3 Keystones for a Picture Perfect Wedding
by Galina Vitols
- Upscale Photo
As a wedding photographer I
have the opportunity to see many different wedding
styles and many beautiful locations… Every day I
deal with thousands of pictures. What I have learned
with wedding photographs is there are 3 important
things that will affect how your wedding pictures
look. Why it is so important? Because your wedding
pictures are the only hands-on memories of such an
important day of your life. Looking at your wedding
photographs years later you will be able to re-live
the happy day again.
What are those 3 important
things? Let me share my observations with you.
1.
Choosing the right photographer is essential.
He or she will be the creator of your wedding
memories. Don’t just pick anybody – choose the one
who will reflect YOUR vision. There are some simple
guidelines for finding the perfect wedding
photographer:
-
Search the web and learn about the different
styles of photography. Artistic photography and
photojournalistic style seem to be the most popular
with modern brides.
-
Get referrals from friends who got married
recently or from other wedding vendors. Referrals
from friends are important because they will tell
you how the photographer handles work at the wedding
and following through after the wedding. You may not
realize now that what happens after the wedding is
also very important. The other wedding vendors will
be finished with their work on the wedding day, but
it is after the wedding, where the photographer has
just begun working with you.
-
Meet the prospective photographer and decide
if you would feel comfortable working with them. See
their work in print, pay attention to quality of
albums and photographs. Ask about their approach and
philosophy – how they actually work at the event.
Are they flexible and follow what you need or do
they want to make their own rules. You want a person
who captures the event blending in quietly, not by
making themselves a center of the event (the
exception is photographing formal portraits – here
the photographer needs to be in charge).
-
Ask about their experience – you do not want
a stranger at your wedding who just bought a digital
camera and decided to make some extra bucks. You do
want to hire a passionate professional who operates
a full time business.
-
Find out about all the details of the ‘after
wedding’ process – when you get your proofs, when
you will see your pictures, how soon you will
receive your album, will you own your negatives….
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How to find the right photographer
is not the subject of this article. In
my book Your Picture Perfect Wedding
(recommended reading by
www.WedProSearch.com) my co-author Mia Johnson
and I guide you step by step through a
whole wedding photography process
including choosing the right
photographer for you. 2.
Location, location, location (YES – it is
related to your wedding pictures, not just to real
estate!)
You
have probably dreamed about your wedding and can
already see it in your imagination. What theme
have you chosen: a tropical outdoor ceremony; a
traditional church wedding; a garden theme, or a
historical castle background?
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When choosing a place for your wedding the biggest
challenge you may have is choosing between an
outdoor or indoor wedding (if the weather allows
such choice). Outdoor ceremonies always look GREAT
(daytime!!), although you should have a plan B in
case of rain. If this is the wedding of your dreams
– take a risk and go for it. And you will end up
with amazing wedding pictures. God may bless you by
sending a beautiful day; on a rainy day you will
still get married and be happy anyway (it happened
to me – my plan for the ceremony by the ocean didn’t
work because of rainy-rainy-rainy day, we got
married inside the restaurant and still live happily
after 8 years of marriage).
Whatever it is you imagine – choosing a perfect
location will compliment your wedding photographs.
Search until you find the one you fall in love with
when you walk in and feel inside - this is it! Make
sure to book it in advance because most perfect
wedding places are already booked! Below you can
view some pictures for different themes of
ceremonies.
3.
The third really important key to beautiful
photographs is not your wedding dress – it is your
make up. You will look like a star even naked with a
beautiful make up, but you won’t look so great
without it even wearing the best designer dress. Do
not even think about doing make up yourself. If you
do want to look your best – hire a professional make
up artist! Remember those ‘stars’ whose pictures you
see on magazine covers – do you think they did it
themselves??? No way. Your wedding day is such a
special occasion – you cannot afford to not look
your best. Professional make up makes a difference
especially in the photographs. It is up to you what
style to choose – dramatic eyes or ‘no make up’ look
– but your make up must be done by a pro. I have
seen so many brides – they are stars on their
wedding day! And believe me – hiring a great make up
artist IS very important.
If you follow these 3 simple
rules: choose the right photographer, book the most
beautiful location, and hire a professional make up
artist - I GUARANTEE – you will have the most
beautiful memories of Your Wedding Day!
About the author: Galina
Vitols is Miami based professional wedding
photographer, she is a CEO of Upscale Photo, LLC and a co-author of Your Picture Perfect Wedding. To
receive FREE tips on wedding photography, sign up to
her newsletter at
www.bookforbrides.com.
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