Wade & Rosalynd Derosier- Chico, CA wedding Photographer

I don't even know where to start with this wedding. It was so detailed, simple yet elegant, and all around beautiful. The day was so easy and was filled with so much laughter. When I first met Wade and Rosalynd I knew it was going to be an amazing wedding and it far exceeded my expectations. I don't want to go into too much detail because I want to save most of it for the full blog post! So I'll keep it short and sweet. Wade and Rosalynd, I loved every minute of your wedding and I'm so honored that you hired me! I'm so beyond happy for you two and I cannot wait to work with you in the future! Enjoy these extra sneak peeks from their amazing wedding!

Thoughtful Thursday- I Yam who I Yam- Sacramento Wedding/ Portrait Photographer

A few months ago I joined a photographer group on Facebook. For the most part it is so informative and helpful, but sometimes I see people get caught up in what other people think/do. Sometimes, I see myself get caught up in what other people think/do. I have to remind myself from time to time, that my clients hire me for who I am, and for what I do! I think there is a lot that can come from asking help, getting advice from peers, and learning from people who have more experience than you. The truth is, if everyone did the same thing, photography would be SO BORING. Photography is an art form! It's creative and one of the reasons, I believe, there are so many photographers out there. It's easy to see someone with success and wonder what are they doing that I'm not? How can I learn how to do it? In most cases, they are just being themselves. They aren't copying another photographers work. They found what they love and do best.
In photography there are many rules/ technical aspects. I believe it is important to learn but what's that saying we all know? Rules are made to be broken!!! Be who you are, not what other's say you should be! I think the biggest thing that makes a photograph memorable, important, inspiring, is the emotion contained within it. Although I have studied the technical aspects of Photography, I tend to try and focus more on the emotional aspect. What's the point of a photo if it doesn't tell a story?
Another thing that seems to always stick in my mind, is what so many photographers have told me is appropriate to wear when shooting a wedding. I've seen/heard of many photographers who think all black is the only thing that should be worn. I have to say, that I don't agree! While I do agree that you don't want to take away from the bride or the wedding, all black shouldn't be the only option! As a creative person I love to be able to express myself through all outlets, including fashion. Even though I wear color at weddings I'm never distracting. Oddly enough, there has been quite a few times that I actually ended up wearing the same color pallet as the wedding I'm shooting. Which actually allows me to look cute but blend in enough with the wedding! I can't help who I am, and honestly I don't want to help it! Be who you are, not a clone of the person next to you! Whether it's your business model, your style of editing or shooting, or what you wear! BE YOU!!!! I'll be over here being who I am!

Enjoy a few photos from the wedding I second shot and the wedding I had last Saturday. So fun to finally have some photos of me working! FYI, I make super cute faces... JUST thought you should know that! HAHAHA

see super cute face huh ;)

Why yes, I more often than not shoot with my mouth open!

You can't really tell from this picture, but I'm pretty sure I was dancing here...

Yep, I realized when I was driving to the wedding that I matched their colors! 

I will be using a second shooter on quite a few weddings this year so I will finally have more photos of me in ACTION! Stay tuned, and stay YOU!

Thoughtful Thursday- Why invest?- Sacramento Wedding Photographer

Okay is it just me, or do weddings seem to cost an arm and a leg these days? Did you know the average wedding cost over $20,000 and there are many couples who spend more than that?! For me, that number makes my head spin, especially when I think about how that is for one day. Granted, it's your wedding day, one of the most IMPORTANT days of your life, but still one day. I think there are many ways to cut costs and still have an amazing wedding, but there is one area in particular that I think a couple should NEVER compromise on, the photographer! Now I'm not just saying this because I am one, honestly I think the photographer is one of the most important behind the scene elements of your wedding day. Want to know why? The photographs will most likely be the ONLY thing you keep from your wedding day for the REST of your life! Okay, maybe your spouse, but that's besides the point!
Think about it, when someone gets married, what is the first thing you want to see afterwards? The photographs, right?! When you're wanting to go down memory lane, what helps you bring those memories to the surface? Photographs! Brides today truly pour their heart and soul's in to their weddings and want to be able to remember their wedding exactly how it was. In order to do that, you want someone who can capture your wedding in it's truest form, right? Someone with experience and knowledge of what's important to capture on that amazing day.  Someone who knows how to capture candid, in the moment, pure emotion, photographs.
A wedding is one day, which means you have ONE chance to capture it. Do you really want to be an experiment for an inexperienced photographer, have your family member or friend that has a nice camera capture it, because they won't cost you very much? Or do you want someone you know will deliver you quality images that will take you back to your wedding day and bring memories flooding back, but the cost is higher than you thought you wanted to spend? Which cost are you willing to sacrifice?
I was talking to a bride last week about possibly shooting her 2014 wedding and I was explaining to her why I believe my job is so important. Everything else from a wedding, the flowers, the decorations, the cake and food, they all are tossed out or given away after a wedding. You pay to have them for that one day, and one day only. Granted you could keep some of your decorations, but most people don't. Your photographs on the other hand, you pay to keep them forever. I have heard it time and again, couples wishing they had invested in a photographer because the cheaper photographer didn't give them what they wanted. I have also heard it said to me that clients were so happy they went with me because the quality of my work and my way I captured their wedding was more than they hoped for. I recently got a message from a groom of a wedding I shot almost two years ago. He said, "Every time I look at the pictures of my wedding on the wall I remember how much fun you made the picture taking. You especially had my groomsmen laughing and in an unusually jolly mood during picture taking!" It's amazing to me that I can still touch someone's life with my photographs long after their wedding! A wedding is one day but the photographs go beyond that! The important thing is to find a photographer you love and you know will deliver you photographs that you can reflect upon for years to come! Enjoy some of my favorite wedding shots to date! Can't wait for all my future weddings! If you would like to book me for your wedding email me at jhallphotograph@gmail.com