Getting Great Wedding Shots for Great Wedding Photography Portraits

Coming from a photographer you might expect this piece to be about having a great background to the photo like this one on top of Crystal Mountain, Washington, with Mt. Rainier in the distance. Or how to get people to smile with a witty joke. Instead it is about how to get the bride and groom relaxed enough that their natural smile emerges naturally.

Stressed out is how I would describe a lot of the brides and grooms that I meet at the start of their wedding day. Getting great wedding shots to make a great set of photographs of a stressed out wedding couple is a real challenge. Being tense does not make for wedding glamor. It is mostly impossible if they are stressed out over too many of the details of their wedding day.

It helps to think it through in advance and only spend time making the wedding shots you want.

One solution to reducing the stress level is to get help from a wedding-day coordinator. This can be someone hired for the task or it can be someone recruited from the ranks of friends or family. While the bride and groom may prefer to plan out all the events of the day, the coordinator is given the responsibility of all of the little details that can cause the bride and groom to get stressed out and prevent them from relaxing and enjoying their wedding day. Then they can be photographed looking their best, relaxed and not preoccupied with the goings on around them. They will smile more easily with the anxiety missing and in general the wedding shots will be better for it and the wedding “glamour” will come naturally.

As a photographer I have found the one detail to reliably improve the process of making the posed formal portraits of the wedding party and family members is to insist that the bride and groom prepare a shot list at least a week or two before the wedding. This is simply a detailed list of everyone they want to include in the making of formal posed portraits. Listing the actual names of everyone makes it easier to work with. The shot list really eliminates all of the stress of having to decide on your wedding day who will be in which photos. It helps to think it through in advance and only spend time making the wedding shots you want. It works best when you can get the list down to about 8-12 shots. If you try, think about who would want to have these photos and what they would do with them.

It should look something like this:

1. Bride and Groom
2. Bride & Groom with Bride’s parents (with the bride’s parents names)
3. Bride & Groom with Groom’s parents (wth the groom’s parents names)
4. Bride with Bridesmaids (include their names)
5. Groom with . . . (include the names)
6. Bride and Groom with . . . (you get the picture)
7. The entire wedding party
8. Etc…. but try to keep it from going past #12.

The shot list goes to either the wedding day coordinator or a good friend or relative who already knows the majority of these folks. (It helps if they have a drill sergeant attitude. It’s funny, but in my experience it seems everyone knows just the perfect person to give it to). It functions like this:

When the photographer is making the first photo on the shot list, they are rounding up the people in shot 2. and holding them in the on deck circle. Then when the first shot is done, he says next and they proceed to the location to be photographed in their turn. Then the folks in shot #3 are gathered up to stand by. This continues until the end of the list.

This allows the bride and groom to not have to make any stressful decisions on the day of the wedding. It also helps them to know exactly who to tell to come early if the wedding shots will be taken before the ceremony. That is also a stress reducing factor in itself. Take the portraits before the wedding for a more relaxed wedding day for sure.

After 16 years of being a newspaper staff photographer, Pulitzer Prize winning photographer Daniel Sheehan began photographing weddings in 1997 after a call from a desperate couple unable to find a photographer. After photographing their wedding, he made the transition from covering hard news to weddings, documenting them in the same way as his editorial assignments. 250+ weddings later, photographing weddings (including Conan O’Brien’s wedding) has become his most gratifying work. The Wedding Photojournalists Association named him an International Award Winning Photographer. View his wedding photography and learn more about Daniel at his website: ABeautifulDayPhotography.com

Making the Most Out of Your Engagement Portrait Session

Alot of photographers offer engagement portrait sessions in their wedding packages. With a tight budget, some people might choose to opt out as they think this is not necessary, or that it’s merely another opportunity for some casual shoots which could be done by amateur photographer friends. As a professional photographer, I would strongly suggest keeping the session in the package rather than opting for print credits or enlargements. Here are some good reasons for my recommendation:

The engagement portrait session is the time that you and the photographer can really get to know each other in action. It’s your first opportunity to see the photographer holding a camera while trying to engage with you. You will really get a feel what it’s like to have a camera in your face while you are trying to have some romantic moments with your loved one. Who says that’s easy to do! That’s why it’s a wonderful opportunity to communicate with the photographer about your comfort zone and expectations. A good photographer will sense what it takes to get you to feel at ease. The more comfortable you are with the photographer, the better the pictures will turn out on your wedding day. Think of it as a rehearsal where you get to practice being intimate in front of people. Wedding pictures will look great only if you are able to express yourself fully and naturally and developing a great working relationship with your photographer is the key.

When I face couples who struggle to look natural in front of the camera, I often suggest that they choose something they enjoy doing together. For an active couple, it could be a hike to the hilltop or doing some fun dance moves together; for the quiet couple, it could be about being in each other’s arms, having their eyes closed and embracing the moment with each other. I believe the best practice for photographers is to give just enough guidance to direct the couple and make them feel at ease. I also like to give praise when I catch a stunning moment to let my couple know I am capturing beauty in them. Naturally they would keep it up and the moment would only bloom more. Then I would show them the shots and let them know how lovely they turn out, which will encourage them to keep the spirit even higher. Warming up is merely a process and once you get there you will be able to be as spontaneous and passionate as you are in front of camera.

The engagement portrait session is best taken outdoors rather than in a studio-like setting. Feel free to suggest a place that meaningful to you two. Maybe it’s where the proposal took place, or a location where you two hang out all the time. Tell the story so the photographer can depict the essence for you. Engagement pictures are typically done three to six months ahead of the wedding day. It’s common for couples to use the pictures for their Save-The-Date cards or enlarge a favorite for display at the reception. I’ve recently put together my new product of using engagement pictures to create a guestbook. It’s an affordable way to present your pictures in a photo book form where guests can review the pictures and leave their words and blessings at the same time.

The engagement session is supposed to be fun-filled and stress free. Loosen up, snuggle up and be creative, and you’ll get so much more out of it.

Elley Ho prides herself as a creative artist, blending art with the most advances in the photography field. Focused on editorial style photography, Elley captures the souls of those she photographs, and documents the world as it exists. Pursuing absolute excellence in each wedding, she spends time developing a relationship with each couple she works with. She strongly believes having an emotional engagement is a necessary part of her work. Elley is always striving for a new way to portray events and imagery and have them reflect her own unique style. Find out more at www.elleyphotography.com. Elley Photography is based out of San Francisco Bay Area and travels worldwide and is a proud member of the Wedding Photojournalist Association (WPJA) and Wedding & Portrait Photographers International (WPPI).

Destination Bride Finds Perfect Wedding Photographer

Finding a photographer can be a daunting task OR a treasure hunt. If you will not be able to visit with the photographers of your final choice before you book, you will rely heavily on your email, phone and pictures of the photographer’s website, plus testimonials (! ).

You should look for testimonials of destination brides as one of your best indicators that the wedding photographer was what was expected by the couple.  Ask the photographer(s) you are interested for the email or phone number of one of their previous destination brides.   Then you can ask that couple how their perception of the photographer jived with their true experience.  (To find a photographer for your area try Google Local, and of course keyword in your location area.)

Also, consider narrowing down your photographer possibilities by choosing someone less than an hour of travel time (not miles) to your site.  The reason for this is traffic.  If you choose a popular destination, and your photographer is two hours away, if there are road problems on your wedding day, you could be WITHOUT a photographer, or at a minimum — have a LATE photographer.

Email is a good indicator of a personality match as you often can feel the personality by how your questions are addressed.  First of all, set up a good relationship by telling the photographer you love her/his work.  Be specific and mention a few of the favorite images that you would like for your own collection of wedding day shots.  As a photographer, I particularly like this as it gives me a quick look into my couple’s taste.  We all like to hear that our work is valued, and will be apt to be more responsive to you than if someone emails and says they “just want someone to take snapshots of the day for a certain number of hours”.  This implies the photographer doesn’t really matter and that they are only looking for the cheapest price.  While there ARE photographers that actually “don’t like photographing weddings” and they do it “for the money” (charging a cheap price), most photographers that shoot weddings really do love what they do and treat it as a serious work of art to create beautiful memories for their couple.  You will want to feel this in the email responses you get from your photographer.

Ask the photographer about their Package Pricing or Ala Carte price of wedding photography and albums to see if it is in your ballpark.  This is a good place to start because if you love the photography, but it is way beyond your price point, there is no sense in taking either yours or the photographer’s time.  Make sure they issue you a contract, and are professionally insured and belong to a photographer’s association such as PPA or WPPI (they have a code of ethics and conduct).

After you have decided that you like the price and email tone of the photographer, you should call them and talk more at length. This is where you can feel from their voice and way of speaking with you if you will be comfortable talking with them your wedding day.  Ask how they see your wedding day, and what they will do for you (this is all about them), and then tell the photographer what you want (this is all about you).

If you like the way that photographer sounds, let them know you need to talk with your fiancé, and will call or email back in a couple of days to book. Ask what the retainer cost is, and sign a contract!  Remember to communicate with your photographer at least a few weeks before your wedding to review what you expect and email a schedule of your day.  This will be appreciated.

You’ve done your best, so now look forward to a wonderful day with your perfect choice photographer!

Nanci Kerby loves her weddings. She is easy to communicate with and has a calming essence that is very helpful on the busy wedding day. Nanci’s years of photography, professional modeling, television shows and film give her a unique approach to her wedding couples’ posing since she has been on both sides of the camera.The seamless attention to detail while comfortably posing her bridal parties so that everyone looks great is just one of the compliments she receives from her brides. They also love that she makes them look like they belong on a magazine cover and feel like it as well. Find out more about Nanci and her work at www.nancikerby.com.

How to Get More Bang for Your Wedding Buck

I may be a photographer, but I have money saving ideas for you to consider for every aspect involved with your wedding. Read on…

Let’s start with the venue.  Is your wedding in a Church or Temple?  Do you want your wedding and reception in the same place? If you can pick a day or evening other than Saturday, your venue is much more likely to be available, and much more likely to offer you a lower price. Even if it needs to be a weekend because so many of your guests work, you can book a Friday night, or Sunday lunch, and hopefully it will still work for most of your guests and you could save a couple of thousand dollars.

Now that you’ve settled on a venue that fits your budget, you have to pick a meal that won’t be too expensive. Steak and lobster is definitely out, and chicken is boring. How about Mexican food, served by a real Mexican Restaurant, who might be able to put on a show by making tortillas right there on the spot. Ask your venue what their specialty is. They might offer you a lower priced meal that you didn’t think of. And don’t forget the champagne toast. Will your venue allow you to buy your own Champagne? – even if they charge you $1 or $2 per person to serve your beverages, you can save another bundle.

Wedding Cake – Tell your venue you want to supply it, and you’ll pay them to cut and serve it. Go to a store, get a small to medium sized wedding cake that you love, and get 2 or 3 sheet cakes from Costco to serve to everyone.  You cut the prize cake, and the sheet cakes are for the guest. Again a savings of hundreds of dollars.

Cameras on the table – Not any more – everyone has their own digital camera, and those that don’t, aren’t taking photos anyway.

Centerpieces can be a glass bowl with a fancy fish and colored marbles – sitting on top of a mirror. Total price per table – probably $10 or $15 at the most. A florist will charge you hundreds for table décor. Save it for your fancy bridal bouquet design.

DJ – I’m not for skimping on the music, especially if you have a dancing crowd, but if it’s not a Saturday, you’ll save hundreds on a wonderful DJ – who might not even be available if you wanted him for a Saturday.

Back to liquor. If you’re keen on paying for everyone, be aware that it’s very common these days for the host to pay for the first hour, and then it’s a no-host bar. For those weekend cowboys who don’t know when to stop, paying for it themselves will slow them down, and that’s good for you too. We certainly don’t want to turn your celebration day into a tragedy.

Gifts for your guests and bridal party.  Years ago you could give a pack of matches with the bride and groom’s name and date, and that was OK – Now it’s politically not correct, and so maybe a little sweet, engraved, or a little frame, and you can put a cute little saying in there, or a bride and groom photo (from your engagement shoot). For the bridal party, I think you need to spend a little more than you would for guest favors, but again, a nice silver-plated frame – maybe a higher end frame with a photo of you and them, which you will take when the photographer does your family and group photos.

Lastly, the transportation. Limos are fun – but expensive – especially on Saturdays. You can wheel and deal with them very effectively if it’s not a Saturday.

For enlargements of your photos, especially quantities more than 2 or 3 of the same photo, talk to your photographer. We do earn money by photo-shopping the photos, but when we make multiple copies of the same photo, we happily offer discounts.

As a husband-wife team, Bette & George have been capturing moments for couples for 25 years and were selected as one of the 10 Best Wedding Photographers in San Diego. They pride themselves on their sytle, professionalism and quality, and they work hard to satisfy every bride and groom — treating you like family. For Wedding Photography in San Diego, please visit George & Bette at www.photographybygeorge.com where you will find photos and packages for virtually every budget.

6 Tips to Save Money on Your Wedding Photography

Your wedding day – the day you have dreamt of, planned for and anticipated for a year, or a lifetime.  This is an event that takes up a finite amount of time, yet holds infinite memories. To honor the day and create a lasting tribute, you need professional photography services. There is no way around that, and like most brides these days, you may be concerned about sticking to a budget. As you explore ways to keep costs low, consider this article a primer to finding the right photographer for your needs and saving money on wedding photography.

First things first – this article will not tell you to forgo professional photography. It will not advise the hiring of a friend’s cousin’s sister who wants to get into wedding photography, nor will it recommend letting guests use disposable cameras to document the entire day. With that out of the way, let’s get started. Here are the top 6 things you can do to save money on your wedding photography.

1.      Be realistic. Sure, it would be great to be a ‘platinum bride’, but do you really have that money to spend and does the glitz of a diamond-encrusted cake really matter? No, what matters is that you have a celebration of your love surrounded by those who mean the most to you and will support your marriage. Besides, no marriage should stand the strain of paying off a credit card wedding.

2.      Get your priorities in order. What is most important to you? Will it be serving coq au vin or lobster to your 110 guests?  Maybe having an open bar with top shelf liquor? Or maybe it is professional photography by someone who will spend time getting to know you and will create images that document the love, laughter and emotion of your wedding day. There is no right or wrong answer here, but do spend time making sure you and your future spouse have the same ideas when it comes to wedding spending. After all, compromise is the cornerstone of marriage.

3.      Do your research. There are thousands of photographers out there, a lot of good ones and a few great ones. If photography is your priority do your research. Visit LOTS of web sites to find a style you like and develop a ’short-list’ of photographers to call.  When your list is compiled start calling them to learn more. The initial telephone conversation will tell you a lot. Are they available for your wedding day? How responsive is this person? Did they rush me? What questions did they ask about me/my wedding? Do everyone a favor and don’t start the conversation with “How much is your wedding photography?” While that is an important question, it is secondary to other factors, described below. In short, determine if the photographer is available and get a ballpark rate for coverage.

4.      Kiss some frogs! You know the old adage of kissing lots of frogs to meet your prince? The same thing applies to finding your photographer. Once you have done your phone screens, set up face-to-face consultations with your top choices.  Don’t assume that photographers with studios are the best option. They may be, but there are a lot of great photographers who prefer NOT to have the expense of a brick-and-mortar studio. When you meet with these photographers, have a list of questions to ask. Here are some to get you started:

1. How would you describe your shooting style? This should be closely aligned with your personal style – traditional vs. modern, etc.
2. Do you have liability insurance? If you book them, your venue may want a certificate of liability. This protects the photographer, the client and the venue should any accidents happen.
3. What back up equipment do you have? A pro should ALWAYS have back-up bodies, lenses and lighting!
4. Do you have full weddings you can show me? It is important to see full weddings they have photographed to get a sense of their style and coverage.

Of course, there are a million questions you can ask, but those will open a discussion and help you learn more about the photographer. You want to be comfortable with her. She will be your shadow on your wedding day, witnessing some serious emotion and it is vital that she is easy to be around.

Spend some time with your top choices and it will be easy to see who you want to photograph your wedding. It may not be the cheapest photographer and it may not be the ‘artiste’. The right choice will be easy to be around, make you feel relaxed and confident in your choice.

5.      Respect the Photographer! If you are getting married on a peak day during wedding season, don’t insult the photographer by asking for a discount.  You don’t walk into Tiffany & Co. and ask for a discount on the 1 carat diamond studs, right? Nor would you eat at McCormick & Schmick’s and ask if the 9 ounce Filet Mignon is on sale. The same rule applies to professional photographers. These are artists who run businesses with all the associated costs, not hobbyists making extra money.

6.      Get alternative! Keeping the above in mind, realize there is nothing wrong with getting married during alternate seasons or taking advantage of any rate reductions the photographer does offer. Many photographers offer lower rates if the wedding is during a typically slow season or on an off-day, like a Wednesday. Additionally, some photographers will offer discounts to military personnel on active duty. Off-season weddings are a good idea across the board, as venues and other wedding vendors may offer similar cost savings during the off-season.

Another option is to ask if the photographer offers abbreviated coverage. If you are planning a wedding breakfast, or intimate celebration, this may be the perfect choice as you can still get the professional photography you want for a lower cost by reducing the coverage.

Wedding photography is an investment and like all investments it bears some thoughtful preparation, research and insight.  Spend some time deciding what you like, what is most important to you and what you can really afford. If photography is your priority, interview several candidates and make the choice based upon personality first, style next then affordability.  While there is a price associated with wedding photography, the emotional value of it is priceless.

Marnie McCown-Guard is a professional photographer based in Chandler, Arizona and available for travel. Her wedding photography has allowed her to document local and destination weddings throughout the United States and Mexico. She blends traditional and journalistic coverage with her passion for people to create images that truly reflect each individual wedding day. Known for her boundless enthusiasm and energy it is not uncommon to see Marnie on chairs, under tables or even on the dance floor, just so she can get the shot! She has photographed fashion, commercial and corporate work for clients across the United States, but nothing brings her greater joy than to witness the first hours of a new marriage. To view her work or learn more about Marnie, visit www.CrescendoPhoto.com.

Getting the Best Value for Your Wedding Photography Dollars

We all know that the cheapest product is usually not the best, but when we find a good product that is under market value we have hit the jackpot.  For your wedding budget it is your challenge to get the best possible photographer for a price you can afford.  Wedding Photography prices range greatly, depending on your photographer and after wedding products (goodies).

The following are a few thoughts / questions to consider when looking for the best value in a wedding photographer.

Make sure you are Comparing Apples to Apples

When you are making a choice between wedding photographers, first you want to look through lots of local photographer’s websites. View many websites and when you have the “AHH . . . that’s what I want my wedding to be photographed like” response, email the photographer with questions and see how they respond.

Check out all of the pictures on the site, wedding and otherwise to get a good idea for how the photographer sees life.  If the photographer is relating well with their client, then the photograph will show comfortable natural expressions. Don’t let the location deceive you; look at the people, not the location.  You are looking for how “YOU” will look in your location, not on a distant romantic shore somewhere with awesome secluded beach with wind blowing hair in the brides face. Everyone can get that shot.  Do see if the bride and groom both look happy and relaxed.  Does the bride look particularly pretty, happy? You want to like their image style, color, what feelings they evoke:  sense of fun, joy, beauty and the story.

Then take a look at their package pricing to see if they are in what your ballpark budget is.

Your “relationship” with your photographer is important!  How do you “feel” about one photographer from another?  You will want to be able to be yourself and smile truly and have a comfort level with this person that you are trusting to capture you at your best and most beautiful.

Tell the photographer about your wedding and ask for ideas.  Find out how they organize their day in shooting.  Notice if you can ask questions easily so that when it is your wedding day you can ask anything (reasonable) and be assured that the answer will be an easy “yes, we can do that”.   Make sure the package you are interested in is clear with its contents, and you might ask specifically what products you will receive and touch them for quality feel.

Now, here is where the apples to apples comes in . . .

When you visit a second photographer, make sure and ask the same questions and think about the feelings each are evoking upon you. If you do this for each photographer you will have a clear idea of the similarities and differences between their products.

Do you want A la Carte or Inclusive Wedding Packages?

A la Carte sounds great doesn’t it, you can pay less now for your wedding photography because you can choose what you want to purchase later!!  So you may be very excited to see a price tag for your wedding photography of $1500 and jump to say, yea, this is in my budget, let’s go for it.  But you need to think of the other half of your costs that you will be spending on your pictures later.  If you are paying for the photographer to shoot your wedding ONLY, they now hold all your wedding pictures and later, when the final pictures weren’t included in a package price, you could be looking at quite a bit more money.

So get yourself a price list for prints, enlargements, albums and whatever other products you think you might want later on if you’re deciding to go the A la Carte route.

Now, let’s discuss your other option of “Inclusive Wedding Packages”.  There are a variety of combinations available.  The variations will be in the number of hours a photographer shoots your wedding and the professional products that come with it (actual prints, albums, CDs, etc.).  Package prices will also vary due to factors such as the style of album chosen or the attention given to the printing process and paper types.

Most Wedding Photography Packages include an assistant that is a second shooter covering shots from the side or a different vantage point, or other happenings when the main photographer is with the couple.  Choosing a package that gives you what you would like to have will determine what your cost will be.  If you are having a small wedding you could ask the photographer what the savings would be if there were no assistant and get some input there.

Packages are a place where you can “Save Some Wedding Dollars” in a couple of areas.   If you love the photographer’s style and they know that, and your personalities click, this can be where you could ask for substitutions or eliminations in their packages to get closer to your budget.

Do you want a wedding album?  Most likely the answer to that is yes, so you need to decide what kind? There’s the Traditional Matted Album, Flush Mount style, or a Coffee Table Press Printed Original Book.

A Traditional Matted Album can be bonded leather, cowhide or leatherette.  Other options such as metal and wood covers are also vogue. Leather needs some upkeep and sometimes does not feel as good as quality imitation leather that will require no upkeep, and can look just as good.  If this is a “dollars” upgrade question I would opt for leatherette, as most people would never know a good quality album.  Traditional Matted Album means each page holds an individually printed picture, or two, or four.  Each page has a mat that puts each picture in a frame of black, ivory or brown.  It is a stylish and beautiful collection of your selected images.

A Flush Mount Album is one in which some more up to date design style can be added — like a magazine layout where one picture can be overlaid on another. Each page can be a montage of many pictures or just one panorama stretching across a small gutter.  These can be quite stunning if designed by a talented designer.  When deciding what you want, look at your photographer’s samples and ask if your album would be done by the same artist/or lab – this can be very important to make sure you get the same look as the sample you are looking at as the “artists” and labs that put these together can make a big difference.

Press Printed Coffee Table Books are among the most expensive books as each one is a custom designed, printed and bound book.  Acrylic or metallic covers are the hot ticket, and quite stunning. Also leather and silks are available.  Pages are thicker than a regular book and can have metallic, photographic paper, or a linen textured finish.  Family copy books are rather reasonable as the expense is in the original design and print and cover.   You can also get small versions as gifts for the wedding party and other special people.

Do you want a CD of the whole wedding?  If so, will the images only be viewable or printable as well?

If it is included, you have a bargain and have made a good choice for your wedding dollars spent.  If not, then you may want find out how much it costs.  Since you can only choose so many pictures for your album, it is nice to have a story of your whole wedding with all of those picture sequences of people having fun.  So if your photographer includes a CD for viewing of your wedding, you will probably be happy.  If you think about giving photos of you or your family and friends as thank you gifts, then you will want a printable version, will probably cost extra as it is an extra value.

Should You have a contract  — A Price List?

Always!  Make sure your contract spells out how long the photographer will be shooting for you, and if he comes late, what then, and if he gets ill, what then.  Not only does this “cover” you, but the contract will spell things out so you know what you are paying for.  Are you buying time and talent plus an album and five pictures, or what?   Also, be sure and get a price list so you know exactly what extra products will cost.

So make yourself a list and start searching for best deal for your photography wedding dollars both in talent and products!

Nanci Kerby loves her weddings. She is easy to communicate with and has a calming essence that is very helpful on the busy wedding day. Nanci’s years of photography, professional modeling, television shows and film give her a unique approach to her wedding couples’ posing since she has been on both sides of the camera.The seamless attention to detail while comfortably posing her bridal parties so that everyone looks great is just one of the compliments she receives from her brides. They also love that she makes them look like they belong on a magazine cover and feel like it as well. Find out more about Nanci and her work at www.nancikerby.com.

Making the Most Out of Wedding Photojournalism

Nowadays, wedding photojournalism is no longer a trendy alternative to traditional wedding day photo-coverage; rather, it is mainstream wedding photography. This modern style of wedding photography looks for elements involving storytelling and capturing unscripted moments.  As an engaged couple who might be willing to invest a bit more in wedding photography, you should realize what it takes for photographers to get the best candid pictures on this most important day of your lives. If you do, you will surely get your money’s worth.

One lovely idea I always recommend is to let your wedding photographer create a first-sight experience for you. It does wonders for a couple who would like to make permanent those intimate moments when they first catch sight of one another before the ceremony. If your style is more fun and entertaining, involve the wedding party as they cheer and shout out encouragement for you. Better still, you can be creative about how and where you want this to happen, and let that be a highlight of the day before all the attention falls onto you. In my experience, couples really appreciate those pictures as they come out with a powerful storytelling element depicting beautifully the joy and tears that accompany deep emotions. They are so drawn into the experience they won’t remember being photographed, and that makes the moment real and memorable.

Find a wedding photographer that you feel really comfortable with. This is the professional who maintains his/her work attitude while serving as your buddy on your wedding day. You don’t need someone intrusive who will interject unnecessary stress into your special day.  In fact, it’s possible for a photographer to become somewhat invisible.  What I have found is that when I take the time to wait, being patient, getting to know the people, they will eventually forget about my presence. My favorite pictures are those in which the people obviously didn’t notice someone was taking their picture.

Let your photographer get to know you to bring out the best in you. As a female photographer, I am often able to establish a warm rapport with my couple before the wedding day. I find it important to understand their temperament so I can walk them through within their comfort zone. I personally love to chat with my couple while we are doing the photoshoot. In that way I can bring out those random moments that occur spontaneously without asking them to do something for me intentionally. This is especially crucial for photographers taking a photojournalistic approach as you want the pictures to reflect your spontaneity and style. I would rather see my clients reveal who they are in pictures than to have them perform uncharacteristically.

You want to feel at ease on your big day by not having things happen in a rush. And you are not obligated to keep your wedding photographer occupied with a long list of agenda items. A good wedding photographer naturally seeks out candid shooting opportunities. The more an event is orchestrated, the less room there is for creativity on the photographer’s end. Unplanned time allows for surprising moments. The essence of photojournalism involves letting moments unfold themselves while you enjoy the company and dialogue of close friends and families. The best shots are often the ones for which people are least prepared.

I hope these few pointers help to make you feel more at ease when it comes to preparing to be photographed. Knowing you have made the right choice finding your soul mate, you can also make the best possible experience for yourself in wedding photography as well.

Elley Ho prides herself as a creative artist, blending art with the most advances in the photography field. Focused on editorial style photography, Elley captures the souls of those she photographs, and documents the world as it exists. Pursuing absolute excellence in each wedding, she spends time developing a relationship with each couple she works with. She strongly believes having an emotional engagement is a necessary part of her work. Elley is always striving for a new way to portray events and imagery and have them reflect her own unique style. Find out more at www.elleyphotography.com. Elley Photography is based out of San Francisco Bay Area and travels worldwide and is a proud member of the Wedding Photojournalist Association (WPJA) and Wedding & Portrait Photographers International (WPPI).

A Wedding Photographer Checklist of Questions

Whether you are planning to spend a large portion of your wedding budget on photography or you are attempting to keep the photography budget on the low side, this wedding photographer checklist will help you make some decisions. In this first part I want to focus on the budget conscious bride and groom. My next post will deal with what to look for if your budget allows you to go beyond the basics.

Many brides study the wedding websites and magazines to get as much information as they can before approaching a photographer. They often put together a long list of wedding photographer questions that are thought to be helpful. But most photographers will be able to answer all of your wedding photographer questions making it not so easy to pick the right one.  The following are the most important questions that should be on your wedding photographer checklist:

1. The first thing to remember when you contact a wedding photographer is to ask about their style of photography and talk a little about the images before you get around to asking about the price. The last thing you want to do is start out asking how much do you charge and then book a photographer strictly on what they charge. You will make them more interested in dealing with you as well. If they think that you are familiar with their work and are interested in it, they may even be more flexible in negotiating their fee downwards for you when you ask them to do so because of the tight economy.
   
   Not every cheap photographer is bad, but if you are a on a tight budget, as so many brides are this year, be aware that finding a really good wedding photographer who will give you what you want for less than $1,500 -$1,800 requires that you really do your homework beforehand, have a great deal of luck, and be prepared to compromise on any of the extras you might be thinking about.
   
   Let’s say you want to get at a minimum, a photographer who will give you at least six hours of coverage and all of the images on a disc with a release of copyright so you can go and get your own prints made yourself at a cheap lab. This will be a quest but doable if you keep a sharp eye out.
2. One of the next questions to ask when you meet with a prospective photographer who is offering to work in that price range is: how long they have been shooting weddings.  If they show you a portfolio consisting of, at best, average photos and claim to have shot more than 100 weddings over the past five years, an alarm bell should be going off in you head.
3. The next step is asking them to see a web gallery or proof book of all the photos from just one wedding. If they refuse or are reluctant to produce one, then you have a good reason to move on to the next photographer on your list. Any photographer with that much experience should be confident enough to show you all of the photos from a recent wedding if you ask, not just a few select shots from a number of different weddings. See what they say when you ask to see a proof book or disc of a whole wedding. If they produce one for you and it is full of great images, then you have found the right photographer.
   
   If the photos are not that great, just kind of average looking, you might still want to book with them. If they are young, they may just be starting out, are getting better with every wedding and are charging a budget price to get more experience. Maybe they are doing it part time or are still attending school and are learning photography. This is probably the best-case scenario for a budget photographer. Perhaps they have assisted someone a number of times and now feel confident to go out on their own. If so, with this scenario, they just might be able to give you what you are looking for at a low price.

The wedding photographers to avoid in the lower price range are the photographers who will show you lots of albums and proof books and have been working professionally for quite a long time, and all of their work looks average to poor quality. They will surely produce the same quality of images for you if you hire them. And you will deserve what you get if you do hire someone just on price.

There is an old quote by John Ruskin, a British art critic author, poet and artist that I am reminded of:
“I have no quarrel with the man whose prices are lower, for he knows better than anyone else in the world what his product is worth.”

After 16 years of being a newspaper staff photographer, Pulitzer Prize winning photographer Daniel Sheehan began photographing weddings in 1997 after a call from a desperate couple unable to find a photographer. After photographing their wedding, he made the transition from covering hard news to weddings, documenting them in the same way as his editorial assignments. 250+ weddings later, photographing weddings (including Conan O’Brien’s wedding) has become his most gratifying work. The Wedding Photojournalists Association named him an International Award Winning Photographer. View his wedding photography and learn more about Daniel at his website: ABeautifulDayPhotography.com

What is a Photojournalistic Wedding Photographer?

Think of Wedding Photojournalism as the “Real Life Style” of wedding photography, or another way to think of it is “Documentary Wedding Photography.” Wedding Photojournalists’ work is best described as a documentary approach to wedding photography, focusing on real moments instead of staged recreations. Instead of stopping the action to get their posed shot, they stay in the background and look for real interactions and emotions that will tell the story of the day.

Many of the bridal magazines around today have conflicting information which complicates a search for the right Photojournalistic Wedding Photographer. Often times when a bride is looking to sort out the confusion over wedding photojournalism, she needs only read a newspaper and see the true candid story-telling pictures they publish.

Why Hire a Photojournalistic Wedding Photographer? “It’s simply what many brides want. They want real photographs that capture the moments of their day for them to remember.”

“Wedding Photojournalism” was coined by professional Wedding Photojournalists to describe the kind of photography they practiced when they photographed weddings. They were anxious to make sure people would distinguish the difference between their kind of photography and the kind traditional studio photographers practiced. The kind whose work was almost entirely posed and a had a highly styled portrait photography flair.

Wedding magazines soon picked up on the new trend and made Wedding Photojournalists the “hot” fashion for wedding photography. This forced traditional wedding photographers to hop on the photojournalism bandwagon as well, including those without the real skills to do candid photojournalism. What they did was fake the “look” of photojournalism’s real candid moments by staging faked pictures that look almost real. The problem is the wedding couple still know when they see the photo that it was faked. Adding to the confusion, other styles developed during the same period with elements of fashion photography, beauty photography, and fine art photography all being used in wedding photography.

Hiring a wedding photojournalist does not mean giving up on posed portraits at your wedding. Newspaper photographers have always been assigned to make portraits of various subjects from movie stars to Presidents and the people next door since the first newspaper photographs were published. Most wedding photojournalists focus on relaxed portraiture – a directed image where the subject may or may not be looking at the camera. While such images may give the impression of being candid, a wedding photojournalist would never try to pass off the picture as a real moment. A Photojournalistic Wedding Photographer must dabble in several approaches in addition to newspaper photojournalism. For example, mixing in some of the editorial fashion look and not just focusing on only one style in particular.

Some traditional photographers insisted photojournalism was merely a fad or a “buzzword.” But the buzz has persisted and many of the country’s top wedding photographers use a photojournalistic documentary approach. I am now past the point of calling it a fad. It’s simply what many brides want. They want real photographs that capture the moments of their day for them to remember. Newspapers across the country are laying off staff photographers and many of the top wedding photojournalists nowadays come directly from their ranks. Some, like 2-time Pulitzer Prize winning photographer Greg Gibson or Matt Mendelsohn were leaders in the photojournalism field and have a great understanding of their digital camera and computer equipment and really know how to tell a story; they are subtle, unobtrusive, and create artistic documentary wedding photojournalism.

Today’s discerning brides and grooms will pick the photographer that is right for them based on style and budget. For most of them, true-to-life real Wedding Photojournalism by a real Photojournalistic Wedding Photographer is the right choice for telling the story of their day.

After 16 years of being a newspaper staff photographer, Pulitzer Prize winning photographer Daniel Sheehan began photographing weddings in 1997 after a call from a desperate couple unable to find a photographer. After photographing their wedding, he made the transition from covering hard news to weddings, documenting them in the same way as his editorial assignments. 250+ weddings later, photographing weddings (including Conan O’Brien’s wedding) has become his most gratifying work. The Wedding Photojournalists Association named him an International Award Winning Photographer. View his wedding photography and learn more about Daniel at his website: ABeautifulDayPhotography.com

How to Choose A Wedding Photographer – Who is the “Right” Wedding Photographer for You?

The first step in determining how to choose a wedding photographer is easy – Is this photographer or team of photographers, within your budget? Let’s discuss that a bit. What is your budget for your entire wedding?  If it’s between $10,000 and $15,000 and you are inviting 150 people, you should plan about 10-15% for the photography – that’s $1500 plus or minus.

Now that you’ve established that, I feel the next step to decide how to choose a wedding photographer is to set up about 3 interviews with local photographers – yes, local. Within easy traveling distance since you’re probably going to be going to their studio or office, not the other way around.  How do you find them? Lots of couples search Google, get personal references, or get referrals from the other vendors you’ve chosen, especially from the venue where you’re going to be married.  The wedding coordinator there has experience with many photographers, and might even have a “preferred” list of those who have worked there before, and have worked well with her clients.

“Emotions and important moments happen fast, and experienced photography teams are ready in advance and won’t miss them!”

Get the most for your money. If one photographer works with an assistant, or if they have 2 photographers – a team – you’ll get more photos, and better photos. Emotions and important “moments” happen fast, and experienced teams are ready in advance and won’t miss them!

Determine Exactly What You Will Be Getting For Your Money

Does your wedding photographer offer the full-images on a disc for you? Is it included or is there an extra charge?  From my experience, 50% of the photographers DO include the discs of all the images. Half of the ones that don’t will sell them to you, some of them not until after 1 year.  (Personally, we have always offered to include the full-size images.  Even when we have our own events, we make sure we’re getting them from the photographer, and the best way to do that is to put it in writing.)  I should mention that those images are proofs, not photo-shopped or modified. If you’re planning to do your own album, and about 1/2 of our couples do, you’re going to have to enhance and crop the digital images before they are “album worthy”.

OK – Let’s get back to the subject of How to Choose a Wedding Photographer. When you have a list of three or so prospects, set up appointments with them and plan to spend about an hour with each of them, meeting them, asking them questions, and looking at their work.

Determine the Photographer’s Style of Professionalism and Whether You “Connect” with Them

Your first clue as to how they will perform is when you call them for an appointment. How quickly did they respond? Were they warm and inviting, courteous, and professional sounding? If not, you don’t need to spend an hour to find out what you already know.  If they pass that first test – the second is the personal touch. Were they on time? Even if you are meeting them you can feel if they were “ready” for you, or not. If not, you can move on (I would) – no second chances here; you made an appointment, made yourself available and met them at their office. If they’re not ready – they’re not for you.

Are you compatible? Do you feel at ease? Do you feel that they’re interested in the same things you are? Does their personal style feel good? Are they dressed nicely? And I hate to even mention it – are they clean and smell good?  If not – walk out the door – politely.

Most wedding photographers will pass these very easy tests!  That’s why I say – if they don’t pass, move on.

Final Thoughts on How to Choose a Wedding Photographer

Now you can get down to business. Does the photographer have lots of work for you to see? Do you like his (or her) style? Is the quality the very best – don’t forget that this photographer is showing you their BEST work. If you don’t like it, don’t hire that one.  Bells will ring when you meet the “Right” photographer!

Lastly, make sure you agree on everything:

• Price
• Number of hours
• Number of photographers
• Are they guaranteeing that they are going to be the photographers, and not sub it out to someone else?
• Approximate number of photos that you’re going to – or not going – to get
• How many photos are included in the package
• How soon you’ll get everything after the wedding.

When you have agreement – and feel good about it, that’s a good time to write a contract with the photographer and give him a deposit – usually about $400 to “save the date”.  You don’t want to lose the one you want because you were too slow.

As a husband-wife team, Bette & George have been capturing moments for couples for 25 years and were selected as one of the 10 Best Wedding Photographers in San Diego.  They pride themselves on their sytle, professionalism and quality, and they work hard to satisfy every bride and groom — treating you like family.  For Wedding Photography in San Diego, please visit George & Bette at www.photographybygeorge.com where you will find photos and packages for virtually every budget.

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