Are Your Vendors Insured?

In today’s litigious society, brides and grooms could be held responsible for accidents and injuries caused by the wedding vendors they use. Because the bride and groom hire their wedding vendors to perform their specific services at their wedding, these vendors are acting on the behest of the bride and groom – thus making the bride and groom responsible for their actions.  For example, if a wedding guest is hurt after tripping over an extension cord, equipment case, etc., being used by the band, DJ, photographer, or videographer, the bride and groom could be named in a personal injury lawsuit.  Just as easily, a light stand could fall and seriously hurt or kill someone.  Across the nation, many places of worship and reception facilities require that ALL vendors show proof of insurance before they can enter.

Any true wedding professional will routinely carry liability policies of $1,000,000 or more.  These policies are only a few hundred dollars each year for the vendor but could save the bride and groom thousands of dollars in legal fees.

Bridal Bouquet Preservation
 

In recent years, companies have begun to pop up that offer bridal bouquet preservation.  Bouquet preservation is usually a freeze-drying process that requires usage of a specialized machine that cools the flowers to a temperature of approximately -30 degrees F.  Once the flowers are solidly frozen, the moisture is released and removed by a vacuum system.  Flowers are then usually placed into a shadowbox frame as a keepsake from the wedding.

If you are considering this service, there are a few things to keep in mind.  Many of the samples shown never went through an actual wedding day – those bouquets were created and immediately preserved when the flowers looked their freshest.  Your flowers may be with you on your wedding day for up 15 hours in less than ideal conditions.  They will be tossed about and rarely get the moisture they need to maintain their freshness and beauty. T emperature extremes will devastate any bouquet. Both cold and heat will cause certain types of flowers to brown and wilt.

Floral preservation can not restore damaged or dead flowers back to their original beauty.  You will need to replace your bouquet with a new one at considerable cost just prior to preservation.  Then, the flowers being preserved are NOT the original treasured bouquet that was part of your wedding, but a very expensive imitation of what you once had.  At an average cost of $350 - $400 for the preservation and the cost to replace your original bouquet, is that truly a wise investment of your money?  Remember, a good professional photographer will create several portraits of you and your bouquet throughout your wedding day that will bring you many fond memories of how beautiful you looked WITH your ORIGINAL bouquet!

 

We in the professional photography business hear it all too often and always too late: A bride gets burned by an inexperienced “hobbyist” photographer who charges less than a reputable professional, purchases a high-end digital camera and shoots weddings on the weekend, quite often with disastrous results for the bride.

About two years ago, a male nurse at a local hospital hired himself out as a weekend photographer.  He was hired by two area brides to shoot their big day.  This hobbyist never delivered wedding photographs and left for Florida.  The brides – rightfully upset – contacted the office of the Attorney General which investigated.  What the AG’s office determined was that the hobbyist ruined both weddings, did not possess a required vendor’s license, did not pay sales taxes, and did not claim his income from the weddings.

These “Weekend Warrior” photographers are not full-time professional photographers who train yearly in their fields, who belong to professional photography organizations, who possess the mandatory liability insurance, who hold legitimate vendor’s licenses, and who pay taxes.

The number of “hobbyist” photographers is increasing, and so is the number of disappointed brides who end up with missed images, ‘fuzzy’ photos, non-professionally-corrected images, and a CD of substandard quality, if they end up with anything at all.  In short, the bride holds in her hand inferior memories of her most cherished day, while the “Weekend Warrior” has been paid and is gone.

Remember that after the vows are spoken, the bouquet is thrown, the toast is given, the cake is cut, and the guests leave the reception, the only cherished wedding memory the bride can hold close is the photography.  Don’t trust your everlasting memories and family heirlooms to an amateur!

Here’s how to choose a full-time professional, reputable photographer who will stand behind his or her work long after shooting the wedding:

• Meet with a full-time photographer in his/her studio to review his/her work
• Ensure that the photographer possesses back-up equipment
• Ask the photographer which professional photography organizations they are affiliated
• Ask the photographer to show proof of liability insurance
• Ask the photographer to produce a vendor’s license
• Check with the Better Business Bureau to review any complaints

Remember, weddings last one day.  Wedding memories last forever.  Make the right choice and put your photography needs in the hands of real professionals.

Coffee Shop Offices

While many maturing Generation X & Y-ers think working out of a Starbucks, Panera Bread, or some other coffee shop is avant-garde, it is no place to make major investment decisions about your wedding day.  In recent years, many office-less wedding photographer-want-a-bees have adopted these types of venues as an acceptable place to meet with potential Brides and Grooms.  So, instead of viewing numerous wedding albums and sample enlargements on the walls of a legitimate professional wedding photography studio, the Bride and Groom meet with a potential photographer who tucks a couple of wedding albums under his arm.

 

Would you hire your florist in this manner?  Would you select your reception facility without seeing it in person?  These so-called photographers act more like traveling small appliance salesmen than artistic image-makers.  Do you really believe that any of these photographers belong to a professional photographic organization?  Do you really believe that any of these photographers have any real professional credentials?  Do you really believe that any of these photographers have a degree in photography?  Of course the answer to all of these questions is no!  Don’t be fooled by these professional photographer imposters – select wedding professionals that have an office in their home or a retail space.

Biggest Mistake Parents Make When Planning Their Daughter’s Wedding

Every parent wants what is best for their children.  From birth, we provide for their needs and fulfill their desires.  We do everything to make our children’s dreams come true.

There is no greater example of this than when our children get married.  The parents and their daughter equally share the desire of a fairytale wedding.  In many cases, the parents strive to create the wedding they wish that they could have had for themselves.  They spare no expense on the gown, the reception, food, drink, cake, decorations, entertainment, etc.  Everything is first class because the parents are doing what they feel is best for their daughter.  And yes, that means the parents are picking up the tab to make their daughter’s dream wedding a five-star event.

Unfortunately, some parents choose to place the financial burden of the wedding photography on the bride and groom.  Many young couples don’t have the money to select a highly skilled wedding photographer.  They may be just out of college and starting new careers while trying to save for their first house.  Excessive costs of a great honeymoon can squeeze every last dollar from their budget.  As a result – their amazing “five-star” fairytale wedding is documented by a “one-star” photographer with little or no training.

Think of all the time, effort and money that you will expend to create her once-in-a-lifetime wedding.  Don’t you want the very best photographs possible to remember her special day?  One-star photography will hurt both your daughter and you as parents.  After the party is over and the flowers have wilted, the food and drink are consumed, and the music and dancing are just a fading memory - it is the wedding photographs that help you remember and share your daughter’s day for generations.  Without great photographs and beautiful albums, the memories of your her magical day will also fade over time.

Far too many parents have regretted burdening their children with the choice of a one-star photographer because they couldn’t afford a skilled one.  The end result was horrible pictures.  It’s a costly mistake that can never be undone because you can’t go back in time and repeat the wedding day.  Don’t let this be your regret.

Disposable Cameras
 

Before you automatically purchase disposable cameras for your wedding reception, carefully calculate ALL the costs involved.  Count how many tables you will have, multiply that number by the cost of the cameras AND processing.  Realistically, you should then divide the number of exposures on each camera by 75% that are even usable and only about 10% or less that you would want to consider for an album.

 
The problem is four-fold.

1) Most guests really aren't good photographers and the kids love to play with them.
2) Guests have a few drinks and think pictures under the table or in the restroom are cute.
3) The cameras themselves are fixed focus cardboard cameras with plastic lenses and very under-powered flashes.  Anything too close will be horribly out of focus.  Anything too far away will be too dark to use.  They have a narrow useable working range.
4) I have seen many guests take them home so plan on losing several.

Take all these costs into consideration and approximate the return on your investment.  Add the same number of dollars to what you are already going to pay a professional photographer for the package you have chosen.  The money would be better spent with the professional on a bigger package.

The above cautions comes from feedback from our brides.  I have shot many weddings where there have been disposables.  I have yet to see EVEN ONE photo from a disposable make it into a Brides album.

What's the point of spending money for something you just won't like - you "may" get lucky and have one or two turn out.  Is that sort of return on your investment worth it?  Only you can answer that one.

Don’t Cover The Chairs

In the past couple of years, reception halls, decorators and even some bridal coordinators have been pushing the idea of putting chair covers over the chairs at your wedding reception.  Why is this?  Are the chairs at the reception hall in poor condition and need to be covered?  That is typically the purpose of any type of furniture cover.  People buy furniture covers when they can’t afford to get a new chair or sofa and need to cover holes or stains.  Of course this is not the case with your reception hall!  The halls, decorators and coordinators are pushing the use of chair covers because it is another way to get more money out of the Bride’s purse.

 

Do you realize that chair cover rental (yes, you only rent these covers) can range from $4 - $15 per chair?  Invite 200 people to your wedding reception and that can cost you an extra $800 - $3,000!  Don’t you think you have better things to do with that much money?  Weddings never needed chair covers in the past, why should anybody believe they are needed now?  Don’t get sucked into the latest fads that are really only schemes to separate you from your money.  Save your money and leave the chair covers for more gullible Brides.

Don't Risk Your Once-In-A-Lifetime Wedding Photos

There is a group of “wannabe” photographers who compete solely on price rather than creativity and great service. This group will “shoot” your wedding and “burn” the photos to a DVD.

 

The real truth is that they do not want any further contact with the bride and groom after the wedding day.  They neither have the knowledge, talent or experience to create a beautiful wedding album that captures the essence of your once-in-a-lifetime day.  This quote in an article by custom gown designer, Martha Blanchfield, in Studio Photography magazine sums up the “shoot-and-burn” philosophy: "Having your wedding photographed and just receiving a disk of images is what I equate to receiving the fabric of the wedding dress without the designer to stitch it together.  It's what an experienced photographer does with the ‘fabric’, or photographs, that make the difference."

The “shoot-and-burners” don’t really care about delivering a professionally finished product.  They just want to be relieved of the responsibility of having to do the time consuming, creative work which comes after quality images are created.  The “shoot-and-burn” strategy does not save the client money in the long run!  It catapults them into a world of which they have little knowledge.  By the time the bride and groom experience what is really involved in finishing the job, the “shoot-and-burner” is long gone with their hard-earned money.

The “shoot-and-burn” strategy is really a statement: “I will do part of the work if you can figure out how to do all the rest.”  This approach merely creates countless hours of frustration for the bride and groom (victims) who must make a desperate attempt to create a memorable and highly cherished wedding album.  Time and money is wasted trying to make good quality prints that may not even come close to what the true professional photographer can provide.  After making poor quality prints, the bride and groom are left with the huge task of finding a decent album like the professional studios offer and then arranging the photos in a story telling way.

Ultimately, you will live your lifetime either enjoying beautifully composed, meaningful photographs created by a professional photographer or crying over a set of poorly done snapshots taken by an amateur. The choice is yours!  Good Luck!

Going Green on Your Wedding Day

• The alarm has sounded. Each of us needs to rethink our day-to-day activities in order to do our part to save our planet. On your wedding day, you don’t need to put your environmental consciousness on hold. Below are a few ideas to help make your wedding green:
  
  1. Wedding Gowns
  • Green – purchase a dress made entirely of natural materials. Synthetic materials are not environmentally friendly.
  • Greener – purchase a used dress from a resale shop or vintage clothing store. You can also choose to rent your wedding gown and not buy one at all.
  
  2. Invitations
  • Green – make your own invitations on recycled paper.
  • Greener – email your friends and family and don’t use mail at all.
  
  3. Ceremony and Reception
  • Green – have your wedding ceremony and reception at the same facility.  This will cut down on driving by guests and reduce auto exhaust emissions and leave less of a carbon footprint.  Furthermore, don’t bother renting a limousine or limo bus.  They get horrible gas mileage.
  • Greener – have your wedding ceremony and reception outdoors during daylight hours as an afternoon and early evening affair.  You will save on energy by not needing any artificial illumination.
  
  4. Flowers
  • Green – Choose to have single or multiple long stem arm bouquets.  You will be using a lot fewer flowers and no plastic flower holders.
  • Greener – have potted plants as table decorations.  Your guests can take them home and enjoy the benefits of live plants.
  
  By following these simple tips, you will help save the planet and save thousands of dollars in the process.  Who would have thought that helping to save the earth would also save on your wedding budget?

It Takes More Than A Good Camera

With the advent of digital photography, many amateur photographers can now afford to own the same quality cameras as professionals.  However, having a quality camera does not make you a quality wedding photographer.  The cameras, as well as flash equipment, brackets, etc, are only the tools needed to create photographs.  These tools don’t make someone a skilled artisan in photography any more than they do in any other field.

Think about it – if someone hands you a pair of $150 sneakers and a basketball will you be able to play like Lebron?  Will a $1,500 set of Ping clubs and the best golf shoes and glove that money can buy turn you into the next Tiger Woods?  Of course not!  When you hire a professional wedding photographer you are hiring an experienced artist with years of training and knowledge.

Anybody can claim to be a professional photographer.  By definition, being professional simply means that you are paid for the service you provide.  Ask everyone that you are considering as your wedding photographer which professional associations they belong to and what professional credentials they have earned.  Professional photography has certification programs similar to accountants.  The best wedding photographers hold a Masters Degree in the field.  There is a difference between photographers.  Shop around, ask the right questions, then hire the best!

Jumping On The Bandwagon

Every day, there are more and more photographers appearing on the wedding scene.  Poor economic conditions have created this sudden influx of so-called “wedding photographers.”  Unfortunately, professional photography is an unregulated industry.  Anyone can buy a camera, print some business cards and call themselves “professional.”  There are no government regulations to protect the consumer from being misled and receiving inferior wedding photographs.  Never hire ANY photographer that does not belong to at least one of the many professional photographic associations that exist.  Membership should be a minimum requirement for anyone that is truly serious about the profession.

Also be especially cautious of newspaper, magazine or commercial photographers that are now covering weddings as their businesses diminish.  Some feel they can “jump” into wedding photography to offset their dwindling revenues.  Wedding photography is a specialty that takes many years to perfect.  Not all photography is the same and not all photographers can photograph weddings.

To illustrate this point, would you have a heart surgeon perform an operation on your brain?  Of course not.  Although it is a surgical procedure, the heart surgeon is best skilled at heart surgery.  The same is true of newspaper and commercial photographers.  Don’t be duped into thinking that all photographers can cover any event with equal skill.  Remember, there are no retakes on your wedding day.  You must entrust your photographer to accurately and professionally record and preserve your wedding memories to be enjoyed for a lifetime.  You don’t get a second chance.  Trust a seasoned wedding photographer with many years of experience photographing weddings – not some photographer that is trying to salvage their bottom line!

Limousines – Are They Worth the Money?

In the last 10 - 15 years, limousines have become quite common as the method of transporting the wedding party throughout the day from the Bride’s home to the church, park and ultimately the reception site.  In the last few years, limousines have been replaced by limo buses and stretched recreational vehicles.  While all of these vehicles are interesting to look at, they are not necessarily the most comfortable or elegant way to get around on your wedding day.  Air conditioning systems are routinely underpowered or don’t function at all in many of these vehicles.  In fact, the hotter it gets outside, the less likely the air conditioner in these massive vehicles will be sufficient to keep you and your Bridal party cool and comfortable.

Most of these vehicles are slow and maneuver poorly – thus wasting valuable time that most Brides have precious little of.  Some stall out and don’t even run at all!  And while there is a certain amount of style associated with traveling in a true limousine, how classy are you fooling yourself into thinking that it is to travel around in a bus that reminds everyone of the ones that used to transport the special kids back when you were in school – just with a better paint job?

How many Brides really think about how much time they actually spend in their limousine or bus?  If the vehicle picks you up at your parent’s home at 1:00 for your 2:00 ceremony, you probably spend 15 minutes or less on that ride from home to church.  Now, keep in mind that you pay limo companies by the continuous hour with a 4-5 hour minimum.  Your 2:00 wedding ceremony takes about an hour and it is followed by a receiving line and family photographs on the church altar.  It is now about 4:00 before you are ready to get back into your limousine or bus to drive to the park. In most cases, that drive is only 15-30 minutes long.  You spend an hour or so taking pictures and then the limousine or bus makes that final 15 – 30 minute drive to your reception site.  Add it up – you spent 45 – 75 minutes in the vehicle, yet you paid for 300 minutes (5 hours) of time at a cost of anywhere from $75 - $400 per hour.  Was that the wisest way to spend your money especially on a limited wedding budget?  Anyone that was married more than 20 years ago will tell you that Bridal parties just drove themselves and spent the money on more important things.  Something to think about.

Ohio Sales Tax Law

Ohio law requires any person or business making retail sales of tangible personal property or taxable services to obtain a Vendor’s License.  Ohio defines photography as a taxable service.  All Ohio photographers are required to collect and remit sales tax revenue to the Treasurer of State for every transaction in their business.  Sales tax revenues help to subsidize state and local school systems as well as government and protective services.

All photographers are required to obtain a Vendor’s License from their county of residence.  This information is registered with the State of Ohio and photographers must remit sales tax revenues collected at periodic intervals.  Any legitimate photographer should be capable of producing evidence of possessing a valid Vendor’s License.  If the photographer you are considering cannot show you evidence of a Vendor’s License, keep looking.  If caught breaking this state law, the photographer can be put out of business.  Ohio Tax Enforcement Agents regularly visit businesses to insure their compliance with the law.  Criminal charges ranging from misdemeanors to felonies may be brought against persons who do ANY of the following:

• Do not obtain a Vendor’s License
• Fail to collect the proper sales tax
• Fail to file sales tax returns when required
• Fail to remit sales tax collected

In addition, sales in the State of Ohio must list the price of the product and/or service and the sales tax being paid as individual line items on the contract/agreement/order form.  A photographer is NOT permitted to simply include sales tax in the price of their product or service.

Each year in Ohio, non-compliant photographers are forced out of business.  The result, the couples that hire these tax scofflaws may be left without a photographer for their wedding day.  Don’t take that risk.  Secure a wedding photographer that holds a valid Vendor’s License.

Photo Booths: More Ways To Separate You From Your Money

In the never-ending quest to make certain that every Bride and Groom begin their new life together in debt, the latest over-priced “fad” is photo booths at weddings.  At a rental cost of upwards of $1,000 or more, this decades-old gimmick is certain to turn your elegant wedding reception into a circus.

Just think about it.  You two walk by these booths every time you go to any of the area shopping malls and you would never consider wasting your money on them.  Yet, local vendors and Bridal Consultants are now telling Brides and Grooms that these photo booths are all the rage in California.  Reality check: in a poll of over 100 of the most popular reception sites in California, not one of them has ever seen a photo booth set up at a wedding.  Most of the banquet managers laughed and said that their clientele was too classy for something so cheesy.

Photo booths are frequented most by young adolescents that hang out at the mall.  Nobody mistakes that strip one 1” square pictures as anything but a gag.  The quality is poor and the results are equal to the investment.  If you want to turn your reception into a joke, go ahead and seek out one of these machines.  If you want a wedding reception that people will remember for fellowship, great food, music and dancing, invest your money on things that matter.

Supporting Local Businesses on Your Wedding Day

Across the United States, civic leaders are urging consumers to support local businesses and business owners that live and work in the community.  When you choose to spend money with a local business, the tax dollars are kept in our area to support our city services and schools.  In an age where large conglomerates and big box stores are driving small, mom and pop businesses away, civic-minded brides and grooms can make a difference.  In almost every case, you are more likely to receive better personal service from a small independent retailer than you will from some chain operation.

Some brides have had poor experiences from ordering their gowns from a national franchise or an online company just to save a couple of hundred dollars.  Unfortunately, when there was a problem with the dress, there wasn’t that local store to go back to that could easily remedy the situation.  It can be a nightmare!

While most brides and grooms always choose local companies for their flowers, cake, DJ, and limousine companies, some are less careful when choosing their wedding photographer.  There are at least two national wed-ding photography chain operations operating in Northeast Ohio.  These companies handle all inquiries and bookings through their websites and 800 numbers and hire shooters that you won’t meet until they show up (hope-fully) on the day of your wedding.  Almost as bad are the photographers that fly or drive into the greater Cleveland area to photograph weddings locally.  Why would any bride want to select a photographer that was unfamiliar with the local churches, parks, and reception facilities?  Why would a bride hire someone who was so distant from their studio?  What if there is a problem?  With all of the quality wedding photographers in the Cleveland area, choosing a studio from Akron, Canton, or beyond is simply asking for trouble.  Why have something else to worry about on your wedding day?  Why send tax revenue outside of your area?  Choose local wedding vendors for your special day.

Think Twice About Dove Releases

Every once in awhile, you will see an advertisement for some company that offers to have a Dove Release for you just after your wedding outside of the church.  In most cases, they aren’t even doves at all, but rather homing pigeons.  Of course, who would ever knowingly want a pigeon release at their wedding (or for any other reason)?  Pigeons are not exactly the most noble of birds.  The fact that they are white doesn’t make them any more noble.

Doves are actually a hand fed bird that are not meant to be out in the wild.  In fact, once they are released outdoors, they will not survive!  They cannot feed themselves, and if they don’t starve to death, they are usually get eaten by cats, dogs or wild animals.  Many animal shelters across the country have petitioned to change state laws to make the release of doves illegal.  In one documented case, the released doves flew up into a tree and looked confused and frightened.  The bride regretted her decision.

One last note to any bride considering any type of ‘bird’ release at their wedding.  Once the birds are released from their cages and fly away, they may leave you or one of your guests with something to remember them by.  Birds relieving themselves on the wedding guests was even seen on an episode of America’s Funniest Home Videos.  That was really funny – unless it was your wedding!  Is that what you want everyone to remember from your special day?

Wedding Photography Chain Operations

Over the past several months, a number of national ‘chain operations’ have found their way into the local wedding photography market.  These huge, faceless mega-corporations are opening up so-called satellite studios across the nation.  Soliciting photographers at photographic conventions, through classified advertisements and through online job search sites, these corporations are attempting to hire unemployed part-time photographers to cover weddings that they are booking through heavy internet and bridal publication advertising.  Unsuspecting brides and grooms are falling prey to this slick bait and switch form of advertising.

So as not to fall into this trap, take the following precautions.  Don’t hire a photographer that you meet at a coffee shop or restaurant.  If they don’t have a home or office to work from, where will you go if you have a problem later?  Don’t be fooled by wedding photographs of celebrities or photos taken in exotic locations.  If you’re not having your wedding photographed on a tropical island, why does it matter how images like that look?  The photography at many weddings of celebrities is actually done for free or the photography company will pay them for the chance to take the pictures.  Be certain that the check you are writing is to a local company and not some out-of-state corporation.

From around the country, couples are complaining about inconsistent quality and no personal service.  Once the wedding day is over, you never deal directly with your photographer again and are forced to complete your arrangements with the corporation.  Do you really want a photographer that is of such poor quality that they can’t book weddings on their own?  Do you really want to deal with an out-of-state corporation for your photos and albums? Don’t make the same mistake of some more gullible wedding couples.  There are plenty of experienced professional photographers who live and work right here in Northern Ohio.  Trust your timeless wedding photos to one of them.

Finally, A Sure Way to Avoid HORRIBLE Photographs: SONOPP

The choice of a wedding photographer is one of the most important decisions you will make when planning your special day. There are hundreds of photographers in the area to choose from - so how do you decide? All photographers are not equally skilled!

True professional wedding photographers in the Greater Cleveland area belong to the Society of Northern Ohio Professional Photographers (SONOPP). Founded in 1949, SONOPP boasts membership of only the finest wedding professionals - not only in Cuyahoga County - but from across Northeast Ohio. SONOPP members benefit from continuous education in the field through seminars and workshops, access to educational materials, and sharing knowledge with their peers. SONOPP has a strict Code of Ethics that is rigidly enforced to ensure the consumer is not only hiring a talented photographer, but also one with impeccable business practices. SONOPP members work together in case of emergency to ensure that all weddings contracted with its members are photographed professionally. Because of this, you never have to worry about your SONOPP member photographer getting sick or otherwise unable to be at the wedding - you will have a qualified photographer at your event.

Every legitimate professional photographer should have an endorsement from the Society of Northern Ohio Professional Photographers. Don't settle for less... choose a photographer that is a member of the Society of Northern Ohio Professional Photographers. You'll be glad you did!