Your wedding day is one of just a handful of events in your life that you will remember forever. So much planning goes into this event, with many brides begining at least a year in advance; making decisions and contacting vendors and of course beuilding up that large butterfly reserve inside! All this planning culminates in one fairy-tale day, which sadly then seems to be over in the blink of an eye. When all is said and done, couples are left with memories, gifts and along with the vows, the only other thing that lasts as long as you both shall live (apart from your cherished other half of course!), the photographs.
One decision to be considered by many at the top of the list is choosing the correct photographer. Considering the task that the wedding photographer is charged with, it is important to choose someone who willmake your day wonderful and memorable in the years that follow but not get in the way on the day – we’ve all heard been at weddings where the photographer seems more important than the couple themselves!
Do not be afraid to interview the photographers that you contact. Make sure that they see your day evolving the same as you do. Aside from the happy couple, there is no other person who has as much intimate access to the wedding day as the person behind the lens, so first you should feel comfortable them. Ask questions of the photographer. If the he has a studio, visit it often and look through the the galleries. Look at their online website and ask for references.
The next thing you should discuss with your prospective photographer is the style in which you would like your overall theme to be. There are several photography styles that you can choose from:
Photojournalism. This style is just what you might imagine – taking candid shots as they happen. In this situation the photographer is barely noticeable in all the festivities and is often what people look for. One thing to remember is that a photographer who specializes in this style might not be willing to take posed family or bride and groom -portrait- shots – however you may be able to find a photographer who uses a 2nd photgrapher to take the candid shots, therfore you can get the best of both worlds.
The next style is illustrative. This style is limited only to the creativity in your photographers mind. With this style you are going to see new and different poses. You will see photos shot from different angles using different lighting and more creative views. This photographer will take posed photography, but it will be choreographed poses that he/she sets up that are not the usual face-to-the-camera shots. You might see some elements of fun and post-editing might turn up some interesting photos for you.
The last category is traditional photography. Traditional style photography is posed and it can follow a photography list. Stiffer in its format, traditional style does not allow for much spontaneity, however it will ensure nobody is missed. Sadly, this sort of photography is becoming harder and harder to find, however you may find a wedding photographer who can combine all these elements to really give you the pictures to cherish.
Whatever style and photographer you choose make sure you get all your requirements agreed in writing and the look forward to your happy wedding day!
Graeme supplies his wizardry to One Agency, an Integrated Digital Marketing Agency – writing on behalf of Steven Brooks Nofolk Wedding Photographer