MARK ERIC WEDDINGS, The list of why we don’t like checklists… list.

Check out the great post on Mark Erics Journal.

Checklist. It’s a word that makes many wedding photographers cringe.

I’m not talking about the list of family members that clients want portraits with- we love that list! We also love knowing the important details of the wedding day that are “must haves!”. In this post, I’m referring to the dreaded wedding magazine checklist for photographers. I’m sure you’ve seen it. It’s published in many wedding magazines.   See what the list includes!

Dave Crago Photography - Florida Real Estate Photography - New Web Page

Dave Crago Photography specializes in creating stunning photographs for the architectural, interior design, real estate, resort, yacht and marine industries. Dave provides editorial and commercial architectural and interior photography for Builders, Architects, Interior Designers, Shipyards, Real Estate Professionals, Developers, Contractors, Manufacturers, and Home Owners.

Servicing Orlando, Central Florida and beyond.  Dave will capture interior & exterior images of real estate or yachts for all the Listing Agent's marketing needs that will make their clients, the Sellers, extremely happy. Showcasing these properties and yachts with Professional Photography, in this market, has become a necessity as most searches start on the Internet. You'll receive images that are optimized and enhanced for the Internet and ready for print media as well.

 

In addition to his primary specialty of architectural, real estate and yacht photography, Dave produces stunning and artistic Lifestyle, Wedding, Special Event and Portrait images.  Based in Orange County Florida, he focuses on exceeding clients expectations.  Working on location throughout Florida and the Caribbean, Dave prides himself in providing exactly what his clients require.

What's In The Camera Bag?

I get lots of questions about my gear. So I thought it would be great to share with everyone the equipment I use. I am a proud member of the Nikon family as well as a member of NPS-Nikon Pro Services and only use Nikon cameras and lenses for my photography.  I suspect this list will continue to grow over time. We all tend to accumulate.

Think Tank Airport International roller bag
Think Tank Logistics Manager roller
Think Tank modular belt system
Nikon D4 -coming soon 
Nikon D3
Nikon D700
Nikon D300
Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 VR II
Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 VR
Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8
Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8
Nikkor 105mm f/2.8
Nikkor 50mm f/1.4
Nikkor 16mm f/2.8
Nikon SB900 speedlites x 3 units
Nikon SB800 speedlites x 3 units
Nikon SU800 speedlite commander
Pocket Wizard II 4 transmitter / receivers
Manfrotto 5-section light stands
Manfrotto tripods and monopods, various
Dell M6400
iPhone 3GS 32GB
64GB of an assortment of Sandisk Extreme IV CF cards

If you are an aspiring wedding photographer, I strongly recommend getting the 24-70mm f/2.8 and 70-200mm f/2.8 VR. These are top notch lenses at a good price. They are my favorite lenses.

For special photo shoots involving moving vehicles, aircraft or boats, I use the Kenyon Lab Gyro to stabilize the camera.

For water shoots, such as trash the dress in the surf, I trust my camera and lens in the SPL water housing
Where should you buy from?
Here are some retailers that have served my needs and I personally recommend them for their service, product knowledge and integrity:
Adorama Photo (USA online shop)

Trash The Prom / Formal Dress Photography

Trash the dress sessions for wedding dresses have been popular for years. What about prom or other formal dresses?   Trash the formals are a great option for seniors, who may want to and get down and dirty in their prom or formal dresses and add something a little edgy or extra to their senior portraits.  So why not have a portrait session that is totally out of the norm and different than the cheesy prom pic in front of the fireplace?  Trash the Formals are now available through Dave Crago Photography, contact us to book your session today!

7 Ideas for Your Trash-the-Dress Photo Shoot … By Jelena

Would you dare to get your wedding dress dirty beyond repair? Why not, it’s not like you’ll wear it again! Moreover, scheduling a trash-the-dress photo shoot couple of days after the wedding will give you the opportunity to dress up again and have all those fabulous photos you didn’t dare posing for during the actual wedding. Interested? Well, I’m doing it for sure, so here are 7 cool ideas I’ve been thinking about lately:

1. Runway bride

Sexy glitz or fashion road kill –it’s on you to decide. Have you hairdresser make you the “big hair” updo, pull off your best, darkest and the most dramatic smoky eye look and make sure you wear that sexy white bridal lingerie under your dress. Then head off to the most luxurious place you can think of and snap a couple of high-end photos. After that it’s time to get dirty! Have you photographer take pictures of you running around the crowded city, sitting on the hood of the car, posing next to a dirty wall covered in graffiti or in dark, shady hallways.

2. Beach bride

Next time you see a photo of a newlywed couple running on the beach, laying in the sand or sitting on the rocks, you’ll think of this post and smile, knowing that those photos aren’t as spontaneous as they appear. In fact, they are most likely done after the wedding, during the dress trashing photo session! How else would the bride manage to have clean, presentable wedding dress during the celebration? Well, if you’re having a beach wedding, remember to mention this to your photographer – ask for a combo price and you might even get a small discount.

3. Mother Nature

Think: forest, furry cute animals, wild flowers, breathtaking green fields and plenty of grass for you to lie on! It will definitely ruin your dress so, in case you want to keep it looking good, I suggest you take a blanket or, even better, a piece of fabric your dress is made of. Lose the Manolos, though, as you’ll definitely want to wear them again and get the most of the $$$ spent on this expensive threat. Plus, you won’t need them for running, picking wild flowers or rolling in the grass.

4. Angry bride

Smear you makeup and pose holding a cigarette and a drink – Think: Beyonce in “Why don’t you love me” video. Or, if your husband wants to be part of the photo shoot, ask him to look shocked and desperate why you’re pretending to smash his car or bike with a baseball bat. Be creative, be shocking, make a statement. You’ll definitely have a lot of fun looking at those pictures later on!

5. Sexy bride

Mr. and Mrs. Beckham have done some steamy pictures to promote their perfume, so you can definitely do some of your own too. That passion deserves to be captured girl, plus, there’s nothing to be ashamed of, it’s not like you’ll publish them on Facebook (Right?). Pose on your own and then ask your husband to join too, you’ll definitely have a lot of fun! Plus, this photo shoot won’t ruin your dress, provided that you hubby doesn’t get too carried away and accidentally rips it off of you, of course.

6. Romantic bride

Gorgeous gardens, swings, retro carriages – if it makes you feel like a Cinderella, it’s a great setting for your photo shoot! Cinderella didn’t mind getting her dress dirty and nor should you. You can run barefoot, dive into the flowerbed or even ride the horse – the only important thing is for you to have fun and get some amazing photos to look at for years to come. Hubby can come along too!

7. Vintage Chic bride

Get one of those lacy white parasols and gloves, borrow grandma’s pearls and have your hairdresser and makeup artist work extra hard on pulling off the best Dita Von Teese inspired look as possible. Remember to keep a lookout for vintage-looking settings and once you do find the perfect one, ask if you could use it for your shoot. After that it’s all about striking a pose.

Would you trash your wedding dress or opt for photo shoot ideas that don’t require getting ”down and dirty”? I would trash it… Definitely!

Trash The Dress Tips, from the Weddingbee

• The term "trash" may be misleading, as many dresses only get wet or dirty. A professional cleaning service should restore the dress to brand-new quality, enabling the wearer to then preserve and/or keep the dress, or to donate it to charity.
• Rather than trashing your own wedding dress, consider buying a cheap dress off the rack and trashing that instead. For your husband, you might consider him wearing some less formal clothes of his own. Or, he may just need to plan to rent his suit/tux long enough through the day after your wedding.
• A photographer looking for "best light" will likely suggest late afternoon for a start time--about four or five PM.
• If you want a bouquet, you could have a new one delivered to you from your florist, could pick up one at a local grocery store (beautiful flowers for a reasonable price!) or farmer's market. Some brides go without.
• Most brides just do their own hair and make-up. That is a judgment call. ;-)
• Make sure your clothes are ironed and ready to go.
•  Check with your photographer, but you can probably get away with wearing comfortable shoes if your wedding day shoes were not. Wear all your wedding day jewelry, too. You may end up with some great new detail shots.
• Bring your improv skills! You need to kiss on command and create laughter even if something hilarious didn't happen right at that moment. Don't be afraid to dip, dance, jump in the water, etc. for THAT pic.
• Talk to your photographer and let him/her select the location! He/she is the professional and may have great ideas that will be aesthetically dramatic and interesting.
• Brides that have done a day after shoot can attest to how much more relaxed the bride and groom feel--grooms that may have been a little uptight for formals appreciate this laid-back photo shoot.

Trash The Dress FAQ

♦ What is a Trash the Dress Session?

Now that the wedding is over, you have two choices of what to do with the dress. You can suffocate it in a plastic bag and hope that your daughter will want to wear it in 20 years, or you can put it back on and have some fun.

♦ Do I have to really trash it?

Of course not! It's just a fun session to do when you have more time than the day of the wedding or a situation you wouldn't dare do the day of the wedding. Sure you can get a little risky with it, like splashing in water or riding horseback in the snow since the fear of getting it dirty is over, but you don't have to.

♦ Can I still do a session if you didn't shoot my wedding?

Absolutely! We can certainly add a little spice to your wedding collection even if we didn't cover the actual event. This is the perfect opportunity to add a different style to your wedding photos and some out of the ordinary locations.

♦ How much does it cost?

You can view our prices online. A typical session would require a Location Session which is anywhere within an hour of Orlando, FL. Outside of this area special arrangements would be necessary.