4.30.2014

How to Find the Perfect Photographer for Your Wedding?

A memorable wedding day is everyone’s dream. Although you need to arrange several things so as to make this big day special and etch every moment of this occasion into your mind, the two most important matters are the wedding venue and wedding photographer that should be selected carefully and exactly right. When it comes to hiring a wedding photographer, there are certain points you should consider to make an ideal choice.

Search and Shortlist. Create a list of favorite photographers in your region by undertaking an extensive research. Various sources to find potential photographers include local wedding pages, online customer reviews, search engines, suggestions from family, friends and colleagues, etc.

Face-to-face meeting is the key. Fix a time to discuss with each shortlisted photographer personally. It is necessary to directly talk with the person who will be actually taking pictures at your venue and not with a salesperson, studio owner or any other representative. Since this professional is going to spend the whole day with you, it makes sense to understand, trust and establish a rapport with the photographer beforehand.

Photographic style matters. If you’ve a specific photographic style in mind for your marriage, then look for professionals specializing in that style which may be traditional, documentary, portrait, candid, fine art or anything else. Ask your shortlisted photographers about the styles they’ve expertise and experience in. It would also be better if they can showcase you some of their past works for review.

Judge the editing style. Different photographers make use of different means to edit their pictures through computer software. Some render their images with a clean and natural look, some deliver a matte finish with soft and pastel colors like an old movie and some others create a high-contrast, vibrant appearance with rich colors. So, you have to decide how your photos will appear in the end and ask for the same from the photographer.

More the wedding packages, the better. Wedding photographers should offer many different packages to accommodate the varying budget and requirements of their clients. A package usually includes a photographer along with assistants, creative photo session, professional photo editing and retouching, slideshow, online photo gallery, photo prints or photo album. So, compare all the packages available before hiring a professional. A wedding photographer must be able to provide you with a tailor-made package meeting your specific needs and budget.


Act early to get what you want. Many sought after wedding photographers accept bookings for events over one year away. So, if you don’t make the booking a lot earlier, it will be harder to hire your most favorite photographer.     

4.22.2014

Top 4 Reasons to Plan an Intimate Wedding Reception

Weddings are the most memorable events in a couple’s life, apart from the birth, perhaps, of their first child.  And with that, couples, especially, the bride, always want it to be unique, maybe extravagant and impressive.  The decision on the kind of wedding to have – whether it be grandiose or intimate – is also affected by the couple’s interests, theme and even budget.  Those who want an intimate wedding reception decide on it for several different reasons.  They may be:

      1.  The guest list.  Couples who opt for an intimate wedding want to be surrounded exclusively by people who have meant so much to them and have played a vital role in who they have become.  They often limit their guest list to family and close friends.  Having a smaller guest list also allows both sides of the family to get to know each other better.  Close friends who may have brought the couple together can also share the couple’s story and add a romantic touch to the occasion.

      2. Budget.  An intimate wedding reception could also be dictated by the budget.  Wedding receptions are the most costly aspect of planning a wedding.  Trimming down the budget for the reception can be a constraint.  On the other hand, it has some perks.  Firstly, you get an intimate wedding.  Secondly, it helps you get creative.  You might want your attendants to help make your tokens.  It could be eco-friendly, like printing your invitations on recycled paper or going digital.  Thirdly, it could mean a free venue.  The reception can be held in either of your parent’s backyard or it can be held in a school hall of which your friend is the principal or the dean.

      3. Venue.  The venue for your wedding reception may not be dictated by the budget but a place could be your choice for the meaning it holds.  You may be a camp worker and find that a spot at camp is ideal for the kind of wedding that you have in mind.  Or maybe, you and your soon-to-be spouse are outdoorsy types and there’s a spot near a hiking trail or a park which you think provides the best scenery for an outdoor wedding.  Both ideas may not necessarily limit the number of guests, but the venue may call for a laid-back but intimate wedding.  Laid-back doesn’t also mean unsophisticated.  It can be simple, yet elegant.

4. Opulence.  Yes, that is correct.  If budget is not an issue for you, you can go all-out on a very unique wedding.  Instead of a band or a dj, you might want a string quartet for that romantic and intimate feel.  If you choose to hold your reception in a club or exclusive resort, you might have a cocktail party first, followed by a sit-down dinner with several courses paired with vintage wines and maybe, a wine fountain.  Most of all, you can hie off to a grand honeymoon, whisked off by a helicopter or a yacht.  Now, isn’t that romantic?  


For more useful tips visit our website: www.pictureandcinema.com

4.20.2014

The Best Wedding Venues in San Francisco - The Regency Ballroom

The Best Wedding Venues in San Francisco through the eye of a Professional Wedding Photographer 

Weddings at The Regency

Any bride would do her best to make her wedding truly memorable not only for her and his groom, but also for the guests.  Guests are not mere acquaintances of the couple but are special people who have been part of the couple’s lives.  It is no wonder that weddings are planned with detail to the point that sometimes brides become bridezilla.  But at The Regency Center, special consideration is given for brides.  The Regency Center takes out the stress of planning for a wedding.  Knowing that a couple faces the constraints of budgeting, the couple can choose from a great list of preferred vendors.

If the couple has a caterer in mind, The Regency Center also welcomes outside catering.  This is advantageous if a couple has a friend or relative who is a caterer and would probably give discounts and freebies as a wedding gift.

There is no in-house wedding coordinator or planner at The Regency Center but their people, like Bailey Nakano, their Private Event Sales Manager, works with couples or their planners and coordinators to achieve that special wedding event that any bride envisions.  Bailey’s experiences have taught her that couples are often concerned with how much time they can use the venue.  That is understandable because every host wants to make sure that guests have a good time during their wedding.  And that’s what The Regency Center offers – hourly rates for use of the venue.  In that way, couples can stretch their budgets.

When it comes to working with vendors, The Regency Center expects open communication from them so that details are not left to assumptions and the couple gets what they envisaged.  Couples are also entitled to several ocular inspections so that they have a feel for the venue and are able to take advantage of its old-world charm, having been built in the early 20th century. 
If you expect around 380 guests for your wedding, you can use the Regency Ballroom.  It has a stage for a band and a dance floor; 430 if you prefer to do away with the dance floor.  You or most likely, your family, can use the parlor to catch up on the lives of your relatives who might be from out of town.  They might prefer the privacy and calm of the parlor when the wedding party is in full swing.



If your budget constrains you from a larger crowd, opt for a Sutter room, which accommodates crowd of 300. It also has a stage and an annex room if you go slightly over a guest list of 300 or if you want an area where your guests can lounge around after your wedding program.

Lastly, if you desire a more intimate gathering that accommodates 200 guests, there's the Lodge. You still have a stage and dance floor. What makes this room a lot more intimate and romantic are its stained glass windows and a charming pipe organ. On the same level as the lodge are the Candidate Room and the Regency Room which can made as parlor or lounging area. Such rooms can also hold engagement parties or used to receive guests before the actual banquet if you are to follow the Chinese wedding tradition.



You can read more here about The Regency Ballroom: http://www.theregencyballroom.com/

You can read soon about the next one of the Best Venue of San Francisco!

For more useful tips visit our website: www.pictureandcinema.com