Wedding Photographs and Videos

Wedding photographs and videos represent the start of a sacred journey, a sacred mission. These provide an unending source of joy and inspiration during times thick and thin. These are invaluable assets which give you the strength to face and overcome adversity. And to this extent these can be rightly termed as beacon lights in the attainment of life’s goals.

A wedding photographer captures the sentiments, passions and emotions of a wedding event. The wedding event is perhaps the most momentous occasion in a person’s life. It is the role of the wedding photographer to prepare for the client a moment, a souvenir that will be cherished and treasured by all including the future generations i.e. by posterity.

The selection of a wedding photographer must be based on a careful search. Friends’ circle is a ready source of valuable input. Also a bit of surfing would be useful as the leading and dynamic wedding photographers would certainly have their own individual websites. A review of their sites and examination of the exhibits of photographs on each site will help to narrow down the search. Armed with this information one can easily negotiate a mutually acceptable deal.

The criteria for selection of the best wedding photographer are briefly discussed here:
•    Creativity, imagination and resourcefulness  (To be gleaned from the portfolio of the photographs 
         as well as through contacts with their previous clients)
•    Ability of the photographer to look beyond the mundane;
•    Readiness to go an extra mile to capture the finer details
•    Must have a discerning eye to sift the important scene/s subjects for photography from the trivia.
•    Experience (The age of the establishment would reveal this).
•    Staffing levels, training and skills (Ask to see results by individual photographer.)

The medium of photography will rest on your choice, length of the wedding events and costs. In general a mix of still photographs and videos (movies/films) is preferred.  It is important to consider the costs but this should not be allowed to become an overriding consideration. Short terms gain is not preferable over long term interests. The main event would certainly be covered by video and by still photographs as well. The peripheral occasions would be mainly covered by still photography. Still photography is the traditional medium. The photographs are stored in family albums. For best results the wedding photographer will lookout for the best backdrops, the best angles the best combination of light and shade. The cinematic coverage of a wedding is easily stored on CD’s or DVD’s.  While the quality of still photographs may deteriorate over time the cinematic medium is not subject to deterioration. Cinematic work requires special training and skills. At times the wedding photographer is aided by another worker who handles the light, tripods etc.

Muslim Weddings

Muslim weddings are characterized by pronounced solemnity perhaps more so than it is in case of Christians or Hindus. For Muslims it has a religious significance as well. This religious dimension means few more functions like Mehfile-e-Milad which is for devotional prayers and Nikah which is the official marriage contract or bondage.

The other pre wedding and post wedding functions are listed and briefly described below:

Mangni  (Engagement)
   
Uptan    (Bride gets beauty treatment through application of a  paste of sandalwood powder, aromatic oils etc)
   
Dholki    ( This is a popular function. Girls drawn from relations and brides’ friends get together for a      round of singing traditional wedding songs followed by a dinner)                                                                               
   
Mehndi (Described above)
      
Baraat   (The groom accompanied by his family members and  friends visits the brides’ house where they  are well received, honored and entertained) 
      
Nikah    (This is the official Islamic function for solemnizing the marriage and contains terms and condition and specifies ‘Mehar’, the monetary safeguard of the bride. Bride’s father or in his absence the closest family elder gives the bride away in the presence of witnesses and the Qazi (pastor) Both the bride and groom are asked for their consent which they must signify by saying ‘yes’ loud and clear..
     
Rukhsati (The bride leaves her home to join the groom at his House and for the groom’s home.)

Valima  (This is the dinner hosted by the groom to consummate The wedding. This is the final function.)
It does not follow at all that each Muslim wedding comprises and consists of all the above functions. For those families that are economically at the bottom rung of the scale the above ceremonies constitute luxuries that they can never indulge in. However even for such families the bare minimum functions are Mangni, Nikah and Rukhsati.
One needs to spend time and effort to locate the best wedding photographer and thus reap the benefits for all times to come. So good luck and best wishes to you!

Wedding Picture Ideas

Introduction

The professional wedding photographer is expected to have a bag full of ideas to turn each wedding into a historic and memorable one. Each wedding event has some identical features and yet each will have certain unique and distinctive features as well. Experience will guide the photographer towards these unique features. The successful photographer will highlight and focus on the unique features and capture the routine mundane ones as well. He will try to spot something new, something interesting whether it is regarding the dresses, flower arrangements, décor and layout of the wedding location, backdrops etc. This then is the utility of the professional wedding photographer. He delivers quality and substance which is quite naturally found wanting when non-professional amateurs handle the job. Mega pixels, thermal noise, film grains, types of lenses etc are matters that are beyond the comprehension of amateurs and therefore must be left to the professional wedding photographer.

Wedding photography then and Now

Due to unwieldy photographic equipment during the initial years most wedding couples were content to have their photographs taken at the photographers’ studios.  Those were the times when unsolicited photographers took pictures on free lance basis on their own and then tried to sell their pictures!  The advent of film rolls technology and better lighting systems (compact flash bulbs) gave a fillip to wedding photography. Modern editing techniques have added a whole new dimension to wedding photography. Wedding photography has now become a specialized subject and demands formal training at photographic schools. Such training is a necessary adjunct to qualities like passion and vision which a budding wedding photographer must be gifted with.

Wedding Picture

A wedding function presents opportunity for hundreds of photographs.  From engagement ceremony to Nikah, Rukhsati and valiima Each moment is precious because it will not be repeated. A wedding is after all once in a lifetime occasion. Therefore the professional photographer has to plan his work and then ensure strict compliance to this plan. The images thus captured will give immense satisfaction to the client. It will also be a source of pride for the photographer as well.

Styles of photography

The two main styles of photography are known as Traditional and Photojournalist. In the traditional style the photographer plays a key role in
Deciding what is to be photographed where and how. The photographer decides on lighting, seating, standing for a group photo etc. In the photojournalistic style the emphasis is on what is natural and candid. A third approach, which is still in its infancy, is all about adding a touch of ‘fashion’ to the pictures.

The Studio

The photographer’s workplace is commonly referred to as a studio. This is where he takes photographs and develops the same. This is also where he prints and makes multiple copies where required. A dark room is an integral part of the studio. Modern studios of today draw heavily upon computer hardware and software to achieve quality in their results through enhanced editing, processing etc. The studio eliminates unwanted sound and therefore allows unhindered and congenial working environment. Ordinarily the studio uses a backdrop made of wrinkle free white or off white muslin cloth. When it comes to lighting there is a choice between continuous lighting for static subjects and strobe for moving subjects. The camera in vogue is the DSLR or the digital single lens reflector camera.

Family Photos

Family photographs are cherished and well guarded. These are passed on from generation to generation. The older the photo is the greater is its value in terms of nostalgia. Family photographs are taken during all special occasions. Such occasions would include birthdays, anniversaries, graduation, birth, and reunions etc.  This is not a rule because family photos can also be taken outside of such occasions for instance a picnic, a sports event.

Wedding Images

Whether the medium of photography is film roll or digital the wedding pictures need to have freshness, sparkle and originality. The subject matter will be the same that is the bride, groom, stage, guests etc. But the professional wedding photographers can add a touch of class and a new dimension. As explained earlier the professional has the advantage of his experience and training. He can adjust lighting, use a better angle or different lens, and arrange a better pose of guests and so on.

Conclusion

This brief write up can be concluded by stating that ideas are created by a photographer’s experience and training and also by application of professional photographer’s vision and creativity.