Thinking Different - The Day After Session

The day-after session, this can sometimes be a trash-the-dress session, is an opportunity for the bride and groom to get more awesome pictures after the wedding has taken place.

This is also a great opportunity, if for some reason your wedding photos didn't turn out as you wanted them, to jump back into your dress and have something to remember that once in a lifetime day!

It can be a great way to save your wedding day photography or make it that much better. Things happen and sometimes your pictures just don't turn out the way you want them to the day of. Maybe the weather was bad, the bride was overly stressed, or there just wasn't enough time to get all the shots you really wanted. In many instances brides just want more awesome photos in their wedding gown and the day-after session is the perfect opportunity to get those shots.



Day-after sessions are a lot of fun to do because you can go places that are totally out of the ordinary. When we showed up at the salvage yard with a bride the guys working there gave us some pretty strange looks.



Some brides choose to literally trash their dress during the day-after shoot. Our awesome bride Jess had a Vera Wang from The Collection and she didn't want to trash it too much, which we totally understand.







Whether you just want more gorgeous photos to add to the ones you already got or you want to do something out of the ordinary in your gown we definitely recommend doing a day-after session! We'd love to hear some of your ideas of things you'd like to do or places you'd want to have your day after session =)

Outside the Ballroom: FAQ-Finding the Perfect Venue

Finding the perfect venue for your wedding can be tricky. You want it to reflect your personality and the theme you've chosen. Or if you love a venue that much it may determine the theme for you.

Before you chose a venue keep in mind the number of guests you plan on having. Lots of venues can accommodate a large guest list but some are geared toward smaller, more intimate events. You'll need to account for a dance floor, your DJ, a bar, eating area, etc. Everyone wants to have enough elbow room and plenty of space to show off their moves.

One of the most important things to do before choosing a venue is to do a site visit. It gives you a chance to picture where everything will go and make adjustments if necessary. When doing a site visit it's important to make note of things like columns around the room as they can obstruct your guests view. Also make sure there is plenty of seating for your guests. I've seen outdoor ceremonies where family was seated and friends had to stand in the back. It may work for some venues but I personally don't recommend asking people to stand during the entire ceremony.



Parks with gardens are one of my favorite types of venues but I don't feel comfortable with all the onlookers. The same goes for wedding on the beach. A lot of people don't mind the audience but that type of wedding is just not for me. Another thing about any type of outdoor wedding is weather. I attended a beach wedding last October and not only were there tons of beach goers but it was hot. Really hot. In a situation like that you should provide your guests with cold water and even a fan to keep cool with. Jess and Wade provided their guests with these super fun paper umbrellas to keep the sun off of them.





Timing is everything! If your having a sunset ceremony the beach would be a perfect place for the wedding. It's not too hot and you'll have a great view... just make sure you're on the right coast ;-) If you're not a big fan of the beach like me a lakeside wedding may be more appropriate for you. If you're having an indoor ceremony or reception during the day make sure there are plenty of windows to let in that natural light.



If you want a venue that's really outside the box head to local art galleries or restaurants and find out their policy for private events. Rix Lounge at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort is an awesome restaurant that can be rented out for private parties like weddings. The Orlando Science Center is also a great venue to check out.

Don't forget to check out our "Outside the Ballroom" feature for some of our favorite venues! You can also check out the Knot database to find other awesome venues. You can search across the country or locally. And be sure to read this article, also from The Knot, about finding the perfect venue.

FAQs - Wedding Photography Glossary

This is a glossary of items we can offer and some descriptions for terms you may find common in wedding photography. Hopefully this will be a quick guide to some commonly asked questions.

Albums: Traditional, Photojournlistic, Modern/Contemporary, a blend between them? SEE: LINK-Albums

Archiving of your images: We backup and double backup, and gurantee that you can contact us for photos for 2 years (With a retrieval fee.) and get your images. We are packrats though, and will probably never throw them out. Other Options

Assistant to the photographer: This person’s primary responsibility will be to assist the main photographer. They may also shoot some during the ceremony. SEE ALSO: Second Photographer

Culling Images: To bring down the amount of images from the original shoot. SEE ALSO: Ediging, Toning Images

Day After Session: Your wedding day can fly by quickly and there is little time. This is an opportunity to pull back out your dress, get made up and get fancy again to make some amazing images without feeling rushed. SEE ALSO: Trash the Dress

DVD - Top Images: These are the photos that reflect the style of Pilster
Photography, plus any family or candid portraits we may do. For a full day of
coverage ths will typically have 500-700 images that you can print and use for
personal use. SEE: LINK-What you get with your DVD

DVD - All Presentable images: This will include every image that we feel is quality enough to present, but doesn’t necessarily reflect our best images. We tone every image so it can be printed up to an 8x10. Many images are very similar. There will be over 2000 images from a full day.

e-session: This is the new style of engagement portraits. Usually the sessions will last a couple hours and you'll make tons of fun images. These images are great to put in an album, include in your save the date cards, guest book or share on your favorite social media site. SEE ALSO: LINK-What to wear?

Editing or Edit of Images: SEE ALSO: Culling images, Toning Images

Engagement Session: SEE: e-session

Live slideshow: A slideshow of the ceremony and preparations from earlier in the day. This will be shown during your reception.

Modern Style

Mosaic: This is a compilation of the photos from your wedding day combined together to make one of the single memorable images from your wedding day and then mounted on styrene. We will work with you to choose the best image.

Newspaper Announcement: You can send off a photo from your engagement session and your wedding to your local papers to make that big announcement.

Online Proofing: You, your friends and your family will have access to an edit of the images shot on your wedding day where you can order reprints. Professional Quality Prints: We use ProWedding DigiLab (LINK) for their quality and customer service. They aren’t done until you are satisfied. SEE ALSO: Proofs for online

Outside the box:

Pictorial: Images that may convey information, but don't have a central focus

Photojournalistic Style:

Pre-Wedding Planning: We provide pre-wedding consultation to assist you in determining the timeline of your wedding day. About 2 weeks prior to your wedding, we’ll sit down and discuss any last-minute details.

Proofs for Online: A selection of photos sized and watermarked for use in your blog, Facebook, Flickr, website, etc. SEE ALSO: Online Proofing

Remember the Day” Print: We choose one of our favorite images and give you a 16x20 signed and mounted print of your day.

Second Photographer(s): Pilster Photography keeps tabs on photographers who have similar drive, passion and creativity to us. We are ready to bring one or more of them to your wedding if you want that extra coverage. Our different tiers represent their different levels of experience and talent. SEE ALSO: Assistant to the photographer

Traditional photography style: Many formal portraits and posed moments. SEE ALSO: Modern Style, Photojournalistic Style, Outside the Box

Trash the Dress Session: Your wedding day can fly by quickly and there is little time. This is an opportunity to pull back out your dress, get made up and get fancy again to make some amazing images without feeling rushed. Trash the dress - Like an extreme day after session. You're gonna get dirty. SEE: Day After Session, e-session

Unlimited Coverage: Some of the most memorable experiences on a wedding day happen beyond those few hours of the ceremony and reception. When we shoot a wedding, the day begins the moment the wedding day starts until the lights go out. We do not believe that setting limits on time or creativity bring out the best images, and the goal is to document as much as possible on your special day.

Thinking Different: Transportation for the Big Day

Figuring out transportation arrangements for your wedding day can be a nightmare. The type of transportation you choose can depend on the weather, time of day, and other factors. You also need to know if you are providing transportation for the wedding party. There are tons of options out there for you to choose from. You can find transportation that goes along with your theme or you can choose something that will really surprise your guests, like arriving by helicopter or hot air balloon.

Remember that if your ceremony and reception are at different locations you'll need transportation 3 times that day. First to get to the ceremony site, then to get to the reception, and lastly to leave the reception. A lot of brides that I have seen do something like a limo to get to the ceremony and reception and then go all out for a grand exit.

Limos are great for the couple and bridal party. That way everyone can ride together and the bride knows that no one is missing. They can also be tons of fun. You can play music and enjoy each other's company while riding to the ceremony or reception site.



For larger venues you can utilize things like golf carts, mopeds, or pedicabs. Shelby and John traveled around their venue in golf carts along with their bridal party.



Meanwhile Tracie and Scott treated all their guests to a pedicab parade! It looks like tons of fun and it definitely fit their Key West wedding theme. The bride and groom also went for a ride on a moped.





Another fun and creative choice is to arrive by boat. If your wedding is on a lake this would be a perfect fit. The groom and all his groomsmen arrived to the ceremony on a pontoon boat.



A more romantic but still exciting option is taking a horse drawn carriage. It's very Cinderella like and would make any bride feel like a princess. Jessica and Blake chose this for their big day at the beautiful Church Street Ballroom. Another romantic choice is the Rolls Royce. These are both great choices for a grand exit from your reception.





Some other fun options we came up with for transportation are cable or trolley cars, airplanes, or even surfboards at the beach. How awesome would it be to rent out a hanger for your wedding day and arrive in an airplane!? Or riding the cable cars in San Fransisco down to the Fisherman's Wharf. If you're local to Orlando like we are you can take the I-Ride trolleys.

The Knot and Brides.com have some other really unique ideas for transportation like tractors, gondolas, bicycles and even school buses! You can also search for transportation companies in your area.

We'd love to hear what kind of transportation you had or are planning on having for your wedding!

Wedding Tips: Hire a wedding planner!

You are definitely going to hire a wedding photographer, but what about a wedding planner? These people are amazing at what they do and they will make your day super stress free and fabulous! Before we go into details there are a couple of terms you need to know.

Wedding Coordinator: They usually get involved a week or so before the wedding to confirm vendors and guide the couple through the wedding day. Some event planners do the coordinating but you also have those professionals who only do the coordinating instead of the entire wedding. There are also on-site venue coordinators who deal only with your chosen venue. They know everything there is to know about the venue and are great at helping with room layouts and making sure you follow the venue's rules.

We highly recommend hiring a wedding coordinator to take the stress off of you. There is no way you should be running around the day of your wedding making sure all the vendors are where they need to be and that setup is running smoothly. You should be relaxing and pampering yourself while the wedding planner does all the running around for you. Jess & Wade hired a day of coordinator. As you can see in the photo above they had tons of little details and they needed someone to take charge of the setup process.



Now these aren't actually the coordinators but it's not uncommon to see a wedding coordinator helping with setup to keep things running smoothly.

Wedding Planner: They do everything from venue selection, finding vendors, managing a budget, negotiating contracts, to picking out colors and decor. Not all wedding planners do the design side but there are some that dabble in it.

Wedding/Event Designer: This person helps you find your point of inspiration or the theme of your big day. They can do anything from decor to cake design to floral and table settings. They are a wonderful asset to have as they can make your wedding day absolutely beautiful.



Here is an article by Alison Kelly, founder of A Hot Pink Petticoat about all the little things that came up at her wedding. Even though they worked themselves out she still regrets not hiring a wedding planner to keep the big day running smoothly from the get go.

WedAlert also has a great article about why you should hire a wedding planner. They can help you get great deals with vendors and they'll also make sure everything is set in stone for your wedding day.

Thinking Different: Props for e-sessions, weddings & portraits

We love props! They make each image so unique and different from any other couple's. Like anything else that you bring along to the shoot, they bring another glimpse into your personality.





Props can also be a great ice-breaker for you and us. Doing a photo shoot can feel a little bit awkward and having something to hold or to take your focus off of the camera may help you feel more relaxed. They also give you something to have fun with.

Most of our real life photo sessions and e-sessions are closer to filming a movie than staged photos. We try to give you direction and when you have a prop it makes it easier to go in that direction.









Using props that are already on location is a great alternative to bringing your own. Some locations have some really fun things that can be incorporated into your e-session, just like this mosaic alligator. This shoot was in Baldwin park, but I seem to remember seeing them in Lake Mary also. You can find cool statues like this in many different cities. One even has cows and another has Snoopies!









We just could not pass up the opportunity to do a reenactment of "American Gothic" with all these cool antique items! We just picked a random one up and turned it into a prop.

Oh and here's a great website we found that has "super large" of anything! They'd be so much fun to use on a shoot!

All in all, props just add something a little extra to your photos. They really help to create a mood or theme. If your going for a vintage feel, bring a parasol or dress up! If you are going to the beach bring a kite or a beach ball. You could even make a sandcastle!

We love to brainstorm, so tell us what you like or what you might be thinking and we'll run with it!

We never have a shortage of random prop ideas. Here are some more to get you thinking! Water balloons, an entire office in the middle of an open field, paper cutouts, kites, and it goes on....

FAQ - Where should I do my e-session (Engagement session)?

Choosing a location for your engagement session can be a little bit tricky. You want it to be somewhere that you feel comfortable in but somewhere that's also unique. Here are a few questions to ask yourself when choosing your e-session venue:

Where did you meet? Going back to the location where you met brings back great memories and captures a piece of your history together.

Where was your first date? The location of your first date is definitely a great choice for your e-session. It is a significant venue for the both of you and capturing moments there can be really special. Shelby and John had their first date in the pub below so it was only natural that Shelby wanted to take photos here.



Where did he (or she) pop the question? A lot of people pop the question in really unique locations and they can make for great photo ops.

Did you just buy a house? This could be a great place to do your e-session as it's a special place for the both of you. Try taking your engagement photos in the backyard or in a quaint breakfast nook.

Think about the places you love to go, what you like to do together, your hobbies, special points of interests, or even the theme of your wedding. Beth and Kyle got married at the Shores Resort and Spa overlooking the beach so having the opportunity to shoot their engagement photos on the beach was a perfect fit! Also keep an eye out for locations that are unusual or out of the ordinary. Charlotte and Jess came across this awesome chimney left over from a house that burned down.









Your engagement session is a once in a lifetime opportunity so make it as special as you possibly can by choosing locations that are near and dear to your heart. Here is a website that has tips about choosing a location and another about what to wear.

Check out some more of our e-sessions for ideas.

What places can you think of that might be fun for an outside the box e-session?

PART 2 of 3: FAQ: The brides view on how to (gingerly) trash the dress!

Jessica had told me about all of the research she had done and just how much thought she had put into trashing her dress. There was no way I was going to repeat all of that, so I asked her if she could give the other brides out there some tips and advice on "How to (gingerly) trash a dress." Wow did she go all out. I'll let you read what she had to say. -Chad



How To (Gingerly) Trash A Dress
By Jessica Steck

Selecting a wedding dress is like choosing your husband: you have to weed through all the rejects before you find the one that suits you perfectly. When the last flute of champagne is drained and the last song swayed to on the dance floor, you're stuck with the most exciting thing you've ever worn just hanging in your closet. Rejoice! You can once again zip yourself into that pristine white frock--and trash it.

I know--gasp. But, before you start spewing about what went into the handmade lace overlay atop your Vera Wang, read on. I discovered how to have a fun, down-and-dirty photo shoot and all my precious dress needs is a trip to a good dry cleaner.



First thing's first: create a concept. I started by Googling "Trash the Dress" and "Rock The Frock" and found that everyone has a different idea of what it means. Most of the sessions I came across involved bright paint, water or mud. Boring! I wanted to do something different. So I brainstormed and came up with the idea to be in my beautiful Vera Wang wedding gown in an environment completely opposite. My first thought was a landfill. My husband quickly told me I wouldn't last five minutes at a landfill. (We saw an episode of Modern Marvels a few days later featuring a landfill and he was so right!)

Then I thought of a junkyard. I pictured myself all dirty-ed up, wearing my dress and some black motorcycle boots, surrounded by broken down cars, dumpsters and old parts. I was excited to see the juxtaposition of the stark white dress thrown into the anything-but-white surroundings. Some brides choose to smear stuff down their dresses. For me, this shoot was more about juxtaposition and less about physically dirtying fabric.



Next, do some research. You need to know the exact fabric of your dress. How many layers does it have? What are they made of? A lot of this information should be found on the tag of the dress or the paperwork from your purchase, but if you can't find what you're looking for you can always call the store. If you get to know your dress, it will be easier to clean. My particular dress has a tulle netting overlay that can be really difficult to clean because of its delicateness. For this reason, we bought thin plastic painters' tarps to lay down to protect the surface of the dress. From what I saw, you might be surprised how resilient your little number can be.

Substances like grease are near impossible to remove from fabric, but your normal, everyday, run-of-the-mill dirt can usually be removed by dry cleaning or hand washing. I saw a lot of online posts from brides who used washable paint on their dress and then soaked it in their shower and hung it to dry with no problems. Lastly, you want to give some thought to the type of things you might run into where you've chosen to do your shoot. I knew there was a good chance I'd come in contact with some grease because I was at a junkyard. If you're in a wooded area doing something with mud, for example, you should be careful of twigs and branches that can catch the whispy top layers of your dress and tear them.



Along the same lines of getting to know your dress and thinking about what it may come in contact with, before you do a trash the dress photo shoot it's a good idea to think about the level at which you are comfortable trashing the dress you got married in. I talked to my parents (who bought my dress for me) and asked if there was anything that would make them uncomfortable. Ultimately, they told me to do whatever I wanted to do, but I certainly didn't want to seem ungrateful. Mostly you have to be honest and realistic with yourself.

Whether or not you plan to pass your dress onto a cousin or future daughter, renew your vows in it or preserve it to hang in a closet for the rest of eternity, it's still your wedding dress. Figure out how you feel about it. Everyone's different. Are you sentimental about it? Is it just another dress? Thinking about this ahead of time will ensure you don't get caught up in the moment or allow a photographer to push you into doing something you'll cry yourself to sleep about later.



I was actually pretty set that my dress was going to make it out of the shoot without so much as a smudge, but I changed my mind that day and decided that if it had a few bumps and bruises for the sake of art they would serve as a memory of the photo shoot. We ditched the plastic tarps and I just went with it. Having not been careful at all, other than holding it up when I walked (black, dirty sand is not a good look), it really didn't get very dirty. The chapel-length train and under layers are pretty black, but I've seen worse from just a wedding reception. As long as you and your photographer know what to expect going in, you can always choose not to take certain precautions you came prepared to take.

Finally, you gotta commit! I am the girliest girl of all time and I was sitting on questionable car seats, leaning my face on headrests riddled with unknown substances and doing my best to ignore the spiders. Whatever setting you choose, you have to commit to what you're doing. Have fun with it and make it believable! You don't have to dive into a pool to get a great shot, but you can't be afraid to touch and interact and climb, explore and push yourself out of your comfort zone. Release your inner supermodel!



Come back to see how we wrap up this series! Do you think you're going to trash your dress?

The team!
Makeup artist Camila Santos (Just watch the transformation in the pictures of Jess from supermodel to junkyard girl)
Hairstylist - Rachel Ellerby - You can find her at J. Sterling's Hair Design in Apopka, Fl.
The dress was by Vera Wang
Here you can find Jess's wedding.

FAQ: Makeup is so important to your wedding photography!

About Face Design Team

Wearing makeup is one of those experiences I've never had, for some obvious reasons (I'll leave them to you to figure out ;). As a photographer it's become a necessity to learn about it though. Also as someone always looking for a new experience, and exploring what I'm unfamiliar with, it intrigues my curiosity. Putting on makeup can be as much of an art as creating an image of someone wearing it.


About Face Design Team

After the photos are made I try to do very little retouching. A makeup artist can make my life easier and the time I spend working on photos less. It's amazing how a little bit of makeup in the right places can make your eyes look open and keep light from reflecting off of your head. I believe in it being as subtle as possible though. I like things natural.




Kara Sánchez with KyleLynn Cosmetics

To get the right look for the camera, it can be important that you hire someone. You might put makeup on everyday, or you might be like me and try to keep things as natural as possible, but it's good to have an artist who knows how the light and the makeup will react when it's captured by the camera.


About Face Design Team

When it comes to makeup in black and white photography there are some awesome tips here from top celebrity makeup artist Elke Von Freudenberg. It talks about not using too much foundation and the different shades of makeup you should use.


Essence Day Spa & Salon

A few more tips from Elke can be found on Wed Alert. One tip that is super important is doing a consultation with your makeup artist. Get your makeup done for the rehearsal dinner or other special event (Like an e-session or boudoir shot) to give your wedding day look a run through.

Most of the time you also want your wedding day look to be cohesive. You may have a high fashion, couture wedding gown and typical "wedding hair and makeup." In the end the style of your dress doesn't match the style of your makeup and hair. Ashley Brockinton, another wedding and portrait photographer, has some great tips and videos on her blog for achieving that put together look.

Liene Stevens has some great tips about skin care before your wedding here.

Last but certainly not least, you can find tons of articles on The Knot about hair and makeup ideas. I highly recommend this article about skin care, healthy hair, and getting into shape for your big day.

Have you found any great makeup tips for your wedding day?