Calling all 2012 Brides a.k.a So you are thinking of having a wedding this year... Pt Deux

Ok so I thought I'd hit you with the second part in the series...which really should be titled: 'Now that the big day is here!' So without further ado, continuing from where we left off:

1.The big day is here.

You did most or all of what was discussed in my previous post (well ok, at least, you did things along those lines lol), so trust that you have made the right decision. Please resist the urge to direct or pose photos or hide from the camera. Just be.

2. Getting ready photos.

Oooh this is one of my faves - the pre ceremony time we have together :>). The hair and make up and what not, there is sooo much I can say here but I will keep it simple. Bride, as for make up (and you can let your make up artist in on this too): please don't lay it on too thick "for the photos" - you want to look like you, only enhanced and accentuated. Not saying more than that lol! Last year I had a bride who did her make up herself. I got in there ready for action and there was no make up artiste, no hair girl or nothin' like that, no frills no thrills, she said she wanted to look like herself, and who better to make her look like herself than, well herself and she looked amazingly gorge!!!

Also still on the topic, please ladies, get ready in a nice and spacious room if you want your photos to look nice. Enough said. I have traded stories with seasoned photogs who have experienced brides insisting on certain kinds of shots who did not have the right location for them (example, you want a shot by a nice well lit window but the hotel accommodations has no window - while that's a bit of an extreme, it hits the nail on the head what I'm talking about!) Also, this goes without saying but you want your photog in the room with you at all times while you are getting ready (well if she's a girl then ALL otherwise maybe a moment or two you can be excused), not to worry, she's not out to shoot you in your underwear or anything sinister like that ">); it's about the love in the room, the nerves, anticipation, the exact moment you pull the dress on and the reactions from those who love you the most... (yeah I know, it was meant to bring the sap out of you...)

3. The Ceremony and the venue of the ceremony.

Most Churches/places of worship have restrictions, please let your photog know what they are so they can set limits and expectations and be better prepared. In all of this remember, access is key. Better position, better photos. As much as possible, I try to be as unobtrusive as possible and still get my shot. It is a good idea to let your photog hang back with the bridal party till right before the bride walks down the aisle. Most of all for your ceremony, live in the moment! Take it all in and throw all your worries about time and schedules out the window for the precious moments that lay ahead (I say this at the risk of sounding all "Hallmark" and all...:))

4. Formals

Now this one is a "touchy feely" one for me LOL and I'll tell you why; because, I am not exactly joining the bandwagon on photogs who think the pre wedding shoot is EVERYTHING and a side of fries. For one I am not against the famed 'first look' if the couple prefers it (after all it is their day) however if it were all up to me, I would say to schedule formals AFTER the ceremony IF POSSIBLE (note the BIG IF which is to say I am flexible to accommodate the timing that suits the couple) BUT as a hopeless romantic who happens to photograph weddings, or vice versa, :) I kinda bristle at sacrificing that romantic moment of having just been joined to 'fake smile' for the camera; to me it is too important. I believe the pictures as huge as they are, are really for wedding in the final analysis, and not wedding for the pictures. But hey that's just me - I realize that logistics wise it has made sense to have a first look where the bride and groom meet for photos before the ceremony and I get that. Just that I somehow have it in my head that with good organization, it IS also feasible to shoot formals after the ceremony, where the real happiness and joy of the bride and groom will show through in the smiles!

5. Formals (again!) - how to shoot em and still make it to your cocktail hour :)

Please please designate a responsible person (your planner if you have one will be your money's worth here) to help with getting people to where they need to be for photos. Assign a family herder - family member who knows who is who should also be in the mix here to help recognize who needs to be in what shots. Tell family members to be there right after the ceremony. Family and friends all stick around for the very first set of photos so they can be released to go to the cocktail hour. DO NOT let them go to the bar right after the ceremony. You WILL lose them! :)). After the friends and family group shots are taken, (which should last all of 15 mins at the most), then that's one layer peeled off. Next is the bridal train shots, after that should come the portraits with bride and groom. Earmark at least half an hour of shots with the bride and groom alone please. This is very important and makes the difference between never having to don your wedding dress again and wanting to take more wedding photos two months later!

6. Party time!!

It's time to dance the night away with your friends and family who have come to celebrate your love! So go with the flow, it's the fun and surprises and impromptu moments of the day that makes weddings so special. Have the time of your life and count on your photog to capture the moments as much as possible! Don't worry about what's going on where in the room, just be in the moment and know that events are being duly documented. I had a couple tell me about how they were looking through their party pics and couldn't stop laughing and reminiscing and also reveling in the little bits they missed which the camera captured. That's what it is all about. So trust your photographer!

And with that, it's a wrap! So you are thinking of having your wedding this year. Hire the photographer that's right for you and you will have photos that capture the true essence and spirit of your day! Enjoy some reception tablescapes!

Calling all 2012 Brides a.k.a So you are thinking of having a wedding this year... Pt One

Hey y'all this one is a little long....oh dear. Please bear with me... :) - smh I realize that I have become one of 'those' people who somehow (very erroneously) believe that putting a smiley face before, in, around, after any and everything magically makes it ok! LOL

Well you will understand why there was need for this tome you're (hopefully) about to read. It's that season, that time again y'all when TV ads are filled with weight loss remedies, programs, drugs and measures to quit smoking, the bottle, food, name it and of course somewhere around all those ads are also the wedding venues ads, the David's Bridal ads, don't forget those...wait a sec, I zoom in on the David's Bridal ads. What could this mean? *having a 'coulda had a V8' moment* - of course silly, this is January and it's the aftermath of the happy engagements that occurred on new year's eve and a precursor to a frenzied wedding season 2012!

So you know, now I'm a bit more interested, excited even, on the edge of my seat (ok maybe not quite but you get the idea...). This is the time when things get to a feverish pitch, everyone is trying to get some frazzled bride on board whatever it is they're selling. At the same time, being in the industry, my email inbox is deluged with emails about various bridal fairs coming up over the next few weeks. Dear Bride, you have to think of your venue, your cake, your flowers, the band, your dress...aaah your dress, you will have to say yes to some dress out there with your name stamped all over it, whispering your name! And while you're at it, sure can't forget your shoes, your favors, your decor, lighting, cake tasting...YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER!! Heck! Your photographer - someone almost forgot about your photographer!!!!

Now, some brides, bless their dear heart will delegate this aspect to the poor groom and while many of you lovely grooms are more than capable and equal to this err herculean task, I just think this is where you both gonna have to just each take one for the team; yep both of you need to be involved in this aspect, afterall, photos are the ONLIEST things you will have left after the cake is eaten, band finally stopped playing, the flowers are dead, the tux is returned, the dress is stashed in some old closet in your mom's house (lol like my sister's dress that I just saw after 5 years in questionable condition in some closet at home (sorry sis heheh). Therefore everything media around the wedding is arguably one of the heavyweights.

All of that said, I do realize not everyone is very 'photographer hiring' savvy - yes some might need a bit of help along the way. To that end, while you mull over the other very important details of your wedding, I figured I'd pass along some unsolicited advice, sorry err, nuggets I have gathered over the last couple of years around the business, about choosing the photographer that is right for you.

Here we go.
1. So, thinking of having a friend shoot the wedding? Ummm, q for you: do you want photos of your wedding?!?? I am just asking because except they're a professional wedding photographer, sorry to break it to ya but your (very well meaning) friend will be a guest 1st and a photographer 2nd and they might miss key moments. Period. Add to that the fact that there might be no contingency plan if there are any mishaps or malfunctions with their gear (again no fault of theirs - after all they are not a pro). Side note to well meaning 'photographer friends' out there: Not to knock your hustle, but if you haven't gone pro yet, then at best be a second shooter and hone your wedding photography skills. All the big hitters started out this way. Yes they did...

2. Decide on and choose (both of you) the style that is right for you. What's your pleasure? Wedding Photojournalism - Unobtrusively capturing real moments as they happen. Traditional - Emphasis on posed pictures, lots of direction. Art/High Fashion - Stylized, studio type photography. Fusion - a mix of two or more styles. Figure out what style of photography you would like, ok fine, at least have an idea :)!

3. Get Referrals! I have found that nothing beats word of mouth. Some of the weddings I shot last year were from word of mouth, referrals from other clients I had worked with, or vendors I worked with. Not that there is anything wrong with finding a photographer off the internet, nothing at all but then you step up your photographer hunting game when you actually have real life live testimonials too...

4. You have gotten your referral but you still want to see for yourself. No worries. Contact the photographer, go to their blog to see their recent work, check out their portfolio to see if their style works for you! Viewing their work needs to evoke some emotional response; are you smiling, feel like you were a part of the moments the photos are presenting, ok so maybe not feel anything earth shattering, but you must have some sort of sentimental reaction to their work.

5. So you have pored through tons of blogs, websites, portfolios, it is all looking like a blur. There are soo many lovely wonderfully talented photogs out there! Geesh what to do? Strive to narrow down your search to the top 5 blogs/websites and find out starting package rates, lol now that always puts things in proper perspective :)

6. You checked prices, terms, rates, and all the blah sorry, fun stuff and narrowed down to at least two that fit your style and budget. Next thing is to contact them and let them know you are interested in their work for your wedding. Do it fast. Run , don't walk to your email/phone. I say this because it would suck if your photog of choice doesn't have your date available because just 4 hrs before you decided to stop putting it off one snazzy bride already snagged your date complete with a retainer to keep the photog on lock...oh snap.

7. Anyway you were lucky and they had your date open. What next? Call them, talk to them, and if time and space allows, have coffee with them. Any photog worth their salt would not gawk at the opportunity to meet a prospective bride even if she is still shopping around. I know I wouldn't. Get to feel them out, their style, do you click on a personal level? I mean not like you must 'bond' with your photog like something out of a scene from a daytime soap opera but it is important to feel comfortable with this person. Why? Well, would you want this person in the room when you're stressed out, frazzled, or nervous? Would you care if they were there to witness a mini bridezilla moment or meltdown (jes sayin)? You have to feel comfortable enough to allow this person all access to your most private moments, I mean this person will probably be the only one in the room while you're down to your skivvies who doesn't know you from grade school:). Also while you have them on the phone or in front of you, now is the time for the questions you always had but were afraid to ask! While it aint supposed to be the Spanish inquisition or nothin' like that, you are thinking about signing a check with three zeros on the end (oh I hear its four for some rock star photos, my bad lol); they owe you an interview at least. Also feel free to share about your wedding, your vision, what you are looking for, the kinds of shots that interest and intrigue you, how you met your fiance, etc. Get the photog excited because the more they learn about you, the more invested they will be on your wedding day and the better they can deliver! Trust me, I know. Couple of years back I was at a wedding and when we vendors were sent to our little vendor dinner room (fun fun :)), we were all talking about how lovely the day was going and someone asked the videographer a question, I don't remember what, but all I know is his response made me almost gag- he said "...oh I don't know them or what their deal is, all I know they got a good deal so they hired me..." Oh dear. Could he have been more impersonal?! I wondered if it was him or the couple (he seemed like a meatloaf so I decided it was him lol). See, not to 'overemotionalize' things, but this here, your life's most memorable day, is more than just hiring someone. Get each and every of your vendors invested in your day by sharing with them your wedding day vision and some of your background.

8. Prices, packages and contracts. Ok so there isn't nearly enough time to really dive deep into this subject, at least not without sounding like a broken record, but I will try to cover a few things you have wanted to know but were afraid to ask about this fun, fun aspect lol. Here goes *deep breath*
a) Ok I said it before, I'll say it again. Remember, photos are the ONLIEST things you will have left after the wedding. So budget accordingly and when I say accordingly, I mean, better not to leave photography till everything else is paid for and there is some change left over.
b) After you reviewed and did all of your ground work in picking a photographer you have to know, you are paying for talent, experience, time and the bells & whistles (prints, beautiful photobooks/albums). I'll expand on time: Here is some quick math for you - I can tell you that 1 hour of shooting usually means at least 3 (give or take) hours of post production (not to mention the other logistics around presentation, album design, heavy retouching, etc). So think about how much time a 12 hour wedding would translate to after the fact. I remember joking with a DJ friend of mine after a wedding was over, that his work was over right then but ours as photographers, really only just began!
c) If you are having a large wedding (over 200 guests), consider your photographer's second shooter offer (usually at an extra charge) but it will be worth it if you want wider coverage of your wedding. Your photographer is only one person, she will be most focused on your and the actions of the day and can only be in one place at a time through the day. One photographer sure can do a great job but for larger gathertings, a second shooter will help make sure that other bases are covered.
d) Retainer: don't take this for granted. If you are really interested in holding down your date with the photographer, make sure you provide their retainer and fulfill terms of payment after careful review of course. This leads to the next point...
e) READ YOUR CONTRACT!! Every last word. I know everybody knows about this but please read your contract! Remember what your mama said. Ok maybe there are a few contracts out there that are more comprehensive than mortgage papers yikes lol but most photography contracts shouldn't exceed 3 at the most 4 pages. So read every last word and ask your questions before you agree to the terms.
f) Albums,photobooks, prints, etc. Don't get bogged down just yet with all of that. The most important thing at this point are the photos themselves that will go into such album or print or what have you. Don't place too much weight on the dazzling album offers, etc as much as the real product you want to get, the story telling, the photography. Definitely check to be sure that your package includes the high resolution copies of your photos so you can make prints and do whatever you want with it. My services include this; only a few photogs refuse to release those these days. Most will, but at an extra charge (a charge you want to be sure you'd be willing to pay if push came to shove, just sayin') so check!

9. Dum dum dum ! Yaay you met me and you clicked with me, you would like me to tell your story! Again, yay (that's how honored I am!). Next up - and here is where the fun begins, is the engagement session. Don't dull on this one brides. Most photogs will usually include this as a complimentary throw into every single package they offer (very few do charge for it), it is that important. Please don't try to negotiate it out of the deal to beat down the price (the price would usually stay the same whether or not there is an e-session hence the word 'complimentary' lol) It is a lot of fun and makes a ton of sense functionally. For starters, you both get to meet me, your photographer in a setting that mirrors your wedding day. Further, I get to help you get accustomed to being photographed to smithereens and how to pose for the camera (by the time the wedding rolls by, you'll be pros!), I get a better feel of you as a couple and as individuals because each story is unique and no 2 couples are ever the same even if I shoot 200 weddings a year, it will never be just another wedding or engagement session for me! We get to discuss anything you might want me to be privy to, you can give me heads up to help me avoid any awkward wedding day situation or also help me know who you would like me to focus on to get an amazing photo of on the day, things like that. I would usually spend a whole afternoon with you because now, for me it is more than the shoot, it is us getting to hang out and most importantly have fun all while discussing those all important nitty gritty details you need me to know.

That's it for now but wait, there is a part deux coming soon covering the big day!! Well I have to break it into two part, I don't want to be guilty of information overload because I know you haven't got that much time on your hands now; you have a freaking wedding TO PLAN!!! :))
In the meantime, enjoy a collage of some of the wonderful, beautiful brides I shot last year- some of them while on second shooting duties. 11 was a good year; 12 is gon be even better!
x

Hello Baby!!

Happy New Year! New Year, New Baby. Well I thank God, 2011 was phenomenal. I can't say enough about all the lovely couples I met shooting and also second shooting on occasion with other photographers. Here's to another great year 2012 and I know it will be amazing - I will blog better this year and share more of my work with you all. Thank you for sticking with me. The encouragement of all the couples, babies, children, friends and family along the way have certainly helped keep me going. As anyone who follows this blog by now would've deduced, I love dem babies and what better to open the new year with but the most scrumptious newborn shoot! Meet Jordan...



And let me say here, seeing as it's a new year and there will be new babies this year; mommies: 14 is the magic number for a newborn shoot. I repeat: 14 is the...lol but seriously, newborns are best captured within the first 14 days of life if you are looking for a newborn shoot (one day, no, one hour after that, well let's just say we got to call them "oldborns" and you will understand why when you have your baby!). So I said all that to say, holla at your girl soon as your baby lands and I will fit you in the calendar - shameless plug I know :) but I will make it happen I promise.

Look for more details on the newborn/baby/toddler sessions Chocolate Photography NYC will be offering in 2012 in a future post.

Now this baby was a Christmas season baby :). Jordan here is a super heavy duty chunk of joy, a tank of cuteness lol (he weighed in at 9lbs and then some). He is big and strong, don't mess with him, I did and found out soon enough what heft I was dealing with lol. Indeed I looked very forward to meeting this bundle of joy as I shot his mommy's maternity session last year. His mom is half of one of my fave sets of twins :) so that makes him pretty special too. Time for the photos to do the talking - enjoy my fun afternoon with Baby J!

WHAT A YEAR and MERRY CHRISTMAS

Dear Diary...

Well, so, Jesus' Birthday is almost here and I am editing like crazy tonight so I can take some time off tomorrow to celebrate the birth of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and thank Him for making 2011 an amazing year for me, Yinka and for Chocolate Photography; not to mention His unfailing love and protection over my loved ones, friends and family and all my clients each and every one of them world over!

2011. What a year for the business and I am grateful to you all my lovely clients and viewers of this blog. I wish you all peace in your corners of the world and a happy healthy 2012 ahead. Get set because I know 2012 will be another astounding year and I look forward to working with more fabulous people and couples!

ONWARD!



PS: I always like to try to write a little piece on my Christmas perspectives but alas I ran a bit behind schedule this year so, if you will, enjoy this little piece from 2009 (sorry, sending out old bits won't be happening too often, I promise ;-) )
http://clickmama.wordpress.com/2009/12/23/deck-the-malls/

Also enjoy this sneak peak of Marjorie and John's Punta Cana wedding. It is long awaited I know but the wait will be worth it - another promise!



Thank you and all my best!

Sights and Sounds of Punta Cana

Enjoy some scenes from my recent trip to Punta Cana for a wedding. New from Chocolate Photography, prints for sale! Contact me if interested in any of the prints below!
Thanks!

Coming soon: Baby makes four!

My dear girlfriend just had her second son recently. Before the stork made its rounds, B had called me up and invited me over to beautiful sunny Florida for a beach maternity shoot. It was during the 'spring today, winter/blizzzard tomorrow' phase of NYC weather so was I glad to be away for a few days to some sun! It was also great going back - the last time I was there was years before as B's maid of honor at her wedding. Time does fly and voila she is a lovely mom of 2 beautiful boys! She and her family are dear to my heart and I congratulate them on their latest delivery. I hope you enjoy a peek at their fun family/maternity session.

The Real McKoys...

Hey there. Happy New Month! There are many reasons why I love the month of May. Well the most obvious of course is we say a proper hello to summer, and also I was born in May and 2 other members of my family! So very grateful to God for this month and all the other days of this year!

Well you might remember this preview...? Yep it's them, it's the REAL MCKOYS again and I can tell you these guys are the real deal.

I went out to Jersey for a lifestyle shoot of the family and these are the images I came away with. They capture the essence of the kids and their dad so well heheh. You have to know them to understand fully, what I'm talking about...

Anyway I had a blast, my girl Autumn was my road dawg and paid me the most attention lol so let's start with my girl.

She's a sweetheart and daddy's girl and she don't play when it comes to him! Bests not try to talk smack about her daddy within her earshot or else you'll hear "That's my daddy!!!" lol m jes sayin (Honest it did not happen to me... ;P)



The boys! Check out their swag!




The house the McKoys built....



Guys I cannot wait to this again by then the boys will have more smiles for me I hope but then I heard the cool kids don't smile for photos. Oh mehn... ;)

Preview: A sweet shower to remember and meeting of a photographer.

Wow where do I start, where do I begin to talk about this shower. Well I am saved by the bell so to speak because this is just a sneak peek of what transpired at the bridal shower of a dear friend, which was just absolutely darling. I SAW your vision girl heheh!! I sure did see...and what a lovely vision it was. I cannot wait for the wedding. Shout out to my girl who emceed, Ms. Funmi Ajao, CEO of Impressive Events! More details on the shower in the full post.



Don't want to give it all away, you know this being a preview and all :), so let me move into the other main attraction of my post today.


So I am sitting there minding my own business and in saunters photographer wunderkind, Dotun Ayodeji and soon as I recognized him I'm like phew, pressure's off because I KNOW he was not exactly in there to have a fun time at this gals only shower lol. Leave it to my able CEO to question his mission "Ah Mr. Dotun, how are you, are you here to attend or are you here to work?" she asks. He murmurs his response, which I think was something like "ummm work..." LOL. Apparently he had just worked a full day wedding the day before, he explains, and was beat but still came to surprise the bride by shooting her bridal shower for her. Top customer service right there I'll say...

So just like that I formally not only meet but work with and learn a whole lot of tips from, Ddot! I inform him that I had seen him once or twice before at some wedding or two in the last five years but never introduced myself, even though I always visited his blog from way back from his shutterchance days with my gesticulative commentary on pretty much every other photo he would post LOL, to his current photoblog, yep call me blog stalker lol. "Oh" he says, 'if those occasions you'd seen me were whilst shooting a wedding, then probably I wouldn't remember fully..." he is in the zone when working and does not have that much time to socialize...oh well I totally understand!

For the first few minutes we exchange notes on our photography experiences, he more than me of course with the loads of weddings he's shot and then he opens his bag of tricks, sorry toys, sorry trinkets, oops I mean glass (for non photogs, I mean , lenses); I gasp and have to step back like 'whoa...' and then he quips, 'Oh I did not bring all of my lenses to this shoot" and I'm like, wait there's more?!?! LOL

We get to shooting and I see him do that voodoo that he do lol, live in a smaller, more relaxed setting (no wedding day mode here, phew thank God lol) and I have to say his shooting style is no frills, unobtrusive and almost invisible. For the most part, I did not really even see him in the room, it was like he was not there, oh but he was and he has his stellar images to prove it -I hope he blogs the shower...he quips that he is not very much of an obsessive compulsive blogger you see - I daresay if he had to blog every wedding, commission or event, he would have to blog almost every day of wedding season...

I could go on and on but I'll say Dotun it was a pleasure to meet. Thanks for the tips on flash lighting, angles and of course your willingness to be nice and share your glass...


Yap got some few funny shots of Dotun doing his thing.