PHOTOGRAPHY
Of all of the people that you hire to make your day special, your photographer is the one that you will interact with the most on your wedding day. Finding the right photographer should be a careful process and can be viewed as an investment for the future. Take your time and ask lots of questions. It is important that you connect with your photographer personally, and that you find them easy to communicate with. After the day is over and the cake has been eaten, only your cherished photographs will remain.
• Let your photographer know what type of photography you like. From formal and traditional, to fun and photojournalistic, you should see samples of your desired style in the photographer’s portfolio.
• Photography is a visual product. First, you've got to like the photographer and their images. Price has to come second. Remember, you get what (and who) you pay for.
• Make sure that photographer you meet with will be the one who actually shows up at your wedding. Ask to see their photographs from real weddings.
• Allow an appropriate amount of time for photos. Trying to rush through the session will only add stress. A little planning will go a long way for when it comes to your photographic memories.
• Stay away from bird seed when planning your grand exit. Bird seed is so small, it will get in your hair and is nearly impossible to get out. You will spend the rest of the night shaking the little seeds out from under your dress. Try using bubbles, flower petals or sparklers instead.
• To expedite the photos immediately after the wedding, the wedding party and families should exit to a private room to allow guests to go on to the reception. If guests see you at the back of the church, they will want to greet and visit, causing a long delay for the formal portraits. The greetings can be done at the reception.
• When planning your wedding day, remember that things almost always will take longer than you anticipate. If you’re thinking of getting formal pictures between the ceremony and reception, allow at least an hour – more if the reception is at a different location than the ceremony.
• Prepare a list of family photos for the photographer. Have an assigned attendant responsible to gather groupings for the formal photo session. Things go quicker if there is someone (besides the photographer) in charge of being sure people are where they need to be when they need to be there. Remind everybody who will be in the formal portraits to stay close by after the ceremony. Your relatives and friends may have traveled a long way to participate in your big day, preparing a list beforehand will ensure that the most important group and family shots are fulfilled without forgetting someone. The list will also make the photographer’s job go much quicker, allowing you and your wedding party more time at the reception.
• Most ceremony locations, such as a church, temple or synagogue have rules for photographing in their place of worship. A professional photographer is always respectful of these limitations. After the ceremony, the use of flash and strobe equipment is usually allowed to accommodate the family and formal shots. Be sure you inquire about any restrictions.
• Practice walking in your wedding shoes; you should be able to move freely and without looking awkward. To avoid that new-shoe-slipping feeling, you might want to “scruff” the soles a bit.
• The bride should also practice walking slowly. I see too many brides walk down the aisle very fast (probably out of nervousness) which makes for less photo opportunities – plus, walking slowly adds drama and lets the bride and groom enjoy the moment.
• Remember to hold the bouquet low and show the pretty neckline of the dress.
• If your wedding will incorporate special cultural or religious elements, talk to your photographer about the moments during which you would like photos taken or not. With a little advanced warning, she can be prepared to capture the important events of the ceremony.
• Throwing a surprise or two into your wedding or reception helps to keep a magical, spontaneous atmosphere. For example, there might be a special vocal performance, or candle lighting that you have planned. And, some brides like to slip out of the reception to change dresses and return with a grand entrance to dance the night away. Just be sure to let your photographer in on the secret! Otherwise, you may miss what can be the best candid photos in your wedding or reception.
• Have some designated friends help you document the reception. Putting disposable cameras on reception tables has become popular recently, but many couples are finding that the resulting photographs aren’t very good. It works much better to choose just a few trusted people and supply each of them with a disposable camera instead.
• In addition to viewing samples of his work, be sure to find out how long the photographer has been shooting weddings and how many weddings he has done. Experience is important, not just for the quality of photograph, but also to ensure that your photographer knows how to professionally conduct himself on the job and to deal with the intensity of a wedding. An experienced wedding photographer will know how to position himself without becoming a distraction to your guests while taking photos and should also know how to work in harmony with a videographer. He will be able to keep up with the pace of your wedding day, and be able to deal with the fact that he will have an atmosphere of excitement and emotion swirling around him as he works. Most importantly, he will know precisely how to capture that emotion on film and preserve it for a lifetime.
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