Frequently Asked Questions

By all to be seen and heard, the availability of wedding photographers from 10 or 20 just a few years ago to now a zillion per town or city listed at internet wedding sites and searches does not indicate a sudden burst of creativity.  It does indicate a decline in price of SLR (interchangeable lens) digital cameras which has encouraged a mass of salesmen and amateurs to buy attractive websites promising you really nothing but a gamble you don't need on your wedding day.  In 18 years at this work I adore, in my capacity as "the photographer" wedding guests have come by me to share wedding photography adventures which had mostly not been too frightening until about the last year, with venerable terms like "classic", "photojournalistic", "documentary style" and most recently "vintage fine arts" photography reduced to buzzwords to sell poor lighting and judgment and all the lens flare you ever dreamed of, and I'm left wondering what's happened as just a few years ago even the least talented wedding photographers really weren't all that bad and at least were honest.  A little close to home, the esteemed PPA (Professional Photographers Of America) has finally suspended a Rochester, NH photographer's membership for two years for unethical business practices, though he still operates regardless (write or visit for documentation).  Most of all, be careful and choosy--it's your Wedding Day, it's you at this amazing moment in your life, and it only happens once.  If I'm no longer available for you, I'll steer you in the direction of other real professionals who love their work as much as I do mine and won't disappoint you.

Be wise, and be happy  Kindly, Ernie
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Why are proof albums no longer included in your packages, but instead offered as an add-on?

Though I'm a huge fan of printed proofs because images on photo paper opposed to viewed on your computer monitors--which are probably not professionally calibrated and therefore all over the place with respect to color balance, brightness and contrast--reveal a photograph's true quality.  At the same time, in the last year or so I've met with an increasing number of couples whose priority was artistic photography and to cut costs asked to forego a proof album of their wedding images.  Out of respect for that desire, I've made proof albums optional and have adjusted my package prices appropriately downward to reflect that change.

  Still, professionally printed proofs allow you, your family and friends and especially those who may not be computer savvy to view your Wedding photos exactly as I mean for them to be seen.  As well, when you're ready to have reprints made, excellent proofs are an indispensable tool for photo labs who are delighted to have "guide prints" to refer to with regard to color balance and brightness/contrast values when making your prints and albums.  So while I can make recommendations, I leave the choice of a proof album up to you now.  I always have at least one proof album here to show you to give you something to consider.

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 umbrellas or other 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, if necessary, 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 guarantee the quality portraiture promised by the best examples of his/her portfolio--the shots you loved the most.

What is "fine arts" photography?  So many photographers are now calling themselves "fine arts" photographers.

I used to know what "fine arts" photography meant, which was something about photographic art developed for aesthetics and/or concept rather than utility.  When I think "fine arts" I think of masters like Andy Warhol, Ansel Adams and the amazing portrait work of Mark Seliger and Annie Leibovich.  "Fine art" used to mean something special.  From what I've seen lately in the world of Wedding Photography, the concept of "fine art" has been mostly reduced to yet another opportunistic sales pitch and bland, color images which when converted to B&W are apparently to be considered "fine art".  Not quite.

Adobe Photoshop is a fine tool I love to use, but "special" is that inexplicable something which happens before a photographic artist ever clicks on a mouse.

Other artistic terms in danger of being bled of meaning and reduced to buzzwords are "photojournalistic style" and "documentary approach", which have come to mostly signify ineptness at meaningful portraiture though such "photographers" apparently hope to lure you by promising a zillion candids, no matter that only a small portion of them will be of any use to you.  The latest wedding photographer spin I've seen is "vintage fine arts", as if contrasty, sepia-toned images are suddenly something any studied photographer can't easily make for you if you just ask.

Do you attend bridal shows?

With all due kindness and respect to all sturdy, engaged couples who bundle up in mid-winter to visit a New England bridal show, the truth is you won't find the most talented, reasonably-priced photographers there as $600-$800 table fees don't make much sense to established, busy people.  What you will see are people trying to convince you to pay more than you need to for what a Google search can find what you're looking for.

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

As compared with part-time photographers, professionals who've chosen photography as a full-time career are typically 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--not to mention generally better work.  Lately I've noticed full-time photographers are offering much more reasonable pricing than part-timers, probably due to the fact part-timers' income doesn't depend upon photography.  Lastly, it's 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 possible

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

When working with Digital, anyone worthy of your consideration shoots strictly in RAW image mode for far superior, final images as compared with shooting in JPEG mode.  RAW is a non-lossy image file format; JPEG is a lossy image format.  "Non-lossy" means every bit of the image taken is saved by the camera without compression, thus the huge size of RAW image files.  "Lossy" image formats compress image files so less camera memory is being used, but somewhere something has to be sacrificed to obtain a smaller file size, and that something is image detail.  Shooting in JPEG is convenient for a "photographer" who's lazy and/or cheap as it saves that person from having to purchase expensive ($400-$600) RAW conversion software then put in the many hours required to work with it, no matter that this negligence robs YOU of the best images Digital can offer.

The very best Wedding Photographers and Pro Photographers in general whether their specialty be high fashion, commercial or otherwise care way too much about their images, reputation and clientele to shoot in anything but RAW mode.  All true pros, including an esteemed Photographer from National Geographic who engaged me in conversation at a recent Wedding, will say that for a "pro" to shoot in anything but RAW is "utterly irresponsible".  I'm sure you remember 35mm film cameras, and possibly you're aware of Medium Format film cameras, which the best pros used and produced negatives up to 4.5 times the size of 35mm cameras.  Compared with the days of film, which were not at all long ago, shooting in JPEG now would be akin to shooting cheap Konica film in 35mm cameras instead of Pro Kodak in Medium Format cameras--"yesterday's" version of RAW, really.  Turns out though times change, some things remain the same.  Don't even consider bothering with a "photographer" who shoots digitally in JPEG mode.  As always, write me with any questions, and I'd also like to hear about or from any "photographer" 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 built an office and studio in my own home, so I have no storefront rental-space costs to pass on to you--costs which as you know dramatically inflate the price of any service.  Studio/office space renters will of course parrot "you get what you pay for" or "my prices are higher because I'm in demand" lies and 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 it isn't necessary for you to spend several thousand dollars for exceptional Wedding Photography, also be wary of prices which sound too good to be true from people endeavoring to sell quantity as quality, lately most evidenced by part-time amateurs, and regional/national discount "studios" who draw you in with web pages featuring several beautiful images, but who in actuality cheaply employ pools of mediocre local "photographers", bet on your naivety, and prey upon your happiness.  Substituting genuine talent and care with sly salesmanship, 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-timers the art of Wedding Photography is currently in a precarious state.  More 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.  While visiting a photography studio, ask to see actual, complete proof albums.  Look for examples from many different Weddings to get a clear idea of consistency--photos from only two or three wedding will tell you they've probably only shot for a couple of their friends.  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 in 2011 your job is to try and differentiate the artists from the proliferation of amateurs and salesmen who have infested this art form since the advent of inexpensive digital cameras.

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 near-infinity?--no matter any particular photographer's price, it's too much for such a boring depiction 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.

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 fine portraiture, and vice-versa.  In particular, the current popularity of the "photojournalistic style" concept combined with the declining cost of 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.  This recent trend hits home to me sometime during the reception of most every Wedding I'm shooting when guests approach me to chat about some aspect of photography, and married people often wind up talking about their own Wedding photos.  Though many couples speak highly of their photographer, an increasing number are disappointed and explain they hired a company or individual with an appealing website but wound up with no more than a lot of dull candid work they feel most anyone could have done.  In their search for a photographer, these couples admit they were impressed by price and a few pretty website images but did not do their homework.  The best Wedding Photographers offer a well-rounded blend of creative portraiture and exceptional photojournalism at no extra charge, and will gladly lean one way or the other depending upon what you ask them to do.  Though trends and people who exploit them for profit's sake come and go, your Wedding Photography is Forever.

Do you bring an assistant?

In my 19 years of shooting over 800 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 either online or at your favorite local photo lab and will save you hundreds of dollars in reprint/album costs.  Your Digital negatives will be RAW generated highest Adobe resolution JPEG files on CD.  The superb JPEG files directly generated from RAW are perfect for making albums or 16 x 20 or larger reprints.

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 cheap.  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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