Wedding
Photography & Video
|
Your photographs are a very important reminder of your wedding
day, not just for you, but for your parents, friends, attendants,
etc. It is vital to make sure that you have a good photographer
that you can trust. This doesn't necessarily mean having a
professional wedding photographer; if you have a friend or
relative who is a very good photographer and you want to rely on
him or her, then that should be fine. Remember however that
whoever takes the photographs will have one attempt at getting
them right, you should only use a non professional if you can not
afford to pay one. Don't, however rely just on friends' snapshots;
these will be nowhere near the high quality that you will want for
your special photographs. Another advantage of professional
photographers is that their service is probably covered by
insurance; certainly you will be eligible for compensation should
something go horribly wrong with the film or with the final
negatives.
Don't rush into the decision of which photographer to have; take
your time to make sure that you have the best possible deal. If
you have a friend or neighbour in the same town whose wedding
photographs are particularly good, ask her which photographer she
used, Go round to all the local photographers and ask to see their
brochures; some firms specialise in certain types of print. and
you may know straight away that a particular firm is not the one
you are looking for.
Once you have narrowed the choice slightly ask to see more
examples of the work and also check what kind of package deal the
firm offers. Some firms sell a deal that might include, for
instance, pictures all through the day thirty prints from the
proofs of your choice, and a free album to keep them in, all for a
set sum; other prints ordered by guests will be extra. Other firms
might offer simply a higher price for each print you choose, with
no extra fee for the actual photography. Still other firms might
do particular offers on 'special effect' photographs prints of the
couple with a misty finish, or superimposed on a champagne glass
or ribbon bow, or prints in heart shaped frames. Obviously which
deal you choose depends on what your particular requirements and
preferences are. If you are having a relatively small wedding and
know that you will not want all that many photographs, you may
find it more economical to choose one of the firms that simply
charges per print. If you are having a very large wedding, and
perhaps wanting photographs of all the guests, then you may do
better with a firm that charges a flat fee for the day and then a
smaller fee per print. Compare the prices stringently, and don't
let the firm push you into having a service that you don't want.
Once you have settled on the firm that you feel will be best for
your wedding, check that they have a photographer available for
the day of your wedding. Make it clear whether you want
photographs taken at your parents' home, of the guests before the
service, during the service itself, afterwards outside the Church,
at the reception, and as you leave for your honeymoon. Specify
whether you want just formal shots, just informal ones, or a
mixture of both. Ask for all these points to be confirmed in
writing; this may seem cold-blooded, but it is important to avoid
any confusion later on. Double check that the firm has booked the
times correctly including the time beforehand and the time that
the reception is due to finish.
One point that it is important to get sorted out very early on in
the proceedings is whether or not photographs and video recordings
are allowed inside the church. This is the decision of the
minister alone, and is not really open to negotiation; it is his
church, and you must respect his decision. Some ministers permit
photographs as long as no flashes or floodlights are used, others
are happy as long as no photographs are taken during the actual
marriage itself, while still others will not allow any photographs
inside the church. Ask about this before you book your
photographer , so that you can brief him or her accordingly.
Finally ask to see examples of the work done by the very
photographer who will be covering your wedding, not just publicity
shots for the firm in general; any reputable firm should be quite
happy to show you these, so that you can assess his or her' skill
for yourself.
Video Photography
More and more couples these days are choosing to have their
weddings recorded on video. This can be done by a professional
firm or once again by an experienced friend. The main difference
here however is that most video professionals have complicated
editing facilities and it is here where they really do come into
their own. Any Video Photographer worth his salt will be only too
pleased to provide you with a viewing of their work, in fact being
artistic they will be proud of their work.
|
|
 |
