Katee and Zach’s Windham Mountain Catskills Wedding Photos:

I had never photographed a wedding at Windham before, so it was pretty exciting.  The weather was perfect for a wedding.  It was sunny and warm.  There was that great fall smell in the air.  The colors on the mountain were beautiful.  Everything was just picture perfect.   I like to ask my brides to share their own story.  They can write pretty much whatever they want to share.  So below is what Katee chose to share:

“Zach and I first met in the summer of 2009.  We were neighbors on Broad Street in Plattsburgh where we both attended college.  If you had told us then that we would one day be getting married, I think we both would have laughed in your face.  We were great friends, but complete opposites.  But hey, they say opposites attract, right?

“Fast forward to Spring 2010, the week before we were returning home for the summer, and something just clicked between us.  We kept in contact, talking and texting every day.  In July, I made a visit to Saratoga.  I spent a week with him and met his parents and sister.  It was after that trip that we made it official (you know–Facebook) and began dating.

“We had a long distance relationship which made things difficult at times, but true love is worth the wait.  I moved to Saratoga after graduating college in September 2012.

“Fast forward to October 3, 2015, the day he proposed.  We had a trip to Niagara Falls and Buffalo planned.  Sunday the Bills were playing the Giants (both of our teams), so we decided to go.  I had never been to an NFL game before, so I was very excited.

“Zach was the first person to take me to Niagara Falls.  He took me for our one year anniversary in the summer of 2011.  Since we were going to Buffalo for the game, we thought we would go back to Niagara Falls for the night.

“It was a gloomy, rainy, chilly day in Niagara Falls.  We bundled up and decided to ride the Maid of the Mist anyway!  Since the weather was less than ideal, it was not too crowded, which made it even more special.  While aboard, Zach was anxiously tryng to get me to come across to him, but I was reluctant to give up my spot against the railing.  Finally, I caved and went across to join him.  He asked a stranger if he could take our picture.  Before I knew it, he was down on his knee.  I was expecting him to propose that weekend as we had been talking a lot about marriage before this, but I was still so surprised.  I was beyond ecstatic.  No words can explain my feelings at that moment.  The kind stranger recorded the proposal.  We feel so lucky to have that special moment captured on film.

“I always knew I wanted a fall wedding.  It is my absolute favorite time of year.  Zach and I both love the outdoors, so we knew we wanted to incorporate that into our wedding.  We researched many venues online and looked at a few, but nothing gave us “that feeling.”  We decided to check out Windham Mountain, and we instantly fell in love.  The beautiful drive to get there, the view of the mountains, the chairlift ride to the top, the newly renovated space… it was all just perfect.  We booked it that day and the planning started! October 15, 2016 would be our day!

“Now I know with most girls it is all about the dress, but for me, it was all about the shoes.  I am a shoeaholic, and I always said I would wear Christian Louboutin shoes on my wedding day.  My mom bought me the most beautiful pair of Louboutins and I was in love.  I ended up breaking my foot before my wedding, and although I was not in a cast (thank God!), I couldn’t wear my shoes.  It was heartbreaking, but I got through it.

“Even though it was not all about the dress for me, I did absolutely love my dress.  Before I went looking, I knew I had certain criteria for my gown: form fitting, sexy back.  As soon as I tried on the Olvi gown at Something Bleu in Saratoga, I knew it was the dress.  It was soft, comfortable, romantic, sexy–everything I wanted to look like on my wedding day.   I knew Zach would love it too.  The head necklace I purchased from them for my headpiece was amazing.  I got SO many compliments on it.  It was different and really completed my look. My cathedral veil matched my dress perfectly and gave me that dramatic look I wanted as I walked down the aisle.

 

“Our wedding day was the best day ever (naturally).  We go so lucky with the weather.  It was sunny and warm and the Fall colors were at their peak.  The scenery was to die for.

“The best part of our wedding day was standing back and watching our guests enjoy themselves.  Everyone had such a great time and it was so nice to see all of our hard work pay off.  Our only complaint was that it went too fast.  We want a re-do;-)

“We are now an old married couple, one month married.  It couldn’t be more wonderful.  We are looking forward to buying our first home together within the next year.  After the house comes the fur baby.”

Wedding Vendors for Katee and Zach’s Windham Mountain Wedding:

Wedding Photography | Blackburn Portrait Design                      Wedding Venue | Windham Mountain

Wedding Videography | Lovecraft Productions                               Florist | Douglas Koch

Wedding Gown | Something Bleu Bridals                                         Wedding Dress Designer | Olvi

Are you planning a wedding in Upstate NY?  Please be sure to call 518.584.4237 or fill in the Contact Form to schedule a consultation today.

Did you enjoy Katee and Zach’s Windham Mountain Wedding Photos?  Check out our Wedding Portfolio or this Wedding Blog Post.

How much do you charge for Wedding Photography?

This is a question I get all the time, especially from brides wanting to hire a wedding photographer for their big day.  This is a very valid question, but not the most important question.  I think the most important question you can ask is “What are we getting?”  One of the questions I like to ask prospective clients is “How do you dream of being photographed?”  While the cost of Wedding Photography is certainly important, price should not be the main question when choosing your wedding photographer.  While all couples have a budget (and some wedding budgets are larger than others), the thing most people care about after the wedding is the quality of their wedding photos.

Wedding Photography Lasts Forever

I think most people would agree that they want some wedding photos that they can display in their homes so they can look back on the day and smile.  They want to remember how they felt at that exact moment in time.  As a wedding photographer, I can tell you that a lot goes into creating images that look great and stand the test of time.  Knowledge of gear, seeing light, artistic composition and flattering posing are what sets the better photographers apart.  Clients may not know exactly why they prefer one photographer over the others.  But it is usually because the photographer they love has some serious skills.  Study and practice are the only way to to consistently produce good results.

Good Wedding Photography Is Not Like McDonald’s!

To drive this point home a little, let’s frame it in a context I love–food.  For example, there are lots of different options for dinner out there.

If you want to eat beef for dinner you could go to the supermarket and buy a package of ground beef for $3.99 and make a meatloaf at home.  Or you could go to McDonald’s and get a burger for like $2.  If you want to have a slightly better experience, you could go to a chain like Friendly’s and pay $9 for a burger and fries.  If you want superior steak, you go to a fine restaurant.  You get an entree for $40 or more, along with a glass (or several glasses) of wine, appetizer, salad and dessert.  You end up paying way more that $2 for that experience and quality.

And you would never go to a really beautiful restaurant and tell them you want to purchase a piece of raw beef to take it home to cook it yourself. Wedding Photography is not any different.  If you want superior photographs, why would you expect to pay McDonald’s prices?  Would you walk into McDonald’s and expect to find Beef Filet on the overhead menu?  Would you expect them to serve you on fine china?  NO–because their business model is to provide cheap, poor quality food at the cheapest possible price point.  Their entire model is to get people in and out as quickly as possible.

There are photographers out there who work on the McDonald’s business model.  Some photographers will do a 15 minute session and give you all the images on disk.  Or there are studios at the mall where you can walk in without an appointment and get all the images on disk.  I am not saying this is horrible.  It is just not a custom experience and you most likely will not get great customer service.  You certainly aren’t getting anything terribly original.  There are times when a cookie cutter approach is fine–“mini sessions” for Christmas cards come to mind.  But there are times when you really do deserve better quality and a great experience.

You Get What You Pay For In Wedding Photography

So before you ask a photographer how much they charge, why not ask yourself–“How do you dream of being photographed?”  Because the answer to that question can rock your world.  Are you McDonald’s?  Or are you Le Bernardin?

Did you enjoy this article on Wedding Photography?  You might like this post on Choosing a Wedding Photographer.  Are you ready to hire your Wedding Photographer?  Fill in the Contact Form to schedule an appointment.

Must Have Types of Wedding Photos

A while back, I wrote a post called Five Things Absolutely I Hate, which was basically what I think Wedding Photographs should NOT be about. Today, I would like to focus on (no pun intended) what I think Wedding Photography should be about and the must have types of wedding photos I try to create at all the weddings I photograph. There is a plethora of lists floating around on all the Wedding Blogs detailing shots your Wedding Photographer “should” capture. While I think detail shots like the groom’s boutonniere or the bride’s shoes are great, and a list of formal posed shots can be helpful, I think Wedding Photos can and should be much more meaningful. I feel like the most important part of my job is to make sure people remember the emotions they were feeling on their wedding day. So here are my top four types of images that I think are important on a wedding day.

1. Romantic Anticipation: I think there is a moment right before a kiss that is more exciting in a photograph (and in real life) than the actual kiss because of the tension and anticipation. Nine times out of ten, couples choose this type of image for their wedding together:)

2. Real Family Connections: While posed Family Portraits can be an important part of the day, I believe that real, unscripted moments are what it is all about. Sometimes people have a hard time speaking about their emotions, but a hug or a gesture caught by the camera can convey the depth of their feelings.

3. The “Aha Moment”: Oprah used to talk about the “Aha Moment.” For me at weddings, that is when the couple realizes they are actually married. Sometimes they laugh, sometimes they cry.

4. The very first time you see each other: I don’t care if my clients have a “First Look” before the ceremony or if they wait to see each other at the altar. I do think this is a moment that needs to be captured–there are just so many emotions.

So there you have it–this is what I am concentrating on when I photograph a wedding. Of course there is a little more to it than this, but these types of images are really the most important for me because they help people remember exactly how they felt at that particular point in time.

Are you looking for a photographer for your upcoming event?  We would love to chat!  Please give us a call at (518) 584-4237 or use our Contact Form. 

Photographer Susan Blackburn of Susan Blackburn Photography specializes in photographing Weddings and Elopements.  With a photography studio location in Saratoga Springs, NY, Susan serves the Saratoga Springs, Lake George and the Adirondack Regions. She is also available for travel assignments.  Susan has been a professional photographer for 20 years. Her goal has always been simple—take pictures that her clients love.

 

 

Stablegate Barns Wedding Photos

An Upstate Wedding at a rustic barn is always beautiful.  Kailee and Doug’s Stablegate Barns wedding photos are over the top!

Yee Haw!  I had the opportunity to photograph Kailee and Doug at  their beautiful rustic barn wedding this past weekend at the Barn and Yineyards at Stablegate!  I will be blogging this wedding later on, but I wanted to post some pictures now because it was such a beautiful event.  Even with the rain on Saturday, we were able to create some stunning images of the Bride and Groom at this lovely and unique venue.

 

Congratulations and Best Wishes to Kailee and Doug!

Did you enjoy these Stablegate Barn Wedding Photos?  You may enjoy these Rustic Chic Wedding Photos as well.  Are you looking for a wedding photographer to help you create your Rustic Wedding Photos?  Please contact Susan Blackburn at (518 584-4237 or fill in a Contact Form.

Kailee and Doug’s Rustic Barn Venue:  The Barn and Vineyards at Stablegate

Wedding Photography by Susan Blackburn, Blackburn Portrait Design

Photographer Susan Blackburn of Susan Blackburn Photography specializes in photographing Weddings and Portraits. With a photography studio location in Saratoga Springs, NY, Susan serves the Saratoga Springs, Lake George and the Adirondack Regions providing couples with the finest in Wedding and Event Photography

Vintage Chic Saratoga Wedding

Congratulations to Shawn and Andy on their Vintage Chic Wedding this past weekend in Saratoga Springs, NY. The bride is a graduate of Saratoga Springs High School. Shawn and Andy got married in her parents’ backyard. We will definitely blog this in way more detail later, but we wanted to post these and congratulate the lovely couple now!

Shawn and Andy chose to have a nontraditional ceremony with a friend as their officiant. They had their ceremony under the trees in the backyard.And and Shawn’s wedding featured vintage china, vintage quilts on the lawn, delicious food from Hattie’s Chicken, and Mint Juleps as the signature cocktail as a nod to their current city. And and Shawn’s friends brought their vinyl records and spun great tunes all night long. All the best to Shawn and Andy! Have a great honeymoon, y’all! Wedding Vendors for Shawn and Andy’s Wedding: Saratoga Wedding Photography: Blackburn Portrait Design Caterer: Hattie’s Catering Company Tent Rental: Belmonte and Sons Be sure to check out our Wedding Photography Portfolio. Are you planning a wedding? Check out this article on wedding trends.

Susan Blackburn is a Wedding and Portrait Photographer located in lovely Saratoga Springs NY. She provides Wedding Photography to couples in Saratoga, Lake George, the Adirondacks, and beyond. Please call 518.584.4237 to schedule a consultation today.

Wedding traditions are one of the things I love about photographing weddings. There are many beautiful traditions and symbols in today’s wedding ceremonies. Jewish Wedding Ceremonies in particular are filled with deep symbolism and meaning. The traditions go back centuries, but are still very relevant today.

At a Jewish Wedding, the Ceremony takes place under a Chuppah. The Chuppah is a canopy which symbolizes the new home that the Bride and Groom will create together from this day forward. The Bride is leaving her family’s home and entering her husband’s home. The Chuppah is left open on all four sides, just as Abraham and Sarah had their tent open on all sides to welcome guests.

The Ketubah is the traditional Jewish marriage contract. It outlines the responsibilities of the Groom towards the Bride–to provide food, shelter and emotional support. Today’s Ketubot are more egalitarian and represent a more modern rendition of marriage vows. The Ketubah is often written with fine calligraphy on beautiful paper amidst very detailed artwork. Very close friends and relatives are traditionally invited to watch the signing of the Ketubah. It is signed by the Bride, the Groom and two witnesses. After the wedding, the Ketubah is usually framed and hung in a prominent place in the couple’s home to serve as a reminder of their vows.

Wine is a symbol of joy in the Jewish faith. The Bride and Groom share two cups of wine in a Jewish Ceremony. The Betrothal Blessings are said before the first cup, which the couple then shares. Later on in the ceremony, the Bride and Groom share more wine after they have been blessed. At the end of the ceremony, an empty wine glass which has been wrapped up is placed on the floor, and the Groom shatters it with his foot. The breaking of the glass symbolizes several things. It is a reminder of the destruction of the Temples in Jerusalem and that even in times of great happiness, the Bride and Groom should always be aware that life also brings sorrow and sadness. It also serves to remind them that love is fragile like glass.

Rings are an important part of most Wedding Ceremonies. In the Jewish faith, the marriage becomes “official” once the Groom has given the Bride something of value–a ring. The wedding band is usually left as plain gold because it is hoped that the marriage will be one of simple beauty.

In some Jewish ceremonies, the Bride and Groom are wrapped in a tallit, or prayer shawl, symbolizing both their union and their religious faith. Prayer shawls belonging to different family members can also be incorporated in the Chuppah symbolizing both a link to the past and the support of family and friends.

Did you enjoy this article on Weddings? You might also enjoy this post on Wedding Planning and Trends. You might also like to see our Wedding Photography Portfolio.

Susan Blackburn is a Wedding Photographer located in beautiful Saratoga Springs NY. She provides Wedding Photography and Portrait Photograhy to clients in Saratoga Springs, Lake George, the Adirondacks and destinations worldwide. Please call 518.584.4237 to schedule a consultation to discuss your Wedding Photography needs.

Just Shoot Me | Wedding Photography Shot Lists

When I have a final consultation with a wedding photography client, one thing they usually give me is a shot list. A shot list is a short list of “must have” photos you would like made on your wedding day. I know that many wedding photographers do not exactly love to receive a shot list. I do like a shot list–but only a certain type of shot list. Let me explain.

Trust the Wedding Photographer You Have Hired

When you hire your wedding photographer, hopefully you are hiring someone whose style of photography you love. Hopefully you are hiring someone who has experience. In a nutshell, hopefully you are hiring someone who has a Clue. So I will just say–if you feel the need to hand your photographer a list with items on it like: “Full length portrait of Bride alone,” “Groom with Ushers” or “Bride with Mom and Dad,” this wedding photographer happens to think you have bigger problems than we can deal with here.

The Dreaded Wedding Photo Checklist

Yes, I know that Martha Stewart Weddings includes this checklist in every issue. But really, most seasoned wedding photographers know that these are pretty much standard, not-to-be missed photographs on a wedding day. Isn’t it common sense that a wedding photographer would make a portrait of the Bride alone? Or the Groom with his Ushers? Or the Bride with her Parents? When someone hands us a list like this, we want to blow our brains out. The message you are sending with a list like this is that you think we are incompetent and don’t know how to do our job. It does not motivate us to do our most creative, beautiful work. That is why most photographers hate a shot list.

Family Formals Shot List

The type of shot list I encourage has a list of specific groups of people you would want pictures of/with that I as a person outside of your immediate circle of family and friends would not think of on my own. I personally LOVE this kind of list. For example, I do not know your cousins from California. I might not know that your parents are divorced and your Dad hates your Mom’s new spouse and will not pose for pictures with them. If you have special groups of friends from college or work, it is a good idea to communicate this ahead of time. If my wedding photography clients let me know ahead of time how many groups/how many people we need to get pictures of, we can plan ahead in the Timeline for it. It just makes the formal portrait part of the day go that much more quickly. Let me repeat: it makes the formal portrait part go FAST. Fast = Less Stress. It also ensures we will not leave anyone out who you feel is important.

Special Events Wedding Photo Shot List

Another thing I encourage in the “List” is to communicate if anything out of the ordinary will be happening at the ceremony or reception. I personally do not like too many surprises when I am capturing a once in a lifetime moment(s). While Wedding Photographers have some pretty awesome super powers, we are generally not psychics. So it is good for your photographer to know ahead of time if someone special is doing a reading at the ceremony. Are the Moms lighting candles ahead of the processional? Is the officiant a close family friend or relative? Likewise if there is a special event at the reception that you want captured. Will multiple people be giving toasts throughout the evening? Do you have special ethnic traditions I might not be aware of? I might not know you will be doing the Tarantella, or you will be having a sparkler exit. If these are photographs you would like in your bridal album, let your wedding photographer know ahead of time.

This type of list is fairly easy to compile and ideally should not be longer than one page. Is there something you would be absolutely devastated if there was not a photograph of it? Put it on the list–within reason. As in every area in life, communication is key. If you enjoyed these images, you might enjoy a blog post of wedding photos.

Are you interested in having Blackburn Portrait Design photograph your upcoming event? Please call 518.584.4237 or fill out a contact form. Susan Blackburn specializes in Wedding Photography in Saratoga, Lake George and the Adirondack Regions. She is also available for assignments out of the area.

Best of Wedding Ceremonies | Saratoga Springs Wedding Photographer

As a Wedding Photographer, I strongly believe that the most important part of the wedding day is the ceremony.  After all, that is the entire reason for the day!  It is a ceremony that celebrates the commitment two people make in joining their lives together.  And as a Wedding Photographer, I approach this portion of the day in a somewhat serious frame of mind.  I know that it is the one part of the day that cannot really be re-created, so it needs to be right the first time.  Many times some of my favorite wedding photographs are of the ceremony.  So below are some of my favorite Wedding Ceremony photographs.

We hope you have enjoyed these ceremony images by Saratoga Springs Wedding Photographer Susan Blackburn.  If you would like to read more posts on being a Wedding Photographer in Saratoga, you might like to read this Wedding Photography Blog Post.  If you are interested in hiring a Saratoga Wedding Photographer, please call 518.584.4237 to schedule a consultation.

 

Choosing a Wedding Photographer

This time of year, lots of people get engaged and start planning their weddings. And many of them get completely overwhelmed by the planning process.  Choosing a Wedding Photographer can be one of the most important decisions an engaged couple makes.

What Do You Consider When Choosing a Wedding Photographer?

However, choosing a Wedding Photographer can be one of those areas that quickly overwhelms people. I think that is because while everyone knows that the photographs are important, they don’t necessarily understand what really is involved for a photographer to produce great wedding photos. Here are some simple things to consider when choosing a Wedding Photographer:

What Does Wedding Photography Cost?

1. Why can Wedding Photography be sooooo expensive? Most people only see the wedding photographer show up for the day to photograph the wedding. That leads them to believe that Wedding Photography is only an eight hour job.

In reality, there are many hours that go into producing top notch wedding photographs. In addition to planning the Timeline with the Bride and photographing an Engagement Session and the Wedding Day, good photographers spend many hours editing the images and designing the finished albums.

A typical full service wedding package equates to approximately 40 hours of a photographer’s time–one full work week. Add to that the general costs of doing business such as Insurance, Advertising, Equipment Costs, etc., and you get a pretty good idea of why good photography costs so much–as well it should. Would you like to work for a week and make significantly less than minimum wage? Of course not–why would Wedding Photographers be any different?

When Should We Book a Wedding Photographer?

2. How far in advance should we book our photographer? Most good photographers book out a year in advance for the busier seasons. In our area (Upstate NY) Fall is the busiest time of year because of the beautiful foliage. Those weekends are premium weekends and book up extremely quickly. So if there is a particular photographer you want, keep in mind that you should not wait until three months before the wedding to contact them.

Post Processing

3. Photoshop is magical–it can fix anything, right? Ummm. . . not really. While Photoshop is a great tool, it is always best for your Wedding Photographer to get things right in the camera and not rely heavily on “fixing” in Photoshop. Proper exposure and good posing should be paramount. These take years of study and practice to learn and perfect. And most photographers charge extra for things such as headswaps, extensive retouching, removing objects, etc. because it is so time consuming and laborious.

What is the difference between “Shoot and Burn” vs Edited Images?

4. What is the difference between someone who “shoots and burns” vs. someone who actually edits the photos? Shoot and burn photographers basically download their images and burn a disk of unculled, unedited images. They do not get rid of any of the “bad” images. They do not color correct or exposure correct; nor do they do any kind of Photoshop work whatsoever. Sure they are cheaper up front. But ask yourself–if they give you bad files that you then need to have “fixed” by a lab or another photographer, are you really saving money? Not really, and in many cases it will cost you more in the end. Be sure to ask whether the digital files you will be receiving will have been edited. You don’t want to be surprised. Sometimes paying a bit more up front for your photographer will give you the peace of mind you need to enjoy a stress free wedding day.

Digital Files of Our Wedding Photos

5. All the bridal guides tell me I need the digital files–what do I do with them? Digital files are great to have for archival purposes. Keep a copy on your hard drive, but also keep an copy at another location for back up. But if you take only one thing away from this post, let it be this: please print some of your pictures. Have your Wedding Photographer make an album or some wall portraits through a professional lab. That way you can enjoy looking at them whenever the mood strikes. And your children and grandchildren will enjoy the very first family heirloom you and your spouse create together.

Do We Need a Wedding Day Timeline?

6. Why is a Timeline so important? On the wedding day, there are so many things going on and there is only so much time in which to accomplish things. You need to work with all of your vendors ahead of time so the day flows easily and without stress for you. If pictures are important to you, you need to make sure you have enough time allotted to get the number and type of images you really want. For example, if you want to do sunset shots, you need to know ahead of time what time the sun will set on your wedding day and how it fits in with the catering timetable, etc. All the professionals at your wedding need to know and respect the Timeline in order for you to have a stress free day.

Considerations for Wedding Albums When Choosing a Wedding Photographer

7. Photographer X has an album for $800 and Photographer Y has the same size album for twice the price–an album is just an album, right? There are many different albums out there, with many different options. Some albums are much higher quality than others. That is why we encourage potential clients to actually meet with different photographers so they can see and feel the differences in the products. A simple press printed book will never be as expensive as a leather bound, hand stitched album printed on photographic papers. It would be like comparing apples to oranges. There are albums out there for all budgets. But if you purchase something that does not last, have you really saved money in the end? If your photos are important to you, choose something that will stand the test of time.

Hopefully this has been helpful in giving you a starting point in looking for a Wedding Photographer. For more information on choosing a wedding photographer, you can read What Is A Reasonable Price for Wedding Photography. Your wedding photos will be the only tangible product remaining after your wedding. Make sure you choose a photographer who you think will help you tell the story of your wedding day in a way you want to remember it.

We hope you enjoyed this Wedding Photography Blogpost by Saratoga Wedding Photographer Susan Blackburn. To see more Saratoga Wedding Photos, please view the Wedding Photography Portfolio. Please call 518.584.4237 to schedule a consultation today.