Tag: Wedding Photography

  • Wedding Venues and Wedding Photos

    Wedding Venues and Wedding Photos

    As a photographer myself I’m pretty confident that my dream wedding venue would have loads of great spots for photos. Photographs are really important to me. I record my life on a near-constant basis through the lenses of various cameras. I’ve got no reason to think that my wedding would be any different!

    I often see photographers on forums and Facebook groups discussing what equipment they need for weddings at great length. And often these discussions are focused on the light (or lack of it) during the ceremony. It can be a really difficult thing to photograph a wedding ceremony that happens somewhere without great natural light. So if photographs of your wedding day are as important to you as they would be to me then I’d like to tell you a little bit about what will help your photographer out.

    Look for Great Natural Light

    Big windows. That’s usually what it comes down to. Big windows that aren’t North facing. But beautiful historic buildings often lack huge glass windows. Weddings in magical old historic buildings often don’t have much light though, which does then make things much harder for the photographer. Although, most good photographers would cope admirably, especially those who have knowledge of how to work in minimum light. A professional can also help in deciding on the best possible photoshoot spot in the wedding venue that can work for the duration of the wedding. However, it could be much better to have a photographer who is excelling themselves because they don’t have to worry about the light!

    That’s why venues like Cain Manor are so great. It’s a gorgeous country house with a huge modern barn-style music room that is licensed to hold ceremonies. The windows are floor to ceiling and your wedding photographer will not be disappointed at the wonderful light that they’ve got to work with! The quality of your wedding photos will be superb, and all your photographer has to do is focus on capturing the emotions of the ceremony.

    Find a Stylish but Timeless Venue

    Have you ever looked at your parents wedding album? I have. It’s a horrible seventies monstrosity with orange carpets and my Nan wearing massive platform shoes. Orange carpets might have been cool back then, but they certainly aren’t now.

    If you’re going to want to put your wedding photos on the wall (and why wouldn’t you?) then look for a denver wedding venue or maybe one in your vicinity, with neutral colors and timeless elegance. White or light-coloured furniture, accents that won’t date quickly, and classic decor are what you’re after. Yes, it might be cool to have your wedding in that fancy ultra-modern wine bar in the big city but it a decade or two the veneer will have worn thin!

    By picking timeless classics for your venue, dress, and accessories you’ll want to have your wedding photos on display for much longer than they might otherwise stick around. And why shouldn’t you? You’ll have paid an awful lot of money to have a photographer come along to your dream wedding!

    Most Importantly – Put Your Spin On It

    I know it would be important for me to put my own spin on my wedding and the wedding photos that get taken. I’m not sure quite what that would look like, but I’m pretty sure it would involve me working with my photographer to get everything right. I’d probably even choose my photographer before my venue just to make sure that everything was compatible!

  • How To Choose Your Wedding Photographer

    How To Choose Your Wedding Photographer

    I like to think I know a fair bit about wedding photography. Over the years I’ve interviewed many wedding photographers for photography magazines. Actually photographing weddings is not for me, but I love to look at the photos! But how to choose your wedding photographer can seem like a mystical process at times! It’s full of unknowns if you’ve never done it before. So here’s some thoughts about how to go choose the photographer and get pictures that you’ll hopefully treasure for the rest of your life.

    Find A Photographer You Like

    No, I don’t mean their work, I mean them. You’re potentially going to be spending an awful lot of time with this person on one of the most important days of your life. They’re going to be there from the moment you’re sitting there is a dressing gown, to potentially as late as when you get in the car and go home. They’re going to spend time with your friends too.

    You want someone approachable and fun, and who’s style fits the setting of your wedding. Ask what they wear as their ‘photographers uniform.’ If you’re going for something really relaxed do you want someone in a stuffy, old fashioned suit? Equally someone in a cute swing dress might not be what you’re after for a formal cathedral wedding…

    They need to fit your style as much as you need to fit theirs. They won’t perform their best if they’re not enthused about your wedding and your style. Meet as many photographers as you need to in order to choose your wedding photographer. You can do your initial research on the Internet by looking for a Brooklyn Wedding Photographer (or wherever your location would be) and going through their portfolio first. If you like their work at first glance, then approach them. Speak to a few before finalizing on one (or two) photographer(s).

    I’m also going to suggest that you consider how comfortable you are likely to be with your photographer during your prep. I know that if I was having a photographer in my home while I’m having my makeup and hair done and while I’m getting ready, well, I’d probably want a woman. There’s nothing wrong with that either – it’s your day.

    Fall In Love With Their Work

    It seems obvious, doesn’t it? You want a photographer who takes pictures that you love! The pictures are ultimately what you’re going to be keeping forever, so you do need someone who takes pictures you love (as well as someone who is fun to be around).

    When you choose your wedding photographer, make sure to go through a couple of albums. Any photographer can stage a shoot in a nice location with attractive models. Any photographer can take six hours shooting the perfect bridal portrait. This is the reason why you may want to see a whole wedding album from a single wedding. You may want to see how their work looks when they’re working under pressure and on the fly. It’s important to choose your wedding photographer based on a couple of whole albums rather than just a few portfolio shots.

    Embrace Technology

    Even if you choose your wedding photographer very carefully and they’re great at their job, they don’t always catch the little personal moments. For that reason I’d urge anyone getting married to also sign up to a service that allows you to collect your guests memories of the day too! They can work as a beautiful, informal memento from the day alongside the formal album from your photographer. Websites such as Wedding Photo Swap can allow you to collect and share wedding photos from your special day with ease.

    Some photographers don’t like this approach and ask that guests put their cameras away during the wedding. However if you’re a young, digitally connected couple who embrace technology… why shy away from it at this important moment?