Hi, Guest
09-14-2006, 11:41 AM
Not surprisingly NOS and Meford have a different take on the subject -- but interestingly I think they both have a point, even if they are somewhat distracted at this point.
IMO no amount of amateur luck or expensive camera can replace the composition and lighting control that a good professional photographer will give you - especially with a once in a lifetime deal like a wedding - zero tolerance for error (or in my case thrice in a lifetime, but you get my meaning I'm sure)
Add in the specialized equipment and finishing that only a professional photographer can bring to the table -- and budget nothwithstanding, there is in my view a compelling argument to hire a professional photographer for a wedding. And call me old school but IMO the digital world has yet to equal what a good photographer can do with film.
On the other hand ... there are elements of a wedding that a professional photographer is unlikely to be in a position to capture -- those candid moments outside the posed photos --often many at the same time -- that really do add to the special and personal nature of a wedding.
Our solution was to have both ... we hired the best photographer we could afford and made sure the deal included a package he could make a few bucks on ... but it also included me owning the negs so I would have my own reprint options later.
We had a few relatives who are good with cameras and we bought the film/media for them and told them to go crazy -- and they did.
And finally we gave everyone else one of those crazy 24-shot disposable cameras and asked them to fill 'em up and turn them in at the end of the day ... and the result was 1,440 candid shots to choose from -- most were crap (but still fantastic in their own special way) but a handful were priceless and our memories of that day are really enhanced by having these pics to look at.
The end result is an awesome collection of pics that were affordable (and affordable to share with our guests) -- that included the best of what a pro wedding photographer knows is important, as well as all the candid shots that he (and my wife and I) were simply not in a position to capture.
My advice - do it all.
IMO no amount of amateur luck or expensive camera can replace the composition and lighting control that a good professional photographer will give you - especially with a once in a lifetime deal like a wedding - zero tolerance for error (or in my case thrice in a lifetime, but you get my meaning I'm sure)
Add in the specialized equipment and finishing that only a professional photographer can bring to the table -- and budget nothwithstanding, there is in my view a compelling argument to hire a professional photographer for a wedding. And call me old school but IMO the digital world has yet to equal what a good photographer can do with film.
On the other hand ... there are elements of a wedding that a professional photographer is unlikely to be in a position to capture -- those candid moments outside the posed photos --often many at the same time -- that really do add to the special and personal nature of a wedding.
Our solution was to have both ... we hired the best photographer we could afford and made sure the deal included a package he could make a few bucks on ... but it also included me owning the negs so I would have my own reprint options later.
We had a few relatives who are good with cameras and we bought the film/media for them and told them to go crazy -- and they did.
And finally we gave everyone else one of those crazy 24-shot disposable cameras and asked them to fill 'em up and turn them in at the end of the day ... and the result was 1,440 candid shots to choose from -- most were crap (but still fantastic in their own special way) but a handful were priceless and our memories of that day are really enhanced by having these pics to look at.
The end result is an awesome collection of pics that were affordable (and affordable to share with our guests) -- that included the best of what a pro wedding photographer knows is important, as well as all the candid shots that he (and my wife and I) were simply not in a position to capture.
My advice - do it all.
2008 Fusion SEL MTX - DD1 * 2009 Fusion SEL - DD2 * 2007 Focus ZXW - R*I*P * 2004 Focus ZTW CD Silver - sold * 2004 Focus ZTW Black - sold * 2003 Focus ZTW Black - sold * 2001 Focus ZTW Gold - sold * 2000 Focus SE Wagon (ZTW option) - Black - sold * 2000 Focus SE Wagon (ZTW option) - Gold R*I*P
2003 Focus ZX5 infra-red Track Rat - R*I*P
2003 ZX5 CD Silver Track Rat - retired, but still in the driveway
New track rat: 2000 ZX3, Atlantic Blue * JRSC with lots more to come
* New Zetec crate motor - NFG - thanks Topspeed *
2003 Focus ZX5 infra-red Track Rat - R*I*P
2003 ZX5 CD Silver Track Rat - retired, but still in the driveway
New track rat: 2000 ZX3, Atlantic Blue * JRSC with lots more to come
* New Zetec crate motor - NFG - thanks Topspeed *