Yanman Photographers Blog

My immediate response? ...

"Easy, Hire a professional wedding planner!"

"I am only discussing wedding planning and how it relates to the photographer and photography, in my opinion."


What is a planners real job for your wedding day?

To keep it running on schedule, running smoothly, coordinating numerous vendors, all the while providing a stress and worry free day for the bride and groom, the wedding party, and even the guests.

Knowing this it is easy to see how how having a planner can make for better pictures, right? The goal of your photographer is to capture the beauty, the romance, the emotions of your special day. If you are worrying about the schedule, dealing with the details, if you are stressed about anything there is a chance of this showing in your pictures. So I'll try to sum up this long post with one easy statement...

Anything that keeps you stress free, and makes you smile on your wedding day helps to make great images, and a great wedding planner can do all that and more.

That's what I think ... what are your thought? Feel free to comment ...

Labels: Coordination, Orlando Wedding Photography, Wedding Planning

We were recommended to Shannon and Stephen by previous bride and groom Greg and Heather Cadwallader. (They were in their wedding).

It was great working with them and getting to see Greg and Heather again.

Shannon is a lover of photography, and she knows what she likes. She provided us with a lot of great suggestions, while still letting us shoot with our own style.


First a shot where north meets south, and on this day the high was only 35, so it felt more north then south.



The ceremony was at the beautiful Lee Chapel.


My favorite part of the day is when a couple chooses to have a private first look prior to the wedding. It is so touching.







The campus has many great locations to shoot, what a great backdrop. I have to hand it to Shannon for braving the cold, no sleeves what a trooper, the rest of us had jackets.





Here is one of the suggestions ...



And another ...


But this is one that my second shooter and I came up with on our own.

Labels: Deland, Grant Bly House, Lee Chapel, Stetson, Wedding Photography

I thought this picture of my daughter would make a great first day image, it shows such a great sense of wonder for new things.



As we open a new year, I wish you and your family a happy and safe New Year!

We are looking forward to working with all the newly engaged.
Getting Married in 2010 or 2011? Call us now to reserve your date.

Labels: 2010, Engagement, New Year, Orlando, Orlando Wedding Photography

Wishing you Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.

No matter what you celebrate have a save and Happy Holiday.

And remember thank our military. They are volunteers far from home, so that we can celebrate the holidays, and be free to choose our faith.

On October 3, 2009 Nick and Tussannee got married at the beautiful Hollis Gardens in Lakeland Florida. Their reception was held at the elegant Terrace Hotel.

Here is the bride getting ready for her big day, we started at 7:30AM and the hair and makeup team was already at it, talk about an early day.


Doesn't the Tussanne look amazing ...


You may kiss the bride ...


Again ...



Congratulations to the happy couple.

His name is Orlando, and they got married in Orlando. Can't get any easier to remember then that.

Julissa and Orlando got married right outside next to Lake Eola, it was still a little hot out, but the cloud cover really did help a lot.

Julissa got ready in her hotel room with all of her bridesmaids around for support, here she is having a bit of fun with them ...


I got to do one of the coolest things I've done in a while, I rode over with all the girls in the limo. Don't worry girls I won't tell the guys your secrets.



Orlando was ready and smiling while waiting for his bride, especially when he saw her for the first time.


What a beautiful bride as her dad walked her down the isle.


Family portraits where taken with the city as a backdrop.





We finished the night at the Sorosis Woman's Club, in downtown.

These two don't just think they can dance - They can!

Congratulations to Orlando and Julissa. We wish you a lifetime of happiness.

Labels: Downtown, Lake eola, Orlando Wedding Photography, Sorosis Womans club

Starting at the Holy Family Catholic Church and continuing at The Ballroom at Church Street, Nikki and Daniel had an incredible wedding day. We feel honored to have been a part of their special day.

Here are just a few of the fantastic images from the wedding and reception.

Labels: Ballroom at Church St, Catholic Church, Downtown, Orlando Wedding Photography

Sylvia is an ex co-worker from my IT days working in the wonderful world of electronic ticketing.

When she called and asked if I would be her photographer at her wedding I jumped at the chance.

Sylvia and I have both come a long way since we met eight years ago, and I wish her and Barny all the best.



It was a little rainy when we got started at the Aloma Methodist Church


The rain went away and the day got almost as pretty as the bride ... well almost.






The reception was held at the Altamonte Springs Clarion...






I could tell you all about the first time Sylvia and I met, but that would be a whole different blog...

Labels: Aloma Methodist Church, Orlando, Orlando Wedding Photography, Wedding

Ok, so if you have not yet read my previous blog posts or been following along on Facebook - please start with -

Let them eat cake Part 1

Let them eat cake Part 2

Let them eat cake Part 3

Ready, OK lets get to the point,

I know how to bake a cake, but I'm no cake decorator ...



Wow! Shocker right? I'm a photographer, that watches cake shows, and thinks he can make a professional cake?

Well not really, I did want to try my hand at making a cool fondant covered cake, but I knew the results (while edible) wouldn't be pretty. At first I was just doing this for me, and the 30-50 people that will be eating this cake on Tuesday. Then it hit me...




I had all the tools ( I bought everything you could need to make the cake I planned on). I had a kitchen, the time, the ingredients and I had made great tasting cakes in the past. The two things I was lacking was knowledge and skill.

Here are some quotes from my Facebook friends and family -

"...this is a real LABOR day project! doesn't your publix have a bakery? ... i'm just askin.' : )"

"How long does it take to bake a cake?????"

"...again, why are you doing this yourself?"


Too many times in the wedding business we hear of someone taking on a project that is just a little more then they can handle. I'm not saying that you can't do it yourself on some things to save money, just know your limits and when to hire a pro.


So here are the three points that I learned from my DIY project:

1. Know your, and your friends DIY limits.
2. DIY only where you are sure of the outcome, and the time it will take.
3. DO NOT LET YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER BAKE YOUR CAKE ...

I hope everyone had a happy and safe Labor Day, and that your desert looked better then mine. :)

So this is the stage where things take a turn for the worse ...



No matter how hard I try, I can't get the fondant smooth around the sides ...



I really had no plan what I was going to do with the colored fondant ...



And at this point it was like "putting lip stick on a Pig ..."



There was just no saving this cake ... I really did try ...




At least my wife and daughter had fun adding the sprinkles to the cake ... Sprinkles make everything better right?





On to the moral of this story ...

Somewhere early on in this project (Like when I discovered I didn't buy enough cake mix), I realized there was more to be learned from making this cake then just how to do it.

So this is why I continued, and posted the entire thing to Facebook.

After I went and got more cake mix, I made layer two shown below. I had forgotten for the second time to grease or flour the pan. Also I didn't add enough oil to the mix for a cake of this size, so ... it stuck to the pan and broke apart.



The base 10 inch layer, turned out ok, but when I cut it flat it broke a bit ...



OK, Ice and add layer two ...




Then sculpt,



It leans more then I wanted but the shape is ok... Maybe?

OK after Icing ...

Then it's roll out the fondant...



Now the fun begins ...

This Labor Day I decided to tackle an "interesting" project. Baking a cake.



Now I know what you are thinking, anyone can bake a cake. This one is a little bit ... different.
If you are one of my Facebook friends, you know what I'm talking about (but not why), but for everyone else here is what went down this weekend (and the why).


This may come as a surprise to most everyone, but I watch a lot of cake decorating shows. Wedding cakes, cake challenges, ace of cakes; you get the point. So this weekend I set out to bake a "pro-like" cake. The plan in my mind was a cake that looked a bit like the mad hatter's hat from Alice in wonderland. Bigger on top smaller on the bottom...etc. etc. It wasn't going to be a hat just have that look.

So after a trip to Michael's to buy cake pans, fondant, spatulas, a rolling pin, and lots of frosting (5 lbs of frosting). I left there $129 lighter. Then to Publix for the first of many trips. Here is a list of the cakes ingredients:

If you add in the Publix costs, my "Hard Costs" for this little weekend project is $150. Not including the $25 worth of items I need to return.

To be continued ...

Here are a few pictures from Chris and Laura's wedding at the fantastic Highland Manor in Apopka.








Some Getting ready shots ...



Laura looking lovely.











The great cake from Party Flavors



Congratulations Chris & Laura, thank you for letting us capture your day.

What a fantastic wedding! Living in Orlando I always love getting over to the coast to take pictures on or near the ocean. We met Joelle and Chris through the fabulous planners at Uniquely Yours Wedding & Event Specialist, thank you Sara and Karry for your recommendation and helping to make it a picture perfect day.

The ceremony was held at the very quaint, Melbourne Community Chapel. There is a reason that song talks about "Going to the Chapel..." It makes for great pictures and a very intimate affair.








The reception was held at the Eau Gallie Yacht Club, and where else can you get pictures next to a real pirate ship? OK, it was really more like a fishing boat with a pirate flag, still it makes for cool pictures ...


The couple was so happy that day, they did all the work, we just captured the moment -


Cupcakes anyone?




First Dance...

I'd also like to thank my associate photographer Corryn for all her help in capturing the events of the day. We make a good team indeed. Here is one that Corryn got just before we left ...

Labels: Chaple, Eau Gallie Yacht Club, Melbourne Wedding Photography

Ok the title is an inside joke, and this is an inside wedding.

For those that don't know, Yanman Photographers is a bit of a family business.

My brother Joe shoots weddings with me and even one or two on his own, my wife assisted me at many weddings before our daughter was born, and my sister-in-law Marcy now assists me from time to time. While there are some other non-related "family" members helping out, we still think of everyone as family.

So when my brother asked for some assistance photography an up-coming "friend of the family" wedding, I couldn't say no. Well I could have but it wouldn't have been pretty, since Marcy was in the wedding party, and brother Joe was asking really nicely (hard for him to do trust me ;o)

So here are just a few of my favorites from the day, plus a couple to introduce you to our team members ...


First It's hair and makeup time -



A little something to come the nerves, not mine, or the brides for that matter. Hmm why are the bridesmaids nervous?



Here is Marcy getting ready, my brother had to remind me that she wasn't assisting in taking pictures, she was IN this wedding. Joe took this picture which he was quick to point out to me when Marcy posted it on Facebook ...



Well here is something a bit different, the Photographers have name cards and a place at the guest tables. Normally I wouldn't sit with the guests, but since many of them were part of extended family ...





Here is the happy couple ...



Joe always nails the detail shots ...



This is why people get married at county clubs ...





First Dance ...



And last but not least, a shot of my brother Joe and his wife Molly. Molly thank you for keeping him in-line!

Labels: Orlando, Photography, Rio Pinar Country Club, Wedding