Photography articles

Reportage Wedding Photography is still thought by many to be a recent trend in wedding photography. In fact it has a long heritage and was often called candid photography in the context of a wedding. Seen by extreme traditionalists (a rare breed now) as a new fad, it was felt to threaten the supremacy of the medium format camera with its staged shots and posed set ups.

In the old style, photographers always had a big camera set up on a tripod and even a hood over the head of the photographer. This very formal and very posed art of portraiture was born, like so many of today’s cultural norms, of technological limitations. Way back when, photographic technology required long exposure times, long winded plate or film changes and “keep still” poses. Fast 35 mm film basically solved this problem, again with certain limitations. Lighter cameras holding rolls meant that photojournalistic techniques could be applied to wedding photography.

The game changer was that wedding photography needed no longer to be posed. Wedding Photography could now become Reportage Photography. Precious moments, unrepeatable in a pose are only possible with the participants being unaware that a camera is in use. Fast film offered this to a degree, although the fastest film was ISO 1600 or 3200 and were very grainy. In fact the grain produced by fast film (which enabled action freezing photojournalism in low-ish light) became a signature “look” found in time magazine and other iconic journals.

Naturally, wedding photography started to borrow this look and start demanding the grainy black and white look. The grain is of course a form of visual artefact – a distortion of the truth in reality. Today’s technology now takes this several steps further with the equivalent of ISO 102,000 available on some machines. A shot at ISO 6400 is now considered routine – affording incredible reportage wedding photography options to the photographer – with no grain in sight.

At times the modern, digital wedding photographer is asked to add a simulation of celluloid film grain to otherwise pristine photograph. Although it can look great, it’s an intriguing fact of aesthetics that a photograph can seem more timeless and real with artefacts added to it.

Part of the maturation of Reportage Wedding Photography has be the evolution of the Wedding Album. Rather than present the married couple with a simple book with best pictures placed in order of preference, the wedding photographer’s task now includes the design and layout of a book that well tell the story of the wedding.Photographs are placed in a digitally printed book, in chronological order. Each photo relates to each other photo as part of a linear story, bringing vividly back the memories of the big day.

Digital photography the latest technology in photography is very in-demand, available anywhere due to several reasons.  One is the reasonable price being sold in the market.  Another reason is its versatility as in enables one to capture any kind of moments or scenes that interests you.  Its being the newest invention in photography technology allows everyone the chance to be engaged and learn the different latest techniques as well as formats.

Digital photography allows everyone no matter what level of experience they have attained, to share their photos to relatives, friends, and associates, to the community and to the society through the use of internet.  It can be done in different ways via email, through social networking, in CD or USB forms as well as it gives you easy access in storing the images in your PCs.

It also introduce you to different forms in printing and circulating your pictures via greeting cards, calendars, you can also transfer the images on t-shirts, mugs, make cross stitch patterns or wall decors in the interiors of your home.  You also have the benefit of saving time to view them and money.  The processing used for its development is environmental friendly as such that it doesn’t require you the use of chemicals that was required of in the old days.

It also allows you to do alterations, modify the image, crop, enhance, adjusting brightness and contrast, turning colored to black and white and vice versa, adding borders and a lot more of variations.  This is done by the simple click on your mouse on available tools offered by various types of computer software.

It is most beneficial to amateurs and new in photography since you have a wide selection of digital cameras available in the market today that will enable you to learn a few tricks.  Each type of digital camera serves its purpose from newbie to professionals.  All digital cameras are created with built in editing capabilities and easy view ability.  It also gives you the option to delete and retake shots in a matter of seconds or minutes and you can easily store them through memory chips.  Some of its new features are video recorders.

Most of all not only are they being sold at reasonable prices but they are practical to use since they are created lightweight and some are compact in site.  In general it can be said that learning digital photography will further encourage you to move further up the lane in this technology because it will certainly spark your interest.  Definitely it can be assumed that “the future is digital.”

Photo contest are offered in huge numbers over the year for digital photography.  A great advantage to enter any photo contest for that matter, not only because of the cash prizes but it will be a huge help in your gaining another level in its technology.  It also gains you exposure to the society and to key persons as well as associates who may criticize or advice you on certain new creative approaches or techniques thus further enhancing your talent and skills.  No matter how you regard digital photography, a career or a hobby, in every photo contest you join you never really loose except perhaps the cash if you don’t get to win it.  Figuratively speaking you won because everything you undergo in photo contests, everything you learn and each unique individual you win will influence you to better your skills and your views as well as your personality.

Today I went to interview a professional wedding photographer for my wedding occurring next year, and it sparked an idea to share my experience with my readers. As a wedding event planner, why not provide some wedding photography tips and a wedding photography checklist to help another fellow bride with her wedding?

I think it is important when you are researching a professional wedding photographer to let your groom in on the experience. (Based upon the fact that he’s interested!) My fiancée happens to be a professional photographer so he has a vested interest in this part of the wedding.

Therefore, take a look at different photographers’ portfolios, ask your friends, relatives, your wedding event planner for references as well as research online at various wedding sites that offer suggestions and wedding photography tips when you are first selecting your photographer.

Next, go and interview your potential photographer like I did today (well, I didn’t really interview Michael since I have worked with him as a wedding event planner on other weddings)! It’s important that you and your fiancée are comfortable with your photographer so that you will look relaxed and happy in your pictures no matter what happens at the party.

Discuss with your professional wedding photographer what type of pictures you are looking for.

* Do you want wedding portraits or journalistic-styled pictures?

* Do you want black and white and color shots?

* What type of wedding photography package do they offer?

Prior to the meeting, you should create a wedding photography checklist to help you focus in on hiring the right type of photographer for you and your fiancée.

Other wedding photography tips to think about include providing the photographer with the name of your other vendors, such as the DJ, wedding event planner and florist since many times they work together at other weddings and will talk amongst themselves as to what important shots should be captured that day.

Also, very important, well in advance of your wedding, create a wedding photography checklist for your wedding day. Remember to include and write down which type of family shots you want and who you want in them, ceremony shots, bridal room shots, candid pictures during cocktails and the reception and party shots to name a few.

Keep in mind where you’re getting married (indoors or outdoors) as well as the time of day. You want to make sure that your photographer knows the people you want photographed by face and/or name so you might want to consider making a facebook for your photographer. All of these elements are just the tip of the iceberg when you start to generate your checklist, and this is why you want to start early with your list and then continue to add to it up until your wedding day.

I hope you found these wedding photography tips helpful for when you start your selection of a professional wedding photographer. It is not only important to create a wedding photography checklist during the selection process but also one for the wedding itself. Until next time, remember the Budget Bash mantra: make it simple, delicious, stylish, fun & economical to all!