Snap Happy: Get the wedding photos you want

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Snap Happy: Get the wedding photos you want

Long after the day’s over, the photos live on. The pros dish their trade secrets for getting pictures you’ll love forever.

Photography by You Can’t Be Serious (youcantbeserious.com.au)

Expert's top tips:
Hailey Bartholomew, You Can't Be Serious (youcantbeserious.com.au)
Bartholomew attracts a fun-loving clientele who adore her ability to capture informal moments and details. "Couples are taking a more personalised approach and we're seeing more props, such as masks, hats and bunches of balloons, and they're also thinking about their poses more," she says.
To get the photos you'll want to keep always, Bartholomew recommends:
- Chatting with the photographer as much as you can. Tell them about the things you love so they get a sense of who you are. If I know a couple better by the time their wedding rolls around, I feel like I can direct and photograph them better on the day.
- Always come to the meetings prepared with ideas and inspiration, such as pages ripped out of a magazine or photographs of locations. A clear directive is the quickest way to achieve the photographs you'd like.
- Avoid being anything other than yourselves. If posing with a fake moustache isn't "you", then don't do it. You won't feel comfortable in the photos and you won't like the end result.
- Don't worry about posing so you look just right as this can make your photos look stiff. The aim is to have a great day, have fun and the photos will reflect this. My job is to capture the atmosphere.

Infinity Photography (infinityphotography.com.au)
Infinity's aim is to capture beauty without intruding. The studio's Suzannah Coubrough lists top matters to discuss with a photographer:
-What's your signature style?
You should be able to judge this by a studio's website and albums. Being aware of their style will help you to be more prepared for the day.
-Will I have enough time and light?
Allow a buffer zone in your schedule in case things run late. And consider the sunlit hours.
-How quickly can we view our images?
Be sure of completion dates before the day so you aren't waiting longer than you need to.

John Warren, Warren Photography (warrenphotography.com.au)
Warren specialises in photographing candid moments and says an integral part of getting a good shot is enjoying the process of being photographed in the first place. "Capturing the bride laughing at an inside joke between her and her bridesmaids is always going to make a better picture than everyone standing around posing with their flowers and looking at the camera," he explains.
To get the shots you deserve, Warren recommends you:
-Talk at length about possible venues with your photographer. It's always nice to get two very different locations. For example, photos in a garden will always soften up your city architectural shots.
-Crazy photoshop, such as colouring in bouquets in an otherwise black and white shot, should always be avoided. Photos should be natural so your pics will never look out-dated.
-Don't be afraid to ask your photographer to help bring your vision together, whether it's asking for his opinion, or even procuring props. You're doing this for the first time and they've (hopefully) been doing it for ages so you should benefit from their years of experience.

Melita Wilson, Blumenthal Photography (blumenthalphotography.com.au)
Wilson knows a thing or two about achieving elegant, natural photography; in fact, it's what Blumenthal Photography is renowned for. When it comes to getting the photographs of your dreams, communication with the photographer is essential, she says.
But how do you know a photographer is the one? Wilson recommends you:
-Spend time with the photographer before the wedding so you can get to know each other and communicate what you want.
-Go over the locations you'd like for the shoot and any other specific details and see if you agree on a vision.
-Make sure you see plenty of evidence of a combination of natural and posed moments in their work portfolio.

Get lots more expert photography advice in the Spring 2011 issue of Cosmopolitan Bride, on sale now.

Tags: wedding photography