Did you have a photographer at your wedding?

Question

Of course you did. :)

I am going to be doing my first wedding soon as the main photographer; and I wanted some feedback on some things that people liked from their own wedding.

I'd like to hear some ideas that you truly liked that your photographer did; and ideas that maybe you didn't like so much.

Thanks for your input!
Oh, and P.S., it is a beach wedding =)

Oh, and most of the stuff I do is not the posed stuff. I thrive on the candid shots, nothing too cheesy =)

Answer 1

I can not tell you how much I loved my photographer. He got a really good mix of everything, and I absolutely love every single photo. We told him we wanted a lot of candids, and some of us and our families. Most of the photos of my husband and I were posed, and I loved them because he was telling us to do things that were romantic but we'd never do ourselves without being told to do so.

My best advice would be to get input from the couple. They know what they want and they need to tell you what's important to them.

Answer 2

The main complaint I had about my "candid" photographer is that they didn't take enough posed shots, and the candids they took were all of the same people. I had two photogs working together, so I'm not sure what they did all night, but my reception pics were a big let down. They were a little too laid back about the whole thing. We never got a picture of my husband's grandmother- I honestly never thought of it, and neither did they.

My advice would be to go down a list of people who should be photographed with the bride and groom before the day. Don't just ask them "do you want any special pics"- this is what they asked me, and I don't think I knew what they meant. Also, try to imagine the finished album when you're taking pics. I wish I had a "goodbye" pic, even a staged one, but I didn't think of it at the time. Now I don't have a good way to end my album.

Answer 3

I would say the main "ingredient" to being a great photographer is to capture the images without interfering too much in the events, that way things take place as they normally would while you just document everything. Also, I would expect the photographer to capture the moments/images that Uncle Joe didn't get with his disposable, ya know, the *little* things that may not seem like much but help create the big picture of the wedding day. Good luck!

Answer 4

yes we had a photographer.
our photos turned out really well because the photographer did pre-wedding photos a few months before the wedding
we were comfortable with her & knew what to expect
(and the photographer knew what we liked & what suited us)
i would recommend not doing too many "posed" photos cause too many are too boring & ALWAYS look posed.
you want them to look natural & comfortable cause they will have the photos forever.
do have a good mix of both styles.
make sure you get a photo of everyone with the bride & groom but if there is a large number of guests to photograph then do group shots like the brides family, the grooms family, friends, work collegues etc.
we had a photo of everyone by having things done like that.
also get photos of people enjoying themself on the dance floor ect.
also mix up the type of photo, use colour, black & white and sepia (brown old looking ones) this will add to the quality & effect of the photos.
i absolutley LOVE black & white and sepia they can make nearly anyone look amazing!!!!!
good luck.
don't stress, i'm sure you will do a great job!!!

Answer 5

Here is a checklist from my forms and contracts class that I thought was really helpful:

. FIFTEEN SHOTS NO ALBUM SHOULD BE WITHOUT

1. A picture of the bride before the wedding as she shares a sentimental moment with her maid-of-honor or a hug from her mother.

2. An informal shot of the groom chatting with his attendants just before the ceremony begins.

3. The bride and her father arriving at the church by limousine if she chose to dress at home, or the two of them pausing just before their walk down the aisle.

4. Several shots of the ceremony, including the bride and groom speaking their vows, kneeling in prayer or lighting the unity candle. This may depend on the church or synagogue's restrictions on photography during the religious service.

5. A candid shot of the wedding musicians.

6. The ceremonial first kiss between the newlyweds.

7. The beaming bride and groom as they stroll back up the aisle.

8. Both sets of parents and grandparents in a relaxed setting with the newlyweds.

9. One portrait featuring the entire wedding party at the altar or in an outdoor setting.

10. Scenes from the reception (including the bride's expression as she first glimpses the setting), the first toast and the couple's first dance as husband and wife.

11. A few pictures of the reception fare, including the buffet table or guests being served by white-gloved waiters.

12. The bride and groom sharing the first slice of wedding cake.

13. The traditional toss of the bouquet to an exuberant crowd of single female friends.

14. A heartfelt embrace between the couple and their parents just before the reception draws to a close.

15. The honeymoon-bound newlyweds as they depart from the reception amid a shower of rose petals, bubbles or confetti.

Also make sure to get shots of the Best Man and Groom and any family members. My husband regrets not getting a shot with his brother the Best Man, it just got lost in all the excitement.

Good luck I am sure you will do great!

Answer 6

Beside the obvious of good pictures I liked that my photographer kept in constant contact with me before , during and after the wedding. Also the turnaround time from the wedding to the time I got my proofs then album was very quick. What I didn't like is that although she asked for a list of important pictures she didn't follow it. Otherwise everything was good.

Answer 7

definitely more candid photos is the trend now. maybe a few planned shots to make sure you get the main 'characters' but candids make sure you capture the actual spirit of the event

we had a fantastic photographer. she did a mix of black and white and full color. they do a great job at helping us remember the event, maybe even better than it was. (you kinda forget the drama and stress & remember the good stuff when you have beautiful photos)

Answer 8

Actually, I didn't have a photographer at my wedding! I
absolutely HATE having my picture taken, it never looks
natural and I always look uncomfortable, so I wasn't going to waste the money for pictures I knew I wouldn't like! Plus we
had a tiny wedding, (only 15 guests) so it wasn't that big of
a deal....

Answer 9

i didn't have a photographer as my brother in law takes awesome pictures, he took ours and we love the,, informal, relaxed, not posed, saved us thousands as well!

Answer 10

i absolutely disagree! cheesy is the best way to go! candid gets boring. this photographer is one of my good friends (i do video and we work together)
tell me if he isnt the BEST! his work really shows passion!
samsarkisphotography.com