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Top Wedding Photography Questions to ask your Photographer
What are the current styles of wedding
photography? Traditional Photography consists of posed photography, sufficient time must be allotted to accomplish the necessary images. This type of photography provides you with very formal photographs of all family groupings, the bridal couple, the wedding party, etc. The images may be somewhat predictable, but are also very elegant. Photojournalism consists of a very loose, unique, candid approach to photographing the wedding event. The idea is to capture as much spontaneity and emotion as possible, without the subject even knowing you are there. Contemporary Wedding Photography is a natural blending of Traditional and Photojournalism. Your album consists of the Traditional touch, providing the classic, formal, elegant photographs mixed with the story telling, unique, candid photographs of Photojournalism to provide your album with a natural feel. JE Hedges Photography provides our clients with unmatched "Contemporary Wedding Photography". Back to Top
When
should I start to look for and book my photographer? Back to Top
How
should I start to look for a photographer? The next step is to determine the style of photography you desire in your album, then research for a photographer that provides that style of photography. Also, look at a photographer's work prior to making a decision. Far too many persons book a photographer on price alone without even seeing a sample. Check out recommendations from the Photographer's past clients. JE Hedges Photography provides numerous Wedding Galleries online as displays of our work. You may also view several sample albums when attending a Bridal Consultation. To view past client quotes or recommendations, please visit our "Raves" page.
Why
shouldn't we have a friend or relative do it instead of a professional
photographer?
We want to retain your
services, what is required?
Can
we have a friend take pictures in addition to our professional
photographer?
We're
providing disposable cameras for our guests at the reception, do
we still need professional coverage?
We love Black & White
photography and Special Effects! Do you offer these
services?
We're
having a formal dinner, do we need to feed the photographer?
Why can't we just copy the proofs ourselves to save money?
How
do we get the most from our photography investment? How Can I Speed up my Photo Posing? How Can I Get More Photography time at my Reception? How Can I Ensure that I Get All of the Creative Poses that I See in your Sample Albums? Tradition tells us that the Bride and Groom should not see each other prior to the ceremony service. However, do you know where that tradition started? It arose from arranged marriages where the couple met for the first time at the altar. The Groom would lift the veil and it was like “Oh… okay… that’s who I’m going to spend the rest of my life with???”. That doesn't paint a very romantic picture, does it? With many of today's couples living together prior to marriage, sharing checking accounts, and designing very modern and unique weddings, it's no longer traditional to be traditional. Stop for a moment and think about why we spend so many months planning a wedding? We want the day to be a special day between the bride and groom... a magical day of remembering the time spent together, gazing at one another, and snuggling into each other's embrace. Therefore, it's quite contradicting that on a day that should be about two special people, the bride and groom spend more than half the day trying to keep away from each other. In fact, family and friends go to great lengths to ensure the couple doesn't even catch a glimpse of one another. Then after the ceremony, family and friends surround the couple for formal portraits, rush off to the reception for more ceremonial events, with many distractions from family and guests. The couple is not truly alone until they are in the car driving to their honeymoon... tired and worn out. That doesn't paint a very romantic picture, either, does it? Julie describes the details of her own wedding where the first time she and her husband had a moment to themselves to talk and share any thoughts was at the end of the day, after the reception, on the way to their hotel. Julie explains “My husband never got an opportunity to really look at my dress until after it was dirty from dragging the floor. We never got a chance to ask each other if we were nervous or talk about how excited we were, that is, until we were finally alone and completely exhausted. A wedding day is a long, tiring, and energy draining day. It was almost impossible for the photographer to capture my husband’s face as I walked down the aisle. Why? Because as I, the bride, walked down the aisle, all the guests stood up, blocking my groom's face." So, is that how you imagine your wedding day? If not, let’s explore the idea from another angle. If that moment of the first sight is important, Julie recommends the “Meeting of the Bride & Groom”. Julie outlines the details below: I explain the options to each of my bridal couples. I allow them to make their own decision regarding the order in which photography will be approached on their wedding day. I am not there to run the wedding. I am there as the professional, to offer my expert advice about the most convenient way to make their experience an absolute pleasure. I’ve photographed hundreds of weddings and can tell you from personal experience… the least stressed avenue, which allows you to receive the awesome creative images you see in my work, come from those couples who choose to do all of their photography prior to the ceremony. Keep in mind too, if you have a sunset ceremony, afterwards there is not enough light to capture the beauty of the surrounding scenery. When the bride and groom agree to see each other, I begin photographs at least three hours and fifteen minutes prior to the ceremony. Example: If the ceremony is scheduled for 6:00pm, I would arrive around 2:45pm. I photograph the bride and groom applying their finishing touches in each of their rooms… Mom helping the bride with her veil, bridesmaids helping the bride with her garter, Maid of Honor zipping up the bride’s dress, etc. During this time I take mostly candid images without interfering with the natural order of the day. Three Hours Before: The only two people that I ask to be completely ready are the bride and the groom. The bride's make-up and hair have just been completed and are at their freshest. The groom's tux is freshly pressed and the groom looks sharp. I arrange for the couple to see each other for the first time privately. This means no family, no friends and no bridal party (unless specifically requested by the couple). I want this moment to be special for the couple. I will usually find a private spot on the grounds and get the groom situated. I will then send for the bride. I tell them both ahead of time not to worry about me. I am only going to photograph the first few moments. I will then walk away and let the couple have some time to spend alone. We set up two cameras at a non-obtrusive distance; one camera on the bride and one camera on the groom. On the count of three, we give the groom the OK to turn around and the bride the green light to walk towards the groom for their first-sight private meeting. As soon as the Groom turns around, the magic begins. I capture his face as he sees his bride for the first time, and her face as she sees him. I record the intimacy of the two just as they come together. Almost every time I watch it happen, I get a little teary-eyed. Often times, the Groom gets teary-eyed too. Grooms are much more relaxed during this private moment then they would ever be standing in front of a congregation of 100+ guests, clinching their fists, trying not to show emotion. Needless to say, I have taken some of the most incredible images of this special moment between the soon-to-be husband and wife. It's a moment that is impossible to duplicate when they are at opposite ends of a long aisle. We then leave the room, allowing the couple to take as long as they want to share whatever they are thinking, feeling, and also suggest it's the perfect time to exchange wedding gifts if they are planning to do so.
Once the couple completes their private, we start to play. I now have an entire hour devoted to capturing images of the bride and groom alone without distractions from family members, bridal parties and guests. The emotion from their intimate first meeting carries over into my photography session with them. We spend the next hour leisurely walking around the property where their wedding will take place, using locations we might not be able to use after the ceremony because the sun has set or guests and tables in the way. One Hour and Forty-Five Minutes Before: I ask that the immediate families and wedding party be ready. Imagine, everyone's flowers are fresh and all makeup is still beautiful. No one will look like they’ve been crying in the portraits… you know… the peeled tomato eyes. I photograph each side of the family and bridal party individually, including:
I would then do the same for the groom's side. I ask each of my couples how many of these traditional shots they want to do ahead of time and the types of posed photographs we cover are completely up to the couple. The previous example is what most people ask for. Forty-Five Minutes Before: I shoot fifteen minutes of any additional photographs the bride and groom may desire. Most couples want to include spouses of brothers and sisters and their children. Then it's up to the bride and groom if they want to include aunts, uncles and cousins. If there are special request shots, such as shots with godparents, sorority sisters, or special friends, they should arrive at the same time as the extended families. Thirty Minutes Before: I send the Wedding Party to the dressing rooms to hide from guests until ceremony start time. This also allows me and my assistant time to set up equipment to cover the ceremony. That is how these photographic sessions generally unfold. After the ceremony, you now have the opportunity to run through your bubbles, birdseed, or etc. immediately outside the church or venue, allowing more of your guests to participate in the activity for photographs, creating a true "Send Off" to the reception. By getting to the reception so quickly and keeping your guests from waiting on your arrival, you can save money by skipping the cocktail hour and lowing your bar bill. However, if you decide to keep the cocktail hour, how great is it that you can spend that time mingling with guests or off partying with the wedding party in a separate room all to yourselves? You could also spend some time alone, enjoying each other's company and savoring the moment. If you choose not to see each other before, we will begin the photography session about two hours and fifteen minutes prior to the ceremony. This allows us to capture the bride, bride with her family, and bride with her bridesmaids. We will then capture the groom, groom with his family, and the groom with his groomsmen. After the ceremony, we will utilize about ten minutes of time to re-set up our equipment. We will then begin taking images of the couple with the bride's family, groom's family, and with wedding party. Your families and wedding party can then head to your reception to entertain your guests until you arrive. Photographs with the family and wedding party typically take thirty to forty-five minutes, depending on the number of people involved. Once those photographs are completed, it's time for the photographs of the Bride & Groom, which take forty-five minutes on average. We do not make any apologies for taking our time with the couple. You are making a significant investment in your wedding photography and the Bride & Groom are the stars of the show! In order to provide you with the intimate, unique, creative, and fun poses you see displayed in our work, we must have sufficient time to do so. Therefore, when requesting not to see one another prior to the ceremony, please plan on spending additional catering money so you can entertain your guests with cocktails and hors d'oeuvres for 90 minutes while all of the "after ceremony" photographs are being made. Also too, please allow us ten minutes to break down and load our equipment before we can head over to your reception. Most couples that choose the traditional route will find it necessary to add an additional hour or two of coverage to their package in order to capture the desired reception images that are normally scheduled later during the reception, such as the bouquet and garter toss. To paraphrase, if you choose NOT to see one another prior to the ceremony, please plan on spending more money for food, drinks, and photography time. If you DO decide to take all of your photographs ahead of time, I promise you will not regret it. The average couple gains a whole additional hour of reception coverage by seeing each other ahead of time. It saves on money, time, keeps your guests from waiting, and you receive more photography time because you remove the need for us to set up and break down our equipment twice. Think about it, once the ceremony is over, you will want to celebrate with your guests… not spend an hour plus posing for formal portraits. I can look at a wedding album and almost always tell you if the formal groups were taken after the ceremony. They just aren't as polished. I have received numerous accolades from couples thanking me for suggesting that all photographs be made prior to the ceremony. Brides who were nervous felt a sense of calm after they saw their grooms. Grooms have told me that it didn't change the overwhelming feelings they had as the bride walked towards them down the aisle. You will have paid a lot of money for your wedding and your photographs. Use your photographer's time to the fullest extent. When I am photographing a wedding, if I have time to be creative and play, my clients are the ones who benefit. It's really not bad luck; in fact it makes perfect sense to see each other before the ceremony. It's not a superstition; it's a super situation that you can use to your advantage. Make this choice and I guarantee that your photographic experience will be enjoyable and your wedding day will be less stressful. *Please note - The "Assistant Photographer Package" may only be booked if the couple agrees to see one another prior to the ceremony. Our "Assistant Photographer Package" is only offered when Julie is already contracted for another event on your wedding date. Please see our Wedding Packages for more details.
Do you have references from past Brides you have
photographed? |
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Do you have Insurance in case something
goes wrong?
JE Hedges Photography has all three types of insurances and can provide proof of the policies should your wedding venue or hotel need copies. |
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Do you have a Satisfaction
Guarantee? We absolutely guarantee you'll be THRILLED (not just "satisfied") with your photographs and our service. If you aren't, for any reason, we will either do whatever is necessary to see to it you are THRILLED, or we will cheerfully give you all your money back. No hassles, and no hard feelings either. If you're not THRILLED, we don't deserve to have your money. Call today and allow Julie to introduce you to a new photography experience! |
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How do I submit my Engagement /
Wedding Announcement to the newspaper?
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All photographs
contained within this website are copyright protected, registered with the United States Copyright Office. We take our copyright very seriously. Reproduction in any form
is strictly prohibited. |
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