Archive for March, 2009

  • 03/06

    NY Wedding Workshop Part 3: Avoiding photography gotchas

    The last question I was asked on the panel at the New York Wedding Workshop was about the gotchas to avoid in hiring a photographer. In general, I think the most important thing goes back to my first answer, which is to look at the portfolio in light of what you want and relative to your wedding. Especially if you’re looking at a slideshow instead of just one wedding (though I recommend seeing at least 100 pictures from one wedding), since slideshows tend to highlight the best work, and not necessarily the most representative shots and common locations.

    Take for example the Boathouse and Gotham Hall. I’ve seen very nice events in both locations, but the look is worlds apart. Without custom lighting, the interior of the Boathouse is dim, warm-hued, and fairly even in light distribution with a modest ceiling height. Lighting in Gotham Hall is specular, bright, and dramatic with a very high ceiling. To make the most of each situation requires a different set of techniques, and to see samples from one is not to see samples from the other. So, while a picture shot at Capitale might give you a good idea about how pictures would look in Gotham Hall, for the Boathouse, you’d want to see a location that was smaller and more intimate.

    Gotham Hall (images by 5 West Studios)

    Capitale

    Capitale

    The Central Park Boathouse (images by 5 West Studios)
    Capitale

    Capitale

    Another good thing to do is to consider specifics and not just how good the pictures look in general terms. For example, instead of looking to see that a picture is appealing, try to identify what elements you like. Is it the use of light? The composition? The colors? Ask yourself whether the pictures tell a strong story. Storytelling is an essential part of the day, and not all sets of shots tell the story the same. See if you get a feel for the atmosphere, that the emotions are captured all throughout the day and not just in one or two key moments, and whether the pictures give insight into why people are reacting the way they are.

    Finally, and on a wholly different note, make sure your photographer provides the services you need. Naturally, this includes the scope of what he or she shoots during the day, but also see what they offer by way of options and support. Are there albums? What is the process like? How does printing work? Is there help after the wedding? You don’t necessarily need a lot of support, so this isn’t to say that your photographer needs to offer everything under the sun, but if you feel that you will need certain things, find out what’s available.

    by Spencer Lum

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  • 03/04

    NY Wedding Workshop Part 2: Looking your best

    Continuing on with questions asked during the panel at the New York Wedding Workshop, the second question I was asked was whether there were any specific tips for brides to look their best.

    This one was a little tricky, because I’m not really a make-up artist or hair stylist, and I wanted to stay away from things that were better suited for them to answer. I will say that in make-up terms, you want as smooth a skin-tone as possible. And a little more contrast than usual – something more similar to what you’d do at night instead of day. Beyond that, I leave the rest to the specialists.

    During the bridal prep, I will only say this. Don’t chew gum. It’s probably worth repeating. Don’t chew gum. There. I said it. I don’t like to be bossy, and if you want to chew gum, I’m not going to be the person to stop you, but I have lost many a nice shot to a bride chewing gum. Because pictures are very unkind in this fashion, and when you chew, your mouth isn’t just moving up and down, but laterally, as well, bending your jaw out of shape any which way. And at 1/250 of a second, the camera will capture it. Compound this with the fact that when one person pulls out the gum, they pass it to everyone around, and…well, you get the picture.

    Other things? In general, comfort is a premium. Specifically, shoes can make a big difference, because if you decide to do a shoot on the street, mobility makes for not only variety, but some very nice shots in and of itself. Some people have even worn different shoes for the photoshoot, though it’s by no means necessary. Irina, one of my shooters, tells me that Strappy Strips work well, though I can’t vouch for that from personal experience.

    Also, know how you feel about getting keeping your dress clean and what you do and don’t want to do. Some poses can get the dress a little dirty, so it doesn’t hurt to know if you do or do not want to do various things. I’ve had people tell me that they really don’t care what happens to the dress and knowing that can help.

    Above and beyond all of this, if there were one thing that I think really makes a difference, it’s good scheduling and a relaxed attitude. Probably 9 out of 10 weddings go off schedule at some point, and if you’re feeling pressured and stressed, it comes through. Buffer extra time for things throughout the day (especially where limos and traffic are involved), so if something is running late, it won’t throw you off. And just enjoy the experience. It comes through in your pictures – all of them – both posed and candid. Anything you can do to let yourself be in the moment will make all the difference. When I think back to my favorite sets of pictures, it’s never the decorations or the dress that stands out most for me. It’s how much the couples seemed to enjoy the wedding and each other.

    by Spencer Lum

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  • 03/03

    NY Wedding Workshop Part 1: Choosing your photographer

    I just finished up the New York Wedding Workshop over the weekend, and Lindsay Landman put everything together just beautifully. It was a lot of fun, and the event had a really nice vibe. She paired yellow florals with pink accent lights and a clean white palette for the loft space at theXChange. The yellow was actually a bit of a surprise – I haven’t seen it with pink – but it really worked. Here’s a shot I took of one of her models.

    As I mentioned, I’d post some answers to the questions I received as a panel member, so I’ll start with the first one today. Anne Chertoff, a senior editor at Brides.com, did a great job as moderator. She started out by asking everyone on the panel to give a tip about their field.

    I suggested that couples spend some time thinking about what they want ahead of time. Every photographer has their pitch, and hopefully, it will give you a good idea as to what they’re about, but if you don’t know the details of what you’re after, you won’t be able to ask specific questions to see if there’s a good match, and you won’t be able to review the portfolio for the things you have in mind.

    There are two things to look at. First, think about how you expect your photographer to interact with you. I’ve seen all extremes, from photographers who pose and craft nearly every single shot, to photographers who won’t pose a thing – even a group photo. During a first dance, some photographers consider the key shot the one where they call out to the couple and ask them to look into the camera. Others wouldn’t dare do so, and want anything but a shot of the couple looking at the camera. Think about what you’re looking for. Photographer interaction actually influences and affects the day, and you want to know not only that they’ll be capturing the pictures you want, but that they’ll do it the way you want them to.

    The second thing to consider goes without saying, but it is the quality of the pictures. When you look at your photographer’s portfolio, don’t just judge them on the aesthetic quality. Make sure that you see enough to get a good sense of what they capture. What is the distribution of shots? What does the photographer emphasize? Are most of the pictures you see candid? Is the portfolio almost all posed? And what do you want for yourself? Would you rather have 70% of the shots be natural and 30% crafted or the other way around? If you see a nicely lit and perfectly posed shot or one great candid, don’t assume it’s the tip of the iceberg, and there will be many more. Make sure that you see that there are more or ask to get more information.

    by Spencer Lum

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