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Q: Now that we're having a baby, I need to get a decent camera! I have a little point and shoot now, but I think it's time to invest in a decent SLR. I'm not a professional, of course, so it doesn't have to be fancy –it just needs to take good pictures. Any suggestions? - Michelle
A: I get this question all.the.time. And to be perfectly honest, unless I'm lugging around bulky professional gear, I typically rely on my iPhone for quick images to upload to Twitter or Facebook. But if you have a little peanut in your family's future or perhaps just want to make some nice images from your honeymoon, purchasing a digital SLR is the way to go. You won't regret it.
SLR, by the way, stands for single-lens reflex. The biggest difference between a digital SLR and a point & shoot (hereafter referred to as p&s) is you can change the lens. And unlike a p&s camera that uses an LCD display, SLR cameras use a mirror to show the image that will be captured in a viewfinder (more thorough geek tech explanation found here). By manipulating the digital SLR's camera settings, you'll be able to capture action, photograph in low light, zoom in tight on those precious baby toes, and print frame-worthy quality enlargements as you see them in your camera's viewfinder.
In my humble opinion, there are only two brands of cameras worth looking into: Canon and Nikon. I learned how to shoot on a manual SLR Nikon in high school and switched to Canon in 2005 when they seemed to be leapfrogging Nikon on offering the best professional cameras and lenses. At this point, they're still neck & neck, both producing a consistently reliable quality product. You can't go wrong with either.
You can get a decent p&s camera for under $400. You'll need to invest a bit more to upgrade to a digital SLR, however, so don't let the prices shock you. According to Consumer Reports, these are the top rated consumer models for according to image quality, useful features, battery life and weight (listed in order of price):
photographer: Whitney
ceremony: St. Maximilian Kolbe Church Scarborough, ME
officiant: Father Michael Henchel
venue: Wentworth Lodge, Cape Elizabeth, ME
caterer: Leslie Oster Aurora Provisions
florist: Fiachre Portland, ME
dj: friends from college Connor Brogan & Nick Czarniecki
cake: Aurora Provisions
hair: Jen DeLuca
make-up: Kristen Galan
gown: Kleinfeld Bridal, NYC
invitations: Weeks & Reichel Printing Co., Sayville, NY
honeymoon: Aruba
Whitney met Courtney's parents at the studio before we met Courtney and Brad. Typically, pre-booking meetings at the studio are informal, a casual back-and-forth conversation about plans, expectations and browsing of photographs. Courtney's father, however, took this process very seriously and assessed this situation like he might a job interview noting our handshakes, eye contact and gauging the warmth of our personalities as to how we might fit into his daughter's big day. We triumphantly passed, thank goodness, and Whit booked the date for Courtney and Brad's nuptials on Maine's southern coast.
photographers: Emilie and Shyla
ceremony: Melvin Village Community Church Melvin Village, NH
reception: Bald Peak Colony Club Moultonborough, NH
coordinator: Leslie Barbini, The Wedding Belle
officiant: Walter Cuenin, Brandeis University
caterer: Bald Peak Colony Club
florist: Ambrosia Gardens Portsmouth, NH
ceremony/cocktail musician: Peter Miles
band: Hip Pocket Orchestra, Boston
cake: Bald Peak Colony Club
hair: Caroline Robert, Mizu Salon
make-up: Joanne McDonough, Joya Beauty
gown: Vows Bridal Outlet
invitations: Signed Sealed Delivered
honeymoon: Bali
Katie (who, yes, definitely resembles Elisabeth Shue) and Chris are yet another internet dating success story. They live in Boston but married at Chris' parents' summer community on the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee. When I met Chris' mom a few weeks before the wedding to tour Bald Peak, she explained at the first meeting of the parents that both sets were stunned that neither Katie nor Chris had been scooped up because they are both so wonderful, and so wonderful together. Exactly. It was just that matter of that thing called time for them to find one another. And everyone would agree with these happy parents, their children certainly found the right match in each other.
Their wedding day was an ideal September Saturday, with bright blue skies and a pretty breeze keeping things cool but not too cold.
Jeanna's mom spotted my profile in the Portland Press Herald last year and saved it for Jeanna, noting our shared alma mater, Syracuse University, in the event Tyler proposed to Jeanna. After popping the question last October, Jeanna was in touch and secured me as her photographer for her July 2010 nuptials soon after.
Tho she grew up in Scarborough and he in Cape Elizabeth, it was a chance meeting between their parents and a chat about carpooling home from Syracuse for a holiday that lead these two to meet in New York. Seven years later, it's been bliss ever since. They just bought a darling home south of Boston and are busy planning their Maine wedding for next summer. (Today, Jeanna is visiting my friend Traci at Traci Romano Events searching for her perfect dress where I found mine! I'm hoping she has great luck!)
I met up with this handsome couple earlier this week for some portraits at the house where Tyler grew up. I can't decide which I loved more, the location or the crazy cute adoration these two have for each other! Both were spectacular!
We started at the beach where Tyler proposed to Jeanna last fall.
photographer: J
venue: private residence
officiant: Lara Freeman
coordinator: Kate Parker Weddings
caterer: Julie Dunfey White Apron Dover, NH
tent: Sperry Tents
florist: Kate Parker Flowers
dj: Ryan Parker
cake: Something Sweet by Michelle
videographer: Precious Moments Video
make-up: Joanne McDonough Joya Beauty
hair: Lena Hartford Hair That Moves
gown: Priscilla of Boston
invitations: Goosefish Press
dinner menus: Gus & Ruby Letterpress Portsmouth, NH
honeymoon: Turks & Caicos
Emily and Jake met through mutual friends while students at Emory University in Atlanta. Now living in Chicago, they returned to Emily's hometown in New Hampshire to treat their guests to an elegant celebration at her parent's home. Tropical storm Danny let up just after the barn ceremony for outdoor formal photos.
photographers: Emilie and Shyla
ceremony: First Religious Society Unitarian Church Newburyport, MA
reception: Mission Oak Grill Newburyport, MA
florist: Beach Plum Too Newburyport, MA
dj: Jerry Booth
cupcakes: I Dream of Jeanne Cakes
hair/make-up: Spa Paradiso Newburyport, MA
gown: Abbey Bridal Shoppe Andover, MA
invitations: DIY
guest lodging: The Garrison Inn Newburyport, MA
honeymoon: Costa Rica
Despite Danny's crazy wind and rain on their wedding day, Diana and Cameron beamed from the inside-out. I can only describe their connection as fairy tale love. It's the stuff girls dream of and swoon at in romantic comedy dialogues. These two, however, are the real deal. Together with second shooter (Roots Workshop '08 talent and dear friend) Shyla, we were giddy capturing Di and Cam's interactions - the sweet glances, soft touches and toothy grins - all.day.long. It never got old and infected each and every one of their guests as everyone boasted throughout the day how these two can light up a room. Indeed.
How they met, in their own words:
We met as waiters in a restaurant (Rosa Mexicano) in NYC. Cam moved to NYC in 2004 to go to grad school for graphic design, and Di moved in 2005 to go to nursing school. We started working at Rosa at the same time, and fell for each other instantly… but it took us about 2 months to go on a date. Diana was a little oblivious to Cam's attempts to “woo” s,o we became friends first. Finally we each realized that the other person was (very) interested, so we went on a impromptu date walking around NYC. We've pretty much been inseparable ever since!
Diana's parents moved to Newburyport a few years ago, and it has become Diana and Cam's retreat from big city living in Manhattan. Cameron even proposed in her folks' loft in Newburyport, so this quaint seaside town was the perfect setting for their wedding. 14 months ago, Di found my work by way of a florist's website and inquired about my availability. Tho we didn't meet until her wedding day at the salon (she cried; too cute!), I have a feeling these two will be in my life for a long, long time.
Paisley and Jason met in a bar in NYC at 2 am. In her pre-wedding day notes to me, Paisley explained “Some good things do happen in at a bar after 2 am!” They have since moved to Denver, but chose Maine as their wedding destination from fond memories of celebrating Paisley's father's birthday here each year.
While most couples book me a year or more in advance, Paisley called just three weeks before her wedding! It was a Sunday celebration, and fortunately we were available!
The essential clutch.
Carl found me on Facebook. Sorta. Our mutual friend Pete is a friend of mine from college and a former work colleague of Carl's. Pete befriended me, saw my work, and recommended me to his buddy when he was having trouble securing a photographer. Sweet. Social networking does have its rewards.
How they met, in their own words:
We met primarily through mutual friends, moving in and out of each other's lives for a couple of years before we actually started dating. Oddly enough, the beginnings of a serious relationship started when Carl was living in California and we started instant messaging at work. When he moved back east, our mutual love of music brought us together teaching a drum and bugle corps, Faith teaching dance, Carl teaching drill. The pull was inevitable, and soon enough we faced our first real test as a couple: backpacking across Europe for two and a half months. We'd only been dating about three months when we started our trip, and we knew that it would either make us or break us. Luckily it didn't break us, and the things we experienced and the challenges we faced together ultimately formed the backbone of our relationship. It also initiated a love of travel for both of us, and our passion for other cultures and new places continues to drive us today.
This wedding had more than a few “wedding firsts” for me as a photographer.
- 27 people in the bridal party!
- groomsmen in white tuxes
- all the guests names printed in the ceremony program
- choreographed processional
- sword cake cutting
- surprise wedding favor for guests: sunset schooner cruise
So how did this Massachusetts couple come to host a Friday morning wedding in Maine?
Faith is from Western Mass, in the Berkshire Hills, and mountains have always held a special significance for her. Carl grew up in the Boston area, summering every year on Cape Cod, and the ocean has always inspired him. Bar Harbor and Mount Desert Island is a natural combination of these elements; a perfect balance where the mountains meet the sea. So although there is no specific historical or traditional significance here for us (yet), the stunning natural beauty drew us here and this special juxtaposition is what's bringing us back.
On to the photos…
Faith and Carl had the most elaborate schedule ever. This was page 1, a pretty color-coded graph of where folks needed to be. It was absolutely necessary for such a large bridal party to be organized and on time.
Six seasons in, the shocked look on someone's face who has just learned what I do and the demographics of my clientele never gets old.
This happened most recently last week, while lunching with the other entreverge winners (there are five of us total and no, we didn't all bring our electric guitars), a now monthly appointment. In the typical getting-to-know-you early conversation, my fellow entrepreneurs spoke of their customers who are mostly local (or regional at best). Mine? Tho I love them and feel as tho I know them like neighbors, most are married in Maine but live elsewhere. And get this, I usually don't lay eyes on them until their actual wedding day.
Thankfully my virtual studio, aka my website, includes anything and everything an inquiring bride might want to learn about me including a video that showcases my Portland studio, happy clients and me! Seeing and hearing someone is bounds more effective than just reading the usual narrative text or client quote. Add phone calls, emails and regular Twitter and Facebook interactions, and far away couples all feel comfortable booking me and greet like we're old friends with excited hugs on their wedding day.
And while I've known this to be the case- most clients marrying local who are not local- since moving my business to Maine five (gulp! That went by fast!!) years ago, I've never really known how much most is exactly. I ran some numbers and put together some graphs and pie charts to show you. Because, really, who doesn't love pie (Two Fat Cats, for the record and for those of you out-of-towners seeking Portland's best, has my vote for best blueberry this time of year).
In 2009, emilie inc. booked 50 weddings. One was canceled and one was postponed, so that leaves us with 48. Of those couples:
- 83% live out of state, 17% live in Maine.
- 58% married in Maine, 21% in New Hampshire, 15% at destination locations (Mexico, St. John, Costa Rica, etc), 6% in Massachusetts. For those marrying in Maine who do not live here, most grew up vacationing here, perhaps went to college here or some have never been at all and picked it from browsing online!
Emily's family has been vacationing in Maine from Virginia since 1990. Now living in Chicago, Emily and Zak chose to exchange their I Do's in Hancock Point, the sweet village where her family has a summer camp. Combing elements of their Catholic and Jewish backgrounds, Emily and Zak wrote their own ceremony and exclaimed their giddy love in front of nearly 200 guests.
How they met, in Emily's words:
Zak and I met at a New Year's Eve party in Chicago. I had just moved and only new one person- Mia Clark (from sailing school in Maine)- who happened to go to Kenyon College with Zak in Ohio. She invited me to the party at Zak's house. We were friends for 6 months and then started getting romantic!
On to the photos…
What a sweet scene. The family's Model A, which every woman in the family has used on their wedding day.
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Emilie Sommer, Portland, Maine
Vendor: Photographer
Website: Emilie Inc.
About Me: Emilie earned a degree in photojournalism from Syracuse University and worked at USA Today and The Washington Post in Washington, DC, before opening her wedding photography studio, emilie inc, in Portland, Maine. She loves all the intricate details involved in planning, the warm fuzzy feeling about two people in love and freezing those moments in time in a photograph. It’s a contagious dancing-through-daisies kind of good feeling. She also started the Roots Workshop, the directory News Wedding Photographers and the non-profit Pink Initiative
