Image courtesy of Pictureman
Image courtesy of Photography by Pippin
Image courtesy of Deyan Photography
Image courtesy of Nicole Anderson Photography
|
Many weddings today have both still photography and a video. Both have their place in recording your wedding - neither is better than the other. Each recording method offers a unique way to enjoy your wedding day memories - over and over again. And, in time, your children and grandchildren will also be able to share your memories.
what to look for
The first step is to make an appointment to visit the photographers you are interested in at their studios. Start your search early because many photographers are booked out well in advance.
It is time consuming but very worthwhile to visit a number of photographers that appeal to you. Take a notebook with you so that you will remember everything.
The following tips should be useful:
- Ask whether they specialise in wedding photography.
- Ask to see examples of their previous work, preferably not a selection of best photos from all different weddings, but a selection of photos from the same wedding.
- Find out who the person is who will actually be taking your photographs. Because most weddings take place on a Saturday, many photographers work on a casual basis.
- Meet with your photographer in person so that you can begin to develop a good rapport. A good photographer will actually spend a considerable amount of time with you before the wedding so they can get to know you and develop a comprehensive understanding of what you expect from and wish for your photography.
- Make sure that you see the work of the particular photographer who will be doing your wedding - not just shots from the studio as a whole.
- Look for a style of photography that you like. Each professional photographer has his/her own individual stamp. Like an artist with his canvas, the mood of each picture is carefully 'painted'. So the finished product varies a great deal.
- Imagine yourselves in the photos and discuss whether you like a traditional or more modern style or a mixture of both.
- Do the people in the shots look stiff and uncomfortable or relaxed, natural and happy?
- Are the pictures high quality? Are they clear? Is the colouring good? Are the prints high quality?
- What services are provided by the photographer? What exactly does coverage of your wedding include? What meetings will be necessary? Will they assist with album planning and is this extra or included?
- Assess the photographer's personality and whether you can be comfortable working together. Do you have confidence in him/her?
- Ask about the pricing and compare apples with apples. The different packages at different prices can be quite confusing so once you have a good idea about what you want, be sure to ask the photographers you visit the same questions e.g. what do you charge for a 20 sided 12' leather album? or, what would it cost for a coverage from the bride's house to the end of the reception? This should put you in a better position to judge value for money.
photography do's and dont's
- Don't rely on 'snapshots' from relatives and friends
- Don't have your uncle take the photos!
- Do hire a professional wedding photographer (see our directory)
- Do ask to see samples of their work and their price lists
- Do check for hidden costs such as charges for proofs
- Do take the time to plan your photography
- Do discuss your wishes in person with your photographer beforehand
- Do check whether photography is allowed in the church or registry office
- Don't trust your memory - confirm everything in writing
- Do set aside enough money in your budget so you can have the quality of photography you want
- Don't forget to budget for your video as well...
video
For an instant replay of each amazing moment of your wedding day, a wedding video is the eighth wonder of the world.
When the day finally arrives, you're going to feel like you're having a beautiful dream - and it will go so quickly it will seem like everything is on Ôfast forward'.
A video of the events gives you a chance to enjoy all the moments you might have missed.
You and your spouse are both the stars and the observers of your own wedding. You watch yourself walk down the aisle, see the expressions on the faces of your loved ones and hear yourselves making your vows.
The experience always seems to be as fresh as the day you were married. Wonderful to watch on your future anniversaries!
As well as the ceremony you can relive the excitement outside the church, arriving at the reception venue, the toasts and speeches, cutting the cake, the first romantic dance, everyone dancing and having fun, throwing the bouquet and making your farewells - all the highlights of your special day.
Your parents will love your video and eventually so will your children! And if some close friends or relatives couldn't make it to your wedding, they will really appreciate seeing all the action on video - videotapes can easily be mailed interstate or overseas.
how to choose someone to video your wedding
To video a wedding well takes a lot of skill and experience. The video producer has to be totally prepared beforehand for any situation that may arise on the day, as there are no second chances to go back and do it again. So how do you go about finding a professional video producer?
there are six main things to consider:
1. Value for Money - Quality of Presentation
- As you are paying for your video you should have a big say in how it looks, sounds and is presented.
- Can you choose your favourite music to add during the editing?
- Can you pick and choose how you want your front and end titles to be?
- If you desire, can special effects be included (these are editing techniques to give your
video a more professional appearance)?
- Are you restricted by a time limit during videoing?
2. Value for Money - Quality of Equipment
- Unlike photography, video not only captures natural & artistic shots but has added responsibility in recording sound as well. Good audio is most important.
- Small domestic formats will not have facilities for adjusting audio levels let alone the reproduction of the quality of the video after editing. There are now over 40 video formats, so choose a company that uses professional camera recorders.
- Professional camera/recorders with a good lens start at around $25,000 and go up to around $250,000, with the new High Definition Digital Recorders costing even more!
- With such a cost of quality equipment, plus the considerable time spent editing the video, it is easy to understand why the professional video producer's prices can be on a par with professional photographer's prices.
3. Picture Quality
- The picture quality should be clear and sharp, not too dark or too light and the colour should be accurate. Is the demo tape you are shown of the same quality that you can expect in all of your copies?
4. Sound Quality
- What is the good of great picture quality when the sound is disappointing? You should be able to hear the sound clearly - it should not be muffled, distant or distorted. A single microphone mounted on a camera is not always sufficient, especially during vows and speeches. If music is added, is it mixed with the original sound so if someone says anything important you can still hear what they say?
5. Lighting
- With the quality of today's best cameras, lighting only needs to be kept to a minimum. An experienced cameraman will know how to illuminate an area without using harsh lights. Check the demo tape for people squinting and bright spots of light.
6. Cameraman's Ability and Experience
- A good video producer will make the audience feel they are part of the wedding and not just a casual observer. He/she should capture the emotions of the day - all of the major events should be covered and the video should not be boring to watch. Most importantly, your video producer should maintain a discreet presence on the day.
- While watching the demo tape, look to see how steady the shots are when the cameraman is not using a tripod. Do the shots drift continually in and out of focus?
- Is the picture brightness constant or does it vary from light to dark. Is the composition or framing of the shots interesting and pleasant? (You wouldn't want to lose your head!)
|
