An Essex Wedding - Jan/Feb 2018 (Issue 84)

Local experts offer stellar advice on wedding woes Snap decision My wife and I can’t decide on the type of photography we want for our wedding and need to book a professional ASAP. What do you advise? Ayshea says: My advice is to do a little homework first – find out if there are any wedding fairs in your area coming up and go along to them. Meet all the photographers there and look through their sample albums to see what shooting, posing and editing styles they use. Ask questions and let them explain what they do and their approach. If there aren’t any fairs in your local area, then do some research online, looking at different professionals and the styles that they have in their portfolio. Following photographers on Instagram is also a great idea. Then I’d suggest setting up meetings with a couple of photographers to sit down and chat properly. Ask in more detail about their styles and get them to explain any terminology that isn’t clear to you – we’re happy to explain what we mean by reportage and fine art. We’ll talk you through how we achieve our images and you’ll be able to decide if that fits with your desired result. By looking at complete wedding albums you’ll be able to see how a style flows and whether it works for you. Ayshea Goldberg Photographer ajg-photography.co.uk CAPTURE THIS I really want to capture our big day on video but my husband is convinced that there’s no need to hire anyone as his uncle has a camcorder. What would you advise I do? Andy says: Your wedding is a day that deserves to be remembered in fine detail – just think of all the effort you, your partner and your families have put into making sure it’s absolutely perfect. There’s a lot to take into consideration – the venue, decorations, flowers, bridal party attire, the dress, hair and make-up, and the groom. I’m sure you’ll agree it’s a lot to remember to the untrained wedding mind. In this day and age everybody is able to make videos, either with their smart phones or small cameras, so it’s very easy to believe a friend or relative can film the best day of your life. However, this would be a mistake for a number of reasons: ❤ One camera with limited battery life A videographer will have a minimum of three devices on the day, with multiple batteries to ensure no moment is missed. Filming with multiple cameras provides better coverage, more editing options and most importantly a back-up should anything unexpected happen. ❤ Poor sound A professional will carry expensive pro audio equipment, again having multiple options and back-ups. Sound is possibly the most important part of any wedding film as well as the most difficult part to get right – don’t let an uncle’s bad cough or the cry of a young guest spoil your magical memory. ❤ Editing Video edit software is not cheap, and the time and training that goes into understanding the full power of it can take years to master. By hiring a videographer, you’re not only paying for the safe filming on your day but also the creative art and skill they have trained for. ❤ A wedding videographer may not be as costly as you think. If you didn’t add a videographer to your wedding budget list because you thought it might cost a lot, then be sure to re-consider your options. Shop around, contact videographers to find out what you can get for your money and be sure to compare prices depending on how long you’d like them to stay during the wedding – you may find yourselves pleasantly surprised. Andy Coultrup Photographer and videographer chicmedia.co.uk  HOT TOPIC ajg-photography.co.uk chicmedia.co.uk EXPERT ADVICE 115