mary wyar. photographer shooting rad couples in love.

08.16.10

Brittany & Chris were married at Maumee Bay Resort in Oregon, Ohio last week...Brittany is thoughtful, energetic, with a dash of sass, Chris is super sweet, & always looks like he's thinking. These two are also uber intelligent! She's going to Med School & he's going to Law School... talk about power brains couple and commitment to their passions! They also have this badass quality to them...They live in downtown Detroit (so you know they're tough) and they have seen Lil Wayne, Jay Z & Eminem in concert... totally unpredictable spirits, which I adore :)

For a photographer, their wedding was the bees knees. I have shot at Maumee Bay several times, and it is a challenge for me to look at it with new eyes... I am extra proud of what I was able to pull out of my grab bag. I got to work with some of my favourite pros in the industry, and be around great people... This is not a job! This is me creating art for people who are willing to receive it. Such a good time!

Thank you Brittany & Chris so much! Thank you going with the flow, toughing our trek out for these photos... Thank you for including some of the best pros in Toledo in on your big day. I hope you were relaxed mush-brains in Punta Cana before returning to your hectic real world schedules. You deserve it!

Ceremony + Reception: Maumee Bay Resort Oregon, Ohio

Florals: Bartz Viviano

Coordination: Elite Events

DJ: Decorative Sound

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nikki says:

such amazing work!

elite events says:

sorry I pressed send before I was finished:( I was going to say. Such amazing work as usual. Mary you are very talented, keep up the great work, and keep being inspired. They are going to love these pictures!

Sara says:

Wonderful job Mary as usual!! You rock!!!

Haley Frank says:

I Love each and everyone one of these more than I can describe!! AMAZING job!!!

laura + jason

08.10.10

Last year I made a rule to not to shoot any wedding on my birthday weekend.

This year I made the exception for Laura & Jason's wedding.

Laura has this infectious laugh and pulses positives vibes... Jason is uber chill, a go with the flow kind of guy. It was a no-brainer for me to break my rule for these two. Their wedding was in Cleveland, where I grew up... I don't go back very often, mostly for shoots it seems, but when I do go back I feel like I've entered a bizarro world... I know how to navigate through it, where everything is, but it all feels different & looks strange. Regardless of my dreamy view of Cleveland, it was fantastic to shoot at new locations and look at my hometown with fresh eyes.

Laura & Jason were an absolute joy to get to know and spend my day with on their big day. They are extremely warm & didn't look at me strangely when I asked them to hold leaves infront of their faces. Their friends were extra rad, running around back alleys with thrilling looks in their eyes... even in uncomfortable heels :) And their family was the sweetest... very enthusiastic towards photography :)

Thanks again you two!!! :)

bride's gown: casablanca

bridesmaids dresses: j. crew

ceremony: saint angela merci, fairview park ohio

reception: windows on the river, cleveland ohio

florist: the gift hut

13 comments so far

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Jen says:

Love them great job!

Jason says:

Those are amazing... thanks Mary!

Patsy Rocks says:

BA!

anne says:

Beautiful Pics!

Erin says:

The scream Laura and Jason--they are perfect!

Theresa says:

the pics look amazing! Just beautiful!

Laura says:

I love the photographs. I can't even begin to pick a favorite! I love how you showed so much in the pictures... the playfulness and intimacy that are totally Jason and I, and am so thankful you decided to take on our wedding. You rock :)

Melissa says:

The pics are amazing! They totally capture what a great day it was!

amanda says:

OMG these pics are AMAZING!!! Jason and Laura look fantastic! Excellent job Mary - where were you when I got married?!? LOL

Sharon says:

Absolutely the most unique wedding pictures I've ever seen! Beautiful!

Matt Sattler says:

1st non-groom guy commenting, totally comfortable with that... These are awesome, you are awesome, I am awesome.

Bonn Esguerra (Uncle of the Bride- Philippines) says:

Mary.... considered it an "obra maestra"... a masterpiece... it's real ART!!! You showed your talent, your true passion through your shots for the newlywed. Great job. They look FUN...tastic indeed!!! WOW!!!

Thank you so much in given my niece, Laura, an immortal gift with these pictures. I am sure she will treasure them... same with Jason.

Melanie says:

Absolutely speechless. Teared up a little looking at them... makes me want to get married again just to hire Mary.

what you should ask.

07.29.10

In Ohio, most couples choose their photographer a year to 9 months out. Right now, I'm in the thick of meeting with couples getting married in Spring & early Summer of 2011. I get asked a lot of questions, some are great, but I don't get asked a lot of questions that people should actually be getting answers to.

In most weddings magazines, they tell couples that they NEED the following from their photographer: All day/unlimited coverage, two photographers, & digital negatives.

I don't offer unlimited coverage nor do I think it's necessary for telling a complete story of a wedding. An hour of getting ready photos is plenty... salon coverage, is silly... those photos are usually the least flattering. When it comes to the reception, usually 30 minutes to an hour of time after all the "wedding business" is taken care of is plenty. Do you really want more than 100 photos of your guests looking a sweaty mess, tipsy, making totally embarrassing faces? For my business, albums and wedding photo collections are couple-centric, and for that, a 10 hour day, in most cases, it totally unnecessary.

Having two photographers is really something that depends on the wedding. All of the photos in my portfolio were taken by me, not a 2nd shooter. So really, if you feel like you MUST have a 2nd shooter, that my work isn't enough, then I am probably not the right fit for you... same can be said about any photographer. The only time that I find having a 2nd shooter most beneficial to my couple's wedding albums is during the vow exchange at the ceremony. Other than that, most of their photos don't make it to the proofing website (sorry former 2nd shooters!). There are some instances, specific to some weddings, that a 2nd shooter would be a must. Over 15 people in your bridal party? Yes, please have a 2nd. Getting married at a huge cathedral church or somewhere hard to navigate around? Also extremely beneficial. Plan on doing some large extended family group photos? Uhhh PLEASE have a 2nd photographer. When I shoot, I have a clear plan for how my photos will work together in the couple's album... and usually the 2nd shooter's images just don't fit into my specific story.

Now the digital negatives! I offer them in all of my packages and deliver them with my couple's completed wedding album. It is mostly so my couple feels secure having all of their photos and I feel more secure knowing they have a copy. I would prefer that they still get prints made through me, so I know they are getting the highest quality prints from the best lab in the country (ProDPI). If you do plan on purchasing a ton of prints from your digi negs, go to a few different labs and get one 4x6 made of the same photo, write the lab name on the back, and compare the prints with the spreads in your wedding album... Tip, those stores that end in Mart, Club, Co, or Get are not photo labs... support your local lab! Seriously, they need the business!

Some questions that I almost never get asked, that most certainly should be asked...

Do you have liability insurance?
Do you bring backup equipment?
What is your refund policy?
What if we're late with payment?
What if the binding in our album comes apart?
Do the products in my package have a warranty?
What if a print gets damaged?
What happens if it pours on our wedding day and we don't get enough photos?
Do you retouch any photos?
Do you backup our photos in more than one location?
Is your monitor calibrated?
How long after the wedding can we see our photos?
How many weddings do you accept each year?

All of those questions are extremely important! AND I could have listed a dozen or so more! I almost never get asked those or about any of the points in my wedding photography contract... get informed on the important points!

Also, don't be afraid to ask a photographer to share a couple entire weddings with you! If you're only seeing the best 10 photos from a wedding on the blog, then that isn't giving you a clear idea of what you can expect from your wedding collection!

It's also important to start thinking about your photos during the very beginning of your planning process. Ask your photographer how much time they need to produce an album at the same caliber as the one shown in their portfolio... Chances are, it's not 30 minutes during cocktail hour. Before choosing a church or ceremony location, ask the coordinator or pastor their policy with photography. There are quite a few churches in Toledo that are completely unfriendly towards photographers! For one of the most important days in your lives, you should have it properly captured! If you're getting married outdoors, figure out where the sun will be compared to your setup. You won't want to do your formal photos with your family staring into the sun... it's always best to have that big ball of gas behind you :)

Those are just some points that I have been thinking about lately... I hope it comes in handy for those couples in the beginning phases of planning :)

Here's a sneak peek of Laura & Jason from their wedding on Saturday! Such a good day! More to come soon ;)

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Erin Schneider says:

Soooo pretty! ;)

Linda Heckman says:

Great article and recommendations!

Leah says:

Great post! I am always saying that clients are not asking the important questions, and I have even brought it up at one of my initial meetings recently. Thanks for writing this!

Patsy Rocks! says:

BA.

nikki wolfe says:

What a great post! I will be sure to pass this info on to all of my clients! Thanks mary!

ruthie + matt

07.15.10

Ruthie & Matt are one of those couples who I wouldn't mind cloning... They are fun, generous, free spirited. They have great style and a huge appreciation of photography. They trusted me fully for both their engagement session and on the wedding day, endured heat & mayflies to appease my vision of haystacks & abandoned boats. It was a total pleasure to be their photographer, they hold a special place in my photo-heart :)

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Mary Bridget Pincumbe says:

These are absolutely beautiful! You really captured the love these two share for each other! Gorgeous!

kim says:

This was my favorite wedding! Beautiful pictures. You captured their wedding day perfectly!!!

Nikki says:

Congrats, Matt and Ruthie! The pics are great. They capture the two of you perfectly.

Lauri says:

Yeah! So Cool. I love you both tremendously. The pics are awesome. You two are beautiful! Inside and out! Love, Lauri

Mark Reynolds says:

These pics are awesome! The wedding day was great and I am glad I could be a part of it. Congratulations!

greg says:

These pictures are nice. You two look so happy!

Wendy Bach says:

Oh my goodness!!! So wonderful!! Ruthie looks so beautiful!!! Great pics!!

Michael Dick says:

I am so glad I got to be a part of this perfect day .. Remember remember God's place in your lives together these are very happy times and it showed in your pictures.

Anna Pincumbe says:

These pictures are so original. I just love them! Wow, your eye is right on! If only you lived in Georgia. You are my kind of photographer! Ruthie and Matt look so in love. It makes my heart smile!

Kymm says:

Congratulations Ruthie and Matt. The photos are amazing and you were such a beautiful bride.

bill says:

beautiful pictures--beautiful colors.

Angie says:

What great pictures. They are so gorgeous!

Pam says:

What cute pictures. Looks like they had fun.

Kelly Rada says:

What beautiful pictures! I especially love the candid shots, which truly captured them as a 'couple' . . .

Amanda says:

I loved that you can share these pictures with so many people because they made my day brighter just seeing you guys (:

sharon plenzler says:

These might be the best pictures I have ever seen. They are so original and just beautiful!

So romantic - Love them!

Congratulations Ruthie!

Hannah says:

I love your tennis shoes and your dress. I saw dolphins in the ocean today. Love you Aunt Ruthie and Uncle Matt.

faith says:

beautiful pics ruthie!

Elly Wilson says:

Cute pictures Ruthie! Love how u guys are in a haystack haha :)

Nathan says:

Cool pics, Aunt Ruth and Uncle Matt!

Aimee says:

Love the shoes! you guys look so happy and what a beautiful setting! It's strange to see you outside of scrubs:) but that dressi s so stunning!

Joan says:

Very beautiful!

Toshie&Dave Lauharn says:

Pictures are professional Under the circumstances of being in Mich. Great job!

shayna bick says:

You guys look so great and happy. Maybe someday you can make an ad in a magaxine. I wish you guys the best of luck, even though I don't think you will need it with the love share.

scott says:

i love the boat graveyard...this is my fav pic....i love the pose and the hay.

emma says:

very beautiful pictures, it brings me back to a simple time before life got too complicated.

marty says:

you guys look so wonderful, you guys look so happy. congrats to my favorite couple.

amber reinink says:

oh my....what a cute couple. my very fav image is the last one. how cool- boats in the weeds and round bales...great!

heidi + ryan

06.03.10

Shooting weddings a dozen or so times each year is a pretty amazing gig... you get to be with people on one of the most important days in their lives, you're there experiencing the day with them in a way that most people, who don't shoot weddings, won't ever understand. Staring into a camera at a person's eyes, you can't help but be connected to what that person is feeling and experiencing themselves.

Heidi & Ryan are some of the most sincere and genuine people I have ever met. There is no BSing with them, by looking into their eyes you can tell exactly what is going through their minds. I felt extremely honored to have gotten to share their big day with them, and I had an absolute blast being their photographer.

Their reception was hands down the best dance floor in quite some time... If you're getting married and iffy about having a band at your reception, don't be. Just do it. Grand Avenue Band brought it and every guest on the dance floor totally let go and danced their asses off. A wedding cover band that does a badass job covering Lady Gaga, yes please!!

I hope you two overload your brains & eyes with all the beauty in Banff! I want to see lots of photos Ryan, even though they will have been shot on a Nikon ;)