| So you're engaged to that special someone and now | | | | events;o Devote extensive time to photography |
| it's time to start planning for the big day. One of the | | | | training & education;o Absorb the stress of a |
| first things you'll want to do after securing a venue | | | | wedding in stride;o Maintain control of wedding |
| for your wedding is to retain the services of a | | | | events w/ a positive attitude, without influencing |
| professional photographer. As anyone who has been | | | | wedding events;o Usually work in teams, with a 2nd |
| married before knows, weddings can be expensive. | | | | photographer and/or assistant; |
| According to a 2007 Wall Street Journal article1, | | | | All of the aforementioned actions separate a |
| "Americans spend $160 billion annually on their | | | | professional from the camera-toting guests at your |
| weddings, [and in 2006], the average cost was | | | | wedding. Professional photographers depend on |
| $27,852, well over half the median annual income in | | | | satisfied clients to refer future work to them for |
| U.S. households." | | | | their livelihood and therefore take the wedding |
| Wow! And, according to Martha Stuart Weddings2, | | | | business very seriously. They meet with the bride |
| approximately 10 percent of your wedding budget | | | | groom months in advance of the wedding for input, |
| should be allocated towards wedding photography. So | | | | visit the wedding/reception locations, prep their |
| why should you or any other bride/groom be | | | | equipment, secure assistants/2nd shooters and more |
| spending so much money on a photographer for one | | | | to prepare for a single wedding. All the preparation |
| day of your life? | | | | combined with industry knowledge and experience |
| Let's take a look at what defines a wedding | | | | allow a professional photographer to arrive on |
| photographer... | | | | wedding day and seamlessly execute beautiful, |
| Photographer - one who practices photography ; | | | | artistic photographs - while a chaotic wedding may be |
| especially: one who makes a business of taking | | | | simultaneously unfolding. |
| photographs. | | | | If you Google: Wedding Photography Horror Stories4 |
| Photography - the art or process of producing | | | | lots of terrible tales appear about how photos were |
| images by the action of radiant energy and especially | | | | ruined, weddings were ruined, etc. But many of these |
| light on a sensitive surface (as film or a CCD chip).3 | | | | "horror stories" are easily preventable. The bride is |
| Taking photos sounds pretty simple. Point the | | | | late because she was in a "fender bender", the |
| camera, say "cheese", and press the button... So why | | | | groom has a hangover and won't come out of the |
| not allow Uncle Jim and your friends to photograph | | | | restroom, the mother of the bride is stressed, the |
| your wedding? They all have cameras and surely | | | | maid of honor is drunk, the ring bearer is a no-show, |
| between everyone there will be some good photos, | | | | exes are not getting along, one of the bridesmaids is |
| right?! Well, the answer is yes and no; Yes they all | | | | upset and refuses to participate, a fight just broke |
| have cameras and yes there will be some amateur | | | | out, one of the tuxes for a groomsman is missing, |
| photos taken at the wedding that are acceptable, | | | | the limo driver is lost, and the list goes on for things |
| but do you really want to leave capturing such an | | | | that can (and frequently do) go wrong at a wedding. |
| important event to chance?! | | | | A professional wedding photographer handles it all in |
| So what does a professional wedding photographer | | | | stride, not getting caught up in the emotion or |
| do differently or better than your guests with | | | | distracted from the task at hand, which is making |
| cameras? | | | | beautiful memories using a camera. |
| Professional wedding photographers...o Invest in | | | | So why should you pay so much to have a |
| expensive, high-quality camera/editing equipment | | | | professional wedding photographer cover your |
| (which means you get superior images);o Carry | | | | wedding? Because for such an important event you |
| duplicate (secondary) equipment, in case of | | | | can't afford not to do so! |
| equipment malfunction;o Have a strong understanding | | | | Sources: |
| of the wedding flow (knowing what happens next | | | | 1. Wall Street Journal Online - article: |
| before it happens);o Capture beautiful, artistic images | | | | SB118496836459673467.html |
| from every segment of wedding - creating a group | | | | 2. Martha Stuart Weddings Online: |
| of images that tell a complete story, from start to | | | | wedding-photography-basics |
| finish;o Conduct research on wedding locations;o | | | | 3. Merriam-Webster Online |
| Undertake extensive planning/scheduling for wedding | | | | 4. |