I am a Fiancee, Mother, Granddaughter and Friend. A single mom of one and I too am actually saving for my own wedding. Anthony, is my team mate not only in life but also in business, Anthony is actually a DJ ~ and in the past has been a second shooter for videography for me as well! It is adorable watching him learning how to use a camera the professional way and edit like us pros. and just to clarify, NO MAM, HE DOES NOT USE AUTO in the camera settings, maybe just auto focus because no one ever uses manual unless its a low light scenario and you are under prepared with no professional lighting equipment!
#knowyourlighting #professional #teammate #lifepartner #goalgetter
Speaking of being underprepared, Lets Talk about your Photographer for a minute!
Before you pay 3k on a photographer, have you done your research for the credentials?
Are they apart of the Better Business Buero, are they established with a Business License? Who are they?
A GOOD WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER WILL HAVE MOST OF ALL OF THE BELOW
DONT BE AFRAID TO ASK QUESTIONS!
1. EDUCATION:
(NICKI RUTLEDGE PHOTOGRAPHY: Gwinnett Technical College : Commercial Photography)
Please make sure the photographer has some form of education is is properly trained to properly expose for various lighting situations. THIS IS HUGE! WHAT IF THEY MISSED THAT MOMENT! For example your Sparkler Exit or The removal of the Garter! Some lighting situations will not allow your camera to focus due to issues with your DJs lights because its not a constant light source your camera cannot find focus and BAM, They missed that shot by not having the proper lighting pre-set prior to the lights going out. Certain instances are only learned hands on,
2, EXPERIENCE
(NICKI RUTLEDGE PHOTOGRAPHY Experience : 10+ Weddings Shot Solo, 5+ Weddings shot as Second Shooter, 20+ Weddings working as A wedding Photographers Assistant, + Assistant Manager Experience at Studio for 1+ years)
( Able to Shoot both Natural Light or Professional Strobe Lighting)
Choose a photographer with experience, someone whom has not only photographed many weddings solo, but also as a second shooter and an assistant. Making sure they know how the day will run and what is expected from them photographically as well as making your day run as smooth as possible. Photographers are also like the day of coordinator, we make sure the events happen in the correct order and in a timely manner for the events to unfold as they should.
3. QUALITY
NICKI RUTLEDGE PHOTOGRAPHY IS PUBLISHED & FEATURED ARTIST
Remember Quality beats Quantity, Anyday & EVERYDAY. Its like comparing Ralph Lauren to Forever 21 either you can choose to enjoy photographs of the day for a day, or invest in them for a lifetime.
Goodluck getting that outcome with an amateur who shoots in JPG. LOL... no, seriously. please make sure they shoot raw if nothing else.PLEASE!
4. GEAR
MY GEAR: 2 Full Frame Cameras : Canon 6d mk II + 6D , 70-200 2.8 L, Sigma Art 35mm 1.4 L , 24-105mm L
Canon 630EXRT Flash, Alien Bee B800 Strobes, 2x Temp Adj. Constant Video Lighting, etc. etc. )
Professional Photographic Equipment- if the photographer is not shooting with a full frame camera, move on to the next prospect. The Quality from a crop sensor DSLR is not camparable to a FULL FRAME DSLR, there just is no comparison here. Especially if they are charging more than $1000. Walk away NOW. A professional will always use at least one full frame camera, and possibly at the minimum a crop sensor camera for a backup just in case. BUT I personally dont.
I am a Canon shooter & lover, affter switching from Nikon early on, I found Canon to be a sharper and more vivid image producer plus more affordable. Also ask about the lenses which they will use or even rent? A wedding photographer should have a variety of lenses to be able to fully depict the weddings story. That way they have the ability to attain those wide shots of the venue at the alter, the different perspectives and close up shots of the ring on the flowers which bring an album life and make a story.
5. Are they Professional & Are You Comfortable with them?
So I have to break it to you, as your photographer I am also your friend, that means I will be honest with you. I ultimately will be your saving grace at some point I am sure. I also will be the bad guy if I have to if some unfortunate event were to happen the day of the wedding, I will have the said party escorted off the propetry, yes this happened at one of my last weddings. BUT! It was blamed on me and not the bride or groom... which is for the best situation all around inevitably. Someone has to be because something is always gonna go wrong or get forgotten. I am your person that day, I plan to be that person from the moment we meet. I will and have been that person at every wedding, and in the end the day wouldnt have flowed and become what it did without me being that person. I LOVE BEING THAT PERSON FOR YOU!
THATS WHY A GOOD PHOTOGRAPHER IS WORTH IT!
PHOTOGRAPHERS ARE MORE THAN JUST THE PHOTOS,
WE ARE YOUR PERSON!