Wedding Layers

Careful research and advance planning can result in wonderful photographs of your wedding celebration. Although it is a terrific idea to provide single-use cameras at each table for guests to take candid shots of the reception, avoid allowing a well-meaning amateur photographer to take the official photographs.

When selecting and meeting with the photographer, there are critical questions that need to be asked. Chances are that you will look at your wedding photos many times during your lifetime and hiring a good photographer is one of the most important choices you will make.

PRE-PLANNING – Before meeting with the photographer, find out if your church or synagogue has any restrictions involving photographing the ceremony itself. Prepare a list of “must have” shots. The photographer should be given a list of the members of the wedding party and out-of-town guests. Make sure your photographer understands the rules and regulations of your church or synagogue before planning the ceremony shots.

PORTFOLIO – When interviewing photographers, make sure you hire a photographer that specializes in weddings. Make sure the photographer you interview is the one who will actually be photographing your wedding. Many large companies have several photographers and you need to hire the one you interview. Ask to see their work. Most are happy to provide references and it is very important to ask for recent weddings the photographer has performed. When checking the references, be sure to ask if the photographer was prompt, cordial, properly dressed and whether he/she performed the duties expected. Personal rapport is very important when selecting a photographer. It is recommended to interview at least three different photographers. Comfort and compatibility with your photographer can make or break your wedding day and your photos.

FORMAL PORTRAITS – Many brides have the bridal portrait taken before the wedding day. Others are setting aside the tradition of the groom not seeing the bride before the wedding and having their formal pictures taken at this time, too. Couples whose ceremony and reception are being held at the same location often have these photographs taken before their guests arrive. If your posed photos will take place at the reception, decide on a time with your photographer and make sure everyone in the wedding party knows where and when they should assemble for them. An engagement photograph, usually in black and white, was traditionally only of the bride, but today it is usually of the engaged couple. These photos are sent to local newspapers, along with information announcing your engagement to the public. Decide if you want a casual setting or a formal background for these photographs. To save on studio costs, you can wait until the day of your wedding for your formal portrait, avoiding the hassle of bringing your gown, headpiece and accessories to the photography studio.

CANDID PHOTOS – The trend today in wedding photography is to fewer posed shots and more candid pictures. It is important to get an idea of how many candid shots the photographer will be shooting and how much time he will be spending at the reception shooting these pictures. As mentioned before, it is also a great idea to provide single-use cameras for these photographs, with the guests at the reception.

COLOR OR BLACK & WHITE – Black and white wedding photography has come back into vogue. Your photographer will need to know whether you want just color, just black and white, or a combination.

PROOFS AND NEGATIVES – Proofs are the preliminary prints from which the bride and groom will select the pictures for their albums. Be sure to ask the photographer how many proofs will be taken, what size of prints are offered, and how soon after the wedding the proofs will be available, and get this in writing. Also, request to see the proofs before your final payment. The more proofs, the larger the selection you have to choose from. Depending on the number of photographs you would like in your photo album, make sure the photographer will be taking two to three times the number of prints. Ask the photographer how long he or she keeps the negatives and if you can purchase them. If you buy the negatives, be prepared to pay a large sum of money for them, because wedding photographers make a profit on the sale of additional prints. It is becoming more common to have the photographer put your wedding photos on a CD that you can make reprints from. Because of the competition in the business, there are more and more photographers willing to sell you a complete package. Shop around.

ALBUMS – Usually three albums are ordered: one for the bride and groom, one for his parents and one for her parents. There are a large variety of albums that very in material, construction, size and price. Decide on what you would like that fits into your budget. Look at albums ready to be delivered or proofs of weddings the photographer has recently done to decide on your personal style. When comparing prices, consider the type of album, the number, size, and finish on the photographs that will be in the album. The bride and groom take care of supplying prints to members of their wedding party. If they are very busy, one set of parents can take over the job. Usually the bride’s family gives each member of the bridal party a color photograph of the group. The attendants should pay for any additional photos they order.

CONTRACT – The contract should specify the number and type of pictures to be taken, the time the photographer is to arrive, how long he or she will stay, the timetable for delivering the contact sheets or proofs to you, the timetable for delivering the finished prints that you order, the type of albums provided, and the cost.

Author: Jay Byerly
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Mobile device news

Choosing a wedding photographer to capture one of the most important days of your life can be confusing. Of course you want the best wedding photography available without paying an arm and a leg. You want a wedding photographer who will portray your wedding in the style you envision. You also want someone experienced, competent, and easy to work with as well as talented.

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.

When interviewing the photographer, remember to cover these questions:

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. Ask to view a portfolio of previous weddings they’ve photographed so that you can get a good impression as to what to expect for your own wedding. 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. It’s a great idea to inquire about the price of copies and albums, because you will likely become enchanted with many 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. Make sure you both sign and date the contract, and that you get a copy of both sides.

Author: Julie Davidson
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Canada duty

You’ve set the date, booked the Church and the Reception Hall, and now it’s time to select your photographer. Whatever you do, don’t fall into the trap that some unfortunate Bride and Grooms do by enlisting a friend or relative to take their wedding photographs. Remember, this is a once in a lifetime event that can’t be repeated, and unless the person you’ve selected to capture your special memories is photographing weddings every week, chances are pretty good they simply don’t have the expertise or equipment to do the job properly. You’ve already spent a fortune on your dress, the flowers, the banquet hall, and everything else that makes the day so special, so it simply does not make sense to not get a professional photographer to look after your photographic needs for the day. If a friend or relative offers their services to you as their photographer, and unless they have wedding photography experience, it is best to use them only as a “second photographer” on the day of the wedding. By “second photographer”, I mean a photographer that stays in the background and simply shoots candid shots throughout the day. That way you won’t be ruining a friendship if the shots don’t turn out as you had hoped. By hiring a professional, one who does wedding photography for a living, you know you’ll get great keepsakes of your wedding day. Plus, the pressure will be off your friend or relative to “deliver the goods”.

If you haven’t started looking around for a photographer at least a year in advance of your wedding day, you should do so as soon as possible. As a general rule, you should begin your search anywhere from ten to sixteen months prior to the date. Why so early? The best photographers book up early, and since they can only shoot one wedding a day, once they are booked, that day is gone.

Before visiting a photographer, it’s a good idea to sit down with your better half and decide on what you would like in the way of photographs on your wedding day.

One of the first things to consider is the style of photography. Do you prefer candid shots (completely unposed with no direction from the photographer), the more traditional photography (where the photographer controls everything from posing to lighting), the uncandid candid (where the photographer has made the pose look natural, so that it looks completely unposed, or almost candid), or a combination of all styles? It is very important that you are clear with your photographer about which style of photography that you prefer, otherwise you may be disappointed in the results. When visiting various photographers, be sure to see works from a complete wedding, rather than samples from many weddings. This will give you a good idea of the style of photography that the photographer prefers, as well as a good indication of the photographer’s talents and expertise in lighting.

The next step in your journey of selecting a photographer is to know how much you would like to spend on the photography coverage of your wedding. Questions that you should ask yourself are: How long will I need the photographer for on the day of the wedding (often times you can save money by not having the photographer stay for the full reception coverage)? Would I like one or two photographers providing coverage (a second photographer usually concentrates on candid moments alone, so if you like candid photography, you should definitely consider having a second photographer—one photographer, no matter how experienced, simply can’t be in two places at the same time)? What would I like included in my photography package in the way of prints, wall portraits, albums, thank you cards? Would I like the negatives or digital negatives (high resolution image files) so that I can do all the printing myself? In photography, as with any other product or service, you generally get what you pay for. There is usually a good reason why one photographer will charge more for what appears to basically be the same thing. There may be hidden costs involved, such as mileage, or number of hours coverage, or limits on the number of photos taken that day. One photographer may have considerably less experience and expertise in photographing weddings. Some photographers simply charge less because they take wedding photographs as a part time hobby and work full time at another unrelated job. Ask yourself, do you really want to trust your memories to someone who does not make their livelihood and stake their reputation on photographing weddings? Decide in advance how important your wedding photographs are to you, and budget accordingly. When calling photographers to make viewing appointments of their work, be sure to ask their price ranges. A reputable photographer will tell you up front their price ranges. There is no sense in wasting your time, or the photographer’s time for that matter, if their price range is beyond your budget.

When meeting with the various photographers, it is important that both you and your fiance attend. Since you both will be working with the photographer for the good part of the day, it is vitally important that you feel relaxed with the person and you both like their work. Be sure to ask about their experience in photographing weddings. Just like any line of work, it can take a wedding photographer several years of shooting weddings before they have mastered the art. Keep in mind that a photographer can only shoot one wedding a day, and since the majority of weddings take place on a Saturday, and most weddings occur over the same six month period, a photographer with a year of two of experience may have actually only shot a handful of weddings over a one or two year period. Be sure to ask them how many weddings they have photographed over the years. If you are planning to have a lot of your photographs taken indoors, ask the photographer what type of lighting they will use. A good photographer will be able to set up portable studio strobe lighting for any formal shots indoors throughout the day. On camera flash for indoor formal shots will not provide the results that you would expect when hiring a professional.

Ask if the photographer is a member of any professional photographic organizations. This can tell you right away if the photographer that you are dealing with is reputable. Most photographic organizations that professional photographers are members of will require the photographer pass a stringent test and adhere to guidelines in order to become a member. They also require that the photographer abide to a list of proper business practices. Reputable photographic organizations include the PPA (Professional Photographers of America), WPPI (Wedding and Portrait Photographers International), PPOC (Professional Photographers of Canada). And don’t forget, just because a photographer may specialize in commercial or fashion photography, it does not mean that they can handle the riggers and stress of a wedding shoot. It is important that the photographer that you select is a specialist in weddings.

An experienced photographer will have backup equipment for every piece of gear that they own. This includes cameras, lenses, flashes, strobe lighting. The last thing that you want to hear on your wedding day is that there is something wrong with the camera and they don’t have another one with them!

If your photographer works with an assistant, it will save you time and energy on your wedding day. A good assistant will fix dresses, speed things up with lighting setups, and even help the Bride with her dress and flowers when moving from location to location.

If you are dealing with a large photo studio, they may have several different photographers on staff who shoot weddings. Be sure to see the work of the photographer that will be shooting your wedding and meet with that person prior to booking. You don’t want any surprises on the day of the wedding!

Depending upon the type of wedding that you are having, you may want to check on how the photographer that will be shooting your wedding will be attired. Some photographers may feel that they can shoot your wedding in shorts and a T-shirt! This might be fine for some types of weddings, but if you are planning a formal affair, do you really want your photographer dressed casually?

Unless you have a specific location in mind for wedding pictures, it is always a good idea to ask the various photographers you visit about the venues they prefer for photos. Since this location will be used as the backdrop for the majority of your photos, it is very important that you love the setting. Look at samples of the spot in the photographer’s sample book, then visit the location in person. It is an excellent idea to visit the recommended site about a year in advance of your wedding date. Why so early? The answer is simple. It will give you a good idea of how your outdoor location will look on your wedding day. You’ll see how the gardens will be planted and what flowers are out. And if you are able to visit the location on the same day of the week as your wedding will be, you’ll see how busy the venue is, especially if you visit at about the same time as you’ll be arriving for your photos. Some spots are very popular, so it might be common to see ten or more Brides and their entourages at the same location, at the same time. While some venues can accommodate large Bridal crowds, others are simply too small. If your park is crowded, you may want to consider another location for pictures.

And don’t forget about parking. While finding a parking place may not be a problem for the Bride and Groom in their chauffeur driven limo, it may pose a problem for family members, the bridal party, and even the photographer. And last but not least, be sure to get the appropriate permits for use of the park.

If your photographs are important to you, then be sure to give your photographer sufficient time throughout the day. This is one day in your life that you don’t want to be rushed. A good photographer will work with any time frame that they are given, however, the more time you are able to give the photographer, the better the results will be. Things that can easily put you behind schedule on your wedding day are: hair and makeup appointments (can put you an hour behind schedule at the start of the day), service at the Church (it will always start a little late and run a little long), a receiving line (remember, the line only moves as fast as the most talkative guest), traffic congestion and construction (when travelling from location to location), and trying to find missing relatives or members of the bridal party for photos.

Perhaps the best way to find out about the various photographers is to ask friends and acquaintances, who have recently been married, who they used. Look at their albums and proofs. If you like their photos, then get the name of the photographer who did the work. A recommendation from someone you trust is always a good starting point when looking for a photographer.

Be sure to visit several different photographers and take a good look at samples of their work. A good photographer will take an interest in your wedding and be asking you a variety of questions about your plans for the day, and offering suggestions to make your day go smoothly for you and save you time. And don’t forget to shop around. Selecting a photographer is not something you should do in a last minute rush. And remember, like any product or service, you generally get what you pay for, nothing more and nothing less!

Author: John C. Smith
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Canada duty tariff