Primarily it is your day and ask, for
what you want to get from the
photographer once he/she has
completed their work. I need to
mention the darkroom processes;
some photographers will turn photos
around very quickly, and you may
see the results in 5-8 days after your
wedding, others may take longer to
process, and it is not unreasonable
to be told that they will not be
ready for 30-40 days. Why so long,
it depends on the photographer’s
workflow, schedule and the amount
of digital darkroom processing to be
done which in turn could be driven
by the style of photography.
The style or format is also important,
and you will need to consider, can
the photographer you choose
deliver one of these three or four
styles or perhaps one you have
seen?
The formal style which contains
individuals, couples and groups of
people standing or sitting in predefined poses, typically directed by
the photographer. Originating from
the start of wedding photography in
1840 and then made more popular
in the boom years after the end
of second world war, during this
period camera equipment became
portable moving the previous
studio-based format to outside the
wedding venue but maintaining the
formal style.
Photojournalism or documentary
wedding photography is about
recording the events of the day, with
a scattering of formal shots, candids
and the day as it happens. The format
for this is an editorial reporting styles
and focuses more on candid images
with little photographer interaction;
a wedding photojournalist typically
shoots images quickly using available
light or on-camera flash rather than
using traditional, formal posing
techniques and studio lights.
The Fashion style stems from fashion
shots and is more about spending
the day posing in a light controlled
environment such as a studio the shoot
being scripted and orchestrated by
the photographer.
The Contemporary style is a modern
outlook on studio or at the venue
poses and settings. You and
your partner and perhaps
family members may be
involved in a particular sport,
activity or pursuit and wish to
include this on your wedding
day. Perhaps it is a love of
cycling where the wedding
party and some guests pose
on cycles or go for a ride out
during the day. You may wish
to get the photography out
the way before the day or
even on the day and use a
full studio with make and hair
specialist to assist in getting the
perfect photographs.
The styles provide a guide to
the genre around wedding
photography; typically
my days are a mix and
match version of each of
the styles to get the best for
my clients. There are other
subcategories of the styles
as well as your style, and you
will need to make sure you
have expressed this to the
photographer before the day.
My final tip is to organise a
pre-wedding shot with the
photographer; this works for
all the parties involved, gelling
the day together as you
already have interacted with
the chosen photographer and
seen the results of the shoot.
You are no longer camera
shy and are aware of any
visual signs the photographer
may give you; it is also handy
to know what he/she looks
like you make sure you know
which way to look!
Last but not least is the
photography contract,
reputable photographers will
ask you to sign a contract
read through this and make
sure that the things you want
are included before signing.
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