Photography is a cornerstone of any wedding. "Your wedding album creates a time capsule of your day," says Daniel J. Stankey, principal at Todd Studios Photography. Photos of your wedding are the long-term gifts you will continue to cherish over the years. Dave Mullenix, owner of Through a Lens photography, agrees. "Photographs mean more to people than anything else. They increase in value over the years."
Today, professional photographers can create dramatic and breathtaking images of you and your groom. Photoshop and other software products have revolutionized the industry. "It can't fix bad photography; it only enhances great images," says Stankey. Mullenix agrees that you need great photography as your base. "Once you get an image into Photoshop, then you can bring the real emotion of the image out." In the warehouse of photo possibilities, there are many popular options to suit glowing brides.
Filters and Lenses 101: A camera basically works by reflecting light off an image and manipulating that light. Filters are put over the top of a lens to change the color and shape of light. According to Stankey, the neutral density filter is the perfect complement for wedding photography. He also enjoys shooting with a yellow and green, black and white filter. He says, "A lot of great candid photography and photojournalistic images benefit from these two filters."
Mullenix prefers shooting with a 35-70mm lens for the majority of weddings. The 2.8 f-stop blurs the background and makes the subjects in a photo really pop. A 70-200mm zoom lens is another popular choice. "This lens gives a nice compression that is flattering to women and facial features. It doesn't look like a snapshot," Mullenix says. In addition, there are a series of lenses that can add some spark to your album. A fish eye or wide-angle lens is a great tool to use for tight rooms and panoramic views. "It gets the whole scene and everything that is going on in the room," says Mullenix. "It's a wonderful, fun lens when used properly."
Location, Location, Location!: The location of your wedding is an important factor when it comes to the photo techniques used. For predominantly indoor celebrations, photographers will use fill flash and other methods to mimic natural light. "It's all about the bride. Everything we do is geared toward that girl and making her look great," says Mullenix. "So, we use a lot of natural light with reflectors and look for really cool lighting that is already there."
For outdoor weddings, Stankey likes using a circular polarizer and a series of other accessories. "A ring flash is very well suited for outdoor weddings and can create a nice effect," he says. Mullenix warns that bright sun is the most challenging light to work with, but it also can give some great results like backlight shots if your photographer works with it. "It gives a nice luminous effect to the hair and we use a soft reflector to bring light to her face," he says.
Getting Started: Good photographers are hard to catch, but if you begin fishing early, you are bound to snag what you're after. Keep in mind that photography is a large part of a wedding budget. Stankey says booking a photographer is the next step after confirming the location and date of your wedding. "It is best to secure your photographer as soon as possible so that you are not forced to compromise," he says. Mullenix agrees, "You can't hardly start looking early enough. We're already booking 2008 brides." Brides can expect to pay upward of $2,500 for a quality photographer. Keep in mind that prices are generally set up as package deals and the cost varies in terms of experience, availability and personality. "What you should expect to pay for should be based on experience, competency and quality of work the studio produces," Stankey says.
Chat it Up: When it comes to planning your wedding, your opinion is crucial. Meet your potential photographers and learn about the work they do. Stankey recommends looking through several portfolios of their work, touring their facility and feeling comfortable with them. "Great photography is always in the details," he says. It is also essential to find someone you can relate to. Photographers who enjoy their jobs can bring energy and creativity to any situation. "Personality is so important when picking a wedding photographer," says Mullenix. "You are going to spend more time with your wedding photographer on your wedding day than any other person, with the exception of your groom."
