What You Need to Know About Photographing Your Wedding

The rings, the flowers, the reception hall--when planning a wedding, these are important decisions that must be made with care. Just as important are the wedding photos. They're the most lasting mementos of your wedding, and to get them right, you need to look at the photographer, the style and the cost.

Choosing a Photographer

Choosing a wedding photographer is complicated but essential--their style and personality should be compatible with your vision for your wedding. Start by getting recommendations from friends and family; their experiences are the most valuable way to assess a potential photographer. Look at their wedding albums, paying close attention to lighting, clarity and detail. Is the lighting too dim? Or are the subjects overexposed? What about composition--is the background cluttered? Is the focus clearly on the subject? By examining the complete set of photos, you can evaluate a photographer's proficiency and versatility. If you can't get personal recommendations, try the Internet. Most professional photographers have websites featuring samples of their work, where you can get an overview of their style and skill. And viewing their work online saves you the time of setting up personal interviews with all of the possible candidates--you'll quickly rule out many, leaving you more time to interview the ones you do like.

Once you've decided on a potential photographer, set up an in-person interview, where you can assess both their technical skills and their personality. Look at the photographer's portfolio, and ask to see photos from more than one complete wedding. Most photographers include samples of their best work, but this may not be an accurate representation of their abilities. Because photographers take several pictures at weddings, it's easy for them to capture a few outstanding shots. Only by seeing a complete wedding can you gauge their technical and creative skills. Most importantly, have a clear vision of what you want from your wedding photos, and evaluate the photographer's style against your expectations. But don't look solely at their work; evaluate their personality as well. Do you feel comfortable with them? Are they friendly or standoffish? Easygoing or controlling? The photographer sets the tone for the photo session, and should know how to put their subjects at ease. You put a lot of faith in your wedding photographer--choose someone you're comfortable with and whom you feel you can trust. If you don't feel compatible with them, or if they make you uneasy in any way, they're not the right choice, regardless of the quality of their work.

Another important factor: should you use a company or an individual? If you hire an individual, you know who you're getting; you've spoken to them and seen samples of their work. With a company, you don't know if the samples are the work of one photographer, or a composite of many. Some companies employ several photographers, or they may contract work out to freelancers. On the wedding day, the photographer could be a stranger, rather than the person you spoke to. You may not feel comfortable with this person's style and personality, and that could bring disaster. If you do use a company, ask to see several samples from each of their photographers, and make sure you can choose the photographer you want.

Personality and skill are crucial, but technical considerations are also important. Ask potential photographers what kind of equipment and film they use. The standard choices for wedding photography are 35 mm and medium format. Medium format is preferred, because it provides sharper pictures better for enlarging. However, medium format cameras can be bulkier and more difficult to use. While 35 mm cameras are less cumbersome and the film is cheaper to process, the quality may not be adequate. As for film, make sure they use professional grade, which provides more vivid color and greater clarity.

Styles of Wedding Photography

You probably have an idea of how you want your wedding photos to look--to capture that image, you need to choose the right style of wedding photography. Different styles produce different representations of the event, and by understanding the different approaches, you can choose the one that matches your vision.

Traditional / Portrait

This is the classic, most commonly used style of wedding photography, emphasizing formal, posed pictures rather than candid shots. This style produces the traditional wedding photos, like the cake cutting ceremony and the couple's first dance. Photographers using this approach concentrate on posed photographs of the couple, the wedding party and the family. They are usually heavily involved in the process, spending considerable time arranging group and individual photos. While they concentrate on formal shots, they may photograph the reception as well, but will ask subjects to pose for the camera. Because great care is taken in setting up the photographs, the pictures are high-quality, with many suitable for framing or hanging. In addition, traditional photographers are often skilled in guiding the photography process throughout the entire event. However, this approach takes a great deal of time, and traditional photographers may be too involved in the process for some couples.

Photojournalistic

This is a recent trend in wedding photography, one that borrows heavily from traditional news photography. Photographers usually have a background in journalism, and they cover the wedding as they would cover a news story. Rather than guiding the process, the photographer is a spectator, capturing events as they happen. The photojournalistic style emphasizes candid, casual shots over formal pictures. These photographers prefer photos that capture the spontaneity and emotion of the day, which produces a more natural, realistic representation of the wedding. Photographers using the photojournalistic style take more photos, which offers a greater variety of shots, but can be more expensive.

Getting the Most Out of Your Photos

So you've found the perfect photographer. Now, how do you make sure your photos turn out how you imagined? First, book early. Wedding photographers are in high demand, and their schedules fill up quickly. Make choosing a photographer one of your first priorities, so you'll have plenty of time for interviewing and evaluating. You don't want to rush into anything, and once you've found a photographer you like, you don't want to miss out by waiting too late. Next, make a plan, both for the formal photo session and for the candid shots.

Formal Pictures

Don't rush the formal photo shoot. Half an hour between the ceremony and the reception may not be adequate, especially if you have a hands-on photographer who takes great care in setting up the photos. They'll want to take their time, and you want both the photographer and the subjects to feel comfortable, otherwise the pictures may look forced and unnatural. Make sure you leave plenty of time to account for problems--even a minor glitch can mean disaster if you're on a tight schedule. Also, decide in advance what kind of photos you want, and give the list to your photographer. Be specific--do you want only photos of the ceremony, or photos of the bride and groom preparing for the event, leaving for the wedding or entering the church as well? By making a list and sharing it with the photographer, you can both be more prepared.

Candid Pictures

Candid pictures deserve just as much care as the professional photos. During the reception, set up candid shots just as you did the formal photo shoot--allow subjects a moment to get composed, and pay attention to the composition. Is the shot in focus? Does your subject fill the frame? While you want more spontaneity in your casual pictures, you don't want them to look sloppy. If you photograph a couple dancing, ask them to pause and look at the camera. When photographing a group sitting at a table, organize them so everyone can be seen, and try to keep clutter like dirty dishes and napkins out of the frame. And don't just focus on those old standbys, like pictures of the toasts, the bouquet toss or the cake cutting ceremony; get reaction shots that capture the emotions of the guests as well. The professional photographer will get pictures of the couple, but guests can document a different view of events, one that focuses not just on the couple, but also on their family and friends.

Budget Considerations

Wedding photos can be expensive, but by doing your homework or being creative, you can have high-quality pictures that won't deplete your bank account. First, ask the photographer about fees. Do they provide unlimited event coverage, or they do charge extra for photographing the entire day? Is there an extra fee for traveling long distances? Do they offer customized packages based on individual need? If so, choose only the necessary options.

Or, consider hiring a freelance photographer. These may be professionals who don't work with a studio, or they may be hobbyists, a friend or relative, for example. Freelancers often charge less, because they don't have the overhead a studio does. Also, they may agree to give you the negatives, as opposed to studios, who keep the negatives because they make money by selling prints of their work. Because freelancers don't have the time and resources of a studio, they may prefer to give you the negatives, rather than being responsible for developing the photos. You can save money by developing the photos yourself, and shopping around for the lowest prices. However, hobbyists may not have as extensive a portfolio as a professional, making it more difficult to assess their work. And they may have less experience, so their pictures might not be as high-quality as a professional. As with any photographer, interview them and get references.

You can also try non-traditional options, like placing disposable cameras at each table so your guests can take candid shots of the reception. Buy the cameras in advance, and in bulk, and you may get a discount. You'll still want professional photography for the important pictures, but letting your guests act as photographers can be a cheaper way to get candid, spontaneous shots, as well as pictures the photographer may miss because he's concentrating on the formal photos.

Choosing the Final Product

You chose the style, interviewed the photographer, examined your budget and set up the perfect shots. As crucial as that preparation was, you now face an equally complex and important task: choosing the final photos. You'll decide from a set of proofs, usually 3 x 5s, and you need a critical eye to pick the best ones. When looking over the photos, keep the following in mind:

--Is everyone facing the camera?
--Are everyone's eyes open?
--How's the composition?
--Is the background cluttered?
--Does the subject fill the frame?
--Is the lighting and exposure appropriate?
--Will the picture look good enlarged?
--Is the photo uplifting?

These are only guidelines; you'll probably have more questions to add to the list, which is good. Examine every aspect, even seemingly minor details. These photos will be in your permanent wedding album, and only the best should be included. Take as much care in choosing the photos as you did choosing the cake, the dress and the location.

Final Notes

What's the most important part of planning your wedding photography? Know what you want, do your research and communicate with your photographer. With so many techniques and styles available, it's easy to customize your photos to suit your personality and tastes. Don't leave it all up to the photographer--they may be the professional, but only you know what style speaks to you. Research the options, analyze the benefits and drawbacks and develop a specific plan. Cover every detail, from type of film, to the kinds of shots to the overall style. Look at your budget, and consider how involved you want your photographer to be. Then, find a photographer whose style and skill matches your expectations. Tell them exactly what you want, and by merging your vision with their expertise, you can develop a plan for wedding photos you can be proud of.