|
|
|
|
Table of contentsNo matter whom you hire to photograph your wedding, there are a few things to consider which will make your day run smoothly. If you plan to begin the professional photography in your home, consider what parts of the house you prefer to feature in the background. Would you like a natural light photograph by a window? Do you want photos taken in front of a mirror? What other areas, such as a mantle, staircase or yard, do you like? Make sure these areas of the house are clean before your wedding day. The inevitable preparation clutter can be cleared, and closet doors closed before the photos are taken. If you have pets, do you want them in a couple of shots? If so, do you trust them around your dress, or will you need to designate a “pet handler?” If you do not trust your pets near your dress, do not take chances on your wedding day. It may be best to arrange for pet care. What time is the photographer scheduled to arrive? Have your bride’s maids, parents and anyone else you want in the house photos available. If you are visiting a salon beforehand, allow some extra time in case your appointments take longer than expected. Arrange to have the floral bouquets, mother’s corsage and father’s boutonniere delivered to the house about 30 minutes before the photographer arrives. Now everyone is in place and ready to go! Back to TopAsk the person officiating at your ceremony whether there are any restrictions on the photographer, or flash photography during the ceremony. Most reputable photographers ask before the ceremony, but it is good for you to be aware of this as well. If flash photography is not permitted during the ceremony, you may wish to recreate ceremony highlights afterwards. When you schedule time at the church, don’t just consider the ceremony itself. Allow time for everything you want to do at the church: ceremony, receiving line, departing amidst bubbles and formal photos in the sanctuary. If you are having guests throw birdseed, check to make sure that you may re-enter the sanctuary for photos. (Some churches do not allow this for housekeeping reasons.) With all of this in mind, are there any other events that day, which require everyone to leave the sanctuary by a certain time? These may include: confession, prayer meeting, another wedding or special service. If so, tell the photographer. Never underestimate the power of the receiving line to lengthen your stay at the church! Remember that these wonderful people who have come to witness your vows will also be at your reception. To be safe, allow ample time to greet them; 100 people tend to require 40-45 minutes and 200 people may need 60-75 minutes. Make sure the family and friends who you want in your formal church photos know to stay for them. If anyone has to leave early, tell the photographer and have these photos taken first. If some people must leave immediately following the ceremony, their photos can be taken at the reception. Back to TopPortraits taken outside are among the most appealing photos in the wedding album. What types of locations do you like the most? These could include gardens, gazebos, covered bridges, arches, stone buildings, footbridges or even a relative’s yard. Is there a particular place, which is meaningful to the two of you, such as where you met or where he proposed? Some churches and reception sites may have all the background variety you will need without any extra stops. If you do wish to visit other locations and are renting your transportation, consider your travel time and how long you have rented the limo, trolley or carriage. Tell the photographer what time you must be finished with the outdoor photos before they begin. Some couples who have a late afternoon or early evening ceremony planned may want to pose for these photos before the ceremony. Couples who chose to honor the tradition of the groom not seeing the bride before the ceremony may want locations close to the church or on the way to the reception. In the case of inclement weather, we can use umbrellas in the photographs, take more natural light photos by large windows or schedule an outdoor photo sitting for another day. Back to TopThis is your party on your wedding day… enjoy yourself! Photographically speaking, my personal preference is to let people be themselves and shoot the reception in a photojournalistic style. This means taking pictures of you and your guests doing your own things without being posed or interrupted. It would be good for any photographer to know whether you prefer a classically posed look to your reception photos, or like the idea of photojournalism. If any photos need to be taken of people who did not stay at the church for formal portraits, these should be done before there is much dancing or drinking. After dinner would be a good time to dance the special dances, cut the cake and toss the bouquet/garter. This covers the major traditions before some seniors, small children and those who traveled a great distance have to leave. Let the photographer know of any family traditions and special considerations which are not to be missed. Many couples elect to provide disposable cameras at the reception so that the guests can take pictures. While this can provide interesting candid photographs, there are some downsides to the use of these cameras. The main disadvantage of disposable cameras is that they do not take good photographs. They use cheap plastic lenses and have under powered flashes. In addition, most if not all the photographs that do come out will suffer from red-eye because of the proximity of the lens to the flash. Finally, not all of these cameras will be used and others will not be returned. Using these cameras is fine so long as you take the above into account and do not expect a disposable camera to provide the same quality photos as you expect from a professional photographer with top notch equipment. I hope these hints have provided food for thought. Good luck! Back to Top |
|
Copyright © 2006
ShutterBudd Photography
|
