It's Not The Wedding Book Your Grandparents Had

Wedding books are arriving. And wow, how things have changed.

Wedding albums used to be rather plain and boring, but now there are a range of choices and options available, and sometimes those choices can be overwhelming. LaVere Media decided to take the "simple yet elegant" route, and use a company called "KISS Wedding Books". We couldn't be happier.

First, the books arrive extremely well-packaged with lots of TLC given to every detail. Instead of a cardboard box, the book is packaged in a beautiful cloth sleeve:

The binding is incredible; we've had a sample book that has been to countless wedding shows, handled by hundreds of people, even loaned out for potential customers to take home, and it still looks as good as new. These folks do amazing work:

The pages are thick, with a heavy substrate. The books are available in a variety of sizes and colors; our bride chose a 10" book with a black leather cover. The leather is smooth and supple, and the book feels substantive when you hold it.

What we really like about these books is that the two-page "spreads" are printed without a visible seam in the middle; the printing goes across the two pages. Again, our sample book looks as good as the day it arrived; there's simply no breakage across the seam. You almost have to see it to believe it.

Wedding books like this are available with any photography package purchased from LaVere Media, and are included without extra charge in our deluxe wedding package. We do all our own layout and design, using photos you choose from the proofs you receive with your package. We also provide you with a PDF file for review before we send the book off to print to ensure that you're getting exactly what you want with no surprises.

These books aren't just for brides—we can assemble them for senior photos, pets...we can even scan your parent's wedding album and put it together in a stunning presentation book that can be handed down for a whole new generation. The possibilities are endless!

Seeing the looks on the faces of our customers when they view their book is one of the best parts of our job. We can't wait to put one together for you.

Stop. Collaborate and Listen.

Yes, today's post takes inspiration from the great bard. No, not Shakespeare...Vanilla Ice.

No, I haven't lost my mind.

This summer, I've been asked several times to work as an assistant photographer at weddings for other photographers in the area. It's a privilege and an honor to work with these folks, some of whom I've looked up to and emulated over the years.

Working as an assistant photographer brings with it its own unique benefits and challenges. I've worked with a handful assistants over the years, but haven't had the opportunity until this season to do it myself. Here's what I've learned.

Yes, the advice of Vanilla Ice is solid. Stop. Collaborate, and listen. Being an effective assistant means that, first and foremost, the principal photographer has the responsibility for directing the work that's being done. So here's what I do.

First, I make a concerted effort to stop doing things "my way" and learn the ebb and flow of a different photographer. There's no way I can emulate his or her style; that would be an effort in futility, and that's not why I was hired in the first place. But what I strive to do is emulate their personal style. Some photographers are very subtle, quiet and passive. Others are more upbeat, involved and have an up-front style. The photographer's style is usually why they were hired in the first place.

I'm there to collaborate. It's fun to work as an assistant, because a lot of the pressure is off my shoulders. I don't have to worry about shot lists, locations, timeframes, etc. I get to share ideas with the main photographer, work with him/her on different ways of shooting, and come up with ideas that may not have been possible otherwise. For instance, on one shoot I was able to photograph the bride and groom from a third-story hotel room with a long lens while the primary photographer worked with them on the ground. We came up with some great shots that wouldn't have been possible with a single camera.

Most importantly, I'm there to listen. Listen to the needs of the photographer, the family, the venue. I'm always free to offer my own ideas, but I was hired to assist, not direct. I've learned more by listening and learning than I could ever have imagined.

So there you have it. In the immortal words of the IceMan, Stop. Collaborate, and Listen. It's good advice.

About the author: Rich LaVere is a videographer and photographer based in Elmira NY. It's not true that his personal motto is, "If there was a problem, yo I'll solve it."

Senior Portraits

Over the past few days, we've had several calls from High School students and their parents asking if we shoot senior portraits. The answer is yes.

It's no secret that senior portraits are one of the biggest expenses facing a soon-to-be graduate. We've seen portrait packages that cost in excess of $300 to $400 and higher. Frankly, we think that's just ridiculous. Additionally, many of the local school districts use out-of-town photographers, so your money doesn't stay local. We generally advise students to use the school's photographer for the yearbook portrait, and come to us for what we call an "extended session".

Our portrait packages include an hour of unlimited photography, either in our studio or at your location (for a nominal location fee). Our studio shoots can also include a number of local locations within walking distance of our Downtown Elmira location, with parks, "industrial" backgrounds, even the Chemung River. When you hire us, you "own" us for that hour. We don't put limits on wardrobe changes, locations, backgrounds, or the number of poses.

In addition, we take the time to get to know you...what your interests are, what you like to do, what your hobbies are, etc. Then, we tailor our portrait packages so that your photos are uniquely you, not some cookie-cutter assembly-line photograph that looks like everyone else's.

Our portrait packages for seniors are the same as our standard portrait package...we don't mark up anything. Our package pricing is simple and affordable; we offer two simple photography packages that cover most situations, including portraits and pet photography:

Package One ($125):

• One-hour photo shoot
• 4x6 proof book of all photos taken (includes a LaVere Media watermark)
• No contractual limit on number of photos
• Reprints available based on our pricing schedule below
• Online web gallery for viewing and ordering

Package Two ($200):

• One-hour photo shoot
• 4x6 proof book of all photos taken—no watermark
• No contractual limit on number of photos
• CD-ROM with high-resolution electronic files of all photos
• Copyright release form (allowing you to get your own reprints at a lab of your choice)
• Reprints available based on our pricing schedule below
• Online web gallery for viewing and ordering

Additional options with either package:

Location fee (within a 20-mile radius of Elmira): $50
Travel outside a 20-mile radius of Elmira: .35/mile

Reprints beyond the initial proof book are priced as follows:

4 x 6: $ 2.00
5 x 7: $5.00
8 x 10: $12.00
Wallet (4): $5.00
11x14: $20.00
16x20: $30.00
20x30: $40.00

Other sizes at quote. Other products such as books, calendars, etc. are also available at quote.

Give us a call, or check out our pricing and information at getagreatphotographer.com. We think you'll like what you see.

February's Most Important Holiday

In honor of Groundhog Day—the only holiday that celebrates an animal—LaVere Media is offering specials on our great pet photography packages. We already offer the best value in pet photography in the area, and these specials make our great pricing and exceptional service even better!

Special #1: 10% Donation to SPCA

During the months of January and February, we're donating 10% of all proceeds from Pet Photography sessions to the Chemung County NY SPCA. Get your pet photographed and contribute to a great cause at the same time!

Special #2: Free Softcover Photo Book

When you purchase a pet photo session in January or February, you'll get a free 20-page softcover book with photos from your session! You can also upgrade to a hardcover book and a range of options. The book is absolutely free with your level 2 package! Click Here for pricing...opens in new window)

Special #3: Groundhog Day Gift Certificates

Are you celebrating Groundhog Day and don't know what to get that special someone? Why not a LaVere Media Gift Certificate? We're offering special pricing on a portrait session you can use for yourself, a loved one, or that special Groundhog in your life! Use the link on our "specials" page to order today. We'll even gift-wrap it for you.

What's That Price Again?

Recently, a customer booked us for a portrait shoot after investigating several alternatives, including photography at a well-known department store and another big-box retailer.

We've all seen the photography specials at these stores; they promise dozens of portraits at a ridiculously low price. In fact, the price they offer is often below our actual printing cost for the same amount of portraits.

If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. And in this case, that's exactly what our client found.

First, she was limited to a single pose. That wasn't going to work for her; she had three children that she wanted in individual poses, she wanted a family shot, a photo of her and her sister, a photo of her parents, and a large group shot. Oh, and could she include her pets?

Wow.

The single pose was out of the question.

She wanted multiple prints of those multiple poses. But at the department store, she was limited to prints from a single pose without incurring extra costs. And to top it all off, she was limited to a small number of poses per session.

The big-box retailer seemed to offer a good price and selection, until she asked if she could buy the rights to use the photos on her own. That price alone pushed her simple package above the cost of ours.

In the end, she became our client because we were not only cost-competitive, but for what she was looking for, we were actually cheaper. Her final package included a one-hour photo session, well over a dozen different poses, over 100 4x6 proofs, a copyright release for all her photos, and all her pictures on a CD-ROM. She can place orders directly from us, through a secure website, she can print them at home, or use her favorite photo processor.

Just as important to our client was the service she received, and the individual attention. Working with two dogs, three children and four adults is a challenge, but one we took on willingly and with a lot of fun. She wasn't pushed through on a schedule, and we took the time to give her a great experience.

That's the difference between having your portrait taken at our studio versus the store where you bought your lawnmower. Give us a call, and compare our pricing. We're sure we'll see you soon when you do.

Pet Photos: Suze

The complete set of photos from last month's pet photography shoot with "Suze" are now available for viewing (and ordering) on our Shutterfly page.

As always, your comments and feedback are appreciated!

Pet Photo Shoot

When you've got a subject as cute as Suze, you can't help but share the photos:





For more information about pet photography from LaVere Media, e-mail us.

Winter

Ten inches of snow, treacherous driving conditions, no school...and the photographer drives up a mountain to take pictures!

It's what I do, y'all.