Interview: Wedding Photography and How to Select the Right Photographer

Chantale Pitts: I would like to welcome Shelly Schoonerwoerd, of Shelley Lee Photography, to our show today. Welcome, Shelley.

Shelley Schoonderwoerd: Thank you for having me.

Chantale: No problem. Our topic is wedding photography. Photographs are the most precious momento of your special day, so you want to ensure that you chose a photographer wisely. Shelley, can you offer some advice, to engaged couples, on what key factors they should look for in a wedding photographer?

Shelley: There are so many things to consider, when you’re choosing your photographer. Probably the first thing would be to review a photographer’s portfolio. That can be done by visiting their website or arranging a personal meeting. Make sure you review the complete wedding, so you get a good feel for the photographer’s work.

Second, you would want to get to know the personality of your photographer. You’re really looking for someone who is going to work with you to create beautiful memories of your special day. You want someone who makes you feel comfortable. You might even asked to speak to a previous client, to see what the photographer was like on their special day.

Last, since budgeting is a huge part of wedding planning, you want to make sure the photographer offers packages that are within your budget. Check out the different packages offered, and see if they are in line with your needs and, of course, your budget.

Chantale: Excellent suggestions. How far in advance should you book your photographer?

Shelley: Wedding photographers book up very fast. Once you have your wedding date set, the photographer should be the first thing you start looking to book. The earlier you book, the more choice you’re going to have when choosing who will capture the precious moments of your wedding day.

Chantale: OK. Good advice. On the wedding day, what amount of time should a couple devote to taking pictures?

Shelley: Because each wedding is unique, I offer packages that range from three hours of photographic coverage, up to a full day of coverage. It’s important for a bride and groom to sit down with the photographer and go over the type of coverage they are looking for, as well as the time line of the wedding. This will help decide which package best suits.

Chantale: Good idea. There are many different styles of wedding photography available. Can you explain the difference between potrait style and the new photo-journalism?

Shelley: Sure. Portrait style photography is, what I would call, traditional-posed photography. This is where the photographer would carefully pose the subject, the bride and groom or the wedding party, and then capture the pose. Whereas photo-journalism is more of a candid approach. The photographer captures spontaneous moments throughout the day, and the result of that is a collection of memories that seem to tell a story of the day. I find that most couples are looking for a creative mix of the two approaches.

Chantale: So you still can mix the two together to make a nice momento for them?

Shelley: Absolutely.

Chantale: In your experience with Shelly Lee Photography, what can make a bride look extra beautiful, in pictures, on her wedding day?

Shelley: What I really like to do is try to take pictures outside, whenever possible. There’s something about the natural sunlight that gives the bride a glowing, glamorous look. Apart from that, I would probably say that, it’s really important for a bride to feel comfortable and relaxed. Just have fun with your pictures. To all you future brides out there, relax, be yourself, have fun, and your pictures will definitely show it.

Chantale: Good idea. What about group photos on a wedding day? They can be hard to organize. When and how do you suggest a larger group photos are done?

Shelley: Traditionally, couples don’t see each other until the ceremony. So I take the large group pictures immediately following the service. Once the group photos are complete, the wedding party can go start celebrating, which is what a lot of them are wanting to do. Then I’ll steal the bride and groom away for some private time, to take their pictures. That seems to work well for everyone involved.

Chantale: What about the wedding albums? Is there a special type of paper that the photographs should be printed on? Should they be placed in a particular type of album, so they last throughout the years?

Shelley: This is really important. The photos, themselves, should be printed on photographic paper, with archival ink. There are many types of paper out there. Most photographers use a professional lab to do their printing, so that shouldn’t be a concern. As for wedding albums, they have come a long way. Traditional wedding albums should contain acid-free paper, this will assist in preserving the pictures for year to come.

The latest trend is the photo book. This is a bound, hardcover book, that literally tells the story of your special day. These books can include hundreds of your favorite photos and can be customized to include poems, dates, vows, basically you name it. They are stunning, and they make a precious keepsake.

Chantale: They sound really nice. OK, million dollar question. When should a couple expect to pay the photographer? Before or after the wedding?

Shelley: At Shelly Lee Photography, this is definitely something that can be negotiated at the time of booking. However, most photographers require a deposit to reserve the wedding date. The deposit can range from a few hundred dollars, to a percentage of the package price, depending on the photographer. At the time of booking, usually a contract will be signed. The contract will confirm the date of the wedding, the package chosen, the terms of the agreement, and when the balance is due, which is usually on the day of the wedding.

Chantale: Well, thank you, Shelley. I think you’ve given everyone good guidelines that they can follow, when trying to select a photographer, and what to expect of the photographs on their special day. Best of luck in your wedding venues this year, with Shelly Lee Photography.

Shelley: Thank you so much.

Chantale: Thank you for joining us. Bye bye now.

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Source: This interview was conducted by MyDreamWedding.ca, The host for this interview about “Selecting the Wedding Photographer” was Chantale Pitts. Their guest was Shelley Schoonderwoerd of Shelley Lee Photography. A special thanks goes out to My Style Wedding 3D wedding planning software for sponsoring this wonderful event. MyDreamWedding.ca is Canada’s premier wedding blog specializing in Unity Candles and Wedding Gifts.