This weeks wedding was at Adelaide Oval which as people would know is considered to be one of the most picturesque sporting grounds in the world.
I should have a couple of pictures to post soon. These particular pictures will be of note as this wedding was possibly the last ceremony held there prior to the demolition of the western side stands. So the couple potentially have some historic photos to remember their big day!
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Monday, February 23, 2009
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Wedding Provider Reviews
Over the coming months I will posting some reviews/views of wedding providers I have worked with over the past few years. Generally I will only be reviewing providers I have worked with on a number of occasions, this doesnt mean there arent many other good providers, I just dont believe its fair to comment on someone who I have met only once.
These will be only be my views and is provided for information/editorial purposes only. I can not be held liable for how the information is used.
With any wedding service you should speak to as many providers as you can before making a decision to hire.
These will be only be my views and is provided for information/editorial purposes only. I can not be held liable for how the information is used.
With any wedding service you should speak to as many providers as you can before making a decision to hire.
Celebrant Review
When time permits we will be posting details and thoughts of other wedding providers I have had the pleasure of working with over a period of time.
First off the rank is Civil Marriage Celebrant Merrilyn Williams. I have worked with Merrilyn Williams a number of times over the past few years. She has been very professional in every way.
The two things that stand out for me with Merrilyn are
1) Her ceremonies involve a lot of personal touches for the couple such as talking about how they met, their first date and their plans for the future.
2) One of the few celebrants who generally conduct the ceremony from a photo friendly location rather than directly behind the couple.
As always I recognise that not every couple is going to click with every wedding professional, however Merrilyn is worth adding to your list of people to speak with, particularly if you would like to personalise your ceremony. Click on the posting title to go to Merrilyn's website.
First off the rank is Civil Marriage Celebrant Merrilyn Williams. I have worked with Merrilyn Williams a number of times over the past few years. She has been very professional in every way.
The two things that stand out for me with Merrilyn are
1) Her ceremonies involve a lot of personal touches for the couple such as talking about how they met, their first date and their plans for the future.
2) One of the few celebrants who generally conduct the ceremony from a photo friendly location rather than directly behind the couple.
As always I recognise that not every couple is going to click with every wedding professional, however Merrilyn is worth adding to your list of people to speak with, particularly if you would like to personalise your ceremony. Click on the posting title to go to Merrilyn's website.
One Of My Favourite Photos
There's been a lot of great wedding images over the past few years, however this one really stands out in my mind.
This image is totally unposed and probably something I couldnt 100% replicate if I tried! The couple were having their reception near the beach and really wanted to have some sunset shots. Rather than giving them any direction I decided to hang back at a distance and just let them do what they wanted to do.
I had two cameras with me, one with a wide angle lens and one with a telephoto. We managed to get a great series of images as they enjoyed some private time away from everyone else, watching the sun go down.
This particular image was taken with the wide angle lens, the reason it stands out to me is the beautiful colour cast created by the sunset, the light rays coming from the sun and that extra little touch of the seagull gliding nearby.
Other than a slight exposure adjustment and a slight increase in colour saturation there has been no further modification in photoshop etc.
What do you think??
This image is totally unposed and probably something I couldnt 100% replicate if I tried! The couple were having their reception near the beach and really wanted to have some sunset shots. Rather than giving them any direction I decided to hang back at a distance and just let them do what they wanted to do.
I had two cameras with me, one with a wide angle lens and one with a telephoto. We managed to get a great series of images as they enjoyed some private time away from everyone else, watching the sun go down.
This particular image was taken with the wide angle lens, the reason it stands out to me is the beautiful colour cast created by the sunset, the light rays coming from the sun and that extra little touch of the seagull gliding nearby.
Other than a slight exposure adjustment and a slight increase in colour saturation there has been no further modification in photoshop etc.
What do you think??
Guest Photography and etiquette at weddings
So you've been invited to a wedding and cant wait to have a go at taking some photos for the couple. There are some things you should consider these are just a few
1. Check with the couple first whether you will be permitted to take photos. Some ceremony locations do not permit flash photography at certain times during a ceremony or at all. Some photographers will not permit photography at certain times.
2. Co-operate with the professional photographer at all times. It will be fairly obvious who they are. Try not to get in their way, the couple had probably paid good money for that person to be there and you may have ruined a fantastic shot by paying no attention and walking in front of the photographer.
3. Never ask the professional photographer to get out of the way! Obvious you say, believe me it does happen. I personally think this is disrespectful to the couple, they have paid money for the photographer to be there and usually the photographer is working quite hard and with a limited time frame to get the photos the couple would like.
4. Dont try and duplicate the photo the professional is trying to do. These days the couple is likely to be receiving the photos on disc, do the couple a favour and take different photos from the pro, this will give them a much more complete coverage of their day.
5. Be prompt to arrive when requested for a photo and prompt to leave when finished. Any time wasted is eating into the couples private time with the photographer. Even a few minutes can make a big difference if the couple are working to a tight schedule.
6. Pay attention to the photographer. This mainly applies to when family photos are being taken. Always listen to the photographers instructions and not "uncle joe" yelling out off to the side. If your not paying attention this increases the amount of times photographs have to be retaken and again eats into the couples private time.
7. Give the photographer room to work. This mainly happens again with family photos. Ideally it would nice for a photographer to at least have a couple of metres clearance on all sides, because they may need to change their position at anytime . It could be quite expensive for you if you happen to trip the photographer over with several thousand dollars worth of equipment in their hands, I'm sure the photographers insurance company would be quite quick to contact you for reimbursement. Also again it just slows the process down if the photographer is continually having to ask people to move.
Just a few thoughts to help the couples day run a lot smoother!Let me know your thoughts!
1. Check with the couple first whether you will be permitted to take photos. Some ceremony locations do not permit flash photography at certain times during a ceremony or at all. Some photographers will not permit photography at certain times.
2. Co-operate with the professional photographer at all times. It will be fairly obvious who they are. Try not to get in their way, the couple had probably paid good money for that person to be there and you may have ruined a fantastic shot by paying no attention and walking in front of the photographer.
3. Never ask the professional photographer to get out of the way! Obvious you say, believe me it does happen. I personally think this is disrespectful to the couple, they have paid money for the photographer to be there and usually the photographer is working quite hard and with a limited time frame to get the photos the couple would like.
4. Dont try and duplicate the photo the professional is trying to do. These days the couple is likely to be receiving the photos on disc, do the couple a favour and take different photos from the pro, this will give them a much more complete coverage of their day.
5. Be prompt to arrive when requested for a photo and prompt to leave when finished. Any time wasted is eating into the couples private time with the photographer. Even a few minutes can make a big difference if the couple are working to a tight schedule.
6. Pay attention to the photographer. This mainly applies to when family photos are being taken. Always listen to the photographers instructions and not "uncle joe" yelling out off to the side. If your not paying attention this increases the amount of times photographs have to be retaken and again eats into the couples private time.
7. Give the photographer room to work. This mainly happens again with family photos. Ideally it would nice for a photographer to at least have a couple of metres clearance on all sides, because they may need to change their position at anytime . It could be quite expensive for you if you happen to trip the photographer over with several thousand dollars worth of equipment in their hands, I'm sure the photographers insurance company would be quite quick to contact you for reimbursement. Also again it just slows the process down if the photographer is continually having to ask people to move.
Just a few thoughts to help the couples day run a lot smoother!Let me know your thoughts!
Dont get friends or family to photograph your wedding
Unfortunately camera companies with their marketing efforts have led many people to believe that purchasing one of their products will enable you to take photos just as well as a professional.Sorry people this is just not the case.No matter how sophisticated their camera might be you simply will not be able to match the efforts of an experienced person with professional SLR equipment.
The main reasons you should hire an independent person are
1) Your guest or family member should be able to enjoy the day with you not have to worry about taking photos.
2) If something goes wrong your relationship with that friend or family could become seriously strained.
There are a whole lot more things I could mention but most would be fairly technical and it would hard to appreciate without seeing a photo I've taken with my equipment next to the same photo taken by a guest.Photography doesnt have to break the bank, start your wedding plans as early as possible and look around. There are a number of very good and very affordable photographers around, you just need to look a little harder to find them.
The main reasons you should hire an independent person are
1) Your guest or family member should be able to enjoy the day with you not have to worry about taking photos.
2) If something goes wrong your relationship with that friend or family could become seriously strained.
There are a whole lot more things I could mention but most would be fairly technical and it would hard to appreciate without seeing a photo I've taken with my equipment next to the same photo taken by a guest.Photography doesnt have to break the bank, start your wedding plans as early as possible and look around. There are a number of very good and very affordable photographers around, you just need to look a little harder to find them.
Choosing A Wedding Photographer
Your wedding is a special day that you will remember for the rest of your life and you don’t want to leave it to just anyone to capture it for you.Here are a few items you should consider when selecting a photographer for your day.
•Registered business name with an ABN – Photographers with a registered business name and ABN are subject to associated business and taxation laws, which will offer you much more protection. If there does happen to be a dispute a registered business name will enable you to seek assistance from the Department of Consumer Affairs etc.
•The photographer will be with you most of the day, so one of the most important considerations is how well you think you can work with the person. If dealing with a studio, ask to meet the photographer who will be assigned to your wedding and ask to see a portfolio of that individuals work before signing any contracts.
•Look at as many photos as possible – Most photographers will show you the best of the best, so ask to see a whole wedding or a larger number of photos
•Ask about equipment – Questions about equipment may start to confuse you, however the most important items to note are that the person is using SLR equipment (brand is not relevant) and has backups of all items.
•How do they shoot – If the photographer is using digital there is no substitute for shooting in the RAW format. There is a lot happening on the day and no photographer will get the camera settings 100% right 100% of the time. Shooting in RAW format gives much more flexibility in repairing images which otherwise may have been lost to under or over exposure. While repairing of other formats is possible the corrections or enhancements may be too obvious.
•Make sure there is a clear contract which outlines rights, responsibilities (of all parties) and inclusions. Make sure it is very clear what is included in the quoted price and what’s not. Ask for a clear price list on the items which aren’t included.
•Find out where the photos are printed – Photos printed at professional labs are still far superior to any home based system. Also ask whether you will have the choice of what photos are printed, whether they are printed in Matte or Gloss, with or without borders etc. (Again make sure this is documented)
•If the photographer is attending the reception ask about their expectations. Weddings are expensive and photographers should consider it a privilege to be a part of your day. If you choose to provide a meal and drinks, I’m sure it will be appreciated, however you should not feel under any obligation to provide anything. Avoid people who insist they must be supplied.
•Discuss the style of photos you like with the photographer and whether they can provide them. Its quite common for wedding photos to have soft focus or similar effects applied to them, if you don’t like this ask that the photographer supply the images in the style you prefer. If they wont or cant, go somewhere else!
•Be wary of Photographers/Studios who are openly critical of their opposition. This is a negative approach to business and may be an indicator of how they will interact with you on the day.
•Ask how the photographer will deal with bad weather•Ask about copyright, reprint rights etc.
•Ask if they have current insurance
•Registered business name with an ABN – Photographers with a registered business name and ABN are subject to associated business and taxation laws, which will offer you much more protection. If there does happen to be a dispute a registered business name will enable you to seek assistance from the Department of Consumer Affairs etc.
•The photographer will be with you most of the day, so one of the most important considerations is how well you think you can work with the person. If dealing with a studio, ask to meet the photographer who will be assigned to your wedding and ask to see a portfolio of that individuals work before signing any contracts.
•Look at as many photos as possible – Most photographers will show you the best of the best, so ask to see a whole wedding or a larger number of photos
•Ask about equipment – Questions about equipment may start to confuse you, however the most important items to note are that the person is using SLR equipment (brand is not relevant) and has backups of all items.
•How do they shoot – If the photographer is using digital there is no substitute for shooting in the RAW format. There is a lot happening on the day and no photographer will get the camera settings 100% right 100% of the time. Shooting in RAW format gives much more flexibility in repairing images which otherwise may have been lost to under or over exposure. While repairing of other formats is possible the corrections or enhancements may be too obvious.
•Make sure there is a clear contract which outlines rights, responsibilities (of all parties) and inclusions. Make sure it is very clear what is included in the quoted price and what’s not. Ask for a clear price list on the items which aren’t included.
•Find out where the photos are printed – Photos printed at professional labs are still far superior to any home based system. Also ask whether you will have the choice of what photos are printed, whether they are printed in Matte or Gloss, with or without borders etc. (Again make sure this is documented)
•If the photographer is attending the reception ask about their expectations. Weddings are expensive and photographers should consider it a privilege to be a part of your day. If you choose to provide a meal and drinks, I’m sure it will be appreciated, however you should not feel under any obligation to provide anything. Avoid people who insist they must be supplied.
•Discuss the style of photos you like with the photographer and whether they can provide them. Its quite common for wedding photos to have soft focus or similar effects applied to them, if you don’t like this ask that the photographer supply the images in the style you prefer. If they wont or cant, go somewhere else!
•Be wary of Photographers/Studios who are openly critical of their opposition. This is a negative approach to business and may be an indicator of how they will interact with you on the day.
•Ask how the photographer will deal with bad weather•Ask about copyright, reprint rights etc.
•Ask if they have current insurance
Monday, February 16, 2009
Safe Working Environment
The events from this past weekends wedding got me thinking about my own and my camera equipments safety. I'm sure that most couples dont actually realise that when they have booked me to photograph their wedding that we are effectively entering into a employer/employee arrangment.
Which effectively means the couple are my employer for the day, which leads me to the question does the couple have the obligation to provide me with a safe working environment as any mainstream employer have??
Many of the houses I visit abound with obstacles, tripping hazards. The environment is generally chaotic as people are preparing for the occasion.
On occasion I also experience instances where guests have got in the way and almost sent me flying with camera gear in hand, the occasional drunk person getting a bit overenthusiastic with the friendly slap on the back or hug and the occasional person who thinks it ok to start looking through and playing with your camera equipment while I'm busy doing something else.
This particular instance which got me thinking was a rather drunk and overfriendly bridesmaid. Firstly it started with some suggestions for photos, which is ok in itself but it just got out of hand from there. I think allowing her to make suggestions must have flicked a switch, it just went into take over mode from there.
For me however the most difficult thing was that her behaviour detoriated from there to exhibitionism and inappropriate. The behaviour worsened from there to this girl thinking it was ok to touch and attempt to use my camera equipment, the occasional slap on my backside and drunken hugs.
I'm sure some people are thinking what are you complaining about, but for one I'm happily married, this girl wasnt as attractive as she obviously thought and I'm sorry bad behaviour is a big turnoff for me.
Now I'm also sure some people are thinking I should have taken a bit more control and said something. I was in two minds here and unfortunately the thought that I didnt want to spoil the bride and groom big day won out. Although I think it must have been obvious I wasnt impressed as the rest of the bridal party started to step in and attempt to quell the behaviour.
On reflection of the days events it led me to the thought, did this couple have a legal obligation to ensure a safe environment for me?
I'm sure this couple and people in general dont realise that I could sue them for sexual harrasment or if I trip on something left on the floor when photographing the bride at her house the I or my insurance company would be looking to them to foot the bill.
From now on when first discussing the Wedding and contract with a couple I will be using what I learned here to enforce that behaviour of this nature wont be tolerated and can and will lead to termination of services. As far as I am concerned it is an absolute no-no to touch me or my equipment.
I would be very interested to hear from any other photographers who have experienced bad behaviour and how you handled it.
Which effectively means the couple are my employer for the day, which leads me to the question does the couple have the obligation to provide me with a safe working environment as any mainstream employer have??
Many of the houses I visit abound with obstacles, tripping hazards. The environment is generally chaotic as people are preparing for the occasion.
On occasion I also experience instances where guests have got in the way and almost sent me flying with camera gear in hand, the occasional drunk person getting a bit overenthusiastic with the friendly slap on the back or hug and the occasional person who thinks it ok to start looking through and playing with your camera equipment while I'm busy doing something else.
This particular instance which got me thinking was a rather drunk and overfriendly bridesmaid. Firstly it started with some suggestions for photos, which is ok in itself but it just got out of hand from there. I think allowing her to make suggestions must have flicked a switch, it just went into take over mode from there.
For me however the most difficult thing was that her behaviour detoriated from there to exhibitionism and inappropriate. The behaviour worsened from there to this girl thinking it was ok to touch and attempt to use my camera equipment, the occasional slap on my backside and drunken hugs.
I'm sure some people are thinking what are you complaining about, but for one I'm happily married, this girl wasnt as attractive as she obviously thought and I'm sorry bad behaviour is a big turnoff for me.
Now I'm also sure some people are thinking I should have taken a bit more control and said something. I was in two minds here and unfortunately the thought that I didnt want to spoil the bride and groom big day won out. Although I think it must have been obvious I wasnt impressed as the rest of the bridal party started to step in and attempt to quell the behaviour.
On reflection of the days events it led me to the thought, did this couple have a legal obligation to ensure a safe environment for me?
I'm sure this couple and people in general dont realise that I could sue them for sexual harrasment or if I trip on something left on the floor when photographing the bride at her house the I or my insurance company would be looking to them to foot the bill.
From now on when first discussing the Wedding and contract with a couple I will be using what I learned here to enforce that behaviour of this nature wont be tolerated and can and will lead to termination of services. As far as I am concerned it is an absolute no-no to touch me or my equipment.
I would be very interested to hear from any other photographers who have experienced bad behaviour and how you handled it.
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