Wedding Details

A Wedding Photographer knows that every little detail that a Bride has worked so hard for, has to be photographed as part of the documenting process.

The Bride can simply keep the pictures to dig into them as time goes by after the Big Day, or they can be also used for background purposes on the final Album.

So each time we cover a Wedding, we look everywhere, for any special different things that we can see that are there for some reason, and it has the Bride’s thought/creativity/illusion/fantasy/statement/point of view… champagne flutes engraved with the names of the Bride & Groom, guests seating cards, table centerpieces, gifts, wedding cake, favors, etc., following the  Wedding Theme chosen.

Being Artists give us freedom to take subjective shoots, but never forgetting we are offering a Photography Service which compromises someone else’s memories and in that Service, there’re also “Details” not to be missed.

Al Ojeda Photography

info: ida@alojeda.com – 908 240 3240

Why booking a Full Time Photographer for your Wedding

A Full Time Photographer will be there for you most likely anytime, unless he/she/them is/are shooting a Wedding.

Full Time equals 24/7 committed to Professional Services, at hand for any questions or concerns without being distracted on other activities/jobs… will call back right away, will email back in few minutes…

Al shooting a wedding in Nantucket, MA

Full Time is having no restrictions on day/time/location for meetings with couples.

Full Time will provide you with your Big Day images within a week or two of the Event, you get a super fast turn around for your online galleries…

Full Time translates in taking the time to carefully enhance, correct color/balance, crop if needed, each image provided to you…

Full Time means him/her/their income comes only from Professional Photography Services, so maybe their prices might be a little over the part timers (though, not necessarily), but certainly obtaining all previous advantages mentioned…

At Al Ojeda Photography, we are committed Full Time to our Brides & Grooms.

info: ida@alojeda.com – 908 240 3240

A day with Luz María Bobadilla in NYC

A little about her: Luz María Bobadilla is a talented classical guitarist born in Paraguay, South America, in the heart of a musician family. Her virtuosity appears as a child. She studied, piano, traverse flute, classical, popular and jazz guitar. Among her masters, she stands out Cayo Sila Godoy, direct heir of the tradition traced by Agustín Barrios and also collector of his work which remained scattered through out the world.

Luz Maria by Al Ojeda

She has toured the world with her musical treasures to more than 40 countries at such stages as: London, Paris, Amsterdam, Berlin, Rome, Brussels, Stockholm, Madrid, Geneva, Lisbon, Mexico, La Havana, Caracas, Bogotá, Sao Paolo, Buenos Aires, and many Cities in the USA.

Another portrait of Luz Maria by Al Ojeda

Luz María has numerous albums, the last one, “20 Aňos de Luz” (“Twenty years of Luz”), includes a variety of styles with her mastery execution: Sakura, Danza Paraguaya, Recuerdos de Alhambra, O Sole Mio, amongst others…

Luz Maria doing her art by Al Ojeda

In her last visit to USA a couple weeks ago, we had the honor and pleasure to share a whole day with her visiting Manhattan. Behind an extraordinary international renowned artist, there is a warm and sensitive human being.

Luz Maria walking in Brooklyn by Al Ojeda

Thanks Luz María, for sharing a day in your life with us, we are definitely looking forward to continuing a long friendship.

At the Top of The Rock in NYC

Images taken by Al Ojeda on March, 2010.

Pedro Luis Raota, an Outstanding Photographer

When  I was a child and I started  reading  Life Magazine, I was amazed with wonderful pics that told  me stories  that happened  far away from my small country in South America, and I started dreaming in becoming a Photographer  to  travel around the world  taking pics.

Then, I studied Photography and I started to understand the magic of “writing with the light “, and the importance of a perfect composition.

From those days, I remember that one of the Photographer’s that influenced me most was Pedro Luis Raota, he was an Argentinian Photographer that in his 52 years of life won 3000 Gold Medals in Photography Contests.

He died in 1986, and we can say that his photographs show the drama of life but with a touch of irony and humor.

He was criticized sometimes because some of his photographs were previously set up, but he always responded: “a Photographer imagines a picture, and if that picture he imagines doesn’t exist, he will create it just like a Film Director does”.

Pedro Luis Raota to me is the Rembrandt of the Photography due to his mastery in controlling the light, and impeccable composition.

Al Ojeda

How many pictures should the Couples receive from their Photographer?

Nowadays, a Photographer takes more than 1500 pictures in a regular 8 hours Wedding, some shoot 5000 !!!

In the old times that was impossible to achieve due to the cost of the film. Today, in the Digital era, that has changed for good in some ways. The Photographer can shoot the same pose, family picture, or any picture, several times (there is no film wasted). If in one image, someone blinked, in the next one provably not.

Wedding Gown by Al Ojeda Photography

Every Wedding is unique, so depending on the hours covered, how many guests are attending the Wedding (petit/medium or more than 200), quantity of locations (different locations for getting ready, ceremony and reception) and situations created, the Photographer can easily shoot over 1500 images. From all those images, you have the repeated (just in case), the unflattering ones, etc.

Talking about an 8 hour coverage Weedding, we have decided to not provide the couples with large amounts of pictures (unless they really want all of them), we select the best and repeat very few… maybe a little more than 400 pictures, some times over 500.

More hours coverage, like in a Traditional Indian Wedding, it could go up to 800 since there a lot more steps to cover in the whole process…

A regular Album has in between 60 to 75 pictures, so if you have to select from 1500, that’s a main struggle, while if you have to narrow down from 500, it makes the newlywed couple’s life easier… It makes that process smooth !!!

Al Ojeda Photography

info: ida@alojeda.com – 908 240 3240

Manhattan Bride Magazine

On Monday we attended a nice productive evening, a Networking Cocktail Party organized by Rick Bard and Liz Condaxis from Manhattan Bride Magazine at Bricco’s in NYC.

It was a pleasure to finally get to know Rick and all fellow Wedding Industry colleagues that advertise in his successful Magazine.

The party was great in all ways enjoying cocktails and hors d’oeuvres.

We were happy to see old friends from a Venue where we have shoot some Weddings along with a lot more Wedding Vendors as talented Florists, Make Up Artists, a lady who makes beautiful hand crafted Jewelry, a super talented Fashion Designer, Videographers… long list, lots of business cards shared… we heard great ideas for our business and spoke about our experiences.

The world today has changed and keeps changing everyday, you really have to keep abreast of all new trends and technology… These Networking meetings are a fantastic way to do so, building strong relationships….

Thanks again Rick !!!

Al & Ida from Al Ojeda Photography

Commercial Photoshoot

Some images of a Photoshoot for a Company that makes Table Lamps.

Al Ojeda Photography

info: ida@alojeda.com – 908 240 3240

Make Up Artist… Hairstylist…

From our experience working for many years doing Wedding Photography, here are some suggestions for Brides that will help them look fantastic on their Wedding Day:

1 – Make-Up Artist… Use some money from your budget to have a MUA… It really makes a difference on how you will look on your Big Day… You will look great first for yourself (gaining confidence), for the Groom, guests and your Pictures !!! A MUA will enhance your features and correct little things, your skin will look fresh and if you are really into make-up, a MUA will provide you with a Professional look… One more advice on this one, do have a previous make up session in order to make sure you get what you are looking for, no last minute surprises….

2 – Hairstylist… Pretty much the same as with the MUA, a must… It doesn’t matter your style, even for a natural look… so Professional hands are to accomplish it. In this one, you do want to think on the Photography side, because depending on the hair style chosen, you can expect some disappointing images… if your hair is all over your face, the Photographer most likely won’t be able to capture some images or will but, they could be unflattering ones. It could compromise pictures at the Ceremony, Church or in other candid moments, because the hair is going to be on his way… He won’t be able to control your hair like during the portraits or formals in which the Photographer can guide you to pose accordingly… Photoshop can do some magic, fix some things, but it can’t make miracles…

Brides: enjoy your big day !!!

Al Ojeda Photography

Info: ida@alojeda.com – 908 240 3240

Wedding Photography Checklist

We provide Brides & Grooms with a Wedding Photography Checklist a month prior to the event, so they have time to fill it up and mail/email it back to us. We bring it with us on the day of the event and check it out, this way not missing any special requests. 

It’s very useful at the time of the formals. Our list is designed in a way that moves the Bride the less, since usually the wedding gown will have a train making it more difficult for her to move… All people involve in the pictures should be aware and focus…

Sometimes weather conditions, timing/Church/venue restrictions, lateness on people involve in the formals may happen, with the result that some pictures of the list can’t be taken. Weddings are unpredictable, even the ones carefully planned, a Photographer really needs to be on top of his game and be prepared for “plan Bs”.

Al Ojeda Photography

info: ida@alojeda.com – 908 240 3240

The Bouquet…

Every Bride has a Bouquet… it’s a main Tradition… Brides may have favorite flowers, colors, styles… Florist Companies carry a wide variety to choose from…

When a Bride is looking for her Bouquet, she should keep in mind the size and why not, the weight. The Bride will be carrying it most of the day, so if it’s too big or pretty heavy, she will be uncomfortable carrying it all day long… Also, if you are a petit Bride, you really don’t want it to be oversized, it could look awkward, it should balance your size.

Be careful if the Florist brings the Bouquet on a vase with water, have paper towels to make sure you dry it out before you touch it to avoid splitting water on your Wedding gown, some fabrics are very sensitive to liquids and leave spots… It should never happen, it’s preventable.

Bouquet by Al Ojeda Photography

Your Photographer will take pictures of the Bouquet, in different options, using interesting backgrounds or putting the rings on top… and you will have images of that Bouquet that you carefully picked up.

Al Ojeda Photography

info: ida@alojeda.com – 908 240 3240