Tip No. 1: Personality

By Natasha Chornesky and Chris Cozzone

Don’t buy into the hype.

Any photographer who is trying to sell you on his/her sparkling, oh-so-fun personality will, most likely, have the potential for serious flaws in his/her craft.

Ask yourself this: Are you hiring someone to be the life of the party (your party), or do you want good shots? Do you really care that the photographer likes long walks on the beach, loves to watch “Mad Men” or can rifle off jokes faster than his 11 frames-per-second camera?

Study a photographer’s website. Are there more photos of the photographer than his or her subjects? That should be the first clue.

While it is important not to hire a stick-in-the-mud, grumpy-ass photographer, do you really want someone who’s never going to shut up?

Our suggestion: Check the work. Look at the images. Then meet with the photographer to see if there is going to be a personality clash.

At WriteShot, we believe photographers should be ghosts or shadows. No one is hiring us to join the party or chat with the guests – we are there to get the best possible shot, not win a popularity contest.

Video by Every Atom Productions, NYC

Join WriteShot and Artistic Imaging in a free workshop designed to help brides maximize value, save time and money when it comes to their wedding photography. Call 702-465-5700 to register, as space is limited. Interested brides: Please call to register and receive the location information.

The biggest decision a bride makes is who to marry. The second biggest decision she makes is who to hire as her wedding photographer. Fortunately, Vegas has many options, when it comes to wedding photographers. Unfortunately, brides often feel overwhelmed and frustrated as they try figure out who to hire and why.

Enter 37/60, the only free wedding photography workshop of its kind.  Offered by WriteShot, who has teamed up with Artistic Imaging, 37/60 an is amazing opportunity for brides to get their wedding photography questions answered.

“The Millennium bride is smart, says Natasha Chornesky, WriteShot. She’s looking for value, regardless of her budget. She’s looking to learn as much as she can about maximizing that value before committing to any particular wedding vendor, especially her photographer. She considers saving time as important as saving money.”

This workshop addresses the three things the Millennium bride wants to do most: save money; save time; and maximize value.

Any bride, regardless of who she hires as her photographer, will benefit. There is no sales pitch and there is no discussion of specific professionals in the industry. However, there is a lot of information packed into one hour.

Vegas has many talented wedding photographers. 37/60 is designed to benefit brides in all budgets, regardless of whom they eventually hire as their wedding photographer.

“We’re reaching out to empower brides with real information, so each one can make decisions that best suit her distinct needs,” says Natasha.

The workshop gets it’s name from the 37 topics covered in only 60 minutes.

37/60 is free, but registration is required. Session one is offered Tuesday, August 24th, from 6-7 pm and session two is offered Saturday, August 28th, from 10-11 am.

For additional information or to register, call 702-465-5700. Space is limited to ten participants for each session.

Both WriteShot (booth 614) and Artistic Imaging (booth 604) will be at the Bridal Spectacular Show, August 20-21, held at Cashman Center, Las Vegas.

Press Release here.

Steve Sheanin, President and CEO of Rangefinder Magazine and the brainchild behind WPPI (Wedding Photographers International), extended a personal invitation for Chris and me to attend the Annual Wedding Photographers International Conference, held in Las Vegas. We had a blast making new friends and hearing the diverse speakers who presented on everything photographic including how to use Facebook in our marketing efforts.

Not only did we spend hours “in the classroom,” but we also took our time strolling the trade show floor, where we tested all kinds of new products, including Savage paper’s incredible vinyl backdrop, which we subsequently purchased and used for our Flashes of Hope shoot, immediately following the conference.

Our WPPI experience was capped off with a one-on-one meeting with Steve in Rangefinder’s LA headquarters. I will reveal the magic that transpired in that meeting later. For now, we are looking toward WPPI 2011.

Steve Sheanin, Executive Director and President of Wedding and Portrait Photographers International, aka WPPI , and CEO of Rangefinder Publishing, personally extended an invitation for Chris and me to attend WPPI this week. We’re looking forward to meeting Steve in person and to attending all of the outstanding workshops he has lined up for the over 12,000 photographers in attendance. Thank you, Steve!

With less than 24 hours to go before Dragon Ridge’s Bridal Showcase, Wedding and Events Director Carrie Key spent Friday night making sure every detail was tended to. You don’t want to miss the incredible event she has planned.

This particular table features linens by Wildflower Linens and floral design by Flora Couture by Floral 2000. See you Saturday at 10:00 am.

Join WriteShot and a select group of wedding industry experts at the Highlands Bridal Showcase this Saturday, February 27th, at Dragon Ridge Country Club. Hosted by Wedding and Events Director Carrie Key, this event showcases not only the  Las Vegas Bride Magazine Venue of the Year 2009, but it also provides the perfect intimate setting for brides and their guests to meet wedding industry experts.

The event kicks off Saturday at 10 am with a complimentary Champagne brunch, followed by an incredible array of give-aways that have been donated by participating vendors, who will be on-site until 4 pm.

One lucky bride will walk away with a free WriteShot engagement photo shoot and 11×14 canvas thin wrap. This package is valued at over $300. Tiffany & Co. has also donated a prize. While visiting Dragon Ridge today, I couldn’t help but notice a sign indicating a reserved spot for Godiva chocolates. I cannot wait to see what they give away!

If you would like to register for this over-the-top event, please call 702.6i4.4444.

We’re so excited! WriteShot‘s good friend, Marylou Kraemer, Catering Director at the Hotel Andaluz, has cooked up a fabulous idea for the hotel–a boutique-style bridal show that provides the perfect opportunity to tour the hottest wedding venue in ABQ and meet  incredible local vendors. WriteShot is  honored to be one of those vendors.

If you’re a bride and you’ve visited the Andaluz before, this is a great time to revisit and connect with some of ABQ’s top wedding vendors. If you’re an ABQ bride and you haven’t been to the Andaluz, grab your mom, maid of honor or hubby-to-be  and head to the hotel on February 21st, between 1:00 and 4:00 pm. Come early, because knowing Marylou, this is going to be a fun event. I know she’s invited Keith and Andre, the feel-fabulous team behind Great Face and Body. Though I don’t know what they have up their sleeve, you can bet it will be a treat to both your mind and body.

I’m going to try to catch up with Marylou before the show and find out some more details, so check back later next week for additional information. See you there!

Join WriteShot and a select group of vendors at Siena Golf Club’s Bridal Open House, tomorrow, from 6 to 9 p.m. Millie Adams, Catering Director at the club, has planned a relaxing evening for brides and their guests. “It’s a great opportunity to get answers to any wedding questions you might have,” explains Millie. “Our experienced vendors will be available in an intimate setting, which gives brides the opportunity to really take their time and get their questions answered.”

Along with wedding vendors, brides and their guests will be able to experience the club’s lush landscape, spectacular city and mountain views, and the chef’s specialties. Read the rest of this entry …