Bridals at the Gaylord Hotel - legit.

[jonnydonut]

I was lucky enough to shoot at the Gaylord, which has essentially shut down photoshoot by changing a $xxxx fee, but Tycha works there, so the fee was waived!!! What a cool opportunity.

It was like an enormous photo studio. We were stopped a couple times by security and had to present our photo pass. :) They're serious there.


First stop, a life-size enormous ginger bread house. This spot had great color, and was unique, but turned out to be a little more of a challenge than I had expected. First off, there were sugar icicles hanging, which looked really neat, but in the portraits, looked like they were lethal sharp pointy objects about to fall on my model, so a crop and tight shot was nessesary and also took away the chances of showing the whole house.

Then, because of the ginger bread porch canopy, all the blue and other candy was in shadow. I stuck a strobe back there at 1/8th power with a small diffuser, pointed it up and it lit up the inside quite nicely.


This was the photo that Tycha chose to be displayed large at the reception. Before photoshopping, there was a strange and distracting white streaks on her face. It turned out to be a reflection from her earrings. Never had that happen before, has anyone else reading? twas quite interesting.


Like I said, the whole place was like an enormous studio. This spot looked like a castle, especially the wide angle shot.


I forgot to mention, Tycha scheduled the shoot intentionally near christmas because they had a winter wedding. This would explain the trees, ginger bread house and etc.


Tycha knew the place pretty well, this was at a restaurant / bar inside the hotel. At least I think that's what it was.


Gotta love the sun flare shots, I love how it was coming through the window here. If I remember correctly, I think it was a little chilly outside.


And you can't go to the Gaylord Texas without a little Texas flare. We busted out the boots and hat for the final photo to wrap up the shoot.

ps. Thanks to Jason Chinnock who assisted me on this shoot.

-Jonny Carroll
Photographer

[lscottpht]

These look great. I just shot there on Sunday (see wedding section...Lindsey and Kelly Day After), and we were told it was free for us as long as we don't bring lights. We called ahead of time and made certain of this. Even got the name of the person just in case. We were never stopped by security. We wanted to shoot on those stairs, but that restaurant was closed, unfortunately. Did you shoot any outside in the vineyard? I love that outside part. I haven't posted those yet.

[mom2aidan]

I found this on their website
Gaylord National Hotel encourages guests and visitors to take personal video or still photographs while enjoying their visit. All images and videos taken by guests and visitors are allowed free of charge so long as the images and videos are used for a personal, non-commercial purpose. All photographs and video should be taken from public viewing areas, and must be taken with a hand-held camera (non-professional equipment).

IMPORTANT: All camera accessories that could potentially impede foot traffic are expressly forbidden, including: camera tripods, monopods, lighting setups, large reflectors and staging shots.

Portrait Photography

For those considering Gaylord National's atrium or exterior hotel grounds as the location for wedding, engagement, bridal, senior class, individual, or family portraits:

Due to the hotel's unique focus on meetings and conventions, Gaylord National Hotel public spaces are reserved for the use of groups utilizing our convention center. Because meeting functions and networking activities regularly occur in our atrium, we do not allow professional photography (including wedding photography and portraits) in our public spaces.

We do make exceptions for weddings and receptions that are held on site, as these activities are closely planned and monitored by our Weddings Department. Onsite engagement, bridal or wedding photography/videography is allowed, as long as the event is being held at Gaylord National, and the couple receives prior approval from the Weddings Department. Unauthorized photographers are subject to immediate expulsion from the hotel property.

[Wil_Bloodworth]

Originally Posted by mom2aidan

All images and videos taken by guests and visitors are allowed free of charge so long as the images and videos are used for a personal, non-commercial purpose. All photographs and video should be taken from public viewing areas, and must be taken with a hand-held camera (non-professional equipment).

That first one is hard to get around... unless you just don't tell the truth. The second one has a lot of "wiggle room". My DSLR is hand-held. And defining the word "professional" when it applies to camera equipment is iffy at best. I think we all know what they mean though.

- Wil

[mom2aidan]

Then again WHO now a days doesn't have a Nikon or Canon???

[lscottpht]

Just to reiterate, we told them what we were shooting ahead of time, and they said it was ok and free. I saw you put "legit" in your title after I posted my comment above. Mine was legit. We had approval and had the name of the person that gave us approval in case anyone questioned it. All they told us was that we could not bring external lighting equipment or tripods/light stands.

[jonnydonut]

Originally Posted by lscottpht

Just to reiterate, we told them what we were shooting ahead of time, and they said it was ok and free. I saw you put "legit" in your title after I posted my comment above. Mine was legit. We had approval and had the name of the person that gave us approval in case anyone questioned it. All they told us was that we could not bring external lighting equipment or tripods/light stands.

Didn't put that in response to you. Just to attract more views as it sounded better for a showcase thread compared to those with the same title that might be question threads or whatever.

If you called and got permission, that's legit in my book. I wouldn't recommend anyone go and say "my friend on tpf said it was ok". always get permission and a name. Email and in-writing permission is always superior too.

[lscottpht]

Originally Posted by jonnydonut

Didn't put that in response to you. Just to attract more views as it sounded better for a showcase thread compared to those with the same title that might be question threads or whatever.

If you called and got permission, that's legit in my book. I wouldn't recommend anyone go and say "my friend on tpf said it was ok". always get permission and a name. Email and in-writing permission is always superior too.

Oh, ok, cool! I was like, wth?? I definitely agree that at that hotel (well, any hotel) you do need to call ahead of time and get permission, especially if it's a bridal or whatever.

[sirsean52]

I work out there. I bet I saw you last Sunday Leslie. I'm the medic out there. I saw one photographer shooting away. I stood and watched her for awhile. Not sure if it was you or not.

[lscottpht]

Originally Posted by sirsean52

I work out there. I bet I saw you last Sunday Leslie. I'm the medic out there. I saw one photographer shooting away. I stood and watched her for awhile. Not sure if it was you or not.

Oh, so YOU were the one that was always in my shots JK JK . Actually, it's good that you were there in case my bride and groom fell off of one of the crazy places I made them stand lol. Yeah, I'm sure it was me you were watching.