It’s the big day. At this point you and or your family have spent thousands of dollars to create an unbelievable day. You wake up and now what? Do you want to be making calls and ordering breakfast or lunch? The truth is you shouldn’t have to. It’s your day and you shouldn’t have to stress out about all the crazy details and last minute stuff. In my opinion brides and grooms should be on autopilot that day and having to deal with distractions such as “where’s the limo drivers tip?” or “did I tell the florist 11am or 12pm?” shouldn’t be a concern.

I’m a believer: I recommend day of coordination to all my brides and grooms. Why? I have so many reasons!! I can talk to a coordinator prior to your wedding and we’ll figure out a perfect timeline so no one’s stuck twiddling their fingers for an hour. We have a science when planning out your day! After a phone call with a coordinator they’ll hang up the phone with me, call the hair + makeup, florist, limo drivers, etc and plan around our schedule. All you need to know is when to wake up and where to go. They even give you a little timeline the night before. How cool? It’s great because when I walk into a hotel room or brides home I want my bride 110% completely relaxed. When coordination is there I know I have this. Why stress? I’ve photographed some stressed brides in my day too! Word…

True Story: One particular bride I knew would be a perfect candidate for coordination so I begged and pleaded with her, she disagreed. What happened? Well we’re outside photographing her and her bridesmaids and I stopped and turned around to my surprise there was no limo present. Mind you, we’re seconds away from wrapping up and we have a first look scheduled for 3pm, its now 2:30pm and it takes 20 minutes to get to the first look location where the guys were suppose to be waiting. I imeadialtly said “call the company”. This bride was so enjoying the moment of being a bride she had no clue who the limo company was. No clue! Anyway the groom had been phoned and he said the limo had not arrived to him and the guys yet and was “10 minutes away”. Do you know how long 10 minutes is in photo world when you’re fighting to get a bridal party of over 12 adults and 6 children photographed and the sun is setting? What happened? Well for starters my bride went from being super happy to super stressed. I lost that relaxed bride in the snap of a finger and I was getting good stuff!! After that you know what happened? All the bridesmaids and the bride jumped into multiple cars and drove themselves to the first look location! Now, I’m not blaming my bride or the limo company but somewhere down the line there was a miscommunication. A miscommunication that would have NEVER happened had there been a wedding coordinator confirming all this nonsense for the bride. I hate to say I told you so ;)

I’m not a coordinator, I’m a photographer: Another reason I’m a fan of wedding coordinators is I can be creative. We can show up and document the day which is what we’re there to do! What happens at a wedding when I become coordinator? Well, I still do my thing and take what I only hope are phenomenal photos but I’m not even going to try and front, I get stressed. There is nothing worse then trying to setup a first look when I should be locked in on the grooms reaction but I’m out of breath fumbling with lenses because I just ran a 5K to tell the bride “ok, you can come to the first look spot now”. Look I’m not trying to get out of any extra work, our clients pay us very well to document their day and we’re grateful for that, believe me! Things just run smooth when you have someone telling people where they need to be and when. When we’re doing family photos I love to have a coordinator on my side making sure the Smith family is there and the Smith siblings are on deck waiting to be photographed. We can bang out those family shots in record time with a little coordination! Or there might be any given photograph you want and you mentioned it to your coordinator. For example, how many times has a coordinator came up to me and asked if I got the college shot, the rings or something special? All the time!

Day of coordination: Most of my clients use “day of coordination” and some are “full planning”. I would say there is a HUGE misconception in the words “day of coordination” because while yes they are there on wedding day coordinating, they have actually met with the bride and groom at least once in person and have had a handful of phone consults or video skypes with them. So no, you’re not paying for just one day. You’re probably getting a 40 hour work week at the end of the day. Now don’t quote me, but I think “day of coordination” begins around $1500 and could reach up to $1900 depending on date and hours needed. People, this is a STEAL! I see these coordinators all day making things happen! I mean they’re with you or running stuff around before your first eyelash has been applied and all the way into the night when you’ve said “good bye, thank you” to your 175th wedding guest. These girls BUST their butts and put out fires all day! I have to commend them for it! Shoot, they should have a holiday dedicated to them! I personally think they should charge more for what they do (maybe they all will after they read this so act now! kidding). I’d be willing to bet if you asked anyone who had a coordinator for their wedding if it was worth it they’d say it was the best money they spent… aside from the photography of course ;)

Who?: In this post I’m endorsing two coordinators. The reason is I work with these two consistently and consistently get work from them. Are they the only show in town? No. I’ve worked with other great coordinators as well. For the sake of putting one name before the other I’m going alphabetically by last name, Katie O’Malley and Christine Wheat. I contacted both these ladies and asked for some quotes from them and they both dropped what they were doing and emailed them right over. Those coordinators always have it together..

“As a bride you can definitely plan your own wedding but it is really hard to wake up on the morning of your wedding and actually coordinate your own day!  You should be sipping mimosas with your bff’s and getting pampered with hair & make-up, let us worry about the schlepping and details!” – Katie O’Malley

“It’s the one day in your life where you’re the VIP and playing hostess all at once.  When you hire a ‘day of coordinator’, not only do you get someone that is going to make sure your vision comes to life, but this person will help guide you through your day; getting you from one place to the next. This always makes for an enjoyable day and happy memories.” – Christine Wheat

“Investing in assistance on your wedding day just makes sense!  You have already invested a lot of money in the venue, the entertainment, decor and photography, you should be able to let go and make sure all your hard work pays off.  You will not be worried about when this vendor is going to arrive, if the escort cards been placed exactly how you want them and all the details that the coordinator will worry about for you!” – Katie O’Malley

“The traditional elements of coordination are important (cuing, making sure everything runs on time, lining people up, setting up decor) but I also think that making sure vendors are taken care of (bottles of water to the photog), sliding on the brides back-up flip flops at the moment she just can’t bare to walk, making sure the bands dinner is out when they take their break, even making sure that dad sees his daughter being pampered that day, are just as important and make a good day become a great day for all involved.” – Christine Wheat

“The best compliment we receive is usually at the end of the night when either the bride & groom or their parents come up and say “wow we had such an amazing day and can’t thank you enough.” – Katie O’Malley

“In my experience I’ve had many believers and nonbelievers before the wedding day comes.  Afterwards it always amazes me that my nonbelievers come up and say “you were the best investment we made for this whole wedding.” – Christine Wheat

I hope some of future brides and grooms got something from this! Big thanks to Katie and Christine for helping me out with this blog post! I hope I see more of you girls in 2012!!

Peace,
JP

ps. All the New Orleans photos other than the instagrams were taken with my Nikon V1 which is a fun little camera and I highly recommend it. Don’t worry when it comes to professional, I’m still a Canon guy.

While in New Orleans I did the touristy thing! We visited Bourbon St which was fun. It’s just crazy down there.

I did a little speaking thang at Miller’s Lab and mpix pro’s booth… I’ll be speaking at their booth at WPPI this year. Also I have a platform class so please pre board if you wanna hear what I have to say!

My photo BFF Dale Benfield , and I took a morning to explore the French Quarter. Cafe Du Monde, was a highlight for sure. Dale and his wife Meredith are really wonderful photographers in Arkansas and dear friends to me! Follow their blog, its fun!

Here are some of my instagrams while in New Orleans.. I told you guys last year to get on instagram because its the bomb. One year later and I’m still loving it. How about drop it MODERN’s booth all spangled out? Looks sweet, but not as good as Emeril’s gumbo!  Follow me if you don’t, my instagram name is jpelario.

Want one? Come see us This Sunday, January 22, 2012 at Glen Sanders Mansion. The bridal show is the only one we do. The hours are 11:00am – 3:00pm.

Oh yeah!! I shot this awesome wedding before I went to New Orleans. Be sure to check back next week for their blog! Congrats to Danaea and Mike!!

Last but not least, the winnner of the 2011 favorite wedding from the first half contest was Marie and Chris! They won a Luxe frame with this image in it from Millers Lab!! Congrats to you guys! All that campaigning on facebook sure helped!

Peace,
JP

As we know the season started cold! It also started with a photo bomb!

You’re going to see a lot of images this fella Al Woodard as we work with him more than anyone else in this area.

I call this the Alfie slide…

In March 2011 we welcomed Hayden Yund to our wedding scene. It didn’t take her very long to come out of her shell and thats why we love her.

Setting the scene.. freezing my ass off.

Mel & Chris’s wedding. This is what I consider the official kick off to the wedding season since it was pretty much non stop from April thru December this season..

doing what we do..

Big Joe owned a Leica M9 for like 5 minutes, got bored with it and send it back. Thats a common thing with him and his toys.

Al’s another one.. this man buys more cameras than anyone.

After Mel and Chris’ wedding…  our lab Miller’s flew us out to Kansas for a tour of their digs! For a day we got to feel like Jay-Z & Kanye.

Inside the gulf stream… Big Joe and Arnie..

Another Joe from the Millers family and me chilling flying private style. This was easily one of the coolest things that happened in 2011.

Touring Millers Lab, Mpix Pro and Mpix.. This was the gallery wrap room.

They also brought us to a Kansas City Royals game at the K! This was a trip I’ll never forget.

back to reality.. It always seems on a shoot someone shows up when I’m in the middle of doing my thing!

I don’t know a photographer who hasn’t done this shot..

Even in a church and upside down!

Someone told me when you look at the back of your camera its called chimping?

Oh hey Cheryl from CASL

Showing Marie what I wanted her to do here..

I truly consider these girls part of the family. They are the faces I love to see at Saratoga National!

Sean might look like a member of the secret service here but he’s really not as serious of a guy as he lets on to be..

Hahah.. what is he doing?

I’m on a boat!

on my way into Jenny’s wedding!

I’m not even going to lie.. the Saratoga Hilton has the hardest rooms to do a dress shot in. Knowing this I told Jenny to get a dress form for her wedding.

Often a makeup person will ask for a preview of how the bride will photograph.. thats whats happening here..

The making of one of my favorite bridal party shots from 2011..

High five.. and a special cameo of the Mike Emery of the New York Players entertainment group.

Hayden found an air vent and decided to work it.. this was a recurring theme all year. It is called the Hayden wind shot.

say what?

still sliding..

my confident “I got this” face for a ring shot..

Tripod city.

again more of “the photo booth girl”, Hayden.

At Greek weddings the dollars flow.. I could make a joke about Courtney from ACC picking dollar bills off the floor but I’ll be nice.. ;)

another wedding, another hotel room.

“you want me here?”

I’m trying to be all serious and working but you got this one acting a damn fool.

That wife of mine and her faces she makes while she’s concentrating.. Oh thats Maria of Party with Mia on the right..

the Cooperstown wedding!

umbrellas are for girls..

I like this one of us..

up top in a hot balcony with his coat on.. thats dedication!

When Tiffany and George’s classic car decided to stall out on the way to their photo location Hayden jumped out and offered them a ride in my car. Fortunately for them, the car started again.

The famous alley in Troy..

I must say when it comes to hotels in downtown Saratoga Springs I prefer the Hampton Inn.. the room is bright!!

Wedding coordinator Katie O’ is always smiling or should I say “sparkling”

We like to make fun of Katie O’s fanny pack.. ;) She’s always got something to fix stuff. She’s like MacGyver.

Looking cool while sweating in the July heat.

Big Joe getting the classic b&g shot.

I told you Sean isn’t as serious as his secret service head set makes him look.. He also carried these flowers all night long.

Fernando!

I think I asked Dave & Phil to move like 10 times before they realized they were shot blocking me.

So many cameras.

A little excited over something I captured.

Hayden might kill me for this one but she found another fan for the Hayden wind shot.

Lazy videographers..

One thing about us is we blend in. Never do we show up to a wedding looking like a “vendor”.  It’s actually so I can trick the wait staff into feeding me the butler passed hors d’oeuvre’s.. you know, because I look like a guest and not some sloppy vendor ;)

What the hell are you smiling at?

another Hayden wind shot.

I will teach you how to Dougie..

Alayne from Make me Fabulous..

She’s so fabulous everyone wants their picture with her.

Shot blocker!

Me?

Another shot blocker.

Those wedding guests and their cameras..  Is my man serious?!?

My pal, Music Man Mike G!

hahaha!

On Thai of Surroundings taking a much needed break!

What the hell?!? Al forgot to shave!

Feeling tall with my 200 1.8L

Never scared to get a little dust on my fresh gear..

The hurricane Irene wedding. There was no power so Alayne busted out the headlamp!

This looks like a Die Hard movie cover. No hurricane would stop me from getting the shot I wanted!

This is one of my favorites from the whole behind the scenes series..

This is what the wait staff has to do when you best men, maid of honors and parents give 20 minute toasts. Thats why your first course was cold! ;)

Another mirror shot..

Waiting for the bridal party to show up. Amanda spotted them!

The way everyone is smiling tells me I was photographing a kid.. just a hunch.

The walking shot.

I think when this was taken I was talking smack to Cheryl’s camera. Maybe sining? Maybe rhyming something? Maybe we’ll see video of this someday?

A love this one of Melissa and I..

this one too..

I was probably freaking out in my mind here because how the light was dropping and we still needed to do a lot of photos before I could work with just the b&g..

Another Hayden wind shot…

9.10.11…..

Another bride loving her Fleurtacious Designs..

oh hey another mirror.

Wedding coordinator Christine Wheat trying to control the wind from Lake George.

Where is everyone?

Wassup!

I clearly do not know how to operate a Nikon.

I laughed a lot with Jess and Jason…

Satisfied I got the shot in the good light..

time to cut the cake says the wedding planner.

Maniac

Suzanne showing me all her little details.

DJ Paul Malo..

Sean yelling at me with 4 gallons of ice-cream in his hands.

One of the Canfield Casino’s many mirrors.

Isabel knew she was wedding #3 that weekend so she bought me a 4 pack of red bull. What a gal!

This was fun!

Showing Dave how I wanted him to sit..

Who invited this guy????????

Cheryl is scared.. I’m clearly acting like I can’t hear anything.

Hi Christine.

This was a cute little moment with C dub and Amanda.

During the long mass we rested our feet..

Shane, stop playing with your ring and rest against this tree.

Ah the configuration..

Nothing but laughs with Phenny..

October 2011 Elario bridesmaid and November 2012 Elario bride steals Big Joe’s camera.

fun.

Tony G from the NYP still practicing. He’s hardcore.

My shadow making a cameo.

October 8 2011..  what a beautiful day!

Traci of Saratoga National and myself gossiping during cocktail hour.

oh the streets of Saratoga Springs.

Whats a behind the scenes post without Donna??!? She’s so funny!

Bridal parties love her! This one insisted she get in their photo!

I see ya up there..

I find myself in small places. This was the smallest hotel room I shot in all year.

A cute moment with Natalia and Katie O’

Donna yelling at me for taking a picture of her butt…

I brought Lexie along to Mona’s bump session. She just chilled like a good girl in my car..

Tanya and my talented wife Kris Ann..

a bunch of cold bridesmaids..

probably freezing here Carley never mentioned how cold it was..

Then it snowed and Hayden concocted this getup.

When limo drivers don’t get in our photos and tell us to hurry up they can actually be helpful.

A cold, wet and snowy Elario configuration..

While waiting for the elevator I told Christine my pants were clinging to me she said “I have something for that” out came the static guard. Those wedding planners are saviors.

shooting Marisa’s dress.

don’t leave your camera sitting around or I’ll do this!

Goofy fisheye series..

snacking on some friend dough..

Mrs Yund looking goofed..

bugging with Alfie..

She might kill me for sharing this one..

not bad for November 12…

When the groom gets his solo shots the groomsmen like to bust balls. I too will contribute..

First look behind the scenes..

I felt like a giant next to this car..

relieved that all went great and I got the shots I wanted… it was pretty freaking cold and oh yeah the limo never showed up on time which made us like 45 minutes behind… yeah.

what a clown.

Vinny and Kara.

On Jay St with Ashely and Brian..

In the vault at Key Hall getting my ring shot with a  little help from Emily Miller of Key Hall.

Its like a first look with bride and photographer..

“I want you to squat right down like this.”

last wedding of 2011.. freezing cold..

Alfie and Katie O were on it.

I helped Mansion Catering break down the ceremony because thats what you do!

and I’ll end with the last supper for the 2011 wedding season! Happy Holiday’s ya’ll!!

Peace,
JP

Meet Tiffany.. I really loved this spot. The color and light was straight up CRAY!

The image on the right is so Tiffany with that pose.. ;)

Watch out now! A little wind comes and she channels her inner Tyra.

We did laugh a lot on this shoot.

I bet she can’t shoot weddings in those heels.

A little change of clothes and location.. Love these.

135mm 2.0L is a wonderful lens. Nuff said.

I think this might be my favorite from the second set..

these two..

another fun location.

cute.

and we’ll end with the old turnaround. Thanks again Tiffany!