Entertaining kids at your wedding!
Many times I’ve talked with couples torn over the decision to invite kids to their wedding or not. You run the risk of offending family or friends if you choose against it. If you decide to invite kids, then you must decide if you’ll have activities or allow them to run wild around the dance floor during dinner and the toast…
Here is some information that may help solve your problem and add a fun spin for the kids at your wedding! Make simple plans to keep kids occupied during key times. Providing crayons and blank paper works incredibly! Have the Disc Jockey (DJ) announce a drawing contest! The drawing must have something to do with the wedding. The kids will come up with some amazingly funny stuff! Provide some prizes from the party store or Dollar store if you’re on a tight budget. You may even choose to have the guest judge it. Then it becomes entertainment for all. Award the top three or every participant if you have enough prizes!
If you need more ideas just give us a call and ask for me, Aaron! 510.887.8100 or www.baywed.com
As a wedding photographer you always relish the luxury of having a second photographer (or BEING the second photographer) for the wedding day. For me, Alicia is sometimes that second photographer and when she is, I tend to ask her to stand in for the bride to test lighting before we start. Pretty convenient! Here’s one of my favorite images that came from that when we were at a church in Burlingame, CA:
Renee (the gorgeous bride you can see below) might come from the most eloquent family I’ve ever heard of. Kenneth? I don’t know about his family, but he was pretty hip. Together this couple was looking so chic fabulous I couldn’t contain my excitement over the opportunity to photograph their special day at Crystal Springs Golf Course in Burlingame, CA. Thanks Renee and Kenneth - you’re amazing.
See what I mean? Hip
I love the simplicity of this solitaire pearl necklace - I had to get a shot
The plans were made. A custom diamond ring completed. Locations talked about. The story dreamed up. She was used to us volunteering her as the model for our test photo shoots. After all, her boyfriend is just a little crazy about photography… :) Would this be enough to keep her from figuring out what really was about to take place? Did it remain a surprise? My friends, we may never know… Although Heather says it was. I can’t help but ask myself, was it really believable? After one of the two shooters can’t make it and we don’t reschedule a “test” shoot. Then Benjamin shamelessly caring around his metro-sexual handbag and freaking out when Heather gets within a couple feet of it. That followed by the hints of something very special being in there…. Hmmmm… Are you tracking with me? Could it be? What ever the consensus, I think we all agree it was indeed a special moment. The making of a true family heirloom!
Just before the big moment.
We had to get into the shoot and make it believable for Heather.
Love this moment...
Dramatic light for the moment!
So much to work with! We could have stayed all day.
I don't care what Benjamin says... He was nervous!!!
She said yes!!!
A fun shot to tell the video story...
"The Moment"
Hands down the best shot! True photojournalist here. I had just put my gear away. When I turned around and saw Benjamin and Heather in this great moment. Ripped the camera back out thinking "you know better Aaron!" and finished the shoot the right way! Classic shot...
Congratulations Benjamin and Heather!
The "Perfect" DJ will bring the event together in a seem-less flow!
Selecting the “Perfect” DJ does not have to be stressful when planning your wedding reception! The key to choosing a Disc Jockey is knowing what to look for. We recommend following these simple steps!
First, limit your choices to DJ’s that specialize in weddings. A club DJ will fail when it comes to interaction and moving the itinerary where a good wedding Disc Jockey can create a club experience for your guest if thats what you’re looking for.
Second, ask for references. Fast easy way to know if you’re talking to someone reputable.
Third, talk to them and see if you feel comfortable with their personality and ask them to describe their style or approach to entertaining guest. Styles range from the up front DJ that clearly takes charge and runs the schedule to a more laid back approach where the music is the focus. Either way we recommend your DJ should always run the itinerary. This will take most of the days stress off of you!
Fourth, make sure they’re willing to follow your guidelines for music. Keep in mind that most weddings have people of all ages. We recommend keeping this in high consideration. Older family and friends love to be included. Often they’re quick to hit the dance floor and early to leave while the younger family and friends love to start off socializing and finish the night strong by hitting the dance floor!
We love to talk about weddings and offer a well recommended staff of professional Disc Jockeys. Check out our website or give us a call directly 510-887-8100!
Andrew, one of the most tenderhearted guys you’ll ever meet, started welling up with tears even before Stephanie started her way down the aisle at Foxtail in Rohnert Park. This was a couple truly in love.
Jon and I had the most amazing time snapping pictures as these two interacted throughout the day. Here are a few of my favorites - notice the emotion in every expression: (view slideshow)
PS - The punch at Foxtail is FANTASTIC 
As a lifestyle photographer, our ability to anticipate moments is key to making a great shoot. Chelsea and Greg made the choice to see each other before the ceremony and get a head start with photos so they can make the cocktail hour and enjoy the live music with their family and friends.
- I enjoy the real emotion. The couple always forgets they’re on camera and it shows so well!
- A special moment on the isle with our bride and her father.
One word... JOY!
I love when the bride and groom get lost in a moment between each other!
It comes across in the details... I love a picture within the picture!
If I titled this photo I would call it "A Dream Come True"
Our brother of the bride, mother, father (back row) and twin sister caught in a tender moment as they watch the first dance.
In the end, Chelsea and Greg were so easy to celebrate and capture the moment! I could go on and on with memorable images from this special day! Thank you Chelsea and Greg for having me be a part of your special day!
I’m pretty bookish so when I found out Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote a book in the early 1850s and happened to put a whole bunch of stuff about early photography in it, I just had to read it. I mean, photography was literally only ten years old at that point.
The House of the Seven Gables (a ghost story!) is a pretty slow read, so I don’t really recommend it unless you’re into that kind of thing.
But as a special treat, in the back of the book, they snuck in a little bit by Ralph Waldo Emerson (a big deal American poet) concerning what we do as photographers.
The “Daguerreotype (early word for photograph) gives the sculpture of the face, but omits the expression, the painter aims at the expression & comes far short of Daguerre in the form and organism. But we must have sea and shore, the flowing & the fixed, in every work of art. On the sitter, the effect of the Daguerreotypist is asinizing.” (Emerson, 1846)
I have no clue what that last word means (and neither does my dictionary), but I’m determined to make Mr Emerson proud with my daguerreotypy.
He was known only as “Hot Dad.”
Jen didn’t know Ryan’s name, but she didn’t need to; her nickname sufficed for the entirety of the flag football season. Ryan’s son was in a football league, and their mutual friend Taj had been trying to set he and Jen up for months. Ryan wasn’t interested in another set-up, but at the after-party for the final game, Jen, Taj, and Ryan sat down to talk, knowing why they were all there. And although Taj talked the entire time, Jen and Ryan felt the chemistry that eventually led to May 16th, 2009: their fabulous wedding.
Nestled in the hills at the base of majestic Mount Diablo, as the warm spring sun shone down on them and their guests, Ryan and Jen became man and wife. Their love for each other emanated from their mutual glances, hand clutches, and occasional sniffles (mostly from Ryan!). All their family and friends glowed with affirmation and joy at seeing these two people’s lives joined together, and API was there to document their amazing day.
Their first kiss as man & wife!
Ryan's groomsmen kept him laughing the entire day...
Jen's friends were constantly by her side, ready to offer a joke or an embarrassing story!
Post-ceremony photo session; Ryan's love for Jen is so evident!
Congratulations, Ryan and Jen! Have a fantastic and fabulous life together.
Having been in the special event business for 19 years I have been afforded the opportunity to meet incredible people. What I consider “A” list (no pun intended). Now I’m not talking about “A” list celebs. I’m talking about a community of “A” list photographers, videographers and DJ entertainment. People that stand out within their profession. The API (A Perfect Impression) crew is full of them, we’ll blog more about this soon. I’m talking about someone else!
Mark, from Mark Elola Photography. Mark has devoloped a style that is unique. Contemporary, artistic, pure and passionate lifestyle photojournalism is how I describe Mark’s work. His style is everything I imagine a bride and groom wanting. I’ve said many times that a wedding photographer has got to be one of the most talented photographers that exist. We have to deliver under pressure and do it right! Where there aren’t shots we have to make shots! Our social skills must be tops to deal with so many different personalities at a wedding; brides, grooms, family and friends. Mark is a complete package and a real reason for an honorable mention from myself and the API crew! Check out Mark Elola’s photography blog.
by Aaron
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