The Dream-Maker - Lake Tahoe Weddings

Photographic and Video Upgrades
The Dream-Maker’s photographer’s equipment quality, used to capture the special moments of your wedding/event, can be upgraded in any of our photo packages.

The Nikon D100 features sophisticated digital image control technology. Included among its many advanced features a CCD, advanced image-processing algorithm, and an enhanced Auto White Balance system. The D100 inherits exclusive, high-per-formance Nikon features such as 3D Matrix Metering, Five-Area Dynamic Autofocus with Focus Tracking and Lock-on

Digital/35mm Quality Difference: Even though professional photographers love to use digital format cameras for their convenience and ability to computer alter/enhance difficult images, there is something you should know about this medium. Recently, Dream-Maker married a computer programmer working in the digital camera industry. His job was to increase their overall quality (Pixel Quality). We asked him why he personally requested 35mm film to be taken at his wedding. He said it was better than digital format. We then asked three time what the Megapixial of 35mm film was. The first two answers were, "we, in the industry, don't talk about this number." He really didn't want to tell us the Megapixal equivalent of film. Finally, the third time the subject came up, he said, "alright, 35mm film is 18-20 Megapixal." We were obviously surprised. He said this it is why we don't talk about it. When we finally equal 35mm film we will brag about it, but until we get there we allow people to be happy with their 6, 7 or 8 Megapixal digital cameras. He said that the best part of present day digital cameras is that they are so very convenient, taking the need to purchase film and having to go to developers for belated results out of the equation. Dream-Maker has a great digital SLR camera and offers this as a photo possibility. Most decide to have their wedding photos taken on a film camera, because of the quality difference and when they get their roll/s developed they can have them "burned" to CD, off the 35mm negatives (as digital files). This way they get the best of both worlds with all the conveniences of digital files to print off their computer and email to friends, as well as having better quality photos printed from their original negatives.

With Standard Indoor Package (Manzanita, or Sugar Pine), or Outdoor Packages (Sapphire, or Crystal Waters)...

Packages include a choice of cameras from a Digital Nikon where the photo/files are burned to a mini-CD and sent to you, or 24 exposures taken on 35mm Nikon film camera (shown below) with undeveloped roll given to couple, at completion of wedding, for couple to develop and print.

1. 24x Exposures on Professional 35mm Film Camera. For couples trying to save money, who don't mind doing the footwork and cost for photos for friends and family copies. The film will be professionally taken, with great equipment and then given to couple to develop and print. The savings are that the couple can print as many copies as they wish for a much lower cost. Unless otherwise requested, the 35mm film option is the default in the Sapphire or Crystal Waters packages.

2. 24x Photos taken on Digital Camera and mini-CD of photo/files mailed to you. Note: Allow ten days to two weeks for delivery.

You deserve the very best in photo memories. Throughout the entire Tahoe area, with over twenty-five years of Lake Tahoe photography experience, The Dream-Maker wedding service is known as #1 in wedding photography. To create great wedding photos, part of the equation is to only use the very best camera equipment available. Of course, the other very important part of this photo equation is to have the experience and creative eye to take full advantage of the various scenic locations in order to capture your most important memories. Although Dream-Maker photographers use several different 35mm cameras we offer these examples as the kind of quality photography equipment we employ to capture your wedding memories.

In our Outdoor Wedding Packages (Sapphire and Crystal Waters) and in our Indoor Packages (Manzanita and Sugar Pine), your wedding portraits are taken on a professional Nikon 35mm camera, recognized as one of best cameras for event photography. This camera supports a very powerful flash, which is especially important for capturing colorful outdoor photography. The professional Nikon with its strong flash can equal Tahoe's bright background lighting and because of this, can more accurately reproduce the rich, vibrant blues present in Tahoe's sapphire lake and majestic vistas.

Nikon 35mm F5 is one of the most advanced and expensive SLR cameras available today.

The remarkable autofocus will keep up with subjects at a stunning 8 frames per second, with five highly-sensitive sensors.

The light meter, the first in-camera meter with color sensitivity, divides the frame into 1005 discrete units. It then analyzes the light and color patterns and compares them against thousands of images that have been programmed into the camera's on board memory. Users can adjust the size of the center weighted metering area from 8mm to 20mm for more accurate small area metering. Exposure control is controlled further via EV compensation, AF and AE lock controls, four exposure control systems, full manual control and automatic balanced fill flash that can be set in increments. A wide array of backs, viewfinders and other accessories make this the most advanced camera in the Nikon system.

* Last year we married a groom that was a developer/programmer in the digital camera industry. We asked him what the equivalent of digital megapixals were to 35mm film. After refusing to answer, over and over again, on the third request he finally answered our question and said, "okay, it looks like you won't give up on your inquiry; the equivalent in megapixal to 35mm film is about 18-20 megapixal. Some day digital will surpass film, but for now, we are not there yet, film is still clearer and is definitely better for enlargements and contrast." Then he asked us, " have you ever seen any advertisements that digital is as good as film? When you see that kind of advertisement we will be there, but even then it may be that we are not as good as film as it pertains to color variations, it just means that we have equaled the dots per square inch of 35mm film. Professional photographers are hyping digital because it is easier for them, they can fix mistakes easier and it is less expensive to shoot a couple hundred photos, because they don't have to pay and wait for development and then discard the ones they don't want. So, they try to convince others it is the same as film, but, as yet, it is not. Where digital shines, because of the lower resolution, is in shaded situations, where the light is very soft."

This is why the Dream-Maker Lake Tahoe still prefers to shoot 35mm film. When you get your film developed, we suggest that you have several sets made, one for you and others for each side of the family. At the same time we suggest having a CD (digital files) burned/made so you can email and computer alter the photos, as you like. This gives you the best of both worlds, digital and film.

All Dream-Maker videos are taken in a digital format and then edited (with a leader tape of Lake Tahoe and special music) onto a DVD, in order to maintain the highest quality for playback.

Standard digital video cameras contain a single chip and through this chip a stream of picture and sound information is transmitted to the recording tape. The Video industry recognizes the more expensive, 3-chip cameras as Broadcast Quality because 3-chips transmit more information (more pixels equals clearer picture) to the DV tape. This translates into a better picture and also, better sound quality. You can really see the difference when you have a strong backlit situation where a single chip camera (most commonly sold) will show heavy shadows/silhouettes, a 3-chip camera will show much better details within those same shadows (faces and expressions), when it means the most.

Click here for more on our photography and videography additions.

*Professional Photography/Videography - Must be taken by Dream-Maker photographer, no other professional photographer is allowed to shot at any Dream-Maker event, unless otherwise approved by your Dream-Maker Coordinator, in writing.

Due to the nature of your wedding package, all payments paid the The Dream-Maker® and Dream-Maker's vendor network are nonrefundable. However, payments paid directly to The Dream-Maker® for Dream-Maker products and services are transferable to a new date up to one year from the original date booked. Perishable items (i.e. flowers, cakes) are rebooked at an additional expense to the client.