Omaha Bridal Showcase will be January 10, 2010 at Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs, Iowa.  I’ve done this bridal show for several years and there is always a big turn out.  Lots of wedding vendors and a great show!

• Free VIP Limousine shuttle from car to door.
• Over 100 of the Midwest’s leading Bridal Vendors.
• Incredible ‘Epicurean Buffet’.
• “Frost Yourself” Couture fashion Show (VIP seating available).
• A chance to win the Grand Wedding Giveaway.

Sunday - January 10, 2010

10:00 a. m. - 4:00p.m.

Mid-America Center

Online ticket information & more details at:

www.omahabridalnetwork.com

402.933.4900

Come by my booth and register for a FREE ENGAGEMENT SESSION!

I did a nice little interview with Photoidentities which makes websites, blogs and SEO.  Check it out www.photoidentities.com

I thought this was good info for brides when picking a wedding photographer.  It comes from Minnesota Professional Photographers Association.  I’m a member of the Nebraska Professional Photographers Association which we are the state organizations under Professional Photographers of America. The biggest and oldest professional photography organization in the world.  The main reason for our professional groups is to educate its members by promoting professionalism, quality of work, sound business practices and excellent customer service.

How To Find A Wedding Photographer
by Paul Hanson - PPA Certified, M.Photog.Cr., AFS-MNPPA

Here are some questions you need to ask every photographer over the phone:

• “I’m getting married on . . . and I was wondering if your studio has my date available.”
  This is probably the most important question you can start with. If the studio doesn’t have your date available, there is no need asking any other questions about your date. If they have your date available, proceed. If they don’t, would they recommend other photographers for you to consider? Assuming they have your date available, you could go onto the next question.
• “We are getting married at . . . and our reception is at . . . and we wonder if you have worked there at these places or places like them.”
  It is a bonus if the photographer has worked at most locations where you are getting married, but it is not essential. Many photographers will arrive early to judge the light, find good spots to use and generally scope out the church. However, some wedding locations demand that the photographer be familiar with their particular situation. If you have an unusual location you might want a photographer to be familiar with that location.
• “We are considering taking the photographs . . . (before or after the ceremony) and we wonder if that is something that you would do.”
  If the photographer will not take photographs at a certain time and you have your heart set on doing it at that time, you would not be a good match. Be certain the photographer will match your expectations on the best time to take photographs.
• “We really like . . . (a certain style, black and white etc.) and are looking for that style. Do you do this?”
  Many photographers have a definite style from which they will not vary. Other photographers are more flexible and will feel comfortable doing special requests. .
• “What range of prices are your weddings?”
  Instead of discussing specific costs over the phone, find out a ballpark cost for the wedding photographs. If you are looking to spend about $3,000 for your photographs and the studio starts at $5,000 you might not be a good match. Try to be flexible, however, when it comes to costs. Generally you get what you pay for when it comes to fine photography.

When you make an appointment with the photographer:

• Be sure to meet the person that would be at your wedding and you are seeing their work. Be sure you are looking at complete weddings, not just”highlight” books. Does their work match with your expectations? Does their studio meet with your approval (neat, clean, well organized)? Remember that you will not be able to see pictures from your wedding, you can only judge the photographer at this meeting.
• Is the studio affordable? Do not compare prices from one photographer to another. If the photographer is affordable, consider them. Remember, average photographs at a good price are still average photographs and may not be a good value.
• Does the photographer have advanced degrees? Minnesota Professional Photographers has three degrees available (Fellowship, Accredited, and Service), and Professional Photographers of America gives two degrees (Master and Craftsman). Professional Photographers of America also confers the title of “Certified Professional Photographer” to photographers who can pass a lenghty test on photography, who submit an approved body of excellent work, and who have excellent personal and business recommendations.
• Does the photographer do this for a living? This is not a day to hire a “part-timer”.
• Does the photographer have a personality that matches yours? Remember your photographer will be with you at your wedding, you should feel comfortable with them.

The most important advice we can give, however, is to book your photographer the minute you make your decision! Do not delay! Good wedding photographers are in high demand and their dates book quickly.

I’ve been working hard adding a all NEW eStore to my website.  My old eStore which was originally one of the first professional photography shopping carts in Omaha had limited features, expensive to maintain and the software would not work with the new servers.  So it was time to update.

My new eStore is much nicer and I think you will like it.  More products are added to it.  Some of the new features are slide show mode, zoom in on photo tool, B&W / Sepia view mode, music with slide show, Paypal check out and I could go on & on.

I look at my eStore as another way to view and order photographs.  For my customers that love the internet it makes ordering very easy.  Just sit at home and order your photos.  Like some photographers do, I don’t charge anything extra for this ordering service.  Also I leave the photographs up online much longer then other photographers.  I own and have full control over this eStore.  Many photographer’s rent this service for their shopping carts.

Hope you like it.  I will be adding products to it as I get a chance.  Note also you can still meet with me for your orders, call in your order (402.571.2399), mail in your order to me or whatever works for you.

www.douglasgunder.com or the direct link is www.douglasgunderestore.com/RedCart

Hi Doug!
Just wanted to send you a quick note and let you know we received the wedding album in the mail.  It turned out beautiful! Thanks again for doing such a great job and capturing such wonderful memories!  We will still be ordering a larger photo to frame for our wall..hopefully soon!
Thanks again, much appreciated!
 
Darin & Michelle

I just had a wedding cancel for June 13, 2009.  So that date is NOW OPEN!  Let me know if you are looking for a wedding photographer on that date.

For the Spring 2009 issue, page 37 of Nebraska Wedding Day magazine ( www.neweddingday.com ) I was asked to comment on Midwest Bridal Association ( www.mwbride.com ).  This association is a network of wedding vendors that have come together in the summer of 2008 to bring added professionalism to the wedding industry.

Below are my comments in Nebraska Wedding Day:

Prominent Omaha photographer Douglas Gunder thinks superior vendors will go out of their way to make a bride feel taken care of.  “When I have a consultation with a bride, I ask questions about her wedding day - location, number of guests, size of wedding party, etc.  Once I have a good idea about the type of wedding she wants, I show her samples of my work so she can see firsthand the quality of the work she will be getting,”  he says.  “At any time during the process, she is welcome to ask questions.  I always try to make sure she feels comfortable and well-informed.”

Gunder believes the MBA will be a time-saver for brides.  “It’s like a one-stop shop for the bride,” he says.  “She can go to one vendor that’s a part of this network and end up with recommendations for a florist, reception hall, DJ, etc.  There’s also the added security of knowing the people you’re working with have a code of ethics and standards that go along with being in the network.”

That peace of mind is a big part of the appeal for using a network like Midwest Bridal Association.  In this day and age, it can be difficult to find trustworthy businesses to work with, but the MBA is a trustworthy source for the discerning bride.  Working with the best ensures you can relax on your wedding day.  After all, you won’t get a do-over!