Plan every detail of your perfect wedding


Get beautiful photos of your wedding

These days, bridal shops really take theuncommon for couples to go through 7-hour
footwork out of your wedding photography.photo sessions. If you feel that you can take
Step into a bridal shop, and you’ll bethe marathon, fine. But would you still look
presented with irresistibly-priced weddinggood nearing the 7th hour mark? Checking
packages. For three thousand bucks you getahead with your photographer would better
this, you get that and you get theprepare you for the photo shoot. In turn,
photography thrown in - FREE. That's a lot ofthis will minimise any unpleasant surprises
bang for the bucks, you thought. And so youthat  might  arise  due  to  poor  planning.
sign  up  for  one  of  the  packages.
Another thing to consider before signing up
"Congratulations!" says the consultant, "Comewith any photographer is the location of the
in one month before your wedding andphoto session. These days, anything goes and
we’ll set you up for the photo shoot."here’s where you have to be careful. A
It  was  a  set  up  indeed.number of couples have taken to endanger
their lives by taking pictures on railway
The problem with some of these packagedtracks. We’re not talking about
photography is that they require you to havedisused railway tracks, but tracks that have
your wedding pictures taken before yourregular (and speeding) services running on
wedding day. Many of these photographersthem. So, make sure your photographer really
would prefer not to take your pictures onknow the train schedule to avoid any
your wedding day. For them, 'actual day'unpleasantness,  to  say  the  least.
pictures are best left to the amateurs.
Curious thinking, that. Ask around. CheckTHE PHOTOJOURNALISTIC APPROACH: A POPULAR
with your friends. Find out how many of themOPTION
REALLY liked their so-called studio wedding
photographs.A good and responsible photographer will
surely want to get to know the couple first
"That  wasn’t  me!"so that a relationship can be built between
couple and him. Usually, a planning
"Hey!  I  looked  ridiculous  in  that pose."conference would be held at the
photographer’s studio or at your home.
"No, no! This one is censored, youThis is essential as it helps the
can’t look at this, I looked uglyphotographer build rapport with you. You will
here."smile more naturally and readily before the
camera if the photographer is somebody who
Sound familiar? Well, what went wrong? Howalready knows you. That in turn contributes
your wedding photos will turn out eventuallyto  better  pictures.
depends a lot on you too. Just consider the
following:While not imposing any particular form of
photography, we find that about 60% of the
WAS  IT  TAKEN  ON  YOUR  WEDDING  DAY?couples prefer the photojournalistic concept.
The other 40% is shared equally between
One month, one week, or even one day beforecandid photography and contrived ones.
your wedding is still not your wedding day.(couples looking at the wedding rings, the
So would you feel the same as you would havesort)
felt on your wedding day? While it
wouldn’t be fair to generalise thatThe photojournalistic approach, is not to be
all photo sessions before the wedding wouldconfused with candid photography. Candid
turn out wrong, we’re really sayingpictures are usually taken without the
that it’s not the real thing. Contrarysubjects’ knowledge. At times, candid
to what some photographers might suggest toshots may turn out well, but most of the time
you (that you’ll be too tired to lookthey become rather inconsequential as they do
good if the photos were taken on the actualnot adequately capture the mood of the
day), actual-day photos will turn out well.occasion.
And we are talking about studio-quality
photography here, not those taken by yourThe photojournalistic concept, on the other
uncles. After all, it IS your big day andhand, captures the spirit of things. Posing
you’ll be naturally happy. And thisis fine, but is done as naturally as
happy disposition would naturally be capturedpossible. The advantages of choosing the
in  your  photographs.photojournalistic type are aplenty. Firstly,
you don’t have to pose awkwardly. Some
BEWARE  THE  SNARE  OF  "ARTFUL"  CONTRIVANCEposing, while done correctly (but contrived)
are best suited for models who gloss wedding
You can’t believe why on earth did youmagazines. They’re slick, but cold.
allow the photographer to "degrade" you thatThere’s no atmosphere of love there.
day. But you were certain you looked stupidSecondly, unlike candid shots which end up
in the picture. "Groom, hold up the phonebeing inconsequential most of the time, the
receiver and talk into it. Bride, look thehappiness that permeates the occasion is
other way…that’s right, okaycaptured in the photographs. It could be the
now, cup your right ear and pretend to hearaudience laughing in response to a good joke
him.  Perfect!"or the glances that the newly weds exchange
with each other. Or it could be a picture of
Who would want a picture like that? Youthe bride with her bridesmaids having a good
won’t believe the paces sometime while looking into the camera. A good
photographers put people through, but theyphotojournalist would be able to capture not
sure are silly. What your photographer feeljust the subjects but also their moods and
is art may not really be your cup of tea. So,feelings too. Don Nibbelink, a professional
do be careful. Learn to say no ifphotographer, rightly summarised what
you’re not comfortable with aphotojournalistic wedding photos are all
particular pose. We’ve seen too manyabout: "Offbeat but sensitive wedding
poor couples manipulated into poses bestphotography."
performed by contortionists. Don’t be
another  victim.So, if you’re getting married, discuss
with your photographer first on the kind of
ENDURING  THE  PERFECTIONIST  TORTUREphotography you like. Ask for his portfolio
and see whether you are comfortable with his
If you really have to take pre-weddingworks. As mentioned, a good photographer will
(studio) photography, check with yourtailor his works to your needs and not the
photographer how many shots and how any hoursother way round. Check with family and
of photography he’s putting youfriends, you’ll be surprised how much
through. Setting a time limit with yourthey know about wedding photography and how
photographer would be helpful for it is notto avoid the pitfalls of wedding photography.



1 A B C D E F 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145