It's the biggest day of your life...
Maybe you're not sure what to expect from your photographer? What exactly does your wedding photographer do for you?
More importantly, what should your wedding photographer do for you?
After shooting hundreds of weddings, I have learned there are two things that will ruin your day.
# 1 is obvious. BAD PICTURES
Running a close second is DISORGANIZATION.
You have prepared for months. The florist needs to arrive at a certain time so the flowers don't wilt. The minister arrives at a certain time. There is time to get dressed. The wedding cake is even on a schedule. The last thing you need is for someone or some thing to be out of sync.
Can you imagine if the wedding officiant is late?
Your photographer, other than being a great photographer, needs a skill that has absolutely nothing to do with photography.
Your photographer needs to be a conductor
Just as a conductor of a symphony directs timing and flow, your photographer MUST do this as well. After 25 years of shooting weddings, I still carry "shot cards." These are notes that remind me of "Must Have" shots. I get my "must have" shot list from the bride & groom, their parents and sometimes relatives. Not getting a certain shot requested by the bride & groom is a dis-service to my customer.
Asking "what shot do you want now?" the day of the wedding is asking for trouble and will no doubt place undue stress on those who are trying to enjoy their day already filled with other pressures.
Following my contractual agreements, I always meet with the bride & groom 4 months prior to the wedding and then one week prior.
During these meetings we discuss many things.
- Place of ceremony & reception
- Time of wedding & ceremony
- "Must Have" shots
- Number in wedding party
- Special Requests
- Engagement photos & Newspaper submission
- Personal background of B&G
- Selection of albums/print sizes/DVD,Bluray etc...
- Understanding the agreement between photographer & client
- What if something goes wrong?
Allow me to address just a few to illustrate their importance.
Place of Ceremony & Reception:
Seems pretty obvious doesn't it? Why is it important?
I've heard of photographers who work out of town getting lost on their way simply because they never visited the location and thought their GPS would guide them flawlessly . It actually makes me laugh, though I doubt the B&G found any humor in it.
The place & time is critical to your photographer. Here are a few reasons...
A morning wedding vs. a noon wedding vs. a evening wedding Vs. a night wedding will dictate how the photographer handles lighting. Morning light streaming thru a church window is quite beautiful and complimentary. Noon light not as much. Perhaps the windows are not positioned so as to aid the photographer...another creative way to light the scene may be necessary if external lights are even allowed during the ceremony. Your photographer needs to understand these concepts to guarantee your images are perfect.
If you are paying a good photographer their worth, your photographer should be going to the location more than once prior to your big day. The difference between average pictures and great pictures is about lighting. Perhaps the church or venue has changed indoors? "That wall was green the last time I was here" Maybe it will be cloudy on your wedding day, perhaps bright overcast. Your photographer needs to compensate and have a game plan for all possible contingencies right up the last moment.
Go with your photographer to the location well before the ceremony day.
Know where your photographer will be positioned. It may be that the officiant won't allow certain vantage points for the photographer.
These things MUST be worked out in advance if you want your day to go off w/o a hitch.
EXPECT your photographer to do these things. Expect to have at a minimum two meetings; one far in advance and one close to the date of the ceremony.
EXPECT your photographer to visit the location and conduct test shots.
EXPECT the photographer to get the shots you want.
EXPECT your photographer to be invisible during the ceremony while getting perfect shots.
Later installments I will explain other areas of prep for you & your photographer. All designed to smoothly flow your day and guarantee great shots. I can't help you with the caterer, but I can help with the single most important lasting part of your day..The Pictures.
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