Our expert photographers address your FAQs to help you get the best wedding photos.
What do you think makes great wedding photographs?
It may sound simple, yet it’s one of the most important questions to ask of your potential photographer. What is the most important element to capture? ‘Emotions,’ says Graham of GM Photographics. ‘It’s all about getting a photographer that can see and capture the love on the wedding day.’ For Marcus of Studio Impressions, creating stories and capturing memories are crucial. ‘Great wedding photographs tell a story. They make you feel just as you felt on that day. A great wedding photograph will make you smile when you look at it 50 years from now.’
What time of day produces the best photos?
A good photographer will manage any light and weather conditions; however Nat from Milque Photography suggests that ‘the last two hours before the sun sets is definitely the best time for photos. The sun has lost its harshness and provides such a beautiful softness to the images.’
How much time should be allocated for post-ceremony photos of the couple and bridal party?
‘Excluding travel, an hour is good,’ says Graham. ‘We always put a photographer in the car with the bride and groom at some stage on the day to get in-car travel shots.’ Marcus agrees that an hour is sufficient for a location shoot.
What does a photographic package consist of? What is included and what is additional?
Packages will vary from studio to studio and according to your budget. ‘Our most popular packages include two experienced photographers and are an eight hour shoot or a twelve hour shoot,’ says Graham. Nat’s studio offer a variety of packages and that ‘the one thing we do provide in all of our packages is a full day of unlimited hours up until the start of the reception. We want to start as early as we need to in the morning to capture the whole day without the couple having to worry about how many hours their photographer will be there for.’
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Why is there a difference in cost between different photographers?
There’re no two ways about it – you only get what you pay for. ‘You are paying for superior quality of products, customer care, decades of experience, and creativity,’ says Graham. From time on the day to the album you take home, there are multiple factors that contribute to the final fee. ‘Skill, experience and professionalism are different; quality and style of the images are different; service levels and delivery times are different; and the final products such as albums and prints are different,’ explains Marcus.
Who owns the copyright of the images?
‘The photographer,’ says Marcus. ‘However, if you have been given high resolution images you have effectively been given a form of copyright license to use, and reproduce, the images for your own personal use. Copyright simply protects the images from being commercially sold or illegally used without permission of the artist. In this way it also protects you.’ Make sure that copyright is made clear and covered in your contract.
Is it difficult to work around guests who are snapping pictures for social media?
‘We totally understand that guests want to capture some happy snaps from the day, but it’s important to not get in the photographer’s way if possible,’ says Nat. Though a professional will always get the shot, Graham’s concern lies with the couple: ‘When the bride is walking down the aisle and everyone steps out and takes an iPhone photo they not only get in the way of the professional photographers, but they get in the way of the groom.’
Is it helpful for a couple to show you reference pictures that they like?
‘Absolutely!’ says Nat. ‘Whilst we have a distinct style that we photograph to, we still love receiving inspiration as every couple is different.’ Graham says visual references are often an easier way to communicate as, ‘sometimes using words to describe things can be easily misinterpreted.’
How do you ensure wedding photographs will look timeless?
‘The secret is to capture people at their most natural. Lots of walking shots and asking the couple to interact achieves this look,’ says Graham, ‘by not staging and posing shots, they are less contrived and are less likely to date.’ Sounds simple, yet Marcus believes the necessary skills are acquired over time. ‘Experience makes all the difference here,’ he says. ‘Technical skill can give you a great image but a timeless image only comes when it connects with the viewer. The photographer must be able to anticipate the moment and be ready to capture it.’
How do you make a couple feel comfortable and at ease in front of the camera?
We want to capture the real you so our photographers are always there, but not in your face. We always make sure our photographers meet their couples before the wedding day to get to know each other,’ says Nat. Graham suggests an engagement shoot to gain confidence around your photographer. ‘It is important to build a great rapport. This is done by meeting before the wedding, having an engagement shoot and getting comfortable in front of the camera.’
Read Original Article Here: http://www.bridetobe.com.au/article/planning-your-wedding-day-top-10-wedding-photography-faqs
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Everything you need to know to secure the best wedding photographer for your special day.
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