Let’s talk about the importance of backdrops for your ceremony and reception.

In order to really understand how important the backdrop is, think about it like this:

How many images from a wedding will include either the backdrop during the ceremony or of the head table at your reception?

On average, I estimate the number of images that have a ceremony/reception backdrop in them to be around 100-150.

That’s 1/3 of the images I deliver to a client for their wedding gallery.

So if 1/3 of your wedding images will include a backdrop of some sort, that means it’s super important to think about the detail of your backdrops.

They don’t need to be super fancy to be pretty.

Sometimes outdoor weddings can provide lovely backdrops at no cost (other than the cost of booking the venue).

Even if your budget doesn’t allow for extensive decorations/lighting, there are tons of DIY ideas out there. (see links below)

When it comes time to decide on your venue for your ceremony and reception, I urge you to consider what the background will look like in a large portion of your wedding images.

Here are a few resources to get you started:

1. My Backdrop Pin Board on Pinterest here

2. 10 DIY Wedding Backdrops

3. 10 Favorite Modern Wedding Backdrops

4. Best of 2012 – Details + DIY

Here are a few of my favorite backdrops from previous weddings…

Remember, your wedding pictures are forever. A little bit of time and ingenuity can ensure you have a wedding backdrop that you can look back on and be proud of.

Stay tuned this week for more wedding detail fun!

Hugs and tons of love,

The post Wedding Detail Week – Backdrops | Macomb Quincy Galesburg Peoria Illinois Wedding Photographer Erica Clark appeared first on Macomb Peoria Quincy Galesburg Illinois Wedding Photographer erica clark.

The stunning and dramatic lighting in this image, in my opinion, is how a venue SHOULD be lit. Your photographer (on their own) can NOT create this type of lighting with photographs and only photographs. **There’s absolutely nothing wrong with choosing not to have uplighting.** HOWEVER, your expectations need to be realistic. If you’re lost when it comes to lighting, TALK/COMMUNICATE with your vendors. We’re here to help you have the wedding of your dreams.

Check out some valuable lighting information here.

Again, if extra lighting simply isn’t in your budget or just isn’t something with which your concerned, that’s totally fine, but if you expect to have dramatic and glamorous lighting, you have to make it happen.

Hope this helps.

Have a great day, everyone!

The post The Importance of Uplighting Your Wedding Reception | Peoria Canton Quincy Macomb Galesburg Illinois Wedding Photographer erica clark appeared first on Macomb Peoria Quincy Galesburg Illinois Wedding Photographer erica clark.

I mean, we corresponded frequently via email and Facebook, and I obsessed over her Pinterest Boards, but for some reason, it didn’t really sink in until about 10 minutes before the ceremony.

In retrospect, I’m SO glad it didn’t occur to me how incredible *this* wedding was going to be. I don’t think I could’ve handled the pressure of such an insanely fabulous wedding of 2 of THE kindest and authentic people I’ve ever met.

What’s more, every one of their guests/vendors treated me like they knew me…like I was family.

I’ve never felt so comfortable around people I’d never met. Never. I can’t express that enough.

In fact, SandiJo, John, and I all agreed, I need to plan a visit back to Dallas…soon!

To Sandi and John, thank you for being patient and kind. Thank you for putting so much work and thought into every single detail of your day.

What I’m most thankful for is for you having more faith in me than I had in myself.

I hope that you and your wonderful friends and family are able to look back on these images and relive that wonderfully fabulous day you all worked so hard to create.

I wish you both SO much love and a ‘happily ever after’ that is as unique as the two of you.

**for a list of THE most UH-mazing vendors EVER, please see/click links below images**

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For this year’s Year End Wrap Up Blog Post, I thought I’d separate it into categories: Prep, First Looks, Portraits and Creatives, Details, Ceremony, Candids, and Reception/Cocktail Hour.

To my clients: I am more grateful for you than you could ever imagine. I couldn’t be more sincere when I say that.

Not only have you given me the opportunity to document one of THE most important days of your lives, you’ve allowed me to call this my ONLY vocation.

With the enormous influx of photographers in this industry, how many are lucky enough to say that they can raise their family on this (and only this) income?? Just typing that launches a lump in my throat and propels tears down my cheeks.

I have worked so hard to get where I am today and as I’ve ALWAYS said, ours is a partnership; one in which all of our hard work and dedication make each other look good!

Sorting through all of the following images made me nostalgic. I wish we could relive your wedding day over.

For now, please know that every single wedding I document holds a very special place in my heart.

I am 100% invested in you (my brides) and want you all to know that I give my absolute best in order to provide you and your family with heirloom quality images that will stand the test of time.

Here are some of those images.

With love and gratitude,

The Preparation:

I love photographing this time of the day because the emotions are high, excitement is evident, and the moments that take place are once in a lifetime.

As a lifestyle photographer, this time of the day means so much to me because I’m in my element when documenting moments in time that occur so naturally.

Some of my favorite preps shots…

First Looks:

Oh First Looks, how I adore you. I love the quiet and understated way you bring out the very best in my clients. I love how First Looks calm my clients’ nerves, bring out real, unsolicited emotion, and I love the private and tender moments that only First Looks can provide.

Portraits and Creatives/Artistic Images:

Quite possibly my calling card. My absolute favorite part of the day. In fact, I could shoot the bride and groom all day every day and twice on Sundays.

Some of my favorite portraits and artistic images from 2012:

If Portraits and creatives are my absolute most favorite part of the day (AND THEY ARE), details are a VERY close second.

Some of the prettiest and classiest details of my 2012 weddings.

The Ceremony.

Quite possibly the most important part of the day.

A few of those moments.

Candids…which I also adore because of the natural emotion they bring to an image.

I’ll be the first to admit, some of these images were made possible only because I’ve learned to NOT pull my camera away from my face. These moments were spontaneous and spontaneous moments are caught on camera by vigilant photographers…and a bit of luck.

Finally, the reception/cocktail hour. This is where the fun happens!!

Well, that wraps up our wrap up.

I hope you enjoyed viewing these as I did shooting them and blogging them.

Here’s to 2013.

I can only hope it’s a fabulous as 2012!

Hugs,

The post 2012 Wedding Review | Erica Clark Peoria Quincy Macomb Canton Rushville Jacksonville Galesburg Gulfport Illinois Wedding Photographer appeared first on Macomb Peoria Quincy Galesburg Illinois Wedding Photographer erica clark.

I think the commonality they all tend to share is trust.

My clients trust me.

They know that any advice I give is not only based on experience, but (and perhaps more important), is I honestly have their best interest at heart. I want my clients to be able to look back at their images and feel secure in the decision they made when they chose ECP to document their day.

They trust that I will help by giving any advice that I can in order to make their day go as smoothly as possible.

This is my #1 goal.

Thankfully, Amy and Matt agreed to a First Look which naturally helped us stay on track.

I just loved that Amy came equipped with sunglasses and ideas, but still allow me to help with locations, lighting, and posing for pictures. What a great team we made!!

Matt was equally as awesome. I loved that he was so flexible and easy to get along with.

When the groom is as easy going as he was, it really helps keep the mood of the day light and happy.

Matt and Amy, I hope seeing this blog post brings back the happy memories of such a special day in your lives.

And P.S. – Amy, we still need a coffee date!

Hope you are both doing well and I hope you have a wonderful 2013!

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