Cheryl and Mike get married at the beautiful Appleford Estate

Chery and Mike got married at Appleford Estate this Fall.  Cheryl is one of the sweetest people we have ever met. We first met her and her sister at 30th street train station. (sometimes we meet with folks in the oddest places- lol!!) We knew right away that this was going to be a really special day.  We then met Mike when we did their walkthrough of the grounds looking for all the fantastic photo ops. Talk about a Spectacular place!! Just so many awesome spots!! Mike was so laid back. Both of them were totally chill and just wanted to make sure everyone had a great time.

And That is exactly what happened. Everything was so beautiful and went off so smoothly. (though we feel bad that her dad was not feeling well- but what a trooper he was!)  I really believe when you are low stressed about your Big day- things will go more smoothly! and Cheryl was just so beautiful- I really enjoyed editing these photos in a nice soft light. We hope this couple has many years of being just chill and enjoying those very special moments together!

A Big Shout Out to Al

I just wanted to take a moment and make a very public declaration of how proud I am of my husband. For those of who you know Al know how hard he works, the dedication he has to perfection, and the just over all “good guy” that he is! He is all that and so much more. Most of you don’t know that I never would have gotten back into photography (in this digital world) if it wasnt for him- and I Certainly never would have ventured out into the world of wedding photography as a business if it wasnt for his love and support. I am so thrilled with where our buisness has taken us in the past 4.5 years. And Al is so much the reason. You don’t see him every day behind his computer working on all the wedding And corportate videos- tweaking them to make them tell just the perfect story. All some of you know is it seems to take forever to get your photos and video! But you don’t want him to just rush through things. But know this- if we are at home- he is most likely behind a computer working on someone’s wedding or project!

But I wanted to take a moment today and write this post because I am especially proud of him . Ever since he graduated from the Art Institute he has been his own boss (well- with me of course- lol!) and formed Flatworld Media Productions LLC.  He has worked tiredesly to build relationships with clients that he also feels good to be working with. Going after dollars has never been the motivation behind our company but working with folks that we can believe in has. This is why we love working with Magee Rehabilitaion, The National Brain Tumor Society, and Penn.  He just recently met with Penn and secured a really awesome contract. This is all due to who he is- his work ethic- and the way he treats all clients.

So now you know a little bit more what makes my Al Green really special! (along with his love for Batman, Dr. Who, playing with gadgets that fly, and buying our 6 cats all kinds of toys!)

Some helpful photography tips- part 1

As many of you know (cuz I keep repeating it!) As of February 9th BG Productions (the Wedding/family/boudoir side of our LLC -Flatworld Media Productions) will become a full time thing-I have to laugh because for those who know how busy we are- it really always has been- BUT now it is my only job!! I start with this because part of my New Years Business Plan (I hate to say “resolution”) is that I will actually write blog posts now that I will hopefully have the time to do it- not just the ones I write about our weddings we do or sessions- with the very scattered “topic” post. (though I did just write one last week on the importance of actually printing your photographs- and might I add- actually displaying them!!). So I posted on our BG Productions Facebook page and asked what topics would people like to see- Well since Megan was the first (and as of right now, the only response) tothe post I thought I would take her up on her suggestion.

Some Helpful Photography Tips
Now I don’t claim to be an expert- and I never will- I am Always striving to learn new things- but I have been doing photography in some fashion or other since my first camera, which was a gift for my high school graduation (I won’t tell you how many years ago that was- lol!!)- I also use all Nikon- I won’t judge you  (much- hehehe!) if you are a Canon user (that 1st camera I had was a Cannon AE-1) or if you use any other kind. I mention it just so you know what equipment I use- my main camera body is a D700 and while I have several FX leneses my 3 favs are 28mm-70mm 2.8, 70 mm-200mm 2.8, and a 50mm 1.4. (Some day I would love to have the new D4-it’s a real beauty but with a price tag of $6000- thats a little step- you do know that being a photographer is expensive right!?!) So anyways, I have picked up a few tricks along my journey and easy things to share- and Most of these are in no particular order
just a brainstorm….

1. Pick up your camera and just play, play, play!
2. Make sure you actually have your camera with you- you never know when you may see the “perfect” shot
3. get to know your camera- for EVERY new camera I buy I get the Magic Lantern video to match- I am a hands on learner and I don’t know about you- but those little books that talk all about your camera are just hard to follow!! Most of mine Never make it out of the box!! I am not sure what brands besides Nikon and Cannon the series covers.
4. Get your camera off of  Auto and for god sake especially off those little picture symbols if you want creative control!!! While shooting in Manual is great- I actually prefer to shoot in Aperture Mode (this is the little A- the camera will then set the correct- or what the camera thinks is correct- shutter speed). Because I dont alway want what the camera chooses- I may switch to Manual- but with lighting and other things happening in weddings- I prefer the speed of shooting aperture.
5. Being able to control your aperture or f-stop allows for more depth-of-field. By Wikipedia definition aperture means: the distance between the nearest and farthest objects in a scene that appear acceptably sharp in an image. In laymen terms- the subject (or part you want) in focus, and the rest blurred out- if lights are there creating a cool bokeh effect. And this helps bring attention to the part of the image you want.
6. For depth-of-field, the smaller the number (meaning larger aperture because more light gets in) the more blurred out your background is. see examples.

want the focus on the couple, more blurred out background (low number- i probably shot at 2.8))

want a little of the house showing, then more of a “whole” scene (higher number) (probably varied between 4 and 5.6- depending on distance)

**** now this is a lot more to this like how much light, distance,  etc- but this is a very basic break down!

7. Don’t just stand there with your camera either in portrait or landscape position. Use angles- get low, get high! Everyone who has EVER seen me shoot knows I love being low, you will see me on the ground- even if it is in the middle of the street! And I am always climbing things, standing on a ladder, or dragging a chair out into the middle of the dance floor and having a good o’le time! Why- so that I can get those more creative shots!
8. look for the light! I get so tired of hearing photographers complain that they have to shoot in the middle of the afternoon- GET OVER IT!!! Learn to use the light to your advantage- and I’m not talking about blowing out the side of someone’s head with too much light. Just play around with it- I for one love nicely placed sunspots!
9. Watch the positioning of your subjects. I could (and hopefully will) do a whole post on just posing- but for now- make sure you are getting them in a flattering manner. If you shoot the shaded side of someone’s face- it will look leaner than shooting the lighter side- have them look up a little towards the light (this will elongate the neck- a little and lord knows I have wayyy too many chins!!) and then shoot from the shady side- go ahead- you will Totally see a difference! Al and I ourselves are really practicing with this too!
10. and the last for this post!! Play with editing- and i’m not just talking about apps on your iphone!! You don’t have to afford Photoshop or Lightroom and do all kinds of fancy editing- download Picasa- its free and way easy to use. But if you do get Lightroom- I Love it and will post tips on it in the future and you are in Philly- lets meet up at a coffeeshop and I can show you a few things!!)

hope this was helpful- leave a post with your own helpful hint or just to share some love!

I Love Doing Boudoir Sessions

I find doing boudoir sessions to be so empowering for the women who do them. They are fun, and goofy, and totally make you rock out with your inner Diva! So many women want to do these type of sessions but say “oh, I just need to go to the gym some more, I need to lose another 10 pounds, I am just not sexy enough”. Rubbish I say. As women we are bombarded with images of what we are “supposed” to look like. And not everyone is a size 2!!

I first knew I wasn’t a “typical” girl when I wrote Seventeen Magazine when I was 15 to tell them to cancel my subscription. Why you ask? They had an article about different types of girls. I fell into the category of “Messy Millie” and we were supposed to be more like “Perfect Katie”. I didn’t want to be like “Perfect Katie”! I was and am happy being “Messy Millie” and all else that I am! And I want you to be happy with who you are too!

So here are some examples of the beautiful Kim- and her words she wrote after our session…..

Thanks again Cathie & AL!!! I know I prob should have waited but I am not upset. His expression on his face was priceless! Plus, now he can choose his favorites for his book. He told me that that gift was the BEST GIFT EVER and that it was very meaningful because he knows I went out of my element to do it and he knows how uncomfortable I prob was. He said it was the best gift a guy could ever get because years down the line this gift will still be awesome and something to look back on. So I really appreciate all you and AL did to get me out of my comfort zone and create some beautiful and classy pics. xoxox

We are totally Psyched about our mini boudoir session this Sunday at a downtown Philly hotel- so let me know if you are interested.

email me at Photosbycat@gmail.com

Thanks to our clients for making us in the top again this year!

Our client ROCK! We could simply not be where we are today if it wasnt for their love and trust! Capturing someone’s most important day is nothing to take lightly.  And we pride ourselves on being the best we can be- and Always learning!

We want to thank our clients for helping us win Top of the Knot again this year and WeddingWire highest rating! Just today I got this text from a past groom “1 year ago today you helped make an amazing night even more magical and memorable! Wanted to say thank you and we love you for being there for us!” this made my DAY- here is a groom thinking of us as well on his anniversary!! THIS is why we do what we do and work so hard at it! Thanks everyone!!

There is no substitute for a professionally printed photograph!

In today’s digital world I mourn the loss of the importance of actually having professionally printed photographs done- or any photographs printed for that matter. The other night I was so sadden by the announcement that Kodak was declaring bankruptcy. It truly just weighs so heavy on my heart. That this passion and love I have for the photograph is being lost! I remember seeing my first Ansel Adams Photo exhibit and thought “that’s what I want to do!” I wasn’t looking at a digital file on Facebook- I was looking at an actual photograph!

Al and I struggle with the desire to give  folks what they want in this digital time (the actual JPEG files) versus our ability to actually control the quality of our art (hence professional quality prints). We understand that in todays time many think a photographer just “points and shoots” and the camera does all the work. While I do just click the button for the actual image to take- there is so much more to photography. I ACTUALLY know how my camera works in relationship to aperture  and shutter speed  AND in relationship to light and distance as well. (have I lost ya yet- lol!!) But alas, I digress. This post isn’t about the actual over abundance of “photographers” who really don’t know what they are doing (though don’t get me started on that- lol!!)- but is more for YOU. The client!

Last week before we went to New Orleans for an Awesome photography conference I was reading an article by Kalen Henderson and was so struck by it. The article references “The Lost Generation”. The generation of iPhone and Facebook users who take TONS of pictures, and post them- but NEVER print any of them. Who remembers the 8 track and then the cassette (i remember getting a walkman in college for the first time!!) My music came from albums as a kid and played pong as a video game. I was 17 when PacMan came out and we went to the neighboring town to the arcade to play it. That was the BOMB!!! lol!!! I didn’t grow up with a laptop and cell phone. And my first camera- my first love- was a Canon AE-1 which my dad gave me as a high school graduation present. Yes I actually had to load film in it! lol!! (I still shoot many personal outings and trips with a film camera). And I have my film developed so that I have actual prints.

When Al and I got married we had my cousin’s husband shoot film and had every roll developed along with many pictures our Professional Photographer took. If you are ever at our house you will see photographs all over the place. I make little scrapbooks and still keep actual photo albums!! I took these pictures for a reason- I actually want to see them. I don’t want to risk my computer crashing, my phone being stolen, or Facebook going the way of Myspace!! Cuz if that happens- what pictures do I have left???

I bring all this up for a reason. I LOVE capturing your Special moments. But what I don’t love is the thought that you take these precious and beautiful images to Wal-Mart or Target and have your prints made. They aren’t professional quality at all- and their calibrations are way off. And shouldn’t at least your wedding day be preserved as well as it can be. But even worse than that- I fear you only ever look at these images on your old computer that has a cracked screen with poor color quality.  That you will never ever make a print or an album or a scrapbook. And one day- you will lose your disk, your computer, your phone- and have no memories at all to look at and pass down to the families you will build.

I don’t mean to lecture. I am just sad. I want to think of you and your partner 20, 30, 40, 50 years from now looking at your photographs and reliving your wedding day. I want your children and grandchildren to have a picture of your wedding day in a frame on their guest book table. I want you to have something that can’t go the way of the 8 track or cassette- pong or even Myspace!!

For the full article please go to -

http://www.ppmag.com/current_issue/pdfs/0112/contents112.pdf

a Beautiful Fall Wedding at Ridley Creek Mansion

I LOVE Ridley Creek Mansion. It is such a cool looking old house set on gorgeous grounds with all kinds of knooks and crannies. We were totally psyched when we met with Sara and Lance to discuss their October 2011 wedding. We knew right away we were a perfect match for this vintage flair affiar. I am totally in love with the bridal suite there and Sara’s gown looked amazing haging from the chandelier. It is such the perfect space to get all those wonderful girlie moments and then be able to step out into the courtyard for some fantastic bridal shots!

I was also really into the look Lance chose for himself and his groomsmen. A cool vintage look complete with hats and suspenders. I think it really showed his personality and love it when the groom goes for a “non-traditonal” look.

The ceremony was originally supposed to be outside but we were having a very wet Fall and things were a bit damp and muddy. Sara and Lance didnt let this get them down- the ceremony was moved to the grand room and everything looked beautiful with all the orange mums. And with as great as Sara looked- it could have been anywhere and it would have been stunning simply because she was there! We were still able to rock out some cool bridal party shots and ones with the bride and groom alone- I could have spent hours out there with the two of them- they just fit so well into eachother and we had so much fun.

The wedding became extra special due to the passing of Sara’s grandma a couple of weeks after the event. It meant so much to Sara to have her there for this very special day. We are so glad we were able to capture such special memories. This is why we truly love what we do. It is so much more than just “snapping” a few photos- we are capture moments that will be passed down the generations.

Hope you enjoy- I swear I could have made at least 10 more collages- that’s how in LOVE with this wedding I am!!

Why i Love Pinterest!

Why do i LoVe Pinterest????

Let me count the reasons! Whew just too many- lol!!! But to put it simply- it is just a helpful tool. And TOTALLY addicting!!! I love having a place to store inspirations I come across. I also Love having a way to share them with clients. Often a client asks what to wear or how should I pose? While I always (and will continue to do so) tell clients to look up examples of what they like and send them to me- and to ALSO look up what they don’t like and send me those too! But using Pinterest allows me to sort through ideas and inspirations in my head. I still cut out images and hang them on my “inspiration frame” in our office- but it can’t possible hold everything I like! lol

Like Right now it is such a valuable tool while I am working with other vendors and friends on a fun stylized shoot. It is sometimes hard to describe with clarity the image I have in my head- Pinterest allows me to share what I am thinking and see what they are thinking too.

So I would love if you follow me on Pinterest.

It is also a great insight into who I am as a person- what I like. I feel the most important part of our business is building relationships. Just today I had a client write “…it seems like 2012 is off to a great start for you! You two really deserve the best for all of the great work you do and for being so awesome. I’ve found as Casey and I have contacted and met with other vendors, that not everyone is as kind, fun or helpful as you have been, so we’re really happy and lucky to have found you guys. Thank you again for everything you do. I’m referring just about everyone I know to you guys …”

Please go to my Pinterest link for the original source of these photos that are on my boards. These are inspirations from others and are not my photography. It is important that the original source be known.

Alina and Justin’s Beautiful Fall Wedding

This October wedding at Pheasant Run Farm in Lancaster County was beautiful, fun, and full of family tradition. We first met with Alina and Justin at their home. As we sat around their kitchen table we knew this was going to be an Awesome Wedding. They choose a beautiful Lancaster County location for their wedding filled with tons of Russian traditions. The couple took a laid back approach and it was obvious just spending this special day with loved ones was the top priority.

Alina looked gorgeous and I loved her little winter white wrap coat (it was a bit chilly and was totally needed). The couple chose to do a first-see (which i am Always a big fan of). Justin was so excited and nervous as Alina was crossing over the little bridge towards him. Such a Magical moment! After some formal shots we rounded up their lively and fun bridal party. I love when bridal parties loosen up and have fun with the shoot.

The ceremony was under this beautiful tree and family and friends gathered in an arc on wooden benches and the couple said their vows and had readings form loved ones. And how cute were all the little flower girls in their red dresses. (another good hint- not everything has to be exactly the same- always good to just mix it up). The reception was filled with tons (and i mean TONS) of food. But my favorite moment was the couple’s first dance- which was a Tango. Boy was it hot!!!

We were thrilled to be a part of Alina and Justin’s special day and wish them years of hot dancing!!

Rian and Emylio- Wedding Day

Al has known Rian since she was a teenager. He has been friends with her father Chris, who was a guest at our own very small (55 person) wedding. So this shows how much he means to us! When we found out that Rian and Emylio were getting married- we were so happy for her. she was so excited! though she felt a dilemma- she knew she wanted us to do the photos and video for her wedding day and she wanted us to be guests. So we worked out a deal and did BOTH! lol!! And what a Beautiful bride she was!

They had their ceremony in their church and their reception at the Sovereign Performance Arts Center. It was a really great spot to shoot at- its in Reading, Pa. We loved taking their bridal party pictures. Everyone was so fun and really loved posing for pics (specially the guys!!-lol!!)

The reception was a wonderful family events. Everyone was just hanging out, dancing, and laughing all day. You could totally feel the love in these two families. We were so thrilled to be their and capture these special moments. We wish Rian and Emylio years of love and happiness!