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Single-Use Cameras at Weddings: Love It or Leave It?

GeekSugar — Mon, 19 May 2008 16:00:31 -0700

Single-use cameras that take the kind of picture you will keep forever are few and far between, but they remain a staple table dressing at weddings. I love the idea of encouraging guests to capture their favorite moments but there's something to be said for hiring a professional photographer to do all the hard work. What's your take on amateur photographers at weddings?

Share Your Stunning Photos!

GeekSugar — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:20:16 -0800

Have you had a chance to take a look at some of the impressive photos in the GeekSugar Community? Why not submit some of your own! We have a group called Cool Capture, where you can upload images that you're proud of, and share any special photography techniques you used to take the pic as well as the model of the camera.

On that note, I know you've probably had a hard time taking your eyes off this beautiful photo that reader aggiemsd took while exploring her beautiful city of San Diego. Taken at Torrey Pines State Reserve aggiemsd says she used her Canon PowerShot SD940IS to capture this amazing pic.

Be sure to upload your photos, and you might be featured on GeekSugar! There are lots of ways to share, so read on to learn more.

Talking New Moon With Kellan Lutz and Ashley Greene

BuzzSugar — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 09:15:50 -0800

Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, and Taylor Lautner may be dominating the promotional circuit right now, but they're not the only cast members with something to say about New Moon. I had the opportunity to chat with costars Kellan Lutz and Ashley Greene, aka Emmett and Alice Cullen, during their recent stopover in SF. They chatted about their characters, the vampire craze, and what it's like to be a "Twilight celebrity." Here are highlights:

On why so many people are crazy for the Twilight Saga:
Ashley: I think this film in particular is highly relatable. There are a lot of situations that people can relate to. The love story - everyone can relate to being in love or being in lust. You add the vampire, and it adds that next level fantasy. Vampires are mysterious and sensual and dangerous and unattainable. And everyone wants what they can't have. I think on another level that this came together at the perfect time. All the elements just fit, the casting was spot on, and we're in a difficult time right now with our economy. That's why you never have a drop in ticket sales because everyone wants an escape, and this movie is very much an escape from reality.
Kellan: It's a good escape but also it deals with so many situations, on so many positive notes. Just looking at it from the vampire coven to the wolf pack. It just deals with everyday issues just on bigger levels, in a way. And you have Bella as the keystone in many situations. You can just all relate from different countries to issues within the United States. It's easily relatable.

To read a lot more about working with three different directors and why they feel so lucky, just read more.

On how their portrayals of the Cullens are similar or different from the books:
Kellan: We got the jobs because we brought something new to it. You can interpret the characters each their own, but I think it's what we did alongside. Just like Kristen said - she's playing Bella but she's putting her Kristen spin on it, just like all of us are. And I think that's what's making it unique. We're still following the cheat sheets that Stephenie created by making the books, and there's Wikipedia. We have a lot of information to go off of. But I hope it's what I did in my audition that set it apart from the other guys trying out.

Ashley: I think it's mannerisms too. People do fall in love with this book, but I think part of it is that they always want more. You can't write out every human mannerism. You can imagine it, but seeing the emotion in someone's eyes and seeing them be affected it - it was kind of easy to give something to it, because we were just being people. We kinda just got lucky.
On how much more of the Cullens we can expect in the remaining movies:
Kellan: Realistically, we stick pretty close to the books. Obviously us Cullens would love to be in the books a lot more, which would mean we'd be in the movies a lot more. Talking New Moon, the scenes that the Cullens - except for Ashley, playing Alice who gets to go to Italy and be a main lead in the movie - us Cullens, we have to stick really close to the books, and the scenes that we're in are really crucial to the story, as you know - the birthday scene, the voting scene. I don't know, it was kind of a tease. Chris Weitz is such an amazing director, and for us, for myself - I only worked about a week on that movie. And it didn't even seem like I really got a taste for what it was.

Ashley: In the third film, you'll see a lot more of the Cullens because it's all of us collaborating and then getting ready to fight this war that's coming up. In the second one, my character got a much larger role because Alice is the Cullen, other than Edward, that really embraces Bella and they end up becoming best friends. In the beginning, you see her throw this huge party for Bella, and then Alice is the one who does, in fact, come back for Bella when everyone else decides to skip town. Alice is responsible for dragging Bella over to Italy, and she and I the whole time are fighting to save my brother's life. And then of course we get held up by the Volturi and stuff like that. My character got to grow a lot, which is really cool. You get to actually see the relationship develop between Bella and Alice, where in the first one you didn't. The first one was very much about the romance and showing the audience why these two people are willing to die for each other.
On working with a different director on each film:
Ashley: Each director is going to be very different. They're artists as well, and I don't think any of them are quite the same. The books, when you read them, all have very, very, different tones. So I think it's highly appropriate that we switch directors each go. The first one is very much a romance and is a very scenic, beautiful film. And Catherine's really, really great at capturing that. She's very high energy and works well in chaos and stuff like that. And it was fantastic because we didn't quite know what we were getting ourselves into, and so it was nice to have her to guide us when we were freaking out a little bit. She was just so high energy, and it was really contagious. We were sad to lose her and move on to the second film, but then we got Chris Weitz and he's the complete opposite! But great as well. He's so giving and caring and collaborative and created this atmosphere that was kind of a safe haven for us. And it was really nice because we didn't know, switching directors, if they were gonna embrace us or if they had a completely different vision than what we created in the first one. It was nice that he was right there on the same page with us. And the second one is a warmer film, even from the color scheme. The first one is very blue tones, and the second one is much richer and warmer and I think he did a great job at capturing that. And we just finished shooting with David Slade, and I think he's highly appropriate as well. He just finished shooting 30 Days of Night and Hard Candy, and they're both very dark, edgy films. And Eclipse is very much that. It's all centered around the anticipation and us getting ready to fight this huge war. We just finished filming, we haven't gotten to see much of it, but I think it's gonna be fantastic. He is, technically, the most advanced director. The angles that he shot and how he knows that tweaking something can affect a whole scene and the lenses. He was really nice to work with.
On coping with the fan effect and being a "Twilight celebrity"
Kellan: That's what blows my mind, 'cause I feel like it's really unearned in a way. The fans are making our careers. Without them, we wouldn't be working and doing the saga. There's so many times that trilogy books become a movie and the first one bombs, and then that's it. And you're always hopeful that you get to do them all. Especially since we're all in love with our characters. I love Emmett Cullen to death, he's my favorite character I've ever played. It's just so cool to have made it this far, and I think we all hope that we get to finish this series and do Breaking Dawn. This is such a blessing, it's every actor's dream to be part of something like this. It's not terribly hard either. We don't shoot halfway around the world; we don't shoot for a year of our lives. I know a lot of us have homes, we have pets, we have family. And it's really nice to shoot on the West Coast, either Portland or Vancouver, and have the chance to fly down if we need to. But it's definitely amazing to be part of something like this. And I don't think any of us knew how crazy it would be and how exhilarating it would turn out to be. Going to the premiere, really just, wow. I don't even remember it because I was really just starstruck by how many fans and signs and cameras. It felt like I was just walking through a strobe light room. It's amazing.

Ashley: I still think we can't really wrap our heads around what's going on and what's happening. We're still in the midst of filming and kept very busy from one film until the next. It's only these brief moments where you sit back and are actually able to take a breath where you go "Whoa. Wow. This is crazy." I mean, the amount of tickets they've already sold for New Moon - I'm pretty sure I can't even get a ticket if I tried to see my film in Jacksonville and it's mind boggling. We're just very lucky. I went into this film thinking "Oh my gosh, I got a job" and the it turned into the biggest break of my life. I think we all feel very blessed to be a part of this.
On how it feels to be part of Twilight fan fiction:
Kellan: It's an escape, in a way. We do live in a trivial time period right now. There's so much depression that it's kinda cool to be a part of something where people use it to be an escape. In a way that's kinda what Stephenie did -she had a dream and just elaborated on it. It became a huge success and it's really encouraging that people are doing the same and just making up this journey.

Ashley: That's why people love it so much I think. You can take it and make what you want of it. Before the demographic was teenage girls, but now it's women of every age and guys are starting to get into it, too. It's because there is that element of fantasy. If you're 8 years old you look at it one way; if you're 80 years old you look at it another. I think it's fantastic that we can draw such a huge crowd. The other thing is - it blows my mind but people are making connections over this film and over this book. there are mothers and daughters and grandmas who can all sit and talk about the same story and all fantasize about it and I think that's a really cool thing. I think it's rare.

To see all of our Twilight and New Moon coverage, check out TwilightSugar!

Geek Gear That's Honeymoon Approved

GeekSugar — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 10:10:07 -0700

Just cause you're taking off for your honeymoon doesn't mean you have to leave all of your gadgets at home! Sure, you probably want to disconnect from your work and home lives for a bit (which means leaving that BlackBerry and work laptop behind), but all that time on the beach not only means soaking up some rays but also catching up on your Buzz-assigned homework. Check out some digital goodies that are totally honeymoon (and geek) approved in this slideshow!

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Say I Do! Kids Who Smile For the Camera Wed For the Better

TresSugar — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 17:08:01 -0700

Looking for an unreliable way to see if you'll have lasting love . . . or just an endless marriage? Scientists say look no further than childhood photographs.

Always smiling? Good for you! You're three times as likely to have a strong marriage than this poor, probably-now-single girl who doesn't want to be at the Jersey shore. Can you blame her?!

How did researchers come to such a damning conclusion for frowners? They asked almost 650 adults, ages 21 to 87, for pictures from their final year of school. Those with the weakest smiles were three times more likely to be divorced than smilers that beamed their way into the future. A second study, working with pictures of children as young as five, confirmed the findings. Ack!

What's the connection? Possibly, happy people attract others and are more likely to work their way through rough spots in relationships. But, really, what does smiling have to do with happiness? Show me two women who send out picture-perfect holiday cards every year, and I'll show you at least one dysfunctional family.

Are You Interested in Kelly Osbourne's New TV Show?

PopSugarUK — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 04:00:00 -0700

Kelly Osbourne and her fiancé Luke Worrell were out on the town last night, enjoying an evening at Whisky Mist in London. Check out FabUK to see how to copy Kelly's cute look. We're about to see a lot more of Kelly, as she is reportedly letting cameras follow her for a new MTV reality show. Filming starts today at Kelly and Luke's London home, and the show will also feature Ozzy, Sharon and Jack. Over the next three weeks cameras will record wedding planning, Kelly's book tour and Luke's modeling. The show will hit our screens in October, and I'd love to know what you think, so vote to tell me: are you interested in Kelly's new show?

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Are You Interested in What Katie Did Next?

PopSugarUK — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 02:00:00 -0700

Katie Price is returning to our TV screens this Autumn in her own reality show, What Katie Did Next. ITV2's cameras have been following Kate since her split from Peter Andre, and the six part series will feature the children's birthday parties, Kate's calendar shoot in Ibiza, the launch of new novel Sapphire, and her pals' wedding. Kate said:

"I can’t deny that things haven’t been easy for me since the split – not at all – but you will see a very different side to me in my new show. I’m actually happy and there’s been lots of laughter as I move on and get on with my life."

Adding another string to her bow, Kate has set up her own independent production company, Pricey Media, which produced this series. She said: "I'm really excited to be getting more involved with new shows and formats for next year." The majority of you are interested in Peter Andre's one-off show, so tell me: are you interested in What Katie Did Next?

David Boyes/Rob Morrison/BigPicturesPhoto.com

Peter Reveals All While Katie and Alex Fly Away

PopSugarUK — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 02:14:16 -0700

While Katie Price and her "sex mad" boyfriend Alex Reid arrived at Heathrow yesterday, Peter Andre visited Radio One as his interview with Fabulous Magazine in the News of the World hit newsstands. He revealed he still has Katie's name tattooed on his wedding finger, but said: "I will get it removed soon, but it hasn't been on my list of top priorities". He added: "I know we could never get back together. But I'd like to think we can be friends for the sake of the children." Before jetting off to Puerto Banus near Marbella, Kate moved Alex into her home and had to cancel a book-signing on Saturday because of flu and toothache, and her spokeswoman confirmed: "She does not have swine flu, but she has been a little under the weather this week". It sounds like Kate won't be repeating her wild ways in Ibiza, which is just one of the topics Peter discussed during his interview. Here are the highlights:

On Kate in Ibiza: "I did phone her and tell her she was a disgrace. I said that because that was what I thought. Of course it gets to me, and if any other man was in my position, I'm sure he would feel pretty bad. It makes me question whether I ever meant anything to her, if any of it was real. But I'm stronger since then - how could I not be?"
On the TV show: "Having cameras following us around maybe wasn't always a good decision. But I never had a problem with it. I found it easy and it wasn't all the time. I love TV. I am what I am, on or off screen. I take my kids out to the park just like any other parent, whether I'm filming or not. There was a point where I wanted to walk away from it, for a split second. I just wanted out. But I can't do that. I have my kids and I have to think about my future. I feel I've got nothing to hide and that people should see what happens next. The public have always supported me, but I've never felt so loved by them as I do now. They've helped me so much and I never take that for granted."

To find out what Peter said about the children and what he's looking for in a woman, read more.

On the children: "The kids don't actually know we've split up. When I leave them with Katie, I just say that Daddy has to go to work so I can buy them toys. And when Katie hands them over to me, I just tell them Mummy is working. I know I have to tell them the truth at some point, but it feels a bit like I want them to believe in Father Christmas that little bit longer. I want to protect them."
On his ideal woman: "I want someone who's happy to sit in and watch movies, go out for dinners, have family holidays together - a girl for whom family is enough. I don't care what job she has, I just want someone who's satisfied with the love I have to give and the family that comes with me. You want to be with someone who wants to be with you. There were times when we were all watching a movie and you knew Katie wanted to be somewhere else. That's not a comfortable feeling."

You were fairly evenly split on whether or not you were interested in what Peter had to say, so how do you feel now his interview has been released?

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Rob Morrison/Nick Banks/BigPicturesPhoto.com and WENN.com

Casa Interview: Destination Wedding Planner Alison Hotchkiss (Part 2)

CasaSugar — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 09:00:47 -0700

Alison Hotchkiss, the creative director of Alison Events and the author of Destination Wedding Planner, has plenty of smart advice on planning destination weddings. If you, or a couple you know, are planning a destination wedding, I highly recommend Alison's new book to lend a guiding hand in your planning process. You can read the first half of the interview here. Alison has more great advice in the second half of this interview.

CasaSugar: When you plan a destination wedding, do you try to use local artisans, caterers, and other services?

Alison Hotchkiss: I definitely try to use as much local support as possible. It’s cost-effective, puts money back into the community, and is a positive way to support the area. I will sometimes hire a local planner to serve as my eyes and ears locally, and then I have someone to help us when we’re there. Especially in smaller beach communities, a lot of negotiations and contracts are over a handshake, not a formal agreement, so it’s important to respect the way that the local community does business.

To see Alison's advice on everything from wedding favors to organizing activities, read more.

CasaSugar: What’s your take on wedding favors? Have there been any that have stood out? Have there been any alternatives that were creative or impressive?

Alison Hotchkiss: One of my favorite favors was from my Costa Rica wedding. All of the guests were given Holga cameras preloaded with film, so everyone was able to take photos throughout the ceremony. There was a big beautiful glass bin where everyone could drop their film and they could reload throughout the evening. At the end of the evening the bride took all of the film, processed it, and put it on the Pictage website, so everyone could see all of the photos that were taken.

Another trend I’ve been seeing is people paying it forward by offsetting people’s carbon footprint for travel. This is often seen on the bottom of the menu or program. Other couples have donated to schools or children’s community shelters. I’ve seen a lot more of that than people purchasing favors. I think it’s a waste of money to do a favor these days when there are so many other things you can put your money towards.

CasaSugar: How do you deal with gifts at a destination wedding?

Alison Hotchkiss: I rarely see gifts at a destination wedding. Most people know to not bring gifts and to ship them in advance. If somebody were to get gifts they’d have to pack them and bring them back. You’d have to arrange for shipping, and oftentimes if you’re staying at a hotel that’s something they can execute for you.

One other great story is that some of my clients, in lieu of wedding gifts, the client included a notecard in the invitation asking everyone in lieu of gifts to “pay it forward” and do something for someone else, be it a family or an organization in their name, and then to write it on the notecard. Then, when people got to the wedding, the guests had the same card that had their name and their table numbers on it, so they replaced the name cards with the pay it forward card, and we had this really awesome display of what people had done to pay it forward. They ranged from deep, meaningful stories to really silly stories, such as “Oh, I paid for the person’s toll behind you,” and someone else said, “I rescued a bird off the side of the road.” That was a really cute idea and a great way to say, Let’s not focus so much on material gifts, and focus more on giving back to the world.

CasaSugar: Once guests get to the destination, have you found a fun way to organize activities? Do you let guests know a schedule beforehand, or spring it on them as a fun surprise? How would you say is the best way to organize this?

Alison Hotchkiss: I’d say the majority of people these days are creating their own wedding websites, which is the best way to communicate all of the information that can happen. It can have directions, wedding activities, local things to do and see, all of that. Or, rather than asking people to sign up beforehand on the web-site you can have people, during the rehearsal dinner, sign up for the following day’s tours. We have used a chalkboard so it was more fun than writing it on a 8.5x11 piece of paper. Different activities we have done are a snorkeling adventure, massage, or horseback riding. It’s nice to not have to determine things so far in advance.

CasaSugar: Given the economic climate right now, if you were going to recommend one area where guests can squeeze their budget, what can be downsized?

Alison Hotchkiss: I’d say music. We always tell people to go with a DJ vs. band, it’s thousands and thousands of dollars for a band. A band can run from $2,000 to $10,000. That’s one area. Another is limiting favors. You can also choose beer and wine instead of an open bar, or limiting the time of the open bar. Pick your battles and consider what’s most important.

Another area is the flowers. Instead of doing flowers, consider using a combination of herbs, flowers, succulents, and fruits. We did a wedding recently in the tropics and cut bougainvillea petals from the local branches and made a carpeted aisle for the ceremony. It was so vibrant and so colorful, and it was free. Use what you have locally.

CasaSugar: What would you have at your destination wedding?

Alison Hotchkiss: All I know is I want it to be somewhere tropical (with good surf), laid back, and I would be totally happy with fish tacos, a DJ, and local beer, Oh and I think I am going to wear a short dress and lose the shoes!

CasaSugar: That sounds excellent.

Source

Six Smart Tips For Better Wedding and Engagement Photos

BellaSugar — Wed, 27 May 2009 08:00:42 -0700

Are you having a wedding on a budget? Or do you just want to preserve a few before-the-big-day moments in a photo session? Either way, going the DIY route is a totally do-able option - as long as you follow a few guidelines. We asked Meg Messina, a San Francisco-based photographer, to share her secrets for going behind the lens.

For six of her best tips, read more.

Photograph at the Right Time of Day
"This is the simplest tip, because it lets natural light do most of the work for you. When the sun is directly overhead or high in the sky - say from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. - it creates harsh, unflattering shadows. Shooting before or after will give you fewer shadows and a more even glow. Use morning light for a beautiful cool tone and late-afternoon light for a look that’s warm and soft. If you have to shoot mid-day, make sure it’s cloudy or overcast - or find a big spot of shade."

Pick Your Wardrobe Wisely
"His-and-her sweaters? All-denim outfits? Bad ideas. The goal here is not to match but to coordinate your clothing. Choose colors that complement each other and avoid patterns that clash. And most importantly, stay away from logo tees. You might love a band, but your engagement photo is not the place to advertise."

Use Flash to Make Your Photos Pop
"It’s very common for flash to be too strong - wiping out details and creating ugly red-eye. But when used correctly, your on-camera flash can add a nice glint to your photos. The surrounding light may cause your flash not to trigger, so first, set your flash to 'on' instead of 'auto.' Next, tape a small piece of tissue paper over the flash. The paper will act as a diffuser, softening the light just a bit before it hits your face. Make sure the tape itself does not cover the flash or you’ll be left with weird shadows. Now take a few test shots to determine how close to stand to the camera. Find the correct distance and angle and this little burst of light will add a beautiful glint to your eye."

Use a Digital Camera With a Self-Timer
"If you have a friend willing to press the shutter button, that’s great. But a self-timer and a tripod (or a safe flat surface) will work just fine. Unless you’re more experienced, stick with digital so you can see what you’re getting and make adjustments as you go along. The first step is to frame the shot on your fiancé from behind the camera, leaving room to one side for you to jump in. Set the self-timer and be ready to get in place as soon as you press the shutter button. A self-timer is a great way to eliminate the stiff posed look some photos have. There’s no time to pose because you’re running into the frame!"

Don’t Skimp on Printing
"If you want high-quality prints of your photos, take the files to a high-quality printer. There’s a huge continuum of photo printers, from drug stores to high-end labs, and something in the mid-to-high range is the way to go. Drugstore printers use machines and lower quality ink and paper. Since they’re dealing with a larger volume of customers, your prints may lack the attention to detail that make them look great. A high-quality printer will use better materials and trained professionals who make adjustments to the image before running it through the machine. They may also offer retouching services, if you need to remove a blemish, an under-eye circle, or whiten your fiancé’s teeth. Even if you decide not to have prints made, labs can improve photos before you email them out or post them online. "

Have Some Fun and Show Your Personality
"This is the most important tip of all. Your engagement photos are meant to capture your personalities as individuals and as a couple. Find a way to show that in your setting, activities, or expressions. For example: was your first date in a photogenic spot? Use that spot as your background. Do you love backpacking or camping together? Photograph yourselves in a tent. Are you both complete goofballs? Take a photo with your eyes crossed and tongues sticking out. Whatever your version is, know that you’re not confined to a perfectly posed smiley photo. So create a photo that is unique to you!"

Photograph courtesy of Meg Messina Photography