What should you look for in a photographer?

I'm sure you've seen this kind of question on many many wedding websites and blogs, offering you the answer to a question, which I think you already know.  The interesting thing for me is that you don't often see websites with articles entitled; "What should you look for in a good mechanic?" 

Let's be honest, most of us KNOW what we're looking for when we look to someone offering a service; Honesty, integrity, reliability, professionalism (i.e. do they know what they're doing?!).  All these things are 'intangible' and speak of the service you are paying for.  You should expect that the person KNOWS how to take a picture and to use their camera so you shouldn't need to see a list of their equipment and their insurance details and CV!  (If you do, do you usually ask to see the garage and interview the person working on your brakes when you take your car for a service? Why not? :) )

Photography should be a professional service, offered to you professionally and that means the person offering it should have some integrity and be able to demonstrate that.  How do you get to this?  Well, simply put, I believe in 'gut feeling' and when you're meeting and talking to your photographer, it should tell you everything you need to know about them.

Do their words and actions match up to what you expect?  i.e. Are there things that come out of the woodwork as you're talking?  Hidden 'extras' which cost more than you thought?  Do they talk about having lots of experience, but don't ask you what style or kinds of things you like? Do you get a sense this is more about THEM than it is about YOU?

Do they make you laugh and/or make you feel comfortable?  No one is saying they need to be the next Peter Kay, but at the very least they need a personality! You're going to spend your most precious day with them so PLEASE pick someone with heart and a little life about them!

When they arranged the meeting with you, did they turn up when you expected them to? Can they be relied upon to give you the due respect by being on time?!  And if they're late do they let you know and do they offer you a reasonable explanation?  It may sound like a small thing, but this screams respect!  You are busy people and they want YOUR business, so shouldn't they respect you by being on time?

Being professional, offering you a great service that makes you say "WOW" at least once during your interaction with your photographer. That's what your photographer should be aiming for.  If they're not, then they're in the wrong game and you have the wrong person sat opposite you.

So when you next meet with your photographer, please do trust your gut!  If it doesn't 'feel right', then it's probably not. Happy hunting!

Photoshop Art

Well, it's been another busy week for me and I'm looking forward to more photography and photoshop work this coming week.


Wedding requests are coming through thick and fast and I'm sorry to say there seem's to be a lot of people out there choosing the same day(s) as I've had to turn down three weddings over the past couple of days as they had selected the same date!  It's sad as I really wish I could be there for everyone, but it's just not possible (obviously!).


Anyway... Photoshop Art work this week has seen me create a couple of funky images for models I've worked with recently.  Below are the 'before and after' shots so you can see what I've done.  But let me know what you think... I love creating individual images which gives the subject that something extra.


Stacey 

Stacey's shoot was a fantastic opportunity to capture images that reflect her great, individual look but I also wanted to give her a funky mysterious look which focused on her hair and her eyes.  

Using a number of layers, brushes and lighting techniques I gave her a 'hot' look that would look great on a movie poster!  I think this really works well and makes her eyes 'pop', accentuating her lovely features.  And if you're wondering how long it takes to create an image like this... "Smouldering Stacey" took me over an hour to complete, but I believe the results are worth it, and Stacey loves it too!

Sarah
Sarah has a genuinely classic look and I wanted to give her a funky, grungy picture which would give her something out of the ordinary and would again add a different dimension to her portfolio.

 

The image required a grungy background and layers which would give it a sprayed and cracked paint feeling.  Added to this is the lighting and we end up with an image which looks 'dirty' by comparison to the clean lines of the original shot. Great fun to create which took almost an hour to complete.

Photoshop Art
Photoshop is an amazing tool which allows me to make wedding and studio photos sparkle and shine but it also gives me the opportunity to be creative and deliver something different to each person I'm lucky enough to work with.


I'm pleased to say that all the subjects I work with go away with something truly unique and I hope gives them something different to think about when looking at our work.


I'm REALLY looking forward to all the studio work I have lined up for 2011 and I hope you book me too so I can create something just for you!


I'd love to hear what you think of these images, or of PhotoShop editing in general.  Do you think PhotoShop editing has gone too far? 

Go to www.garyhibberd.co.uk to see more work and find out more about the services I offer.

Must Have Shots!

When you’re planning your big day, you put so much effort into getting every little detail right so doesn’t it make sense to make a list of the ‘Must have’ shots, so that your photographer knows what you want to capture?

When all said and done, the photos of your big day are the one’s which will (or should) last a life time.  They’re the things you want to pass on to your children and on to your grandchildren.  Sorry to say it but, your wedding dress will be out of fashion within a few years and everything else will quickly begin to fade, disappear and be lost, which is why getting the right photographer and the right photos is SO very important.

When you’re thinking about your big day you should make your photographer aware of the smaller details which you want capturing, that he/she might not be aware of. 

Don’t get me wrong, any wedding photographer worth his salt will be aware of the standard ‘must have’ shots;

•          Bride’s dress
•          Flowers
•          Walking down the aisle
•          Exchanging of the rings/vows
•          The first kiss
•          Cake cutting
•          The first dance

The above is a VERY brief list of ‘must have’s for the photography, but it’s important to supplement these with the pictures you want of the things and the people who make your special day, well, special!

The following may give you some ideas on what you want from your photographer and what you want to see captured.  Believe me, it’ll help you, it’ll help the photographer and more importantly you’ll have images which reflected the hard work, romance and thought you put into the big day.

The Dress

After deciding to marry, the next big decision is the dress!  It’s probably going to be the biggest and most beautiful dress you’ll ever wear and is often a work of art in itself!  So before you put the dress on, ask your photographer to take pictures of it hanging in a well lit area.  Maybe hanging over a chair or hanging near a window.  The photographer should know what they’re doing here, but if there’s any little details you want to point out, then you should.  For example I shot a wedding where the bride had a small blue hanky sown in to the lining of the dress.  The hanky belonged to her, when she was a child.

I wouldn’t have known this small item was there if one of the bridesmaids hadn’t mentioned it, but I was able to take a lovely shot of this intimate item which she may have forgotten about in years to come.

Once the dress is on, then ask the photographer to take pictures of the back being tied up... you don’t get to see the back of the dress very often so this is a great chance to capture images of something you’ll not be seeing much of!

Bridal Preparations

Sometimes the most emotional, fun and exciting pictures to take throughout the entire day are the bridal preparations.  With everyone excitedly getting ready there’s opportunity for some great behind-the-scenes shots, where some of the most natural and beautiful photography can happen. 

But if you’re giving gifts to your bridesmaids and/or expecting arrival of someone special, then be sure to prime your photographer so that he can capture the expressions on people’s faces.  This isn’t as contrived as it sounds and leads to some fantastic pictures that will make you laugh and cry at the same time!

The Table Settings

It’s taken months to organise; the venue, the dress, the grooms outfit, the music, the guest list, the table settings with the favours, the candles, the flowers and every other little detail you’ve put in to make the table setting ‘just so’.   Yet there is a very good chance that you won’t see the room until it is teaming full of guests and they’ve already started opening the favours and have started to play with the table decorations!

So ensure when you’re talking to your photographer that they know you want some pictures of the tables and any special items you’ve placed on there.  It really will make a nice back drop for your album and allows you to appreciate the hard work you put in!

Let’s not forget the Groom!

Before the ceremony the Groom is likely to be a bag of nerves and not in much mood for photographs, but pictures of him and his Groom’s party are excellent shots to capture because it’s just ‘the guys’ together and they can help calm each other’s nerves by focusing on a few photographs! 

When you enter the room all eyes, quite rightly will be locked on you so getting some candid emotional shots of your groom’s face as you approach are timeless classics which melt the hardest of hearts!  So speak to your photographer so they know that you’re wanting this kind of shot, so that they can position themselves in the best possible place to capture that moment.

Group shots(!)

This is the time you really do need to speak to your photographer because this can make all the difference to you, your day and ultimately to your photographs.  Talk through the style of group shots you’re looking for with your photographer and give them an idea of what you’re after (formal groups or informal gathering).  Most couples want a mixture between the two, so think about groups you want and then make a small list of about eight groups.  This will allow your photographer to work with the best man to arrange the next set of shots. 

The more planning at this stage, the faster the group shots can be carried out and everyone can go back to having fun!

Your First Dance

This is usually the last part of the day that you want ‘formally’ capturing and is still all important for your album, so that it tells the complete story of your day.  Tell your photographer if you have something special planned and if you don’t then why not just make it up?!  On the dance floor, simply waltz, or look deep into each other’s eyes and enjoy your first dance as man and wife.  The photographer will be looking to use all the various light sources to capture some great shots, but it’s always helpful to know what the song will be and if you have anything planned.

Communication, communication, communication

When I’m lucky enough to be invited to shoot a wedding, I want to know I’ve got as much information about the couple as I can possibly get.  This includes their likes and dislikes and what they’re wanting to get out of the photography.  At the end of it all, it’s about communicating, communicating and then communicating some more.  It’s following this process that I’m proud to have turned past clients into friends.

So when we meet, be sure to let me know just what you're looking for from your Photography.

www.garyhibberd.co.uk

Buck the duck in London!

Ok... so it was a brief visit to London, but 'Buck the Duck' came along too... he had his own double bed and spent most of his time watching TV and in the bath... But the shots we took are available soon.

Happy sunday everyone! :-)

By Royal Appointment... almost!

Ok, so we all know that there is a Royal wedding planned this year and that they will have an army of people helping to organise their big day.  Well, when the announcement went out I thought it would be kinda fun to send a letter to Prince William and Katie Middleton, offering my congratulations but also offering my services as a photographer.

We all know that having great photos is important so I don't see the Prince and his new bride as any different, which is why I wrote to them offering great pictures, exceptional service all at affordable prices (I'm sure budget is something that is on their mind too).

Well, I didn't have my hopes up too high but I sent the letter, a leaflet and a business card to see what would happen...

Now, a really nice end to this story would be that they got in touch and have accepted my offer, but no this isn't quite what happened.  I did however receive a very nice letter from St James' Palace thanking me for my kind offer.

The point is, I really believe it's important to ask and not assume (who knows, they might still need a backup photographer!)  I also think it's great just to do something that makes you smile, when you think of it.

Finally, it does mean that I'm still available on 29th April so if you're planning on getting married on the same day as HRH Prince William and Katie, then do get in touch... If you don't, you might find that I've had a call from the Palace!!

(Letter to be framed!)

Wedding Movies!

In a previous article I spoke about my ‘pre-wedding’ checklist and actions… but what about you? The bride? The groom?  What do YOU do?  I’ve often asked what the couple did the night before their big day and how well prepared they are for it.  Generally the response is that they had a relaxing time with close friends (Hen-parties and Stag-parties are now held many weeks in advance… just in case! J ).

Sometimes choosing what to do can be a difficult one… getting an early night is a good idea (but a little boring) as it’s going to be a long day at the wedding! But if you’re stuck for something to do, then why not rent a movie and have a few drinks with your friends? If you’re in the mood for a good film then why not grab one from the list below (which I created just for fun!) and you’ll be bubbling up with excitement for your big day!

1.       Four Weddings and a Funeral – Classic.  What more do I need to say?!

2.      Father of the Bride – Steve Martin is fantastic and makes you appreciate just what your Dad’s going through!

3.      Runaway Bride – Julia Roberts & Richard Gear reunited in this movie… the chemistry is still there!

4.      The Wedding Singer –  It’s an Adam Sandler classic! And even the fellas will love this one!

5.       The Wedding Date - Kat Ellis is stunning in this romantic comedy.  It’ll have you laughing and crying at the same time!

6.      Bride Wars – Anne Hathaway and Kate Hudson kicking each other’s butts! Fun all the way!

7.       27 Dresses – Katherine Heigl doing what she does best!

8.      Made of Honour – A guy trying to be a ‘maid of honour’?  That’s got to get you laughing!

9.      My Big Fat Greek Wedding – Ever feel like getting married is a battle ground? You’ll love this movie!

10.   Wedding Crashers - John Beckwith and Jeremy Grey enjoying all the best that a wedding has to offer!

I know there are many I’ve missed, so if you can think of any pre-wedding movies that are better than these, I’d like to hear about it! But whatever you do on the night before your big day, just be sure to have fun. Safe in the knowledge that all the hard work is done and you can relax into your big day!!

Portfolio shoots

When was the last time you pampered yourself and had a REALLY good photo taken?  Think about that for a second... When was the last time you had a picture that you thought, “Yeah.  I’d like to have that printed and in a frame in my front room!”  The sad truth is that most of us would say we’ve not had that feeling for a long time and the reason is that there are so many ways to take a picture that we’ve lost what a picture can mean.

Pictures are a fantastic gift either for a loved one or for yourself.  But getting the right kind of picture usually means waiting until you’re at a wedding or some special event and then getting someone to take that picture for you, which you then HOPE will turn out ok. 

So why not treat yourself, or someone you know to a fantastic photo shoot in a studio, where you know that the light can be controlled (along with the elements!) and you end up with a set of photos you really like.

I love photographing weddings as they offer something truly unique in photography that you rarely get in others forms.  But I feel that offering studio photography adds a further dimension to my wedding photography as it allows me to spend time with a subject, playing with light and directing a position to get ‘just’ the right look we’re going for.  This, I believe makes me a far stronger and more rounded photographer than I would be if I didn’t have these skills.

You’ll see from the shoots below the look and feel of both are very different, but that’s intentional and I love creating the mood with lighting (painting with light) and working with angles to achieve different results.

  (Jessica having fun at the studio)

Photo shoots should be fun (well... mine always are) so like wedding photography you should feel comfortable with the person behind the lens so that you will look at your most relaxed in front of the lens.

(Stacey's shoot was great fun and she has some really unique pictures for her portfolio) 

(We had a fantastic shoot for Sarah (below) and again, the look is completely individual and great for Sarah) 

If you’re interested in a photo shoot with me, then please drop me a line or give me a call.  Whatever the look or feeling you’re going for, if it’s a gift for you or for a family member, I’d love to hear from you. 

I have access to a couple of studios in Sheffield and Rotherham, both of which provide me with the flexibility to shoot different styles photos, but the main aim is to capture some great images that you can use as gifts, promotions, portfolios or even for yourself! (If your New Year’s resolution of shedding pounds is working, why not capture it?!).