What Do You Want From a Wedding Photographer?

The thing about a Wedding is that theoretically you only get to do it once. We all go into Marriage with the Rest of Forever in mind. No Re-Do's for the I Do's. So, naturally we want everything to be just perfect. Most people plan for months in advance to make sure that they have the ideal wedding. That is why choosing the right photographer is essential. As a matter of fact, the photographer is probably the most important person there, apart from your fianc?. And your mother. And yes, his mother too. Your photographer has the very important job, of capturing the very essence of that day, along with all the details which will very quickly fade from memory as the years roll on. Years from now, you will take out your Wedding Photos to have a look at them. Your grandkids might not be so impressed, having seen them over and over again, but, if your photographer did his job right, then you will be able re-live those moments, and even conjure up the deeply rooted emotions you felt on that very special day so long ago.

Choosing a photographer today is quite a tough job. There are so many. Where I live, in Cape Town South Africa, there is a self proclaimed photographer behind every bush with his camera in hand and a broad smile ready to tell you "say cheese" So we have to be selective and carefully consider our choice of professional when often we don't know the first thing about photography. If I had to choose a neurosurgeon, I would have to go by his track record, and not be blinded by how fancy he says his scalpels are.

Check Their Portfolios. Any photographer, worth his salt, will have some samples of his work to show you. Have a look at his or her website. Is Wedding Photography a speciality of theirs? Or do they normally photograph people's prize winning pets? Ask them to show you other photos too, not just typical Wedding Photos. Wedding photography can become very generic. It's difficult to be original when there are hundreds of weddings happening all the time. Seeing a variety of his or her work will give you an idea if they can actually think on their feet, be creative and compose a good shot. This will also eliminate a potential blind spot. Some photographers hire professional models and make-up artists and stylist to set up a "staged" wedding shoot, under pristine conditions, and then promote those images in their portfolios. A very clever idea actually. Super pretty models equals super pretty photos. You need to see actual wedding photos taken in conditions over which there was little or no control.

Meet the Photographer personally. I have been to weddings, as a guest and seen that the bride and groom have only just seen the photographer there and then for the first time. Their whole interaction was web based and by email. You can only get a true and sincere impression of a person when you are in their company. If their personality clashes dramatically with your own, believe me, you will see it in your photos. The last thing you want is some chap at your wedding in a torn and dirty T-Shirt which proclaims "Love is a Myth" drawing all the attention which rightly should be on the Bride.

Cost is not an indicator of skill. The costs involved with planning a wedding today are phenomenal. There is a perception which is in some cases true, but not always, that the more expensive it is, the better it is. Not always so. I was at a venue one day, and struck up a chat with the co-ordinator very informal and casual. I asked about the venue, and what would it cost me to hire the spot to have a party with a bunch of my pals for about six to eight hours. "Oh" he said "not much. You can have the place for around two hundred per hour" I then said to him, "Actually, it's not really a party as such, it's more like a Wedding Reception" He quickly changed his tune and informed me that for the purpose of a Wedding Reception, the rate was ten thousand for eight hours. Same place, same bunch of friends, two different occasions and two very different prices. While it is true that the very best, top Wedding Photographers are costly, let the prospects portfolio and reputation hold more weight with your decision than their quote.

Open Communication. When you have made your choice of photographer, make sure to communicate to him your expectations and requirements. Have a clear and uncomplicated plan laid out between the two of you so that on the day, you don't have to worry with giving instructions and such. The photographer needs to know more or less who is who at the wedding, so that he doesn't waste shots on the caterers for example. He will be able to figure most of it out himself, but it will help if you tell him be sure to get a photo of Aunt Mary standing near Aunt Judy. He doesn't know that they really don't like each other and getting them together at your wedding took some fancy family diplomacy to get right. The one thing your photographer has no control over is the weather, so if whispers in your ear "let's move on to this or that" or "this pre-planned spot is no longer suitable at this time of day let's move over there" Listen to him and move along. Have your master of ceremonies give your guest clear instructions as to their movements concerning the photographer, so that he can get his job done smoothly and doesn't have to run around like a Sheppard herding sheep.

Finally. Once you have your photographer, and your wedding is on. Relax. Go with the flow of the proceedings. All your hard work and planning is behind you now. You owe it to yourself to be as relaxed and stress free as possible. You don't want to take out your wedding album in the future and show your grand kids "Look how freaked out your Granny was, see the beads of perspiration of her forehead and that angry look in her eyes".

My name is David du Plessis, and I am a professional photographer.
Having worked in a photographic retail I have a complete knowledge and understanding of photographic equipment, as well as a working knowledge of Photoshop and Lightroom. I operate from my studio, and specialise in Wedding and Studio Photography. I also cater for corporate and social events and offer private lessons.
You can find me on my website http://www.davidbduplessis.com where you will see samples of my work, or book me to shoot for you, or let me teach you how.

Source: http://ezinearticles.com/7418643

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