Dallas Wedding Photography: Dallas Wedding Venues

Hey, sorry for the two day absence on the blog. The camping trip and subsequent cleaning up afterwords has kept me busy. I have a couple of things to cover in this blog so I will jump right to it.

First I want to introduce you to Ebby & Lina and welcome them to John Leonard Photography's extended family! Krista and I will be shooting their wedding next month. I am really looking forward to it. It will be the first time I have shot an Indian wedding. It is going to be gorgeous. I want to thank them for hiring me. It always means so much to me every time someone trusts me with their wedding day. So THANK YOU! And here is the lovely couple.

On with the meat of this post I guess. I have been keeping my eyeballs open for wedding venues that I find to be just visually spectacular and/or have some really cool deals going on.

First up: Off The Grid

I do not have images of the venue, but they are posted on their website. I'm going to give them an email and see if they will let me shoot some images there to show everyone here. But here is the description from the website.

The historic Dallas Power and Light Substation used to power the city street lights. The building has been restored and renamed OFF THE GRID.  It’s powered up and ready for your special event.

OFF THE GRID has 3 floors with up to 6,500 Sq/Ft and a large outdoor patio area and green space.  

 Check them out. It looks just perfect for the urban modern wedding with stunning views of Downtown Dallas.

Second Up: The City Club

First off, WOW! Stunning views from the 69th floor of the Bank Of America building in Downtown Dallas. Take a look at their website for a great photo slideshow. Here is what they say about it.

Located high atop the Bank of America Plaza Building, The City Club provides the most breathtaking views of the City. The floor to ceiling windows that surround The City Club, offer a 360 degree panoramic view that definitely creates a romantic setting for your special day. 

Hosting up to 500pp, The City Club provides the perfect setting for your Wedding Ceremony, Reception and Rehearsal Dinner. In the finest tradition, The City Club has enjoyed a long-standing reputation in Dallas for its high quality of service and culinary skills. Let us customize an unforgettable menu that is sure to “wow” you and your guests.

 Third Up: The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas

Well, what need I say...."Putting On The Ritz". Now it obviously is not the cheapest venue in the world, but it does offer all inclusive luxury at a not to unreasonable per person price. I stumbled upon a new promotion they are running in conjunction with The Ritz-Carlton, London. i found this information on LoveTripper.com, I am quoting this from their site:

Truly a match made in heaven, The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas and The Ritz London have collaborated to unveil a new nuptial offering which allows lovebirds to say “I do” in Dallas, then fly away for a London honeymoon.

A first for the two hotels, the partnership provides a combined wedding andhoneymoon experience offered as a complimentary upgrade for couples who purchase The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas’ Ritz-Carlton Royalty wedding package, which requires a minimum of 400 guests with a contracted rooms and premium food and beverage commitment.

Priced at $275 per guest, The Ritz-Carlton Royalty Wedding Package offers:

• Rose petal turndown in a Ritz-Carlton, Dallas Luxury Suite for the wedding night.

• Two deluxe Rooms for the parents of the newlyweds.

• Access to The Ritz-Carlton Club Level for for the bride and groom and their respective parents.

• The opportunity to unwind with a gift certificate for a couple’s massage, courtesy of The Ritz-Carlton Spa.

• $500 credit for botanical beauty though Bella Flora of Dallas.

• A chance to relive the romance with a first wedding anniversary certificate for a one-night stay in a Deluxe Suite.

• A wine pour and custom-designed Ritz-Carlton, Dallas wedding cake, which is part of a four-course reception dinner that also includes a four-hour premium bar package.

• Guests can greet the sunrise at an all-night “Afterglow” party.

After the wedding day festivities, here are a few of the honeymoon highlights the newly-pronounced husband and wife will enjoy at The Ritz London:

• Round-trip flight for two between Dallas and London.

• The Ritz London’s Rolls Royce Phantom will take twosomes from the airport to the hotel.

• A four-night stay at The Ritz London.

• A Full English breakfast every morning.

• Accompanied by a private guide, couples can enjoy a day of sightseeing in style in The Ritz Rolls Royce Phantom, which will take the newlyweds to London’s top tourist attractions including The Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace, The Tower of London, The Palace of Westminster and Kensington Palace.

• An individual consultation with John Williams, MBE, the hotel’s Executive Chef, and Thomas Sorcinelli, the hotel’s Head Sommelier, to create a unique six course dinner paired with fine wines.

• A shopping spree for souvenirs of their stay during a personalized guided shopping tour of Bond Street.

• A Champagne Afternoon Tea for two in The Ritz’s renowned Palm Court, followed by a visit to a London theatre show of the couple’s choice.

• Newlyweds will be dazzled by the diamonds at private viewing of Ritz Fine Jewellery’s latest collection.

• Complimentary membership, during stay, of The Ritz Club and Casino.

• Couples can drink a toast to their happiness during a “Champagne Flight” in a private capsule on The London Eye Ferris wheel.
The Ritz-Carlton Royalty wedding package is one of three comprehensive new wedding packages offered by The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas. Entitled Southern Chic, Texas Traditions and Ritz-Carlton Royalty, the three wedding packages are priced beginning at $125 per person, with differing complimentary honeymoon offers applying to some of these options as well.

So you get a spa, honeymoon accommodations in London, an upscale venue, reception, gourmet meal, and wedding cake for $275 per guest. OK, not cheap, but serious luxury!

I'm going to keep looking for great places and updating on a regular basis so keep checking back!

Dallas Wedding Photography: What Does Love Look Like?

This is a bit of a personal post so you will have to indulge me just a little bit. Krista and I went camping over the long Labor Day weekend. We headed northwest from Dallas setting our eyes on the Palo Duro Canyon. I absolutely fell in love with the place, and I recommend everyone to go there even if you just drive through it.

Krista is, let's just say a city girl. I mean she grew up in Miami, FL so hiking and camping is just not her thing. Me....Boy Scout 100%. Give me a knife, some matches, and a bottle of water and I am good. But you know over the years Krista has gotten me to do a lot of new things. That is the real beauty of marriage. We each make the other person's life experience richer. So this time it was my turn.

We set up camp on the floor of the canyon. Then set out to grab some pictures as the sun went down. A note for all you aspiring shutterbugs. To get nice landscape shots shoot when the sun is low on the horizon. Either early morning or the last hour or so of daylight. Also if you under expose your image a little bit you get really saturated colors.

We headed back to camp, and I started a fire. We had some visitors. To which Krista did not like! But then again the stick bug was just resting on me...along with two praying mantis and some moths.....I tell you I am Dr. Doolittle even to bugs!

The next morning we were up, and hitting a four mile hike on the canyon floor. What an amazing place. A new post card around every bend. I took my Polaroid camera with me. You should have seen the looks I was getting as I was using it!

Krista did great on her first hike. I mean four miles in 95 degree heat is no joke. Lots and lots of water! But you know as wonderful as all of the new scenery was to me it would have been just a bunch of rocks and trees without someone special to share it with. I can say that after 13 years of marriage we are just now hitting our stride. It takes time, but the memories you make along the road of life together are just magical. We spent the whole weekend laughing about everything, joking about how we used to be. Remembering funny things, not so funny things then but funny now, and just enjoying still being in love with one another. My favorite part was our last night there. I took the cover off of the tent so we could just lay there and stare up at the stars together. We fell asleep under a blanket of stars that has seen many lovers do the same. So to me love looks like a starry night.

And to my wonderful wife.....I love you more now then yesterday, and the stars are witness to that.

Dallas Wedding Photography: FAQ Friday!

I'm going to make Fridays a time to throw up some FAQs. Let's go with the first one ever!

Q: Do you always use two photographers? Can I get a discount for just you?
I always use two photographers. My second shooter is my wife, Krista. I do not offer a discount, and would not shoot a wedding day by myself. There is just too much going on. For my style of shooting I like to have someone as a bit of a safety net while I really push the creative envelope. Sometimes I go over the creative edge, and that is where a second shooter is nice.

Q: Do I receive all of the files digitally and the rights?
I offer as an option for purchase (or if your print and album order is over a certain amount) a disk of high resolution images. I retain the actual copyright. what you receive is a usage license to print the images as many times you'd like at any lab you'd like.

Q: (This one just asked today, thanks Ann!) Can you print images at the reception? 
I can! Just know that this is the most expensive way to print, and prices I charge reflect accordingly. If you know how much ink costs at Wal-Mart for your printer you know what I mean! I am currently limited to just 4x6 prints on location. Anything larger is almost cost prohibitive for anyone.

Q: Do I have to pay for prints and albums up front?
Yes, I know that this makes some folks nervous, but it is industry standard just like paying the full balance before the wedding date. If a person was to order album and prints that is a considerable production expense on my part. if they were never picked up and paid for I can not sale them to someone else. They are a custom ordered product!

Q: Do you use flash?
Oh yeah! In fact it is my specialty. I use multiple flash units off camera throughout engagement and bridal sessions, and on the wedding day. I have actually taught classes on it, attended workshops in NYC with world renowned photographer Joe McNally. I love flash!

Q: Do you use backdrops for portraits?
No. I am what is referred to as an environmental photographer. I am to use the surroundings you select and incorporate those into your images. Just think, you pay all that money for your venue and decorations. Why not show it off?

Alright, more next Friday. Of course you can always send me an email or hit me up on Twitter or Facebook!

Dallas Wedding Photography: How Much Will Your Wedding Cost?

I think it can be really hard for brides to get a real idea of what they will probably spend for their wedding. A really neat site to help you estimate what the going average in your area is www.costofwedding.com. Just punch in your zip code and your off.

So how does the Dallas area measure?


Total Average Wedding: $23,201 - $38,668

• Wedding Dress - $944 - $1,573
• Makeup - $59-$98
• DJ- $682 - &1,136
• Live Band - $1,565 - $2,609
• Bridal Bouquet - $120 - $200
• Flowers - $1,785 - $2,975
• Invitations - $614 - $1,024
• Jewelry - $4,961 - $8,268
• Wedding Planner - $1,065 - $1,775
• Reception Venue - $2,272 - $3,786
• Wedding Cake - $322 - $536
• Videographer - $1,161 - $1,935
• Photographer - $1,592 - $2,654

You can drill down into that list as much as you want once on the website. I want to touch on the photography point. It is also stated on the website that experience or sought after photographers can be much more. My brides are averaging right on $2,700 when they use me. I think a good rule of thumb for wedding photography is 10% of your total budget. Your basically going to have three tangible things years from now: Your rings, Your video, and your photographs. It makes since to spend the most on these three items. I'd say you can get by without the video and spend more on photography, but don't tell the videographers I said that!

Dallas Wedding Photography: Gorgeous Gowns

I was flipping through the channels this morning trying to find the Price is Right, and I came across The View. Normally I wouldn't stop, but I saw designer Vera Wang sitting there. They did a small runway show of some of her Fall 2010 line including new wedding gowns like this one.

Of course her gowns start at about $4,000.00 but you can get an idea for trends, and of course always find something similar by a different designer. Check out the entire Vera Wang Fall 2010 Bridal Collection.

Dallas Wedding Photography: Super Sexy

There is a growing trend in wedding photography for images that just ooze sex. I'm being serious here! Get your mind out of the gutter. I'm not talking soft porn or just plan trash. I mean tasteful, provocative images that show how gorgeous every single bride is on her wedding day. Some will go a bit further and opt for a full boudoir session which may contain some partial nudity. I've shot some of those sessions (obviously those pictures don't go out to the public on my website or blog!) I have however shot a number of just sexy images with brides, especially during trash the dress sessions.

One of the things I try to do is keep an old wedding gown laying around. I usually pick one up from the local Goodwill. I have one in my storage unit right now. I find something of average size and length and buy it. You have to remember that these trash gowns don't have to fit perfect. We can pin them, cut them, stitch them, or whatever we have to. I love these sessions, and so do my brides. I want to show you a few images from two brides and talk about the making of them. (Caveat here that both of these lovely ladies have allowed me to use these images for portfolio purposes and to show public. I'd never betray anyone's trust on something like that)

First Image

This is a photo of Cicily (Who by the way is shaping up to be one heck of a wedding photographer herself in North Carolina. Visit her at www.stillheartphotography.com). The first thing to note here is that we cut a slit right up the side of the gown. All the way up to her hips. The lighting was just perfect without me having to do anything. There was a big frosted window behind her which just bounced right up off the floor to mostly silhouette her. So why does this image work? One word: Curves! You have to show off a bit. I mean gowns are gorgeous, but show some leg and watch your soon to be  husband go crazy! It is tasteful and a lot more sensual because she is mostly hidden in shadow.

Image Two

Here Cicily is again, same location, but now moved into the window. You can now see the slit, and of course those bright red hose and heels. So what really makes this image work? Contrast! The hard edgy light, deep shadow, and then POW and explosion of color leads your eye right to her legs. This was lit with one small flash unit.

Image Three

Say hello to the lovely Leigh. To say she worked on this gown would be somewhat of an understatement.....it used to have sleeves! Really she cut it down to the corset, and once on the beach I again cut slits up both sides to her hip. If you'll notice the gown became rather translucent once it was wet. Lady's please make sure you are wearing a nude colored bra that doesn't do that! Obviously the location here plays a huge roll, as well as the time of day. The ocean, the geometry of the piers, and that beautiful golden sunlight of late day. Needless to say we drew a crowd at Myrtle Beach, SC running around in the water, but we both had fun!

Image Four

Again with Leigh at the exact same location. This time in B&W. The thing I really love here is her hair. Totally wind swept, mysterious, and sensual. She looks like a maiden of the ocean walking onto shore. Again natural light, and Leigh just relaxing and letting herself feel as beautiful as she looks, just gorgeous.

I have to admit that when I do these beach shoots I often ask my brides to imagine they are in a Chris Isaac video; come on you know the one! ( I admit I think that way too! Hence a lot of black and white)



But really, these types of images are really catching on. They are very memorable for whomever you decide to show them to. You get to let go, have fun, and create some super sexy art!

What Do You Ask a Wedding Photographer?

I was surfing some popular wedding planning, information, and advertising sites tonight and it struck me how much outdated information is out there. It really concerns me because some of these sites (I'm Knot Knaming Knames but one of them started with a K) are very well respected, and almost a goto source for brides to be. I mean nothing was actually incorrect about the information, but just old. Many, many, many of the articles, FAQ, and checklists all revolved around film. And that is great if you are hiring a photographer who shoots film. So I thought I'd do an update here.

What Do You Ask a Potential Wedding Photographer?

This is one of the most important days of your life. I want you to have good questions to go into these meetings with vendors. So these questions are what I think are really important to ask any photographer you are thinking about hiring. I'm going to list the question, and then tell you why it is so very important. 

• How many back-up cameras, lenses, flash units, and memory cards do you have?
• Notice that this question is not, "Do you have a back-up camera?" Any wedding photographer worth his or her salt knows that you absolutely must have back-up equipment. Two cameras gives me a sufficient comfort level as long as the second is not a point and shoot. Lenses, well that can be a little tricky. It is not necessary to have the exact same lens, but it is a good idea to have at least two lenses that cover the "normal range" of between 35mm to 85mm. Don't worry if you have no idea what that means, just ask the photographer if he dropped and broke his lens during the ceremony does he have another that he could use without having to move closer or further away. Flash units, O.K. I'll cut some slack here. It is not necessary to use flash, and there are some fabulous wedding photographers who don't. But most do, and they should have spares. Finally memory cards, this seems silly right? It is not, it may be more important than a back-up camera. They make memory cards so large that I can shoot well over 4,000 images on one card. Cool right? What happens if that card goes bad, gets lost, damaged, or just plan breaks? You loose all of your images. Now compare that to someone who switches out cards every 200-300 shots. You'd only loose some of your images. I've never had it happen, but I'm not taking chances you know.
• Do you use lenses with a maximum aperture of f/2.8 or greater?
• And your eyes just glazed over! I'll make this very easy. The aperture is the hole light passes through, the bigger the hole the more light. A bigger hole is represented by the f/number. The smaller the number the bigger the hole (kind of backwards I know). These lenses are also called "Fast". It be perfectly acceptable to ask, "Do you use fast glass?" You want your wedding photographer to have lenses with f/numbers of f/2.8, f/2, f/1.8, and f/1.4. They need at least one lens with one of those numbers. This is important because those lenses allow more light in, so if you are in a dark environment like a church your pictures ultimately come out sharper. Additionally they are better built (Think less chance of breaking) using better optical glass in them for better images. Think of it like this you can have a Alpine stereo in your car with 4,000 watts of power, but if you have cheap factory speakers it does you no good. So why wouldn't wedding photographers just buy these good lenses then? Well they can be very expensive with prices approaching and sometimes going over $2,000 each!
• Do you use a second photographer, and is that included in the price?
• Again, it is not mandatory, but recommended. A skilled second shooter doubles your chances of getting great shots. It definitely means you will get a second angle of important moments. Second shooters will cost a photographer about $200 per day so expect to pay for that comfort, but it is worth it.
• Do you use flash or just available (or ambient) light?
• Again this is a preference, but it is important because you need to consider your venue. If you know your ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception are all going to be very dimly lit then it may be necessary for the photographer to use flash. Now if you are in a bright venue or outside it might not be necessary. Sometimes you do have to use flash on very bright days to fill in shadows from hard sunlight or when the sun is behind the subject. It is a lot about style, but take that style into account when you plan your venue. If you really love a photographer who only uses available light then talk with them about what they need to produce gorgeous images for you. If you choose a flash photographer make sure their images are lit nice and even in a style that looks good to you!
• Do you do a lot of post processing (some people will say photoshop) on your images?
• Not every photographer uses Photoshop (including me) there are some very powerful image editing tools out there that cost a lot less that work just as well for photographers. Every wedding photographer should include basic color, exposure, and contrast corrections with their images. Some people, photographers and couples, really like images with very heavy editing or artistic effects applied. That is purely a style point, but make sure you know what your potential photographers style is. The really big point here is to not assume that the photographer is going to remove aunt Betty's mole from the end of her nose in over 300 images for free! Detailed editing and touch up takes a considerable of time. Time you will have to pay for if you ask. It is customary for retouching such as skin softening, minor blemish removal, and eye and teeth whitening to be done on portraits. I do that for engagement and bridal session free of charge. These are often the images that get printed the largest, placed out for everyone to see. Make sure you ask if this is done.
• How many finished images can I expect with my package?
• Your photographer should be able to give you an approximate number based on how many hours they will be shooting. You are not going to get every image. Photographers only release images which meet their quality standards. It is a form of brand protection. Even the most famous photographers in the world take bad photos! The trash goes in the trash!
• Can I have a list of what I will be receiving in this package attached to my contract?
• Wow, that one is full of meaning! Let's go piece by piece. First, many people shy away from contracts. We feel they are an obligation, we get nervous, we doubt, etc, etc. They are in fact an obligation by you. But guess what, they also are an obligation by your photographer to perform and deliver a service and/or product! By making sure everything the photographer promised you is in writing on the contract you are signing you are protecting yourself too. Don't take, "Oh I do that for all of my clients." Make them right it down on the contract. Make sure the contract has their contact information, it guarantees your date, and all services, prints, and albums you agreed upon. If they don't have a contract, walk away. Seriously, walk away!

Now how about some questions you don't need to ask!

• How many megapixels (MP) is your camera?
• When digital first hit big, that might have been important. Any digital SLR (DSLR) camera bought within the last four years is more then sufficient to shoot weddings, magazine ads, or even billboards from a resolution standpoint. Megapixels are just a measurement of resolution. In fact Cannon manufactured a great high end point and shoot camera called the G10 (I own one) the next model was the G11. The G11 actually had fewer megapixels! Why you ask? Well, a camera's sensor has to be a fixed size. The more pixels you cram into that space you can destroy image quality, especially when shooting at a high ISO level. 
• How many rolls or type of film will you be using?
• Obviously shooting digital does not require film. But I guess for the sake of talk if you are using a photographer who uses film expect them to be a lot more expensive. Film has gotten very expensive along with processing it. A roll of 120 film, getting it developed, and scanned will run a total of about $17 - $20 per roll! And that is for 12 pictures.

I really hope these question gets you thinking about what you should ask every potential photographer. if you have questions about...uh...the questions shoot me an email.