Choosing your photographer

[WebLady]

This is something I wrote a while back (may have even posted before) about photographers and photography; I thought I would share it with you all :)

Choosing the photographer to capture the precious memories of your special day is sure to be one of the most important decisions you will have to make in planning for your wedding. Once all is said and done the pictures will be one of the few things left to remember your day by. There are some overwhelming options, so do your homework on the subject.

There are three basic camera formats that most photographers you come across will use; they are known as 35mm, Medium Format and of course, digital. There is often much dispute as to which is best. All these systems have there own advantages and disadvantages but it is hard to say which one is best for wedding photography. It all depends on the photographer and needs of the bride.

These days the average wedding photography package runs about $1'500.00, (give or take) so you should be more concerned with what you are actually getting rather than the camera the photographer may use. Look for the skill behind the camera! So look at lots of samples make sure you like the style they shoot in and are happy with the quality of the final images. Ask if they carry a back up camera! Here is a scary thought ... some “professionals” don’t carry back ups! So what would happen if their camera broke down at your wedding?!

Ask how many pictures they normally take at a wedding. You want to have plenty to choose from. And ask about the proofs, do you get to keep all the proofs? Ask if you will get print quality "proofs", or will they have "Proof" stamped all over them or will it be a book of thumbnail images or a photo disc? And ask about the negatives too; ask how long these are stored for future orders and if they are ever sold. And ask what the cost for future post wedding orders would be. Ask what kind of film they use, is it high quality refrigerated professional film or is it the same consumer grade stuff you can buy yourself at the local drug store? And ask about the papers your finished pictures will be printed on. This too should be high quality professional grade. If it is a digital photographer they should be using a professional SLR camera with at least 6 mega pixels for sharp enlargements. Again, look at lots of samples to get an idea of there style and quality!

Your photographer should not only be skilled at his/her craft, they should also be a "take charge" person but they should still have respect for the day and not be too pushy. Your photographer should have a personality that compliments your own. You should be able to get along well with this person as you will be spending a lot of time together on the wedding day and probably after too!

There is a vast sea of photographers out there, both professional and freelance. You have to find the one that suits your needs and of course your budget. Be sure you know what you are getting upfront and ask about additional charges such as overtime rates and travel fees. Get all the details in writing; time included, amount of pictures included, and so on.

[myweddingvideophoto]

As an experienced photography and videography provider, I am excited to talk about this.

Here's my two cents.

Choosing the photographer to capture the precious memories of your special day is sure to be one of the most important decisions you will have to make in planning for your wedding. Once all is said and done the pictures will be one of the few things left to remember your day by. There are some overwhelming options, so do your homework on the subject.

Of course -- let's not forget videography. A talented videographer can capture every single moment, and allow you to relive your day through millions of pictures... not just a select few.

There are three basic camera formats that most photographers you come across will use; they are known as 35mm, Medium Format and of course, digital. There is often much dispute as to which is best. All these systems have there own advantages and disadvantages but it is hard to say which one is best for wedding photography. It all depends on the photographer and needs of the bride.

To be honest, digital is probably your best option. It's cheaper, there are no developing costs, and you can get the same results --- plus a lot more room for correction.

Remember brides, if your photographer shoots film, and shoots in black and white... that's exactly what you will get.

These days the average wedding photography package runs about $1'500.00, (give or take) so you should be more concerned with what you are actually getting rather than the camera the photographer may use. Look for the skill behind the camera! So look at lots of samples make sure you like the style they shoot in and are happy with the quality of the final images. Ask if they carry a back up camera! Here is a scary thought ... some “professionals” don’t carry back ups! So what would happen if their camera broke down at your wedding?!

To be honest, if you want a photographer to capture more than 8 hours, don't think it will cost under $2,000 for an experienced photographer. For the most part, a photographer under $2,000 will not have a backup camera, will not have years and years of experience... and probably has not run into many issues. A lot of photographers will shoot with a second photographer, an intern, or employee with some experience, but a backup nonetheless. I definitely agree though, focus on the quality of their work, not just their camera.

Ask how many pictures they normally take at a wedding. You want to have plenty to choose from. And ask about the proofs, do you get to keep all the proofs? Ask if you will get print quality "proofs", or will they have "Proof" stamped all over them or will it be a book of thumbnail images or a photo disc? And ask about the negatives too; ask how long these are stored for future orders and if they are ever sold.

Run from any photographer who has a limit to the amount of pictures they take. With proofs, and/or negatives... this varies from photographer to photographer. Some companies (like mine), will give you all your high-resolution photos on DVD, and some companies will give you proof books, or DVDs with low resolution photos on it. Remember, if a company keeps the rights to your photos, and you must print from them, they most likely will profit the most from overcharging for prints. Always ask to see print prices before you book, and figure that into your cost.

And ask what the cost for future post wedding orders would be. Ask what kind of film they use, is it high quality refrigerated professional film or is it the same consumer grade stuff you can buy yourself at the local drug store?

And make sure you see samples of past recent weddings in person. It doesn't matter what they say about what they use, you want to make sure with your own eyes. For the most part however, film photographers are far more experienced in photography than your average digital shooter. However, there is no room for mistakes when shooting film.


And ask about the papers your finished pictures will be printed on. This too should be high quality professional grade. If it is a digital photographer they should be using a professional SLR camera with at least 6 mega pixels for sharp enlargements. Again, look at lots of samples to get an idea of there style and quality!

Any established photographer will use at least 8mp, most likely 10-12 (our prereq). Get to know their lenses, because lenses effect the style more than the actual camera. They must be SLR cameras.

Your photographer should not only be skilled at his/her craft, they should also be a "take charge" person but they should still have respect for the day and not be too pushy. Your photographer should have a personality that compliments your own. You should be able to get along well with this person as you will be spending a lot of time together on the wedding day and probably after too!

It's extremely important that your photographer is confident in his or her abilities, and knows exactly what they should be doing... and at the same time be listening to your input. It's your wedding, not a portfolio builder.

Get the shots you want, but please, do listen to your photographer.

There is a vast sea of photographers out there, both professional and freelance. You have to find the one that suits your needs and of course your budget. Be sure you know what you are getting upfront and ask about additional charges such as overtime rates and travel fees. Get all the details in writing; time included, amount of pictures included, and so on.

You have hundreds of options. From your local semi-pro, to your national companies, the most important thing that you need is someone that will carry out your vision. Worry about price, once you've found the right person. On average, brides spend 2x as much as they had budgeted for on photography. Even if it means you don't buy 150 disposable cameras, so you can afford that perfect photographer, do it. This is the person that will capture the most important day in your life.


I hope this helps some of you brides-to-be!

[rgibbons]

Copyright is a property right. Under the Federal Copyright Act of 1976 (effective January 1, 1978 and amended when the USA joined the Berne Convention in 1989), photographs are protected by copyright from the moment of creation. In all cases, any photo taken by any photographer cannot be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the photographer.

Many photographers either include a copyright release and digital/film media with their packages or the option to purchase a copyright release for one or more images. This allows the holder of the release to reproduce one or more images as defined in the copyright release.

If you plan to purchase the original media with a copyright release, inquire as to the format. If film, then you should receive negatives. If digital, then you will want high resolution JPEG and RAW formatted images.

RAW format is a camera dependent format created by the camera at time of capture. Most professional photographers use the this format for printing because it contains all the information needed for optimum reproduction. It also requires special software, training, and equipment.

JPEG format is a compressed universal version of the RAW format. This version does not contain all the information that the RAW format does, but it can be printed with amateur quality results by most anyone with a computer and printer. The ability to improve exposure, color, or make major modifications can be limited.

Some photographers, commonly known as "shoot and burn" photographers, offer to photograph your wedding in digital and deliver the images in JPEG format. This may be a cheaper route to go, but keep in mind that now the burden shifts to you to find a way to accurately and professionally make prints from your wedding day images. If the photographer significantly under or overexposes the images, uses the wrong color balance, or has focus or other technical issues, the burden is on you and not the photographer to try to make acceptable prints from poorly captured images.

Post-production of digital images requires hundreds of hours of technical training along with expertly calibrated equipment. Quality results are also highly dependent on the quality of the captured image. If the photographer is delivering finished prints and albums to the customer, the photographer knows that lighting, exposure, composition, and camera settings must be near perfect to produce quality prints.

[Marissa]

In addition to all this great advice, I think it's so important to feel comfortable with the photographer. If you get a good vibe from him/her, then you'll be able to feel natural, comfortable, and beautiful in front of the camera.

[jenkniivila]

I am a wedding photographer and the reason I feel digital far exceeds print is just this....

Film photographers have to be VERY carefull of the images they are snapping - their frames are limited! A digital photographer has the capability of capturing MORE images. There are more editing options available to digital photogs. Faster delivery (no film development). LESS room for error.. you know how many times I brought my film in for processing and they've ruined it? You can't get that back, folks! If a photog accidently deletes their memory card there is ways of getting back that data.

Don't get me wrong - I respect film. I started with film. But for events that require so many photos... go with digital.

[WebLady]

Digital has come a long way and there are great things that can be done with it now :D

I no longer use film and not sure I would ever go back; but there are still some good film photographers out there :)

[Heather Fuller]

I just want to add that if you do purchase your "digital negatives", you do want to make sure that they have been processed somewhat by a raw processor (if your photographer shoots in RAW, there are some who don't), such as exposure and white balance corrections, and that they are high resolution JPEGS. Some photographers will give you lower resolution images so you can use for web purposes and print your own 4x6's but will look like poopoo if enlarged. That is the problem that a lot of us photographers face is that once a client purchases a CD, we run the risk that the client uses walmart to print the images and when asked "who did your photography", your name is associated with crappy images. You will get far superior images from a professional lab.

[jenkniivila]

I just want to add that if you do purchase your "digital negatives", you do want to make sure that they have been processed somewhat by a raw processor (if your photographer shoots in RAW, there are some who don't), such as exposure and white balance corrections, and that they are high resolution JPEGS. Some photographers will give you lower resolution images so you can use for web purposes and print your own 4x6's but will look like poopoo if enlarged. That is the problem that a lot of us photographers face is that once a client purchases a CD, we run the risk that the client uses walmart to print the images and when asked "who did your photography", your name is associated with crappy images. You will get far superior images from a professional lab.

Amen, sista. :D