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.
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