Tip! They would review your music requests and make sure they have all your key songs. Many DJs will prepare a working CD with all your selected songs on it to even further make sure there are no issues on the day of your wedding.

1. Myth: Digital photos are pixilated or fuzzy. Reality: most people that say that have never seen a photo produced by a professional grade digital camera. The quality of modern digital cameras is equal of greater than film cameras.

Tip! It is YOUR wedding. It reflects YOU.

2. Myth: Digital photos don’t last they will fade in a couple of years. Reality: Only the photo capture part is digital. The printing is done using traditional photo paper on the same paper and chemistry used to print film photos. So, both will last the same.

3. Myth: Digital colors are muddy. Reality: Only if they are produced with cheap, low quality cameras and/or the photographer doesn’t know how to adjust them and process them for printing

4. Myth: Digital photos are dangerous; the photographer can lose your photos.

Reality: Nowadays most photos are stored using Flash Cards that is one of the most reliable forms of digital storage. After the wedding the photos are downloaded to the computer and additional backups are created on CD or DVD allowing several copies of the same event to reside on different locations. In the case that photos are accidentally deleted they can be recovered using software. With film there is only one copy. It is not uncommon for the photo labs to lose the film, damage it in the printing machine, process it in the wrong chemistry, scratch it, etc. Film also can be damaged in camera, be fogged, damaged by X-rays at the airport, suffer color changes due to heat or age etc.

Tip! You have more options when choosing a landscape. You many only have a few churches or community centers to choose from in your area; when you decide on a traditional indoor wedding but an outdoor wedding has an almost unlimited amount of venues to choose from.

5. Myth: Digital photos lack detail. Reality: Only if they are produced with cheap, low quality cameras. It is not unusual for us to produce 30×40 inch prints from our professional grade cameras with stunning detail.

6. Myth: Digital is cheaper because there is no film. Reality: Professional grade digital cameras and lens are very expensive. In addition the professional photographer has to invest on computer equipment and software to process the photos.

7. Myth: I got a digital camera that takes great photos now I can start a career as a wedding photographer. Reality: Wedding photography requires that you have artistic talent and that you learn photography including composition, lighting, etc. A wedding is an uncontrolled event that requires technical and artistic skill. It is not the place to learn photography.

8. Myth: I don’t have to take care when I take photos anymore I can fix it later in Photoshop or other photo-editing program. Reality: Garbage in and garbage out. There is no fix for badly composed photos, out of focus, bad lighting, etc.

Tip! You can feel more relaxed on your wedding day, because natural surroundings often brings an air of casual elegance. Bring a feel of comfort to friends and family in an open and free environment that surrounds an outdoor wedding and you.

9. Myth: Digital photography is easy now I don’t need a professional wedding photographer. Reality: If you trust your wedding memories to somebody who doesn’t have the professional skills you are likely to be sorry or disappointed.

10. Myth: I am afraid that the photographer will do weird effects. Reality: the purpose of the editing software is to enhance the quality of the photos. It is not a license to create weird stuff. Talk to your photographer about your expectations.

11. Myth: Digital will never be better than or equal to film. Reality: Digital cameras are equal or better than film in terms of resolution color fidelity etc. and far superior in low light situations. The “film look” can be easily emulated using digital imaging processing techniques.

Tip! Buy a pretty notebook, or even a nice blank book. If you have everything wedding-related written down in the same place, it’s hard to lose bits or forget details.

12. Myth: I got a bigger fancier camera with more megapixels than your so my photos will be better than yours. Reality: Unless you have the technical and artistic skill the camera that you use will have minimal impact on the quality of the photos that you produce. A great camera in the right hands will produce great results. Some of the greatest photos in history were produced using mechanical cameras.

Juan Carlos Torres is a very respected and awarded wedding photographer in Oregon. He has a Masters Degree in Remote Sensing with a strong background in digital image processing and photography. He is a member of the several professional photographer organizations including the Professional Photographers of America, the Professional Photographers of Oregon, the Wedding Photojournalist Association, and the Oregon Wedding Photo Guild. His wedding photographs are unique and very artistic and have been featured in national and international magazines. For a sample of his works please visit portland oregon wedding photographer and eugene oregon wedding photographer For a discussion on wedding photography see our Blog at oregon wedding photographer

Have a good relationship with your photographer: You will get back from your wedding photography experience what you put into it. If you click and really get along with your photographer your formal images will be better.

If you plan on taking some pictures at a wedding, there are a few shots That seem to end up in every album. If you capture all of these events, you will be known as a great photographer.

Number one is the cutting of the cake picture. The usual sequence starts with a close up of the cake followed by both bride and groom looking down and cutting then looking up (this is the best shot). It ends with a ritual feeding each other and hopefully not a smash job. One full length shot is enough. The rest should be cut at the knees for a medium crop. The feeding can be closer.

Tip! Add your personal touches. For example; if you have children you may consider making them an important part of your wedding.

Second is the first kiss after the ceremony. This event can come quickly so you’d better be positioned ahead of time with your finger on the button and the camera to your eye. You only get one chance. This picture is mostly symbolic so it doesn’t matter if you can’t see all of the faces.

Third most popular is the picture of the bride and groom getting in the limousine after the ceremony. Right after the throwing of the rice shot, you must race around to the street side of the car, open the door and be prepared to stop the bride from entering prematurely. You must get the bride and groom’s faces close to each other for a good shot. Take two to be sure.

Tip! They have your itinerary / wedding party names to review and make sure there are no issues and that transitions from one thing to a next have a natural flow to them.

Loved by brides, grooms and parents alike is the close up picture of the bride looking up into the groom’s eyes. Include the bouquet and show the rings in the shot. Make several variations: looking at the camera, touching heads, and looking out to the distance. Of course take some full length pictures, some with the flowers on the ground , the bride and groom hugging.

Fifth is the toast picture. It makes a great wallet and thank you card as well as ending up in every album. Because it is so popular, take one toasting each other and two looking at the camera. The same shot works well with the parents as well. If engraved, be sure the glasses are turned toward the camera.

Tip! Maintain a to-do list for the major wedding-related jobs. If you use Outlook, this is easy to put together and print out with their Taskpad, along with percentage completion.

Pictures in the house are kind of anticlimactic, but there is one shot that gets all the oohs and aahs. This one has the bride with her bouquet looking out of the living room window for the limousine to arrive. Usually no flash is needed, the light from the window supplying a perfect portrait quality. Her left hand can be parting the curtain and the right hand holds the bouquet. The lace always looks great.

Finally, the first dance picture showing happiness, togetherness and action at the same time. The ideal shot is full length taken as the bride and groom tilt toward the camera. The photographer is at a low angle and the bride and groom are cheek to cheek. Because the timing is so difficult, no one will mind if you take several tries for the perfect shot. Though these wedding shots are the most popular, the most important shots are the family picture and the portrait of the bride and groom.

Tip! Size Matters: Keep the guest list as small as possible. Editing the guest list will most likely cause the most headaches of the entire wedding process.

Kenneth C. Hoffman,

Retired portrait and wedding photographer. Comments anyone?

Of all the pictures taken at a wedding, the one most important is the portrait of the bride and groom. Some wedding couples depend on a relative or a friend to take a few good photos for their album and others reserve a professional photographer to do the honors. This article is for both the real and wanna-be photographers at the wedding.

A good time to photograph the bride and groom is after the ceremony and before the reception. Ideal is an open lawn away from any building. Other photogenic locations are at the edge of a treed area, under an arcade or at home in the backyard. Important is to choose an evenly lit background: one that does not contain light and dark areas. Place the couple in the shade at least thirty feet away from any background objects with their faces toward the main source of light.

Turn the bride thirty degrees away from the camera and fluff the train behind her so that only half of the train is visible from the camera position. Never pull the train around to the front of the bride since this is most unnatural and would never occur in real life. Pose the groom slightly facing the bride and have him offer his arm for her to pass her through. Make sure her ring is visible. The groom’s outside hand can be in his pocket or touching the bride’s hand. The bride should shift most of her weight to the foot furthest from the camera and the groom should have his weight evenly distributed on slightly spread feet. Never let his hand drop straight down at his side. The bride may hold her bouquet in her outside hand at a level below her waist with some daylight or background showing between her elbow and her waist. An alternate place for the bouquet is on the ground next to the groom’s feet. Turn their faces toward the camera but not fully straight on, but at a slight angle toward each other. Their expressions should show their happiness, but not laughing.

Angles other than the view straight on without changing their positions often present another good composition for a portrait. Consider also a view from behind the couple, requesting them to turn their heads directly toward each other, giving the photographer a profile of their faces. A variety of shots are possible with this pose. A medium shot (at the knees) with their faces closer together and an even closer pose with the cheeks almost touching make wonderful portraits. Try having them look into each other’s eyes with his arms around her. Natural light from the side is the most beautiful source as long as the reflector of some sort balances the light. Watch your cropping in the viewfinder carefully and leave some space over their heads. Pay attention to the position of the feet (no soles showing) and be sure only the sides of the bride’s hands are presented to the camera. The groom’s coat collar should fit snug to the neck.

A beautiful portrait of the bride and groom can be their most treasured reminder of the most important day in their lives. You can make it happen.

Comments Welcome.

Emotions pass away, while photos stay

All brides want to remember happily their wedding day. This is a special day, which you have prepared for months, and you spent a lot of money. Hair dresser, makeup, dresses, flowers, decorations… so many things. From all these, in two weeks from now you’ll have only memories, and in two months (or 20 years) from now, all you’ll have left will be your photos, to remind you of your special wedding day.

Here are 10 tips to help you get great wedding photos:

1. Don’t be cheap when you choose the photographer. You are spending a lot of money for the weddinng ceremony anyway. It would be a shame to be so cheap and ask your friends and relatives to take the photos. And photos you’ll have! Good photography requires a photographer. They know their trade well, they know how to put you in the best light, how to take the shots, how to arrange the frames to create a great effect. Besides, they have professional equipment, which is much better than the point and shoot cameras you may have at home. So, get yourself a real photographer for your wedding day!

2. Always ask to see the photographer’s portfolio. Serious photographers have albums with their creations, and they can show you photos from other weddings, so you make yourself an image about their style. Discuss with him your favorite photography style. Do you want that classical touch, gramdma-like, you you want rather something modern, with shiny, bright colors?

3. Give yourself enough time for the photosession. Many brides neglect this aspect when they plan their wedding day hourly schedule. Once you decide to spend a little fortune on your wedding photos, let the photographer do his job properly! Allocate at least one hour for the photosession between the church ceremony and the restaurant party.

4. When you hire the photographer, discuss in detail what you’re going to get for your money: how many photos, in what format (digital, at what resolution, prints, what size, what type of paper…), if the amount includes also photos retouching (such as red eyes effect ellimination).

5. Try to hire the photographer for the whole day. Anyway, discuss the timing, and ask him if he wishes to come earlier, for a private mini-photosession with you and your groom only. You will have the advantage of an impeccable look (as your makeup, your hairstyle, your dress and the flowers will be fresh and good looking)

6. Ask the photographer if he works alone, or with an asisstant. You may have the pleasant surprise to get two photographers for the price of one . Advantage: you’ll have photos of the same moments, taken from different angles.

7. Make sure your photographer has spare equipment. You don’t want to find yourslef in the situation that something happens with the camera, leaving you without photos. You may say you won’t pay the photographer. That is correct, but you won’t have any photos either.

8. Ask the photographer to make sure he takes photos of all the guests. You don’t want to have the surprise that the bride’s best friend does not show up in any photo, after she spent a fortune on her dress and makeup! Or even worse: the mother of the groom appears only in one photo, and she has been caught with her eyes closed! You can ask some of your friends to take some photos during the ceremony, just in case the photographer misses some guests.

9. If the photographer’s price is too high for you, ask him what he could possibly offer you for x amonut. For example, he could deliver you the photos only in electronic format, and you’ll be able to make prints later on, when you’ll be better with your finances.

10. If you don’t want classical photo prints, you can make yourself an online album, on a dedicated web domain (it’s about $8 a year for the name, plus $2-3 a month for thr hosting), and you can simply send the link to all your friends and relatives. Or you can open an account with Flickr or Photobucket, where to upload your photos.

Good luck with your wedding, and send us some pictures: we will publish them here