Wedding Photography

Wedding photography can be another big ticket item, up there with your catering and venue costs. You can spend thousands of dollars on the right wedding photographer. In my opinion, wedding photography is one of the most important decisions in the wedding planning process. Wedding photographs are the lasting mementos of your wedding day, so hire a professional photographer to ensure you get the best pictures possible.

Like most of the items from your wedding planning process, the first thing to decide on is your budget. How much are you willing to spend on a photographer? What do you want for your money? Do you just want someone to come and snap a few pictures of your wedding day and give you a DVD with the raw images or would you rather have two photographers covering the bride and groom getting ready, right through to your first dance, fully edited images printed and displayed in a beautiful Queensbury photo album?

There are a range of wedding photography packages which you can choose from, each photographer will generally have a few popular packages for you to choose from. Remember wedding photography prices can vary quite a great deal in different areas of the country, with the big cities such as Auckland and Wellington being on average more expensive – although the trade off is you have many more photographers to choose from!

The cost of your photographer is going to depend on what you get. Their reputation also has a lot to do with price, it’s like paying for a brand or label, you always pay more for the well known brands whether they’re any better in quality than the cheaper competition or not. Professional wedding photography generally comes at a premium price – expect to pay upwards of $3000 for a basic package.

Once you have a budget set you can begin researching various wedding photographers. The number one rule is to make sure you view a comprehensive variety of their recent work. Don’t make your decision based on a few great photos that are displayed in their website portfolio, ask to see entire wedding sets from previous couples. This will give you a good idea of their overall style.

My favourite style is “photojournalistic” with post editing. I love dramatic colors and black and white photos, so I would need a photographer who is fully capable of using a photo editing software to get the right photo finishes.

There are approximately 22,000 weddings each year in New Zealand, but only around 90 qualified wedding photographers, so if you want a perfect record of your perfect day, it’s important to book your photographer early.

Many of the best qualified wedding photographers will be booked up one or two years in advance, so it’s important to negotiate with your preferred venue, celebrant and wedding photographer all at the same time in order to create the perfect recipe for a blissful day.

So what’s the difference between a qualified photographer and a non-qualified photographer you may ask?

The difference is that a qualified photographer is a member of the New Zealand Institute of Professional Photography (NZIPP), who has attained a recognised level of professionalism in their work. But membership is much more than this. It demonstrates that these photographers are leaders in their field, striving for excellence in everything that they do, from the photography itself, to the end presentation.

These members are entitled to use the Qualified NZIPP member logo in their advertising, which serves as a hallmark of quality assurance in their creative and business practises.

Many NZIPP photographers also enter the annual Professional Photography Awards, an inspirational showcase of cutting edge imagery which shows that New Zealand photographers are world-class. All award-winning images are displayed in an online image gallery on the NZIPP website, and this is well worth a look to see the current trends in wedding photography.

The website also offers a ‘find a photographer’ search function so that you can be sure to find a qualified wedding photographer in a location near you.

The NZIPP has prepared a checklist to help you ask the right questions in order to make the right decision when choosing your wedding photographer. This handy checklist is available on the NZIPP website, or by contacting us directly as the NZIPP office.

So don’t leave anything to chance – book a qualified professional for your wedding photography, because once it’s all over, your photographer is the person that you count on to provide you with lasting memories of the joy and happiness you shared on your special day.

Once you’ve found the pefect wedding photographer, make sure you sign a contract stating the price and what’s included. This protects you from any price increases (unless stated otherwise) and ensures you will get what you’ve paid for.

If a professional wedding photographer just isn’t in your budget, you should at least have someone with a good quality SLR camera taking your pictures. There are many wedding photography tips to be found online, have them do some research before committing to taking your wedding photos.

Wedding Photographer Tips

Striking a Pose

Some couples find the prospect of having their wedding photographs taken something of an ordeal. However, an experienced and professional wedding photographer will have the know-how to show you and your wedding party in the best light. Capturing that intimate moment between the newlyweds or snapping a fun shot of the wedding party is not mere chance. It is the product of a partnership between the top wedding photographers and the subject – a marriage of light and emotion.

There are many elements that make up the perfect photograph, but perhaps one of the most important factors is that you relax and enjoy yourself.

Destination wedding photographers Amy and Carl agree that a good wedding photography stems from the relationship between the wedding photographer and the subject – and their ability to ‘click’ as a team.

If you don’t feel at ease when you first meet a photographer, keep searching. You need to feel comfortable speaking up about personal insecurities or preferences.

On the day

With the formalities and excitement of the day, it may be difficult to relax for photos immediately after the ceremony. You probably won’t have had a moment to yourselves before you’re whisked away to have your photographs taken. It’s a good idea to spend a few minutes alone to take it all in, perhaps over a glass of bubbly to calm any nerves (but not too much or you might appear flushed or blotchy!) Carl makes sure he chats, laughs and jokes with his wedding party to help them relax and ensure that the images don’t look stiff.

As the photographing begins, he always waits to see if anything ‘happens’. ‘I encourage spontaneity,’ he says, explaining that he wants the couple and their wedding party to own their shots. If nothing spontaneous occurs he will start to direct. ‘It’s directing, not posing,’ he says emphatically.

Amy agrees, commenting that posing shouldn’t be an issue and you don’t need to practice in front of the mirror. There is nothing wrong with capturing you as you, she continues. Remember, it’s not a fashion shoot; it’s about portraying an existing chemistry. The photographer’s expertise is used to show you at your best, not to create a false situation. And most importantly, don’t be afraid to kiss each other and show your affection – it’s your wedding day, after all!

The best wedding photographers will be able to put the bride and groom, as well as the whole bridal party at ease which will translate into stunning wedding photos. You will most likely find the wedding photographer prices can vary quite substantially according to location and the experience the photographer has. You can expect to pay in excess of $5000 for a basic wedding photography package if you want a top wedding photographer to shoot your wedding day.

Top Ten Tips on Choosing a Wedding Photographer

Choose a photographer who is a member of a Professional Institute of Photography
Ask friends and families whose wedding photographs you like for recommendations.
Ask other wedding suppliers and your ceremony and reception venues for referrals.
Look through potential photographers’ sample albums as well as albums from whole weddings (ie. Not just the best shots taken from all their weddings).
Imagine yourselves in potential photographers’ images to see if his or her style is well suited to you.
Choose a photographer whom you like and with whom you feel comfortable.
Make sure you find out if this photographer is the very same one who will attend on your wedding day.
Ask about his or her packages and ascertain whether any of these is right for you and your needs.
Take a look at a contract.
Have a pre-wedding portrait session as ‘trial run’.