Charlotte Wedding Magazine

Charlotte Wedding Photographer - Nathan Abplanalp (1)

Charlotte Wedding Photographer - Nathan Abplanalp (1)

What happens next, what led them here. The master photographers know that anticipation is one of the strongest elements you can insert into your photographs. It is the question that the photograph asks you yet never fully answers. The anticipation for resolution. I think that all great photographs have some form of anticipation in them. This is why, in wedding photography, the moment before the kiss is often far more impactful than the photo of the actual kiss. It is a crescendo of emotions and movement that create a visually dynamic image.

Other photographs include it in a much more subtle way. By carefully crafting the idea in your mind you can create a photograph that creates anticipation with spontaneity. This photograph was created for a Ballet inspired fashion shoot for Charlotte Wedding Magazine. It was a spontaneous thought that I had to showcase the back of the custom dress made by Caden Couture. Obscuring the model’s face and having her pose in a manner that leans to one side created a sense of anticipation as if she is waiting for something or someone with eagerness.

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Quality vs. Quantity

We’ve all heard it before – as companies venture out and grow, they do have to decide if it will be quality verses quantity or vise versa. We had some dear friends over for dinner last night, who just happen to be another husband and wife team of photographers here in Charlotte. We were talking about life and what was new and eventually our conversation steered towards our photography bookings. It’s been something that Nate and I have discussed – if we should set a limit or just shoot, shoot, shoot. So many photographers (and other occupations) view success on the amount of sessions or weddings they book, but is that really success? Is success being so strapped for time that you don’t enjoy the shoot, you get lazy on locations and one shoot looks like another? Yes, you may pull in more money and own the market in your price point, but all you want to do is pull your hair out and every task seems like a mountain to crawl over. Small business is hard in general, but why make it harder on yourself?

It’s better to grow your business slow and steady, approach each potential client with care and thought – don’t just accept them as a client because they have a check ready for you, and figure out how many weddings/sessions you require to make a healthy living and enough to continue improving your skills and equipment. Make a decision for you, your family and your business – Quantity or Quality (of Life)

~Rachel

ps: That little cutie is one of my best friend’s little girl, Annie. I absolutely adore her – she calls us Rachel and Neat:)

 

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Selecting Your Wedding Date

Nathan Abplanalp - Charlotte Wedding Photographer

Save the Date in Rock Hill SC

It’s all too fresh in my memory. Last fall, before we were engaged Nate and I talked about when we’d like to get married. We knew we had to plan ahead and block out date or else someone would book us for their own wedding. We both loved September, so that narrowed down the possibilities. Nate’s brother and sister-in-law got married on 03.04.05 and I thought it’d be rather amusing if we did the same play on the date and snagged 09.10.11.

After scouring the web for a venue that was thought would supply the best light for photography, I wound up with a big ZERO. No one was available on 09.10.11. Completely booked! It was back to the drawing board. I must admit, I was very sad – I had my heart set on September 10th, but I quickly realized that I would have to make a compromise somewhere in this wedding planning journey.

I began to search for venues that captured our eyes and would capture great photos. I not-so-secretly believe that Nate wanted an easy way to remember our wedding date and that is why he  suggested we look for a venue in my home state of Vermont. Once we agreed to see what Vermont had to offer, I called my mom and she was beside herself in excitement. She knew exactly where we should be married and sure enough, 09.10.11 was ours to keep!

With all of this said, be open to dates for your wedding. Have one date you love and one back-up in case your favorite venue or photographer is not available!

~Rachel

 

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Creating A Wedding Day Timeline

Just married written on get away car at the Carmel Country Club in Charlotte NC

Requesting a wedding day timeline from a bride generally leaves us with blank stares. With all of the detail planning, this is generally one detail that is often left until the last minute. I hope this blog post will help fellow brides plan their special day! We will start with an example timeline:

12:30 Bridal preparations begin
2:30 Bride leaves for Inn
3:00 Bride arrives at the Inn
3:00 Groom & Groomsmen start getting ready
3:15 Dress is on and final touch ups on hair and makeup
3:30 Shoot with Bride, bridesmaids, first look with her dad, etc at Inn & in the city
4:15 Groomsmen and Groom photos around the city
4:15 Bride & girls relax – cocktails etc
5:00 Groomsmen and Groom get into cars and go to ceremony location
5:15 Bride and her Dad get into the car
5:30 Ceremony starts, Bride and Bridesmaids arrive
5:45 Ceremony ends  & Family photos begin
5:45 Cocktail hour starts
6:00 Shoot with Bride & Groom
7:00 Dinner starts
9:30
Bride & Groom exit

Preparations
The number one question I am asked, “When do I start getting ready?” Whether or not your hair stylist and makeup artists are able to come to you, we suggest 2-3 hours prior to the ceremony or first look. However, if you are traveling to the salon, make sure you figure in travel time. The key is timing it just right to ensure your hair and makeup remain in tact and fresh, but it is better to err on more time than less. You will want to plan for 30-45 minutes of relaxing time and or for a buffer, in case you have an emergency or to alleviate panic mode when you realize that you forgot to paint your nails!

Hands & Feet
We also suggest manicures and pedicures the morning or afternoon of the rehearsal. For evening weddings, pampering yourself the morning of is a great idea. However, for those of you with a late morning or early-mid afternoon ceremonies, planning for the day of the grand event, may have you setting your alarm for the wee hours of the morning or being little more than tardy! Try to minimize your prep list the day of the best you can.

Begin with… Hair or Makeup?
Most brides, including myself, do not enjoy their photo being taken when their face is a bare canvas. So because of this, we generally plan to arrive after the makeup is on – then capture or stage touch-ups. This allows the bride to feel beautiful as we snap a few shots of her hair being styled.

Putting on the Dress
Do not underestimate how long it will take to put on your dress. If you have a lace up, you will want to allot about 30 minutes. Most bridesmaids have never laced up a dress and it can be tricky business! On numerous occasions I have had to set aside my camera to lend a hand. If your dress has a zipper, you can plan for 10-15 minutes. Remember to step into the dress and not slip it over your head – you do not want to mess up your hair or get makeup on the dress! To ensure you do not rip or dirty the dress, find a clean floor area, have a bridesmaid or your mother reach down through the center of the dress, opening a space til they can see the floor –  they may need help from another bridesmaid to reach under the dress to make sure your feet are not pinching any part of the dress.

Pre-Ceremony Photos
One of the major concerns for Brides and Grooms as they are planning the wedding is trying to squeeze in time for photos without using up too much time. We have two suggestions: Formal Bridal, Bride & Bridesmaids, Groom & Groomsmen before the ceremony and/or a “First Look”.

I mentioned a “First Look” before, but some of you may be wonder what that actually is. A First Look is when the bride and groom plan a special moment to see each other before the ceremony. Not only does it allow for additional and a more relaxed time for photos, but also gives the bride and groom a unique and much more private way to share their first time seeing each other, all the while being photographed!

For the more traditional brides, have no fear, you don’t have to keep your guests waiting for your arrival at the reception. The more organized you are, the better. Work with your photographer in the weeks leading up to the ceremony. Discuss where you want your post-ceremony photos taken. This will help the photographer to visualize the photos before hand and should help to get you to the reception to kick-off the party!

Typically we scheduled 15 minutes for family portraits, with an additional 45 for photos with the bride and groom. Many couples do their best to shorten this time and we often compromise by sneaking them off for a few photos during the reception dinner.

Reception Length
Most couples believe their guests will stick around all night. However, this is not the case. Often, it’s about 2-2.5 hours after the start of the reception when guests begin to taper off the dance floor and out the door. So the idea is to keep the party going and leave right as it peaks. This way your guests are there to send you off with bubbles, bird seed, signs, or confetti, making for some great photos!

I hope you have found this blog post helpful. Please feel free to comment if you have any additional questions or would like some more insight on other aspects of planning your own wedding – I know first hand, as I am currently planning my very own wedding!

Much Love,
Rachel

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