To shoot or not to shoot...

July 23, 2014

Written with love, by Abigail Volkmann

The engagement session...

Do you shoot it? Is it important?

To shoot or not to shoot, that is the question. I could go on and on with reasons to shoot an engagement session, but I am just going to give you a few of the top reasons that every couple should have an engagement session with their photographer before their wedding day!

Get to know each other!

The engagement session is a chance to get to know your photographer, for your photographer to get to know you, and for you have a chance to get comfortable in front of the camera.

Get rid of camera shyness!

An engagement session is usually captured in a couple of hours, giving you and the photographer both time to feel each other out and work toward getting natural portraits.

On the wedding day, however, you may be spending as little as 15-20 minutes on your couple portraits, which is hardly enough time to work through being camera shy. The engagement session gives you a chance to get comfortable with posing and to see the final product and figure out what you like and don’t like. It all streamlines the process on the wedding day (...also another reason to consider a first look on the wedding day, but that is another discussion).

Capture your life in a photo!

The engagement session is a chance to capture a bit of your life as a couple. I love shooting couples in some of the spaces that are a part of their life while they are engaged - their favorite coffee shop, café, park, etc. For many couples, a few years after they get married they will start a family and their life will be forever changed. So, I think it is so amazing to treasure the memory of their life as two.

While I could continue with reason after reason, I hope the three that I highlighted will sway you to book that engagement session!

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Abigail Volkmann Photography is based in Richmond, Virginia and focuses on photographing moments of love and unity, whether it be a couple starting their life together or a family capturing the fleeting moments of childhood.

Beach Wedding Inspiration

July 21, 2014

A beach themed wedding is the perfect combination of beauty and relaxation! Because of the gorgeous backdrop (the sun, sand and ocean!) minimal decor is required while still resulting in an amazing ceremony. Imagine guests watching you and your fiancé exchange vows in front of a gorgeous sunset...talk about setting the mood! Both bright and light color schemes can work perfectly to create an intimate feel throughout your night and the beach’s warm sand, cool breezes and amazing sunset will all contribute to your big day being a blast! Now what could be better than that?

Life of the Party: 4 Musts When Choosing Your DJ

July 18, 2014

Written with love, by Cece Hughes

You’ve decided to go with a DJ to provide the music for your wedding reception. Awesome choice! Hiring a DJ takes the weight off of you and your fiancé to make a playlist, or find a family member or friend to sit at a computer and take requests. If you pick a great DJ then your reception should go just as you’ve always hoped: great ambiance during your meal and cocktails, and a packed dance floor for the rest of the night!

But how does one go about choosing a great DJ versus one that’s just mediocre? Here are a few key items to think about and look for when beginning your DJ search.

Look for sample media available online from the DJ you’re looking at. Sample music mixes or videos of past performances will give you a great idea of what your reception could potentially be like. Look for music or videos available on the websites of DJs you’re interested in, and if there aren’t any, ask about them when you request information.

Look at the details of past client feedback. What are the specific things that past clients appreciated about the DJs that they’ve hired? Was it their personality? Was it their attentiveness through the planning process? What about the fact that their dance floor was filled the whole night and guests are STILL talking about the great time they had? Don’t simply look for a good review, look for WHY a review was good, or bad for that matter, and take note of things that stand out to you.

Make sure you feel comfortable communicating with them. As with ALL of your vendors, CHOOSE SOMEONE THAT IS NICE TO YOU. This is the happiest day of your life that you’re planning, so the process should not be a nightmare with rude vendors. Choose a DJ that is nice and accommodating, that you are confident will provide for you exactly what you and your fiancé want whether that’s a customized package or playing your favorite song that you and your best friends used to listen to on repeat in high school. The DJ is there to make your night awesome, and you should feel certain that he or she will most definitely do that.

“State of the art equipment” is not synonymous with “good DJ”. Yes. You do want a DJ that has updated equipment, simply because it’s more reliable and less likely to malfunction on the day of your wedding, leaving you without music. Someone with newer equipment is also more likely to have older back up equipment available just in case something does go wrong. BUT be careful when the “state of the art” equipment is the main selling point of a DJ. Anyone can say the fancy names of several pieces of sound equipment and seem impressive, but not just anyone can be a good DJ that will motivate people to get out on the dance floor and have a good time with their music choices and mixing. You want to find someone that knows music and people well. A DJ that can read a crowd and mix great music will take your reception to the next level.

Finally, as with all of your wedding planning, do what you can to make this process fun! This is your day and you should enjoy every minute of it.

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A case won is a dance floor packed, and The DJ Firm has a perfect record. With more entertainment experience than your average party DJ, the partners and associates at The DJ Firm strive to offer corporate, wedding and other clients an unforgettable time. No matter the case, The DJ Firm works with you to provide highly regarded entertainment representation that fits all your unique needs.