 Understanding
Wedding Photography
When choosing your wedding photographer,
you are investing not just dollars and cents, but you are also investing
you and your family's time on the wedding day. That is why you should
not settle on the most economical photographer, but seek out a skilled
artisan whose style matches your vision of your wedding day, one
who has an eye for superb images.
By understanding how today's professionals
approach weddings, you will have an easy time comparing photographers.
To help you make the right decision, you should understand these
four approaches to wedding photography: traditional, wedding
photojournalism, illustrative and creative.
Traditional
Wedding Photography
Traditional photography includes portraits of bridal party and family
- close-up and full length - and candid photographs that tell the
story of the day. This is the style that suits most weddings.
Wedding Photojournalism
Wedding photojournalism means no posed photographs - all pictures
would be taken without any instruction from or awareness of the
photographer.
Illustrative
Photography
Illustrative photography has drama, grand poses and majestic scenery.
Every detail in the image is carefully arranged to produce a photograph
with impact. Think of this style as what you would find in high-fashion
photography - where even the candid photos are the results of precise
posing and lighting.
Creative Wedding
Photography
The Creative or impressionistic photographer creates images with
unusual angle or juxtaposition. The photographer is creating his
or her artistic impression of your wedding day. The goal is to produce
a limited number of art prints from your wedding.
Most photographers actually present
a mix of all four of these, with an emphasis on the first (traditional).
This makes sense because even if you love the impressionistic approach,
your mom will surely want a touching photo of the bride and groom,
and a smiling picture of mom and dad with their son or daughter.
When you visit a photographer, you
want to look at sample albums (the same wedding from first page
to last, not just highlights from a hodgepodge of events) and see
how well the photographer has created images in each of these four
categories. The formals (posed) photographs should have the subject
lit with directional and flattering light. You should see a natural
sparkle (catch-light) in the eyes and the background should not
compete with the subject for attention. Look for a variety of relaxed
and natural expressions. If there are photojournalistic shots, see
if they have impact and clarity, or are they merely snapshots.
The illustrative photos (with dramatic
posing) should express your ideas about romance. The subject of
the photograph should be a meaningful part of the picture, not just
a bride plopped down on a rock in front of a bridge. The creative
photographs should be playful and alive, and complement the coverage.
Capture the moments of your special
day with these tips:
Looking for photographers
in St. Louis, Missouri? Start your search for St. Louis wedding
photographers in our vendor directory.
|
