Time to book your Memphis Wedding Photographer | Left Shoe Photography Weddings

December 16, 2009 | Filed Under Left Shoe Photography, Portraiture, Weddings | 1 Comment 

Lets face it…the last few months of the year can be a crazy time! Between scheduling and decorating for the Holidays, arranging travel plans to visit family and friends, getting those last few gifts purchased for your special someone before the last store closes on Christmas Eve (Grooms, I’m talking to you!!!) or finishing up your last few college final exams before semester break, we all have a lot that we need to get done. In addition if you are planning on getting married during the busy Memphis wedding season next summer, it’s also a time when you need to seriously start thinking about booking your wedding photographer.

Choosing your wedding photographer, along with arranging other critical vendors (florist, ceremony and reception venue, caterer, DJ or band) are all important decisions in ensuring a positive experience on your wedding day. Perhaps the photographer more than others (although  I may be biased) , plays an especially important role in that it is their job to record your special memories for enjoyment many days and years into the future.

As a wedding photographer based in the Memphis Tennessee area, I always notice that the fall and winter leading into the next wedding season is the busiest time for our wedding photography bookings. Unfortunately, every year it breaks my heart when I have to turn down a beautiful wedding couple simply because I have already been booked for their wedding day. So ladies (and gentlemen), if you are suddenly nervous and want to ensure you get the biggest bang for your wedding photographer buck, it’s time to get serious!!!

Which brings me to my main point…. Often when I’m standing up or attending a wedding that I won’t be photographing for a close friend or relative I’m asked what they should look for when hiring a good wedding photographer. Memphis, like any other city, has many wedding photography options  available and it’s important to make a selection you feel comfortable with. Here are a few important considerations I think every Memphis area (or any area for that matter) bride and groom should consider before making their choice:

1) Do I like this wedding photographers pictures and portfolio?

Well I hear what your saying…”Duh…of course I should like the pictures!” And this will be the first thing that often attracts you to a certain photographer after viewing their portfolio online or in person; but it is important to imagine yourself in a photographers pictures. All photographers photograph weddings with a different style and it is important to connect with the style of the photographer you are interviewing.  You may have an idea of what you think your pictures may look like, but make sure you like what you’re seeing from the photographer you are interested in.

2) Can this photographers pricing  accommodate my budget (or vice versa)?

With most purchases you get what you pay for; the same is true for wedding photographers. If prices seem to good to be true, they probably are and it is important for you to ensure you are getting quality products and service from your wedding photographer. If you have a photographer you are especially interested in, contact them and see if they can accommodate your budget. Most photographers, yours truly included, have a variety of pricing options available to offer prospective clients. At Left Shoe Photography we do our best to accommodate the budgets of as many brides as possible and will often craft unique packages for each wedding couple. After all, who wants to pay for something they don’t want…Not Me!!!

3) Do I like this photographer? I mean really like them!

This is frequently one of the points that is overlooked in the search for the right wedding photographer and it is perhaps the most important consideration. When you have a wedding consultation with a prospective photographer make sure you consider whether you would enjoy being in this persons company for a whole day and if the photographer is someone you can get along with; you will be with them practically your entire wedding day. If they aren’t someone you click with, sorry, but the day is probably going to be pretty miserable. I’ve heard too many times, “Yeah, their pictures were nice, but their photographer was a total jerk!”

The primary reason I photograph weddings is because I really enjoy them and as a result this enthusiasm really shows in my effort to serve my clients on their wedding day. I feel  incredibly fortunate to be afforded the enormous responsibility of commemorating someones wedding day. It’s an honor I take very seriously. Many other wedding photographers feel the same way; unfortunately, many do not.

Hope this bit of information helped you  in planning for your big day! If you are in the Memphis area or elsewhere and are interested in my wedding photography services please contact me. I’d be happy to discuss what I can do to craft a wedding photography package just for you.

Yours Truly,

Tracy-contact me

Left Shoe Photography | Wedding Portfolio

Group Therapy | Grand Rapids Wedding Photographers

May 11, 2009 | Filed Under Artist's Gallery, Portraiture, Uncategorized | Leave a Comment 

Tracy and I headed out Saturday night for some much needed group therapy!….No, its not what you’re thinking; we were there to see and photograph the band Group Therapy perform at C’s Grille at Centennial Country Club in Grand Rapids. Centennial is one of the great country clubs in West Michigan and an excellent wedding venue in the Grand Rapids / West Michigan area. Check them out when your looking to book your reception site!!!

But back to the reason for my post…As a Grand Rapids wedding photographer I know I’ve written about this before, but one of the best choices you can make for your wedding is to hire a live band, especially if the band is as professional and talented as Group Therapy! They absolutely rocked the house!!! I’d strongly recommend  checking them out at one of their local gigs and consider hiring them for a social event or as wedding entertainment…you won’t be disappointed!!

Here are some images we made while we were there:

Dust Cover Photo for Ruth Barshaw, Local Children’s Author | Lansing, Michigan

May 10, 2009 | Filed Under Portraiture | Leave a Comment 

I wanted to share a little bit of my excitement! I just had the privilege of photographing the very talented artist and author Ruth Barshaw for her upcoming book. The photograph will appear on the books dust-cover once it enters print production this year (I’ll post the photo then). For anyone not familiar, Ruth is an amazing author and illustrator of children’s books and is based here in the Lansing, Michigan area. Check out her blog here. One of her books, “Ellie McDoodle, Have Pen, Will Travel” was recently nominated for a 2010 Beverly Cleary Children’s Choice Award (my fingers are crossed for you Ruth!!!).