Articles & Advice
New Zealand Weddings Magazine is all about creating a dream day that reflects who you are as a couple. Check out our Autumn 2011 issue for the best trends and insider secrets.
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A LOOK BEHIND THE 'LENS' OF SUTHERLAND KOVACH IMAGERY
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO SHOOT WEDDINGS?
The colour, the fashion, the traditions, the people, the intenisty, the love - and of course the art of turning it all into fabulous images!
WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT THE JOB?
Translating couples' personal styles into pictures. It's a mental, physical and emotional workout that never fails to surprise and challenge.
HOW DID SUTHERLAND KOVACH COME TO BE?
Hannah: Jasmine and I have been friends since school and have been photographing weddings for over ten years. After returning from London where I worked as a stills photographer on the set of Harry Potter we grew the company together.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE?
Whimsical, natural, spontaneous and creative with a keen sense of fun.
WHO DO YOU ADMIRE FOR THEIR DESIGN SENSE?
Viktor & Rolf, Alain German, Irving Penn, Cecil Beaton, Rita Angus, Be Good Tanyas, Alberta Ferretti, the movie Amelie ... We draw on many sources, both from home and overseas, including magazines, exhibitions, artists from different genres and blogs.
WHAT WOULD YOU BE OTHER THAN PHOTOGRAPHERS?
Hannah: I would be a civil emergency planner specialising in animal welfare.
Jasmine: A set designer and pastry chef!
WHAT SHOULD A COUPLE CONSIDER WHEN THEY CHOOSE A WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER?
Three things: portfolio, personality, expertise.
Portfolio: Choose a photographer with a style and vision that you love. Look at their website, albums and ask to see a complete set of pictures to make sure they know how to photograph every facet of your wedding beautifully.
Personality: Make sure they make you feel at ease in front of the camera and allow you to enjoy your day exactly the way you want.
Expertise: Full-time professionals will be reliable, experienced and equipped with the best gear to ensure that your images are high-quality and that the day runs smoothly.
HOW CAN A BRIDE MAXIMISE HER CHANCE OF LOOKING GREAT IN SHOTS?
Tidy, classic hairstyles that are set to survive a cyclone will always look gracious in the photos. Keep makeup natural - we work with natural light so heavy makeup is not required. Wear a dress colour that suits your skin tone and make sure it fits properly and suits your body shape. (P.S. A girl's best friend is her 'control' underwear!) Finally, if you are having the loveliest wedding day of your life, it will show in your wedding pics.
HOW PRICEY IS A WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER AND WHAT KIND OF PACKAGES DO YOU OFFER?
Many people think we charge for the time spent shooting the wedding. This makes professional photographers seem expensive. But our prices really reflect the quality of our equipment, experience, expertise in capturing and editing, and our unique vision. We spend many hours planning, researching and training outside the actual wedding to achieve the looks we produce. Packages come in many forms. They offer a selection of photographers and their time spent taking the photos, prints, albums, slideshows and digital files.
WHAT TRENDS ARE EMERGING?
Photography is constantly changing, just like fashion. Last season we used a lot of cute props like bikes and and balloons with strong portrait style images. Right now we are big fans of sweet candid moments and faded vintage treatments. They can look lovely, and fit in with the current DIY vibe.
WHAT ARE SOME 'NOT TO MISS' IMAGES?
The getting ready shots - they can be the most beautiful, fun shots of the day. There's a huge sense of anticipation in the air and some priceless moments while people get used to being followed around by the camera.
WHAT SETS YOU GUYS APART FROM OTHER PHOTOGRAPHERS?
Our great friendships and the relaxed way we deal with our clients.
HOW EARLY SHOULD A COUPLE BOOK THEIR PHOTOGRAPHER?
Quality professionals book up quickly and only do limited amount per year so make sure you get in first!
WHAT'S YOUR MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT THAT YOU HAD PHOTOGRAPHING A WEDDING?
A recent wedding wedding in Japan was full of memorable moments - three outfit changes for the bride and groom, Michelin-star food, whizzing past the bright lights of Tokyo to the after-party - it was an extravaganza!
FROM THE HEART
MAKING A SPEECH NEEDN’T BE DAUNTING – IT’S SIMPLY A MATTER OF CURBING THOSE BUTTERFLIES AND KEEPING IT REAL.
Speeches are one part of the wedding a bride can’t plan to perfection. Who knows what the best man might come up with or how nervous the groom will be?
A good speech can set the tone for the rest of the celebration, helping people torelax and getting strangers chatting. On the other hand, a bad one can be anything from toe-curlingly embarrassing to just plain dull. So to make sure the speeches at your event are well-delivered, suggest everyone reads the following words of advice from professional speech writer Brian Morris.
BE PREPARED
‘Don’t even think about winging it on the day,’ says Brian. ‘That has disaster written all over it.’ He suggests writing out your entire speech. Then, if you’re a confident speaker, you can edit it down to bullet points that will prompt you to thank the appropriate people and remind you which anecdotes to tell.
A speech that’s delivered with expression rather than simply read out is always going to be more impressive. But if you’re really nervous, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with reading the whole speech from notes. ‘The important thing is that it’s given from the heart,’ says Brian.
DON’T OVERDO IT
‘Remember, it’s a speech, not a show,’ advises Brian. It may seem like a brilliant idea to host a Powerpoint presentation or a slide show of photographs, but if the technology doesn’t work on the day, you’ll be left with nothing.
Jokes can work well, but they’re not obligatory. The key is that the tone of the speech should fit with the people getting married and their guests, and last for between three and 10 minutes.
One glass of bubbles to take the edge off before you speak is fine, but avoid drinking any more than that until after you’ve finished. Speeches are generally held after dessert while guests are having coffee, but some couples choose to hold them before dinner so everyone can enjoy a few toasts without fear of drunken slurring.
EXPECT TO BE NERVOUS
Nerves are a normal part of performing and even the most assured speakers get them.
‘People who perform on stage talk about “concert pitch”,’ explains Brian. ‘It happens at that point where they’re ready to go on and they’re a bit nervous. Remember, this should be fun. Everyone there wants you to succeed.’
IT’S OK TO GET HELP
If you’ve never done any public speaking it’s a great idea to get some practice in. Toastmasters is an organisation set up to help people learn the techniques of speech making. There are clubs all over the country; visit toastmasters.org.nz to locate one in your area.
If even the thought of writing a wedding speech is stressful, Brian has a solution. He’s written an e-book that contains templates of speeches for the best man and groom that can be personalised with humorous anecdotes. Download it for $10 from www.ebookofknowledge.com.
WHO TRADITIONALLY SPEAKS?
1. The father of the bride welcomes his new son-in-law.
2. The groom thanks family and those who made the day a success.
3. The best man tells humorous anecdotes about the groom.
4. The bride or bridesmaid speech is an increasingly popular finale.
12 January 2012
Top five entertainment tips from DJ Ian Wilson
1 Get involved
The playlist at your wedding should reflect you and your man’s personalities, so let your DJ know what sort of music you want. Discussing song lists and ideas is a good place to start. Ensure you talk about the timing of events, special genres or songs to be played, any special edits that are needed, and of course don’t forget the ‘do not play’ list for any tracks you hate! A good DJ will ask about what you want – if they say they understand the music you have in mind without discussing it with you first, then you know they will be rolling out a standard playlist, not something tailored to your special day. The mix of music generally depends on the age of the audience, but there are so many variables. To avoid disappointment, take the time to talk it over with your chosen DJ and get your music preferences in writing to make sure you’re both on the same page.
2. Do something fun
No matter how much you love dancing, hours and hours of it without a break can get a bit tiring. You might want to look at ways to break up that time with something entertaining for your guests. For example, if you’re doing a bouquet throw and a garter toss, how about asking the DJ to get the winners up for a special dance together – this was a memorable highlight at a recent wedding I played at. Get creative and think outside the box to keep guests on their toes.
3. Romance on the dance floor
The first dance is a very special moment, and if you're game then you can learn some simple dance moves that look very impressive. If your dance routine only lasts a short time then you could ask the DJ to edit the song for a shorter version, or introduce the bridal party at the point when the dance routine comes to an end. But it doesn’t have to end at the first dance. At one wedding I was a DJ for, about halfway through the night we had the bride sit on a chair in the middle of the dance floor, and the groom and groomsmen surprised her by serenading her with ‘You’ve lost that loving feeling’ by the Righteous Brothers. A small amount of effort usually pays off – if it is a surprise, just make sure you let the DJ in on the secret to avoid awkward interruptions. Communication is key.
4. Get creative
Many brides and grooms want to follow certain etiquette and wedding formats: it’s what people expect, and it can be nice to have traditions. But at the same time, you probably want your celebration to be different from your friend’s or sister’s wedding. From the music that plays as you walk down the aisle to the song of your last dance, you can add your personal touch. Talk to your DJ about having a special dance when you enter the reception, or have two songs for the first dance (such as a slow romantic tune with a fun song mixed in). If you put your creative thinking caps on, you could be the first to start off a new trend and wow your guests with something unique. Just make sure it’s tasteful, and a good fit to your personalities.
5 Connect with your guests
From your vows to the speeches, you want to make sure people can hear what is being said and feel a part of what is happening. You will usually need microphones, preferably wireless, and an amplification system. Quality sound equipment makes a huge difference. It's also important to keep your guests informed, and an MC can help immensely. A good MC will keep things flowing smoothly and avoid awkward pauses and silences. Not every announcement needs to be made over the PA system – informing smaller groups of guests to take a seat sometimes works better. Many emotions, laughs and sometimes tears are shared during these spoken moments, so they should be audible. Consider asking your DJ or videographer to record them for you, so you can treasure the memories in years to come.
You can find Ian at www.aucklandweddingdj.co.nz
