A few comments on Wedding Photography... Back
You will read about and hear recommendations regarding your wedding
photography from a variety of sources. Most photographers will try to
convince you that their work is the best in the state if not the nation.
Many wedding planners will simply repeat the sales pitch of their favorite
photographer. And, of course, all your friends and relatives will put in
their twenty-five cents worth! With all this input, how do you pick a
photographer?
First off, let me say this -- NO photographer is perfect for EVERY wedding. Each photographer has weaknesses and strengths. The one biggest influence on your final decision will be YOU! Do you like the photos you see from his or her portfolio? Do you like the personality of the photographer? Are the services to be rendered fit your budgetary concerns? These are decisions best left to the wedding couple in most cases, since it is the wedding couple who will live with the results, not the relatives, friends and wedding planners.
Cameras and Prints: Some
photographers will tell you that you MUST have your photos taken in "medium
format" for the best prints. True, a larger negative will give you a
finer detailed photo, especially when blown up to much larger sizes.
However, the cost rises with the size of the format at the time of the wedding,
and the cost of enlargements is proportionately higher as well. What you
have to decide is whether the need for large critically sharp photographs is
worth the expense or not.
Many wedding photographers use 35mm format cameras with great
success. Advancements in film technology has given us wonderful new films
suited perfectly for weddings -- high speed for low-light situations and tight
grain for sharp enlargements, along with greatly improved color rendition over
films of just a few years ago. The advent of image stabilization
(available with Canon and Nikon cameras) has made 35mm even more
appealing. This format is much more cost effective for the photographer
and the client, especially if budget is major concern. You CAN have
very professional results without the huge outlay of money!
Pricing: There is no
"standard" in wedding photography pricing. Every photographer
sets his or her own price. The answer is to shop! Look at each
photographer's portfolio and imagine that quality in your wedding album both now
and fifty years from now. Compare prices from one photographer to the
next. Who gives you the most Quality for the price. Remember,
cheapest is not always best -- in fact, the cheapest price may indicate
lack of experience and expertise. Find out how long the photographer has
been in the wedding photography business -- 5 years minimum is a good rule of
thumb. Ask for references -- then CALL a couple of them to see how
the experience was with that wedding. Try to get as many photos as you can
because photos go quickly at a wedding! Ask how many photos you will get
compared to how many will be taken -- some photographers will take many more
photos than you will ever see.
Negatives: Most
photographers keep the negatives because it is an income item for them when you
order reprints and enlargements. This is not necessarily a bad thing -- it
is tradition within the industry. However, some photographers will give
you the negatives, either as part of the package, or for an additional
fee. Some will give the negatives to you after a certain period of time,
usually three to five years (after the value of the negatives is mostly
gone). If the photographer will give you the negatives, it is your
responsibility to safeguard those negatives so they remain scratch-free,
lint-free and fingerprint-free. If you keep them in their protective
sleeves at all times, that is not a problem. With the negatives in your
possession, the cost of enlargements is greatly reduced, and your ability to
spread photos around to all your friends and family is greatly increased!
Personality: This is an item
that is overlooked by many wedding parties. How does the photographer and
the wedding party interact? Is he or she pleasant to work with? Does
the photographer dress appropriately for a wedding? Does the photographer
blend into the ceremony and reception, or become an annoyance to
everybody? Does the photographer strive to help the wedding run smoothly,
or does he/she dominate the wedding couple and insist that photos be taken at
the photographer's convenience? Will the photographer work with you?
Interview the photographer in person -- you will get a gut feeling that will
guide your decision. Also, make sure the photographer you talk to is the
photographer you will have on your wedding day -- some larger studios have
several photographers.
Mick's Photography: If you
like what you have just read, come to our site and look around. My wife,
Sarine, and I take pride in our work and our reputation. My name is Mick,
and I'm the photographer. My wife is the business manager, photographer's
assistant, and stylist -- she gets a lot of titles because she does a lot of
work! My expertise is behind the camera :)
Click here to see our site --> www.micksphoto.com