Houston wedding photographer Eri Reyna understands that a great wedding photographer captures all the important moments while making you feel totally at ease. Reyna will document the story of your engagement and the excitement and emotion of your wedding day through playful, candid photos and beautiful portraits.
We’re thrilled to welcome Houston-area wedding photographer Rachael Binford, primary photographer and creative director of Binford Creative Photography, to the blog! Rachael is a self-described art lover who is obsessed with capturing candid wedding photos and preserving memories. We love her natural photography style and how she catches the personalities and joy of each wedding couple on their big day. We asked Rachael to highlight five of the most unforgettable wedding photos she has taken in the last few years and explain why she loves each of them. Keep reading to see her amazing photos and her thoughts on each of them in her own words!
First Looks — A first look has to be one of my favorite memories from a wedding day. It’s a break from tradition, so it’s not for everyone, but the reactions captured in the photos are SO worth it! The excitement is almost tangible as the bride walks up to the groom! And once the groom turns around, the reactions are absolutely unforgettable. Laughter, tears, and the most radiant glows imaginable, first looks are so intimate, raw, and unpredictable!
Aisle Reactions — As the doors open, the guests stand and the bride emerges. I immediately turn to the altar, where the groom either has the brightest smile of his life or is trying as hard as humanly possible to contain the flow of tears. If that’s not enough to melt your heart, the parents are usually right there with him, turning from the groom to the bride. It’s like you can visually see their hearts bursting with happiness. Witnessing these first glances reminds me of just how powerful love is.
Ceremony Recession — This is the first time we get to see all of the couple’s anxieties or stresses melted away and just living in the overwhelming moment of pure bliss. They’re married!
Details — I love photographing a couple’s wedding day details. So many people have put endless amounts of creativity and energy into them and it makes me smile when I see couples use these touches and opportunities to let their guests know how much their presence means.
Grand Exit — They’ve planned, they’ve said, “I do,” and they’ve partied. Now it’s time for one more big hurrah and one last chance for a powerful candid moment — a moment that captures all of the couple’s emotions throughout the day! Whether it’s sparklers and a romantic dip, tossing confetti and laughing like crazy, or arms victoriously thrown in the air while spraying guests with Champagne (my personal fav), I always get the impression that the grand exit is reflective of the entire day in just a few moments. This is how the couple is beginning their life together.
These photos are just a snapshot of of Rachael’s work. If you want to learn more about working with her and her team to capture unforgettable wedding photos, be sure to schedule a consultation with Binford Creative soon!
Photos: Binford Creative Photography
WEDDINGS IN HOUSTON SPRING 2015 | REAL WEDDING FEATURE
Liz & Vinnie ~ March 22, 2014
Pediatric cardiology fellow Liz met Vinnie, an applications engineer, at a bar on St. Patricks’s Day, when neither was out searching for love: “We both had gone out in our rattiest clothes, ready to just have fun with our friends,” Liz recounts. In the tradition of their first encounter, Vinnie’s proposal, offered to Liz at the top of a mountain they had just hiked in the pouring rain, was less than glamorous affair. But their wedding at Discovery Green’s The Grove made up for all that, done up as it was in gold, glitter and blush, against a backdrop of chic, sleek cream and navy. For her special day, Liz wore not one, but three knockout gowns, including a shimmering vintage halter-neck sheath with a stunning draped back. And a very special day it was for the bride and for her mother, whose recent kidney transplant meant that she could fully enjoy the festivities. “I thank God every day fort the selfless gift of organ donors,” says the grateful-and gorgeous-bride.
Photographer: George Street Photography ~ Venue: The Grove ~ Consultant: Kat Creech Events ~ Flowers: Dream Bouquet ~ Ceremony Backdrop: Darryl & Co. ~ Lighting: Bright Star Productions ~ Honeymoon: Napa Valley
You KNOW you want to attend the sure-to-be-mind-blowing I Do! Bridal Soiree at Hotel ZaZa (for which tix, darlin’, are going like hotcakes). But perhaps you’re a wee bit on the fence about baring a little bridal skin for a boudoir photography shoot. Here’s the deal: When you snag your I Do! @ ZaZa tickets by midnight Sunday, Sept. 1, you will be automatically entered to win a $500 editorial boudoir shoot with one of the best in the business: the outrageously talented and exceptionally professional Steve Lee. Lee’s reputation for making brides of all shapes, sizes and comfort levels feel secure, sexy and confident at their boudoir shoots is well earned. And his photos? Ahhh-mazing.
So what are you waiting for, honey? Purchase your tickets to the Oct. 6 I Do! Bridal Soiree at Hotel ZaZa, our most sophisticated and stylish show of the year—and you could win what will ultimately amount to the best freakin’ gift your groom will ever get: you, at your most bridal beautiful, for his eyes only. Forever.
All brides who buy their tickets to Houston’s hottest bridal event by midnight Sunday are entered to win; winner announced Tuesday, Sept. 3 on Facebook. And remember, the I Do! Bridal Soiree at Hotel ZaZa WILL SELL OUT. It always does.
Good luck…hot stuff.
Photos: Steve Lee Weddings
Your wedding photos, like your wedding vows themselves, are meant to last forever. You can make sure those photos capture you in all your bridal glory by following these foolproof steps to picture perfection.
Step 1: Hire a good photographer. The best wedding photographer is the one who makes you feel comfortable at your very first pre-wedding meeting, and who understands exactly how you want your wedding photos to look and feel. Make sure the photographer shows you actual wedding photos he or she has shot, and talk to the photographer’s former clients for feedback and referrals. Don’t rely on eager but inexperienced family members or friends who offer to save you money by snapping pix on your big day, but do let them take photos of their own and send you the best shots as keepsakes.
Step 2: Have your makeup done by a professional. A pro makeup artist knows how to utilize cosmetics to make your face look its best under specific photo conditions (harsh lights, flash, sunlight, etc.). Do a run-through with your makeup artist prior to your wedding, and make sure you feel comfortable with how you look. On your wedding day, have touch-up supplies at arm’s reach (oil blotting sheets, pressed powder, lipstick and lip liner, mirror, etc.). Last but not least, two words: waterproof mascara!
Step 3: Practice in front of a mirror. Take a tip from Tyra and spend a few moments rehearsing your smiling and posing. Closed- or open-mouth smile? Right side of your face or left? You’ll get a sense of your preferences and be ready for your close-up when the photographer points and shoots.
Step 4: Work your angles. Don’t face the camera head-on, but rather tilt your body 45 degrees, even in portrait shots. Also, follow the lead of your favorite celebrities, and slightly cross your legs when standing, placing the heel of your forward foot near the toe of your rear foot. This position will help to narrow your silhouette and avoid the dreaded “deer in the headlights” look.
Step 5: Check before the click. Prior to any posed photo shoot on your wedding day (directly after your ceremony, cake-cutting, etc.), check your hair and makeup, and make any necessary adjustments. Smooth down flyaway hairs, and blot or powder the shine off your nose and forehead. Our favorite pretty-picture trick? After touching up your makeup, press your palms to your cheeks, hold for a moment, then release. This will give your face a natural, rosy glow and minimize the overdone look that sometimes mars wedding photos.
Step 6: Relax. Before your photographer shoots, take a couple of deep breaths and lower your shoulders (but keep your neck long and chin slightly down—again, what would we do without Tyra??). Feel the love surrounding you, savor the joy of the moment and smile.
