Through The Owl's Eye...

The Truth About Photobooths (What Kind & Why or Why Not)

owlseyestudios — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 18:57:07 +0000

When we first decided we wanted to offer a photobooth, we did tons of research about what we wanted, what we didn’t want, what kind of equipment to use, taking every avenue into consideration…from quality, how many people can fit in, how to make it handicap accessible, the overall fun factor among other things. After tons of research, we launched “Kandid Klick” photobooth, a unique photobooth with high quality photos taken by a professional photographer, not a machine with a webcam. With the trend of photobooth’s becoming all the rage and ours becoming such a hit so fast, we decided to offer up some professional advice about photobooth’s…why you may want to have one, why to maybe consider not having one…their definitely not for everyone…and addressing the same question that everyone ask’s us and themselves when thinking of a photobooth, “Will it take away from the dancing and the rest of the party?” So here is our two cents on the subject. First thing to consider…how many of your guests will want to take photos in the photobooth? Often large groups want to get together for a group photo with people they haven’t seen in a while, this is a reason why the machine booths don’t cut it for large groups, they can only fit in 2-4 people at best and that’s really squeezing in tight. A live photobooth, such as “Kandid Klick” has a 10 foot backdrop and comfortably fit 7 people or so inside with no problem. Another reason the live photobooth is great is for any relatives or friends that may be handicap, a live photobooth is handicap accessible, making it very easy to come in & out of with ease, so that they may enjoy the fun as well. Some photobooth vendors may or may not offer prop’s included. We have a checklist of our inventory and have our clients pickout their props ahead of time so that we may bring what they feel works best for their event…but also, so that we may clean each prop accordingly. Let’s face it…people are touching these things all night, we want to make sure that the props are clean and ready for use. Lastly and most importantly…a reason to consider a live photobooth opposed to a machine booth is the quality of the photos you and your guests will receive. A live photobooth, like “Kandid Klick” is operated by a professional photographer who uses a professional grade DSLR camera, so the quality of the images is top notch, you could even blow them up to enlargements if you wanted. Our packages all include a disc with all the images to take home at the end of the night, so you are going home with the photos the night of the wedding and the photos will be in an online gallery a few days following the wedding. We do also offer packages with on site printing. The machine instant print photo strip booths are a novelty, however the image quality is quite poor…they may however have neat features like send to your phone, upload to facebook…it’s all preference. So enough with the breakdown of what kind of booth’s there are out there…Why or why not should you consider having a photobooth at your wedding? If you are considering having a photobooth, it’s a great way to add a special something to your event, your guests will definitely gravitate towards it and have a good time. If you are feeling on the fence about it, not quite so sure, ask yourself this: what kind of people are coming to your wedding? Are they outgoing or a bit more reserved? Do you think it would be too much at your particular venue? Is there space for it? These are all things to consider when booking a photobooth. Everyone always seems to ask the same question or think the same thing “Will it take away from dancing or my event overall?”…A lot of that will depend on what kind of booth you have and who is operating it. For instance “Kandid Klick” is closed during all key moments of the wedding, any intros, special dances, cake cutting, speeches and tosses” It is open at all other times…It really depends on the crowd whether or not it will be a “distraction”, usually we have seen it be 50/50, there are people on the dancefloor, than some people take photos in the booth, a lot of the time too people who come off the dancefloor drop by the booth for a quick photo. We always work with the DJ and again, with it being closed at certain moments, it eliminates the “it being too much” or taking away from the rest of the party. We have worked so hard on perfecting the perfect photobooth to offer to our brides & grooms, if you are interested in having “Kandid Klick” at your event you may findout more information on our website www.owlseyestudios.com or on the “Kandid Klick” facebook, www.facebook.com/kandidklickphotobooth

Trash The Dress…A Beautiful & Fun Experience…Why Do It?

owlseyestudios — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 14:49:50 +0000

If you have thought about trashing your dress and are just not sure perhaps we can help by offering some intel & advice on the subject. The kind of brides that are willing to trash a dress they just spent anywhere from $800 to a couple thousand dollars on are few and far between…but we always get super excited when one of our brides tells us they want to trash their dress. The first time I did a trash the dress shoot was for my wife, Trish actually. She was up in the air about it and decided to go for it and we were so happy she did. We packed our bags and the dress and headed to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic for our Honeymoon just 2 days after our wedding. We decided to take it easy the first day and decided the big photoshoot would be the next day. So the morning came and she was glowing, smiling ear to ear…as she began to get ready, makeup, hair the whole nine yards, I went for a quick swim. When I got out of the pool, she was all ready for the shoot, she looked beautiful, hair down and wavy, flower in hair, beautiful makeup and jewlery, and beaming with radiance. I grabbed my camera bag and we headed to the beach. We started in the sand, got some beautiful sultry shots, than we moved into the water, we spent quite some time in the water, got amazing photos, than we took a few together in the sand via a tripod & remote, than we wrapped the shoot with some beautiful shots of Trish laying on and against palm trees. Trish often comments she loves her trash the dress photos more than any photos she’s ever had taken. It was quite the experience, something we will never forget…and her dress was dry cleaned and actually still in good condition, hanging up in our closet! If you are thinking of trashing your dress, we highly recommend it, its a one of a kind of experience. First and foremost you have to decide on how much you are willing to “trash” your dress and than think of locations. Some brides do the beach thing, some do a bit more urban with woods, mud, etc and I have seen extreme photos of dresses on fire. Whatever you decide should fit your personality and comfort level. Trash the dress photos are mostly shot with a fashion/model/glamour photo style, so naturally the poses are a bit more sexy, provocative & sultry. This is why using your wedding photographer can come in handy, if you built a comfortable relationship with them and can be open and relaxed around them. It’s all about letting your guard down and allowing yourself to be free and creating the vibe you want, weather its relaxed in the woods, intense sitting on a train track or simply smiling in the water, any trash the dress session will turn out beautiful and is always a fun and exciting experience.

Introducing Kandid Klick Photobooth by Owl’s Eye Studios

owlseyestudios — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 18:22:21 +0000

After months of conceptualizing and trying out various things…we have perfected the setup and are officially announcing our photobooth, “Kandid Klick”. We are extremely excited about it and had an absolute blast with it at Nicole & JP Pressler’s wedding this past weekend. Kandid Klick Photobooth is a unique alternative to traditional photobooths. With Kandid Klick you have a professional photographer behind the lens, so your candid photobooth photos are even more fun & creative. The best part of Kandid Klick is the open booth setup, with a 10 foot background, the lights flashing, attracting everyone to jump in. So grab some props, grab a buddy or two and get crazy, let loose and have some fun. Visit www.owlseyestudios for more info & pricing.

It’s Been A While…Busy Busy Busy

owlseyestudios — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 16:20:18 +0000

It’s been quite a while since I’ve posted a blog…it’s been a crazy wedding season this september & october…we have some more weddings in November & December and it’s a wrap for 2011…it’s been a busy last few months, but absolutely beautiful…some of our best work has been in these last two months capturing these beautiful foliage filled fall weddings. We are excited to be announcing some big news…coming soon

Engagement Session – Why Do One?

owlseyestudios — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 12:05:52 +0000

As a wedding photographer, personally I always prefer when our couples opt for an engagement session with us, for a number of reasons. We include engagement sessions in all of our full day coverage packages, so why not take advantage of it? Some couples opt to trade the session for a discounted rate or extra prints, which is fine, but here are some advantages to an engagement session and why it’s a good idea to do one. Typically we meet at a location in the Hudson Valley, depending on if you have a location in mind or not, we have tons of places we can recommend. The location is key for creating the look and setting the mood for the kind of photos you want, Vanderbilt Mansion in Hyde Park is a great choice if you’re looking for a more historic look, views of the mountains and a great waterfall/bridge photo. The Beacon Waterfront in Beacon NY is an outstanding choice because, you can get multiple moods and looks all at one spot, there’s a waterfront park right on the Hudson, benches, trees, swing set and a great little area where if the water is low enough, you can walk a pathway of rocks right on the water…and last but not least, the most beautiful part, there is a boardwalk style pier that always makes for the most romantic and fun photos. Another cool thing to consider if you are into something slightly different and a bit more artsy, checkout the Main St areas with shops in your town or towns around the Hudson Valley, Fishkill & Beacon both have great areas for this. In terms of the actual engagement session itself, we spend an hour or so taking casual portraits of the couple. Our approach is more natural, capturing the love and emotion as it happens, we do pose a few shots, but mostly we encourage you to hold hands, talk, kiss, but our goal is to have you forget we are there, so you are the most true and relaxed in your photos. Some people don’t have any reservation in front of the camera, but some people are camera shy, and this is why we highly encourage an engagement session. It’s great for both the couple and us as photographers to get an idea of how you are in front of the camera, if you have to be worked at to look more natural or if you are completely relaxed already. An Engagement Session is great for the couple because it gives an idea of how we shoot as photographers, and we practice some of the shots we will take on the big day. The photos from the session also come in handy for the wedding, whether it’s using them on the save the date or invitations, framed prints on tables as part of your centerpiece or an 8×10 print in a frame and having your guests signing the matte instead of a guestbook. It’s a good bonding experience for the couple and their photographer, because out of all your wedding vendors, you will spend the most time with and get to know your photographers the most. Usually by the end of the initial consultations with our couples we feel as if we are friends, but by the end of the engagement session, it feels like we’ve known them for ages. In the long run this leads to the best photos because the more relaxed and natural you are with your photographer, ultimately means they can be more creative and romantic, getting the most amazing portraits of your wedding day.

Setting The Tone : Picking Your Wedding’s Colors

owlseyestudios — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 12:05:44 +0000

One of the first things most brides decide on is the tone or theme that they want to set for their wedding. This is often one of the first questions we ask a bride and groom, because we like to get an idea for the tone of the wedding, working that in with their personality to create a unique photography style for that individual couple. You can go about picking your colors multiple ways, I could list a whole slew of suggestions or ways to go about it, but honestly, there is no definitive way to pick out colors, but often what we suggest is find out what flowers are in season in accordance to your wedding date, florists can be your best friend when figuring out colors, themes and the tone to set for your wedding. From a photographic standpoint, all colors work and standout in their own right, bright colors add a really neat touch if you are getting married in the spring or summer, warm colors are most ideal for the fall, and cool colors work best in the winter. Another really great way to help set the tone for your wedding is to consider uplighting. Several DJ’s have uplighting, as well as many lighting and décor companies. Uplighting is a great way to really set the tone and can dress up any room. If you are on the fence about whether or not to do uplighting, I always recommend it if your budget allows for it. It makes for great photos, sets a beautiful tone for the room and just looks plain cool. I’m a photographer, and in no way a florist, I hardly can remember the names of all the different flowers out there, but what we always suggest is dare to be different, make your wedding your own and truly unique…if you have a cool, funky idea go for it, ultimately it is your wedding and you shouldn’t let anyone’s opinions influence you to do something you don’t want to do.

What To Ask When Interviewing A Photographer…

owlseyestudios — Mon, 23 May 2011 17:38:27 +0000

Choosing a photographer to capture your wedding day can be stressful and confusing. Naturally, you want your photos to look the best they can and be unique without paying an arm and a leg. A wedding photographer should capture your wedding using their creativity and portraying it in a style that you love. Hiring the right wedding photographer is easy and can be completely stress free if you know what to ask them. These are our suggestions as what to ask when interviewing a photographer.

The first question to ask is “are you available for my date”. This ensures that the photographer is available or not and avoids falling in love with someone who is unable to cover your event. Next you want to ask about prices and make sure they are within your budget. Also make sure the person you meet with will be the one to photograph the wedding, if it isn’t request to meet the photographer who will be. You will spend a good portion of the day with him and/or her and want to make sure you feel comfortable around them. Ask what photography style they use to shoot weddings. (Photojournalistic, Candids, Formals, etc.) Don’t be shy and ask about experience, ask how many years they have been in business, have you shot at our venue? How many weddings do you average a year? Make sure you will be receiving digital files of your photos and ask about reprint rights. A big question to ask is are you insured, you want to make sure your photographer carries liability insurance, as some venues will not let a photographer work their without it. Another question to ask is “What you do in case of an emergency?” Most reputable companies will always have additional shooters and photographers they can call in the event of an emergency or someone is very ill. For example, Trish and Myself are the main photographers here at Owl’s Eye Studios, with 2 additional shooters and multiple people we can always call as well. It’s good to always have a backup and all bases covered. A portfolio is great and always displays a photographers best images over the course of their career, but ask to see an entire wedding…this allows you to see how they capture the day from start to finish and this really ensures not having a few “keepers” from your wedding photos. Make sure you understand the contract! Trish and I personally go over the contract line by line when meeting our clients, so that they understand it entirely and we can answer any questions, this makes sure everyone is on the same page and knows what is expected of both parties. Is your photographer a “photographer” or another employee of a multipurpose company. There are few good companies out there that offer multiple vendors under the same name, DJ, Video, Photography, Planners, etc. But often you hear horror stories of how events can turn out when using such a company. If you are thinking of using one of these companies for your event, make sure you ask the appropriate questions, get to know them and if you feel something is off, recognize that. If something seems to good to be true, chances are it likely is. Lastly and probably most importantly…ask yourself, is the photographer someone you feel comfortable with? Is it someone you get along with and really like? Out of all your wedding vendors, you will spend the most time and the most intimate of moments with them, you want to make sure you are on a friendly but professional level with them. Don’t ever feel or let someone tell you that asking too many questions is a bad thing, it’s a way to protect yourself and ensure your wedding photography will be successful, stress free and beautiful.

Bridget & Sean’s Wedding 5-15-11

owlseyestudios — Sun, 15 May 2011 11:45:24 +0000

Bridget and Sean Peterson got married at our favorite venue, The Grandview in Poughkeepsie, NY. The day started off with iffy weather, rain on and off. Luckily for them, the weather held out and it turned out to be a beautiful day. Bridget and Sean are one of those couples that we were able to really let our creativity flow and capture them very naturally. They were in their own world as we photographed them and we didn’t need to direct them at all, they were fantastic to work with and they were a really fun, loving couple. The ceremony was performed on the patio on the right and the reception was in the tent. We took photos down by the marina and came up afterwards to party. DJ Jimmy Lutz & his assistant Alex rocked the floor all night long, playing a really unique mix of rock, top 40, dance music and just worked the crowd accordingly. They have a very tight knit group family and friends and we were treated no differently. Congratulations, we wish you the absolute best. Peace, Love & Happiness.

Kat & Jerry’s Wedding 4-2-11

owlseyestudios — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 17:40:37 +0000

As a wedding photographer you spend the most time with and really getting to know the bride and groom more than any other wedding vendor so naturally we often build friendships with our bride’s and grooms, and Kat & Jerry are no exception. Kat & Jerry are two people whose chemistry is so perfect and their love is so true. They have two wonderful children Austin & Brooke who are their world. Trish and I had the honor of sharing in their special day not only as their wedding photographers, but it felt as of they were old friends as well.We started the day with Trish meeting the girls at Kat’s house, photographing the girls getting ready while Josh was with Jerry and his family at their beautiful house on the water. We met up at Kat’s house and took a limo over to the stunning Boscobel Mansion estate to take photographs before the ceremony. After photos were done at the mansion, we traveled to Le Chambord where they would be married and the party would get started. Special words from dear friends & family, dances with special people and this night was truly a night for all to remember. Congrats to Kat & Jerry Smith

We’ve Been Awarded The 2011 Brides Choice Award on Weddingwire!

owlseyestudios — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 16:33:41 +0000

Beacon, New York – January 25, 2011 – WeddingWire, the nation’s leading wedding technology company, is thrilled to announce Owl’s Eye Studios has been selected to receive the prestigious annual WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011 for Photography.

Recognition for the Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011 is determined by recent reviews and extensive surveys from over 750,000 WeddingWire newlyweds. Our past clients are among those that shared their experiences on WeddingWire, the largest wedding review site in the nation.

Owl’s Eye Studios stands among the top five percent of wedding professionals in the WeddingWire community, representing quality and service excellence within the wedding industry. Awards were given to the top wedding professionals across 20 service categories, from wedding venues to wedding photographers, and were based on the overall professional achievements throughout the past year.

“WeddingWire is honored to celebrate the success of the top-rated wedding professionals within the WeddingWire community,” said Timothy Chi, WeddingWire’s Chief Executive Officer. “With the annual Bride’s Choice Awards™ program, WeddingWire has the unique opportunity to recognize the best wedding professionals across the US and Canada. We applaud Owl’s Eye Studios for their professionalism and dedication to enhancing the wedding planning experience last year.”

We are happy to announce that Owl’s Eye Studios is among the very best Photographers in the Hudson Valley within the WeddingWire Network, which includes leading wedding planning sites WeddingWire, Martha Stewart Weddings, Project Wedding and Weddingbee. We would like to thank each and every one of our clients for nominating us to receive the Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011.

For more information, please visit www.owlseyestudios.com or visit Owl’s Eye Studios on Weddingwire at http://www.weddingwire.com/biz/owls-eye-studios-beacon/db6867446588e421.html

For more information on the Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011, please visit www.WeddingWire.com

-Trish and I would like to thank to each and every one of our clients for your great reviews and this recognition, this is thanks to each and every one of you!