Featured Vendor - Hopkins Studios of Savannah, Georgia

One focus I want to make on my blog in the coming year is to feature some of the wonderful vendors and venues we work with.  Given that we have worked with so many great vendors it will take time for us to present all of their work but I will do my best.  I want to start by featuring a great photography team I have worked with in the Savannah and Charleston area, Scott and Melissa Hopkins.

Hopkins Studio is a husband and wife photography team who are blazing their way through the Low Country.  I wanted to know more about what makes them tick and how they've become so successful.  I also wanted to know how they've been able to lead the way in the southern wedding market, so I sat down with them to find out more about them.

SR - Scott and Melissa, tell me a little about how Hopkins Studio's came to be?

HS - Scott started the company in 2004 after years of working in the photo industry and as a nature photographer. In 2009, Melissa joined on full time with Scott and we made their moved south away from the hustle and bustle of Philadelphia.

SR - As artists and photographers what would you say sets you apart from other photographers.

HS - We try to make everything as easy and as relaxed as possible for our couples. We want our couples to enjoy the day with their families and friends, so when we need them, we work quickly and get them back to the party as soon as we can.

SR - How would you describe your shooting style?

HS -Our approach is primarily documentary. We do not want the day to be one long photoshoot for our couples. We concentrate on the moments that make up the day, how can we frame them in an interesting way, how can we use the light to make it dramatic.

 SR - What are some of your favorite locations to shoot?  Either for an engagement session, a wedding or just for family shots. 

HS -The one of the best things about living and working in this area is the variety of locations that we work at from wedding to wedding. One weekend we are at a historic plantation, the next on the beach and next a five star resort. Charleston and Savannah have such a rich history, visible in both their architecture and landscape, we love showing that in our images.

SR - What's the craziest and most outrageous photo(s) you've had taken?

HS - A few years ago we had a long heat wave and the ceremony and reception both took place outdoors by the club’s pool. Near the end of the reception, the wedding party and a number of the guests decided that is was time to cool down and dove into the pool, gowns and tuxes still on.

SR - What are some bridal trends that you love and some you'd like to see go away?  And what are some you'd like to see comeback or just start all together?

HS - We would love to see more couples lighting their reception, especially pin spotting their floral arrangements and the cake. A little lighting can dramatically change the appearance of a room, it gives it life and depth. We would also love to see a more modern take on the vintage, southern wedding that is popular in this area.

SR - What are a few things brides should ask when looking for a photographer?  What do you want them to know when shopping for photographers?  What a few things brides should ask that they don’t?

HS -It is important for a couple to see an entire recent wedding from any photographer they are considering. Seeing that final collection of images should give you a good idea the images you can expect from your own wedding. Good photographs are timeless, avoid the trends and fads that pop up from season to season.

SR - Any advice for brides and grooms during the planning process?

HS -We highly recommend hiring a planner who can help you bring your vision to life. They have the experience handling all of the little details that you may not think of. Also, work with vendors that you like and that are the best fit for you.

SR - What's the best possible advice you can give to a couple on their wedding day?

HS -Relax and enjoy the day because it goes by quick!

SR - From a photography prospective what are some do's and don'ts brides should keep in mind when planning out their hair and makeup on their wedding day?

HS - Keep it natural and look like yourself. Keep it light around your eyes as smoky eyes tend to appear very dark in photos and it can be hard to see your eyes.  Also keep in mind the level of touch ups you will need to keep you looking your best throughout the day.

SR - How can brides and grooms find you? Please list all social media

HS - 

Website- http://hopkinsstudios.com

Facebook- facebook.com/hopkinsstudios

Twitter- twitter.com/hopkins_studios

Instagram- instagram.com/hopkins_studios

I hope you have enjoyed this insight into the work of Scott and Melissa as well as the wonderful images of their work that they shared here.

Until the next featured vendor...

Cheers!

Wedding of Elizabeth & Benjamin

A few weeks ago, I shared with you a link to Lindsay Flanagan's blog to show you a little preview of the wedding of Elizabeth and Benjamin! Well, I am now very thrilled to share with you more photos from their fabulous wedding! Elizabeth and Benjamin were such an incredible couple to work with and Lindsay Flanagan truly did a fantastic job capturing their special day.

The wedding took place at The W Union Square, which I have to say, is one of my favorite venues! Big shout out to John Benke, the Account Director at the W Hotels of New York, for always being so wonderful to work with!

Elizabeth wore an absolutely stunning gown from Priscilla of Boston, which suited her sophisticated and elegant taste perfectly.

 

I love this photo of Elizabeth and Benjamin before the ceremony. The photo really highlights the beauty of Elizabeth's gown. 

The bride carried a stunning bouquet made from all white flowers including  roses, stephanotis, ranunculus and large all white cymbidium orchids.

As a special personal touch, I placed Elizabeth's grandmother's locket on top of a beautiful rose in her bouquet. Inside the locket Elizabeth had placed a photo of her grandfather and father, so that they would be close to her heart as she walked down the aisle.

The maid of honor carried a bouquet that was designed with white, soft pink, coral and peach roses along with pink tulips that was then tied with an ivory ribbon to coordinate with the overall look and feel of the wedding. The bridesmaids elegant black dress was designed by J. Crew's bridal collection.

Before the ceremony, the bride and groom signed the Ketubah surrounded by close family members and friends.

  Elizabeth and Benjamin shared this sweet moment after signing the Ketubah before getting ready to walk down the aisle.

Guests were asked to put on yarmulkes for the ceremony, which were custom made by Ana Dolan with Elizabeth and Benjamin's name and wedding date. 

The intimate ceremony which took place in the ballroom of the W Union Square under a custom made chuppa was officiated by Rabbi Marcia Rappaport in front of 120 of Elizabeth and Benjamin's closest family and friends. The chuppa was designed in a clean and elegant manner with sheer ivory fabric that cascaded down on all four sides and pulled back with white, soft pink, coral, and peach flowers. The flowers also accented each of the four corners of the chuppa which created an elegant setting for the couple to get married under. 

 

I love Elizabeth and Benjamin's Kiddish cup that was given to the couple as a gift from a close friend. The two love birds on the stem of the cup is such a wonderful detail! Also, Elizabeth and Benjamin saved the breaking glass so they could have it made into a mezuzah to adorn the entryway to their shared apartment as a married  couple.

As guests approached cocktail hour they were greeted by this stunning floral candelabra designed with roses, hydrangea, and eucalyptus leaves where the could find their escort cards, created by Ana Dolan.

The table arrangements were elegantly designed in antique bronze containers with a lush display of flowers. Accenting the base of the arrangements were gold votive candles which further helped the warm romantic glow. 

These simple, yet sophisticated menus were designed by Ana Dolan from Invitations by Ana.

The cake, created by the pastry chef from Olives Restaurant at The W Union Square, did an absolutely stunning job making this delicious cake! The top tier was made out from vanilla cake, the middle tier chocolate and peanut butter, the bottom layer chocolate ganache! Looks like Elizabeth and Benjamin were ready to dig in!

Elizabeth and Benjamin, along with their guests, danced the night away to music played by The Jeff Lubin Band from Hank Lane Music and Productions.

At the end of the night, Elizabeth and Benjamin braved the cold and Elizabeth even showed off her fancy dancing flip flops!

I hope you enjoyed all of theses photos from this great wedding. On behalf of everyone here at Shawn Rabideau Events & Design, we wish Elizabeth and Benjamin a "very happy life together", much like on this hand written speech given by Elizabeth's mother. LOVE this photo!

Cheers!

Shawn

Wedding of Elizabeth & Benjamin - Preview

I am so excited to share with you a preview of our first 2011 wedding! Elizabeth & Benjamin are such an amazing couple and I had such a blast working with them! Take a look at Lindsay Flanagan's blog to check out a preview of some of the photos of the wedding! We will be posting a complete blog post soon, so stay tuned!

http://www.blog.lindsayflanagan.com/home2/2011/1/24/new-york-city-wedding-photographer-w-hotel-union-square-eliz.html

Also, check out Elizabeth and Benjamin's wedding announcement in the New York Times!

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/16/fashion/weddings/16RASKIN.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=elizabeth%20raskin%20and%20benjamin%20warlick&st=nyt

Cheers!

Shawn

Expert tips on selecting a photographer from Elizabeth Beskin, President of Fifth Avenue Digital

10 Important Tips to Remember When Choosing a Photographer for Your Special Event!

There are a few things to keep in mind when planning photography for your special day. You will only get to make this important decision once. When the wedding or other special event is over, the pictures are one of the few things that remain, apart from the dress and the rings. The photography is there to remind you of all the fond memories of the day, the intricate details you planned and of course all of the emotion.

Here are the top 10 things to consider when choosing your wedding photographer:

1. Every photographer has his or her own unique style. Look for a style of photography that "speaks" to you. A good wedding photographer should have the ability to really capture mood, emotion, and sentiment within his photographs. The shots shouldn't just sit there; they should move you in some way. They should provoke a reaction within you, whether you’re looking for romantic shots, a fashion-forward portrait session, outrageous candids or artistic photojournalism. You’ll probably find yourself drawn repeatedly to a certain style, which will help you define the style of photographer you want for your occasion.

2. Question the photographers about their styles. What sets them apart? How do they approach the wedding? Do they enjoy shooting weddings and events or are they really a fashion photographer or journalist making extra money for now? You want someone that loves everything about weddings: the romance, the fashion, the emotion and the traditions. Make sure you trust them enough to create something special for you.

3. If you are working with a studio or a company that has multiple shooters, ask to meet the photographer that you will be spending your important day with. Make sure this person is someone you would like at your wedding. You may spend more time with them than family and friends on your wedding day. Is the chemistry right? You want to be on the same page and click with them!

4. How much experience does the photographer have? This is probably the most important question. It’s very easy these days to find someone with a website and an inexpensive camera who will offer to shoot your event for a small fee. Experience matters! You have thought out every other detail about your occasion; don’t leave this one to chance.

5. Don’t judge photographers’ work by their website alone. If your interest in a particular photographer is serious, ask to see an entire job. It’s relatively easy to find a few outstanding shots in every job. Photographers today sometimes shoot over 2000 images at a single wedding. Make sure you see a large number of outstanding shots within one job, and consider how many images you need to go through to find those killer moments. You want the photographer’s images to reflect the caliber of work you expect, with each and every wedding they’ve already shot.

6. What kind of lighting do they use? When photographers say they shoot portraits using natural light, this is another way of saying, “I don’t own portrait lighting.” This works fine if you are planning an outdoor wedding or will be doing portraits near a window, but if you are having your portraits done mostly in a ballroom, or in any other indoor location, you need portrait lights! Even if your wedding is outdoors, it never hurts to be prepared.

7. Ask about backup equipment. Again, if you get a blank stare you know they are not prepared to shoot your wedding. They should have at least two cameras for each photographer and multiple lenses and flashes. This sounds trivial but digital cameras do fail. There are many photographers who do not have sufficient gear to shoot weddings, so make sure to ask what they use.

8. Ask your photographer if they have a backup program on their hard drives. Digital photographers rely on hard drives to archive your images. Anyone with a computer will know that computers frequently have problems. If they give you a blank stare or can’t explain how they store their images, then you know they are unprepared. Your photographer should have your images backed up in multiple places and perhaps a copy off site. These things cost money so be prepared that photographers with good back up plans will cost more.

9. If they get sick or another emergency arises, what happens? If they can’t talk about it then they haven’t thought about it. Granted, the chances of this are rare. In my 22 years of representing photographers, it’s happened only twice. One year, a photographer’s wife went into early labor. A few years later, the death of another photographer’s father occurred the morning of a wedding. In both situations, the bride and groom preferred a focused replacement, rather than a shooter who wasn’t really focused on their day. Both were thrilled at the way it was handled. Other acceptable answers to this question: the photographer belongs to a professional organization such as PPA or WPPI which can provide a replacement or he has emergency “on call” arrangements with other professional photographers. Make sure they will replace themselves with someone of a similar style and price point. At 5th Avenue Social, we have a team of shooters that are all artistically different, but have similar work styles. Happily, photographers who work for me perform even when under the weather. Only the most extreme emergency will keep them from a job.

10. When it comes to pricing, make sure you understand what you are getting up front and that you are comparing apples to apples when evaluating different photographers’ packages. Many photographers have introductory pricing that is tied to what you buy after you see their images. They know that they can up-sell you after the wedding. Find out what you receive with the basic package, how many hours the photographer is hired for, how much the extras cost, who owns the high resolution images, and how long it will take for you get them.

And finally, one more tip for good measure:

11. Do you know anyone who has used this photographer? Can they get you a reference? Have you looked online to see what other brides say about them in reviews? Were they recommended by your other trusted vendors? Ask for references from your photographer and speak to their past clients. These are all good ways to make sure your important day is artistically covered.

Elizabeth Beskin is President of 5th Avenue Social, a high-end photography company providing talented photographers for weddings, mitzvahs and other occasions, in various price levels and styles. She also has an online album company called albumboutique.com to help brides make an heirloom album with the images they own from their photographers