Where To Start Interviewing Photography Studios: Get References From Friends and Coworkers

Your best resource is people you know. Ask around, look at other wedding albums. Do you like the photos and album color and construction? Are the photo colors bright and clear and all pictures in focus and dust free? Are the group photos nicely composed? Do the poses look fake, unnatural? Are wedding rings obscured? Is there detail in the bride's gown and cake or are they too bright and washed out from an overexposed shot (a common flaw in flash photos from the reception)? Would you want that wedding album as your own? The photographer's personality can make or break your wedding. I've heard horror stories from people claiming the photographer yelled at guests who were not posing quickly enough. A good experienced photographer is patient, professional, friendly, always smiling. Only this type of person can motivate a large group into action. We were fortunate to see our photographer at work at a friend's wedding before ours. He was always happy and smiling, having a good time. Don't always trust the "bridal warehouse" or "bridal city" type operations with one stop shop "Wedding Packages" unless you are really sure of the photographer's reputation. Most hotels, resorts, caterers, etc. can recommend photographers as well, but beware, many caterers get kickbacks so you can't always get an unbiased opinion. What does a cook know about photography? If they knew anything, they'd be photographers. Decent resorts don't take kickbacks, but they recommend photographers they know to be reliable, as their reputation as a fine resort is at stake. Keep in mind that sample photos which a resort may show you were throw away photos given to them by the studio and may not be as good as the studio's true ability. We all make throw away shots.

Trends in Wedding Photography
Black & White
Are you looking for something different in your wedding photography? Some people don't like traditional posed pictures in wedding albums, and have turned to alternatives such as candid photos, black and whites, and grainy photojournalism shots. The photojournalism shots are more animated, and might show the bride and her bridesmaids running into the church in the rain, or the groomsmen playing around outside, or guests having a wild time at the reception. To the left is a shot I took of my sister at her wedding and converted it to black and white to give you an idea of B&W effects. Click on the image for a larger view. Black & whites provide a refreshing departure from the status quo, and make your wedding unique. Instead of a standard color photo of the bride and groom posing by a fountain, smiling for the camera, try a different shot like a black and white photo of the bride and groom looking away from the camera out into the ocean, contemplating their future, or even some B&W candid shots.

Digital Wedding Photography Studios

If you want less expensive photos later on, you can get them to give you the CDs, USB thumb drives or DVDs with your image files on them, or access to an FTP server to download your images, you can upload them to Costco's web site, and pick up the prints at Costco next time you go into the store. Just remember this is not professional grade paper, so these photos you have printed at consumer shops may not be lifelong survivors.

Digital versus film was controversial because experts claim that mathematically, digital photos won't blow up as clear as film, but others claim they have seen 16" x 20" enlargements and cannot tell the difference. Once we crossed the 10 megapixel mark, that point became moot. All the high end pro cameras are well over 12 MP these days anyway. You should ask to see sample enlargements of the photographer's digital photos and judge for yourself. Ask them to show you the same shot at different size enlargements to compare. To get any decent enlargement size, make sure they are using a camera of at least 12 Mega pixels, like you see in the better studios using high end Nikon models, or Canon EOS for example. It's also important that if the wedding photographer shoots your wedding with digital cameras, that they shoot in full quality mode, and nothing less. Some fools will try to save memory on their cards by shooting at a lower resolution to fit more images per card. But this cuts down your image quality as smaller JPEG files means more compression, and loss of valuable photographic data, and they might as well be shooting your wedding on an iPhone. I think your best case scenario is a Hasselblad camera with a digital back, but few studios may have one. The digital backs cost thousands, putting them out of reach of many photographers.

You can see one nice benefit of digital photography is the studio does not have to keep buying and refrigerating expensive film, stocking and using 10-20 rolls for a wedding, then paying for processing. Also, since they are not paying for film, they should be taking 500-700 pictures at a typical wedding. Some studios create a secure account for you on their web site where you can login and see your pictures, and order proofs. Many use Photoshop as needed to process and crop photos, add a vignette, or other effects. The cool part is the digital camera pictures are already in a computer's native digital JPEG file format, so they load them into the PC via a USB port, no photos to scan in. The studios typically print out 4" x 5" proofs and let you order your enlargements from there. Others might only use electronic online proofs. Some studios may also charge extra for a CDROM of your images. Some may not offer it all, wanting more profit from additional reprints before they turn over the CDROM to you. It is their right, since they own the copyright on their own work. This is always a sore subject for customers.

If they use film should it be 35 mm or Medium Format (2 1/4" frame)?

Boy did I open a can of worms! This is the biggest debate next to the Grassy Knoll. Sure 35 mm cameras and film improved in the 90's, but so did 120 film, and you still can't beat laws of enlargement physics! A medium format negative (2 1/4" x 2 1/4") only needs to be enlarged 1/4 that of a 35 mm negative, resulting in finer grain and sharper pictures 4X that of 35 mm. On 8x10 photos the difference in quality is noticeable! Don't skimp on the film. Sure you'll still get good shots with 35 mm film, but they won't be the best that they can be. Examples of better medium format cameras are Hasselblad, Mamiya, and Bronica. Most studios are not using film anymore, so this debate is becoming moot as time passes.

I used to get emails from photographers, whining about having to carry around medium format cameras, telling me I should try doing it. Well, when I go skiing, I shove my Hasselblad down my ski suit to get the cools shots at the top of the mountain. I don't complain. I do the same thing with my equally heavy Nikon and don't complain either. Any photographer who tells you there's no difference between 35 mm and 120 film, is either ignorant, or lying to you. Is it ok to shoot 35mm film for the B&W photojournalism shots? Maybe, if you don't expect to blow it up very much. But then again, some people like the grain. Here's the problem: Due to low light levels in weddings, I just know that many photographers are going to shoot their B&W candid shots on 800 or 1600 speed film, which is too grainy. Personally, I never use any film above 160 ISO unless I'm at a concert. Not an issue if you use digital.

Hasselblad is worth the Hassle!

This is another very controversial subject. Many photographers will use 35 mm cameras for the candid shots, which I'm still on the fence about, preferring the medium format cameras like Hasselblad, Mamiya, Rollei, Bronica, etc. Many photographers have emailed me to complain that 35 mm cameras are easier to use for candid shots, and "Hasselblads are not even usable". Wait a minute. Not Even Usable? Listen to how stupid that sounds. Hold up the camera, take the picture. Sounds usable to me. They cry on my shoulder that they don't own one because they are too bulky to get good pictures with. Translation: "I decided to go it on the cheap and cannot afford one". Someone get me a shovel! If they don't own a Hasselblad, how would they know it would be hard to use one? The majority of pros out there now using them now don't seem to have a problem. Personally, I think any camera is as easy to use the next one. I've lugged mine to several weddings of family and friends and never had a problem with it. I've stuffed mine down my ski jumpsuit and fallen face down on the blue runs getting bruised ribs, just to get one phenomenal shot, yet I'll never complain about the weight. I think the quality of the photographs it produces with the Carl Zeiss lens is worth whatever "extra weight" they are complaining about. If the weight bothers them, they should change careers and become wedding florists instead, where the flowers are much lighter. I've used my Hasselblad at nearly 20 wedding and events I did just fine with it, capturing the best images just like the pros, even though I'm not a pro.

Of course the many studios that do use Hasselblad for weddings don't complain at all, because they agree with me and want to provide their customers with that extra bit of quality. Does this mean you should not use a studio who does not use medium format cameras? Some studios have come up with creative excuses like "they are mechanically unreliable, so we don't use them". Wow, unreliable? That's a new one! I guess that's why NASA used them on the moon and space shuttle. The studio that shot our wedding sent all their Hasselblad equipment to the factory for an overhaul every year, whether it needs it or not. If the complainers were that conscientious about maintenance, they would not have to worry about mechanical breakdown. I brought my Hasselblad to a friend's wedding. Lucky for him, as his photographer's Bronica camera crapped out on him and I let him use my camera in exchange for several rolls of film. That saved him and my friends from devastating results. Also ask the studio about their camera maintenance. You want a studio that maintains their cameras.

The photographers who smack talk Hasselblad are not telling you the real reason they don't have one: They are darn expensive. They are probably the most expensive in the world and these whiners don't want to spend the money so they make excuses why they don't have one. Eventually they begin to believe their own lies. If I'm so wrong like these few naysayers claim, someone better call NASA, Playboy, and most of the top fashion and wedding photographers worldwide and tell them stop using the "unreliable" Hassleblad, and tell them they only need to be using 35 mm.

Interview 3 to 5 Wedding Photography Studios During Off Hours

Make appointments to interview wedding photographers as soon as possible after you choose your date. It's best to meet them on a week day, or Saturday if you work during the week. You better show up if you book the interview. Get there as soon as they open, before the crowds, as Saturday is the busy day for them. After work on weekday evenings is also a good time to go. Every studio will show you their best 2 or 3 albums on display. But ask to see more albums from the back room, current work in their darkroom from last week's wedding, or recently finished albums ready to pick up. Study the albums carefully to see if you like the quality. Look at pictures taken in low light surroundings like a dark church. The exposure should be clear, colorful, and free of graininess, which indicates underexposure, and free of dust. Look for detail in the bride's dress. You want to see detailed lace, not white wash from an overexposed flash shot. Talk to the photographer about their philosophy of shooting weddings, and lighting. Ask them how they deal with wedding guests trying to take pictures while they are posing the wedding party. Ask them how they handle the Murphy's Law situations when the arise. Have them describe the worst wedding nightmares they have had and how they got through the situations.

Common wedding forum debate: Why won't the studio give me my wedding negatives?

This was a problem when people were still using film. I don't recommend asking for your negatives. True, I am trying to save you money, but do you REALLY want to risk ruining your wedding negatives? These are not picnic photos. Some fools won't take the negatives to a PRO lab, and it gets ruined by Fred & Barney's 60 minute photo. Some people think studios act like we are all dumb and would ruin the negatives. It's true! You give John Q public too much credit. Step ladders are required to ship with seven warning labels because John Q. Public can't use a step ladder properly. To be safe, don't take all your negatives to the lab at once. I've had labs scratch my negatives before. Best to scratch only a couple of negatives rather than feeding your entire wedding negatives through a bad machine that gauges a streak across every one of your photos. Besides, where are you going to get 120 sized film printed if you got Hasselblad negatives? Only pro labs do that, and they are few and far between. You could drive all over town and not find a lab capable of printing your 120 size negatives. The studio knows how to handle film properly and can print it themselves more cost effective than you can. Look at it from their view: The studio just shot your wedding. They have to dodge you on the road going into work and you want them to trust you with your negatives? Next, you're getting prints from scratched negatives, and everyone blames the studio. They have their reputation to maintain. If they are not using film, this is a moot point.

Studios make a profit from shooting your wedding. But the real profit for them materializes when you order reprints, parent albums, and photos for your family. By asking them to give up the negatives, you are asking them to give up their livelihood, which is a lot for a studio struggling to stay afloat. They have a lot of overhead to pay, such as rent, salaries, taxes, repairs, equipment costs, and utilities. This is why many studios will not give out the negatives, and rightly so. However, some studios might sell you your negatives in 2 years, before they purge them from their files. The studio we used does that. I suggest that you just let the studio print all your photos the professional way, it's a lot easier, there's fewer headaches, and you'll get better results.

Freelance wedding Photographers

Some freelance photographers who do not have the overhead of a studio may shoot your wedding and then turn over the negatives, as part of the contract. Some freelancers only operate this way, preferring a $600 job for a few hours work and not having to drive all over town afterwards to have your film processed. They prefer to just shoot, and turn over the DVD, a CD or USB drive to you. But they can only afford to do this because they don't have the overhead of a studio. You may want to have them print initial photos for your album to be safe. Then ask for your negatives or digital image files afterwards, so you can make all the prints you want for family and friends. But I still urge you to take the negatives to a lab that prints for professional studios, on professional paper. Do NOT try to cut corners there. Pro labs cost more than Costco or WalMart, and they don't cut corners! If studios do their own printing, they eliminate the pro lab cost and reprints are then profitable for them. Try to negotiate the price of reprints with them. I doubt studios will lower their price, but it never hurts to ask. Your wedding photographer can also recommend a limo service for you to use on your special day. They know who arrives on time and who does not. Interview 3-5 photographers during your quest. You'll see differences in personality, and let them ask you questions. You want a photographer who shows an interest in your needs.

Ask What Camera Equipment, Film, Lighting, etc. The Wedding Photography Studio Uses

Ask what camera they will use. If they are using medium format cameras, but not Hasselblad, this can deduct a few points for the studio. They charge you a lot of money so they better be using the best. The Rollei 6000 series with the same Carl Zeiss lenses that Hasselblad uses is also a good camera. The Mamiya RB series is a great camera too (I own 2 old Mamiya C30's from the 1950's). The Hasselblad medium format 2 1/4" x 2 1/4" frame camera was the only film camera I wanted used at our wedding as they are the best and the Carl Zeiss optics are the finest on earth. That's why they're used in planetariums, binoculars, and microscopes. They should be used at your wedding too. The Mamiya does come close. Truly great photographers who want that extra tweak of quality to set them apart from the rest use Hasselblad. Someone with that kind of respect for quality can't be too bad. If I'm down to my last 2 studios to choose from, and they both seem excellent and I can't decide who to go with, the Hassey has it. I even recruited the talented pastry chef at The Boca Raton Resort to create the most incredible groom's cake for me, with an edible Hasselblad replica on top! My cake was a hit at the wedding, looking so real, many people thought someone left a camera on my cake. Go to our "Wedding Cake Photo Page", which has lots of awesome wedding cake pics. A must if you're looking for cake ideas!

I took this photo of my groom's cake. You know I'm going to take photos with my Hasselblad at my own wedding and not charge myself!

Ask the studio if they will be using secondary flash units or umbrella lighting at the church. The bridal party portraits will come out much better if they use them. The extra light provided by the umbrella evenly lights up the larger area taken up by a big bridal party.

If they use film, ask them what film they will be using. Make sure they use a professional film. Kodak, Fuji, and other film makers produce consumer films that you buy in stores, but you want your photographer to use professional grade films. Take a look at these photos that I shot at my sister Tracy's Wedding using Kodak's Professional Porta Film. The color and clarity was breathtaking, and the film is designed for flesh tones. I myself liked Kodak's Pro and their Porta color 160 speed film was the best I've ever used. I even used the 35 mm version for my old Nikon. Of course I'm using all digital cameras now.

Let your wedding guests take wedding pictures for free

Your guests know what to do with their cameras. I myself prefer the Sony Cybershot with the internal Carl Zeiss lens, a great camera that fits in your pocket. I prefer these over any cell phone camera, even better than my Motorola Droid X. Remember to have all your gusts take photos at your wedding too. Your guests know what to do. Your photographer cannot be everywhere and your guests won't let good times go by undocumented. I was impressed by the imagination of our non-pro wedding guests. We got some one of a kind greats. It's amusing to see the action that you missed at your wedding. When shooting with their cell phones and digital cameras, make sure the subject is 6' to 12' away. Any further and the picture positively will not come out. The photo will be too dark, because the tiny flash on smart phones and digital cameras is not enough to fully light up a scene.

Choose A Studio Who Uses An Assistant And Does Their Own Printing
It is a BIG plus for a studio if the photographer uses an assistant for your wedding. Few studios do, but some studios employing family do. The assistant performs many tasks like changing memory cards or film backs, batteries, and shooting candid photos, freeing the photographer to focus on the important money shots from your wedding reception. It may cost more, but it's value added.

Try to negotiate the cost of your wedding package

Just because the studio shows you a written price list does not mean you have to pay the "rack rate". Ask them if they will give you a better price without taking out any items. One thing is for sure, if you don't as for a lower price, you won't get it. In other words, you want them to come down in price, not just remove some items to bring the price down. You might be surprised that the studio may drop the price. Of course top notch and highly rated local studios who are booked a year in advance can demand top dollar and are not desperate for your business. They can afford to hold out for full price because if you don't take that Saturday slot, someone else will. Ask if they will charge you a lower price on an off day, like Friday or Sunday. Lastly, if they don't budge, work with the studio on a custom package. Look at their entire wedding brochure package lineup and jettison the items you don't need. Maybe you don't need 7 or 8 hours of coverage. Maybe you don't need 60 8x10's, or a location photo session, or a pre-bridal studio sitting. Maybe if you promise to buy a certain number of 8x10's and 5x7's where they make good profit, maybe they will cut you a break. Maybe they will give you a volume discount on a large number of the same shot.

Wedding studios who do their own printing may be better

Ask if they develop and print their own pictures using high end printing equipment on professional paper, or if they farm it out to out of state labs. If it's out of state, this can be a minus for them. I'm not saying reject the studio, many studios send out for and receive good work. In the old days with film, it was less likely to be lost or damaged if processed locally. With digital pictures, they just upload them to any lab in the country without having to worry about lost images. The pictures will also be ready much quicker. In some areas, it may be hard for the studio to process themselves or environmental laws prevent them from doing so. Just look in the wedding forums and see how many people waited months to get pictures or even had them lost because they were sent out! Some studios have no choice if they can't find a local lab to meet their quality standards. The studio we used does all their own printing so we went on our honeymoon and our album of 420 proofs was waiting for us when we came back 1 week later! Most people wait typically a month or more. Look for a studio that does their own printing, right up to 16 x 20, so the film or digital printing process is under their control. Your prints are ready quicker than mail order, where there is always risk to your negatives, or just waiting for UPS to deliver photos over a week after shipping. Verify they print on professional paper, not consumer photo paper like you get at local 60 minute labs, or Costco, Wal-Mart, Walgreens and Target photo centers.

Read The Next Topic:
How To Choose A Videographer