Quality is key for wedding photos

A lot of planning goes into crafting the perfect wedding. In the whirlwind of vendors, consultants and dates, there is one piece of the puzzle that may be overlooked in the age of smartphones and social media — the wedding photographer. 

“If you want professional results, hire a professional,” said Randy O’Rourke of Kent, who has been a photographer for more than 34 years. He says he’s captured memories at approximately 250 weddings throughout his career — and while he currently focuses mainly on sports and other events, he still photographs weddings that have come to him through word-of-mouth.

Jennie Selfridge of Millerton started her own photography business, Memory Catchers Photography, in 2012. As a mother of two (Adryanna, 10, and Brayden, 6), she enjoys taking photographs of infants, children, families and school events in the Webutuck Central School District. She also loves to photograph weddings.

“I get to capture their special day for them,” she said. “I didn’t have that when I got married. One of my biggest regrets was not having somebody there to take photos.”

Both Selfridge and O’Rourke offered tips for couples who are planning to hire a wedding photographer.

Consultation

Set up an in-person meeting with the prospective photographer at least six months in advance — if your wedding is in the prime season of late April through October, consider increasing that to nine months or a full year to make sure you hire a photographer you like and that the date is available.

“This meeting is important to see if your vision syncs up with the photographer,” O’Rourke said. “There are a lot of different styles. Some couples are naturalistic, while others want formal, classic lineups.”

You should talk about your venue and the time of day of the ceremony, so the photographer can plan for specific lighting issues. An engagement photo shoot can also be discussed (Selfridge offers a 10-percent discount on the wedding package for couples who choose an engagement session).

The hours the photographer will work during the wedding is an important topic. Do you want the photographer to capture those moments before the ceremony when the wedding party is getting ready? Should they stay late into the night during the reception to take candid photos of dancing and guests chatting at tables?

“It’s extremely handy to establish ahead of time a shot list of what the couple needs to have so the photographer knows exactly what’s expected of them,” O’Rourke said.

Selfridge agreed, noting that couples might want to schedule some things in a certain order to make sure the photographer can snap those important photos — such as cutting the cake, for example.

Avoid social media

Both O’Rourke and Selfridge emphasized that if you hire a professional photographer, it’s a good idea to tell your guests to avoid posting to social media during the ceremony and/or reception. Some couples choose to print this request on their invitations.

“Everybody’s happy and excited to be there, but the last thing you want is people blocking the photographer. And depending on the lighting, the quality of cell phone photographs isn’t great if you blow them up to put in a frame,” Selfridge said. “You can’t redo it.”

“Guests can be so anxious to be the first, they don’t think about quality. The couple should be able to select the images to share. Enjoy the moment and let the professionals do what they do,” O’Rourke said.

Relax and enjoy the day

Hiring a professional photographer allows the couple to enjoy the day with the confidence of knowing that this important moment in their lives will be captured forever.

“The couple is so busy, there are things they don’t get to see,” O’Rourke said. “A lot of them love to see those candid photos.”

“It feels great to get these pictures for them on this important day. I love seeing people’s reactions. It’s rewarding to do that for somebody,” Selfridge said. “Just relax. Don’t stress about the photos. That’s what I’m here for.”

To contact Randy O’Rourke, go to www.bigplayphotos.com. To contact Jennie Selfridge, go to www.memorycatchersphotography.com.

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