I wanted to let everybody know that there is going to be an awesome bridal show coming up on October 4th from 1:00pm-4:00pm at the Casa Bella Ballroom (Pastarrific Restaurant’s gorgeous banquet facility) in Kokomo.  So come out and stop by and introduce yourself and check out some awesome wedding vendors.  Here is a shot of last year’s booth space.  I am adding some gallery canvas wraps as well as KISS wedding album samples.  I can’t wait to show those off.

Here is the link to the website with more information as well as free tickets to the event.  

Greater Kokomo Fall Bridal Show Website 

Here are the links of some of the vendors that will be there for this event…

It seems like there is a theme going around with people sharing their wedding photographer horror stories with me.  They say how so and so got married and their pictures were…or they knew somebody who had this one person shoot their wedding and they were so rude.  So my reason for posting this is that I just hope that people realize that your wedding day is not going to allow for a “re-shoot” or to reschedule if things do not go as planned on the photography end of things.  There are also some major things that you need to make sure you consider when booking your wedding photographer.

I was thinking today about my own wedding, the actual wedding day, not my marriage.  Yes, there is a huge difference.   I was actually going over some of my shots from the last wedding I shot when I started thinking about this.  I was looking at some of the details and some of the moments that happened.  I started thinking back to my own wedding seven (almost eight) years ago and there are so many things that I really don’t remember about it.  Of course I remember the most important things, but there are so many things that went on during that time that I don’t recall because they all happen so fast. 

One major focus in my photography is that I try to capture details that might be forgotten in a few years or really even in a couple of weeks.  Moments that the bride and groom experience are happening so quickly that they are done and over by the time they are being whisked into the next magical event.  I hope that this might reach just one bride and groom who are thinking that they will have someone “in the family who has a camera” or a person who does weddings from time to time with very limited wedding experience or even the proper equipment.  There is a huge difference.

I would highly suggest at least four things to ask your photographer before choosing them…1.  Do they have backup equipment.  This is a must.  2.  Are they insured?  Most venues will require proof of liability insurance before they will allow them to work there.  Don’t just assume this is something that every photographer has…3.  Do you click on a personal level with the photographer?  I have seen some photographers whose portfolio work is awesome.  They are also very hard to get along with for more than five minutes.  Go with your instincts and if you find that you are not agreeing on most things during your consultation that might also create some problems on your wedding day.  Sometimes photographers forget that it is your wedding and not theirs.  and last…4.  Their style…Do you see yourself in the pictures that you see from them?  Is their style of photography matching up with how you see your future wedding photos?

Hopefully this will give you some insight into what to ask or consider if you are choosing your wedding photographer. 

I was asked to attend the spring taste testing party at Continental Ballroom in Kokomo, Indiana this weekend, so I was more than happy to be able to shoot some shots for them, as well as to talk to some of my future brides.  Jennifer and Jo Ann Rozzi and their staff were on hand to answer any questions and make everone feel right at home.  They do such an awesome job.  Jeff Hodson from X-sight Music was there providing the dinner music.  It was a relaxing evening with awesome food and great people.

It was funny because I actually saw more grooms than usual at this wedding planning function, but then I remembered…FOOOD!  I think that was the one thing that I was concerned about ”detail wise” when I got married.  I just wanted to make sure that we had jumbo shrimp cocktail at the reception.  We did…It was awesome.  That made my day.   Grooms are so easy to please when it comes to weddings.

I took along my Canon 85 f1.2 lens, so I was shooting all over the place at f1.2 to f1.6 and most people didn’t even know I was there.  One of the luxuries of this lens is that I can shoot in amazingly low light.  It actually seems as though sometimes this lens creates light when there really isn’t any there.  I honestly can’t imagine shooting without this lens.  I guess you could say I am spoiled.

The Continental Ballroom staff getting things ready for the evening.

Jeff was busying getting all the tracks laid out for the night.

A groom helping in the wedding planning.

Mmmm…the chocolate drizzle from the cheesecake bar is awesome!

I caught Jennifer, Jo Ann, and Mama Rozzi in action during the evening…

I had to make use of the huge mirrors behind the bar.

Well…here it is Friday already.  I am so excited for this weekend.  I am shooting a wedding and I am sure that it is going to be a lot of fun with Leslianne and Matt.  So now on to this weeks blast from the past shot…
This was a shot from a couple of years ago from Jaime and Chris’ wedding at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Kokomo.  I always wonder when I am shooting a wedding if the flower girl or the ring bearer will actually do what they are there to do or not.  So many times it is up in the air until the very last second.  I love this shot because you can see the wedding coordinator in the background getting the ring bearers ready for their march down the aisle.  I just remember this little girl being by herself (which is why sometimes there are a two flower girls to keep each other company) walking down the aisle in this beautiful church with everyone watching her.  She pulled it off like a pro.  The look on her face is priceless…

Mike Wise Photography – Weddings in Kokomo, Indianapolis, West Lafayette, Marion, Muncie, Carmel, and Fishers