Receiving Lines - do you really need one?

Is it absolutely necessary to have a receiving line?
I always hate having to wait through them when I attend a wedding reception. Isn’t there a better way? A receiving line is usually in order for a very formal wedding; otherwise, there are several more relaxed alternatives. One very nice custom is to have the bride and groom, as well as the other members of the wedding party, “float” around the reception, speaking to each cluster of guests. Another custom, rather new but quite enjoyable and comfortable for the guests, is to have the guests remain seated in the church or synagogue until they are personally greeted and dismissed by the bride and groom themselves. This could be called the “lazy man’s receiving line” because the guests remain seated until it’s time for their row to stand and file past the bride and groom, hugging, kissing and wishing them well as they exit their pews.

Disposable Cameras - Are They Worth It?

This question keeps popping up on both bride's internet sites and in my meetings with prospective clients. Will these cameras give you worthwhile quality photographs? Let's think about who will actually use the cameras - most likely either kids or somewhat inebriated guests are the ones drawn to them. As a rule neither of these groups make good photographers.

Lets look at the true cost of these cameras: 
Each disposable camera will cost you about $6.
Let's say you have 15 tables at your reception.
Total cost of cameras:  6x15 = $90

After the event or wedding each of these cameras will have to be processed and printed. The average cost of processing and printing each camera is $8.
Total cost of processing:  8x15 = $120

Your total cost for purchasing and processing 15 cameras is therefore $90 + $120 = $210

This may not seem like a lot of money, but think about this for a moment. What kind of a quality image do you expect to get from a $6 camera, made of plastic with a plastic lens and a flash that has a range of about 5 feet? The answer is NOT GREAT! You will be very fortunate to get 3 good photographs from these 15 cameras - which, if you break the cost down, works out to $70 per photograph!

My advice - DO NOT WASTE your money on these cameras. Your professional photographer uses equipment valued at thousands of dollars to capture you looking your best and will certainly do a far better job than these disposable cameras.

Maryland Wedding Album Photographer of the Year 2009

 

Michael Dunphy receiving his award for
2009 Maryland Wedding Album Photographer of the Year
from Nizam Mohamed, Print Competition Chair
for the Maryland Professional Photographers Association

 

Hi Everyone,
What a week! This past Wednesday I was awarded the Maryland Wedding Album Photographer of the Year Award for 2009 from the Maryland Professional Photographers Association. This is my third year in a row to receive this award. I want to thank all my great couples for allowing me to enter their albums in the competitions held throughout the year. As always I am indebted to my great clients for allowing me to record their most important moments.

Best wishes,
Michael

LoriLea and Rick's Wedding

Hi everyone,
LoriLea and Rick had a great day last Saturday for their wedding. Beautiful weather and a wonderful couple makes my life easy.

Their wedding took place at the recently renovated Hilton Hotel in Gaithersburg, Maryland. The Hilton's Catering Sales Manager, Cathy Peck, and her staff did a great job organizing both the ceremony and reception. Cathy may be reached at cpeck@hiltongaithersburg.com or by phone at 301-591-9907.

DJ Elon, of Double Mobile Music, provided great music throughout the evening ensuring a full dance floor at all times. Elon may be reached at www.eemobilemusic.com or by phone at 301-644-3370.

The wonderful wedding cake was provided by Nancy Chinnock of Custom Cake Design. Nancy may be reached by phone at 301-216-1100.

I hope you enjoy some of the images from the day.
Best wishes,
Michael

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jess and Aaron at the Key Bridge Marriott

Hi everyone,

I had the great pleasure of photographing Jess and Aaron's wedding on September 6, 2009 at the fabulous Key Bridge Marriott in Arlington, Virginia. This is a super location for a wedding with great staff and a view that is second to none. 

My thanks to Alaina Austria, Senior Event Manager at the Marriott for taking such good care of the vendors - thanks Alaina! You can reach Alaina at alaina.a.austria@marriott.com - tel 703-284-1469. 

Leah McKay did the make up for all the girls - she is a great person and really knows what to do to make you look your best. She has her own company and can be reached here  - tel 703-241-8402.

Pat Carpenter was both the florist and wedding coordinator - her attention to detail really helped the overall look of the wedding. Pat can be reached at patcarpenter43@gmail.com or by telephone at 703-980-2143.

Hope you enjoy some of the images from the day.

Best wishes,

Michael

Leah in action.

Stephanie keeping an eye on things.

Dress and Shoes!

Tying up the dress.

Aaron awaiting his beautiful bride.

 Unity Candle time.

DC toast!

Fun times!

 

 

 

 

 

 

All Images copyrighted by Avonlee Photography (C) 2009

Free 11x14 prints from your Wedding

New Rewards Program for our Wedding Couples.

Starting in July we will begin a new rewards program for all our wedding couples. The program is very simple - for every 20 reprints ordered from your wedding, you will receive a free 11x14 wall portrait. The 20 reprints (of any size) may be ordered either directly through our reprints order form or through an online order placed via our website. There is no limit to the number of 11x14s you can earn. Encourage your friends and family to place orders - you will benefit with great free prints!

20 prints = 1 - 11x14

2008 Maryland Wedding Album Photographer of the Year

Hi Everybody,
This past February I was awarded the 2008 Wedding Album Photographer Award for the state of Maryland. The award is based on the cumulative points total from four print competitions that took place during 2008. We participated in 3 of the 4 competitions and in each case we won the best of show award and the first place award.

Michael receiving his award from Mary Jeanne Campanielle,
Co-Chair of the MDPPA print competition.

The award ceremony took place at the end of the Annual Convention of the Maryland Professional Photographers Association which was held in the Sheraton Hotel, Columbia, Maryland. This was a wonderful 4 day convention and featured some of the best photography instructors in the country. I was very fortunate to meet and befriend Jim Lersch of Nixa, Missouri. Jim presented two great seminars - one covering High School Seniors and the second dealing with Commercial photography. The amazing images presented during both seminars have certainly helped inspire me to further improve my own photography. You can check out Jim's site here.



Also at our convention was a marvellous portrait photographer, Don Chick, from East Rochester, New Hampshire. He presented a great program on portrait lighting to a packed room. Samples of his wonderful work can be found here.