Allen Arrick Photography – Tyler, TX – 903.253.1848 »

I got extra special permission from Brittany to publish her bridals before her wedding. I absolutely loved this session! She’s so photogenic and easy to work with. Thanks to Britian from the Castle on the Lake in Jacksonville for providing an awesome venue.

And a special thanks to her mother Sheila and her BFF Katie for help!

I’ve been looking forward to Hannah and Cody’s Elmwood Garden’s wedding for quite some time now. It’s been three years since I’ve shot there and I absolutely love that location. It’s got so many unique photo opportunities and is a blast to shoot in. Enjoy their photos!

Venue: Elmwood Gardens

Flowers: La Tee Da

DJ: CMB Productions

If I had to choose one photo that was my “best photo of the day” it would be this next one.

Hannah and Cody did a first look, which is perhaps the best thing you can do on your wedding day. We got over 800 photos before the ceremony even started, and got to go directly to the reception after the ceremony.

Hannah had three redhead bridesmaids, so of course we had to get a photo.

She wins the award for happiest bride ever.

Casey Brown from CMB Productions had everyone dancing all night. Hire him.

A friend of mine sent me this link to an article titled “Top 10 things you should ask your wedding photographer.” I generally don’t like these articles because they’re typically super-lame and completely off base. Whenever I read one of these articles, the writer usually tells brides to ask “do you use a backup camera.” Of course I use a backup camera. You pay me upwards of 3 grand to shoot the most important day of your life.

However, this article was a little better. These were good questions and I might end up adding a few more. Instead of just linking to the article, I’m going to answer each question honestly and openly (There may be some things that surprise you). So here goes:

10) How are your people management skills?
While the bride and groom are busy exchanging vows, stuffing cake in each other’s mouths, or trying to talk to as many guests as possible, the photographer is usually off on their own trying to navigate a sea of friends and family members they’ve never met. For this reason, it is important that the photographer be able to manage people in a friendly, effective way.

Ask a photographer to describe any particular wedding photography challenges they may have encountered in the past where their people management skills played a positive role.

A) This is a tough question to answer. I would like to say “my people management skills are excellent!” People management skills are extremely important in the wedding industry. I like to say I have 10 different bosses at each wedding, and this couldn’t be more true. If you’ve ever waited tables you understand how difficult it can be – with so many people pulling you in different directions, some of them conflicting.  This is just something you have to be around me to understand. It’s difficult to give you a straight answer without having a sit-down chat.

9) Are you familiar with my type of wedding ceremony?
Not all wedding ceremonies are the same. In fact, it is common for the bride and groom to customize the events of their ceremony to match their individual personalities or interests. Describe the ceremony to the photographer, and then ask them if they have ever shot a wedding with a similar structure.

A) Over the past 6 years I’ve shot about 70 weddings, ranging from typical church-style weddings, to full out gala’s at million dollar estates. In 2007 I shot a vampire-theme wedding (ask me about it sometime). Most likely I’ve shot your style of ceremony, and if I haven’t, please let me know so we can go over the details more closely.

Can you show me a complete, unedited wedding shoot?
This can make some photographers cringe, but it is a really great way to get an idea of how they work, and what you should expect after the day has come and gone. Keep in mind that photographers tend to take a lot of pictures, and then edit them down to only the best. Don’t freak out if you see some out of focus images, or many images of a particular moment.

By looking at a complete shoot, you can get a sense for how the photographer thinks and moves. And, while you’re at it – ask the photographer if you will have the opportunity to see the full shoot from your own wedding.

A) Absolutely. I have one que’d up on my iPad. Drop by and I’ll show you (If you have at least an hour to look at everything). Also, on my print website I have the last few sessions available for viewing, and none of them are password protected. Enjoy!

7) Are you comfortable with providing direction?
The bride and groom, and many of their guests, aren’t usually professional models, and may get uncomfortable in front of the camera. They may hold themselves in an awkward position, and the resulting images may look unflattering.

Ask the photographer if they are willing to coach people into more flattering poses, and ask if they can show you some images where their direction played a large role.

A) Of course! I have a few tricks that I tell everyone to let them be more relaxed-looking in front of the camera. How to smile, how to hold your arms — the typical areas where people go wrong. It’s not comfortable having your photo taken, so I like to be as up front as possible. I generally tell people that it takes a few different poses to get in the groove of things. By the end I hardly need to give any direction at all.

6) Can we arrange to do an engagement shoot first?
If you can set up an engagement shoot first, you are essentially giving the photographer a trial run before the big event. Assuming all goes well, you will both get to know each other better, become more comfortable with each other, and the results will likely show in your wedding images.

A) If you’re getting married in the Tyler area and live here I almost insist that we do an engagement session. It will get both of us comfortable with each other, and it will allow me to see any problems beforehand.

5) What is your turn-around time?
It’s important to know how long it will take to get to see the pictures once the event is complete. The time will vary based on many factors (film will take longer than digital, and amount of retouching involved are a few) so ask a photographer to give you a time estimate based on what you’ve requested. An experienced photographer will be able to provide you with an estimated timeframe.

A) Engagement and bridal sessions: 1 week. Weddings: 2-3 week for the online gallery, 3-4 weeks for the disc.

4) Are you easy to get along with?
You can’t really ask this question directly, but you need to get the answer anyway. Unless you spend time with each other, in person, it will be difficult to figure this out. When interviewing the photographer, don’t limit your questions to just weddings and photography. Ask about their interests, try to get a feel for their sense of humor, and try to find some things that you have in common.

A) I’m a fairly easy-going person and love meeting new people. Come by my office sometime and we’ll chat

3) How long have you been shooting weddings?
In most cases, you don’t want to hire a total rookie to shoot a wedding. You want someone with experience. During your questioning, be sure to ask questions that will cause the photographer to reveal their experience. How many weddings have they’ve shot in the past year? What camera gear are they using, and how long have they been using it? (You want someone who is very comfortable with their gear, and not experimenting with some strange new gadget during your big day.)

A) Since June 2004.

2) Do you work with an assistant?
Shooting a wedding is a lot of work for a photographer, so it is common for them to bring an assistant. It is also common for the assistant to shoot some of the pictures. You should ask the photographer if they plan to bring an assistant, and if so, ask what role that person will be playing.

A) I’ve worked with assistants before and currently I do not hire a full-time assistant. When I do hire out an assistant they generally don’t take photos, but help me carry stuff around.

1) Can you describe your photographic style?
Asking a photographer about their personal photographic style is probably the best way to start a conversation that will reveal what makes them tick. This is one of the things that makes photographers unique. It’s like a fingerprint – every style is different.

In short, their style should match your personality. The way the wedding images are shot should be be a subtle reflection of the couple’s personality.

Ask a photographer about their influences. Which photographers and artists did they admire most when they were just starting out? If they give you some names, go home and look them up – you may end up being inspired too!

A) This is a tough question. Rather than have me explain my style, just go look at the photos. If you like them and they match your style, then great. If not, there are plenty of other photographers who shoot different styles. When I’m shooting I try to keep a solid style in my head. I like the phrase “simple elegance,” which is a vague but perfectly suited style label. I tend to not “overdo” my photographs, and I like to keep things as clean and elegant as possible. Weddings are an event unique to themselves, and no matter where you’re planning on having your wedding, elegance is important.

Now it’s your turn. Here’s a link to 10 questions I’ll probably ask you in our meeting. http://blog.photoshelter.com/2010/07/op-10-things-you-should-ask-a-wedding-client-befor.html

And because every post is better with a picture, here’s one from my last wedding:

Today was iffy. It rained all last night and early today. Lisbeth and I were’nt sure whether or not to postpone her bridal session for a prettier day. After midday the rain cleared up but the clouds didn’t. I always love moody skies so this was the perfect opportunity to bust out some crazy lighting techniques and pull out those dramatic clouds for some awesome effects. The Villa Di Felicita made a great canvas and Lisbeth looked fantastic in her dress from David’s Bridal. The flowers from La Tee Da were fantastic as usual and Hanna Riddle did a great job on her hair. Enjoy!