February Print Sale

Time to stock up on the prints you've been wanting!

Double click the image for a larger, readable view. Accepting print orders for the sale now through Monday, Februray 22nd.

Photography Style

What is my photography style?

A simple question from a bride today sparked some thought and reflection. The two most common styles talked about today regarding wedding photography are photojournalistic and traditional. I have avoided categorizing my work because I don't truly fall into either specification.

Photojournalistic wedding photography can be described as a fun & candid style that tells the story of your day. Strong use of mostly natural light (which I do prefer!). Working without a shot list - simply capturing moments as they happen. I enjoy shooting in this manner, especially at the reception. Many photographers claim to shoot this way.

Traditional wedding photography, described as contrived posed or staged portraits, while not my favorite, definitely is a requirement of most brides & grooms at least a little bit, mainly in order to satisfy parents & grandparents. Working strictly off a shot list. I do offer to do this, as it's a good document for family purposes, but it lacks creativity. Therefore, I don't spend much time with it - especially alone with the bride & groom.

I'm not satisfied classifying myself as either of these styles, or even saying I'm both. But in my quest to come up with a description of my style, I stumbled across another term that's begun to fly around - illustrative.

Illustrative photography is described as when the photographer thinks in terms of design elements, and places subjects in settings of interesting compositions and backgrounds. Usually the photographer provides direction and the couple (and bridal party) are encouraged to interact, which results in a spontaneous feel. Unlike wedding photojournalism, illustrative wedding photography is said to bring out the photographer's artistic creativity and compositional skills, rather than simply capturing a series of moments.

All in all, my work is somewhat of a blend of the 3. But the majority of my work lies in the the illustrative category, based on how I work and how I think as I'm shooting. This is how I enjoy shooting and what I do best. And this is how I think brides & grooms are most comfortable - most people desire a little direction or some idea of what to do. But strictly posing is too rigid and unnatural for me. With purely candid photography, you risk losing the opportunity for some truly beautiful work. Illustrative is a nice, comfortable and creative blend.

For example, in this shot:

Did I tell her to smile? No - but I did tell him to whisper something in her ear, which made her smile.

Even in this shot:

Did I place them all specifically? No. I told them to spread out in the area and climb on the farm equipment. I do recall moving one of the guys to help create visual balance. Then I just told them to all do their own thing and look wherever. They did - simple as that.

And here:

Did I tell them to laugh? Yes (did you expect me to say no?), but a little bit before I took this shot. What happens when you tell people to laugh? They force a laugh, which feels awkward and silly - and then they end up talking about it, which usually leads to them making fun of each other (or themselves), which usually leads to true laughter and natural reactions. There's your shot.

Descriptions of the different wedding styles came from: http://www.image-designer.com/wedding-photography-styles.htm

Successful Boudoir Promo

The Valentine's Boudoir Promo was a success! 6 lovely ladies joined me in the Park Place Hotel presidential suite (didn't want to divulge the actual location prior to, in order to avoid any sketch balls from randomly showing up) between Sunday the 17th and Monday the 18th. I chose these dates because booking the hotel was less expensive - and since Monday was a holiday, I figure I'd take advantage of it. Though I did run into a bunch of girls who didn't have Monday off (not everyone does of course!). So I'm open to feedback for next year as to whether to stick with the Sunday/Monday deal or go with Saturday/Sunday.
Regardless, I am completely happy with how things went and I think everyone had fun. I've already begun editing & posting the final images for the girls to see, in order to have all the albums together before Valentine's. Hopefully some of the ladies will let me post a few images (after Valentine's Day, of course)! For now, we want to keep that a secret.
If you didn't get the chance to participate in the promo, consider an at-home session! Call 508-259-7222 or email me at courtney@cjgonzalez.com.

Tips for finding the right Wedding Photographer

Things to consider when searching for a wedding photographer:

1.) We are about to enter into the "high wedding planning season." Many couples get engaged over the holidays - and now want to plan a summer wedding. For others, maybe you got engaged prior to, and are just now starting to get things together. Either way - couples are out there interviewing and searching for vendors. Which means, vendors are starting to book up - so you might need to act somewhat quickly. Therefore, prioritizing is necessary. Generally, the top 3 major concerns (in no particular order) are your wedding date, your venue, and your photographer. Figure out what's most important to you, and start there.

2.) Keep in mind that finding the right photographer isn't just about pricing and packages - it's about finding someone that you can connect with and feel comfortable with. A photographer isn't necessarily right for every couple that comes to the door. If you find someone you like whose packages are a little out of your price range - it's worth a shot to offer them your budget and see what sort of custom package they might be able to create for you. After all, your photographs are what you have to look back at when all is said and done, and your photos should be more than a document of the day - they should be a work of art that reflects all the time and energy you put into it.

3.) On that note - really pay attention to the quality of the photos that will be delivered to you - and not just the portfolio images that the photographer uses to advertise with. Anyone can get a few good shots at a wedding - but can this photographer deliver consistently good, creative images? Be sure to ask to see a few complete weddings while you're meeting with them.

4.) Do they offer engagement sessions? Engagement sessions are a great way for you to become familiar with how your photographer works - are they going to miss a photo because they're worried about the exact placement of your pinky finger, or are they going to let you interact naturally with each other and capture who you are? Don't get me wrong here - sometimes it's necessary for a little guidance, but there's a difference between guidance and....well, nitpicky direction. But to each his own - so regardless of my opinion - find someone that shoots in a way that YOU are comfortable with. Then find fun and creative ways to make use of those images - save the date cards, guest books, slideshows, etc.

Dress Shopping!

Today was so much fun! Laurie, Shantel, and I carpooled it down to Grand Rapids to hit up the David's Bridal sale, in hopes of finding wedding dresses for both of them. And what a successful day it was!! They both found their absolute most perfect dresses - and they look amazing! I'm am so thrilled and honored to be photographing both of their weddings this summer, and I cannot wait. Nothing like dress shopping to build anticipation! I'd love to post some photos, but we don't want the fiance's to have a sneak peek, now do we?! ;-) Congratulations, Laurie & Shantel!!

New Year's Day

Steve had duty today, which allowed me time to sleep in (!) and then get some work done. So I started editing EJ & Shantel's engagement session from yesterday and then began experimenting with how to create a slideshow and get it up here! And that, of course, pretty much took my entire afternoon. So here is my first grand attempt :-)