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How To Choose A Wedding Photographer

If you’re getting married there tends to be lots of things you’ll need to arrange before the big day, just one of which is the photographer. Although some may see it as just one more job to cross off the to-do list, you’ll probably be looking at your wedding day photographs for many years to come. Therefore, it’s worth taking the time to make sure you decide upon the right wedding photographer for your special day. Below are a few pointers that might help.

Research

The web is an excellent place to start if you’re trying to find a decent photographer in the local area like Charlotte NC or any city. Many will probably have their web site with plenty of examples of their previous work, so you can get a feel for their particular style and how well it fits with what you’re wanting. You should also speak to friends and family that have got married recently and find out what they thought of their wedding photographer – personal endorsements are an excellent way to track down the ideal photographer for your big day.

Insist on a meeting

You may be paying them to provide a service, but you want to be sure that you and your wedding photographer are going to get along. One of the top wedding photographers in Charlotte revealed that; it’s important that they grasp your personality, and subsequently the kind of pictures you’re going to be looking for, and photos of your wedding day are going to be better when there’s a good chemistry between you and your photographer, and they are the sort of person who you and your wedding guests are going to feel at ease with. They have to be able to direct the photography on the day without being too pushy or overbearing but also have the ability to remain in the background, so you can get on with making the most of your day.

Quality

Most photographers’ websites are excellent but try and see previous examples of their photography in real life so you can properly check the picture quality. If they’re using a digital camera confirm the resolution is high enough so that there won’t be any limitations on the size of the print you’re able to have. Also, ask your photographer to let you see a complete set of wedding pictures, since some might just show you a selection of their best shots from the marriage events they’ve done, and you need to make sure that they are consistently good during the whole day.

Costs

Budget can often be a consideration as excellent wedding photographers are rarely cheap. This is going to be a very special day, and while it’s hardly ever a good idea to pick a photographer just on cost, you do need to ensure you are getting value for money. Ensure you recognize what you’ll be getting for your money and also that there isn’t going to be any unexpected extras. When you want to try and save a bit of money, June and the other summer months are popular for wedding dates, therefore, if you’re getting married in December, or even on a day during the week, you may be in a position to negotiate a discount.

Get the right shots

Many photographers offer special package deals that have a list of the pictures they will take throughout the day. Do not be afraid to request some flexibility if you would like something different. Make sure your photographer is aware of exactly what shots you would like taken at the different points during the day. This will help them to appreciate exactly what’s expected from them, and it might also help the formal photography to run more smoothly.

In the run-up to the wedding

A pre-wedding photo shoot, typically at your wedding venue, offers you and your photographer an opportunity to appreciate the best way you will be able to make the most of the setting you have chosen, so that the wedding goes a lot more smoothly and your photographs will be just what you expected. It can also be a really good idea if you’re a little camera shy, helping you to overcome your nervousness and get used to posing for photographs.

After the big day

Make sure you are aware of the timescales for having the photos delivered, as well as what format they’ll be provided in. Regular wedding albums are not as popular as they once were, and the increased use of digital equipment means photographs can very quickly be delivered on a disc, meaning you’re able to do pretty much anything you want to with them – just verify that you will own the rights to them and also that there won’t be any watermarks on them.

Easy Tips For Your Destination Wedding Photography

No matter where your wedding will be held, you are going to need to have pictures taken to commemorate every moment. If you are planning a destination wedding of some sort, it is going to take a little bit of finesse when planning out the photography. Luckily, there are some great things that you can keep in mind that will give you all that you need to have incredible photos of your wedding and any of the events that surround your ceremony and reception.
destination wedding photography example

Do Not Cut Corners

As with anything that is worth it in life, you do end up getting exactly what you pay for. Your wedding photographs are going to be something that you want to be able to look back upon for a lifetime. This holds true whether we are talking of Houston TX or any other location. This will mean taking the time to factor in a top wedding photographer for your destination wedding so that you are never disappointed. You need to be able to hire a professional that you feel confident in using so that you will have incredible shots of every precious moment.

Allow Time For Formal Portraits Together

While this may seem like something obvious, there are a lot of couples that will get caught up in the whimsy and whirlwind of a destination wedding for forget to post for formal shots. Even though your destination wedding is somewhat of an informal experience, you can stick with tradition and end up with some amazing pictures that capture special moments just between the two of you.

Try To Choose A Photographer That Knows The Area

Even if you are going to be flying your photographer out to your wedding location, you want to try to go with someone who is either familiar with the location, or they have experience shooting at similar destinations. This will help to make sure that he or she knows all about choosing the best lighting and the right time of day to get the perfect pictures. You may even be able to learn about some unique and intimate locations in the area that you would not have otherwise known about. For example: If a photographer based in Houston TX has never visited any destinations outside of Texas may not be the right choice.

Never Wait Until You Are There

Believe it or not, there are couples that figure it will be just as good to choose a destination photographer once they arrive at their location. It is always going to be in your best interest to learn a whole lot about the area before the travel date so that you can pick a good photographer. You will hopefully be able to discuss any of the areas that you have researched to see if they will make for a nice backdrop for your photographs.

Even after you choose your destination, some great spots for pictures and a photographer, you may still want to see about working with a coordinator from the local area. This will be a nice way to make sure that everything goes off without a hitch, and you will have a destination wedding that is going to be just perfect.

Do You Need To Have A Pre-Wedding Photo Shoot?

Planning a wedding is something that can be very stressful, yet it does not have to be that way. When you are putting everything together, you just have to stay organized while remembering all of the little details that are going to make your day a special one. When you are getting ready to book your photographer, there are some things that you may want to keep in mind. For example, there are a lot of couples today who are looking at doing a pre-wedding photo shoot to add something a little bit unique to their photography package.

pre weding shoot location

When choosing a professional photographer, the chances are good that you can set up a session to have a series of pictures taken before the wedding day. This is a nice way for you to get some great pictures while also getting to know your photographer a little bit more. In some cases, you can spend about an hour or so with the photographer on location to go over your ideas of the photographs that you would like to have done and to take a series of test shots.

While you are at your pre-wedding photo shoot, you can let the photographer know a bit more about the style that you are interested in and the type of personality that each of you has in your relationship. You can also get a good idea of how the photographer works, and it can give you some insight on what you will be experiencing during the photograph session on your wedding day. You would not believe how much more comfortable you will feel once you can work with your photographer ahead of time at such a shoot.

The great thing about a prelude photography session is that you can set it up to be at any location that you desire. Believe it or not, couples will have their engagement photos done as an elegant theme that may even tie in their wedding ceremony location or the space where they will be having their reception. The bottom line is that the possibilities are truly endless, and the right photographer will be able to work with you to give you exactly what you are looking for.

You will also have an opportunity to learn more about some of the image options that you can pick from for some of the most intimate shots with just the two of you on your special day. Many professional photographers can capture special moments and put together a special production that results in stunning photographs that look as though they are alive with your thoughts and memories of your special day.

It is going to be best that you work with your photographer to have fun for your pre-wedding photo shoot and make the most out of the entire experience. In the end, you will be glad that you will have taken the time to get this type of photo session as part of your package.

Tips For Wedding Photography

Know what the bride and groom want

Good wedding photography depends on the communication between the photographer and the couples. Make sure you interact with the couples and find out what kind of shots they want. Try to ask them if they have any special photography requests. You have to know that all couples do not have the same photography tastes.

wedding event photoshoot

Visit the location beforehand

It is always a good idea to visit the place the wedding will be held beforehand to familiarize yourself. Visiting even some of the locations will go a long way in improving your wedding photography. This will help you have an idea of where you will shoot your photographs and help you know where the light will come from.

Many beginner wedding photographers have a problem with the location as they may miss some of the locations that could produce the best shots. Visiting the location before the marriage day will guide you on the sequences to use and choose the best sites to save time on the wedding day.

This is also the time you can use to assess any special requests the couples give you and see if it is possible to achieve them. This will help you give advice to the couples on the best shots and inform them early enough if their requests are feasible.

Turn off possible distractions or additional sounds

There is nothing more disappointing than your autofocus camera beeps when the couples are in the middle of a kiss. As a photographer, you do not want to hear your phone ringing during a memorable speech during the wedding dinner.

Try to find out if there are any audible distractions and switch them off if there are any. It may seem a little thing to do. However, you will be surprised by how much you would miss if you had not switched off any distractions. A wedding is all about those memorable moments and as a photographer you should not miss any of them.

Use two cameras

Many wedding photographers have two cameras for wedding photography. One of the camera bodies will have a wide angled lens while the other one will have a telephoto lens. This is because weddings do not give you the luxury to change the lenses and still catch up with the memorable moments.

If you can use different focal lengths, then you cannot miss those magical moments associated with weddings. Do not give up if you do not have another spare camera body. Just borrow it from your friend. Do this and you will come back and thank me for the advice.

Use RAW

RAW is the best format you can use for wedding photography. It is a very useful tool as you can alter the white balance of a shot after you have taken it. This is a feature you cannot find when you use JPEG. Using RAW will help create different effects on your photographs.

Prepare yourself well for the event

Unexpected events can happen at any given time. You have to be always prepared to avoid panic in case anything happens. Prepare by having extra batteries, take extra lenses and have a lens cleaner in your bag and you will not have anything to worry about.

Wedding photography is all about perspective

As a photographer, you have to try different perspectives. All you have to do is to experiment with different perspectives. There are mundane objects, like flowers at the reception which when included in your shot will make the shot, even more, stunning.

Relax

Your creative inspiration is the key to success in wedding photography.  The wedding setting does not give you time to compose your shot. If you are relaxed, your creativity will flow, and it will show in your shots.