Sam Carrington

Cleveland Marriott Downtown at Key Center

2008-12-06T15:21:00.001-05:00

Immaculate Conception Church

2008-07-19T11:52:00.010-04:00

Cleveland Indians: Terrace Club

2008-06-20T14:04:00.005-04:00

Williams on the Lake

2008-06-14T12:52:00.010-04:00

Shoreby Club

2008-05-31T15:06:00.015-04:00

St. Paul's Croatian Church / American Croatian Lodge

2008-05-17T14:43:00.042-04:00

DAY 3 Sara and Brian Cleveland Wedding Weekend - Preparation, Ceremony and Reception

2008-04-26T23:59:00.004-04:00

DAY 2 Sara and Brian's 3-Day Cleveland Wedding Weekend - Golf Outing and Cleveland Indians Baseball Game

2008-04-25T23:59:00.006-04:00

DAY 1 Rehearsal: St Angela Merici Church, Reahearsal Dinner: Metropolitan Cafe, and Clubbing: Liquid Cafe

2008-04-24T23:00:00.020-04:00

The slideshow will start momentarily.

HOT-Acrylic Prints

2008-04-22T10:02:00.000-04:00

The Brits have done it again! They appear to be the pioneers in the latest way to display your large prints in your home or office.

The ultimate in a minimalist, modern way to display your photos, acrylic prints are sure to join oversized gallery wrap prints as a popular way to display wedding photos and more.

Print Lounge in the UK seems to be one of the top providers of acrylic prints. They can be found at this site.

This find is courtesy of iCreate Magazine, one of my favorites, straight from the UK.

PicLens- A Great New Photo Tool

2008-04-21T09:59:00.000-04:00

This is one of the coolest tools I have seen in a while!

A Firefox add-on, it allows you to turn your whole screen into a viewer of photos or videos.

This experience is totally unique. Check it out here.

Photoshop Disasters

2008-04-20T14:13:00.000-04:00

Ever feel like you are really bad at Photoshop? This blog should make you feel a lot better.

One of the funniest recent examples is herehttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif

The Power of HDR

2008-04-20T10:17:00.003-04:00

HDR is a great photo technique that allows me to create perfect images by combining multiple exposures of a single image.

Also known as high dynamic range imaging, HDR has been around since the 1930's but was very cumbersome to use until the rise of advances in digital imaging.

HDR is unique in allowing a greater dynamic range of exposures in digital photography. The goal of HDR is to show the whole range of intensity found in scenes ranging from direct sunlight to shadows.

Check out my photo below processed with HDR:

Photo Mosaic

2008-04-15T13:31:00.000-04:00

Want to make a photo mosaic from your photos?

Check out this FREE tool to allow you to unleash your creativity and make a mosaic of your photos.

Follow this link to AndreaPlanet.com to see cool examples and find out more.

Park Lane Villa Ballroom

2008-04-13T21:11:00.010-04:00

Please wait--the slideshow will load momentarily.

CONTEST

The Butler Institute of American Art - Trumbull Branch

2008-04-09T15:13:00.008-04:00

I was scouting a location for an upcoming wedding in Youngstown at The Butler. This amazing sculpture caught my eye and I had to capture it. The Butler Institute is a wonderful gem in Northeast Ohio's impressive list of museums. Check it out if you have a chance.

The Butler Institute of American Art - Trumbull Branch

I am excited to be capturing Paige and Jeff there in June. It is going to be a wonderful celebration!

Thanks to Pat Butto, the wedding co-ordinator, for all of her help.

Chase Scrapbooking

2008-04-09T00:52:00.003-04:00

Chase is working on scrapbooking our trip to Jamestown and Yorktown. Victoria is teaching the class. Chase is creative with a good sense of design and he can quickly put together a scrapbook page.

A Busy Spring

2008-04-09T00:45:00.001-04:00

With weddings, family events and church functions, it has been a busy yet refreshing start to spring.

I will be posting some recent pics soon so stay tuned...

Great Blog for Photographers

2008-04-01T13:49:00.000-04:00

Strobist is a must-read blog for photographers who want to stay on the cutting edge of tech and photography.

I learn a lot from his posts.

Strobist can be found here.

Avon Oaks CC

2008-03-15T14:59:00.002-04:00

Magnetic Photo Rope

2008-03-10T13:57:00.000-04:00

Check out this cool way to display your photos. Photojojo offers a magnetic strip to hang your photos.

Photojojo offers a lot of neat tools to let you display your photos.

Create Rasterized Mural Sized Photos

2008-03-03T13:37:00.000-05:00

Rasterization allows the photographers to mathematically create very large photos from small photos. An image in vector graphics format (shapes) is converted into a raster image (pixels) in the process of rasterization.

The Rasterbator site allows photographers to print tiles to create your perfect mural- sized image on your own high-quality photo printer.

I have been experimenting with this and the effect is very neat indeed.

Cleveland Wedding Proposal Photography

2008-02-06T17:25:00.001-05:00

Wedding proposal photography, capturing that unforgettable moment when a man proposes marriage to a woman, is one of the hottest trends in wedding photography today! Imagine being able to tell the story of your marriage from beginning to end in your wedding album! For a limited time, Sam Carrington Photography is offering a Valentine's Day special for couples getting engaged in the month of February. Get discreet photography of the big moment, a disc of your images and images hosted in your own online gallery for only $99 (regular price $250). Call Sam Carrington Photography at 800-481-9534 to secure your time today!

Disney Weddings

2008-02-06T15:46:00.002-05:00

Thinking about getting married at a Disney theme park or on a Disney cruise? It sounds like a wonderful idea for those of us who always dreamed of being a princess but found that we just never quite made it. Check out the Disney Wedding site for more info. and ideas about princess-style weddings. And don't forget- Sam Carrington is available for travel! Victoria

Bridal Inspiration Boards-Beautifully Organized

2008-02-03T14:23:00.001-05:00

One of the hot ideas cool brides use to organize their photographic wishlists of how they want their wedding to look is inspiration boards.

Similar to the tool used by interior designers to pull together an entire look for a space, Wedding Inspiration Boards give the bride a lovely way to capture all of those clippings from the overstuffed bridal magazines that she cannot seem to stop herself from buying!

Done either digitally from online clippings or with real clippings, Inspiration boards can help you decide which wedding themes best suit your personality and that of your intended as well.

Check out some examples on the oh-so stylish site "Style Me Pretty".

So are you convinced to give Inspiration Boards a try?

Kaboodle.com for Wedding Planning

2008-02-03T14:03:00.000-05:00

Kaboodle.com is a great site for wedding planning. It allows you to create lists (like of wedding vendors) and share them online with your friends and family. The site also encourages you to form or join groups and shop to your heart's content.

Check it out at Kaboodle.com

2008 Wedding Dresses

2008-01-23T14:32:00.000-05:00

Check out these offerings from La Couture dei Preziosi - New 2008 Collection. These beautiful wedding dresses are made in Italy.

The details on these styles are so luscious!

To see more from this awesome designer go to http://www.lacouturedeipreziosi.it

Paige + Jeff Engagement Session

2008-01-20T13:27:00.003-05:00

Paige and Jeff were wonderful to hang out with in Chagrin Falls. It was easy to get great images of them having fun. Chagrin Falls is always a nice place to shoot.

We are so grateful that Elise and Gregg referred Paige and Jeff to us! They are two nice couples to work with.

Blast Your Wedding to Friends Instantly

2008-01-19T14:19:00.000-05:00

Do you want your out-of-town friends and relatives who could not get away to see your ceremony as it occurs? Well, thanks to the miracles of technology, this can happen easily, with your own password-protected site and a little co-operation from your videographer.

From just $495 and with as little as 2 hours notice, you and your wedding can be "LIVE" on the Internet.

With a laptop, high-speed Internet connection and a video camera, you can be online!

No laptop? No problem! You can even rent one of those if you need to.

Check out Vowcast.com to find out more and try a demo.

Wedding Day Weather Planner

2008-01-14T14:34:00.000-05:00

Photo courtesy SamCarrington.com

Looking for the perfect date for your outdoor wedding? Don't forget about the weather! Of course, you can not control the weather but you can make the odds as good as possible that you will have good weather for your big day. Also check on the time of sunset to make sure your photographer gets all the shots you want outdoors while it is till light. This will help you to plan your timeline.

Weather.com Wedding Planning

Mrs. Strong's Invitations

2008-01-13T14:29:00.000-05:00

Mrs John L. Strong is a long-time creator of luxury papers and gifts. Founded in New York in 1929, the tradition continues today. If you are looking for timeless elegance in paper, visit them on the web.

Pretty, Preppy Wedding Invitations

2008-01-06T14:26:00.005-05:00

The preppy wedding is one of the hottest trends in wedding style today. The preppy bride wants fresh, bright patterns and is not afraid to express herself yet she also likes the traditional. Here are some of our favorite sources of pretty, preppy wedding invitations.

--Whitney English Paper
I love the fresh, zippy patterns at Whitney English! Great for brides and grooms who are not afraid to express themselves with a little color and some bold patterns! Whitney English Papers products include placemats, calling cards, return address labels and more.

--Polka Dot Paper Shop

There are many fun patterns at the Polka Dot Paper Shop. They offer lots of nice patterns for a wide variety of events. Their color combinations are very stylish.

Looking for Pink & Brown Bridal Shower Invitations?

What about Blue & Brown Bridal Shower Invitations?

Hosting a classic bridal tea? I love the Polka Dot invitation for such an affair:

--InviteCottage.com

Invite Cottage is a preppy wedding invitation mega-store that carries a wide range of preppy wedding invitations. The best feature they offer besides an enormous selection is fast shipping. You will also find invitations for slew of bridal and wedding events such as bridal luncheons. Have fun checking out their colorful site at www.InviteCottage.com.

--FineStationary.com
Always a wonderful source of classic, preppy invitations and other paper.

I am always on the lookout for more great preppy wedding papers so stay tuned...

A Love Story-Melissa and Paul

2007-12-20T21:48:00.001-05:00

Melissa and Paul were my last wedding in 2007 and they really ended my year on a good note. It was fun for me to re-create some treasured family memories in my photos. Melissa gave me some old photos she wanted re-created and we were able to get them for her wedding.

Kid's Christmas Picture

2007-12-20T13:33:00.001-05:00

This is our latest Christmas photo. I am glad everyone was co-operative this year! Victoria

Sarah and Chris Celebrate With Wreath Monograms

2007-11-19T23:15:00.002-05:00

IMG_6990, originally uploaded by SamCarrington.

Sarah and Chris were absolutely wonderful to work with. They offered me a lot of great ideas about exactly what type of wedding photography would make their day most special. I loved this idea they had of decorating the doors to the venerable-looking church with the first initials of each of their first names. I pray that the big, solid doors closed shut will be a metaphor for their marriage being strong and long-lasting. Congratulations Sarah and Chris!

2007-11-14T02:55:00.001-05:00

Check out a slideshow of shots taken by Victoria while they played at Squire's Castle as I was doing an e-shoot. Click here for the web gallery.

Alternative Gift Registry

2007-10-22T23:59:00.001-04:00

Feel like you need to get rid of rather than acquire a bunch of stuff for your newly married household? Want to focus more on getting guest to give "green"- eco-friendly that is or specific items you may want that may not be available in big box retail outlets? Check out this unusually practical and modern gift registry. You have the ability to ask guest for personalized gifts such as house cleaning tips or any item that any retailer sells. This registry, unlike some of the newer online registries, allows you to note if someone has purchased or produced the item for you.
Of course Sam Carrington Photography welcomes the chance to work with family and friends who want to provide you with photo gifts (gallery wrap prints, extra album pages maybe even a video iPod with your photos loaded on it!).
HT to the brides over at Wedding Bee for reporting on this great new resource.

Tammy and Matt Slideshow

2007-10-17T23:14:00.008-04:00

Watch the Movie- Katie and Frank

2007-10-16T23:54:00.002-04:00

Check out this new slide show format we are testing out. What do you think?

Megan and TJ Wed in Kent, NEOUCOM

2007-10-01T23:35:00.000-04:00

Dear Sam,

2007-09-26T05:31:00.002-04:00

Sam,
I was just wondering what park is it that has the staircase and water
fountain where you took the pictures for Jedidiah and Natasha's
wedding?
Sarah

It's one of my super secret (don't tell anyone) locations to shoot on a wedding day while everyone else is shooting up the street at Wade Lagoon in front of the Cleveland Museum of Art. The word is starting to get out. Occasionally you may have to wait for another wedding party to move on. There are a half dozen other photogenic gardens right next door so you have a variety of looks and location all in walking distance. If it fits into your wedding day schedule. It's my first recommendation among locations to do wedding party, bride and groom photos.
The fabulous iron work gates of the Hungarian Garden, one block south, was great for photos. I was sad to see them removed last year because they were deteriorating. I was happy to read in their September 2007 E-Newsletter that the gates have been restored. I can't wait to use it as a photographic element again. The hard wrought iron ornamentation complements the soft beauty and elegance of brides wonderfully.
Sam

Michelle and Mike: Chagrin Falls, Beachwood

2007-09-16T00:47:00.000-04:00

Michelle and Mike were a joy to photograph. The choice of Chagrin Falls for photos was a good one and the weather was just perfect. Check out a few of the photos that I set up on my laptop as a slideshow after dinner for guests to enjoy at their leisure. The slideshow was a big hit and I am glad everyone enjoyed it!

Geneva State Park Lodge: Wedding, Tammy+Matt

2007-09-15T08:31:00.003-04:00

Megan and T.J. Wedding Warm-up

2007-08-31T11:25:00.000-04:00

What a nice engagement session at Mentor Headlands. Megan and T.J. have a real sense of fun and the beautiful blue sky made a wonderful background.

Wet, Soggy Fun!

2007-08-25T11:37:00.000-04:00

We had a great time with our friends at Fun 'n' Stuff! Chase and Alyssa ended up going through the waterfall and...well you can see the result!

Katie and Frank's Wedding: Mentor, Ohio

2007-08-10T00:45:00.000-04:00

Katie and Frank and their friends were a blast to work with. The two of them are so lovely together. It was a privilege to share in your wedding day!

Sport Shooting On Wedding Day

2007-07-28T23:56:00.000-04:00

I had the privilege of photographing a wedding with my friend, Tom Forest, an amazing photographer. I covered the groom and groomsmen unwinding before the wedding by perfecting their aim. I got to try a little (non-digital) shooting myself. Hey, why was everyone surprised I did so well? After all, point and shoot is what I do for a living!

Father and Son Camping Trip

2007-07-25T11:32:00.000-04:00

Chase enjoyed our trip at our pastor's home for our first overnight camping trip. It was a boy's heaven with go-karts, BB guns and fire- lots of fire!

No Blog Fade

2007-07-18T22:43:00.000-04:00

I have not updated this blog for a while but never fear I did not blog fade. Don't know what blog fade means? I kinda made it up. I was listening to a podcast and the guys apologized for their long absence from podcasting but reassured their listeners that they had not faded away. They said that they did not pod fade.

Similarly, I would like to reassure you, blog reader, that I have not faded away. I did not blog fade. I am just too busy actually photographing weddings and Wedding Warm-up Sessions and meeting with couples and families and editing photos that I have not had time to blog about all of this.

I will be getting some photos up on the blog soon so stay tuned.

Meanwhile, I hope you are having a wonderful summer!

Brie and Dante: Skyland Pines, Canton

2007-07-07T11:42:00.000-04:00

These are some of Victoria's favorites of one of our nicest couples. They have been very patient with us and we appreciate their kindness very much!

Katie and Frank e-session

2007-06-06T17:35:00.000-04:00

Katie and Frank are a lot of fun and looked great for their engagement session. I am looking forward to photographing their wedding!

Natasha and Jed's Wedding Warm-up Photo Session

2007-05-18T01:06:00.000-04:00

What a great couple and a great session! Our timing was perfect and I was able to get a variety of lighting conditions. Notice how dramatically different the sky is the different photos depending on the time the picture was taken. This gives the couple a more widely varied selection of photos for their album and for any favorite prints they may want to have made into a canvas wrap, oversized gallery photo for their home.

Megan and Michael: A Baricelli Inn Wedding Reception

2007-05-15T23:50:00.000-04:00

This lovely couple came all the way from Pittsburgh, PA to celebrate their wedding with their family and friends. This was one of the most intimate and elegant weddings I have photographed. The Baricelli Inn provided a wonderful atmosphere for a wedding reception.

Best of luck, Megan and Michael!

Twins: A Greek Baptism

2007-04-30T00:41:00.000-04:00

These cute twins were baptized in a traditional Greek ceremony. What a wonderful celebration!

May God bless these babies and their family.

Jodi and Justin: Snowstorm Wedding

2007-04-08T23:19:00.000-04:00

What a great wedding! Despite the freak snowstorm (who could have expected this in April?), Jodi, Justin and their guests had a terrific time and high spirits. I sure am glad I left my house in plenty of time to get there: It took me about 3 times normal to get there in the slippery icy conditions.

Wedding Canvas Wraps- Gallery Style

2007-03-23T13:00:00.000-04:00

One of the more interesting new products showing up in wedding photography studios around the country are canvas wraps. Canvas wraps are large images of your wedding in which the image partially wraps around the edge. The final effect is stunning and produces the kinds of images one finds in an art gallery. These images are showing in homes as a way to provide a keepsake image and home decor all at once. Made with the fine-art quality archival inks, these prints are meant to be heirlooms.

Sam Carrington Photography is pleased to offer gallery-style canvas wraps for our customers. Couples will choose the photo or photos that they would like to have enlarged and we will handle the rest.

We are excited to be able to offer this cutting-edge form of image display for Cleveland-area couples.

New Engagement Slideshow- Jodi and Justin

2007-03-18T12:01:00.000-04:00

Wow! What a great couple to photograph! They were a lot of fun despite the cold and windy weather downtown. This is probably the coldest engagement shoot I have ever photographed but Jodi and Justin were real troopers. It was nice to get inside the Rapid Transit for a little warmth.

Cleveland's bustling and colorful warehouse district provided a terrific urban background and the scenes of the Brown's Stadium were fun too.

I can not wait to photograph this wonderful couple's wedding.

Click on the link below to check out a full-size slideshow.

Maple Sugaring

2007-03-13T18:10:00.000-04:00

From Victoria:

Once the kids and I read the book Sugar Snow by Laura Ingalls Wilder based on her Little House on the Prairie series, we were intrigued by the centuries-old process of making maple syrup from maple tree sap during the slow thaw of late winter/early spring.

Ever since, we have made a point of attending the local maple sugaring harvest festival at Lake FarmPark in Kirtland, Ohio each year.

We had a great time this year, as always. After riding the horse-drawn wagon up to the sugar shack, we learned all over again about the painstaking process of making maple syrup from sap.

After sampling maple sugar candies, warm maple syrup, maple tree sap (a clear, sweet liquid) and coffee brewed on the fire sweetened with maple sap, we went on a hike with the horse drawn sap collector in the nearby woods.

Always a muddy, messy production, Chase especially enjoys this part!

We take sap-filled buckets off of trees and empty them into the sap collector.

Then it is off to the gift shop to purchase some fresh maple syrup (and a snack or two for the kids.

Oh, and I cannot forget to mention the yummy pancake breakfast, served all day. Even Alyssa ate this time.

We had a great time and we are already looking forward to next year's maple sugaring.

Spring Has Sprung!

2007-03-13T16:32:00.000-04:00

What a wonderful warm and sunny day we have here in the Cleveland area today! Me and the kids went for a walk after we finished our lessons this afternoon. Chase said, "We haven't been on a walk in, like, a year or something!" It does feel good not to be so cooped up under mountains of snow or hiding from the bitter cold. Hurray for spring!

Victoria

Last Chance Sledding- In March!

2007-03-09T16:47:00.000-05:00

Fun in the Snow

2007-02-26T19:10:00.000-05:00

Chase wanted to build a "snow cave" so we did. I got the brilliant (or crazy, depending on how you look at it) idea of using the snow blower to make a pile of snow that we could use for our construction. I started having a lot of fun and even cut a path through the backyard so Alyssa could run through without wearing snowshoes. Check out a mini-slide show that my wife made using some of her photos taken with her point-and-shoot Canon Elph.

Our Westlake Office

2007-02-06T21:51:00.000-05:00

Battle the Cold: Snuggle Up!

2007-02-06T08:59:00.000-05:00

We encourage everyone to take advantage of this extreme, frigid weather to cuddle your loved ones. February is the month that we think "Love" and cold temperatures give us a good reason to hug the ones that we love. Hugs and kisses make both the giver and receiver feel good (and warm too) and should be spread around liberally especially since the weather is so very cold now.

So go ahead, make someone you love happy and give them a hug!

Baking Bread

2007-02-05T22:13:00.000-05:00

Looking for a Diamond?

2007-01-30T11:24:00.000-05:00

Would you prefer a "real" smaller diamond or a larger synthetic diamond for the same price? The Wall Street Journal's recent article "Gem Wars" discusses the rise in popularity of synthetic diamonds that are virtually indistinguishable from naturally-mined diamonds, even the eyes of experts.

Companies that currently dominate the mined diamond market are understandably afraid that the lower prices and high quality of synthetic, lab-produced diamonds may erode their current grip on the buying habits of brides and grooms.

This is what happened to pearls. As the quality of synthetic pearls increased, prices and sales of real cultured pearls have plummeted.

Synthetic diamonds are increasingly available for this wedding season. Talk to your jeweler if you want to know more.

Check out an interesting article on the topic here.

Our Independence Office

2007-01-26T18:56:00.001-05:00

After I left my appointment yesterday I could not resist stopping to get a shot of the outside of the office building. I whipped out my Canon 5D 16-35 mm 2.8 L (I carried my small Tenba there with me) and got the shot.
I was reminded of my old architectural photography days. I still enjoy getting a great building shot when I can.

I really love our new location at Crown Centre. We are using offices managed by PS Executive Centers. The facility is wonderfully maintained and the staff is excellent. This office is in addition to our PS managed offices in Westlake and Beachwood to provide greater convenience to couples who live or work in the Independence area. This office also has wonderful highway access. My first meeting with clients at this office was this morning and it went well. It was kinda snowy getting out of there but that is Cleveland winter. I don't mind it.

Personalized Service the Key

2007-01-23T11:50:00.000-05:00

I was listening to a podcast about providing the best for clients and the main message was that providing personalized, attentive service is what clients want most.

Funny thing is, it is what I want most as a professional. Providing personal service and building relationships with my clients is just plain FUN! I can not imagine running my business any other way.

Because I get to know my clients, what they want and what is important to them, I enjoy photographing them and their event even more.

Let me know if I am doing a good job with providing personalized service. E-mail me anytime.

Website Woes

2007-01-21T21:29:00.000-05:00

We are currently updating our servers so our website is down (bummer!) It should be back up by tomorrow, better than ever. Stay tuned...

Apples to Apples: Choosing a Wedding Photographer

2007-01-21T02:25:00.000-05:00

You are at your local bridal fair. You have tasted cakes, seen fashion shows and sat at lovely reception tables. You have started to narrow your focus as you decide on what theme and style of wedding you want. Then you come to the wedding photographers. Oh my! There are so many choices, prices and styles of photography. Budget or budget-buster, traditional or photojournalistic, small or large studio, paper proofs or online proofs? The choices seem endless. How can a bride determine which studio might be right for her? The answer is- ask a lot of questions! Ask yourself what is important to you and find out from potential studios if their wedding photography services are right for you. Consider these important areas to ask questions about when choosing a wedding photographer:

The Studio. Are events photographed by a single photographer with full creative control or are there multiple associate photographers as well? Will you get to meet your photographer before your wedding? Who will handle your questions, problems or complaints? Is there an office manager who will return your e-mails or calls promptly? Can you get two photographers for your larger wedding?
The Equipment. Will your photographer be using state-of-the-art lenses, bodies and flashes? Digital equipment is updated fairly frequently. Will he or she come to your event with duplicates of gear in case of equipment failure? Will your photographer come to your event with a range of multiple lenses or just one or two?
Photography Coverage. Are you planning to have an engagement photo session? Would you like your photographer to cover your getting ready or after-party on your wedding day? Certain photographers offer full-day coverage of your wedding with no time limits. Some photographers charge by the hour and full-day coverage can seem pricey. Others charge in blocks of time. If you get a photographer who charges in blocks of time, when the time is up and you decide you would like more coverage would they be able/willing to stay longer?
Photography Style: Do you prefer more traditional posed portraits of your wedding day or more relaxed candid shots? Do you prefer mostly color, black and white or some of both? Do you want detail shots such as close-ups of your dress or bouquet?
Proofs and Prints. Would you like your family and friends to be able to order high-quality prints and gift items featuring your wedding photographs online? These prints may go directly to you or they may be sent to the photographer first. Would you like to be able to proof your wedding album online from the comfort of your home or office? Do you prefer paper proofs and traditional offline ordering?
Wedding Albums. Is a wedding album important to you and your family? Would you like a professional to design your wedding album ? Do you prefer a traditional album or a contemporary magazine-style or coffee-table book album? Is real leather important or is imitation fine? How much is each side (page side) in the album? Is the album custom-made or a template using all one size image (for instance an album with only 8”x10” prints versus an album with a variety of sizes, style and orientation of prints based on telling the story of your wedding day)? Would you like your photographer to pre-design your album for you to review to expedite the album-design process? Would you prefer to come in to the studio to design your own album or would you prefer to do it online?
Pricing. Are services and products priced separately or bundled? When is the money due for separate items? Are there any additional fees (such as those for travel)? How much of a deposit is required to save the date? Is it refundable? Typically, deposits are not refundable. When is the balance due? Is more money due at the receipt of the album?

Asking lots of informed questions of yourself and of your potential wedding photographer will set you the right path of choosing the very best photographer- for YOU!

Trends in Wedding Photography

2007-01-21T00:54:00.000-05:00

Sam enjoys spending time networking with photographers from all over the United States. By keeping up with what his colleagues are being asked for from brides for their wedding photography wishes, Sam keeps his pulse on what is hot. Here are just a few trends
that Sam has noticed lately:

Trends in Wedding Photography

It’s the shoes. Bride’s shoes are taking center stage. With so many glamorous styles, wedding day shoes have taken an important role in the wedding and therefore they are noticed and captured by the photojournalistic wedding photographer. Whether they are fancy flip-flops or the fabulously elegant Jimmy Choo's brides want to remember the shoes they married and partied in.
High fashion, magazine style photography. Brides and grooms want to see themselves as the ads they see in magazines and on television. Wedding photographers want to help you create the fantasy you seek. Although these looks can be challenging to photograph without professional models and lots of takes, that is why post-wedding photo-editing is so important. A photographer will often spend more time touching the images with special effects after the wedding than he or she did photographing the images.
Large quantities of images. Today’s brides and grooms want images and lots of them and wedding photojournalists love to meet this need. Top photojournalistic wedding photographers may capture over 1000 images at every wedding they photograph. So many photos to choose from makes for fabulous albums with lots of fresh detail shots and candid action scenes.
More emphasis on photojournalism. Photojournalism refers to the natural documentation of your wedding day with much less emphasis on traditional, posed portraits. Brides and grooms increasingly want to see themselves and their guest enjoying themselves without the self-consciousness of being asked to pose by a photographer. Photojournalists who are wedding photographers are becoming more and more creative as they create beautiful collages highlighting the details of your day. The photojournalistic approach is especially known for capturing raw emotion and that explains why it is so powerful.
More stylish albums. Brides are preferring albums that are less traditional and more in a magazine layout style and coffee-table book presentation. Albums today come in a dizzying array of covers and finishes and include such ultra-modern choices as brushed aluminum. The best albums feature lay flat pages that have a panoramic view when opened allowing for extremely creative and emotional layouts.

Well, that is just a tiny slice of a look at what some of the trends are in wedding photography. Do your research and find out what trends are best for you to follow. Have fun!

Fun in the Snow and Mud

2007-01-19T19:18:00.001-05:00

Finally, snow! Chase especially is so excited that winter has finally begun. Bundle up guys, we will be going out to play a lot!

Updated Pricing on Website

2007-01-19T14:48:00.000-05:00

We have spent some time this week revising parts of the website at samcarrington.com.
The pricing has been updated to reflect our $750/no minimum to buy package with full details about album pricing and special features. Please contact us if you have any questions.

We will be adding more information about Sam's candid, on-location child portraits soon. Check back often.

Today's Bride Bridal Show A Huge Success

2007-01-15T09:21:00.000-05:00

We had a terrific time meeting so many brides yesterday at the Today's Bride Bridal Show. The show had a record number of brides and their friends and family. The place was buzzing with excitement. Brides were so well-prepared and asked great questions. Despite the crowds, everyone was in great spirits.

We have many entries for a raffle and we will picking the winners later today. Winners will be notified by e-mail. Winners will receive a FREE engagement photo session and a Wedding Day Spa Pampering Gift Bag.

Remember, we will continue offering our special pricing for Today's Bride Bridal show participants through January 31, 2007. Please see our website at SamCarrington.com for all the details.

We will be following up with some of you this week regarding our conversations about specific dates. We would like to meet with you so that you can view a sample album from the company we use, GraphiStudios.

We look forward to getting together with many of you in the coming weeks.

Good luck as you continue your wedding planning!

New Year, New Path

2007-01-02T22:55:00.000-05:00

As the old year ends and a new one begins, I am making the final moves to expand my wedding photography career to launch Sam Carrington Photography as a full-service wedding photography studio.

Until now, I have had the pleasure of photographing weddings with the top studios in the Cleveland area: Herb Ascherman Photography, New Image Photography and LCD Photography and Videography. I have had a great time working with these guys but I am excited to begin pursuing my creative vision to its fullest.

In preparation for this move, I have been studying with wedding photography guru Gary Fong and I have been inspired by his dedication to personal service and excellence in wedding photography and album design. I am excited to bring Gary's West Coast sensibilities to the Cleveland area and I look forward to serving brides, grooms and their families for many years to come.

Backyard Winter Camping

2006-12-29T21:22:00.000-05:00

2 Great Westlake Weddings

2006-09-13T17:49:00.000-04:00

The past few weeks have been busy with various fix-it projects around the house and the wife and kids being sick.

But my last two weddings have been terrific.

For one, the ceremony was held at the bride's parent's lakefront home in Sheffield with the reception at Wagner's Country Inn in Westlake.

This past weekend, I had the pleasure of photographing guests and wedding party members all the way from Germany at the Lakewood Country Club in Westlake. What an interesting bunch of guys!

I have a soft spot in my heart for Westlake: My wife and I lived in Westlake when we learned that we were pregnant with our first child. We still have friends in Westlake and enjoy frequent trips to the fabulous Crocker Park. Maybe our next move will be back there...

Cleveland Wedding Reception Venue: The Club at Hillbrook

2006-08-30T11:54:00.000-04:00

Congratulations to Michelle and Eric!

This past weekend's wedding at The Club at Hillbrook in Chagrin Falls was absolutely beautiful. The wonderful, lush grounds of Hillbrook provided a perfect backdrop for a glamorous couple and their lively family and friends.

Many thanks to the bride and her family for their wonderful hospitality at the home of the bride and groom prior to the ceremony. Special thanks to the mother-of-the-Bride for her wonderful strata. It was very, very tasty!

Consider The Club at Hillbrook and the wonderful Hillbrook Inn for your wedding and wedding reception. This venue certainly makes a gorgeous backdrop for wedding photographs!

Plus Size Wedding Dress: A Bride's Guide

2006-08-25T23:39:00.002-04:00

For the plus size bride who wants to look great on her wedding day we offer the following tips on finding the perfect dress:

Devote much time to finding the absolute perfect dress. Do not feel that you must compromise and wear a dress that is anything less than stunning on your wedding day
Make sure to take a friend or relative with you for your dress shopping and fitting who will be brutally honest with you. You need to know how you appear to others to look your best- you do not just need your feelings to be protected. If a particular plus size wedding dress looks horrible on you it is because that dress does not flatter your figure but if you keep looking you will surely find one that does!
Choose a dress store with personnel who are sensitive to and experienced with the needs of the plus size bride searching for plus size wedding dress.
Never tolerate anything less than the utmost respect and courtesy from the attendants at the store or boutique from which you are searching for a plus size dress. I have been horrified at some of the stories of how plus size women are treated in clothing stores! Just walk away and find a friendlier place to spend your money.
Browse through plus size fashion magazines and pictures of other plus size brides to get a good idea of how you might look in a particular style.
Do not be afraid to express your own unique style as you choose your wedding dress. If you have your heart set on a short sleeve dress yet feel your arms are not attractive, consider a beautiful wrap to go around your shoulders for instance.
Consider your comfort. No bride is able to look great if she does not feel great. If you are stuffed into a too-tight dress and barely able to breathe, your discomfort will almost certainly show through in your wedding photographs.
Think about an A-line dress. This classic style can do a lot with a plus size figure by adding accents exactly where needed and de-emphasizing problem areas.
Research all possible alternatives to find the perfect plus size wedding dress: online, previously worn fashion stores and even large wedding dress chains such as David's Bridal which often has a plus size wedding dress section.
Certainly remember the option of having your dress custom made by a skilled seamstress. This may be the best option of all for the plus size bride who wants the perfect wedding dress of her dreams.

Good luck and happy shopping!

Helpful Links:
Plus Size Bridal
Lane Bryant Bridal
David's Bridal
Darius Cordell
The Bridal Shop
Peggy Lutz

Cleveland Wedding Reception Venue: The Country Club

2006-08-14T10:26:00.000-04:00

Such an elegant and traditional wedding reception venue for Cleveland brides, I really had a great time shooting this weekend's wedding there. The weather was great (just a little chill in the air in the evening) and a lovely time was had by all.

Many thanks to the mother of the bride for her compliments.

Wedding Photography Tips From Las Vegas

2006-08-14T09:53:00.000-04:00

Check out this wedding photography tip list and checklist from the local Las Vegas newspaper. I believe one of the most-often forgotten tips when brides choose a wedding photographer is to be sure that:

1.You meet the actual photographer you will be working with if you choose to work with a large, multi-photographer studio.

2.You choose a photographer with a great personality that you find easy to work with.

Hope you find these helpful!

Click here for the article.

Cleveland Wedding Reception Venue: Shoreby Club

2006-08-07T10:21:00.000-04:00

Always such a lovely setting on the lake, this weekend's wedding at Shoreby Club was no exception. The highlight of the evening from my point of view was the sunset photos I was able to capture of the bride and groom.

This reminds me of a wedding photography tip for brides: Make sure your wedding photographer is familiar with your venue or if he is not, make sure it is his practice to check out the venue before your wedding day.

If I had not been familiar with Shoreby, I doubt I would have been able to get the great photographs that I did in the relatively limited time I had to get them.

Want to learn more about this Cleveland wedding reception site? Check them out here.

Kirtland Country Club-Keeping Cool Despite the Heat!

2006-08-03T19:19:00.000-04:00

A big thanks to the folks out at Kirtland Country Club. I photographed a wedding there last (soggy) weekend and despite the ravages of nature, everyone had a wonderful time. The staff worked overtime to insure that everyone was comfortable and the whole event went off very well. Here's to a drier, cooler weekend coming up!

Great Wedding Reception Venue in Cleveland Area: LaCentre in Westlake

2006-08-03T17:14:00.000-04:00

Last weekend, Sam had a great experience at the relatively new LaCentre in Westlake. One of the Signature Event Centers properties, this state-of-the-art facility boasts all of the best amenities to make your wedding a success.

With the elegant ballrooms and well-appointed spaces, Sam got some awesome shots. Choosing a facility with impeccable design and styling will help to make your wedding photography a terrific success.

Check out LaCentre of Westlake here.

Source for Vintage Wedding Dresses- eBay!

2006-07-24T14:14:00.000-04:00

From Victoria Carrington's Desk:

eBay has become a remarkable mega-site putting together buyers and sellers of almost any product imaginable. The world's first and largest Internet auction site can even supply brides with a vintage wedding dress.

Looking for a vintage wedding dress on eBay is easy. Just go to eBay.com and type "vintage wedding dress" or "antique wedding dress" into the search box in the upper right corner of the home page of eBay.com.

A recent search revealed a total of 418 items appearing with the keywords "vintage wedding dress" which included some sewing patterns for vintage wedding dresses.

Current bids on wedding dresses ranged from 75 cents to $700.

What a great way to get a unique style dress at potentially a great price.

Possible Pitfalls

When buying any vintage clothing, sizing can be a problem. Sizes and their interpretations have change through the years and you may order the size you wear in today's clothes that may turn out not to be the right size at all.

Also, clothing may have rips, odors or stains that may be difficult or expensive to repair or remove and this should be considered in your final bidding price (how much you are willing to pay).

Some steps you can take to help ensure success should you decide to buy a vintage wedding dress on eBay:

---Deal with reputable sellers. Check the feedback of any seller by clicking on their name icon. A lot of negative feedback may be a signal that you should not trust that seller.

---Ask sellers for exact measurements of clothing. This can help to eliminate problems with matching a vintage size to today's sizes.

---Read descriptions of the dress carefully. Most sellers try to be very specific about any defects or problems with their items to keep their buyers happy. If you still have questions, feel free to e-mail the seller. Most sellers will get back to you soon to clarify any concerns.

Even if you decide not to buy a vintage wedding dress on eBay, it is fun and romantic to look at the dresses and imagine what it may have been like to get married decades or centuries ago. Enjoy.

Victoria sells vintage items and antiques (no wedding dresses!) on eBay. Check her out in the "community" tab under the name "mommy_doc".

Intercontinental Hotel Cleveland

2006-06-16T11:03:00.000-04:00

The Intercontinental Hotel Cleveland, located near the Cleveland Clinic, is fast becoming one of the hotspots for wedding events in Northeast Ohio. I have been consistently impressed with the level of service and attention to detail given to guests by the staff. As one of the newest, most luxurious and elegant facilities around, the Intercontinental is now one of my favorite wedding venues in the Cleveland area. Check out a photo tour of the facility at http://www.cleveland-conferencecenter.intercontinental.com/.

How Many Guests Are You Inviting to YOUR Wedding?

2006-05-22T21:54:00.000-04:00

Do you think you are average or above or below average in the number of guests invited to your wedding compared to other brides planning their weddings across the world?

The average number of invited guests to a wedding is 178 according to the wedding experts at AFWPI (Association of Wedding Professionals International).

Another interesting statistic: According to the AFWPI, Las Vegas ranks as the city with the second-highest number of weddings in world. And the surprising number one city with the most weddings yearly in the world?

Instanbul, Turkey.

Read about these and other interesting wedding factoids at the AFWPI website when you just can't take any more wedding planning details and you need to unwind!

Lake Erie Nature Center in Bay Village

2006-05-20T22:53:00.000-04:00

Want a nature-filled outdoorsy reception, shower or picture-taking venue for your wedding in the Cleveland, Ohio area? Consider using one of the facilities in the extensive Cleveland Metroparks system. Today, I am highlighting the Lake Erie Nature Center in Bay Village, on the the West side of Cleveland.

I met a friend of mine with her twins at the nature center for the planetarium show. As our families settled into our seats we were looking at a slide show featuring recent events at the Center.

Imagine my surprise when one of those events was a wedding! Once I had a good look around the Center after our tour of the solar system, I can see why a nature-lover or animal lover might enjoy wedding festivies there. The center is nestled in the Metroparks across from Huntington Beach. There is a lovely pond on the grounds completed with waterfowl and turtles. There are many other animals housed inside the center as well.

For some rental options, like renting the entire facility, you must be a member of the center. For room rental, membership is not requirement.

Check out the website here and let us know if you decide to take your wedding to the wild side!

Romantic Weddings: 25 Handcrafted Accessories and Keepsakes

2006-05-20T21:58:00.000-04:00

I discovered a lovely book for those crafty brides who want to create some of their own memorable keepsakes for their big day. Alternatively, Romantic Weddings by Rebekah Meier could make a handy guide for the crafty friend or relative who has offered to help make your wedding day extra special and personalized. Romantic Weddings details projects for your ceremony or reception and for members of your wedding party. The pictures are beautiful and the instructions seem clear although I have not made any of these projects.

I have included a link to one source of this book. I am sure there are many other options.

Cool 3D Wedding Planning Software for the Organized Bride

2006-03-27T20:51:00.000-05:00

Now I think I have seen everything. A bride can budget, plan and organize her wedding with MY STYLE WEDDING software plus have a 3D virtual tour of your event. One of the attractive features is the price, only $49.95 USD. I bet my wife wishes she had this program when we planned your wedding. The makers of the software claim that it is more help than your mother in-law. Video Demo,
Website Link

Cleveland Wedding Forum

2006-03-23T19:05:00.000-05:00

I wish I had been on wedding forums when I was planning my wedding. Although you can not believe everything you read on a forum, you can certainly pick up great hints and ideas from them. A good local wedding forum for Cleveland weddings is on Cleveland.com and can be found here.

The postings are up-to-date and though there are not many posts, some of the threads are pretty interesting. Two vendors that I used in my wedding, Julianne's Bridal and Jerry Bruno's bands, were mentioned and I loved both and will post about them later.

Have a great evening!

Buy a Designer Wedding Dress Online-BrideCouture.com

2006-03-20T10:57:00.000-05:00

I recently came across a company with an innovative idea to help brides find the perfect designer wedding dress at a discount. BrideCouture.com has devised a wonderful way to offer high-quality products at discount prices by harnessing the power of the Internet. Although I have never ordered a dress from there, I certainly would have if I had known about it when I was getting married. The best thing about BrideCouture.com in my opinion- their money-back guarantee on your order. If you do not like your dress, you may return it to them. It seems like a no-lose proposition.

Of course, you do not have to order through BrideCouture.com's website. You could also fly into Austin, Texas where the BrideCouture.com boutique is located and even make a whole vacation of it! Their website has links to lots of fun stuff to do in Austin, Texas if you choose this option. I have heard that Austin is great fun and an up and coming city for the "Creative Class". I would like to venture down there one day.

If anyone has had any experience with BrideCouture.com, please leave a comment.

"Bless the Broken Road" by Rascal Flatts Video

2006-03-18T19:43:00.000-05:00

Hello. This is Victoria, Sam's wife, posting on Sam's blog. Today is Sam's birthday so I am posting this in honor of him. I love you Sam and I think of you and I and our wedding day when I hear the song Bless the Broken Road by Rascal Flatts. I am pleased to share my love of this song all brides who are in the process of choosing their wedding music.

Wow! Bless the Broken Road by Rascal Flatts is such a great wedding song! A friend of our's used it as the Bride and Groom's first dance and it was very touching. I heard again on the radio today and thought I would blog about it to let our readers know. Here are some of the lyrics:

I think about the years I spent just passing through
I'd like to have the time I lost and give it back to you
But you just smile and take my hand
You've been there you understand
It's all part of a grander plan that is coming true

Every long lost dream lead me to where you are
Others who broke my heart they were like northern stars
Pointing me on my way into your loving arms
This much I know is true
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you
Rascal Flatts
View the video in a new window by clicking on the link below:
BlessThe Broken Road by Rascal Flatts

Wedding Photography Tip: Your Veil

2006-03-18T19:30:00.000-05:00

Watch that veil! When choosing your head covering for your special day, remember to consider the visibility of your face for your photographer in order to ensure the best possible photographs of your walk down the aisle and your ceremony.

If it is important to you to have photographs of your face during your entry and your ceremony, you may want to choose a small, unobtrusive veil that may just cover the back of your hair or as an alternative, you may want to choose a tiara.

Remember, your pictures will be placed in an album designed to last for generations. Think about the way you would like to be remembered in your wedding album.

Want Your Own Wedding Website?

2006-03-17T11:52:00.000-05:00

Check out a site called eWedding.com. The site promises free basic websites with upgrades available for a reasonable fee. You upload your own photos, add content to their templates and poof! you have your own wedding website to show off to your family, friends, co-workers and anybody else you please.

eWedding.com promises to be a cool tool for today's modern, tech-connected couple.

Have fun designing your website to celebrate your special day!

Everyone's Talking About Dubai

2006-03-13T21:18:00.000-05:00

It must be the The Bride Show Dubai 2006.

Brides and bridal shows go beyond borders.

"Leading exhibitors from around the world gear up for The Bride Show Dubai 2006.
See what brides have to choose from in another part of the world, from last years
Hundreds of exhibitors from over 12 countries around the world who will be taking part in The Bride Show Dubai 2006, the Middle East's largest and most distinguished exhibition for brides-to-be and their families in addition to wedding day organisers, are gearing up to showcase their products and services at the event." Full Article

(HT: ameinfo.com)

Celebrity Wedding Watch

2006-03-12T20:46:00.000-05:00

Cristina Aguilera Defends Her Wedding Pictures

"Pop star Cristina Aguilera has defended her wedding photography agreement with Ok! magazine - insisting the exclusive deal was made to show people her relationship is genuine, and not for money or publicity." Full Article

From World Entertainment News Network
(HT: teenhollywood.com)

Great Sites For Wedding Photos

2006-03-11T08:16:00.000-05:00

Cleveland.com, sponsored by the Cleveland Plain Dealer, featured a list of wedding photo locations a few years ago. Much of the list is still current. This list will give you unusual ideas of places to pose for your wedding photos. Your photographer should be familiar with many of them.

Top Christian Wedding Songs

2006-03-10T08:00:00.000-05:00

The about.com Christian music guide has compiled a list of Top 10 wedding songs. You may find some inspiration there as you search for the perfect music for your wedding day.

The list is here. (warning- you may want to be sure your pop-up blocker is on as about.com tends to have pop-up ads).

Are You a Nature Lover?

2006-03-09T08:55:00.000-05:00

If you like the idea of getting married among nature, consider some of Ohio's lovely MetroParks. Lake Farm Park, located in Lake County, has special wedding packages available. They offer a number of different options and will work with you to make your wedding day very special.

Check out their wedding webpage here.

"The Wedding Album" Ready For Prime-time

2006-03-08T21:13:00.000-05:00

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