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WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY part
2
the quest for the perfect photo...
So we've managed to educate you a little
more on the art of photography. Here is our last and final page on our
watchdog slash consumer advocate article on wedding photography. Hope
that coffee's still fresh.
The Medium Format vs. 35mm
debate: Which one is better?
Wedding photographers tend to use their equipment to sell their expertise,
rather than their artistic skill. You can quote me here, but equipment
is only 5% of the picture and I'm sure you believe this as well. Great
quality can be attained on a snapshot camera. Truth be known, in a side
to side comparison, Medium Format cameras kill 35mm when it comes down
to resolution and lenses. A Medium Format camera's quality is outstanding.
Sharpness ...incredible. Great for still life, scenic shots, a handful
of fashion shoots...but for wedding photography, it's not a necessary
evil. Other than for group shots and a few portrait shots, most
of your wedding can be shot on a professional 35mm camera. In
fact, medium format pictures can be a little too sharp, exposing flaws
in the most perfect supermodel skin.
Why 35mm? We'll to begin, a 35mm camera
is just plain faster than a Medium Format Camera. Film advances faster,
shutters snap faster, and above all, 35mm cameras focus a hell of a
lot faster. Speed is the main reason why 35mm cameras are the choice
cameras for journalist. It's really not a matter of shooting more photos.
It's the matter of snapping a photo when something happens. If a bride
cries, laughs, a 35mm camera has a higher chance of catching that moment.
More Pros for 35mm? I personally love
to shoot on 35mm because I love the way it composites. The landscape
shots are extraordinary wide, allowing me to get close up shots while
including mass amounts of scenery in the frame. 35mm landscape shots
tend to have a cinematic feel, or movie like feel. The 35mm camera is
also fairly light camera, not as bulky, so a photographer can move around
a couple during the ceremony to acquire rather unique shots in a timely
manner. Below are a sequence of shots taken one after another at a wedding
ceremony. Notice the continuity and different angles obtained with a
35mm. Also, with a great zoom, a great photographer can capture different
shots to tell the story of your wedding.
A skilled photographer on 35mm can make it look as though you have 2
camera coverage. The series above is shot with one camera.
VERDICT: 35mm
is all you will need for your wedding. There will be
a few exceptions to the rule, but a skilled photographer can cover
all his bases and more with a single 35mm camera. Unfortunately,
some photographers tend to associate medium format with quality.
All-in-all, it comes down to composition, lighting, and storytelling
ability. Be wary of a photographer who tends to push his gear
before his work. It's just like the photographer who associates
quality with quantity. They're both blowing smoke.
The last added benefit to having your wedding shot purely on
35mm is that you can get it developed and printed almost anywhere
in the U.S at a relatively low cost. |
"35mm landscape shots tend to have a cinematic feel."
I UNDERSTAND THAT COMPOISTION IS KING, BUT WHAT
IS GOOD COMPOSITION? WHAT'S A GOOD PHOTOGRAPHER?
Some photographers may argue that composition is purely subjective.
But while a thin line may separate a great photo from a good photo,
galaxies separate a good photo from a bad photo. Here's what to look
for when looking at photos and what to look in a photographer.
-
VAST LANDSCAPE - An amature photographer,
and even family friend, can snap a great photo if it's a close-up
shot. But not every photographer has the skill to composite landscape
shots with foreground subjects beautifully. In other words, a
skilled photographer can back the camera up. This will work
in your interest as well, as you will want scenic shots for your wedding.
Be wary of the photographer who only shoots close-ups. After all,
why travel all the way to Hawaii to get head shots? You can get those
anywhere.
- NATURAL MOMENTS - While there should be a handful
of posed photos in your photographers portfolio, look for snapshots
for natural moments as well. These are the shots that make your wedding
pictures unique from others.
- BACKGROUND DICTATES THE FOREGROUND - This is a really
important rule. Make sure the background shots are not filled with power
lines, tourists, or even worse, trees sticking out of couple's heads.
Great photographers choose their background first, then insert their
couples.
- LESS EFFECTS, THE BETTER - Photographers who utilize
excessive blur filters, photoshop techniques, and fish-eye shots, are
hiding behind the fact that they are less talented photographers. Make
sure that the majority of your photographer's portfolio is filled with
very little effect shots. Look for full frame pictures as well and not
cropped shots. Anyone can take a photo and crop it to look good. Make
sure you see the FULL FRAME.
- STORYTELLING ABILITY - When you break it down, photography
is basically storytelling with pictures. Make sure that your photographer
portfolio includes "important" shots oF every moment that
you consider important. A great photographer should know what shots
are already important so you shouldn't need to give him a list. Ask
him specifically, "What shots will you take to tell the story of
my wedding." If you agree with his answer, you're more than likely
to have found the right photographer for the job.
- USE OF SHADOWS - This is a biggie. Skilled photographers
use everything in thier arsenal to bring meaning to a picture. Their
use of shadows can tell a lot about thier work. If it looks neat, you
got yourself a great photographer.
| VERDICT:Overall, use your
own eye to judge what a great picture is. God has blessed each human
with a natural compositing eye. Just try to stay away from photographer
who tends to shoot too many close ups and you'll be just fine. You
don't want to come all the way to Hawaii to shoot next to a single
palm tree. Make sure that you are also comfortable with your photographer.
Like marriage, chemistry is everything between a couple and photographer. |
HOW CAN I GET A COOL WEDDING ALBUM?
Wedding albums take forever to construct so you're better off purchasing
one on your own and mounting your own photos. To obtain a great album,
visit your local bookstore and pull off a few photography magazines. Flip
to the classified sections and you'll find the exact albums that your
photography company uses. And yes, you can purchase them with no hassle.
HOW CAN I ENLARGE MY PHOTOS?
Scan in your photos to your favorite bitmap editor, most likely Photoshop
or Corel Photo-Paint. Then, after touch-ups, save them as uncompressed
JPEGS. Then, sign up for an account on www.ofoto.com,
upload them, and order your prints. There quality is outstanding and I'm
sure you'll be repeat user there. We sure are. You can also turn your
photos into black and white, order Christmas Cards, the works...
HOW DO I GET REPRINTS?
Photographers love to bargain to get your business. Always try to bargain
for the negatives before asking for anything else. Once you get your negatives,
find yourself a "professional lab." This is very important.
There is a vast difference between your local 24 hour processing plant
and your professional lab. Then, when you develop your photos, tell them
exactly how you want your photos to be. Tell them that you want the sky's
bluer, and you to be more tan. They should be able to accommodate you.
We'll this concludes our in depth analysis of wedding photography.
If you do book with us, we would be so honored to take your photograph,
and to capture your dream wedding. But in the case that you don't use
our services, make sure to print out this article, and to use it as a
standard to measure all other photographers with.
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