Dave Crago Photography Blog

Afghanistan unveiled

2012-01-22T01:00:00.007-05:00

A couple of years back; I had the rare opportunity to photograph American soldiers, the people of Afghanistan and the remote but often beautiful countryside. It was truly a journey to remember.

One of my favorite photos is an American soldier caught in the rotor wash of a departing helicopter and the resulting sand storm of the Red Desert of Southern Afghanistan “Caught in the storm”

I also had the opportunity to have a photo published in the "seven Stans" of Central Asia (Afghanistan, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, ... and Uzbekistan) in this travel photo gallery from National Geographic.

My photo “Band-e-Amir, Afghanistan”

Travertine peaks rise above one of the mineral-rich, sapphire lakes of central Afghanistan’s Band-e-Amir. Legend has it the lakes were formed by Caliph Ali, who miraculously raised the retaining walls to dam a dangerous river, thereby impressing a local pagan king who converted to Islam.

Orlando Florida, Engagement & Wedding Locations

2012-01-15T22:45:00.000-05:00

Here are a few locations that are beautiful settings for engagement or even quinceanera sessions in Central Florida. In our experience, these are great choices for relaxed, and fun shoots!
Disney's Boardwalk
Downtown Disney
Disneys Saratoga Springs
Universal Citywalk
Universal Portofino Bay Resort
Downtown Celebration
Kissimmee Old Town
Gaylord Palms Resort, Kissimmee
Lake Eola Park, Orlando
Church Street, Orlando
Park Ave in Winter Park
Little Big Econ State Forest, Seminole County
Cocoa Beach Pier, Cocoa Beach
Historic Cocoa Village, Cocoa
Jetty Park, Port Canaveral

We recommend scheduling photo shoots for mid-morning or early evening, in order to maximize the best, flattering daylight!

Let us know which of these locations appeals to you and your style! We can collaborate over the phone to finalize the location, time and details.

We decided to add some of Orlando Florida's best wedding or quinceanera locations to help you find that perfect venue for your day:

Mystic Dunes Golf
Hilton Grand Vacations
Hyatt Regency Orlando International Airport
Rosen Shingle Creek
Ritz Carlton
Rosen Plaza Hotel
Omni Orlando Resort at Champions Gate
Womens Club of Winter Park
Winter Park Farmers Market
Harry P. Leu Gardens
Hard Rock Live
JW Marriott
Cypress Grove Park
Rosen Centre Hotel
Lake Mary Event Center
Gaylord Palms

First Look - Once in a lifetime photo opportunity

2012-01-09T21:49:00.002-05:00

F09rst Look Once in a lifetime photo opportunity

What is a first look? This has been another of our clients favorites. Its a wonderful, romantic opportunity for you to see each other for the first time before the wedding ceremony. No parents, no bridal party, no distractionsjust pure emotions. This is usually a very sweet and emotional moment. By not seeing each other before the ceremony, you never really get to share that moment together, alone. When the ceremony is over, the moment has passed. The first look not only captures great photos, it gives you some time to enjoy being alone before your magical day begins.

How it works
The bride and groom get ready separately. When both are dressed and the getting ready photos have been captured, we take the groom to a location with great light. The bride is sent in and the groom turns to see her as shes walking up. At that moment, the bride and groom will completely forget we are there while we capture every smile, every tear, every laugh and every kiss. The first look photos end up being some of their favorites from the entire day.

Why consider a first look
Having the first look before the ceremony allows us the opportunity to capture those once in a lifetime moments that will be cherished forever. This is also a great time for a photo walk, where we capture some amazing images of the bride and groom in their favorite places.

Some think the magic moment is when the bride walks down the aisle to her groom and they see each other for the first time. This moment is certainly magical but its not the same as an intimate first look. We love to capture when a couple get lost in each others eyes, when they see each other for the first time as bride and groom. That moment can sometimes get lost walking down the aisle as the couple holds back their emotions so they can make it through the ceremony. This is just an option, one we think is worth considering

Trash The Dress

2011-12-20T21:20:00.002-05:00

Trashing the dress after a wedding seems to be a popular trend. Its a photo session done AFTER the wedding and honeymoon are over to symbolically show your husband that you will NEVER need your wedding dress again. The purpose of the photo shoot is to get some very creative and different photos of you in your dress.

Brides and grooms want awesome imagery from their wedding, period. They want the unscripted moments captured, but they also want a photographer that can get very creative during a portrait session. Thats why couples everywhere are donning their wedding finery and not only plunging into breakers, walking through abandoned amusement parks, wandering through cornfields, wading into forest streams and chasing other wild pursuits in an increasingly popular ritual and edgy extension of wedding photojournalism called Trash the Dress (TTD) or Day After Session.

The perfect place for this type of photo shoot is at the beach. Yes you will be rolling around in the sand and surf and your dress will be trashed. But, only temporarily. Most often, the dress can be hung to dry and cleaned. If you are recently married and would love to be one of the first to get a trash the dress photo shoot by me, please email or call me about Orlando Wedding Photography and trash the dress photography sessions.

Orlando Trash The Dress Photography

2011-08-10T18:50:00.000-04:00

Brides and grooms want awesome imagery from their wedding, period. They want the unscripted moments captured, but they also want a photographer that can get very creative during a portrait session. Thats why couples everywhere are donning their wedding finery and not only plunging into breakers, walking through abandoned amusement parks, wandering through cornfields, wading into forest streams and chasing other wild pursuits in an increasingly popular ritual and edgy extension of wedding photojournalism called Trash the Dress (TTD).

The perfect place for this type of photo shoot is at the beach. Yes you will be rolling around in the sand and surf and your dress will be trashed. But, only temporarily. Most often, the dress can be hung to dry and cleaned. If you are recently married and would love to be one of the first to get a trash the dress photo shoot by me, please email or call me ASAP. Also visit our web page at http://www.davecragophotography.com/

My Review of Nikon SC-29 Dedicated TTL Coiled Sync Extension Cord, with Male / Female ISO Hot Shoes & AF Illuminator

2010-11-08T19:12:00.001-05:00

Originally submitted at Adorama

Nikon SC-29 Dedicated TTL Coiled Sync Extension Cord, with Male / Female ISO Hot Shoes & AF Illuminator

Simply makes my life easy

By DCP from Orlando, Florida on 11/8/2010

Pros: Easy To Pack, Easy to Use, Reliable, Lightweight

Best Uses: Travel, Weddings/Events, Family Photos

Describe Yourself: Pro Photographer

Was this a gift?: No

The SC-29 sync cord simply makes my life easier. I love the SC-29 sync cord teamed with my SU-800, SB-900's and SB-800's for my wedding and special event photography.

(legalese)

My Review of Nikon SU-800 Replacement Wireless Speedlight Commander

2010-10-31T12:27:00.001-04:00

Originally submitted at Adorama

Nikon SU-800 Replacement Wireless Speedlight Commander

A must have for wedding photographers.

By DCP from Orlando, Florida on 10/31/2010

Pros: Easy To Use, Lightweight, Versatile, Consistent Output, Fast Recycling, Powerful Output

Best Uses: General Use, Fill Flash, Photojournalism, Portraits

Describe Yourself: Pro Photographer

Was this a gift?: No

I love the SU800 teamed with my SB 900's and SB 800's for my weddings. If you use Nikon's CLS system this is a must have. Big pro is having control of 3 groups. The display is straight forward, easy to read, and easier to change for run and gun photography.

(legalese)

Jennifer's Orlando Quinceanera Photography

2010-07-13T19:16:00.010-04:00

Some of my favorite photos from Jennifer's Quinceanera photo shoot this weekend at the Gaylord Palms Resort, downtown Disney and Jetty Park in Florida. What a sweet and fun young girl to work with.

Kimi & Reuben's Heathrow Wedding Photography

2010-04-27T20:51:00.007-04:00

A couple of quick photos from Kimi and Reuben's beautiful wedding at the Heathrow Country Club in Lake Mary, Florida on Saturday April 24, 2010. They were a really fun couple and family to work with.

Christie & Bryan's Daytona Wedding Photography

2010-04-18T09:34:00.005-04:00

I had a great time yesterday photographing Christie and Bryans beach side wedding at the Shores Resort and Spa in Daytona Beach Shores Florida.

Becky & Adam's Engagement Photo Shoot

2010-04-12T21:10:00.008-04:00

I had a lot of fun shooting Becky & Adam’s engagement photos yesterday afternoon at Little Big Econ State Forest and then onto Park Ave. in Winter Park, Florida.

Wedding Day Photography Tips For The Bride Part 3

2010-03-13T07:42:00.002-05:00

For a smooth flowing reception, be sure to:

Provide your DJ or master of ceremonies with a detailed timeline of your reception.

Instruct your servers, in advance, to start pouring champagne for the toast as soon as the family and bridal party introductions are made.

Upon your entrance into the reception hall, you should immediately move into your first dance, followed by father/daughter, and mother/son dances.

By the time your first dances have ended, your servers should be finished pouring champagne, and the person(s) giving the toast should begin speaking immediately.

Instruct your DJ to announce the food directly after the toast.

After people have had a chance to eat and mingle for a comfortable amount of time, your DJ should announce dancing, or your chosen alternative activity.

Cake cutting, bouquet toss, and garter toss should occur approximately 3/4ths of the way into your reception, and at least 30 minutes prior to the departure of your photographer and videographers if they were not hired to cover the entire reception.

Note: the best time for your photographer and videographers to eat is when the bride, groom, and bridal party receive their food. This way they will be finished and ready to capture the next thing to take place in time. Usually only 15 or 20 minutes would be required, and cameras would be kept handy in case anything important happened during this time.

Be sure to get plenty of rest on the days and nights leading up to the wedding.

Set aside the day or two before the wedding day as spa days.

A well rested bride and groom, are a happy bride and groom, and it shows in your photographs.

Make sure to eat good food on and before your wedding day. If you do not eat enough food, your blood sugar level will probably be out of balance, and you will likely feel tired, anxious, irritable, or edgy. It’s super easy to avoid this. Just eat!

Wedding Day Photography Tips For The Bride Part 2

2010-03-08T18:40:00.004-05:00

Allow enough time for photographs. Group and couple photos take a minimum of one hour and ten minutes (20 minutes for family group photos, 20 minutes for bridal party photos, 30 minutes for the bride and groom romantic session.)

Keep in mind that the more time you allow for photos, the more creative I am free to be, and the more relaxing and fun photo time is for you, and for your family and friends.

It is strongly recommended to do the bride and groom romantic session before the wedding ceremony (“First Look”), as well as most of the group photos if possible.

This minimizes the amount of time taken away from you enjoying your reception.

The less time you keep your guests waiting the better.

Before the ceremony, your hair, makeup, and clothing will be more fresh.

The better the lighting, the better the photographs will be.

Make sure your ceremony and reception locations are well lit. What most people think of as well lit is usually too dim for good photographs. All too often, brides want to have their reception halls so dim their guests can hardly see their plates in front of them, as they feel it is more romantic this way. What they do not realize, is that this kind of lighting is horrible for photographs, and inhibits conversation and interaction between guests. It is possible to maintain a romantic ambiance while still being able to see the person next to you.

Please opt for more light.

Bride and groom romantic photos, and family and bridal party group photos are usually best done outdoors in a shaded area.

If the sky is overcast, a beautiful soft light is produced, and the photos can be done anywhere outside.

Throughout the wedding day, my goal is to be as unobtrusive as possible, while still capturing the moments that matter. I love to capture candid moment’s photojournalistic style, however, during the romantic and group photo sessions I will be providing more direction for photographs.

It is very important that everyone involved be present when they are supposed to be, and for them to be fairly quiet and attentive to me in order to move through the photographs as smoothly as possible. The less that people listen to me, the longer group photos take.

Please inform your family and bridal party, prior to the wedding day, where they will need to be, and when for photos, and convey to them the importance of being quiet and attentive during photographs.

Please also remind them of these things at the beginning of the wedding day, and put your coordinators in charge of making sure everyone is present and ready for photos at the appointed time.

Wedding Day Photography Tips For The Bride Part 1

2010-03-06T12:57:00.005-05:00

Keep in mind that achieving beautiful photographs on your wedding day is a two way street between you and your photographer. While the photographer brings expertise with the camera and a creative and artistic eye for freezing important moments in time, there are many things you can do to enhance your wedding for beautiful photographs.

Avoid stress by delegating last minute tasks to other people.

An excellent way to accomplish this is to hire a professional wedding planner and coordinator. A professional coordinator will know how to successfully organize your day, and will be invaluable in helping you to avoid stress and enjoy your day to the utmost.

If you cannot afford to hire a professional coordinator, designate two or three people who will work together to coordinate everything on the wedding day.

Provide them with the following:
• A detailed timeline of everything that will take place leading up to, and on the wedding day.
• The order of ceremony.
• The order of reception.
• All of the names and phone numbers of family members who will be included in group photos, as well as the names and phone numbers for everyone in the bridal party.
• A vendor list containing the names, phone numbers, times of arrival and departure, and final payments for each of the vendors who will be serving you on your wedding day.

Give your coordinators a list of all last minute things that need to be done, and put them in charge of making sure those things are accomplished.

Put your coordinators in charge of making sure everyone knows where they are supposed to be, and when. This is particularly important during group photo time.

Note: coordinating the wedding is very tiring, and keeps those persons from being able to enjoy the wedding to the fullest. For this reason, it is of utmost importance that the bride and groom are not the ones trying to call the shots on the wedding day. It is also recommended that this task not fall to immediate family members.

Trash The Dress Wedding Photography - Orlando Florida

2010-02-27T15:53:00.002-05:00

First Look – Once in a lifetime photo opportunity

2010-02-21T09:49:00.002-05:00

First Look – Once in a lifetime photo opportunity
What is a first look? This has been another of our client’s favorites. It’s a wonderful, romantic opportunity for you to see each other for the first time before the wedding ceremony. No parents, no bridal party, no distractions…just pure emotions. This is usually a very sweet and emotional moment. By not seeing each other before the ceremony, you never really get to share that moment together, alone. When the ceremony is over, the moment has passed. The first look not only captures great photos, it gives you some time to enjoy being alone before your magical day begins.

How it works…
The bride and groom get ready separately. When both are dressed and the getting ready photos have been captured, we take the groom to a location with great light. The bride is sent in and the groom turns to see her as she’s walking up. At that moment, the bride and groom will completely forget we are there while we capture every smile, every tear, every laugh and every kiss. The first look photos end up being some of their favorites from the entire day.

Why consider a first look…
Having the first look before the ceremony allows us the opportunity to capture those once in a lifetime moments that will be cherished forever. This is also a great time for a photo walk, where we capture some amazing images of the bride and groom in their favorite places.

Some think the magic moment is when the bride walks down the aisle to her groom and they see each other for the first time. This moment is certainly magical but it’s not the same as an intimate first look. We love to capture when a couple get lost in each other’s eyes, when they see each other for the first time as bride and groom. That moment can sometimes get lost walking down the aisle as the couple holds back their emotions so they can make it through the ceremony. This is just an option, one we think is worth considering

http://www.davecragophotography.com/

New and exciting wedding photography pricing

2010-02-18T17:50:00.004-05:00

When it comes to selecting a wedding photography package, we understand that one size does not fit all.

Our signature collection is designed specifically for the couple looking for photojournalistic, documentary approach to their wedding day. It includes items that we believe are essential to telling your entire story.

There are also other options! We offer 3 more collections designed to fit the needs of all couples as well as an add-on engagement session.

Please feel free to contact us for a custom quote!

http://www.davecragophotography.com/

Trash The Dress wedding photography in style

2010-02-16T19:26:00.002-05:00

Katt and Matt take part in a beautiful and intimate "Trash The Dress" wedding photography session on driftwood beach, Jekyll Island, Georgia

Destination wedding photography and a great couple Sarah and Brent

2010-02-04T21:09:00.003-05:00

A beautiful wedding photography shot of Sarah and Brent on the steps of the Ocean Lodge in St Simon Island, Georgia just after the “First Look”. This was one of the most enjoyable and passionate couples I have worked with.

2010 Orlando Wedding Photography Pricing Special

2010-02-02T18:56:00.004-05:00

The new Orlando wedding photography pricing for Dave Crago Photography is up on our webpage. All 2010 weddings in Orlando or Central Florida booked in February will lock in this special pricing.

Free Engagement Photography Session

2010-01-30T20:31:00.007-05:00

I added a free engagement photography session to the Ultimate Photography Package for all 2010 weddings booked in February

Orlando Engagement Session

2010-01-27T19:37:00.001-05:00

Shot a great engagement session today with a fun couple in Orlando

Shoot Q photography studio management

2010-01-24T20:48:00.001-05:00

I just hooked up with a new photography studio manager - its name is ShootQ! Check it out at http://web.shootq.com/ you will be happy you did

Home

2010-01-10T12:43:00.001-05:00

Check out the latest page I just posted using Showit: Home

Wide eyed amazement

2010-01-01T14:14:00.010-05:00

A darling flower girl sits in wide eyed amazement with her grandfather as she watch’s her mothers wedding ceremony on December 12th in Winter Garden, Florida.

A bubbly send off

2009-12-22T17:10:00.004-05:00

A bubbly send off for Shelly and Todd on there wedding day in Winter Garden, Florida.

Wedding in Winter Garden, FL

2009-12-12T12:23:00.005-05:00

Off to shoot a wedding in Winter Garden, Florida today as Shelly and Todd say "I Do" Photos to follow shortly

Trash The Dress with Tiffany and David

2009-10-25T20:01:00.002-04:00

A quick photo from Tiffany and David's "Trash The Dress " photo session today. This was at Disney Village in the main fountain. The photo shoot was a lot of fun and witnessed by lot's of people.

Dave Crago Photography Home

2009-10-21T07:08:00.002-04:00

The final version is ready, minus some tweaking of photos. Check out the latest page I just posted using Showit: Dave Crago Photography Home

Dave Crago Photography

2009-10-18T10:33:00.002-04:00

The newest version of my webpage on Showit is available

Sarah and Brent Say I Do

2009-10-12T22:01:00.012-04:00

An un-edited image from three day of shooting at Sarah and Brent’s beautiful destination wedding in St Simon Island Georgia. Thanks to Bob and Dawn Davis for the opportunity to be a part of this.

Entering Into The Southern Charm Of Key West, Florida

2009-08-12T22:02:00.004-04:00

The grand entrance at sunset of the southern most house in Key West, Florida shows off its southern charm and glow. It is quite a place to stay if you are ever in the Keys.

Sunset in Sunrise Marina

2009-08-11T08:11:00.005-04:00

An amazing sunset beyond the fishing boats in Sunrise Marina, Cape Canaveral, FL

Hawaiian Beauties

2009-08-01T15:19:00.008-04:00

A couple of my favorite photos of two models named Brianna and Traion I photographed on my last trip to Oahu Hawaii for there portfolios.

Caught In The Storm

2009-08-01T07:44:00.008-04:00

I just returned from almost 2 years if Afghanistan and had the rare opportunity to photograph American soldiers, the people of Afghanistan and the remote but often beautiful countryside sitting in the open door of helicopters. It was truly a journey to remember.

One of my favorite photos is an American soldier caught in the rotor wash of a departing helicopter and the resulting sand storm of the Red Desert of Southern Afghanistan “Caught in the storm”