Simcha Tips
It is our goal to preserve your Simcha in a way that will leave you smiling every time you view your album. It gives me the greatest joy to hear the warm feedback and I've received from my clients. In order to fully capture your personal Simcha in the exact manner you wish, I ask that you please tell me what your unique expectations are and how I can work to ensure I give you the “perfect album.” I have included some suggestions that have been proven successful to maximize your Simcha and to help ensure that you get the most out of your portraits. Please review it carefully.
1) Show up on time. There is a limited window of time to take family pictures before the guests start to arrive. If you arrive late that means less time for studio portraits, and more chance of looking stressed in the pictures.
2) Keep in mind the photographer needs around 10 minutes to transition from working with the studio and background to being fully set up in the hall. This cannot be left for the last minute. Whoever needs to be photographed in the studio must show up on time so there is no rush.
3) Take a deep breath, look at the camera, and smile. When it comes time for studio or table pictures please be careful not to be distracted. Invest a few minutes to follow the photographers’ commands and put on your best smile. When you get the pictures, you will be thankful you did!
4) Assign someone to tell the photographer whom to photograph. I do my best to photograph all the immediate family but sometimes this can be a challenge. I do not always know who is the uncle, cousin, nephew, etc. A family member should be in charge to bring the people who need to be photographed to the photographer. This is most important during the studio session. I cannot go searching for people I don't know. If you are expecting a special guest let me know.
5) Be specific as to your expectations. Some families like more dancing pictures and some families prefer black and white pictures. If you have a specific style you would like me to use or would like me to focus certain aspects of the event, I ask that you please let me know.
6) Family pictures are best done with either a mother or father going around the tables being photographed. This is the best way to get everyone at the table to look at the camera.
7) Don’t forget to dance with the Chatan/Kalla. If you would like pictures of yourself dancing make sure you dance a good few rounds.
8) After about 15 minutes of being in the Cheder Yichud the photographer will knock on the door to see if he can start taking pictures. Let me know ahead of time if there are any special needs or requests for those shots.
9) It is accepted that the photographer (as well as the band) partake in the food during the event. This should be taken into account when arranging the tables.
10) Albums are usually ready between one to two weeks. Digital albums and video can take a month. I will make a home delivery to any address in Jerusalem.
11) Keep your cds/dvds with the wedding pictures and/or video safe. The Photographer cannot keep every wedding on his hard drive. Your cds/dvds should be kept in the protective case they came in, and stored in a safe cool place.
12) Payment is preferred at the end of the event. This should be prepared ahead of time.
13) Overtime- 15 minutes before the end of the scheduled time the photographer will require is you would like an additional overtime hour.
14) If you were happy with our services please spread the word. Families who were pleased with our work and referred friends to us make much of our business. If we made you happy please do your friends and us a favor and make the shiduch!
Keeping a Simcha Besimch
1) Don’t forget to enjoy the celebration! I have been to too many weddings and Bar Mitzvot that the parents were so overwhelmed with all the arrangements and concern for what would be that they missed the whole joy of the celebration. As hard as it may be take a deep breath and remember to take part in your Simcha. It will be over before you know it and you don’t want to be left with a bunch of pictures of you looking worried. Your guest will also enjoy much more if their host is having a good time.
2) Plan and delegate. Make sure someone is responsible for all that’s needed. Don’t take everything upon yourself. I have been to a few weddings that the lack of planning caused the Chatan and Kalla to be terribly embarrassed. At one wedding we had to wait a good few minutes under the Chuppa because nobody remembered to bring the Kidush cup, at another it was the wine. At a few weddings after the Chuppa, the newlyweds were left waiting and very embarrassed outside their locked Cheder Yichud because nobody was in charge of the key. I have included a checklist of things to remember and have people in charge of for a wedding.
3) Prepare ahead of time to pay the hall, band, photographer, etc. The last thing you want to have to do at the end of the Simcha is to sit down with everyone and spend a half hour going over bills and writing out checks while your guests are leaving. Find out how much you will owe everyone ahead of time and prepare envelopes clearly labeled hall, band, photographer, etc. This will save you time you don’t have at the end of the Simcha.
4) Prepare the right food for the Chatan and Kalla in the Cheder Yichud. The last thing you want after a long fast and before a long night of dancing, is a plate of food you don’t like. Find out what is served in the Cheder Yichud and bring your own food or drink if necessary.
5) Be besimcha. Once again remember to enjoy. A wedding or Bar Mitzvah can be a very stressful event. Leave all the stress behind you when you walk into the hall. Remember the reason for having a suda, to give thanks to Hashem and joy in the Mitzvah. In the end of the day the flowers, cake, dress, and chicken etc., are not important, rejoicing before Hashem with the new husband and wife, or man, is all that matters.
The true secret behind any great simcha and the wonderful lifetime memories that follow is the ability to translate one’s visions into print, or pictures. In order to accomplish this task successfully, it is important to remember two key points. First, make sure to communicate with the photographer and articulate as to what you are looking for in the pictures. This is very important, as it is often the most important factor to ensure you are translating your ideas into actual images. Second, as stressful and overwhelming as this watershed event may be, please don’t forget to have fun. This is YOUR simcha so please have fun and leave the hard stuff to us.
With that said I am fully confident that in combination with my 15 plus years of experience in this field we will together build a simcha that not only can you celebrate that day, but also with the everlasting imprint these pictures will bring so that it will feel like you are re-celebrating all over again every time you glance at the album. It is recommended that all family members that are involved in putting together and running the event should read this.
© Ayin tova photography-no portion may be copied
1) Show up on time. There is a limited window of time to take family pictures before the guests start to arrive. If you arrive late that means less time for studio portraits, and more chance of looking stressed in the pictures.
2) Keep in mind the photographer needs around 10 minutes to transition from working with the studio and background to being fully set up in the hall. This cannot be left for the last minute. Whoever needs to be photographed in the studio must show up on time so there is no rush.
3) Take a deep breath, look at the camera, and smile. When it comes time for studio or table pictures please be careful not to be distracted. Invest a few minutes to follow the photographers’ commands and put on your best smile. When you get the pictures, you will be thankful you did!
4) Assign someone to tell the photographer whom to photograph. I do my best to photograph all the immediate family but sometimes this can be a challenge. I do not always know who is the uncle, cousin, nephew, etc. A family member should be in charge to bring the people who need to be photographed to the photographer. This is most important during the studio session. I cannot go searching for people I don't know. If you are expecting a special guest let me know.
5) Be specific as to your expectations. Some families like more dancing pictures and some families prefer black and white pictures. If you have a specific style you would like me to use or would like me to focus certain aspects of the event, I ask that you please let me know.
6) Family pictures are best done with either a mother or father going around the tables being photographed. This is the best way to get everyone at the table to look at the camera.
7) Don’t forget to dance with the Chatan/Kalla. If you would like pictures of yourself dancing make sure you dance a good few rounds.
8) After about 15 minutes of being in the Cheder Yichud the photographer will knock on the door to see if he can start taking pictures. Let me know ahead of time if there are any special needs or requests for those shots.
9) It is accepted that the photographer (as well as the band) partake in the food during the event. This should be taken into account when arranging the tables.
10) Albums are usually ready between one to two weeks. Digital albums and video can take a month. I will make a home delivery to any address in Jerusalem.
11) Keep your cds/dvds with the wedding pictures and/or video safe. The Photographer cannot keep every wedding on his hard drive. Your cds/dvds should be kept in the protective case they came in, and stored in a safe cool place.
12) Payment is preferred at the end of the event. This should be prepared ahead of time.
13) Overtime- 15 minutes before the end of the scheduled time the photographer will require is you would like an additional overtime hour.
14) If you were happy with our services please spread the word. Families who were pleased with our work and referred friends to us make much of our business. If we made you happy please do your friends and us a favor and make the shiduch!
Keeping a Simcha Besimch
1) Don’t forget to enjoy the celebration! I have been to too many weddings and Bar Mitzvot that the parents were so overwhelmed with all the arrangements and concern for what would be that they missed the whole joy of the celebration. As hard as it may be take a deep breath and remember to take part in your Simcha. It will be over before you know it and you don’t want to be left with a bunch of pictures of you looking worried. Your guest will also enjoy much more if their host is having a good time.
2) Plan and delegate. Make sure someone is responsible for all that’s needed. Don’t take everything upon yourself. I have been to a few weddings that the lack of planning caused the Chatan and Kalla to be terribly embarrassed. At one wedding we had to wait a good few minutes under the Chuppa because nobody remembered to bring the Kidush cup, at another it was the wine. At a few weddings after the Chuppa, the newlyweds were left waiting and very embarrassed outside their locked Cheder Yichud because nobody was in charge of the key. I have included a checklist of things to remember and have people in charge of for a wedding.
3) Prepare ahead of time to pay the hall, band, photographer, etc. The last thing you want to have to do at the end of the Simcha is to sit down with everyone and spend a half hour going over bills and writing out checks while your guests are leaving. Find out how much you will owe everyone ahead of time and prepare envelopes clearly labeled hall, band, photographer, etc. This will save you time you don’t have at the end of the Simcha.
4) Prepare the right food for the Chatan and Kalla in the Cheder Yichud. The last thing you want after a long fast and before a long night of dancing, is a plate of food you don’t like. Find out what is served in the Cheder Yichud and bring your own food or drink if necessary.
5) Be besimcha. Once again remember to enjoy. A wedding or Bar Mitzvah can be a very stressful event. Leave all the stress behind you when you walk into the hall. Remember the reason for having a suda, to give thanks to Hashem and joy in the Mitzvah. In the end of the day the flowers, cake, dress, and chicken etc., are not important, rejoicing before Hashem with the new husband and wife, or man, is all that matters.
The true secret behind any great simcha and the wonderful lifetime memories that follow is the ability to translate one’s visions into print, or pictures. In order to accomplish this task successfully, it is important to remember two key points. First, make sure to communicate with the photographer and articulate as to what you are looking for in the pictures. This is very important, as it is often the most important factor to ensure you are translating your ideas into actual images. Second, as stressful and overwhelming as this watershed event may be, please don’t forget to have fun. This is YOUR simcha so please have fun and leave the hard stuff to us.
With that said I am fully confident that in combination with my 15 plus years of experience in this field we will together build a simcha that not only can you celebrate that day, but also with the everlasting imprint these pictures will bring so that it will feel like you are re-celebrating all over again every time you glance at the album. It is recommended that all family members that are involved in putting together and running the event should read this.
© Ayin tova photography-no portion may be copied