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Wedding Photography + Videography: Your Top Questions Answered

Here's how to hire the right documentary pros.

Guess what: A funny thing happened on the way to the wedding—and that's exactly why you're hiring a photographer and videographer. Your photos and video are the record of the laughs, tears, hugs, and toasts that are bound to take place throughout your wedding day. Here's everything you need to know to book the right shooters.

"If you don't like your photographer or videographer, chances are your friends and family won't either, so find someone who will treat your whole crew well."

Do we need to hire a photographer and a videographer?

Photographers should always be on a must-hire list (and rightfully so), but videographers are sometimes considered less of a priority. While your photographer will immortalize much of your wedding day, think of the sounds that can't be captured in a photo, like your vows, the reception music, and the toasts. If your budget allows for both vendors, it's worth the investment.

How can we find good shooters?

Heed the age-old advice "stick to what you know," and start your search by asking friends and family for recommendations—a thumbs-up from someone you trust is the most reliable way to find your photographer or videographer. In lieu of a personal reference, check the Knottie boards for reviews from your area. After you've compiled a list of vendors with potential, browse their online portfolios. The sample photos or clips will obviously be the best of their best—it might be tough to judge the breadth of their skill from these highlights, but you can at least get a good sense of their style. Also check for the photographer's blog—these are a great way to gauge a photographer's talent, and the way they approach their art.

Do our photographer and videographer have to get along?

While they don't have to be best friends, it's a plus if you can find shooters who have worked together before. A bigger concern would be if they've worked together with disastrous results—you don't want to have vendors at odds with each other when they need to cooperate to get the same shots. One way to guarantee a good tandem is to hire a studio that does both photo and video, or simply ask your photographer if he can recommend a videographer.

What should I ask when I interview a photographer or videographer?

After you've narrowed down the list to three or four candidates, set up interviews. In terms of their work, ask to see an album of a complete wedding so that you can gauge their range—if there's a strong mix of formal portraits, candid shots, details, and scenic pictures, chances are your album will be similarly complete. When you interview videographers, ask to see 20 or 30 minutes of a video rather than a five-minute highlight reel. When you're watching, pay close attention to the quality of the video and the audio, as well as how smoothly the transitions are edited.

What about their personality? Does it really matter?

Just as important as their skill is how well you get along with the photographer or videographer. You should feel comfortable with the person you choose to shoot your wedding—in fact, these vendors often like to get to know their clients on a personal level. Considering they will spend numerous hours with you on your wedding day (and you'll be in close proximity a lot of the time), you don't want someone following you around who makes you want to run the other way. And remember: If you don't like your photographer or videographer, chances are your friends and family won't either, so find someone who will treat your whole crew well.

Should we be scared if he uses a ton of special effects?

Your photographer might use effects to correct colors or highlight details, but some effects can make a photo feel dated years from now. If you look through a portfolio and you're turned off by the type of effects that are used, ask whether they can be toned down in your album.

Knot Note: It normally takes around six to eight weeks to get proofs of your photos. If a photographer says he can deliver an album suspiciously fast (like within two or three days), you should be wary about the amount of time he'll spend editing the finished product.

What's better: film or digital?

Although some purists may never stray from film, digital photography has more or less caught up in terms of image quality. Those with a trained eye may be able to spot a print taken with a digital camera from one shot with film (some say film captures more true-to-life colors), but the differences are not dramatic. One plus for digital is that it's easier to make copies of your photos, and you can quickly archive all your digital prints on a disc. Bottom line: You wouldn't tell a carpenter what tools to use when he's building a house, as long as the job is done well. The same applies here.

We're worried that our shooters will bring too much equipment. Is this a common problem?

First off, forget every cliché you've heard about videographers hauling around tons of clunky equipment—new advances in technology over the last few years have made wedding video-graphy less obtrusive than ever. Small cameras that shoot great in low light and tiny wireless microphones mean videographers can take a fly-on-the-wall approach. In fact, more couples are hiring videographers to accompany them to their destination wedding because of the smaller size of their equipment. You can expect both your photographer and your videographer to use some extra lighting, especially if your ceremony space is dim or your reception takes place at night.

Should we make a must-shoot list?

Don't worry about reminding your photo and video pros to shoot the classic scenes—they'll definitely capture the cake-cutting and your first dance. What you should give a heads up about, however, is key people to shoot (Grandma, the ring bearer) and any tradition or unique detail that you're going to include in your wedding.

Are there any new wedding photo and video trends?

There's definitely a sweeping change in the art of wedding photography. "Trash the dress" photo sessions (where you wear your gown one last time after the wedding without worrying about keeping it clean for a cool set of pictures, like in a swimming pool), and boudoir photography (steamy photographs in which you wear a little less than your gown) are all the rage. Going digital has also helped some photographers push the envelope, since they can try out a unique angle or lens and know right away how it came out.

For wedding videography, the most notable advance is that an increasing number of videographers are upgrading their equipment to be able to shoot in high-definition. Even if you don't have a Blu-ray player yet, your wedding video can be archived in HD so that you'll be able to view it in high-def when you invest in the new technology. You could also consider adding a few vintage-style scenes to your wedding video. With a Super 8 effect added in post-production (which has a grainy film feel to it), you can enhance a few classic shots with a look that never grows old.

"Growing Pains" My Future Husband

When I was 5 my grandmother, mother and I went to Epcot. A trip I hardly remember other then a string of photographs that take me back to a particular memory. But anytime someone says "Michael Jackson" I cower in fear and remember with vivid authority... THE Captain EO at Epcot. 

 "Captain EO" stared Michael Jackson and action on the screen extended into the audience, including asteroids, lasers, laser impacts, smoke effects, and starfields that filled the theater. These effects resulted in the seventeen-minute film running in Disney parks between 1986-1996. Perfectly  "age appropriate" for a 5 year old in the early 90's.  Nahhhtttt. 

Upon exiting the film, with my mother and grandmother. I was questioned about the experience and what I thought? I looked up at my grandmother and stated the following  6 words that I would later regret for the rest of my life. 

"I want to marry Michael Jackson" 

Now this is when Michael Jackson was still black, had a normal nose, and didn't have child molestation allegations stacked up against him. For a 5 year old. He seemed like a pretty good catch.

My determining he would be  suitable husband was based on the these key characteristics. (Handsome guy saves "the universe" wearing a white patent leather suit by singing and dancing. Not only does all "magical-ness" happen. Michael does all this while maintaining a perfectly slick jerry curl)

So my response was nothing short out of the ordinary given the time frame.  

Now what happened next might come as a shock to some readers. Brace yourself.

My "nonnie"  looked down at me without hesitation...lifted her hand and slapped me across the face...It was the slap that was literally heard throughout the world...the magical world of Epcot. 

"Don't talk like that" she scowled. 

My mother was "outraged" 

(Because what's disney in the early 90's without a child screaming and sobbing in the middle of epcot?)

My mother was livid... Not because I was sobbing from the child abuse. No....not because she slapped me in the middle of the happiest place on earth..Not because her fanny pack was on to tight cutting of circulation to her lower extremities...

Because my grandmother was admittedly a "racist." The entire vacation was left with my mother and grandmother fighting over the "race" of my future husband. 

This starting the great debacle between my mother and grandmother of "racism." From that point forward. My grandmother lived in fear that I would one day "marry a black man." and my mother lived in fear that I would live in a world where "racism" still existed. 

Now since Michael jackson lived a pretty quiet life in the mid 90's up until his death. You can imagine how many times this story was NOT brought up during key pivotal moments of my life... Wait no...just kidding. 

You see, every time Michael jackson was on the news, had a new hot single or married the creepy king of pops daughter. My grandmother would bring up his discretions and how she was doing my mother "a favor" thus...This would then spin of into a series of arguments, slammed doors and swear words and the ongoing dysfunctional of my family. And my sheer and utter remorse for ever having opened by stupid 5 year old mouth. 

Now 20 years later.  My mother is turning into her mother. Only instead of living with fear of me marrying a black man....She lives with daily fear that I won't get married.

To anyone....

At this point....I'm 28 and she's grandchild-less. She's desperate. She continues to tell me despite everything, despite her mother, that race doesn't bother her.

That I should just find "anyone" to marry me.

... "even if it is a woman" 

 

Disclaimer: we do not in anyway promote or condone child abuse. Don't call DSS. 

 

The Judge, Movies, Mothers & Mayhem

My mother and I haven't been to the movies in years. So when she wanted to see the judge I happily obliged. Any chance to see Robert Downey Jr right? 

So, when we finally make arrangements and coordinate schedules my mom was REALLY disappointed after it was no longer playing in our local theater. This having discovered after she was looking at the showtimes in the Newspaper....yes...the newspaper from the week before.  

So we decide to see Gone Girl instead. Not a problem. Fine, upon finding out seats during coming attractions. Two other woman make their way into the theater. The entire movie has literally 4 people, because everyone spends a gorgeous Saturday afternoon...in New England....inside a dark depressing movie). Now given murphy's law I'll let you take a crack and where these woman sit?  Next to us. Guess who "whispered" to me about the audacity of these woman the entire movie.  My mother...because sitting next to a stranger in the movies is much on the same wavelength as "urinal code" in my mothers mind. 

So when a few days later I found that the "judge" was playing in a nearby cinema. I thought it be the perfect opportunity...to totally redeem myself. 

Without further opportunity, let me tell you about the matinee for the "judge" 

After a recent shoot I decided I would meet my mother at the nearby cinema. It involved me traveling across the highway to the movie theater. Not realizing that this movie theater had recently gone through renovations I was "happily" informed that two tickets remained for seats. (Not next to each other) after debating with myself for a brief period I decided my mother would not enjoy sitting next to a stranger given our last movie "experience"

Thus leaving with me with the debacle of "how badly does my mother want to see this movie?"

While I pondered this dilemma the two middle aged women behind me in line....now at the second ticket counter... had no problem with the seating arrangements (Because they really wanted to see the movie) and purchased the last remaining two tickets. 

When my mother arrived she was very disappointed having "traveled" so far. Melrose to Woburn which is precisely give or take 15 minutes. My mother made her disappointment apparent by explaining to me not once... but three times, they she had my father print out direction to this movie theater. 

(She thought it be best) that we wait in line....again....Despite me telling her the movie was sold out. Because everyone knows if you wait in line a second time the "movie elf" feels bad for you and makes more seats reappear. 

Upon the "discovery" that the "movie elf" did not magically "construct more seats" she became more aggressive and suggested I return home for dinner with the family. Since she "defrosted meat" which would make seeing a later showing of the judge "impossible" 

Nevertheless, I thought dinner would soften the blow of our disappointment. 

I arrived in Melrose some 15 minutes later. (An appropriate travel time from Woburn-Melrose) I then waited 1.5 hour for my mother to return home. After having gotten lost "traveling" from Woburn cinema to Melrose despite having said "printed directions" 

Dinner was lovely....
But if you ask me the meat was overcooked. 
 

Wakefield, MA Senior Portraits | Katie

Welcome back! Today I want you to meet Katie. Smart, kind and lovely are the words that come to mind when I think about this young woman. Katie is a senior at Austin Preparatory. Who's currently applying to some wonderful colleges Including Princeton, Tufts & Georgetown. We had an amazing time shooting this beauty!  She reminds me so much of a young Jackie O'.  

Best of luck to Katie!. I know you'll do wonderful things in your future! 

-A