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Welcome to the wonderful and continually changing world of wedding photography. You will be amazed at the creative and beautiful work of photographers throughout the Valley of the Sun.You don't have to be a celebrity to capture your wedding day and surrounding events in the style - and format - that you will enjoy for the rest of your lives.
For some insight into wedding photography and videography, we consulted eight local experts with a vast array of experience:
Q: How do you get to know a couple during the interview process? Do you feel it's important to meet more than once?
Hurwitz: "The relationship matters because a photographer will do his best work if he likes and cares about the couple. Sometimes you can meet only once... in these cases, I stay in touch periodically, so I can continue to learn about them, and a strong bond is created between us. Engagement photo sessions also help us learn about each other, so we can work together seamlessly on the wedding day."
Quillinan: "When your wedding day finally comes, you need to be excited for me to get there and start shooting. This relationship is more than that one day and the few months leading up to it. I want to sit down with you later to design your album, I want to shoot your bridesmaids' weddings and I want to continue documenting your family as it grows."
Sergio: "Most likely, the photographer will be the vendor that spends the most time with the bride and groom on their wedding day. So it is very important that the photographer gets along with everybody really well. It is important to develop a good relationship through good communication via personal meetings, phone conversations, texting, online chatting or email. Photography has a lot to do with trust; a photographer will ultimately work better if he has gained the trust of his clients and clients have decided to give it to him or her."
Wallace/Mejia: "Because we shoot a lot of destination weddings, we actually don't get to meet many of our clients in person. More than meeting in person, we feel shooting our clients helps break the ice and makes a wedding day shoot more comfortable for our clients."
Thurlkill: "Getting to know the bride and groom is the most important part of my business. It is so critical to hear how a couple fell in love and why they are starting a life together. My job as a photographer is to be both an artist and a family historian. I feel it helps me to know what they are passionate about so I can better tell their story."
Ferguson: "When interviewing a photographer, a bride should feel comfortable with them and their personality, as she will likely spend as much time with the photographer as the groom on the wedding day. The more comfortable the bride is, the better her photographs will be."
Bills: "A connection is key during the first meeting…however, videography is not as intimate of an experience as photography as we tell our story from a distance and in an unobtrusive fashion so most of our clients meet with us once and then we shoot their wedding."
Q: Tell us about the new developments in your field. We know technology is always changing!
Thurlkill: "There are two competing developments that are taking wedding photography to the next level. Digital photography is taking photography and allowing it to merge with video in new and exciting ways. This new technology is, however, creating a response from those that still believe in the power of the still image to tell a complete story. Because of this, older and slower forms of photography are re-emerging. Many photographers are blending both their new digital images, video, and the older medium format and 4x5 images to creat new multimedia presentations previously unimaginable."
Bills: "The transition to HD has been amazing! It has taken the quality of our wedding films to a whole new level. We also really enjoy that wedding films have taken on a more cinematic and creative style allowing each wedding film to be customized to a couple's desires."
Ferguson: "As a photographer, new cameras on the market are capable of photographing in extremely low light, making some amazing images possible in bridal suites and churches without using any auxiliary lighting. As a wedding professional, social networking such as Twitter and Facebook, has opened up a whole new avenue for connecting with clients and sharing images with them.
Wallace/Mejia: LightRoom has been a great program for editing our RAW files. We've found it to be a great asset in getting the best out of our files. We like to artistically enhance our images to look more organic and film-like and LightRoom is a large part of our post-production process."
Hurwitz: "There are so many new products that did not exist even five years ago. Coffee table books and digital slide shows are just two examples. Ironically, one thing that is exciting to me is that less than 2% of photographers shoot film at weddings, which makes any wedding I do with film that much more unique and precious. Film is more subtle, and since you will be looking at your wedding images many times over many years, subtle imagery will allow you to see new things each time you look."
Reeves: "A lot of the brides and grooms are more inclined to have more artistic, fun, relaxed photos on their wedding day so they dedicate more time to photography."
Q: Speaking of products, which products are most interesting to your clients?
Hurwitz: "Even though the country is in a recession, most of our clients still want something other than just a CD of their images. Large prints done on canvas are popular, as are prints done on metallic papers. We put a lot of passion and effort into these books, as we do custom design for each couple."
Reeves: "Coffee table books, and cool slideshows are top of the list but we also have boudoir books and canvas collections that are becoming very popular."
Bills: "Wedding movie trailers and wedding highlight films. We can use a number of special effects in editing such as 'the film effect' which gives a vintage look to a wedding film."
Sergio: "My most popular product is still the wedding album. It is so cool having a great wedding album to show to friends and family. I love making them feel like rockstars."
Ferguson: "Most of our clients choose our studio because we specialize in custom-designed story book albums, and that is one of the few tangible keepsakes they will have to remember their wedding day and share with future generations. Electronic images are the next most popular item with our clients. Not so much because they want to make their own prints, but it gives them the ability to archive their entire image collection for the future."
Q: How do you feel about a couple seeing each other before the wedding? How does it impact the images and the schedule, in your opinion?
Sergio: "Most of my clients have told me how happy they were that they saw each other before the ceremony. It is great because we are able to spend quality, uninterrupted, time to create beautiful portraits. Portraiture is a process that takes time and it can not be rushed."
Ferguson: "I am a strong advocate of the couple seeing each other before the wedding. In most cases, it is the only 10-15 minutes of the day that the bride and groom have alone together. It is a wonderful, private time for them to soak up the excitement and emotions without an audience. It allows the photographer to get a lot of the required group photographs done before the ceremony, so the couple can spend time at the cocktail reception with their guests and enjoy the party they have likely spent a great deal of money on. Starting early also gives us more time to stretch our creative wings. In some cases we will sneak away with the bride and groom toward the end of the cocktail hour... to capture some special sunset images."
Bills: "We prefer shooting weddings where the couple sees each other beforehand. A 'first look' always makes for incredible video. It is intimate and emotional. Couples who see each other before hand always have better photos and a better video because they aren't stressed. They are not chasing the sun and racing to get all of their photos shot. Plus they get a chance to enjoy their cocktail hour and mingle with their guests."
Thurlkill: "We believe it is important for each couple to create the experience that fits them best. Some people desire a very traditional moment at the altar where the bride and groom meet for the first time. We want to honor that and capture images that reflect their wishes. However, for most of our clients we have found it is a beneficial experience to see one another before the wedding starts. It allows for more time to have an emotional meeting and an extended portrait session with just the bride and groom. We have also found that couples are more relaxed once the family pictures are out of the way and they can then focus on the guests and their partner during the cocktail hour and reception."
Quillinan: "I leave this up to each couple. I'm not the one who should make that important decision. That is such an emotional moment for me to capture. I do enjoy having a first sight before the wedding for a few reasons. It's one of the few times in the day, if not the only time, when you'll have a minute alone. Cry, kiss, look at each other and relax. The setting is staged but the results are the truest pictures anyone could produce."
Wallace/Mejia: "Some couples worry that if they see each other before the ceremony that it will make the ceremony less special, but every client we've had see each other before the ceremony have always had really beautiful moments they were able to share in private and have said they loved their ceremony as well. A good tip for couples is to remember that romantic pictures of them together are the images they will most likely treasure the most from the day. Whether it is before the ceremony or after be sure to invest some time together so your photographer can get some really beautiful and genuine moments together."
Hurwitz: "I have asked many photographers and wedding planners their thoughts about this. We all seem to concur there are many advantages for couples to see each other before the ceremony. Because of the intense heat and strong sun in Arizona, most ceremonies happen at sunset. By the time the ceremony is over, most of the quality light is gone, so the romantic photos of the bride and groom will suffer somewhat."
Q: Weddings are a time when families have reunions of sorts and we know most couples want to capture the family as well as groups of friends on film. How much time should a couple plan for such "posed" shots and how important is scheduling?
Ferguson: "Allow plenty of time on the wedding day for photography. Cutting it close on time results in a smaller variety of images, and adds to stress. Weddings are like a train, and once they get rolling, it's nearly impossible to stop and go back to get things done."
Quillinan: "The more time we can have the better. Having a group portrait list ahead of time is very helpful to plan out approximately how much time we'll need for those pictures. Whether it's five minutes or an hour, I'm there for them. Though, most couples would rather be spending that time celebrating than with me."
Hurwitz: "This varies, depending on the photographer, as well as the length of the posed shots list. I would imagine the average is about 1.5 hours. If the couple will appoint someone in the wedding party as the 'herder' to round up the people in the group photos, this will make the process go faster. The photographer or even the wedding planner will not know who all the relatives are."
Sergio: "It is completely up to them depending on what they want their photographer to achieve. I tell my clients that if they want the type of portraits they see on my website, then plan at least 45 minutes for portraits of the two of them."
Wallace/Mejia: "We find that having extended family pictures during the reception helps break up time spans so there is more time to enjoy the day and get more opportunities for candid images. I don't think I've known any bride that said they want to pose for an hour of family pictures. Breaking it up throughout the day (when a couple wants a lot of family pictures) helps it be more enjoyable for everyone."
Q: As a photographer, we know you have to be everywhere at the wedding and reception, and yet seem to blend into the background as well. How important is it to have a good relationship with the other vendors?
Reeves: "A wedding is like a big orchestra, if one vendor does not play well then the entire music presentation is compromised. This is one of those that 'the sum of its parts is not greater than the whole.'"
Wallace/Mejia: "We love it when our clients choose to take the stress off themselves and use a wedding planner. We are always in close contact with the planner to help come up with a great schedule for the day and know what the other vendors are planning. For example, it's great to have the bouquet and flowers delivered before we shoot portraits of the bride. Also it's very helpful to have the reception decor finished before the ceremony or at least know when it's scheduled to finish so we can get great shots of the reception before the guests set their purses, jackets, drinks etc., down into the space. Being in close contact with a coordinator or vendors to make sure we're all on the same page helps get even better images."
Bills: "A great working relationship is paramount with other vendors. Communicating with other vendors and working together is key so that everyone is able to accomplish their goal of producing whatever their product may be. The relationship between photographers and videographers is especially important so that both vendors get the shots they need and the couple gets the best photos and video possible."
Thurlkill: "Working well with the other vendors before, during and after the wedding day is the key to a successful wedding. You want to have people that work well together and understand how important being a part of a team is. It is not helpful if one vendor thinks their job is more important then another vendor's. We find that communicating with other vendors helps us do our job better. We rarely have any surprises and scheduling issues on the wedding day."
Ferguson: "A wedding is a team effort, and requires the cooperation of all vendors working together to be a success... we all need to help ensure that the bride and groom have a relaxed, stress-free day. There is no place at a wedding for a vendor who feels their service is more important than another."
Sergio: "We are all there with the purpose of making the wedding day truly the happiest day of the client's lives; so helping each other is crucial to achieve that end."
Quillinan: "Working together is essential to make sure all questions are answered, timelines are laid out, details are discussed and help each other come up with new ideas along the way. No one vendor could do everything alone and we're all there to provide the best service possible to our couples and their guests."
Q: What does a couple need to know about wedding photography and videography?
Hurwitz: "Since photography is one of the only things that lasts forever from your wedding, don't gamble on it. First, choose someone with experience. You can't always judge that from a website, and you don't want someone to be learning their craft on your dime. Second, your photographer needs to be someone that can adapt quickly to changes and can handle stress with ease. Third, try to imagine what your relationship with your photographer will be like. Is he/she respectful, punctual, and a prompt and good communicator? Will he/she still be in business in 6 months in case you need help with something after the wedding?"
Quillinan: "Match your visual and personality style with the photographer you're looking to hire. Be absolutely clear about what you want and like from the very beginning. Budget and package details are secondary to that match. If you have to hold off on the products to afford the photographer you want, you can get those things later. But you can't ever go back if you don't like your pictures."
Wallace/Mejia: "When interviewing photographers we believe the most important factor is to find a photographer with images you really love. When you see the images you should feel like you were there. They should be moving and engaging and most importantly speak to you. The key is to view several full weddings a photographer shoots. If you are having an outdoor wedding ask to see several outdoor weddings. You will really be able to get a good feel for seeing a photographer's style by doing this.
Thurlkill: "Wedding photography is 50 percent pictures, 25 percent professionalism and 25 percent personality. Make sure you make an investment in a photographer that has great talent but that is also professional in dealing with you and your fian?e. The most important thing is that you click with your photographer. Take the time to research who is doing a fresh emotional photography and see if they are a good fit for your personality and that of your family and guests. You want to find someone who will put your guests at ease and will keep things fun while sticking to the schedule and staying out of the way."
Q: Tell us some of your favorite types of images you've taken at weddings?
Quillinan: "My favorite pictures, and really my favorite part about photographing weddings, are the moments no one else saw. Whether it was the way light hit the bride's veil, the grandparents sneaking a kiss at their table while everyone else was on the dance floor or the dad wiping a tear as he looked over the notes of his toast. These are the moments I'm emotional about."
Sergio: "My favorite wedding images happen when the brides and grooms give themselves to each other with happiness and unbridled enthusiasm."
Ferguson: "I always love the dramatic, iconic wedding image. It's the one photograph that sums up the wedding and the couple as a whole."
Reeves: "The more casual ones, when the bride and groom are just enjoying themselves and we have a chance to capture their personalities in the images as well."
Q: Reflecting on your work with couples during this important time, do you have any advice you'd like to share?
Quillinan: "Have fun…and be in love. No photo software can make you look like you were smiling, dancing, crying, hugging, kissing…if you weren't. It's a great day so just relax and enjoy yourselves. When you get to the altar, smile and say hi to each other. And when you're walking out, hand in hand, be excited. Hold hands, kiss a lot, show your affection. Trust me, all of this shows in your pictures."
Sergio: "Wedding photography is a lot more about people than it is about photography. Couples have to find the photographer whose work shows connection, passion and talent."
Ferguson: "There is a wide range in prices when comparing photographers and the reasons for this may not be readily apparent on the surface. I'm not saying an inexpensive photographer won't do a terrific job, and please their clients, but there are important factors to consider when comparing prices. Skill, experience, reputation, demand, quality and more, factor into a photographer's pricing."
Hurwitz: "Your wedding photography is really important because you will refer to it many times over many years. Your relationship with your photographer should be a pleasant and informative journey. I would definitely recommend doing an engagement photo session, both to get you comfortable with the photographer and being in front of the camera."
Bills: "It's important for couples to fully share their vision for their wedding film and what their style is so that we can make sure that we are a good match to work together."
Wallace/Mejia: "After you've found a photographer who's work you love find out the details of how their studio operates. What exactly is included in your package? Exactly what you are receiving should be detailed out in your contract. You should also be aware of the general turnaround time to view images and receive products. Review pricing for prints, albums and a la carte options you might want to add after the wedding to show off your wedding images." |
