The responsibility for creating great images lies with the photographer. Composition, lighting, timing, and creativity are all things that your photographer should be great at. Yet, there are a few things you can do that will help the process, and one of the biggies is to pick locations that are beautiful and inspirational.

Outdoor photography is simply better than indoor, hands down. So try to find a spot that means something to you, or is simply breathtaking. Traveling to a location can add a little bit of extra planning in the transportation department, but it is so much better than having your photographer try to make something pretty out of the side of your reception hall.

Remember to also keep in mind the aesthetics of the interior of the church or hall where you are getting married. If the carpet is red, it probably won't look that good in pictures to have your attendants in red dresses. If the interior is very dark, know that your photographer will have to use a flash or set up a lighting system.

Picking beautiful sites for photography can also inspire the photographer to take pictures they would have never have thought of originially. We shot a wedding at Harriet Island in the summer, and spent a half hour just walking around the park with our couple. That location had so much variety (gardens, the waterfront, the stone reception hall, metal sculptures, knarled trees, bridges and smokestacks) that it really inspired us and spurred on our creativity. We were able to get so much variety out of one location!

So the first thing to do to guarantee your pictures will be gorgeous is to hire an amazing photographer. But picking a great site for pictures will help the process go that much more smoothly.

For ideas on creative and fun backdrops for your photographs, just email us at studio_laguna@yahoo.com. You can always go to our website www.stulagu.com for inspiration!

You have GOT to go see what Northern Lights Video did for Brent and Kristine's wedding. It is so beautiful! We absolutely love Jeff's work...it made me misty eyed! We had so much fun photographing Brent and Kristine's wedding and it is amazing seeing that day brought to life in video. I think having both of these services is such a fantastic way to preserve your memories for the generations to come.

Simply paste this address into your browser...

http://www.northernlightsvideo.com/webcast_kristine&brent.html

One thing that I have noticed with weddings lately is a time factor. There are all these things brides want to do at their reception (toasts, slide shows, special dances, cake cutting) and by the time everything is done, an hour has gone by. Though all of these traditions can mean a lot to you, there are ways to help be efficient with your time.

We have been at weddings where the servers are taking food away so fast, there is no way to enjoy it. I once got up to grab a picture of the champagne toast, and when I came back, my uneaten food was already gone and they were serving coffee (which I also had to guard to make sure I got to taste some!).

With all the time crunching, it makes the meal have to be extremely short. The beginning of the reception sets the tone for the whole night, and if you want happy people on the dance floor, make sure to create a calm enjoyable atmosphere for their dining experience.

Toasts can easily be done during dinner, you do not need to have the father of the bride, best man, maid of honor and groom make their speaches before dinner. Have a special family member or pastor say a brief word of greeting (and prayer if you desire) and then while guests are eating, have the speaches. It may take a second to get their attention, but it is better than having them sit for a half hour and listen to speaches before they get their food.

Also have the slideshow during the meal or dessert. And only do the cake cutting if it is personally important to you. Many of our couples lately have just taken a picture by the cake or made sure we had an artistic image of the cake before it was cut and skipped the cutting all together.

Another place where pacing is important is the dance. After dinner, the guests are up getting drinks and ready to socialize and party. We have seen weddings where the different special dances take over a half hour and people are just standing around watching. One wedding we attended (we didn't photograph it) guests actually left because the special dances were taking so long and people had to get home. By the time the actual dance started it was already 10pm.

We suggest that when you walk into the reception hall for your grand march, you go right into the first dance. Then start the meal. After the meal, have a combined mother/son, father/daughter dance and then open the dance floor to everyone. This helps get the party going and keeps your guests entertained.

As with the cake, only do traditional reception events if it means something to you. Do you really need to toss the bouquet or garter? Do you need the chicken dance? A dollar dance? Think of how to make your reception different and unique. If you have any good ideas, feel free to post them on our blog!

As with all article on this blog, these are simply my opinions of the wedding industry and trends.

Yesterday, I visited The Wedding Fair at the Minneapolis Convention Center. The Wedding Guys once again pulled out all the stops and created an amazing experience.

Loving weddings the way that I do, it was such a treat to wander the aisles among couture dresses and crystal chandaliers with the scent of jasmine in the air. I couldn't stay long enough to see the fashion show, but I did taste a couple cakes!

The thing that excited me the most was that Theatre de la Jeune Lune had a booth there. They host receptions! This is such an amazing venue and it is THE place in my mind for an original modern wedding. The location is right by the new Guthrie and it has such an urban appeal to it. The interior is brick and concrete with the old warehouse walls exposed. I just think this locale has amazing personality and would just love to photograph a wedding there! I know this might sound like an endorsement, but it isn't. I have been to shows at this theater and spent the whole time looking at the textures and colors, it would be a truly unique reception site.

I have heard brides complain about spending $15 to get into a fair, but The Wedding Fair is worth it. It is the 3rd largest fair in the US and trumps the fairs I participated in and attended in LA. I love that they strive to make it an experience for the bride, it isn't just a bunch of vendors hawking their wares, but a place where you can see how creative lighting and table settings and floral arrangements can set the tone for your reception. They even have a corner for the grooms which will definately make it worth his trip.

I was very pleased with what I saw and how it is easier than ever for brides to create a personal and beautiful wedding.

After the ceremony, take a nice breather away from the crowds and excitement to focus on the two of you. We strongly suggest doing a 15 minute to half hour romantic session inbetween the ceremony and reception to look into each other's eyes and revel in the fact that you are now married.

A place that we love to photograph is Centennial Lakes in Edina. In the summer, they have gondola rides which creates a beautiful photo opp as well as a private moment in a lovely setting.

If desired, Centennial Lakes is a location with visual variety and can easily be the spot for all your portraits on your wedding day. We have done a few weddings and portrait sessions in the park and just love it there.

We also enjoy Rice Park in St. Paul, Minnehaha Falls, Fort Snelling, downtown Minneapolis by the convention center, Loring Park, and anywhere along the river. Try to think of places that mean something to you as a couple and think of ways to make this time together romantic and fun. Maybe give each other a gift at this time or have a horse drawn carriage ride as a surprise.

Taking the time on your wedding day for a little romance and privacy is a simple way to live in the moment and create cherished memories. Almost every couple that we do this with expresses that the romantic session was the most memorable part of their wedding day. It is a great way to decompress and simply smile.