Posted by Jaime Wood on Tue, Jul 27, 2010 @ 10:54 AM
On July 11th we were lucky enough to share in Renee & Bob's beautiful wedding day at Church Landing in Meredith NH (one of our favorite venues to work at!). They had such a beautiful day with the sun shining and all the little details were perfect. And check out the uplighting during the reception. We are seeing this more and more in weddings and I have to say, it really comes out nicely in the videos!!! All my best, Jaime
Renee & Bob's highlight video from their beautiful wedding at Church Landing in Meredith NH
Posted by Jaime Wood on Wed, Jul 21, 2010 @ 07:35 AM
Last friday, I was excited to head to the seacoast for Karen & Joe's wedding. The ceremony was held at St. Theresa's in Rye Beach and then the reception at the Sheraton in Portsmouth. It was an absolutely perfect summer day weather wise, and Karen & Joe are so sweet together. Karen looked absolutely stunning in her dress, and what amazing details in her dress and accessories! Check out their highlight wedding video below. All my best, Jaime.
Posted by Jaime Wood on Thu, Jul 15, 2010 @ 12:19 PM
On July 3rd, we captured Meagan & James' very special day at Sky Meadow. This sweet couple got engaged in Walt Disney World and they incorporated that magical dreamland into the details of their wedding day. From Meagan looking like Cinderella in her gown, to the castle cake, and fun Mickey & Minnie statuettes to the awesome up lighting and bubble machine, Meagan and James were definitely the Prince and Princess of the day! This is their highlight video!
All my best, Jaime.
Posted by Jaime Wood on Tue, Jul 13, 2010 @ 08:09 PM
Michelle & John were the most amazing couple to work with, and their fun & loving spirit shined through on their amazing wedding day. With their ceremony at St. Anthony's in Lowell, MA and reception at the Castleton in Windham, NH, Michelle & John are proof that a long distance relationship can survive it all. Living on opposite sides of the country, they made it work with long trips and daily phone calls. And through it all, it was evident that they were still as much in love as when they first started dating.
We had the honor of providing Michelle & John with a Same Day Edit that played just before they were introduced for the first time as husband and wife. This is an extended version of their Same Day Edit.
Enjoy! All my best, Jaime.
Posted by Jaime Wood on Wed, Jul 07, 2010 @ 07:29 AM
New Hampshire is a popular state to have a destination wedding. From the seacoast, to the White Mountains and North Country, there are so many beautiful places to have a wedding here. And once you've picked a location and set your date, you'll need to look into applying for a marriage license. Here's some info I found on about.com to help you in your wedding planning. Best wishes, Jaime.
New Hampshire Marriage License Information by Sheri & Bob Stritof, About.com Guide
Here's what you need to know and what documents to bring with you before you apply for a New Hampshire marriage license. We recommend contacting the City Clerk's office to verify this information and suggest that you get this legal aspect of your wedding out of the way about a month before your wedding date.
Requirements may vary as each county in New Hampshire could have their own requirements.
ID and Residency Requirements in New Hampshire:
- You will need photo identification, such as your driver's license. If you are 25 years or younger, you may be asked to show a certified copy of your birth certificate. You will also need to provide Social Security numbers.
- You do not have to be a resident of New Hampshire.
- A marriage license in New Hampshire is valid for ninety (90) days.
Same-Sex Marriage:
Previous Marriages:
- If you have been divorced, a certified copy of your divorce decree is required. If widowed, bring in a copy of your spouse's death certificate.
Waiting Period and Blood Test Requirement in New Hampshire:
- None -- there is no waiting period in New Hampshire and there is no blood test requirement.
- Although the waiting period was cancelled in 2006, you may still find official county or city websites that wrongly mention a 3-day waiting period to receive your marriage license. You can read the documentation in Title XLIII, Chapter 457 of the New Hampshire RSA for the full text of the law.
- If you have questions, we recommend that you contact the City or County Clerk where you want to get married.
Fees in New Hampshire:
- You will need to pay $45 in cash to get married in New Hampshire.
Under 18:
- The law is complicated in New Hampshire. Individuals under the age of 18 may not marry in New Hampshire without parental approval and a judicial waiver. Brides must be at least 13 years of age and grooms must be at least 14 years of age before their parents can apply for a judicial waiver.
Proxy Marriage in New Hampshire:
Cousin Marriage in New Hampshire:
Common-Law Marriage in New Hampshire:
- Not if you are both alive. Common-law marriages are only recognized in New Hampshire at death for estate/inheritance purposes. (N.H. RSA. 457:39)
Officiants in New Hampshire:
- Weddings can be solemized by a judge, supreme court justice, assistant judge, justice of the peace, priest, rabbi, or minister residing in New Hampshire. Non-resident clergy need to receive a special license from the Secretary of State.
Bureau of Vital Records
6 Hazen Drive
Concord, NH 03301
Phone: (603) 271-4651
Posted by Jaime Wood on Tue, Jul 06, 2010 @ 08:02 AM
If you've decided to have an outdoor wedding, congratulations! Outdoor weddings are romantic and beautiful. However, they aren't as easy as they may look. Outdoor weddings come with additional caveats and pitfalls, but if you follow these tips, you'll be sure to shine on your wedding day.
- Make your guests comfortable Think about what the weather will likely be at the time of day and month of the year of your outdoor wedding. Sunny and hot? Don't leave your guests uncomfortably melting – have your ushers give guests ice-cold bottles of water as they are seated. Consider printing your wedding program on a fan so that guests may cool themselves. Don't forget to have plenty of sunscreen on hand as well. For a very warm location, look into renting large electric fans (don't forget a generator) and/or a tent to shade the suns rays. If it will be cold and damp, make sure you tell guests that so they can wear extra layers. A simple xeroxed insert will do. You might want to have lap blankets on hand, or rent portable heaters.
- Have a backup plan What will you do if it rains? The ideal outdoor wedding location has an indoor location waiting just in case. Many brides and grooms opt to have their ceremony outside and reception inside. In a pinch, the tables can be scooted to the back of the room during the ceremony. A tent is another option, but only for light to moderate rain storms. A heavy rain will soak the ground underneath, leaving guests with soggy and muddy shoes. Make sure any tent you rent is sturdy so it won't flip over, and that it has thick and weighted sides.
- Plan for Wind Many outdoor weddings suffer from windy conditions. Avoid light fabrics like chiffons and china silks in your dress and the bridesmaid dresses. Tell your hairstylist that you'll be having an outdoor wedding so she/he can plan a style that won't leave you looking like Cousin It! Men in the wedding party should use pomade or other styling product. Again, tell your guests in a printed insert so that they can plan accordingly. And of course, make sure your tent will stand up to gusting winds or find an indoor backup plan.
- Can everybody hear? When you picture your dream wedding at the beach, you're probably not hearing the roaring of the waves, the rushing wind, or the local kids running and screaming around you. Look into renting a sound system with clip mikes for the bride, groom and officiant. Your DJ or band may be able to easily arrange this for you.
- Decorations One of the bonuses of an outdoor wedding is the natural beauty around you, lessening your need to decorate. But you still need to do some work. Visit the site a week before your wedding to make sure the grass is mown, the ground raked, and the flowers have bloomed. If your wedding is at a public park, you may want to ask the groomsmen or friends to do this the morning of your ceremony. If it's been an especially cold season, you may need to supplement the flowers with some potted bulbs from a florist. Other decorations you may want to consider include an arch or trellis to focus the ceremony and frame the bride and groom as they say their vows; strings of lights or lanterns in the trees; luminarias; torches; or farolitas.
- Make things tasty outside Does your caterer have experience planning an outdoor wedding menu? Make sure they're planning things that will keep well outdoors in the heat. Avoid things like mayonnaise salads or dishes which must be served cold.
- Don't leave your guests parched Since alcohol is dehydrating, consider serving a variety of lemonades, teas and punches. Be sure to have plenty of ice and water around as well. For a fancy cocktail, why not serve a classic mint julep or a mojito? The mint will refresh and cool your guests.
- Those pesky flying things Be sure to put out citronella candles or a bug zapper so that your guests won't spend the whole ceremony swatting at the air.
- Here comes the sun Consider timing your outdoor wedding for sunset where your guests will see you take your vows surrounded by the warm glow of the sun. Those having a daytime outdoor wedding should orient the ceremony so that the sun will be on guests' backs rather than in their eyes.
- Permits Don't forget to contact your city parks department or other local government to get a permit for an outdoor wedding. Be sure to ask about rules concerning trash removal, candle or torch lighting, and pre-wedding photography.
Originally posted on weddings.about.com By Nina Callaway, About.com Guide
Posted by Jaime Wood on Thu, Jul 01, 2010 @ 11:59 AM
Who ever said that you can't have a wedding ceremony outside in the rain didn't know Lauren & Matt! On June 26th I had the distinct pleasure of sharing in Lauren & Matt's day up at the Mountain View Grand in Whitefield, NH. Such a fabulous spot, I love filming weddings there. It was raining when it was time to have the ceremony, but Lauren and Matt still went for it outside anyways, and they got the cheering approval from all their guests.
With the help of Diana Ma Weddings, Lauren planned and designed the details of this day so perfectly. From the awesome green color of the bridesmaids dresses, that carried through in the linens and AMAZING flower arrangements by Emily Herzig Floral Studio to the programs by Gus & Ruby Letterpress and lighting, this wedding was one for the magazines.
Oh, and let me just say that the band Lauren & Matt chose - OUT OF THIS WORLD!! First Class Band out of Boston, MA performed phenomenally! The dance floor was packed the entire night. I would highly recommend them if you're interested in a band for your reception.
Thank you to Lauren & Matt for letting me be a part of such an amazing day. It is certainly a day that I will not forget.
All my best,
Jaime
Posted by Peter Clayman on Wed, Jun 23, 2010 @ 09:50 AM
Hi Everyone,
I hope this blog sees you well. I came across this blog post done by Andrea Joki and thought it was brilliant so I am reposting.
A question I am asked frequently is why photographers charge what they do. There is such a discrepancy in prices – and those shopping purely on price alone are nearly always going to go the least expensive route. But is that the wisest decision? One phrase I hear a lot is, “it only costs 10c to make a print – so why do you charge so much?” And if the value of the image was only the print paper cost itself, that would be a valid question. But then again, a lawyer makes several thousands and all they produce is paper worth less then a penny. So why do we pay lawyers upwards of 100 euros an hour?
The easy answer is that an experienced photographer – one who has spent years studying the craft, honing skills, and perfecting style, is going to give you a much better image than the beginner who is simply clicking a shutter button. If clicking the shutter is the only parameter of a professional photographer, I’d like to offer the services of my 7 year old – she takes great pictures (everyone says so!) and I’m happy to hire her out for $200 for a disk of images. She’ll be happy too – she’d love a new Lego Star Wars set. But why pay $200 for my 7 year old (or a beginner photographer) when you can just have the grandparents click the button instead – and for free?
I could make this post longer by summing out costs of being a photographer: VAT/taxes, insurance, business development costs, time, software, equipment, the desire to not work for free for other people ……. but really, I would think that most would recognize there are obvious costs behind owning any business. Would you really feel you were saving money if you hired a lawyer who had no formal training or education but who felt they would be good at winning lawsuits because they saw someone do it on TV? The parallel is true since many photographers are encouraged by friends and family (would you tell your best friend that the image she shot and is so proud of has a kid in dappled light and a telephone pole sticking out of his head with a white balance so off that he is practically blue?). Similarly, many photographers are not licensed business owners – so if you get charged for poor portraits, you have no recourse. I would love to charge less – and certainly my photography business isn’t going to buy me a Lexus. But at the same time, it is frustrating to be legal, pay taxes, and yet lose customers to those operating illegally.
Truly: professional images comprise a lot of factors – otherwise, why would you hire someone to photograph your children if you could just do it yourself? Composition, metering, focus, white balance, skin tones, light in the eyes, pose, post processing….. these are skills that take time to develop. And the difference in quality should be fairly obvious if you compare portfolios. Which always leads to the next question: “It’s just the camera, right?” And that one hit kind of home for me. One day last year, my sister told me she wanted to take images of her family and have them be as good as mine – so she asked which DSLR she should buy. I answered her honestly: unless you are going to shoot in manual modes (not auto) and learn ISO, F-stop, Shutter speed, spot metering, etc, she could spend thousands and thousands and not have as good images. Good images are about using the equipment and reading the light correctly – neither of which can be obtained in AUTO by clicking a button. If you don’t believe me, go ahead and spend thousands. But also be prepared to admit that it’s not the camera, it is the artist BEHIND the lens, that is making the creative and beautiful portraits. And as for my sister? She bought a prosumer and not a DSLR and has been very happy since. And saved quite a bit of money in the process.
One thing I really find interesting is that people will buy Coach purses, fancy flatscreen TVs, expensive toys and sets for their children, and all manner of luxury goods that have maybe a 1-2 year lifespan. But when it comes to professional portraits, which will last a lifetime, they base the decision purely on price. I’m not sure at what point children and family become less important than a fancy purse. But I can tell you that those who purchased high quality portraits have a beautiful reminder of a time that has past – and those portraits are still hanging or displayed while the purse has long since been thrown away.
Sure, parents can choose to purchase inexpensive photography based solely on price. Not everyone can afford the price of a good photographer and the compromise often is quality. But I truly hope and encourage buyers to really consider what they are buying and why – and not to choose solely on price. Your memories do not have a price tag and once this moment is gone, you forever lose the chance to have hired a true professional to beautifully capture your family. Choosing the best you can afford will always be the best advice given to anyone looking for quality professional portraits. As with anything hand-made and requiring an artistic eye, those who produce quality work often charge more – it compensates for the amount of time they have spent learning and perfecting their art. Choose not based on price – but on how the photographer expresses themselves – and how that will translate into your family’s portrait work. Choosing based solely on price is saying that all photographers are the same – and that really isn’t true. Sure, price may not always reflect skill. That’s where a buyer’s judgment and comparison of portfolios come in. But it is a good bet that a lot of the cheaper photographers will disappear in a year as they realize they are actually losing money and working for nearly free. And that is also a concern because they may not have an interest in protecting or archiving your photos.
Posted by Peter Clayman on Fri, Jun 18, 2010 @ 04:01 PM
Hi Everyone,
I hope this blog sees you well. Jen and Chris came in today to look at albums and pics and all that good stuff. They were married last fall in Meredith, NH (Chase House www.millfalls.com). We took some beautiful wedding photos and had a lot of fun in the process. I am collecting and recording testimonials of couples experience with NH Images and there will be many more to come. If you have any questions, or would like to talk with us further, please email info@nhimages.com or call 603.888.7204. Thanks for reading and watching.
Posted by Peter Clayman on Sun, Jun 13, 2010 @ 02:14 PM
Hi Everyone,
I hope this blog sees you well. So my couple Angie and Dave (we did their wedding photography and video @ Church Landing, Meredith, NH www.millfalls.com) came in on Friday night to look at their images for the first time. We work hard to provide the best possible experience that any couple can have. Now I also have to admit that Jaime does a much better job of creating and editing video than I will ever be able to do. If you have any questions, please email or call 603.888.7204.
All my best,
Peter