Category: Events

Wedding Photography Tips for Amateur Photographers

Wedding photography can be a real challenge, even for those who are already doing it professionally, because it involves almost every kind of photography. Portraiture, still life photography, action shots, travel and landscape photography, and maybe even underwater shots. You name it, professional wedding photographers have most likely done it on the job.

Wedding Photography Tips:

Get to know the couple

Take the time to get to know more about your couple during your initial meetings. How did they meet? How long have they been together? Do they already have children? Answers to these questions may serve as your inspiration for covering their wedding and for the story in your images.

If possible, also do their prenup photos. It will serve as an opportunity for both parties to be more comfortable with each other—a huge benefit for when the big day arrives. At the same time, it helps you figure out your couple’s best angles!

Hire or be part of a team

It’s nearly impossible for a single shooter to cover everything, mainly due to time constraints and difficulty in multi-tasking. Couples usually go for a team of at least three wedding photographers, with at least one assigned for each of them. This way, the photographers can have required shots distributed among them and have less chances of missing a moment. You may also hire an assistant for your gear and lighting set-up. It clearly benefits you as a shooter too, as it helps you become more at ease on the job.

Bring the right gear

Good wedding photography gear significantly increases your chances of a successful wedding coverage. Invest in the best cameras (yes, plural, because you’re definitely going to need a backup camera) and lenses for wedding photography that are within your budget, as this will greatly improve the quality of your images and your ability to correctly capture various scenes.

Your kit should include comfortable walk-around lenses, ideally one prime lens and one wide aperture zoom lens, that allow you to get close and walk among the guests without drawing too much attention. A good wide angle lens is also essential for group shots and for capturing the venue, while a telephoto (whether prime or zoom) is also important for instances when you need to shoot from a distance.

Another useful item is a reliable external flash that you can direct towards the ceiling for more natural and diffused lighting, if you don’t have a diffuser for it. Pop-up flashes are no-nos, as they produce harsh lighting and are hardly attractive for portraits.

 

Things Your Wedding Photographer Wants You To Know

• I don’t expect you to know how to pose. One thing almost every couple tells me is that they don’t know how to pose. I never expect my couples to know how to pose, where to put their hands, or what to do.  I love walking my couples through this, and helping them become comfortable in front of the camera.
• I don’t feel comfortable in front of the camera either! Yup, I totally relate to what you are feeling!  Maybe that’s why I try to walk you through every single step and adjustment.  If it were me, I would want to feel confident and look as good as possible (don’t we all?), so I try to give that to my couples.
• Engagement sessions are so important. I love meeting and working with the bride and groom before their wedding day.  Wedding days can be fast-paced, and sometimes stressful.  On the other hand, engagement sessions are the perfect time to get to know each other!  It’s also a great time for you to get more comfortable in front of the camera, and learn some of the posing I teach the couples I work with.
• The only time I won’t take pictures is during dinner. Most people don’t like having their picture taken.  But, no one wants their picture taken while they are chomping on dinner.   During this time of day, I will also eat dinner, and will usually sit down for the very first time on wedding day.  It’s the perfect time to rest while everyone is eating, and get ready to photograph the reception!
• I deliver all of the best images. I capture a mix of portraits and candids on your big day, and then deliver all of the good ones.  I try not to deliver a million images of the same thing, and I try to capture and deliver all of the images I would have wanted if it were my big day.

 

Choosing your Wedding Photographer is not as hard as you think!

You’ve done it! You’ve popped the question, there’s a ring on a finger and now you’re starting the wedding planning process. Your venue’s booked, now it’s time to start searching for your wedding photographer. But how do you choose? Well here’re my six simple steps for choosing your wedding photographer. I promise it won’t be a painful experience.

Step 1 – Set a Budget

Being clear on how much you want to spend on a photographer from the beginning will help you decide on which to look at and speak to.

According to One Fab Day, the average spend on wedding photography here in Ireland is around $2000-$4000. That number may surprise you, it may not. Either way, figure out how much you have to spend on this area of your wedding, not what you think you should be spending.

Do try to be realistic though. Expecting 12 hours of coverage from two wedding photographers and a high-quality album all for $400 might be pushing things a bit! But there are photographers that will suit every budget. It helps to consider what you’ll sacrifice for the right photographer. Perhaps reducing hours or forgoing the album are considerations you’d be happy to make.

Step 2 – Photography Styles vs What You Like

Truthfully, it’s only us photographers who care about terms like ‘fine art’, ‘reportage’ or ‘alternative’. You don’t need to worry about that.

What you should do is look at different wedding photos and see which appeal to you and why. Maybe they’re colourful. Maybe they’re all black and white. Perhaps you prefer the ones of people laughing and pulling faces, or the formal family line ups are more to your liking. Whatever you prefer, that’s quite alright. Recognising your preferences helps when choosing photographers whose work you like.

Despite photographers “niching” themselves as ‘documentary’, ‘traditional’ or ‘relaxed and natural’, for the most part, they will capture many of the same things. The documentary photographers will tackle some formal portraits if asked. The traditional photographers will manage some candid shots. So, focus more on a photographer’s shooting style. Do they get into the heart of the action or shoot from a distance? Look at their editing style, too, and how they come across as people.

Step 3 – Time to dip your toe in!

Here goes nothing! It’s time to get on Google and fall down the wedding photography rabbit hole. Are you ready?

When you first start, do broad sweeps. Check out a photographer’s online galleries, ‘about’ pages and packages if they’re published. Make a note of, or bookmark, the ones that stand out.

Take your time. Don’t try to squeeze it all into one sitting. You’ll go wedding photography blind if you try!

Once you’ve seen enough and you’ve got a good list, start shortlisting. Go back through their websites and spend more time reading and exploring them. Get a list of around 10 that appeal to you the most.

Step 4 – Meet the photographers

Send an enquiry to each of those shortlisted photographers. Include details like your wedding date, location, number of guests and any exciting details worth mentioning. Ask if they have a brochure if you want specific pricing. Giving some information at the enquiry stage will help them to know if they’re available for your wedding. If they’re already booked, they can let you know and no one’s time will be wasted with lots of back and forth.

Most photographers offer a consultation – whether in person, via video chat or in a phone call. It’s worth doing to get a feel for their personality. That doesn’t always come across in the words on their websites. Remember, you’re going to be spending a lot of time with this person on your wedding day. It helps to like them!

Try to both attend each consult, as you might have different opinions or feelings about a person.

Also, don’t be afraid to ask the photographers questions. We’ll be more than happy to answer them. We want you to be happy and confident in our abilities and knowledge. It’s important to us that you trust us!

 

What You Should Know About Wedding Photographers

So today, I would love to share a few things you might not know about wedding photographers. There might be some pieces that have to do with money, and some that don’t. But my goal today isn’t to guilt you into paying more for your wedding photos – it’s to show you everything that goes into what we do outside of just showing up and taking photos. Because if no one has ever told you… how are you supposed to know?

We love when you ask for our advice and help!

From a photography perspective and a planning-a-wedding perspective, few things give me more joy than being able to help a bride out, whether it’s by providing vendor recommendations, giving a second opinion on decorations, or helping create the perfect timeline. Most couples have never planned a wedding, so they aren’t always sure, for instance, how much time to allot for family formals, bride & groom photos, or bridal party portraits. Always double check with your photographer to see if they have a specific amount of time they recommend!

I’ve created an 80 page magazine brimming full with tips, tricks, and advice all relating to engagement photos, wedding photos, timelines, first looks, rain, details, destination weddings, and the like. All brides who book with me receive this as my gift to them!

There is a LOT more to photographing a wedding than showing up the day of!

Emails, phone calls, timeline creation, location scouting, questionnaires, invoicing, contracts, album designing, product ordering, blogging, packaging & mailing – just to name a few! On top of the routine items in each wedding’s workflow, we’re also doing things like improving our education, bookkeeping, collecting and paying sales tax, creating educational resources for clients.

Editing thousands of photos can take a long time.

Sorting through 4,000 to 5,000 wedding photos, then editing ~1,000 can be a big job. Know that most wedding photographers want to finish editing your wedding photos as fast as you want to see them! But they also want to make sure that your once-in-a-lifetime day is edited to perfection – and perfection can take a little bit of time!

Knowing of any family drama ahead of time is a HUGE help!

It’s oh-so helpful to know any sensitive family situations so we don’t have two people who aren’t so fond of each other nice and close in a family portrait! The last thing we want is to make anyone feel uncomfortable on our account due to ignorance.

 

The Price You Pay For Your Package Is Not What We Get To Keep In Our Bank Accounts.

If you want to make a buttload of money for working one day, wedding photography is not for you. Being a wedding photographer means lots of expensive equipment (which is expensive to upkeep!), backups for that expensive equipment in case something stops working mid-wedding day, liability insurance, equipment insurance, sales tax, editing software, computers, income tax, paying for continued education, hard drives to store our client’s photos, paying out of pocket for health insurance (or paying for an expensive plan not through an employer), not to mention every day expenses that don’t even have to do with the business (rent, cars, groceries). Don’t get me wrong – I love photography and it has been worth every single penny invested! But to be a full time, professional wedding photographer, major cost is involved.

Besides actually taking pictures, keeping the wedding day on time is one of our biggest jobs.

This is especially true if there is no planner! It’s easy for family members and friends to get swept up in the emotion of the day (for good reason!), and lose track of the timeline. Keeping the timeline on track ensures that we’ll be able to deliver the quality (and quantity) of images you would expect from us!

We want to know what you like about our work.

It’s helpful to know what a couple is attracted to in our work. Is it the light? The colors? The posing? The bridal detail styling? Reception lighting? Another special technique? Knowing in advance will help us pay special attention to what’s most important to you!

What are the advantages of event management?

The benefits of event management are many for all kinds of events whether it’s a social or a business event including conferences, concerts, trade shows, sports events, charity events, business meetings, and ceremonies but it all depends on the event management solutions provider you choose.

Event management benefits for business vary based on the type of your business, the type of your upcoming event and the event management company you choose to plan, manage, execute and evaluate the event performance.

What is event management?

Event management is the process of planning the event concept and them, coming up with creative ideas & solutions for the event, discussing the allocation of dedicated budget, planning the event management process, monitoring the execution of the event and evaluating the event performance based on the predefined goals.

The benefits of event management for businesses

If your business consists of many departments including marketing and public relation departments or not, you’ll have to seek external help from an experienced event management agency to achieve the most of possible benefits including:

• Promotion of new products or services
• Achieving the desired exposure and brand awareness
• Attracting more prospects and clients from exhibitions and trade shows
• Improving brand positioning through professional events and conferences
• Creative solutions to drive the highest level of satisfaction from the guests
• Handling all permissions, permits, insurance and security concerns
• Saving valuable time, efforts and money when hiring experience event managers

 

Event Management vs. Event Planning

Event management and event planning tasks and duties may overlap but the main difference is that event planners are responsible mainly for planning every stage related to the event according to the defined schedule while event managers are responsible for all details starting from the meeting with the client till evaluating the event management process performance.

The event management experienced specialists should possess certain characteristics to succeed in their mission including:

• Detail-oriented: to plan and take care of all possibilities
• Good listener: to transform the client expectations to a tangible reality
• Creative: to come up with new ideas and customized solutions
• Flexible: to negotiate and coordinate between all parties involved
• Problem solver: to handle unfortunate incidents and deviations from defined schedule

 

Benefits Of Event Management Companies

Event management applies the basis of project management in the creation of events, conferences etc. It is a way of outsourcing occasions that may be beyond the scope of the business. In the past decade, there has been a tremendous growth in the event management sector seeing more and more participation of the people with good managerial skills. The range of events an event management company takes care of is magnanimous. Here are the benefits of event management companies.

Smooth execution:

Event management firms engage in smooth execution of ideas as planned. They brace themselves even for contingencies that might crop up like a sore thumb. They have personnel with a wide range of experience which they bring in onto the scenario to ensure that only the best be delivered. It is a multi-faced profession and often demands specialists that cater to different aspects.

Saves time and money:

By outsourcing event management to companies who deal with them, a company saves time and money, though this fact is still a hot debate. Truth is: an event management company has direct links with suppliers and other concerned people who help them get good rates for requirements concerning a particular event. It saves time because the customer would just have to pick the dates, the rest being borne by the event management company. Even in the matters of personal events for instance, weddings, it is great to hire an event management company to look after the proceedings and save the customer from the hassles of single-handedly organizing the wedding themselves.

Inflow of creative ideas:

Event organizers come up with new and exciting ideas for holding events. Depending on the requirements of the clients, event managers can do a lot of things with any event to bring it alive. Event managers also bring a lot of their experience into play which is an added asset for customers. They also give customers the opportunity to have customized events.

 

Skilled Teams

What would happen if you needed a themed gala dinner or if your CEO now wants your company to start hosting its own staff annual awards? Event management companies know the right people with the right skills – who’s most suitable, who’s available and their rates. Short notice demands can be really stressful, but outsourcing them not only solves the problem but will make things easier for you too.

Measurability

Ultimately, an event management company’s success is based on customer satisfaction – yours, as the client but also the attendees at your B2B events. You’ll be able to measure that via feedback mechanisms most suited to your audience. Budget management, cost savings, leads generated, audience interaction – you can define what you want to measure and will have definitive cost:benefit results.

 

No Stress and Worries

Regardless of the size of the event, planning such a corporate endeavour is going to be a stressful affair.Even small corporate events involve a big number of considerations. The right venue will have to be chosen. Catering and entertainment professionals will have to be hired. The organiser will also need to think about security, the technology to use during the event, partnerships, sponsorships, finding the right lecturers and many others.Event management professionals who have a lot of experience know what steps to follow and how much time will be needed to organise an impeccable event. They will handle every single aspect of the planning process, enabling a client to focus on popularising the event and getting ready for it.

How To Be a Better Camera Operator – Part 2: TECHNIQUE

Clearly state when the camera is running

When the camera is running everyone on the shoot should know it.

Edit in Camera

Make sure your footage will cut together.

Don’t overshoot

Overshooting means filming far more footage than is actually required. This is extremely bad practice, but for some reason it seems to be quite common. Frankly it drives me (and my fellow professionals) absolutely crazy!

Turn in flawless footage – ALWAYS!

Your job isn’t to shoot footage that is just acceptable; your job is to shoot footage that is exceptional!

Develop Speed and Efficiency

We are all familiar with the term ‘Time is Money’ and it is never more so prevalent than in the film and TV industry. A production going over schedule has a serious knock on effect on the budget. There are literally hundreds of reasons why a production can go over schedule, bad weather, various technical problems, actors/TV presenters’ performances and directors wanting to do retakes…the list goes on and on!

 

Tips for Surviving in the Camera Department

Big Budget Cameras to Know:

The Alexa is unsurpassed in it’s abilities. Although it is one of the pricier cameras on the market, you get what you pay for. Using the Alexa allows productions the ability to use less lighting, and gives little to correct in post. For informational videos about the Alexa, follow the link below.

Small Budget Cameras to Know:

These three cameras cannot provide the quality that the Alexa and Amira do, but they are major players in smaller budget productions. With the right lighting, and the right lens, you can create some amazing shots with these cameras. Beneath each picture, you will find a link to the brochures and manuals for each camera. Memorizing every manual is pretty impossible, but you should know where to get them so that you can refresh your memory before a shoot.

Be Alert/Present

Stay alert to the needs of the Operator and the DP. Blend in with the surroundings, almost make yourself invisible, and support the camera department with anything they need. You should always be present and working on the job you’re on now, not thinking about your next job.

Anticipate

Anticipating the DP and Operators needs will be next to impossible if it’s the first shoot day and you’ve never worked with this crew before. So use that first day to really observe your surroundings and the behavior of the crew. Learn on your feet so that you can begin to anticipate the needs of the department.

But Don’t Over Anticipate – Be Respectful

There’s a fine line between anticipating and being overbearing. If you overhear a conversation between the Director and the DP, and you hear them specifically say they want to use another lens, then it is ok to preemptively change the lens before the DP walks over to you. If the DP is taking a moment to think about the shot, do not interrupt their thoughts with your own suggestions of what lens you think would look good. Find the line, don’t overstep and certainly don’t guess. If the DP asks for your opinion, give it. If they don’t, don’t. Be reactive, but do not step on toes. There’s a balance that you need to find.

 

Tips for Camera operators

The Rule of Thirds

A basic rule of composition is the rule of thirds. This guideline gives you ideas on where to place your subject within the frame. Though your tendency may be to position your subject dead center on the screen, the rule of thirds will give you a more compelling picture.

Look Room, Lead Room and Headroom

Look room is the space that you leave in front of someone’s face on the screen. This space gives the person room to breathe, as well as gives the impression that the person is looking at or talking to someone just off screen. If you don’t leave enough look room, your subject will appear to be boxed-in and confined.

Remember

Good composition is a means to an end. When it’s done well, the audience should not notice it. Instead it should help create a mood, or at the very least, a sense of normalcy and stability. The next time you watch a movie, pay attention to how the cinematographer frames the shots. You’ll notice that they use the rule of thirds as their foundation, and build from there.

Searching for shots:

Always be searching for new shots.  Your Goal as a camera operator is to get your camera “Live” as many times as possible. The best way to do this is to continually “Feed” the director Shots.

Other tips:

Keep your camera in focus: out of focus shots are hard to look and can cause a disconnect with the audience.  To make sure you are in focus zoom all the way in on a subject.  Focus and no matter how far out you are that subject will always be in focus.

 

New Camera Operator? 5 Tips for Success

Understand your event.

I know this sounds like an elementary idea, but it’s incredible how much understanding the event you’re covering helps you with your job. You have to ask yourself: do I know what the viewer – and your on-air talent – is looking for? Covering football or basketball, do I know the basic rules and flow of the game? These things are vital to understand to make your job as a camera operator much easier. If you find yourself saying you don’t have a firm understanding of the event, then do your homework and watch the event.

Know your role.

This is a two-part tip that will make your life much easier if you keep it in mind. As a camera operator, it’s important that you understand the responsibilities for your particular camera position and that you understand your place in the chain of command. I’m not trying to steal a line from Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, I’m only trying to help you avoid a potentially detrimental mistake.

Be aware.

Again, this is another multi-part tip, but this one will go a long way in your success as a camera operator. The four biggest things I think a camera operator needs to be aware of are: your tally light, the program audio, the director and other people. Your camera’s tally light is the single most important thing you can pay attention to as a camera operator.

Be prepared.

This seems like an overarching tip that really encompasses everything above it, but here I’m talking about being physically prepared. Every event I work, I take a backpack with me that has everything I think I could possibly need for an event. My backpack contains rain gear, sunscreen, paper tape, gaff tape, a multi-tool, snacks and all kinds of other small items. Being prepared for anything will make your life much easier.

Make goals.

This is something I do every single time I work an event. I found by making goals for myself going into and during a game makes the job more fun while helping me progress. The goal can be something as simple as, every shot will be in focus, or something bigger like, during game action the ball will not leave my shot. One goal I always try to set — and I found has helped me hone my skills — is mimicking a shot I saw on a major network broadcast.

 

Top [5] five qualities to look for when hiring a cameraman or crew

Easy to work with/Flexible

Finding someone who is flexible and easy to work with is always nice to have, but it is especially true when selecting a camera operator. You want someone who can: put those being filmed at ease; be patient when working on set during unavoidable delays; and be understanding about reshooting if you’re not getting what you had envisioned. You may be able to step in and do an “okay job” at other tasks, but shooting with a $50,000 camera and lens takes technical skills learned through school and years of practice.

Honed technical skills/Tech savvy

Operating a camera, maintaining composition and adjusting camera angles is no easy feat. Learning, understanding and honing the technical skills required to become an operator takes many years – and then several more to hone a specialty. For instance, to be good at news requires a cameraman who is quick thinking and fast on their feet.  Others may be good at sports production and following the ball, or an expert in EFP (Electronic Field Production) which requires precise lighting and composition.  Still others specialize in multi-cam for meetings and the like, and then some can do it all.  Camera operators also need to stay up-to-date on shooting techniques, lighting, new equipment, and a plethora of formats, frame rates and resolutions.

Physical stamina and strength

While keeping abreast of the latest news through industry associations, forums and journals is important for honing technical skills, the camera operator must also possess physical stamina, strength and manual dexterity. Shooting, although lots of fun, can also be very demanding – with long hours, challenging conditions, and the need to be on your feet all day.

Creativity: they have a “good eye”

Creativity is something that cannot be taught. A good camera operator will be able to spot a good opportunity and have an artistic eye for framing shots. Having the ability to look through the lens and picture how all of the elements come together – visual composition, perspective, lighting and movement – is crucial so that the images captured will reinforce your message and tell your story in the way you want it to and one that is consistent with your brand image.

Attention to detail

Producing professional video is an orchestrated event that requires all parties to work together. A good camera crew will carry out instructions accurately and with precision. This level of coordination between you, camera and audio people, lighting and the rest of the crew will multiply your productivity and benefit your communication objective. Getting “what you need” or “more than you need” in the field will streamline your editing process and provide additional content for the future.