Make the most of special occasions - tips for great photography

I was recently commissioned to take photographs at a Masquerade Ball in aid of a Charity, the St Kentigern Hospice in North East Wales. If you attend such an event think hard about the best photographs to take of those attending with you, and then offer your pictures to the organizers free of charge for promotional use.

At such an event the key shots to get are of course ball gowns and masks. If you ask permission, especially if there is no official photographer, to take pictures of the speakers and special guests you will get some shots to remember and much thanks from the charities promotional team. The secret here is to not be too 'in the face', if you have a reasonable zoom lens use it, but to keep the quality don't push it to extremes.

Charities are perhaps finding it necessary to work on tight budgets for promotion so a volunteer is always welcome and it is great practice for your portrait skills.

The Ball took place at Chester Racecourse.

'It's the wrong settings Gromit!' - tips for great photography

Leaving your camera on automatic settings is a very safe way to make sure you get a picture but it will almost never get you the shot that 'pops' from the page or screen.

Automatic settings are great if it is the recording of events that is important above all else. If you want art you will have to move away from that setting and experiment more. However, you do need to occasional check that the setting you have changed are still the correct ones for the light and situation. You also need to check that they have not been accidentally altered by a knock or bump. Some settings on professional cameras can be locked into place, but not all.

Before each photographic shoot I have to be pretty meticulous that the settings are how I want them for this particular subject, situation and light and not just how they were the last time I used the camera. Simply being careful and professional. Some settings I hardly ever change - I always shoot in 'raw' and at the highest resolution possible. ISO I set as low as light will allow assuming I am looking to capture as much detail as I can and I'm not looking for 'atmospheric effects'.

Shutter speeds and aperture settings can be changed all the time and shooting in manual means I have to keep an eye on the light meter readings from the camera to avoid under and over exposure. I often want the largest aperture I can get to reduce the depth of field, blurring background and foreground for effect. This can mean pushing the shutter speed up outside and using fill in flash. Indoors we are relying on powerful flash guns that reach every corner of the room!

Modern cameras also have beautiful preview screens on the back and histograms which are even more useful. However, I try to avoid looking at every shot and try to trust I have set up the camera correctly.

So, always check your setting before shooting and then check them again occasionally especially if there is a change in the light or if they may have been knocked for some reason.

10 questions and answers about wedding photographers - tips for great photography

What should you look for in your wedding photographer?

Don't usually blog this amount, or about professional photographers, but I wrote this for my website recently and thought it might help someone. If you know someone who is getting married please pass a link to this blog on to them. Also - it is Valentine's Day and a popular day for proposals, especially this leap year when apparently it is the girl's who can do the asking!!

10 questions to ask about your wedding photographer!

Here are some straight forward questions and possible answers to  think about when booking your wedding photographer.

Should you go with the first photographer you see?

As with all things purchased 'shop around' on the internet, in literature and at fayres. Talk to as many photographers as you have time for and draw up a short list. Do not make a decision in a rush.

What do you want from your photographer?

Have three criteria in mind when you meet your short listed photographers:

1.       a person you can get on with

2.       artistic style (see question 10!) and

3.       technical ability

You can evidence 2 and 3 by studying the pictures on their websites, in albums and in their studios. If you like their work then ask them how they describe their style and does that ring with what you are looking for. Whether they are someone you trust and have confidence in really requires you to meet them and leads onto the next question

Are they personable, friendly, enthusiastic and also professional?

Meet your photographer and make sure they are a listener, taking in your needs and hopes for your photographs. The best photographers get the best photographs because they take time to get to know you and then you might begin to relax and let your feelings and thoughts show through. So if they feel like the right person for the job they probably are!

Are they value for money?

You may have a style in mind but probably not an unlimited budget. Do not let your budget totally dictate who you eventually go for. Remember, these picture you hope will be with you for the rest of your lives! Look hard at their websites and think about whether there is a timelessness to the images. Always meet your photographer to look at the quality of their albums.

Could you let a friend take the pictures?

A professional photographer is not risk free but they have experience and expertise on their side. Letting an enthusiastic friend or relative take your wedding pictures may seem a nice idea but they will be under a lot of pressure to not let you down, and may not enjoy your wedding the way they might. Equally, they will not be in any of your pictures either! Professional should also be carrying professional indemnity and public liability insurance, so there is at least some redress even if the photographs do not succeed. Also they will be a member of a photographic association or society to which you can refer, and if necessary complain.

Should you meet your photographer before the wedding?

Absolutely! It would be best to have an engagement portrait done, and many photographers do this for free. Photographers know they will get better pictures for you if they know you a little and you are relaxed when they take a picture of you. Look for someone with a sense of humour whom your family and friends will warm too.

What about a recommendation?

If someone else was happy with their photographer then include them on your shortlist, but do the research. Your tastes may be different to other peoples. A photographer probably has many testimonials on their website and it would be good to follow up on one or two of these with a phone call. The photographer should have people who would be willing to reference them.

How do you decide which package to go with?

Have a list of things that you want photographed and make sure these are included in whatever 'package' the photographer is offering. Pricing is not always transparent so ask lots of questions about inclusions and exclusions.

A CD or album?

You can of course have both! If you go for a CD make sure you know what resolution the files are. If you just want them for a computer then 72 dpi (dots per inch) is fine. If you want to print them then go for at least 300 dpi or you will get very poor quality enlargements. I would strongly suggest you always go back to your photographer for albums and prints. A professional will guarantee the quality of printing and their reputation depends upon a satisfied customer who is going to recommend them to others. High street printers are not taking personal care of your images a professional does and have a limited personal investment in your pictures. Albums can be of many sizes and they can be digital storybooks or matted or surface mounted. It is all a matter of preference and cost.  The greater choice the photographer is able to give you the better for you and possibly your pocket.

What style, reportage or classic?

Many photographers will have a preference for style and some are more adaptable than others. Often it is a mixture of photojounalism, reportage and relaxed group shots that people want. If you want to know what the difference is please contact me and I will discuss them and help you decide which fits your particular needs and hopes for recording your wedding in beautiful images.

Best wishes in getting the right photographer for you! 

Richard

Eyes are windows to the soul - tips for great photography

When taking a portrait make sure the eyes are sharp and clear. It is an old saying, difficult to attribute, that 'the eyes are the window to the soul'. Meaning that many of our thoughts and feelings are expressed through our expression and that the eyes in particular reveal much about our inner selves.

Whether we read these expressions correctly or not is another matter, but a photographer needs to be sensitive to the importance and beauty of eyes.

These are not close ups of peoples eyes, but close crops, but it makes me feel that getting close to such an important part of a persons face and capturing them clearly is a very important element of good portraiture. Making eye contact with the lens is not always easy for a person, so the more relaxed they are, and the more they see the camera lens as an extension of you, the more likely you are of capturing a glimpse of the persons soul.

Next week - A Valentine's blog!