> Hello everyone,
>
> We're looking for a photographer in Ottawa to shoot a wedding in
> August 2005. Ideally, we're looking for someone who would take
> primarily photojournalistic/candid photographs of the ceremony and
> reception, with obviously a few formals thrown in.
>
> Because of our tight budget, we'd be happy to take on a student,
> recent graduate, or freelancer, who might be looking to get experience
> and build a portfolio, while allowing us to stay within our budget.
>
> Photography experience would obviously be required, but not
> necessarily in the field of wedding photography. Importantly, we would
> like to keep the negatives, and take care of our own prints. We could
> also provide the film and care of the photo finishing if that would
> make it easier. Of course, the photographer would be free to use any
> in their portfolio, website, etc.
>
> Essentially, if you have a cool style you'd like to show us, please
> contact us at fratello25_at_hotmail.com and we can discuss availability,
> price, and all the other details.
You've gotten some advice from others, so I'll throw in a couple of
comments... ;-)
Roughly half of wedding photography has nothing whatsoever to do with
the camera, but deals instead with handling people and knowing how the flow
should go. So if you go with someone who has no experience with wedding
photography at all, you're liable to find that the formals may get very
drawn out and confused. Bear in mind what affect this might have on your
guests - you want *them* to have good memories of the event, too. So in a
case like that, be prepared to have someone else acting as a coordinator.
For speed and convenience, the next set of guests should be "in the
bullpen", so to speak, and ready to take their places immediately upon
finishing the previous set of shots.
Nobody else has to tell you the value you yourself can place on the
photos - if you feel you'd be happy with just a few good images, go for it
and use who you want. You've already made it known that your expectations
are probably not unreasonable. I would suggest planning another day before
or after the wedding when you can do a few formals without the pressures of
the ceremony - this will greatly increase the chances of getting some
excellent album shots. Might mean renting the tux for another day, but it
will better than double the quality of your photos, in all likelihood.
I know you're placing emphasis on candids, which require less people-
management skills, but they also require more accuracy, foresight, and
film. If you're looking at B&W, get someone who knows B&W well, it'll make
a huge difference.
Let your photographer know what the locales will be like - a visit in
the same lighting conditions, and/or a few test rolls, is well worth it.
Then once you've chosen, put photography out of your mind entirely
and enjoy the day. Treat the images you get afterwards as a bonus. It'll
make it all go much smoother.
Go luck, and congratulations,
- Al.
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