Tag Archive for: Best Photography in St Louis

8 Reasons You Want Rain on Your Wedding Day (According to Real Brides)

Along with the many joys that come from planning a wedding are the inevitable worries. Paramount among these—particularly when planning an outdoor ceremony—is the fear of rain on your wedding day. While there are many things you can control about your big day, the weather will never be one of them, but that’s no reason to worry.

Instead of fearing the possibility of poor conditions, you can embrace what the world gives you and make the best of it. You might be surprised to find that dealing with rain on your wedding day could be a desirable mishap, thanks to gorgeous lighting for perfect photos, an excuse for you and your guests to get cozy, and an unexpected perspective to begin your marriage with.

To put your mind at ease, we asked brides to share what happened when it rained on their wedding day (and why they wouldn’t have had it any other way).

The Pictures Will Be Gorgeous

“Once we got our pictures back, the light was beautiful, and it was so fun walking around huddled under an umbrella together. Plus, our ceremony was outside, and everyone had blankets and cuddled together.”

It Can Cool Down a Summer Night

“Luckily we were already under a tent eating when the major downpour occurred. When dinner was over, the rain had ended, and the beautiful, foggy sunset was perfect for pictures and dancing. Considering our wedding was in July, I was happy that the rain brought a cooler night instead of scorching sunshine.”

The Perfect Ceremony Isn’t Always What You Had Planned

“It rained on my wedding day, and it ended up being a great surprise. I had an outdoor ceremony planned, and instead, we got married in front of our venue’s beautiful fireplace. Our planner and florist brought in the arch and still decorated. It ended up being so pretty, and the rain stopped just in time for us to take photos outside. It was the perfect ceremony for us, and our guests loved how cozy it was.”

Your Guests Will Get Cozy

“Aside from optimal lighting for outdoor photos (and making all the flowers and trees more vibrant), it got everyone a lot more cozy at our backyard reception. We were so happy to see both of our families and friends mixing it up, where they might have otherwise spread out into their separate cliques.”

You’ll Learn to Let Go

“There was a torrential downpour on my wedding day in July 2015. Our ceremony was scheduled to be outdoors, and we had to scrap everything last-minute and move the ceremony inside. At the time, I thought it was the worst thing that could happen, but what I didn’t know is how much the experience would change my perspective on things. I used to need control over every aspect of my life and couldn’t deal when things fell out of line. Since then, I am so much more laid-back, less rigid, and happier.”

Everybody Loves Dancing in the Rain

“My husband and I have been together for 22 years and married for 14. We were married at our 1915 farmhouse here in Colorado. The day before the wedding, I had my silk gown cut to tea length but left the train. I had a hunch it was going to rain. People were sitting around hot as sin not doing much. As soon as the skies opened up, and it rained, people began dancing like fools to our bluegrass band. My dress miraculously stayed clean, and people had a blast in the rain, and they say it was the most fun wedding.” —

It Makes for a Great Story

“It poured on my wedding day (along with the day we got engaged, and the day of our engagement pictures), but it was perfect. Our venue was an old factory, and the dark moodiness made the day-of pictures amazing. But mainly, we chose our venue so we didn’t have to worry about the weather, so it was almost meant to happen.”

The Day Will Feel Magical

“Our wedding was at Momofuku Daisho in Toronto. We did it all on the terrace that connects the restaurant to the Shangri-La Hotel. It was tented with string lights everywhere and potted herbs on the table, and when it started raining, it was so enchanting. And it made sure it wasn’t too hot for any of our guests. Not to mention, we got the most amazing photos before it started raining because of how cloudy it was. It worked out perfectly.”

November 17, 2020/by Chris Abell

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Must-Have Photography Gear for Capturing the Perfect Shot!

Starting to build a photographer’s arsenal of ever changing, high-tech (and, not to mention, expensive) tools can be a daunting task. Even seasoned pros who have gone through many generations of equipment cringe a little at the idea of replacing a broken lens or bulb.

Although the list of tools and accessories, camera lenses, camera bodies, lens babies and more that a photographer can (and probably should) employ is truthfully endless, here’s a list of must-haves for every photographer.

1. Camera bag

If you’ve got a small camera and a single lens a bag may not seem essential, but it’s a good way to protect them in transport and it keeps rain and dust at bay. And as you build up a collection of lenses and accessories you’ll find that you need something to keep it all together and make it easier to carry.

Photo backpacks are a great way to carry heavy kit over long distances or uneven terrain, but because you usually have to take them off your back to access your gear, they can slow you down a bit. Shoulder camera bags give speedy access, but as the weight is carried on one shoulder it can be uncomfortable with heavy loads over long distances.

There are also quite a few ‘sling’ bags available now which combine the some of the comfort of a backpack with some of the convenience of a shoulder bag. Deciding which type of camera bag to go for is a matter of personal preference, but think about how you use your gear when considering the options.

2. Tripod

Tripods are extremely useful for low light settings, as the stability of the tripod allows you to take longer-exposure shots without any blur. This stability is also crucial for things like night sky photographs and even proper selfie shots.

3. Light Reflector or Reflectoboards

This simple tool gives you the ability to create evenly dispersed lighting in both indoor and outdoor scenarios. Don’t want to buy a second strobe head for your newly formed studio? Simply put a light reflector on the opposite side of your subject to fill in some of the shadows. If you are shooting outdoors on a sunny day, you may find that the harsh sunlight leaves dark shadows and bright light spots on your subject’s face, including their eyes.

These shadows can be filled in with a reflector as well. Reflectors come in a variety of hues so you can choose whether you’d like to add a touch of warm light or stick with a neutral shade. Depending on how metallic the reflector is, you can create a stronger or softer light as well, giving your image more or less contrast as needed.

4. Batteries

When it comes to photography—especially digital photography—batteries make the world go ’round, and when you run out of juice, your world basically comes to a halt. This is not a good thing when you’re out on a job, wedding or otherwise. For this reason, it’s obligatory that you have, at the very least, a complete set of back-up batteries for every item in your bag that uses batteries.

Although most cameras are powered by dedicated lithium-ion rechargeable batteries, accessories such as flashguns, transceivers, etc., still rely on AA, AAA, 9V, C, D and any number of button-type batteries. At the very least, you should always carry a minimum of one spare set of batteries for each of your battery-powered devices.

5. Remote Shutter Release

A remote shutter release is important in two ways: it lets you “take a shot” without physically touching the camera body, which also eliminates any potential for shaking and vibration. It’s most often used in conjunction with a tripod.

There are two kinds of remote shutter releases — wired and wireless — but it doesn’t really matter which one you get. More advanced remotes will have extra features like half-press support, built-in timers, and LCD screens.

6. Memory Cards

In photography, it’s better to have a handful of smaller SD cards than a single big SD cards. That way, if a card ever gets corrupted, you still have others you can use. There’s nothing worse than being unable to shoot because your only card died.

7. Additional lenses

The chances are that your camera came with a standard zoom lens which covers a focal length range of around 18-55mm on an APS-C format camera, 14-42mm on Micro Four Thirds or 28-105mm on a full-frame model.

This is a great starting point, but it won’t be long before you find you need something a bit wider for shooting landscapes or interiors, or you need a telephoto lens to allow you to frame action subjects tightly.

You may also want to get closer to small subjects with a macro lens, or get a dedicated portrait lens with a wide aperture to limit depth of field and blur backgrounds.

November 20, 2017/by Chris Abell

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Avoid These Common Mistakes When Hiring Your Wedding Photographer

Every couple aspires for their wedding to be a picture-perfect affair. And, they leave no stone unturned to turn this dream into a reality. They look for the most exotic venue, hire the best vendors, select the most beautiful outfits, and everything else, which helps them to make their wedding truly memorable.

However, when it comes to hiring a wedding photographer, not every couple might end up making the best decision because of their lack of knowledge about this art. In fact, there are a few mistakes, which most couples usually make while hiring their photographer.

Well, this can be a real spoiler in any couple’s dreams of having a perfect wedding, since, only the wedding pictures preserve the memories of this beautiful day.

Here are some common mistakes you must avoid, which most couples make while hiring a wedding photographer.

1. Prioritizing products (Albums) over the quality of the photography

You might have a limited budget, and there is nothing wrong with that. This still does not mean you need to compromise on the quality of the pictures. There are ways to work around a small budget. For one, I believe it is better to have a bunch of great pictures in the drawer than an album of mediocre images. Skip the album for now. Get the pictures and make an album later. Even if you make it a year later it is still fine. Relax and look at what is important. Focus on the quality of the photography rather than the products you get right now

2. Not Sticking to the Finalized Schedule

Pay attention and respect the schedule you and your photographer discuss prior to your wedding. Being an hour late can make or break your images. Don’t just assume it only takes 10 minutes!

3. Don’t Make the Mistake of Overlooking the Photographer’s Personality

The number one mistake to avoid when hiring a wedding photographer is to listen to everyone else. Your best friend might have loved her photographer, and your cousin probably swears by hers. So you met with both of them and their pictures seem good enough. But did you like them? Your photographer will be with you all day, so it’s important you get along with them and enjoy their company. Your instincts will tell you a whole lot!

4. Interfering in his work

Many couples tend to give their suggestions to the photographer while getting themselves shot. What’s worse? They even reject the photographer’s ideas at times, and compel them to do the things the way they feel is right. You have to understand that your photographer is a pro in his work, and hence, is well aware of how to give you the best wedding photographs. By dictating your own terms, you might just end up irking him; the result of which, can lead to you getting the mediocre quality pictures.

5. Letting Relatives Get in the Way

We have a name in the industry for a guest who shows up with pro photo equipment and takes ‘unofficial wedding photos’—we call him Uncle Bob. Uncle Bob may think he’s doing you a favor by taking more shots for the couple, but usually he just gets in the way and makes us miss our shots. Tell Bob to leave the camera at home and just enjoy his time at the wedding without working.

6. Last Minute Bookings & Disappointment

You have set your budget for your photography, you have maximized it the best you can so you can afford the best photographer you can get. All ticks so far, however you leave it, you don’t make a decision and then when you realize you still need to hire someone, you can be left disappointed when the wedding photographers you wished you had hired are fully booked on your day.

As with your wedding venue, as soon as the wedding venue and the date is confirmed, you should be booking your wedding photographer. No matter what your budget the best wedding photographers will be taking bookings up to 2 years in advance, so don’t wait a couple of months before your big day and be surprised they are booked up.

Our advice is as soon as you have your date and venue, find your perfect wedding photographer and get them booked.

7. Not signing a legal contract

This is yet another mistake that many couples often make while hiring a wedding photographer- not signing a legal contract. Remember, whatever you decide and agree on with your wedding photographer should be put down in writing in a legal contract. This will save a lot of misunderstandings and help sort out issues that could potentially arise at a later stage. The agreement should mention the agreed number of days/hours of work, the number of edited/unedited images, the maximum delivery time, liability, ownership of the images, usage rights, payment terms, etc.

8. Put your phone away

Always an interesting topic but we feel wedding photos can easily be ruined by shots of the bride and groom walking down the isle to a sea of camera phones being held up too. Weather you ask your guests not to do it or not, perhaps ask them to have a cut off point, you can take photos if you wish up to this time, then please put your phone and camera away and enjoy the rest of the day with us. Have you considered an unplugged wedding?

July 3, 2017/by Chris Abell

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Photography Wedding Tips

Want to book photographers that go the extra mile? Check out Premier Entertainment. We’ll capture your wedding day any way you want, and leave you with some amazing memories to last a lifetime.

Below are some of our sweet tips on making the most of your big day photography.

Practice Makes Perfect

Sometimes posing in front of a photographer you don’t know can be awkward, especially when you are trying to record and intimate moment right after saying “I do”. Check out photography you like and pick out some favorite portrait poses, then take an afternoon and practice them together. You might even want to practice relaxing your face in the mirror for natural shots.

Light Your Face With Love

You’ve probably heard someone say, “You need to find your light.” Or something along those lines, and it couldn’t be more true than when it comes to wedding photography. Talk to your photographer about the kind of light you want reflected in your photos, too. Also, if you plan on taking a lot of photos indoors be sure the lighting isn’t florescent as that can discolor your skin. Look for rooms that have a lot of natural light to keep your skin glowing and fresh.

Use The Weather To Your Advantage

No matter what happens on your big day, use it to your photography advantage. Rain, clouds, and lightning can often make the most gorgeous natural backdrops for wedding photos.

When You Choose Premier Entertainment for your photography needs you get:

Professional photographers
Professional photography lighting
DVD with high-resolution images and print release
Password protected online gallery for viewing, proofing, and downloading
Photo editing (color, contrast, exposure)
Extensive photo editing and retouching
4 to 6 weeks turnaround time
24/7 personal online planning tools
Unlimited advice to help plan your big day
One on one meetings to personalize everything to your needs
Full-time office staff and thorough event planning

June 9, 2016/by Chris Abell