Photographer Style?

[SarahLovesJS]

What kind of photographer did you pick? I am obsessing over the whole "photo-journalistic" thing, but I am wondering if it is just a trend. I have a few that I narrowed it down to and I am so reluctant to pick a photographer, don''t know why.

 

[buttercup80]

We''re going with photojournalistic mostly because we don''t want to stand around posing all day - we''d rather enjoy our wedding! Also, I think photojournalism more accurately captures the feeling of the day rather than forced portraits with cheesy smiles. . .I know I never really look good in a picture when I am "trying" to smile.

 

[Dreamgirl]

If you have a concern, find one that will do both styles. This way you get a little of this and a little of that!

 

[violet02]

I think mine's concerned 'photo journalistic' or something like that. He's creative for sure. I like really artistic photos, not just posed ones.

http://www.jeffnewsom.com

His blog and wedding photos pages will give you a good idea of the style.

The photographer and planner were my first picks. We arranged the wedding date and venue based around his schedule. I love his work and had to have him for my wedding.

 

[Courtneylub]

Date: 4/10/2008 1:18:16 PM
Author: violet02
I think mine''s concerned ''photo journalistic'' or something like that. He''s creative for sure. I like really artistic photos, not just posed ones.

http://www.jeffnewsom.com

His blog and wedding photos pages will give you a good idea of the style.

The photographer and planner were my first picks. We arranged the wedding date and venue based around his schedule. I love his work and had to have him for my wedding.

He is AWESOME, Violet!!!!

 

[Courtneylub]

Oh and here''s mine:

www.bendthelight.com

 

[neatfreak]

Honestly, everyone calls themselves photojournalistic these days because that is what is trendy. Instead, I would focus on picking a photographer whose photos you love. That is really the most important thing.

 

[goldenstar]

Date: 4/10/2008 10:36:34 PM
Author: neatfreak
Honestly, everyone calls themselves photojournalistic these days because that is what is trendy. Instead, I would focus on picking a photographer whose photos you love. That is really the most important thing.

Yeah, what she said. There''s such a wide range of styles even among those who call themselves photojournalists. Just let the pictures speak for themselves.

I don''t think that the trend will move back toward stiff, posed photos any time soon. So its safe to book someone with a more organic style.

 

[sunnygirl]

Violet,

I love your photog!! His pictures are amazing! You're so lucky! If you dont mind sharing, how much does he charge for his packages? I already have a photog but I am curious....

 

[doodle]

ditto neatfreak! flip through a photographer''s portfolio, and you''ll either love their work or not. my photographer (hamletphotography.com) is one of the things i''m MOST excited about! i personally hate hate HATE the posed pictures because my FI and i wind up looking like american gothic sans pitchforks (well, also, my guy has waaaaay more hair on his head, so technically, the american gothic pic would be more me and my dad...::plots photoshopping that just for fun

but ANYWAY! i like the photojournalistic style because they capture what actually HAPPENED at your wedding as opposed to taking away much of your time making you stand around like a dodo (or, i look like a dodo anyway!). i wouldn''t worry about the trendy aspect--i don''t get the impression that brides''ll be dying to bring back the old way of "left foot forward, right shoulder back, head 4 degrees south"...and i can no longer resist the temptation to post the pic, so now i must. forgive my deviousness!!

 

[violet02]

Date: 4/10/2008 11:12:10 PM
Author: sunnygirl
Violet,

I love your photog!! His pictures are amazing! You''re so lucky! If you dont mind sharing, how much does he charge for his packages? I already have a photog but I am curious....

Sure...

He charged me 5k for the whole day of the wedding and I get the engagement photo shoot included. He''s coming up from Southern California for both shoots. He didn''t list out any extraneous travel or hotel charges just the 5k fee. I also get a photo album and some other stuff too.

 

[SarahLovesJS]

Hmm good points. I will post the ones I am trying to decide between and y''all can help me.

Pleeease?

 

[bee*]

Date: 4/10/2008 10:36:34 PM
Author: neatfreak
Honestly, everyone calls themselves photojournalistic these days because that is what is trendy. Instead, I would focus on picking a photographer whose photos you love. That is really the most important thing.

ditto completely. I looked at so many photographer websites until I found some that I loved.
If you post websites of photographers that you like we can give you some advice.

 

[HollyS]

We asked our photographer to take mostly candid shots of everyone and everything. Portrait style pictures between DH and I were done just minutes before the ceremony -- and they came out beautifully. We had very few other ''posed'' shots, and even then, they were not stuffy and formal. Photojournalistic style is a trend for sure, but I think it is here to stay. The difference is in the emotion and real moment truth captured in candid shots that may seem forced or artificial in posed shots.

 

[sunnygirl]

Date: 4/11/2008 1:14:59 AM
Author: violet02

Date: 4/10/2008 11:12:10 PM
Author: sunnygirl
Violet,

I love your photog!! His pictures are amazing! You''re so lucky! If you dont mind sharing, how much does he charge for his packages? I already have a photog but I am curious....

Sure...

He charged me 5k for the whole day of the wedding and I get the engagement photo shoot included. He''s coming up from Southern California for both shoots. He didn''t list out any extraneous travel or hotel charges just the 5k fee. I also get a photo album and some other stuff too.

Thanks for the info! I love your photographer''s style but alas I already have one booked. I was hoping he would be too expensive so i would feel better but our photographer is actually charging more! Ah welll, I am sure she''ll do a great job!

 

[Elmorton]

There is definitely a difference between photo journalist and trendy wedding photography, and here''s how you tell:

If the photographer does things like re-touching, going back and making colors more vibrant, doing the stuff where some things in the photo are in color and the rest is black and white - they''re probably not a photojournalist, though they may do some photos in that style (which basically means candids).

A photo journalist avoids posing and tries to capture actions, moments, and details. After my wedding, my photographer was hesitant for a split second when I asked her to photoshop out a chair that was sitting sideways in the background of a photo that I really liked (all the others were in a line, and that one chair was driving me nuts). She made a joke to my husband (they used to work at the same newspaper and share the same alma mater for j-school) to never let her profs know that she was "ruining the integrity of the shot." In a nutshell, that''s what photojournalist means to me - they only shoot what''s there, they don''t create moments. Personally, I like that and it really worked for us and our wedding.

BUT - there is a part of me, that when I see others'' wedding photos, I wish there were cool effects, more portraits, cool poses (I love the ones of the whole bridal party jumping up at the same time), etc in my own. At the end of the day, I''m very happy with what I have - our photos really capture the simplicity of the day which was one of my favorite parts about the wedding. I''m not sure that''s appropriate for every style of wedding though and it''s not going to be the taste of every bride.

 

[SarahLovesJS]

Date: 4/14/2008 6:20:26 PM
Author: Elmorton
There is definitely a difference between photo journalist and trendy wedding photography, and here''s how you tell:


If the photographer does things like re-touching, going back and making colors more vibrant, doing the stuff where some things in the photo are in color and the rest is black and white - they''re probably not a photojournalist, though they may do some photos in that style (which basically means candids).


A photo journalist avoids posing and tries to capture actions, moments, and details. After my wedding, my photographer was hesitant for a split second when I asked her to photoshop out a chair that was sitting sideways in the background of a photo that I really liked (all the others were in a line, and that one chair was driving me nuts). She made a joke to my husband (they used to work at the same newspaper and share the same alma mater for j-school) to never let her profs know that she was ''ruining the integrity of the shot.'' In a nutshell, that''s what photojournalist means to me - they only shoot what''s there, they don''t create moments. Personally, I like that and it really worked for us and our wedding.


BUT - there is a part of me, that when I see others'' wedding photos, I wish there were cool effects, more portraits, cool poses (I love the ones of the whole bridal party jumping up at the same time), etc in my own. At the end of the day, I''m very happy with what I have - our photos really capture the simplicity of the day which was one of my favorite parts about the wedding. I''m not sure that''s appropriate for every style of wedding though and it''s not going to be the taste of every bride.

Just wanted to say thanks for your perspective! I don''t think I had thought of things in that way. I guess I am more interested in the candids people. However, I don''t want a TON of photoshop.