What sets YOUR Wedding Photographer apart from the rest?
As a couple about to embark on the lifelong partnership that is a good marriage, you are probably overwhelmed with all of your choices when it comes to your wedding, including who you want to capture it. Most likely, this is also the first time you've considered hiring a professional photographer and are at a loss as how to choose the best one for you. Follow these 3 steps to to make your choice as stress free as can be :
First, you want to look at portfolios and reviews of photographers who specialize in weddings and narrow your choices down to 5 of those photographers whose work you can picture yourself in. Does the work speak to you emotionally? Great! You're onto a nice start!
Second, contact each photographer on your short list. Does that sound daunting? Don't worry, most of us are friendly people who genuinely want to help. When reaching out, whether electronically or by phone, there is some information we need from you to be able to give you an approximate quote. Please include;
the date you plan to be married, the location or locations, approximate guest count expected, size of your bridal party and a little about what you envision your day to be like as well as how you want to display and preserve your memories. It helps to know your budget for your photography as well so we can tailor a quote for you.
3rd, Once you've received the information you have requested, your short list will get even shorter, either because of budget or availability usually. You'll want to actually speak to the remaining photographers you've narrowed down and get a feel for their personality. This is extremely important because you will be spending one of the most important, highly emotional days of your life with this person, you should be comfortable and feel relaxed around them. You are entrusting the way the world will remember your wedding to this person.
It has been said that potential clients like to try to get to know their photographer as much as possible and having a small "About Me" section doesn't come close to telling the whole story. Being a person with high standards and lofty goals, I’ve chosen a difficult but rewarding field that will also serve as my legacy, Destination Wedding Photography. While these traits don't make things easy for me, they are great news for my clients and their Wedding Photography.
Why? Because “calling it in” is never an option for me. I realize that although my next wedding, for me, may be the third one in so many days, for my clients, it is THE ONLY ONE they have anticipated and will experience as their own. I take that responsibility very seriously, doing everything in my power to make their day as perfect as possible. It has never mattered what they paid me, from the days I was starting off and shot my first wedding for the fun of it unttil now and going forward, I will always treat my client's wedding day with the care and respect I would want for my one and only day. I give my absolute all to each and every one of my clients. Every. Single. Time. I’ve worked when I was physically hurt and medically shouldn’t have, torn calf mucsle, grieving a loved one lost the previous day, starving during a 12 hour day with no bathroom break, working outside in 100 degree heat with no water and many other circumstances, all the while remaining 100% present in the day, with a smile on my face and nobody the wiser. I understand the gravity of what I do and put myself aside so I can get it right for those who’ve trusted me with the memories of their big day. It is a commitment that I embrace when I accept a commission to photograph a couple’s wedding day and one I hope always translates with love through the final images my clients receive.
Recently these attributes have gained me some notoriety in my chosen field that has left me humbled and thrilled beyond belief.
I have been accepted into THE most prestigious and exclusive Wedding Photographic Society on the planet, the International Society of Professional Wedding Photographers, known to the pros as ISPWP!
What does it mean to be accepted and how does this benefit you as a bride and groom looking to hire their Wedding Photographer? I believe an excerpt from the ISPWP website sums it up perfectly:
“The International Society of Professional Wedding Photographers is an organization of the best wedding photographers in the world. It was created by professional photographers to raise the standards of the wedding photography profession. We are a resource for wedding clients who know they want to hire the best and the brightest for their wedding. We provide assurance and peace of mind that they are hiring the most respected, most ethical, most professional and most talented wedding photographers in the industry. It’s no secret there are many online directories of wedding photographers. Some of them have hundreds, even thousands of photographers. That SOUNDS great because there are so many to choose from! But most of these directories have little or no criteria for membership, they are simply link farms that oftentimes include photographers with zero experience and unknown backgrounds who have simply paid the applicable fee. The International Society of Professional Wedding Photographers (ISPWP) is a rarity among wedding photography organizations. Photographers cannot simply buy an ISPWP membership, they have to earn it. Our requirements are experience, talent, and professionalism. To be accepted, a photographer must have shot at least 50 weddings, submit their portfolio for review, agree to operate under the ISPWP Code of Conduct, and have an ISPWP Sponsor or four references. And THEN they have to be voted in by current members. In short, when you hire an ISPWP Photographer, you are hiring a talented veteran with a track record, recognized by their peers to be at the top of their field, and a passion for creating heirloom images of your wedding.”
So exclusive is it that I’m one of only 9, yes, NINE in the entire state of Florida listed! Now I don’t know exactly how many professional Photographers there are in the entire state of Florida but I do know there are 72 listed on my tiny 2x4 mile island so I’m assuming there are A LOT!
Holy WOW……… me! I’m on cloud nine! (Pun intended)
What an honor be listed among such extraordinary talent!!!
If you’re looking for inspiration and information, whether you are a bride planning your wedding or photographer looking to advance your skill level, you’ll find lots of useful articles and gorgeous, award-winning photographs on their website here:
How to get more WEDDING!
Welcome! I'm always trying to figure out ways to help my clients, often straying from the conventional, so I can't tell you how excited I am to offer you a brand new (totally free) service, that can maximize your wedding budget!
It's a wedding registry which allows you to register for gifts relating to your wedding, particularly, your Wedding Photography!
Yay, right?
The idea is simple:
1) You may have needed to forgo some things you really wanted for your wedding day because they didn't fit into your budget, like an additional session or a smaller album than you REALLY wanted; and
2) You may also already own many of the things you might ordinarily register for at a traditional store; e.g., wine glasses, kitchenware and the like.
What if you could register for an even more amazing wedding photography package? Would it help you achieve the wedding of your dreams? Now you can!
Simply use the link below to view a sample. I've used my husband and I as the bride and groom in this sample but each registry is customized just for you. ;)
https://www.gively.com/register.html?v=2160c389&c=45257f1755d45276
There you can register for various things you may really want for your wedding and then share the link with your family and friends. There are also social media sharing tools and even a preset email that may help you to tell your friends and family what this is all about so you don't have to waste time figuring out how to present it to them. Also, whether you choose to register for anything specific or not, when you send your guests that link, they'll be able to purchase gifts for you. If they purchase anything you don't want, you have the ability to apply it towards a product or service that you DO want. It is super easy and I'm finding many of my clients are utilizing the registry to maximize their wedding!
Go ahead and check out the sample registry now and don't be shy about asking me to set one up for you!
Whether you are planning your wedding in The Florida Keys, Key West or somewhere completely across the globe, I can help you preserve the memories of your special day with high quality, timeless imagery while supplying you with a stress free, white glove experience. Reach out to me and see for yourself! I'm easily reachable at: e-mail: [email protected] and phone number: 305-433-1237 and happy to answer any questions you have.
Thanks for stopping by and happy wedding planning!!! :)
PS- Are you a wedding vendor that would like to offer this amazing service to your clients as well? You're in luck! I’m happy to help you too! Check out this link : https://www.gively.com/?ref=PED3A and use this referral code; PED3A to receive a discount when signing up for it! You can share it too so spread the love!
Heather and Kay's United Methodist Church and Casa Marina Wedding
Happy 2015! If you were engaged over the holidays, CONGRATULATIONS!!! I hope you will find inspiration from the amazing couples who've commissioned me to capture their wedding day memories. All of my wonderful clients have inspired me and I plan to blog more this year so hopefully they can do the same for you.
The first post of the year I've promised to Heather and Kay and I'm so very excited to share their gorgeous wedding with you!
Heather and Kay, traveled from the United Kingdom to have their wedding in Key West, Florida and brought their nearest and dearest from all over the world with them to witness it. You see, Heather is originally from Texas and so her family is in the US but Kay and his family hail from Germany and our lovely couple lives in the UK along with many of their friends so their wedding at the United Methodist Church (The Old Stone Church as Key West locals know it) with their reception at The Casa Marina promised to be an event for all in attendance to remember! Thanks to their planner, Peggy, at Destination Wedding Studio, it was!
Heather's mom, Gale, worked closely with me throughout the entire process since Heather was overseas and concentrating on her job and it was such a pleasure getting to know them both along the way. You know the traditions...Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, right? Well, you may not want to wear your great grandmother's wedding band but you could always have your mom sew it in your gown with blue thread and you'll conveniently have all 4, assuming your gown is new. ;)
Heather is a natural beauty, with piercing sapphire eyes that the team at Beauty Boutique and the Glam Squad knew just how best to emphasize! They finished off her sophisticated look with a stylishly intricate updo that held beautifully and helped to keep her cool all night long!
Her gorgeous flowers were impressive and full of texture! I love when brides have rememberences of loved ones who've passed on attached to their bouquets. Being experienced with loss myself, I feel it is such a nice gesture to include these meaningful elements that help make your wedding even more personal to you.
Heather was escorted by her dad and given away by both of her lovely parents during a touching, candle lit ceremony performed by both Pastor Rueben and their close friend, Rev. Billy.
Too many ceremony shots? Never! Especially when you have a ceremony filled with special songs and readings from loved ones!
Dramatic exits are always fun!!! Rose petals during the day are an excellent option. Just please make sure they are real flowers because our sensitive island ecology depends on it!
Why not incorporate a unique tradition too, like the German custom of cutting a log?
An excerpt from Southern Bride Magazine sums the tradition up perfectly: "An old German wedding custom, the tradition of cutting of a log represents the first obstacle that the couple must overcome in their marriage. They must work together to "overcome the obstacle" by sawing through the log. Using a large, long saw with two handles, the couple demonstrates their teamwork to friends and family, and their willingness and ability to master the difficulties that inevitably arise in a marriage. Hopefully the log will not take too long to saw through!"
Lucky for them and their guests (because of the brutal July heat here in The Florida Keys) it didn't take very long and they were off to their reception!
The celebration was held at the unparalleled Casa Marina, A Waldorf Astoria Resort, with their cocktail hour on the patio and reception in the Flagler Ballroom which was decorated perfectly to create the sophisticated, yet relaxed atmosphere the couple envisioned. Tall, colorful structured, yet flowing centerpieces were elegant and took center stage among the other natural elements used throughout.
Their cakes!! LOVE them both! How cute is this Groom's cake though?????? Kay driving the boat while Heather lays out, with the flags from both of their home countries! Grooms cakes are a great way to infuse a little whimsy into your wedding day!
Their entertainment, Brian Roberts, kept the crowd moving to the music all evening! This was a fun crowd!
As always, the day went by in the blink of an eye and it was over all too soon but the sunset did not disappoint and we had fun with some couples portraits!
Heather and Kay, it is my wish that you two enjoy and carry the bliss you've shared for the past 4 and a half years, for the remainder of your days. Thank you two for allowing me to share in and document the special beauty that was your wedding day!!! Congratulations!!!
Many Thanks to the amazing vendors who helped make Heather and Kay's wedding dreams come true!
Vendor Team:
Photography: Mary Veal Photography
Venue: Casa Marina, A Waldorf Astoria Resort
Church: Key West United Methodist Church
Officiants: Pastor Ruben and Rev. Billy
Event Planner: Destination Wedding Studio
Hair and Make Up: Beauty Boutique and The Glam Squad
Band: Brian Roberts Music
Flowers: Mama Flowers
Cake: Amazing Cakes and Creations
Rehearsal Dinner: The Roof Top Café
Transportation: Old Town Trolley
Linens: BBJ Linens
Chairs: Prestige Party Rentals
Genevieve + Rob's Wedding at The Hemingway House
Hello again and Happy Summer to you! So far this year has been a tremendous one and I have so very much to be thankful for and lots of gorgeous weddings to share with you! Lets get started shall we?
At first contact, I felt like I had known Genevieve for years and knew immediately I needed to work with her! Not only does she have a beautiful, unique name that is also shared with my grandmother but she is a fellow creative with high style. After listening to her tell me her vision for her wedding and the special DIY touches, I was almost beside myself with glee that she had chosen ME to translate it for her visually. I am one lucky girl to have some of THE BEST clients and these two are permanently among them!
Genevieve and Rob's wedding was incredibly beautiful in many ways! Unique, and styled to perfection, including lots of hand made touches that are unique to them but are sure to inspire other brides as well.
They were married this April at The Hemingway House and with just one look, you can tell these two are absolutely perfect for each other!
Genevieve got ready at The Merlin House which is a lovely property surrounded by lush greenery. Her grandmother made her gorgeous lace wedding gown and her aunt made her head piece and bouquet too! Check out the bows on their shoes...adorable, right?!
Rob got ready at The Lighthouse court right across the street from the Hemingway House. Did I mention that Genevieve's aunt also made Rob's boutonniere too?
They elected to do a first look and liked the idea of seeing eachother for the first time in their wedding attire at Fort Zachary Taylor. First looks are always fun but they do present a logistics challenge so having a good wedding planner on your vendor team, like Kate Bentley who was theirs, is essential in ensuring it all runs smoothly.
Who knows, you may even have a few extra minutes to take some photos around town or stop in a local bar, like The Green Parrot, for a quick drink and pic!
The Banyan trees in Key West are pretty amazing too! They can be used for some fun bridal party pictures and even moody couples portraits. In this case, we had fun with it all!
Have you ever been to the Hemingway House? It is such a beautiful property and so full of history you can't absorb it all on only one visit. With the help of their Wedding Planner, Genevieve and Rob's ceremony was timed perfectly to in order to exploit the beautiful light pattern streaming through the dense canopy of trees. Their ceremony arbor was decorated with hand made paper chain using printed off book pages. Very creative! Their touching ceremony was witnessed by many of their nearest and dearest, some traveling from across the country to witness the marriage of these sweet individuals.
Some of my favorite images come from the 15 minute period I get to spend with my clients alone for their couples portraits. They're relaxed, the pressure is over, and they radiate love! How much more perfect can conditions get? Okay, throw in a few cute kitties and you get the proverbial cherry on top!
Lots of books, candlesticks, and candles covered in book pages, hearts made with "book shreds" and cute cats all came together to create the perfect ambiance.
Sushi bar for cocktail hour? OH YES!!! Catered Affairs = Awesomeness! Romantic first dance? You betchya! (Anyone else been watching Fargo? I find myself repeating many sayings from it)
As if there isn't enough inspiration to plan your own literary themed wedding already, how about adding a vintage typewriter as your guest book? Don't forget to add lighting if you are planning an outdoor reception too! It will add more than you think to the look of your soiree.
This is such a great idea! Genevieve and Rob had a "Decorate Your Cupcake" theme dessert table! Start by choosing the flavor of your cupcake and then add on as much or as little in any combination you want...brilliant! Oh, the fun that was had with this!
Congratulations Genevieve and Rob! It was an absolute pleasure working with you and a complete honor that you chose me to be the visual story teller of your wedding day!!! Thank you for putting your faith in my talent and believing in my vision when I didn't have any images from this venue to show you. (This was my first wedding here!) I hope you love these memories of your day and will look back on them with fondness for the rest of your lives!
PS- I've created this post in an album type format, so please, leave me a comment telling me if you prefer seeing the images this way or the way they appear in previous posts.
Vendor Details:
Photography: Mary Veal
Photography Assistant: Cierra Grein
Wedding Planner: Kate Bentley, Kate Bentley Events
Hair and Make Up: Southernmost Glam
Venue: Hemingway House and Museum
Officiate: Marcela Morgan
Catering: Catered Affairs
Cupcakes: Sweet Savannahas
Rental Company: Prestige Party Rentals
Florals: DIY
Jackie + Greg Wedding at West Martello
Hello again! As you can see, since February, I've failed miserably at keeping up with the blog again this year.
That doesn't mean I won't keep trying so go ahead and subscribe, you already know I won't fill up your inbox with too many posts! ;)
This has been my busiest year in business so far and yet I've taken on too many "private" clients that don't want me to share the images from their sessions and as such I've been "off the radar" so to speak. Because of this, I'm now limiting the amount of commissions I will accept that demand privacy. This is another topic I need to tackle for a blog post at a later date....
For now, lets get to the long awaited sneak peak of Jackie and Greg's beautiful garden wedding.
These two Key West locals are some of the most genuine, laid back, relaxed individuals I've met. When I moved here, almost 6 years ago, I met Jackie and Greg through the dive shop they both worked at as Scuba Instructors. I was training for my advanced scuba diving certification with another instructor who became a close friend as well and the rest, as they say, is history.
Yes, they've been dating a while now, and have experienced their share of challenges but that has only strengthened the bond they share and heightened the anticipation of their pending nuptials for the many, many people who are lucky to know and love them both.
So many of their friends pitched in to make their day special and I'll be sure to mention everyone at the end of this post.
Enjoy this small sampling and be sure to check back in a couple weeks for their full gallery to be released. It is chock full of all of all of the "fun" photos I'm sure their guests will be glad I did NOT share here.
..
..
..
..
..
..
.
.
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Miller!!!
Vendors List
Photography: Mary Veal / Mary Veal Photography
Photography Assistant: Cierra Grein
Hair and Make Up: Amber Hogue and Jackie Rann
Florist: Love in Bloom
Cake: Key West Cakes
Caterer: Small Chef at Large
Ceremony Venue: West Martello Tower
Officiant: Captain Frank Wasson
Reception Venue: Island Dogs
Ceremony Music: Tony Baltimore
Reception Music: DJ Andy Lewis
Flare Bartender: Josh Golders
Bagpipe Player:
Menswear: Timmy's Tuxedo
Bridal Gown: Mikaella
Bride's ring: Blue Sophia
Groom's ring: Jack Daniels
Transportation: Conch Train