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1) BE SELECTIVE ON YOUR LOCATION
Put some effort in choosing a beautiful
location for the majority of your photographs. If a beautiful
theme restaurant is not possible, ask a friend or relative if
you may use their home or find a spacious park along your route.
Another alternative is to choose a beautiful resort to spend your
first night together. Then check in early for your pre-ceremony
photographs. Look for distinctive features like spiral staircases,
archways, columns, fountains, tall ceilings, beautiful furniture
or English gardens.
2) HIRE A PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP ARTIST
On your wedding day, a beautiful makeup
job could make your photographs look like you spent a fortune
on your photographs. Your investment in makeup will easily be
returned.
3) GET ROMANTIC
Flowers and candles are easy to acquire
and can dramatically improve the romance of any location with
minimal effort. Fresh cut flowers, tea lights, sprinkles of rose
petals or shear material draped over windows will bring extra
warmth to any room. Be sure to coordinate these extra touches
with your photographer before he arrives.
4) MAKE PRIVATE TIME FOR YOUR PORTRAITS
Design your day for extra photography
while your guests are not present. Avoid the extra stress by allowing
plenty of time to complete your formal portraits early, while
your hair & makeup are fresh. Do them while few guests
need your attention. In some cases, there may be plenty
of time for extra photography before the service. This allows
you to engage in your reception immediately following the ceremony
while emotions are high and guests are eager to share your moment.
Photography should be fun and stress-free.
5) SHOOT YOUR FAVORITE PORTRAITS DURING DAYLIGHT
Sunset ceremonies are romantic, but
many of your most favorite photographs will follow later when
its dark and flash photography is required. This is “artificial
light” and the photographs will lack depth because the background
falls to black. It’s much better to shoot your photographs
during daylight hours when your background is illuminated by “natural
light”. Afternoon light offers the most warmth and
depth.
6) HIRE AN EXPERIENCED PHOTOJOURNALIST
Choose a photographer well trained
in formal portraiture as well as in photojournalism. They are
two distinct styles, but both are a must. Capturing special
candid moments as they occur are priceless, but can you imagine
the disaster if your photographer left it to fate for your family
to arrange themselves for the family portrait? Beware;
there are well-paid “artist” that never organize a
shot. They feel capturing the moment should override the
necessity to ask someone to move to a better position. Remember,
posing can sometimes be just as important as the candid shots.
7) SEE THE WORK OF YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER FIRST
Never select a photographer whose work
you haven’t seen. During the interview, require that
they show you at least one complete wedding from their work.
You should also be able to select your photographer at
the moment you secure by payment.
8) MATCH THE CAMERAS TO THE EVENT
Choose a photographer with well-maintained
cameras and back up equipment. Just like a set of mechanic’s
tools, each type of camera has a different set of tasks it performs
best.
9) QUESTION PHOTOGRAPHERS WHO DON’T MAKE ALBUMS
Some photographers just shoot and hand
you the images on a CD and leave it to you to create your own
album. This usually proves to be a huge task for people
lacking experience or the resources to locate nice albums.
Full service photographers have access to GREAT albums.
Find one who builds wedding albums in his head as he shoots.
Afterward, let them piece together all the sentimental and joyous
moments into one creative and romantic story. Shoot-Only
photographers tend to be less accountable and will likely miss
shots necessary to the flow of your album. Couples also
say they rarely have time after the honeymoon to create an album.
10) MATCH THE PHOTOGRAPHER TO YOUR EVENT
Remember, your photographs are the
only thing remaining after the wedding day ends. There are
no re-takes. Why get married on a million dollar yacht and
hire a budget photographer? Your photographs should look great
and be representative of your event.
Orange County California Wedding Photography | Orange County CA Wedding Photographer |
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