Modern couples have many options available to them in capturing and preserving their wedding day memories. When making the important decision about who they’ll hire to document their wedding day, they should consider these three factors: style of photography, price of product and personality of the photographer.
STYLE OF PHOTOGRAPHY
Whether classic, stylized or photojournalistic, each photographic style captures a different point of view. An experienced photographer can provide a blend of all three styles to provide a comprehensive story.
Classic coverage brings people together to create timeless portraits. If you do not want to spend much time for formal portraits, at least take a group portrait of the bride’s family, groom’s family, and the wedding party as well as a few traditional portraits of the bride and groom. These photographs are timeless and become a documentation of family history.
Stylized photography is a blend of classic and photojournalistic, where the photographer coaxes expression and encourages poses to make them seem natural and spontaneous. It is the skill of a good photographer to work with the light and subjects to bring the moment together and make it seem effortless. This is a contemporary style and what the public sees most in fashion and wedding magazines.
A photojournalistic or candid approach captures the fleeting moments without contact or coaxing the subjects. The moment happens and the shutter clicks. With today’s automatic cameras and userfriendly digital technology, this point and shoot style has become very popular.
PRICE OF PRODUCT
Allotting 10% of your wedding day budget is a realistic investment for quality professional photography. Additionally, there are many fine quality products available only through a professional photographer, such as a welldesigned, handcrafted album that beautifully preserves wedding day memories and brings years of enjoyment.
Your album can showcase all 8x10” prints, it can have a classic creative design with photographs elegantly bound in a library album, or you might prefer the trend setting magazinestyle book where pages are digitally designed to create unique storytelling pages.
The price of wedding coverage and albums can vary greatly, from $500 to $5,000 or more. Photography is the number one hobby in the world and a parttime hobbyist will gladly negotiate and charge less than a full-time photographer who is committed to the integrity of the profession, the success of their business and establishing a relationship with the client. The photographer’s price will be based on the value they place on their time, experience and service.
PERSONALITY OF PHOTOGRAPHER
Your photographer is one of the few services you hire for your wedding that will have close contact with you throughout the day. Get to know your photographer with a personal interview or schedule an engagement portrait to see if you are comfortable working with them. You are relying on this person to document your wedding so make sure they are compatible with your style preference and that you like the energy of the photographer.
Debbie Adams Photography has served the Santa Barbara area as a portrait/wedding specialist since 1986. www.dlaphoto.com
