Page 66 - Wedding Essentials & Essential groom Issue 8

How to choose the right wedding photographer

It is that time of the year to really start looking for your wedding photographer. If you are getting
married at the end of the year, or if you want to start planning and know what to look for, take
your time and read through this helpful guide.

Hello, future brides or if you are a under-exposed style (a bit darker, full move, and the more comfortable both
groom (please give the computer back of emotion and lots of details). Don’t of you are with the photographer, the
to you future wife)... just kidding. My overthink it; you’ll know you like it better the photos will turn out. In order
name is Wiaan Coffee, and yes my sur- when you see it. to get the best photos, go with a pro
name really is Coffee. I’m the owner of who has a firm grasp of social gather-
Wiaan Coffee Photography (www.wiaan- Traditional: ings but is bold enough to go out hunt-
coffee.co.za) I am a photographer that ing for great images and who, above
specialises in Weddings and Engage- To explain this easily, this is more in all, puts you at ease and doesn’t irritate
ments. I am married to my beautiful the style of posed or staged images of you in any way. To get the best photos,
wife Nicola. Together we capture your the wedding couple and guests. They your photographer needs to be asser-
special memories. focus more on the key shots that work. tive enough to seek out great moments,
That’s not to say there isn’t room for relaxed enough to get natural smiles
We reside in the beautiful City of creativity in this category. These pho- from guests, and calm enough to be a
Roses (Bloemfontein). We have been tographers will pose subjects in more positive influence. They should ask lots
privileged to have captured weddings traditional spots (like at the ceremony of questions and be a good listener.
across South Africa. We love Jesus and altar or out on the lawn of the country
love to honour Him with the talents club) and in more formal poses (stand- 3. Creativity
He gave us. We are easy-going down to ing as a group together)
earth type of people that loves coffee A key trait of a wedding photographer,
and good jokes. Story-telling: or any type of photographer for that
matter, is having a keen eye for creativ-
My photography style have been Instead of a series of posed photos, ity. Brilliant photographers imagine a
shaped throughout the years to a Dark- these are candid or spontaneous pic- shot in their mind moments before it
ish Emotion Filled Story-Telling Style. tures of people, décor and the action. actually happens. This enables them
What do I mean with Dark? Simply put: Typical shots might include children to be ready to take the picture and
A bit under-exposed photos that I cap- playing, heartfelt conversations or you make sure they have a clear shot with
ture of your special day. I want to tell a and your bridesmaids laughing, cham- their camera. A creative photographer
story of my photos, pagne in hand. With a more documen- can also provide you with the most
and capture real moments... tary photographer, you’ll very rarely stunning pictures as they will have the
see people staring at the camera—the knowledge of which poses or layouts
Secondly, the wedding photographer is photos capture the moments exactly as will create the most magical photo-
one of the Most Important Vendors you they happened, and together they tell a graphs.
can hire for your wedding, besides the story, with real moments.
Venue. *I’m not just saying this to get 4. Attention to detail
your money. Flowers are going to fade, Edgy and Bold:
drapes will be forgotten and you won’t Along with a creative eye, a great
really drive the wedding car again, but This style of photography, a mixture photographer must also have a strong
the pictures of all those mentioned, of both, is marked by outside-the-box, attention to even the slightest of
you will have for the rest of your lives. tilted angles and creative framing. So details. This will ensure that every pre-
If you ask your uncle that has a old instead of a straight-on shot of the cou- cious moment, no matter how small, is
camera that have not been used in 10 ple exchanging vows at the altar, the captured.
years, you will definitely be disappoint- photo might look tilted, with an object
ed with the moments that was missed. like an altar arrangement or a candle 5. Patience
in the foreground. Or the photo of the
1.What is your style? bride having her makeup done might We all know wedding days can be a
be shot from above, with an emphasis little hectic. Sometimes not everything
Before you begin researching photog- on the eye shadow brush rather than goes according to plan, so it is import-
raphers, you’ll need to first decide what on her face. ant to have a photographer by your side
type of photography style you prefer, as who is patient, calm, and ready to deal
that will help determine which kind of 2. Make sure your personalities get with any curveballs.
photographer you’ll want shooting your along
wedding. In all 3 mentioned below you Don’t underestimate the importance of In the end the photographer should
get over-exposed style (white back- liking and bonding with your photogra- treat you as a loving client, and guide
grounds, clean and good lighting) and pher. They’ll be shadowing your every you in their field of expertise.

66 | Wedding Essentials