You have spent endless hours agonizing about how your grand entrance will look but have you thought about your exit? Sparklers are inexpensive and will make some fantastic images for your wedding album. It’s also a fun way for your guests to participate in your grand exit. I have never witnessed a frown on a guest during a sparkler exit. There is nothing like bringing back childhood memories from your Fourth of July past.

1.Make sure your venue will allow sparklers. There is nothing worse than planning your sparkler exit and finding out your venue will not allow the use of sparklers outdoors.

2.Buy the right sparklers. Do not buy Sparklers with paper on the outside. They will create a lot of smoke and are potentially dangerous. The smoke will result in poor images. The sparkler should burn for about two minutes and be smokeless. There are companies that specialize in wedding sparklers.

3.Have someone coordinate the sparkler exit. If you have an event or wedding planner, ask them to assist in the coordination of the sparkler exit. It is important for the guests not to be standing too close together. Your event planner will help you stage your sparklers and sparkler announcement.

4.The sparklers should be lit in the direction you will be traveling and they have to be lit at the last minute. Matches are not the best method to light a sparkler. A windproof grill lighter will be a better choice. Once the first sparkler is lit, sparkler to sparkler is the fastest way to light the remaining sparklers.

5.Make an announcement. Make sure there is a prominent display for your sparklers. Your guests will need to know a sparkler exit is planned. Your DJ can make an announcement when you are ready to do the exit. When you do the exit, it does not mean you are leaving or the event is over.

6.Make sure your location has space to form two parallel lines. Another option is forming a circle. A circle will work but it is a little more difficult for the event planner to coordinate.

7.Every guest will not need a sparkler. Some of your guests will leave early and some may be taking pictures of your exit.

8.Do not wait until the end of the night. If you wait too long, you will have fewer participants.

9.Sparkles are HOT!!!! Be careful and keep them away from children.

10.You will need a metal pail with water or sand to collect the spent sparklers.

BONUS TIP: Talk with your photographer, so they will be prepared to capture your sparkler exit.

I hope you found this information helpful. Happy wedding planning!!!!!

For more information message me using my contact information at www.steelcityphotography.com

After the balloon is partially inflated, captain Mark turns on the afterburners to fill the Balloon with Hot Air

After the Hot Air Balloon is upright, Devina and Praveen prepare for the launch by getting inside the Balloon basket. Colorful hot air balloons launch in the background as Praveen kneels to make a proposal to Devina. Of course, she says YES!!!!!

There is nothing like the experience of free-floating in a balloon and being surrounded by an overload of beautiful color. 

After a 30 minute ride in the sky, the couple lands safely in the back of a school. A quick kiss before they leave the balloon basket. 

I love doing Hot Air Balloon proposals. You never know where the balloon will land and it is always a challenge to find the best background for the couple's portrait session.

Congratulation Devina and Praveen!!!!!!!!!!

May the winds welcome you with softness.
May the sun bless you with its warm hands.
May you fly so high and so well
that God joins you in laughter
and sets you gently back again
into the loving arms of Mother Earth

Not is certain on a hot air balloon ride. There is nothing like the beginning of an adventure. 

Kaminie had no idea that her world would be changing in the new few minutes.

Right before the actual take-off, Sheldon kneel and makes a heartfelt proposal to Kaminie

Of course, she said "YES" !!!!!!!

The wind takes you where it wants to go. This was not the best landing area since it was in the middle of the field. 

The area did make a great backdrop for their engagement portraits.

We arrived back at the launch site and it gave us the opportunity to take some cool images using smoke bombs.

We were launching from the Mountain View Chalet. A quick portrait of the couple before the hot air balloon proposal.

Richard and Ester helping the pilot set up the balloon. Always fun when the couple helps out. 

It's time to set up once the hot air balloon pilot fires up the propane burners.

The launch was windy and Ester felt safer on basket floor. Unexpectedly, Richard proposes to a very surprised Ester. Of course, she says yes!!!!!

A beautiful image was taken during the hot air balloon adventure with the  IN-FLIGHT BALLOON ADVENTURES company.

To end an exciting day, the couple celebrates by opening a bottle of champagne together!!!!

Nothing like a celebration with friends and family at the end of a proposal!!!!
 

A Fusion of Photojournalism, Traditional and Relaxed Portraits

Do you have liability insurance? Yes

Will the photos be retouched and color balanced? Yes Is that done before I see the proofs? Yes

Do you have experience shooting in various lighting situations? Yes

Is your media preference film or digital? Digital

Do you sometimes book yourself for more than one event in a day? No

Do you have a replacement photographer in case you become unavailable on the day of the event? Yes but it is based on the availability of the potential replacements

Do you bring back-up equipment to the event in case of malfunction? Yes

Are you available to shoot extra hours? If yes, how much do you charge for extra hours? Yes, $150..00 per hour

How soon after the event are the proofs ready for viewing? Within 2 weeks

In what format are the initial proofs offered? Online and in a password protected folder if requested

Will you be my actual photographer, or will it be one of your associates? It will always be me.

Do you bring your own lighting? Yes

What will you wear? All back for an evening event. Light hues for a daytime back yard wedding.

Will a contract of the services be provided? Yes If so, can I get a copy?Yes

Do you have insurance? Yes

This post will help guide and provide some very helpful tips for photography.

Friday, July 27th members of the Lehigh Valley Photography Facebook page will be meeting for the Press event. The morning session is a soft launch for the organizers and the pilots. Not all of the balloons will launch. Some will inflate and then deflate. A great opportunity for some great images. 

Let me walk you through the balloon inflation process:

When the pilot and crew arrive, they remove the balloon from the basket (a.k.a Gondola)  and extend it in preparation for inflation. All of the lines are check to make sure they are not tangled and properly attached to the basket. The crew does a preflight inspection.

A large gas powered  fan is used to begin the cold inflation. Two people hold the mouth of the balloon while it is partially inflated.

This is where the fun starts!!!!!! The burners are  attached to the basket and  it uses heated propane to inflate the balloon (a.ka. envelope )

The pilot ( Keith)  gets into the basket and controls the flow of heated propane into the balloon. at this point the fan has been turned off. Of course the two people or crew members   holding the balloon move out of the way. (FAA regulation mandates one person is assigned to the kill switch of the fan) The final step of the preflight checks are done by the crew before the passengers board.

The pilot is maintaining control of the burners and the ground crew maintain control of the balloon if necessary.

The passenger get in and the balloon goes up!!!!

I like using a wide angle lens or a fish eye. It is also nice to have a medium telephoto to fill the frame. Shoot the details-shoot tight-shoot wide.Shoot from a low angle. Go as wide as you can!!!! 

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After a beautiful ceremony in the Lehigh University Church, we stopped outside the church for a few formal images. 

The words  ring true to me as a wedding photographer.  Your wedding day is like no other day.  It is truly life unscripted.  Although you dream about and plan every detail of the wedding for a long time,  it never goes as planned.  This is not necessarily a bad thing as life and a wedding day are both unpredictable.

The wedding day is a fusion of love, tears, laughter, embraces, smiles, celebration, special moments and the beginning of your new life together.  Since the moments can never be duplicated, it is our task as professional photographers to capture and memorialize them.

We hope to have the opportunity to be part your wedding day.

Ed Krisiak and Mary Krisiak are wedding photographers in Easton Pa who specializes in wedding photography in Allentown, Easton, Bethlehem, the Lehigh Valley and New Jersey.

Wedding Photography in the Lehigh Valley

Saying "I do" is one of the biggest decisions anyone can make.  The wedding is one of the most important events in a couple's life and one of their happiest days.  Ed and Mary Krisiak are truly honored when they are selected to have the responsibility to be their wedding photographers for their big day.  We are professionals and we understand there is a uniqueness of every wedding. Our goal is to provide the highest level of customer service and attentiveness for every couple. We are passionate about weddings and wedding photography.

Lehigh Valley Wedding Photographers

Our style is a fusion of photojournalism and traditional wedding photography.  We understand how important the wedding day is for each couple and how to tell their story in a sequence of  photojournalism and traditional  images  presented in a handmade Italian wedding album.  Our  wedding album designs are  elegant and serve as a timeless record of your wedding day.  You also receive all edited images to post or print.  (Packages are available without albums as well.)  Please contact us using the contact button on the upper left hand side of this page. We will ensure your wedding day is perfectly captured. We will gladly schedule a free consultation to discuss your wedding photography needs.  We will present you with examples of our  previous weddings in the Lehigh Valley and surrounding area.

Lehigh Valley Wedding Photography
Mary and Ed document weddings in the Lehigh Valley with a Fusion of photojournalism candid and traditional posing. We are dedicated professional committed to the highest level of customer service.

As wedding photography specialist, we document weddings in Easton Pa, Bethlehem Pa and Allentown Pa. We are available to document weddings in Philadelphia, New Jersey and Delaware. We are willing to travel for destination weddings.

Our story telling ability will allow you to relive your wedding day through our timeless images and wedding albums. If you are looking for a wedding photographer, please take a moment to review our wedding portfolio. We have images from recent weddings we documented in Easton PA, BethlehemPa,Allentown Pa. Of course, we do have weddings from New Jersey, Philadelphia and Delaware.
As wedding photographers in the Lehigh Valley, we have documented a number of weddings in Bethlehem

Some of the Venues in Bethlehem are:

The Green Pond Country Club
http://www.greenpondcc.com/

The Portuguese American Club
www.portugueseamericanclub.org/

The Hotel Bethlehem
http://www.hotelbethlehem.com/

The Bananna Factory
http://www.bananafactory.org/

As wedding photographers in the Lehigh Valley, we have documented a number of weddings in Allentown

Some of the Venues in Allentown are:

The Palace Center

www.thepalacecenter.com

The Days Inn

http://www.daysinn.com/hotels/pennsylvania/allentown

The Allentown Rose Garden

http://www.allentownpa.gov/Parks-and-Recreation/Rose-Garden-Weddings

As wedding photographers in the Lehigh Valley, we have documented a number of weddings in Easton Pa

Some of the Venues in Easton are:

The Bank Street Annex

http://www.bankstannex.com/
The Grand Eastonian

http://grandeastoniansuiteshotel.com/
The Eastonian Easton Pa

http://www.theeastonian.com/Content/Home

The Riverview Country Club Easton Pa

http://www.riverviewcountryclub.com/home.html

Also in the Lehigh Valley
The Melt in Saucon Valley

http://meltgrill.com/private-events/menus/

The Lehigh Valley Zoo

http://www.lvzoo.org/

The Meadows in Hellertown

http://www.themeadowsgrove.com/

Find more about our wedding photography in the Lehigh Valley, Allentown Pa ,Easton Pa and Bethlehem Pa and beyond !!! Our  pricing for wedding photography is available on this site. We also do other events such as anniversaries, birthday's and reunions.

We are also available to do family and senior portraits

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Engagement Photography is taking off !!!! The most unique way to propose . The super secret to be revealed in April.

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I have been working with the designers at Kart and Jute this past week and I received my new DVD covers on Saturday. The covers arrived USPS in my mail box and arrived in great condition. The packaging for the covers are simple and complimented the eco-friendly DVD covers. I found my logo was placed exactly where the designer at Kart and Jute said it would be. The colors on the log were even better than I anticipated. The stitching on the covers was professional and top notch. My original order was for six and I am sure I will be ordering more for weddings in the future. The style of the Kraft and Jute covers do a great job complimenting my custom thumb drives.

Kraft and Jute is a company based out of a small college town in western Pennsylvania. They have created a personalized-simple-eco friendly and unique DVD sleeve for photographers. The company is very green !!! They use recycled craft paper to make the hand stitched DVD covers.

If you like the idea of using a green product, you can purchase wedding invitations and thank you notes directly from Kraft and Jute.

You can find them at:

http://kraftandjute.com/

I was able to locate a small company in western Pennsylvania. They have created an eco friendly packing solution for digital negatives made from 100% recycled material. They have truly created a digital negative storage solution that is inspiring.

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If you want to know what a Skih wedding is like, play the slide show for Mandy’s wedding this past summer. Mandy and Sunny are a fantastic couple. Mary and myself enjoyed all of the vibrant colors and the tradition of her Skih wedding. Her ceremony was held in a temple located in Philadelphia. We also had the opportunity to create some images for her wedding album at the Ridley Creek State Park.

http://www.topshelfmusicdj.com/

The Mondale Country Club is going through some major expansion so I thought I would share this image before it goes through it renovation.

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We really enjoyed the Riverview Country Club venue. There we so many opportunities to capture some great images for Norman and Laura.

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