Going unplugged is the newest wedding trend!

There is a reason brides and grooms are asking their guest to UNPLUG

I happen to channel surf by Fox and Friends today and catch a few minutes. I stopped and watched because I saw they were talking about wedding photography. There was a photo of a number of guest blocking the bride as she came down the aisle and the professional photographer had taken to Facebook to complain about the guest getting in his way while he tried to do the job the couple hired him to do.

I found it interesting that the Fox host took the opportunity to talk about how staged professional photography was, how long it took to get your images after the wedding and other disparaging remarks. They went on to say that at least now, the wedding couple could see their wedding images posted on FB right away. I guess that could be true! But, if the images are terrible, as most are, the couple could be very embarrassed by how bad they look. Sadly this is often the case. Recently, a bride told me how she thought the FB pictures her friends had posted made her look fat, and how it had runined her wedding day for her.

The value of having a Professional Photograher at your Wedding

Nobody at Fox seemed to recognizing the value of having a professional photographer at the wedding. Guest with cell phones can ruin the very moments they were talking about. There is no way to stage a bride coming down the aisle with her father towards the groom! That’s a completely candid moment, and when guests get between a professional photographer and the bride they can ruin that moment for the groom, and the couples parents, as thier veiw is often blocked by the standing guest. Not to mention the lost opportunity of a professional image of what is surly one of the most important moments of a wedding service. It would seem, that everyone thinks they are a photographer now days just because they have a camera in their cell phones.

Should wedding photographers be afraid they will lose jobs to guest with cell phones?

The broadcasters even went so far as to say the professional photographer was just afraid that he was going to lose a job because of cell phones! What a ridiculous statement! While trying to capture a moment of your friends wedding with your cell phone is understood, it should be said that you’re not going be expected to bake cupcakes and bring them instead of a wedding cake nor are you expected to help the bride design and sew her wedding gown! Let’s certainly hope you are not expected to help cook dinner or serve it even though I expect most guest know how to cook! Can you imagine walking into the kitchen during a wedding and whipping up a few of your fave dishes for the other guest? Of course not! Why then, would you expect to help take the pictures?

Ok maybe this is a bit of a rant … But come on! As a professional wedding photographer, I know the value that these images bring to my clients after their wedding, and while I certainly don’t mind people using their cell phones occasionally during a wedding, there is a reason the biggest trend in weddings these days is going “unplugged.” This is when guest are asked to put down their cell Phones and enjoy the event!

Rant of a worried photographer, or just plain common sense, you decide! The host on Fox and Friends apparently have no idea what the true value of a professional wedding photographer is. The truth is most cell phone photos look about as good as the Betty Crocker cake a guest could provide would taste! To insinuate that a guest with a cell phone can possibly do the job of a professional photographer is just plain… well silly!

posted by susanmichal, 7th November 2015 , Categories: Uncategorized, Weddings, What's going On

Top 10 Favorite Wedding Images

Since I have been photographing weddings for almost twenty years it is a daunting task to choose only ten images that would be my favorite. As a disclaimer there are many thousands of wedding images that i have taken over the years and hundreds of them could be on this list. As beautiful as they all are these are the ones I have picked! Of course I am a girl and on any given day I can change my mind. Enjoy!

This little guy was NOT enjoying being in tux. He was absolutely miserable and happy to let everyone know it. Sometimes these unplanned moments just play out right before your eyes… truly an all time favorite.

The bride and I were coming in from shooting some of just her when we open the door to this. It was so precious an unexpected. I fell to my knees for the best angle and literally within a second it was over. Apparently there was a bit of a sunburn issue and the most natural way to take care of the problem was to scratch it!

There are so many beautiful moments during a wedding. Cynthia had just been handed her bouquet for the first time and with out any direction form me she simply lifted it to her face for a quick smell. A perfect example of a caught unplanned moment that has always been on my favorite list.

This was one of the sweetest couples I ever photographed. They were so in love and ready to start their new life together. They LOVED taking pictures together and would have done anything I asked. This was a quick image that we have used many times over the years. Simple, sweet and FUN!

You can NEVER plan for a photographic moment like this. As the Bride and Groom left the reception they were coming toward me and stopped for a quick kiss. Serendipity was at play as a guest camera went of at the EXACT same moment as mine. I saw it happening out of the corner of my eyes and new there was a 50-50 chance it would ruin my image. Lucky me, God was on my side and this was the result. Truly an all time favorite of mine.

I love a sexy bride and my friend, Ann, is a sexy girl! I was so honored to photograph her wedding, as Ann works in the wedding industry. While she was getting her make up done, I saw this and grabbed it. A true Marilyn Monroe moment. You go sexy girl!

There were so many beautiful images from Madyson and Billy’s wedding, to choose one was almost impossible. Madyson’s chosen wedding venue very unexpectedly closed ten days before her wedding and almost EVERYTHING had to be rearranged. Mady was a trooper and got the job done. Her wedding to Billy was magical despite all of the craziness leading up to it. Madyson is very close to her father and this was a special moment between he two of them as they arrived to the ceremony in a horse drawn carriage. Truly the kind of moment every wedding photographer lives for.

Grady and Sandy were such a special couple. They had been together for ten years before they decided to tie the knot. There were so many special images from this wedding, but I have always loved this one. They are just enjoying each other and having so much fun.

This was truly a special wedding! The brides Mom had been very sick and passed away during the planning of the wedding. The whole day was just like a movie. Her Aunts were there to help her get dressed and there was nothing but love and support for this beautiful young couple. As the bride and groom exited the ceremony this was a candid image I captured. What i really love about this image is that it was taken over ten years ago but still looks as classic and fresh as if I had taken it yesterday. This was also the very first wedding I photographed almost entirely digitally. Thats was a BIG change for established photographers and I will always be grateful to have had such a wonderful couple to make that transition with.

I have always been fascinated by the way a new groom plays with his ring. I think I have enough fun images of this to do a book. Maybe another subject that would make a great TOP TEN! Of all of the fun moments like this I have witnessed this one is definitely an all time favorite. This groom was so sweet and had fun with everything about his wedding. Clearly that ring is not coming off anytime soon.

OK so you know I would have to pick an extra one. So here is number eleven.

Katie and Brian are an amazing couple. Their wedding was at the beautiful Cloisters in Sea Island, Georgia. I have been privileged to photograph their babies and extended family many times since their wedding. They feel like family, and truly building those kind of relationships is one of the best things about being a wedding photographer. Brian is a man’s man. He works in special ops and as you can imagine his groomsmen kept me hoping! But when it came to Katie, Brian was a big teddy bear. I LOVED this unplanned dip he pulled off beautifully at the end of the service. Take note grooms to be… This is how ya do it!

posted by susanmichal, 5th August 2015 , Categories: Weddings

Headed to Engage Conference

I am excited to be heading to the Grand Cayman Island Monday to attend ENGAGE an innovative series of luxury wedding business events bringing together the wedding industry’s key influencers and thought leaders from around the globe to exchange ideas, network and be inspired to take their businesses to the next level of success. Can’t wait to get lots of new ideas and bring them back to Jacksonville brides!

posted by susanmichal, 13th November 2014 , Categories: Weddings

The Unforgettable Event
Tiffany & Co.
Gabriella Arango Couture
Celebrated Occasions
Beachview Event Rentals and Design
Renaissance World Golf Village Resorts
Ritz Carlton Amelia Island
Ponte Vedra Beach Resorts
Sweet Wedding Cake Design
Susan Michal Portrait Studio
Matthews
Take One Productions
Y?Entertainment
Hammock Beach Resorts

posted by susanmichal, 18th November 2011 , Categories: Weddings, What's going On

Category Archives: Weddings

Going unplugged is the newest wedding trend!

There is a reason brides and grooms are asking their guest to UNPLUG

The value of having a Professional Photograher at your Wedding

Should wedding photographers be afraid they will lose jobs to guest with cell phones?

Top 10 Favorite Wedding Images

Headed to Engage Conference

Susan Michal Weddings

TPC Sawgrass – Amanda and Mike

Ritz Carlton-Courtney and Christiaan

Unforgettable Events and Tiffany & Co.

Mary and Mark

Amanda and Justin

Ponte Vedra Lodge

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