You have found the perfect dress, booked the perfect venue and found the perfect romance. The day you have been dreaming about is just around the corner. Now it’s time to start thinking about how you will remember your wedding and start your search for the perfect photographer.
We surveyed several professional photographers in Arkansas for their No. 1 piece of advice on preparing you for your wedding day photos. We also uncovered some new trends in wedding photography. So relax and let us help you snap up some memories that will last for a lifetime.
“There are no reshoots for a wedding. You are not only paying for the photographer’s eye and skill level, but you are paying for their years of experience. A wedding is full of surprises, and it takes years of experiences for a professional photographer who not only expects those surprises but can actually anticipate those rare moments.” – Janet Schroeder, JHS Photos
“You should have a great connection with your photographer. After doing this for many years, good photographers will know what makes great photos and what does not. But this is your wedding and your style and your needs should be met.” – Clida Fair, Clida Fair Photography
“Hire quality — and have a contract. Your photographs will be your keepsakes for the most important day of your life, for moments that only happen once in a lifetime. Make sure you hire someone who can capture your images the way you want them.” – Dana Gieringer, Stone Ridge Photography
“Make sure your photographer understands your personality, and make sure you like theirs. Spending several hours a day with someone you don’t click with can be uncomfortable, and it will show in your images. By having a good connection with your photographer, your images look more natural.” – Melody Purdy, Purdy Art Co.
“When interviewing a photographer, you should always ask to see proofs or contact sheets of his or her most recent weddings. In our digital age anyone can show you a collection on images that have been perfectly retouched. By viewing an entire body of work at the proof stage you find out how good a photographer is overall with setup, composition, lighting and overall event coverage.” – Emily Willman, Carper Creative Photography
“The more popular months — May, June, and October — book up about a year ahead. Unlike the florist or caterer, most photographers only do one wedding a day, so it’s important to plan ahead.” – Mandy Engel, Photography by Melisa
“The couple needs to discuss with the photographer the style of photography they want. Does the couple prefer traditional, photojournalism or a combination of both? Even if a couple prefers a photojournalistic approach, it is best to interject some traditional, especially with the family shots. Older relatives may not want the bride and groom sitting on the ground in an intimate pose to put on their mantel or coffee table.” – Gloria J. Townsend, Brides in Bloom Photography
“If you can afford quality, then look for someone who is experienced. They most likely know what they’re doing and are up on the latest trends and styles in photography.” – Tammy Belin, Tammy Belin Photography
“Often, a good photographer will act as a wedding coordinator, helping progress you through your wedding day based on your photography needs. Everyone and everything should be ready to go at the set start time for photographs. It is important that the bridal party goes first for pictures so that the bride has time to hide before guests arrive. The guys don’t take as long and they can be photographed with guests coming in, if need be.” – Larry Odom, Focus Photography
Today photographers are trying out techniques that capture the most candid moments of the special day, transform brides into a stunning model, or allow couples to move freely in fields, streams or just across the pavement outside the church. Here are some of the latest trends in wedding photography.
Photojournalism — Imagine looking at your wedding photos and seeing nothing but the most realistic representation of you and your guests on the most important day of your life. With photojournalism wedding photography, the photographer is dedicated to capturing the most candid and realistic representation of the events on your wedding day. The pictures are in action, in the moment and real. This technique is not limited to the ceremony and the reception — it translates well to the bride and groom portrait sessions before or after the wedding, too. The photographer refrains from positioning the bride and groom. Instead, they simply interact with one another to get the most realistic facial expressions and affectionate interactions for a truly emotion-filled finished product.
Fine art wedding shots — If you are looking for a high-fashion appearance in your wedding day photos, then fine art wedding photography is a trend for weddings that might be perfect for your special day. Fine art photography focuses on creating high-fashion portraiture. When the wedding is over and the prints are in, you could imagine these pictures on the cover of any bridal fashion magazine or on a beautiful oil canvas. These photos get post-production treatment by the photographer, meaning the photographer uses photo editing software to give each detail of your pictures an extra special glow. This trend is becoming increasingly popular with brides.
Trash the dress — A variation of fine art wedding photography that is growing fast into one of the more popular options for brides is the post-wedding photo session. This technique, more fondly known as “trash the dress,” provides the bride an opportunity to get any shot she wants in any pose she wants without having to worry about ruining her wedding gown before her wedding day. You as a bride can choose just how far you want to go with your bridal portraits. While some brides go to the extent of swimming in lakes, climbing up dirty footpaths and even ripping their gowns for special effect, the logic of shooting pictures after the wedding is still sound. Even if you do not want to trash your dress, it makes sense to get the beautiful shot you want outdoors without having to stress over the condition of that perfect gown.
Whatever photographer and style you choose for your wedding photos, we hope these words of advice will help you make the best decision you can. Ultimately, you as a bride should remember that the most important thing when getting a wedding photographer is to get exactly what you want and nothing less.
