Posts Tagged ‘Weddings’
Firstly, congratulations on your forthcoming wedding, we hope your plans are going well and you are looking forward to your big day.
When your thoughts turn to choosing your wedding photographer to capture those special moments for you how do you make the right decision. There are many things you should consider before choosing your wedding photographer so we have compiled a list of the 10 things we believe are important.
Have you seen the photographers work ?
Initially the photographers website is a good place to start, try to view a selection of images taken throughout a typical wedding day from a number of different weddings. Be prepared to call your photographer to have an informal chat about your requirements or better still arrange a visit to meet.
Who will take your wedding photographs ?
If you hire a photographer from a wedding photography studio it is wise to know exactly who will take your wedding pictures on the day and see samples of their work.
What about the \’style\’ of wedding photography ?
Would you like your wedding photography to be classicly formal or strictly reportage or as is normally the case a mixture of both. Make sure your photographer has the ability to deliver your preferred style of wedding photography in a confident manner.
Will your photographer work alone ?
Many photographers prefer to work alone though if your preference is for a mixture of photographic styles for your wedding photography then an assistant/second photographer can be a real bonus. If this service is available is it an extra cost or included within the price of your wedding photography package.
Have you met your photographer ?
We believe this plays an important part in choosing your photographer, you will learn much by meeting in person. Your photographer will be with you throughout your wedding day and you need to feel not only confident in their ability but comfortable in their prescence. If it is not possible to meet your photographer in person before your wedding day then ask for testimonials from previous clients. If the photographer has an assistant/second photographer then try to meet them as well. Don\’t be afraid to ask how your photographer will be dressed for your wedding day.
Is your photographer qualified ?
Whilst not essential a qualified photographer has a level of professional attainment and has the benefit of continuous education through meetings, programmes, access to educational materials and sharing knowledge with their peers. Belonging to a professional photographic body ensures the photographer adheres to strict ethics in both their photography and business practices.
Everything is going well but what if ?
Hiring an experienced photographer will greatly reduce the \’what if\’ factor. Things like having backup to cover equipment failure, professional equipment like fast lenses for low light work, studio lights for indoor photography on dark days are all essential consideraions. Your photographer should also have the experience to know how to adapt when things go wrong often without you even being aware of a problem.
Local knowledge ?
When choosing your preferred wedding venue how good is the photographers knowledge of the area. This may make a difference when it comes to ideas for suitable locations for your wedding photography.
Does your photographer have insurance ?
If not, why not?
And finally are there any hidden extras ?
Whilst considering your photographer and wedding photography package ensure there are no hidden extras and that all prices are well defined and transparent. Is the assistant/second photographer included? Are there any additional travel costs? How reasonable are the after sale prices?
We hope this has been helpful and of interest in enabling you to choose your wedding photographer.
One of the most important days of your life is approaching–choosing the right wedding photographer can be a daunting task! Certainly, you want the highest quality of wedding photographs without going broke. You are looking for a wedding photographer who is in tune with your wedding style as you imagine that day. You also want a photographer who is professional, experienced, talented, and a pleasure to work with.
Partnering with the right photographer is easy when you know what to ask. Start by doing a quick phone interview of each wedding photographer to narrow down your choices. Find out first if they are available for your wedding day—if they’re not, it narrows things down immediately. Ask about prices, who will be photographing the wedding, what style of wedding photography they use to shoot weddings (black and white, color, posed photos or candid shots).
After you narrow down your wedding photographer choices, you’ll want to set up a date to interview the photographer. In some large companies, the photographer you talk to might not be the one they send out for your event. Make sure you interview the photographer who will actually be at your wedding and see his/her portfolio, in order to evaluate their style.
You’ll also want to find out what happens if the wedding photographer you choose is fired before or right after your wedding date. It will put your mind at rest if you are assured that your wedding will be photographed even if your photographer is no longer with the company and that you will also have access to your photos no matter what the hiring status of the photographer.
Be sure to ask these questions when interviewing the photographer:
1) Experience Level.
On the most important day of your life, you want someone who is an expert at wedding photography to preserve your memories in a professional manner. Therefore, it’s very important to make sure you ask your wedding photographer questions about their experience.
Is this a job or a hobby for the wedding photographer?
Do they have formal training or education in wedding photography?
You might be tempted to save money by hiring a novice wedding photographer, but do you want stunning photos that capture your special day or just so-so ones?
Do they frequently photograph weddings?
Some photographers are better at static and posed studio photography than action oriented and “on location” wedding photography. Photographing a wedding involves capturing spontaneous moments, not just poses, so it’s important to have someone who is an expert.
Does the wedding photographer use professional-grade equipment, and do they have back-up equipment available, just in case?
Have they photographed weddings in your chosen location before?
Prior experience in a location gives the wedding photographer an advantage because he’ll know ahead of time what film, filters or flash he/she might need to get the best results.
2) Ask About Their Portfolio.
Photography is an art, so it’s understandable that you may or may not like the style used by the wedding photographer. To make sure you’re going to love the way your wedding is photographed, request to see a portfolio featuring their work.
To make an educated decision, you’ll want to view an entire wedding portfolio from start to finish, not the best few photos from many weddings. Ask what style the wedding photographer uses. Some photographers tend to like more posed shots while others have what is called a photojournalistic style, which involves more candid shots.
Ask if he/she likes to use color photos, black and whites or a mixture. Also, ask if they use a digital camera and retouch the photos to make them black and white, or if they use film.
3) Will They Dress the Part?
Your wedding photographer will be spending a lot of time with you on you on the most important day of your life. It’s crucial that his or her personality blends in, making it a pleasure to have him/her at your side.
If the wedding photographer makes you uneasy in a short interview then don’t hire them for your event!
No matter how charming he is, you’ll want to make sure the wedding photographer will dress the part and look professional while taking those important photos.
Finally, ask about any assistants. Ask if you can meet them and ask about how they will dress and conduct themselves to ensure your wedding goes smoothly.
4) Money and Technical Matters.
Though you don’t want to skimp on wedding photos, it is important to make sure this particular photographer isn’t going to break your budget. Find out ahead of time about how much it will cost to have him/her photograph your wedding.
You’ll want to know how much time you’ll be allotted, and how many rolls of film they’ll take during that time. If the wedding photographer uses digital cameras, ask how many shots they will take to ensure the event is well-documented.
Most photographers offer packages that specify a certain amount of pictures for a set fee. If you don’t see a size of photograph that you want, ask if those packages can be customized to meet your needs.
You’ll also want to ask about the cost of albums and copies, since you’re probably going to fall in love with a lot more of the photos than you bargained!
Ask about deposit and cancellation policies. In order to hold your date, what method of deposit is needed? What are the cancellation policies? If the wedding photographer cancels, will your deposit be refunded?
5) Ask If You Can Get It In Writing!
You’ll want a contract to protect you in case you’re unhappy with the services of your wedding photographer. If you end up going to court to settle matters, the judge will only be concerned with the conditions written in the contract. Therefore, it’s very important to make sure you get all of the details in writing.
The contact should include:
Expected services, fees, cancellation policy, fee schedule and all aspects of your photo packages written in detail.
You’ll also want their name and address, as well as your name and address on the contract. Be certain that the contract has a signature and date for both of you and that you receive a copy of both sides.
The art of photography is something that many people all over the world have come to love and enjoy. It is not something that is just enjoyed as only a hobby any longer. The creativity and skill that is involved in being able to achieve a beautiful photograph, is something that has grown tremendously over the years. There is a large amount of individuals who are able to enjoy this form of art as their career choice.
There seems to be something magical about the way that a skilled photographer allows us the ability of sometimes feeling as if we are able to travel to those far away places we see in so many photographs, as seen through the eyes of the photographer. Many times, as you are looking at a professional photograph, it is often very possible to be so captivated by them, that you can actually feel as if you have literally stepped into the picture you are viewing. The art form, and great skill that is involved in the world of photography, has the ability to take us to many places. There are many people who say this same thing from reading a good book. There are many world-renowned photographers whose work is included in many popular books of today
There is a very wide spectrum of creative choices that you can explore when it comes to learning one of the many different areas of specialty that is offered in the world of photography. If you are contemplating the idea of going to photography school to enhance your skill and knowledge, you may choose to specialize in one of many different areas of expertise that is offered in photography. These would include weddings, nature, sports, weather, underwater, macro photography, urban photography, and a number of others.
Some people may not be aware, but there is a lot more that goes into the skill and art of photography than simply aiming a camera and clicking a button. For example, an underwater photographer must also be highly skilled in swimming, scuba diving, as well as have a vast storehouse of knowledge in the specialized equipment that is required for this type of photography.
For any photo’s that need to be taken in the dental, or other type of medical field, this is also a specialized area of photography that would require a tremendous amount of knowledge. Tthe use of the specialized equipment that is involved in these types of photographs.
Professional photographers that have an area of expertise that includes creative photographs taken of various types of animals would also generally require that the photographer had at least a basic knowledge of the types of animals that they were working with. To be successful in being able to take those once in a lifetime shots that many photographers only wish they could capture, you would want to educate yourself on some of the habits of the animals that you plan to be around.
At first thought, many people generally do not think there is very much involved in the field of photography. This statement however, could not be any further from the truth. It takes a large amount of dedicated practice and the utmost in skill to be able to acquire the expertise that is needed to become a successful photographer.