Oklahoma Wedding Studios {Oklahoma City Wedding Photographers}

Justin & Jenny called me with 3 days notice.  Their minister had referred them to me after their original photographer canceled on them at the last minute.  I consider myself very fortunate, because I truly love these shots we got out at Tres Suenos Vineyard in Luther.

OK.... this one was taken inside, as Jenny was looking outside at the guests gathering. The dress was by Meg Guess, and I really loved this shot too, so I decided to post it

Their first dance was in the vineyard

The knot was tied at Cole’s Gardens here in Oklahoma City! Congrats to Stu & Shell… they make a wonderful couple, and I could not have had a better couple to work with. They were smiles throughout the entire night!

Michael & Cherith were married in Edmond at Henderson Hills Baptist Church.  It was a beautiful wedding, so I thought I would share some of their favorite poses.  They are acting students at OU, and they really had a sense for drama, as some of their pics clearly show

Sean & Leah had originally booked us for video, and she had alredy booked with another wedding studio here in Oklahoma City.  After she met with us and saw our sample albums, she forefited her deposit with them, and let us shoot her wedding.  Leah had a vintage theme, and she even had clippings of some particular photography styles that she wanted.  We were happy to do our best for her, and, based upon the review we received from her, she couldn’t have been happier with our work.  The beautiful church is Nichols Hills United Methodist.  (I get calls all the time wanting to know where it is)

Oklahoma wedding photographers provide a wide range of choices from which to choose, and this can be a risky choice.  After all, how often do you come into contact with a professional wedding photographer?  For your wedding day, making the wrong choice can ruin your memories of the day, and you only get one chance to get it right.

Selecting the right photographer can be daunting and stressful. It’s surprising how many people regret not taking more time over the decision, and often the people who do have fallen into the same traps.

So as a professional, Oklahoma wedding photographer, here are my top 10 mistakes I see brides repeatedly make:

1. All Oklahoma City Wedding Photographers Are NOT the Same

No two people are the same, so why assume photographers are the same?  Each will have their own strengths and weaknesses.  There different types of wedding photography, such as photojournalistic, artistic, traditional, candid, and studio portraiture; even within each field there are many specific styles and disciplines.

All styles are right; as long as your choice fits in with the day you want.  So, research to find a photographer who offers exactly what you want.

2. Don’t just buy on price

Buying the cheapest or most expensive is not the ideal approach. In any market, you will find companies at both ends of the scale, and plenty like us in-between.

The key word when it comes to any purchase is value, and the same is true of any Oklahoma City wedding photographer. You want to get good value for money.

Going for the cheapest photographer may cause more problems than it solves:

You could end-up without important pictures because they messed up… Or you only get a few pictures when you were expecting stacks.

You get what you pay for: low price usually means low quality. The best wedding photographers charge in the region of $800 – $3000 per wedding. The one who charges $300 on craigslist does so because he knows his work is not the standard. If he values his products and service so low then he, as an expert on his own work, should be correct, so take heed.

Then there is presentation, $200 will get you a supermarket album, not something you will be proud to show you friends and family.

Watch out for the “Crouching Tiger” scheme.   There is one such company here in Oklahoma City that does this.  They advertize a super-low rate of $250 to shoot your wedding.  A cheap $250 deal can end up costing  $1000 plus, so read the small print make sure you know what you’re paying for.

3. The Latest Gear Isn’t Everything… But it is Something!

Many photographers have state-of-the-art equipment, but that does not mean they know how to use it.  Without the knowledge and creativity to use it they may as well be using a disposable camera.

A true professional photographer, (Oklahoma wedding photographer, or not) should be able to take an outstanding photograph with just about any camera.

The thing about gear is, a GOOD wedding photographer will be using the best tools for the job, which usually means they have the equipment that produces the best results for them, and they carry multiple back-ups.

4. Asking Friends or Relatives to Take Your Pictures.

It’s perfectly OK to do this— but don’t expect professional results!  A wedding is one of the most difficult events to shoot- especially in Oklahoma!!!

When it comes to family and friends offering to cover your wedding, it is best to politely refuse these offers.  As tempting as it may be, they will be subject to constant distraction, so they will miss many important shots.

The professional wedding photographer makes it look so easy, that is because they are professional, having photographed many weddings fine tuning their skill.  I know that when I started shooting weddings 16 years ago, there was a substantial learning curve.  I did not get “good” for a few years.  So it is only reasonable to assume that would be true of someone that has never shot a wedding before.

Wedding photography is a demanding service, stressful and fast paced. Most, if not all, amateur wedding photographers cannot cut it at the required level.

Again, there is nothing wrong with booking an amateur, just don’t expect professional results from them.

5. Allow Enough Time for Your Wedding Photographer to Do Their Job

Allow time for it in your schedule – make sure you know how much time your photographer needs, so discuss this with your photographer once you have booked one.

Also, would you like any special photographic requirements outside the standard traditional pictures with your parents, best man, and bridesmaids, but what about your aunt Fran flying in from Fargo that you definitely want to make sure you get some pictures of?

If you choose to book with us, we will go over a list of typical shots to be done before, during, and after the ceremony.  This is an important shooting strategy, or “game plan” if you will, that helps to make sure the coverage you book is the coverage you want.  Not all photographers do this, so buyer beware!

6. Negotiating with a number of Photographers

Haggling is fine when you are buying a car, but not a good idea when it comes to a personal service like photography.  Many photographers, like us, are most likely willing to work with you to customize a package to suit your wedding’s specific needs.

A good, reputable photographer has a loyal client base that will continue to use them and recommend them to others, and does not need to entertain the antics of the auction room.

7. You Don’t Read What You Sign

You would be amazed how many people just sign their life away or just skim-read the terms and conditions before committing to a legally binding contract.

If your photographer has made you a verbal promise, get it in writing!  We are one of the leading wedding photography companies in Oklahoma City because we make commitments and keep them.  Actually, it is our goal to exceed your expectations.  I tell my potential clients that there is no request we cannot fulfill, and I mean it…  I also note it on the invoice!

If a promise is made by any photographer, but they don’t want to document it, or their written agreement contradicts what they have told you, RUN !

8. Trust Your “Gut Feeling”

If something seems too good to be true, it usually is.

9. Unprofessional Behavior

The way someone dresses can say a great deal about the type of person they are.

There are some photographers who class themselves as artists and dress and act accordingly. Do you really want ripped jeans, multi-colored hair, Hawaiian style flower shirts and tattoo’s at your wedding.. Probably not!

The way a person looks and acts whilst trying to get your booking, is a good measure of how they will look and act at your wedding.

10. The Sample Album

When a photographer shows you a sample album, it should be an album of pictures from one wedding, not a collection of the best of…

Why is this important? Simply put, any yahoo can go to a wedding, take stacks of pictures and get a couple of good ones. So, an album of photographs with from 8-10 different weddings can not be a true reflection of their talent or ability to take great wedding photographs.

While viewing at the sample album or portfolio, ask the photographer about the wedding, to assess if this is really his work and not just his friend’s wedding album. (yes, that DOES happen!)

Ask how the different effects are created, a hesitant or unsure answer is a sure sign that something is not as it should be.

One last note:

Your wedding photographer has the honorable task of recording the day for you. They will be creating the only hard copy memories that survive past the honeymoon. You will be spending a large part of your wedding day with your photographer. They will be watching for the special moments that make great pictures. To get the best from your investment photographer you will need to work with them before, during and after your wedding.  So, book someone you get along with, someone who listens to you and will work with you. Not all Oklahoma Wedding Photographers are the same.

Do you think I missed an important point?  Do you have tips or a comment related to this article?  Please feel free to email me, I would love to discuss this with you!

Best,

Aaron Knight

CEO & President

aaron@oklahomaweddingstudios,com

Stu & Shell are a truly nice couple.  A real pleasure to shoot to say the least.  They have a June wedding coming up at Cole’s Gardens.  Here are a few of my fav’s from their engagement shoot:

I am often asked a lot of questions regarding preparation for engagement shoots.

Engagement sessions are a great way to get to know me. It helps out a lot on the wedding day if you already know me and my style and how I interact with the two of you. Plus if you know me, and I know you, you’ll be a lot more comfortable around me on your wedding day, and I can get images that better show your personalities and relationship.

Suggestions on what to wear:

• Wear something you are comfortable in. If you’re not comfortable, it will show in the pictures.
• It’s best not to wear tight jeans or other clothes that are overly tight and restrict movement. Or show curves you don’t want shown.
• Wear something you love, and make sure it’s ‘you’. It’s best not to wear something you are going to wish you didn’t wear in a few weeks.
• A touch dressier than a normal night can be fun, just make sure it’s still you.
• Wear clothes that are complementary in style and color. Don’t be too “matchy”. For example, you could both wear fall colors or both wear different shades of blue.
• Wear clothes that are the same level of dressiness. Don’t dress up and have your fiance wear their everyday street clothes.
• Have the clothes match the season and venue for the shoot. Shorts and flip flops probably are not the best on a cold day (this goes back to being comfortable, if you are not warm it’s harder to look warm and happy)
• Darker colors can be slimming, and they are also easier to photograph. But, if you have something in white or off white, don’t be afraid to wear it.  Unless you are trying to achieve a very formal look, i recommend not wearing solid black.
• Patterns go out of style quickly, and the background usually has enough texture that patterns can sometimes make the photos too busy.
• Wear long sleeves if you can.  Cap sleeves are trendy and will go out of style.  they also can make your arms look awkward in photographs.
• Wear shoes you love.
• Wear shoes you can comfortably walk in. If I’m your photographer we usually walk a fair bit.
• Bring a brush and make-up for touch-ups.  Oklahoma wind is very unpredictable, and can ruin a great hairstyle.  You will also be posing and cuddling, which can mess up your make-up, it’s best to be prepared for this.
• If you want to have your dog in some of the photos, that’s great.  But, it would be best to have a friend come along to watch him/her while we are taking other shots.

Other Things to Remember:

• Plan on having a good time. Think of it more like a date, and less of smiling to the camera.
• Dont be afraid to be sentimental, if there is a certain object, pair of jeans, locket, etc. that is important to you, let me know so we can include it.
• The best time for photos is in the evening when the light is soft, and we have the chance of getting a sunset.
• If there is something you want me to avoid photographing it helps if you let me know.  That way I can work with you to keep the scar, tattoo, part in your hair, or whatever you want me to keep out of the pictures out.

Most of all, enjoy yourself.  This is supposed to be a fun, relaxed outing.   If you have any concerns, please feel free to call or email me ahead of time.  I am always happy to answer any questions.

Thanks,

Aaron