Meet our Member ~ Art by Leonhardt Photography

Name: Tony Leonhardt       

Business Name: Art by Leonhardt Photography

Website: coming soon!     

Facebook: www.facebook.com/artbyleonhardtphotography

Blog: artbyleonhardt.blogspot.com/       

Google Plus: gplus.to/artbyleonhardtphotography (Google+ page coming soon!)

What should a bride know about your expertise and experience?

I've been photographing weddings for the past four years, with over 12 years experience with classical black & white photography. I'm trained in both digital and film photography, having earned a Bachelor's degree from the Savannah College of Art and Design. Since moving out to the Seattle-Tacoma area from Miami only two years ago, I've shot photos for over 40 weddings. 

What inspired you to start your business?

Weddings are a thrill to photograph! Who wouldn't want to start a wedding photography business? Having worked with various wedding photography studios on the West and East Coast, it's been impossible to not have fun documenting the memories of a bride and groom's perfect day. I think if one can't enjoy shooting a wedding, find something that is fun. Luckily for me, I have a blast each and every time I work as a wedding photographer. There's so much joy and happiness that it is infectious. This is why I'm branching outwards to establish a business of my own.

Do you do anything special or different from your competition?

The printmaking services that I can offer vastly differ from a typical digital photo package. I can print using classical black & white techniques, use antique alternative process style printmaking and maximize the potential offered by film and digital mediums. I love capturing the artistic image that other image makers may not see or notice.

As for the day of the wedding, I simply don't stop working. My work ethic on a shoot makes me extremely productive. I'm always on the go, shooting during every busy and slow moment so that I can capture every memory that happens that day. I don't leave any stone unturned, or any memory undocumented.

What was your most memorable wedding?

Last year I flew to Miami to photograph a destination wedding for a close friend. After the ceremony, the bride and groom checked in early to their honeymoon suite down on South Beach. With only minutes to spare before leaving for the reception, we all ventured out onto the beach for some quick photographs among the jaded Miami sun worshippers. To our surprise, the entire beach began clapping and cheering for the couple as they posed quickly for some unforgettable shots! It's one of the most unforgettable moments I've ever had as a wedding photographer.

                      

What are some of the pitfalls a bride can expect if they don’t hire a professional like yourself?

I understand that everyone works within a budget for a wedding. However the services I offer -including my creativity and passion for the perfect photo- are well worth my value as a professional. My images and work ethic are the best references I will ever need. I can guarantee the value of my work and my years of experience definitely show with the superb quality of my photography.

Size Does Matter

Newly engaged couples are so excited about their upcoming wedding they want to shout the news to everyone … and invite everyone and anyone they ever met. Think about this before you do that and how it will affect your budget.

I love big fun weddings and I know this sounds simplistic but in the excitement sometime we forget … for every person you invite your cost goes up considerably. Just ten extra guests can put you way over budget. For each invited guest you must, in some cases, even pay for another chair, six to ten extra guests means another rental table, plus tablecloths, napkins, overlays, centerpieces, chair covers and sashes, favors and the biggest cost of all, the food and drink. Sometimes you must even rent a bigger, i.e., more expensive venue to accommodate everyone.

As you should choose your wedding party carefully and never regret your choices, choose your wedding guests just as carefully. Of course, close relatives and friends and their significant others are on top of the list but everyone in your office building or yoga class does not need nor necessarily even want an invitation.

The Groom’s guy friend do not need to bring some gal, any gal, just so he has a date and the same goes for the Bride’s girlfriends. Hey, weddings are good places to meet your peers and potential love matches. It happens all of the time!

Example of nice spacing between tables/lots of guests but huge venue

A big trend now, especially for evening weddings, is to make them adult affairs only. Although most venues will give you a break on children’s meals, the cost can still add up fast for the little ones.

Don’t get me wrong, I love kids too but consider if there are children in your wedding party and what they will do after the ceremony. Are there friends and relatives that would really be upset if they could not bring their children or would most of them relish an excuse for a “date night” at your wedding?

Then there is the cake issue. Most children do not understand the significance of a wedding and only look forward to that slice of cake they have been promised. It is truly the centerpiece of your reception and you have spent hundreds of dollars on … cake. It literally has to be guarded all night long. It seems to be the kid’s very favorite place to hover and run around at every wedding!!! There is no right or wrong answer to this question and every couple has to answer it for themselves, keeping cost in mind.

Example of a crowded space/lots of guests/big venue but just not big enough

Even the cost of the invitations and postage should be a consideration when creating your guest list. My best advice is to go slow and consider all sides of the question, “to invite or not to invite” because the size of your wedding really does matter in dollars and cents (and sense too).

Contributed by Professional Member of Puget Sound Wedding Professionals - Janine

Lifetime Memories Weddings & Events