lauraivanova's Formspring answers http://www.formspring.me/lauraivanova http://www.formspring.me 60 http://www.formspring.me/lauraivanova/q/223473729156448957 http://www.formspring.me/lauraivanova/q/223473729156448957 Thu, 04 Aug 2011 12:04:49 -0400 lauraivanova http://www.formspring.me/lauraivanova/q/181567869585233669 http://www.formspring.me/lauraivanova/q/181567869585233669 Sun, 10 Apr 2011 20:45:53 -0400 lauraivanova http://www.formspring.me/lauraivanova/q/2251517522 http://www.formspring.me/lauraivanova/q/2251517522 Sat, 22 Jan 2011 13:57:15 -0500 lauraivanova
So where does that leave you? I know it's difficult... a catch 22 of sorts, but I would recommend trying to build a relationship somehow. Start getting your name out there on Facebook and Twitter. Become their fan on FB, comment on their blog and wall. Plant little seeds here and there, so hopefully they start to know you. They're much more likely to respond to your emails that way. That's basically what I did in the beginning. It's a lot of work. You have to be determined.

Then, even after I started second shooting, I wasn't allowed to use any images I shot for my portfolio! So here I was, gaining tons of experience, but I had nothing to show potential clients. But I had passion. Sounds SO cheesy, but I seriously think it's how I got where I am today. I KNEW without a doubt in my mind that I wanted to shoot weddings. I knew I was good at it and I knew I would LOVE what I was doing.

Anyway, to finally answer your question (the long, round-about way). Since I had experience but no portfolio, I decided to start portraits of friends and family for free or minimal amounts of money. (Side note- In general, not charging or undercharging, hurts the industry as a whole, but what was a girl to do?) I just shot enough sessions to create a nice looking website and starting blogging.

For there on, I think I wanted it SO BADLY that everything just fell into place. I shot my first wedding for $200 (severely undercharging and I lost a ton of money since I hired an assistant because I was really nervous to shoot my first wedding on my own), but looking back I actually think it was a pretty fair price considering my lack of experience/wedding portfolio. The couple took a huge chance on me, not having seen ONE image from a wedding and trusted me that I had shot a couple dozen weddings as an assistant. Plus, I think they could see and hear my passion. From that one wedding, I created a really nice sample album and it just snowballed from there. I got really lucky, but to quote Paulo Ceohlo, "When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it."

I hope that helps. Sorry so long!]]> http://www.formspring.me/lauraivanova/q/2186381842 http://www.formspring.me/lauraivanova/q/2186381842 Mon, 17 Jan 2011 10:54:44 -0500 lauraivanova http://www.formspring.me/lauraivanova/q/1777835233 http://www.formspring.me/lauraivanova/q/1777835233 Mon, 06 Dec 2010 23:43:47 -0500 lauraivanova
Awesome! Another option would be to rent before you buy. Since we all have different preferences, I can only vouch for myself when I say I love the 50! West photo in Minneapolis has rentals or you could try borrowlenses.com or rentglass.com]]> http://www.formspring.me/lauraivanova/q/1422673057 http://www.formspring.me/lauraivanova/q/1422673057 Wed, 27 Oct 2010 15:00:56 -0400 lauraivanova
I usually shoot in the range of 1.8-2.2.

You might be thinking, "Why have the 50 1.2 if you never use it wide open? Why not save a few bucks and get the 1.4 or the 1.8?" I've own all three 50s and the investment of an L series lens is worth it- no question!]]> http://www.formspring.me/lauraivanova/q/1422620324 http://www.formspring.me/lauraivanova/q/1422620324 Wed, 27 Oct 2010 14:54:00 -0400 lauraivanova http://www.formspring.me/lauraivanova/q/1422479924 http://www.formspring.me/lauraivanova/q/1422479924 Wed, 27 Oct 2010 14:34:36 -0400 lauraivanova http://www.formspring.me/lauraivanova/q/1375087105 http://www.formspring.me/lauraivanova/q/1375087105 Wed, 20 Oct 2010 20:11:21 -0400 lauraivanova http://www.formspring.me/lauraivanova/q/1374771895 http://www.formspring.me/lauraivanova/q/1374771895 Wed, 20 Oct 2010 19:39:55 -0400 lauraivanova http://www.formspring.me/lauraivanova/q/1154116467 http://www.formspring.me/lauraivanova/q/1154116467 Sun, 19 Sep 2010 13:08:11 -0400 lauraivanova http://www.formspring.me/lauraivanova/q/651469925 http://www.formspring.me/lauraivanova/q/651469925 Sun, 06 Jun 2010 12:27:25 -0400 lauraivanova
On the day of the wedding, I arrive early, scope out the site and make a plan for my assistant and I in terms of where were start, move to and finish. I always strive to get a variety of angles and shots and if I move around I do so during the most appropriate times. If possible, I talk to the officiant or on-site coordinator prior to the ceremony. Most of the time, they usually find me and make a point to share their rules, specifically at Catholic churches!

If all else fails, I use my best judgement and ask for forgiveness not permission!]]> http://www.formspring.me/lauraivanova/q/651446696 http://www.formspring.me/lauraivanova/q/651446696 Sun, 06 Jun 2010 12:21:18 -0400 lauraivanova http://www.formspring.me/lauraivanova/q/423766546 http://www.formspring.me/lauraivanova/q/423766546 Tue, 13 Apr 2010 12:16:12 -0400 lauraivanova http://www.formspring.me/lauraivanova/q/423748602 http://www.formspring.me/lauraivanova/q/423748602 Tue, 13 Apr 2010 12:06:13 -0400 lauraivanova http://www.formspring.me/lauraivanova/q/423745355 http://www.formspring.me/lauraivanova/q/423745355 Tue, 13 Apr 2010 12:04:15 -0400 lauraivanova http://www.formspring.me/lauraivanova/q/422715940 http://www.formspring.me/lauraivanova/q/422715940 Mon, 12 Apr 2010 23:03:45 -0400 lauraivanova http://www.formspring.me/lauraivanova/q/384764866 http://www.formspring.me/lauraivanova/q/384764866 Fri, 02 Apr 2010 02:58:39 -0400 lauraivanova
The images on my blog are edited in the same manner an entire wedding is edited. I don't do anything special and they rarely get photoshopped or any kind of special treatment. If I use photoshop it's because I like curves better in that program or because I want to do some sort of skin smoothing process. For blog pics or album pics, I'll remove distracting elements from a photo, but I always avoid those sorts of things while shooting, if possible. For example, I may clone out exit signs above doors; things of that nature.

Lastly, anything that goes on the web gets sharpened appropriately for it's size. I usually sharpen in Photoshop because I like the results better.]]> http://www.formspring.me/lauraivanova/q/374894963 http://www.formspring.me/lauraivanova/q/374894963 Tue, 30 Mar 2010 14:38:18 -0400 lauraivanova http://www.formspring.me/lauraivanova/q/331491132 http://www.formspring.me/lauraivanova/q/331491132 Fri, 19 Mar 2010 23:01:38 -0400 lauraivanova