Tuesday, March 14, 2006

Choosing the Right Wedding Photographer

Choosing the right photographer for your wedding can be a monumental task. After all, once your day is over, the only way to share those precious memories is through your pictures. Need it be said? NEVER trust your wedding day photography (still pictures or video!) to an amateur! The reason I encourage you to use a professional is that even many professional photographers hate shooting weddings because of the demands of the day, Wedding events are fast-paced, with events happening simultaneously (especially while both bride and groom are getting ready) and moving from one location to another. Critical shots may be difficult to get because of a wedding party member arriving late or guests arriving early. Camera-toting guests, although well-meaning, often interfere with or crowd the scene, making it difficult to achieve the best angle for a shot. Also, flashing at the same can causing exposure to be off. So, if professionals, who are experienced can find shooting weddings frustrating, how much more the amateur will.
First of all, in choosing the right photographer, you will see that each has his or her own unique style. Do you like mostly candids? Look for a photojournalist. Do you want your "posed" shots to look more relaxed? Avoid those whose pictures tend to have the "tin soldier, say "cheese" look And, consider the backgrounds. Do you really want everything posed at the altar or do you prefer a variety of backgrounds? Note in their "show albums" how & where your photographer poses critical shots.
Secondly, do you like that potential photographer? This may seem an odd consideration, but it is important to hire an individual you feel you can work with. Do they seem "approachable" or do you think working with their personality style would be difficult? If your photographer makes talking pictures enjoyable, your pictures will reflect it. By the same token, if he/she is arrogant or unapproachable, then your picture taking can be frustrating & cumbersome and the final product will also be affected.
What type of album options does the photographer offer? Can you order either the traditional leather album or do they also offer the new coffee table book style? Do they have the capability and knowledge to offer special effects? (Ask if they are proficient in Photoshop.) Are they versatile enough to shoot color but in a style that can also be converted to black and white. (The beauty of true black and white photography lies in its simplicity – i.e., details, close-ups, interesting angles, unique textures, etc) While any photograph can be converted to black and white, true black and white is more about artistry than converting a color photograph.
Another consideration is the gender and number of photographers you are hiring. There is a definite advantage in having a male/female team. While the bride and bridesmaids are getting dressed, they will be comfortable with a female photographer in the room taking shots of the hanging dress, girls doing each other’s hair, make-up & painting toenails, the bride’s re-action to the just delivered bouquets, etc. It is not until everyone is completely ready that a sole male photographer could enter the bridal dressing room. By that time, many of these images are forfeited. Another advantage to having two photographers is that you get two perspectives. My husband and I shoot together and often will shoot the same pose. He will stand off to the side a bit and take his picture after mine. When the pictures come back from the lab, I may have taken a frontal full length shot while his is a close-up of just the couple’s faces to get their expressions from a side view. This option also enables you to get a far greater number of pictures because of time utilization and efficiency.
So, basically, it boils down to three things: Style, Personality and Capabilities

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