How to Choose Your Wedding Photographer
by Maine Wedding Photographer Cindy McIntyre

 Tradition still holds strong when it comes to Maine weddings, and brides generally want the traditional bridal photographs that have graced the mantle and walls of wedded couples for decades. 

 

However, there are some new twists that come along with changing tastes and technologies.  Some involve a "photojournalistic" style of wedding photography, which keeps the photographer in the background, recording things as they happen.  Others involve a new type of wedding photo album - one that looks just like the coffee table picture books from a publisher.

Many wedding photographers combine both traditional poses and contemporary presentations.  Traditional wedding photography involves formal poses as well as candids of the ceremony and reception. 

Few amateurs or people who do weddings on the side know the basics of posing, composition, and lighting, as well as how to move the session along to do the requested poses in the time allotted.   Just because someone charges money does not make them a good wedding photographer, even if they do other types of photography for a living.  A great sports photographer, for instance, may have little feel for the romance of a wedding.

 

 

Some Maine brides adhere to the tradition of not seeing the groom before she walks down the aisle.  This makes it difficult to get the quality and variety of formal poses most couples and their families want.  It is much easier to spend 2 hours before the wedding working with the entire bridal party and the couple rather than trying to rush these poses after the wedding.  After all, their guests are on their way to the reception, and they don't want to wait an hour until the newlyweds arrive.  The tradition of the groom not seeing the bride before the wedding has mostly gone by the wayside as couples realize the advantages of having a more relaxed atmosphere for the pre-ceremony photographs.  

  

A professional wedding photographer will use a studio light setup with umbrellas to soften and spread the light, and have the camera on a tripod for the formal altar poses. This gives more natural color and even lighting for a large group of people.  It also allows the ambient light of the church background to set off its beauty - the candles, stained glass, etc.  A flash on camera usually results in a black hole for the background and harsh, uneven lighting - with the effect of a snapshot rather than that of a professional portrait.

Of  course, the candids in the bride's dressing room, or of the groom nervously waiting with his groomsmen, or the reception activities, require a more portable setup.  If a photographer leaves the flash on the camera, it usually results in red-eye because of the light reflecting directly into the pupil.  Raising the flash off the camera 6-12 inches with a device such as a Stroboframe avoids this.  The whole setup looks rather intimidating, but it's the mark of a professional who understands lighting.

The typical Maine wedding photography coverage is five hours:  two hours before the wedding for formals, an hour and a half for the back stage preparations and the ceremony, and 1-1/2 hours for the reception.  Some photographers bring a painted background for the closeup portraits, giving them a studio look and adding a special touch to the album.  These are usually done right before or after the formals at the altar.  For more complicated weddings, some photographers work with an assistant who help with the poses, carries the equipment, and maybe even takes some additional candids. 

 

 
Even outdoor portraits often need supplementary lighting to overcome harsh shadows, or "raccoon eyes."  It is an art to balance the correct exposure of the background—whether it's the church altar, or the blue sea behind you—with the correct exposure of the people.  Too many photographers wash out the faces and dresses, or leave the backgrounds dark and unappealing. 

For outdoor Maine weddings, many people think a bright sunny day makes the best pictures.  Actually, a bright overcast day is like a big, translucent umbrella softening the light, and provides some of the best portrait lighting.  So don't worry if the sun doesn't shine on your outdoor wedding - as long as it's not raining!

 

With digital photography, which nearly everyone today uses, the proofs can be ready within hours of the wedding.  Most pros will do a basic edit to fix exposure, cropping, and sharpness, and then offer retouching for poses the couple selects for their album.  Many Maine photographers are now including a CD of these edited digital proofs so the couple can print any of the images on their own computer or at the local photo center.  Often the final retouched poses are not included on the CD, as the photographer reserves the right to earn income from the reprints.

 

 

Be sure to ask your photographer if the photos on the CD will be raw, or edited, as most photos usually need some tweaking to look their best and you may not have the knowledge or the desire to do so yourself.   

The traditional thick, leather-bound album is still popular, but some prefer the new look of the coffee table book presentation best.  These can have a photograph on a canvas cover, or on a glossy dust jacket.  They are personalized for the couple, sometimes including quotes or special stories about them.  Copies can also be ordered for other family members, and will be treasured heirlooms.

 

Engagement and Boudoir Photography

Many couples wish to begin the story of their wedding with an Engagement Portfolio, which can also be made into a slide show and presented at the wedding reception, or made into a lovely coffee table album.  These photographs can even be included on the invitations.  The bride may also wish to surprise her groom with a set of Boudoir Photographs - lovely, sexy, glamorous.

 
see MainePortraitPhotography.com  and  BoudoirPhotosMaine.com

Capturing your wedding memories is a co-creative endeavor between you and your photographer.  Visit several studios, see the work, and decide whether the creativity and expertise of a professional is worth it to you.  And above all, have fun on your wedding day!

Cindy McIntyre Images
PO Box 646
308 Washington Road
Waldoboro ME 04572
207-832-7490
cindy@cindymcintyre.com
www.CindyMcIntyre.com
serving Waldoboro, Rockland, Thomaston, Camden, St. George, Rockport, Boothbay, Wiscasset,
Belfast, Mid-Coast Maine and beyond

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© 2009 Cindy McIntyre, PO Box 646, 308 Washington Road, Waldoboro Maine 04572  207-832-7490