Communication is the key. Start off on the
right foot from the very beginning. When
hiring your photographer, get the relationship
off to a good start. Discussing the photographers
style, and approach to the wedding day will
give you a lot of insight to the photographer
as a person. You will of course want to evaluate
their work as you view their images. Even
within the genre of wedding photojournalism,
there is a range of approaches. The photographer's
own shooting philosophy, as well as a host
of other factors relating to the venue, the
time of day and the style of the event, can
greatly influence the look of your wedding
day images and your ultimate satisfaction.
You will want to make things easier for
your photographer, and help assure that your
wedding day pictures are the best they can
be, by carefully considering each site's
attributes-layout, lighting and overall atmosphere,
making sure that you share what you know
about the venue with your wedding photojournalist
prior to the date.
Most wedding photographers look for good
natural, ambient light. You will want to
take that into consideration when you are
choosing your venues. Dark places with little
natural light leave the photographer no choice
but to use direct flash. This can make the
photographer's job sometimes impossible in
a dark church especially if the church does
not allow flash photography, which is very
likely to be the case.
You will want to speak with your clergy
person or officiant to determine what rules
or restrictions might inhibit your photographer's
access, and then negotiate and plan accordingly
with all involved. Again, communication is
such an important factor when it comes to
an event that is only going to happen once.
Often times in a church or synagogue, there
will be resistance to the photographer. It
stems from the fact that in order for a photographer
to get the much desired shots, the photographer
must move around and that is considered a
distraction. Many photographers will offer
packages with two photographers shooting
photos and this is a great situation to utilize
the photography team. With two photographers
you are going to get two prospectives and
this will also reduce the movement from the
photographer
When planning your wedding day, you will
want to work with a realistic schedule, especially
if the events are spread out across multiple
locations. Whenever possible try to make
things closer to each other rather than farther.
You will need to take into consideration
the traffic in the area where you're getting
married, as well as the time it will take
you to get to your transportation. With the
dress, flowers, vail and wedding shoes you
just might need a little extra time maneuvering
in and out of the car. If your wedding is
in a location that you are unfamiliar with,
talk to someone locally to get a real feel
of what it's like to get around the area,
as well as the parking situation.
You may have selected a photojournalist,
documentary style of wedding photography,
but you are still going to want to have portrait
sessions, or "formals." The wedding day
is also an important day in family history.
People are coming together, and this does
not happen everyday. Advanced planning is
so important to insure that there is time
to get these photos.
Really talk to your family before the wedding.
Find out what shots your mom and dad are
counting on having. Working with your photographer
to plan the photo portrait sessions will
save the day. If planned out right the day
will flow and your guests won't be waiting
around waiting for the never ending photo
shoot to end.
If you as the bride and groom do not wish
to see each other before the wedding, that
is just fine. There is so much photography
that can be done with each of you separately,
before the guests arrive. This of course
leaves far less to be done after the ceremony
which eliminates the problem of everyone
waiting for the bride and groom to be done
with the photographer.
Advise your photographer upfront on what
formals you want, and organize your family
(maybe with the help of a friend or relative)
so that everyone knows were they are supposed
to be at a certain time. Pick a time and
pick a place, and communicate that to all
of the family members whom you want photos
of that they have to be there. If you're
expecting guests who aren't particularly
fond of one another, for example, divorced
parents, inform the photographer in advance
as to not create an uncomfortable situation
that would be reflected in the photo. If
you want to assure that you get photos of
elderly family members, or perhaps those
with serious health problems, make sure your
photographer is informed and can identify
them as well.
When at long last the wedding day is upon
you, remain flexible. Don't be so set on
the type of photographs you think you want
as not to allow inspiration to happen. You
may want to shoot in a certain location,
and perhaps it will rain or for some other
reason will not work out. Trust your experienced
wedding photojournalist to improvise, giving
him or her the room to get inspired in the
moment.
