Should I take my photographer’s personality seriously?
Yes! Oh my God yes! You have to feel comfortable with your photographer’s personality. You should be able to ‘click’ with his or her personality as if you were best friends.
Why is my photographer's personality so important?>
The photographer is the storyteller of your special event and is also the person that you will interact with before, during and after the event, so when you work with a friend, it is much more perfect and enjoyable!
Why is my photographer’s training and experience important to my event?
It is important to know what university or universities your photographer attended as well as what degree(s) were earned. Your photographer needs to be a professional not just some one who takes pictures for a hobby or extra money. Training and experience are very important, you don’t want to be your photographer's experiment, or his/her first or second assignment.
When I view my photographer's portfolio should I be swept away?
Yes with out a doubt! Your photographer’s portfolio should be breath taking. However, you should ask the photographer questions about what you just saw. Were the subjects in the photographs models? How many hours did the photographer dedicate to processing the photograph? Did he/she use a professional make-up artist? How many photos did he/she shoot to produce one? Does he/she retouch the negatives? Does he/she retouch the print? And last but NOT least, is your photographer going to put the same time and effort into your photographs? Unfortunately, some photographer’s put in a great deal of effort for their portfolios, but not for the everyday client.
Should I be afraid of a photographer's prices based on their location or studio name?
No, For example, the name of our studio is River Oaks Studios, just because the studio is located in River Oaks does not mean that you cannot afford the photographer! Ask the photographer what packages he/she has available and what the cost of each package is. Questions like these and more are heard every day. Educate and familiarize yourself, compare prices so you can be a well-informed and knowledgeable client.
What pictures do I want to end up with after my event?
First you will need to set a budget. Ask yourself, “ What do I feel comfortable spending on a professional photographer?” Once you have set a budget you can determine how you want your event photographed. You have many choices so review them carefully. Would you like an engagement portrait as well as a bridal portrait? Will you want photographs before and during your event as well as photographs at your reception? There are many choices, so make sure you know what you want as a finished product.
What is an engagement portrait and why do I need one?
An engagement portrait is a great way to get to know your photographer in a more personal setting before your event. The primary purpose of this portrait is to announce your engagement to friends, family and the world. You may also find you’re engagement portrait can be use as a very thoughtful gift for those closest to you. You may also want to display your engagement portrait at your event. I have a great idea, River Oaks Studios can matte and frame your engagement portrait so that your guests can sign it with special messages, as well as their congratulations.
Why would I want photographs before my event?
Oh! where do I began? There are so many special moments that you want captured the day of your event. Just imagine the bride kissing her father and mother before going to the church. Or the special moment when your mother pins a beautiful rose on the groom’s tuxedo. You do not want to miss any of these special or unexpected moments, so make sure that your photographer is present from the very beginning of your special day.
I am really confused about film format vs. picture quality, can you help me understand what all this means?
Consider the following:
• 35mm negatives are at the lower end of the professional spectrum.
• Digital images are Hi-range when it comes to overall quality but great versatility.
• Medium format negatives are the best quality but with low versatility.
The size of the negative/digital file your photographer uses for your event will determine the quality of your final print. The 35mm film format needs to be enlarged 4 times it’s size to make a 4x6 print and over 6 times its size to make an 8x10. Although film quality continues to increase once you enlarge something so small to such a large size it begins to loose quality. Think about enlarging a small document on a copy machine, it never looks as good as it did at it’s original size. When your photographer uses medium format negatives you will get the best quality because the negative is more than 3 _ times the size of 35mm negative. Therefore, when your photographer makes an 8x10 from medium format negatives he/she is only enlarging the negative a little over 4 times instead of well over 6 times. With the new advances in digital photography professional photographers are able to deliver beautiful prints on a more versatile way. Just a personal note, there is a film format used by some professional photographer's that is referred to as 645. Although this format is considered medium format I believe it is nothing but a glorified 35mm because it is only a little larger than the 35mm negative. So please make sure you ask your photographer's what size negative/digital file he will use to capture your special event. Remember to be a well-informed, knowledgeable client.
Can you tell me more about my photographer using a digital camera at my event?
Digital cameras are incredible. A digital camera captures your images in a digital format that depending on camera brand and resolution will yield up to a 6-megabyte file. One of the best advantages to using a digital camera is the versatility, you can view an image in color or black and white or sepia tone (before you had to use several camaras as well as photographers However your photographer will have to have a lot of hardware (computers, card readers, etc) as well as costly software, such as Adobe Photoshop etc, which will enable him/her to add extra quality to your finished print. Your photographer will use his/her experience to manipulate your images into beautiful works for art with skillful digital retouching.
Do I have to worry about a photo lab?
You do not have to worry about the processing of your prints, your photographer will use a lab that he or she has done business for many years and trusts their quality. You should always ask your photographer what size prints will be given as a finished product 3 _ x 5, 4 x 5, or 5 x 5. Do not forget to ask your photographer about the quality of your prints. For your very special event you want to choose the best quality prints that fit both your budget and needs. Machine prints are lower quality, but they offer a good print for your budget conscience bride and groom. Commercial prints are little more expensive but they offer good quality. Custom prints are the best that money can buy and will give you the best possible quality based on your photographer's equipment and experience. So never, ever be afraid to ask your photographer what size and quality prints he will include in your album as well as what type of photo lab he will use.
Why should I use a professional photographer?
Believe it or not we have heard several complaints from people who say, “ My photographer just disappeared with every thing including our negatives.” When we asked several clients how they met their photographer they say that they met him/her at a cafÈ, his/her office, in his car (he/she was a new photographer in town), he/she came to my office. We recommend that you only deal with established photographers with self-owned studios or partners with other photographers. It may be a little more expensive but your will have the piece of mind that your photographer will not disappear with your money and/or your negatives.
Additional information
No matter what your question River Oaks Studios has an answer to your question and valuable advise that you can count on. If we may be of further assistance or you would just like to get to know us better please do not hesitate to contact us for an appointment at your convenience.
