Well, it's been few days since the Free State Bridal Show and I'd just like to thank everyone who attended. I enjoyed hearing your comments about the photos on display and answering your questions. A few brides were very interested in the flush-mount (magazine-style) albums and noticed that I didn't have any samples. While this style of album has been available to any of the couples I photograph for quite some time, very few have actually committed to the extra cost of such an album. If you wish to order one of these albums, expect the cost to add at least $100 to the cost of your wedding package. More time and photos are involved with these albums. Hence, the addtional cost. Anyway, since most of my clients have chosen the traditional, library bound album, I just haven't seen a need to incure the expense of a sample flush-mount. Remember, whether the business is large or small, clients pay for everything: The latest software, hardware, advertising, samples, shiping, etc. So, not having a sample album for a seldom used style is actually helping to save you money.
David F. McKinney’s wedding photography has been called clean, crisp and classic. “I try to maintain that in every presentation, from lighting to composition,” the photographer says. Gimmicks, says McKinney, come and go, but classic wedding photography is lasting and timeless. “The last thing I want is for someone to pick up their wedding album in 20 years and say, ‘What were we thinking?’” As one of the official photographers for the University of Kansas, McKinney is experienced in taking photographs in all kinds of venues, thinking on his feet when the situation deems necessary. The photographer limits himself to photographing 15 to 20 weddings per year; that way, he doesn’t burn out and he’s able to forge a personal relationship with each couple so that he may fully attend to each of their unique wedding experiences. McKinney books clients from in and out-of-state. Rarely does he book clients who he has not yet met in person. During the initial consultations, which are always free, McKinney listen carefully to the future bride and groom in order to learn what their expectations are for their wedding photography. Although many samples of his work are online, McKinney shares his most recent work in person. If the happy couple does decide to book DFM Photography, the next step is usually an engagement sitting. Almost all engagement photos are taken on-location, in Lawrence, Topeka, or Kansas City. But more than just photography, the engagement sitting is a opportunity for McKinney to learn even more about his clients and for his clients to learn more about him. “It’s an opportunity for me to see something about the chemistry between them—it’s not about me, it’s about them.” For example, while some couples are prone to public displays of affection, others are more reserved, and either scenario is just fine with McKinney. Watching the couple interact not only gives him a notion of what he can expect from the couple at their wedding, but it gives him an idea of what kinds of photos they’ll be comfortable with him taking. After delivering the engagement prints, McKinney works closely with the couple to establishing a timeline for the wedding day. McKinney’s website, www.dfmphotography.com, is a key part of his business philosophy, and perhaps unusual in the amount of information that is offered there. “There’s nothing hidden,” he says. “I disclose a lot.” At his website, future brides and grooms can look through samples of McKinney’s photography, view his pricing and read his thoughts about personalized, romantic wedding photography. DFM Photography offers six wedding packages. The commonly chosen are the Silver, Gold and Platinum Packages. However, DFM Photography is more than willing to customize any package to fit a couple’s needs. Photography is more than a business. It is a personal, creative mission of service to the couple. David McKinney truly enjoys every wedding and every couple he photographs. “I put more into it and get more out of it than any other creative endeavor in my experience. It allows me to be more of who I am … it’s a gift I give myself and to the lucky couple.”
I typically shoot a blend of styles. The traditional formal shots are important for the long-term. The journalistic and candids have great short-term significance, as well as historical value. Unless clients request otherwise, I will always try to work in some setting for a photograph with a strong romantic character and content. In the end, it's the blend of styles that make the totality of work resonate with the true character of the Bride and Groom and the event itself.
I don't have a son or a daughter. But, I do have a niece and nephew. Would I photograph their weddings? You bet. What's more, I think my brother and sister-in-law would insist on it. Recently, I photographed my cousin's wedding. I had the whole clan checking me out. No mistakes allowed. It was blast. The results raised the bar on my efforts and the bar keeps getting higher. I think it's truthful to say that I thrive on shooting in new and different situations. That, to me, is part of what weddings and photography are all about.
I enjoy the opportunity to photograph couples and families during one of the most important days of their lives. Weddings have enormous emotional, spiritual, and social importance. There's always a handful of interwoven stories to discover and capture on film or digital CCD. Because I love what I do, I can have fun and do serious work at the same time. It's hard work, though. Often, people don't understand that. Most of the time spent on a wedding is not in the photography during the wedding day itself, but rather in logistical and administrative responsibilities that come afterward. Hours and hours of work is required to make sure orders are completed promptly, accurately, and with highest quality. When I have too, I sacrifice promptness for accuracy and quality. Sometimes people don't understand this. In the end, though, they love the work.
I have carried my photography equipment to some very extreme situations. Aerial photography, underwater, mountains, deserts, and rainforests. A good portion of my early professional experience was as a journalist. As you know, journalists are expected to work in a very diverse range of situations and produce evocative, yet truthful photographs. Now, I market my self as an on-location specialist, because I can and will go anywhere. All my equipment has been chosen with the intention of being able to successfully adjust to any situation. That's not to say that I don't do my research when I have the chance. Being able to anticipate what's going to happen is one way to make sure that I am in the right place at the right time with the right photography equipment.
Recently, a prospective client submitted a list of questions. The questions were excellent and I was compelled to spend a little extra time answering them. I hope that you, too, enjoy the answers..... How early do you book a wedding?I have booked weddings as far in advance as 18 months. It's entirely up to the bride and groom, of course. But I recommend that as soon as you are sure, book the photographer. Some of my high-end packages require that clients book me at least 6 months prior to the wedding, because of the logistics involved in providing some of the services. How many weddings do you book in one day?I do not photograph any more than one wedding in a day. I think shooting more than one event in a day is doing a disservice to the bride and groom. I have booked two weddings in a weekend. Whenever possible, I try to distribute my bookings evenly over the course of the year. This helps me deliver the reprints and albums in a more timely manner. What kind of a deposit do you require and when do you ask for it?Deposit amounts depend upon the packages. Most packages require a deposit of between $400 and $500. High-end packages require more, because some services may be rendered in advance of the wedding. However, 90% of my clients choose either the Silver, Angelico, Gold, or Platinum packages. And they require the $400 or $500 amounts. I recommend that as soon as you have decided on your photographer, you should be prepared to submit a deposit. If for some reason the wedding is called off more than 90 days before the scheduled wedding date, half of the deposit is refunded. Have you photographed outdoor weddings in the past?Oh yeah! My web site has a list of wedding venues at which I've worked. The URL is: http://www.dfmphotography.com/wedding_venues.shtml I rather enjoy outdoor weddings, especially during the right lighting conditions, time of day, etc. Natural light is almost always desirable to artificial lighting. How many photographers do you have?I am the sole proprietor of DFM Photography. I'm the only person you'll be working with. I do hire high school and college student assistants to help with hawling equipment or logistics. But I do 99% of the shooting. Occasionally, my helpers will operate a camera that I have sett up on a tripod. Will we meet with the photographer who will take the pictures of our wedding when we meet with you?Yes. Will the pictures we see be all taken by the same person?Yes. If an assistant shoots any images, their total image count will likely be less than 20 out of 500 to 800 images. Are you willing to let us look through all the proofs from a wedding you have shot before, so we can get a feeling for what kinds of photos you take?Absolutely, I post images online for that very purpose. However, it will almost always be true that the most recent work has not yet been posted online. I prefer to meet with clients in person and show them a couple of sample albums and some slide shows on my laptop.
Will you scout the location before hand for photo opportunities and discuss those with us?That is one of the reasons why I attend the rehearsal, to scout locations and make strategic decisions. If you book me and would like to meet for a photo planning session, I'm all for it. Will you meet with us a week or so before the wedding to discuss what pictures we want so you will be prepared and the photos will not take us away from our guests?Yes. I ask that all clients provide me with an itinerary at least 4 weeks prior to the ceremony. I also ask that they submit a shot-list via the online form on my web site. These two pieces of information help me understand the structure of the day and sometimes alert me to potential problems. I always offer feedback, when needed. It is always in my mind to keep the bride, groom, and families at the center of my thinking. And I view wedding photography as a collaborative effort. How do you dress for photographing weddings?Professionally and comfortably. I do not wear a suit, unless requested to do so. I wear a white shirt and dress pants. I do not put on a tie until the time when the quest begin arriving, because it gets in the way. In the hot summer months, the pants will be ligther in color. In cooler months, the pants will be black. I wouldn't dream of wearing a photojournalists equipment vest to a wedding. But I work too hard and move around too much to make wearing a full suit my standard dress, especially in summer months in Kansas and Missouri.
How long do you keep negatives?Almost all the work I do now is digital. When I shoot negative film, I keep the negatives for about five years. After that, I offer them to the clients for a nominal fee which covers the cost of scanning some of the choice images. However, this really isn't an issue, because digital is my preferred format. I've been using digital cameras professionally for about 5 years, slowly moving toward an all-digital workflow. Do you have a videographer on staff, or is there one you would recommend?I sub-contract videography services. There are two very fine companies that I can recommend. Additional information is on my web site. I try to make the web site as convenient as possible.
It's important for brides and grooms to remember that each wedding experience is different. The energy and mood conveyed in wedding photographs is heavily influenced by the people involved in the wedding. A small wedding is very likely to have a different feel than a large wedding. The photographs will reflect the difference. The more interaction there is between people, the greater the likelihood the photographer will be able to capture spontaneous expressions of joy, concern, laughter, etc. That is not to say that small groups cannot be wild and crazy. They certainly can. I suggest that the bride and groom work closely with their photographer and DJ to a create total wedding experience that fosters the kind of photography desired. Remember it's not just the place that makes the wedding venue. It's the people, the music, the timing, and the space. Wedding planners may be able to help, too. But, the two vendors with the most experience in observing and entertaining people are the photographer and the DJ. A photographer should be as willing to work with you as a DJ is willing to play your music. Listen carefully to the advice each vendor gives about how to manage the time and/or move the party along. DJs and especially photographers have a strong motivation to help you create an event that will encourage the energy and mood that you want to see in your photographs. When the ceremony and party are over, all you'll have are each other and the photographs.
Advice to Brides...
Choose a photographer that clearly loves the drama and tradition of weddings. This should show in their work. Great wedding photography is about the people you love. It's about truth and beauty. It's as much an Art as any other photographic genre. As such, it has its Impressionists, Realists, and Abstract Expressionists. If you know what you like, you'll make the right decision.
DFM Photography uses film-based image capture for the formal poses, for several reasons. As was discussed previously, film handles high-contrast scenes better than digital. This is what is known as having exposure latitude. There are ways to compensate for the limited latitude of digital. More about that, later. Back to film use for formals. Formal poses of the bride, groom, and wedding party are often thought of as family heirlooms. These are the images that will grace your mantle or bedroom. These are the photos that inlaws and grandparents will want. These are the images that you expect to be around forever. It should be self-evident that archivists know more about how to archive film than they do digital. Why? It's been around longer. When digital has been around as long as film has, then we can compare quality and longevity of archiving techniques. Tradition is another reason to invest in the expense of film-based formal photography. People often expect and feel more comfortable with an original they can see, touch, smell and taste. At least, that's my perception. Using both film and digital is also a way to cover your bases. That is always a good idea when photographing a wedding.
|
