5 Must Have Products I Can't Live Without as a Wedding Photographer

Comment

5 Must Have Products I Can't Live Without as a Wedding Photographer

I've been a wedding photographer in Vermont for over 5 years now. During that time, I have learned the value of having the right tools. We always say that gear doesn’t count when it comes to good photography but some things do make your life easier.

So I thought it would be fun to share 5 of my favorite products and things that I can't live without as a wedding photographer:

1.Hubba Hubba Think Tank shoulder bag.

It’s the first thing I mention because even before my large camera bag, I never leave the house without this little love. It fits 2 lenses which is absolutely perfect for me. On engagement and portrait shoots I like to travel as light as possible so being able to only have my camera and the two additional lenses (or sometimes 1 lens and 1 flash) is incredible. The best part about it is that it somehow never tips- it holds the equipment and even open, nothing falls out. Amazing little bag!

2. Think Tank Photo Airport Takeoff V2.0 Rolling Camera Bag (Black)

This bag is everything you’ll need and more. I love the integrated backpack straps and the fact that I can fit all of my gear comfortably. Being able to roll this on any kind of terrain is SO important! You just never know where the day takes you and your bag has to always be accessible.


3. Peak Design SL-BK-3 Slide, Camera Strap, Black

If you're a wedding photographer, or even if you just love taking pictures, then a camera strap is an essential piece of equipment. It's the best way to carry your camera safely while keeping it easily accessible.

You'll want one that's lightweight and comfortable so that it doesn't get in your way when shooting on location. The right strap will also keep your camera secure at all times; this is especially important if the weather changes suddenly or if someone bumps into you while walking down the aisle!

My current favorite is made by Peak Design (they make some pretty cool stuff). It has three different lengths--short enough for discreet street photography but long enough for landscape shots--and comes with attachment points so that I can use it with any kind of bag/case I want without having any extra parts lying around my house after using them once or twice (I'm looking at YOU Nikon strap!)

There are no words for the love I have for this camera strap system. When you have multiple cameras this is the absolute easiest way to quickly switch the straps as needed. Since Mike and I do both photo and video, some of our cameras need to be strapless sometimes so it is super important for us to be able to do that quickly.

You won’t be disappointed, I promise!

4. Nikon D5 20.8 MP FX-Format Digital SLR Camera Body

My baby. I LOVE this camera. I’ve owned almost every pro camera Nikon ever released and nothing even compares. The color alone is out of this world. I love the fact that you can easily switch to video and the video quality is equally impressive.

5. Think Tank Photo Secure Pocket Rocket Memory Card Case

This is always full of cards and attached to my Think Tank shoulder bag so that it never leaves my sight. One of the most important things is that your memory cards are secure and on you at all times. Especially once you have a bunch of used ones already. I am completely paranoid when it comes to parting with this little pocket.

At the end of the night, after a wedding, I take the cards out of the camera and secure them in this so that if someone steals my camera or equipment bag, my couples memories are always safe ;)

6. SanDisk Extreme PRO Compact Flash Memory Card UDMA 7 Speed Up to 160MB/s

(One bonus item because it is impossible to do what I do without it and leaving the house without a bunch of them is what wedding photographer nightmares are made of ;) if you know, you know!)

I never (hopefully!!) leave the house without at least 6 of these. (I usually have 12 ). My camera (and all pro cameras should) takes 2, one main and one back up, and during a wedding day I can easily fill 3 of them. The faster these babies are, the better. My personal preference is that I keep them at either 32GB or 64GB. My thinking is that in case they fail I only loose part of the day. It never happened by the way, but I think its wise to not put all of your eggs in one basket when it comes to wedding days.

Now, I know what you're thinking. "Wait a second, what about the other stuff? Well, good question! In addition to these five must-have products listed above, there are A LOT more products that I use and I’ll make sure to share more in a future post. If you are curious what other gear is in my bag or want to know what else I can’t live without, make sure to follow me here or on Instagram ;)

xoxo,

Idena

Comment

Christine and Jason's Intimate Wedding at The Equinox Pond in Manchester VT

Comment

Christine and Jason's Intimate Wedding at The Equinox Pond in Manchester VT

I met Christine and Jason on a beautiful fall day in Boston. We walked around and talked and right away they felt like long time friends. I immediately fell in love with their beautiful neighborhood, their story and their amazing little pup Sally.

They decided, like so many other couples that were planning on getting married in 2020, to get together with their immediate family and just go for it. It was a sweet celebration of love in one of my all time favorite places in Vermont: The Equinox Resort and Spa in Manchester. My husband Mike and I met while working there and as much as I try to not have favorites, this place will forever hold a near and dear place in my heart. Especially the pond. The most peaceful, quiet, wonderful little slice of heaven :)

Christine&Jason-13.jpg
IdenaBeach-VermontWeddingPhotographer-TheEquinoxResortPond23.jpg
Christine&Jason-356.jpg
IdenaBeach-VermontWeddingPhotographer-TheEquinoxResortPond68.jpg
IdenaBeach-VermontWeddingPhotographer-TheEquinoxResortPond72.jpg

Comment

Bonnie and Sam | Intimate Vermont Wedding at West Mountain Inn | Arlington, VT

Comment

Bonnie and Sam | Intimate Vermont Wedding at West Mountain Inn | Arlington, VT

Today, September 5th, was supposed to be Bonnie and Sam’s wedding day.

Due to Covid-19 they had to change their plans a bit and do what most couples did this year: They had an intimate vow exchange earlier this year and chose to postpone the big party for next year.

And you know what?! It was perfect. At least, that’s how it felt to me and I am sure, to everyone there including the two of them.

It was my 1st wedding back after the 2 month quarantine. I cried on the way there because I was, truth be told, overwhelmed. Just so incredibly grateful and happy to be back at doing what I love. Music blasting on the car ride there, like I was a 15 year old going to her first party.

I knew Bonnie and Sam from our engagement session last year, so really, it had nothing to do with me being nervous about meeting new people or simply being social after being…well, not so social for a couple of good months. It was different. I wish I had the words to describe it better but I don’t. They were definitely happy tears!

I arrived at the West Mountain Inn 30 min early and I was immediately greeted by this beautiful golden puppy (when I say puppy, I mean a 60 pound “beast” :)) . The biggest golden retriever smile on his face. Ready to knock me off my feet and show me the true meaning of love.

I walked around and took the place in trying to get to it’s essence.

I am sure I forgot many things from that day but what I do very clearly remember is this wonderful man, Bonnie’s dad, holding an umbrella over me trying to keep me dry during the rain. Bonnie and Sam’s tears slowly mingling with the rain as they said theyr vows. Her brother crying when he first saw her coming down the isle. Sam’s dad and mom and brother huddled together laughing with each other before the ceremony. The droplets of rain making the page on which the vows were written on, transparent. The way the light filtered through the apple trees. Bonnie spinning in her beautiful dress. How quiet the property was between the tall trees right after the short rain with Sam and Bonnie’s laughter echoing in the distance as they danced for our portrait session…

Bonnie and Sam, I am wicked looking forward to next year and seeing you two for the 3rd time!!! :)

Comment

Some of your 2020 questions answered

Comment

Some of your 2020 questions answered

Hi Everyone,

I am gonna come right out and let you know that I am usually a very optimistic person and try to make the best of whatever life throws at me. But this is a bit different. My heart breaks on the daily for over a month now for every single one of you.

I tried to take some time and make sense of all that is happening but I’ll be honest, I can’t. I’m as blindsided as you are by all of this. 

Last year, around this time (April-May 2019) I was beyond excited that my 2020 booking goal was met. This year was the year that was going to blow all other years out of the water. I legit couldn’t wait for 2019 to end so that we can start this amazing 2020 adventure. And then….


I have A BUNCH of weddings scheduled for 2020. 3 of them happened right before all of this started (virtual high five to you guys!). My March, April, May and June couples all rescheduled. Some cancelled. If this goes into July, I am going to be at a loss of words. So I’ll go ahead and start this conversation just in case you needed me to, while I can, while I still have words… :)

I can understand how right now this is a hot and most likely anxiety inducing subject for a lot of you. You might be feeling like you have to make some hard decisions in the next couple of weeks and the uncertainty of it all is heartbreaking.

Since most of it is entirely out of our control and I don’t have many of the answers we all need and want, I will focus on the questions that I can answer and on the things that I can control.

(With a 6 year old at home, we have watched A LOT of Frozen 2 and Olaf perfectly describes how I’m feeling right now)

Olaf-1024x1024.jpg

First and foremost, I want to remind you that you are not alone. I am here for you, the rest of your vendor team is here for you, and so are you friends and family. We all want you to be able to have your dream wedding and celebrate with your loved ones. Whatever happens in the next couple of weeks (heck! even months) from now on, whatever decisions you have to make regarding your wedding, we all understand.

I hope you all know by now without any doubt that I have your best interests at heart. I want you to be able to celebrate without any restrictions. I am over here rooting for you to have the best wedding day ever and I will keep hoping and sending you positive energy until we figure this out.


If some of the message below comes across as a bit dry, just know that that’s not a reflection of how much I adore you all :) I’m trying to answer some FAQ as simply as possible.  Here are a couple of questions and answers I thought might help:

WILL YOU STILL BE PHOTOGRAPHING OUR WEDDING? 

Yes! That’s all I want to do! I still plan to photograph 100% of the weddings I have scheduled for this year, as long as your event carries forward and we are within any laws and limitations set forth. 


POSTPONEMENTS AND CANCELLATIONS 

Should you need to reschedule, postpone, or cancel your wedding, your first point of contact should always be your wedding venue and/or planner. They will let you know what your next steps should be. 

The situation we all find ourselves in right now is evolving rather slowly. In most cases we don’t really know what’s gonna happen even 1 month from now… In March of this year, I was still, very optimistically looking forward to my late May and June weddings. We are now in late April and all I know, is that I know nothing :) I guess what I am saying is that, it’s usually better to be safe and have a date picked out as a backup, just in case. 



My suggestions to you would be to start looking at alternative new dates now.  Reach out to ALL of your vendors together.  Be ready for alternatives to Weekends—  When all this is over and done with, people are going to want to celebrate with you, no matter the day of the week. 


WHAT HAPPENS TO OUR RETAINER, CONTRACT, WEDDING DATE, ETC., IF WE NEED TO RESCHEDULE OUR WEDDING?

If you decide to postpone/reschedule you may apply the entire retainer towards a new date.  I am happy to transfer your contract to a new date with no extra fees. Since your last payment is due on the day of your event, you will not have to worry about any payments until that time.

If you want to put a “soft” hold on a date (as a backup), I can definitely accommodate that request as well (no extra fee). yes— I will hold both dates for you! :) Please make sure you reach out and let me know as soon as possible if you want to do that.

Jen%26Christian-636.jpg


HOW DO WE RESCHEDULE OUR WEDDING? 

  • Before locking in a new date, you must first reach out to your venue to check availability. Ask for a couple of available dates from your venue and try to set a whole day aside to make the switch happen.

  • Once we have a new date in place, I will send over your new contract addendum with the date change. Everything else stays the same.

  • If you choose a date without checking on my availability first or if you choose a date that you know that I am booked for, you will be considered as cancelling your contract and forfeiting your retainer.

WHAT IF WE DECIDE TO CANCEL THE WEDDING ALTOGETHER? 

If you choose to cancel, instead of postponing/rescheduling, you will of course not be expected to pay any remaining balance beyond the retainer. As stated in the contract, the retainer is non refundable. If you already made a second payment towards the total, that one is refundable.

Also, (this applies to all my current couples in the planning process) please know that if you have a payment coming up and you would prefer to postpone it for when things get back to normal(ish) that that would be absolutely fine with me. You will receive 1 or 2 automated messages reminding you of the payment due date -- please feel free to ignore them until you feel financially comfortable to take care of it. I do not want this to put any kind of extra pressure on you and/or your loved ones. This will not have any kind of negative effects on the contract between us. The balance will simply be due by the agreed upon date of the event.

NEW 2020 AND 2021 INQUIRIES

At this time, I am not booking any new weddings for 2020— I am prioritizing my current couples to accommodate rescheduled weddings. 

…actual picture of me running away from 2020…..

…actual picture of me running away from 2020…..


If you are in the process of planning a wedding for 2021, please be patient and understanding with the vendors you are inquiring with. We have an influx of 2020 couples that we are desperately trying to accommodate. There are 2021 dates that are on a soft hold right now that might open later, depending on how this all turns out.

In other, more positive news, I am booking all new 2021-2022 weddings at 2019-2020 pricing*.

(* this offer is valid until July 30th 2020) 

Jen&Christian-1040.jpg


FINAL THOUGHTS

If you have any questions or thoughts on what you would like me to talk about, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I know I‘ve been mostly quiet this past month, but I am here for you. This situation is fluid and I am still exploring how we can best serve our couples and reasonably protect our business simultaneously. Our hope is to come out on the other side of this with a whole lot of renewed energy.

Thank you to all of my lovely couples for cheering me on and sending me so many lovely messages. Your love and support during this time is sooo appreciated. I love following all of your quarantine adventures. I smile and celebrate you and your love daily. 

Keep posting. Keep reaching out. Keep smiling.


Comment

10 Tips For A Perfect Winter Wedding | Vermont Wedding Photographer

Comment

10 Tips For A Perfect Winter Wedding | Vermont Wedding Photographer

1. Create atmosphere— There is nothing quite like a winter wedding :) They are cozy and heart warming. There is something about twinkle lights and candles and Christmas decorations that bring us back to our childhood. There is a sense of wonder and love that comes with it. It’s magic. I’ve never photographed a wedding and said “ there are just too many twinkle lights”. In my humble opinion, you can never have too many! Even if you don’t have a huge budget for decor, you can go a long way with using as many twinkle lights as possible. Also, make sure it smells delicious. Like cookies and comfort food and yummy stuff.

I love this recipe from William Sonoma- All you have to do is ask the venue for a small container of water with a heating light under it fill it with water, add a sliced lemon, the springs of rosemary and a tablespoon or two of vanilla extract. Place it somewhere near the main entrance so that it is immediately noticeable. Done.

2. Hot beverage station— I’ve seen this done quite a lot lately and it is always a hit. While you are getting ready to come down the aisle, allow your family and friends to mingle and get warm together while enjoying a warm tea, hot cocoa, coffee, cider, etc… You can get creative here and serve your favorite cold winter drink. It is a nice first impression that will leave a smile on everyone’s face. A nice hot drink in hand will be a sure way to make guests comfortable and able to focus on the two of you.


3. Blankets— Do not assume that your guests will know to come prepared for an outdoor ceremony. Especially here in Vermont, it is a lot colder than you and/or your guests anticipate it to be. Surprise your guests with warm blankets for them to huddle up in.

4. Long Sleeve Wedding Dresses— I think a lot of brides assume that a 15 min outside ceremony is not long enough for them to feel the cold. But— it is! And you will! That, I promise you. Vermont winters are no joke. Especially if you have a ceremony closer to sunset, which in winter time it’s around 4pm, the SUN goes down incredibly fast and the temperature changes by 15 degrees in a blink. A winter wedding is the perfect time to embrace the idea of a long sleeved dress. Also, your extremities get cold and red fast and that doesn’t really make for flattering pictures.





5. Bold colors— White winter weddings are the perfect backdrop for bold colors. Red never disappoints— it is the perfect winter wedding statement. Try a bold red lip or even bridesmaid dresses and/or florals and accents. They look so good in pictures!

6. Muted Pallets — Surprise! Surprise! Mutted colors also work like a charm! My favorites are dusty rose and sky blue…

7. Comfort Food! Think grilled cheese sandwiches with tomato soup, fries, fried chicken and waffles, pasta bars, pizza, cookies and milk. Let your guests be flooded with cozy childhood memories via food and smell.

8. Get creative with textures and florals— flowers are hard to come by in the NE during winter. Why not get creative and use out of the box materials— twigs, evergreen, feathers, etc… Also, incorporating a lot of velvet, fur (faux, please), cozy sweaters is always a great idea. Materials add interest and texture to a photograph and they always get me excited. The more texture you bring in, the more you will love your pictures— I promise.

9. Sleigh Rides— is there anything more romantic and exciting at the same time as the sound of jingle bells? Make an unforgettable entrance or exit with a horse drawn sleigh ride. It’s sure to be unforgettable.

10. Last but not least—Warm, comfortable shoes— Here is the thing: nobody will be able to really see your shoes. I know. I’m the photographer and most of the time I have to have the brides lift their dresses up for me to take a picture of the shoes…Also, it’s a winter wedding. Your guests are ok with you wearing comfortable, warm (dare I say it…?) boots or fuzzy warm slippers, or at least closed toe shoes. The last thing you want to think about during your vows are your toes and how long they will (or won’t) last… Save the fancy heels for the reception.

I can not repeat this enough… With winter weddings, your comfort and warmth are the most important things to be mindful of. Freezing during your ceremony is NOT FUN. Create the magical moment you desperately want by making sure your guests are comfortable and YOU are comfortable.

Alex&Justin-280.jpg

11. One last tip— I am feeling generous :)

Make the day sparkle! Twinkle lights, candles and sequins go soooo well together! Why not go all out and SHINE?! There is no better time than winter to make your day as glam as you want. And no matter what, embrace the snow!


Disclaimer: I just realized that all of these pictures were taken at Mountain Top Inn and Resort and that I might be up there way more often than I previously thought :) That being said, there is no other venue I would rather be at during winter. It is the perfect backdrop and they offer everything you could possibly want and more.

No, this is not a sponsored post.

Yes, I do love them THAT much <3

Comment

Intimate Winter Wedding at Mountain Top Inn in Vermont | Vermont Wedding Photographer

Comment

Intimate Winter Wedding at Mountain Top Inn in Vermont | Vermont Wedding Photographer

Grace & Ian | December 22nd 2018 | Chittenden, VT

There is nothing quite like a winter wedding in Vermont. Especially when that wedding is full of incredible cozy details and has the best view in Vermont as a backdrop. Grace and Ian were the most gracious hosts. Relaxed, happy, easy going.

When I walked in Grace’s suite I was immediately struck by her amazingly warm smile and her playlist :) Weird, I know, but her playlist sounded like I had put together entirely. We connected over “discovering” Leon Bridges before he was well known and our love for apples. She felt like an old friend I just reconnected with. A very warm, incredibly stylish and elegant friend :)

Even though they got married in Vermont, in a barn, they did not want the wedding to feel rustic. And they accomplished just that. It felt incredibly elegant and romantic with details like dark greenery, magnolia leaves, and large off-white flowers. The accents were mainly brass or gold, adding a touch of luxury.

Venue / Florals: Mountain Top Inn | Hair and make Up: Five Elements Day Spa and Salon |  Band: Silver Arrow Band  | Bridal Gown: Lovely Bride Houston  | Videographer: byDesign Films | Cake: North Country Cakes

Comment

Fun and Elegant Barn Wedding at Mountain Top Inn in Chittenden, Vermont

Comment

Fun and Elegant Barn Wedding at Mountain Top Inn in Chittenden, Vermont

Kira & Jarred | September 16th 2018 | Chittenden ,VT

MountainTopInn-Vermont-Wedding-Venue-IdenaBeach-Photographer161.jpg


I tried hard finding the right words to describe this wedding day and this couple…. The only thing that comes to mind that is even close to how I feel about them is this:

True story alert!

About 6 months after the wedding I was in the car driving to an engagement session and out of the blue, on the radio, their first dance song came up. I immediately started crying and smiling and laughing and just being inundated with a whole lot of memories and emotions from that day. I pulled over and texted Kira right there and then. Tears rolling down my cheeks. Huge smile on my face.

I had to. She had to know exactly how much and how deeply their day left an impression on me.

It had nothing to do with the spectacular view at the Mountain Top Inn and Resort or the carefully chosen details. In turn it had everything to do with the two of them. The people that were close to them and the incredibly heart warming love surrounding them.

With that said, please enjoy the images below.

( Kira and Jarred, THANK YOU for having me document your day :) Love you guys! <3)



Venue: Mountain Top Inn | Florals: Meadows Edge Floral Design | Hair and make Up: Blush Salon and Beauty Lounge |  DJ: Top Hat Entertainment | Bridal Gown, Dress Boutique - Julie Allen Bridals | Ceremony/Cocktail Hour Music - Dayve Huckett

First Dance Song: Citizen Cope-Sideways

Vendor LOVE:

Venue, Catering: Mountain Top Inn and Resort

Make up and Hair: Blush Salon and Beauty Lounge

Flowers: Meadows Edge Floral Design

DJ: Top Hat Entertainment

Comment