A wedding is probably one of the most important events in a couple's life.
Now imagine how much love we have in Sacramento only if last year (2021) the total number of weddings in Sacramento CA - (County) was 7,814 which ranks 28 out of 3109 Counties in the number of weddings.
Here at Noroc Restaurant we always enjoy hosting and planning a wedding, but besides throwing an epic party —one that your guests will rave about long after the event, the memories are also an important part that you will want to include in your book of life.
That's why we want to introduce you Lexi Springer a well-known photographer in California. Our chat about wedding photography turned out to be very inspirational. Therefore if you are planning a wedding, please pour yourself a cup of tea and make notes.
Hi Lexi, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself, where you’re from, and the kind of work you do?
My name is Lexi and I am 30 years young. I am originally from New Jersey and joined the Airforce at age 19. I met my husband while stationed at DC and the rest is history. We moved to California in July of 2021 and have been heavily focusing on weddings after our rebrand and the move. Don’t get me wrong, we love and shoot all genres but weddings have special soft spots in our hearts. On top of Photography, we also do videography and decided to add even more to the experience by adding a photo booth.
What were your early influences? Any photographers you looked up to or you still look up to today?
I am self-taught and that means… I was lost. It was just trial and error for everything. I originally joined the House Of Flynn Photography group which gave me so much inspiration. Upon growing, my style continued to change and I really started navigating what felt like me and MY style and not what everyone else was doing. I still look up to many photographers, and I find it important to always have inspiration and role models! The first one that comes to mind is Stormy Solis. She has such a way with storytelling that is just captivating.
How would you describe your photography style?
I've tried to ask myself this on so many occasions. I landed on Bold, Vibrant, and Dark! Is that allowed? I always try to aim for candid moments. Of course, there will be times that I have my subjects move their hands, or maybe have them sit in a certain position - but it's the in-between moments that are KEY shots.
What got you into shooting weddings?
Very early into my career, I decided to shoot a wedding. I did not have any experience with a wedding day, even as a second shooter. I just went for it. ( I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS EVER.) I did have a disclaimer out there for my clients of course.
It went fairly well, I charged a very minimal price and I was able to complete the day. Once I got home, it felt like a rush of adrenaline. I loved working under pressure. I decided to use those photos and promote weddings to see what would happen. Slowly but surely they rolled in! Once I started to ditch Pinterest, and posing and focused on natural moments. Once I did that, that was the final call for me. I am a very empathetic person and I am drawn to positive energy. Weddings are the HAPPIEST days of people's lives. I started feeling that with them. During the dances, I also cry. During the speeches, I relive those memories with them. It's such an incredible job and I get to meet so many unique people. I am not sure if my back will allow me to continue weddings until retirement, but for the foreseeable future, I want ALLLL the weddings.
What are the best spots for wedding photography in Sacramento and the surrounding areas?
I have finally been here for a year and can really hone in on my favorites. There are 2 that stand out quite a bit.
1. Rancho Roble Vineyard in Lincoln. Not only does this location have KILLER wine, but the space is utilized well and very spread out to allow gorgeous celebrations. The sun sets in the perfect locations for afternoon/evening ceremonies which fall right over the water. They added really cute touches which really made it unique. There is a swing to utilize for photos which really breaks up a lot of the common wedding photos you will see. They also eat dinner inside the vines under twinkle lights. It's incredibly special and intimate. The building itself is stunning and perfect for detail shots. I am dying to shoot another one there.
2. Lone Wulff Ranch in Davis - Okay, I know this is a tad further but you MUST consider it. To start, the owner is incredible and they truly care about the couples having an amazing experience. For those who like the rustic vibe, this place is for you. Let’s start off with the ceremony. There is a GIANT oak tree to use for ceremonies and it is nothing short of stunning. They have a perfect sized barn for guests to eat in. The way it is set up allows for a perfect flow of getting up and getting in line for food. Buffet style is the way to go here!!! Once you’re done with food you hit the drink station and then can walk back to your seat without being in anyone's way. They also have an option for a mobile bar on site that makes the most incredible drinks. The dance floor is outside next to the barn and has the perfect space for a DJ to set up and plenty of room for dancing. They also have a super cute led “LOVE” sign for the couples to use for photos. It really has everything available to make the day flow. The most exciting part about this venue is they are currently renovating an old building from the 1800s and I believe they are going to utilize this for bridal suites to get ready. This place is a 10/10!!!
How do you capture love, how important is it to see the affection between a couple?
I capture the natural connection between a couple. Some do not like PDA (Public Display of Affection) and that is totally okay. Each couple has their own way of affection and showing their love. For instance, The couple may be sitting and listening to a toast/ speech from the maid of honor. They are smiling above the table but what we don’t see is one of them rubbing the others’ lower back. We don’t see the couple holding hands underneath the table while one is rubbing their thumb up and down on the other's thumb. These key moments scream love, happiness, and affection and those are what I look for.
How do you work with people that aren’t used to the camera?
I always have meetings with my clients. We either do zoom calls, happy hour dates, or coffee sessions! It is so important to set expectations upfront with how we work, and why we do what we do. What is even more important during these meetings is to learn about them. What makes them unique? Everyone is different and it's imperative for me to learn those things and really capture true emotion. This will allow me to tailor the session to my couples and make them feel more comfortable. We make a playlist of their favorite music, we find out what they do in their off time, etc. Upon inquiring we even ask for a random fact about them at the bottom of the contact form. This immediately gives us a small insight into who they are as a person. Once they are comfortable with me, then they will be comfortable in front of the camera. We treat it as a date night with a third wheel.
What is included in your standard package? What add-ons do the more expensive packages include?
Our Standard package is an 8-hour day, with me as your storyteller (wooohooo!!) This includes 400+ Images, an online gallery displayed by portions of the day, high-resolution images, and a print release.
The bigger package is 10 hours of coverage. This includes a 2nd shooter all day long as well as an assistant for an extra set of hands- for quite literally anything. ( MVP OF THE DAY!) This collection also includes an engagement session. This will include 500+ Images of the day, a 16x24 canvas of your favorite image, and then a custom gift box with a custom Flash Drive with all of your engagement and wedding images.
How many hours does a wedding photoshoot take?
This all depends on the couple and what they are looking to have covered. The most common amount would be between 8-10 hours. Which generally includes details, getting ready, first look (if applicable) ceremony, family portraits, bride and groom portraits, and a portion of the reception. We have had some weddings that took around 15 hours or so but they were very in-depth, multiple locations, and wanted us until the last person left! My biggest advice is to really sit back and ask yourselves what parts of the day do you want to relive? These will be your memories. Your physical memories. Document it!
Thank you Lexi for such a delicious interview!
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Feeling inspired? Ready to book your Wedding Photoshoot?
No problem! Here is Lexi's contact:
Lexi Springer
Email: atcf.films@gmail.com
Phone #(916) 619-7688
Website: www.asthecrowflies.co
Noroc! Cheers!
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