One of the best wedding photography tips is to look through the albums of recently married friends and get some great wedding photo ideas. Also, browse the real life weddings and photographer's wedding profiles featured in your state or regional edition of The Bride’s Diary® and here on bridesdiary.com.au, as well as our latest edition of Wedding Celebration®.
When you see a professional’s work that inspires you, contact the photographer and make an appointment to view their portfolio. Study the prints closely. They should be consistently clear, imaginative and emotionally appealing. One of the useful wedding photography tips that will help you assess a photographer’s capabilities is to have some pre-wedding or engagement shots taken by them. This also provides the opportunity to discover whether you feel comfortable working with the photographer. You should also assess whether their style is compatible with the your own wedding photo ideas. Style is an important issue because different photographic styles can produce vastly different results.
Most photographers offer a selection of packages. Before making a decision, make sure that you know exactly what each package does, and does not, include and what the cost will be. In terms of pricing, photography packages can vary greatly. You are not only paying for a professional’s time, experience, skill and creativity, you are also paying for high grade film and/or digital equipment, quality processing, and professional cameras, lenses and lighting equipment.
It’s important that right from the beginning you are absolutely clear on how you’re being charged. Some photographers offer all-inclusive packages that can be tailored to suit your individual requirements. Others quote for their time only, and charge for prints separately. It’s also usual for photographers to keep your negatives or digital files, so ask your prospective photographer what their policy is, and how long they will keep your images on file.
Many couples opt to have black and white as well as colour photos. Colour shots are a must. You will want a record of the colours that made your wedding so vibrant: your bridesmaids’ dresses, your flowers, the decorations at your reception and so on. On the other hand, black and white photographs have a timeless appeal and tend to emphasise the emotions and feelings that colour sometimes looses. It’s a good idea to check with your chosen photographer to ensure that they make black and white as well as colour images available.
Essentially, you need to find a photographer whose work you admire, who understands your vision, and whose charges fall within your budget. If you have decided on a studio that offers the talents of a number of photographers, be sure to meet the professional who will be attending your wedding. Most professionals want to be as inconspicuous as possible as they work, and usually dress appropriately for the occasion. However, you should still talk to them about what you would like them to wear on the day, particularly if your wedding is going to be a very formal event.
Good photographers can be booked out at least twelve months in advance. To be safe, you should start looking for your professional as soon as you are engaged, and book them the moment you set a date. Before signing a contract, carefully read the fine print to ensure that everything you have discussed is included in the deal. Once you have settled on a photographer, arrange another meeting with them and take your preferred shot list (we have included a comprehensive checklist in our Planner within all print edtions of The Bride's Diary®, with room to add your own suggestions).
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