Boudoir is also synonymous to lingerie and glamour (beauty shot) photography.  Edward Verosky (a professional photographer) stated on his book 10 Ways to Improve Your Boudoir Photography Now “…boudoir is more about lingerie, seduction, and relatively plausible scenarios… The bedroom is the true atmosphere, or location, of boudoir. And lingerie, or less, is the only dress code.”

Lingerie photo shoot is not for everyone.  I’ve spoken to several women about this subject matter.  Some are totally against it.  Comments such as “slutty”, “not me” are what I heard.   In my opinion, it’s all depends how it is shot.  A client can more daring and have photos of herself is a more risqué outfits and poses.  While others can have a more conservative look and outfits.  I usually want to talk to the client prior to the shoot to find out what they have in mind when having their photographs taken .

Why have yourself photograph in a lingerie or boudoir?  There are many reason and it can vary from one person to another. Some want a photo of themselves  prior to a pregnancy or starting a family.  Some wants to see themselves in a different look or fashion other than a traditional portrait.   The photo albums are usually used as a gift for a wedding , anniversary, holiday, Valentine Day.   Also, it can be a reward to yourself for loosing weight.  Perhaps, you just want one because you feel and look good inside and out.

Whatever reason you have, give me a call or email me to get more information.

African American

Broom – Jumping the Broom

Jumping the broom, is a custom that has its roots in Africa to symbolizes the beginning of making a home together.
It took on a deeper meaning when during the days of slavery in the USA, African American couples were not legally permitted to marry.
As a public announcement and a statement of their love and commitment, a man and woman jumped over a broom pronouncing their entrance into matrimony.
They saw the wedding broom not only as the threshold of the Holy Land of Matrimony, but as a means of sweeping away evil from the paths of their lives.
Some used a plain Colonial style broom others wove beautiful flowers, garlands and tied scraps of cloth and white handkerchiefs around the broom handle. The more common and personal the item, the better.

Today, ribbon has replaced the cloth and African-American couples who include this custom in their wedding ceremony use ribbons that coordinate with their wedding colors and silk or satin flowers that match their wedding flowers. When ribbons and artificial flowers are used, the jumping become a a lasting family keepsake.
It is customary to ask a family member or friend to tell the history of this custom. and while they do, the bride and groom together sweep the broom in a circle until the story is finished. They then place the jumping broom on the floor and hold hands and jump over it together.

Cowrie shells

Some African-American brides wear cowrie shell necklaces, and or decorate their attire with cowrie shell because, cowrie shells are believed to encourage fertility. A note of interest: Cowrie shells were once used as money. Today they are used for purification and as a symbol of beauty and power.

Tasting the Four Elements

A less known and less practiced African American wedding tradition, require that the bride and groom taste: lemon as representing the sour, vinegar as representing the bitter, cayenne pepper as representing the hot, and honey as representing the sweet and delicious times of marriage. This ritual dramatizes the “traditional” promise to love “for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health.”

Catholic Traditions

Sacrament of Matrimony

A ceremony that consists, of at least three biblical readings, the exchange of vows, the exchange of rings, the Prayer of the Faithful, the nuptial blessing, prayers and appropriate music.
The Sacrament usually takes place during a Nuptial Mass in the morning or early afternoon.

Timing

Weddings are not scheduled for Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, or when Mass is read for the general congregation.

Requirements

Nily Glaser, the CEO of A-wedding Day at: a-weddingday.com She writes important articles, and has presented workshops for wedding professionals all over the USA.
To read more of her articles CLICK HERE Her web site is very popular for its discount wedding gifts, bridal accessories, print your own invitations, favors and the very unique items offered including the exclusive line of wedding Accessories By Nily.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nily_Glaser

Scheduling is Important- The best time to photograph a baby is when he or she is neither tired nor hungry. Try to schedule your session right after a feeding. Most photographers understand that it is difficult, if not impossible, to predict a baby’s schedule and are, therefore, usually more than happy to wait while you turn your baby back into the sweet angel you want documented for posterity.

Bring Refreshments (for you and baby!)- If you are nursing, find out if there is a place for you to easily feed your baby. If there will not be an adequate place for you to comfortably nurse, consider pumping before hand and bringing a bottle. For slightly older babies, bring along something to drink and a light snack. Frankly, you may both get thirsty and hungry during the session. It’s actually quite a lot of work for everyone involved. Which leads me to the next tip.

Plan on a Little Hard Work- It’s not easy to keep your baby cooing gleefully for an entire photo shoot. Be ready to make those ridiculous faces and do those embarrassing dances that you swore you would never do outside the privacy of your own home. You will likely be up and down, singing silly songs, playing peek-a-boo, and pretend sneezing for most of the session, so check your dignity at the door. Remember, the baby will likely look at you, so put on your show wherever you want the baby to look. (The photographer will most likely guide you through this process, letting you know when she/he needs assistance and directing you to stand in a certain place.)

Clothes (Or No Clothes) Do Matter- Bathe your baby about two hours before the shoot if possible, and dress him or her in something that you can remove without disturbing your angel. If you want those adorably innocent naked baby pictures, keep diaper and clothing loose to avoid making unsightly red marks. A neutral colored onesy makes for a very simple and clean photo, but splashes of color and bright patterns or hats are also great. If you (or your spouse and/or siblings) plan to be in the photos, try to dress in neutral colors, so your clothes will not become the focal point of the image.

Gather Wardrobe and Props Ahead of Time- “Packing” ahead of time will ensure that you don’t leave something behind. Wash and pack clothes, blankets, pillows, accessories, toys, and any other special items for your session as soon as you can get by without them. Don’t feel awkward if you show up with a full suitcase. Many people do.

Be on time. – You are likely allotted a certain amount of time for your shoot. Avoid having to rush by being prepared and on time.

Benipayo Photography

San Jose  | Wedding | Photographer | San Francisco

Contact: Michael at michael@benipayo.com

(408) 717-3670 ********** (415) 763-7643

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Christie Stockstill is a professional photographer in Austin, Texas. She specializes in maternity, newborn, baby, children, family and H.S. Senior portraits. Check out her website to view her portfolio and read more articles and tips: http://www.christiestockstill.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Christie_Stockstill

The day of your wedding is undoubtedly the most unforgettable and cherished day of your life. The day is made even more special with the presence of all your near and dear ones. Closest family and friends are there by your side to support and share the most significant moment of your life. As years go by, memories start to grow fainter and such an occasion is recollected through pictures of the esteemed day. However, if the photos are not good enough, the essence of the moment is ruined completely. Therefore, during the course of planning your wedding, it is very important to consider various options of wedding photography. You must look around for the best wedding photographer who can capture the exclusive day and come out with wonderful pictures to make for promising memories. Before choosing a person to act upon the successful task of wedding photography, there are few factors that need consideration:

The Style of Pictures
How do you want your photos to be? Most wedding photographers enhance the look of the pictures by adopting a specific style for example, traditional poses, candid camera work or photojournalism. You can either choose from one of these styles or get a combination of all. Also, you are given the option of getting the pictures in grayscale, sepia or natural colors.

Choosing the Photographer
The person taking your wedding pictures will be around you all through out the day and therefore it is very necessary to know the person before signing him up for the charge. Take time to speak to the photographer and get to know him well. He must be friendly yet professional, patient yet punctual, reliable and should make you feel at ease.

View Samples before Hiring
This is the most important aspect of appointing someone for wedding photography. You must request to view samples of the photographer’s previous work. Make sure you ask about the number of people assisting him and about the whole process as to how they go about it.

Time of Coverage
The session of photography depends on the events covered. In case you decide to get pictures of the ceremony only, the time of coverage would last from 1-3 hours. Many people also decide to get exclusive pictures of rehearsal dinner, bride and groom, engagement, reception, décor and cake etc. You can really get pictures clicked of the entire ceremony to make for an awesome reminiscence.

Delivery of Photos
This is the post photography session when you need to ask about how the photos will get delivered, if you can request for albums, if they will offer the negatives or digital files etc.

Price of Photos
The price of the photos is a significant aspect that needs a lot of thought. Don’t make a hasty choice by choosing a cheap photographer. You must not compromise on quality for a few extra pounds. The pictures will remain with you forever and thus you must shell out some extra money and go for the best kind of wedding photography.

Benipayo Photography

San Jose  | Wedding | Photographer | San Francisco

Contact: Michael at michael@benipayo.com

(408) 717-3670 ********** (415) 763-7643

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Author:  Veer Pratap
With over 10 years in photograpghy and 15 years in the graphic design industry we have created a new style of shooting and producing wedding albums. With a limitless gene pool of talent we set out to change the way weddings are shot and put together, thus we have! By using shooting methods from magazines, white balance laws from fashion photography and light rules from school of emotive photography, we capture weddings in an all new style: and by using the dynamics of graphic design, the colours laws of art direction and unilateral theories of fashion layouts, we put together what we shoot in an all new style…collectively. We don’t ask you to pose for pictures, we don’t ask you to repeat actions and we don’t ask you to freeze at crucial moments. We simply shoot what’s happening when it’s happening leaving you with the perfect album.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Veer_Pratap

So you’re thinking about your big day where you get to feel like a princess, walking down the aisle towards your prince charming, and a new life full of dreams to be realized. But wait a minute… Have you thought about where you want your dream wedding? Most couples who get engaged, give themselves a year or two to plan the wedding they desire. Because of this, wedding venues get booked up pretty quickly. So before you decide which shoes, which dress, which bridesmaid, you should start thinking about your wedding venue first. This will give you the liberty to book it as and when you plan on getting married. Wedding planners are very helpful for organizing not just the frilly wedding details, but also making the most of their contacts and sources to get you exactly what you desire. I have compiled a list of charming wedding venues in the San Francisco Bay area to give you some ideas on the setting and theme you can choose for your marriage ceremony.

The Conservatory Of Flowers

As a Wedding Planner, in my opinion, the Conservatory of Flowers is the most romantic wedding venue of them all. This venue is located in Golden Gate Park and can seat up to 200 inside and 300 people outside. This place would be the flowery setting a couple could enjoy for a beautiful summer wedding. Prefer a winter wedding? The building itself has sustained its charm for the past 130 years and holds a combination of tropical and aquatic plants, The flora and fauna add an exotic surrounding to your wedding reception. You can go even further by adding a tropical theme to your wedding itself.

Teatro ZinZanni

Want to spice things up? Plan a cabaret wedding at Teatro ZinZanni a cirque cabaret and dinner theater. This wedding venue can hold up to 285 guests and entertain guests with cabaret performances. This setting has an exciting old world luxurious feel to it, with velvet drapes, romantic lighting and unique performers to add to the celebration.

The Asian Art Museum

Want a backdrop of Asian grandeur to bestow your wedding day? Book the Asian Art Museum which can seat from 400 to 1200 guests. The enchanting history of China, Japan, India and South East Asia interwoven into your special day, will be perfect for having a traditional Asian wedding. Your wedding planner can help you decide an ethnic Asian cuisine to highlight the traditional aspects.

The Great American Music Hall

If you want to dance the night away in your white dress, take a chance on the Great American Music Hall. This wedding venue has top notch sound and lighting equipment, so even the guests sitting on the back tables can hear the music crystal clear. This hall can hold up to 600 guests and has the potential to impress. Musical gods such as Billy Joel, Jerry Garcia and Santana have all graced this venue. A wedding would be the ideal musical celebration to create at this location.

San Francisco Design Center

Do you have an artistic flair? A wedding planner can help you create a one-of-a-kind bridal ceremony at the San Francisco Design Center. This wedding venue was built from a historical railway station and includes ornate chandeliers, luxurious reception facilities and 125,000 square feet of room for the large scale wedding you’ve always dreamed about.

So after reading this, think about the impression you want to make on your wedding day. Be smart and hire a wedding planner in the San Francisco Bay Area. As you know when planning a wedding, every penny counts. A wedding planner can get you the discount and affordable price you can work with. A wedding planner will be able to guide you and help you choose the right venue and create a breathtaking moment to remember.

Text By: Jud Yaski (Wedding Planner)

Arranging plans for your wedding will involve many things from hiring a Bay Area wedding photographers to selecting a good caterer and allot more in between. Whether you are having your wedding in sunny San Jose or breezy San Francisco, the average cost of a Bay Area wedding has just recently surpassed $40,000 with many couples electing to spend far more than that figure as guest lists expand and venues are upgraded. Regardless of your budget, you can control costs and enjoy your day without being saddled with tremendous debt. Let’s take a look at all that you can do to plan for your upcoming Bay Area wedding.

A Budget and a List

Planning for a Bay Area wedding will likely include the input of your parents as well as your significant other. Traditionally, the bride’s family paid for the entire event, but today’s couples sometimes prefer to foot the bill themselves or ask both sets of parents for financial contributions. Regardless, a ballpark amount of money should be budgeted before you begin the wedding planning process. Much of those plans will be centered around the total number of guests expected to attend the reception, so go ahead and begin working on the list as you scout out various venues.

The Ceremony and the Reception

Although you may have a date in mind, those plans will be quickly altered if either your church is unavailable that day or a favored reception hall is already booked. If your marriage plans include a wedding during the most popular months of June through September, you may encounter more difficulty on getting the date that you want. Conversely, if you marry during the four months of the year, you will have the best chance of seeing your plans come to fruition. Consider a Friday evening wedding if your Saturday plans cannot be worked out.

The Internet: An Indispensable Tool

21st Century couples are using the internet like never before to help plan their big day. You can do the same for your Bay Area wedding to help you search for vendors, compare prices, and purchase goods. Indeed, savvy couples can accomplish the majority of their work online 24/7/365 to save time and money.

Virtually every business has a web site these days and from the ease of your laptop you can accomplish the following tasks:

• Tour reception halls via links to video clips and photographs.

• Find a wedding disc jockey to listen to interviews and music clips.

• Locate florists to preview flower designs and arrangements.

• Preview sites featuring the works of photographers.

• Shop for wedding rings, bridesmaid gifts, party favors, etc.

Spreadsheets and Wedding Plan Software

To keep track of and manage all of the costs, you can also use a handy spreadsheet like Microsoft Excel to get the job done. Beyond Excel, some couples have discovered that by using dedicated wedding plan software you can control all of your pertinent information and create a web site for guest preview. Some couples are now extending invitations and receiving replies completely electronically through these types of sites. Use whatever plans works best for you as you do have options!

Here Comes the Beautiful Bride!

Once your wedding plans are in place you can fully enjoy the day without worrying about the details. Short of hiring a wedding planner, a trusted family member or friend can help you keep you on track and relieve you of much of the minutiae related to planning your Bay Area wedding.

Michael Benipayo

Benipayo Photography

email: michael@benipayo.com

San Jose  | Wedding | Photographer | San Francisco

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Written by: Michael Brito is an internet marketing consultant and freelance writer for a variety of consumer related products.

Life in San Francisco or Bay Area is expensive, and hiring a San Francisco wedding photographers is no exception. The city is full of qualified and well-trained photographers, but many charge rates ranging from $2000 for a budget package to deluxe $8000 deals.

If you want to find a quality San Francisco photographers for your wedding day but are on a budget, keep reading for three great tips that will save you money without sacrificing the photo memories of your big day.

Ask Photographers to Match Competitor’s Prices

If you’re investigating multiple photographers, you can often ask them to match a competitor’s price, but only if the two photographers are offering similar packages. For example, if one photographer is providing an additional photo album, extra hours and photo retouching, you can’t expect them to match the price of a competitor who only provides digital proofs.

When asking for a price match, simply reply to a photographer’s quote by referencing other quotes from local competitors that were cheaper and better suited to your budget. Most photographers will reduce their quote in the interest of bagging a contract.

Take the Last Minute Risk

Booking at the last minute is risky, and you may not get the specific photographer whom you want. But because there is so much competition in the San Francisco area, there are going to be a lot of providers who will be available on your wedding day. Waiting is especially effective during the slow season.

Booking last minute also gives you room to wiggle and negotiating power. A San Francisco wedding photographer is more likely to drop their price by a few hundred dollars than spend a valuable Saturday bring in no income.

Go Out of Town

You may have to pay for travel time or gas expenses, but you can often still save money by booking a photographer outside the San Francisco Bay Area. Check rates of wedding photographers in San Jose and you’ll see discounts as steep as 20-50%, meaning that extra $100 to $200 for travel is worth the added savings.

Hit the Wedding Shows

A wedding show or bridal expo lets you meet multiple photographers all in one location and on the same day. So, instead of spending weeks browsing websites and interviewing prospects, you can get your photographer shopping in a day. Most photographers also offer special deals and promotions as a way of attracting brides to their exhibits.

Try the San Francisco Bridal Show or the Bay Area Bridal Expo, both of which are big wedding shows with numerous vendors. Take the opportunity to meet and greet photographers, interview them and get a feel for their personality and style.

In short, hiring an inexpensive San Francisco wedding photographer is possible. You just have to know where to look and how to negotiate. Remember, try out-of-town, last minute options, bridal shows or old-fashioned negotiating power.

For great information on wedding preparation tips, a popular site providing helpful pre-wedding insights-ideas.

Michael Benipayo

Benipayo Photography

email: michael@benipayo.com

San Jose  | Wedding | Photographer | San Francisco

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Article by: Trevor_R._Price

San Jose Wedding Photographer:  Benipayo Photography Studio

Last month’s wedding was in San Francisco at Saint John of God Church and their reception was at McCormick and Kuleto’s Restaurant.

Saint John of God Church was smack in the middle of everything.  Chinese grocer across the street and surrounded by condos.  It was a little noisy at around 630 since the dude that works at the Chinese grocery store was closing and he was making plenty of noise.    That was the only bad part since the inside of the church was adorn with fancy stained glass and the nicely decorated wooden walls.   The priest was nice enough to let me go “anywhere” I wanted.   Of course, I did not go anywhere and tried not to be noticed by not using a flash and staying in one or two places after the priest started talking.

The reception site at McCormick and Kuleto’s Restaurant was just several miles from the church.  The place looks ordinary from the outside and looking like any four star restaurant inside.  I went in and looked around where most of the guest have arrived way before me, drinking and eating h’orderves.  I wanted to help myself with those delicious looking appetizers but did not do so since it did not look professional to be eating while working.   I was at first disappointed at what I saw, just tables and nothing is ready???  After five minutes, I asked where they will be eating.  The waiter opened the door and showed me a ready reception area – beautiful place with nice big window looking at the ocean.  I was impressed!!  Really fancy and reminded me of where I got married.  Also, the waiters were nice and helpful.  I totally recommend this place if you are looking for a reception site.   Oh yeah, the food –  DEEELLIIICIOUS!!!!

The attendees to this wedding were from all over the place.  The Bride and Groom was from Terre Haute, Indiana.  The groom’s family are from Los Angeles and Jordan.  The Brides family are from Northern California and San Francisco (maybe San Jose too).   Unfortunately, the grooms father couldn’t make since his visa was not approved.  The bride was even from Whidbey Island where I use to live.  I wonder if we went to the same High School???

Here are some of the photos from the wedding.  Please enjoy!

If you want to hire me for your event / wedding in San Jose, San Francisco, Oakland, or anywhere in the Bay Area

Michael Benipayo

Benipayo Photography

email: michael@benipayo.com

San Jose  | Wedding | Photographer | San Francisco

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I am trying to find ways to blog more so that it will be useful to you, when you search for a Bay Area wedding photographer.  So, in the next couple of months, I will be using actual reviews of bride about their wedding photographers.  All business name of the Bay Area / San Jose wedding photographers will be deleted.

Again, this is NOT a bride’s review of my business.

I often hear and meet couples wanting everything for a low price.  I know enough that the lowest price does not equal to QUALITY.  However, the low priced San Jose wedding photographers will give you QUANTITY to compensate for their poorer quality products / photography.  Sure, people want to get quantity for the money they pay for but you run the risk of getting bad quality photos.  It really doesn’t matter if you are getting so much product but then the photo is so poor that it isn’t much to brag about.  Or, if the photo’s are okay then you still have to deal with a low quality products that the wedding album cover comes apart after a couple of years.  Benipayo Photography and Studio offers you affordable price with quality service and products.   Whatever the reason, YOU are spending over 30,000 thousand dollars into your wedding, you need to spend a some money (I’m not saying to break the bank) to get a good wedding photographer with quality service and products to remember your wedding and to share with your kids & grandkids that special wedding day.

What I offer my clienteles are quality products and services.  Most of my clients do not have to worry about extra expenses after their wedding since most are paid upfront.  All of the digital negatives are in full resolution and ready to be printed.  Meaning they area cropped, digitally processed to correct the white balance, color, contrast, etc before they are handed to you.  My albums are from a reputable U.S. company that have been around since 1940′s.  The albums are hand made with high quality leather or premium fabric, and comes with fine art cover.  You also get a lifetime cover warranty with my album company.   Unfortunately, most album now-a-days, they are machine made or the wedding photographer just buy the slip-in pocket albums to give you.  I offer quality service/products to provide you the best service and products.

So don’t think that anybody can be a photographer.  Sure, everyone can have a fancy camera but do they know how to use it? Your Uncle Bob? A cheap wedding photographer?  Your risk, your choice, your money, your blurry memory. Photographs are the only thing that you’ll have memories of your only wedding. You only get married ONCE! Don’t gamble your memories to get more quantity over quality!

What made me write this is a review from a bride regarding her low cost San Jose wedding photographer. I happen to know this San Jose Wedding photographer and will not mention his name since it is not my style to bad mouth anybody.   It is a real shame that this happens but it happens more than you think.  Don’t think cheap, think affordable.  Don’t think quantity think QUALITY.

This is the review from the former regretful bride about the un-named San Jose Wedding Photographer.  Unfortunately, it is too late for her.

“Beware – ??????  Photography, primarily operated by ???   ???? is TERRIBLE.   Terrible, terrible, terrible!  First, they didn’t even bother to take several critical shots.  Like of me, my husband and ANY of his family – not his mom, not his dad, none of us with his kids or any of his extended family.  No close-ups of our rings, no candid shots of us saying vows or kissing or dancing.  In fact, several times throughout the night I noticed him just standing there in the corner not doing darn thing.  He even excused himself and left before the reception was over.

In my opinion, on your wedding day, it is not your job to think of anything other than enjoying the moment.  He is supposed to be the professional.  He is supposed to be all-knowing about what shots make a complete, well-rounded wedding album that should capture and preserve your special day forever – and he’ll tell you that he is.  Imagine my disgust when I got my proofs back to discover that besides not seeing a single “touching” or “precious moment” type photo, that half of my family wasn’t even photographed at all!

Not to mention the photos were totally crappy!

After selecting photos to be printed, not a single one came back cropped, centered, filtered, soft-filtered or brushed in anyway shape or form.  I took better photos in my high school photography class!  Then to add insult to injury, I actually had to pay extra to have my crappy pictures mounted in a photo album.  I could have handed my dad a camera, told him to snap a few shots every now & then and saved myself $2000.

Our wedding album has become a running joke among our family and friends.  It’s pretty pathetic.

These are your wedding pictures people. You’ll be looking at them for YEEEEAAAAARS to come. Invest in a real photographer.  Not someone who brags about sending his kids or wife out to photograph people’s weddings in his place because he thinks, and I quote:   “Anyone can do it.”

And he talks too much.  He is shockingly self-centered and crude.  Meetings that should have taken 30-45 minutes drug out for 1 1/2 – 2 hours because he simply cannot shut up about himself, his kids or keep himself from telling off-color jokes.  I didn’t like him from the get-go but thought we could save a few dollars by hiring him.

Lesson learned – you get what you pay for.  Do not make the same mistake.”

So, you did save thousands of dollars on your wedding photographer but what is left for you to see if your photos are not pleasing to see.  You spend thousands of dollars on your wedding, spend some on a good wedding photographer to help you remember  your best day in your life!  You deserve it.