Wedding Photography Insight
CHOOSING A WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER
Photography is very important. Why spend all of that money and not have a record of the day? Seems silly to me.
Choosing a wedding photographer (Wichita Falls Wedding Photography) can be terrifying. Wedding pictures hold a lot of emotions and they won’t just be something that you look at for the rest of your life but also something that your grandchildren will look at. Their significance is not to be undervalued.
That doesn’t mean, however, that you should let a photographer charge you an extortionate rate. Don’t be afraid to negotiate and make sure that you know what you are getting before you pay the deposit. Most will give a discount of 15-20%. If they have gotten to an interview with you then they will want your business rather than having you go somewhere else. Don’t be scared to hire a student. As long as they have a good portfolio, are reliable and have some good recommendations, you could save yourself a small fortune.
If you have a friend who is a photographer it is not necessarily a bad idea to have them do your wedding, as long as you are 100% confident that they will actually do the job and do it well. We asked a family friend to be our evening photographer and they completely forgot, we were devastated. Especially as we had to leave our wedding early. Just make sure your friend is talented, reliable and trustworthy. Not everyone can handle the pressure or get the job done.
It is a good idea for your photographer and videographer to see the venue beforehand. The consultation will ideally be done there. If not then they should arrive early on the day and also talk to the venue manager beforehand. A good photographer will want to see the venue beforehand so they know what they are doing on the day. They should not spend time on the day thinking about setting up shots and checking out the venue unless they do it before the hours they are booked for. If you are getting married in a church ask them for their rules about photography. They may not allow certain photography.
You will get a consultation with your photographer and when you do make sure you are firm about what you want. If they want to take you somewhere to do a specific shot and you are less keen then say so. Make sure you get along with your wedding photographer. They will be with you on the most important day of your life and you need to be able to relax in front of them. You will also need to be able to trust them. After the wedding you will also have to go through the pictures with them. Trust and security is important. Make sure you like their style too. Hire a photographer who shares your taste. Also make sure you get recommendations. Make sure that your photographer will supply high-resolution images. This one is important. You won’t be able to share them or print them if they are not hi-res.
Things to watch out for from your photographer: do they seem jaded?
Are all of the pictures on their website of a consistent high-quality?
Do they badmouth past clients?
Do they actually like weddings?
What will they be shooting on?
What is the total price?
How many pictures will you get?
How many will be edited?
What format will you get your pictures on?
Do they have any back up equipment?
Are there any extra costs?
Do they shoot in colour or black and white?
Who will own the copyright?
Not all wedding photographers will be willing to give you all of your pictures so they can then protect their image. If this is important to you, ask them and then decide accordingly. However, do ask how many pictures you will get. This is important, some may give you only a small number that have been edited. Also ask about copyright. Some photographers retain copyright to your pictures even though they give you a disc. Sort this out beforehand as afterwards you will have less power. Sign a detailed contract stipulating what you want. Read carefully before signing on the dotted line. Make sure your wedding photographer is good at collaborating. They should be open to your ideas, not just adamant that their ideas are better.
Treat your photographer well and if they are going to be there all day then make sure there is some food for them. Even if it is just a sandwich. A good photographer will be unobtrusive, friendly and helpful on the day. They will manage people and calm them down.
When the wedding photographer is doing their job be firm with family members about taking their own pictures. You are paying a lot of money for a professional photographer and even if family members are professionals it is not really fair of them to barge in on something you are paying good money for. Their flash could also ruin some of the photographer’s shots. Tell them, politely, to take their pictures when the photographer is finished. Don’t take no for an answer.
To find a good wedding photographer ask any married couples you know, ask your wedding suppliers for any recommendations, ask on your social media network, look through bridal magazines, check out the suppliers section on wedding blogs and magazines and look at the real life weddings in wedding blogs and magazines.
Typing ‘photographer + your location’ into a search engine is a good way to find a wedding photographer. Or the previously mentioned hitched.co.uk. I met my amazing wedding photographer Emma-Jane at a press day and my (then) fiancé loved her work. She has an amazing eye.
Another thing to look out for is testimonials. Many photographers will have some on their website and others will give them on demand.
When it comes to a wedding package, they usually charge in sets of hours. We had our photographer for three hours and in the time she got a lot of very good shots.
Be careful if you hire a family member to do your photography. They may be brilliant at what they do but they also might get drunk, distracted or not want to take pictures all night. Photography is something that is worth investing in.
Choosing a Style
All photographers have a specific style. Make sure your photographer suits your style and the tone you want for the day. Also think about what kind of editing you want. You might want something more natural so then don’t hire a photographer who is obsessed with Photoshop and crazy effects. If you like their pictures but not their style of editing the relationship might not work. Hire someone who has everything you want all in one.
Making a Shot List
It is easier to make a shot list on the day and then hand it to your maid of honour or best man. They can then round people up and make the process faster. Many people will get restless if the photography goes on too long. It is also a good idea to get the group shots out of the way and then the bride and groom go off somewhere close but secluded to get the couple shots done.
Some ideas for your shot list. It will help to have their actual names, not just their roles and give the shot list to the best man or maid of honour.
Bride with father.
Bride with parents.
Bride with grandparents.
Bride with family.
Bride with bridesmaids.
Groom with mother.
Groom with parents.
Groom with best man.
Groom with ushers.
Group shot.
Fees and packages
Think hard about the package you want. Wedding photography is incredibly expensive. Most, if not all, wedding photographers will offer a range of different packages. You might not be able to afford the entire day to be done but in the age of social media and iPhones your guests will probably take some amazing pictures anyway. The best time to have a photographer is for the first three hours. This will cover: getting ready, the ceremony and the reception. No one really wants their picture taken when they are eating but you could ask people to take pictures of the speeches and the dancing.
If you have the money then go all out and hire them for the entire day. Just make sure that you feed them or that they know in advance there won’t be any food. I understand wedding catering is expensive and charges per head but you don’t want your photographer fainting from hunger or going out to get something to eat and missing an important moment. Some photographers will ask for some sandwiches or something. I think this is a reasonable request and your caterer should not mind if it is just one or two. You will probably have bread there on the day anyway. If your caterer will charge you extra then factor this in however. Photographers are expensive and so is wedding catering. When you are paying a premium for both any added extras can be a bit much.
Choosing Which Pictures
You will probably have to choose a limited number of pictures that will get edited but should get all of the pictures on a disc. Make sure your photographer will give you all of the pictures before you book them. You might get your pictures as a contact sheet (especially if the photographer used a camera that was not digital), an internet album or print. They will not be edited at first but will be the raws, i.e the footage straight from the camera. Many photographers will lightly edit their raws before showing them to you.
Choosing what pictures you want can be difficult and exhausting. There will probably be hundreds on the contact sheet and they may even start blurring into one. Choose the pictures that grab you first and if you are only allowed a certain amount of pictures then think carefully before you ask family members if they want any as they might get disappointed if you have to sacrifice a few. If they can buy their own and are willing to then this should not be a problem however.
Wedding Album
Some photographers do add-ons like wedding albums or heart-shaped USB keys. Buy them if you like them or get them cheaper on eBay if money is tight.
An investment you may want to make, or even better, put one on your gift list, is a good photo frame to display your wedding photo. We got very lucky and won a beautiful Vera Wang photo frame at a Peter Jones wedding gift list event. Your wedding day is (hopefully) one of the best days of your life so show it off in style.
Photography is very important. What is the point of spending so much money on your wedding if you don’t have a record of it that stands the test of time? If you do not have a proper record of your day you will be disappointed. It will also be one of
the few times when you have all of your friends and family in one place, do not let that opportunity go. Our wedding photographer, Emma from Emma-Jane
Photography was absolutely amazing. We could not have asked for a better photographer. Our wedding photos are amazing and she really has a great eye. We will treasure our wedding pictures forever.
Emma is a stunningly talented photographer and she was amazing on the day. She made everyone relaxed and has an amazing eye for a good picture. She gave me an interview with lots of great advice in it.
Emma from Emma-Jane Photography.
What made you get into wedding photography?
I started off assisting and modelling with a photographer about five years ago now. I had an interest in the wedding side of being a photographer and then second shot a few other weddings before setting up as a freelancer. The process was fairly quick in my transition as I knew it was a market I could get into due to my fashion and conceptual background as a photographer.
What should couples look for in a wedding photographer?
Couples should start by identifying what sort of wedding photography style they like such as documentary, fashion or some photographers actually still shoot on film. It would then be about seeing what photographers are either within an area if they do not want to add on extra travel costs or who they could fly over. This would be a case of a photographer’s work that they really love and then look to narrow a few of these down to meet with in person. The personal interaction will probably be the deciding factor as the couple will need to get on with their photographer as having them there is a very personal part of their day.
What kind of questions should a couple ask their wedding photographer?
Ideally this should be things such as how do they see the shots taking form? Do they have an assistant for very large weddings? What happens in regards to post production and the numberof images that the couple will receive? Are there any wedding albums included in the packages, if not how much do these cost if needed after the day? What kit does the photographer use? As you want to see they are using full format cameras, good lenses and have back-ups on the day.
How is wedding photography different from normal photography?
As a wedding photographer this does differ more in the way that everything is at a much faster pace for the photographer to keep track of. The photographer has to have very good communication with the couple beforehand at the consultations so that the plan of the days shots are outlined even if this differs slightly on the day.
The photographer will need to be experienced, with a minimum of 6/7 solo weddings under their belt in my opinion before the competency is there. There is also a lot more communication and post-production of the event compared to family or commercial photography.
What is the most important thing to capture on the day?
Everything is equally important, it is about documenting the day itself and giving the whole day as a reminder and people getting that feeling back. For me the bits that seem to be at the top of my list are the look the groom has before the ceremony, the first kiss, and the couple shots away from the party after the ceremony.
Talk us through your working day during a wedding.
Night before preparation of kit
Morning, double check kit
Travel and arrive at wedding
Getting ready shots
Documentation shots
Integrating myself as part of the wedding party
Arrival at church or location
Chat with registrar or vicar to make sure they are still ok with images and where not to stand to stop invasion of service
Document ceremony
Couple shots separate away from wedding party
Wedding shots of guests
Documenting interactions
Cake and detail shots
Speeches
Cake cutting
First dance
Each couple’s wedding is different but this is a bit more standard for a full day’s shoot.
What if someone doesn't like having their picture taken, any tips?
This is always tricky and will depend on who they are in the wedding party, if it is a guest they are a little less of your focus so you do your best to relax them but they are not the sole focus, the couple are. If it is the bride or groom though, this does pose a problem. In the past I have had an engagement shoot with them to relax and get them used to the camera and my way of working. And then talk them through each step during the day itself, joke, have fun and try to make it easy.
What is your favourite thing about doing wedding photography?
As I am a fashion photographer I tend to like the stylised shots the best, so the details and dress, and the couple shots after the ceremony where you can play with background and dynamics of the shots.
Have you spotted any trends?
There have been a few trends of having more of an 'instagramed' feel for the post-production and also eco type weddings, with hand-made decorations and a very country type feel.
You have a very good eye, any tips for couples who want to be original in their wedding photography?
Do your research. You need to figure out what it is you like, if you like traditional you will find it hard getting out of that box. But if you are open to your wedding photographer being creative chat through what is available: any props or great settings at thelocationsso you can create a dramatic backdrop.
How do you choose where to take pictures? How important is location?
Location is the most important thing for me. This means I need good lighting and ideally a good backdrop to take the couple away for after the ceremony so that some nice private shots are done as these are the shots they will most likely use. If you have a small venue and no outside location you are really limiting your photographer and the shots.
Any other tips and advice?
Make sure that communication is key on both sides. You need to know what is expected of your photographer and equally your photographer needs to know what you want in regards to shots, any changes and last minute things before the day. As well as being open during the day itself to changes and any new ideas.
Thank you Emma.
It is a good idea to print out a copy or two of your wedding photos. My husband and I have them on USB and on each of our computers but a print copy is a great idea just in case. It also means you can frame some. There are companies that will print
your wedding photos for you and then send them to you in a nice album. This can be done inexpensively. If you have a good colour printer you could print them out yourself on some photo paper. I do this with pictures and they look just as good as if they were done professionally.
If you are worried about how your chin will look in pictures then look up. Not all the way, but slightly in all of the pictures. If you are worried about your arms then don’t hold them too close to your body. Having your elbows at an angle will make them look slimmer.
Videographer
This is another thing that I would not have gone without. We love our wedding video and it is so wonderful to have a record of the day. Our videographer, Kevin from Federated Films was truly amazing. He even had the wedding video done in just over a week. Very impressive. I interviewed him for this book and he gave me some great answers.
Here is his biography: While Kevin was still at University in 1984, he made his first ever short film; it was a 5 minute computer-generated story created by programming graphics on a BBC Micro and recording it frame-by-frame on a domestic video recorder. After winning a national competition with the film he got a job in the newly emerging field of digital media in the late 80s and he has been creating films and exploring using technology to communicate ideas and stories ever since. In 2006 Kevin went on to master his craft by studying film making at Brighton Film School and London’s Raindance Film School as well as at the BBC.
How did you get into wedding videography?
I shot a few friends’ weddings over the years as wedding gifts and they were always thrilled with the results and though my main focus is shooting corporate films I do enjoy capturing that special day for a new couple to look back on.
Tell us about your process when doing weddings?
It’s important to get a feel for what style of shooting the bride and groom want. Capturing video is more intrusive than taking photographers as you get to hear what people are saying as well as doing. I try to be as unobtrusive as possible but also still get into the middle of the action to capture the important moments.
What should people consider when choosing a videographer?
Well firstly do you share the same vision for what you want to capture on the day? The video should be shot in High Definition and preferably with a Digital SLR camera as they capture so much more light and colour especially in low light situations.
What is the most important thing in wedding videography?
Capturing the emotions of the day, it’s not about the flowers or the cake, though they are important, it’s about people expressing their joy as well as a few tears. I shoot at double frame rate so I can slow down these moments to heighten the drama.
Is a videographer essential?
Of course we can all shoot video on our phones and even our stills cameras these days, but the most important aspect of a good video is the sound, if you can’t hear what people are saying then it makes a video hard to watch. I use radio microphones and broadcast quality boom mikes to capture the sound at the highest quality.
What kind of questions should people ask their videographer?
Well, ask to see their last video, does it capture the moment and create an emotional connection with the bride and groom, if it does then hire them but if it’s all shots of flowers, cars and cakes then a good stills photographer can capture that.
What is the most important moment to capture?
The bride walking down the aisle, the look of love between the bride and groom when they say their vows, interviews with the families, the first dance and everyone else's dancing and finally the drive off into the sunset of the newly married couple.
Tell us about some of the weddings you have done?
Well I’ve done ballrooms, barns and even a rowing club, but no churches yet!
What is the most important thing you have learned about filming weddings?
Befriend the wedding planner and the photographer – they can help you capture the best moments of the day.
Are you a fan of weddings?
It’s great to see two families meeting for the first time and feeling all the love in the room and best wishes for two people’s future together.
What is your favourite part of filming weddings?
Delivering the final film and getting the call that says they love it and it made them cry.
And the least?
Well, you shoot a lot of material and it takes a long time to go through all the rushes to find the special moments, but it is the foundation work you need to do to create a great wedding video.
Thank you Kevin.
It is a good idea to find out what your videographer will be filming on. Also find out what format you will get your wedding video on. Some will give a DVD and others will send you a link to download the video. Before you book your videographer check out their other wedding videos. Make sure they are in focus, tell the story and capture all of the moments. Make sure the videos are well edited. Another thing to watch out for is sound. If the sound is bad then go for another videographer. It is very important. There should be a microphone near the bride or groom when they are doing their vows. A mic pinned onto the groom is usually the best way.
You will want some music on your video. It would be quite dull without it. There are plenty of sites out there that do royalty-free music. Just type ‘royalty-free music’ into a search engine. Give your photographer and videographer each other’s details. That way you can have some of your wedding pictures in the video. It really adds something and breaks up the video nicely.
As ever: ask for a discount. Especially if you are getting married off-peak. Ask them how long it will take them to edit the video. It may take a while for them to edit the video but they still have an obligation to get it to you in a reasonable amount of time.
It has become popular in recent years to hire equipment from companies that then take the footage and edit if for you. Shoot It Yourself is a popular one. My husband actually thought about doing our own videography because we have all of the equipment to do so. However, I didn’t want the stress or the hassle. Despite that, if you have some friends or cousins who would be up for filming the wedding then this can be a cheaper option. Not many people are good at filming or will have a steady hand so choose the people carefully. Shoot It Yourself packages start at £849 which is not cheap. Another thing to think about is if guests will be happy ‘working’ at your wedding. Some won’t mind and it could even be your wedding present. The best thing is to allocate certain people different time slots. Make sure that they don’t get drunk when on duty and that they use a tripod to keep the camera steady. It is best if they don’t try any fancy techniques: panning, zooming etc. Having guests make speeches to the camera is a nice touch. As is capturing the entire day from start to finish. The more footage you have to work with, the better the video will be.