The way you capture and remember the moments of your magical day will depend on your wedding photography. It is not whether you need a photographer, but whether the artist can capture the memories the way you want them remembered. Since wedding photography is so important, we sought out the finest in the industry for a little advice. The nation’s top photography professionals shared some inside tips for planning your wedding photography.
Wedding Photography Style
Some of us know what we love and want, while some of us are just figuring it out. Wedding planning is about discovery. Before you settle with one photographer, explore different styles and find the one you love. Think about the style and feeling you want captured in your masterpiece. Do you dream of an elegant documentation of your wedding day with positioned poses or do you want a documentary style that captures candid moments? How are you planning to use your wedding photography? Are you filling albums or creating gallery-worthy wall art that dips into more dramatic photography. Take your vision and ideas with you to your meeting with wedding photographers.
What’s Style?
You might realize that everyone has their own style that is a little bit of their personality added to their art. It is important to realize that there are different styles of photography and different styles of post production editing. Classic wedding photography is timeless. These are the formal images that might seem on purpose and posed. They also encompass the realistic documentary style. Documentary style captures a spontaneous moment without becoming involved in the moment. It is authentic and candid. Dramatic style is all about lighting and effects. It requires the mastery of off-camera flash and the ability to work with light. The images have an abstract component to them. Black and white wedding photography is part of the dramatic style. There is more than just the style of the shoot. You should also consider the style of the post production editing.
Daylin Lavoy, with Daylin Lavoy Photography and Videography, is among the most sought-after photographers in Florida. She is part of a wedding team with her husband, and together, they bring years of experience to the topic of weddings. According to Daylin, you should “ . . . make sure you are hiring a photographer with the style . . . you are looking for. [S]ettling for someone who does not have the style that is pleasing to you and expecting different results upon receiving your pictures never ends well.”
Wedding Photography Advice
Doug, with Patken Photographer, is a world-renowned photographer with more than thirty years of experience in wedding photography behind his expert advice. Doug is considered to be one of the top photographers and educators worldwide. This award-winning international wedding photographer believes, “The worst thing a couple could do is probably spend a little less than they should have, rather than a little bit more than they wanted to. There are so many variables that could go wrong on a wedding, so experience is crucial. That not only means having backup equipment, but having back up team members.” Your wedding photography should be able to adapt, with “ . . . the ability to work under any lighting condition [and] any weather condition . . .”
Quality and Experience
There seems to be a consensus among professionals that experience is the key element to quality. JR Sterling, with Sterling Photography, is an artist from the world of high fashion. Sterling holds a graduate degree in fine arts and has a career in high fashion photography with a portfolio that includes renowned New York modeling agencies, such as Wilhelmina and Casablanca. According to Sterling, “The most important thing is the quality of the images . . .” and whether or not “ . . . they reflect [the] joy, beauty and romance” that your moments do. Sterling strongly believes, “ . . . booking an inexperienced photographer . . .” can be one of the largest mistakes you can make with your wedding photography. Experience ensures your photographer will be “ . . . able to anticipate any unforeseen circumstances or changes,” such as rain or timing issues, “ . . . and still stay calm and deliver incredible images. Relax and enjoy, no matter what, let the day unfold [and] enjoy, moment by moment.”
Crystal Ballroom Saint Augustine
Envision your wedding day and think about how you want to remember those moments. Think about the style and feeling you want captured in the masterpiece. Wedding planning is a process of discovery. We constantly learn new ideas and fall in love with new styles. It is time to find your wedding photography style. Bring imagination and your vision to a meeting with the master designers and planners at Crystal Ballroom Saint Augustine. Design your fairy tale in an all-inclusive ballroom with seemingly endless possibilities, and meet the preferred wedding photographers that can capture the moments the way you want them remembered.
