Post archive
+ How should I plan my day? (29/06/2010 - 07:50:54)
+ Why two photographers? (28/06/2010 - 20:14:42)
+ Another wedding photography blog! (16/06/2010 - 08:08:07)
How should I plan my day?
So, I am sat in front of the couple and have established that the service ends at 2.00pm and that the guests are due to sit down to eat at 3.30pm!
With a smile on my face I politely explain this leaves only 90 minutes to get everyone out of the church, allow for milling around and congratulations, start the process of shooting the 15 separate group shots they have asked for (only after the illusive Uncle Dave has been found!), usher everyone onto the waiting bus (which is 10 minutes late!), drive the 25 miles to the reception venue, shoot the additional group shots (but only after all your guests have grabbed a drink, been to the loo and found the illusive Uncle Dave again) and take stunning technically perfect pictures of you, the couple, looking relaxed. We then have to hand over to the venue for your line in. And as venues/chefs DO NOT like to be kept waiting, this needs to happen ON TIME!
A nightmare scenario perhaps. But allowing adequate time for your photography is often overlooked, if not undervalued.
How much time should I allow? I suppose the way to answer this is to imagine the weddings you have been to your self. A common concern is that as a guest you have been 'kept standing around for hours' by a photographer who spent 'hours' taking pictures and 'shouting at guests'. You naturally do not want this for your guests; you want them to have a good day without having to hang around for hours. But if inadequate time has been allocated, you either have to knock things back, sit down late for your meal or sacrifice time with your photographer. And although it is very rare, wedding cars do break down, or traffic jams do occur between the church and the reception venue. Allow for this in your planning. At the end of the day, you cannot buy this time back on the day. I do work fast, but I am thorough and like to keep things as relaxed as possible. I also pride myself in always handing couples over to venues on time or preferably early! And sometimes do this whilst working to VERY tight schedules.
Having said all of this, my experience has shown that timing is taken into consideration, and that the majority of couples have done their research and allowed plenty of time for photography. I also produce a detailed running order with couples at a pre-wedding meeting, and can advise on timings based on experience. It can be the case however that venues and meal times are arranged before booking a photographer. It is therefore important to consider building plenty of time for photography and possible unforeseen circumstances into your day. As a rule of thumb, a two-hour time slot for photography (excluding shots at the church and travel) would seem sensible, (although as a photographer more time is always desirable). This allows time for drinks, comfort breaks, you actually talking with your guests and finding the illusive Uncle Dave again!
Posted @ 07:50:54 on 29 June 2010 back to top
Why two photographers?
As standard my wedding photography packages come with two photographers. Why is this needed, I am often asked. Well, having your wedding photographed by two photographers is not essential, but there are very good reasons why. I photographed many weddings on my own before joining forces with female wedding photographer Nicky Rogerson. Indeed, many wedding photographers still shoot on their own, with fantastic results. And seeing as my outlay is greater, (I 'buy in' Nicky's services for the day), what possible reasons do I have. Is it because we are only half as good as those super human single shooters!
Well, no. I shoot weddings as part of a team for a few reasons. Logistically, it was always a bit of a rush having to start a typical day at the Bride's house, capturing the preparations, and then darting over to the grooms house, and then rushing over to the church, usually frantically juggling an A to Z! Having two of us shooting simultaneously is so much more relaxed. Mostly for us! This is important however, as if we are relaxed, not having to constantly clock watch, then more often than not this is transmitted to you the client. And having a female photographer on hand to shoot the bridal preparations is perhaps a little less imposing!
It also means, for example, while one of us may be shooting portraits of the couple in the church, the other can be setting up group shots.
Secondly, and for me of much greater importance, we see things in very different ways. Although our styles compliment each other, they are different. We are both exponents of reportage wedding photography. But we both had very different routes to our current styles. We therefore are able to tell your story via two perspectives. And this adds a great dynamic to your photographs. It also means that the same scene is often photographed by the two of us at the same time, resulting in very natural shots.
So, it is more expensive in terms of overheads for me, but of huge value in terms of final product. And that is my primary concern.
This is a shot taken candidly by myself as the main group respond to Nicky.
Well, no. I shoot weddings as part of a team for a few reasons. Logistically, it was always a bit of a rush having to start a typical day at the Bride's house, capturing the preparations, and then darting over to the grooms house, and then rushing over to the church, usually frantically juggling an A to Z! Having two of us shooting simultaneously is so much more relaxed. Mostly for us! This is important however, as if we are relaxed, not having to constantly clock watch, then more often than not this is transmitted to you the client. And having a female photographer on hand to shoot the bridal preparations is perhaps a little less imposing!
It also means, for example, while one of us may be shooting portraits of the couple in the church, the other can be setting up group shots.
Secondly, and for me of much greater importance, we see things in very different ways. Although our styles compliment each other, they are different. We are both exponents of reportage wedding photography. But we both had very different routes to our current styles. We therefore are able to tell your story via two perspectives. And this adds a great dynamic to your photographs. It also means that the same scene is often photographed by the two of us at the same time, resulting in very natural shots.
So, it is more expensive in terms of overheads for me, but of huge value in terms of final product. And that is my primary concern.
This is a shot taken candidly by myself as the main group respond to Nicky.
Posted @ 20:14:42 on 28 June 2010 back to top
Another wedding photography blog!
What could be more boring than a photographers blog! Who, apart from other photographers, would possibly be interested?
Well, I am definitely NOT going to be talking about fstops and equipment. I will however be using this blog as a sort of question and answer section. I get asked a lot of questions by couples about their wedding package, what is included in the price, how the day will work etc
This blog will therefore address those issues, and as a result, hopefully appeal to you the client rather than other photographers. No offence to my contemporaries who might be reading.
It will look at budgets, timings, photographic styles and trends, running orders, choosing images, albums and other delights! In fact, all the things that you the client ask me. And in short bursts! A few paragraphs rather than an essay. So hopefully, in a nutshell, of use!
And please do get in touch via the link on this page with your questions or comments.
I will also add pictures from the season as it unfolds. To start, a shot taken at Linton Falls in the Dales, featuring Coral and Chris.
Paul
Posted @ 08:08:07 on 16 June 2010 back to top
