© 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!

I told you all about Sabrina Wong the photographer back in February, and I am so excited to give you even more information about her fantastic homemade wedding albums!

I have heard that after the wedding is over, one of the most daunting tasks is putting together your wedding album.  It can take weeks, or even months, to sift through the hundreds of proofs sent over by your wedding photographer, choosing which ones to put in your album, and then waiting for the photographer to finalize everything.  Sabrina does not promise any miracles, but her albums take about a month to complete, and she is there every step of the way.  She helps you choose your photos, and then does the layout herself, using her expertise to fill the pages with the best photos and place them in the perfect order.  Before the pages are finalized, you get to walk through the layouts together and make sure everything is set up the way you want.

Sabrina makes the entire album herself, cutting the fabric for the cover, and every matte to suit your desired layout.  My favorite part about these albums is the customization.  I peppered Sabrina with questions about personalizing an album: Do your albums come in different sizes? Can you incorporate the ribbon from the bouquet? Would you be able to use some fabric from the tablecloth for the cover?  Is it possible to have the names and date stamped/embroidered on the cover? Do you ever use colored mattes?

I was secretly hoping to stump her on some of my requests, but Sabrina welcomed the challenges and said that one of her favorite parts about putting together albums is getting to do something new and different each time.  Her second favorite part? Seeing the finished product and knowing that she was able to help memorialize someone’s special day in such a unique way.

If a formal album is not your style, Sabrina also offers a digital option.  I flipped through a digitally printed accordion album done for a family photo shoot.  The pictures looked amazing, and the digital printing looked almost like traditional photos.  With a digital album, your options are nearly endless, which also gives you a lot more flexibility in terms of layout, colors, and editing.

Aside from weddings, both album types would be great presents for Mother’s Day or Father’s Day, anniversaries, or milestone birthdays.

I loved both albums and know that when I get married she is going to be one of the first vendors I call!  Maybe, by then, I will have come up with an option I want that will stump her.  Do you have a special design you want to incorporate in your wedding album?  Can you stump Sabrina?

Sabrina Wong

http://www.sabrinawongphoto.com/

sabrina@sabrinawongphoto.com

by Vera Devera

Swoon! My former colleague, Bethany, is getting hitched and she and her fiance are working with one of my favorite photographers, Jerry Yoon, for their wedding. Both Jerry and Bethany were kind enough to let me share their engagement shoot with you all. Congrats, Bethany and Bryan!