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Archive for December, 2007

Starting Your Own Photography Business Essential Elements for Success

December 12, 2007 By: admin Category: photography No Comments →

You love photography. Each time you view a beautiful sunset, you start thinking about lighting, shutter speed and aperture. You re hooked! Gradually, you develop your skills until you feel certain that your talents rival those of the professional photographers in your area. You ve had enough of the monotonous corporate world where all your efforts are devoted to making more money for the monkey in the corner office. That s it you decide you will start your own photography business. Now, where do you begin?

The best way to get started is to think small, not in terms of your future goals, rather in keeping focused on building your business with minimal start up costs. While you can, of course, obtain a small business loan to launch your business, such a course of action is risky. The great thing about starting a photography business is that you can get started without having to sign a lease, build inventory or invest in excessively expensive equipment. Overhead is manageable, and the risk is controlled. Not many other small business enterprises afford budding entrepreneurs such an opportunity. Don t misunderstand me, however. Photography, whether as a hobby or a profession, is an expensive endeavor. Cameras, lenses, lighting, props and the myriad of other tools necessary to do a quality job can add up to many thousands of dollars. Yet, anyone who loves photography and has arrived at the point of considering starting his own photography business has already invested in much of the necessary equipment. All that remains, then, is good business sense and the sincere determination to convert a dream to a reality.

Good business sense, in terms of overall success, is far more important than one s photographic skills. Don t assume that building your business will be easy or that adequate preparation and education is superfluous. Utilize all resources available to you in your community. Many communities offer free or low cost small business courses through their recreation facilities. Local community colleges will likely offer a plethora of information and classes in business and economics. Contacting your regional Small Business Administration office is always a good place to start. When in doubt, consult an attorney or financial advisor to avoid serious business pitfalls.

Write an effective business plan, including a precise list of all equipment and start up expenses you expect to have initially and as your business grows. Then, add a conservative 20% to that figure. Let s face it, when is the last time you spent less than you anticipated? Know your current financial status and what you can reasonably afford to spend on your business start up.

Carefully research and choose the organizational plan that is best for your business (i.e. Sole Proprietorship, Partnership, Corporation, Limited Liability Company, etc.), as there are serious tax and liability consequences on both the state and federal levels. Consider purchasing malpractice and liability insurance to insulate your business, and your personal wealth, from the sting of financial loss due to litigation expenses.

The business of photography is unique, offering photographers numerous specialties and the ability to begin as a part-time venture that, in time, blossoms into a full-time career. In fact, many professional photographers began building their photography businesses while still employed full time elsewhere. If portraiture is your primary interest, setting aside a modest area of your home as a small studio is highly recommended. In conjunction with your small home studio, offer location portraiture. Controlling lighting and environment is trickier with location work, but the benefits of numerous site options for your clients far outweigh the drawbacks. If you are interested in commercial work, a very small studio set up in a corner of a room is all that is necessary. If you are drawn to the great outdoors and prefer wildlife or landscape photography, investment in expensive studio equipment is unwarranted. Take time to explore and assess your interest in the various photographic specialties before you embark on your journey to building a lucrative photography business.

Market your business in simple ways, at first. Distribute flyers, hand out business cards, develop and maintain a simple, elegant but functional website. Remember, your reputation as a professional photographer will grow and spread principally by word of mouth. So, make sure you offer only the best services and images to your clients. Once you begin to establish a clientele, remember to reinvest into your business to keep it growing.

Following these basic steps will help you to turn your passion for photography into an income-producing business you can be proud of.

Balsman Photography, LLC

Kim Balsman is the owner of Balsman Photography, LLC, a small, professional photography studio in Longmont, Colorado. Kim s background is diverse, including formal education in communications and law at Truman State University and the University of Houston, as well as professional photography studies at the New York Institute of Photography. Kim spent over a decade working as a paralegal, practicing in numerous legal specialties at various law firms in Texas. Throughout her career, Kim has written thousands of legal documents but prefers the creativity of writing short stories, novels and journalistic pieces. Some of her work has been published in corporate magazines. Kim has lectured at entrepreneurial symposiums and educational facilities and led an initiative to help small printing franchisees compete for demanding legal document reproduction business. Kim enjoyed a brief career in real estate as a Century 21 agent in New England, grossing more than two million dollars in sales in a matter of a few months. Kim and her husband, Bob, live in Colorado with their two teenage children.

[techtags: Family Photography, Senior Photographers, Studio Portraits, Portrait Photography]

The Top Five Reasons To Switch To Digital Photography Now

December 11, 2007 By: admin Category: photography No Comments →

Consumers are clearly switching over to Digital photography from film photography in droves. All you have to do is take a look at the number of ads for digital cameras and compare them to those that you find for film cameras these days. It becomes very obvious then that digital photography is the wave of the future. What if you’re still using film to take your snapshots and photos though? Well here are the top five reasons that you should start seriously considering switching over to digital photography in the near future.

1. Perhaps one of the most outstanding features of digital photography that makes it so much easier and more convenient for the average person is that you can actually see the photo or snapshot that you just took in the viewfinder of your digital camera. This is an invaluable aid to help you make sure that you get the shot that you want. With film cameras, you have to wait until the film is processed and developed to know whether it actually got the shot that you intended. And by then, its usually too late to do anything about it. But a digital camera gives you immediate feedback and lets you see exactly the photo that you just took. If it didn’t turn out the way you want, just delete it and try again until you get it right. Now isn’t that easy?

2. A second big advantage of digital photography is the ability to print out your photos almost immediately. With film cameras, you have to take the film to be developed, and then go back to pick them up. Even with a one-hour photo store, it still takes longer than with digital photos. In fact, if you have a digital photo printer, all you have to do in many cases is just connect your camera to the printer and press a button.

3. Another huge benefit of digital photography is the ability to edit and change your photos and snapshots in any way that you desire. Because the photos are in digital files, they can be opened in photo editing software programs that let you adjust the image in lots of ways to make it better. For instance, you could crop out sections of the photos that you don’t particularly care for, or you could adjust the brightness or contrast of the snapshot to your heart’s content. There’s lots more that can be done with a good photo editing software package. And all of this gives you far more creative control over the finished product than you could ever get with film cameras.

4. There are lots of products on the market today that let you unleash your creative side too, and turn your digital photos into coffee mugs, T-shirts, greeting cards and so much more. You can make calendars out of your family photos if you wish, and all of this creativity is due to the fact that the files are in digital format allowing you to use them in a variety of ways other than just printing them on photo paper.

5. Finally, one of the great advantages of digital photography is the fact that you can quickly and easily share your photos and snapshots with friends and family no matter where they are around the world by e-mail. Try doing that with your film camera. Of course, you can have your film photos converted into digital format but that is an added expense that is just not necessary for digital photographers.

As you can see digital photography has opened up a whole new horizon for the average person, making photography easier, and letting then take much higher quality photographs at the same time. We hope you will agree that there is no better time than now to make the switch to digital photography.

Thad Pickering writes on many consumer related topics including digital photography. You can find out how to buy digital camera online and about digital camera technology by visiting our Digital Photography website.

[techtags: Family Photography, Senior Photographers, Studio Portraits, Portrait Photography]

What Kind of Camera Should My Wedding Photographer Use?

December 10, 2007 By: admin Category: photography No Comments →

If you are in the process of looking for a wedding photographer, chances are you will soon here the terms: medium format, 35mm, and digital. Those are the three primary types of camera systems currently used by wedding photographers. We, the wedding photographers, have argued amongst ourselves for years as to which camera system is best. The goal of this article is to share information about these types of camera systems and the possible impact they may have on your wedding photographer decision.

Medium Format

For many years medium format has been the absolute best option. A medium format camera uses film that is 3 times the size of a 35mm negative– resulting in higher resolution images and beautiful enlargements, however, the cameras and processing costs are very expensive.

Primary advantages: high resolution negatives. Previously, the fact that a person owned a Medium Format camera was almost, in and of itself, a sign that they were a true “wedding photographer” (due to the expense of the system).

Disadvantages: expensive to operate (film costs are so high that some wedding photography books encourage medium format photographers to limit the photos they take); film can be lost or damaged during processing; slower to focus and operate.

35mm

For many years 35mm has had a bad reputation for providing poor quality enlargements — especially when compared to medium format. However, over the past 10 years the quality of 35mm film has improved tremendously. It is now a common format used by many professional photographers, especially those who use the photojournalistic style and shoot close to a thousand or more images on a wedding day.

Primary advantages to 35mm: fast (easy to quickly focus and shoot during), much improved quality of enlargements (many people would have a hard time telling the difference between a 35mm and medium format 8×10 enlargement).

Disadvantages: processing film is becoming more and more expensive, and film can be damaged or loss during processing.. Many photographers that shoot film are now having the negatives scanned so that the files become a digital file.

Digital

Professional digital wedding photography has been a viable option since about the year 2000 (although some would argue that date). The quality of digital cameras has now reached a point where many photographers feel the quality rivals, or even beats, medium format negatives. In fact, many digital wedding photographers used to shoot medium format.

Primary digital advantages: instant review of images on the back of the camera; no film and processing costs (although the savings is offset by the additional computer time required to process the digital images); more control over the images (i.e., a slight rotation or cropping of an image is quick and easy with digital but requires a custom print from 35mm or medium format).

Disadvantages: technology changes rapidly over time and cameras soon are outdated (although this doesn’t necessarily effect you, as the consumer). Memory cards are easier to lose than rolls of film (if your wedding photographer uses a digital camera, ask them how they make sure the photos arrive safely back at the studio).

In summary:

No matter what you have been told - all three formats can be a viable method for wedding photography. Some might be more expensive than others, but they all can produce good results. Many photographers use several of the camera systems. Some might use medium format for the formals but 35mm for the reception and ceremony coverage. Others will primarily shoot digital, but might bring film cameras as backup equipment.

My advice to prospective brides: before signing a contract with a photographer, ask to see sample enlargements that were taken with the same equipment that would be used at your wedding. If you like the quality and color of the images, it doesn’t really matter whether 35mm, digital, or a medium format camera was used to record the image!

Christopher Maxwell is a Kansas Wedding Photographer that accepts limited weddings (primarily conservative Christian weddings with modest attire). He is a primarily photojournalistic photographer and has traveled to a number of weddings.

[techtags: Family Photography, Senior Photographers, Studio Portraits, Portrait Photography]

What if We Can’t Afford a Professional Wedding Photographer?

December 09, 2007 By: admin Category: photography No Comments →

If, as a couple, you find that your wedding budget has no room for the services of a professional photographer, the situation does have a remedy. Even though you are not able to take advantage of the creativity and experience of a professional you can still put together a beautiful wedding photo album that is unique and memorable.

You probably know someone in your circle of friends or family members who is an accomplished photographer or at least has a strong interest in photography. Don’t be ashamed to put the word out that you need some help in documenting your special day. The individuals you approach will probably be flattered that you have asked for their help. Some might be a little nervous about taking on this responsibility so it will be up to you to put them at ease and make it clear that there is no pressure.

It is important once you have agreed to work with your photographer that you meet and discuss your vision and expectations of the wedding photos. Please remember though, that this individual is really doing you a favour so treat them with respect and sensitivity and not as an employed professional. Ask your photographer for their ideas and input and work together on the process of planning the wedding day’s photo documentation.

Here are a few quick ideas that you can share with your photographer to get him or her started on the planning process.

1. If your wedding is being held indoors, select a scenic outdoor location in advance where you can stop after the ceremony and prior to the reception to get some photos in natural light, preferrably with a park or flower garden background.

2. When taking photos at the reception, try getting candid photos at the tables and on the dance floor. Many amateur photographers alert the subjects and the results look far too stiff and posed. More interesting shots are natural photos of people having fun and interacting naturally.

3. Every photo need not have a full view of a person included as much of the story can be told by small vignette type photos such as a close up shot of a guest’s hand signing the guest book or just the bride and groom’s hands intertwined showing the rings. Photographs such as these add great interest when interspersed in the album with the people photos.

4. Stand on a chair or kneel down when taking some shots to get differing interest perspectives.

5. Load a seperate camera with black and white film as many of these shots have a nice artistic appeal.

6. If necessary, when photographing the wedding cake, move it to a location free of background distractions.

7. If you are taking a series of group shots, make sure that you move the location as several photos with identical backdrops will get monotonous when viewed concurrently in an album.

My experience has been that having a freind or family member take the photos, often produces a more intimate result because he or she knows the people involved and often captures more meaningful shots.

Don’t forget that in all likelyhood many more people will be taking photos of their own of which some will be keepers, let your guests know that you would be interested in getting copies of their best shots.

In conclusion, while it’s a nice luxury to employ a pro you can get wonderful results using a friend as your wedding photographer.

For more information and descriptive wedding planning articles on every aspect of the process please visit: Perfect Wedding Plans

Jim Hutton writes articles on wedding planning, the article library can be seen at:

Perfect Wedding Plans

[techtags: Family Photography, Senior Photographers, Studio Portraits, Portrait Photography]

What Is The Future For Photographers?

December 08, 2007 By: admin Category: photography No Comments →

The majority of photographers are employed in television, mailing and reproduction services, newspapers or as portrait photographers. There were over 131,000 photography jobs in the year 2000 and the number is expected to grow at a rate of about 10 to 20 percent through this decade. The basic description of these jobs, may be changing. Due to digital photography and the popularity of electronic media such as news and entertainment, people seeking a photography career will be seeing demand for their talents shifting in new and exciting avenues.

Other Related Photography Career Fields

- Journalism

- Graphic Arts

- Advertising

- Art

- Desktop Publishing

- Printing and Publishing

- Television and Motion Picture Production

Photography Career Facts for Students to Consider:

- Recent news has revealed that digital cameras and photography paraphernalia are now dominating the market for photography equipment including the internet.

- The majoority of Photographers are working in large populated areas.

- Approximately half of working photographers are self-employed and demand continues to grow.

- Marketing researchers ‘InfoTrends Research Group’ stated in a 2004 survey that approximaately half the professional photographers who did not have a digital camera intended to get one before the end of the year.

- Photography jobs are forcasted to rise about 10 to 12 percent through to 2012.

- During an interview undertaken for the Photo.net website, a professional photographer (David Julian) advised up and coming photographers to focus on composure — and to worry about technical details of photography later.

- The average yearly wage for photographers that worked for salary was about $24,000, with most falling within the range of $14,600 to $49,900.

- During 2002 there were approximately 130,000 photographers working in the U.S.A.

- Professional photographer David Julian in an interview done for the Photo.net website, advised amateur photographers who want to go into business to work for successful professionals and learn how they operate their businesses initially.

- A 2004 survey done by the marketing researcher, InfoTrends Research Group, finds that approximately 80% (and growing) of all professional photographers use digital cameras.

Regardless of where the work is, we will continue to need and depend on photographers with creativity and vision to make us see ourselves in the better light.

This article has been supplied courtesy of Roy Barker. Roy often writes and works closely with Profitable Photography Business. If the previous link is inactive, you can paste this one into your browser - profitable-photography.com This site is dedicated to coaching you in starting your own photography business but places a strong emphasis on profitability issues & guidelines. You can also gain many photography resources (some free) from Photography or if this link is inactive, you can copy and paste this link into your browser - profitable-photography.com/resources.php If you seek further guides, articles and news, you can go to Photography Tips or if this link is inactive, you can paste this address in your browser photography-business-tips.com

[techtags: Family Photography, Senior Photographers, Studio Portraits, Portrait Photography]

Photographers Only Need To Learn 25% Of Photoshop

December 07, 2007 By: admin Category: photography No Comments →

As a working photographer and part time Photoshop teacher I have found that there is a lot of difference in how much a photographer and a graphic artist needs to know about Photoshop.

Its true a graphic artist needs to know about 75% of the program to get by, but a photographer only needs to know about 25%.

Lets face it, we photographers just used to take photos, our day was concerned with did that film turn out or did I get the lighting right?

Now that we have digital cameras we are forced to look at the images on a computer screen and the net thing we say to ourselves is I wonder if I could up the lighting or get rid of that colour cast, etc.

The up-to-date photographer is not only now taking digital images but also involved with manipulating them as well. So just how much manipulation should a photographer be expected to do?

As a wedding, glamour and portrait photographer you would be adjusting;

1) Lighting

2) Eliminating any colour casts

3) Fixing minor facial problems such as acne

4) Sharpening a photo

For a Commercial product photographer;

1) Lighting

2) Eliminating colour casts

3) Fixing focus issues

4) Blending layers together with type

For the Fashion photographer;

1) Lighting

2) Eliminating colour casts

3) Fixing focus issues

4) Blending layers

5) Using filters

In each case the photographer has a range of tools available to them and not only that, they also have a number of different ways of reaching the same outcome.

I find as a teacher of Photoshop to photographers, many have picked up a few tricks along the way and have not properly studied how to repair images the right way making their photos look inferior to others and even damaging their files as they go.

Sydney Pix is a professional photographer who has designed a comprehensive 3 DVD course in Photoshop just for photographers which shows you step by step how to get a great result every time.

If you prefer to be shown how to do things rather than given a thick manual when you learn something new, then this is the course for you. For more information visit http://www.profotocourse.com/learn-photoshop.html

[techtags: Family Photography, Senior Photographers, Studio Portraits, Portrait Photography]

Strengthening the Overall Theme with Photography

December 06, 2007 By: admin Category: photography No Comments →

There is a very common misconception about photography. People think that photography is not a strong enough decoration medium. Historically, paintings, drawings, and relief decorations have been used to decorate our homes. If you think far enough into the past, people have been doing this for thousands of years. Think about the lavish, and beautiful palaces, cathedrals, churches, and other historic buildings, decorated with beautiful frescoes, paintings, reliefs, carved statues, etc. While photography is an excellent journalistic medium, many still feel that it is not as well suited to decorating our walls. There are many ways to introduce photography into your home decor, and couple it harmoniously with your existing paintings, sculptures, and drawings.

Photography is a New Medium

We should all keep in mind that photography is a fairly new medium. While we, the people, have been sketching, drawing painting, and sculpting for thousands of years, photography dates back just over a century. It is very new, and perhaps more exotic than paintings, sculptures, and others more traditional mediums. Because there are so many different genres of photography, and different styles, there is, without a doubt one that will appeal to your senses. There are few rules to decorating with photography, but here are a few suggestions to keep in mind. These will help you get the most out of decorating adventures.

Complementing your D cor

Consider complementing your current pieces of d cor with similarly themed photography. For example, if your paintings communicate open spaces, such as the sky, massive bodies, of water, or other distinct environments, try to match your photography to this theme. A photo depicting sail boats, or perhaps a dock would certainly complement paintings with bodies of water. This is but one example. Be creative and draw patterns in your mind. Possibilities are indeed endless.

Remember, it is OK to mix your paintings and photography. But, consider keeping the two opposite each other, instead of sharing the same space. Keep logical organization on your walls, and our eyes will appreciate it. Remember, our brain likes patterns. Our eyes will expect to see certain patterns, and if they are seeing something which they cannot draw any patterns from, you will feel like something is lacking, or just does not fit. It may be a good idea to match your medium to a room. For example, consider decorating your living room with paintings, and sculpture, while decorating your home office, your bedrooms, and hallways with photography. Again, this is just a suggestion. Photography will fit equally well in any room of your house.

The most important thing to keep in mind is to be creative. Don’t be afraid to experiment. Remember, photographs are hung from a single hook, and they are easy to move, and reposition. Just keep a bunch of dry wall filler around.

Written by Professional Photographer, and an owner of a Photography Selling Service. To learn more about this, and many other general, as well as more specific photography related subjects, or to explore a Fine Art Photography gallery, please consider visiting WorldonPaper.com Contemporary Fine Art Gallery. Read more interesting articles in the Photography and Arts Wiki.

[techtags: Family Photography, Senior Photographers, Studio Portraits, Portrait Photography]

Photography Techniques

December 05, 2007 By: admin Category: photography No Comments →

Get to know your lens.

For most photographers the most important factor in their photography is the sharp quality of their images. To get the very best quality we need to know which lenses to use and the best time to use they. There are several lenses on the market today that should become part of our every day tool.

Standard lenses: are the most common use on today market. A standard lens has a focal length between 40 mm and 60 mm, which can be used for all types of photography. It s the most flexible of all the lenses and should remain on the camera body at all times.

Telephoto zoom lens: for any one interested in wildlife photography a telephoto lens should become your standard lens. With a focal length of between 60 mm and 300 mm, this is also a perfect lens for the sport enthusiast. The telephoto lens allows you to capture the far away object and can also be used for landscape images

You can use this lens for close-ups, but be careful with your composition. Large areas of the image will become blank and could destroy your picture.

When using a telephoto lens always make sure that you have the camera supported with a tripod. If you cant use a tripod try using a beanbag - rest the lens on the bag when taking your images.

Wide-angle lens: is the choice of most landscape photographers. They allow you to include as much of the scene as possible when you look in your viewfinder with a wide focal length of 17 mm to 40mm. The wider the lens you use, the closer you need to be to an object of foreground interest, to add impact to your photography. Ultra wide-angle lenses have a focal length of 8 mm to 28 mm.

Macro lens: is perfect for ultra close-ups shots with an average focal length of 100 mm. If you are looking to take images of small objects, such as: flowers or insects, a macro lens should become part of your camera bag. A macro lens will also allow you to take unique abstract images. By using a wide aperture with a macro lens on natural shapes can create the perfect abstract image.

Be careful with focusing when using a macro lens, it is tough on a good day and can be impossible if the weather is windy.

About the Author :

TJ Tierney is an award winning Irish Landscape photographer and a freelance writer. If you are looking for some photo tips visit the photography directory he frequently writes for: http://www.goldprints.com To view some of his images visit his on line gallery @ http://www.goldenirishlight.com

This article is distributed by: www.iSnare.com

[techtags: Family Photography, Senior Photographers, Studio Portraits, Portrait Photography]

Wedding Photography - Tips for a Wonderful Session

December 04, 2007 By: admin Category: photography No Comments →

Every couple wants wonderful photos of their wedding day that capture the celebration, details, romance and beauty. Here are a few tips for a successful photo session:

1. Hire a professional qualified wedding photographer. Don’t be tempted to hire “Uncle Harry” to do your wedding photos. Focus on quality wedding photography. At the end in won’t matter how much you save or spend if you end up with bad photos or no photos at all.

2. Take the time to select the best wedding photographer that you can have. Make sure that you are in agreement regarding the style of photography.

3. Don’t give your wedding photographer a long list of must have photos that you printed from the Internet. You will only hinder the photographer’s creativity and the capture of true spontaneous photographs. Hire a photographer with a style that you like and then give him or her artistic freedom to capture your wedding day photography.

4. If you are going to have a ceremony outdoors please plan it away from the harsh sun. Shaded areas and afternoon sunlight are best.

5. Try to have an engagement session with the same photographer that will photograph your wedding. It will allow you to interact with the photographer before your wedding day and will help the photographer evaluate your best angles.

6. Plan enough time for your photographic session. Even if the wedding photographer is good he or she won’t be able to give you wonderful photos in just five minutes.

7. Take your time to do your hair and make up and to take care of all the details so you look good and fresh. The wedding day is not the time to try new makeup or a new hair look. If possible hire a professional hair and makeup artist and have a trial session before the wedding.

8. Plan your photo session for afternoon or evening light unless it is an overcast day. The light will be better and you will end up with beautiful photos. Contrary to popular belief midday sunny time is the worst time to take photos.

9. Please don’t forget to rest well the day before the wedding and eat and stay hydrated during the day. If you are tired, thirsty or hungry it will show up in your photos.

10. Don’t make photography of groups the entire focus of your wedding day. A few group photos are ok to record the friends and relatives at the wedding. There is nothing more boring that a wedding album full of group photos.

11. Be yourself. The goal of the wedding photographer is to capture the true you. If the photos are nice but show a fake person you won’t be happy.

12. Have fun and treat the photographer like a human being. Enjoy your day, smile a lot and relax.

Juan Carlos Torres is a very respected and awarded wedding photographer in Oregon. He has a Masters Degree in Remote Sensing with a strong background in digital image processing and photography. He is a member of the several professional photographer organizations including the Professional Photographers of America, the Professional Photographers of Oregon, the Wedding Photojournalist Association, and the Oregon Wedding Photo Guild. His wedding photographs are unique and very artistic and have been featured in national and international magazines. For a sample of his works please visit Portland Oregon Wedding Photographer and Eugene Oregon Wedding Photographer For a discussion on wedding photography see our Blog at Oregon Wedding Photographer

[techtags: Family Photography, Senior Photographers, Studio Portraits, Portrait Photography]

Wedding Photographers

December 03, 2007 By: admin Category: photography No Comments →

As long as people believe in the institution of marriage, wedding photographers will always have a job to do! For a couple embarking on a new life together, choosing the right photographer becomes an important part of things to do before the wedding. No one wants fuzzy images of the ceremony or embarrassing pictures of a tipsy best man!

Wedding photographers are usually self-employed professionals who undertake everything from actual photography at the location or in a studio to mounting the pictures in an album and delivering it to the happy couple. The first step in choosing a photographer is to shortlist a few and ask friends to recommend any they ve been happy with. Don t let only the price factor determine who you choose; it s more advisable to spend a little extra to ensure quality.

It s a good idea to meet up with a few photographers to review earlier work and discuss price and other factors. Ask them everything you need to know about their method and style of working, facilities for studio portraits, type of finished product, maximum number of pictures, extra charges, cancellations, etc. Most importantly, try and gauge a photographer s personality and whether you will be comfortable working with him. A wedding day tends to get emotional, and chances are he will have to deal with a lot of tears and other drama before the day is out. Can he take it?

Before you make a decision, ask to see complete coverage of a wedding he s photographed. That will give you an idea of his style, creativity, and technical expertise. Decades down the line, photographs might be the only way you remember your special day, so you want them to last.

Usually wedding photographers will charge in the range of a thousand dollars, though rates may differ, depending on experience and reputation. Some photographers charge a set fee for all pictures taken while others charge a fixed assignment fee and charge separately for each print ordered. Remember to set aside a little extra in your budget in case you need extra shots or plan to order another set of prints.

It s your big day and maybe the only time you get married, so make sure you have some stunning pictures to record the happy event.

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[techtags: Family Photography, Senior Photographers, Studio Portraits, Portrait Photography]