© William McLeod

A guest at our wedding said, “40, 50, 60 years from now… all you’ll have are memories. So, life should be about creating them.” Your wedding day flies by, and you won’t get to see everything (bride/ groom getting ready, transit to the ceremony, dinner tables etc.).  Photos help you see the things you don’t get to see. Photos help capture the moments and the memories.

Bill McLeod, our wedding photographer, is extremely talented, and he has a diversity of experience. Carol, a dear friend, introducted us to Bill, and they have worked together throughout the years. Bill’s client list includes TIME, Apple, Rolling Stone, GQ, US News, Vanity Fair Travel and more! His wife, Kathy, is also a photographer, and she is known for her lifestyle shots. She has shot for magazines such as San Francisco, TIME, Details, Elle Girl, Fast Company, and Wired. You can learn more about this talented team at http://www.gumgirl.com/

Working with Bill, we learned a lot about wedding photography and preparation. Here are a few tips to help you and your photographer:

• Assign a point person who can gather necessary people for photos (and make sure these people know ahead of time they are in the photos)
• If you have a train on the dress, have someone assigned to help with that.  Have touchup makeup handy
• Pass a list of all of the photos you want (photos with family and friends, detail photos, etc.)
• Pass a list of events, addresses, and contacts to the photographer so he/she knows when and where to be
• Make sure electrical outlets are available
• Have a backup plan for photo shots in the rain
• Arrange a meal for the photographer/s
• Avoid dark suits/ similar coloring clothing next to each other
• Budget enough time to take your photos, and make sure your guests (who are not taking photos) have something to do

We really enjoyed working with Bill, and we are so thankful that Carol introduced us. The very least we can do is pass Bill and Kathy’s contact to you, and this way you can learn more and see why they’re so fantastic to work with. For rates and availability, contact Kathy by calling (415 648-3342), e-mailing (gumgirl@pacbell.net) or viewing the Gum Girl website (http://www.gumgirl.com/). Enjoy!