Weddingguide


	WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHS
	by Monica Dart Photography

	Where to start
	Knowing where to start with finding a suitable wedding photographer can be
	just as exciting as it is challenging. If you are not already familiar with the
	different photographic styles, it is a good idea to meet with a few
	photographers and see the variety on offer.

	Websites, wedding magazines and bridal shows offer a broad scope of styles,
	and this will also give you a good idea for what you may be looking for. Your
	first positive impression of a website, by the visual impact it has on you, is a
	good indication. Although photographers may describe their styles as
	photojournalistic, reportage, traditional, illustrative, high-end fashion etc, do
	not take this at face value. Styles often overlap and many photographers offer
	a combination of one or two styles.

	The style of a fine-art photographer may be a fusion of reportage –
	documenting the day candidly and letting events unfold and photographing
	them as they happen - as well as photographing intimate details showing that
	much time and love has gone into the day. Group and family photos may be
	naturally posed as well, seeing that there has to be an element of
	togetherness in the images. In contrast with the past, photographers are now
	skilled in posing their couples ‘naturally’ to look ‘unposed’. Couples are
	sometimes nervous on the day and actually appreciate a bit of direction from
	the photographer. Some photographers tend to get their couples to walk and
	chat, interact with each other or to look over at something particular so that
	there is union in the images. A good photographer understands how important
	it is to make a couple feel at ease. It’s a fun part of the wedding day that can
	and should be enjoyed.

	Ask friends who are married who they used and what they loved about their
	photographer. Hiring a professional photographer is not an area in your
	budget you want to cut back on – it is the only tangible remembrance of your
	wonderful day.

	Asking a friend or family member to photograph your day is not a good idea,
	even if they claim to own the best equipment. It is unlikely that they know
	what to do in tricky lighting conditions and will probably not know how to work
	quickly in certain situations. Just as I would not ask a friend who is a trainee
	pilot to fly me somewhere on my honeymoon, I wouldn’t ask an amateur
	photographer to photograph my wedding day! A professional photographer
	can restore confidence in you and let you get on with enjoying the day and
	make your guests feel comfortable.

	Choosing a photographer is a very personal experience.
	Some tips and points to consider:
	When you meet for the first time, do you feel comfortable in his/her company?
	Has he/she photographed many weddings before?






	Does he/she offer the style you feel suits what you are looking for? A good tip
	is to look at the images and ask yourself “Can I imagine myself in these photos
	and does this style of photography represent who we are as a couple?”
	Has he/she photographed in many different circumstances – tricky or harsh
	lighting, and various weather conditions?
	Does he/she have back-up equipment?
	Does he/she have a contract to protect both parties?
	Ask the photographer to be clear on what your package includes – if there are
	additional costs for overtime or travel expenses.
	Start looking for a photographer at least twelve to eighteen months before
	your wedding date.
	If you are not able to meet with your photographer, make sure that you get to
	view one or two full galleries online, from the start to the finish of a wedding.
	This will give you an overall view of how your wedding will be photographed
	and narrated.
	As your photographer is telling a visual story of your day, it is often a good
	idea to let him/her select the images that will go into your album – whether a
	traditional or coffee-table album. If you end up selecting for the album, this
	causes delays and you could end up getting your album months later.

	A good idea is that the photographer may ask the bridal couple to select fifty
	images which they absolutely love and want in the album, and then letting
	the photographer work around those images and allowing him/her to select
	the rest. Remember that you will still have a DVD of hundreds of images from
	which you can make re-prints.

	Photographers are usually one of the first service providers that is fully booked.
	Ask him/her for recommendations of other suppliers – hair and make-up,
	music, flowers and décor, etc. Chances are they would have first-hand
	knowledge of the service these people provide. If a photographer meets with a
	couple and feel that the style they are wanting is not what he/she offers,
	he/she should refer them to someone else. It is such an important day; it is
	vital that the photographer you are going to spend the day with offers exactly
	what you want.

	Top professional photographers don’t come without a price. You are not only
	paying for someone creative and skilled to be part of your wedding day, you
	are paying for the hours and sometimes days ahead of editing the images and
	then the layout and design of an album.

	Choosing a photographer can be an over-whelming and confusing task, but
	don’t get caught up by the sheer volume of photo-graphers, styles and
	buzzwords that are out there. Remember that first impressions count – both
	with seeing the types of photos you are drawn to immediately, as well as how
	you feel on meeting a photographer.