Featuring advice about:

• how to choose a wedding photographer (whether it’s us, or not)• questions to ask and information to provide to your photographer• how to make sure you’ll enjoy your wedding photos forever

Getting the Most Out of Your Wedding Photography Investment

Your Nova Scotia Guide to

All images © 2016 Jordan Pinder

Jordan Pinder Photography Presents:

Choosing a wedding photographer is a major decision to make when planning a wedding. In the weeks, years, and decades that follow your wedding, the only thing that you will have in your hands to remember this momentous occasion are the photographs that were taken that day. Your wedding day will go by so fast that it will be impossible to take it all in, which is why it is so important to have professional photos from the day, so that you will be able to relive each and every moment for years to come.

Atfirstglance,hiringaphotographermightjustseemlikeoneofmanythingsonyourweddingplanning“todo”list,whichincludesbookingavenue,orderingflowers,andchoosingmeals.However,hiringaphotographyservice differs from other products and services that wedding vendors offer, in that wedding photos are an investment. They will endure even past your lifetime, and will forever preserve of all of the emotion, friendships, andlovethatwasfeltonthatday.Likefinancialinvestments,yourweddingphotoswillbecomemoreandmorevaluable to you as time goes on.

When interviewed after their wedding, the #1 most common regret of brides is that they wished they had put more thought into choosing a wedding photographer. Luckily for you, this guide contains all of the information that you need to make an informed decision on what we think is the most important choice you can make when planning your wedding.

The most important decision of planning your wedding

Vanessa and Jordan, photographers, Scotiashots Photography

Nova Scotia is home to a number of absolutely superb wedding photographers who are highly trained in lighting, angles, camera settings, composition, and most importantly, dealing with unforeseen circumstances that could arise on your wedding day. While it may be tempting to ask that “friendwithanicecamera”tophotographyourdayinorderto cut costs, they lack the practical experience, extensive knowledge, and equipment of a true professional.

When searching for wedding photographers, aside from lookingattheironlinegalleries,itcanbedifficulttounderstand what differentiates one photographer from the next. Photographers set themselves apart by their styles, skillset, experience, and services offered.

This guide will help to inform you about the factors that distinguish services offered by one wedding photographer from the next, so that you can make an educated decision in selecting the photographer who is right for you. The guide will also provide useful tips and advice for getting the most out of your wedding photography investment once you have finallymadetheall-importantdecisionofchoosingyourwedding photographer.

Setting a budgetIn Atlantic Canada, wedding photography services range from free (yes, free) to over $5000 for the day, with the average cost of a professional photographer running at around $2500. More expensive does not necessarily meanthatthephotographersare“better”,butgenerally,pricereflectsacombinationofskill,experience,andservice.

As we mentioned previously, the most common regret from brides after their wedding is that they were too hasty in hiring a photographer, or did not hire a professional photographer. This is because they often do not realize until after the wedding just how important their wedding photos are to them.

Thedayafteryourwedding,thefoodwillbeconsumedandtheflowerswillbegone.Wecaneasilyspendsomuch on things that only last for the day, when the one of the only things that will remain once the day is over is the collection of photographs that were taken.

This doesn’t mean that you need to spend a lot on wedding photography. If you have set an overall budget for yourwedding,understandingthelong-termvalueofyourphotosmayhelpyouprioritizewhatisimportanttoyou when deciding how much of your budget will be allocated to each of your wedding expenditures.

First stepsBefore you even begin to look for a wedding photographer, take some time to think about what you would like to get out of your wedding photography investment. There is no rule saying that you even have to hire a photographer, so think about why you really want to have professional photographs taken on your wedding day. Maybe you are just looking to have a disc of unedited snapshots from the day. Perhaps you’re looking for something a little more tangible and permanent to remember your wedding, such as a professionally printed wedding album.

Many photographers offer a variety of wedding packagesthatmayincludedigitalfiles,prints,albumsand wall art. Some packages may include sessions aside from the wedding day, such as an engagement sessionor“trashthedress”session.

Engagement sessionsEngagement sessions are a great way to get to know your photographer prior to your wedding day, in a fun and relaxed atmosphere. These photos could also be included as part of your wedding album. Engagement sessions are an opportunity to have some amazing photos taken ofthetwoofyou,sothatyouareconfidentthatyou can put your trust in your photographer on your wedding day. Make the session your own –fromalightandcasualdayatRainbowHavenBeach,toadressed-upurbaneveningsessionunderthenightlightsofdowntownHalifax.Youmay wish to have the session in a location that has sentimental value to you.

Photos from your engagement session are perfectforsave-the-datecardsandinvitations.Some couples will have the engagement session before they book a photographer for their weddingday,inorderto“testthewaters”beforethey make any commitments.

One thing we would recommend after an engagement session is to give some feedback about your photos to your photographer. Which photos were your favourites? Were there any photos that you particularly did not like, and why? This can help your photographer get an idea of your tastes in photos so that they can be better prepared for your wedding day.

How much coverage do you need?Are you looking for a few photos to document the ceremony, and maybe some portraits of the wedding party afterwards? Or do you wish to record the complete story of your day, from getting ready in the morning to closing down your reception dance? One of the major factors that determines the cost of your wedding photography investment is the duration of the coverage that you wish to reserve for your wedding day. Many photographers offer a range of packages with different coverage times and products to suit your needs.

Different photographers, different photographic stylesOne of the easiest ways to narrow down prospective photographers is to look at a sample of their work by visiting their website. Some photographers work exclusively with natural light, creating a look that can be bright and airy, or withvintage,mutedtones.Othersincorporatemodernlightingtechnologies,suchasartificialstrobelights,toaddflairto their images for a bold and vibrant style. While it’s not important to be able to understand the differences between thesestyles,thesimplequestiontoaskyourselvesis:“Dowelikethesephotos?”

“Edited”vs.“Retouched”photographsWhenphotographersindicatethattheimagestheytakewillbe“edited”or“enhanced”,thismeansthattheoverall brightness, tones and colours of the images have been adjusted to the photographer’s liking. Generally speaking,editingdoesnotincluderetouching,whichpertainstotime-consumingimageenhancementssuchasthe removal of skin blemishes, stray strands of hair, garbage cans, and exit signs.

There is no wedding photographer in the world who will retouch every single image from the day, as it would take many months before you would ever receive your photos. Many photographers offer retouching as an additionalservicechargedonaper-photobasis,orwillonlyretouchthephotosthatyouspecificallychooseforyour wedding album, or any prints that you decide to order through your photographer.

DigitalimagesMost wedding photographers will include in their packagesanumberofdigitalfilesordigitalnegatives,typically in JPEG format. These will look great on websites, and are perfect for sharing by email and social media.

Notallphotographersincludehigh-resolution,printable digital images in their wedding packages. This way, they ensure that anything you have printed is of the highest quality, and will provide professional prints, wall art, and other products created with images that you choose. When discussing digital fileswithprospectivephotographers,besuretoaskabout the resolution of the images they provide, and their policies on printing the digital negatives that are included with the package that you select.

What is included with your wedding coverage?

Professional PrintsSome wedding photographers offer packages that include printable, digital images. This gives you the option to either print photos yourself, or to order professional prints directly from the photographer. Although prints ordered through your wedding photographer will cost more than having your photos printed at a local department store, depending on what you plan on doing with your prints, having a few of them printed professionally may be worth the additional investment.

There are two reasons why ordering prints through the photographer will leave you with a more polished finished product:

1. Prints ordered through your photographer will undergo additional retouching by the photographer. Skin retouching,removingthoseflyawaystrandsofhair,andhidingunsightlynosmokingsignsarejustsomeofthingsthatyourphotographerwillperformtoenhancethefinalimage.

2. Because prints ordered through your photographer are produced using meticulously calibrated printers and high quality inks and papers, the colours will come out exactly as intended, avoiding skin tones that look overly greenororange.Thearchival-gradeinksusedinthesehigh-endprinterswillensurethatyourprintswilllast forever without fading.

Ofcourse,theprintabledigitalfilesaregreatfor when you want to give small prints to friends and family as gifts. But if you plan on framing your prints and hanging them on your walls, you may wish to invest in professional prints. If your photographer offers prints, they may bring a selection of prints to your initial consultation, so that you can see the difference in quality with your own eyes.

Why an album may be your most valued product of your photography investment In this digital age, our eyes are so accustomed to seeing photographs on the screens of our cell phone, tablets and computers. Indeed, most wedding photography packages include some form of digital images. These images serve as a great way to share the memories of your day with friends and family by email and social media. When properly backed up, thesefileswillalsohelptosafeguardagainstthelossofyourphotos.

Thatbeingsaid,aftertheir“5secondsofFacebookfame”,yourphotosarenotmeanttoliveonaUSBstickinadrawersomewhere, destined to be forgotten, and even misplaced one day. Your photographer would be doing a disservice toyouifalltheyofferedwasaUSBdrive.Thiswouldbeakintoabakergivingyouaboxofflour,sugar,andeggsandwishing you luck in baking your wedding cake. In addition to taking photos, photographers are trained in the art of producingprofessionalprintsfromtheirphotos.Nothingdoesaphotographjusticelikeaprofessional-gradeprint.Printshave a certain depth and feel that simply cannot be matched on a screen. The best way to display the collection of your favourite prints and tell the story of your wedding day is through a beautiful wedding album.

Imaginehowexcitedyouwillbewhenyouhearfromyourphotographerthatyourweddingphotosarefinallyready.Youmeetwiththem,andtheyhappilyhandyouaUSBstick.Allthetimeyouspentresearchingaphotographer,planningthephotosfortheday,andyourfinancialinvestment…allsummedupwithUSBstickthesizeofyourthumb.It’salittleunderwhelming!

Nowimaginethesamescenario,butnowyouarepresentedwithabeautifullypackaged,luxurious,leather-boundheirloom-qualityalbumthatyoucanproudlysharewithfriendsandfamily,anddisplayinyourhomeforever.Yes,youwillhavethedigitalfilesthatyoucanalwaysgobackto,butthetruthisthatwealwaystakebettercareofourbooksthanwedo with anything that lives on our computer.

A wedding album is a tangible keepsake that will help you relive this most special day in your lives whenever you look through it. While digital technologies are constantly changing, a wedding album will always be easily accessible no matter how much future technologies change. Investing in a handcrafted, professionally printed album is the only way to ensure that your photos look just as amazing on your 50th anniversary as they do today, and will mean that your loved ones will be able to enjoy your photos from generation to generation.

The gold standard of wedding albums is the flush mount album. These are created using genuine, archival photographicprintsthataredry-mountedontorigidpagesthatwillnotbendorcrease.Whenthealbumisopened,thesepageslayflattoprovideaseamlessviewofeachspread.Thesealbumsareprintedwiththehighestqualitymaterialsavailable.Becausetheyareconstructedusingonlyarchivalgradematerials,yourflushmountalbumwilllook the just as stunning today as it will a century from now. These have to be seen in person to truly appreciate their exquisite look and feel, with each album being a true work of art that documents the events that unfolded on your special day. These albums will last even beyond your lifetime, and could be the only keepsake from your wedding that youandyourfamilyhaveforyearstocome.Forthisreason,flushmountalbumsaretheonlytypeofalbumorphotobook that we offer.

The King of Wedding Albums

Designing your albumOne great thing about investing in a professionally designed wedding album is that your photographer will take care of all of the tedious work in laying out the individual images on each page in a compelling and visually appealing way.

Arrivingatthefinalalbumdesignisajointeffortbetweenyouandyourphotographer.Somephotographerswillsendyouanonlinealbumpreviewtoreview,sothatyoucanmakechangesuntilyouapprovethefinaldesign.Other photographers will give you the option of meeting with them in person to design the album, which is oftenmoreefficientandmakesiteasytodiscusschangesinthealbumspreadsonthespot.Whenyouleavethemeeting, the album is ready to order.

How many pages should you include in your album?A typical wedding album will include a predetermined number of pages, with the option to purchase additional pages at an added fee. You may choose to keep the album simple, and narrow down the photos to only your absolute favourites. Alternatively, you may wish to have a more complete representation of your wedding day, and invest in additional pages for the album. If you chose 300 images for your album, and 30 pages are included, that’s an average of 10 images per page. This will produce a very busy and cluttered album. Creating your album is a balance of selecting your favourite photos, and deciding on how large you want the album to be. Your photographer will be able to advise you on ways to eliminate photos that you might not need to have in the album.Forfull-dayweddingcoverage,about60-80pages(30-40spreads)istheaverage.

One vs. two photographersSo far we’ve touched on a few things that can differ between photography services, including styles, skill, amount of coverage and what is included in packages. Another notable difference in photography services is whether one or two photographers will be present during your wedding day. There are several advantages to having two photographers.

Havingtwophotographersdocumentingyourceremonymeansthatyouwillseeyourceremonyunfoldfromtwodifferent vantage points. The only way to see the reactions of both the bride and groom as the bride walks down the aisle is to have two separate photographers in position. You’ll also get more emotional reactions from those at the ceremony,withonephotographerassignedtoclose-upphotos,andtheothergettingawide,sweepingviewoftheceremony’s proceedings. For the same reason, a second photographer is highly recommended if you choose to do a “firstlook”priortotheceremony,sothatbothofyourreactionscanbecapturedsimultaneously.

For photos of the newlyweds and the wedding party, having a second photographer present is advantageous even if thephotographerisn’tactivelytakingphotosatthistime.Duringbridalpartyphotos,thesecondphotographerisinchargeofadjustingtheweddingdress,fixinghair,andhelpingwithposing.Sincethissavestheprimaryphotographerfromdoingthesethings,thephotoswillbetakenmoreefficiently,whichmeansthatyou’llhavemanymorekeepersatthe end of the day.

As we will discuss later, for photographers that use portable lighting, one of the responsibilities of the second photographeristodirecttheflashdevicewhiletheprimaryphotographer takes the photos.

A second photographer will provide a fresh set of eyes, and help to come up with ideas for photos as the events of the day unfold. They are also like an insurance policy, acting as a backup in case something gets missed. When you lean in for yourfirstkissasnewlyweds,andUncleFrankdecidestostepinto the aisle with his phone to take a photo, blocking the line of sight of one photographer, the second photographer will be able to get the shot.

Production time

One thing that differs between professional photographers is the time it takes to receive your images. Some photographers will have your digital photos edited and ready to choose for your wedding album within a week of yourwedding,whileotherswilltakeseveralmonths.Besuretoaskyourphotographerwhatthetypicalturn-aroundtime is for having your photos ready.

Backup equipment

One of the most important things to ask your photographer is about backup equipment. What happens if they drop their camera during the ceremony and it breaks? These things are not likely to happen, but photographers need to be prepared for such an occurrence, and should always have backup cameras and other backup equipment at hand forthose“justincase”incidents.

Other factors to consider when choosing a photographer

Advanced photography techniques and creative edits

Somephotographers’stylesrequiretheuseofadvancedtechniquessuchasoff-cameraflash,lightpainting,andexposure blending to create artistic, visually balanced environmental portraits. These portraits are our personal favourite to create, and are the photos that our clients most often end up printing large for their walls.

Take the example above. In order to see any detail in the barn, the exposure on the camera would need to be set insuchawaythattheskyistoobright,andlackscolour.However,darkeningtheskytoseeitscoloursduringthisLunenburgsunsetmakesthebarn,andtheweddingcouplefallcompletelyinshadows.Byaddinginaremote-controlled strobe to light the couple and combining the three images, a balanced and moody portrait is created. These only take an extra minute or two to photograph, and we think are worth the extra time!

How portable lighting can take wedding photos to the next level Photographers are experts in understanding and manipulating light. Though all wedding photographers have to be capable of photographing in natural light, one skill that differentiates photographers is the use of portable light,alsocalledoff-cameraflash.Qualitynaturallightishardtocomeby,andmostweddingphotosaretakennearmid-day,whenthenaturallightisatitsworst.That’swhyweprefertouseportablelightingtoeitherenhancethenatural light, or create our own light altogether, to produce incredibly dramatic scenes no matter what the existing conditions may be.

In the sunset barn scene above, having the wedding couple be visible would not have been possible had we not implementedourportablelightingsetup.Thesetupconsistsofalarge,brightflashheldbyonephotographerthatiswirelesslytriggeredbythecamera.Havingaflashcontrolledremotelymeansthatthephotographercanaddlightwherevertheyseefit,andthushavingcompletecontroloverbothambientandartificiallight.Usingportablelighting requires a greater degree of skill than natural light only, but it can yield impressive results and allow for moreflexibilitywhendesigningcreativeportraits.

Notallphotographerswillbeproficientintheuseofportablelighting.Expecttopaymoreforphotographersoffering this skill, as it requires more expertise, equipment, and usually a second photographer or assistant to hold theremotely-triggeredflashwhiletheprimaryphotographertakesthephoto.

For example, this photo demonstrates the dramatic effect that can only be created by using portable lighting. Each person in the photo was litseparatelybyahigh-powerflash,creatingagrungy, edgy group portrait that the guys always love.

Our photographic style gravitates toward artistic portraiture, and our mission for every wedding is to create at least one special, unique piece of artwork for the couple.

In this photo, we wanted to illustrate the concept of the bride and groom walking into the distance as they began their new lives together. The long and straight boardwalk at this provincial park in Sydney was perfect for this; however, the gravel parking lot on the left distacted from an otherwise stunning and almost mystical backdrop of greenery. After some extra attention in processing and enhancing this photo, the bottom imagewascreatedasthefinalartwork, and currently graces the couple’s home as a beautiful gallery wrap canvas print.

Before

After

Major image manipulations for creating surreal scenes

A similar edit was performed on the portrait on the left, to lend to the photo a more ethereal atmosphere. Either photo could have worked well in this case.

Before After

One of our favourite times to capture stunning portraits of the bride and groom is during the short break after the meal and speeches, as the reception area is being prepared for the dance. For summer weddings, this is oftenrightaroundwhatphotographerscallthe“goldenhour”,inwhichthesunsets,thequalityofambientlight is at its best, and the sky is full of colours. I’ve been to weddings where we hopped in the car for a quick drive to a picturesque location during this time. These photos don’t need to take very long, so as not to keep youfromthepartygoingon,andtheyareoftenthecouple’smostfavouritephotosoftheday.These“goldenhour” portraits will also give you some time alone to spend with your new spouse, as a brief escape from all of the attention and happenings at the reception.

TheGoldenHourisalsotheperfecttimetoscheduleanengagementsession,togetthatwarm,goldenlight.

Don’t miss out on a “golden” opportunity

Contacting photographers and scheduling consultationsAfter looking at the styles of various photographers and generating a shortlist, it’s time to schedule some consultations. This is a chance not only to ask your prospective photographers questions about their services, but also to get an overall impression of their personalities, and what it will be like to work with them. It will also be a chance to see the types of products they offer, like wedding albums, professional prints and wall art.

Questions to ask yourself before scheduling a consult• how many hours of coverage do we want?• would we prefer to have two photographers instead of one?• what is our budget for photography?• whatdowewantfromourphotographer(engagementsession,albums,digitalfiles)

The next step is to create a list of the photographers you are interested in, and contact them by phone or email. It’s a good idea to ask about their fee, and whether they are available for your wedding date before you see them for a consultation.

We strongly recommend meeting with prospective photographers in person prior to booking with them. These consultations do not cost anything, and there is no obligation to book. We always recommend meeting with a few photographers, so that you can get a better understanding of their services, and get a feel for whether you are compatible with them.

Make a “short list”

Consult and decide

After your consultations, it will likely be clear to you which photographer you would like to hire. All that is left todoismakeitofficial,andsignacontract.Adepositisalmostalwaysrequiredtosecureyourdate,andistypicallyanywherefrom10-50%ofyourtotalinvestmentfee.

Questions to ask your photographer during the consultationIn a way, a consultation is like a job interview, with you in charge of hiring someone for this hugely important job! Though the conversation will be very casual, here is a list of questions that you may want to ask your photographer. Feel free to bring this list with you for the consultation – your prospective photographer will likely appreciate your preparedness!

• What do you have for backup equipment?• What is the difference between the packages they offer?• Doyouchargeatravelfee?• Is it ok if guests take photos while you are taking photos?• Haveyoueverworkedatthislocationbefore?• What information do you need from me prior to the wedding day?• Doyoubringportablelightingwithyou?• HowmanyphotographerswouldIbehiring?• What is the turnaround time for my photos?• What kinds of albums do you offer? Who designs the album?• Howlongdoesittaketogetdigitalfilesandprints/albums?• Whatistheirrefund/cancellationpolicy?• Howwouldtheydescribetheirstyle?• What makes their work different and distinguishes them from other photographers?• Dotheyofferengagementsessions?

The contract

All professional wedding photographers will require that you sign a contract upon booking. The purpose of a contract is to protect both you and your photographer. There have been many horror stories of amateur photographers bailing on a wedding at the last minute, and with no contract in place, so make sure that you get one signed as soon as you decide to book!

Be sure that the following information, at minimum, is included in the contract:

• Hoursofcoverageincluded• Your wedding date• Amountsandduedatesofthedepositandfinalbalance• Whatisincludedwithyourpayment(e.g.digitalfiles,printingrights,analbum)• The timeline for delivery of your photos• The minimum number of photos included (typically about 50 per hour of coverage)

Besides this information, there will likely be a number of clauses regarding things like image permissions and cancellation policies. Since the contract was probably written with the help of a lawyer, it may require some“translating”.Besuretocontactyourphotographerifyouneedclarificationonanyclausesinthecontract.

Congratulations! You’ve booked a photographer. Now what?Plan a schedule

As photographers, we want the photography to revolve around your wedding day, and not the other way around. It’s recommended to provide your photographer with a rough schedule of the events of the day, so they can know where to be ahead of time, and to make sure that enough time is planned for commuting between locations for photos.

A schedule for 12 hours of photography coverage may look something like this:

10:30-11:30groom’splaceforgettingready12:00-1:30bride’splaceforgettingready2:00-2:30ceremony2:30-3:15formalfamilyphotosatceremonylocation3:30-4:30weddingpartyphotosinthepark4:30-6:00brideandgroomphotosdowntown,thenonthewater6:00 reception starts8:00-8:30sunset“goldenhour”photoswhilepreparationsaremadeforthedance10:30 end of services

It’s a good idea to have a rough schedule drafted a few weeks in advance, so that you can discuss it with your photographer and make sure that there is a reasonable amount of time allotted for the photos that you wish to have. For example, if you looking to have photos taken at 3 separate locations in only 2 hours, most of the time will likely be spent commuting rather than having photos taken, and you may wish to drop a location in favour of having more photos taken at each place.

Information to provide to your photographer in advance of your wedding

In addition to the schedule of events for the day, here are a few things you should provide your photographer with prior to your wedding:

• a list of family photos

Family photos are typically taken immediately following the ceremony. To avoid missing out on anyone, we always recommend providing a list of the various combinations of family members of whom you would like to havephotostaken.Alistalsohelpsinmakingcapturingthefamilyphotosveryefficient,whichmeansthatmoretime will be saved for photos of you and your spouse.

• cell phone numbers

Because the unexpected can occur on your wedding day, it’s important that your photographers be able to get in contact with you. We recommend providing them with your cell phone numbers, as well as the phone numbers of your best man and maid of honour.

• special requests for photos

Although your photographers will have many ideas for photos, feel free to suggest anything that you particularly wanted. Perhaps you have a sentimental piece of jewelry that you want to incorporate in a photo. There may also be things that you do not want photographed. Maybe you would prefer that the photographer not be in the room while you are getting dressed. If there is tension between certain family members, you may also want to bring this up with your photographer.

Enjoy your photos!

Onceyourweddingisoverandyourphotoshavebeendelivered,it’stimetoenjoythem!Hangthemonyourwalls, frame them for your desk at work, and if you ordered an album, keep it on display on your coffee table for a while.

We strongly recommend backing up your photos in two places: somewhere physical, like on an external hard drive,aswellasinsomeformofonlineorcloud-basedstorage.

More questions?

Sincerely yours,

Jordan and Vanessa

We hope that you found the information in this guide useful. If you have any kind of question about wedding photography, feel free to contact us anytime, even if we are not your photographer. We want to make sure you have the best experience possible with your wedding photography!

Email: jordan@jordanpinder.com

Telephone:(902)403-1884

Website: http://jordanpinder.com

Facebook: http://facebook.com/jordanpinderphoto

Instagram: @pinderjb