Friends and Photography
A friend has offered to take the photographs for our wedding. Should we take him up on his offer? What happens if it all goes wrong and we have horrible photographs or worse still no photos at all?
Your wedding day is perhaps one of the most important of your
life and it would be a shame if you did not get the photographs
you'd like, so that you can re-live the memory.
The question you have to ask yourself is- "Do I trust my
friend?" "Does he or she know the back of a camera
from the rump of a pink flamingo?"
There is no question
that having reliable friend take the photographs is cheaper
than employing a professional and even professionals can get
it wrong - although less frequently.
Modern cameras, (digital or otherwise) are almost idiot proof.
(Is your friend and idiot?).
Digital cameras also have the advantage of being drop proof-
they might break but the storage device will almost always remain
intact. (Unless trampelled on by a herd of marauding elephants-
which, in Hertford, Hereford, Hampshire, Glasgow or County Derry
is unlikely.)
Over all, unless your friend is a diagnosed idiot we would say
"Yes."
But just to be safe, we would also say "Yes." to a
second friend, because what's the chance of two independent
idiots getting it completely wrong?
What should I consider when choosing a photographer?
Other than memory, photographs and video will be the
only way you have of recalling the details of your wedding day.
So, it is important that the photographs that are taken represent
the whole day and are of the best quality possible.
If you decide to have a professional photographer, then make
sure you get a good one. There is an article on this site that
details the questions that you should ask your prospective cameraman,
in order to make sure that he/she is the right person for the
job.
Should the photographer visit the reception venue or the church before the wedding?
This would depend on whether the photographer is new
to the area in which he or she operates. Most professional photographers
who have been in business for many years, will have probably
attended at least one wedding in many of the wedding and reception
venues in which they are likely to be booked to take photographs.
So, they are likely to have a wealth of experience in where
and how to set up they equipment.
Even if a photographer has
not actually visited a particular venue, a good professional
should know where the best places to take the many family portraits
that are common at weddings.
However, this is probably one of the question you should put
to the photographer of your choice during your initial interview.
Click the link below to read or article on how to choose your photographer