Modern technology gives weddings a photo finish

Scripps Howard News Service

Lights. Camera. Action. Go high-tech with all things new and now in wedding photos and videos. You work hard to make every detail divine, so why not capture the memories in the most stylish ways imaginable? For the latest and greatest in photo and video splurges, check out this handy guide.

The biggest trend in wedding photography? Better, faster results.

“At the end of the evening, we present the couple with a brand-new iPod touch – loaded with fully edited and retouched images — charged and ready to go,” says Brian Dorsey of Brian Dorsey Studios in New York City. You can also showcase completely edited wedding images on a high-definition screen during the reception.

Couples are opting for more adventurous photos — set in the diner booth where they first met or on a roller coaster. Brian Dorsey Studios prints the photos in a book format so friends and guests can sign it like a yearbook.

Here are some hints of one-of-a-kind memory albums:

• Design your wedding album like a storybook with flip-outs, winged pages and invisible seams. Digital technology lets you get creative with image bleeds and spreads. Every page will look unique.

• Rent a photo booth or set up a self-portrait studio. Delightfully random moments will be caught on film since guests tend to be more natural when they’re working the camera with a handheld clicker.

• Give your photos a textured feel by layering two different images. The effect varies with every image; some look almost like paintings while other shots offer a greater complexity.

Video trends

The 3-D Photo Montage Show

In the latest reception montage shows, still images are digitally manipulated to appear three-dimensional; special effects and music can be added as well.

Picture a roaring epic movie score, special editing effects — even a voiceover. “The trailer has a more intense style than a highlight reel,” says Adam Forgione, owner of Pennylane Productions in Commack, N.Y. “It’s a teaser to show family and friends while waiting for your full-length video.”

This documentary-style wedding video includes interview clips from the bride and groom along with their post-wedding commentary.

For fun (and to let off steam from the planning stages), consider a “Trash the Dress” video. Brides jump in mud or rip the dress to shreds with their friends. While it’s not necessary memorabilia, it could be one of your favorite keepsakes.