Re: OT: advice on selecting wedding photographer
Chaso DeChaso wrote: > > Hello Pentaxers, > > I have three questions regarding employing a > wedding photographer for my upcoming wedding: > > 1. What should I look for in a photographer? > Are there any essential questions I should ask? > Are there any warning signs of bad photographers? This is going to be an interesting thread. Look for someone who's style you like. Make sure they have some experience, unless you're trying to save cash... Bad wedding photographers are bad because they don't get along very well with people. If you talk to him and you just don't like the way you interact, steer clear. You're looking for someone with some social skills, who can get people to move around without coming off like an ass, and who knows when to lay low. Others are bad cuz they aren't very good with the camera. You can usually find this out by asking to see a proof book. A portfolio is always going to look pretty good, but the proof is in the proofs. So to speak. Ahem. References are good too, though I guess they wouldn't steer you towards someone they screwed over. > Of > course, viewing the past work is always important, but > it is often not clear (especially in larger firms) > precisely who took the photos one is viewing, or > whether one will be able to secure that particular > photographer. Well, demand the photographer you like. If you can't see the specific work of the guy you're hiring, I would avoid them. There should be a few independent people in your area. > What is important to specify to the > photographer I end up employing? Uh, you need to figure out what you want and tell him. > > 2. Is it important that the photographer use > medium format? I know this topic has been debated a > bit before. Some have said that medium is essential > (at least for stills); whereas, others have argued > that this is only important if one is intending to > enlarge beyond 8x10, and that 35mm cameras are > generally more capable in regards to capturing > movement with advanced autofocus. You answered your own question. Personally, I don't think it's all that important. It's important to me from a marketing standpoint, but I don't get too many requests for 16x20's...the ones I've gotten are from 35mm. There's grain out the yin yang, but they (and I) don't care, the composition and timing make it work. It may be a sign as to how professional a guy is. But maybe not. > > 3. Are there any list members who are > professional photographers in the Albany, NY area > available to photograph a wedding on August 12, 2001? > Or can anyone recommend anyone in this area? I could fly up from DC. ;) I don't know anyone up there. Might want to search some wedding sites tv -- Thomas Van Veen Photography Washington D.C. http://bigdayphoto.com/ 301-758-3085 - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, visit http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions.
Re: OT: advice on selecting wedding photographer
Chaso, I was married last August, so maybe I can give you a few pointers: >1. What should I look for in a photographer? >Are there any essential questions I should ask? >Are there any warning signs of bad photographers? Of >course, viewing the past work is always important, but >it is often not clear (especially in larger firms) >precisely who took the photos one is viewing, or >whether one will be able to secure that particular >photographer. Make sure you see the work of the particular photographer you will have. Speaking from recent experience, their styles can vary a lot (I actually preferred my photographer's style to the owner's). Also make sure you know what is included in your package: number of photos and album pages, how long you will have him/her (and what extra time will cost), whether a studio sitting is included (e.g. for engagement photos), if black and white is extra, etc. It can also help a lot if they are familiar with the location (or will visit it before hand). >What is important to specify to the >photographer I end up employing? Any photos you or your fiance absolutely must have, and any preferences for color, black and white, etc. Also, what type of album you prefer (more formal, or a more spontaneous "photjournalistic" style). Any good photographer should ask you these things, anyway. We wanted plenty of spontaneous photo's (emotion, dancing, etc.) but didn't want him to be intrusive, and we told him so. We hardly knew he was there. > >2. Is it important that the photographer use >medium format? I know this topic has been debated a >bit before. Some have said that medium is essential >(at least for stills); whereas, others have argued >that this is only important if one is intending to >enlarge beyond 8x10, and that 35mm cameras are >generally more capable in regards to capturing >movement with advanced autofocus. I believe medium format makes a real diffeence. There is a quality to the med. format prints that just lacks with 35mm, even at moderate enlargements. The 10x10's in our album have such smooth tonal quality, they really are breathtaking. And our photographer used medium format extensively for the casuals and candids (dance photo's, etc.). 35mm was only used for the really low light stuff, when flash was not appropriate. I think it actually just depends on the abilities of your photographer. Let me know if you have any more questions, and I'll try to answer them as best I can. Richard Holman [EMAIL PROTECTED] Massachusetts Institute of Technology Department of Materials Science and Engineering Ceramics Processing Research Laboratory 3D-Printing Group - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, visit http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions.
Re: OT: advice on selecting wedding photographer
<< 1. What should I look for in a photographer? First of all you should be comfortable with his/her personality. You don't want to spent the happiest day of your life with a grumpy photographer bossing you and your family and friends around. Are there any essential questions I should ask? Check their experience level so you can feel comfortable trusting these important shots to him/her. Are there any warning signs of bad photographers? Of course, viewing the past work is always important, but it is often not clear (especially in larger firms) precisely who took the photos one is viewing, or whether one will be able to secure that particular photographer. Ask to see a set of shots one ENTIRE wedding from the photographer. If all they have are a few great shots from different weddings, then you might be concerned about their overall ability. Anyone can set up lighting for formals and get it right, but can they handle candids as well? What is important to specify to the photographer I end up employing? Let them know what is important to YOU. Do you prefer more formal shots, or do you like more spontaneous candids? And then you and he can decide if he is right for your tastes. 2. Is it important that the photographer use medium format? Frankly, no, BUT medium is better for formals that may require bigger enlargements. However this is rarely an issue -- good 35mm is perfectly acceptable >> - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, visit http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions.
Re: OT: advice on selecting wedding photographer
Chaso, I would agree with everything Tom V, said. Someone whose style you like. It didn't matter to me at all that one photographer was planning to wear a tuxedo to the wedding, and I didn't like the idea that he thought what he would wear was worth mentioning. (I assume a professional will not wear torn jeans and a greasy T-shirt to the wedding.) Will the photog be at your convenience on the day of the wedding? Will he have another wedding or portrait scheduled that he will have to run to before your reception is complete? Quality of the work. I looked at portfolios, current wedding albums (ready to be delivered), and proof books. As a matter of fact two studios and one independent photog offered current proof books before I asked. How do they handle your selections? One studio told us they would actually determine what size each print would be and the layout of the wedding album. Another studio and an independent offered to assemble our selections however my daughter, son-in-law, and wife wished. [They also knew that my suggestions didn't really matter. : )] For my daughter's wedding, I called several friends and former associates and asked them for quotes. A couple of these photographers upset my daughter and wife immediately. A couple were already scheduled. One place to find referrals is through the other people you will contract for your wedding. When we spoke with the caterers, they each gave us a couple of recommendations for photographers. So did the florists and the dress makers. The caterers' and florists' references also were kind enough to give us referrals for the photographers of their weddings. As it so happened, one of the caterers recommended a man I knew, but I didn't know he did weddings. He has an orchestra that my uncle performed with, and he used to repair cameras for the store where I sold cameras. We were very happy with the completed photo albums. Again, I agree with what Tom said. After covering all the bases, go with your gut. K. - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, visit http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions.
