Budget Wedding
So this article popped up on my newsfeed, and I had a few thoughts about it. Basically, this cute couple hired a wedding photographer (unnamed) for their upcoming wedding, and when they got photos back, they were HORRIBLE. They had looked on the photographer’s instagram, and liked what they saw, but the actual product was awful. The photographer didn’t ask for a contract and they paid her $800.
So, you want to elope, but don’t know how your family will react? Here’s a little advice from someone who has seen a LOT of weddings. As a Los Angeles wedding photographer, I get involved very early on in the process. And I totally understand the thought of “I want to elope.” I’ve seen the planning process and the stress of traditional, big weddings. I have had my own relatively simple traditional wedding. And I’ve photographed quite a few elopements. If you want to elope, go for it! Here are some tips for breaking it to family/friends. The photos scattered throughout this post link to real elopements I’ve photographed recently. Hopefully this article comforts your soul and helps in your journey.
Inside an artist’s chest there beats two hearts. One is weak and ugly. It is necessary, the pessimist, the one who critiques, talks finances, and picks out all the little details that aren’t correct. The other one is colorful, vibrant, relishes the colors of the sunset, and imagines up the most beautiful creations. It never thinks about something as trivial as money or food. Those things just don’t matter compared to the soul-filling joy of CREATING.
When I first met Payton and Angela, I was impressed immediately. Payton had a huge gash across the side of her face and one on her elbow to match. She had crashed on her skateboard. Awweeeessssoooommmmmeeeee. If you haven’t figured it out by now, I’m not a girly girl, even as a Los Angeles wedding photographer. I think it helps me focus on my art. And brides who are real will always be at the top of my favorites list. Payton and Joe had their first look in the rose garden at Lakeview Park in Nampa. Then, we all trooped over to the Orton home, where I got to photograph their beautiful backyard wedding.Â
A couple of weekends ago I found myself driving up into the mountains and discovered a tiny ghost town. Roseberry was built in the beautiful valley near Lake Cascade. But when the railroad was built, they lost the fight for a stop, and consequently, most everyone moved on. But the town was well-maintained. And they have events there. And Brooke has dreamed of having her wedding there since she was a little girl. It was an amazing combination. Brooke is a beautiful, beautiful person, inside and out, and Chase rightly couldn’t stop looking at her. Their friends and family came together and everything turned out absolutely perfect. The photos say the rest.Â
So I was just going through some photos from earlier this year, and I remembered some AMAZING DIY wedding centerpieces that were just beautiful!
I love photographing simple weddings. It’s one reason I still offer budget photography packages in Los Angeles. It’s a lot less pressure and sometimes you get to meet amazing, adorable couples like Brenna and Matt. These two tied the knot at Alpine Ponds Event Center. I’d never photographed there before and it’s a beautiful, unassuming location outside of Eagle. Well, it’s 2am and I’m exhausted, so going to sleep now. 🙂Â
Although I’ve never gotten this question from a client, a lot of other photographers tell me I should raise my prices. My prices are still considered cheap wedding photography in Los Angeles. I like to consider myself an affordable wedding photographer in Los Angeles and Boise. Although I have more expensive packages, I still keep one that is just enough for the time I spend working the wedding. Compared to a lot of GOOD wedding photographers, it’s very affordable. If you want to know why wedding photography costs so much, head over to this blog. So, here’s why I keep a low-cost wedding photography package in my prices.
Originally, these two were going to have an all-out wedding later in the year, but couldn’t wait. So they had an intimate wedding a few weeks ago. It’s been on my photographer’s bucket list to photograph a small mountain wedding. It was simple, easy, and beautiful!! They got married at a courthouse in Boise, then met me at the Capitol building for a few romantic shots. Then we all caravaned up to the parents’ cabin in the mountains for a reception with their friends and family.Â
When I woke up in the morning and rain was pouring down, I was a little concerned for Vicki and Tim’s Boise wedding photography. Boise usually isn’t rainy, and they had said they were having it at Barber Park. Concerned and going over solutions in my head, I drove to the address on my GPS. When I got there, I discovered a whole new building in the park that I had never seen before and sure enough, the wedding was there! Barber Park has an event center, everyone! It’s a beautiful little building, perfect for weddings, and big windows let the outdoors come in without the inconvenient parts (like the rain).Â
