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Family Photo Checklist

Family Photo Checklist

This family checklist is checklist to help the process move quickly and efficiently. Please start with the largest family first and perhaps any difficult situations first. For example, if you have grandparents who are disabled or young children who need a nap let get them done first. Then work from LARGEST groups to SMALLER groups. Please assign a family member or two to help us run the checklist. Here is a sample checklist:

Smith Side:

  1. Bride, Groom, Mom, Dad, Paul, Mark, Will, Susan, Mary, John, Grandma, Grandpa

  2. Bride, Groom, Grandma, Grandpa

  3. Bride, Grandma

  4. Bride, Grandpa

  5. Bride, Groom, Mom, Dad, Paul, Susan

  6. Bride, Groom, Mom, Dad

  7. Bride, Mom, Dad

  8. Bride, Mom

  9. Bride, Dad

Johnson Side:

  1. Groom, Bride, Mom, Dad, Bill, Jake, Sarah, Paul, Grandma, Grandpa

  2. Groom, Bride, Grandma, Grandpa

  3. Groom, Grandma

  4. Groom, Grandpa

  5. Groom, Bride, Mom, Dad, Bill,

  6. Groom, Bride, Mom, Dad

  7. Groom, Mom, Dad

  8. Groom, Mom

  9. Groom, Dad

  10. etc.

As far as formatting please keep it as simple as possible.  Sending as a plain email with bullet points is perfect.  Please do not use an excel document.

*IMPORTANT: Please note that we follow this checklist carefully. Every family grouping that you want included should be noted. This includes things such as Bride, Mom or Groom, Brother, etc.  The reason this is important and cannot be assumed is because we don’t always know about the strains of some relationships or what is truly a photo you want taken.  We recommend keeping the total number of groupings between 15 and 20.  An average timeframe per grouping is 1.5 to 2 minutes sometimes more for larger groups.

*ALSO IMPORTANT: Please do not provide an all day checklist of possible combinations of every photo you might possibly want. We cover your day very nicely and get almost every possible combination of your wedding party and all the key moments of your day. Providing an extensive checklist can drain the creativity out of your photographer. That said, if you have a very important photo you or even a handful I suggest making it part of your family photo checklist and ask these people to hangout during the family photos so we are sure to capture it for you.

Contacts: matt@mattmasonphotography.com

Matt Mason Photography model shoot

Matt Mason Photography model shoot

This week was the perfect week to do some experimenting with lighting, poses and some top models! Take a look at the results from Tuesday's Model Shoot.  We started in the studio.  The girls brought tons of clothes and accessories.  They had the entire floor of the show room littered with glitter and sequins and all things beautiful and girly.  We started by reviewing some modeling ideas and tips and looking at some new poses and lighting we wanted to try.  Then we took turns with the girls and one of the girls brought her boyfriend so we had a faux engagement session.  Enjoy...

Canon 5D MKII & 5D MKIII comparison photos and review

Canon 5D MKII & 5D MKIII comparison photos and review

I was one of the first to own the Canon 5D MIII in Wisconsin on March 19 I drove to Mike Crevellos in Milwaukee, WI to pick up my new camera.  I shot several text shots comparing to the 5D MII.  I used a 25-105 f4 L lens on both cameras.  For the outdoor photos I shot in Landscape mode, ISO 100 and had identical settings on both cameras.  I was hoping to see a greater vibrancy in the blues and greens.  For the indoor photos I shot in increasingly high ISOs with f8 and increased the shutter to maintain a proper exposure.  I used a video light with white shoot through umbrella from Lowell Tota and set a custom white balance to 3200 Kelvin.  I shot all the photos in Large JPG with no editing except to composite the photos next to each other.  When I cropped the photos I cropped them exactly proportional.

Wedding Show Fashion at Veteran's Terrace in Burlington, WI

Wedding Show Fashion at Veteran's Terrace in Burlington, WI

Veteran's Terrace always puts in a great show with Christy's Bridal headlining the fashion show.  This year's theme was The 80's.  The hair and make up and some accessories brought me back to those early years in my personal development and I found myself singing along to the music provided by Medleys in Motion.

Below is a Video we created to celebrate all the fun we have at this show each year.  Take a look I think you will agree it was a great time.

7 ways to get the most out of your wedding photographer

7 ways to get the most out of your wedding photographer

I have had so many couples tell me that the one of the most important parts of their day is getting great wedding photos.  While it is such an important aspect often the schedule of the day doesn't reflect the importance they feel in their heart.  From my perspective of having shot weddings for over six years and I have developed some tips for getting the most out of your wedding photographer.

  1. Be sure to do an engagement session before the wedding.  This allows you and the photographer to better get to know each other.   You also figure out what works and what doesn't work so that you are not "practicing" on wedding day.
  2. Be on time.  While this may seem obvious being late can cost you dozens if not hundreds of precious photos to remember your day.  I'd suggest you make your time line conservative.  Have a serious talk with people who are "time challenged" so they don't make you late.

Best of 2011 - The Shoes

Best of 2011 - The Shoes

This is a multi-day series of photos for the Best of 2011 in Matt Mason Photography. Categories will include, The Bride, The Shoes, The guys, The Girls and many more. If you don’t see your wedding a particular category please understand that this isn’t an indication of how much I like a couple. I have amazing and wonderful clients.

Biltmore Country Club Reception

Biltmore Country Club Reception

Kristen LeBlanc & Jim Vandelogt were married at Holy Family Catholic Church in Inverness, IL.  The reception was at Biltmoore Country Club in North Barrington, IL.

Kristen & Jim got the only real December snow the night before their wedding which made for a most beautiful backdrop for the photo session before the ceremony.  After Jim and his two dogs chased all the geese off the fairway the couple met up for their first look on a bridge on the Biltmore Country Club grounds which is right out the back door of Jim's Dad's home.  (Click here to see all the photos from the day.)

The wedding party joined us on the bridge to start taking photos.  Oh, one of the highlights for me was the shotgun photos.

Grand Geneva Red Carpet Event

Grand Geneva Red Carpet Event

Every year Grand Geneva hosts a big party for their members.  This year the theme was The Academy Awards.  Members arrived to a red carpet and Paparazzi snapping photos.  They were treated an elegant meal, live entertainment and awards were handed out.

Mark & Gretch Productions provided the musical entertainment complete with a full stage and amazing uplighting and Christmas decorations made for a magical evening.  Here is a link to the photos we provided as the Paparazzi in addition to our photobooth.  It was an honor to serve at this fun and well produced event.

Matt Mason Photography photographers

Matt Mason Photography photographers

During our annual Christmas Party and annual report Matt Mason Photography took this photo of our team.  While we had a couple of guys missing it was still fun to force ourselves to do what we often ask our clients to do.  Take a look...