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picture perfect
 
This is a day that will never be repeated, so you need someone who can capture the best moments without cutting anyone's head off or giving you 'red eye'. Here, with advice from top wedding photographer David Elsdon, are confetti's top ten tips for getting the wedding album you want.
 
1) book ahead
Start your search for a photographer early, as good photographers get booked up a long time in advance. David recommends booking between 12 and 24 months before your wedding day.
 
2) shop around
Before you make your final choice, try to visit at least three photographers - check out their studio and staff and don't be afraid to ask questions. Ask to see full wedding album samples and make sure that the photographs are the work of the photographer who will be taking your wedding pictures - not simply the best photos from the studio.
 
3) look for the letters (after the name)
"It's very important to check credentials," says David. "Ask if the photographer is a qualified member of the MPA (Master Photographers Association), BIPP (British Institute of Professional Photographers) or Guild of Wedding Photographers - it's essential you find out whether they're qualified members, rather than just members." The BIPP has its own website at , or you can search our for photographers nationwide.
 
4) build a rapport
Whoever you book to take your pictures will be spending a substantial amount of time with you on the best day of your lives, so you must get on with him or her. "You should feel confident and relaxed in their presence," says David. "They may be the best photographer in the world, but if you don't feel comfortable it will reflect in the final images."
 
5) is the price right?
Prices range from anything upwards of £500. "People often make the mistake of thinking that all photographers are the same, but the photographic quality and style can vary enormously," says David. "Wedding photography is one area where you really do get what you pay for."

Most photographers have a menu of prices and will charge you a flat rate for taking shots on the day, plus an additional charge based on how many photographs you want in your album. The quality of the albums on offer (leather, plastic, velvet) can vary enormously and this affects the cost too. Remember that your family will be charged separately for any copies they want. Look for those nice little extras though - some photographers throw in a load of thank you cards with a small photo enclosed, as part of the deal.
 
6) think style and colour
There are lots of ways for your photographer to record your wedding, from the traditional posed groups shots in colour to more candid reportage-style shots, such as the bride in her curlers. Most couples go for a combination of styles and film.

If you want a complete formal record of the whole wedding, it's best to go for traditional photographs. Couples seeking a more relaxed, unposed album, on the other hand, should choose reportage style.

If you've spent a long time creating invites, menus, flower arrangements etc, you'll want a photographer who will capture these little details on film too.

For more informal snaps, it's a lovely idea to place single-use cameras on the tables at the reception so your guests can capture their version of the day. You can order one-use confetti cameras from .
 
7) is black and white right?
You'll need to decide whether to go for black and white or colour photographs. Couples who have carefully colour co-ordinated their day will want photos that record their creation. Black and white, meanwhile, creates a more timeless image. Some photographers will agree to do a combination.
 
8) put it on paper
Once you've found the perfect photographer and decided on a style, get your booking in writing. Check the small print and make sure you know exactly what you're getting for your money. You could even ask the photographer to sign a contract, which records your wedding date, time and place, price and any restrictions or conditions.

You will also want to ascertain when the proofs will be ready and how long you can keep them to make your selection. Find out exactly when your album will be ready too.
 
9) for perfect - you need practice
Before the big day, discuss a rough shot list with your photographer - there are certain to be events you definitely want recorded that he or she should know about. The traditional choices include:
 
  • groom and best man outside the church/civil venue

  • the bride's arrival at the church/civil venue

  • bride and father walking down the aisle/ bride entering the venue

  • bride and groom at the altar/desk

  • exchange of rings

  • signing of the register/documentation

  • procession out of the church/venue

  • group shots outside the church/venue

  • cutting the cake

  • arriving at the reception
Try to meet up at the venues for the service and the reception beforehand, so that he/she can get a feel for the best settings to enhance the style of photographs. Remember you need to check with your minister to make sure photography is permitted during the wedding ceremony.

A good professional photographer will use his or her creative and technical skills to get the best results as quickly, smoothly and tactfully as possible, but discuss the role you want your photographer to undertake on your wedding day. Do you want him or her to control events or blend into the background? One well-known photographer likes to shepherd guests into position with the help of a shrill whistle. It's not very subtle, but it breaks the ice and no one misses out on any of the day's photo calls!
 
10) relax!
Finally, the best advice any couple can take is try and relax in front of the camera. If you're not used to smiling and posing, or feel unhappy with your usual image in pictures, grab a mirror and spend a few minutes practising until you find a smile or an expression you can live with. If you look and feel comfortable, your photos are bound to work!
 
Wedding Photography - Tips for a Wonderful Session

Wedding Photography - Tips for a Wonderful Session

By

Every couple wants wonderful photos of their wedding day that capture the celebration, details, romance and beauty. Here are a few tips for a successful photo session:

  1. Hire a professional qualified wedding photographer. Don't be tempted to hire "Uncle Harry" to do your wedding photos. Focus on quality wedding photography. At the end in won't matter how much you save or spend if you end up with bad photos or no photos at all.
  2. Take the time to select the best wedding photographer that you can have. Make sure that you are in agreement regarding the style of photography.
  3. Don't give your wedding photographer a long list of must have photos that you printed from the Internet. You will only hinder the photographer's creativity and the capture of true spontaneous photographs. Hire a photographer with a style that you like and then give him or her artistic freedom to capture your wedding day photography.
  4. If you are going to have a ceremony outdoors please plan it away from the harsh sun. Shaded areas and afternoon sunlight are best.
  5. Try to have an engagement session with the same photographer that will photograph your wedding. It will allow you to interact with the photographer before your wedding day and will help the photographer evaluate your best angles.
  6. Plan enough time for your photographic session. Even if the wedding photographer is good he or she won't be able to give you wonderful photos in just five minutes.
  7. Take your time to do your hair and make up and to take care of all the details so you look good and fresh. The wedding day is not the time to try new makeup or a new hair look. If possible hire a professional hair and makeup artist and have a trial session before the wedding.
  8. Plan your photo session for afternoon or evening light unless it is an overcast day. The light will be better and you will end up with beautiful photos. Contrary to popular belief midday sunny time is the worst time to take photos.
  9. Please don't forget to rest well the day before the wedding and eat and stay hydrated during the day. If you are tired, thirsty or hungry it will show up in your photos.
  10. Don't make photography of groups the entire focus of your wedding day. A few group photos are ok to record the friends and relatives at the wedding. There is nothing more boring that a wedding album full of group photos.
  11. Be yourself. The goal of the wedding photographer is to capture the true you. If the photos are nice but show a fake person you won't be happy.
  12. Have fun and treat the photographer like a human being. Enjoy your day, smile a lot and relax.

About the Author

Juan Carlos Torres is a very respected and awarded wedding photographer in Oregon. He has a Masters Degree in Remote Sensing with a strong background in digital image processing and photography. He is a member of the several professional photographer organizations including the Professional Photographers of America, the Professional Photographers of Oregon, the Wedding Photojournalist Association, and the Oregon Wedding Photo Guild. His wedding photographs are unique and very artistic and have been featured in national and international magazines. For a sample of his works please visit

 
 The happy couple radiates true love, the parents beam with pride, and the flower girl's 100-watt smile lights up the room. Be ready to capture these moments, and get pictures that everyone will treasure. Follow these tips to get the best pictures possible with your digital camera.


Take candid pictures
Catch the unexpected. The ring-bearer squirming in his unfamiliar suit. Aunt Bea straightening the bride's bow. The bride greeting new family members. Old friends joking with each other. Don't worry about taking a lot of formally posed portraits—the professional photographer will take plenty of those.


 
>Show good camera manners
Everyone gets caught up in capturing the perfect moment, but there may be rules restricting photographs. Respect the dignity of the ceremony by refraining from taking distracting flash pictures. Non-flash pictures may, however, be acceptable. Turn off your flash and hold the camera very steady.


 

Capture the emotion
Catch the grins, tears, surprises, and hugs that make memorable pictures. Keep your camera handy and turned on so you'll be ready for those spontaneous expressions.


 

Take advantage of the dim light
Dim-light situations can work to your advantage. A silhouetted couple against a plain background conveys the romance and enormity of a lifelong commitment. Check the camera manual for turning the flash to "no flash."


 

Scene modes
Whether the wedding takes place indoors or out, at night or during the day, in dim light or with full light, you can always take great pictures by taking advantage of your EASYSHARE camera’s built-in scene modes, such as party, close-up, night portrait and backlight. Choosing the scene mode that corresponds to your picture taking situation automatically adjusts the camera settings to help you get the best shot possible.


 
Share your photos immediately
By using a along with your digital camera, you can produce real, waterproof 4x6 inch prints in as little as 60 seconds. What are you waiting for? Make prints of your best shots to share with the bride and groom or even other guests.


 

Unleash your creativity with the wedding pictures you took and send the bride and groom a congratulatory card or a commemorative photo book.your photos, you can also create personalized cards and hard-bound photo books conveniently online.

Every couple wants wonderful photos of their wedding day that capture the celebration, details, romance and beauty. Here are a few tips for a successful photo session:

1. Hire a professional qualified wedding photographer. Don't be tempted to hire "Uncle Harry" to do your wedding photos. Focus on quality wedding photography. At the end in won't matter how much you save or spend if you end up with bad photos or no photos at all.

2. Take the time to select the best wedding photographer that you can have. Make sure that you are in agreement regarding the style of photography.

3. Don't give your wedding photographer a long list of must have photos that you printed from the Internet. You will only hinder the photographer's creativity and the capture of true spontaneous photographs. Hire a photographer with a style that you like and then give him or her artistic freedom to capture your wedding day photography.

4. If you are going to have a ceremony outdoors please plan it away from the harsh sun. Shaded areas and afternoon sunlight are best.

5. Try to have an engagement session with the same photographer that will photograph your wedding. It will allow you to interact with the photographer before your wedding day and will help the photographer evaluate your best angles.

6. Plan enough time for your photographic session. Even if the wedding photographer is good he or she won't be able to give you wonderful photos in just five minutes.

7. Take your time to do your hair and make up and to take care of all the details so you look good and fresh. The wedding day is not the time to try new makeup or a new hair look. If possible hire a professional hair and makeup artist and have a trial session before the wedding.

8. Plan your photo session for afternoon or evening light unless it is an overcast day. The light will be better and you will end up with beautiful photos. Contrary to popular belief midday sunny time is the worst time to take photos.

9. Please don't forget to rest well the day before the wedding and eat and stay hydrated during the day. If you are tired, thirsty or hungry it will show up in your photos.

10. Don't make photography of groups the entire focus of your wedding day. A few group photos are ok to record the friends and relatives at the wedding. There is nothing more boring that a wedding album full of group photos.

11. Be yourself. The goal of the wedding photographer is to capture the true you. If the photos are nice but show a fake person you won't be happy.

12. Have fun and treat the photographer like a human being. Enjoy your day, smile a lot and relax.

Juan Carlos Torres is a very respected and awarded wedding photographer in Oregon. He has a Masters Degree in Remote Sensing with a strong background in digital image processing and photography. He is a member of the several professional photographer organizations including the Professional Photographers of America, the Professional Photographers of Oregon, the Wedding Photojournalist Association, and the Oregon Wedding Photo Guild. His wedding photographs are unique and very artistic and have been featured in national and international magazines. For a sample of his works please visit Portland Oregon Wedding Photographer and Eugene Oregon Wedding Photographer For a discussion on wedding photography see our Blog at Oregon Wedding Photographer

Now that June is here, chances are that you will be attending a wedding or two sometime soon. And, chances are, you'll be bringing your camera to the wedding along with a gift or two for the happy couple.
Here are some tips from the pros at the New York Institute of Photography, the world's largest photography school, to help you take great pictures of this memorable occasion.
While most couples hire a professional photographer to photograph the ceremony and reception, there's still plenty of room for you to also capture this occasion on film. Not only will you have a record of the wedding for your own pleasure, but imagine the joy of the happy couple to receive prints of events that the professional photographer did not see or wasn't asked to cover.
For instance, many wedding photographers no longer shoot those "table shots" of the guests because these photos don't usually get purchased by the bride and groom. This is the perfect opportunity for you. But shoot these like a pro: Have some of the people at your table stand up and move behind those still seated and take a group shot. Avoid showing the entire table complete with half-eaten food, instead concentrate on the faces of the guests. Another photo opportunity exists at your table.
Many bridal receptions now include disposable "single use" cameras at every table. You may need to get the show rolling and coax your table mates to start taking pictures. Remember,the bride and groom can't be at every table to take part in the festivities so candid photos from these cameras can show the guests having fun in a way that professional photographers aren't likely to capture.
A couple of hints on wedding photography etiquette. If you want to take photos at a church, synagogue, mosque or chapel, take your cues from the professional photographer hired by the bridal couple. If you see that he or she is not taking photos at the ceremony, chances are it is because the clergy told the photographer not to do so. Respect the tradition and don't take pictures. The same thing holds true for flash photography. Some places of worship will allow it at the ceremony, others will not. If you see that the pro is shooting, then take an aisle seat. It's the best place to get nice close shots of the couple that fill the frame as they leave the church.
One other suggestion on wedding photography is to be respectful of the professional photographer. Don't get in that individual's way. You don't want to ruin the photos that the bride and groom are paying the pro to take, and the pro can do a better job of capturing many parts of the event than you can. As we've indicated, there are plenty of different kinds of shots for you too. Check out Seven Tips for Great Wedding Photos on this month's New York Institute of Photography website at http://www.nyip.com for more hints on shooting at weddings and some great photos. For those of you interested in video, you'll find a complete article on Camcorder Wedding Videography as well on this month's NYI website..