10 Wedding Secrets Every Bride Should Know - Part 1 of 10

     We have prepared the following reports that will save you a great deal of time and frustration, reducing your stress and increasing your enjoyment of your wedding. Following these guidelines will also help save you money in planning your very own custom wedding.

     Your wedding will be one of the most important days of your life. Of course, you will want everything to be perfect and make it a day that you will fondly remember for the rest of your life. However, such high expectations can also mean a huge responsibility of your shoulders.  We know that weddings can be very demanding in terms of time and money. If not planned and executed properly, these items can become very stressful, as well.

     So, does this sound frightening to you? It really doesn’t have to, as we have helped thousands (literally) of couples with their wedding photography and all of the planning and execution of their plans. You can lean on us to be a ‘concierge’ service for you. Our experience can work for you. And it starts with these top 10 tips for you to keep in mind to save money and money. The result? A wonderful wedding that will make your day so much more enjoyable.

SECRET #1

DON’T MAKE ANY DECISIONS UNTIL YOU SET

A BUDGET THAT BEST SUITES YOUR NEEDS

     Once the excitement of the engagement settles down and you start to plan your wedding, the very first thing you need to do is set a detailed budget. Having an approximate cost limit for all the things you think you will want will help ensure that you don’t end up spending more that you can afford. Although this process is not the most exciting thing to do, creating your wedding budget should be the first and most important part of your wedding planning process.

     The first step in creating your wedding budget is to determine what the overall amount of money you can spend on wedding photography. These days, wedding photographers are a dime-a-dozen and pricing ranges anywhere fro $500 to $10,000. One thing to remember, you can pay too much for a photographer, and you certainly can spend too little, as well. Some of the finest photographers can be found in the $1800 to $4000 price range. Of course, a lot depends on what all you want.

     Who is paying for the wedding photography? Traditionally, the parents of the Bride have handled this expense. In recent years, however, many couples have opted to take this expense since they are more in tune with how much things cost and don’t want to send their parents into cardiac shock. In the case where family wants to help pay for the photography, find out how much they are  willing to help. Get with your parents. Sit down with them and find out what they are prepared to pay for. This will help you in your budget decisions.

Stay tuned for Secret #2

Santa at Southern Flair 2013

     This was one of our favorite years for Santa here at Southern Flair Photography! We had so many kids come to chat with Santa that we even had a stand-by list for those who couldn't get in during the two whole days of his visit.

     Click on the video above and share in the laughter, the enjoyment, and the sheer joy!

We're looking for reviews on Wedding Wire.

Read all of our Wedding Photography Reviews at

The case against "Good Enough"

I rest my case!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kathleen-trenske/the-case-against-good-enough_b_2967170.html

Caution - Not all Wedding Videographers and Photographers act Professionally

     When planning your wedding, you want the very best photographers and videographers to record images for you. That's why you want photographers and videographers who understand that your wedding ceremony is a religious ceremony, one that should not be impeded by rude and unprofessional behavior.

     Take, for instance, the videographer that spent the whole wedding ceremony up on and around the altar, intermingling amongst the wedding party, including getting between the parents seated in the front row and the couple.

     This "videiot", as we call him, was very distracting to all the guests and appeared in 75-80% of the photographs taken by us from the back of the chapel and in the balcony.

     The Bride never saw him, as the videiot always seemed to get the back of her head. The Groom was totally focused on his Bride, so he really never noticed. And the Minister was so focused on the couple and the ceremony that he actually only saw the videiot at the conclusion of the ceremony.

     The owner of the video company has been put on notice that he will be responsible for the costs to Photoshop out his employee from the photographs the Bride selects.

 

     Photographers and videographers should not be seen or heard during the wedding ceremony. 

                     In fact, 99% of officiants conducting wedding ceremonies insist on it.

     Why this photographer chose to be right up front where the parents were seated is beyond me. It appears that there are only 6-8 rows of chairs, and surely the photographer has a lens that can reach that far.

     So please, make sure you know that you're hiring a true professional, one who understands that this is a religious ceremony, knows the rules, and is all about the couple, not the picture or film production.

Life's Odometer

This is something we should all read at least once a week!
    Written By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio
    "To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most-requested column I've ever written."
    My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:
    1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
    2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
    3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
    4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.
    5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
    6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
    7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
    8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
    9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
    10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
    11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
    12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
    13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
    14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
    15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
    16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
    17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
    18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
    19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
    20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
    21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
    22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
    23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
    24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
    25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
    26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'
    27. Always choose life.
    28. Forgive everyone everything.
    29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
    30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
    31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
    32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
    33. Believe in miracles.
    34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
    35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
    36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
    37. Your children get only one childhood.
    38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
    39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
    40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's,we'd grab ours back.
    41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
    42. The best is yet to come.
    43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
    44. Yield.
    45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."
    Its estimated 93% won't forward this. If you are one of the 7% who will, forward this with the title '7%'.
    I'm in the 7%.
    Remember that I will always share my spoon with you!
    Friends are the family that we choose for ourselves.

New Years Resolution - in September!

It seems this Blog is my most neglected feature of Southern Flair's social media content, so, even though we're in the midst of September, I want to make a New Years Resolution:

It is my goal to post at least one new item, a story, images from a photo session or wedding, tips on various things, or anything, on a weekly basis (at a minimum).

If you are not receiving our studio's monthly newsletter, send me an email to southernflair@sbcglobal.net and I'll get you subscribed - free of charge.

Have you "LIKED" Southern Flair's Facebook page? If not, please do so at http://www.facebook.com/SouthernFlairPhotography. We would love to have you as a part of our community. Right now, we have 1,444 "Likes".

Our New & Improved Website Has Just Been Launched!

We are so excited to announce that our new and improved website just launched this afternoon!

A great new look with fun music, the new site (still www.sflair.com) is easier to read and navigate through the various pages.

Heather did most of the design and work on the new website, with a few tweeks from Dwayne. It took us a few months to get it where we wanted it, but we think the results are well worth the time it took.

Let us know how you like it!

Law Breaking Locations: Why You Should Avoid Utilizing Railways for Backdrops

This article was recently published on the Professional Photographers of America website and needs to be shared with everyone - photographers and consumers alike!

By

PPA Staff

on April 23, 2013 9:39 PM 

We know you crave creative backdrops to elevate your photography and sometimes clients can be extremely demanding, but utilizing tracks to set the scene is not only dangerous, it is illegal trespassing, and there's no PPA Member Benefit to get you out of that mess! From equipment insurance to protect your stuff to indemnification trust to protect against an unhappy client-- not even the best coverage in the world can protect you against the wide range of pitfalls that shooting on railroad tracks can bring. As dozens of news outlets have picked up, Operation Lifesaver Inc., wants to remind you to avoid utilizing rails during on-location shoot.

According to Operation Lifesaver, "Last year, more than 800 people were injured or killed while trespassing on railroad property in the U.S."

"This spring, as part of our mission to reduce deaths and injuries around trains, we are asking professional and amateur photographers to set the right example by staying away from train tracks," said Joyce Rose, President and CEO, Operation Lifesaver, Inc. Rose noted that about every three hours in the U.S., a person or vehicle is hit by a train.

Operation Lifesaver jumped into action after late 2012 when a teacher who taught art and photography was struck and killed by a train while taking photos on tracks. In response to tragic and preventable incidents like this, Operation Lifesaver has teamed up with PPA to promote rail safety education to the photography community.

David Trust, chief executive officer of PPA understands historically, rails have been top-of-mind settings for on-location shoots, but the cons outweigh the pros. "Trackside settings have become popular for senior, wedding, and family portraits. But photographers need to know the laws and the safety ramifications of staging a photo shoot near train tracks. PPA applauds Operation Lifesaver programs that educate photographers about the danger to themselves and their clients of working near tracks."

So, what are the must-know facts about rails for photographers? *

1. Trains can't stop quickly enough to avoid people or vehicles on the tracks.
2. An optical illusion makes it hard to determine a train's distance from you--and its speed.
3. The average train overhangs the track by at least three feet.
4. Railroad tracks, trestles, yards and rights-of-way are private property.
5. No tracks should be assumed to be abandoned or inactive.
6. People in your community mimic your behavior.

Be a leader in responsible photography for your community! If you hear of another photographer trespassing on the rails, remind them it's not only illegal, but puts them, their equipment and their clients in danger. If you have any questions concerning the legalities of shooting on railroad tracks, contact csc@ppa.com today.

* According to Operation Lifesaver, Inc.
Operation Lifesaver Inc is a national network of trained volunteers provides free presentations on rail safety. If you're interested in more information on how they have made it their mission to end collisions, deaths and injuries at highway-rail grade crossings and along railroad rights of way, visit their website at www.oli.org. 

Great Bridal Show!

     We participated in the Star-Telegram Bridal Show and had a great time yesterday! We met so many beautiful brides who stopped by our booth to gather information from us. At this show, we also debuted two of our three new wedding banners. They sure got a lot of attention and tons of positive comments.

     Our Door Prize winner, Debbie Stephens of Lewisville, won a beautiful set of Waterford Crystal Toasting Goblets!

     Over the next few weeks, we will be reaching out and following up with all of those who stopped by to chat with us. Hopefully, we will become THEIR wedding photography studio of choice!

     Thanks to Jeanene Rice for helping Heather and Dwayne in the booth! You're awesome.