You have the perfect dress, gorgeous shoes and your wedding photographer lined up and ready to go.  Your wedding day hair appointment is set and your best friend will handle your make-up afterwards…

Wait a second. Unless your best friend is a professional make-up artist, I’d recommend that you give your make-up the same consideration you’re giving your dress, hair and accessories and call in a professional.

Why should you hire a professional make-up artist for your wedding day?

1.  You want to look your best. In the same way you trust your hair dresser to give you a hair cut which reflects you, your personality and personal style, a professional make-up artist helps you look like your best self.  They’re trained to evaluate your face and enhance your features while minimizing blemishes and spots (hey, they happen). And, once you have the knowledge, you can use it in your married life for special occasions, like your first anniversary.

2.  They can find the balance between not enough and too much. Brides are often surprised at how washed out their features look when they try on their wedding dress. A make-up artist can help bump up your features to match the drama of the dress without giving you an overly made-up look.

3.  They minimize flash problems. Have you ever taken a close-up photo of a friend and the auto-flash plays off of their forehead so you end up with photo of them with a sunburst on their head? This happens when oily skin reflects light and, unfortunately, can ruin otherwise usable photos. Make-up artists can help prevent this by working with your skin type to minimize oiliness (while making sure you don’t break out).

4.  They’ll work with your wedding light. The make-up that works at a night wedding featuring a lot of flash photography may look unnatural and overdone at an outdoor wedding featuring natural light. A good make-up artist is trained in lighting and will be able to ensure your make-up is appropriate for the location and setting.

5.  You’ll save money in the long run. Frankly, poorly applied make-up shows in photos. And while there’s a lot I can do to touch it up in Photoshop, I’d rather you spend a bit of money on the outset rather than a lot of money in post-production. I want you to love the way you look in your photos rather than focusing on how we might want to touch them up.

The bottom line: You’re investing a lot in your wedding photos and you want to get the most out of your investment. The more images you look great in, the more images you have to choose from. By hiring a professional make-up artist, you ensure we won’t have to throw out a great image simply because your make-up is less than perfect…

You put a lot of faith in your wedding photographer. You trust that he or she will show up on time, respect the sanctity of the day and leave you with a stack of fantastic photographs. But what’s often left unsaid are all of things that you hope your wedding photographer won’t do – be rude to your grandma, leave a mess, take over the day…. you get the idea.

So, to give you peace of mind, I’ve put together a list of everything you absolutely, will not get when you hire Sean O’Leary Wedding Photography (for a list of what you will get, click here).

When you hire Sean O’Leary Photography, you will not get:

1. An attitude. Or rude behavior. Or unprofessional work methods. Or anything that might make my mom think twice about how she raised me.

You’re going to have enough personal dynamics happening on your wedding day, you certainly don’t want to worry about how your wedding photographer is handling himself. I fully comprehend the importance of your wedding to you and your family and consider it my professional duty to ensure you feel listened to, well-cared for and comfortable throughout the entire process.

2. A know-it-all photographer. Yes, my job is to know it all; it’s just not my job to tell you about it. You hire me to record your wedding day in as unobtrusive a manner as possible, not to make it the Sean O’Leary Photography Show.

I also don’t believe that because I’m the photographer, I’ve cornered the market on good ideas. I’m always open to suggestions from my clients and find the more we give-and-take, the better and more personal your photos will be.

3. Shyness. I may not be in-your-face but I also am not a wall flower. I have a healthy dose of self-confidence which comes from years of photography experience. I’m not afraid to speak up when necessary to either keep the day moving or direct people as to where they need to be.

Having said that, you also won’t get a boorish, bossy photographer, who barks orders and leaves your wedding party feeling hustled and drained.

4. Boring images. You know, the same old, same old. Yawn… Those same, interchangeable photos that every other bride seems to have in her wedding album… There will be none of that. I believe in capturing the moments of your wedding day, which are very different from, say, Peter and Janet’s or Jeff and Cathy’s.

5. Laziness. And you certainly won’t get less than 100% service, value and effort (I’m thinking it will be more like 200%…). You pay me to work hard and get the best photos possible, I show up and do just that.

6. Inflexibility. Or an inability to problem solve. I hate to say this but there is a very good chance things may not go exactly as planned on your wedding day. It’s the nature of the beast. So, when that happens what kind of a wedding photographer do want by your side? I’m thinking one who moves with the flow of the day, figures out solutions with the least amount of drama and still gets you great photographs…

7. Insensitivity. Your wedding day is an emotionally charged event (as it should be) and I understand that sensitivity and compassion not only help me capture meaningful images but ensure a happy occasion for everyone involved.

8. Someone who doesn’t understand his environmental responsibility. As a Coloradan, I get to live in a place where there are daily reminders about the awesomeness of nature. I’m working hard to become a truly eco-friendly operator, who makes decisions based on their environmental impact.

Want some hard-proof from couples who have been where you are now? Click here to read client testimonials.

Last week I talked about how I found my way into wedding photography and why it’s such a good fit for me. As I mentioned, part of the reason I like my job as a wedding photographer is that I get to work with clients who appreciate what I do and how I do it. And since you’re reading this, probably trying to figure out if we’ll be a good match, let me walk you through a few of the ways I set myself apart from other photographers.

1. I’m stealth-like in movement; one minute I’m there, the next I’m gone… You shouldn’t have to worry about where your wedding photographer is or what he’s doing (you’ll have plenty of other things to focus on, I promise!). So, I keep out of the way, popping up when needed, but otherwise taking care of what needs to be done in the background.

2. I’m very aware of and sensitive to my surroundings, which means I notice the smallest moments. Your dad holding your mom close during your first dance, your bridesmaids laughing in a corner as they prepare a surprise toast, the way your new spouse looks at you from across the room. These are the details and moments that make up your wedding; it’s my job to capture them on film.

3. You didn’t want the same engagement ring as all of your friends so I’m guessing you don’t want the same wedding photographs as them either. Which is why I work “outside the box” a bit, creating images that are different and push the limits of my clients’ expectations. When a couple says, “I’m not sure about this shot…” it usually means we’re on the right track – trying something new and unexpected, which often ends up as a truly unique photo.

4. Some might call it anal; I like to call it a high level of attention to detail. I always err on the side of over-preparation so the details are taken care of, I can stay in the moment and everything runs smoothly.

5. I come in with a highly organized, well-planned style of attack for your wedding day event coverage. Before we head into your day you’ll know who needs to be where and when. This takes pressure off of you and your guests and ensures we don’t miss photos of important moments or people.

6. I’m a communicator to the core. Not only am I good at verbalizing what I’m thinking, I’m an excellent listener and very capable of understanding your needs. All of my wedding packages include pre-wedding meetings so we can share ideas, get on the same page and get to know each other.

7. I really enjoy my job. I know I’ve said it before but I believe it bears repeating. I’ve worked hard to become an excellent wedding photographer – one who takes the pressure off of you and enhances the occasion rather than distracting from it – and I’m enjoying every moment of it!

Typically when a bride or groom-to-be calls me, looking for a Colorado wedding photographer, they’re not entirely sure what they should be asking me or even what they are looking for.  Which makes total sense.

This is the first time most couples have looked for a wedding photographer and usually no one’s handed you a handbook on how to figure out who’s the right photographer for this very big job (and if they have, I’d love a copy!).  Add in, constantly changing photography technology, wedding trends, and your own personal tastes and you have a big decision on your hands that, most likely, you’re ill-prepared to make.

So, most couples start with price.  It’s a hands-on way to compare photographers and since, most likely, you know your budget, you think it will narrow the field down a bit.  And, this is where I typically stop couples.  Obviously, price is a factor.  But, when choosing your wedding photographer, the person who will be handing you tangible evidence to remember your wedding by, it should be only one factor.

Instead, I typically tell couples that call me to sit back, relax and let me ask the questions.  I certainly don’t expect you to lead the conversation and honestly, it often gets us to a decision faster, if  you don’t.  I see it as a mark of a good wedding photographer that he or she is able, from the start, to lead you through the process;  if your photographer makes the initial phone call easy, how great will they be at the wedding?

So, I start my exceptional service with your initial phone call.  Right away, I want to know:   Do our styles compliment each other?  And will I be able to give you what you are hoping for from your wedding photos?

Once I’m certain of this, I start moving into getting to know you and your fiancee -the best way to get truly candid photos.  Part of the product I offer to my customers is really getting to know them – I like my clients immensely and want us all to have a fun time working together.  Having said that, again, we both want to make sure it’s a good fit and we connect.

A couple of things for you to think about during the initial conversation:

-Does the photographer recognize and respect the style and approach you have towards your wedding?

-Has the wedding photographer taken the time to listen closely to you about your wedding photography needs and asked you questions that let him/her get to know you better?

-Do I feel comfortable with this photographer? Do they put me at ease?

The reality is, this is one of the biggest moments in your life – you want a photographer that will make you feel comfortable, give you great photographs within a budget you can afford.  Only having one piece of the puzzle (ie. price) isn’t going to cut it once the day arrives or the photos come back.

My job as your wedding photographer is to take great photographs, yes.  But I also see a huge part of my role as helping to keep your wedding (my portion, at least) as stress-free as possible.  A big part of that is planning ahead.

So, I always meet with my couples for a Pre-Wedding Consultation.  This is a great chance to get to know one another, talk about your vision for the day and to share details that I otherwise might not know about until the wedding day.  I find that learning about your color choices, overall theme, flowers, cake, etc. all help me get a sense of who you are and what your day will be like.

At this point, I also like to go over who will be in your wedding and why you’ve selected them for this role. Again, this helps me understand the bigger picture of your day and make sure I know who’s important and why.  The more I know about your wedding ahead of time, the more prepared I am capture the details that make your wedding unique.

Which is why, at the Pre-Wedding Consultation, we also come up with an expectations list, a shoot list and a timeline of events.  The expectations list and shoot list are closely related and often, close to the same thing.  It just depends on how specific you would like to be.

The expectations list is, basically, the picture in your head.  It can be general – “We’d like the photos to have a sense of fun” or specific – “We want a photo of the two of us, taken from behind, walking down the road, hand-in-hand.”  The shoot list, on the other hand, is specific photos you’d like taken of specific people.  This often reads more like, “All immediate family on Bride’s side with Groom” or “Bride with Maid of Honor.”  This list ensures we don’t miss any pictures in the hustle and bustle of the day.

We also go over the timeline of events in the Pre-Wedding Consultation.  I tend to get pretty specific with couple’s timelines. I find the more organized you are, the more your guests will respect you and your day and the more we’re able to maximize our time together. And, it eases stress.  Guests know where they need to be and when and you can rest easy knowing you’ve done your part.

Getting organized takes a bit of time.  But, taking the time to get to know one another, learning about the details of your wedding and coming up with a plan for the day, not only keeps the stress level down, but frees up my time to get high quality images that are truly candid in nature.

Your wedding photographer is going to play a big part in your wedding day. Not only will you be working closely with them during some of the most important hours of your life, they’re also are going to be interacting with your family and friends during what is often an emotional day. So, how do you know if they will be a good match and make your day easier?

I think it comes down to personality and connection. Assuming, of course, you’re impressed with their photographic style and their wedding album, you want to, well, like your wedding photographer. You don’t have to become best friends, but on this very important day you will want people around you who you easily connect with.

So, here are a couple of specific things to watch for when interviewing potential photographers:

1. Communication style. If you are intent on having a very laid-back wedding, a photographer who is barking orders might not be the best fit (or they might keep things moving along…).

The initial meeting is a great opportunity to test out the communication skills of potential photographers. Do they get back to you right away? Do you feel like they understand your needs? Are you comfortable talking with them and sharing your ideas and concerns?

2. Listening skills. This, to me, is a biggie. Most of us have had the experience of working with someone who thinks they are “hearing you” but in reality are just nodding their head. Your wedding day is about you; you want to be sure your needs and wants are heard.

Personally, I set up two pre-wedding consultations with my couples. That way we have several opportunities to make sure we are on the same page – I can make sure I completely and totally understand the style of their wedding, what photos they want and any other details that might be important.

3. Open to suggestions and ideas. Some of my best photos have come out of staying open to bride and grooms’ suggestions. For me, the give-and-take of ideas with couples can be a very creative, inspiring way to get unique photographs.

4. Willing to take charge. On the other hand, some couples want to be able to hand off all photographic responsibilities. If this is you, make sure that your photographer feels comfortable offering direction and making decisions on the fly.

For example, as a sports photographer, I’ve been thoroughly trained to get the right photograph with little or no direction. How comfortable is your wedding photographer making decisions on their own? And, what experiences have they had where they took charge and what was the end result?

Choosing a wedding photographer is a very personal experience and I say – trust your gut. In the same way that you knew your fiancee was the right one for you, you’ll know when you meet the right photographer.

At the weddings I shoot, there are essentially two types of assistants I hire – a second photographer and/or a photo assistant. A second photographer is a trained wedding photographer brought on to make sure each moment is completely documented; a photo assistant (or PA) is often the second photographer or another person hired to support the shooters.

Now, the question is – can you get by without using either one? Absolutely. In the same way that you certainly don’t need a wedding planner to have a beautiful wedding, you don’t need a second photographer or PA to get an album of memorable moments (you just need a good photographer for that!).  But there are definite advantages to hiring either one or both….

Reasons to hire a second photographer:

1. Not a moment is missed. Often times there is more than one stand-out image happening at a time (think of your first dance – you’re dancing while your parents and friends are reacting as they look on). You don’t want your photographer to have to decide what NOT to shoot. A second photographer guarantees candid moments are documented.

As well, because the photographers will divide up the shot list (which is created in a pre-wedding consultation), it frees them up to focus even more on the moment at hand. Action tends to move quickly at weddings and the less images and subjects per photographer means the more focused they can be on the moment.

2. Ceremony locations can be tough to move around in and is often difficult and distracting. A second photographer reduces the need to move around as much and keeps the attention focused on you.

3. All angles of your wedding are covered. During the ceremony, one photographer can capture the action happening to the left of you and your betrothed, while the other photographer covers the right. Each photographer can remain static while still shooting all sides of the wedding.

4. Creates opportunities for non-traditional photos. You don’t want your photographer to miss out on an important shot because they’re trying out an unusual shooting position or a different composition technique. But if you have two photographers on the scene, your safe shot is covered and your photographer can push the creative boundaries and get a unique (and what often ends up as a favorite) shot.

Reasons to hire a photo assistant:

1. Imagine everyone you want to have in your family picture. Now imagine trying to quickly line them all up while they’re talking, laughing and fixing their hair… If it feels a bit overwhelming, a PA might be a good bet. PAs can streamline the formal image process by rounding everyone up and getting them organized and ready-to-go.

2. They check the details. PAs are there to make sure every detail of your wedding is perfect. They catch crooked shirt collars, out-of-place hairs and bunched trains.

3. They are human light stands. Well, actually they are much more than that, but PAs do make adjustments to (and sometimes hold) lights, reflectors and diffusers. It’s also very helpful to have a second pair of hands to make quick changes to the lighting set-up, saving everyone time and energy.

4. They’re a second pair of eyes. As much as I hate to admit it, I can’t see what’s going on behind me. PAs let photographers look in two directions at once and make sure we’re not missing anything. They also keep an eye out for and share alternate perspectives and moments with the main photographer.

5. They reduce wear and tear (on the photographer, that is). The less heavy equipment the photographer has to haul around, the more energy he can dedicate to getting the perfect shot. Because a good PA will anticipate the needs of their photographer, the photographer can stay relaxed and in the moment.

Want to find out how much a second photographer or photo assistant typically costs?  Feel free to email me and I’ll get back to you right away!

Couples often ask me about one of the big trends in wedding photography, Photoshopping your wedding pictures (think heightened backgrounds and a specific element pulled out like above). What I tell them is this – while the occasional Photoshopped photo is a dramatic and eye-catching addition to any wedding album (and something I am happy to do), you still want to carefully assess at the quality of the photography.

Because regardless of a photographer’s skills in Photoshop, you simply can’t recreate a missed moment or make a smile look more natural or turn a poorly taken picture into a good one. So, while the enhancements to your wedding photos are a great option, they are exactly that – enhancements to already fantastic, in-the-moment photographs.

But, how do you know if the photograph you’re starting with is good or not? Here are some elements to look for that typically make up a great photograph.

1. Lighting and image exposure. As a photographer, I’m constantly evaluating the light and checking for evidence of shadows that can ruin an otherwise fantastic photo. Without getting too technical, you know the light works in photograph if:

-the whites (look at the clouds if the photos were taken outside) are not super-bright (over-exposed). Overexposure is dangerous because it results in a loss of detail.
-the whites (again check out the clouds) are truly white and not gray (or have a hint of red in the gray). This is a sign of underexposure.
-the tones (colors) are even across the image.
-the colors appear vibrant, as if they are popping off the page.
-the colors appear true with a little detail in the color (you don’t want them too dark).
-the image is crisp and clear versus muddy or “noisy” (basically, a bit blurry around the edges).

2. Emotion that is natural. A great photo is often one where the subjects don’t even know it’s being taken; photos where, because the photographer was positioned correctly, he (or she) managed to capture the realness and emotion of the moment.

Posed photographs where everyone looks natural can be a bit trickier. This is where your photographer’s skills at loosening people up really come into play. You want to hire someone who can make people forget there’s a camera or at least make it non-threatening enough that they’ll let their guard down.

3. Details. Is the groom’s tie lying flat? Is the bride’s train laid out rather than bunched up? It’s these little details that walk the line between a great photograph and one that bugs you every time you look at it.

Some of the things I always look for are: dandruff on the shoulders, buttons buttoned properly, collar alignment, hair off of people’s faces, all dresses lying smoothly, veil properly positioned.

4. It tells a story. The look on your fiancee’s face when he first catches a glimpse of you. Your first dance as a newly married couple. Your dad swinging your mom around the dance floor. Each photo from your wedding should tell a mini-story of what was happening at that moment; put together they tell the story of your wedding.

5. The background. What’s going on in the background, can make or break a photo. As a photographer, I’m constantly monitoring the background to:

-make sure it’s free of distractions (cars, people, etc) that might detract from you.
-see if there is anything there that can help me better tell your story (people, signs, activity, etc).
-compare the texture, patterns and color of the foreground and background to make sure they are working together and not competing.

5. Shooting angle. A photographer can do a lot with camera angles, including making you look your best. And different body types and facial structures require different angles of approach. I’m constantly reassessing shots and double-checking that everyone looks as flattering as possible. Sometimes just the slightest change in angle can make a big difference.

As you’re looking into potential photographer’s albums, ask yourself – Are all the shots taken straight-on? Does the photographer get down low and shoot up? Are some from the side? And also, are the angles they are shooting from, well, flattering?

6. Thinking outside the box. Because I’m always thinking of ways to make couple’s photos truly unique, I sometimes come up with ideas that seem a bit strange as we are shooting them, but often turn out to be album favorites. A great wedding album should be literally one-of-a-kind, which requires your wedding photographer to think beyond the traditional.

Photoshop can only take you so far. Start with great photographs and you’ll end up with an album that is dramatic, emotional and uniquely yours.

Have another tip on what makes a great photograph? Tell us about it in the comments section.

Yes.  Uh-huh.  Absolutely.

As a professional photographer, I consider it mandatory that I have the most up-to-date, most professional equipment a wedding photographer can buy. I want every photo that comes out of Sean O’Leary Photography to be as crisp and clear as it can be.  And the only way I can guarantee that is to make sure I use top-of-the-line equipment every step of the way.

Now, is it possible to get great photographs without the most expensive equipment?  Yes.  But understand that every piece of equipment your photographer compromises on, increases the potential for problems.  To me, equipment is an easy factor I can control to ensure your day runs as smoothly as possible.

So, what kind of equipment should your photographer have?

1.  First and most obviously, a camera.  This is one place where your great aunt’s point-and-shoot just won’t cut it.  I personally use a Canon EOS Professional, which is the choice of photojournalists the world over.  Most photographers will have an excellent camera (if they’re worth their salt) but it’s always good to check.

2.  Lenses.  Camera lenses basically determine how clear a shot your wedding photographer will be able to get.  I use a Canon Professional (Canon is a great brand) which lets me capture extremely sharp images.

3.  Portable lighting equipment. This is not a must-have for all photographers but I’ve found it to be extremely helpful.  I have a Elinchrome of Switzerland wireless lighting set, which accommodates all lighting techniques without the need for power outlets.

So, if the light isn’t working outdoors or we need to light up a dark corner, I can set it up quickly and easily without slowing down the day or wasting valuable time.

4.  Light modifiers and light shaping tools.  You know all of the umbrellas, coloring gels, soft boxes, reflectors and diffusers they use on magazine shoots?  That’s the equipment that can make your indoor pictures look, well, magazine-worthy.

5.  Radio transmission system. Again, this is not a must-have but it certainly makes things easier.  I use a Pocket Wizard digital triggering system which basically lets me fire lights and cameras remotely.  This means I can position my lights and my camera anywhere without having to worry about wires.

It’s just another way good equipment keeps my attention completely focused on your wedding.

6.  Ways to see your photos on location. Your photographer should be constantly checking to make sure your pictures are looking good (you don’t want to find out the next day that your picture with Grandma was out-of-focus!).  I’m constantly checking my Epson P-5000 image viewer throughout the day to make sure each detail is showing up on film.  I also bring my Macbook Pro so you can sneak a peek at your photos.

7.  An excellent high-def monitor. After all of the photos have been taken, your photographer should head back to the studio to review and process all of your images.  You want to make sure they have a high definition monitor so they can see photo details clearly and catch imperfections -that way they’re not printed onto your nice, big, wall-size photograph.

I believe that using the best photography equipment means there is less room for error and more room for creativity and spontaneity; I can concentrate on the moments that make up your wedding rather than my equipment.

Have a specific question about equipment?  Leave it in the comments section and I’ll get back to you right away.

You know that looking at your potential wedding photographer’s album is key, but what other questions should you be asking?  We’re going to spend some time over the next couple of weeks looking at specific questions you’ll want to ask potential wedding photographers and why they are important.  Today we’ll tackle why it’s important that your photographer scouts your location ahead of time.

You’ve checked out, in detail, the location of your wedding and reception.  You know where the ceremony will take place, how long it will take you to get to the reception, and where the band, the cake table and the gift table will go.  You have, in short, scouted out your location.

And your photographer should do the same thing.  They should, if at all possible, also head up to your venue ahead of time and check out all of the details that can make, or even break, your wedding photographs.

Why is this scouting trip so important?

A couple of reasons.

As a wedding photographer, I want to know what the light is doing at the time of your wedding. There’s nothing worse than people squinting in photos because they’re facing the sun.  Or missing out on a great shot because my exposure wasn’t set right.

So, I always head up to your wedding venue location at the time of day your wedding will take place.  That way I know if there are any highly reflective areas that might create flare or harsh light, I know what colors I can expect to see, as well as how the background will absorb the light.

I want to know all of the possibilities for backgrounds that we can use in your photographs.
Most couple choose their location because they connect with the look and feel of the place.  It’s my job to make sure this is reflected in the photographs.

By going up early, I get a sense of the venue and can discover different backdrops that will give your photographs a complete feel for the place.  And there’s always the chance that I’ll run into a local who’ll give me a great insider tip or happen upon an idyll setting.

On one of my scouting trips I found a beautiful backdrop on a golf course adjacent to the wedding site.  I talked to the course officials, got clearance and we were able to sneak in between golf parties to get some fantastic shots. The couple ended their day with some great shots they wouldn’t have had otherwise.

I can introduce myself to the reception site staff when everyone is calm and focused.
Naturally, the day of the wedding is a bit hectic.  And it’s probably not the best time to be making initial introductions to the staff I will be working with all day.

So, I use the scouting trip as an opportunity to meet the staff, answer any questions they may have and get all of my questions answered.  By doing it beforehand, we can take the time to go over details and make sure everyone is on the same page.

I can get to know the details of the place and get all of my questions answered ahead of time.
Are there enough power outlets for all of my equipment?  How many extension cords will I need?  What’s parking situation like?  How long will it take me to get from Point A to Point B?

These are questions I need to get answered before the big day. That way on your wedding day I am focused totally and completely on the task at hand – taking memorable, excellent photographs.  I don’t want to be worried that I’m running behind because the parking lot was further away than I anticipated…

The best way to make sure that everything goes as planned is to plan ahead.  And for a photographer this means checking out the location ahead of time.