When it comes time to pick your professional wedding photographer you will want to make sure you do your homework. Your photographer will be the person you deal with more than anyone else involved in your wedding. They will be the one you want to feel the most comfortable with because they are with you the whole day. An experienced photographer can direct everything about your day from beginning to end.
If you like their work and feel comfortable with them, they can be your calming force during the fast, hectic pace of the wedding day. They will be a personal assistant to help you as well as take great photographs. They will also make sure that everything moves along so you do not miss the experience of the day.
After the wedding they are one of the few people that you continue to work with as you create your wedding album.I think you should also hire someone who is doing digital photography and handles most of their digital enhancements of their work. A photographer who is proficient with photoshop and digital enhancement is a major plus, as they can do anything imaginable to your images.
So try and hire someone who you like and get along with, someone whose photographic style you like, and someone who does most of their image enhancement after the event. If you can find a photographer who is all of these things then you will be assured of a successful day, as well as wonderful images, and a friend who will record all the important events in you life.
About the Author Ed has been a professional wedding photographer for almost 30 years. Ed and his wife Susan have been featured in The Professional Photographer and had their pictures published in many other magazines. Whether you re embarking on a family vacation or your family reunion, it s going to be a special time. When we think of trips we ve taken, we tend to remember them best with photographs. Here s some ideas to enhance your vacation as well as your memories of them.
Location Preparation
1) Since you know where you re going (that’s a minimum requirement), doesn t it make sense to check out the location before you get there? Create a list of attractions, accommodations, special points of interest, amusement areas, shopping, etc. A good source to help you do this is: the Places and Travel section of msn.com ( http://groups.msn.com/Browse?CatId=179)
2) Figure out the photo opportunities for each appropriate venue. Anyone can take a that s nice picture of the kids at an amusement park. Wouldn t you rather capture a WOW photo that could be hung over the mantle?
3) Depending on the location you re traveling to, you can see what books are written about them that highlight the best photo opportunities for the entire area
4) If you re cyber-savvy, start at www.google.com and search using different combinations of: your destination, best photography locations, for images of the location, scenic spots, etc. The options are endless.
5) If you re off to a non-big city area, scout out the national parks in the area. The great thing about national parks is that the scenery is usually so breathtaking, that a so-so shot looks outstanding, just because of the subject. Once in www.nps.gov, do a search on photos and you will be presented with terrific shots of all the parks
Photography Preparation
OK, you re either traveling through or you re at a wonderful location full of photo opportunities. You began this leg of your trip at the crack of dawn and as you re pulling into the most scenic overlook for 400 miles, the sun is just starting to crack the horizon.
You instinctively pull the car over, grab your camera and your tripod, and look for the best spot to set up. Just one tiny little problem YOU FORGOT YOUR TRIPOD! Rather than smack yourself on the forehead then, why not plan these things now, before you leave?
Your list should include AT LEAST the following consideration
1) Do I need to repeat BRING YOUR TRIPOD? It doesn t take up much room, and as explained at www.best-family-photography-tips.com/tripod-photography.html, tripods allow you to capture entirely new categories of photographs that won t be possible without one
3) If your camera has a hot shoe, bring your external flash, and any additional equipment that can be used to help with bounce flash
4) Remember your external shutter release cable for those long exposures. How else are you going to get that angel-hair look of the waterfalls?
5) Don t forget the basics like: batteries, battery charger, camera bag, and additional lenses and filters (if applicable on your camera)
6) And just in case you need it, bring the manuals for your equipment.
Finally, don t get so wrapped up in taking perfect shots that you don t enjoy the trip. Remember to use the tripod so that you’ll be in at least some of the photos.
Article courtesy of www.best-family-photography-tips.com, where you can see some sample pictures including more photography tips. Copyright 2005 Robert Bezman. All rights reserved.
