Frequently Asked Questions and some that you should
ask!
Click on the questions below for my opinions.
- Is there really a difference between 35mm
and medium format for wedding photography?
- How much should I expect to spend on
wedding photography?
- Why don't my photographs look as good as
the samples my photographer showed me before I hired them?
- Who will actually photograph my wedding?
- Why won't the drugstore or local photo lab
make enlargements from my proofs, so I can save money?
- Why should I pay for my photography prior
to the wedding?
- How will you be dressed on my wedding
day?
- Do you work with an assistant, or
will you work alone?
- Will you have back-up equipment
with you in case of a problem?
-
1. Is there really a
difference between 35mm and medium format for wedding
photography?
Yes,
medium format is clearly the choice of professionals, for several reasons.
The vast majority of 35mm users have their film processed at a one hour
lab. The
process used by these labs is inherently unstable - they simply will
not hold up over
time. This is primarily due to the elevated temperatures used to
quicken the process.
Medium format has the added advantages of increased color saturation, the
ability to
be retouched more easily, capability of greater enlargement, use of
professional films,
and due to expense, the fact that users of this format are usually more
experienced.
On the other hand, 35mm equipment lends itself very
well to strictly candid work
where nothing will be enlarged over 8x10. It is faster, cheaper, and
lighter weight.
In general, you should
figure about 15-20%, or more, of your total event budget.
Your actual expenditure will depend upon what your photographer provides in product,
services, qualifications, and experience. You should not expect much for less than
$1000
and totals may go beyond $15,000 for some society weddings.
First, some photographers
advertise with preprinted brochures featuring images produced by excellent photographers
which frequently are beyond their ability to match. Others photograph
over the shoulder of an instructor at a seminar or a superior professional at a wedding,
and use
images as samples that were posed by someone else. I use only images that I have
created to represent my work. Second, great photographs are the result of
cooperation between the photographer and subject, under great lighting conditions,
with sufficient time and free from interference. In short, you should specifically
ask if the work that you are looking at was created by the photographer who will
photograph your wedding, and even with great photographers, you need to give them the time
and cooperation that they need to do their best work.
This is, in my
opinion, a critical question that every bride should ask. Many photographic
businesses have a number of people, called "stringers", who actually do the
photography. If you choose such a company, my advice is that you insist on seeing
work that was actually produced by the photographer that will be doing the work at your
wedding - and that this particular individual is specified in your written agreement as
your photographer. Don't be satisfied with "all our photographers do great
work", insist on seeing for yourself! Communication is critical! Skill,
personality, and style vary greatly among photographers, and if you are not hiring a
particular artist, you definitely should expect a lower price. I prefer to do all of
the photography for our studio myself, and like to work with the couple prior to the
wedding. Why trust your once in a lifetime event to a once in a while photographer?
Photographer's works are protected
by federal copyright laws. A quality professional photographer has invested a great
deal of time and money in learning in order to be able to create their art. It is
not fair for anyone else to profit from their labors. These are the same type of
rights that protect other artists, musicians, film producers, manufacturers, etc.
Photography
is a very personalized item that is custom created for just you, your family, and friends
- beyond that, salability of your wedding images is very unlikely. Your wedding
photographs are simply not like other products that can be placed back upon the
vendor's shelf to be resold. Also, in today's society, it is a sad fact of life that
an occasional relationship will break up before the honeymoon is over. Should this
happen, a photographer should not be expected to take the loss.
7. How will you be
dressed on my wedding day?
I normally wear a black
tuxedo. I feel that an appropriately dressed photographer projects
an image that does not distract from the couple's day, and also shows respect for the
families and
the wedding party.
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8. Do you work
with an assistant, or will you work alone?
I feel that a photographer
needs an assistant at all but the smallest events. There is just too
much for one person to carry and too much to accomplish and still remain creative.
9. Will you
have back-up equipment with you in case of a problem?
Yes, I carry at least one
back-up for every major piece of equipment (2 or 3 cameras, 2 or 3
flash sets, etc.) No matter how new or what brand equipment a photographer uses, it
is still
mechanical, and subject to failure. If a photographer does not carry backup
equipment because
"I use the best equipment and don't need backup" -they have just been lucky so
far and it will catch up with them. Don't let it be at your wedding.
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10. How many pictures
will you take at my wedding?
There is no
"magic number" at our studio, the actual number of exposures made varies from
wedding to wedding - whatever it takes to cover the event the way our client wants it
covered. This varies depending upon the amount of time, number and type of locations,
style of photography prefered, budget, etc. Usually, at a story-book style wedding, I will
expose from 160-300 images.
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Another Question?
contact us!
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