More Reader

5 Points To Consider When Hiring A Pro Wedding Photographer

by Leave a Comment

5 Points To Consider When Hiring A Pro Wedding Photographer

Many couples do not realize how important wedding photos are, until the wedding is over. After an unscrupulous wedding photographer has shot disgustingly poor quality photos. And they have nothing to look at to remember the once-in-a-lifetime moments.

You don’t want this to be your story, do you? So as you plan other important details of your wedding don’t leave out wedding photography.

To help you plan, this are the key considerations you need to make. Questions you need to ask yourself and your photographer. A precise answer to these questions should lead you to a good photographer who will capture shots that will tell the story of your wedding for many years to come.

1) What is my budget?

While it’s not always advisable to make the decision based on price alone, it will help you sieve through the hundreds of options to a few you can work with.

From selected photographers within your budget, get the details of what each package entails. Go with one that has better services for that range of money.

But don’t go for the cheapest, it can end up being expensive in the long run. Pick someone who is able to deliver what you want. Focus on quality.

2) What is my style?

As you approach prospective photographers, it’s important to have an idea of what you want. It makes work easier. In your discussions, the photographer will help you crystallize and enhance the style.

Knowing your style also enables you choose the most appropriate photographer. Some photographers specialize. So if you know your style it will be easy to match with the best of the best in that niche.

If you really don’t know what you want, worry not. With the help of your photographer you will come up with viable styles that will rock on your D-day.

3) Where can view I your album?

The most effective way to gauge the ability of a prospective photographer is by assessing their previous work. Ask where you can find such work.

Photographers with websites will display them on the sites. Be sure to log in and sample them. If not, you will be able to access the albums when you visit their premises.

If the quality levels meet your expectations, it’s a greenlight. Never hire a photographer before having a look at their previous work first.

4) When can I meet you?

Virtual meeting is not sufficient when picking a person who will be capturing the moments in the best day of your life. So set up a physical meeting.

This allows you to confirm critical details you couldn’t otherwise. From the look on their face you can assess their credibility of their claims, and you can get to see their equipment.

Moreover, it presents the opportunity to clarify important details like capacity, what the package entails, who specifically you will be working with on the material day, backup plans, dress code, the program of the day and other matters of concern.

5) When do I book a photographer?

As soon as know the date of your wedding. Photographers operate in a first come first served basis. Lest someone gets there before you, secure your date.

Once you are sure you will dealing with a certain photographer, see them and sign the contract. Then you have all the time to take care of the nitty-gritties as the wedding approaches.

7 Tips To Hire A Professional Portrait Wedding Photographer

by Leave a Comment

7 Tips To Hire A Professional Portrait Wedding Photographer

Nothing captures the memories of your wedding better that good photos. Long after the flowers have dried up, the cake eaten and the esteemed visitors have left, your album preserves the memories. Hence the need to invest in good wedding photography.

The difference between a photo you stare at for minutes and one you don’t want to give a second look is the person behind the camera. For the special occasion your wedding is, you need to ensure that person is a professional wedding photographer, not an amateur.

This is how you will know you are dealing with a professional photographer:

1. They have been in the trade for a while.

Professionalism comes with experience. Experience comes as a result of doing something over and over again until you are proficient in it. To get the necessary experience, the photographer must have been operating for sometime.

Longevity of operation gives you the assurance they can handle your wedding, since they have successfully done it in the past in different circumstances in the various weddings.

Anything above a year in wedding photography is satisfactory. If you want, you may work with a photographer with a lesser time under their sleeves but trade very carefully.

2. In it fulltime.

To many people, photography is a hobby. Something they do as a side hustle to complement their primary job. Not bad in any way, some do it perfectly right. The only problem is that most part-timers take it lightly, after all they have little to lose if anything goes wrong.

However, most professional photographers are into photography fulltime. That’s what they have been trained for and do if for a living. You can be sure they take it very seriously, and would not entertain any mistakes.

You are better off working with a professional photographer who is doing it fulltime.

3. Have proof of competence.

Having photographed in different events over time, professional photographers have amassed rich collection of photos. These photos are stored in albums available online (on the websites) or when you visit their premises.

Every professional photographer has album upon album, which they freely present as selling points to their prospective clients.

When you meet a photographer with but few photos mainly taken in one event know you are dealing with an amateur.

4. They have specialized in few fields.

Generally, professionalism comes specialization.

While many photographers are jacks of all trade, professional photographers seem to specialize in a few areas. If you are lucky to find one who has specialized in weddings you will be in for a great treat.

5. Have developed distinct styles.

A professional will confidently and clearly elaborate what they do, so with professional photographers. They are sure of their styles and tastes. In addition to their own styles, they are well versed with other current styles and trends in the photography industry. They are also so sure about how they go about their wedding photography work.

When you sense such command know you are dealing with a professional photographer, if possible strike a deal.

6. Thorough and gets to the details.

A professional photographer will carefully listen to you and understand what you want. Then they will advise on how you can improve on your proposal so that it would even be better.

Moreover, they ask the right questions. Questions like your expectations, the type of visitors, the program, and a liaison who will help identify family members so that all are photographed.

7. They have a contract.

Important too, you know you are with a professional photographer when they have a contract. Beyond the verbal agreement, a written agreement seals the deal.

Avoid a photographer who lacks the qualities listed above. More often than not they will be an amateur.

Cobbled Stones And Streets: Emotions And Thoughts Of A Woman

by Leave a Comment

Cobbled Stones And Streets Emotions And Thoughts Of A Woman

Cobbled streets ignite extreme interest in my head. Interest that is a direct reflection of how they are. Cobbled. It’s funny, how disparate sections of usually igneous material are laid down in a jagged manner to arrive at something that is smooth. Smooth for us to walk on. Very similar to our personalities; as jagged as they might be, someone still walks all over it. And then comes the cold. The chill that runs down your spine when you step on these stones barefooted. It’s like it torments you. Laughs at you. And all you can do is tip toe. Try to avoid touching your entire sole on it. The same stones. The ones that you “walk on” – now numb you. But you still walk on it, don’t you? Donning your soft and padded shoes, you set out. The stones are now quiet. It’s in your hands. The game. Or so you think.

You use objects to keep the cold stone from touching your feet. Objects that represent pretention. Faux. Phony. Inorganic. Much like our emotions. In times of testing. How we pretend to smile. Pretend to not care. Pretend that everything is going to be all right. Pretend. Pretend. Pretend. But will it really?

Cobbled stones. They bear so much. Yet with each bearing they strain unto themselves, they only become smoother. Less jagged. More rounded. But ladies and gentlemen. We think we’ve cornered them. Won our battles. Alas, we forget what they now become. They fight their battles with wit. With a naive sophistication. A frowning smile. Next time we step on them. No, they’re not jagged. We, have made them smooth. Alas! Too smooth for our liking. We slip. We fall to the ground. This time the cold hits, not only our bare soles but also our hands, our body, our face. They laugh again. Immortal they might be. They are much more potent. Stationary – yet brimming with such mobility. And we question our own potential. Or blame the faux shoes. For the manufacturer of their sole needs to relook his materials. And we continue to walk our way. On the cold cobbled street. Till we arrive at the lamppost. That gleams yellow in our eyes but fails to intensify the dark cobbled stones. The sharp light that blinds us; shatters and dissolves when it hits the ground. That’s how potent cobbled stones are. They suck even the light. So we breathe. In the cold air we let out momentary wasps of vapor. Momentary. Just like us. Just like everything we do. Transient.

So we cross the road on the green signal. Like a herd of sheep being hit on their loins. We walk mechanized. Toddling on the black and white stripes. With chunks of metal flashing yellow into our faces from either sides. Momentary isn’t it? What would happen if we just stand there in the middle? Suspended like a pendulum that’s caught in its oscillation. On one side is the cobbled ground. On the other side, the cemented road that leads us to our destination. Below are the two colors that provide a hue unmatched. All around us light. The light for us now turns red. And thus rises searing din – of honks and abuses caught in their own symphony. Yet you stand there. With the cobbled street on your left. On your right your kin are waiting for you. Transfixed. Looking at you with a de-cyrptive glance. Not understanding why you’re there. But the cobbled stones know. And so you turn around and go back to them. Walking all over them. But this time you laugh with them. Because in that one moment of transience. In that one moment of rooting yourself to the ground. – you become what they have been for the past many years. Jagged. Walked on. Unimportant.

Or so you always believed …