Frequently Asked Questions

Why do some photographers deliver my Wedding photos only on CD while others include a proof album in their packages?

Too much about the Wedding Photo business lately is more about increasing profit margins than delivering the best ideas, and not delivering printed proofs along with your disks is one indication of this unfortunate trend.

Professional proofing on photo paper is expensive to photographers, as are pro proof albums.  Photographers who deliver printed proofs in albums do this for their care and your benefit.  First, photo paper reveals the true quality of an image.  Secondly, having actual printed proofs allows your family and friends who may not be computer savvy to view your Wedding proofs.  Lastly, when you're ready to have reprints made, printed proofs are an indispensable tool to photo labs who are delighted to have excellent "guide prints" to refer to with regard to color balance and brightness/contrast values when making your reprints and enlargements.

What is "studio lighting", and is its availability important for my Wedding Day?

Grab a mirror, stand in front of a window not lit by direct sunlight, turn yourself 45 degrees to your left, and now look at your reflection in your mirror.  Smile at yourself and say "Hi!"--there's no one in the world quite like you, and no matter what you perceive as your imperfections somebody loves you just the way you are.  Observe the softness of the light on your face's right side, and the delicate shadows "modeling" the features on the left side of your face.  Such lighting is divine for portraiture. "Studio lighting" is powerful, "off-camera" flash equipment, that, when used correctly with appropriate fixtures, imitates the most desirable light for portraiture--indirect or cloud-diffused sunlight.  Studio lighting is essential for portraits shot in the evening or on winter's dark days.  But forgetting for a moment about an off-season or evening Wedding, what if rain should fall on a summer Wedding Day?  I bring a light from my studio to every Wedding shoot expressly for the purpose of pre-bridal portraiture as needed.  To skilled photographers, it's not that big of a deal to set up a light and click a light meter, and it makes all the difference for your pre-bridal portraits.  Only a photographer who's arrived with studio lighting will be able to provide you with the quality portraiture promised by the best examples of his/her portfolio--the shots you loved the most.

What's the difference between a "full-time" and "part-time" photographer?

As compared with part-time photographers, professionals like myself who've chosen photography as a full-time career are studied artists able to also offer couples more personal attention, more flexible business hours and likely much faster turn-around time on proofing and reprints.  Perhaps most importantly, it may be worthwhile to consider that when a person's entire livelihood depends upon their reputation as a Wedding Photographer, they have a vested interest in doing the most complete and satisfying job for you as possible.

What is the difference between shooting in RAW mode and JPEG mode?

Bear with me, because this is important since the conversation about film types has changed to image file types.  Following is a rather technical discussion, and I don't expect you to understand, partly because it might be I don't explain well.  If I lose you along the way, write to me.

When working with digital, I and anyone worthy of your consideration shoot strictly in RAW image mode for far superior, final images as compared with shooting in JPEG mode.  Consumer digital cameras restrict you to shooting in JPEG mode; professional digital cameras give you a choice between shooting in RAW or JPEG mode, and the differences in quality between the two are quite remarkable.  RAW is a professional "non-lossy" picture format, meaning all the original image information is retained in each image file.  JPEG is a "lossy" digital format which disregards at least 20% of an image's information as soon as one presses the shutter button--an acceptable thing for point-and-shoot consumer cameras but you professionals to be better.  To illustrate in terms of image clarity, think of RAW as brilliant, professional 100 speed film and JPEG as amateur 400 speed film.  But there's more to RAW than just superior image clarity, as RAW also grants a photographer remarkable post-shoot control over an image's exposure, color balance and brightness/contrast.  With regard to exposure, color balance and brightness/contrast, when shooting in JPEG mode what you shoot is pretty much what you wind up with, and given the finicky temperament of digital as compared with film this is not a good thing.  More often than not, digitally exposed images need a little bit of "tweaking" RAW readily allows with regard to exposure, color balance and contrast.  JPEG allows for little such "tweaking".  JPEG is convenient for a "photographer" who's lazy and/or cheap as it relieves that person from having to purchase expensive ($400-$600) RAW conversion software then putting in the many hours required to work with it, no matter that this negligence robs YOU of the best images Digital can offer.

Before sending a disk of images to my pro lab for proofing, I crop and color/contrast balance (perfect!) each and every RAW captured image individually, which involves 6-7 hours of computer time after your wedding shoot.  I then convert to 8 bit TIF, a non-lossy format, and burn these files to DVD for use as digital "negatives", perfect for later conversion to B&W, partial coloring, etc.  I then convert these TIF files to highest resolution Adobe JPEG, which are the final, digital images I send to my lab for proofing.  I also deliver to you both the TIF and JPEG file versions on disks.  According to the Pro labs I work with, most wedding "photographers" using digital who bother with proofs simply shoot in JPEG mode, burn a disk of uncropped, non-color/density balanced image files, send it to their lab, and wherever the crop, color balance and brightness/contrast falls in the lab's automated proofing process is wherever it falls, so couples wind up with proofs which are quite shoddy approximations of what "could have been" as photo labs can't afford to spend 6-7 hours finessing each digital proofing order.  And whether or not your photographer even bothers with making you printed proofs of your Wedding Day images, these JPEG-exposed photos are what you wind up with on disk, and then you're on your own with your inferior image files, and good luck to you.  I'm not kidding, and you won't be grinning after you've brought your disk to a photo lab to get 5X7 or larger reprints made.

By and large in 2009, what you see on web pages is often not what you will get.  What you see on most wedding "photographer" web pages I've seen lately are a collection of heavily doctored images shot in JPEG mode and finessed to the extreme with Adobe Photoshop to look appealing at a tiny website resolution which may get you a two inch, useable print. 

The very best photographers care way too much about their work and about you to shoot your wedding in anything but RAW mode.  The best photographers will go so far as to say that for a "professional" to shoot in anything but RAW mode is irresponsible.  Back in the days of film, which were not at all long ago, this would be akin to shooting cheap 35mm Konica film instead of Pro Medium Format Kodak.  Turns out though times change, some things remain the same.  Don't even consider bothering with a "photographer" who shoots digitally in JPEG mode.  Again, write me with any questions, and I'd also like to hear about or from any "professional" who denies anything I've written here.  As of yet, I haven't heard a peep.

How much do I need to spend for my Wedding Photography?

You'll find all manner of pricing for all manner of workmanship.

I've an office and studio in my home, so I have no storefront rental-space costs to pass on to you--costs which dramatically inflate the price of any service, though storefront renters will of course parrot questionable "you get what you pay for" or "I charge more because I'm in demand" excuses for bloated pricing.  As well, my prices reflect the fact that of all the sorts of photography to pursue I'd rather be busy at the work I love the most--Wedding Photography. I use the finest lighting and Digital photographic equipment and the most highly regarded state-of-the-art professional photo labs available for my proofing and reprint work.

So, does reasonable pricing mean sacrificing quality?  Especially lately, yes it can.  Though you don't need to spend several thousands of dollars for exceptional Wedding Photography, also be wary of prices which sound too good to be true from business people endeavoring to sell quantity as quality, lately most evidenced by part-time amateurs with dazzling websites and those by national discount photography networks who cheaply employ pools of local, mediocre "photographers", bet on your naivety, and prey upon your happiness.  Substituting genuine talent and care with salesmanship, internet finesse, and a huge dose of Adobe Photoshop, such amateurs and wedding mills are an insult to the dignity of the art form of all Photography, and can be avoided by working with smaller, established studios with a history of at least five years of impeccable references.

Search the internet and find distinguished professionals lamenting that from wedding mills to amateurish part-time photographers the art of Wedding Photography is currently in a precarious state.  Stylish-looking photography websites with a handful of likely heavily doctored images pop up daily, but most often don't tell the real story.  Check with the Better Business Bureau before even considering hiring anyone.  Google prospective photographers at maps.google.com for honest, customer reviews.  While visiting a photography studio, ask to see actual, complete proof albums--not just a collection of the best or "lucky" shots.  Ask to see complete proof albums from several different Weddings so you might get a clear idea of consistency.  Finally, ask to see handwritten "thank you" notes and cards--any photographer who's worth your time has got a pile of them.  In the circumstance a person you're meeting with won't be the one to actually shoot your Wedding, insist upon interviewing the actual photographer.  And if possible begin to seek your Wedding Photography services at least a year ahead of your Wedding, or you might soon find the only photographers still available to be lacking talent, unpleasant, and/or either oddly expensive or under-priced.  The same goes for any other service in the Wedding business.

What should I be looking for in a Wedding Photographer's work?

Artistry.

Someone who'd like to be your Wedding Photographer might speak well and seem nice enough, but it's true "the proof is in the pudding."

Wedding Photography, and in particular the portrait aspect of Wedding Photography, ought not only elicit some sort of hopefully positive emotion from you, but be interesting in form and tidy in detail.

When studying a sample portrait, how do you feel about a pose itself.  Does it look stiff (stick-figures), contrived (a macho groom gazing affectionately at a butterfly) or unbelievable/illogical (people posed sitting or lying on a wedding dress train)?  Is a pose and/or a photographer's lighting choice flattering to the subject(s)?  Are there elements of a photograph (perhaps bright reflections, or indiscreet use of photo filters) which distract you from the subject?  In an outdoor photo, could a branch which appears to be growing out of someone's head have been avoided?  In a full-length portrait of a bride, is part of her dress cut out of the picture (a pet peeve of mine--"If she wanted a shorter dress she would've bought one!")?  What are people doing with their hands--is a groom helping his bride hold up her heavy bouquet?  In group shots, are relationships apparent, or are fake-smiling people posed from tallest to shortest or vise-versa in a straight line stretching into more nowhere?--no matter any particular photographer's price, it's too much for such a boring depictions of humanity.  And keep in mind a portrait is more than a picture of a person or persons--it's also a picture about how the person or persons being photographed feel about their photographer and his/her skill.

In the field of Wedding Photography you'll find all manner of workmanship at all levels of pricing.  Put on your critic cap and surf photographers' websites.  Tender moments over-powered by bright reflections, burly grooms gazing oddly affectionately at butterflies, brides with their dress trains cut off or with nervous-looking wedding party members sprawled out on those elegant trains, and more utter curiosities, are all found on local web pages.  The good news is there's also wonderful work to be seen, composed by truly caring, talented professionals who might rightly be called "Artists".

What is "photojournalistic style"?

Most everyone with a camera has at one time or another taken a pleasing "candid" photograph.  "Photojournalistic style" is an elevated form of candid photography in which a story is told by artfully capturing detail or non-posed/unscripted moments at their peak--to many, an important element of your Wedding photography.  Certain aspects of your Wedding ceremony and much of your reception--including dancing shots, Best Man's toast, bouquet toss, etc.--are all "candid" and naturally lend themselves to a photojournalistic approach.

Please read on.

Some photographers are definitely better than others at photojournalism; likewise, some photographers are more adept at candid photography in general at the unfortunate expense of portraiture, and vice-versa.  In particular, the current popularity of the "photojournalistic style" concept combined with the declining cost of reasonably suitable digital cameras has prompted a glut of amateur-turned-part-time Wedding photographers whose brand of "photojournalistic style" is basically "anything non-posed", have little or no concept of lighting techniques, and are usually completely lacking in the elegant art of classic portraiture.  To illustrate the seriousness of this recent local/national development: At some time during the reception of most every Wedding I'm shooting, guests approach me to chat about some aspect of photography, and recently married people often wind up talking about their own Wedding photos.  Though many couples speak highly of their photographer, an increasing number express serious disappointments, which lately more often involve having hired a part-time "photojournalistic style" photographer and winding up with a lot of candids that look like ordinary snap-shots anyone could have taken and not a single decent portrait of the bride and groom alone together.  The best Wedding Photographers offer a well-rounded blend of creative formal portraiture and exceptional photojournalism at no extra charge, and will gladly lean one way or the other depending upon your wishes.  Though trends and people who exploit them for profit's sake come and go, your Wedding Photography is forever.

Do you bring an assistant?

I've never needed an assistant and by all I've seen conclude the offering of one indicates either photographer ineptness or simply a sales device.  That said, I'll bring along a second photographer for an additional $600-$800 depending upon your package choice.  But in my 18 years of shooting over 1000 weddings, not one couple has either asked me for an additional photographer or decided after-the-fact they needed anything more than a single, talented, energetic one.

Are the negatives from my Wedding available to me, and for how much?

All highest quality Digital negatives from your Wedding Day are now included in my packages.  This is due to the fact the overwhelming majority of couples who contact me are primarily interested in excellent images and in creating their own reprints and albums at their leisure, which is easy to do and will save you hundreds if not thousands of dollars in reprint/album costs.  Your Digital negatives will be 8 bit TIF files on DVD and highest Adobe resolution JPEG files on CD.  The JPEG files are perfect for making exact copies/enlargements of your proofs.  The TIF files should be stored and only used if you want to tackle your own specialty editing.

A photographer I spoke with suggested that to minimize the time my guests need to wait for me to arrive at my reception, I should consider having all my formal Wedding Party and Family shots done prior to my Wedding ceremony, but this would mean I'd see my fiancé before our ceremony, and I don't want that.

All your life, you've imagined your Wedding Day, and you knew how you wanted your day to be before you ever ventured to speak with anyone about planning it.  Your Wedding Day has nothing to do with anyone's convenience but yours, and has everything to do with what you've always wanted.  Keep yourself in the center of the one day you get to be there.
 
 

One photographer I spoke with boasted about his/her membership to one or another photography association--does a photographer's membership to such a thing really make a difference for my Wedding?

No such "association" requires more than a name and credit card number to acquire membership.  Research and see this for yourself.

Talk is ever-cheap.  Don't be impressed with meaningless emblems or with people touting them.  Observe a person and his/her work.

I've met with a photographer who's work and personality I think I like, but I'm still not quite sure about hiring him/her.  What to do?

Trust your instincts and ask for references.  Ask for more than one reference--hopefully, someone's done something right more than once!  There's no reason in the world why you shouldn't feel quite certain about all of your Wedding Day choices--after all, the more faith you have in the people you hire, the more you can relax and fully take-in your day.  "It went by so fast!", I often hear.  If such a day must seem so short, do your best to make it a joyful and care-free ride.

Thank you for bearing with me, and all the best to you,

Ernie.

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Email me: photo@acclaim.org
 
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