One of the most important days of your life is approaching–choosing the right wedding photographer can be a daunting task! Certainly, you want the highest quality of wedding photographs without going broke. You are looking for a wedding photographer who is in tune with your wedding style as you imagine that day. You also want a photographer who is professional, experienced, talented, and a pleasure to work with.

Partnering with the right photographer is easy when you know what to ask. Start by doing a quick phone interview of each wedding photographer to narrow down your choices. Find out first if they are available for your wedding day—if they’re not, it narrows things down immediately. Ask about prices, who will be photographing the wedding, what style of wedding photography they use to shoot weddings (black and white, color, posed photos or candid shots).

After you narrow down your wedding photographer choices, you’ll want to set up a date to interview the photographer. In some large companies, the photographer you talk to might not be the one they send out for your event. Make sure you interview the photographer who will actually be at your wedding and see his/her portfolio, in order to evaluate their style.

You’ll also want to find out what happens if the wedding photographer you choose is fired before or right after your wedding date. It will put your mind at rest if you are assured that your wedding will be photographed even if your photographer is no longer with the company and that you will also have access to your photos no matter what the hiring status of the photographer.

Be sure to ask these questions when interviewing the photographer:

1) Experience Level.

On the most important day of your life, you want someone who is an expert at wedding photography to preserve your memories in a professional manner. Therefore, it’s very important to make sure you ask your wedding photographer questions about their experience.

Is this a job or a hobby for the wedding photographer?  You need to know this because it will show in the quality of the work and their overall attitude toward the job.  If it’s just a hobby, then you may be put on the back burner when a “more important” job comes along (and I have seen that happen.)

Do they have formal training or education in wedding photography?  While formal school education is good, you mainly want someone with experience shooting weddings and not someone who is using your wedding as “practice”.  an experienced wedding photographer will be able to adjust for the variety of lighting situations that a wedding might entail as well as any other surprises that typically occur on a wedding day.

You might be tempted to save money by hiring a novice wedding photographer, but do you want stunning photos that capture your special day or just so-so ones?

Do they frequently photograph weddings?  The more weddings that they have photographed, the better prepared they are to shoot yours!

Some photographers are better at static and posed studio photography than action oriented and “on location” wedding photography. Photographing a wedding involves capturing spontaneous moments, not just poses, so it’s important to have someone who is an expert.

Does the wedding photographer use professional-grade equipment, and do they have back-up equipment available, just in case?

Have they photographed weddings in your chosen location before?

Prior experience in a location gives the wedding photographer an advantage because he’ll know ahead of time what film, filters or flash he/she might need to get the best results.

2) Ask About Their Portfolio.

Photography is an art, so it’s understandable that you may or may not like the style used by the wedding photographer. To make sure you’re going to love the way your wedding is photographed, request to see a portfolio featuring their work.

To make an educated decision, you’ll want to view an entire wedding portfolio from start to finish, not the best few photos from many weddings. Ask what style the wedding photographer uses. Some photographers tend to like more posed shots while others have what is called a photojournalistic style, which involves more candid shots.

Ask if he/she likes to use color photos, black and whites or a mixture. Also, ask if they use a digital camera and retouch the photos to make them black and white, or if they use film.

3) Will They Dress the Part?

Your wedding photographer will be spending a lot of time with you on you on the most important day of your life. It’s crucial that his or her personality blends in, making it a pleasure to have him/her at your side.

If the wedding photographer makes you uneasy in a short interview then don’t hire them for your event!

No matter how charming he is, you’ll want to make sure the wedding photographer will dress the part and look professional while taking those important photos.

Finally, ask about any assistants. Ask if you can meet them and ask about how they will dress and conduct themselves to ensure your wedding goes smoothly.

4) Money and Technical Matters.

Though you don’t want to skimp on wedding photos, it is important to make sure this particular photographer isn’t going to break your budget. Find out ahead of time about how much it will cost to have him/her photograph your wedding.

You’ll want to know how much time you’ll be allotted, and how many rolls of film they’ll take during that time. If the wedding photographer uses digital cameras, ask how many shots they will take to ensure the event is well-documented.

Most photographers offer packages that specify a certain amount of pictures for a set fee. If you don’t see a size of photograph that you want, ask if those packages can be customized to meet your needs.

You’ll also want to ask about the cost of albums and copies, since you’re probably going to fall in love with a lot more of the photos than you bargained!

Ask about deposit and cancellation policies. In order to hold your date, what method of deposit is needed? What are the cancellation policies? If the wedding photographer cancels, will your deposit be refunded?

5) Ask If You Can Get It In Writing!

You’ll want a contract to protect you in case you’re unhappy with the services of your wedding photographer. If you end up going to court to settle matters, the judge will only be concerned with the conditions written in the contract. Therefore, it’s very important to make sure you get all of the details in writing.

The contact should include:

Expected services, fees, cancellation policy, fee schedule and all aspects of your photo packages written in detail.  Also in the contract, you need to include their expected arrival time and departure time if there are a limited number of hours in your wedding.  For example, if your wedding starts at 3pm, you may want the photographer there at least 30-45 minutes before then…

You’ll also want their name and address, as well as your name and address on the contract. Be certain that the contract has a signature and date for both of you and that you receive a copy of both sides.

Houston, Texas Photography Company receives Bride’s Choice Award from WeddingWire

Houston, Texas– February 1, 2010- WeddingWire, the nation’s leading wedding technology company, just announced Photographics has been selected to receive the WeddingWire 2010 Bride’s Choice Awards™ for Photography!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PR Log (Press Release) – Feb 02, 2010 – Houston, Texas– February 1, 2010- WeddingWire, the nation’s leading wedding technology company, just announced Photographics has been selected to receive the WeddingWire 2010 Bride’s Choice Awards™ for Photography!
The annual Bride’s Choice Awards recognizes and celebrates excellence in quality and service within the wedding industry, as determined by recent reviews and extensive surveys from over 500,000 newlyweds.

Photographics is among the top five percent of all vendors in the WeddingWire community, which includes over 100,000 wedding professionals across the US and Canada. Awards were given to winners across 19 different service categories, from wedding venues to wedding photographers.
“We are excited to recognize and honor the success of the top wedding professionals within the WeddingWire Community” said Timothy Chi, WeddingWire’s Chief Executive Officer. “The annual Bride’s Choice Awards program has given us the unique opportunity to highlight the best wedding professionals in each region as reviewed by brides and grooms who have utilized their services in the past year.”
We are happy to announce that Photographics is among the very best in the Photography Category within the WeddingWire Network, which includes

WeddingWire and Martha Stewart Weddings. We would like to thank our past newlyweds for nominating us for the 2010 Bride’s Choice Awards.
“It’s quite an honor to be chosen”, said Nathan Simmons, owner of Photographics.  “We love serving our clients and we place an emphasis on service so that our clients can relax and enjoy their day, knowing that they have chosen someone with experience.  With so many people getting into photography and with so many options presented to the bride and groom, we are honored whenever we are hired by our clients and even more pleased when we generate long lasting relationships with them.  We have several couples that we have the honor of covering almost every major event in their lives – engagement, wedding, maternity, baby’s first pictures, and the first family portrait.  Those are the relationships that make this profession worthwhile.”
For more information, please visit our WeddingWire Storefront today at http://www.weddingwire.com/biz/photographics-houston/684 ….
About WeddingWire, Inc.

WeddingWire is the only online wedding planning resource designed to empower both engaged couples and wedding vendors. WeddingWire enables engaged couples to search, compare and book over 100,000 reviewed wedding vendors nationwide, from wedding photographers to wedding cakes. WeddingWire also offers an online community and a suite of cutting-edge planning tools, including wedding websites and wedding checklists, all at no charge. For wedding vendors, WeddingWire provides free online management tools creating the only market opportunity that gives businesses control over their clients, reviews, leads and performance. In addition, WeddingWire has partnered with Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc. (NYSE: MSO) to provide its network of local vendors and online wedding-planning tools in the Weddings section of www.MarthaStewartWeddings.com. For additional information, please visit www.WeddingWire.com.

# # #

Freelance photographer, available for weddings, special events, sports, and other photographic needs. Photographics has been in business since 1986 and places priority on service and quality.

I will post the engagement session shots on another post, but on to the wedding pics!

Did I mention that she is a die hard Texas Longhorn fan?

Hook ‘em

The view of the Gazebo and the San Luis Hotel

The weather cleared up just in time to get more shots!

another view of the couple and the Hotel

I could post pictures of this beautiful couple all day!  Congrats again to Brett and Ashley!

Special catered functions are held in Cohen House in the area described above, on weekday evenings (Monday through Friday), Saturday during the day, and Saturday evening. Receptions, open houses, and cocktail parties are often held for 50 to 350 people with an hors d’oeuvres/cocktail buffet, and seated-served luncheons and dinners for 40 to 225 people. Cohen House is the general caterer, directed by Manager Ann Swain, with a professional kitchen staff led by Chef Cari Clark. Fully licensed, the Cohen House will provide most any combination of beverage service desired.
For further information, please contact Office Manager, Frances Zientek at (713)348-4000 or by e-mail: club@ruf.rice.edu

I had the pleasure of shooting a wedding at this location this year while assisting a wonderful photographer, Monique Montoya with Perspectives Photography and here are a few shot so you can get an idea of the layout and what they offer

The can accommodate up to 350 people:

there is an elevated dance floor with plenty of room for a band or DJ

Ashford Oaks is an elegant and distinctive reception facility nestled at 2022 Wilcrest Drive, Houston, TX 77042; which is conveniently located for Memorial, Galleria, Downtown, Sugar Land and Katy areas.

Ashford Oaks has been serving Houston for the past 21 years and has completed over 2,500 successful events. Ashford Oaks can accommodate group from 75 to 230 Guests with private parking facility.

Ashford Oaks is owned by the same people that own Chateau Crystale which is located on Westheimer at Gessner (I will post a review of that location later).  they have a great staff and the food there was excellent.  There is a bar area, a nice sized entrance and two level seating and very nice dance floor.

WeddingWire, the nation’s leading wedding technology company, has just announced that Nathan Simmons and Photographics is officially WeddingWire Rated 2009! WeddingWire created the annual Rated program to honor wedding professionals, like Nathan Simmons for their excellence and to help brides and grooms easily find the right wedding professionals to match their needs.

“We are excited to unveil WeddingWire Rated 2009, now in its third year. With hundreds of thousands of reviews, WeddingWire has made it easy for engaged couples to find the nation’s very best wedding professionals,” according to Sonny Ganguly, WeddingWire’s Chief Marketing Officer.  “WeddingWire Rated is an excellent way for businesses to showcase their continued success in the wedding industry.”

Nathan Simmons and Photographics has 9 reviews with an average of 5 star rating, making us eligible to hold the Rated title on the WeddingWire Network. Each review has been written by our former clients and includes detailed ratings and insightful descriptions of their experiences with our services. These reviews not only enhance our credibility, but also help differentiate our business within the WeddingWire Network.

Photographics would like to thank our past brides and grooms for taking the time to review our services on WeddingWire.

If you are a past client of Photographics and have yet to provide us with your feedback, visit reviews.weddingwire.com and review our services today.

There is also an area in front of the ballroom with plenty of space for your guests if you wanted to hold a cocktail reception while the guests wait for you to arrive,  There is also plenty of space inside the ballroom and a very nice sized dance floor.  the staff is very attentive and the food served at the wedding I attended was excellent.  Parking is free in the Hotel garage and you can visit their web site for more information:

Hilton Houston North

There is a changing room available for the bride so she doesn’t have to arrive dressed.  There are several lovely locations around Chapel Dulcinea to shoot as well so that once the ceremony is completed, you can get some fantastic bridal portraits or portraits of the bride and groom.  I love the traditional bell ringing part of the ceremony as well.

the lovely view from behind the chapel

Here is a full view of the Chapel

Here is a view form one of the other gazebos on the campus:

The view from the entrance of Chapel Dulcinea

Seattle Bride sent local writer and (semi) amateur photographer Cody Ellerd to shoot photos alongside a top wedding professional and set the record straight once and for all: Is it worth it to hire a friend or family member who’s pretty good with a camera for your wedding?

By Cody Ellerd

I consider myself a pretty good amateur photographer. I’ve taken a couple of classes, I have a nice Nikon D60 and, as a professional travel writer, I’ve even had a few of my shots make magazine covers and pages. If you didn’t budget for a professional photographer at your wedding, I’m the friend you might call to take pictures.

So when Seattle Bride sent me to the late-winter wedding of Vicky Wu and Chris Nicoll to shoot alongside Joey Hong of John & Joseph Photography, a local award-winning team of two brothers who have been shooting commercial, fashion and wedding photography for more than eight years, I was curious to see how well I could keep up with a seasoned pro.

From the moment we started shooting in the bride and grooms hotel room, I was floored. Vicky, look down at your shoulders put a gentle smile on your lips. Chris, look straight at my lens no, smile. Relax your forehead. Joeys attention to such minute detail went way beyond Say cheese and brought out the couples absolute best. He knew how to manipulate the rooms light and reflective surfaces in ways I never would have dreamed of, transforming what I thought was an unremarkable setting into a photo studio with endless possibilities.

To read more of this story and see Cody’s and Joey’s side-by-side images, visit Seattlebridemag.com

This was such a cute moment, totally unscripted, Ellerd remembers. They bumped fists and it was clear it was a little habit of theirs, one that conveyed their friendship. Joey was right there to catch it while I was fumbling with my focus ring.

“This image is so painfully inferior,” says our rouge photographer Cody Ellerd about her image. “My angle is bland while Joey’s is creative. His is crisp and perfectly exposed, while mine is washed out and grainy. Joey knew exactly how to take advantage of the sense of motion created by this cool backdrop.”

Here is another one of my “vendor interviews” to assist you in planning your wedding.  I asked Nadine Moon of “Who Made the Cake”  some questions that I thought you may ask when looking for someone to made your wedding cake or Groom’s cake.  I also had the opportunity to visit her store and her staff is very friendly and helpful and her cakes are absolutely amazing!  The detail in the flowers made them look real!  The pictures you see are from her shop so you can get a better idea of her work.  For more information you can contact her at:

Who Made the Cake
Nadine Marie Moon
1811 S. Shepherd Dr.
Houston, TX 77019
Consultations by Appointment Only
Phone: 713-528-4719
Fax: 713-522-4787

Email:   info@WhoMadeTheCake.com

1. I have friends that have offered to prepare my cake for me. What would be the difference in having them do my cake for me vs.. having you do it?

There are several important difference between someone who does cake decorating as a hobby and a professional. Most important is structure. Wedding cakes require special supports to keep them straight. The more experience someone has with wedding cake assembly, the better. This is not something you want someone experimenting with on your wedding! Second is licensing and insurance. Professional bakeries are required to be inspected by the city and have staff on hand that has passed a class in food safety. It is illegal in Texas to sell food items produced in your home because of foodborne illnesses. Many venues now require proof of your health permits and insurance before you can bring outside food/cakes into their venue!

2. Will you do a custom wedding cake, or are there a set number of designs for us to choose from?

“Who Made the Cake!” is a custom bakery. When a client comes in for a consultation, they browse through books of things we have made to get ideas, then I start sketching out concepts based on their likes/dislikes.

3. How adaptable are wedding cake designs, especially due to budget concerns?

Many of the designs brides see in magazines are quite expensive. We try to provide a range of options at different price points that capture the essence of the more expensive, trendy designs. Then the bride can select how detailed she wants it, based on her budget.

4. If I want to use fresh flowers on my cake, will you coordinate with my florist, or will I have to manage getting the flowers to you?

Fresh flowers on a cake would be done by your florist. We will give the bride cake size information, but it is up to the bride to explain to the florist how they want the flowers place. We do not recommend fresh flowers being stuck into the cake layers as the stems drain into the cake! Ultimately, sugar flowers are the safest and there is no risk of damaging your cake.

5. Can each tier be a different flavor? How much additional is that?

We occasionally have brides do a different flavor on each tier. However,while there is no additional cost, this usually results in more cake being consumed because the guest want to try several flavors. If you do this, plan on getting a slightly larger cake so you don’t run out!

6. What ingredients do you typically use? What kind of icing do you use?

We specialize in butter cream cakes and white chocolate fondant. We have a wide variety of flavors, fillings and ingredients to fit all tastes. Brides get to sample 4 of our most popular flavors when they come in for a consultation.

7& 8. How far in advance should I order?  How long before our wedding are the cakes prepared?

We suggest ordering wedding cakes a minimum of 3-6 months in advance. Because our cakes are produced fresh, to order, we do fill up. While we sometimes can fit people in on short notice, you don’t want to risk your date being a “hot” wedding date when we fill up early.

9. How long does it take to make a cake?

While the bulk of the preparation on the typical wedding cake is done the day of and day before the wedding, the time required for each cake varies significantly. We have done cakes that require over 2500 hand made sugar flowers which are gradually created over a 3 month period before the wedding!

10. Are your wedding cakes priced by the slice?  Is there an extra cost for special fillings or details?

General wedding cake designs are priced by the slice starting at $3.50 per serving for butter cream styles. There are a variety of flavors, fillings & icings that are no additional charge, as well as some specialty flavors & fillings that are extra. The price per serving varies based on the complexity of the design, and materials required to make it.

11. Will you charge extra for my design?

If your design requires intricate detailing or fondant accents, that will increase your cost.

12. Do you do deliver? How much does it cost? Will the delivery person be able to make emergency frosting or decoration repairs and arrange the cake table?

All of our cakes are delivered by one of our decorators, not a “delivery” person. We expect that some minor damage may occur in transit and they have an emergency basket with supplies necessary to handle repairs. Occasionally, there is more significant damage, and they are equipped to handle that also. Delivery is included for 3 tier or larger cakes within a 10 mile radius of the shop, during regular business hours. Other areas are an additional charge. We have delivered cakes as far as 61/2 hours away with no problem!
Our decorators will set up the cake, but do not decorate the table. Typically, the florist or the planner handle that for the bride.
Because settling can occur, and tiers can shift, we do not let customers pick up cakes larger than a 2 tier cake.