Hudson Photography Inc.
"The Art of Wedding Photography"Seminar
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Clarion Convention Center, Bentonville, Arkansas
Jason + Kori Hudson
Introduction of Jason + Kori
Welcome
Dim Lights
Project Cabo, Mexico slide show
Lights up, and begin speaking segment:
BEFORE THE WEDDING
LOOKING FOR A WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER
Hiring a professional:
Sure you can save money not hiring a pro wedding photographer because your Uncle has a nice camera. This does not mean he is a great wedding photographer. I have a nice kitchen knife, but if you needed surgery would you rather me do it, or a professional surgeon? !
What to ask and what not to ask in a consultation:
Think about the products you want after your wedding. They could be negatives on CD, loose 4x6 prints, a bound coffee table book, a DVD slide show, etc. Ask if the photographer offers these things. If they don't, ask if they will. If they won't, move on.
Make sure the photographer is shooting everything with digital cameras. Film is dangerous because there is only one negative. If it gets scratched, lost, burnt, etc., your wedding photos are lost forever. If shooting digitally, the photographer can back up everything on DVDs and CDs and have multiple copies of every wedding. This way, if something happens to one disc, there are other backup copies available for you meaning you don't have to worry about not having wedding photos.
Don't ask what brand cameras the photographer is using. Would you know the difference anyway? It's like asking your cake person whether they use a gas or electric oven. As long as you like the taste of the cake, who cares? The point being, the END PRODUCT is all that matter.
Make sure the photographer has backup equipment in case one camera breaks before the officiate says "you may now kiss the bride!"
Two key factors: 1) do you like the photographer's personality as they will be around you for many hours before, during, and after the wedding, and 2) do you have an emotional connection with their photographs? If not, move on.
ENGAGEMENT PHOTOS
What not to wear:
The point of these photos is to show the love between two people. Don't wear anything distracting to your face. Your faces and the emotion found in them should be the central focus of the photographs. Avoid white shirts as it washes out people's faces. Our eyes are made to see the brightest part of an image first. Your shirt color should be darker than your Facial skin tone, so that when you view the photo, your eyes go to the faces first, not the clothing. No stripes, clothing with writing on it, or anything distracting. Dark solids work best. Girls, no sleeveless shirts. Guys, no shorts. Bare arms and legs look funny in photos!
Engagement photos are usually cropped in pretty close. Backgrounds are not all that important. We're not necessarily looking to make "pretty pictures" like in a park setting or in front of flowers. Portrait photography and nature photography are two different things! Don't bring your dogs or kids to be in the photos. These are not family portraits. No props! Again, the point is that two people love each other very much and we want to show that intimate and romantic love between the two people. Unless you're marrying your dog or your kids; leave them at home.
Makeup, makeup, makeup! Makeup is required! Heavier than usual too for pictures! When it is so thick your face hurts, you almost have enough! The MAC makeup counter at Dillard's in the Northwest Arkansas Mall offers FREE makeup application by appointment. Use them! Tell then your makeup is for photos.
BRIDAL PORTRAITS
These are usually done several months before there wedding. You select a print to be displayed at the reception (this is a southern thing; not doe "up north.") Bring fresh flowers as they give you something to do with your hands. If you don't want to purchase a fresh bouquet, don't try and get by with silk flowers. They do not photograph well. Having no flowers is better than silk flowers!
Backgrounds play a little more important role here than in engagement photos. Leave it up to your professional photographer as to what backgrounds will work best with your personality and your dress.
Your dress will get dirty whether the photos are made indoors or out. It costs about $35 to get your dress dry cleaned. Plan on it! Don't wear your wedding day shoes if they don't show under your dress. Wear similar colored heels if they do show. Always wear heels, not flats, but don't wear your wedding day shoes because they will get dirty.
Makeup, makeup, makeup! Makeup is required! Heavier than usual too for pictures! When it is so thick your face hurts, you almost have enough! The MAC makeup counter at Dillard's in the Northwest Arkansas Mall offers FREE makeup application by appointment. Use them! Tell then your makeup is for photos.
WEDDING DAY
If you've gotten this far, then you have a professional photographer that you know and trust. TRUST YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER! Don't stress out about pictures on the wedding day. Don't let your photographer plan your wedding schedule, or tell you what to do and when to do it. They are their to capture the moments, period. But do trust them when they are posing you, moving you to better light, etc.
GETTING READY
The photos we make during this time are always very special. Enjoy this time. Don't stress out! Keep the room clean. McDonald's nags and water bottles look trashy in photos. Put all your junk in one corner of the room and keep the rest of the room clean. Be sure to get ready in a well lit place!
PORTRAITS
To see your groom before the ceremony or not to see your groom before the ceremony. That is the real question isn't it! Don't let your photographer tell you what to do! This is your day so do it your day! There are pros and cons to seeing each other before and not seeing each other before:
Seeing each other before the ceremony:
PROS:
- Bride and Groom are very relaxed because they get a "private time" to see each other alone. You will get a LOT more photos of yourselves if you opt for posed pictures before the ceremony. This time is too rushed after the reception to get many good photos.
- You don't miss out on your groom "seeing you for the first time in your dress on the wedding day." We keep you both separate until time to see each other. We clear out the Church, bring him in, and have the bride walk down the aisle, in full bridal attire. This can be done alone or in front of 300 people. It is actually a lot more special to share this intimate moment, in privacy!
- Many brides report feeling very "at ease" and enjoying their day a lot more getting to share more of it with the man of their dreams.
- You can go straight form "you may now kiss the bride" into your reception without making your guests wait on you.
CONS:
- Everyone has to be there. If they don't show in time, they lose out and your pictures will lack a person or family in them. Young children and elderly have to be dressed and ready earlier than normally before the ceremony.
Not seeing each other before the ceremony; waiting until after ceremony for posed photos:
PROS:
- You and your family don't have to be dressed as early as if you were doing the photos before.
CONS:
- If anyone leaves after the ceremony, they can't be in pictures.
- Your guests have to wait on you for a long time before you enter the reception
- A lot of brides report feeling very nauseous before the wedding because they can't see their fiance
- You look stressed in the photos because all you are thinking about is the reception.
- You won't get many photos of just the bride and groom alone. After all the family photos, wedding party photos, etc. you just want to get to your reception!
AFTER THE WEDDING
Relax and go on a honeymoon!
Know when to expect your photos and albums. 3-4 months is ideal for the retouched 4x6 prints and CD negatives. 3-6 months is ideal for your finished album. These time frames are dependant on how busy your photographer is. They many vary more or less. Get out of the fast food mentality that you should get your prints and albums in a week or two. These are custom jobs. You'll have these photos the rest of your life. Don't rush your photographer by constantly asking if your photos are ready. He/she will just rush them and they will be sloppier than they would be had you let them finish their work on them. 3-4 months is not a long time to wait on a product that will be in your family for the next 150 years!