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vendor reviews: london ontario wedding photographers
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Reviewing Heather MacEachern of HRM Photography
With a reputation for an adaptable, fashion-oriented shooting style that precedes her, staff at The Ring wanted to learn more about this young professional's unique approach to photographing London area weddings. Let us explain...
Styling your wedding Heather and the team at HRM Photography have their own approach to wedding photography. She describes the HRM Photography approach as, "... fun, fresh and unobtrusive." Because Heather has spent a great deal of time studying various styles of photography, she also often refers to her technique as 'chameleon-like'.
"I photograph weddings in a variety of styles ranging from candid and photojournalistic, to posed and fashion-inspired portraits. The mood of the photos really depends on the bride and groom. I can give them whatever they want in their wedding photos. Often, what they want is a balanced mixture of styles - creative, fun-loving portraits that reflect their personalities, a few 'traditional' shots to appease the parents and lots of candids to capture the essence of the day." Heather says that much of her work leans towards fashion-inspired images, with a dramatic feel that still captures the romance and tenderness of the moment.
And always striving for the best, Heather and her team at HRM Photography are continually improving and fine-tuning their skills through workshops, networking and being a part of professional organizations such as the Professional Photographers of Ontario.
An inspired background Heather has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Photography from Ryerson University, as well as her Bachelor of Education from University of Toronto.
Although Heather doesn't teach on a regular basis, she admits that the skills gained from her teaching degree are used regularly when facing the challenges of any given wedding day. Drawing on her teaching experience, she is able to better orchestrate people, poses, environments and situations so that she can get her job done in the best possible manner for her clients.
Heather's upbringing also plays into each wedding that she shoots. Heather's mother is an art librarian and her father is a social documentary photographer so she's grown up immersed in the beauty of a still image. "Everyone I've worked with has influenced my art - my family, friends, teachers, colleagues and clients. They have all helped me develop my skills as a photographer."
"I like to think of the couple as the star of the show and their wedding party as their backup band." Heather has spent the majority of the last twelve years not just shooting weddings, but also live music shoots. "I love the emotion and excitement of live music events. It's a very challenging photo shoot. It's all about the moment. You can't recreate a moment, no matter how hard you try." And with her music documentary work being published in the likes of the Globe and Mail, Elle Magazine and the Toronto Star... Heather has perfected the art.
That understanding of how to capture the moment is one of the things that we love best about HRM Photography. She'll never miss a moment. "Often while we're setting up a posed shoot, we'll be quietly taking candid shots, as well. It's very often these candid shots that tell the story of the couple's wedding. These are the shots that a couple points to and says, 'This is where we...', remembering the small wonders of their wedding day."
Taking comfort in consultations Heather likes to consult with her couples numerous times before the big day to determine exactly what it is they are looking for in their pictures. As your wedding plans evolve, so will your plans with HRM Photography in regards to the style and shots you want to include. "I encourage engagement photos with each couple. This helps me to understand how they interact with each other and how comfortable they are in front of the camera. I get to know each of them better, and learn how to ensure that they're themselves in front of the lens. They get a sense of how I shoot and of my style. They learn to trust me."
The Style Worksheet Heather also has each of her couples fill out a 'Style Worksheet' for their wedding day photography to help her better understand their wants and needs.
Some examples of what you'll find on the Style Worksheet are the following: • If you had to pick one word or phrase to describe what you would like your wedding photographs to capture what would it be? • Are there any unusual cultural elements or traditions in your wedding that you need to have captured?
"I have a passion for weddings. It's not unusual for me to tear up at my clients' weddings. I'm there to tell the story of their weddings through photographs. Having an emotional connection to what I’m photographing is very important to me; I wouldn't be human, if it didn't touch my heart."
Heather also has a personal interest in all things weddings - she married her sweetheart, Eric, on July 2nd, 2005 in her parent’s backyard here in London. "I relate well to my clients because I've been there! The joy of my own wedding day and my wonderful marriage are a constant source of inspiration for my work."
After some time in Toronto, Heather and her husband have moved back to London. 'Home is where the heart is' rings true for Heather, "I grew up here, my family is here. London is home. London inspires me and London brides and grooms inspire me." With her London wedding business thriving, the move back to the area made sense. "I couldn’t be happier being back home in London."
On the day... Heather will always have a trained assistant helping her out on your wedding day. Her assistants are photographers in their own right. They can often be seen taking candid shoots throughout the day. Both Heather and her assistant will be dressed to blend with the crowd but also to get the shot, whether that means climbing a ladder, walking through a muddy field or lying down on the floor of a greenhouse. It all comes down to making sure that every moment is captured perfectly.
Owning the negatives One of the things that we found unique about Heather is that she is one of the few photographers who includes each couple’s film or digital negatives as part of their wedding day coverage. You can order albums and prints through Heather at reasonable prices or if you prefer you can put together your own albums and reprints. "I find that a couple's needs change over the years. If five or ten years after their wedding, they’ve moved out of town and decide they would like a 11x14 for over their couch, they can simply go get it at their convenience." With Heather's full instructions for the proper care and storage of your negatives, your images will last for many years.
HRM Photography offers an online gallery of your wedding photos after the day has come and gone. You can share the link with family and friends so that your photos are conveniently available to them to view and even order if they'd like. Personalized announcement cards to give to all your guests with instructions on how to access your gallery are provided with this service. Heather says that many couples enjoy this feature, but it's especially great for those with a lot of out-of-town family. This service is also available for other shoots that you may be interested in (for now or future reference), such as engagement shots, as well as portraits of family, children or maternity shots. For an example, take a look here.
detailsdetailsdetails • Heather recommends you book your wedding with HRM Photography approximately 8 to 12 months ahead of time, but they have accommodated later requests - even 1 week or 1 day - at times. • There is a 40% (of your package price) deposit required to book your wedding date with HRM Photography. • 30% is due on or before the wedding day. Heather says that some people like to provide her with a post-dated cheque so they've got one less thing to worry about the day of! • The remaining 30% of your balance is due upon proof pickup (normally 2 to 4 weeks after the wedding). • A variety of album and reprint packages, including specialty items such as coffee table books and custom designed thank you cards are available to order as add-ons after your wedding or you have the choice to make your own with your negatives/high resolution files. • HRM Photography has associates in Toronto and K-W who can also travel to London for a small fee. • HRM Photography is available for destination weddings and will be traveling to the Dominican Republic, Rhode Island and Muskoka for weddings in the near future. Please inquire for a custom quote.
Inotherwords...
"We just
wanted to say how wonderfully happy we are with HRM Photography. We knew from
the moment that we met with Heather that we wanted her to be our wedding day
photographer. Heather and Jenn made the photo shoot very enjoyable. The pictures
were absolutely gorgeous. We have received so many compliments on our pictures
and everyone asks who the photographer was. We have
looked at our pictures
numerous times and still notice things that we did not see b "The photos that you took the day of our wedding are amazing!! Everyone who has seen them is raving about the quality and “that they are the best wedding photos That they have ever seen”. Ryan and I are so pleased. It’s going to be impossible to choose ones for framing. Thanks again!" - Tralee & Ryan, July 15, 2006 "Can I just say again... amazing, amazing, amazing!! We are so happy with the pictures. You gave us exactly what we were looking for... thank you!" - Kristina & Doug, August 13, 2005 "WOW!! We cannot believe these pictures! We’ve been looking through them since the moment we got home this afternoon…you have done such a phenomenal job. Some of them actually brought us to tears! You have managed to make our wedding day come to life. We’ll be remembering our special day through these photos for the rest of our lives. THANK YOU!!" - Erin & Andrew, August 26th, 2006
Want to know more about HRM Photography? You can reach Heather MacEachern of HRM Photography by email at info@hrmphotography.com with any questions you have, to check availability for your date or set up an appointment. She is also available by phone at 519-936-8977 or 416-876-9641. For more samples of her work and information, check out the HRM Photography website at www.hrmphotography.com.
- The Staff at TheWeddingRing.ca * Prices are all approximate and are subject to change and verification by authorized staff and management of HRM Photography. |
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