Harrison Piper Photography

Now What Did I Get in My Package Again?

Harrison Piper Photography — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 06:23:20 +0000

Planning a wedding is often one of the most exciting events in someone’s life. So many details, choices and versions of contracts about services one has never used before are dizzying. It’s enough to make a sane person crazy! Where it gets really tricky is when the bride and groom see more than a couple options for each service. Unfortunately there is no standard contract for many services and most vendors offer their own twist. Keeping it straight is a critical but doable challenge, necessary to your post wedding happiness. This is what we suggest:

Both the bride and groom and anyone else financially involved should visit the vendor {guys, I’m looking at you} and review the contract line by line. Believe me, NO vendor wants unhappy clients who thought they were getting one thing, but actually signed a contract for something else. Seems obvious, but is not done many, many times a year.
Ask questions if you don’t see something addressed such as overtime or cancellations, etc. Usually this is written in your contract already and you may have overlooked it. What ifs are ALWAYS best discussed before a contract signing.
When comparing two or more vendors in the same service it helps to list on paper what the differences are so both the bride and groom are clear. Never be afraid to address your concerns to the vendors.
Please remember that your vendors are working there for their living, just as you work at your profession for your income. Their contracts are in place to be fair and protect both parties.

Puppy Love

Harrison Piper Photography — Tue, 24 May 2011 14:16:33 +0000

Many brides have two loves. Each are tender and devoted, eager to please and full of unconditional love. Often we photograph the three of them together on their engagement shoot. The bride, groom and their dog are much like a little family and it’s fun for everyone to treat this group as one. Usually the park is the best place for this type of shoot. The pup isn’t in every shot so if there is a prearranged dog sitter there it’s better for everyone. Two other requirements, a leash and a plastic bag for the “extras” are a definite must, of course. So if your someone special has four feet and a tail, think about including them in your engagement shoot as well.

Here’s an example of Vanessa and Eddy’s day at the park. Their adorable dog was an angel, charming all who saw her.

Grey Day, Bright Smiles

Harrison Piper Photography — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 00:51:19 +0000

Ever worry about the potential of a grey day on your wedding day? That was the state of the weather this weekend. At least the threat of rain had passed. Our clients, Miguel and Tenia’s wedding was this Saturday at the Wayfarers’ Chapel, known for it’s beauty inside and out. Such a great couple too, good looking with vibrant personalities and so in love. Would an overcast day ruin the look of their photos ? No way! The grayness gave a soft light to their portraits. The vibrant greens of the Wayfarers landscaping glowed. All it took now was an understanding of the technical side of photography to make the pictures sing. What a point and shoot camera can’t achieve we were able to bring to the photos through technique and knowledge. Because we shoot in RAW format we could even amp up the vibrancy in post-production.

The next day Miguel and Tenia were able to view all of their photos online. Miguel and Tenia got the beautiful photos they deserved.

WSEA South Bay Wedding Faire — April 27, 2011

Harrison Piper Photography — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 00:48:04 +0000

The Wedding and Special Events Association, of which Harrison Piper Photography is a proud member, is holding its upcoming Wedding Faire on April 27 at the Torrance Cultural Arts Center. This is a great opportunity to meet with many highly regarded local wedding professionals, including bakeries, bridal gown shops, caterers, DJs, event planners, florists and even other photographers! They even have door prizes, a fashion show, complimentary hors d’oeuvres and cake tasting. We look forward to seeing you there!

WSEA Wedding Faire

April 27, 2011 6:30pm

Torrance Cultural Arts Center

3330 Civic Center Dr.

Torrance, CA

To purchase tickets ($5 in advance or $7 at the door) or for more information:

www.wsea.com

310-530-3003

Pro’s Don’t Give Up

Harrison Piper Photography — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 04:31:02 +0000

The clouds were coming in fast and the traffic was heavy on the freeways this Friday night. We got the call from our bride and groom that they were running late for their engagement shoot at Cabrillo Beach. Timing is everything in outdoor photography because of one thing—natural light.

With only 15 minutes of shooting time instead of an hour, should we give up and send the bride and groom home for the day? No! Her hair was done especially for this shoot and they lived so far away.

So off to the beach we went and in 15 minutes these are some of the great shots we got. That’s what being a pro is about, maximizing the moment with technical know-how.

Home Depot Center Velodrome

Harrison Piper Photography — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 04:19:19 +0000

In my youth I raced my bicycle, and when I was not racing I was taking pictures of my friends at their respective cycling events. This is how the photography bug bit me. I have been shooting ever since. Things have come around full circle and on Saturday I found myself meeting my bike club at the Home Depot Center Velodrome in Carson,California. Here are a few pix I took

—mostly with wide angle and fisheye lenses.

Photography Trade Show

Harrison Piper Photography — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 05:05:12 +0000

Went to the Pro Photo West photographer’s show on Friday in Pasadena, looking for great new albums for our clients and we found them. There were lots of booths with traditional albums but we were looking for the exceptional. Look for a silky fabric covered album with a sophisticated, handcrafted feel. We will also have a panoramic style album like nothing you’ve seen at other studios. More details and images to come!

It’s Not About the Camera

Harrison Piper Photography — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 12:40:25 +0000

It’s what every photographer hears at least three times a year. “My uncle, cousin, fiancé’s good friend has this great camera and took some awesome vacation shots. They even took a photo class in school and were on the yearbook staff! We’re on a budget so we’re just gonna use them instead. Sounds great—until they get the wedding photos back! That’s when we hear:
“We ran out of time and didn’t hardly get any pictures.”
“There wasn’t any photos with my side of the family.”
“The pictures were all blurry.”
“The photos didn’t come out.”
“We look blue.”
“I look a mess.”
“We only got half of the reception.”
“The photographer just stopped and gave up.”

All that anticipation, not to mention money spent and so little record of your special day; it’s enough to break your heart.

What’s the difference between a friend or relative and a pro if they have the same camera?

Experience

Experience in knowing how to work with the camera in all situations, times of day, locations and lighting. All these elements change constantly in the course of your day. Experience in knowing how to make you look your best. Experience in organization of your friends and family groups to have the time to capture the photos you’re looking for. Just as your experience at your job makes all the difference in the outcome, your photographer’s experience makes all the difference in your once-in-a-lifetime photos.

If you are tempted to use that relative or friend to do a professional’s job, try this. Have your friend photograph you and your fiancé at your location at the same time the event is to take place. Remember they have generally 30-45 minutes to take every photo on your list. The results will speak for themselves. Don’t leave this unique, irreplaceable event up to amateurs!