Choosing A Wedding Photographer In Maryland
Choosing The Right Photographer
Article By Jessica Gardner
Today, pictures are worth more than just 1,000 words- they are a visual journal of our lives. What better way to remember your big day than to find the perfect photographer to artistically capture it on film?
Thanks to modern technology, cameras have evolved to take incredible pictures but it all comes down to how much knowledge and experience the handler has to make it pop. Our step-by-step guide, fun picture-type personality quiz and photographer spotlights will have you snappin’ happy in no time.
There are plenty of brilliant artists in the market but these are the five major guidelines to a good photographer: Authenticity, Personality, Art, Experience, Tools. Here you’ll find the basics for picking the photographer that will capture, rather than control, the essence of your wedding.
- Authenticity
It may seem strange that a photographer could fake a business but believe me when I say, take no chances! There are those who will use pictures other photographers have taken and call it their own. When given samples of their previous work, be sure to ask A LOT of detailed questions. Question the specific techniques, poses, tools and some of their past experiences. A seasoned photographer will be able to answer these passionately and with ease. Beware if they seem flustered with your queries. Make sure there is a contract- this protects both you and your hired photographer. Another potentially hazardous situation is substitutes or understudies. Make sure that the person you speak to will be there personally, not send one of his/her helpers. - Personality
Before you commit, try talking to many different photographers, even if you think they are not quite what your looking for. By having a heart-to-heart you can get an impression of their character. It’s a good idea to write down a few questions before the call to ensure you won’t forget anything important. What you should be looking for is: professionalism, patience, and someone who listens to your needs without constantly cutting you off or rushing you. If you find them to be obnoxious, condescending or impatient now, imagine spending eight hours with them on your wedding day. Another plus to the conversation is that you both will be on the same page with the services that can and can’t be provided. - Art
When speaking with a true professional about your ideas, they should listen intently as well as offer suggestions of their own. If they only nod and listen without adding any of their own input its likely that they are a novice. Every artist has a unique vision…just be sure that it matches yours. If they seem overbearing or offended when you disagree with them than its time to move on. - Experience
This trait is truly indispensable! The individual should have prior wedding experience-no exceptions. Picking a portrait, landscape, student or any other type of photographer is a disaster waiting to happen. Weddings require someone who knows the etiquette and time-management necessary to accomplish everything without making careless mistakes under pressure. You want someone who has enough composure and professionalism not to have four glasses of wine and three servings of cake while operating the equipment. - Tools
It wouldn’t hurt to do some research on cameras and other props before your hunt. Knowing the tools of the trade can help you make a better decision. First, it is an assurance that they have a proficient budget and second, by prodding them about the make and model you can see how comfortable they are with their tools. Find out what type of lighting, special effects and finish you want for your pictures and then see if they are familiar with them.
What’s your type: Modern, Classic, or Romantic? Take this quiz to find out!
1.) Your Bridal gown looks like:
a. Audrey Hepburn’s white dress in “War and Peace”- simple and sophisticated
b. Nicole Kidman’s dress in the Chanel No. 5 commercial- flirty and feminine
c. A knee or ankle length slip dress- something simple yet daring
2.) The location of your wedding is:
a. At a church or traditional setting
b. At the beach
c. In a Ballroom, ship or theme park
3.) Your favors choice would be:
a. 2 gold metal rings with candy or champagne flutes
b. Candles, flower petals or pictures
c. Wedding songs CD, live tree, soy votives
4.) Your bouquet resembles:
a. Fresh red Roses in the round style
b. Softly Cascading Orchids
c. Silk flowers
5.) Your dream Honeymoon would be in:
a. Hawaii-For the beach of course!
b. Venice-Amidst the gondolas and café’s
c. Aspen-For the skiing lodges and winter sports
6.) The type of music at your wedding would be:
a. “Because You Loved me”- Celine Dion
b. “Truly, Madly, Deeply”-Savage Garden
c. “I Turn To You”-Christina Aguilera
7.) Your wedding colors would be:
a. White for the bride and red or purple for the party
b. Ivory for the bride and sea green for the party
c. A rainbow theme using a solid color for the bride and different colors for the party
Results:
Mostly A’s= Classic
Mostly B’s=Romantic
Mostly C’s=modern
YOUR PHOTO PERSONALITY:
Classic: Elegant, stylish weddings with doves and roses and a simple gown are your favorite. The best photo’s for you are Formal photography.
Romantic: Ah, the scent of numerous floral arrangements and the light of candles adorn your wedding day. You enjoy lush fabrics and soft colors. Artistic wedding photography would probably be your first choice.
Modern: Creative and unique, your determined to make your wedding day stand out! You would like a blend of Journalistic and Artistic would grace your album.
Types of Photography:
Formal/Traditional- A focus on the bride and groom with close-ups and group pictures. The shots are posed by the photographer but the effect remains natural. Outdoor and church settings and natural lighting are often used but techniques vary.
Journalistic-Focusing on the event, the poses are usually not premeditated and have a professional, clean, and unobtrusive effect.
Artistic-Photographers use this style to give an other worldly or fantasy aspect to the pictures.
Trick photography, half color half black-and-white, strong contrast lighting and whimsical backgrounds are some common techniques to transform you’re your wedding into the aloof and surreal.
Trick Photography: Not Your Grandma’s Wedding Pictures
Special effects have come a long way in the last ten years; now you can customize your own layouts or choose from the beautiful digital backgrounds. In the old days, trick photography was limited to double exposures and lens diffusers which would make artistic (albeit unrealistic) compositions. With digital technology you can have a fairy forest backgrounds, place your image in a waterfall, or make a fanciful collage, the possibilities are nearly endless. Here are some examples of photographers that use these techniques:
http://www.krugphoto.com/galleries/weddings/index.html
http://www.morningstarphotography.com/
Our Photographer Spotlights:
Chrystopher Robinson
“Photography is my way of sharing my love for the world and what God has made.”
Through the lens of local, high-end photographer Chrystopher Robinson, everything is clean, beautiful and unique. Putting an artistic flare on a high fashion, photojournalist style, his work is unlike any other; he caters to every need that his clients have and makes the composition of each shot creative and meaningful. “My clients appreciate my work because it reflects who they are and how they see themselves”.
On the job for ten years, you can be assured that he understands the aspects of the business and how to satisfy the artistic needs of his subjects. Along with weddings he excels in diverse categories: fine art, building interiors, portraits- all are simply breathtaking and capture the moment exquisitely. His knowledge of the different types of photos gives him an intimate sense of artistic vision and portraiture, a distinct advantage. His pricing tends to cater toward a clientele who are attracted to high-art and are willing to spend in the middle to high price range for their personal portfolio. Details and more samples of his work can be found on the website.
Services:
Type-Digital photography
Field-Freelance
Techniques: Full-service retouching, special effects, digital/fine art finishes, etc.
Contact:
410-961-0160
cwr@cwrobinson.com
www.cwrobinson.com
Photo by August Gardner
August Studio
A photographer for thirty years, August Gardner was taught by his father, photographer and bridal shop owner Norman Gardner. His dedication to the job as a boy became a full-time career with the ownership of his company. The pictures catch the warmth and joy of the occasion, remaining personal and professional but without the commercial detachedness. When you call, you talk directly to him- no secretaries, other photographers or middle-men. Because of this, he is flexible and competitive with his prices. His only means of contact is his cell phone because he oversees everything personally and is always on the move, traveling to cities ranging from Maryland to Virginia. A true evolving specialist, he uses diverse types of media, including the old technology that he grew up with and modern digital cameras. “I put my heart and soul into every single photograph,” he says honestly, “It’s my job and it’s an art.” Although his concentration is in weddings, as a freelance photographer August also has experience in family portraits, bar mitzvahs, graduation, proms- just about everything. All about making the experience as personalized as possible, he gets to know the bride and groom in order to shape the overall feel of the finished portfolio. His traditional style and eye for creative posing, lighting and background fill each picture with vivid color and detail and his approach is personable and experienced.
“Each wedding is a love story and it’s my job to tell it.”
Services:
Type- Digital and film
Field- Freelance, Can photograph any event
Techniques-Special effects, Trick photography, timed exposures, natural and artificial light, retouching, restoration, etc.
Contact: (1) 410-459-7143
For a complete list see our photographers page
About The Author:
Jessica Lynne Gardner, Married In Maryland journalist, has been surrounded by weddings from a very early age. Raised by her grandparents who owned their own bridal and photography shop in Dundalk, Md for over thirty years, she observed the dresses, pictures and flowers that took place there until it’s closing nine years ago. At the age of 16 she was employed by Labella Bridal (which is now Jacqueline’s Bridal) for a short time. By working for Married In Maryland, her interest in weddings and love for writing are expressed through her articles. Writing has always been a passion and a life-long goal. Her first publication was at age 14, a poem called “Goodbye” which was included in a Poetry anthology by the International Library of Poetry entitled, The Hush of Moonlight. During her term at Patapsco High School she was a writer and editor for the school paper and for the literary magazine, The Chrysalis. Currently she studies at a local college to obtain a degree in Journalism and is an intern in the public relations department for a branch of Advance Realty. On the side she works on a science fiction/ fantasy novel, poetry and free-lance writing.