Many photographers recommend
booking a photographer as soon as you get engaged,
or at least until you know the wedding date.
It is suggested that the engaged couple book
8-12 months in advance because many studios
book wedding dates quickly.
Weddings are more prominent
from May to October when the weather is most
favorable. If you choose to hold your wedding
within this period, the photographer you choose
will likely require a non-refundable deposit
or retainer fee to hold your wedding date.
This ensures that you will have this studio
or photographer on your desired date, as well
as securing a job for your photographer. The
sooner you book your photographer, the more
likely you are to be able to work with your
first choice.
What are the advantages of hiring a professional?
The main advantage to hiring a professional
wedding photographer is experience. Most wedding
photographers have experience dealing with
many different individuals and difficult personalities.
They have faced unfavorable weather conditions,
and encountered technical problems. Since they
specialize in photography, they are well equipped
to handle various wedding sizes or photo demands.
Unlike a friend or relative of the couple,
a professional photographer's main goal is
capturing candid moments on film. Knowing they
are depended on delivering superior photos
that will be cherished for years to come, they
are less apt to be carried away by aspects
of the ceremony.
With an event that allows no second chances,
hiring a professional is a good investment
that will help keep your memories of your special
day around for years.
Which one is better, digital or film?
It will all really depend on what the photographer
that you choose prefers. Digital is usually
less costly than film. However, film can be
scanned at a higher resolution when larger
prints are desired, and it is ideal for fast
moving subjects due to faster shutter speeds
on 35mm cameras.
On the other hand, digital prints come out
the same as film, sometimes even better. With
digital photography there are no negatives
so there is no processing time at all, and
less chance of damaged or lost film, or photo
finishing problems.
Digital photos can be easier to share with
friends or family through emails, and online
galleries. In addition, digital images are
not likely to fade because they are usually
stored on a CD or disk.
Either way, if you really enjoy a photographer's
work, choosing which format to use for your
wedding day should not be a huge problem.
What kind of photo styles do photographers
usually use at weddings?
Photographers use two main styles at weddings.
The first one is traditional or portrait style,
the formal poses of the bridal party, family,
and friends of the couple. There are little
to no candid photographs with this style. The
other technique that is used is photojournalistic
style.
This is a more contemporary and modern. It
is about snapping up photos of spontaneous
moments, and sincere emotion. It is taken with
very little direction from the photographer.
There are two other styles that are not as
commonly used as Traditional and photojournalistic,
and they are illustrative and creative photography.
Illustrative photography is usually set up
like a commercial photo shoot. The types of
photos captured in this style are similar to
those seen in magazines and even billboards.
With creative photography, photographers have
the freedom, using different lighting and different
angles, to create their own artistic interpretation
of your wedding day.
After I have chosen a photographer, what other
questions should I ask him or her?
Once you have made a commitment to a photographer
of your liking, there are still more questions
you need to ask. With larger studios especially,
you should ask whether you will be working
directly with the photographer you first talked
to.
Ask to meet with the person who will actually
be taking photos of your wedding. You may also
want to ask how long your photographer has
been in business, or how many weddings of your
size they have worked with in the past, and
if they have liability insurance.
You might like to ask him or her how long
it will take to get the proofs back to you
or their rate for printing extra photos and
albums. You should definitely inquire about
their back up plan and arrangements for any
unforeseen changes. As well as any refund or
cancellation policies they may have. |
