Diane Warner's Wedding Question & Answer (20 page)

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Authors: Diane Warner

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The groom tossing the bride's garter.
The bride and groom telling their parents goodbye before they leave the reception.
The guests as they shower the couple with confetti, birdseed, etc.
The bride and groom driving off in their getaway vehicle.
 
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How can we be sure we are hiring a reputable, honest photographer?
There are a couple ways: Ask for references, preferably from people you know and trust, or look for photographers who are members of the Professional Photographers of America. You can access the latter by searching their Web site,
www.ppa.com
, where you'll also find interesting articles and helpful advice, including an article titled, "Don't Take Chances With Your Wedding."
Can our ceremony be videotaped?
Because a video camera is relatively quiet, this is usually not a problem unless it is against the church's policy.
What are questions I should ask the videographer?
First of all, ask the videographer if you can preview several tapes of weddings he has done. Don't choose a videographer until you have seen the quality of his work. Also, get everything in writing, just as with the photographer, and ask these questions:
Will you be attending the rehearsal?
What kind of video camera do you have? Do you have more than one, as a backup?
How many fully-charged battery packs will you bring?
What quality of tape will you be using?
How many hours will you be in attendance during the ceremony and reception?
How many hours of taped video will you provide?
Do you conduct live interviews during the reception?
 
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How much do you charge for additional copies of the master tape?
Do you furnish references?
Do you furnish demo tapes we can view before making our decision?
Does the videotape include voice-overs, captions, music, and other special effects?
What are some of the ''special effects" that videographers offer?
There are many, but here are a few:
Split screens. Placing two different images on the screen at once.
Dissolving. One image dissolves into the next, and so on.
Digital slides. One image slides off one side of the screen and another slides on from the opposite side.
Skip-frame. This allows a series of frames to skip at regular intervals, giving a sort of strobe effect.
Audio dubbing and mixing. This allows you to replace the taped audio sound with something you've chosen, such as your favorite love song or a certain musical soundtrack.
Titling. A title generator adds titles and subtitles during the editing phase after the actual filming.
What is a "disposable camera"?
It's a camera that is used once and then thrown away. It has become a trend to leave one of these cameras on each
 
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table for guests to snap candid shots during the reception. At the end of the day all these little cameras are gathered up and given to the couple to have developed when they get back from their honeymoon. These photos usually capture the true spirit of the celebration by catching special looks, humorous incidents, and touching relationships missed by the professional photographer. I highly recommend these little cameras.
How can we be sure all these disposable cameras are left for us at the reception?
There have been some misunderstandings about these cameras from time to time; some guests thought they were favors or souvenirs and took them home. Others took them home inadvertently or to use up any unused shots before having the film developed. To avoid any of these problems, attach a tactful note to each camera that explains the rules. You'll want the guests to know that the
purpose
of the cameras is for the bride and groom to have candid, spontaneous shots taken at random by anyone who would like to try his hand at photography. Then, to be sure all the cameras are gathered up near the end of the reception, designate several teenaged helpers to walk around the room with baskets to collect the cameras,
whether all the shots have been taken or not
.
It's scary to think of using an amateur photographer because what do we do if the pictures don't turn out? Do you think it's worth the risk?
I definitely think it's worth it because, with a few tricks, there won't be a risk. Here are those tricks:
Be sure your amateur photographer uses a
quality
camera with a flash arm that is at least eight inches away from the lens (to prevent "red eye"
 
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photos). If your talented amateur only has a regular 35-millimeter camera, rent a good professional camera for him to use; it will only cost you about $ 75well worth it!
Ask all your other amateur friends to take photos as well, just for back-up. This includes the formals as well as the candids.
Have your ceremony and reception videotaped, which will give you added assurance because a videotape can be "freeze-framed" into still photos if necessary. This is an expensive procedure, but at least it is possible in case
all
of your amateur photographers muff their shotsbut they won't.
Finally, provide a supply of those disposable cameras described earlier in this chapter; encourage your guests to click away.
What is "red-eye"?
This is the spooky red glow in the eyes of those being photographed; it is caused by having the flash too close to the lens. This problem can be avoided by having a professional camera with the flash mounted at least eight inches away from the lens.
If we do deride to use an amateur photographer, do you have any tips for him so that the photos will look as professional as possible?
Yes. Here are a few suggestions for your talented friend:
When taking outdoor shots, don't force the people to look into the sun, which will cause them to squint. Also, keep the light exposure uniform so that everyone in the shot is either in the sun or in the shadow, not half and half.
 
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When posing the subjects for the shot, use some originality; don't line them up like a row of soldiers, for example, but cluster them in creative ways.
Be aware of peculiar backgrounds. You don't want a branch "growing" out of someone's ear.
Take a lot of candids and close-ups; capture the hugs and the tender moments.
Use twice as much film as you planned, doubling your chances of success.
Try to act as professional as possible by not becoming loud, stressed, or hysterical; at least pretend you are calm and under control.
Any other ways we can save on the photography?
You might hire a professional photographer for the formal wedding pictures only, then use an amateur for the candids. Another idea is to check out colleges or trade schools for advanced photography students who may be interested in taking the shots, then turning over the film to you for processing when you get back from your honeymoon. Other cost-cutting ideas are hiring the photographer for an hourly fee, not as part of a package deal, and cutting down on the number of candid shots required by creating your own albums from the disposable camera shots or guests' own candids.
What about having an amateur videographer?
The trick here is to have several people taping the wedding and reception; all you need to do is provide the videotapes. Following are some tips for a professional result:
 
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Think "slow" for every shot. Not only move the camera slowly as you tape, but zoom in and out as slowly as possible, and leave the camera running on each shot much longer than you think necessary. This will keep the viewers from becoming seasick as they watch the tape after the wedding; there is nothing worse than a tape that jumps from shot to shot.
Capture the tender moments: the looks, the hugs, the kisses, the tears. In fact, at the slightest hint of a tear, zoom in tight on the person's face and stay there until you're forced to move on.
Use this ratio: 10 percent wide shots and 90 percent closeup.
Tape as many live interviews as possible before and after the ceremony, as well as during the entire reception.
What does the term "soft focus" mean?
The photographer uses a special lens to create a filmy, romantic look to your photograph. You might want to have a few shots taken with this lens, but not too many or the novelty will wear off.
What are the average costs of a photographer and videographer?
The average cost of a wedding photographer is about $1,000, less in the Midwest and more in the metropolitan areas. The average cost of a wedding videographer is about $500, also less in the Midwest and more in the big cities.

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