Location - Location - Location
Selecting locations for your wedding photos is just as important as selecting the right photographer and is an equally tricky task. Most people assume that certain places make great locations for wedding photography, when to the eyes of the experienced photographer, that's not necessarily so, because important technical issues need to be considered. If your photographer is unfamiliar with a location, he/she must take a look ahead of time to ensure that no surprises await while using the opportunity to plan shots ahead of time! It contributes to consistent and predictable results! Planning shots is also an efficient way to maximize the shoot time on a client's meter! Winging it, just doesn't cut it!
Your photographer's technical abilities and equipment, as extensive as they may be, cannot totally make up for poor locations and at the very least, a poor location choice will limit the options. For example, if a planned room is only suitable by removing furniture, tidying up, cleaning dirty windows or the paint needs work, clearly these are not projects to be tackled on your wedding day! Carefully evaluate your situation with the photographer so that you both understand each other as well as the limitations of your choices.
A quick note about using a formal studio setting. They're definitely safe from weather conditions, however, they can't compete with the natural look and variety of location photography and therefore I recommend avoiding them whenever possible.
By no means an extensive list, here are some basic issues you should keep in mind when selecting a location:
- How much room is available to photograph the number of people in your group and still leave distances to back walls, furniture etc.
- Your wedding dress is a major item of interest, more specifically, if it has a train,do you want it shown in a cramped state due to lack of space?
- Small spaces force the photographer to use wider angle lenses which are not as flattering for portraiture type work.
- The background should be free of distracting features, especially large reflective surfaces such as glass, mirrors. Outdoors this can be the usual hydro/telephone poles/lines, sheds, etc.
- The chosen background's interesting features should not be so low to the ground that their purpose will be defeated when people are placed in front of them for the photo (flower bed, fireplace, etc).
- A wide open area outdoors, especially in elevated areas or around bodies of water can lead to windy conditions, sure to play havoc with hair and dresses.
- Warm weather usually means humidity and smog, causing far away backgrounds to become barely visible if at all and the sky to appear white!
- Preference should always be given to locations where there's enough natural light but not direct sunlight, which amongst other things, produces squinting. Mixing sweltering heat with a wedding dress and dark suits is unlikely to lead anyone to relax and smile or want to stick around! Besides, make up and sweat don't make good friends...
- Have a solid back up plan for any weather related issues. Remember that you may have to use this alternative so, don't compromise!
- Large hotels usually have pleasing backgrounds, but if situated in high traffic areas of the hotel, it may not only prove impractical, but may not even be permitted, hence you'll need to make arrangements with them ahead of time.
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Many hotels will not even allow wedding photography to take place on their premises unless you're a registered guest and who's wedding reception is booked with them. Don't make assumptions - Check it out!
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Keep in mind that if public locations are involved, other wedding parties as well as the general public have an equal right to use the space and facilites. First come, first serve may spell inconvenience but especially means delays and reduces the number of shots taken.
If the location you choose doesn't have parking within a very short distance, more time will be waisted while your meter is running! The same goes for any location with other distance and accessibility issues and the more people involved, the more time is waisted. Ditto for having too many locations. Quantity never beats quality!
As you can see, careful location planning is crucial to wedding photography. Your photographer plays an intricate part of the selection process. In some cases, booking a particular location ahead of time may prove to be the smartest option...
Frequency of rainny days/month - Ottawa (link)
Average Temp & Precip chart - Ottawa
In addition, a SHOOT LIST to select from and add to is provided for you to download. It's imperative that you complete it in a timely manner for a productive first meeting.
Please complete it and email it prior to your first appointment, so that we can accurately evaluate the time needed at each location.
This list will then be kept and managed by my assistant, to streamline our work flow on the wedding day and ensure that your special requests aren't left out!