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Wedding Photography What are the advantages of hiring a professional? A professional photographer will be timely - arriving at your wedding promptly, and getting the results to you on time. A professional has just the right equipment and film for photographing your wedding. Having attended many weddings, an experienced wedding photographer will be at ease at your wedding. A professional uses a color laboratory that is in the business of meeting high professional standards of print quality. And, a professional is used to working with individuals, couples, and groups to make the formal photography go smoothly. When you think about the cost of photography, remember that the photographer's fee is only part of your investment: You, your parents, your extended family and your friends will be investing time with the photographer during your wedding. Don't waste time on your wedding day with a photographer who won't produce results you love!
So, I want a professional to photograph my wedding. What do I do next? Visit wedding photography web sites, then choose photographers to call. Emailing is not personal enough for wedding photography. If you like the photographer on the phone, go visit his/her studio. When looking through sample albums pay attention to your emotional response to the photography and to the communication skills of the photographer. Look for high technical quality too. Once you have decided on a photographer whose work has meaning to you, discuss prices, deposits, packages, quantity of pictures and so on.
What is the first question I should ask the photographer? Once you have established that the photographer is available for your date and location, you will want to ask, "If we select your studio, will you be the photographer covering our wedding?" Some studios have several photographers and you may be speaking to a salesperson. The sample albums may have been done by photographers who do not even work for the studio anymore. If this is the case, you should make arrangements to meet with and see the work of the particular photographer who will be doing your wedding. You should also ask for a commitment from the studio to that effect, in writing.
Shouldn't I be asking "What do I get and how much does it cost?" Even shopping for shoes or furniture you wouldn't ask that question until you find the style and quality you like. After you have looked through a photographer's portfolio - seeing candids, formals and illustrative pictures, you will know if this photographer has the technique, style and spirit to be the eyes through which you and your children will see your wedding day. Of course, you should determine if the photographer is within your budget, give or take a little, but what you really want from photography is memories and feeling. Look for an established and reliable photographer whose work moves you, whose technical quality is tops. If you find a photographer who makes you happy, you never will regret your investment, whatever the dollar cost. When we have invested in items that will be with us for the rest of our lives, our satisfaction has been highest when we have paid that extra bit for the best quality.
So, how much does wedding photography cost? Prices range from $300 to $5000, and even more! Photographs (and maybe video) will be your only permanent record of the day. You want good photographs (or you would not have read this far), so be prepared to spend a minimum of $250 for a small wedding on a weekday or Sunday, and $450 and up for Saturdays. Also, for additional copies, an 8x10 reprint will cost $15 to $45 each. Expect better photographers to charge the higher rates. If you are looking for a bargain and shop via phone for pricing, you are following a recipe for poor to mediocre photography. My research indicates that photography runs between nine and fifteen percent of the total wedding budget. When couples value photography highly and are on a limited budget, they will spend up to 30% of their wedding budget on photography.
We're having a small wedding, with thirty people, and only wanted to spend $300 on pictures. What can we do? The first thing to do if you want a professional photographer under these circumstances is to be flexible. A true wedding professional can only work so many weekends a year, and reasonably expects one or two large weddings per weekend from May through October, or year round in tropical climates. If he/she reserves a prime Saturday in October for you, then larger weddings will have to be turned away. If your budget is small, you will be choosing from the second and third tiers of wedding photographers. If you plan your wedding in the evening or especially early in the day, you might find a photographer who can fit you in after or before another event, and thus be able to work with your budget. Unfortunately, when you are limiting yourself to a smaller photo budget you can expect lower quality photographs.
How much time will the photographer spend at my wedding? That is really up to you. You can have the photographer meet you where you are getting dressed, and keep taking pictures until you leave the reception. Or you may just want a few hours of photography, with a few formal photographs and some pictures of the ceremony. (If you choose a high quality professional, the price difference between short and full coverage will be small.) My typical coverage starts one or two hours before the ceremony and ends after the bouquet, garter and cake at the reception.
What are proofs? Fifty years ago, photographers presented clients with proof pictures printed on special paper; images would last for a few weeks and then fade. Now, color proofs are made with the identical paper and chemistry as final pictures. However, only on final pictures can you have retouching and cropping. Some photographers use the term "images" or "originals" in order to avoid the confusing word "proofs." Many photographers are now using hi-tech proofing methods: Online, CD/DVD, Video and Slide. That means that you initially view the images on a computer or television screen. You then order from the screen and have photographic prints in your hand a few weeks later. Digital printing can be done on an inkjet or color laser, but I prefer a true photographic print (digital or film) on traditional photographic paper. As desktop printers improve, you might have your images the same day you order. Caution - Currently, the color and longevity of desk-top prints does not match professional prints (from film or digital) from a wedding lab.
Do I get to keep the proofs? Some photographers include the proofs in the price of their photography, others sell them separately. Some keep the proofs, putting them in the final album or simply not selling them. When you first see your proofs, you take them home and keep them for a few weeks. I recommend you order your album and reprints quickly - your photographer will have ways of helping you to avoid procrastinating. The price list should state explicitly the price of the proofs, which may be sold either individually or only as a complete set. If your photographer uses on-line, video or slide presentation, then there may be no proof prints. From the photographer's point of view, proofs are becoming a liability. Dishonest clients are scanning the proofs and making prints. Just as DVD manufacturers have made it difficult to copy their product, photographers will move towards proof presentations that protect the photographers' copyright. Online proofing seems to be a good, equitable solution.
What about getting an album? Some photographers offer "Packages," each package having a set number of hours, images, and certain number of final pictures in an album. It might be better to get a package that includes an album that the photographer will assemble completely, because most of us never get around to putting our pictures in albums if we have to do it ourselves. Consider ordering parents' albums too. If your parents vision is less than perfect, they would really appreciate getting an album with large photographs so that the faces are easy to see!
Who chooses the pictures that go in the album? After looking at all the proofs, the bride and groom usually decide what goes in the album. The photographer may let you specify the sequence and size of the pictures, so that the album really shows the wedding the way you want to see it, with important images enlarged, and related candids grouped together. Some photographers will suggest a layout for your album or design the album with you, using proofs or computer images to show you what the final album will look like. You will benefit from the photographer's eye and feel for the wedding. You will probably let your parents decide what pictures go in their album.
What else should I know about albums? Some popular album manufacturers are Capri, Leather Craftsmen, Leather Bound, Art Leather, General Products, Holson, Tap, and Zookbinders. Each manufacturer makes a variety of styles, so if you are picky about albums, note which styles and manufacturers appeal to you. Again, it is a matter of taste. Look at sample albums that are several years old. If sturdy, they will show wear, but not be falling apart.
Should we get plastic covered pages to protect the pictures? Plastic gets in the way of the image. It creates reflections and lessens the clarity.
What about black and white photography? Some couples want black and white pictures because they like the classic quality. Also, there has been a return to black and white (in advertising and weddings) with a contemporary or fashion look to it. For you, this is purely a matter of preference. If you just love black and white photography, make sure your photographer uses black and white film, rather than color film, to produce your black and white prints.
What technical details in sample photographs should I watch out for? Lighting quality is an important ingredient in superior photographs. The light in photographs should be natural and flattering, so that the pictures look three-dimensional. Overuse of on-camera flash can ruin wedding pictures. Watch out for flattened faces, harsh reflections off of cheeks and foreheads, and dark shadows directly behind or next to the subjects. With finesse, a fine photographer can work with almost any outdoor lighting situation.
My mom likes soft focus pictures, but I want sharp photos? Except for mood shots and some portraits, pictures should be sharp. You should be able to count the threads in the veil. But a soft filter can be flattering in a close-up photo. A soft filter can soften other unwanted details that are not important to the photo. You might tell your photographer that you want a few pictures done soft-focus and the rest sharp. Then, when you get the proofs, you have your choice for each pose.
Does the camera used make a difference? Maybe. There are five camera and film sizes used by wedding photographers. From smallest to largest they are - 35mm (24mm x 36mm)
Everybody says to go with photojournalism. Is it the best? There are many stories and vignettes at a wedding: Bride getting ready, ring bearer being coaxed to walk up the aisle, the bride's mother watching the father-daughter dance. Moments like these, when photographed, are Wedding Photojournalism Anybody with a camera can take a formal photograph or a photojournalistic photograph. A good formal photographer evokes and photographs the genuine expressions of relationships, and makes everyone look their best. A good pictorial photographer creates your fantasy images, believable fantasy images! A good photojournalist captures decisive moments to tell a story. Don't you want all three at your wedding? Find the photographer who can do all three well.
What sort of balance between posed shots and candids should I get? What about the trend of photo journalism? This is also a matter of taste, combined with necessity. Great wedding photography can be done with no formal posed pictures at all (wedding photo journalism). But, there may be many people and combinations of guests that will never be captured unless the photographer deliberately gathers them in one spot for a picture. (Whether the picture looks posed or natural depends on the photographer.) When planning with your photographer, draw up a list of "must get" photos, such as college roommates, kids from your old neighborhood, a four generation picture, and so on. If you want a large catalog of specified pictures, then expect your photographer to spend more time doing those, and less time doing candids and wedding photojournalism.
Should we do the formals before or after the ceremony? Some couples think it is bad luck to see each other before the ceremony. If following this tradition is important to you, all of the photos of the bride and groom together will be done afterwards, but solo shots can be done before. However, getting all the formals done at the beginning has several advantages: Flowers, clothing and make-up are fresh, and you can carefully budget time for formals. (And, if your ceremony ends after dark, the only time for natural light pictures of the two of you will be before the ceremony!) Couples who feel formal photos are important will set aside one, two, or even three hours for formals, which finish up about half an hour before the ceremony begins. If you do formals immediately after the ceremony, guests have to wait before they can greet you, and members of the bridal party will have to pose for pictures rather than mingle. About 75% of the weddings I photograph have all the formals taken before the ceremony.
What can I do to keep the photographer from running my wedding day? It is essential that you meet with your photographer in that last couple of weeks before your wedding. Go over your time line for the day. Find out how long the photographs you have requested are going to take; If it is too long, cut out some of the posed pictures. If you have dozens of posed shots on your photo list, expect your photographer to be persistent in getting them. Or tell your photographer the way you have scheduled the day, and that he/she is to follow your schedule. A posed photo of cutting the cake takes ten seconds, and the rest of the cake shots should be candid.
Suppose I want more copies in two years? Your photographer should keep negatives on file for a specified number of years so that you can call or write any time and order more prints. Or, he/she may offer to sell them to you after a certain period. Expect to pay a fee for retrieving old negatives from the files.
Shouldn't my photographer have a back-up in case he/she is sick on my wedding day? That would be ideal, but consider the plight of the backup photographer who has to turn down weddings just in case she/he is needed for yours? Professionals are part of a network of photographers, and do have many people they can call in emergency. No doubt as your wedding approaches you will have many far more significant worries. Let your photographer manage this problem.
What about having two photographers? Some studios offer two-photographer coverage - where both professionals are taking pictures. One concentrates on the formals, the other on wedding photo journalism.
Some photographers ask that no one else take pictures during the formal photography. Is that reasonable? Yes. If the photographer is trying to work quickly through a series of formal pictures, a snap-shooter might slow the process. A problem arises when there are several cameras aimed at a formal group - the subjects will be looking at different lenses. The diverted attention will ruin the professional's picture. Or, if the professional is using a light-sensing trigger device ("slave") on a second flash, other flashes will trigger this flash, ruining the pictures [that you are paying for] and wasting battery power. There are many other reasons why a professional might ask others to refrain from picture taking during formals. On the other hand, many guests find snapping a few pictures a pleasant part of attending weddings, so it should not be a big deal for your professional to be relaxed and let people snap away when formals are over. Ideally, guests should show respect for the bridal party and photographer and put down their cameras during the formal photos.
I want to make copies of my photos. Does my photographer really own the copyright of his/her pictures? Do I still have to pay the photographer if I make the copies myself at a copy shop? Yes and yes. According to the law, images produced by a professional photographer are copyrighted the moment they are created. The law prohibits copying or reproducing copyrighted material without permission from the owner of the copyright, i.e., the photographer. If you copy or scan your photos, the photographer should be paid just as if you were buying reprints. If you or your videographer transfer the proofs to videotape, the photographer should be paid just as if you were buying reprints. If you don't feel comfortable paying for these copies, find a photographer whose work is so good that you are glad to pay. When I really appreciate something I purchase, like a fabulous meal, an antique, a good pair of shoes, or even medical care, I do not mind paying a premium for getting the highest quality. Look for the photographer who will provide you the satisfaction of paying for a job well done.
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