Budget Winter Wedding Photography Guide

Do-it-yourself wedding photography is an excellent way to save money, but it is important to plan the details. Chances are you probably know a few photography buffs who are willing to help with your wedding photos. Use this guide to make the most of their skills and generosity to get beautiful wedding pictures.

1. Recruit multiple friends or family members to help with the photographs.
Designating multiple people as photographer splits the workload and means the wedding pictures will reflect a variety of perspectives. Choose knowledgeable, reliable people who are experienced in digital photography.

2. Use a high quality camera.
Make sure the camera you choose is technologically capable of capturing your winter wedding memories. Varying lighting conditions and action scenes are no problem for a good digital camera.

3. Have backup batteries or a backup camera ready.
Be sure the camera you use is charged and have a backup battery or backup camera ready.

4. Bring extra memory cards.
With digital cameras, most people take a few photos then delete the bad ones. The quick pace of a wedding probably will not leave time to edit along the way. Besides, pictures that are out of focus or unusual often have a unique beauty that is not immediately apparent. Bring extra memory cards to avoid missing a good shot.

5. Be very clear about what you want.
Research online and browse friend's wedding albums to get an idea of the type of poses and moments you want to commemorate. Make a list to be absolutely certain each milestone is photographed.

6. Get a mix of candid and posed shots.
A variety of photos best captures the spirit of the day.

7. Plan for the weather.
Depending on the wedding location, winter weather may mean it is too frigid to venture outdoors for a photo session. Plan to take group shots of the bridal party and family members indoors.

8. Edit the photos.
Try cropping and adding different special effects. Sepia and black and white pictures take on an elegant, timeless quality.

9. Order quality photo prints.
Since you saved so much on the cost of a photographer, invest in prints that use high quality paper and ink.

10. Make a wedding album.
You can use traditional photo prints to make a wedding album, but digital photos give you more options. A variety of book options, including hardbound books and small flipbooks, are available online and in many drug and discount stores.

A Need-to-Know Basis: History of the Sundance Film Festival

I'm starting a new series of stories and articles, ones that have a particular focus and energy towards either history or information, particularly in sports and entertainment. They talk about things being talked about only in "need-to-know" bases. I have decided to take some of the important people, events, and outlets that have made these things important. These are things you need to know, and I'm gonna tell you. My first one is going to be about the Sundance Film Festival.

Intro to Sundance

For much of the year, when you think of Park City in Utah you are usually thinking about great slopes, soft snow, and luxurious spas. However, for a couple of weeks in January, the peaceful getaway that is Park City is transformed into a mecca of indy filmmakers and the world's biggest stars. The movers and shakers get away from the sun and the lights of Los Angeles, New York, and everywhere else in the United States and they head out to Utah for the Sundance Film Festival. Examine the history, from the mythological start of the festival to it's meteoric rise into the elite of the film world, and the tradition that comes along with Sundance.

It Begins With an Idea

Back in the late 70's, there were two major individual leaders who led the charge to bring the Sundance Film Festival to life. The corporate side was handled by a man who held the title of Utah Film Commissioner John Earle. On the side of the filmmakers and the artistic voices was Sterling van Wagenen, a Brigham Young University Film School graduate. They, along with a group of other people who supported the cause either financially or artistically, went forward to found the U.S. Film Festival. This group of people looked to accomplish three main tasks for the state of Utah and the film industry. They wanted to bring an artistic forum where people could watch and discuss the best of American films. Also, it was an idea meant to bring more filmmakers and studios to Utah with a national event that they could host. Finally, this group also looked to get a competition that would showcase and bring forward films that were not from the Hollywood Studio systems, or independent films.

The festival begun very small. It even added the "Utah" to the name of the film festival to make sure that citizens of Utah could feel as though it was an event all their own instead of something created outside of the area and therefore not authentic to their state. By giving them that connection to the festival in the early stages, some locals were able to lend their support and to persuade others to offer their support. One key to the early development was the involvement of Utah citizen and film star Robert Redford. He became the festival's first chairman and lent some instant credibility to the festival. Early on, they also switched the festival from a traditionally warm summer season to January, the heart of the ski season in Park City, the festival's new home in 1981. This would attract a lot more film heads, if for nothing else than to watch some films and ski the slopes.

Early funding would be largely provided by the commissioner John Earle, although many other sources could be found. Some local investors put money into the event in an effort to promote growth and development in the area. Other contributions came from some wealthy contributors and sponsors from within the business looking for a festival to support and allow to compete with some of the best festivals the world had to offer. They especially wanted a festival that they could call their own version of Cannes, which had been running since 1939.

Growth in the 80's

Although having some varied success in their first few years, it was after the 1981 festival when things began to come into focus and the picture looked bleaked. The year prior, they had been able to make up a lot of the debt that had been produced by the first one, and although the move to Park City had proven successful in terms of filling a time of the year which was considered vastly dead in terms of tourism and also brought record attendance at film showings. However, that positive energy quickly faded when it was realized that although there were record numbers in the films themselves, overall attendance had dropped due to the snowstorms. They would even find themselves over $100,000 in debt after this third festival. They would garner enough support to continue the festival by getting some key in-state donors and fundraisers by the Utah Film Commission. That 1982 festival would prove the turning point because they would broaden the span of films being shown while raising the box-office numbers.

After two more festivals, they seemed to receive the critical acclaim they were hoping for, but financial dificulties continued to threaten the festival. It was then, in 1985, that the Sundance Institute decided it would be in their mutual interest to take control of the festival. The institute's purpose was to continue to bring exposure to independent films, and having a festival under its wing would be a powerful ally in that fight. Meanwhile, the Institute, a non-profit organization, could provide for people to work all year organizing and promoting the events and, of course, much needed financial support. They would double their attendance that year and begin to grow with new, edgy films and an array of international films added.

A breakout moment, not only for the festival but for a young volunteer-turned-director, seemed to bring the festival to the mainstream like it had never been before. Steven Soderbergh, who once served as a volunteer driving a ferry bus around the festival, had brought into the festival his debut film Sex, Lies, and Videotape. Not only did he win the first ever audience award, he sparked a bidding war between major studios unrivaled in film history. His success earmarked the January festival as a "must" for industry execs looking for a breakout film that would make it in the mainstream audiences.

The 90's: Growing Media and a Name Change

The early 1990 festival did not receive the accolades that the prior year received, although it did display a few good films. In 1991, however, the festival would be changed forever in a way that makes it more recognizable now in the world's perspective. Geoffrey Gilmore took the lead of the festival, and they would give it it's final and famous name; The Sundance Film Festival. Interest in independent films grew exponentially and they would in turn see, in the early 90's, the emergence of young filmmakers such as Quentin Tarantino, Richard Linklater, Kevin Smith, and Robert Rodriguez. Films began to push the envelope with its new forum, and while they produced awesome films, they were also the subject of some controversy in the industry.

As we would move later on in the decade, the influence of the Hollywood corporate system began to slowly take stronger hold of the festival. More and more, agents and lawyers were scurrying around the streets of Park City in hopes of finding that next breakthrough filmmaker. Studio heads were making their way to the event to attract films and cause stirs with bidding wars. As this growth continued, it was believed that they should move the festival back to Salt Lake City, it's original home, to house the larger crowds and the businesses. In the end, it was subdued by the building of the Eccles Center, which holds 1,300 people for a screening.

The end of the 90's would bring forth it's biggest buzz, which came in the form of The Blair Witch Project. It would breakout almost immediately, although the buzz for the movie was basically non-existant and considered very lackluster for its eventual success. It would end up bringing in $140 million domestically and would bring in more worldwide, making it the most successful independent movie of all time. It was not the only movie, however, as a movie called Go by Doug Liman, who had brought Swingersto the festival some years prior, and a German movie called Run Lola Run would intrigue festival goers.

The Future of Sundance

With the festival moving into the 21st century, they would turn away from the hype machines that the festivals embodied in the 90's and turn its attention back into the films that were there, not to the hype and the speculation surrounding them. They continue to set attendance records and have now easily cemented its place as one of the top festivals in the world, matching up to its French and Italian counterparts in Cannes and Venice, respectively. Big name stars are going back to doing independent films, bringing big-star credibility to the smaller films which have little else to draw on with the rising of the studio blockbusters. As Sundance continues to progress, as do the hopes and dreams of independent filmmakers everywhere.

Six Tips to Help You Clean and Organize Your Photography Studio

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1. Photography Studio Organization - Use good old fashion hanging files.

Believe it or not, in this digital age, the classic green hanging folder is still a great organization tool. Using manila folders to organize your photography studio's bills, invoices, and receipts is a good start. It is a lost cause however, if you don't have an organized place to put them. The hanging folder is the perfect place to put them

Don't have a filing cabinet to put the hanging folders in? Not a problem. There are several options available at your local retail store. I prefer the clear Rubbermaid bins. They are about 8 inches wide. This means they are easily stored in closets or on a bookshelf. Since photography studio space is usually valuable real estate, these smaller file boxes might be the way to go.

2. Photography Studio Organization - File your files

A great way to keep your files organized is to keep a file of all your files. What do I mean by this? Keep a piece of paper in your photography studio with all of your file folders on with their names. If the folders have sub-folders, list those too.

This will let you see if you have folders that overlap so that you can condense your folders. For example, there is no point in having studio file and a studio equipment file.

You could have this list written on a piece of paper, but that would just be one more piece of paper to file. Try keeping this record in a word or excel document. That way you have one less piece of paper in your office and you can update it much easier when you add new folders and files.

3. Photography Studio Organization - Throw things away

For some reason most photography studio owners have a fear of throwing client paperwork and photos away. There are certain things that you just don't need to hang on to. If you are a digital photographer there is no reason to hold on to basic prints. Create a varity of back-ups and toss the prints. You can always re-print them. If you aren't a digital photographer and have a traditional photography studio, invest in a scanner. This way, if you must hold on to prints for color purposes, you can scan them and toss the print.

There are some things you need to hold onto though.

Tax items are one thing you should hold onto. You should save your tax returns forever. The rest of your tax reports and receipts should be saved for no longer than six years.

Throw away papers that you don't have an immediate need for, can get a copy of easy, or that don't have any tax or legal reason to hold on to.

If you feel like you need to hold on to all your photography studios paperwork, than try scanning it all onto a portable hard drive. Then you can throw all the papers away. It will take more time than growing through all the papers away, but at least the hard drive will take up less space in your office.

You can scan model's head shots for reference later. You can scan pose ideas from magazines so you don't have clipping all over your photography studio.

4. Photography Studio Organization - "Assorted" Folders

How many other, assorted, or misc files do you have in your photography studio? You know, the folder that you put everything in that you just don't know where else to put it. That isn't organization. Odds are you can just throw it away altogether. A good rule of thumb is, if you haven't needed it or touched it in a year then toss it.

5. Photography Studio Organization - Get rid of business cards

There are so many ways to organize all your business cards, model head shots, and contact information. There are plenty of ways to get rid of it altogether as well. A simple approach is to take the business card or headshot and tape it or staple it the file folder it is associated with. At least then it is filed away instead of in a pile on your desk or in a drawer.

There are lots of gadgets out there made for scanning in business cards to your computer. If you are a digital photography studio, you probably already have a scanner, put it to good use. If you don't have the money for one of these than just take some time to enter the contact information into your electronic address book. Outlook has a great address book or you could even use your email clients address book. Anything is better than having them just laying around waiting to get lost.

6. Photography Studio Organization - Use the computer

Try using your photography studio's computer as much as possible. Use it to make your to-do lists, create address books, file documents, and more. The more you keep or put into your computer the less you have in your photography studio.

As I mentioned before, there are plenty of gadgets out there that can help you scan your files into the computer. Take advantage of them!

Free Baby Products and Coupons for New Parents

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When I was pregnant with my first child, another mother advised me to sign up for newsletters and other mailings from companies that sell baby products. Later that day, I signed online and joined just about everyone mailing list I could find for baby care products. To be honest, I expect booklets and tips on how to successfully raise a child, but I received tons of samples and coupons for baby formula, food, diapers, and much more. I joined many of these mailing lists before my daughter was even born and over eighteen months later I am still receiving valuable coupons in the mail.

Below is a quick summary and list of company websites that may provide new mothers with coupons and sometimes products. On most questionnaires, you will have to enter in your name, age, address, information about your pregnancy, and your child's birth date or expected due date. It is important to enter in the correct information pertaining to your child's birth because many of these companies will send you coupons pertaining to the stage they are currently in.

Pampers is one of the most well known diaper brands among parents. Their website is at www.pampers.com. When you first arrive at their web page, you will be required to select your country and once you arrive on the following page, click on the link that mentions free coupons and samples. To join the Pampers Club, you must also pick a sign on name and password information. When my daughter was younger, Pampers would constantly send me coupons for baby wipes and diapers. Whenever she reached a new stage, Pampers would also include a sample diaper to try. Pampers is still sending coupons to my home and they generally arrive once a month.

One of the other well known diapers brands is Huggies. In addition to diapers and baby wipes, Huggies also has a line of bath care products for infants and toddlers. The company website is www.huggies.com. When you arrive at this web page, you will also have to select your country and when on the next page, select the "Happy Baby" link. Once you are in that section, select the tab at the top of the page labeled "Special Offers." When you are joining the Huggies mailing list, you will have to create a website screen name and password, allowing for easy return to the site. I generally receive coupons from Huggies about once every one or two months. Huggies will also send coupons for all of their products and they try and correspond them with your child's age.

Nestle produces various different types of baby formulas. The Nestle brand formula is formally known as Carnation. My daughter always had the Nestle Good Start Supreme formula and luckily Nestle is one of the best formula companies to receive samples and coupons from. Their company web page is http://www.verybestbaby.com. On their main page, you must sign up for the very best baby collection. Before my daughter even arrived, I had a free normal size can of Nestle Good Start formula. Later on I received a free baby book with stickers and tons of checks for formula. Nestle sends checks that are similar to coupons; however, they have your name on them and are good for formula at any retail store that sells it. The first three checks that I received actually covered one normal size can of formal from Nestle, you can't beat free formula! As your child develops the check size will decrease and when the standard child is off of baby formula, you will no longer receive mailings from Nestle.

When your infant is ready for baby food, Gerber and Beechnut are popular brands that many parents purchase. By visiting www.beechnut.com, parents can often times receive a free product from joining their newsletters and there are sometimes coupons to print off their website. With many supermarkets choosing to no longer accept printed internet coupons, www.gerber.com is the way to go. Gerber offers healthy baby food for children, finger foods for infants and toddlers, and Gerber Graduate Meals for toddlers. When you arrive at Gerber's home page, select the special offers tab. Once there, you must join the Growing Up Gerber plan. You will have to select a sign in name and password. To receive coupons, you will also be required to enter information about yourself and your child. If you wish to only receive coupons via postal mail, then you must check that box. I am still receiving coupons from Gerber and have been for over a year now. Each coupon specifically pertains to your child's age; therefore, make sure you enter in their correct birth date.

There are many companies that offer products relating to infants and toddlers, it is recommend that you check out each site and see what they have to offer. Raising a child can be very expensive, get a little help and receive coupons from companies whose products will come in useful to your and your new baby.

Stephanie Harrison Photography - Where You'll Find the Best Photographer in Town

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Whether you're looking for that perfect photographer for senior pictures, wedding photos, new baby celebration or special family moments, Stephanie Harrison Photography is the place to go! You'll not only find a professional studio that is conveniently located in the heart of the Historic Depot District in Richmond, Indiana, but you'll meet one of the friendliest, easy going photographers around; not to mention at a great value!

The photographer at Stephanie Harrison Photographer, none other than Stephanie Harrison herself, offers an artistic style that can't be found elsewhere. The results of her work give an eclectic, non-staged, and real feeling. She captures expressions and movements perfectly in her photographs. She's got the perfect personality for children and adults alike. She can accommodate any situation from serious, quiet moments to doing whatever is needed to get an unsure baby to smile, make nervous folks feel comfortable or even catch that wondering gaze of a beloved pet.

Photos aren't always taken inside the studio at Stephanie Harrison Photography. The opportunity is also there to go outdoors and use the resources of the Historic Depot for a more urban look, combining the exposed brick of old buildings with the sweet, fresh face of a new baby, for example. Stephanie is also often available for on-site shoots for weddings, special celebrations and other purposes!

Stephanie Harrison has the experience to make your photo shoot the best it can be! She's been featured in a number of magazines across the world and has won various photography awards. With such skill and recognition one might think her prices would reflect it, but at Stephanie Harrison Photography, the value is unreal!

The session fee is a very reasonable $40.00 for up to four people. Prices for prints obviously vary by size but range anywhere from $8.00 for eight wallets up to $90.00 for a huge 20x30 print! She offers packages for senior pictures starting at a low $99.00 and Wedding Packages that can be had from $550.00. Also available are Gallery Canvas Wraps in various sizes which are, simply put, awesome!

Stephanie Harrison Photography can be found at 195 Fort Wayne Avenue in Richmond, Indiana and reached at (765)962-3133. The website, www.stephanieharrisonphotography.com offers numerous examples of Stephanie's work, a price sheet, bio, and contact information for setting up your first session.

Stephanie Harrison Photography; you simply won't find a better photographer around!

Shooting for Stock Photography

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A great way to earn money and learn a lot in the internet is participating in stock photography. Stock photography has been around for a while. And there are a lot of great stock sites that sell photographs for a reasonable price.

Just how and what should you shoot to be able to participate in stock photography?

Photographers say you should start with the concept. But the very first thing you should do is to know your equipment. I literally spent ten times more time trying to know how my camera works than thinking of something to shoot.

Stock photography is a very demanding industry. It's as close as you'll get to professional photography. It requires you to be able to produce images of the highest quality. That is because this industry is very competitive.

Try shooting the same subject with different settings. You should know how your camera reacts with different kinds of light. You should also know how it responds to different levels of illumination. Note the differences you see and keep them in mind.

Next you need a concept. Your images should present an idea, a thought or an expression. Consider a photograph of a man typing on a computer. What is he doing? Why is he typing? Is he working? Is he Blogging? Or just playing?

Designers buy stock images because of the concept they present - not because they look good. Stock photos are used in web sites, brochures, magazines, publications, advertisements, and almost anything that has a print.

So you need to have an image that has a concept that satisfies the needs of the would-be buyers of your pictures.

Then, you need a lot of light. Stock photos require that images have the right level of illumination and contrast. They need to be clear. If you can't afford a big set-up, you can always use desk lamps or even the sun.

You'll also need a computer and two kinds of programs: noise reduction tool and a photo editing application. Most stock photographs go through a noise reduction process. They also get a little tweaking in color, contrast and brightness.

Stock photographs need to be as close to perfect as possible. It's like what they say in the computer graphics industry: "it does not matter how you do it as long as you get the job done." Don't think that editing a photo in your pc is cheating. That only goes for journalism.

The next is pretty simple. You need a stock agency to upload your images to. Or you can showcase your work in your own site. Uploading in stock agencies is better. That is because you can find out where and how to improve. Use their powerful community to find out your weakness and strengths as a photographer.

Then when you have all this, what you need to do next is to be consistent and improve and improve and improve. You need to keep up with the ever demanding industries. If you don't, you'll get left behind.

Where to Find Great Black and White Photography Online

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Black and white photography looks great in any décor. You can find just about anything, in any size, to match just about any room. Plus, the neutral tones of black and white photography ensure that it will match just about any color scheme. Here are some of the best places on the web to purchase black and white photography.

AllPoster.com

AllPoster.com is a fantastic site for cheap artwork. Now, cheap doesn't mean poor quality - quite the contrary, in fact. You can find just about anything - traditional paintings, classical art, black and white photography, large posters of bands, musicians, movies and more. They also offer framing.

My Top Pick: "City Street Signs" by Nelson Figueredo - $24.99 (Price doesn't include shipping and handling, or optional framing.)

Why I Chose This Piece: I love New York, more importantly - I love Broadway. Of course, Broadway and West 34th Street is practically the center of the theatre district. It's a great way to bring a little bit of Broadway right into my own home.

The Wall Art Store

This online store has a lot of fantastic, very 'artsy' black and white photos. They offer free shipping and all of the photos come framed, they even offer a few different selections for matting and frames. However, prices can run you from $55 dollars and all the way up to $919. Ouch. However, the quality is very high - so you can be sure you're getting your money's worth.

My Top Pick: "Stonehenge Sunrise" by Matthew De Haven - $50.00 (Price does not include shipping, handling or frame.
Why I Chose This Piece: I love Stonehenge, it's a fascinating place. The fog adds to the mystery of the structure and it's a great piece to add to a global photography collection.

Artful Home

This website offers a lot of wonderful photographs, but the prices run fairly average. The bottom line photographs start at $110 dollars and run up to several thousand dollars - so this isn't the most budget friendly site. However, if you've got the extra cash lying around, it's a great option and chances are you'll spend similar amounts at local art studios, especially if you live in a metropolitan area.

My Top Pick: "Winter Trees I" through Phoenix Galleries - $299.00 (price includes free shipping as well as framing and matting.)

Why I Chose This Piece: This particular photograph would be great for my fiancé's office. He loves the look of trees in the winter, so this is a great piece for him.

AbsoluteArts.com

Absolute Arts caters to the United States, the UK, China and more - and their prices range anywhere from $10 to $1,000,000. With more than 2500 works of art, you'll be sure to find exactly what you're looking for with this website.

My Top Pick: "Merced River Ice" by Ron Gallmeier - $330, Small; $665, Medium; and $1000, Large.
Why I Chose This Piece: Again, this is another piece I know my fiancé would really appreciate. Plus, I love the look of the water, the snow and the trees - so it's something we would both really enjoy in any room of our home.

So whether you've got $10 or $10,000 - you'll be sure to find the ideal pieces of black and white photography to fit your home décor and personal tastes.