Monthly Archives: August 2009

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Out of Office - Sunshine Coast Photographer

August 23, 2009 – 11:44 am

I will be out of the office from Monday 24th - Thurs 27th August. I will try to return emails and phone calls when I get a chance if possible when away - otherwise Friday will be the day.

It is that time of year again - August Exposure. 4 days of inspiration and networking.  I believe it is important to attend workshops, seminars and conferences that will challenge me, strengthen my business and keep the creative juices flowing. I try and attend as many as my schedule, family and purse will allow throughout the year and each time I come away refreshed, motivated and inspired to push my work and business to new levels.

Just this week I attended a AIPP workshop on DAM (Digital Asset Management) - file management, workflow, archiving.  As I don’t outsource any of my work and continually try to streamline my workflow without sacrificing quality I am always open to any little edge to improve my workflow.  Being a member of the AIPP enables me to attend workshops by the experts - also great for networking with other photographers.

So after this week away it is flat chat for weddings - I am very excited to show off my super clients!!!!!

Of course a post needs an image (or 4) - my youngest Lucy. Who said you couldn’t get sunflare inside!!!! She is a very funny kid - need a sense of humour when your #4 I am sure. Lovin the dreamy soft look of these. Too cute. She will have a great time with Dad while I’m gone.

 

By admin | Posted in Business, Family, Portraits | Comments (1)

Choosing a Wedding Photographer - Sunshine Coast Photographer

August 18, 2009 – 10:56 pm

So you have heard it before but the one thing left from your wedding day (besides your partner) are your photographic memories. I honestly don’t think every bride out there is right for me or me right for them. So how do you find the best wedding photographer for YOU? 

Start with these 3 simple but important points: 

1 - When you view their images, make sure you FEEL something. You are hiring an artist with a specific eye -  you want to resonate with how they see and capture the world around them - specifically relationships. Do their images tell a story?

2 - Ask to view entire weddings. Any photographer can show you a slideshow of their best 50 photos they’ve ever shot and you will be impressed. But that won’t give you a good sense for what YOUR wedding images will look like. You want to make sure they capture quality images throughout the course of an entire wedding. 

3 - Make sure you like them as a person. Whoever you pick to be your photographer is going to be around you and your family for many hours on the best day of your life. So you want to feel comfortable with them and most of all, be able to TRUST them. 

Below are some questions intended to help you get to know your photographer - they have no right or wrong answer though you must decide what is important to you.

* Will you be the person shooting my wedding? 

* How long have you been in the business?

* How did you get started?

* Are you part time or full time?

* Do you have any formal training?

* How many camera bodies do you have? (Should be AT LEAST two)

* How many lenses? (Again, at least two)

* How many weddings have you shot total?

* How would you characterize your style of photography?

* What range of services & products do you offer?

* Do you travel? What are your travel fees? (if applicable)

* How many proofs should I expect to see from my wedding?

* Are you willing to customize a package if none of yours fits our needs?

* Do you provide the digital negatives in the package? If so, are they fully retouched? If not, are they available for an additional cost?

* Can you show me a sample of an album similar to what I will get?

* Are you a member of any local or national photography associations? 

* Will you be photographing another wedding or event the same day as my wedding? 

* What happens if you are sick and injured and cannot shoot our wedding?

* What if we decide to change the date of the wedding?

No this is not me - my talented and sometimes humorous daughter!!!!!!

By admin | Posted in Info for Brides | Comments (0)

Wedding at Harry’s On Buderim - Sunshine Coast Wedding Photographer

August 15, 2009 – 4:34 pm

This was a destination wedding for Linda & Paul as they live in Western Australia and family travelled from as far as New Zealand.  Linda had some little hiccups along the way - wrong dress delivered, then wrong alterations, change of hair and make-up after trials - though she calmly came through it all. Little miss talented Trish from tfmakeup did a superb job as did Sandy from Rolling Scissors - these girls never disappoint. Linda had a sweet little rabbit fur jacket (they are shorn like sheep and it grows back) - it was the softest thing I have ever felt. She also wore an antique bracelet and was given an antique handkerchief from Paul’s Mum. Gorgeous bouquet and table centerpieces from Buds on Buderim - she even included Geraldton Wax which only grows in WA. It was a stunning day - as you can see Harry’s On Buderim is the perfect place for both your ceremony and reception. Lo from Mask Events created the perfect setup for the ceremony - Black carpet instead of red wtih Black & White Flags as Paul is a Kiwi. Carolyn West conducted the service which was nice and relaxed - exactly how Linda and Paul wanted the entire day to be. Drinks and canapes were enjoyed while a mini photo shoot was done before the sit down meal. Ideas In Icing supplied the cake - 3 different flavours to cater for all tastes. A very relaxed though elegant wedding - just love the atmosphere of their day and the images are some of my favourite to date. Congratulations guys and thanks for having me.

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Great Clients - Sunshine Coast Photographer

August 11, 2009 – 2:13 pm

If you follow this blog you will recognize Karina & Clinton from their wedding here as well as in the galleries on my wedding site. Then I photographed the gorgeous Sasha here. Karina contacted me for a covert operation to work one of the images of Clinton cutting the umbilical cord to then frame with the scissors as a surprise gift. How sweet is that - I didn’t capture the birth but happy to work the image for her. When I delivered it I was confronted by their amazing wedding enlargements on magnificent display. Of course I asked if I could return with camera in hand to photograph for other clients to visualize how good it can look - of course it helps if your Mum (Klintons) is a framer. Double matt dark grey with a stressed dark wood frame accentuated with smaller frame on the inside. Just beautiful - 2 8 x 12’s and 1 12 x 18 image - and it is huge. They have three images from Sasha’s newborn session framed on their bedroom wall. Had to grab an image of the card on their fridge - their 6 month anniversary last month - cutest sweetest couple so in love - then miss Sasha just turned 6 months Sunday gone. This was not a photo session but I had to capture a couple of her - isn’t she stunning and such a Daddy’s girl. Also included their Thank You card - very lucky indeed to attract such wonderful clients - this is what makes my job so fulfilling. Thanks for letting me share these guys.

NB. Looks like a B&W post though only 2 images are converted. 

 

Dear Jodi,

We really want you to know just how much we loved having you photograph our wedding day and just how special and amazing the images are to us. I remember finding your site while looking on the internet while still on Lizard Island and thinking - WOW! She is good, way out of our league! I truly believe in “things are meant to be” and I know that the half dozen other photographers I looked into that were not available or not within our budget were not meant to be for us because you were waiting for me to find you.

On the day you were perfect, enough direction but still natural, we both felt extremely comfortable and enjoyed being photographed by you way too much - I could do it again and again - you are a true talent both with your hands, mind and heart. To have our day captured in these totally magical images means the world to us and I have dragged them out several times already and “re-lived” our day with a big smile on my face and warm emotions in my body. There is no one else in the world we would rather have had on our day, your worth a million dollars!

Then to put the icing on the cake you came over when our little one was only 8 days old and captured the next wonderful chapter in our lives. To have these memories of her and us means the world, I look at them framed on our bedroom wall every time I wake, it is a great sight to see first thing. So with all of this I hope you understand just how perfectly you captured us, our emotion and these two important times in our lives. You are truly one of a kind person and we feel very blessed to have met you. Please keep in touch and we will look no-where else when we have our next child/ren  for another beautiful session with you plus the odd family shoot in the coming years.

We wish you nothing but the best both professionally and personally in the future, you truly deserve it.

With love, hugs, blue steel looks and sexy eyes.

Karina & Clinton xoxo

By admin | Posted in My Clients | Comments (2)

Marissa & Barry - Sunshine Coast Wedding Photographer

August 10, 2009 – 7:04 pm

This was a very special day (as all are) for Marissa & Barry. Country girl meets surf loving coast lad. Marissa put a lot of time and personal attention to detail from start to finish - she had a great day. Super fun bridal party - the lads enjoyed a beer while the girls had to play in the trees - quite amusing. Makeup4Brides and Hair4Brides pampered the girls.  Kate Whitton conducted the ceremony held at the Caloundra Power Club before the reception took place at the new Sunshine Coast Function Centre (Caloundra RSL).

Marissa’s matron of honour Nadia created the gorgeous bouquets. Had to include the white chocolate cake - who doesn’t love white chocolate - and the cute little treasure chests all handmade by Marissa. It was a great celebration.


By admin | Posted in Weddings | Comments (0)

Wedding Albums - Sunshine Coast Wedding Photographer

August 6, 2009 – 10:27 pm

This is the first in a series of posts Info for Brides - they will cover some of the common questions and misconceptions I get from clients either via email or at consultations.

Albums have come a long way since our parents day!  There are many different products and terms used though I will cover the products I offer in particular. 

Firstly I would like to say if you can stretch the budget the cost of an album does not equate to much over 50 years of marriage and with quality you are safe in the knowledge if stored and cared for properly your grandchildren will view your day as if they were there.

These are some of the cover options available through Jodi McDonald Photography. Suede is standard, upgrades include Leather, Acrylic (Clear, Brushed, Image) & Photo amongst many others.

A flush mount album (digital, magazine) mounts the photograph flush to all edges of the page as illustrated below right. A very modern and stylish presentation. My album manufacturer offers both the full image across both facing pages OR a print per page with no crease and a small gap which you can view in the image on the right. Visually the image across facing pages is more appealing though the likelihood of cracking &/or discolouration is high. Couples should be made aware of this. The first image below illustrates how a professional custom made album lies flat when opened regardless of number of pages or size - it is all in the spine and binding techniques.

Below are a couple of pages showing some design layouts - Jodi McDonald Photography creates simple stylish designs which will not date and focus purely on the images. In general we use 6 images per spread (2 pages) which equates to 72 images in a 24 page album. * All these studio layouts incorporate the one photographic print across two pages - creased down the spine.

Jodi McDonald Photography also offer matt style albums - these are more traditional and the prints are secured under bevel cut matts. We offer the choice of black matt with white bevel cut OR white matt with a black bevel cut - both illustrated below.

Another very popular product on the market is the wedding book - coffee table style book. We offer these as a parent’s album option or within our portrait range though not as a main album. I do not equate these to a archival photographic product - when viewed against a photograph there is no comparison - colour, texture, vibrancy. Though they are made well (I use an American supplier as I have not found a comparable quality offered here in Aust) they do not have the archival qualities or guarantee of a custom made album. Below is a sample of the wedding book - names embossed, comes with a dust jacket and box.

We do use an Australian supplier for our Signature Guest Books. These are a great alternative to the standard guest book - we use images from your Love Shoot to create a very personal keepsake. Again I stress this is not a photographic product - it is a book and the purpose of this one in particular is to be written in.

A cute alternative to a parents album is the concertina - perfect size to slip into your handbag and show off. Displays 12 images in total.Great price also.

I hope this clarifies some of the questions surrounding wedding albums and books. I use two Australian based Album manufacturers who produce nothing but the best. There are many good options for photographers to choose from and in turn offer their clients. I hope this helps and you can ensure you receive quality & value for money when booking your photographer.

By admin | Posted in Info for Brides | Comments (3)

Don’t work with Animals OR Children……Sunshine Coast Wedding Photographer

August 3, 2009 – 9:33 pm

….. so the saying goes though I could photograph kids all day - dogs are 50/50! These are some gorgeous kids from a recent wedding I will post next week - they either think I’m very funny or very strange! Another fabulous day with lots of images to share.

Awwww these cute little devils are from yesterday’s wedding - mum, dad and son. My in-laws are schnauzer lovers though one is enough for them - these guys weren’t so much part of the wedding though they enjoyed all the preparation mayhem.

So I received this email from John & Natasha (yesterdays wedding) on Friday - this is the view on their departure. Lots to share from this one too of course though on honeymoon with no internet so may be a little while before they view their images.

Hey Jodi,

Thanks for meeting us today, we both feel a bit more comfortable after running though it with you.  It is always an experience catching up with you and I can’t wait to see what Sunday brings.

Warm Regards
John and Natasha

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