15:43:00.003-05:00

The weather was pretty darn insulting in the morning, but after a nasty front blew through, it turned out to be a gorgeous day for picture taking. Bright blue skies, enough wind to add some life, and temperatures just about right so that the photographer didn't overheat, haha.

We got to explore the beautiful campus of Culver Military Academy, and took full advantage of all the cool landscapes and architecture there. Katie is a stunning young woman, and we had a pretty good time with this session. What an amazing opportunity to work with an intelligent, lovely lady - good luck in your senior year Katie! I hope these pictures help you remember your time at Culver for years to come.

Dan & Rebecca | 7.3.2010

2011-01-16T12:25:00.002-06:00

So, I've been a bit tardy in getting new pictures up from the last half of my 2010 weddings. Keeping up with proof books, albums, DVD's, and orders is a lot of work! Timely progress takes priority with me, so it's only now that I'm having some spare time to play and get some new stuff up!

This was Dan and Rebecca's wedding from this summer. They had a gorgeous day for their ceremony, and Rebecca was a gorgeous bride. They were such a fun couple, and their wedding party cracked me up. I was honored to be part of such a fun, lighthearted group!

Jeff & Tina | 9.24.2010

2010-11-07T10:33:00.003-06:00

Jeff and Tina had an absolutely beautiful day for their wedding. It threatened rain in the morning, and even spit a few drops, but by when it was time for the ceremony, the clouds broke and the beautiful sun peeked through to warm their day. Their setting was beautiful Deep River County Park, but the real fun started after the ceremony.

Tina wanted to do some off the wall shots, so we ventured out to find some cool locations. We found a great park in a subdivision and some nearby railroad tracks where we shot some less than traditional poses. The pictures turned out great and as always it was great to work outside the box and have a little fun.

Congratulations Jeff and Tina - wishing the two of you many years of happiness.

Keneshia & Doug | E-Session

2010-09-08T08:44:00.005-05:00

We had an absolutely PERFECT day shooting Keneshia and Doug's engagement session last weekend in Chicago! We actually had the session scheduled for a few weeks ago, but it was sweltering hot and there was a chance of rain, so we planned for another weekend. That proved to be a GREAT idea, because the weather was just perfect and we had a great time. Chicago is such a beautiful city and has just so much to offer, I'm pretty sure I could go there and shoot all day long.

So, attention 2011 brides! Keneshia and Doug are getting married in the summer, and NOW is the time to get your 2011 weddings booked! Another advantage to that it's highly advantageous for your engagement session. Keneshia and Doug planned early so when the weather wasn't perfect, we just rescheduled for a date when it was! Also, they had their choice of seasons for their engagement pictures, got them done early, and therefore aren't feeling the rush of getting things done in the last month before their big day!

Thanks, guys, this "country mouse" had a great time playing "city mouse" for an evening - a much needed break, and an opportunity to vent some creative energy! Enjoy!

Brad & Rachel | 7.24.2010

2010-09-05T16:51:00.004-05:00

I had a lovely time shooting Brad and Rachel's wedding! Their engagement pictures were a blast - turning out some of my all time favorites, and it was finally time for their big day.

Their entire wedding party was awesome, their families were phenomenal, and the entire day was just perfect. Brad is such a funny guy, bringing smiles and laughter with him any where he goes. Rachel is just stunning, beautiful, smart, and just glowing this day in particular. Their smiles are contagious! Wishing you many more, guys! Enjoy your pictures, and thanks for including me in your celebration!

Mike & Nina | 8.7.2010

2010-08-08T17:30:00.003-05:00

Ok. So I couldn't help it...

Mike and Nina got married YESTERDAY, but we went to Chicago after the luncheon/reception to take some of the most amazing photos to date...

I'll post some of the actual event later, but I couldn't resist getting these up A.S.A.P !!!!

Congratulations to a fantastic couple, on a beautiful day, allowing me to rekindle my love for THIS JOB!

Matt & Michelle | 6.19.2010

2010-07-24T09:23:00.003-05:00

Matt and Michelle had an another absolutely perfect day for their wedding. I've gotten pretty darn lucky this year with weather! The ceremony was beautiful and we got to go to beautiful (reclaimed!) Wicker Park in Munster for pictures afterwards. It was especially cool that we got some after ceremony pics in there because that's where we took their engagement pictures, too. Great idea guys! The entire wedding party was so much fun, and they really added to the "light" feel of the pictures. Again, another great day, another great couple in love, and another beautiful wedding! I love this job! Enjoy some pics of their day... and once again, congratulations guys!

Ryan & Sarah | 6.11.2010

2010-07-15T09:30:00.002-05:00

Congratulations are in order for Ryan and Sarah, who had a beautiful wedding at Wicker Park in Highland! Their day was a beautiful one for their lovely outdoor ceremony at the gazebo. Sarah was stunning and Ryan had to be the luckiest guy on the planet that day to be marrying her. We had a great time taking some fun shots after the ceremony and the reception was a total blast.

Here are a few shots of their day - thanks Ryan and Sarah for bringing me along on your most fabulous day!

Jason & Rachel | 5.15.2010

2010-05-22T11:39:00.005-05:00

Congratulations are in order to Jason and Rachel, married May 15, 2010! They had an absolutely BEAUTIFUL spring day, low 70's and just enough sunshine. I loved their charming outdoor setting and limited guest list. The intimacy of the event was pronounced, and it was a true honor to be part of their day.

Here are a few of my favorites from the day... enjoy!

Courtney | Trash The Dress

2010-05-02T23:27:00.004-05:00

I couldn't stand it. Today's session with Mrs. Courtney Eckhoff was gnawing at my creative bone until the minute I could sit down in front of this computer and get into Bridge and Photoshop. I haven't even really looked at all of the pictures yet, but these 3 were the ones that jumped out at me as being extraordinary. I'm sure I'll discover a few more as I continue editing...

It was a picture perfect day (pardon the pun) for shooting... just on the verge of "will it rain or not" which makes for some wicked cool clouds. And my model was *fabulous* and willing to try everything I could think of. This was my first "trash the dress" session and I was uber-excited to shoot it. I've had ideas brewing for a long time, but just haven't found a bride willing to take the literal "plunge" and do it. I have to say, yes her dress did get dirty, but I don't think we did anything that actually ruined it... as long as she gets it cleaned and taken care of at this point, I don't think there was any permanent damage, which is cool.

So to all of you post and future brides out there looking for a riske, fun, no holds barred session... and some really cool photos to add to your collection... look me up! I'd love to book more of these sessions. Afterall, the whole reason I got into photography was to explore my creative side and get a little crazy every now and then!

Thanks Courtney for rekindling my creative flame, and for being such a fun and willing participant! ENJOY!

Caitlin & Ryan | E-session

2010-04-27T21:14:00.004-05:00

Caitlin and Ryan were so much fun. We had a chilly April day to shoot, but at least there was sunshine and NOT gale force winds, which have been the trend this spring around here. We got to shoot at lovely Deep River County Park, actually where I was with my wedding the weekend prior (pics from that to follow...)

They were such a fun loving couple, and really made the day a lot of fun. I'm looking forward to their wedding planned for this October - a lovely fall wedding! Thanks guys for sharing your Saturday with me!

Earth Day

2010-04-22T08:09:00.002-05:00

Let's take today to live a little cleaner, and make at least one "green" effort as we pass through our day. Think of the little things you can do, and carry those thoughts with you! If we all made one "green" change, then made that a habit and did it every day, think what a difference we could make!

And by the way, no, I didn't take that picture, lol :)

A Rare Look...

2010-04-17T17:02:00.002-05:00

Interestingly, I really hate having my picture taken. However, yesterday the sunset light was tantalizing, and I just couldn't resist taking advantage of it. I had a few minutes before I had to leave to be where I needed to be, so I got out the trusty point and shoot (ha!), set the timer, stuck it on the trunk of the car, and got a pretty cool shot!

Weddings and engagements are in full swing, officially, so check back soon to see some pics from my newest sessions!

Thanks for looking!

Finally, and I Think It's Even Working!

2010-04-03T09:45:00.007-05:00

OK! WELL THEN! Let's just say we had some major "technical difficulties" getting this posted... You Tube didn't like the fact that I had music to my show apparently, but I really didn't want to remove it, because the song is just so fitting...

By the way, the song is "I Saw God Today" by George Strait, if anyone is/was wondering. We'll all have to see how long the link works.

Now to my post. As explained in the video, I made a baby book for my friends Ginnifer and Jason, who had their prayers answered when little Clare became a reality. Ginnifer works everyday to help abused and neglected children, and it devastated me when I learned they were having a hard time having a baby of their own. But through believeing and hoping, they were blessed with the most beautiful little red headed ball of fire... Clare Lucille Jobgen.

I felt I had to use my talent to give them a special gift, something no one else would be giving them. So after two photo sessions and a lot of photoshopping, I came up with this baby album for them - hope you guys love it, and that it serves as a lifelong keepsake to help you remember this joyous occasion!

I realize some of the quotes are hard to read, but unfortunately, I have no control over the quality after it leaves my software :D Rest assured, they were tack sharp in the real product.

The Big Reveal Happens Today!

2010-03-24T00:09:00.002-05:00

Since I know I have so many anxious followers just checking in every hour to see what the big deal that I was so excited about the other day was, today's the big day I get to reveal it!

I wanted to keep it hush hush until its receiver got to see it first... as to not ruin the surprise... so if all goes as planned, and I'm not submerged with getting other stuff done tomorrow night, I'll put on ye ole' blog for all to see!

Tune in in t-24 hours. Yay!

Lindsay & Benjamin | 3.6.2010

2010-03-08T18:11:00.004-06:00

Lindsay and Benjamin were such a fun couple to shoot, allowing me some opportunities I rarely get... the ability to shoot in cool (or for their engagement session, downright cold) weather! Since I was a big giant slacker this winter as it pertained to getting new stuff posted, I've included a few of my favorite shots from their engagement session first, then on to the wedding!

What a great day! It was by far the nicest day of the year so far with bountiful sunshine and those glorious feelings of spring coming upon us. What made it extra special was that Lindsay was baptised at the church she was then married at. The picture of her and her new husband Ben at the cross is significant because she is in pictures as an infant in her baptismal gown at the same cross... how awesome!

I hope you enjoy their pictures as much as I enjoyed shooting their wedding and spending such a glorious day with two very fabulous families! Thanks for making me part of your day!

A Very Exciting Upcoming!

2010-03-05T20:16:00.001-06:00

I wish I could share it now, but I have a project started that I am very very excited about! If I posted about it now, I'd ruin the surprise... stay tuned! Details forthcoming!

Updating....

2010-01-22T19:15:00.001-06:00

I have been bored with my current business card, and wanted to showcase my business by actually printing my business card on photo paper, using a wallet size print. In order to do this, I had to use some photoshop creativity for the design.

Here is what I came up with. Comments? Suggestions? What do you like (or not like) about the design... Tell me what you think!

2010! Game ON!

2010-01-20T13:44:00.003-06:00

Ok, so it's January 20th - available wedding dates for 2010 have just about been filled. I only have a few more spaces available for late summer, fall, or winter weddings. Here's a shout out to all you planners out there! Get your dates booked NOW. To schedule an appointment for a *free* consultation, contact me right away at jen@jenniferlynneventphotography, through my website at http://www.jenniferlynneventphotography.com, or directly at 219-707-6076!

You can also check the latest by becoming a fan on Facebook! CLICK HERE for a link and to join the group!

BIG NEWS!!! WE'VE MOVED!!!

2009-12-29T21:55:00.002-06:00

It was kind of a short notice thing, so a lot of you may not know yet, but I wanted to take this opportunity to notify all *any* of my followers here that Jennifer Lynn Event Photography has a new home!
We've relocated the studio to 6799 W. State Road 110, in Demotte, IN (46310). So, if you're looking for me, that's where I'll be from now on!
The new place has really started to come together and is located conveniently just minutes off of Interstate 65. When spring gets here I hope to put a little sign out front so that we're a little more visible. I've taken tons of pictures since my last post with Jen and Matt (by the way, they're married now - congratulations guys!) and after the dust settles here I hope to update the website with some new and exciting images from my fall '09 weddings as we are only days from 2010! I had some great times with engagement shoots and weddings this fall, so I'm hoping to get some of those exciting pictures up soon! Check back for updates...
I'm pretty sure that just as soon as I get caught up with blogs and websites and album design, the 2010 season will be in full swing.
If you're here visiting, get your 2010 dates booked NOW! I still have some early spring and fall availability, but dates are going fast now that it's official "wedding planning season"!
Hope all of you had a relaxing holiday, and lets ring in 2010 with a bang!

Jen & Matt | E Session

2009-10-11T16:25:00.004-05:00

I just loved shooting Jen and Matt's engagement session. We had a great time! We started off at a nice local garden, and then we moved to a more "urban" feel - well, as urban as downtown Valparaiso gets! I've been missing this type of portrait, as most couples choose one of the many beautiful parklike outdoor venues we have in Northwest Indiana. Jen and Matt were open to suggestion, so I gladly recommended we play a little downtown and we had a great time. Their wedding is going to be held at the beautiful Valparaiso University chapel NEXT WEEKEND! Theirs is my final wedding of the year, and I'm really excited about sending the season out with a BANG! Keep visiting for their wedding pictures. They are sure to be just as beautiful as the love between Jen and Matt!

As a reminder and thinking about wedding photography as we move into the 2010 season - book now! Dates are filling up fast, as I'm already fully booked for several months next year! Reserve your date now to ensure availability!

Rachel & Brad | E Session

2009-09-17T20:27:00.002-05:00

Rachel and Brad were such a fun couple. Their engagement session was so typical... Rachel was a little nervous in front of the camera, Brad was playing along. The first few shots I took showed their nervousness, but as the session progressed, they became more and more comfortable and their pictures turned out GREAT! We had BEAUTIFUL weather for the session, and the sunset cooperated at the end to make for some lovely beach pictures. I am really looking forward to their wedding in 2010!

This is the classic example of why an engagement session can be so helpful. I get a feel for them and what they like, what they're comfortable with. They get a feel for me and get an idea of what to expect on their wedding day. Also, it gives us an opportunity to get rid of the "picture jitters" so that the "picture jitters" don't combine with the "I'm getting married today jitters" - and we can have a great time from the first shot on the big day.

Such a great couple. So in love and so much fun to shoot. Thanks Rachel and Brad for such a great session! Enjoy!!!

New Stuff Is Cool | Pelican 1624

2009-08-28T21:58:00.004-05:00

I've REALLY been needing a GOOD travel case for my equipment. I've always known the "Pelican" brand to be the best, but if you've ever gone to their website, the number of models, variations, and options is well, a bit overwhelming. So tonight, at the point I've just had it with my current setup, I laid out all of my equipment and figured out which one of these puppies I needed. I settled on the 1624 model - which is a 1620 with a cool padded divider option. I'll probably add the lid organizer at some point, but for now, I'll see how my stuff fits in this one. I imagine with its bohemeth size (21x16x12) and its almost 30# weight, I should have plenty of room. Thank goodness it's on rollers, that's all I have to say about that!

Can't wait to get it and get everything organized just right to streamline the whole process even more! Now I'll spend less time organizing and more time getting those once in a lifetime shots! Hooray!

Cute Kids

2009-08-22T09:58:00.004-05:00

I always relish the opportunity to shoot kids and animals. They're such a change from what I'm used to working with... cooperative adults (well, mostly) who can follow directions. Animals are a whole different thing - and most the time kids aren't far behind. In fact, I think I've shot a few animals who probably understood English better than some kids... anyway. They're always so much fun to work with and it's so rewarding to get that perfect shot that captures their true personality. Their eyes show so much hope and zest for life - things that seem to get dull as we age.

Editing is always fun. I usually end up with a plethora of shots that are nothing but streaks of action, tear filled eyes, struggling to get away from mom to get on to that next adventure. Most parents probably have multiple memory cards full of pictures of their kids at birthday parties, their first ride at the fair, eating ice cream with grandpa... but what I live for, what keeps me going, is that ONE shot that brings a tear to the eye of the parent the first time they see it. That ONE shot that the parents tell me is so "them". I love being able to capture these moments and to preserve them forever on paper. I hope you enjoy these shots of my most recent one-year-old and his brothers. I know I loved taking them!

Exciting News!!

2009-08-05T22:59:00.004-05:00

In addition to being a member in good standing of PPA - Professional Photographers of America, the studio is now a new member of WPPI - Wedding and Portrait Photographers International! This is an exciting new professional network for me and I am looking forward to becoming a part of yet another professional photography resource! Here's a link to PPA and WPPI if you're interested to see what these great professional organizations are about...

Sarah & Tim | E Session

2009-07-24T23:36:00.000-05:00

Sarah and Tim have a wedding planned for this fall. We finally got a time scheduled for their engagement pictures and we had a blast. They were an incredibly fun and sincere couple to work with, and I'd have to say Tim gets the prize for cooperation! He was awesome.

We shot for quite a while and got to go to a few different places, which really helped mix things up. Sarah is so cute and petite, and Tim is a big guy, so it was a real challenge for me (creatively speaking) to put them together in ways that didn't make her look 10x smaller than him.

Sarah and Tim, if you see this, you guys were great and really demonstrated your admiration for each other this day. I'm positive your wedding day will be just as beautiful, and that we'll have a great time working together to capture all the emotion and excitement of your fast approaching day! Enjoy!

Ginnifer | Maternity Session

2009-07-11T17:45:00.005-05:00

I had the opportunity to shoot my very first maternity session with a great friend, Ginnifer, and her husband, Jason. I couldn't believe it when we looked at the time at the end of the session but we'd shot for almost 2 hours! I guess time flies when you're having fun! I am so excited for the day the baby is born and I hope to shoot some newborn pictures once baby Clare makes her entrance into the world. Congratulations Ginnifer and Jason - I don't think I know anyone who deserves this baby more than you guys!

Kristy & Aaron | E-session

2009-06-16T11:29:00.005-05:00

Kristy contacted me in regards to having engagement pictures taken for her and her fiance. They are new in town and are getting married out of state. They weren't going to be able to get their engagement pictures taken by their actual wedding photographer, so they asked if I could shoot just an engagement session for them. OF COURSE! We treated it just like any other portrait session and had a great day to shoot. They wanted to bring along their two beloved dogs, which was fine with me. I've found as I shoot more and more animals, however, that even kids are sometimes more cooperative. Animals especially dogs definitely have a mind of their own. None the less, we had a great time! Good luck Kristy and Aaron. I hope your wedding day is beautiful - it was fun working with both of you!

Tiffany & Tyler | 5.30.2009

2009-06-16T11:28:00.010-05:00

Tiffany and Tyler had the most beautiful day imagineable for their awesome outdoor wedding. The weather was totally perfect and the gardens were lovely. We had so much fun at the engagement session, I was really looking forward to their wedding. It turned out to be a total blast, and they were so much fun to shoot from the first frame to the last. Their love and enamorment for each other was obvious from the word go... congratulations Tiffany and Tyler! May your days together be many!!!

Candi & John | E-session

2009-05-28T00:05:00.003-05:00

Candi and John booked my first wedding for the 2010 wedding season, and I can't wait for their special day. So far, Candi is the most prepared bride I've ever met. Her wedding is over a year away, and she is so particular to detail I'm sure her day will be just beautiful. She plans an outdoor wedding with a reception at the beautiful Aberdeen Manor in Valparaiso - and I'm super excited. Denna at Aberdeen pays as much if not more attention to detail than Candi.

The engagement pictures turned out great as I imagined they would. The couple displayed to me the very reason I love engagement pictures so much. They started out a little tense and visibly uncomfortable in front of the camera but by the end of the session we were laughing, having fun, and taking some great pictures. Here are a few of the favorites. Candi and John, I can't wait for your big day and for another opportunity to work with such a fabulous couple!

Courtney | Senior 2009 Pictures

2009-05-27T23:45:00.003-05:00

One of my favorite type of photo session to shoot is High School Senior pictures. The kids are so vibrant and full of life and energy! It's such a great time in their to capture on film with so much on the horizon for them. We always have a good time and play around a little, too. This is a recent session I shot at Deep River County Park with a beautiful young lady. Thanks Courtney! I really had a great time with you and your parents and I hope the pictures make you smile!

The Nekolas | Family Session

2009-05-21T16:35:00.002-05:00

I recently had an awesome opportunity to take some long due family portraits for the Nekolas, who contacted me after viewing a portrait I had done for a friend of theirs. They said they hadn't had a portrait done for a long time, and that they didn't have one at all with their newest daughter.

Our day was warm and VERY sunny. If you've talked to me, you know my favorite time to shoot is when its cool and almost raining, so needless to say, this day was just about a complete 180 from that. We still had a fun time getting our toes warm in the sand and then cooling them off in the still chilly waters of Lake Michigan.

I am honored to be part of such an important family tradition... please enjoy my two favorite shots from the day...

And So It Begins...

2009-05-20T22:05:00.002-05:00

The busy season is officially underfoot. This is one of the first sessions of 3 I've already done and plan to post very soon (or, as soon as this one gets old!). Sarah had a work assignment that required her to capture, on film, what gave her "momentum" outside of work. There were a few categories, and in years past people would post pictures of their families, hobbies, or other things in their life they were passionate about. Sarah wanted to capture what makes her "her" per se, and asked me if I could get a few shots of her with her beloved Labrador, Bear, and the American Quarter Horse she leases, Harley. I quickly learned that shooting animals, specifically, a horse AND a dog at the same time, is even harder than trying to get that perfect moment with a baby. This was definitely one of the most challenging sessions I've done, but we managed to get a handful of good shots, and these were the two she chose to submit to her company to represent what gives her momentum...Thanks, Sarah, for giving me the opportunity to help you on this most interesting assignment!

Busy, Busy, Busy!

2009-05-12T21:20:00.002-05:00

It was no joke when I said wedding season was getting into gear! And family portrait season, engagement session season, senior portrait season - even a surprise session soon to come - unlike all others!

I'm loving being busy. I've been scouting out new locations to do my photo shoots, meeting with couples and families, designing and ordering albums, doing a lot of artistic editing - and tons of other stuff that reminds me why I got into this business to begin with! I'm having so much fun at staying busy.

Keep checking back as this Friday marks the beginning of a VERY busy summer. I will have tons of new posts coming up with some of my favorites from all kinds of sessions!

Heather & Curt | 4.18.2009

2009-04-21T20:07:00.006-05:00

So I finally had my breakout wedding of 2009! It was a beautiful April day and Heather and Curt were so much fun to work with. They are so in love, and I think their true feelings really showed in the pictures that we got that day. It felt so good to get the camera back in my hands after the long winter and do what I love. I had so much fun working with them, and hope you enjoy these images that I selected that were some of my favorites, among many, from the day.

Congratulations Heather and Curt! Thanks for such a wonderful day!!

Professional Albums vs. What You Get at a Discount Store

2009-03-22T20:55:00.003-05:00

With all the public interest in hobby photography, retailers have taken a hint and have really increased their inventories in consumer available photo albums. The coming forth of quality, affordable "pro-sumer" digital cameras in mainstream marketing has unleashed hundreds of thousands of people who are willing to delve into picture taking. And usually with pretty good results!

While good equipment alone does NOT make a good picture (but that's a later post), it sure helps, and it has helped a lot of people make nice photographs of their kids, families, pets, and a plethora of other things right in their own backyards. But as probably many of you have already discovered as you click away on your digital point-and-clicks, those pictures taken so often never reach a viewable medium. Many will remain lost on some hard drive in some computer, or on some random, unlabeled CD, or worse yet, on a SD card, still in the camera itself. Before the digital revolution, we were forced to walk our rolls of 35mm film into the local Walgreens and get it DEVELOPED in order to see what cherished memories we may have captured. Now, there's no such urgency. We can just look at our pictures right there in the camera!

So, getting to the point. Once we ARE finally disciplined enough to get those digital images printed, what should we do with them? The answer is easy. We drive to the local Target, buy up a cute little photo album (and some, really, are quite cool!), insert our 4x6's, and cherish them forever. So why not just do this with our wedding pictures, you ask?

There IS a difference between consumer albums and professional albums. Besides cost (yeah, that's the kicker), the quality is just not comparable. A lot of the cost difference depends on what your photographer feels is a fair "up charge" for their time ordering, assembling, printing, and organizing your album. Surely, though, in all likelihood, your pro album is just going to cost more than what you can pick up at the closest big-box retailer.

All professional albums that I supply are acid free - meaning that in 10 years the natural properties of the surface that your picture is contacting will not damage or degrade your print over time. Most of my albums carry a lifetime warranty. All the prints are done on archival, professional grade photographic paper, and many have a protective "spray" applied to resist damage due to UV, fingerprints, and the natural acids in our skin that can damage pictures. They are professionally bound, professionally mounted, and professionally presented. As I mentioned in a previous post - you spend a lot of money, even on a budget wedding and should demand the best for your photos. After all, your pictures will be one of the only tangible memories of all of your effort, hard work, and devotion that goes into your day.

Why present those memories in anything but the best, longest lasting, durable, and safest way possible? Please feel free to visit the website of my main album supplier, Renaissance Albums, for examples of what a top quality album consists of. Check back soon... I'm currently assembling a VERY COOL flush mount album for a couple whose wedding I shot last winter - it'll have a brushed aluminum cover with a leather spine and I'm really excited to see the final result after it's all put together. It's going to be absolutely BEAUTIFUL!!! Pics as soon as I get it in!

Thanks for visiting, and feel free to contact me at any time!

Why Does Professional Photography Cost So Much?

2009-02-18T14:49:00.001-06:00

I’ve often been asked why professional photographers charge so much for their services. Some charge based on an hourly fee, some charge based on a flat fee for a specific type of service, and some charge as a combination of both. After all, we’re not lawyers or doctors here, we don’t have to go through years and years of expensive schooling to become a photographer, so why the heck do we charge what we do for our services?What I tell prospective clients of my own is that the actual taking of the pictures – the part where you are in front of the camera and the camera is going “click” – is just the beginning. That’s actually the easy (and fun!) part of the whole process. What happens afterwards is largely how we determine our hourly rate. But let’s start at the beginning.

Prior to meeting with a client for a shoot, I have to clean all of my equipment, whether I plan on using it or not. I’ve gone to a shoot thinking one thing (as far as what I’ll be using) and come out having done something completely different. This is where the art value comes in. Sometimes different situations “call” to me and I go off the beaten path or change things up. Therefore, it’s essential that all of my equipment is prepared. Preparing also includes making sure everything is operational. I have to check charges on all my batteries, format memory cards, and check all of my backup equipment, as well, for readiness and function.

Once I load my arsenal into the car, I have to travel to wherever we’ve agreed to meet. I usually get there at least a half hour prior to our meeting time to take a look at the location, assess lighting conditions, crowd conditions, and other environmental factors that will make the shoot a success. I get a game plan in my head for how the shoot will go to use as a guideline in order to make the most out of the time we spend together.

Then it’s time for the fun! We meet, and take our shots, laugh a little, and get to know each other. We take frame after frame, until it’s agreed we’ve covered what we came there to capture. I then have to unload all of the equipment (batteries, memory cards…) and disconnect all of the accessories. They get packed neatly away, and I travel back to the studio. There is where the real work begins.

Your images are immediately backed up in several locations. File formats are changed, and each picture is visualized for color, clarity, and composition. Color screens are calibrated for color correctness. After getting rid of the obvious “outtakes” I then balance each image for exposure, contrast, sharpness, and other factors. Backing up the files requires good quality DVD’s, multiple hard drives, and an up to date computer system. The images are uploaded to a proofing website, and I send notification that the pictures are ready for viewing. This does not include any time spent designing albums, custom editing any of the pictures, or preparing DVD slide shows.

After a typical wedding with full day coverage, I would fully expect to spend over 40 hours of time fulfilling the requirements of the wedding package, and making your pictures something to cherish forever. In other words, there’s a lot more to taking pictures, than, well, taking pictures. Again, that’s the fun part! It’s what happens after all the fun is over that the real work begins. And rest assured, it is my commitment to you that all of the post processing, file management, data storage, and final product composition and delivery is done by me. I do not farm out any of my work to employees – I believe that photography is a form or art, and that each photographer has his or her own personal style. Much like a sculptor or a painter, the photographer’s knowledge, experience, technical know how, and personality is incorporated into each piece that is produced. You wouldn’t expect Monet to vocalize his ideas to a budding painter, have that person complete the painting, and then call the work his own. You shouldn’t accept that practice from your photographer, either.

Hopefully this helps you to understand what we photographers are doing for the hours upon hours that we are tucked away in our studios behind the quiet glow of our computer screens – and the care, time, and commitment we put into every single shoot we do.

Thanks for checking out my blog! If you have any questions or comments about this post or earlier posts, I’d love to hear from you! Be sure to check back next week for more photography related topics!!!

What's the Big Deal About Copyright Release, Anyway?

2009-02-03T20:24:00.003-06:00

I get A LOT of inquiries about whether or not I release the copyright so that my couples can print their own pictures. The short answer is, no. The long answer is this:

My business is very dependent on referrals. And a lot of people will view the pictures that you have printed from your wedding. I feel that quality control is paramount to my success and my reputation as a professional photographer. The printing company I use is local. I send my images to them, and they print each and every one of them on Kodak Professional paper. I have such a great relationship with them that when I call, I don't have to tell them who I am... they know my voice. This is important because they know what my quality standard is. They know that if they see an imperfection in a print that I will too, and they don't even attempt to deliver it to me. Occasionally, however, that misprint does come through. If this is the case, all I have to do is notify them, and I will have a replacement print almost immediately.

Besides that. I calibrate ALL of my equipment on a regular basis to ensure that the colors on my screen are correct. Even if you buy the most expensive, nicest screen you can find, if you put it on a GOOD calibrator, chances are, your screen will need adjustment. This is important because I know my printer also has the same stringent calibration standards that I do. I know that when I send a print in that white will be white, black will be black, and all the colors in between will be what I mean for them to be. Occasionally, I send my own personal photographs to bulk printers for processing. After viewing professionally printed images next to the ones I get back from the bulk printing companies, there is a CLEAR difference in color correctness, image quality, and paper quality. You are paying a lot of money for your wedding photography, and quite possibly for some of the most important pictures of your life.

Would you get your wedding dress at WalMart? It's for the same reason that you shouldn't settle for a non-professional source for your prints...

Now don't get me wrong. I understand that in this digital age, there is a lot of desire for images to post on blogs, facebook pages, myspace... and an endless array of other platforms. I have no problem releasing an image or two for these purposes, on a limited basis. I've signed copyright releases for save the date cards for engagment pictures, and allowed couples to have a few images to use for place settings at their receptions... basically any reasonable request will be considered. The problem just comes when I'm asked to release EVERY image for printing purposes.

That said. It's difficult for me to take pictures of my own family, well, pictures of my own family with me in them. I've looked into hiring other photographers to take pictures for me, and have been SHOCKED at what they are charging for their prints. I understand that a lot goes into the post processing of images (see my future post about why professional photography costs so much...) and time is valuable, but some photographers use the fact that they own the images to make the actual prints almost unaffordable. I don't believe in this practice. It's not that my time is not valuable, or that my work is not worth the cost... I just think that it's wrong to charge people professional imaging prices and then charge them an arm and a leg for the final product, which is what they were seeking in the first place.

Wow, that was very winded, and I'm sure I've angered a few people who are charging upwards of $75 for an 8x10...

Hopefully, this offers some insight into why some photographers are stingy about releasing their images. Again, it's not that I want all the profit from the prints... it's not that AT ALL, or I'd be charging more for my prints; it all comes down to quality control. I feel that if you are paying for professional services, you should have professional output, and the only way to get that is from a professional source.

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or comments about any of my posts... I'd love to hear what you're thinking!!!

Decisions, Decisions!

2009-02-02T12:25:00.002-06:00

I meet with a lot of couples in their quest to find the perfect vendors for their wedding. After explaining my services, I often ask couples, “Have you met with any other photographers?” This often gets me some strange looks – why would I be suggesting someone go to what is actually my competition? Why wouldn’t I love for them to just sign a contract right there, right now?

This is my answer. I think it is very important for the bride and groom to feel completely comfortable with the person doing their wedding photography. How many wedding pictures have you looked at that the bride and groom look miserable? How many friends have you talked to who exclaim, “Yeah, we really didn’t like our photographer.” It is my firm belief that no matter how much you try to smile and act like you’re enjoying yourself, if you don’t feel perfectly comfortable with the person on the other side of the camera, it will always show through in the finished product. I think it is really important for the bride and groom to meet the actual person who will be doing the photography on their wedding day. A lot of photography companies hire multiple photographers, and assign one to your wedding at random. Often, the bride and groom will have not even met the person they are going to be spending a large portion of their time with on one of the most important days of their lives.

When a bride and groom hire me for their photography needs, I make it a point to encourage them to go home, and discuss how they felt around me. Were they comfortable? Did I make them laugh? In other words, am I someone they like enough to have me in their back pocket all day?

This leads me to another point. I had an e-mail inquiry the other day about shooting engagement pictures for a couple. I told them that they should check with their main wedding photographer to see if the engagement pictures are included in the wedding package. It is my opinion that any photographer should offer an engagement session as part of the overall wedding service. Engagement pictures are important for several reasons. Aside from the most obvious reason, documenting your lives prior to your marriage, they give you and your photographer an opportunity to get to know each other better. It gives you time to get used to being posed. It gives you an understanding of how your photographer will interact with you on your wedding day. Additionally, you’ll have concrete examples of the kind of work the photographer does with YOU as the main focus of the picture.

An engagement session also helps your photographer to learn how they need to interact in order to make your time together as productive as possible. There is no doubt, as I’ve learned from shooting so many couples, that although the concept is the same (composing the frame, dealing with lighting, posing… and all the other aspects of making a beautiful picture) every single couple is different, and how the photographer works changes with each session. After seeing which pictures you choose to print, it also gives your photographer the opportunity to learn about the styles of poses you prefer.

In other words, choose a photographer you could see yourself being friends with. This way, all your hard work to plan your perfect day will shine through as your photographer captures your true emotion, love, and joy of the day – in images to cherish for years to come.

Check back soon for discussion on pros and cons of copyright release…

My Illusion

2009-01-09T12:54:00.001-06:00

Well, I’m sitting here trying to figure out just how I want this blog to look, what colors to use, which header to use…

I’m staring at the screen wondering WHY the heck it looks like the line under “jennifer lynn” in my logo looks crooked. So I opened up the logo in paint just to check it out, and low and behold, it is straight. See? I created my very own optical illusion… now if I could just optically illude some meaningful posts and a decent layout…

Thanks for reading. Hopefully I’ll be up and running soon!

Coming Soon!!!

2009-01-07T08:59:00.001-06:00

This blog is under construction. Please check back soon for updates!!!