Jamaica wedding photographer
By Rob | May 13, 2008
Well its back to Jamaica again early tomorrow….for the third time this year! Kim and I spent some time there for our Jamaica honeymoon last June. In March I hung out in Kingston Jamaica and Montego Bay Jamaica photographing some events with Prince Charles! Now it’s time to actually shoot a wedding in Jamaica!!! Brenda and Jason found me online while searching for a photographer to shoot some engagement pictures at the beach in Delaware. We talked about the pros and cons of bringing along a destination wedding photographer with them. One thing lead to another and they decided to bring me down to shoot their Jamaica wedding!
Here is Brenda and Jason!
Flying into Montego Bay airport.
Rastaman in Kingston.
Check back soon for updates from my adventures in Jamaica! Yeah Mon!!!
~Rob
Topics: Destination wedding photography | No Comments »
Delaware Beaches engagement pictures
By Rob | May 10, 2008
Shannon and Jeff also came to me by way of Niki and Kyle after their White Clay Creek Country Club wedding! We actually got to know each other at Niki and Kyle’s wedding. So, I knew today would be full of fun and shenanigans!!! The weather broke earlier in the morning, but the clouds were still pretty awesome. We all met at my office and headed down to Bethany Beach Delaware to take some pictures. I gave Shannon some pointers on how to have a nice relaxed smile after she expressed her concerns about looking goofy. We walked around town stopping here and there for some shots. Then, we headed to Dewey Beach Delaware to find Jeff his boats!
Their big day will be in November at The Patio at Archmere wedding!
Not your size, boss man.
Maybe next time, Shannon.
LOL!
Dirty Dancing…”Take One.”
Dirty Dancing…”Take Two.”
LOL…way to let her fall….then yell at her!
Dirty Dancing…”Take Three.”
Oh yeah!
~Rob
Topics: Engagement pictures | 2 Comments »
St. Michaels engagement pictures
By Rob | May 10, 2008
Liz, Matt and I walked around the town of St. Michaels for their engagement pictures. The weather was magnificent, and they were very comfortable in front of the camera. I told them to ignore me and have little “moments” with each other. Most times couples look right into the camera every time they see me. Liz and Matt had no problem acting natural and doing what they do! They will be having their wedding south of Annapolis Maryland at a private home.
“Hey….come here often?”
“Is that a Boston University flag?”
lolololol. Had to get the Boy Scout shot!
I noticed Matt’s shirt was making him look like he had a beer belly.
So Liz helped out her future hubby.
So I turn around and Matt is running through the field with Liz!
Smile!
~Rob
Topics: Engagement pictures | No Comments »
Winterthur engagement pictures
By Rob | May 3, 2008
Meg and Ben came to me after seeing wedding pictures from Niki and Kyle’s White Clay Creek Country Club wedding. We met up at Winterthur Gardens and started the day with a tour of the gardens. We were cruising at about 0.3 mph in the shuttle and decided to get off at the first stop! The bugs were absolutely terrible and they were visible around and on their heads in the pictures! Well, we walked about the Winterthur gardens taking pictures while fighting off all the bugs. I have no idea how couples deal with those pests on their wedding day! All in all, the garden and the day turned out to be beautiful!!! Meg and Ben will be having a January Mendenhall Inn wedding…so hopefully no bugs!!!
“What the heck are we supposed to do?”
Calvin Klein is looking for some models, guys!
This giant bird nest was interesting….
Modeling is a tiring job.
~Rob
Topics: Engagement pictures | 8 Comments »
Destination weddings
By Rob | April 30, 2008
Destination weddings (DW) have been hugely popular for years. In fact, they’ve grown 400 percent over the last 10 years, according to a 2006 survey by The Conde Nast Bridal Group, publishers of Brides, Modern Bride and Elegant Bride (wpja.com). Not all are having Jamaica beach weddings, though. Destination weddings can be classified as a wedding over 200 or more miles from the couple’s home. For example, I just got back from Tracy and Jason’s Sunny Hill wedding in Upstate New York. They live in Baltimore and decided to head up to the Hudson Valley area to have a DW. Also, in a couple weeks I’ll be heading down to Ocho Rios Jamaica for Brenda and Jason’s Riu Ocho Rios hotel wedding!
Anyhoo, some couples don’t realize the importance or option of bringing their own wedding photographer for their DWs. Recently I’ve experienced bad vendors and heard of a couple of horror stories about some wedding photographers.
Here are some questions you should ask yourself:
Should I bring some of my vendors (that I know, trust and enjoy to be around) with me to my DW?
Recently at one of my destination weddings I experienced one of the worst vendors ever! The name and vendor’s specialty will remain protected because I’m not that type of guy. Well this person was an online purchase from the bride and groom in the area that the destination wedding was. So there was no way of actually meeting them beforehand. This vendor may have been on some type of mind enhancing “medicine”….and I’m not surprised if they had “will work for food” on their website!!!! It was really really bad.
It might be worth the extra money to bring a wedding photographer, videographer, make-up artist and/or hair stylist with you. You don’t want any unexpected surprises on your wedding day! My main mission with any of my couples is to build a relationship with them before the big day. The wedding day is not the day you should be meeting your photographer for the first time. If you’re completely comfortable with me then you will act completely natural. This equates to the most candid and natural looking pictures. This is also true about your family and guests. When I shoot destination weddings I always like to show up to the rehearsal to meet everyone. Then everyone thinks of me as a part of the wedding…not just one of the vendors.
It’s great to hang out with my couples and their guests on the days leading up to the wedding!
Think of me as your personal photographer for your whole destination wedding adventure.
Great wedding pictures and some fine art, too!
Can’t I use the resort wedding photographer?
You can, but I’ve heard a lot of very bad things happen. You don’t even know who your wedding photographer is until the big day. Whoever is not busy that day will be your guy!!! Most show up and shoot 24, 36 or 48 pictures. They give you an album with those selected number of pictures soon after. Recently, one of my destination wedding brides forwarded me this email (from a DW bride…to her wedding planner…to my bride) and said, “all i can say is thank god you are coming!”
“On the other hand, I was very displeased with the photographers. Before we could even do our recessional they were in our face, and had our bridal party do a receiving line - mind you - before we even got to walk down the aisle. They had to play our recessional song twice!!!! I was kind of upset about that. Then during the sand ceremony, they kept telling us to kiss- DURING THE CEREMONY!!!! I can understand them telling you to pose etc after the ceremony, but that is our special time - we’re not actors - it should be real not scripted. Then at the reception, they had us cut the cake 3 TIMES because they kept missing it. This was a cake the hotel threw in - i didn’t want a cake anyways, as i was doing that at our at-home reception. But it was nice of the hotel to do that for us. Not so nice to have the photographer make us re-do the cutting 3 times. The last straw with the photographers was during the garter toss. Pete threw it and my cousin caught it and dropped it after he caught it. The photographers called for a “REDO”. That was it - my maid of honor had to go talk to them and tell them to stop with the acting. If they miss the shot they miss it - too bad. This day is not a play.”
How does this work and what are my options?
Bringing along a photographer to document your whole wedding adventure is pretty simple actually. Everything is basically the same except some travel fees will apply. Some couples want a photographer to document all the days leading up to the wedding, their rehearsal, rehearsal dinner, wedding day/night, day after brunch and do a day after photoshoot!
Trash the Dress sessions are another option.
Some wedding photographers would rather stay local and not travel for DWs. They don’t like leaving their families and some don’t like the stresses of traveling. I love to travel! In the U.S. Navy, I became an experienced world traveler with my camera in tow. Recently I had the honor to photograph two events in Jamaica with Prince Charles. My approach is very laid back and casual as I blend into the party, which results in the most candid moments. I like for my couples to think of me as a friend/guest who happens to be shooting pictures. It’s great to be able to be a part of my couples’ adventures! Also, don’t be surprised if your family “adopts” me. It’s happened many times before.
Some Caribbean Islands have set up websites specifically for DW.
For example:
St. Lucia destination weddings
~Rob
Topics: Destination wedding photography | 1 Comment »
Sunny Hill wedding
By Rob | April 28, 2008
Whelp yesterday we got back from shooting Tracy and Jason’s Sunny Hill wedding in Greenville New York! We headed up Thursday to scope out the area and acclimate ourselves. Friday we drove around on a golf cart for a couple hours to see what the resort had to offer. We even whacked a couple of golf balls on the driving range. Then, it was off to rehearsal dinner with the family and wedding party. Soon we realized that almost everyone had their own cameras…..even the bride!!! On Saturday the wedding day started pretty early with hair and make-up. The weather was beautiful and everyone was very relaxed.
Tracy’s mom was hanging out on the couch….watching her youngest daughter get ready on her wedding day!
Tracy has an infectious smile.
She was so far from a bridezilla…..she was great!
Hey….if this was the biggest “snag” of the day….I can’t complain.
She wanted to talk to everyone that walked by.
Goofy….
Over the shoulder shot…with this one!
“We are actually doing it!!!”
LOL….Tracy’s parents were excited, too!
I love tears!
Sunny Hill Resort
Jason was “trying” to break dance.
Karaoke started early…..
….and ended late!
Jamaica is my next stop to shoot Brenda and Jason’s Riu Ocho Rios hotel wedding!
~Rob
Topics: Destination wedding photography | 7 Comments »
Rehoboth Beach Country Club - Sandcastle Ball
By Rob | April 23, 2008
Other than being a wedding photographer I also donate my time to the Children’s Beach House. I’ve been photographing their events for the last two years. Each year they have beach barbecues, art shows and the Sandcastle Ball. We had a blast!
People got all decked out!
As did my wife and I!!!
Isn’t Kim so cute?
~Rob
Topics: Personal photography | No Comments »
Milton Delaware engagement pictures
By Rob | April 22, 2008
Nicole and Tom came down to southern Delaware for day of fun in the sun! We met at my office and headed to downtown Milton Delaware for some pictures and got to know each other. We walked around chit chatting about their Mendenhall Inn wedding and life in general. I could tell they were a bit nervous and had no idea what the heck to do! I gave them a bit of direction and they soon warmed up to the camera. So now that we have that out of the way….their wedding will be a lot easier, and fun of course!!
“Blackmail!”
So serious, guys!!!
This was right before they almost went to jail……
~Rob
Topics: Engagement pictures | 3 Comments »
Baywood Greens Bridal Show
By Rob | April 18, 2008
Remember, I will have a booth for the Delaware Today and Delaware Bride magazines Bridal Show at the beach. This is only the 2nd Annual Downstate Bridal show, which will be held again at The Clubhouse at Baywood Greens! Last year was awesome and this year should be even better! Make My Day Events will be sponsoring the wedding fashion show and Tiara’s Bridal Boutique will be providing all the wedding dresses and tuxedos for the models.
Event Date: 4/20/2008
Event Time: Noon - 3:30pm
Event Location: The Clubhouse at Baywood Greens
~Rob
Topics: Wedding photography | No Comments »
Rehoboth Beach Engagement pictures
By Rob | April 17, 2008
Christy, Tim, Napa and I headed to Rehoboth Beach Delaware for some engagement pictures before their Canal Inn wedding. When we first met at my office back in February, Napa was sitting right next to me, hanging out! Although I guess Napa lost interest in me on this beautiful spring day. Christy’s father (old school wedding photographer), sis and bro in-law showed up for a bit, too.
I like to knock out the “parent pleasers” first and then have some fun!
“What’s that, Napa?”
Oh yeah…..
Ho down!
You wanted a Gazebo…you got a Gazebo!
,
~Rob Nicholson
Topics: Engagement pictures | 2 Comments »