by Cindy Anstine

Created on: June 24, 2008   Last Updated: July 02, 2008

Behind the Scene with a Wedding Photographer

"Every picture tells a story," Rod Stewart sang from his 1971 gold album. For the past 17 years it has been my job as a professional wedding photographer to tell a story with photos. It sounds artistic, magic, and romantic but it can quickly become chaotic if you aren't prepared way before the wedding day.

The bride will usually be the one to find you. The three most common ways are:

1. Google Wedding Photographer and (the location of the wedding). This will conviently take her right to your website where she and her beau can see your photos, read a little bit about you and find your contact information. I don't put prices on my website because I like to hear the details of the wedding first before giving a price. Blu Domain is popular with wedding photographers. For $200 you can have a very professional, modern website. You build it yourself and have complete control over the photos, content, and music. They will host it also.
2. A local publication
3. Word of mouth (a friend used you or she saw you at work when she was a wedding guest)

Consultation time! I have an office space that has comfortable chairs positioned around the computer screen so my clients can view a continuous slide show of various weddings I have shot while we are talking. I put on very calming music and I always offer water with lemon or lime. I want them to be relaxed and focused. Our time together is usually one hour. First, I ask them what they have in mind just to get a feel for the type of wedding I am dealing with. Is it a church, country club, beach, or back yard wedding? Will there be 300 guests or 15 guests? Will the bridal party total 21 attendants or will it be just the two of them? How far away is it? Where is the reception? How many family members will be present? After this question I start taking notes on the back of the contract. Will you want a photo of your parents (who are now divorced and have their current spouse present) together or separate, with you and your new husband? This is when I tell the couple that I will need a list from them of all the people they want in the family shots. I give them an example of the easiest way to do this. Bride and Groom with bride's parents. Bride and Groom with bride's parents and brother. Bride with parents, brother, and grandmother. It saves time to add people to the photo as you go, then check it off. This list came in handy at a 2003 wedding when the bride wanted her photo taken with her Mom & Dad, Dad and ex-wife, ex-wife & girlfriend, and Dad & current wife. I couldn't resist making a joke that this would be a great opportunity for her Dad to get a photo with all three of his wives. Luckily she found it amusing as well.
Having a time line of how the day is going to unfold is a must. This will save you!

My mental check list before the wedding goes something like this. Three cameras, memory cards, batteries, two flash units, extra flash cord, contract with directions, business cards, cell phone, water, lots of energy and a smile.

The big day. I love this part of my job! I get to go to a party, eat great food, and listen to good music. I make people feel comfortable and special. I always cry a few tears when the bride dances with her father and hugs him so tight. He closes his eyes to fight back the tears while he whispers in her ear, "Always remember, I loved you first." I feel honored to be the one recording these vignettes, these snapshots, these moments in time that will never again be.

"It's a nice day for a white wedding," Billy Idol screams from one of my old mix tapes as I sit by my office window cropping, lightening, enhancing, and re-touching.

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