LDG Photos

LDG Photos serving Upper Michigan and Northeast Wisconsin. Call (906) 428-4361 for more info!

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Meet Jordan: Associate Photographer for LDG Photos

Meet Jordan:

When I introduce Jordan to people, I say, "This is my daughter, Jordan." However, I should also introduce her as, "This is Jordan, our Associate Photographer!"

Jordan is a very talented photographer who was accepted into the very prestigious Hallmark Institute of Photography in Turners Falls, Massachusetts. Since the program encompasses all aspects of photography from foods to products and beyond, she chose to continue her apprenticeship with LDG Photos and specialize in Wedding Photography! As you can imagine, as her mom and her mentor, I was ecstatic!

Jordan has an eye for detail and captures the most amazing images. Take a look!


Jordan is quite and usually remains in the background but be assured, she is capturing every little detail of your wedding! Next time you see her, be sure to say, "Hi!"

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Your Wedding Day


What will your wedding day from LDG Photos look like?
Every wedding is unique to every couple! In this post, we’d like to give you an outline of how we work to achieve the beautiful images of your special day.  Of course your wedding may not follow this outline to a T – but that’s half the fun of it!



Meeting You
We enjoy getting a chance to meet with you face-to-face before securing the date.  It is important for us to have a chance to get to know you and your vision for your wedding in order to provide the best images of your wedding. Ones that you will cherish forever.




The Details
In the weeks before the wedding, we like to touch base and talk details of the wedding so that we can begin preparing for your big day.  It is also during this time that we discuss any special photos or locations that you may want for your wedding.



Finally Here: Getting Ready
As your photographers, we know how much hard work you put into your special day and when the day is finally here, it’s time to relax and spend time with your bridesmaids getting ready.  We like to get those final shots of you getting into your dress, putting on a necklace or earrings and maybe adding a bit more (water-proof) mascara.  Oh, and don’t forget the lip-gloss since this is your moment to shine! Also during this time we like to take shots of the details: close-ups of the dress, shoes, flowers and the rings – we strive to capture images of the very things you spent hours picking out and preparing. 



First Look
Some couples prefer to take a non-traditional route of having their portraits taken before the I-Do’s and others stick with tradition.  This is a very special moment and entirely up to the couple which path they decide to take.



Ceremony
Your whole day is centered on this moment. The moment when you both say “I Do” and become Mr. & Mrs..  We know this is the important part of your day and we love to capture these special moments.  



Family & Group Shots
We know how important it is to get shots of you and your family on this special occasion.  Please feel free to provide us with a list of family shots that you would like to have taken.



Couple & Bridal Party Shots
This is where you get to relax and have some fun – the ceremony is over and you’re married!  We want you to feel natural and comfortable in front of the camera so we can capture those images that bring out your personality.  We love to provide you with images that are uniquely you.



Reception
It’s time to celebrate!  Having two photographers allows us to capture everything from the first dance to cutting the cake to toasts.  We focus on capturing photos of you and your guests enjoying yourselves in a variety of candid shots.



End of the Night
As we prepare to leave, we check in with you to say our goodbyes and congratulate you on your new life together!



Thursday, July 21, 2011

Rachel 's Jim

engaged | 1-25-11

engagement session | 6-4-11

wedding | 9-24-11 | Gladstone, MI

Rachel | full-time receptionist, full-time student ~ hometown | rapid river, mi.

Jim | retail sales representative | ~ hometown | escanaba, mi.

How they met:
Rachel, being the movie aficionado that she is, frequently stopped at the local video store, 
where  Jim was the manager. At first, it was just to pick up movies but then it became a regular thing. 
Perhaps she was checking out more than videos!
Jim soon asked her out for a first date and they’ve been inseparable ever since.





Rachel scoops ice cream in her spare time. Hence, the old Jilbert’s Dairy truck for a few pics  

What a fun couple! Can't wait for the wedding!

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Meet Dayna & Gabe...

Iron Mountain, MI

Wedding ~ 8.27.11, Iron Mountain, MI
together ~ 3.17.09
Dayna ~ hometown - Iron Mountain, MI ~ x-ray technologist
Gabe ~ hometown - Hermansville, MI ~ sheet metal worker

Friends introduced Gabe & Dayna...

on St Patty's Day 2009,

while playing darts!


What a fun couple and you can just feel their excitement as it gets closer to their wedding day!  
Look for more images of these two in the future as they start their future together!




Thursday, May 5, 2011

Engagement Sessions...




As we head into the 2011 wedding season, with engagement sessions on the calendar, we wanted to spotlight Caroline & Nick. Caroline is the sweetest, kindest, most organized nurse you'll ever meet! 
Nick can be quite a character, as you can see and they are a perfect match! 
Their session was planned on one of their trips home to visit family. 
It was spontaneous and tons of fun!  


For 2011, we are taking it up a notch for our engagement sessions. With a bit of planning and creativity, the sessions will capture the couple's personalities and showcase what makes them unique as a couple.
Not the same poses in the same locations, time after time. Boring! 


Watch for sneak peeks in future posts and have a Happy Spring! (I think it's almost here!)

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Let us eat cake and celebrate... 

Recently, I've wondered if being a photographer has meaning. It's not like we're rushing into fires or saving lives . But then, not everyone is destined to be a hero.

Each of us can make a difference in our normal everyday life. We may not even realize it at the time. For example...

How can photography make a difference in someones life? A new study has shown, predictably enough, that someone undergoing a medical procedure will experience less pain by holding a loved one's hand. Surprisingly, holding a photo of a loved one during the procedure was even more effective!

So next time something hurts, take out that photo of someone close to you and the let the power of photography (and your loved one) help you through it.

Monday, April 4, 2011

Survey says...

A recent survey of brides and what they want from their Wedding Photographer has revealed some interesting trends.

In 2005, 20% of brides hired a photographer for a disc only of their wedding photos.
     
In 2011, 80% of all brides want their wedding disc.

The survey shows that brides appreciate the quality work of their photographers, although there are areas to improve in.

1,  Brides want to see their images in days after the wedding, not 3-4 weeks later! 
2.  Even though brides want their disc, they don't want to wade through 1500 images! They rely on the photographer to present the best images and tell the wedding story.
3.  Brides are frustrated by how long it takes to get their album and what a painful process it is. After planning a complete wedding online, the couple does not want to have to meet with the photographer multiple times to make decisions about an album.
4.  Brides don't like the idea that the average time to get an album is 9 months!

So...what can LDG Photos do for you?
Well, in 2011 we've made a few changes. We will be showing the wedding couple a few images of their wedding within 24 hours after they've taken their vows.  By the time they return from the honeymoon, the wedding images will be uploaded for the couple to preview online. Once they release them, guests from the wedding will be able to see them as well.
These images will be the best-of the-best of your wedding, the cream of the crop, hand-picked just for the couple. Who wants or needs 1500 images?

Let us show you what LDG Photos can do for you.

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

How Much is Too Much? 
 
There is a new digital camera out called the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP7.
 
It can whiten teeth, add make-up and erase wrinkles, just like they do in fashion magazines, but how much is too much?
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP7 digital camera before and after photos
Heather, before and after using the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP7 digital camera. Photos: Tobey Grumet for StyleList

 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP7 digital camera before and after photos 
Aeri, before and after using the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP7 digital camera. Photos: Tobey Grumet for StyleList
 
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP7 digital camera before and after photos 

Shternie, before and after using the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP7 digital camera.
Photos: Tobey Grumet for StyleList

As a wedding photographer, I review and retouch every photo as needed so that the couple is presented at their best. My job is not to distract or distort how someone looks but to enhance their natural beauty. Let's say a pimple pops up the morning of the wedding and the make-up is just not covering it very well.  I'll blend right over that and voilà, it's gone. Do I whiten teeth? Of course! But not to some ridiculous, un-natural color!
 
Here is a sample of one of my edited images:
The one on the left is completely untouched while the one on the right has added contrast and brightness to make it pop. Both are lovely but the one on the right is more dynamic, has more depth and is not flat like the one on the left. (And her skin does not look plastic as in the images above.)

Recently, someone complimented my work, saying it
didn't look fake or like a cartoon or caricature. 
Let's hope not and let's keep it real!

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

With this ring...
I thee wed.

A wedding ring is a symbol of commitment,
endless and timeless, an unbroken circle of eternal, undying love. 

Friday, March 4, 2011

Playing with Flowers...
Iris, most beautiful flower.

And a poppy flower laughs...

Tulips are better than one...

The Daisy follows soft the Sun.

A little yellow frill.


Thursday, March 3, 2011

Wedding Day Emergency Kit


No, of course there won't be any emergencies on your big day.
Let's call it a just-in-case basket!

This is the most complete one I've seen!
Photo from Weddingbee blog

It's a great project for the MOH and the bridesmaids to work on. 
Include the MOB & MOG too if possible because it can get pricey. 
(See below if you want to know what all the initials stand for)

brush/comb
bobby pins
hairspray
1st aid i.e. Tylenol, Advil, Midol, Band aids
hand sanitizer
lotion
antiperspirant
sewing kit
safety pins
pen/paper
gum/mints
dental floss
disposable toothbrushes
Tampons, pantyliners, pads
Q-tips
bottled water
snacks

This could be used pre-ceremony for the bride & attendants getting ready 
and then take along to the reception for the ladies bathroom there. 

Best Wishes & Happy Planning!

MOH = Maid of Honor, MOB = Mother of the Bride, MOG = Mother of Groom

  




Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Yummy Cake!

 
Our girl was home this weekend & knowing that my favorite cake in the whole wide world is German Chocolate cake, she made one. Not just any old German Chocolate cake mind you but the winner of the Bobby Flay Throwdown featured in The Food Network magazine. 
 
It is Delicious!


 We couldn't wait the 4 hours recommended for it to set up and that's why you see the delicious, creamy, chocolatey, gooey center oozing out!

Give a shout if you can't find the recipe but in the meantime, enjoy the mouth-watering photos!

WARNING: Do not attempt to lick your monitor. Shock may occur and disappointment will follow!

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

What Inspires You?

What Inspires You?

What wakes you up each morning?  The alarm clock? The dog? Kids?

What wakes me up and propels me out of bed each day is photography. There is really no explanation for it. Friends & family don’t always understand it. Photography consumes me. I truly eat, breath & sleep photography.  Many days will find me reading about it while eating lunch and I often find myself holding my breath as I snap “just one more” image. Sometimes images come to me during sleep or I awake with new ideas. Eat. Breathe. Sleep.

The following image came about in a dream weeks before it was taken.  I knew this young man and realized he was going places when he graduated.  This image portrayed his desire to explore the world.  He went to China shortly after this was taken.

Photography inspires me every day.  I encourage you to find what inspires you!