A  Photographer’s Thoughts, Digital Vs. Film

There are impassioned supporters of both film & digital. As a photographer who has used film for over twenty years and digital for the last six years, I would have to say that, at the time of  writing this it is  just about a dead heat but if I had to pick one FILM for sure. Two things are important here, one you can turn a negative into a digital file, but you can’t go the other way. I tell all my couple do both. Shot on film, scan the negative and burn a disc, YES best of both worlds. But the big factor here is why do Hollywood film makers still shoot on film, Hollywood would be the first to go cheap….

WHY… BECAUSE IT IS BETTER, LASTS LONGER, IS RICHER,LOOK FOR YOUR SELF.

END OF STORY.

Digital

Film

YOU TELL ME WHICH ONE IS BETTER,REALLY LET ME KNOW.

WHAT YOU THINK,THAT IS ALL THAT MATTERS.

At least fairly recently (the last three years and especially this past year), film did surpass the quality of digital capture, in my opinion. Film does still handle certain situations better than digital, but for all practical purposes, they will both produce professional results IN THE HANDS OF A PROFESSIONAL.

Some of these photographer are 100% digital while others still prefer film only or a combination of the two. Digital, though, is revolutionizing the photographic industry in a way that has been nothing short of amazing. It is here in the present and will be down the road. And like computers, it will only get better, faster and cheaper .When researching a photographer who shoots digitally it is important to discern if that photographer is relatively new to the technology or has been using it for a longer period of time.

Examine photographs made by the photographer using digital capture. Most likely, that photographer will have work that was also captured with film. Compare them and see if you can tell the difference. I you will for sure. Don’t get such in to doing your important wedding day digitially just because it is easier for the photographer.

When I discuss digital vs. film with  couples these days, I find much less resistance than I did a year ago. Couples are usually pretty tech savvy and often follow the developments in our industry, at least on the periphery.

Any opposition some might have to digital goes away when I show them images that are captured on digital (on a Canon 1d – 4.1 megapixel chip camera that are quite large .

They also see many images that have been captured on film, though scanned. Some poeple are able to notice the differences, but most really  do not  care, but you should. We have have had people call us who have lost there hard drive or computer and did not back files and guess what, up the creek with out a paddle.

What they care about are the images and the feelings that they capture and evoke. That is really what it comes down to and the main reason we are hired.

Digital does though, offer several advantages to the photographers while working…

1… The ability to see the image right away. This is my favorite reason for using digital capture. It gives me a level of comfort because I can see if my lighting, expression, exposure, etc. are correct right away rather than wait to see the film back from the lab in a few days.

2… The ability to change the ISO ( or the equivalent of film speed) on the run. This allows the photographer to go in and out of a myriad of lighting situations without having to suddenly change film to match the light levels from place to place at a wedding.

3… A virtually unlimited number of photographs can be captured at an event. This can be the boon and the bane of the photographers existence, though, because if you shoot them, you’ve got to edit them. But it frees the photographer from thinking “I can only shoot 10, 12 or whatever number of rolls of film at this event in order to keep it within budget.”

4… The ability to make black and white and sepia toned photographs from the digital capture. When one shoots digitally (unless they are captured in a black and white only mode on the Fuji S2) every photograph can become a black and white and/or sepia image. Parents may want an image in color, the couple may want to have it in black and white.

5… Freedom to experiment. This is a corollary to reason one. I will often shoot images that I would not even try with film because I know I will be able to erase it if it doesn’t work and modify it because I’ll be seeing the results immediately.
I was on a foreign trip last year and stuck in the bus on a rainy day. I literally pointed the camera out the window and just made some exposures just for the fun of it. And it was fun! Some of those images were totally unexpected and I would not have “wasted” film on it. But because I had the immediate feedback I could see what was working, modify it as I shot and make some different images.

Despite all the buzz about film vs. digital what it gets right down to when selecting a photographer are the images and personality.

Do you like the feel and the style of the images that the photographer shows? Do you LIKE the photographer? Do you trust them. We hope this helps, if you ever want to see the difference please let us know

Best Peter Bruce & team bELLE

A  truly “professional” photographer

. . .

I have read a lot of things lately on the merits (or rather the lack thereof) of professional photography for weddings. On the wedding newsgroup I read, photographers are often referred to as “greedy”, and I often see “flame wars” where post after post criticizes photographers in a “can you top this”. I even recently heard a famous (who stays namelees even though I would love to say) wedding professional, in effect, describe professional photography was a distasteful trend. While I’ve heard my fair share of “evil, selfish photographer” stories, I am still surprised that professional wedding  photographers are currently bashed, and I wish to offer couples another opinion on this important  subject,here we go people…

” Except for her spouse, the photographer is arguably the most important wedding decision a bride will make. The flowers may be fabulous, the setting may be romantic, the men may be handsome, the women may be beautiful, and the entire gathering may be moved to tears by the proceedings–but your own and your families’ memories of the whole celebration will begin to fade even before the flowers do. If you do not have good photographs, those memories and a few souvenirs will be all you have left of the day.

For the average couple and their families, the pressures of last minute preparations, guests and emotion have a way of blurring the ceremony and reception. The portrait viewing may be the first chance you have to really see the results of all your planning. The color scheme and details you worked to coordinate, the location that had just the right ambiance, and the family and friends who brought their love and best wishes to share–all of these elements combine to make a spectacle that is hard to appreciate until you can view it as the photographer does.”

Copyright 1997 “A Bride’s Touch: A Handbook of Wedding Personality and Inspiration”

The above statements are not meant as an advertisement or blanket endorsement of all wedding photographers. It is based on our own personal  experiences, and on those of couples I have worked with over the years. Over 92 % of the brides who commented on photography in my surveys have emphasized the importance of finding (and not skimping on the budget for) a good photographer. It is very interesting to me that brides who had good wedding  photography experiences, and brides who had negative experiences, both advised other brides to invest well  in professional wedding  photography.

The negative responses I received about  wedding photography were primarily on subjects such as photo session timing and the numbers of formal & candid shots  taken. These are both important concerns, and subjects which you should definitely have an understanding about with whoever takes your wedding photographs. But I certainly would not discourage couples hiring a professional portrait photographer based on these concerns.

I know a few people who feel that they were over charged for their portraiture. I know one couple whose family and friends took nicer photos than the professional they hired. I know plenty of couples and their families who did not particularly enjoy the time it took to get portraits taken. But I have met far more who regret not having professional portraits taken, or regret not looking into their photographer’s reputation and referrals more carefully. Professional portraiture is NOT appropriate for every couple’s budget, circumstances, and priorities– but it CAN be a truly wonderful, priceless service when handled by a true professional! Please remember once again that after all is said and done the only 2 things you will have after the wedding is over is your husband and the wedding photos.

If you choose to have only amateur photography, or none at all, I hope that you are happy with this decision. In closing, let me pass on an appropriate message I found recently in a fortune cookie.

Associate with those who have both know-how and integrity.

I think this applies to all of your wedding services, not just photography. Best wishes to you!

Only a true "Pro" can do this.

We hope this helps, as always, please let us know

Best Peter Bruce & team bELLE

Anne & Justin pulled off a great wedding at the beautiful Almaden Country Club in San Jose California.

Almaden is set on 135 acres of wounderful hill side in San Jose, and is a great place for a wedding. The view over looking the golf course is picture perfect and the room thery had the reception was set up just right to party. I am glad the Peter Bruce Photo & bELLE fine weddings were there to capture the day. We started at Anne’s parents house with some getting readt shot and then moved over to Almaden for one of the nicest cermonies ever. After some photo and the families, I was lucky enough to have tome with the couple to shoot them on the course. Then in side for a great meal with professional and friendly service and dancing finished up the event.

Hope you enjoy the photos and as always please let us know…

Best Peter Bruce & team bELLE

The New  look of Wedding Photography

look at me...

. . .

Over the past years there have been amazing changes in wedding photography, which is good news to anyone who is currently looking for a photographer to shot there wedding. The new  trend is towards, more contemporary look of wedding photography. More relaxed, natural and artistic than ever. Far gone are the old, forced look , unnatural looking poses . Today’s couples are much  more educated on photography  and don’t want the old, stuffy styles of photography that their parents had.

Besides looking more real, how is it different that traditional photography? Contemporary photographers know that today’s couples want to enjoy their wedding day and have fun. Couples spend so much money & time  planning  for there wedding day. It does not make sense to miss a  hours of  your  wedding, being bossed  around by a photographer who makes them maintain  rigid and  uncomfortable poses of you. A lot of wedding photographers now offer a “photojournalistic” style , where the day is recorded just the way it happens and unfolds.

The photos  tell the story of your  wedding day. No posing, taking time away from the party,just real &  natural, artistic and beautiful shots that capture the events and moods of your wedding  day. Well what about the family &  group shots? Many of these photographers will take these group shots before or maybe  after the ceremony, taking less time than photographers of the past so you can get on with your day and not miss out on the  real fun of the party. Make sure you ask this question before you book  your  photographer if family and group shots are important to you.We leave up to the bride and groom as it depends if they want to see other other before the wedding.

Black & white photography is also really  popular, but is it a trend? A lot of  modern  day couples are requesting to have their photography  fully  or partially in black & white. There is just something about black & white. It has a very classie, timeless and artistic look to it. It has a mood all to its self . It lends itself very  well to the photojournalistic style. I would say that this trend is probably here to stay for a while.

Black & white has been around a long time.  Go to any photography gallery and you will see that most of what you see is in black and white. It is now, and always will be, a classic form of photography. It is always nice to have a combination of both color and black & white. Also sepia has a nice warm inviting feel to the photo, if it is done right.

Do all wedding photographers photograph in this style? Well No, there are still  some of the traditional photographers out there who have not changed. When you are interviewing photographers, ask them if they specialize in a photojournalistic style of photography, or if they do a combination of both traditional & photojournalistic shooting  styles. Make sure you see samples of work from the specific photographer who is going to photograph your wedding, not just samples from a studio that may send out a different photographer. Consider not only the style of different photographers, but also the personality and choose the one that you feel the most comfortable with. Let’s face it,( and we have talk about bed side manner before and how important it is) the wedding you are spending so much time planning is only going to last a few short hours. The music will stop, the food will be eaten, and the flowers die, but all you will  have is those photos to remember your wedding day Along with your now husband. And that is why it is so important to find a great photographer who will give you artistic pictures you will love forever.

Well hope this helps and as always we like your feed back keep it coming, thanks…

Looking good...

Best regards  Peter Bruce photo & team bELLE

Photo Tips for your Wedding Guests

“Brides & Grooms please pass this on to all your guests”

.     .     .

It’s summer, and that means  you will be going to a wedding sometime soon. And, you’ll be bringing your camera to the along with a gift for the couple.Peter Bruce Photo & team bELLE would like to share some tips to  help you take  better photos at the wedding. I have always thought it your shots  come out better than mine, it is time for me to hang up the camera and I mean that in the nicest possible  ways of course.

All smart couples hire a professional  photographer to photograph there wedding, there’s still plenty of room for you to also capture your perspective of this great  occasion on film,please note I said FILM . There are lots of moments that happen among the guests that will never be captured by the photographer.  Here are some things that help me .Please stay out of the pro’s way. He or she has a big job on hand. And, never shoot over the pro’s shoulder. That won’t be appreciated and could interfere with the job.

Concentrating on recording the fun that you and your family and friends have at the wedding. Not only will you have a record of the wedding for your own pleasure, but imagine the joy of the happy couple to receive prints of events that the professional photographer did not see or wasn’t asked to shoot.

Example,some wedding photographers no longer shoot those table shots of the guests because these photos don’t usually get purchased by the bride & groom.(see my example of table shots) This is a great time for you to shoot. But shoot these like a pro, Have some of the people at your table stand up and move behind those still seated and make a group shot. Avoid showing the entire table complete with half eaten food and 8 bottles of empty wine, instead concentrate on the guests face.

Another photo opp exists at your table. Many bridal receptions now include disposable  cameras at every table. You may need to get the show rolling and coax your table mates to start taking pictures. Remember, the bride & groom can’t be at every table to take part in the festivities so candid photos from these cameras can show the guests having fun in a way that professional photographers aren’t likely to capture. You may get some funny shoots with these single shot cameras. Also keep them away from young kids.

A couple of hints on wedding photo etiquette. If you want to take photos at a church, synagogue, mosque , take your cues from the professional wedding photographer hired by the  couple. If you see that he or she is not taking photos at the ceremony, chances are it is because the prest told the photographer not to. Respect the tradition and don’t take pictures at this time. The same thing holds true for flash photography. Some places of worship will allow it at the ceremony, others will not. If you see that the pro is shooting, then take an aisle seat. It’s the best place to get nice close shots of the couple that fill the frame as they leave the church.

One other suggestion on wedding photography is to be respectful of the professional wedding photographer. Don’t get in that there way. You don’t want to ruin the photos that the bride and groom are paying the pro to take the photos, and the pro can do a better job of capturing many parts of the event than you can. As we’ve indicated, there are plenty of different kinds of shots for you too.

Hope this helps your guest and please pass it on.

Peter & team bELLE

1… Identify Photography type & Photographer Skills

Choosing a photographic style is like choosing a movie, you would consider the cinematography, composition, approach, or the era of the film, such as animation, documentary, or vintage classic, etc. The same movie could be portrayed differently by the film’s presentation, hence bringing a completely new different experience to the viewer.

The same thing could be transcended into your wedding photographer ,this can be done by them  using a blend of creative style and  vision. Your photographer embodies the  same responsibility and expertise of a film director and a production studio.

Wedding photographer now a days are  dominated by two major  styles. 1 traditional and 2  photojournalism. Before you rush to tell your photographer that you want just  photojournalism because you’ve heard the trendy  word, let me help you  understand something  about these two photographic styles because I am always here to help.

Traditional wedding  Photography… This  is a setup in a situation. For the most part it is  less creative, but often produces high quality photos as subjects are carefully positioned and directed  to achieve the maximum pose for  lighting and location. From cloth position to facial expressions, the photographer maintains max  control. However the time it takes to set up may  interferes with the wedding time line .

This is a sample of traditional

Photojournalism…One the other hand  is a process in which the photographer shoots a large amount  of photos, and produces a time lined story. The situation  is uncontrolled, like  shooting a documentary film. Photos are shot as the wedding is unfloding. Although picture quality doesn’t quite match up to the controlled traditional photography, photojournalism is extremely spontaneous, and often produces very creative images without interrupting the flow of the wedding day and what is happening.

This would Photojournalism

OK people… now you have a firm grip on  the two photographic styles, let’s us go forward to the fundamentals of identifying a good  photojournalist. A good wedding photographer should have a distinct style that sets them apart from the rest of the crowd. The best and fastest way to identity this quality is by examining there  portfolios. A true artistic approach to photography should demonstrate expertise in the following three areas…

1. Subject Matter aka bride & groom …Do they  have a keen eye and quick trigger to capture special moments, surrounding, and also  pay attention to small details.
2. Composition … Is the photo layout creative and stylest ? How are the couple  positioned inside the picture frame? How are photos cropped, what angles are they using, what lenes look best for the bride and groom.
3. Colors… Great vibrant colors are achieved via the combination of a photographer’s understanding to lighting, photo equipment expertise, and post processing skills.

2… Photo image Consistency ,Look beyond a their Portfolio.

A portfolio is  a compilation of  good photos taken from many different  weddings, it could be 10, 20 or even 100 weddings. It’s not hard  for a photographer to produce a few good images from an entire wedding. But would you settle for just a few?

You should never book a photographer based only on the portfolio . You need to look beyond the portfolio and verify the photographer’s ability in producing good quality photos consistently over the course of your wedding. This is what separates a good photographer from the not so good.

3… Photographer Personality, what I call bed side manner.

If you like the photographer’s skills and work, you could stop further review, and book the them while they are  still available. After all, you could gain solid insight on how comfortable the clients are with the photographer based on the photographer’s works. However, personality compatibility is always a big thing. Just because they are great at what they do does not mean they have great bed side manner and remember girls, you are going to spend to whole day with them.Here are 3  points.

• A nice phone call or two should be suffice; open up your conversations, perhaps even covering topics beyond photography.
• Request a list of client testimonials. Some photographers include this information directly on their websites.
• Although not a requirement, if you’re lucky to be living close to the photographer, it would be usual practice to request a quick meeting over coffee.

That sums it up. Choosing the right photographer is a lifetime decision. Do not rush your selection process, and stay true to the three steps. I wish you best of luck, and a wonderful wedding photographic experience. We hope this helps and as always let us know

Cheers  Peter Bruce & team bELLE

Remember ONE thing girls. Al brides are beautiful OK Got it. So your wedding day is here, all the planning is behind you and you are going to have more photos taken of you today than you have for the rest of your life. You know that we are a team and I want to make you look your best, but remember you are already beautiful I just need to use the camera and my skills to bring out the best of you. Here are 25 tips to help us do that. You don’t need to use them all, just pick which ones help you.

1. Just be Yourself… Really don’t try to look or be anything other than yourself. If you are self conscious about a certain things, it will most likely come out  in the photography. Just be your and think positive. There you go the rest is a cake walk.

2. Chill lax… We’re often our worst critics when it comes to photo or video. Remember that you want to be seen the way others see you too. I know you want flattering photos, you want to make sure that it still looks like you in the pictures. So just relax and have fun.

3. Laugh… It’s flattering on everyone.Tell a joke,think of something funny,just have fun.

4. Think about the moment your in…. Capturing the feeling of the day, the emotion, excitement & intimacy is what it’s all about. Don’t look at your photographer, look at your man  and savor everything around you. Your photographs will be beautiful  & real.

5. Forget the camera is there… try your best to be playful and warm and look past the camera like it’s not there

6. Do an engagement session… This is so good  for couple  & photographer. The couple  have an opportunity to relax and be in front of the camera and the photographer can get to know his or there couple .

7. Practice looking  in the mirror… Look at yourself. Study your face and body in the mirror and judge yourself and then work at showing off your best parts.

8. Be comfortable in your skin… For both  engagement and portrait shoots, wear clothing that is flattering, but comfortable as well. If your 5 inch stilettos are hurting your feet, it will show in your face,if you feel good,you look good and that will show. Trust me.

9. Keep makeup and eyelashes normal and classic… Don’t over do it and do a makeup test run, so you know how you look before the wedding.

10. Mind the lens. Try to not allow one part of your body get closer to the lens as this  will make that part appear bigger  than the rest of your body.

11. Strike the pose… To make your neck look more elongated, drop your shoulders down  and raise your chin up . Imagine that you are being pulled up  by a string from the top of your head.

12. No bad hair days… If you are prone to have flyaways or random frizzies with  your hair, have a toothbrush with hairspray at the ready (bridesmaid can carry it) One squirt and swoop will keep  most frizzies and help your hair look super smooth for photos.

13. Have white chalk or baby powder handy… White chalk or baby powder helps hides stains on white wedding gowns. If you are worried about grass stains, general dirt or in case there is a spill on your wedding day, make sure to have some with you. It works in a jiffy and no one will know but you. Your dress will get a little dusty, don’t stress, just focus on the positive.

15. If your not Ms. Banks… To help you  look thinner, keep your shoulder to the camera and avoid facing the camera straight on. You can also hide behind the groom a bit or tuck into his armpit to slim yourself down.

16. Don’t look down. To stop a double chin, have your  photographer shoot from above the eye level. Tilt the head a little  sideways to hide the chin and have your  photographer avoid shooting from the side to much.

17.  Show them attitude…. Most brides feel  insecure about her bare arms in a strapless wedding dress. To fix it… Instead of the arm laying flat against the torso and making it look wider, just  toss the hand on the hip. It will make the arm much more toned looking.

18. Angle yourself… Balance your weight on your back foot and cross the other foot in front of the other in a T fashion. Pop a hip out  towards the camera but at an angle. This is always   slimming, especially when used with hands on the hips. 

19. Natural light is your best  friend… Getting ready in a room with big  windows with soft  makes for great pictures. Not only is the light beautiful, it is also flattering and makes your skin look amazing and soft .

20. Make sure your reception is well lit… The best wedding receptions seen in magazines have lighting covering the dance floor and on the cakes and table arrangements. Think about  hiring a lighting company to light your reception or ask the venue/band/DJ to light your reception for you. The pictures will be amazing and you won’t regret it!

21. Don’t let it get dark during dancing… DJs  &  bands love a dark dance floor to entice people to get loose and no one can see how many people are up there . Photographers, of course, want this too and want to get fun dance shots of the crowd, but we need a little light to focus on people. Ask the venue ahead of time not to turn down  the lights entirely. Also, during your first dance, have spotlights on you, people want to see you and nothing worse than you two fading into the back ground.

22. Use spotlights… If you are planning a candlelight ceremony,make  sure to have a spotlight shining on the area where you will be standing and saying your vows.

23. Stop  the squinty look… If the sun is really bright, close your eyes and ask your photographer to let you know when they  is going to take the photos . Open them when they tells you and that will eliminate the squinty look. Use the 1 2 3 method.This also works if you typically wear glasses and do not want to wear them for portraits.

24. Baby Love yourself… After shooting hundreds of brides I can tell you that every  bride is beautiful on this day, regardless if they think of themselves plain or normal, overweight etc. The transformation is always astounding. Accept it, believe it and be confident and it will show.Trust me.

25. Most of all be happy… Happiness is beauty and beauty come from within.

Hope these tips helped, let us know and please feel free to pass them on

Cheers Peter and bELLE team.

Do wedding photographers offer separate pricing for  small weddings?

Even if you are inviting hundreds of guests or are eloping to beautiful San Francisco with no guests , the work a wedding  photographer does at your wedding, as well as the work after wards, does not change much  based on the number of people at the event.  Each wedding will get the same level of love & and attention given to it.  Many  photographers have packages based at least partially on time spent at your wedding, so if a smaller wedding means a shorter wedding to you, you may be able to find a package with shorter coverage times that suits your needs.  Some  photographers may also offer shorter coverage than outlined in their regular packages for weddings on non-peak days, or for weddings booked within a month or two of the event. That being said we do not do packages,every wedding is different and at  Peter Bruce photo & Belle Fine weddings we treat every wedding different. So if you are having a small wedding or eloping,we price it like that. You are not buying a car, this is a wedding, big or small it can not be put in a box. Hope this helps,let us know.

Cheers Peter Bruce

Great wedding photos

Here are some tips for great wedding photography & video…

Many years from now,  nothing better than looking back on all the beautiful photos & video from your wedding day. Here are four tips that will make them all just right…

1. Make your comfort  priority one…. Your  photographer will be with you for largest  part of your wedding  day, so it’s important that you feel comfortable around him or her. Weeks before your wedding, get together with your photographer and explain what type of shots you want and how creative you’d like the day to be. This will make  that you’re both on the same page on the day, and that you won’t feel so shy or awkward when being  posed  for photos . The picture taking process should goes easy and be fun. After all, your hair and makeup will be done just right  your dress  will be beautiful and you will look your best ! Enjoy and take in every minute of this,that is why we say do video as well,if it is in the budget.
2. Leave lots of time for photos… You may  be the most organized, bride around  but schedules don’t always run as planned. On your wedding day, don’t be surprised if things take more time than you thought they would, the  photography being one of them. That’s why it’s so important to leave an adequate time  between your ceremony &  reception.Think about  the size of your wedding party as well, the more bridesmaids and groomsmen you have, the longer it will take to get all the photos done. And is  your reception along way from the  ceremony? Make sure you take this into account. Bottom line girls.Please  don’t expect to get all your pictures done in  a half an hour, this is what you have to look at forever.
3. Be ready on time… If you want your  photographer to shoot pre ceremony stuff, like   the salon, getting dressed, getting into the limo and on your way to the church, make sure you and your bridal party are ready when they  show up. If you’d like to feature your bridal bouquet in these photos make sure  that your flowers will arrive on time,before you leave. PS tell the florist you need them 30 minutes before you really do, do this with the hair and make up too. You’ll also want to make sure your limousine is booked for enough time to allow for things to run a little late  they often are.
4. Know your back up plan to a tee…. Of course rain is the last thing you want on your wedding day, but don’t assume it won’t rain. Have a back-up plan for your wedding photos just in case, and make sure your alternate location is available.If  your photographer and video are worth anything, they will know where to go to take photos if it rains…I DO !!!

The Wedding Album…

After the ceremony, you’re still going to be faced with a few major wedding chores. One, writing thank you letters, and another is selecting wedding photos  from the  proofs. Some of these will be blown up and framed for your wall or as gifts. But the biggest job will be selecting and organizing photos  for your wedding album.

It’s up to you to choose your favorite shots, but many photographers will include a photo album service, for a fee. You’ll get professionally mounted photos, artistically presented in a keepsake album you’ll treasure forever. And take your time on this, do not RUSH it and try not to buy the album from the photographer,call or e mail and i’ll tell you why…

Cheers Peter Bruce

So many photographers say “we do photojournalism.” I really don’t get it!    Are they all photojournalists?

Brides and groom  looking  for a wedding photographer are attracted to photos that look natural,the  un posed photographs that capture a certain moment or feeling  in time, exactly as that moment  happened. True  photojournalist will shoot your wedding without any  interference  with the bride & groom.  The real photojournalist will not  pose you , using only there   skills  to capture your images in a most flattering light &  conditions.  The result will be  photographs which  will show your wedding in a most natural and real way.

Also some  wedding photographers call themselves documentary  photographers. They will also document your wedding day as it happens,with no direction or just a little direction. Or what I like to call softly directed.

Some photographers will capture parts of your wedding without interference or input , but at times during the wedding  day, they will pose you, or make some directions about where to stand or sit , smile,  kiss, and will interact with you and your guests as they need to.  If you ask these photographers if they do photojournalism, they’ll likely say YES because they do avoid interacting during parts of the wedding day.
After you ask about “photojournalism,” it’s a great  idea to also ask them  “Do you ever pose or direct  your couples , or make suggestions that will help us look better ?”  You’ll get a much better idea of how the wedding photographer you’re considering works on your wedding day. But DO NOT leave it till your wedding day, ask as many question up front as possible. Just as a heads up,at Peter Bruce Photo and Belle Fine weddings, will do both. And depending on the bride and groom, how they fill in front of the camera work with team as a team for what they want. If you want to drop us a line with questions to ask other photographer, happy to help.

Cheers Peter Bruce and Belle team