HOW TO CHOOSE A WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER / HADAR GOREN PHOTOGRAPHY

Deciding which photographer will be photographing your wedding is an important decision. Unlike many things in life, photographs are forever and will be cherished for generations. There are many photographers out there and the choices are vast. How do you know who to choose?

Here are some things to look for;

Light quality: when viewing a photographer’s portfolio, look for variety. Pay attention to the light. An inexperienced photographer will have hard time dealing with direct sunlight and this will result in harsh shadows and squinty eyes. Most often, new photographers will capture the images from the wrong direction. But the sun is not the only challenge, flash or spot lights can be challenging as well.

Social skills: I found a very talented photographer! Having a creative and talented photographer is what most couples look for when searching for a photographer. However, photographing a wedding is not that easy. In many instances, your photographer will have to take charge of different situations. Being friendly, funny, polite and assertive is a must in order to achieve the desired result. 

The right equipment: Having a good camera, lenses, and lights and knowing how to use them is a great start for any aspiring photographer. However, knowing when to use them is what makes the difference between the $1000 photographer and the $10,000 photographer. It is very easy to create a well exposed image but it takes experience and experiments to create a masterpiece.

Editing: Got Photoshop, will edit! While Photoshop and other editing software is an essential tool for today’s photographer, some are either trying too much or not trying at all. This is an art by itself and knowing how to work with a photograph and not making it look like a cartoon or a surreal painting (with some exceptions) is important. Removing blemishes from skin in photographs should be done gently and should not leave the skin with no texture or looking like rubber.

Professional associations: As a photographer, I know that being an active member of professional photographer association and communities is invaluable. There are many benefits for joining a pro association, here are 2: associations allow a photographer to network with other professionals and have a “back up” photographer in case of an emergency. In addition, being a part of a pro group will increase the creativity and knowledge of any photographer by sharing ideas and techniques with one another.

The 4 C’s (of wedding photography): As I am sure that at this point of your engagement, you heard of the 4 Cs of a diamond (Cut, Color, Clarity and Carat). Here is my translation of this guideline into wedding photography;

• Cut (crop and composition), this is one of the most important aspects of creating a truly beautiful image. Knowing how to frame a photograph could make a world of difference and there are too many things to consider. Background, light direction, camera angle and posture are just a few.
• Color (skin tone and temperature): In the past few years since the popularity of consumer digital cameras grew, we have seen the color orange way too much (and got used to it) and achieving a correct skin tone is somewhat of a lost art. The reason this evolution took place is due to the fact that there are too many new photographers with no formal education in photography that are lacking the basics of color temperature.
• Clarity (focus and sharpness): There is no greater proof of “being in the wrong place, at the wrong time” then a “soft” photograph. As you know, there are no retakes at a wedding and a photographer needs to know how to adjust his/her camera to a new light environment ASAP!
• Carat (cost): While searching for a wedding photographer, you will notice that there is large range in prices. Photographers can be found as low as $500 and as high as $30,000. The price of each photographer is determined by their experience, demand, creativity and many other aspects of their work. Try and get the best photographer for your money and prioritize your expenses. After all, the day after the wedding, all you will have left are the rings, the dress (???) and the photographs. Nobody ever said “I wish we took a cheaper photographer”.

In conclusion, there are many things to consider before picking the person in charge of your first family heirloom! Research carefully.

Hadar Goren

Yes, it has been a while since the last post. 2009 was a great year and kept me busy to the very end. I have many wedding that didn’t make it to the blog since I devoted all my time to my wonderful clients. In the next few weeks, I will post some wedding and portrait session that were so amazing to be a part of. I just wish that there more days in the week for me to have some more fun with the blog.

I wish you all a happy new year and thank you for following my work and blog.

Tammy and Bill’s wedding was a classic event surrounded by beautiful architecture of the magnificent Tremont hotel in Baltimore, MD. Tammy looked absolutely stunning in white and Bill was as cool as can be. I had a great time working with T&B and capturing their romantic moments, the excited family and friends celebrating with them and so much more. Here are a few of my favorite images from the big day.

Enjoy.

This past weekend I had an amazing time photographing a super fun wedding in Washington DC.  The wedding of Randi and Jeremy was very emotional for everybody present. Jeremy surprised Randi by serenading her with “The Way You Look Tonight” song.  The party was at The Fairfax hotel on Embassy row and was the perfect venue for this memorable affair. Scott Button (the catering manager) was really awesome to work with, I would recommend the Fairfax Hotel to any couple for their special day knowing that Scott will take a great care of them and makes sure everything is perfect.

Thank you Lena for the great work once again.

This past weekend I had the pleasure to travel to New Brunswick, NJ and photograph Sonal & Jeremy’s wedding at the wonderful Heldrich hotel and resort. I really enjoyed being emerged into the Indian traditions.  The colorful dresses served as a great inspiration and the entire event was a wonderful experience of beautiful rituals and traditions.  I met Sonal and Jeremy a year ago at their relatives Saloni and Kyle’s wedding celebration.  It was a lot of fun to see them again a year later, and I was honored by their recommendation to photograph Sonal and Jeremy’s wedding. After a Church ceremony at the Kirkpatrick Chapel we returned to the Heldrich hotel for the Indian ceremony and the amazing reception. DJ Magic Mike was awesome and kept the party going all night, combining Indian and Western hits fluidly.  

Thank you S&J for being such great hosts, have a wonderful time in Maui!

One last thank you to Lena for doing a great job.

As the last few weeks of summer are rapidly fleeing, I really enjoyed a stroll through the park with Liz & Joe as we captured the moments before they walked down the aisle.  We snapped lots of action shots as the bride and the groom partied with their family and friends and it was my honor and pleasure to partake in their joyful celebration.  Liz was a stunning bride not only while walking down the aisle but also getting “funky with it” on the dance floor and the love in Joe’s eyes was easy enough to capture.

Thank you Lena for helping me capture the day so beautifully.

Last Saturday I had the pleasure to photograph Cindy and Tim’s wedding at the Key Bridge Marriott in Virginia. We started our day taking pictures of Cindy getting ready in her beautiful suite. She wore a gorgeous Vera Wang gown and gold sandals, she looked smashing! Shortly after, we drove to the Washington DC Union Station and to a hidden Georgetown location for some magazine inspired portraits. It was fantastic working with C&T and their huge wedding party. Hopefully I will get to work with this group again soon.

Have fun in Aruba guys….

Special tanks to Moshe Zusman and Lena Smurova for helping me capture all the great images.

I have been looking forward to heather and Matt’s wedding for a while now. We first met while I was photographing their close friend’s wedding about 2 years ago and I was lucky that they chose me as their photographer as well. The ceremony took place in the gorgeous St Alphonsus Church in Baltimore MD and the reception was at the Rolling Road Golf Club in Catonsville, MD. I had a great time working with H&M and all their wild friends and family. Let’s see who gets married next……

Special thanks to Moshe Zusman for his great work once again….

Liron and Justin’s wedding this past Sunday is definitely making it to my favorite wedding list. Liron looked stunning in her fairytale dress and unique custom-made green running shoes. My camera fell in love with her infectious smile.  The party was rocking to the sound of “Full Effect” who showcased their extraordinary ability to perform an eclectic playlist of hits that kept the guests on the dance floor.

Da Vinci Florist beautifully decorated the Grand Lodge with flowers and lighting.

Special thanks to Moshe Zusman and Lena who helped me capture this beautiful wedding.

 Cheers Liron & Justin. Have a blast on t your honeymoon,

 Hadar.

Working with Moshe and Muriel at Kim and Matthew’s wedding this past Saturday was so much fun. The ceremony and reception took place at nightclub called The Park in Washington DC and which made this fun wedding feel like a celebrity’s party. Before the wedding we went to the Jefferson Monument for some timeless portraits. Here are a few for you to enjoy…….