Contemporary Wedding Photography – Ideas For The Wedding Photographer by Dave Grierson
Before The Big Day
This is the beginning of a set of three articles dealing with contemporary wedding photography. In the following articles you will find lots of ideas for the beginner, and seasoned photographer. This first article covers the time before the wedding. We will look at what you need to do at the first meeting with the engaged couple, right up to the night before the wedding.
The most important meeting you will have with the bride and groom to be is the first one. This is where you get to observe them, and they get to know you. When you see the couple together, watch how they are toward each other, how they interact. Are they holding hands, touching each other, or are they totally business like? By watching them during this meeting you should figure out what their wedding will be like, and how they will want to look in their photographs.
In this meeting, you need to figure out what the couple wants from their wedding photographer, as well as observing them. Usually, the bride is the one with the vision of the wedding album. However, you need to include the groom in the decision process as well.
Generally, the album will be a mix of candid, and posed shots, you need to decide on a ratio that satisfies these particular people. The other thing you need to figure out, is where all these photos are to be taken. It is likely the day will start at the brides house, then the church. Is the reception hall next, or do they want to go somewhere for posed shots with the rest of the wedding party? Make sure you have some photos of locations in your area to show the couple if they don’t have someplace specific in mind.
Everything that is discussed in this meeting needs to be written down, including any specific shots that they may want. Shots of the bride and her mother, her going down the isle, outside the church, throwing of the bouquet, or the garter, are but a few you may come up with. You want to make a “photo checklist” of all these specific shots to bring with you on the wedding day. Don’t forget that this is a one time event, and, by checking them off as you go, the photo checklist will ensure that you take all the shots that the couple wants.
Its time to get down to business. The final price needs to be set, any deposits, or “good faith Payments” discussed, and model release forms signed, so you can use any shots to promote your business. An “in the event of” clause is a good idea, in case you are somehow incapacitated on the wedding day. What you will deliver in the final package also needs to be nailed down. Have samples of wedding albums to show them, is it digital or hard copy, how many shots are to be in it, are there to be any enlargements, and are they framed or not. These are all issues that need to be finalized. By the end of this meeting you need to know exactly what they want, what costs you are covering, the final price of the package, and when final payment is to be.
Now that you have gone through the long and possibly arduous process of the first meeting, it is time to go and write up a contract. There are lots of examples, and blanks of contemporary wedding photography contracts online if this is your first one and you need a little help. In order to protect yourself from any possible future difficulties, it is a good idea to have a lawyer peruse the contract after you have written it up. It is time to have all parties concerned sign it. Each party should have a witness on hand to sign it as well.
Earlier, we discussed location. Now you want to go and see the various spots that you will be shooting. Look at what kind of lighting is in the church, if a flash is allowed, is the reception hall filled with fluorescent lights? Now you will be ready to make quick and easy adjustments to your equipment. Look for spots to set up and shoot from, and the pathways that you will take you from one to the other. You will want to know step by step where you will be, and when, so that the shoot runs smoothly.
The night before the wedding it is advisable to make up an equipment checklist. Use this checklist to make sure that everything has fresh batteries, what needs to be charged is plugged in, and that you have everything that you need for the wedding day. This checklist can also be used for packing your equipment in the morning. Make sure that your memory cards are empty, and inserted into the cameras.
Ok, you are all set for the big day…get some sleep. Tomorrow you need to be awake and alert to shoot your best contemporary wedding photography with an air of confidence about you. In part two of this series, we will look at ideas to make the wedding day a success, from a photographic point of view.
About the Author
Dave Grierson is an expert article author and blogger, and has been involved in photography for over 20 years. To find out more about wedding photography, click on the following link:
http://digitalweddingsecretsreviewdaveg3.blogspot.com
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