Wedding Hive Podcast
Giving you the tea and ALL the buzz in the wedding world! New episodes every Wednesday!
Wedding Hive Podcast
005- Capturing Memories: The Value Of An Amazing Wedding Photographer
Meet Carmela Joy Photography , a very popular and an amazing wedding photographer in our industry with more awards than you can count! She brings some great knowledge for couples who are looking to find their perfect wedding photographer.
Episode Highlights:
• Started photography in high school and continued as a side hustle through college
• Worked as a wedding venue coordinator which sparked her interest in the wedding industry
• Featured in People Magazine for photographing a ketchup-themed wedding in Italy
• Describes her photography style as a mix of documentary and editorial with true-to-color editing
• Recommends couples book photographers about a year in advance after securing their venue
• Suggests asking photographers for full wedding galleries to see consistent work
• Emphasizes the importance of personality compatibility between couples and their photographer
• Advises couples to invest in quality photography as it preserves wedding day memories
• Shares wedding day horror stories including catching a groom with a bridesmaid during reception
• Recommends new photographers network and second shoot to gain experience
• Balances clients' wishes with professional expertise when creating wedding day timelines
When looking for your perfect photographer, focus on finding someone whose personality meshes with yours and whose style aligns with your wedding vision. You can find Carmela @carmelajoyphotography
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I was going to the restroom and I hear something like around the corner in the hallway and turns out it's the groom making out with a bridesmaid in the hallway.
Speaker 2:What is this? People? Yes grooms?
Speaker 1:No, I know, oh my God.
Speaker 2:Hey queens, it's Kelsey and Grace back with the wedding high vibe.
Speaker 3:Giving you the tea and all the buzz in the wedding world.
Speaker 2:Let's jump right in. Hey queens, welcome back to another episode of the Wedding Hive podcast. We are so excited. I have not only one of the best photographers around, but one of my favorite pickleball friends. Let's go, let's go. Carmella, thank you so much for joining us today on the podcast. Thank you so much for joining us today on the podcast. Thank you so much for having me.
Speaker 1:I'm so excited. I love that. I'm known for pickleball too, you taught me and my husband how to play pickleball, I almost said tickleball we're not that kind of podcast she
Speaker 2:had so much grace with us because we absolutely sucked. And she's like no, you're doing so good.
Speaker 3:And I'm like no, I'm not carmella I need to be invited. I bought a pickleball set like two months ago and I still haven't gone so we need to do a pickleball tournament yes, we love pickleball and because carmella
Speaker 1:taught us how to play pickleball, so so she is the best. I love that so much. No, thank you for having me. I'm so excited.
Speaker 2:Yes, but this is not an episode on pickleball, it is an episode on photography. Darn, I'm just kidding. We are so excited to have you here today. Thank you.
Speaker 3:Well, for every guest we have, we love to do a little yes or no for wedding day. What is your yes or no for a first look? Oh gosh.
Speaker 1:I mean from a photographer standpoint probably yes, but also every couple I'm like do whatever you want to do, like it doesn't matter like my opinion, just like if you want to do it, go for it, but if not, that's totally okay, we'll work around it. So maybe a yes and a no, if I can say that.
Speaker 3:I love that, yeah, but leaning, yes, leaning, yes, I'm, I'm pro first look too we talked about that yeah, you as well love that. Um, one of our first questions for you what? Obviously you've grown a beautiful photography business. What got you into it? Was it you knew you wanted to do that? Was it something that fell in your lap? How did that start?
Speaker 1:Yeah, so I started in high school. Um, so I've been doing photography for like oh gosh, how long is it? I think like 12 years now, which is crazy. I feel so old. Um, but yeah, I was thrown into like a yearbook class in high school and they're like okay, take this camera and like go take photos of like the school events and everything. And eventually I just like fell in love with it and just like the way I could like interact with people through like a camera.
Speaker 1:And people started asking me to like take their senior photos and like paying me to do it, and I was like, oh I could get paid for this yeah, and I, I never, ever like, considered it, though, as like a wedding or like a job, like a career, because I don't know, I grew up with very like traditional, like Asian parents, where they're like you have to be in like the medical field, or like, yeah, like a doctor, a lawyer, like something that's very like stable and like a normal job, I guess a doctor, a lawyer, like something that's very like stable and like a normal job, I guess. So I, I went to college and went to ASU and studied kinesiology, which is so crazy, it's like so different than what I'm doing now, um, but still did like photography on the side, like here and there, um, kinesiology, kinesiology yeah, what is that.
Speaker 2:What is that?
Speaker 1:like it sounds like some biology yeah, it's like body anatomy, um, physiology, stuff, like that. I was gonna become like a PT, a physical therapist. Okay, yeah, so long, like those lines. Yeah, yeah, um. And I actually shot like my first wedding in college, but I like hated it. I like thought I was like I'm never doing this again because I was so stressed and I was like this is such like a high stress environment. I didn't know anything either and I was so young.
Speaker 2:I was like like this is such like a high stress environment.
Speaker 1:I didn't know anything either, and I was so young I was like I don't even know like 19 or something, anyways, yeah, so I was doing photography on the side going to college and then, randomly, my senior year of college, I got an internship at a wedding venue called Villa Siena I don't know if you guys have heard of it, it's in Gilbert in Arizona and I don't know if you guys have heard of it, it's in Gilbert in Arizona and I learned a lot about like weddings and I was like, oh, I feel like this is kind of fun and I don't know, I feel like I have a very like type A personality and I feel like wedding coordination, slash planning, I feel like you have to be kind of type A because you have to be like organized and like I don't know, there's like little details.
Speaker 1:I feel like that you have to be like good at, I guess, and I like fell in love with it. And then I was like screw, kinesiology, and I graduated and then I just like became like a full-time coordinator at a different venue for like a year and again still doing photography on the side, but it was a very kind of like toxic environment with my boss there. After a year I eventually like quit and I was like why don't I just combine weddings and photography and just like go full time into wedding photography?
Speaker 2:and then.
Speaker 1:I did that and it was like the best decision I ever made and that was like eight years ago.
Speaker 2:Yeah, wow, yeah, it's crazy.
Speaker 3:I kind of want to go back to, because I think a lot of people deal with this. How was it it telling your parents? You said you grew up, you know, very traditional. Was that like something? You was a tough conversation? Was it something that they were just like you know, this is what you love, or how did that go?
Speaker 1:It was really hard just because. So my sister, she's older than me and she became an optometrist, which is an eye doctor, so she set the bar real high for me.
Speaker 1:So it was like really hard and at first I mean, they were very like no, carmela, like don't do that, like that's not going to be good. It was like really, it was actually like really bad, but then eventually, like they saw that I could actually make it like a career out of it and obviously now're like very happy and like um grateful that I did that, but it was definitely a challenge along the way.
Speaker 2:Oh my god, yeah, yeah how many countries have you shot in?
Speaker 1:oh, um, let's see, I think maybe like six, okay, yeah, other than the United States, which is cool, but but yeah, so fun. Next I hope is like Iceland or something That'd be awesome, like a winter wedding or something.
Speaker 3:You know where the Black Sand is.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, where's that? In Iceland it is. Oh okay, I didn't know that. It's like Black Sand, think like.
Speaker 1:Game of Thrones.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 3:Gorgeous, yeah, gorgeous yeah, that would be cool one day, fingers crossed does anyone want to like get like married there, come on, just do it okay casual yeah. I was like I'll give you a little discount. You just make my dreams come true, that's awesome.
Speaker 2:so one um you were featured in People Magazine, yeah. Tell us about that, yeah.
Speaker 1:So I shot a wedding last year in Italy which was amazing and so fun, and I posted a reel and like TikTok about this wedding because I thought it was very unique, because a bride her favorite condiment is ketchup and she made it the theme of her whole wedding. And so I just, yeah, made a little reel about that and it kind of went viral. And then I got an email from an editor at people and she was like I saw this reel, I'd love to like write an article about it. And I was like, okay, sure. And then, yeah, she just like asked a few questions and literally just like, yeah, wrote an article and it was so fast too and I like came out of nowhere and yeah, I was very grateful, kind of crazy wild. And then I was like in other, like news articles too over the internet and everything.
Speaker 2:So yeah, so you submitted your photos and they got printed in people.
Speaker 1:I think it was just online, like an online article.
Speaker 2:But yeah, either way that's big yeah, thanks Thanks yeah, that's like the magazine.
Speaker 3:I feel like Even growing up, being younger, I still knew People was. All the celebrities, the Kardashians, all the things that were big were just in that magazine.
Speaker 1:So that's so special, that was crazy, I know. Next hopefully is Vogue magazine or something. I know you know big and it were just in that magazine. So that's so special, crazy, I know. Next hopefully is like vogue magazine or something I know.
Speaker 3:Did you like print out the article and like hey, have it like hung up or something I should, though, huh, I should be framed, or something. That's a big accomplishment you should thank you ketchup wedding?
Speaker 2:I know honestly I would have known yeah that's, I mean honestly, exact, iconic queen.
Speaker 3:You know, pop off because, some of the comments I love ketchup but I don't know if if I've based my whole wedding about it. But I mean, I love that.
Speaker 1:Some comments were like we should have a Raising Cane's wedding. The sauce is so good there. Like mustard themed wedding. What that would be cool. I know it's so funny.
Speaker 3:Yeah, loved it so, loved it so, obviously with photography. How would you describe your style of photography? There's everyone you know has their different type, style editing skills. What would you describe yours as?
Speaker 1:Yeah, there's so many. Yeah, I mean, there's so many photographers and there's so many like shooting styles and now editing styles too. I think for me it's definitely like morphed and evolved over the past like eight years, I think. Right now I'm a mix of, I would say, documentary and editorial and then, as far as, like, my editing style goes, it's leaning more like true to color these days.
Speaker 3:Yeah, okay, how would you describe obviously from someone who's not a photographer like what's true to color, like mean or what would that?
Speaker 1:I would say true to color is like true to what you see, but it's a little bit more like elevated so it's not like super heavily edited. Okay, like more like raw, but like editing in there Cause you see like the light and airy kind of photography probably, and then like the dark and moody. So I think, true to color is kind of fall somewhere in between.
Speaker 3:I like that a lot, but there's so many like in-betweens too.
Speaker 1:There's like film, and then like more, like warm and muted and like, yeah, there's just so many Do you like film photography as well?
Speaker 3:I do, yeah, okay.
Speaker 1:I love that. It's like made a comeback. I think it's so fun.
Speaker 3:Right yeah.
Speaker 1:I've only recently gone back into it, but it's just, it's a fun, like nostalgic touch. Yeah, photography right.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I think the photos look so cool and like a lot of times I think I love like the candid photos too and I feel like those are always typically the film photos. So it's nice to have the professional like styled you know photos but then to have those fun little you know candid ones, or I love that, I know same.
Speaker 2:What made you choose wedding photography over different types like family, maternity? Why was wedding?
Speaker 1:your choice. Ooh, that's a good question. I feel like I really thrive off of high-paced kind of chaotic environments. I don't know if that's toxic, you're like wait, do I actually have a problem?
Speaker 3:Is it me? I?
Speaker 1:just love how every wedding wedding is like completely different. Like you guys know, like there's like no wedding is the same, and I think it's also just like very challenging, like the different things that'll like pop up on a wedding day and you have to like figure out how to solve it and it's just like, yeah, it's just fun too, like it's the best day of a couple's lives and you get to like join them. Like how lucky are we.
Speaker 3:It's so fun yeah, going back to you said when you were 19 you felt so stressed and that you never wanted to do a wedding. But now fast forward and you love the chaos. I know, isn't that funny do you think it was just like over time, like you know, getting to know, like how you as a photographer, what do you think changed?
Speaker 1:yeah, I think being like a wedding coordinator definitely helped like learning the ins and outs of a wedding day and kind of like now I understand, like how it works.
Speaker 2:Whereas before.
Speaker 3:I was like what is happening right now, like I don't even know I'm getting overstimulated. There's a lot going on.
Speaker 1:I was just a little baby, I didn't know anything. Yeah, it's funny how that's changed. But, definitely that helped a lot, just like learning the back end sort of things.
Speaker 3:Yeah but definitely that helped a lot.
Speaker 2:Just like learning the backend sort of things. Yeah, are there any current trends that you're seeing that?
Speaker 1:you're loving? Ooh, I mean, I think, film. I don't know if that's a trend now still, but I I'm obsessed with film. I think I don't know. I don't think I've seen anything. I think everyone's always trying to do something different now, like non-traditional, or like just something that they claim is like different but someone's already done, I don't know. I feel like trends are just kind of like coming and going so fast so it's kind of hard to tell.
Speaker 1:I don't know it was social media thing and then it just like went away and like I don't know, yeah, do you guys have any that like those are?
Speaker 3:back, I know, I actually was back again, I was a bow
Speaker 1:hater and then like now, I love bows.
Speaker 3:I was like ew, what's with these bows? I love them. Getting my nails done with bows on them. I'm like wait, they're actually kind of cute.
Speaker 2:You said on the podcast last week when we were talking about Pinterest, you were like ugh, I liked bows, I know, and I caught it this week listening to it because I tied probably 47 bows this weekend.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah, bows are back. I mean, I'm here for it, I love bows, I know.
Speaker 2:I think they're just like cutesy, I know you didn't last week, but now you're in, I know I didn't last week, See trend, I'm like really Like.
Speaker 3:yeah, exactly Like last week it was in and this week it is. So like trends, though, do you guys know of any?
Speaker 2:right now that, like um beer burros, those are big trending right now. I know um garter tosses and bouquet tosses are kind of out right um cake cutting, oh I can ask you about cake cutting. A lot of my couples um a few years back did not want dj to announce the cake cutting. You know just them and the photographer. Now I'm starting to see it come back and being announced by the DJ. Are you experiencing one way or the other? Yeah, I would say both.
Speaker 1:I think, like for me personally, I love cake cutting. Before I actually kind of was on the same boat as everyone else. I was like let's just like cut it out. But now I think they're so fun. And I've seen like, oh, I've seen a trend where, um, the couple cuts the cake and they have like both sets of their parents cut the cake after them. So it's kind of like a I don't know, yeah, kind of like a special little thing. Um, yeah, I think they're so fun, but I have noticed more announcements of them lately, yeah, which has been cool.
Speaker 3:I like them. I think I think I like all the traditions. I love those. Yeah, like the cake cutting, like I we did the garter toss and bouquet toss. I know some people like don't like those, but I think they're fun little traditions that I like, that I kept in my wedding, so good for you, yeah, um as you should right.
Speaker 1:Exactly, it's my day.
Speaker 3:So like whatever I want. Um, okay, before we kind of transition into, like you know, we want to give the listeners great tips and advice that you have. Um, we always love to ask our guests do you have any wedding day horror story?
Speaker 2:that's ever happened. There's something we want some tea, some gossip.
Speaker 3:If you have anything crazy, we want to hear it okay.
Speaker 1:So this happened when I was actually a wedding coordinator, so it's also when I was a baby and it was a little traumatizing. So wedding day was happening and everything was going well and then people were starting to like drink and then dance and everything and it was getting pretty late. I think it was like 1030 at night. It was like pretty late and I was going to the restroom and I hear something like around the corner in the hallway and turns out it's the groom making out with a bridesmaid in the hallway.
Speaker 2:What is that? People Grooms. No, I know.
Speaker 1:It was crazy and at that point I didn't know what to do. So I actually grabbed a bridesmaid because I didn't want to be like the one I don't know to tell the bride, because I was just like a little baby coordinator.
Speaker 3:I didn't know what to do You're like, so I would go get a girl tomorrow.
Speaker 1:What was crazy too is like the couple. They seemed so happy on the wedding day, which like made it kind of even worse, Because if they were like fighting on the day I'd be like okay, kind of makes sense, but they actually seemed like really happy. Um, so I grabbed a bridesmaid and I was like go over there and like go see what's happening. And then she took care of it for me and like ended up telling the bride and everything but I would just yeah, that was probably one of the craziest stories, right, you're like wait.
Speaker 3:Is this not love, like what I know? Why, do people keep? Why do gramps keep doing that?
Speaker 1:yeah men have you heard more stories like that?
Speaker 3:yes, yeah, a little or a little worse they were doing the other things. They were past that oh my goodness yeah but I don't understand. I don't get what's the point of like going all the way to like wedding? Day and like doing something like that, like what is the point, like I never get that just maybe you just don't understand.
Speaker 3:I don't get what's the point of like going all the way to like wedding day and like doing something like that? Like what is the point? Like I never get that. Just maybe you just don't take it that far to spend money on a wedding and then cheat that day.
Speaker 1:It's like, oh, that's like the worst Like oh my gosh, what's messed up. Also like one time it was someone else a videographer and they showed up on the wedding day and, um, they found out that the wedding got canceled. That morning the mother of the bride called and it's like we're canceling the wedding. None of the vendors knew until they arrived. Yeah, oh my gosh but canceling that late too is so crazy that is crazy.
Speaker 1:I mean it's better, I guess, if they're not right for each other to cancel before they get married, but still, still, it's like yeah wild.
Speaker 3:Have you ever had couples cancel on you because of them like breaking up? Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1:Unfortunately, I had an Iceland elopement this year, but they did cancel because they broke up.
Speaker 3:Oh, your Iceland dream, I know I mean we're sad for the couple, obviously.
Speaker 2:I know for the couple, obviously I know, yeah, obviously that comes first, but you know iceland, so like I know, I know, oh geez. So I was a lot lately. I attended a wedding and we were sitting there as guests and ceremony was supposed to start four o'clock. It was 4, 10, 4, 15, 4, 20, 4, 25 and we're all just like staring at each other, getting antsy, no idea idea what's happening. The officiant came out and said the couple has decided not to get married today. The food is here, the drinks are here. You're welcome to go help yourself to the taco bar. Thank you for coming and please give some privacy to the couple.
Speaker 3:Oh my gosh.
Speaker 2:And they had cold feet and decided they were. There were some very important things that they hadn't. Oh, solidified that needed to be solidified before their vows. But yep was sitting there as a guest the tacos were great, but it was like the saddest you're like, so you're like crying in your taco.
Speaker 1:You're like wait. Yeah, I'm like what are you?
Speaker 3:supposed to do at that point? It's giving like love is blind.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yes, actually.
Speaker 3:They're like so the food's here.
Speaker 2:Yes, but you don't enjoy yourselves.
Speaker 1:Yes, that's what it was, and you knew the couple.
Speaker 3:Yeah, oh my goodness, that's so sad, but I mean, it exactly made me better to do it before.
Speaker 2:But their respect to them for saying these things have to be. And I don't know what it was. It could have been something minor or it could have been a major thing.
Speaker 1:I don't know what it was.
Speaker 3:Dang that's crazy Sometimes it's not meant to be, and that is what it is.
Speaker 1:Weddings we have all the tea all the time. It's crazy, I have a whole journal actually. After every wedding I write a little like blurb about the wedding so I don't forget smart especially if something crazy happens oh yeah, I'm gonna remember, you're like I want detail for detail. So you have your lineups for like stories. Yeah, oh my gosh, I love that crazy um.
Speaker 3:So we'll kind of transition to um questions that we have, you know, tips, advice, um for our listeners and couples. How far do you think a couple should book out a photographer for their wedding day? Is there a timeline or what do you think?
Speaker 1:I mean I think, uh, this is hard. I feel like once you have your venue, I think that's when you should immediately book your photographer, which I think a good amount of time is probably like a year To book out. Yeah, like a year from your wedding or more. If you can't Like, if it's a photographer that you're like, okay, I have to have them. Like this is my photographer. Obviously, the sooner the better. Yeah, I feel like a year is good. I think like sometimes, right now, if I get inquiries for like 2027, usually a lot of photographers don't take it that far out anyway. So there's like a little bit of yeah time, there's like a time frame where we take stuff like not too early, not too late, yeah okay just because you don't know where they're gonna be.
Speaker 1:If they're gonna, I don't know some, a lot of photographers don't, because some of them are like trying to get pregnant or like you just don't know like what life stage they'll be at.
Speaker 2:So yeah, that's very true what questions should couples be asking their photographer, like for that initial consultation?
Speaker 1:oh yeah, to get to know them.
Speaker 1:I think, well, I think like an important thing to find your photographer is making sure you mesh like well, personality wise, because you're going to be with them for a long, like literally your whole wedding day, and then also for like engagement photos. And, yeah, you just want to make sure you vibe with them, like because there's so many different personality types. And I think, yeah, hopping on a phone call and just asking them, getting to know them, questions and just keeping it very casual, I think is good, and then also asking for a full wedding gallery I think is helpful, just because obviously what you see on Instagram is just what they want to show. It's like the best of the best. And I think if you get multiple galleries from them, you can kind of see if they're consistent with their galleries or if they're not, and then kind of picture yourself in those galleries and what your wedding day could look like through their lens.
Speaker 1:Um, yeah, I think that's a good question to ask, um, and then I would also ask for like reviews too, or even just like Googling them and seeing what reviews they have and other brides and what experience they've had working with that photographer. I'm trying to think of like other questions too, but I think biggest things are, oh, also like asking about their style and because obviously there's so many different kinds of photography styles and making sure it aligns with what you're looking for so that you guys are like a good match together, because as photographers too, we want to make sure that you're a good match for us and we're a good match for you. So it's a whole yeah, getting to know each other process to make sure it's a good vibe together.
Speaker 2:Have you ever done a consultation with a couple and told them that you didn't think it was a good fit? I have, yeah.
Speaker 3:But I think that's awesome and being straightforward.
Speaker 2:You need to be able to do that.
Speaker 1:Because it's for me and it's for them too. I'm like I don't think I'm your vibe, so I think you should try these photographers, or try someone else who's like this style or something like that.
Speaker 3:I see a lot of different. There's some people who love just the candid and then there's some photographers who are like better at just doing like styled photos, and if you pick someone, that's not the right vibe, and then that day you're just, you know, get your wedding photos back and you're like, oh, this isn't you know what I wanted. That's you know, you don't want that. So I think the consultation is like so important and personality, like meshing too. If you're spending the whole day with them and if you don't mesh, you're just like, oh, like, yeah, that's awkward, yeah, I'm like you want people to vibe and like come with me like hey, and talk to them and feel comfortable. So, yeah, I really like that. Yeah, um, other than taking photos, of course, for wedding day, what else do you feel like photographers bring to day of?
Speaker 1:oh, yeah, I think. Um, I mean some weddings I work with like very wonderful wedding planners who will pretty much take care of like a lot of the things, and then sometimes I don't work with the best wedding planners and I kind of have to step in as like a wedding planner kind of sort of.
Speaker 1:So, yeah, helping with like the timeline I think is pretty much a lot of the weddings that I do, just because I think that is part of our job anyways is to like make sure the flow goes by the way it should and things kind of stay on time with the timeline.
Speaker 1:And then I've yeah, I've done crazy things like helping the bride pee and like holding her dress and then like if she has like a something on her dress that's like sticking it like a thread, all like I like use my mouth and my teeth to like cut it off before and yeah, like bustling with us, I honestly like I'll do anything for my couples, um, and I think a lot of photographers do too. Um, but yeah, I feel like we do sometimes take on the role of, like, wedding coordinators sometimes depending on like where we're at, but yeah.
Speaker 2:No, I can absolutely tell on a wedding day if my photographer is good or not. Cause hell on a wedding day if my photographer is good or not, because sometimes I'm like oh, my gosh, you're already on top of it like you're incredible. And there's other days I'm like where's the photographer? Why can't I find you?
Speaker 3:yes, and you have to really be in sync too, like, yeah, when it's you know if people are doing the cake cutting or if they're doing toast, like where's the photographer at?
Speaker 1:because they want these pictures and you know, if you're not in line with the coordinator, it's like it could be disastrous yeah, there was one point too, when I was like first shooting weddings where I was working with more like low budget uh weddings, and one time I had to like take the mic from the DJ and like MC a little bit too, because he wasn't, he didn't know what to do and like how to. I was like, oh my gosh, what am I doing? Right now?
Speaker 3:you're like we, you're like also play these few tracks too you're just like dj and photography yes no, it's crazy yeah, you're like a chameleon, you just morph into every she's like whatever you need, I got it.
Speaker 2:You said I'm the whole package so you know, with a bow on top yeah, with the bow exactly um, speaking of timelines, do you have any advice for couples when they're looking at and building their timeline to make sure that they are putting in the correct timing for photos? Or can you speak into the timeline?
Speaker 1:yeah, um, I mean, for me, I love like communicating and being very involved with the timeline process with my couples.
Speaker 1:So like I'll reach out to them six months before their wedding just to like get the ball rolling and everything. And then I also like to be in communication with, like the coordinators and the planners and stuff like that. But I think like it's hard because for couples, I like to tell them like make your wedding day the way that you want it to be, type of thing. So like of course, we can suggest certain things that will work well on wedding days, but if like, for example, they don't want to do like formal family photos and like just don't do that, then it's OK. Then it's okay like during cocktail hour.
Speaker 1:If you want to prioritize like you guys spending time with, like your guests, then we can work around that and like do most of your photos before ceremony, type of thing. So I don't know, it's all very like flexible and I think just being in like good communication with your photographer and kind of what your expectations are, um, I think is like the most helpful, if that makes sense yeah, I like that um, when do you think that, um, couples should have two photographers?
Speaker 3:should it be always? I know a lot of times there's a photographer in like a second shooter. Is it? There's like a big bridal party? If it's, they have like x amount of photos they want done when. When would be the best time to have two?
Speaker 1:photos they want done when. When would be the best time to have two? Most of my packages already include a second shooter, just because I love like having someone there so I'm not like running around everywhere. I think like a big thing is if your wedding venue is kind of like spread out, so like guys getting ready room, is like miles away from like the brides getting ready room, so like a resort, like a hotel usually, and then, um, a lot of the times, if the couple wants um like photos of the guests during cocktail hour and I'm with like the bride and groom, then I think that's a good like indicator that you should have two photographers. Um, and I think the bigger the best count. The guests count also. Um, you should also have a second photographer just because there's so many people and you want to make sure you get like candidates of everybody and stuff like that. Yeah, okay.
Speaker 2:Yeah. What about photo lists? Is it helpful to have photo lists on wedding day of who bride and groom want their pictures with, or is it more organic as people come up? What have you found helps with like both the timeline and to keep the day going smooth?
Speaker 1:It's hard because I think it depends on the couple and the photographer.
Speaker 1:So again, for me personally, like I, I don't like to work off of shot lists, just because I feel like it interferes with, like my this sounds so cheesy with, like my creative process.
Speaker 1:So I only ask for a family shot list just because I don't know, yeah, like who they want photos with as far as like family goes, but throughout the day, cause I don't know yet like who they want photos with as far as like family goes, but throughout the day. I'll take, like the normal, like photos with your bridesmaids and like candidates, with, like the guests that you interact with and, um, obviously like your parents and stuff like that and the people who are important to you. But, um, as far as like a full shot list of the day, like, okay, I want a photo um of like my shoes and okay, I want a photo um of like my shoes, and then I want a photo of like my earrings by itself, like just like a full, like shot list of every single photo they want. I feel like usually for photographers is not um the best, just because I do feel like it kind of interferes with like how a normal, like wedding flow would go for us if that makes sense.
Speaker 2:Yeah, have you ever had a guest come up to you and like think that you're their photographer and they're like here this?
Speaker 1:and take that and get me my buddy job absolutely yes oh my gosh honestly, it's usually like the moms I will say who are like oh, can you get a photo of me with like my friends from like I don't know? Yeah, which, most of the time, if I have time, like, I'll do it like yeah it's, it's usually fine, it's just like funny to me.
Speaker 3:I like get it because you know at weddings everyone's dressed up and you look nice, but at the end of the day it's like you didn't pay for the photographer. So you kind of get what you get. You don't just get to come up and ask for photos.
Speaker 2:I don't think I have the cojones to go up to a photographer and be like.
Speaker 3:I look good today. I need you to capture this. You said we look snatched.
Speaker 2:I don't know if I'm, maybe after a few drinks, probably.
Speaker 3:Is there any crazy requests guests have asked you before, Besides just coming up to you to be like can you take my photo?
Speaker 1:The audacity of guests is just so funny. I mean, sometimes I don't know, sometimes they're kind of like there's always like an uncle Bob or something. He was like what kind of camera do you have over there?
Speaker 1:he's just like talking about his cameras, like stuff like that. And then I don't know, I've gotten some like crazy like guests who come up to me and they're a little bit racist, to be honest. Yeah, like I had one groomsman who came up to me. He just like started talking like Mandarin and I was like bro, I don't know what you're saying.
Speaker 3:You're like wait.
Speaker 1:No way. Yeah people, I don't know guests with like like alcohol.
Speaker 3:You just never know what you're gonna get true, yeah, like you said the drink, yeah, drinks, like people are doing crazy stuff is it the same for you?
Speaker 2:for me, um, bridal parties are usually pretty like timid and shy at the beginning of the day and like they don't really talk to me and like they'll like kind of kindly ask a question and then like later in the night, after drinks, they're like, oh my gosh, you're like my best friend.
Speaker 1:And I'm like, okay, yes, we are, we are 100%. Which is so funny, it's alcohol.
Speaker 3:Yeah, you're like, our friendship escalated very quickly.
Speaker 1:We are besties. You're like I'll write a die for you, I know. I'm like thank you so much. I'm like you're welcome. You're like, okay, sure, it's so funny. Do you ever get guests or groomsmen hit on you?
Speaker 3:I had an old guy the other day. It's always at night too, the grandpas. I'm like please don't not the grandpas.
Speaker 1:I know I like to be someone know I was like I was like I guess, thanks, but like you're kind of creepy, but okay yeah, I know hit on yeah we did have.
Speaker 2:I had a drunk dad, bride's dad, and he was not married to the mom, so he was like a single old guy, um. And he, there was a lounge set and he was sitting on the lounge set and he's like, come on over, you're like um, no no, not the uh, the motion.
Speaker 1:I know you said aggressive.
Speaker 2:Please calm down, come on come on and I'm like no, no, I told you I'm married like the alcohol it really is and it's always the it's always the.
Speaker 3:I haven't been drinking that much, I'm like okay sure like yeah, you look super sober right now yeah, this is your daughter's wedding.
Speaker 2:Like, let's do better let's do better.
Speaker 1:Come on, friend, save that for the bar.
Speaker 3:My goodness, that's insane obviously we talked about that. You're in people magazine and that was shot in italy, correct? Yes, so you're always, we always see you traveling, because you're just jet setting queen um where's your favorite spot? You've, uh like, shot a wedding probably italy, I think right now.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's been like top, because the two that I've shot there they've both been at like villas, so like it's fun, because everyone stays there all together for like the weekend, like all the guests and everything so cool, so everyone's just like having a good time. There's no like high stress, because everyone's already been there and like they're just chilling by the pool, like it's just very like relaxed, which I love. And then Italy is just like stunning and beautiful and the food is incredible and everyone's so nice and the staff is just like wonderful. So, yeah, italy's probably like top for me.
Speaker 3:Yeah, what part of like Italy. I know there's like so many. Yeah, was it like ocean or like what was it?
Speaker 1:Like Tuscany, so near like. Florence. Yeah, oh my gosh, beautiful that's so pretty Stunning.
Speaker 2:I know, we said chef's kiss. I know, do you speak Italian?
Speaker 1:No I don't I've been like I only know, like the basics, right, because when I travel I'm just like Grazie.
Speaker 3:Oh, no, like ciao. Yeah, wait, but are?
Speaker 2:your couples American and they're traveling for a destination wedding, or are they like local Italians?
Speaker 1:Yeah, so one of them was from Canada. Okay, and then the other one was from Hong Kong, actually, but they were from the United States, okay.
Speaker 2:Yeah. So when you would say like smile or say cheese, it was all English, oh, okay.
Speaker 3:I didn't think about that. Yeah, I guess if people were like traveling yeah, I mean Right yeah, or People are like traveling, yeah, I mean. Right, yeah, or else I'd have to do like hand motions. Right, you're like have your iPhone? You're like translate please? I know you put your arm down, yes.
Speaker 2:Literally, that's amazing. So we are going to ask you just kind of some rapid fire questions. Perfect, if you want to go into detail, you absolutely can. Okay, how many hours should couples contract their photographers for?
Speaker 1:I think a good amount is like eight hours, like on average, just because I think that's a good amount of time to cover everything from like getting ready to dancing and everything. So I feel like eight hours is probably like a good time, but obviously it depends on like what you're looking for. If you want like more getting ready or more dancing, if you want them to stay to the very end, then maybe like 10 hours is good. But yeah, I think like eight hours is like the number.
Speaker 3:Okay, have you ever shot for like longer than eight hours or like? Can people just like add on like hours, essentially, if they want?
Speaker 2:Yeah, what's your?
Speaker 3:take on either mock sparkler exits or waiting until the end of the night when the drinks have been flowing.
Speaker 1:Honestly, I think the right way to do it depends on the DJ, because I think obviously it's good for photographers because they can get it before they leave, and then the bride and groom are happy with what they have. But I think, like I've been talking to another DJ I think he's going to be a guest here soon, trego and he was also saying like which you should probably ask him this question.
Speaker 1:He was saying like there's a right way to do it and a wrong way to do it where you can keep the guests dancing and then sometimes, if it's the wrong way, then it kind of like kills the vibe. So yeah, depends okay, right.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I know. Have you ever seen any crazy like mock exits or anything, or like just the sparklers?
Speaker 1:I've seen I mean, let's see fireworks. I've seen bubbles. They're very like, super exciting. I've also seen like a bride and groom jump into the pool at the end of the night, which is always so fun. Yeah, I've seen that. I'm like I know it's so fun.
Speaker 3:Right, like I feel like I've seen too. Obviously, if it's like on the beach, you know they'll like run into the ocean like at the end and the night and I'm like, oh, that's cute.
Speaker 3:I'm like, with how much I spend on my wedding dress, I would never do that. True, that's fair, I know. I'm like maybe if I had like a little cheaper reception dress, I'd be like down for it. But I'm like, oh my gosh. Obviously, when it comes to weddings and budgeting, photographers are a big part of that budget. How do you feel like, the importance of, like investing in a good photographer?
Speaker 1:I mean I feel like it's very important, and I'm just saying that because I'm a photographer, um, but I I've just heard so many stories of past, like even my friends who they've chosen not to invest in like a photographer, um, and they've kind of just chosen like I don't know whoever came with the package or just like um kind of more like budget friendly, I guess, which I completely understand, um, but I've just heard stories where they just like completely regret it and are just so sad because obviously, like the photos that they have now aren't what they wanted, and it's just like it really does break my heart, like it's very sad, um, and I feel like, obviously, like you get what you pay for type of thing, and do your research and figure out, yeah, like what photographer is for you without breaking the budget type of thing.
Speaker 1:But definitely, like um, I would say if I were like a bride right now, obviously I would prioritize in photos, and I feel like a lot of people would too, and I think it's definitely like worth the investment too, just because they're literally preserving your memories.
Speaker 3:So yeah, I know I completely agree, cause I think the photos and if you do videography like those are like the only things that you really have besides your memories, obviously, of the day. That like literally are the you know blueprint of your whole entire day. And if you get the photos and you know you went too budget friendly and you're just like, okay, I spent all this money for this wedding and I don't even have good photos that I love that captured our day, I think that would be like, just like you said, that makes me sad to like think of, so sad. Yeah, so I think, definitely investing.
Speaker 2:So a few episodes back, I think you were the one that asked me what is one thing that I don't think you should skip on, and I said a good photographer that is knowledgeable in the industry and understands editing to be able to capture those moments. It was not a diss to upcoming or new photographers who are wanting to get into the industry. Do you have any advice for those who are wanting to get into the industry? Do you have any advice for those who are wanting to pursue a career in the wedding photography business? Oh yeah, like for new photographers coming up, how do they become you? Oh, gosh.
Speaker 3:How do they become queen carmella?
Speaker 1:oh gosh I have so much advice, I guess. Um, I think like one thing is just like reaching out to everyone in the wedding industry, basically, and like building your own community of people, cause I feel like we have such a wonderful community, at least here in Arizona, where everyone is like helping each other and so nice. And I think another thing too is second shooting for other photographers I think is huge, just so you get that experience which then gives you the confidence to be able to like shoot your own weddings as lead. I think those are like the two big things. And then, obviously, like social media is huge as far as like marketing goes and like word of mouth and, yeah, just making sure that before you like jump into it as doing lead, that you get the experience that you need to be able to do that successfully before you even like start it as lead.
Speaker 2:Does that make sense? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, to kind of be mentored under.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I was going to say yeah, photographers, I love that you said like doing like the second shooting or something, or even, like you know, coming on for wedding day, if you know the couple doesn't mind, like, hey, you know someone's trying to mentor and shadow and work on their craft and get better, which I think is awesome.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I think that's huge because, also, every photographer is so different on a wedding day, so it's good to just learn and pick up things from different photographers. Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2:Kind of create your, your own style. Yeah, all right. So I have one last question for you what is your biggest tip for couples in finding their perfect photographer?
Speaker 1:Oh gosh, I mean, I guess we talked about a lot of them, but I think, okay, top two would be making sure you mesh with their personality, and then the second thing would be making sure that their style aligns with what your vision is for your wedding photographer that's my top two.
Speaker 3:I love it. I love that. It's good advice. I know that's why you're on, because you're so amazing. It's just all of us advice. Well, thank you so much, carmela, for coming on. We really appreciate it and it was so fun to get to chat about. You know where you started and where you are now. If you guys are looking for her, you can find her at CarmellaJoyPhotography on Instagram and we'll see you guys next week for another episode. Bye, bye.