Jessica Photo Blog

I am an award-winning photographer located in the greater Washington, D.C. area. NEWS FLASH: This just in -  Jessica Photo will be moving to Austin, TX. Spread the word! My philosophy as a wedding photographer is to let the day unfold organically in front of me and to remain an observer. What I enjoy most about what I do is photographing true connections – they jump off the page, they are a moment of truth. That ability, that challenge, that call is what keeps me refreshed, week after week and month after month.

I am a member of the WPJA (Wedding Photojournalist Association) as well as the AGWPJA (Artistic Guild of the Wedding Photojournalist Association) and ISPWP (International Society of Professional Wedding Photographers. All of these organizations have strict standards for membership so you know you’re working with the very best. I have been shooting weddings for three years. Since the day I started shooting weddings I haven’t had a break – it’s been great! I definitely feel like it has all come a long way, but I still show images from my very first wedding in my portfolio. That is exciting to me!

What I love…I particularly love to photograph weddings that step away from the run of the mill. I love it when I’m swept along for the ride – when it’s not about me and what I’m up to and we’re all experiencing the day together. I am not a photographer for those who are looking for something traditional – I don’t do extensive posing or anything like that. I work as an observer on the wedding day – not someone who is directing it. I mostly shoot weddings solo but depending on my client’s needs I often will bring along a second photographer.

Read below for some reviews, an FAQ and some tips I’ve gathered up along the way…

FAQ

How do you identify your primary photographic style?

Photojournalistic

Please describe any special techniques you offer:

Your web gallery will reflect post-processed images with effects like B&W.

Do you guarantee your presence at the actual event?

Of course!

Do you require a meal break? If yes, do you require that the wedding party provide your meal?

My contract highlights that “Your photographers must eat what you eat, when you eat…”

How soon after the event are the proofs ready for viewing?

Within approximately 2-4 weeks. There is no formula for this, per se. If you are getting married in the high seasons it will probably take longer, during the slower seasons viewing will happen sooner.

Do you provide the digital files and/or negatives (or copies of the negatives) to the couple?

Yes.

Will images be available for viewing on an online gallery?

Yes.

TIPS

1.) Well fed photographers are happy photographers who take better pictures.

More on this point: Make sure your photographer sits down to eat at the same time you do. (When you’re done eating, so is she and then your photographer is able to get back to work as soon as you are done eating.)  Now, I hear ya, you’re on board with this. But your caterer isn’t. Be sure to speak slowly and clearly to the caterer on this point. It happens almost every weekend that there is a disconnect on the timing of the meal. It’s a bit of effort to get this taken care of but sometimes it’s the little things that make a big difference.

Also, having simple snacks and water around at every juncture of the day would be a great gesture not only for the photographer but also your bridal party and other guests. Getting ready, the ceremony…it all adds up to people not having access to food.

2.) Think through your photographer’s travel plan

If your photographer will be traveling from one location to another on the wedding day, plan to have your photographer follow someone to and from each location to avoid your photographer getting lost. Another plan is to have someone pick your photographer up from the reception location so she can drop her car off there and then hitch a ride with someone the whole day. This really eliminates a lot of potential disasters. By the way, a great wedding planner introduced this idea to me. A great wedding planner can provide this kind of great planning!

3.) Think through your formal portrait requests in advance to eliminate the factors that often cause this part of the day to become stressful.

–If you have elaborate needs for formal photographs, you aren’t shopping for a wedding photojournalist. While I defintely photograph formal portraits at weddings, elaborate needs in this area aren’t generally the focus of a wedding photojournalist. I spend 30 minutes at the location of the ceremony on the formal portrais. To discover more about hiring a creative professional, read any of the articles found at this website: www.wpja.com

To create the least stressful environment have the session nearby where the ceremony has taken place, taking into account that you don’t want to run into any wedding guests. If wedding guests are around this creates stress because you will get distracted.

–Make your session short – 30 minutes will do.

–Avoid having every single combination possible photographed.

–Designate a family member to coordinate who is being photographed and collecting missing persons. Your photographer doesn’t know anyone.

–Food and drink during your session will make the session take longer.

–A little day in the life: I often have a bride request a photograph during the formal portrait session and about 10 seconds into she says that the session is taking too long. It’s an impossible scenario for me - and it happens all the time. There’s a mixed message given here. As Cuba Gooding Jr. says in that movie Jerry Maguie…”Help me help you…” I know you are hot, in uncomfortable high heels and torn in about 60 directions. I recommend taking a deep breath in these moments…

4.) Know Your Photographer. Here’s a little about me…

Does your photographer specialize in elaborate lighting producing traditional, perfectly lit formal portraits? (I don’t)

Does your photographer take charge? (I don’t yell at people to direct them.)

Or, does your photographer specialize in creating an atmosphere or low stress which detracts from herself (That’s me.)

Does your photographer lie low and let the day unfold in a natural, unobstructive way? (Yes, that’s me.)

5.) Trust Your Photographer!

Hire a photographer you trust. This is a good rule for everyone you work with. If your professionals are professionals and you’ve done your due diligence to hire the best of the best you shouldn’t need to worry about a thing.

6.) Let Go Of Expectations

It is what it is — It’s not your sister’s wedding. It’s not a wedding produced by Martha Stewart wedding planners. It just is what it is. If it’s fabulous and perfect, hooray! If it rains, get wet! If someone’s late, just wait. If something breaks, carry on. My happiest brides, my happiest times as a photographer at weddings, are all at weddings where the bride and groom are just loose, happy and in-love – and that’s it. If you are super stressed and/or angry or took a valium it will show. Most importaly, have an open heart!

Some Reviews

Erika

Wedding: 12/14/2007

Quality of Service: (5.0/5.0)

Responsiveness: (5.0/5.0)

Professionalism: (5.0/5.0)

Value For Budget: (5.0/5.0)

Flexibility: (5.0/5.0)

I would highly recommend Jessica Christian. She was esay to work with and took beautiful pictures.

Laura

Wedding: 11/17/2007

Quality of Service: (5.0/5.0)

Responsiveness: (5.0/5.0)

Professionalism: (5.0/5.0)

Value For Budget: (5.0/5.0)

Flexibility: (5.0/5.0)

My fiance and I worked with Jessica on our engagement pictures and we could not have chosen a better photographer! Jessica’s warm personality made us feel more comfortable during the photo session, which helped to capture our true personality instead of a rigid and posed look.

My fiance dreaded the idea of getting engagement pictures taken and I almost had to drag him there, but after working with Jessica and receiving the photographs he said he was glad HE thought of it!

I would definitely recommend Jessica not only for her extraordinary gift as a photographer but also for her relaxed and patient demeanor, which is evident in her work. Thank you Jessica!

Heather and Chris

Wedding: 10/13/2007

Quality of Service: (5.0/5.0)

Responsiveness: (5.0/5.0)

Professionalism: (5.0/5.0)

Value For Budget: (5.0/5.0)

Flexibility: (5.0/5.0)

We LOVE our wedding photos! We opted not to do a video and Jessica’s style proved to be everything we needed to capture the emotion of our ceremony. The pictures turned out beautiful, the most difficult decision we have ahead is narrowing down which ones we want in an album! Jessica is so easy to work too. We highly recommend Jessica for your photography.

Sherry

Wedding: 09/09/2007

Quality of Service: (5.0/5.0)

Responsiveness: (5.0/5.0)

Professionalism: (5.0/5.0)

Value For Budget: (3.5/5.0)

Flexibility: (5.0/5.0)

Jessica is a superbe photographer. We could not be happier with our experience working with her or the quality of the images we received. She is the best! I’m recommending her to everyone I know!

Li-Hui

Wedding: 06/16/2007

Quality of Service: (5.0/5.0)

Responsiveness: (5.0/5.0)

Professionalism: (5.0/5.0)

Value For Budget: (5.0/5.0)

Flexibility: (5.0/5.0)

Jessica was what we were looking for! Always with a prompt response, she was available to answer any questions when needed. The photos came out fabulous. We definitely don’t have any regrets with choosing Jessica Christian for our photography on our wedding day!

Larry & Angela

Wedding: 09/03/2006

Quality of Service: (5.0/5.0)

Responsiveness: (4.0/5.0)

Professionalism: (5.0/5.0)

Value For Budget: (5.0/5.0)

Flexibility: (5.0/5.0)

We booked Jessica from across the country: we were on the West Coast and she was in the middle of relocating to the East Coast, where the wedding was. I was quite nervous about booking someone without even being able to meet her in person, but we liked her website and the way she came across on the phone and went with her. Boy, was that a good call. Jessica was very professional and brought an outstanding assistant with her.

We gave her fairly detailed input on the approach we were looking for (lots of photojournalism, some posed shots), who we were most concerned get photographed, what key events we wanted to make sure to capture, etc. Jessica showed up on time, with her assistant and ready to go. We had to do a good amount of the posed shots before the ceremony, which meant that timing was tight, but she made it all happen, and she and her assistant got all of the dressing scenes as well. They were pleasant to be around and interacted well with us, our guests, and the videographers. (We made it clear to the videographers that Jessica was the top-rank in the situation, but they worked together very well and both photography and videography turned out well.) Jessica and the assistant also had somewhat different photographic styles, which worked out extremely well, as it gave us some variety in the approaches used for the shots, but not so much as to appear disparate or incoherent.

After the wedding, we got the photos in a reasonable amount of time and they looked just great. Lots of great moments were captured, all of the events and posed shots that we wanted got done, and everything was good. We ran into a few technical glitches with the DVDs she made, but she didn’t have all of her systems ironed out at that point and I’m sure it’s all smoothed out now.

All in all, we would highly recommend Jessica for a wedding. If you give her lots of information in advance, she will digest it and do that much of a better job for you.

Elite Weddings by Maggie

Jessica is a great photographer and has an eye for catching special moments for your special day!

Event Accomplished

Jessica is talented and has an unique eye for what makes a beautiful photograph.