How upset would you be to find after your wedding day that your photographer didn’t capture the images you wanted? You were badly lit, your bad features were accentuated instead of your good. Your Photographer made your arms look bigger than they are, you didn’t look as slim as you felt, you had armpit fat showing over your dress, how would you feel?
That’s exactly what you can be left with if you make the wrong choice!
Choosing the best Photographer is so important if you don’t want to be tearfully disappointed after your wedding day the one day when an amateur, a friend, a relative or even some ‘professional’ Photographers just don’t cut it.
Remember, there is only one chance to get these photos no matter the pelting rain, the low lighting conditions, time restraints, the size of your bridal party, the wind, your pre planned location taken, etc, etc.
Nikki & Justin had their wedding photographed by an amateur that called himself a professional only to find there wasn’t a single photo of the complete gown! This photo was from a re-shoot organised with impact images after their honeymoon.
At Impact Images, we have only the very best Photographers that ALL have over 10 years of professional experience more experience than anyone else on the Coast. We are not only the most nationally and internationally awarded studio, we also boast the only Master Photographer on the Coast. If you are looking for experience and skills we have loads.
Are you aware that some professional Photographers don’t even know how to operate their cameras correctly? This is a fact! I speak regularly with Photographers and am utterly surprised to hear they shoot a wedding on automatic or semi automatic modes. They don’t know what to expect from a photo until they see it on the back of the camera, then make the necessary adjustments. If one of these photographers are capturing your day, you should be as scared as a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs!
Most Photographers don’t understand how to use their flash to get flattering and amazing images, instead they claim that no flash is always better or they resort back to automatic and ‘hope’ for the best. Pretty scary really, when you consider they are charging the same or more than we do at Impact.
Shot on auto, this striking image would look nothing like this.
Silhouette images are a snap for a professional – would Uncle Barry get the same results?
Will your photographer be able to balance off camera flash with available light as successfully as in this image… every time?
If your photographer is faced with bad lighting conditions they should be able to handle it with additional lighting or reflectors like this image. Most would say “too hard” lets move on after attempting in auto and getting a bad result – or they try and repair in photoshop later.
This image was created 100% in camera. Will you photographer be able to capture images like this on your wedding day?
Ever consider what happens to your wedding images after your wedding day? Would you be surprised to find that your Photographer may be sending them to India or other third world countries to have your files worked on? This is happening, and more than you think. Your images may come back looking OK but what control do you or your Photographer have over your images once they are transferred? Where else are your images being distributed and for what purposes? Besides, didn’t you engage your Photographer to handle all parts of your wedding photography in their studio/house/garage, not by a faceless sub-contractor in Mumbai?
Another common practice by a number of Photographers is to have a third party company or contractor design your album. This could be someone in Australia using pre-designed templates or again, someone from overseas. What chance do they have of understanding you, your wedding and what you want from your album? And, if this is the case, shouldn’t you be made aware so you can have some say?
At Impact Images, you will meet the Photographer that will photograph your wedding at the very first meeting. You will speak to Tenneille, Ash, Linda, Natalie or Andrew who will organise your appointments. Both Ash and Tenneille will work on your photos with their amazing photoshop skills and design your award winning album using their fantastic design skills. Everything will be handled in our Studios right here on the Central Coast or Newcastle.
Any design, assembly or digital retouching is all carried out in a professional environment – no files will be sent to foreign countries.
What about packages is your Photographer up-selling you to a package with two Photographers? If so, you should be asking what sort of experience or qualifications does this 2nd shooter have and how much are they actually costing you? Some of the so-called ‘Photographers’ are simply the wife, partner or friend of the main Photographer with little or no photographic skills. They will stand to one side, not say anything all day and shoot away on auto. Yes, they will capture the odd nice photo but is that worth paying for and if so, how much?
Could you do just as well if you came to a wedding and assisted me and I supplied the pro camera and lens? I reckon you could, I believe anyone could. Would I charge for your services as a professional Photographer no way! Some Photographers have the audacity to try.
We don’t usually shoot with a second Photographer because our primary shooters have the skills to capture more than enough of your day to tell the perfect story. If, however, you require a second Photographer for timing or distance issues, we will supply an actual Photographer not a spouse, relative or amateur to do a professionals job.
Will your average 2nd shooter be able to capture images making the most of available light, an amazing dress, a large or small group? Probably not, so make sure you aren’t paying for a professional and getting an amateur.
An assistant isn’t required to capture candid photos – a single professional photographer will be able to capture a range of images to tell the full story of your wedding day.
Candid moments, one photographer – no problem.
When you are commissioning a photographer – it’s for their creative talents, vision and skills. Make sure you are getting what you pay for.
Before you choose your Photographer, call us do discuss what you are after. If it’s natural, fun, stylish and contemporary photos you want we are the right studio for you. Not only will you be assured of the best photographs of your wedding, you will have the best time, plenty of laughs and you can relax in the knowledge that you really do have the best wedding Photographers and that we will capture everything from the smallest detail to the largest group shot. We will capture the little tear during the ceremony, we won’t miss ‘the kiss’, we will grab those candid moments and direct you to create those contemporary magazine style images. You and your bridal party will have a great time with us at your wedding that’s a promise.
As a professional photographer of some 18 years, we sadly hear of so many couples being dissapointed with their wedding photos. Although we are not wedding photographers, we have the joy of capturing the next season of their lives when they have children and often we hear comments like…. this is so much better than our wedding photographer….I wish you guys could have done our wedding….. I had a bad experience with our photographer….etc
Getting a good photo appears to be pretty easy with the technology of digital cameras, but getting a whole day of good photos is not so easy. It requires lots of experience to know how to get it right each and every time. Thats what being a professional actually is all about.
I can personally vouch for Impact Images because when it was time for my family to be photographed, that is who we went to and we love the result!
Dont risk your wedding day on someone who has recently taken up photography. Let them do the 21st birthdays, school functions and other events where it is not such a huge dissapointment if they get it wrong.
Pay a bit more and get a photographer who knows how to create beautiful photos all day long, who is easy to get along with and wont turn into a control freak on the day, who has a team behind them to handle all of the production on time with the highest standard. It shouldnt take 6 months to get your wedding album because the one person studio isnt organised enough to get the retouching and album made. (yes this is happening lots)
You wont regret hiring Andrew or any of his team. 🙂
Wow Brian – thanks for the fantastic comments!
I was really concerned about upsetting other photographers, especially in my area when I posted this blog (which certainly wasn’t my intention) so it is great to read your feedback.
You make some great points about technology and how it is easy to get nice photos and I’m sure most clients just aren’t aware of the amount of training, learning, practice and hard work we put into our photography. The aim of my post was to make future couples/clients aware of what they are paying for. And, if you are paying a certain amount, be clear about your photographers abilities both behind the camera and on the computer in post production.
Thanks again Brian and I hope everything is going really well for you and all your family – must be exciting to see spring arriving, your farm and photography sets must be looking amazing right now.
See you soon
Andrew
I will be forever grateful for the photos that you took of Justin, Tatum and I. They are just so amazing. I hav them hung all over our house and always get the nicest comments!
So true what u hav written, I was so sad after having no nice shots from our wedding in Fiji. Again so happy that I contacted you 🙂 keep up the great work.
Eternally grateful
Nikki
Hi Nikki, great to hear from you and great to know you still check in at the blog from time to time.
I appreciate and value your comments and feel rapt knowing that my images are on your walls at home.
How anyone could miss photographing your amazing dress still baffles me? I still think you are VERY lucky to have a husband like Justin who agreed to get dressed up again for more wedding photos after the day – I know plenty of guys that would have shirked that one.
Hope you are all doing well!
Spak soon
Andrew
Hi Andrew
Very true about Justin 🙂 and guess what, I’m doing it to him again! You hav us for some pregnancy shots later in the year. Looking forward to it
Hey hey – that’s great and congratulations!
It’ll be great to see you all again.
Great post Andrew!
I’m not in your area – and wouldn’t take offence anyway – as I totally agree that all the skills you’ve listed above are essential for any true professional to cover weddings.
Using equipment such as supplementary off-camera flash, reflectors, and reading the light in the first place are skills which I believe any competent photographer needs in their arsenal – but there are SO MANY who don’t.
You guys do great work – and your brides will have the reassurance of knowing that no matter what crappy light / conditions / anything you’re needing to deal with on the wedding day, they’ll still get beautiful shots.
And that’s the whole point.
Thanks Isaac – pretty scary the lack of knowledge some ‘pros’ have, that’s for sure.
Do you find it a similar situation in NZ?
What are your thoughts on sending work to other studios, over seas, or to production studios for album design and post wedding work?
BTW – enjoy seeing your ‘image a day’ posts on twitter.
Hey Andrew,
Yes – very similar here in NZ – a bunch of people that really know their stuff.. and then a bigger majority that don’t have a clue… but have a Facebook page… so are a business… ha.
We used to outsource colour correction last few seasons – it’s a real lifesaver! Have a fulltime studio assistant now, so he does most of our post work in house. Nicer to be able to keep a closer eye on everything as it gets done.
Hey Andrew!
Great to read this. I can vouch for both sides of this story… I’m a full-time wedding photographer in the UK so come accross so many couples who are already married and really ticked off that their wedding images were terrible…
But I also got married recently, so decided to make a priority to invest in the photographer who I look up to as a bit of a mentor. It cost us, but the images were AMAZING! The fact that he is so in tune with his equipment that he knew exactly what lens to use at what time, and exactly how to use it… And use it well. He reacted to any and every situation that came up. It was quite funny because at one point during the day my wife started to worry that he wasn’t getting the right pictures and wasn’t taking enough images…. But in reality he was so cool and collected he captured hundreds of moments with perfection!
Not sure of conversion, but in the UK you can get a cheapo wedding photography who doesn’t have a clue for 295 pounds ($600) but ours cost 2000 pounds ($4000) – worth every penny.
Thanks,
Matt
Hi Matt
Great to read your comments – sounds like things are pretty similar everywhere! I added in the rough equivalent Aussie prices into your post and they would match up with the wedding photography price differences down here.
Congratulations on your recent marriage, I’m sure you’ll appreciate and love your amazing photos for many, many years.
From what I understand, the MPA in the UK is the ‘equivalent’ of the AIPP – is that correct? Is it worth being a member?
Regards
Andrew
Enjoyed your very worthy and important rant. Also enjoyed your pics, which have great movement and emotion. Well done!
Thanks for your comments Steve.
This is a great read and is packed with valuable information for those looking to hire a professional photographer to commemorate their once-in-a-lifetime day.
Sadly, as a professional photographer myself, I am often contacted by couples who are dissatisfied with their wedding photographer and want me to “fix” the out of focus, badly exposed or just plain BAD photos that they received from their wedding photographer. Unfortunately, by then it’s often too late.
I think we all must play a role in educating our clients to ask the right questions and to choose a photographer with care… not leave the task to a friend or family member with an expensive camera…
Thanks for sharing these extremely helpful tips!!
Thanks for your comments Victoria – it seems that the issues we face here in Australia extend throughout the world of wedding photography!
Brilliantly and eloquently stated Andrew
Unfortunately, at times, the entree to the world of professional photography seems to be limited to the ability to purchase a DSLR and add the word ‘photography’ after your name with little or no understanding of the skills required … apparently P mode stands for ‘Professional’
Your well made comments ring about the use of flash ring particularly true, as way too often I hear “I’m a natural light photographer” which roughly translates to “I’ve got no idea how to use a flash and the mere thought terrifies me …”
Whilst I’m no professional photographer, I take pride in what I do shoot, and more importantly know enough to leave specialist work to those that know how to do it well … professional wedding photographers like those at Impact Images Photography
Thanks for the reality check !
Hi Chris and thanks for the generous comments!
It seems with what you’ve written that you’re in tune with photography and the photographic industry – I’ll bet you are much more of a photographer than you give yourself credit for and that you have some amazing images under your belt!
I’m actually envious of the position amateur photographers are in – being able to experiment, play and choose what and when they shoot. In my view, too many of these shooters make the jump too early into professional photography where they MUST deliver the goods, EVERY time. Out goes their creativity, some of the enjoyment and in comes the pressure and anxiety.
I welcome any new photographers into the industry – I enjoy the competitive push to stay ahead with styles, trends and equipment. Without these shooters, there would be less reason to work so hard. I just hope they do their clients justice – especially the wedding clients.
Thanks again Chris, hope to hear from you again.
Andrew
Very well said and some great images to go with it. In an age where anyone can pick ups digital camera it’s important to explain to prospective bride and groom’s the real difference between a camera toting guest and a professional photographer.
Hey Chris – thanks for your comments. Just popped over to your site and love your work! How are things in the UK – I imagine it slows down a little at this time of year?
So true, youd be suprised what some professionals charge for sub par work.
I recently went to a friends wedding and of course took my (small) camera along. I’m not a professional, nor would I ever pretend to be, I enjoy taking photos have spent many years learning how to do so.
I was shocked with the photographers lack of vision or direction and made everyone in the room feel awkward (not so great for candids).
After shelling out over $3000 AUD for their services. The photos came back a lot werent edited correctly or at all, poor lighting, horrible angles and poses that no one would look comfortable in…. I missed a lot of opportunities being so involved with the bridal party but guess images are all over her walls at home?
Thanks for commenting Allyssa
It’s a pretty bad situation when your friends hire a ‘pro’ and end up using the photos from someone else to display (although, nice for you in this situation:))
I’m not sure what the solution is, except more research on the side of the couple getting married.
The scary thing is, the professional at the wedding you attended wasn’t cheap either.
What a fantastic piece. I only wish every bride would read this. So many people think that they can just “be” a wedding photographer these days. It’s great to see this on the web.
I was doing a bit of research and stumbled across this post and your site. I’m a photograph from Newcastle in the UK. Fab photos, great lighting! Andrew
Thanks Andrew 🙂
If you’re doing some research, you might like to check out http://photobizx.com