Well we did have an eventful few days in CT, but Erin is right we are only just on the tip of the iceberg here. Next in the planning includes finding a: photographer, dj, florist and officiant. This seems more difficult then the initial location and caterer, luckily the caterer and location were able to provide some recommendations from groups they have worked with in the past.
I know that choosing a photographer is something that I need to be most careful with. I want to find someone that I can trust and yet not spend most of the budget on them. From my brief glances at some area photographers online, it seems like the price is basically decided upon by the package. Justin and I are not sure if we want to go with a large package, since I don’t really need the crazy photo album and all the enlarged framed pictures. I think all we really want are a lot of good photos/proofs and the negatives, and we even like the idea of all digital photos. I think it would be fun to scrapbook the images myself… although that does mean finding the time. And my current scrapbook is running a little behind.
Any advice on choosing photographers, florists, dj, and officiants would be great… especially any CT recommendations.
Erin Says:
May 23rd, 2005 at 11:23 pmVisit Erin
Okay, so there are two basic types of wedding photography. There is the traditional, which includes the posing of the people, well, basically what you think of when you think of wedding photos. And there is the photojournalistic style. This type of photographer captures you going thru your day with little interruption for posed shots. This is totally a preference thing. Obviously, either type of photographer can do some of the other type of shots if asked, but most specialize in either one style or the other. It is best to decide which style you want most of your pictures to be, and go with that type of photographer.
Another thing to decide is what kind of camera you would want your photographer to use; 35mm, medium format, or digital.
35mm is your normal camera, using 35mm film. pros: if you want photo-journalistic style, this is good because it’s much more portable than a medium format. cons: because of the small film size, getting a good quality print larger than 8×10 is rare.
Medium format: Think of old movies with a big ol’ camera on a tripod where the photographer sticks his head under a piece of cloth to shoot the picture, and that’s basically the idea (although the cloth isn’t usually part of the ensemble anymore). These negatives are 2.25″x2.25″ Pros: warmer colors, richer depth, and sharper contrast than either digital or 35mm. Cons: this camera is large and therefore cumbersome. It may not be the best choice if you want photojournalistic style, but is sure to take magnificent traditional shots! Side note: I could be wrong about them being too cumbersome for the photojournalistic style, that’s just what I found with the photographers in NY…all the ones that used medium format were traditional, so look around and you might be able to find someone who uses medium format and is capable of photojournalistic style, if that is what you want.
Digital: There are some phenominal digital cameras out there, so don’t let the idea of inferior quality turn you away from digital. Pros: Because of the LCD screen, photographers can check their photos immediately and adjust the shutter speed and aperture accordingly. Also, in my experience of looking around, digital photographers tend to offer more proofs in their packages. I assume this is because they don’t have to deal with the cost of film, so they can shoot and shoot and don’t need to worry about it. Cons: the biggest con about digital photography is the printing. There are very few archival quality printing options. It is very important to check the quality of the paper and ink that digitial photographers are using, as well as their cameras.
Of course, all of these are guidelines are, well, guidelines. If you love the idea of medium format, but can’t find a medium format photographer that lives up to your expectations, let it go!
The other thing is don’t just look at books that photographers have put together to show prospective clients. That will be a compilation of all their best stuff. Even bad photographers can capture great shots. The trick is finding one who captures LOTS of great shots! Ask to see a proof book (or multiple proof books) from recent weddings. This way you’ll see the real range of quality you can expect.
Also, personality is really important. This person is basically going to be there the entire day, even during the most personal moments. While you will be grateful later for the beautiful photos, you don’t want to get so irritated with him/her that all of your photos have you with a grimace! I think the photographer and the DJ/band need to have the best people skills of any of the vendors you hire, so just try to keep it in mind while looking.
Okay, I just realized I wrote you a novel! Hopefully I didn’t bore the pants off of you (if you are even still reading!)! I guess, if you have any questions, let me know. Otherwise, and I know I’ve said it before, but you really want to pick up Bridal Bargains. I have the 6th edition, but the 7th edition just came out and I’m thinking about getting it (even 4 months out from the wedding) just because I used it so much!
Here is a link to the book on amazon so you can check it out if you so desire. I promise, I don’t make any money if you buy this book, I just think it is incredibly helpful.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1889392170/qid=1116904811/sr=8-1/ref=pd_csp_1/104-9564420-8224759?v=glance&s=books&n=507846
Michelle Says:
May 24th, 2005 at 6:28 pmVisit Michelle
Alright you convinced me, the book is ordered (as well as the second season of Gilmore Girls, I couldn’t resist). I can’t wait for this book to arrive, anything that can lessen the budget without sacrificing the look/feel is good by me.