1.) Should I hire two photographers or is one enough? I believe you should always have at least two photographers for your wedding. One photographer cannot be in all places at once, and cannot get every angle or capture every moment. Having two photographers makes sure not only you are covered, but also your wedding party and guests.
2.) When should the photo shoot be held? Its always best to do it before the ceremony. Your makeup is fresh, you haven't cried yet (hopefully), you're excited about the wedding, you aren't tired or feeling overwhelmed yet and you will have more time to party at the reception. But if you don't want your groom to see you in your dress beforehand, you can do part of the photos beforehand and part after the ceremony. Take the pictures of you getting ready, your bridal party, the bride with the groomsmen, the groom with his groomsmen and so on. Then do the rest after the ceremony with everyone together.
3.) What if the photographer misses a moment? Should I re-stage it later on in the evening? If you give the photographer a list of key moments you absolutely want them to capture, you will decrease the chances of them missing the moment because they will already know they need to get it. But, even the best photographer can miss a moment. If the moment is very important to you, you can ask all parties involved to re-create the scene. It shouldn't take too long.
4.) What can I do to look my best in the photos? I would suggest giving the photographer a few good pictures of yourself and a few bad pictures of yourself beforehand. This will let the photographer know and get the feel for what your good and bad angles are. Also, when posing, place your weight on your back leg, and slightly extend and stretch the other leg out in front. Make sure you have powder and lip gloss ready. You don't want to be shiny in the pictures. Consider some black and white photos, because they help hide skin imperfections and tend to make everyone look flawless.
5.) How can I tactfully ask what the photographer will wear? Its fine to ask them to dress appropriately for a wedding. You don't want them sticking out like a sore thumb, and neither do they! But do remember that they need to be comfortable in order to take pictures. Don't ask them to wear a tuxedo or ball gown. Usually, photographers will wear all black so they can blend into the background and not stand out.
Great article Pauline.
ReplyDeleteIn answer to your question about what a wedding photographer should wear on the day. You will find that black shirt and trousers are commonly worn although some may were a suit.
Wearing black reduces the chance of reflections and allows us to become almost invisible ;-)
Pat
PatB Photography - Weddings