Your Wedding Timeline

As your big day draws near, it becomes necessary to set your timeline. This will ultimately determine how much time you have to catch your breath between the big events of the day. So as you plan your timeline, we would like to offer some advice.

If you want some really creative non traditional pictures on your wedding day, then it is necessary for you to allow a bit more time. The traditional time between the Ceremony and Reception is one hour. If you can extend that to two hours it leaves plenty of time for family portraits and heirloom images that you will cherish forever. It sounds like a lot of time, but it goes by faster than you think. If you cannot schedule two hours try at least an hour and a half. The difference between an inexperienced photographer and an experienced one is the amount of time it takes to be creative as well as juggle the typical family photos. It pays to ask your photographer if the images you see on their site are actually shot during the wedding. You will be surprised by the answer. We are not saying it can't be done in the one hour but why not step outside the box and make the most of your special day.

We have found that the best option to overcome the time crunch is to schedule a session after the wedding to focus on just the bride and groom. If you feel that you may be stressed out on your wedding day, then I suggest you consider this option! Every bride that has done a session with us after the wedding is 100 times more relaxed..naturally. The images are wonderful and the experience is very special, and it gives you the chance to wear that dress one more time, before you preserve it.

I'm going to share with you some images from a session we did with Angela & Jack. This is actually from their One Year Anniversary Session, but I just cannot resist. It definitely will give you an idea of how you can step outside of the box for your session. Their wedding theme was The Great Gatsby and for their session they chose to go with a Bonnie & Clyde theme. Angela watched a lot of Bonnie & Clyde movies to prepare for their session and it really paid off, as they were both in character!
- Natasha

Christie & Scott - The Renaissance Vinoy Resort & Golf Club- St. Petersburg, FL

Christie & Scott were married on a beautiful day at The Renaissance Vinoy Resort & Golf Club in St. Petersburg, FL. Their ceremony was in the Tea Garden with the reception following in the Sunset Ballroom. Jennifer Links with The Vinoy made sure everything went according to plan and the decor was amazing! We enjoyed sharing this amazing couple's day so much we wanted to share some of their images with you....

This is the reason I do this....

Sometimes I get these wonderful emails and calls thanking us for the images we captured and rather than post them all over the internet like it was some sort of prize we cherish them and keep them close to our own hearts. This time a call came in and it moved me in a way that you will understand. I am very lucky to have been given a second chance in life. I never understood why this gift was given to me until I started to shoot Weddings years back. To me photography is not a business, nor the sale of photos and albums or packages either. Some people think photography is about the cameras, but to me they are just tools. I am an Artist and I listen with my heart. I capture love. The love of your best friend who is about to become your Wife or Husband. The love of your Children. The tear in your eye and the smile of joy. Love comes in many ways and yet the essence of it is always feels the same. My life is filled with stories that people who trust me to capture their stories and my gift is to listen and feel. This is my business, my life, my joy. I would like to share with you a call from a beautiful family we had the opportunity to spend time with.
Gary Kaplan

To watch the this video full screen: Click here

Oliver & Lane's Wedding - Anna Maria Island, Florida

This was such a beautiful wedding! What a perfect day for this beautiful couple to tie the knot. An intimate affair that had all the right details - thanks to the staff at The Loft 5!

Another Award! Voted WeddingWire Bride's Choice for 2012!

We are once again elated to announce that Gary Kaplan Photography has been awarded this prestigious award - 2012 WeddingWire Bride's Choice award!

I know I say this a lot, but I can't say it enough. It means so much to me that my clients appreciate everything I do for them and want to share that appreciation with brides everywhere. These awards wouldn't be possible without all of you. Thank you!

Gary Kaplan Photography Voted The Knot Best of Weddings 2012!!

The Knot readers and real brides selected Gary Kaplan Photography as one of the best photographers for 2012! We will be featured online and in the magazine as a top selection for wedding photography.

Jason and Mandy Yesterday

Just a sample of more to come. I am so happy that Jason and Mandy chose us to honor their Wedding. Here is a sample of so many images of the day...

Thea's Moment

We thought we would give Thea a preview before she saw her Wedding images. Look out for her Wedding in her own gallery soon.

Preview of our newest passion. Family Sessions

I am not new to this. My Dad and I shot baby portraits when I was a teenager. So now in honor of my Dad we will be shooting family sessions once again. We would like to explain the details before your interest level increases. Our sessions are not the supermarket or the department mall type. We don't care about selling you tons of images. You get a disk edited and copyright free. What we do care about is capturing precious moments that will end up telling a story of your love for each other. We want to spend time with you in a place that is comfortable and enjoyable for the kids. The park, the zoo, Maui, Paris, your backyard. We need to get to know your personalities and see the inter-actions of your family. Only than can we capture what we feel is truly a valuable family experience. If this is what you are looking for feel free to call for details. We are booking fast. Sessions start at $1,500.

Stop in the Name of Love.

I love this image. I call it "The Hand"

Image of the month :)

Robert & Jennifer at Safety Harbor

What a great wedding day. Rain in july and plenty of it. Safety Harbor has all these great places to shoot even in the rain. And the sky was full of glory to celebrate a beautiful wedding.

Saint Marrten Wedding

We really had an adventure in Saint Marrten last month. Eight days of enjoying what I call my home. Besides New York and Florida. Got to meet Amy & Chris and shoot two days of wedding celebrations. I may just post a whole gallery on our web site just for the

them.

Creative Asia

Yes we are proud of this award.

The Vinoy and all its Romantic Flavor...

I love to shoot at the Vinoy in Saint Petersburg. It's history is so incredible. The opportunities for creative imagery are overwhelming. Here is one of the images captured. A special moment in time...

Night Surprise

So there we were on location 11pm and the Bride decides to do the unthinkable. No light but the night sky and a camera flash which maybe with a little luck will go out ten feet. Years of experience dictates this will be an artistic shot full of grain and darkness but after five years of the development of our newest light enhancement device I call "The Blaze" I decided it was time to test it out. Yessssss a lifesaver in the making!

We love this image taken of Taylor and her Dad as they make a grand surprise entrance to the Ceremony at Tampa Palms. We created this images using some of our newest software developed by Gary.

Some of my favorite Images we captured in the last few months...

Soma Hair Technology

We are so pleased to be involved with Soma Hair Technology. They make hair products and have retained us to design, photograph and assist in concept marketing for the launch of their Vegan hair products. Here's a sneak preview of one of the advertising designs we just finished up. Even though our main focus is Wedding Photography were find it refreshing and enjoyable to be involved in the fashion industry also.

Our Newest Advertisment

This is our newest advertisement appearing in South Asian Bride Magazine.

Adriana & Nick

What a beautiful Wedding. From the Rolls picking the couple up at the church to the sparklers placed in the centerpieces when they made their grand entrance.

We just love these sorts of moments....

Jason & Ciah

What a cute couple! Wow did they have fun...

Scott & Anne Reception at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center

The night was as beautiful as a fairy tale wedding story. The band was wonderful and I would like to give praise to Jennifer McCrackin of QuickCare Event Planners for doing such a wonderful job... Bravo!!!