Biggest Bang for Your Buck

Not everyone is looking for the same products, services, style of photography, personality of photographer or even quality of pictures.  But I would bet that the majority of people reading this article are looking for the “Biggest Bang for Their Buck” when it comes to their photography.

What customers look for?
The search for the right photographer can be a daunting task. To think that one could get the same quality of products and services from any photographer charging $2000 would certainly be naïve.  Suppose a couple has determined that they have a $2,000 budget for a wedding photographer.  A few of the items most couples consider when hiring a photographer are:
1) Style of photography.  They search local photographers’ sites looking for images that strike them as exceptional.

2) Price.  They check the photographer’s price list to see if he/she is in their price range.
3) Features.  What is included in the package?  This is an area that is very hard to compare apples to apples.  One photographer’s basic package may offer four hours, while another provides six hours, while another offers eight hours, while anther has no time limit.  One photographer may offer raw files on a disk, another provides edited files, another provides no files, while another provides files but only after 6 months or a year.  One photographer may offer a print credit toward an album, while another offers an album, while another provides a set of enlargements, while another does not provide a print incentive at all.  With so many possible variables the consumer needs to shop carefully.

What else should customers look for?
What are some items that couples may not think about before hiring a photographer?  Aside from the more tangible “WHAT is included in the package”, is the less tangible “WHO is the photographer”.  You may love a photographer’s pictures, but discover later on that you’re not crazy about how the photographer relates to you and others in your party.  Check out my article on Who Should You Choose for Your Photographer?

Secondly, people should think about what happens after the event.  How long will it be before the pictures are ready?  Does the photographer offer stylish, cutting-edge products?  Will a photographer help customers use enlargements to decorate and beautify their home?

Another important issue is the relationship.  Suppose an engaged couple is elated with their wedding pictures and they have a great relationship with the photographer.  Soon afterwards they may start growing their family.  It may start with a pet, but eventually the first baby comes.  Does the photographer do family portraiture?

How to get it?
The way to get the biggest bang for your buck is to think through your values, prioritize them, and do your homework.  Review blogs and websites, ask lots of questions, and make sure that what you want is clearly stated in the contract.

James Studio tries to provide the biggest bang for your buck as a basic package.  For $1695 I provide eight hours of shooting, which is enough for most weddings.  Included are about 1000 high-resolution edited photographs on a DVD.  In addition, there is a $200 credit toward an elegant leather-bound album.

I provide several leading-edge products.  When you’re ready for family portraits, I am ready to serve you.  I am the primary photographer of James Studio.  My prices are low because 2010 will be my third year shooting photography and I’m still building my business.  As the business increases, so will my prices, so now is a good time to settle on a contract.

You can get to know me from reading my blog and watching the videos.  If you like what you see and like my image samples, give me a call to set up a time for us to meet.

Jim Bendewald
(608) 233-5556

How to get great photographs on your big day?

You are investing a fair amount of time, money, and energy into one of the most important days of your life.  You may have family and friends coming from out of town and out of state to help you celebrate this fantastic day.  You work, plan, and organize to make it all work together smoothly.  Your photographer will take pictures of you and your party at the locations you have chosen.

If the ceremony takes place in a church building, the photographs will be influenced by that setting.  This is also true for outdoor weddings or other kinds of buildings. I know that I’m stating the obvious, but it is an important fact and must not be forgotten.  Consider the locations for the various parts of the day.

 Getting Ready
If you are anticipating photographs will be taken during the “getting ready” session, then it is very important to consider where the ladies will be getting ready and where the guys will be getting ready.  Understandably, a church will have only certain rooms available for getting ready.  But you can still have an influence on the look that is available in that room. 

To be sure, you’ll want to have access to a large mirror in each of those rooms.  But the mirror is not just for helping you to put on your makeup or make sure that your veil or tie is on straight.  Think about whether you know someone who has a classic floor mirror like the one shown or some other elegant mirror.

Does the place where you are getting ready have large, bare walls and unattractive furniture?  Think about what you might be able to provide to make the room, or at least one wall, look more attractive.  Would it be possible to bring a framed abstract painting?  Or, might you bring a vase with a beautiful bouquet of flowers? The entire room does not need to be decorated.  Often what the photographer needs is just an attractive corner or portion of a wall that would provide a beautiful background.

When You First Meet
Many brides wish to be traditional and not see the groom until they are coming down the aisle.  But today many brides are choosing a more practical approach of having a time prior to the ceremony where the she approaches the groom, touches him on the shoulder, he turns around, and they embrace and truly enjoy the moment. 

This approach allows the bride and groom to show a variety of emotions and enjoy each other’s presence in a way that cannot be done during the ceremony.  And during this time the photographs can be glorious.  Too often there are not enough photographs taken of just the bride and groom.  This approach provides the opportunity to make sure that those photographs are taken.

The Ceremony
It will be important to consider features that make for an attractive background at the ceremony as well.  Having a unity candle or even unity sand of different colors in clear vessels is often very nice.  Often churches have candelabras that hold several candles; these also can look very elegant. 

In addition, consider talking with your florist about flowers for the background of the church.  Some couples also decorate the ends of the pews.  This can also add beautiful detail to photographs (and your guests will find them attractive, too).

Formals
Shortly after the ceremony come the traditional formal photographs.  And too often all the photographs are done in the front of the church.  Consider having photographs done in other -places of the church.  It can work well to have the large-group photographs in front of the church and then creative shots in other places.  If the ceremony is in a church which has pews, have the wedding party spread throughout the church for a few photographs. 

Consider going outside for photographs of the bride with each of the bridesmaids, etc.  If outside photography is not possible, find a nice background somewhere else, such as a stained-glass window.

Outdoor Photographs
Why are people so crazy about outdoor photographs?  Maybe it is because of the natural light and natural surroundings which help to make the outdoor photographs so beautiful.  The fact is that usually the most beautiful and creative photographs are taken outside.  When considering outdoor photographs, your photographer will likely be looking for places with beautiful backgrounds but where the wedding party can be in the shade. 

Full-sun photographs are fine from a distance, like when you’re trying to do something fun like a group jump.  In situations like this, the eyes of each person do not matter so much.  However, for close-up shots and photographs of just a few people at a time, you’ll want to be in the shade so that the photograph catches your eyes wide open without any squinting.

The Reception
Because the reception, dinner, and dance is traditionally in darker, mood lighting, this will be a challenge to your photographer.  Flash will enable photographs to be taken, but because of the limited light, the background is generally dark.  Flash illuminates the people in the front but quickly falls off, creating a dark, muddy look in the back.  This often results in shots that are not as artistic as other photographs taken during the earlier part of the day.  Here are three items you might consider to improve your reception photographs.  First, notify the DJ or anyone who is controlling the lights that you prefer the lights to be kept in the mid-range–not too dark and not too light.  This one tip would greatly help the quality of your reception photographs.  Second, take groups of people out into the hallway where there is more light to take group shots.  Third, look around the reception facility for better backgrounds than just a hallway.  Look for mirrors, pictures, and other elements that would make an attractive background.  Don’t be afraid to point out such a place to your photographer.

The Photographer
Of course, an essential element to getting great photographs is having the right photographer for you.  I have an article called, “Who Should Be Your Photographer?”  Briefly, your photographer should be someone with whom you feel comfortable, someone you trust, and someone who is able to produce the goods.  As a warning, there are several important reasons for not choosing a friend or relative to shoot your wedding.  Learn more by checking out that article.

Your wedding day is your day.  People will be especially nice to you and want to help you.  I’m suggesting that you also plan for getting great, artistic photographs.  I hope that you will call me to arrange for James Studio to help you with this process and provide the “at ease” experience and quality photographs of which you dream.  You can reach me at (608) 233-5556.

By James Bendewald

Who Should You Choose for Your Photographer?

Choosing a photographer for your wedding is one of your most important vendor decisions. Photographers vary in their personality, their photographic style, how they work with the wedding party, how much experience they have, the quality of the equipment they use, the packages they provide, as well as the final products they produce. So you’re not just hiring someone to take pictures. No matter how you look at it, you’re getting a package deal. The question is, what will the package include?

The Package Deal
Many photographers today include their photographs on a DVD. The wise bride or groom will ask if those photographs have been edited. Photographs that are completely unedited are often less than what they could be. Yes, some of the photographs will look okay; but trust me. Edited photographs can look spectacular, and what you might think are crummy photographs can look pretty good when they are edited. I have photographs, such as the one below that is not the best because of the brides dark eyes, but after editing and working on the image it has since become one of my favorites.

Original unedited photograph

After editing

If the photographer states that digital negatives are included on the DVD, be wary that these may be unedited photographs. James Studio edits every photograph customers receive. Photographs that are used in albums, those which are purchased online, and those which are enlarged, are all given additional editing time. This makes them superior photographs like the ones you see on this web site.

Second, ask whether the photographs you receive will be of a high-resolution quality. Many photographers only provide a low-resolution version that only has enough resolution available for printing small 4 x 6- or 5 x 7-inch photographs. James Studio provides high-resolution photographs that can be printed in any standard size.

Third, you need to consider what is included in the package. Does the package include an album? Albums included in our packages are a significant savings over an album purchased separately. If you want a professional, heirloom-quality album, think about choosing a package that includes an album. The more expensive the package, the better the quality of the album and number of sides it includes.

But packages can also include engagement sessions, reception-growing-up-video slideshows, enlargements and wall portraits. So pay attention to what is included in the package.

The Photographer
As part of the package deal you’re not just getting pictures and albums, you’re also hiring a photographer. So what qualities should you look for in a photographer? In some ways the answer is obvious. You look at the photographer’s work and decide on whether you like the pictures or not. Also, when speaking with a photographer you need to decide on whether you are comfortable with this person. Does the person seem competent and relaxed? Does the photographer ask questions about you?  Is the photographer interested in your story?

Also consider the art value of the photographer brings.   When you look at the photographer’s pictures, is there a blurred background? In most photos it should be.  Not every picture has to have a blurred background; portraits and formal pictures often do not. But artistic pictures often do have  an attractive out-of-focus blurr. If the photographer does not produce pictures that have a blurred background or don’t position the bride & groom with different or interesting backgrounds then the pictures are likely going to be either very formal or unartistic.

Who You Should Not Hire As Your Photographer
You should not hire a photographer whose pictures you do not like, whose pictures are not artistic, or whose pictures do not have the subject in clear focus. You should not hire someone whom you consider to be too proud or stand offish, kind of quirky, unreliable, too busy, or unavailable. In addition, you should not use a friend or relative to shoot your wedding.

Why You Should Not Choose a Friend or Relative to Shoot Your Wedding
Choosing a friend or relative to photograph your wedding can result in huge savings. However, don’t let this motivating factor blind you to other issues when considering who to hire for your once-in-a-lifetime wedding photographer.

It has been a hard lesson for me to learn, but my wife has convinced me that it is inappropriate to try to sell things to my friends, family, and even neighbors. Why? Because if they buy something, they may do it out of a feeling of obligation, and if they don’t buy, it can cause stress in the relationship. So let’s suppose your friend or relative offers to photograph your wedding. If you are not altogether happy with the photographs, it will likely create hurtful feelings between you. And if the person is not a professional who shoots weddings frequently, you’ll likely be disappointed. 

Let’s suppose that your friend or relative offers to do this job for very little or no money. Remember–photography done right is a very big job and could constitute the most generous gift of your wedding. The person or persons shooting the wedding may, out of a generous heart, want to do it for free, but may find it to be a burdensome task in the end. It is a significant investment of time, and if it is done well, it will be much more than you imagine. This whole process may strain your relationship or strain an internal relationship with a spouse who may not feel as generous! In addition, the friend or relative might do better by simply enjoying that day with the others rather than working.

In many cases a friend or relative wanting to help you out will not have the experience and artistic eye to know how to arrange people to get quality, artistic photographs. In addition, their photographic equipment is likely marginal at best for producing professional-looking photographs. A professional photographer has professional cameras, lenses and editing software that helps to produce quality photographs. And a professional photographer has the experience to guide you through your wedding day to make it all happen more smoothly and joyfully.

At James Studio we are interested in helping you enjoy your day.  We provide creativity, relationship oriented photography and we use some of the best equipment available.   If you hire James Studio you will be cared for along the way. 

If you are interested in our services you can reach me at (608) 233-5556.

By James Bendewald