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The Top 5 Things to Consider when Choosing a Wedding Photographer
The best way to choose a wedding photographer
is to ask your friends & family's for recommendations. Check
out your friend's Wedding Albums and see what you like and dislike.
When interviewing potential photographers be sure to find out
the answers to these 5 questions.
1. What style of photography will be provided?
The two main styles of wedding photography
are Tradition and Photojournalistic. A Traditional Wedding Photographer
will take carefully posed pictures of you and the wedding party.
There may be a few “candid” pictures, but the majority of your
pictures will be formal. Photojournalistic Wedding Photographers
will be in the background observing the day with a long zoon lens
taking pictures as the events happen.
You need to decide what style best fits your personality.
A Traditional photographer may take a couple photojournalistic
pictures and a Photojournalistic photographer may take a few posed
shots, but it is very difficult for one photographer to do great
job of both by themselves. Most brides want the posed pictures,
but also want the fun and creative angles that photojournalistic
photographers provide. Those brides should look for a Wedding
Package that will include 2 Wedding Photographers so that one
Photographer can concentrate on the Traditional Shots and the
other Photographer can take the photojournalistic images.
2. Do you enjoy the Photographer's personality?
You are going to be spending your entire
wedding day with your wedding photographer; beginning with your
getting ready pictures before the ceremony all the way through
your last dance. You need to make sure that your personalities
mix well together. The photographer you choose may have impeccable
technical skills, but if they are not fun to hang out with, you
will have a miserable day.
You need to find a Photographer who has all the
experience required to be your Wedding Photographer as well as
being friendly and personable so that you will enjoy the 8 – 10
hours you will spend with him/her. If you choose a Photography
studio with multiple photographers, make sure they let you meet
the different photographers and view their portfolios so you can
request a specific photographer if you want to.
3. Will they use Film or Digital Equipment?
Make sure you ask ahead of time whether
your photographer will be using a Film or a Digital Camera. If
they are using a Digital camera, be sure to ask how many mega
pixels their camera is. In order to get a high quality enlargement,
they need to be using a camera with at least 10 mega pixels. If
your photographer is using a Digital Camera you should have the
benefit of switching any of your pictures from Color to Black
and White or Sepia.
If your pictures will be digital, make sure you
know what type of printer your photographer uses. In order to
get a high quality product from your digital print, you need a
photographer who uses a traditional photographic print. This will
give you the same print quality as a professional film lab.
You need to make sure that your photographer is not creating prints
on an inkjet printer.
If your photographer will be using film, you should
make sure it is a professional, medium format camera, not an inexpensive
35mm Camera. Insist on professional grade film as well.
4. What kind of wedding albums do they offer?
Your wedding album is going to be with
you for the rest of your lives. You will be showing it off to
your grandchildren someday. It is important that you choose a
high quality album that will last through the next 50 years. Your
album should tell the story of your wedding day from start to
finish.
There are several different styles of albums that
you can choose from these days. There are the traditional matted
albums that your parents have, as well as modern coffee table
books that are a showpiece of all your emotions from your wedding.
Make sure that you get to decide which of your pictures will be
displayed in your albums. It is your special day and you should
get the final say in what your album looks like.
Choose a photographer who has experience designing
wedding albums and is flexible to how you want to create your
album. You want a photographer who will allow you to either design
your own album, or who is willing to design it for you if that's
what you want. If you choose a photographer who is also trained
in graphic designs, he will have designed hundreds of albums,
and will often have great ideas about how to layout your pictures
to get the best look.
5. What happens after my wedding?
How soon will you be able to look at your
wedding pictures and will your photographer post your pictures
online? You need to know what happens next after you get
back from your honeymoon. How do you look at your pictures? How
do you order your album?
If they are using Digital Equipment, you should
be able to view your pictures online within a week of your wedding
day. You should also be able to order prints of your favorite
pictures online and send emails to your friends and family so
they can view your pictures too.
Article by Jeannette Hampp. She can be contacted
at Weddings@oakdaleimages.com
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