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What should you expect to receive in a wedding photography package? Every photographer has their own way of delivering their photos and some offer different packages, so it's incredibly important to ask about this up front. Ask for this information long before you book and indeed it might inform your decision. I’d say, at a minimum for full day’s coverage, expect 1000+ images delivered digitally on a USB. A photographer should also give you some guidance about time frames. They will know best their own work loads and so can give you certain assurances about when you might expect to receive your wedding photos. A photographer's work doesn't stop the moment the wedding is over. Editing is a lengthy process, especially when you know how high a couple's expectations are likely to be of their wedding day! Delivery can be anything from six weeks to six months later, so it's always best to ask.  Every wedding is different and every family is different, but I always try and get across the importance of slowing down, taking things in, not wishing for things to be over. Immerse yourself in every part of the day and don’t put pressure on it all (easier said than done, I know) but it’ll be over before you know it! What are the sorts of extras that it's ok to ask for from a photographer? You should feel totally confident to ask anything. I’m sure most photographers will do their best to accommodate you, as long as they’re realistic requests. The in-between moments, the candid moments after moments, and the moments that’ll stand the test of time, that the couple and their friends and family will relate to and talk about for years to come.  Sometimes you have a couple with a different and unique personality that you know you must photograph in a different type of setting. This couple was perfect for the beautiful street art under the Hunter Street Bridge in Peterborough, Ontario. The bridge joins Peterborough's East City with the downtown core, and the Otonabee River runs under the bridge. We used a portion of the side of the river, with some old trees. The backdrop was perfect. In the background is the historic Quaker Oats building built in the 1890's and then reconstructed after a fire in 1916. led to a distinct feel of our home town. 
  How can you tell whether someone is a good photographer? What makes a 'good' wedding photographer is quite subjective, so I’d just say do your research. Take time to look through a selection of photographers' websites, including their branding, social media, full galleries and if everything is cohesive, then you’re onto a winner. Also, communicate - email, speak, meet with your photographer wherever possible, it’s just as important to get a good vibe from your photographer as it is to appreciate their portfolio.  How important is it to spend time with a prospective photographer before the event and what should you be looking out for? I think it’s really important to build a rapport with a couple before the wedding. I like to have an actual conversation, in person if possible, but over the phone or Facetime if it's not. The couple need to feel comfortable, as they’re inviting the photographer into one of their most intimate events, into their family, and often also in their home. So, it's vital that everyone feels at ease. How should you decide which style of photography you want? There’s a really large variety of different wedding photography styles out there, be it differences in composition, tone or light. Each photographer has their own unique take on a day and shooting in the moment always brings out something stylistically different or distinctive to each wedding.  It’s important to do your research as to what style you, as a couple, are drawn to, as it's never a one-size-fits-all situation. But also, you have to remember to be open minded. Go with your instinct on what draws you in initially. What is it about that photographer's work that makes you stop and look again? How does it make you feel? Can you imagine yourself in the pictures?  Do different styles suit different types of event? Personally, I don’t think they do. Trust in your photographer’s vision and aesthetic and they will deliver. As a wedding photographer, we are there to document a couple's day, and it’s their day, so upon delivering a wedding we want to be able take the couple back to the moment and the way they felt. Just be mindful of all the different variables of the day which can affect the photos, anything from changeable weather, different locations and even ceremony times that will all bring about changes in light. If you book a wedding in winter, when the skies are likely to be overcast, don't expect lots of sunbursts or light leaks. Your photos may end up with a moodier or more dramatic feel to them, as reflects the day's atmosphere. A 4:00 p.m. ceremony in peak winter will inevitably shoot differently to midday in July.  Just shortly before Christmas I was asked to photograph a wonderful couple in their home and in their neighbourhood. The idea of this shoot was to provide a portfolio for a wonderful event that they are undertaking - an adoption of a newborn baby! I consulted with them and we talked about the types of photos that would be needed for their portfolio and we came up with some photos of their house and the rooms in the house, as well as general lifestyle photos of them interacting with each other and within their house. Additionally, I did some photos as a surprise for their friends and family on Christmas Day! Take a look at the photos...I know you will love them. We are so happy for this couple and can't wait to meet their newest member!     |
AuthorCathy & Jenn of CatsMac Photography, Cobourg, Ontario. Archives
August 2022
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