john-michaels.com Blog

For Immediate release:

Fort Myers, Florida – January 20, 2010 - WeddingWire, the nation’s leading wedding technology company, just announced John Michael’s Photography has been selected to receive the 2010 Bride’s Choice Awards™ for Wedding Photography!

The annual Bride’s Choice Awards™ recognizes and celebrates excellence in quality and service within the wedding industry, as determined by recent reviews and extensive surveys from over 500,000 newlyweds.

John Michael’s Photography based in Fort Myers, Fl is among the top five percent of all vendors in the WeddingWire community, which includes over 100,000 wedding professionals across the US and Canada. Awards were given to winners across 19 different service categories, from wedding venues to wedding photographers.

“We are excited to recognize and honor the success of the top wedding professionals within the WeddingWire Community” said Timothy Chi, WeddingWire’s Chief Executive Officer. “The annual Bride’s Choice Awards™ program has given us the unique opportunity to highlight the best wedding professionals in each region as reviewed by brides and grooms who have utilized their services in the past year.”

We are happy to announce that John Michael’s Photography is among the very best Wedding Photographers within the WeddingWire Network, which includes WeddingWire and Martha Stewart Weddings. We would like to thank our past newlyweds for nominating us for the 2010 Bride’s Choice Awards™.

For more information, please visit our WeddingWire Storefront today at http://www.weddingwire.com/biz/john-michaels-photography-fort-myers/54f644ba41c6ab9e.html ~OR~ visit our web-site at http://www.John-Michaels.com

About WeddingWire, Inc.
WeddingWire is the only online wedding planning resource designed to empower both engaged couples and wedding vendors. WeddingWire enables engaged couples to search, compare and book over 100,000 reviewed wedding vendors nationwide, from wedding photographers to wedding cakes. WeddingWire also offers an online community and a suite of cutting-edge planning tools, including wedding websites and wedding checklists, all at no charge. For wedding vendors, WeddingWire provides free online management tools creating the only market opportunity that gives businesses control over their clients, reviews, leads and performance. In addition, WeddingWire has partnered with Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc. (NYSE: MSO) to provide its network of local vendors and online wedding-planning tools in the Weddings section of www.MarthaStewartWeddings.com. For additional information, please visit www.WeddingWire.com.

Like most families you may have a photo collection that consists of the official photos such as the wedding album, the posed school and graduation photos as well as many holiday snaps. Imagine adding to your collection a beautiful professionally shot family portrait, maybe even including the pets, that lovingly expresses the story of your family at one brief, irreplaceable moment in time. Why settle for only your snapshots in the album, when you can have a work of art for your walls that displays to the world what is important to you and the ones you love?

A Family Portrait is a once-in-a-lifetime event for most of us. A beautifully created, tastefully framed Family Portrait of adequate size becomes an Heirloom you will treasure forever. It makes an eloquent statement. It is a lasting testament to you and others about your feelings toward your spouse, your children and your children’s children. It will bring you more enjoyment than any other possession, especially when the children are grown and gone from home. At John Michael’s Photography we take pride in providing these types of services to you at a substantially lower cost than our competitors.
At John Michael’s Photography nothing is more important to us than family. Our Fort Myers Florida location offers varying backgrounds, both indoors and out. We are experienced and knowledgeable in family portrait photography. Our goal at John Michael’s Photography is to create a relaxing, fun environment that facilitates beautiful photography for you and your family.

Our Philosophy

Since 1998, John Michael’s Photography has been creating beautiful portraits of the most important aspects of life for families. Through the years we’ve had the pleasure of specializing in a distinct variety of photography. Our repertoire includes weddings, family portraits, childhood photography, senior portraits, school and sports league, individual and business photography. Through every stage of life we have been here, watching our clients grow and change. Helping our clients capture some of those amazing moments has been incredibly rewarding as photographers and incredibly humbling as a professional photography studio.

We’ve also grown and changed over the years as we continue to keep our photography creative and fresh while maintaining our commitment to quality, service, and to offering a great photography experience. John Michael’s Photography and our photographers are committed to establishing and maintaining relationships with our clients that last for years to come.

About Our Studio

Our studio is located in Fort Myers Florida. Fort Myers is a beautiful community that includes beaches, parks, commercial and residential properties. We have tree-lined streets, front porches, white picket fences, lush grassy lawns, golf courses, and of course some of the most impressive sunsets on our many beaches. Our unique location, offers us endless outdoor areas to photograph in, as well as several beautiful indoor locations capable of accommodating everything from family photography to newborn portraits. We have been professional portrait photographers for weddings, couples, families, high school seniors, and sports leagues all across Southwest Florida in Lee County including areas like Naples, Sanibel, Captiva, Fort Myers Beach, Bonita Springs, Port Charlotte, Charlotte Harbor and many other areas across this beautiful country. We are completely open to locations, whether it is at your home, the beach, a park, or out on the golf course. That is your choice. There are no limitations to size. It can be 1 single person or 50 people.

About Us

A family team, John, Deanna and Christopher are the heart and soul of John Michael’s Photography. John’s experience in photography, along with his graphic arts background gives him a unique approach to his photographic work, while Deanna’s hairdressing design skill, creative eye, and feminine sensibilities foster the “touchy feely” side of John Michael’s Photography. John’s son Christopher is “learning the business” at the young age of 14 and show’s his natural talent in the work he produces. As a family portrait photographer, John enjoys photographing families in a natural, relaxed way. John also enjoys exercising his talents as a professional photographer when it comes to weddings, events, senior portraits, portraits of children, school and sports teams, and couples portraits. The studio also has a wonderful, hard working support staff, dedicated to producing those amazing photographs and professional portraits in a timely and proficient manner. Together, they make a great team, and the best part is they have fun!

Call us today to book your session! 239-560-6901

Casual Dress Ideas for the Beach Wedding

Wedding planning entails looking over at least a thousand of details about the event. Because there are so many things to plan, one can easily miss out small important details. However, one aspect of the event that can never be overlooked is of course, the bride’s wedding gown.

Typical wedding gowns mean elaborate fabrics, intricate designs and a long train. But if you want to have a casual wedding like a beach wedding for example, it is all right to don a simpler wedding dress and surely, it will still make you look beautiful and elegant.

If you do not have any idea on casual wedding dresses, here are some ideas you can use for your beach wedding.

Sundress

A cotton or linen sundress is the perfect beach wedding gown as it speaks of comfort, ease, and freedom that the ambience of the beach exudes. The great thing about this dress is that it does not trap heat and moisture in the fabric, which is great especially because the atmosphere at the beach is humid. Moreover, the bride is also able to move freely with this kind of dress.

Suit

For most brides, they think this option is not so lady-like but still there are a growing number of women wanting to get married in a suit, whether it is a pantsuit or a Jackie O style suit. Comfort and confidence are the qualities that a suit spells.

Maxi-dress

Maxi-dresses are fun and whimsical just like the atmosphere at the beach. You can opt for a knee-length or floor-length maxi dress and choose between white and cream.

Strapless or spaghetti strapped dress

Strapless and spaghetti strapped dresses look flattering in almost every type of figure. They are also elegant, beautiful and comfortable. It is no wonder many brides getting married with a beach theme prefer this type of dress.

Bikini top and sarong

If you are on the conservative side, you probably will not go with this option. But if you are daring and you love to wear bikinis, you may want to consider this idea. Just be careful since there are some ceremonies that do not allow such attire.

Other options include halter dress, sleeveless v-neck dress, dress with sweetheart neckline, ankle length dress, tea length dress and knee-length dress.

Tips on Choosing A Beach Wedding Dress:

1.Go for colors that complement the beach. Yes, you can have a white dress for your wedding to have that traditional feel. But you also add touches of other colors such as blue, cream, tan, or brown that also complement the beach scene.
2.Leave those shoes behind. Instead of fussing at which pair of shoes to wear in your beach wedding, consider the idea of going barefooted. You would love the feel of cool sand squishing between your toes while you make the momentous walk down the aisle, plus you save money from skipping an expensive pair of shoes. Not to mention, being shoe-less also means comfort and freedom.
3.Check the temperature of the area. If the wedding location is humid, go for fabrics that can let you breathe. If the area is a little windy, get something to wrap you up.
Getting married on the beach can be both fun and challenging. So is choosing a beach wedding dress. With the line-up of ideas in this article, you will have a less difficult time choosing the right dress for your memorable beach wedding event.

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Source: This article has been submitted by Angela White, an EzineArticle.com expert who wrote these tips for Wedding-Favours.ca, the premier Canadian e-commerce store and blog when it comes to wedding place card holders and wedding party favour ideas.

So your wedding is over, and you get your photos back after the honeymoon (but hopefully before the honeymoon’s worn off) and you are amazed. How did your photographer get all of these great shots when you didn’t even notice he or she was there? Even your anti paparazzi groom was able to let his guard down! Your invisible photographer seemed to know exactly how and what was going to happen and when. But is it really “just the photographer”?

No, I’m not implying we’re secret agents; I mean to say that we often do the job of a wedding coordinator. Let me explain my first point. I can’t tell you how many times a bride will ask us which leg the garter goes on or someone will seek advice while pinning on the boutonniere or ask how to cut the cake. We photographers familiarize ourselves with customs such as the father putting a penny in the shoe and wearing something old, new, borrowed, and blue. Not only can it help you as a bride out when you’re stumped, but having those photos will help you remember those details you might have put a lot of thought into that you might have otherwise forgotten. Maybe a used handkerchief isn’t something you’d normally pay any heed, but when it’s something borrowed from your great grandmother, it suddenly becomes a big deal. Knowledge of this is crucial for a professional to capture the significance of a custom, and believe me; we’re all about catching details.

Going hand in hand with this is that photographers are constantly aware of aesthetics. You are concerned with the visual outcome and are looking to us as experts to get you in your most photogenic state. It would really be poor service on our part if we failed to notify you of a really large piece of lettuce between your teeth. You as a bride expect us to make sure you look your best. This extends to the surroundings as well. During your consultation (yes, you should have one) you might want to discuss how to beautify the surroundings while you get ready such as hanging your dress on an elegant hanger instead of leaving it in the dry cleaning bag. Also discuss any potential lighting challenges that could be changed such as choosing the indoor reception hall with the beige walls instead of the facility with black walls. Following your photographer’s advice in the planning stages now can make for more ideal photos later.

Many circumstances involve depending on us for direction and here’s where we get into the timing issues. Look at this scenario: We have a DJ/emcee who never announced the first dance when he was supposed to. In fact, he was 45 minutes late and the bride and groom had a schedule they wanted to follow because they only had limited time at the reception. I finally took it upon myself to tell the DJ to go ahead and make the announcement and play their song because I was aware of the bride’s plans. It was much appreciated by the happy couple who were too busy mingling to notice the time. It turns out the DJ didn’t even know they expected him to announce this (rather, he forgot) because of failure to plan. True story. In many cases, other vendors look to us for instruction. We are often asked if it is OK to turn down lighting, announce the bridal party, etc. It is often up to us to help your day flow well and all without you even noticing! After all, we’re probably the only vendor that sticks around the entire day. We make sure we know when and where to be so as not to miss out on crucial photo opportunities (donning the dress, bride’s entrance to ceremony, garter toss, toasts, need I say more?). A good photographer will go over with you an approximate time for group shots, intimate shots, etc. and give you an idea on how long it should take. No one wants to wait on the photographers for an hour of pictures; unless of course, you already knew how long it would take thanks to your conscientious photographer and you prepared to have hor’deuvres served during an official cocktail hour to keep your guests happy.

So you thought photographers just show up and take pictures all day, huh? I won’t even get started on what we do after the wedding is over! That’s the start of an entirely different article.

John Michael has been a Fort Myers, Florida Professional Photographer since 1999. His work has been published in local newspapers, commercial brochures and national magazines. With numerous weddings to his credit, John has established himself as one of the leading wedding photographers in Southwest Florida. Visit www.John-Michaels.com for more information.

1. White Is Not Right It seems obvious and yet so many guests seem to forget. Material that is mostly white with a small pattern is a no. White suits are a no. If there’s a question…no. White garb is meant for one person only and that’s the bride! Always. End of story.
2. Skip the Shorts Shorts at a wedding? It’s just wrong; even if you dress them up with a blazer or a pair of sexy heels. Guys, no matter how preppy you make ‘em, and, girls, no matter how stylish Charlize Theron looks in them, shorts just won’t do at this affair.
3. Keep it Classy Up-to-there miniskirts, shirts with more buttons undone than not, and bustier tops are best left for a night out with the girls (or that person you really want to wow). We know you’re sexy, you know you’re sexy, but a wedding isn’t the place to show off. Play down the sassy and play up the classy.
4. Coattails Don’t Cut It If it’s a black tie wedding, men are going to be renting a tux or digging one out of storage, so tap into your inner James Bond. But keep it in check — a classic or modern-cut style is the best bet. Stay away from extra frills like tails, ruffles, loud colors, or satins which are inappropriate and overly fancy. Even if you plan to be the funny man in a powder blue ’70s number, refrain. All attention should be on the groom (and his tricked-out honey, of course).
5. All That Glitters Is Not Gold Stay away from anything lamé, sequined, shiny, or glittery. It’s distracting (both in person and in those precious keepsake photos). Again, the newlyweds are the star attraction, so resist the urge to be a “shining star.”
6. Lose The Leather Leather rocks (where would our shoe collection be without it?!) but it’s not the best choice for anything above the ankle on a day of “holy matrimony.” Leather jackets and skirts are probably too casual, and leather pants are just too flashy. Even if the bride and groom are hip enough to roll with it, opt for something more sophisticated.
7. Mad Hatters Whether you wear a baseball cap to show your allegiance to the A’s, disguise thinning hair, or hide a bad hair day, a wedding (even the most casual summer ceremony) is the last place to don one. Go hatless and hit a home run!
8. Give The Wild West A Rest Bandanas, cowboy boots, and ten-gallon hats all make it onto the list of what not to wear. Unless the betrothed couple has planned a themed bash and requests that guests get decked out in ranch gear, save these goodies for another day, pard’ner.
9. Dress to the Nines Don’t be too cool to don your finest fixings. Honor the couple’s union by leaving your jeans at home — even the really nice ones! Unless the invitation mentions a beach barbecue or luau, forego the casual fare and plan on turning it up. It’s a wedding after all!

How NOT to Choose a Wedding Photographer

You may have seen it on practically every wedding photographer’s web page and in bridal magazines. It seems that everyone wants to give the bride and groom advice on how to choose a wedding photographer. Most of what I have read is sound and useful advice, but I thought it might be helpful to write an article that explores this in more detail. So let’s look at the mistakes brides and grooms often make in choosing their photographer.

Over the past several years as a wedding photographer, I have had the opportunity to speak with hundreds of engaged couples. I am always surprised by some of the criteria many of them use to choose their wedding photographer. Here are the top 7 mistakes I feel many brides and grooms make when selecting a photographer for their big day:

1. RELYING ON WEDDING VENDOR REFERRALS. This may be the worst mistake of them all. Many wedding vendors trade referrals with other wedding professionals with no real knowledge of the other’s work. And yes, many times it’s an honest referral based upon working a few weddings with one another. But how much can a DJ, for example, really know about the quality of a wedding photographer’s work? Often times this type of referral is just based on the fact that the DJ has worked with the photographer at a number of events and liked him or her. Did the DJ ever see the final result? Did they see the wedding album? Probably not.

2. JUDGING A PHOTOGRAPHER BASED SOLELY ON A “GREATEST HITS” WEDDING ALBUM PORTFOLIO. There is nothing more misleading regarding a photographer’s talent than looking at a sample wedding album that is a compilation of their best shots at 50 different weddings. An album such as this may be useful in understanding just how great an image they are capable of producing, but that’s really all it tells you. Ask to be shown an album of one entire wedding from start to finish. A good wedding photographer should be able to produce complete albums, which will give you a better idea of how your own wedding will be photographed. Virtually anybody with a decent camera can get one great shot per wedding!

3. PAYING TOO MUCH ATTENTION TO THE SALES PITCH. Every photographer can tell you great things about themselves and so they should. But in your initial wedding consultation, look for photographers who are interested in YOU. A good photographer will want to know the types of photography styles you are interested in and what you are looking for in a wedding photographer. A photographer who asks you lots of questions about your wedding and your preferences will probably also be more likely to listen to you and have a better sense of what you want. If the wedding meeting is just one long lecture from the photographer, move on to the next photographer. Find someone who cares.

4. NOT ASSESSING THE PHOTOGRAPHER’S PERSONALITY. This is a biggie. You will spend the entire day with your photographer. If you don’t get along with him or her, it can ruin what should be the happiest day of your life. Rude and bossy photographers can also cause problems with your guests. Find a photographer who is easy to talk to and who you can establish good rapport with.

5. CHOOSING “UNCLE BOB” TO SHOOT YOUR WEDDING! With digital cameras now in practically everyone’s hands, there seems to be a lot more “wedding photographers” out there. The fact that a friend or relative is good with his new digital camera does not mean he can handle a wedding. And what about file backups? Does your family photographer know how to do a correct backup, or even have the proper computer hardware to do it? In my business, I bring a portable hard drive to every wedding and the images are uploaded and checked on the spot. When I get back to my studio, the images are uploaded to my main computer and then backed up on an external hard drive. Once that is complete, 2 back up DVD’s are burned. Only then will I erase the cards I used for the wedding. You don’t want your memories to go up in smoke along with a burnt out hard drive.

6. CARING ABOUT THE PHOTOGRAPHERS TYPE OF CAMERA EQUIPMENT. In this day and age, a photographer can make great images with any medium to high quality camera. Wedding photographers who spend an inordinate amount of time discussing the type of equipment they use may not be the right person for you. What you really want to know is what type of images they can produce and if they can show you plenty of samples. It’s the final result that matters. If you are happy with what they show you and everything else checks out OK, you can assume their equipment is adequate for the task.

7. CONFUSION OVER PRICING. If you can’t understand the pricing or packages, keep looking. Package pricing, if flexible, is the best way to go. It allows you to have a better idea of what your final bill will be. Ala carte pricing can confuse and be misleading. You may assume that something you thought was included in their coverage costs extra. Like a wedding album! However, a photographer who only offers strictly structured packages should also be avoided. Ultimately, you want to find someone who will work within your budget and give you exactly what you want. If you don’t see a package that fits your needs, ask the photographer to let you design your own.

This list was not intended to intimidate people in the market for a wedding photographer. It should, however, help you understand what’s important. Find a photographer with a style you prefer and who shows you images that you love. Use that initial consultation as a way to get to know your photographer and develop rapport. Talk to some former clients to get a sense of how the photographer behaved at the wedding. If everything looks good, you are ready to make your decision!

John Michael is a Fort Myers, Florida Professional Photographer. His work has been published in local newspapers, commercial brochures and magazines. With numerous weddings to his credit, John has established himself as one of the leading wedding photographers in Southwest Florida. Visit our web site at http://www.John-Michaels.com for more information.

John Michael believes that receiving your pictures should not be a hassle, but a gift.
Rather than charging “bookoo” money for prints, packages, and ownership, John gives you a FREE large resolution photo CD– the ability to make enlargements and use your pictures in any way that you choose.

When you select John Michael’s for your professional photographic needs, you only pay for the package that meets your needs. This includes digital photo enhancement to ensure the best quality pictures at no extra charge.
In addition, John will also print any individual pictures at your convenience for a small additional fee.

Our services are at standardized rates and are not complicated or pricey and we come to you! Simply put, you will know exactly what you’ll spend before you arrive for your session. Our rates always include master retouching of your finished images which guarantees to make you look your best. The session fee includes approximately one hour of photography, 25-50 images. We also include a private online proof gallery with viewing and print ordering for 4 weeks.

• Executive Headshots: $75.00 delivered on CD ready for web and print.

• Individual Portraits: $150.00 includes CD and 11 X 14 in color or black and white.

• Model and Glamour: $275.00 delivered on CD ready for web and print.

Retouching services that we provide:

John Michael’s Photography takes great images and makes them even better with professional retouching services. Retouching is provided on your final order to soften lines and eliminate blemishes- all at no charge.

Plan and Prepare…

At John Michael’s Photography, we understand that you want a variety of portrait styles. While mom and dad may want to display formal poses, friends may prefer a more casual style. Offers may vary from studio to studio, however at John Michael’s you’ll always have a wide variety of session options to choose form to meet your portrait needs.

Clothing Suggestions
• Bring multiple outfits (formal and casual) that express who you are
- Solid colors and long sleeves photograph best
• Bring matching shoes, socks, and accessories to complete your outfits
• Iron wrinkled clothes prior to your session
• Consider bringing an additional suit, letter jackets, uniforms, sports equipment, and musical instruments to express your interests, making your portraits personal.

Just for Girls
• Paint your nails (clear or neutral colors work best)
• Style your hair before your session, choosing a comfortable style you know looks good
• Apply concealer and powder if necessary to minimize blemishes and then stop worrying! Portrait retouching on your final order can eliminate small blemishes and under-eye circles
• Apply make-up before you arrive and bring product with you for touch-ups if necessary
• Limit sun exposure prior to your portrait session avoiding burns or tan lines
• Get a good night’s sleep
• Friends and family are welcome to assist you with your session or join in on the fun!

Just for Guys
• Trim and clean your finger nails
• Style your hair before your session and bring a comb or brush for touch-ups if necessary
- Consider getting a haircut approximately one week prior to your session
• Shave before your session
• Limit sun exposure prior to your portrait session avoiding burns or tan lines
• Get a good night’s sleep
• Friends and family are welcome to assist you with your session or join in on the fun!

Visit our Web-Site at www.John-Michaels.com or
Call us at 239-560-6901 to book your session today!

Stress.

It seems to be something that can eat away at all of us. It’s how you handle the stress that matters and that’s one thing I hear from many of the couples I photograph.
“John, you kept us happy and smiling when we were really heading down.”
Or, another time when I heard, “John, you took all of the worries and concerns away and let us enjoy what was ours, the day.”

I guess it was then that I began to realize just how much stress couples go through. Did I go through that same stress on my wedding day? I don’t recall, but I do know it was a great day. So as your day gets closer, don’t let the worries or concerns bring an extra weight to your shoulder. Try not to put to much emphasis on certain aspects of your day. It will all happen and chances are pretty good it will not begin to happen until you’re there anyway.

Take a couple minutes to take it all in. From waking up through the reception. Just take it in. Don’t worry if the limo arrives somewhere around 10 minutes late, or if the sun is out or not. It just happens that so much of your day is out of your control, so stop and ask yourself, “why do I have to control this?” The answer, you don’t.

Let your day unfold and realize that it will be beautiful no matter what the weather, or no matter what happened to your dress. Don’t worry if you’re 10 minutes late to the ceremony, it’s your day! Why should you worry or stress at all? YOU SHOULDN’T!

So you’ve done what you can do, let everyone else worry for you now. It will all be beautiful. But don’t forget to stop and take that beauty in.

What I am saying is to just stop. Go into a corner and look around. Look at all the smiling faces, the tears, the laughter and all the little things you put time into. Look at it all and take it in, hold it near and know that this day, YOUR DAY, is a beautiful thing!