Posts Tagged ‘wedding photography’
For most events in our lives, a cheap camera is sufficient to record what is important for posterity. But some things like weddings are, hopefully, once in a lifetime, and worth paying more to have it photographed right. So from the myriad of choices how should one go about selecting which photographer to hire? Here are seven principles that will aid in that choice.
1. Availability. Is the day free for the photographer to be present all day? Also, most people can’t afford hiring a distant photographer just because they’re good. (A couple in Virginia would choose someone doing wedding photography in Virginia Beach.) How close do they live to the place the ceremony and reception will take place?
2. Skill. Photographing a wedding is much more than just setting up various shots and clicking. It will involve good equipment, good lighting, and expert skill. Of course the pictures will probably be digital. What pixel range will they use for the pictures? Generally the more pixels, the better the resolution but also the larger the file size. Then find out what the company’s reputation is? What do others say about their skill in taking wedding pictures? Are samples from other weddings available?
3. Personality. From your first interview, imagine yourself working with them for several hours. Were they pushy, wanting to get you to choose their most expensive options? Or did they make recommendations and let you decide? Do you think they would tend to want it their way, or would they work with your plans? How good are they in working with children?
4. Price. Of course, money must be a consideration. Weddings are expensive enough, the average U.S. wedding now at more than $20,000. You want your special day recorded but you don’t want to go broke doing it. Are the options you want available with this photographer within your budget?
5. Service. How quickly are the pictures available? Some will even display the wedding pictures during the reception. That is a nice touch. How quickly can prints be made? How available will they be to others on the web or on CD, and how soon?
6. Options. A wide variety of options should be available. For example, if you so desire, is the photographer available during the rehearsal? Are they willing and available when you want the main photographic event to take place? Are they OK letting relatives take their own pictures while they are setting up shots? What creative suggestions do they offer? Can others print pictures off their website?
7. Integrity. Promises are one thing, but delivery of the product is something else. Does the photographer have a reputation for being on time and early for the ceremony? Do they do what they promised? Do they stay as long as is needed to capture every moment you want to remember?
You won’t want to reply on an amateur to photograph something as important as your wedding. If you follow these principles, you will probably not be disappointed with the person you choose. And if you’re close enough to need a Virginia Beach photographer, look up Expressions Photography. Their friendly and professional expertise will capture all the memories of your special day.
A wedding is one of the most important events that will occur in a person’s life. Hours and hours go into all of the planning for the wedding. Most of the tasks that take place in wedding planning are time consuming, stressful, and can be frustrating. That’s why it is critical that you do your homework when finding the right people for all the jobs.One of the critically important jobs will be for the photographer. From my experience as a San Diego wedding photographer I’ll show you it can be a few simple steps away.
Finding a wedding photographer is a big job. There are several things to take into account when trying to make this important decision. The photos that you take away from your wedding are going to be the most memorable keepsakes that you have. The photos will be on your walls for the rest of yourlife. One of the important factors when trying to find a photographer is price. A lot of photographers will charge you a certain price for a specific lenght of time for the wedding. It is important to know up front what all is included with that
price. When it comes to finding a wedding photographer, the biggest upside to pricing is there is a lot of competition. Don’t forget, a lot of photographers will negotiate their price to fit what you need.
Another factor to consider when choosing is how much experience a person has. Is this their first wedding or their hundredth? Their price may reflect how long they have been in business as well. Just because someone is experienced, doesn’t always translate into being a better photographer. Sometimes the photographers that are just starting their careers and are trying to build a name will turn out to be excellent. The advantage of a person like that and going with them is you know they are going to give it their best. When looking for a wedding photographer, you will find people with varying levels of experience. Doing an interview with a photographer can give you a good sense of what they will be like to work with.
A final thing to consider when making this decision is what type of personality the photographer has. Are they going to call all the shots and make all of the poses? Or will they let the bride and groom make some of the decisions themselves? The other thing to consider is whether or not you want to be making decisions on the photos. The bride and groom will have enough to think about the day of the wedding as it is. Take all of these factors into consideration when you choose your photographer. If you do, no doubt you will have some beautiful photos to cherish for the rest of your lives. Take it from me, your experienced San Diego photographer.
Being asked to take photos for a wedding is a huge responsibility.If you are doing it as a favor, or if you are doing it as your profession, following these 5 tips will help you do the job right.
This tips are coming from first hand experience as a San Diego wedding photographer.It doesn’t matter if you are a seasoned pro, or if you are an amateur, by following these tips, you won’t second guess yourself.Doing this you will be fully prepared come what may.
Our first tip is easy and that is to have the couple and maybe their families make a list of photos they want to take.With a day that can be as hectic and chaotic as a wedding day, doing this will help when you are trying to organize all the group and family shots later on in the day. You will love it and when you can just go down the list and get everything without leaving anything out by accident.
The second tip on our list is to not delete any shots. In this day and age of digital cameras, most photographers use them. Great as they are, they also are tempting to delete a shot since it is so easy to do. Don’t even look at the previews.Remember, what you think is a great shot, could be vastly different than what the couple thinks is a great shot. And who knows, they might appreciate the so called un “professional” shots.
A third tip to consider is making sure you get candid shots.A good wedding photographer doesn’t look to just take your typical shots, like group shots, or wedding shots or your standard newly married shots. But they will also try and capture the emotions of the day through the shots of all the people that were there.It may include the things that go wrong also, like a flower girl making a wrong turn or the ring bearer not wanting to walk down the aisle.Every picture counts.
The fourth one to consider, and something that can easily be overlooked is to make sure you have several cameras with several lenses as backup.Do you even want to think of a moment like that of not having a working camera halfway through the wedding.Be prepared for anything that can go wrong.Being prepared with more equipment will ensure that you avoid that awkward moment of not being able to finish the rest of the day because of a broken camera.
Finally, you have to be prepared for the lighting and you do that by practicing. The difference between the lighting in the church and the outside reception can throw you a curve ball, so just practice for all different lighting situations. Think about seeing if you can go to the locations of the big day and look for the best spots to take pictures as well as study the lighting needs.
Doing these 5 tips will help you immensely. It will prepare you for whatever might go wrong, it will prepare you for capturing what goes right, and it will prepare you to help contribute to this wonderful day by being the best photographer you can be. Take it from my years of experience as a San Diego photographer.
Not just images but creativity
When you are hired to be the main photographer for a portrait event it is quite an honor. For a professional photographer, we can sometimes just see it as another “gig”. But it pays to look at the event through the eyes of the wedding guests, the parents, the siblings, the groom and above all the bride. For the bride especially, there is nothing to leave to chance on this special day. Everything is personal and getting the best possible photos of this important day could not be more personal and important to her and her family and her groom as well.
If you’re thinking of taking the direction into or setting out on building your photography business to include wedding photography, you should plan to approach this task much differently than any other form of photography. You are doing a lot more than taking a few snapshots of an event. You are very much a special link of this special occasion and the significance of that day for this bride and this groom as the minister or perhaps even many of the wedding guests.
So what can you do to make sure the wedding photographs you create capture not only the events of this day but the emotions and the spiritual importance of it as well? The key is to know the hearts and minds of the people who are involved in the event. That means, get involved early and be involved often.
For most weddings, the pre-wedding plans roll out with many ideas. If you get hired to be the wedding photographer, it is not too early to meet the maid of honor that early also. To be a skilled wedding photographer, you should also have a bit of the investigative journalist, the amateur psychologist and the psychic in you as well.
Your photographs will capture not only the images of the event but also the souls of the attendees. So get to know each of the key players individually. This certainly includes the bride and groom but a similar level of familiarity is appropriate for the wedding party, the parents of the bride and groom and their best friends too.
There are some subtle ways you can learn the hearts of these people so you can plan to get photographs that will be ones the each person will say, “I am saving that one forever.” Here are some suggestions…
. Get to know the colors of the wedding. But more than that, find out how the bride and significant decisions makers view colors. Watch how they dress and show them examples of wedding photographs and listen to their reactions. You can plan the how to stage your pictures accordingly.
. Every bride has that perfect romantic setting in their heart. If you can discover that hidden treasure, you may be able to frame a special wedding photo just to fit that dream. Perhaps she there is a public gardens in the city that has a fountain that she has loved since she was a child. If so you can make arrangements to have the wedding party meet out there when the lighting is just right in full dress and get some wedding photos that will be in her heart forever.
. Don’t forget the groom. Maybe he would love to have a fun photo showing him and the bride on his Harley. Or if he is a big sports fan, getting a photo dressed out in team regalia at some other time than the wedding can be a fun addition to the portfolio. And it will mean a lot to him too.
Knowing the people, their personalities and what makes them tick makes you a better photographer. Don’t get lazy and not keep up with details at every stage of planning. The key players will not only not resent your presence but they will see that you have the same commitment to making this day as special as it can be. And they will love the outcome and you will remain as much a part of this big day as the flowers and the chapel itself.
San Antonio Photography by Richard’s Photography – San Antonio,Texas