"What equipment should a wedding photographer have?"
"What equipment should a wedding photographer have?"
I don't want to start a clinic for photographers here. (you can get that here) Many pros I know buy pretty much every updated iteration of the Canon or Nikon camera system that is released. Undoubtedly, they stay on the cutting edge of technology and can push their gear to greater limits to capture an image in extreme darkness or other difficult conditions. I know other pros that either feel that the top end gear they have (and replace every few years or so) does a perfectly good job without buying up every single new model before the old one has hardly 
gotten the plastic off the LCD. Others still feel that they shoot far too much and wear out their gear too often to use top level gear. They feel they can capture exceptional images regardless and use cheaper gear that is closer to being "disposable."
gotten the plastic off the LCD. Others still feel that they shoot far too much and wear out their gear too often to use top level gear. They feel they can capture exceptional images regardless and use cheaper gear that is closer to being "disposable."
I can't say that any of them are wrong but I do want to deflect some attention away from the equipment in general. A camera does not make a photographer any more than an oven makes a cook or a pen makes an author. Every shooter at any skill level is always, at some point, somewhere along a curve where they have to ask themselves if their ability level is limiting what their camera can do or if their camera is limiting what THEY are able to do. If you do your homework, photography equipment is clearly divided (by price, build quality and usually by the very model name) into Amateur, Serious-Enthusiast and Professional gear. If you expect a true professional, then you should expect them to have gear that is not going to limit their ability. Aside from cameras and lenses, a good wedding photographer should be familiar with using flash, on and off their camera, as well as various modifiers that shape and control the light to suit their task. In order to handle all the possible situations that may arise, they need to have all these different tools at hand and in working order so shots will not be missed because the conditions were not optimal for available (natural) light-only photographs. EVERY photographer should make use of shooting in RAW format (another discussion) for the enormous benefits in the editing suite. Since RAW files are massive, your photographer should be prepared with enough memory card storage to shoot 1,000-3,000 images which, depending on the camera, can be 16-80GB. Personally, I bring 96GB to every wedding.
::about the author::
Brendon is a photographer in the Birmingham area, available worldwide for nearly any project or event. Visit his main website (linked below) to see his portfolio, resume, bio or to get in contact. Add this blog to your RSS feed and "like" his Facebook Fan page to receive fresh photos and content.
"Do prices typically vary for an off-season or weekday weddings?"
"Do prices typically vary for an off-season or weekday weddings?"
This is another topic that varies from shooter to shooter. Many feel that they work equally as hard on a Friday in December as they do on a Saturday afternoon in May and they see no reason to discount their services. They save no money by shooting off-peak
weddings and anything they deduct from their price is simply money out of their pocket. Others are of the mind that if they already have booked the number of weddings that they're intending to book, picking up an unexpected wedding at a time when they would normally be slow is serendipitous and they are willing to make a little less money. Speaking for myself only, I already book and shoot as much work as I can possibly stand, and usually still book more weddings and shoot them, not wanting to turn anyone away. I am fortunate enough to be among the lucky few who literally would not take any job in the world over the one I have because I truly love what I do and I'm able to provide for my family in the process. I treat each bride as a case-by-case situation, as to whether I'm willing to accept one more wedding onto my plate that year, and, if I feel motivated to discount if price is a breaking point between us. I've certainly booked weddings before with couples that I felt I got along especially well with and looked forward to working with, or who were getting married at a venue that I had long wanted to shoot at. A couple simply needs to tactfully present their case to their potential photographer, and if they do not participate in discounts, that stance should be respected.
weddings and anything they deduct from their price is simply money out of their pocket. Others are of the mind that if they already have booked the number of weddings that they're intending to book, picking up an unexpected wedding at a time when they would normally be slow is serendipitous and they are willing to make a little less money. Speaking for myself only, I already book and shoot as much work as I can possibly stand, and usually still book more weddings and shoot them, not wanting to turn anyone away. I am fortunate enough to be among the lucky few who literally would not take any job in the world over the one I have because I truly love what I do and I'm able to provide for my family in the process. I treat each bride as a case-by-case situation, as to whether I'm willing to accept one more wedding onto my plate that year, and, if I feel motivated to discount if price is a breaking point between us. I've certainly booked weddings before with couples that I felt I got along especially well with and looked forward to working with, or who were getting married at a venue that I had long wanted to shoot at. A couple simply needs to tactfully present their case to their potential photographer, and if they do not participate in discounts, that stance should be respected.
You're welcome to reprint or repost this article on your website, blog or e-newsletter free of charge, provided that you don't change the aricle in any way and you include the byline "Authored by Brendon Pinola Photography" with the appropriate hyperlink to my website. In doing so you agree to indemnify Brendon Pinola Photography and it's directors, officers, employees and agents from and against all losses, claims, damages and liabilities that arise our of their use.
::about the author::
Brendon is a photographer in the Birmingham area, available worldwide for nearly any project or event. Visit his main website (linked below) to see his portfolio, resume, bio or to get in contact. Add this blog to your RSS feed and "like" his Facebook Fan page to receive fresh photos and content.
Brendon Pinola Photography 2013
American Pictoralist | Storyteller
"Can I get my photos in B&W?"
"Is it possible to get black and white as well as color photographs, or do couples typically have to
decide between one or the other?"
If your photographer is shooting RAW files, (and Heaven help you if he's not) they are recorded in full color. A correct workflow would predicate that they all be edited in color and then a batch of b&w images made later. Certainly, some images will translate much better in b&w than in colorbut, in my opinion, to give a bride no choice in the matter is to impose an improper level of personal opinion over what is aesthetically pleasing. Of course we are artists and our opinion matters but I feel that, in this matter, it should be up to the bride, so I always deliver every photograph in color and also in b&w.
You're welcome to reprint or repost this article on your website, blog or e-newsletter free of charge, provided that you don't change the article in any way and you include the byline "Authored by Brendon Pinola Photography" with the appropriate hyperlink to my website. In doing so you agree to indemnify Brendon Pinola Photography and it's directors, officers, employees and agents from and against all losses, claims, damages and liabilities that arise our of their use.
::about the author::
Brendon is a photographer in the Birmingham area, available worldwide for nearly any project or event. Visit his main website (linked below) to see his portfolio, resume, bio or to get in contact. Add this blog to your RSS feed and "like" his Facebook Fan page to receive fresh photos and content.
© Brendon Pinola Photography