BLOG - theme blog - Award-Winning Wedding Photographer NYC

Blog

My Journal

What makes great wedding photography

What is great wedding photography? Is it the perfectly posed photo that captures a couple’s brightest smiles and star-struck gazes of true love? Is it the candid photo of the two caught in the act of being their goofy, down-to-earth selves? Better yet, what is great wedding photography in the perspectives of the photographer and those who are photographed? How does that saying go…”A picture says a thousand words.”? That’s right, photos are like works of art that are interpreted in the eye of the beholder. We all see the same thing, but at our own angles.

Today, we hear from a professionally photographed bride paired with my own thoughts on what makes great wedding photography.

From Photographer (Tatiana):

What do you see when you look at a wedding photo? Excellent lighting, ideal composition, great direction. That’s what you see when you look at these photos. What my clients see transcend the beauty of these photos, they relive the meaningful moment captured in that image over, and over again – the photos are alive and have breath, they will live on and on, through memory. To capture these once-in-a-lifetime shots for my clients, I need to understand who they are as a couple and what is meaningful to them. I have to be present and listen to exactly what it is that these smitten couples are communicating to me and capture that at the moment it happens – it is not orchestrated, it is organic. I have to be intuitive and feel connected with the couple to deliver meaningful photographs that tell the couple’s story in the most perfect, natural way.

Romantic meaningful moment between a bride and a maid of honor.

Photo: The bride, Jessica, and her 12-year-old maid of honor.
Wedding date: 04.12.2015
Wedding venue: The Water’s Edge, NYC

Story behind this photo: This is the bride and her 12-year-old maid of honor. The bride and the groom are high school sweethearts. They started dating when their maid of honor (groom’s sister) was born. The age of their love story equals to the age of this lovely girl on the right. The two girls symbolize the beautiful pinnacle moment of this relationship. The light and the skyline ahead symbolizes the bright future ahead. I strive to capture photos that captures my clients the way they see themselves. Photos, that reflect the very essence of my clients’ most memorable moment.

Both the bride and the photographer agree that great wedding photography results from a connection between the photographer and those who are being photographed. An unspoken understanding between the photographer and the couple combined with the photographer’s skill to beautifully capture meaningful moments creates magic – exceptional wedding photography that keeps bringing to life every treasured point in time over and over again.

Our Process

Artvesta Studio – is an award-winning photography and videography production company based out of Manhattan. In this video we are explaining our process by breaking it into seven key touch points.

To ensure our team has everything covered, we break our typical photo project into 7 key touchpoints:

1) Initial consultation, concept design
2) Contract signing. A deposit is required to book your date.
3) Family photo combinations planning
4) Location scouting and the day-of logistics planning
5) Optional Pre-wedding photoshoot
6) Wedding photoshoot
7) Post production, album design and printing

Artvesta Studio’s Process

Meet Tatiana Valerie at ArtVesta Studio

Tatiana Valerie at Panache Bridal NYC

Behind the scenes — posing the bride & groom

Behind the scenes — fashion shoot for Panache Bridal and Sophisticated Weddings magazine

Give us a call or email us if you have any questions or to schedule your free consultation!
artvestastudio@gmail.com | 212.300.3897

Lev’s Bar Mitzvah

Welcome to Lev’s Bar Mitzvah Stream!

We would like to extend our sincerest gratitude for joining us in celebrating Lev’s Bar Mitzvah. The ceremony was truly a momentous occasion, and we hope that you enjoyed it as much as we did. Please feel free to leave us a comment below, we will read them all!

As a special surprise, the family has prepared a special montage – you can view it below.

Once again, thank you for being a part of this joyous event!

Ariel & Ben’s Wedding – Cresthollow Country Club – full gallery

CrestHollow Country Club summer wedding - Jewish Orthodox wedding

5 Helpful Tips for Beginner Photographers

There’s a lot of pressure to take a great picture, but it doesn’t have to be that way. As a beginner photographer, you’ll just need the right tools and tips to help you get started. If you’re looking for some guidance on how to capture your life in photos, here are five helpful tips:

1. Understand your camera

We all started somewhere! If you are embarking on an exciting journey of becoming a professional photographer, congratulations! It is a very thrilling and rewarding career but keep in mind that it may take you some time to get where you want to be.

Before you start taking photos, it’s essential to understand how your camera works. Take some time to read the manual, learn about the different modes and settings, and practice adjusting them. Knowing how to control your camera will give you more creative freedom and help you capture the shots you want.

Here are three things you probably want to do first:

Understand your camera.
Learn to use the manual and understand all of its functions.
Familiarize yourself with all modes, settings, and lenses that come with your camera.

2. Use natural light before you invest in professional lighting

The best kind of light is the one that doesn’t cost a thing.

Natural light is more flattering, it’s free and it’s more forgiving than flash. It also allows you to take pictures at any time of day without worrying about running out of batteries or recharging your flash unit. Natural light gives you more interesting shots too because it casts shadows on your subject in different ways throughout the day–this adds depth and dimension to an image that can’t be replicated with artificial sources (or even by using natural ones later on). Practice to get the result you want with natural light. Try taking photog in different times of day. Do you nitice how the colors change in the morning, afternoon, and right before sunset? Practice to position your subject in the most flattering light. Try getting exposure right on manual settings.

Pro tip: Lighting is one of the most critical factors in photography. As a beginner, it’s best to start with natural light as it’s readily available and easy to work with. Try shooting during the “golden hour,” which is the hour after sunrise or before sunset when the light is soft and warm. Avoid harsh midday sunlight, as it can create unflattering shadows and make your photos look flat.

3. Pay attention to composition

Composition is the art of arranging elements in a photo to create an aesthetically pleasing and balanced image.

As a beginner photographer, you should practice composing your shots carefully. Start by applying the rule of thirds, which involves dividing the image into thirds horizontally and vertically and placing the subject at one of the intersecting points. Experiment with different angles, perspectives, and framing to create visually appealing images.

Compositional elements include:

The rule of thirds – Imagine your frame divided into thirds horizontally and vertically, then place your subject on one of those intersections (see below). This helps create an image that isn’t too centered or overwhelming for the viewer’s eye.
Leading lines – Lines that lead into or out of the frame can help direct attention toward or away from certain parts of a photo, as well as add depth to an otherwise flat shot. Pay attention when taking photos at night–often times there will be street lights that act as leading lines!
Framing – Use objects in front of you like trees or buildings so they frame what’s behind them! For example: take a picture through glass doors at night so only part of yourself shows up but everything else outside looks amazing because it’s lit up by street lights.

4. Practice, practice, practice

Practice is a great way to improve your photography. It will help you understand the camera better, and it will also help you understand how to use natural light. Practice also gives you an opportunity to learn composition, as well as gather feedback from others who see your photos. Finally, practice is important because it allows us to repeat what we’ve already learned in order to become more proficient at our craft.

Photography is a skill that takes time and practice to master. Take your camera with you wherever you go and challenge yourself to shoot in different environments and lighting conditions. Experiment with different techniques and settings, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Learning from your mistakes is an essential part of the process.

5. Gather feedback and repeat

Finally, seek feedback from others to improve your skills. Share your photos with friends, family, or online communities and ask for constructive criticism. You can also attend photography workshops or join a photography club to meet other photographers and learn from them. Use feedback to identify areas for improvement and set goals for your next shoot.

If you want to become a better photographer, you need to learn how to take criticism. In order for people to give feedback on your work, they have to see it first. So make sure that every time you show off your photography skills or post something online, there’s also an invitation for comments and critiques.

When someone gives you feedback on something in your photos (whether it’s technical advice or just general thoughts), listen carefully instead of getting defensive or arguing back right away–they might have valid points! Take the time necessary so that when someone gives you advice about improving their technique with lighting equipment and other factors involved in creating great shots like composition and angle choices among other things then try implementing these changes into future shots before deciding whether or not they were worth following through with based upon how well they worked out after doing so.”

In conclusion, photography is an enjoyable and rewarding hobby that anyone can learn. By understanding your camera, using natural light, paying attention to composition, practicing, and seeking feedback, you can develop your skills and create stunning images. Remember to have fun and enjoy the process!

We hope these tips have helped you get started on the right foot. Remember, it’s all about the journey, so don’t worry if you feel like you aren’t perfecting your craft right away! The most important thing is to keep practicing and having fun with photography as much as possible–and we’re sure that once you do, your pictures will reflect that enthusiasm in no time at all.