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Wedding Photography

Developing your wedding day timeline

Developing your wedding day timeline

As a wedding photographer in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, one of the areas of wedding planning that can make the biggest difference for the final album is the wedding day timeline.

Here are some issues to think about when developing your timeline:

  • First Look
  • Greeting Guests (Most of our clients do not do this)
  • Distance between ceremony and reception locations
  • Family Photo Session
  • Cocktail Hour
  • Garter and Bouquet toss

Preparing for Your Rockstar Engagement Session

Preparing for Your Rockstar Engagement Session

As you prepare for your wedding day photography one of the best things you can do with your photographer is have an engagement session.  Some of the benefits of doing an engagement session are:

  • You get to know your photographer better.
  • By practicing some key poses you are better prepared for wedding day photography.
  • This session will help you feel more comfortable in front of the camera.
  • Of course, you will receive lots of fun photos to remember your courtship.
  • Many people use the photos in their save the date cards or for additional printed material on wedding day.
  • It is lots of fun.  Just look at some of the photos below.

With all these benefits in mind it makes sense to plan accordingly to get the most out of your engagement session.  Here are some points to ponder if you are planning your engagement session with Matt Mason Photography:

The First Look, consider the benefits of seeing each other before the wedding.

The First Look, consider the benefits of seeing each other before the wedding.

Beautiful, timeless, romantic, fun, exciting, precious, emotional, anticipation, tradition, memorable. These are all words to describe weddings.  However, some people attach other words:  Stressful, nerve wracking, busy, pressure, appearances, expectations, superstitions.

One of the more stressful parts of the happy couple’s day centers around not seeing each other before the ceremony.  Tradition dictates that the groom waits too see his bride until the moment when the beautiful bride in all her glory walks down the aisle.  This is a splendid moment full of emotion.  There is no doubt, as a photographer, that this is a very exciting moment to capture.

Best-Of 2014 : The Rings

Best-Of 2014 : The Rings

We love shooting the rings.  There is something beautiful and symbolic about the love each couple shares.  Every ring and ring combination is unique and presents a new challenge to make an image that is artistic and memorable from the wedding day.

Rings represent life long commitment, a covenant that is sealed with the giving of rings.  There are very few things from the wedding that last.  The food and cake are eaten the decorations are thrown away, the flowers fade and what is left over for generations?  The rings and the photos.

Enjoy some of our 2014 favorite ring shots...

Best-Of 2014 : Bridal Party

Best-Of 2014 : Bridal Party

At Matt Mason Photography we love working with the wedding party.  Big or small we enjoy seeing the love and support the bride and groom receive from the closest people in their lives.  We see it all.  We have shot wedding parties that are larger than some entire wedding celebrations.

We also recognize that the wedding party is making a personal sacrifice to take photos that will be forever remembered in the couple's album so we try to make it fun and interesting for everyone.  Not every day is 70 degrees with a nice breeze....

Best of 2013- The Romantics

Best of 2013- The Romantics

What 30-minute timeframe of photos do you think is the most important on a wedding day? As the designated photographer, we are responsible to capture a variety of photos: rings, flowers, portraits, family, trinkets, bridesmaids, flower girls, ceremony sites, sunsets, cakes, dance moves, and the list goes on. As you can see from all of our best-of galleries, we love them all. But there is something very special about the Romantic session. We love this time when we get to slow down with the bride and groom and create stunning works of art that they can forever remember their day with.

Best of 2013-- The Groomsmen

Best of 2013-- The Groomsmen

Why isn't there a show about the groomsmen? There are a few predictables on a wedding day, but when it comes to the groomsmen--well, we just don't know what to expect: knives, guns, beer, beer, whiskey, beer, air time, superhero's, and movie covers. There is no way of knowing what poses these guys may come up with and what they are willing to do in front of the camera. It is always a joy getting to know each group of friends and brothers and capturing such a fun part of the day. We hope you enjoy!

Shelly & Brian Brave the Cold

Shelly & Brian Brave the Cold

The first time we met Shelly and Brian it was obvious how much fun we were going to have on their wedding day.  And they didn't disappoint.  They chose Grand Geneva--specifically, the Evergreen ballroom--as their reception venue for a very special reason: it was there at a friend's wedding  they had met years previous.

The road conditions made for an interesting drive over to Chapel on the Hill for the ceremony in a trolley bus, but thankfully we made it around Lake Geneva safely.  We had taken their engagement photos at the stables of Grand Geneva on a different freezing cold day, so we figured why not this day?

The bridesmaids ran in and out of the bus to keep warm, stealing a groomsman jacket whenever possible.  The falling snow made for the perfect backdrop for all of the photos throughout the day.  While summer is always a fun time of year to be shooting, there is a beauty and purity to winter that surpasses all seasons--but the warmth and love that  Shelly & Brian share couldn't have been a more perfect couple to put in that backdrop.

Rebecca & Jed Tie the Knot

Rebecca & Jed Tie the Knot

Rebecca and Jed were the perfect couple to help us start off 2014.  We're off to a great year with weddings.  The day began with the girls getting ready at their family apple orchard just north of Elkhorn, WI.  Having a unique, fun environment to take getting ready photos is always the way to go!  Beautifully arranged photos were made by Crazy for You, and Rebecca wore a dress made by Casablanca and Betsy Johnson shoes.  The ceremony took place at a country church practically across the street called Sugar Creek Lutheran Church.  Everyone had to pack in, but with the cold winter air outside, I don't think anyone minded at all!

Amanda & Brian Pour the Dirt

Amanda & Brian Pour the Dirt

Amanda and Brian are my neighbors.  Literally they live about a 5 iron golf shot away.  Amanda's dad is a fun friend on Facebook and we have tons of interconnected friendships.  So today was really special.  Amanda was stunning and Brian looked dapper.  Renee, owner of Frontier Flowers did an outstanding job on the flowers.  The Starline looked amazing.  Angelus, of Walworth, WI did the decorating.  I was blown away with the organic, over-the-top custom designed wedding reception they accomplished!!!  Wow!  Check out some of the photos from the reception.It was a picture perfect day.  Celebrations on Wells catered a delicious meal and did a wonderful job of serving.  All around this wedding was a home run.  Nice work Amanda and family for pulling this all together! Below are a few of my favorite shots.