Welcome

Welcome to the blog of professional photographer David Medina. Join us for a while, grab a cup of coffee or your favorite beverage and relax, checkout the buzz for the latest in studio news, meet some of our groovy clients, join us for a wedding or two, come on a fashion shoot, and meet some of our favorite vendors. Thanks for visiting with us.

We invite you to spend sometime looking around our website and blog. You will be able to see and understand our style as well as our mindset. We truly believe in marriage. And we love to document every emotion, every tear, every smile. We want to capture the beauty of the day, the love between the bride and groom, and the glamour of the event.

If you have any question, or want to sit and talk about your wedding with us, feel free to call us anytime. The coffee is on us!









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$1,500 Give Away… There still time

Greetings!

I know many of you think the time for voting is over – it’s NOT!

There are just 26 days until we close the $1500 Wedding Photography Giveaway polls. So far this has generated a ton of entertaining stories from brides. However, people get engaged everyday so we want to encourage you that if you haven’t done so, to visit photographik and submit your story today!

We are photographer and we approved this message.

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Solymar and Jacob’s Wedding

Hacienda El Jibarito in San Sebastian was the backdrop for Solymar and Jacob’s wedding. The ceremony was held at the Gazebo while the reception at their main hall that resembles a huge barn. La hacienda is one of my favorite places for pictures because it has a rustic and full of rich texture and earth colors. Here are some of my fav shots of the night. 

Nice ride!

Nice ride!

A majestic Puertorican Sunset!

A majestic Puertorican Sunset!

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Stress-Free Wedding Planning

Keyword - Organization!

From the gown to the blooms, to the unexpected tropical storm, planning a wedding can be one of the most fun, and become one of the most stressful times for any bride. Suddenly a few simple ideas can transform into a lengthly and complicated laundry list of details and decisions. 

But planning a wedding does not have to be overwhelming. In fact, it should be one of the most exciting and fun times of your life. It is all about you and your fiancé. As I frequently explain my brides, on your wedding day you have permission to be selfish. It is all about you and your groom - your style, your favorite things, and, more than anything, your shared love and commitment. Don’t forget that is meant and should be a celebration like no other.

The key for a stress-free wedding planning is organization. You should start by brainstorming and getting those ideas on paper. Then use of the many fine check-lists you find on wedding magazines and books. Just in  case, here is one:

One Year before the Wedding:

  • Determine your budget.
  • Select a time for the wedding Keep in mind time of the year and sunset times.
  • Draft a preliminary guest list.
  • Reserve the ceremony and reception sites and finalize the wedding date.
  • Send out save-the-date cards (optional). 
  • Hire a wedding planner (optional but highly recommended. But avoid all inclusive packages.)
  • Shop for a gown.
  • Book an officiant. 
  • Book a photographer. Integrate him/her in your wedding plans to assure the best lighting conditions for unforgettable wedding images. 
  • Select a caterer.
  • Book musicians for the ceremony and reception. 
  • Choose your attendants.
  • Select the bridesmaids’ attire and invite the mothers to select their dresses as well.
  • Make travel arrangement for the honeymoon.

Four to Six months before the Wedding:

  • Finalize the guest list with both families.
  • Order invitations and thank-you card. If your did your love story shoot, you can use those images as part of your invitations.
  • Create a gift registry. By the way, did you know that we offer a wedding photography registry if you want family and friends help pay for the wedding photography? Well, yes, we do.
  • Select a florist.
  • Choose a cake.
  • Reserve a location for the rehearsal dinner.
  • Purchase wedding bands.
  • Select the attire for the groom and ushers.
  • Reserve rental equipment (tables, chairs, tents, linens, etc.) if not provided.
  • Arrange accommodations for out of town guests.
  • Arrange wedding day transportation.
  • Begin dance lesson (optional).

Two to Four months before the Wedding:

  • Check on marriage license requirements.
  • Write wedding vows.
  • Send out invitations (8 weeks before wedding).
  • Select ushers.
  • Select speakers and readings for the ceremony.
  • Choose gift for attendants and favor for guests.
  • Discuss ceremony with officiant.
  • Purchase shoes, hosiery, jewelry and hair accessories.

One to Two Months before the Wedding

  • Have programs printed.
  • Confirm arrangements and reservations for out of town guests.
  • Draw up reception seating plan; discuss menu details.
  • Submit information to local newspapers for wedding announcements.
  • Buy a wedding gift for your husband to be.
  • Attend a hair and make-up consultation.
  • Purchase a guest book. (if we are the photographer we give a one of a kind guest book made up of your Love Story images).

Two Weeks before the Wedding:

  • Go in for your final gown fitting.
  • Finalize arrangements with florist, photographer, videographer, musicians, transportation and men’s formalwear provider.
  • Write toast/speeches for the rehearsal dinner and/or reception.
  • Arrange for someone to house and/or pet sit while you’re on your honeymoon.
  • Create gift baskets for out-of-town guests.

One Week before the Wedding:

  • Confirm hoenymoon arrangements and give hotel phone numbers and itinerary to a family member.
  • Confirm final number of guest and seating plan with caterer and/or coordinator, prepare place card (love story pictures work well here too.)
  • Prepare envelopes with payments for the officiants and other vendors (we offer a convenient way to pay online using a credit card, paypla, checks so you don’t have to worry about that on the wedding day). 
  • Delegate responsibilities to trusted friends or family members. 
  • Pack!
  • Important… if your shoes are new, wear them around the house to avoid blisters on the wedding day.
  • Touch bases with all your vendors.

Day before the Wedding:

  • Visit Reception site to make sure all is in order.
  • Deliver gift baskets to hotel for out-of-town guests.
  • Get manicure/pedicure.
  • Enjoy rehearsal and dinner.

Is finally here - The Wedding Day:

  • Eat, no matter how busy you are. We had a bride that missed most of her reception due a to a migraine headache.
  • Don’t forget rings, payments, speeches, marriage license, airline tickets, luggage, passport and money.
  • Do something special for you - a bubble bath, massage, a walk…
  • Sit back and be pampered… it is your day!
  • And most of all… HAVE FUN!!!! Enjoy your wedding day. Do not allow anything to rob you of your day. 

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10 Reasons to get Married in the Caribbean

While browsing at magazines at our local Border’s, I came across a new magazine called “Caribbean Bride: The Ultimate Caribbean Wedding Guide”. It was launched last month out of Barbados. Caribbean Bride is one of a kind as there is no other like it in the Caribbean. It aims to be a one-stop-shop for everything wedding.

One of its articles give 10 reasons to get married in the Caribbean. They are very god and funny.

  1. Before you even get married you’re already on your honeymoon.
  2. You’ll have a golden tan before the ceremony.
  3. Your wedding cake is made with rum.
  4. You can have a second reception when you get home to show off all over again.
  5. Your fiancé’s aunt Esther who always refers to you as the “chunky bride” isn’t likely to shell out a little extra for the trip so she’ll just have to watch the webcast. Darn.
  6. No shoes required. You can get married barefoot on a beach with the waves hitting your ankles.
  7. No one’s ever heard of the chicken dance.
  8. The weather may be too warm to wear your great-grandmother’s astoundingly heavy brocade and beaded wedding dress she so wanted you to wear some day, bless her heart.
  9. There’s no need for a band. The sound of the waves is music to your ears!
  10. Celebrities do it.
No doubt these 10 “reasons” show that destination weddings offers you an opportunity to have a relaxed and unique wedding in a beautiful Caribbean setting.
And number 11 … If you choose to get Marry in Puerto Rico and you are a U.S. Citizen, you do not need to bring your passport.
While I love formal weddings too, I do a lot of destination weddings and they are very special. 

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Getting Ready for Seniors 2009

We will be launching a new site and new blog dedicated entirely to Teens & Seniors, but we wanted to give you a peak into what we are working on…

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New Exciting Album Line: Finao

We at David Medina Photography work hard to offer you the best Wedding Books available. We want to give you options so your Book is as unique as you and your wedding. That is why we offer Wedding Books from companies like GraphiStudio, Couture Books, White Gloves and KISS.

We are proud to announce that we are adding for the 2009 Season two new Wedding Book Companies: Kambara and Finao. These two new companies will add greater depth to our already fine line of Wedding Books.

All these companies offer very high quality products, the finest covers in leathers, Silk, exotic fabrics and papers, innovative use of materials, like laquered metals and Acrylic and new advances in Digital Printing technologies makes possible the use of a broad variety of fine art papers, from traditional photographic papers, watercolor and many others.

In this occasion I want to share with you about Finao.

Finao offer an exciting line of exquisite quality, fabulous leathers, metallic canvas and ICE acrylic cover options.

 

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Get up and Vote!!

One of the most important days of each four years is coming up… Yes, you know it… Election day.

On November we will decide who will be our next president, the VP, 1/3 of the Senators and the entire House of Reps is for grab. Every vote counts and it is the way that we express our views and preferences.

So, regardless if your political views are the same or different from mine, you need to get up and vote. You need to let others hear what you have to say about every issue that matters to you. It is one of the most important things you can do… because unless you do it, you will let others speak and decide for you.

So…. Get up and Vote!

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Lydia & Chris Wedding Book

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