Top Ten Tips on How to Get the Best Results From Your Photographer
by Pishu
Great wedding photography doesn't always just happen. Here are 10 tips to help you get the best results from your photographer.
- 1. Establish a timeline of events to be covered on your special day. That way there will be no surprises for the photographer and you can relax knowing nothing will be missed by the photographer.
- 2. Assign at least 2 point people (usually the best man & maid of honor) to help the photographer with group photos. Ultimately, you and your people will know who everyone is and be able to see if anyone is missing from the all important group shots. No one will be left out that way.
- 3. Be assertive! If there are certain poses you want to be captured in or poses from magazines, brochures, or online, then tell the photographer. The more precise you are with your wants and needs, the less chance there will be for disappointment after your wedding.
- 4. Drink lots of water before your wedding. Skin is a reflective surface and the more water you drink beforehand, the better your pictures will turn out.
- 5. Make sure the photographer you choose is interested in shooting your event! This may sound crazy but there are a lot of photographers and studios out there who don't care about what you actually want or how you feel about your day being captured. Many just want to rope you into a package and then hold your images to ransom afterwards. One of the easiest ways to avoid this is to think about how the photographer interacts with you. If he or she is pushing print or album prices without even talking to you about what you think you need then alarm bells should ring.
- 6. Let your guests know that you are having a professional take pictures during your wedding. A lot of family and guests can now relax knowing your wedding will be covered properly, amateur photographers and enthusiastic guests will know to hold off firing their point-and-shoot camera flash for a minute while the photographer poses and photographs the couple. Maybe have the DJ announce the presence of professional photography services during the reception.
- 7. Have fun. It's a wedding. It can be stressful, but if you don't enjoy yourself, the pictures will reflect that. Hopefully you've talked with your photographer beforehand and can relax in his or her presence. If not, just follow the professional's instructions and smile.
- 8. Practice smiling. It's weird to say, but a lot of brides we meet during our consultations have never even thought about having their picture taken by a professional before. After a few test shots we hear "do I really smile like that?" a lot. Spend some time in front of a mirror smiling. The more you feel relaxed smiling the better the photos will be.
- 9. If the photographer needs to get a shot of your kids, tell him or her the name of your child and perhaps something interesting about them like what game your child likes, e.g. peek-a-boo or favorite movie. The more then photographer can engage the kids with something interesting to say or do, the more relaxed the kids will be.
- 10. Always give your wedding photographer a hug at the end of the day! They might seem calm and composed throughout your day, but we assure you, a lot of planning, prepping and worrying was and will be done on your behalf before, during and after the wedding.
