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What To Look For In A Wedding Photographer

GeekSugar — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 13:13:10 -0700

When planning a wedding, one of the most important decisions you will make is selecting a photographer to suit all your needs. Wedding pictures are something that you will look at time and time again, so taking that extra bit of time to research photographers is time well spent. Wondering where to start? I've compiled some general guidelines to help you find a reliable photographer who will deliver exactly what you want. Plan and Research
Decide what style of photography you would like for the big day. For example: spontaneous shots, posed shots, action shots, black and white or color, traditional or photo journalistic images and whether they use digital cameras or manual with film. Get recommendations from other brides who have had positive experiences with particular photographers. Call each photographer on your list to get an idea of what their style is, their availability and a rough idea as to how much they charge. This will give you an idea of the photographer's personality and if they will be a good match for your needs. Also ask about time length to get your proofs back and what exactly their contract entails. Once you have narrowed your search down, make appointments so you can meet with the potential photographers and ask lots of questions as well as get a clear explanation from the photographer about what their services include and what final products you should expect. Ask to see a portfolio which includes samples of their work, go to their website if they have one and check references so you get to know their reputability. Most importantly, you will be spending the entire day with this person (a very special day to be more accurate), so make sure you enjoy their company and are completely comfortable with them.

Book Your Photographer Well In Advance
A photographer's calendar can book up to a year in advance during popular wedding months like June, so make sure you start your search well in advance to the big day. Choosing a photographer should never feel rushed.

Digital Versus Manual Photography
Nowadays, digital cameras and digital images have been the preferred choice of many- especially for wedding pictures. Not to sound biased, but digital cameras definitely exceed the capabilities of traditional manual cameras. Although wedding photographers may use a mix of digital and film cameras, most find that the film free method has way more powerful tools that film cannot provide. Recent technology has created stellar (and super expensive) digital cameras that can capture every second of an action which is crucial at weddings, as this was something they could not do before. Whichever method you choose, make sure you ask the photographer what brand and model of camera he or she will be using to get an idea of the quality of the camera, which is always half the battle!

Wedding Planner: Advice From a Wedding Photographer

CasaSugar — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 09:15:39 -0700

Wedding photographer Jessamyn Harris is known for taking lovely, striking images of couples in love. I recently interviewed her about her business, and she provided all of those brides-to-be out there with valuable knowledge about what to look for when choosing a wedding photographer. Read on to find out all about Jessamyn's advice for hiring a wedding photographer, and if you're interested in hiring her, you can do so here.

CasaSugar: What's your favorite part about being a wedding photographer?

Jessamyn: Definitely the people I get to work with. I am really lucky to work with kind and creative clients who genuinely want a beautiful wedding because they love each other, and to whom artistic photography is a high priority. Combine that with gorgeous details to photograph, and it's a pretty nice setup. The best moments are when I really feel the connection between the bride and groom during the big and small moments of their wedding day, and of course when I know I got an amazing shot.

To see a gallery of Jessamyn's work, and to get her advice for choosing your own wedding photographer, just read more.
CasaSugar: What are the most challenging parts of your job?
Jessamyn: The most challenging aspects to being a wedding photographer are much the same as running any small business that is so based on the identity of the business owner - in other words, it's all me. I do all of the booking, planning, shooting, editing, and designing myself, as well as all of the other aspects of owning a business. Most of the time this is awesome and rewarding (because I hated working a full-time job for someone else!), but the flip side of that is that it can be exhausting and hard to escape. At the wedding itself, I work very hard physically and also emotionally to keep everyone happy and comfortable while being photographed. This is also something I like about it, though, so there are really two sides to each aspect.

CasaSugar: What should couples consider when choosing their wedding photographer?

Jessamyn: The number one thing a couple should look at when searching for a wedding photographer is style. You definitely want to be sure that what appeals to you is thoroughly represented in the photographers' portfolios. For example, my style is a mix of fine art, documentary, candid/ lifestyle shooting, and most of my clients are interested in keeping the more traditional family portraits to a minimum, with some time for unique portraits of the couple being the main focus. Most of my clients want candid, natural shots of the connections and moments between people, as well as some classic and beautiful portraits of themselves in their wedding finery. If I get the sense that a potential client wants a more traditional style than I tend to shoot (my style is something like "quirky, modern elegance"), I'll refer them to someone who has a little more mainstream sensibility. Besides style, I definitely think it's important to have a personal connection, or at least high comfort level, with your photographer. These two usually go hand in hand, but be sure they are someone you'll actually want at your wedding day. The more comfortable you feel with the photographer, the better the photos will be.

CasaSugar: What are some of the most memorable wedding shots you've taken?
Jessamyn: I have a shot going around the internet from a wedding last Summer of the bride's former roller derby teammates who served as usherettes at the couple's beautiful Napa Valley wedding, all in roller skates! This same wedding had a bounce house, and some other very unique details (and was recently featured on Style Me Pretty. Otherwise, it's usually the shots that I can tell will take the couple's breath away, or a shot of the bride looking like a beautiful vintage painting as she gets ready to get married. I also offer a "photo booth" type of setup, and these are often very memorable as well! This weekend, I had a very pregnant woman and her husband pose themselves as if she was about to deliver the baby, and there have been many other hilarious and shocking self-portraits taken.

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Selecting the Right Wedding Photographer

GeekSugar — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 08:00:42 -0700

Now that we're in full wedding planning mania, you've already started on your wedding website, and sorted out your online wedding registry, so hopefully you still have enough vigor left in you to start your search for your wedding photographer! Since this task is one of the most important for your big day (next to the dress of course), you'll want to put some serious thought and effort into choosing the right photographer to capture your wedding. If you have no idea where to start, I can give you some tips on how to hit the ground running.

Film or Digital?
Although digital photography might be something you are leaning towards (since you all are so tech savvy!), there are some factors to consider for both. The rich depth and grain of film photography is something unique that you can only get with film. Sure, your digital photographer can fiddle around with Photoshop for each of your photos to try and bring out those same qualities, but it's just not the same. Besides, I'm sure that would be a ton of OT for the poor guy, and who knows how high that would bring the cost of the service! But digital photography also has its benefits. To see what they are, read more

When shooting with digital cameras, for each image captured, you have instant feedback. You can adjust the settings, angles, and light right away to make sure you get just the right pic. . . and you won't be disappointed if a roll of film turns out crappy when you get it back. Plus, there is essentially no limit to how many photos can be taken. Also, if you are interested in getting your pics onto a disk, website, coffee table book or want to turn them into an awesome slideshow, digital is the simplest and easiest way to do it.

What style?
There are some photographers that specialize in portraits, and some in wedding photojournalism. Wedding photojournalism is something that has become more popular in the past decade due to its ability to capture candid moments that really bring the photos to life.

FAQ
After you make those essential decisions, it's time to pick a few photographers and meet with them. Here are some important questions to keep in mind when interviewing your selections:

Ask if they are the ones who will be photographing your wedding, and if the samples you are viewing are from their portfolio. If not, ask to meet the photographer that will be shooting your wedding and check out samples from their past events.
What is included in the packages, and what is the breakdown of costs. Ask if there is a way to customize a package to fit your needs and ideal budget.
Will an assistant be used? If so, is that an added fee?
What is the estimated time frame for finished photos?
Are CD's, proofs, and photo albums an added cost?
How many rolls of film do they typically use, and what is the cost per roll?

Hopefully these tips can get you on your way to choosing the perfect photographer for your big day! Do you have any tips to share? Leave them in the comments below! Plus, check out more of our wedding coverage on I Do Sugar.

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Kate Middleton Parties as Testino Prepares His Camera

PopSugarUK — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 03:58:58 -0800

We haven't seen much of Kate Middleton since the Summer, but she was back in the public eye last night, attending the UK premiere of Tenacity Of The Tasman in London's Leicester Square with Holly Branson, before partying at the Orchid Nightclub. While there was no sign of Prince William, rumours are continuing to gain pace about the couple's possible wedding, with a "royal insider" telling the Daily Mail that 2012 is the most likely year for their nuptials. Wills isn't the only one interested in Kate: Mario Testino has revelaed he'd love to photograph Kate as well as the Queen. Mario would make a pretty amazing wedding photographer!

To see more pictures of Kate and Holly, just read more.

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Kate Moss Doesn't Like Fame and Dotes on Her Daughter

PopSugarUK — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 02:35:37 -0700

Kate Moss and Jamie Hince were out in London at the weekend looking as close as ever as they walked down the road chatting and sharing a cigarette. In The Observer this weekend, Kate spoke about her latest collection for Topshop as well as fame and what she's most proud of in her life - her daughter, Lila Grace. Here's a couple of extracts from her interview:

On Fame: "When I work with photographers I become a muse, sort of. But it's not me. It's this character that they make me into. I've no idea why people are so interested in me. It makes me a bit uncomfortable talking about it, actually. I don't like being famous, no. It... encroaches on your life. A lot. It's something I'm still learning to deal with. If I can keep people interested in my work for another few years I'll be happy."
On Lila Grace: "But the thing I'm always most proud of is my daughter. She's seven now, and vice captain of her class! My goodness! I've never been vice captain of anything! She wants to be a chef, and her imaginary husband is a chef too. I was mother of the bride at their imaginary wedding, standing on the side holding her imaginary baby."

You can read the rest here, but what do you think - do you see Kate in magazines and Kate in candid photos as different people?

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Say I Do! Kids Who Smile For the Camera Wed For the Better

TresSugar — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 17:08:01 -0700

Looking for an unreliable way to see if you'll have lasting love . . . or just an endless marriage? Scientists say look no further than childhood photographs.

Always smiling? Good for you! You're three times as likely to have a strong marriage than this poor, probably-now-single girl who doesn't want to be at the Jersey shore. Can you blame her?!

How did researchers come to such a damning conclusion for frowners? They asked almost 650 adults, ages 21 to 87, for pictures from their final year of school. Those with the weakest smiles were three times more likely to be divorced than smilers that beamed their way into the future. A second study, working with pictures of children as young as five, confirmed the findings. Ack!

What's the connection? Possibly, happy people attract others and are more likely to work their way through rough spots in relationships. But, really, what does smiling have to do with happiness? Show me two women who send out picture-perfect holiday cards every year, and I'll show you at least one dysfunctional family.

Kate Hudson Wears a Wedding Dress but Isn't Getting Married

PopSugar — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 07:00:00 -0700

Kate Hudson donned a wedding dress for a shoot with fashion photographer Peter Lindbergh in New York City yesterday, presumably for a future cover of Harper's Bazaar. Since Kate got together with A-Rod there have been rumors that they're engaged or, more recently that she is pregnant, but there's no word that she'll be putting on a white gown for a real ceremony just yet. Kate and Alex are, however, going strong after six months of dating, proving that they're more than just the suspected Summer fling.

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How-To: 10 Cool Ways to Display Photographs at Your Wedding

CasaSugar — Thu, 28 May 2009 09:00:38 -0700

If you want to display photos of the happy couple at your wedding, you don't have to stick to a boring photo album. Get creative with these ideas for displaying photos during your big day.
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Gisele Takes Her Bump For a Walk Around Boston

PopSugar — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 10:29:45 -0700

Gisele Bundchen had her water bottle in hand during another walk in Boston earlier today. The pregnant supermodel is back in Massachusetts after her weekend trip to NYC, where she announced her participation in a new environmental program with the UN. Her baby bump isn't slowing her down, whether she's out moving furniture or taking flying lessons in a helicopter. She and Tom are looking forward to his coming season with the Patriots, but one ugly episode from their past just won't go away - they're being sued by photographers who claim they were shot at during the couple's wedding in Costa Rica earlier this year.

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Timeless Sibling Themes For Halloween: Daisy and Bee

LilSugar — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 09:30:07 -0700

What's cuter than a child dressed up in costume? His or her sibling in a complementary one! Themed Halloweens were popular in my household growing up. We'd choose what we wanted to be and then my grandma and aunts would get to work making my mother's vision (she couldn't sew) come to fruition. In the 80s plastic costumes were the only ones available for purchase, but today lots of retailers sell affordable outfits for children to wear out trick-or-treating. After shuffling through some old photographs, I came across some pictures of timeless attire for fellow parents to use as inspiration - no trip to the fabric store or thimble required!

Celebrate the spooky holiday by dressing your babe in a sweeter than honey bee costume and the older tot as a darling daisy or her favorite flower. These getups are a salute to mother nature and will have fellow night owls buzzing!

Have you snapped fantastic photos of your kids in comical Halloween getups in the past? Join our Sugarbabies group over in the LilSugar Community and share your pics and costume tips. They could be featured on the site!