Choosing your photographer

The digital age has had a stunning impact on the world of photography. Those of you over the age of 40 can probably remember going to the photographer’s studio after your wedding ceremony. With banks of artificial lighting, an array of backdrops and sometimes other props, the photographer would carefully pose the wedding party in various combinations. This process would often take 2 hours or more. Some weeks after the event you would return to the studio to view your proofs, usually small prints of perhaps 50 – 200 photos from your wedding day. From these you would select 20-50 of your favorites. Another couple weeks of waiting and you would receive an album containing one photo on each page, inserted into a frame.

These days, a professional photographer will almost certainly work with digital equipment. Freed from the constraints of roll film, most photographers will take at least 1,000 and often more than 2,000 images during a wedding – fewer during a portrait assignment. These are often available to the client the same or the following day. At least some are often displayed on a private website for your viewing shortly after the event.

The option to select, print and assemble a traditional album is still available from most photographers. But few clients look for that today. Instead, the top professionals today will consult with the client well ahead of the day of your event. It’s essential at this point to share your vision with your photographer. The top pros today will blend their artistic and technical skills with your vision to be sure that they capture the event in a way that is consistent with your vision. Because of this close collaboration, your photographer should be able to begin the design of your album so that your first post-event meeting will be a chance to view draft pages of your album. At this time you will begin to appreciate the technical skills of your photographer as she/he enhances the images that best fulfill your own creative vision. Most pro’s will value and utilize your input at this stage to perfect the final record of your most important day.

If your event is typical, you’ll have many other digital photographs available from your day. It’s not unusual for your guests to have dozens and sometimes hundreds of digital camera clicking away during the day. These are also valuable images you’ll want to treasure. But the difference between Uncle Bob’s “snapshots” from the 14^th row and the images created and enhanced by a professional will leave you speechless.

Be sure as you interview photographers for your important event that you consider:

1. Is the photographer eager to hear your vision?
2. Will the photographer be with you for the time you wish – often 10 hours or more?
3. Does your photographer provide a second professional photographer to ensure that other perspectives are captured and to guard against the possibility of equipment malfunction?
4. Does your photographer have the skills to enhance your images and create fine art or will you only receive “raw” images? Some photographers contract this important work out, effectively severing the connection between your vision and the final product.
5. Is there a contingency plan in the event of illness or other unforeseen circumstances that might affect your photographer?
6. Are you really talking with the photographer who will be there with you on your day? Beware of those who dispatch photographers who may not have even met you before the event.

Next time – a little more about “image enhancement”. Do you really want your photos on digital Viagra^®.