Just wanted to make a post and promote my new photography website. Being a California photographer, I have been usig the same site for ht epast 3 years. However, I’m rather excited to have created the new website over the past few weeks. It’s a lot cleaner in appearance and I’ve provided a world of information regarding photography products as well a host of new wedding, engagement, portrait, and commercial photography. I even added a blog to the site. However, the focus of the blog on my photography site will focus on general weding information as well as general photography info, while this blog will remain dedicated to Southern California Wedding and engagement sites/venues. So, this is the reason why I have not posted in the past few weeks: I was busy finishing up the other site. I’ll be back posting here begining Monday, January 5th.
This weeks engagement photography location takes us to Oceanside pier in San Diego County. The pier is one of the longest wooden pier’s on the west
Engagement Photography on Oceanside Pier
coast and provides a great photo opportunity for couples interested in having their engagement photos taken on a pier. In addition to photographing on the pier, there are opportunities to capture images under the pier as well, next to the rocks which are located just underneath the structure.
On this particular engagement photo shoot, the couple where hoping to capture a shot of them silhouetted against a setting sun. Unfortunately, trying to capture the shot proved to be futile as there was heavy cloud coverage, something you may expect if you are planning a photo shoot in the Oceanside or San Diego beach areas. The photo I selected to showcase in this post is perhaps one of my favorites due to the intermittent lighting of the sun dodging the clouds. It provided for some great shadows in the foreground and using a mauve filter on the camera, I was able to add a little color to an otherwise gray sky.
It does appear as though the couple are the only two people on the pier, however, the opposite is true. We just waited where there where no pedestrians in the shot. Otherwise, the pier and beach where crowded, even though it was overcast and cold. When working in busy environments, one bit of advice I have for both the photographer and couple is to be patient. The end reslt can yeild an image you free of people, unless of course you are wanting to add the foot traffic as ambiance to your photo.
I’ve included a few additional images, sans the couple, of the day and one of the evening from the same photo shoot.
The pier is located off of 3rd street in Oceanside. Take plenty of change for the parking meters. If you plan on taking a change of clothes – as I recommend to my couples so we get a variety of photos – they do have restrooms on the pier. And if you get hungry, Ruby’s Restaurant is at the end of the pier.
For additional information, you may want to check this site out.
I’ve added a few additional images, not of the engaged couple, but just some fun images of the ocean. The image of the boat in the water was taken to the north of the pier about the same time the image of the couple above was (the clouds where rolling in fast). And the image of the coastline was taken on the pier looking south in the evening.
Image photographed off of the Oceanside Pier looking north
Image of Oceanside coastline at night. Photo taken off of the Oceanside Pier looking south.
As you search the internet for wedding photographers, no doubt you will come across a multitude of articles or lists on how to hire a professional photographer; some of the articles may have been either written by a professional or inspired by one, while other articles have been created by either brides or sites that have never worked in the field of photography. As a professional wedding photographer, I would like to inject my experience and professionalism when it comes to creating a list of tips on hiring a professional wedding photographer for your special day.
Regardless of whether you have an idea of the style of photography you like or not, one thing is for certain, the type of wedding photographer you hire should be a personal choice and one you are completely happy with.
7 Tips to Consider When Hiring a Professional Wedding Photographer:
- Make it a matter of style: Your selection of a wedding photographer should be based on the particular style you like. If you think all photographers are the same, think again. I once had a bride book me online, never seeing my work, and when she received her photos she was a bit upset at my style which was not what she had wanted. I make it a point to show my work and explain to the couple that I am not a “traditional” wedding photographer. I can appreciate the diverse styles other professionals have and so should you. So, my first tip is to make sure that what you want matches the style of photographer you are seeking. You will be able to tell by what they show you in their albums.
- Personality is paramount: I don’t mean that if a photographer doesn’t have a personality, you shouldn’t hire them. What I do mean is that the both of you should be able to hit it off and that your personalities should be compatible. You need to feel comfortable on your wedding day and the photographer needs to feel comfortable as well. I can recall a time when I was photographing an engagement session on the beach and the groom was a bit of a problem. He had a horrible attitude about the entire photo shoot, as well as his bride to be. At the end of the photo shoot, I simply told him that it would probably be best if he hired another photographer and that I wasn’t a fit for him. Needless to say, I received a phone call that evening with an apology. I explained to the groom that my roll as a photographer involved a creative process and that if he planned on being rude and disrespectful, it would be difficult for me to provide him with a quality product. He agreed. The point is, personality is important. He would have been better off hiring someone who may have matched his demeanor.
- View sample work: This may be a no brainer, but you would be surprised at how often brides don’t want to see the work and just get excited at the low cost or what they see on an online portfolio. Most photographers will show you there work. What you want to see is at least a complete wedding the photographer photographed and some nice formals, enhanced work, etc. But for the most part, you won’t have a problem seeing samples. My only take on this is ask how old the weddings in their albums are. The point here is that styles can change or the photographer may not have photographed a wedding in a few years. This may or may not be a problem, but it’s always good to see some fresh work. This will give you the confidence that the outcome is similar to what you may expect. (Side Note: No two weddings are alike and no two brides are alike, so don’t expect to see the exact same image from your wedding as you saw in the photographers book.)
- Get it in Writing: It’s a good practice for both couple and photographer to get what is being bought and offered in writing and on a contract. This way, there are no discrepancies when it comes time to collect your images and album.
- Determine who owns the copyright: While this may not be negotiable with many photographers, it’s a good idea to ask anyway. I retain the copyright, while I give limited copyright to the couple allowing them to reproduce the work. Some photographers give up the rights all together while others don’t. So, be sure to ask so you don’t end up with any surprises in the end.
- Referrals may or may not be a good thing: I make this bold statement because, what one family member or friend may have liked about their wedding photographer, may not be what you particularly like. But, getting a referral from a trusted source is a good start. You will at least know that your trusted source won’t lead you astray.
- Price is not everything: Because a photographer charges you a rate of $5,000 for a wedding package, does not make him/her the best and the opposite is true; If a photographers has a rate of $1,200 for a package, this does not mean their quality suffers. So don’t base your sole criteria of a photographer on price. Determine your budget range for a wedding photographer, and then seek the ones out that fit the style you like. Often times you may find someone with a slightly higher rate than you budgeted for, but you hire them anyway. The point here is find the style of photography you desire, and then try and find a photographer within your price range, giving consideration to those outside your range as well.
Hopefully this helps you on your quest to hiring a photographer for your special day. If you have any additional tips or questions, feel free to leave a comment.
