FFF - Digital Photography guide and snacking on Jamon Serrano

Happy Fun, Free, Friday lovelies!

Who here carries a camera around and takes pictures of everything?

*Me*

Well I discovered this digital photography guide with great tips on buying and using your digital cameras effectively (what types of settings to use and shots to practice taking).  I do find myself gaining a better perspective the more I shoot and practice and this guide was a nice, general primer.

Download here.

Otherwise this weekend I'm...
...going to my first bbq in Singapore

I'm expecting lots of fusion items - chicken satay, chicken wings, and probably fried noodles.  Yum...

picture from here

...brunching it with a Spanish friend who has imported authentic Jamon Serrano (or is it iberico?)  Either way, delicious jamon para mi!

(my picture from Toledo - salty, caloric delciousness)

What are you up to this weekend?

Have a fabulous weekend!

Semi-Meaningful Musing: Life as a Photo Shoot and Finding Happiness with your Imperfect Pictures

So I've been thinking (or rather this has been festering) for a while.  How do you stop obsessing over pictures or having or not having the perfect pictures?  We may wish for, set up, and style those perfect picture settings for life's main events: a wedding, a child's early moments, or a significant birthday party.  But this fixation on having perfect pictures REALLY starts becoming a tad unhealthy when certain brides starting planning their weddings.  Or at least I know it did for me and I didn't even have a clue about good photography prior to wedding planning.

After all, I remember starting to read inspiration and planning sites, stalking photographer blogs, flipping through magazines, and comparing my friend's pictures. 

I mean, is this a happy In Style Weddings Moment or what?

From the ever talented Tec Petaja

If you have a certain aesthetic sense and want your pictures a certain way, go for it.  Of course we want to have great pictures to capture a great day so prep so you will more likely be happy with your pictures.

Here are some basic steps you should take to achieve that:

• Know what you want and prioritize those shots (photos with your family, silly pictures of you, the venue)
• Find a photographer that has a style that fits your style
• Inform the photographer of your must-have list
• Allow sufficient time for your shots
• Bring any props
• Have additional photographers or friends with nice cameras

But as Mrs T pointed out, what if you did all that and you still don't get what you want? She did have awesome pictures like this though.

That's because if it's a large event like a wedding, there's really only the one chance to take pictures.

So if the photographer's back is turned when your sister is doing the worm, he misses it.  If the photographer didn't frame you in the backdrops you wanted, that's it.  If the photographer didn't get that many close-ups of the happy couple, oh well.

No doubt, it's really disappointing to have imagined all these memories captured perfectly and they weren't.  I had a lot of shots that never happened too and it kinda killed me - no pictures of us in front of the brownstones in Brooklyn Heights (where our ceremony was), no pictures with my girls individually (or at least with the matrons of honor), and few detail shots though I DIYed a ton and was pretty proud of my alencon lace veil, our invitations, and our programs (hmm maybe should share that, they were super easy and fun) - none of which were photographed. 

Of course you could have the post-wedding shoot or a trash the dress session but your Grandma will likely not be in the background inhaling shrimp cocktail in the background (and that could be an awesome shot).  So if you have time and opportunity to do an after session with just you and your partner, go for it. It could be more relaxing this time around.

Also remember to gather pictures from friends that are good photographers (esp. those with SLRs or toy cameras).  You're sure to find a beloved shot or two and all you had to do was feed them (and love them!)  We made our friends upload to our Sugarsync folder (it's our paid online backup of both of our computers with extra storage), but Mrs. T pointed out that, weddingphotoswap.com is a great option and is free.

But if you've done all that and still aren't happy, pick yourself up and move on with your life.  While you may have many beautiful moments and some are captured in pictures, you can't live your life as if it is a photo shoot - prepping and posing for a specific moment.  You have to remember the moment itself and to live it up.  We all want to see styling pictures, no doubt.  I mean I've wanted to share my own pictures with you because I had some amazing vendors and want to call them out, but fear the photos aren't pretty enough (and of course I won't be anonymous anymore).  But don't let this control you and your moments and your satisfaction.  Love the great time you had, not just your pictures.
After our Taiwan reception, I said to Mr. Gadget, "I didn't love how our wedding pictures turned out, but I guess I'm ok with that."  That sage husband turned to me said "Yes and anyway I love the way our marriage turned out."

Swoon...
Obviously the picture obsession became less of an obsession and it took time and acceptance.

You'll get lots of shots where someone's eyes are closed or something isn't right.  Maybe one half of the couple decides to stop cooperating and acting silly.  That's ok because you get shots like these and that is what life is all about...the imperfect pictures and the substance behind them.

I'm done posing and perhaps you'll see those wedding pictures around some day.

FFF - Poladroid (Digital Polaroid Picture) Loving, Harrod's Christmas Parade in London, Fall Foliage Photography Lesson in Van Cortland Park NYC

Woot, another Friday, another weekend!

Even though weekends are THE time to sleep in, I have to drag Mr. Chic 'n Cheap to Harrod's Christmas parade tomorrow (details below).  Come on, it's Harrod's which means it will be gorgeous!  Fireworks for Guy Fawkes night are also tomorrow so it will be a fun day!
Of course I'll try to take lots of pictures!

But onto our Fun Free Friday features!

Everywhere
Long for the days of instant photo satisfaction?  Love the semi-grainy, classic, sepia-toned photos of yesteryear?  Well don't worry Polaroid loving has followed us to the digital age via Poladroid.  I think Mo first introduced me to Poladroid and of course I wanted to pass the word along for the rest of my bloggy friends!
This awesome little app lets you drag and drop photos from your computer onto the Poladroid app and voila, a Polaroid-esque digital photo complete with white border and that familiar sepia-ish coloring.  Here's an example of us during our Knot ceremony.

Ok not as striking on my light background, but I really love the warm colors on the Poladroid picture.  Donations are being requested to keep the project going.  I am cheap, but will of course support chic things.

London
Christmas lights, sticky toffee pudding, and parades - it's Christmas in London!  I read about the Harrod's Christmas parade taking place from 8 - 10 am on Basil Street and Hans Crescent (behind Brompton Road at the back of the store).

It's a Wizard of Oz theme this year - exciting!. 

In addition, it's Guy Fawkes night tomorrow which is a celebration of the Gunpowder plot of 1605 (a failed attack on the Houses of Parliament).  It's commemorated with fireworks throughout London.  We'll probably go to the Lord Mayor's party because Waterloo Bridge is centrally located.

New York
Budding photographer?  I know I am after reading all these awesome photographer's blogs! Fall is also my favorite season and our original wedding season.  The hues in New England during autumn are just breathtaking.  NYC is bringing out the photographer in all of us and giving free photography lessons for those that want to capture the fall foliage in all their glory.  Details here!

Have a lovely weekend!  Will post about my weekend soon!