My View on Posed Wedding Photography

I recently had a potential client ask to see more “candid” images from my portfolio as she compared my work to another wedding photographer. She is looking for a photographer for her wedding next fall, and does not like the idea of “posed” images. While I did provide additional images for her to view, I also encouraged her to view a complete set of proofs in the client area of my website. Viewing these photos is the only way for a bride to truly evaluate the manner in which I cover their wedding. I do not miss a single moment. 

Most images captured during a wedding are candid, in that the photographer does not intervene to create the shot.  So what she may be really asking about is more of what I describe as “moment within a moment” shots. I create these shots by capturing real moments like the tear streaming down a father’s cheek as they dance, or the groomsmen pranking the groom.  The bride in a special moment with her maid of honor may be completely missed by another photographer, if he is too focused on making things appear natural. As a wedding photographer, to catch the perfect moments you need to be at the right place at the right time.

Moments like that are priceless and I am always on the lookout for those opportunities. Although, I have to say that throughout most of the day these moments can be few and far between.  Think about it, a wedding is a totally planned, orchestrated event! Everything is scheduled: getting ready, the ceremony, the dances, and toasts from your loved ones. Even the cake cutting, bouquet or garter toss, and formal exit are planned ahead of time, and are often predictable.  This does not leave much room for spontaneity.  

My view is not to interfere, but rather, create opportunities for moments to arise during the times I interact with the couple. I take idea of the moment and make it happen without appearing cheesy or corny; sometimes magical moments reveal themselves that never had a chance to blossom on their own.  Maybe I ask the groom to whisper something to his new bride or I ask the father of the bride to pause before going down the aisle.  I might just ask a bride to simply look at her ring. While the idea is set up, the pose and facial expression come naturally from the flush of emotions. These photos appear candid, even though they were originally planned out.

Also, because I generally shoot with a second shooter, that photographer is tasked with getting unusual angles of classic opportunities; she is also an extra pair of eyes, allowing her to anticipate the “next move” while I am focused on a shot. To help a potential client work through this, I will share a group of images and ask her to pick those that are posed and those that are not posed.  They are all posed to varying degrees by me but that is usually quite a surprise to the potential client.

Look for a photographer that appreciates getting those “moments within a moment”, make sure that you hire the photographer from the beginning to the end. Consider hiring a photographer that has at least a second shooter or even a third.  This prevents missing special moments, candid or not!

Spark creative, unique ideas for your Charleston wedding with Pinterest

Prior to the big day, many brides are in search of several exceptional, unique ideas that will set their wedding apart from the rest. From one-a-kind gifts for bridesmaids and groomsmen to handmade favors, every little detail will help make your wedding particularly original.

As a wedding photographer in Charleston, I’ve seen it all—exceptional décor, flowers, lighting, you name it. The more you strive to be unique, the better your wedding photos will be. 

But if you’re in need of a little inspiration, a thought-provoking array of images that will get your inventive juices flowing, sites like Pinterest and Etsy are by far some of the more superb resources on the internet. 

Though there are countless great blogs out there, Pinterest is all the rage nowadays, with 20 million users (and counting) as of October 2012. On Pinterest, you can follow your favorite brands and “boards,” which will only help you find some of the best ideas for your wedding. Etsy, a site that sells handmade and vintage-style items, is the most pinned brand on Pinterest.

After you find some unique themes and ideas, you can create your own boards and organize the many different aspects of your wedding. Then you can “pin” some of your favorite ideas, which will spark feedback from your followers and friends.

Give it a shot, and before long, your wedding will start taking shape—and you’ll be sure to have beautiful wedding photography because of it.   

Breaking down the costs of professional photography

As a Charleston wedding photographer, I would like to discuss one of the inherent challenges a couple has when planning their wedding—hiring a photographer. Many are surprised to learn that the “experts” suggest allocating 10 percent of your budget to your photography. For those with smaller budgets, it may be a challenge to get the photographer you want.

But regardless of what you spend … this is one of the most important decisions you will make because it’s one of the only tangible items of your wedding that will last a lifetime.

Remember you are hiring a company to do a job for you. You can pay a lot less, sure, by calling on a friend, family member or someone just starting out to capture your big day. But brides need to remember that their wedding day cannot be redone. Is it worth the risk?

A professional photographer not only offers state-of-the-art camera, lighting and computer equipment, but also talent and years of experience. 

To get a better understanding, here’s an example of some of the things that brides forget are part of the overall cost of hiring a professional photographer:

• Marketing costs: How did you find your photographer—a  print ad in a magazine or perhaps online? If you searched the internet, chances are your photographer had to pay a significant amount of money so that he/she could be found on Bing, Google or Yahoo!

• Business insurance, equipment insurance, liability insurance.

• Staff salaries.

• Speaking to the client via phone, responding to email and then in-person meetings during the selection process.

• Preparation of proposals specific to a potential client as well as preparations of agreements for the new client.

• Travel costs.

• Setup time at the location.

• The actual shooting of the images.

•  Loading the images onto a computer and backing up the files on an external drive.

•  Editing and choosing the final images from a selection of roughly 1,500-1,800 photos.

•  Editing photographs.

• More phones calls and emails with the client, receiving order and payment, ordering prints, packaging and shipping prints.

• Meeting client to review photos and wedding albums.

This list is far from complete, but I think you can see that when a professional photographer charges $4,000 for an eight-hour wedding event, the client is not paying $500 an hour. Typically, a wedding can take upward of 75-125 hours in total to sell, capture and process and print. 

And let’s not forget the amount of money photographers spend on computer, photographer and lighting equipment. Professional cameras can average anywhere from $2,500-10,000, with lenses ranging from $1,250 to an excess of $3,000. At any given wedding, professionals are equipped with at least a pair of cameras and up to as many as six lenses—and that’s not taking into account laptops, backdrops, etc.

So when planning your Charleston destination wedding, consider that when paying for a professional photographer, you’re paying for much more—indelible, cherished memories that will last a lifetime.