Photographers and Videographers

[preach]

PHOTOGRAPHERS and VIDEOGRAPHERS

This group of people spends more time with you than anyone else.
The photographer is generally with the Bride while she is going
into the final stages of preparation. (S)/he will photograph the Groom and
the Groomsmen, then the Bride when she eventually arrives at the venue
for the ceremony. Just a quick one here please. Brides, be on time for
your ceremony. The inconvenience that being late causes and the stress
that this puts the groom under is horrendous. Also, remember in an
outside ceremony guests may be waiting in weather that is 85 degrees in
the shade. Please be on time. That’s all I’m going to say.

The photographer will be with you right up to when you depart. I
know some will do a mock up of the cutting of the cake and the garter and
then disappear, although most will stay for the entire proceedings. It’s a
long day for them.

It is a very large responsibility, which they carry with no room for
error, except to have two or more cameras. The photographer really does
have to work hard and fast.

But what about you? What do you look for in order to obtain a
good Photographer, one that will capture your memories with flair, style
panache and reliability?

Personality needs to be high on the agenda. “Why”, I hear you
ask?
I’ve seen photographers upset the entire bridal party and the guests
by their attitude. Personality needs to be very high as this person is with
you and your guests a long time and the photographer will come into
contact with each and every one of your guests at some time or another.
Group photos and individual photos all touch on you and your guests at
some time during the proceedings. It is very important to have
personality, coupled with talent.

Anyone can become a photographer. Anyone can operate a
camera, especially these days with automatic focus and automatic lenses,
but not everyone has the ability to achieve rapport, make people relax,
remain calm when all around is making whoopee and work almost non
stop for 8 hours plus. The photographer starts the day hours prior to the
ceremony, checking equipment, removing any possible chance of anything
going wrong. He or she should produce quality prints with flair and
artistry, be creative, look after you both, and then go away into a dark
room and produce proofs for all to compare, often with their own photos.
That’s what all your guests will do as soon as they see the proofs! I
guarantee it.

OK, so how do you find this super person. Again ASK! ASK!
ASK!
Look in the local newspapers. Look in the telephone directories,
go and see the previous work that they have done. Ask if you can contact
a previous Bride and Groom. Why not? After all, they’ve had dealings
with the photographer and parted with their hard-earned money, so they
will tell you the truth, hopefully.

Ask how long they have been doing photography, especially
wedding photography. There’s a huge difference between taking a
photograph of a building and real live vibrant people who move around.
Most people really do not enjoy having their photo being taken, so ensure
that the photographer is a people person.

There are some photographers who will take the photos and
develop them and then give you the negatives, so that you can go along
and enlarge them yourselves. Do your own album and order the prints,
which your guests want. It really is a personal preference. Either way is a
good way.

Now the video. Much applies to the Videographer as applies to the
Photographer. Anyone can operate a video camera, but how many can
really capture the event with style, class and artistic flair. Not many.
Believe me. I’ve seen them. If you want a job done properly have it done
by a professional.

Do you need both? My answer is yes and the reason that I say this,
is this, a still photographer is a still photographer. He or she will capture
the moment, the memory on paper. With a video, the movement is
captured and much more is captured for you to treasure and look at, to
giggle and laugh at over and over again.

To look at this another way, imagine going to the movies and the
film is shown as thousands even millions of slides. Do you think that you
would still capture the emotion, the laughter, the sadness, that you would
have if this was shown in the normal way?
Interesting isn’t it? Food for thought.