Choosing a Charlotte Photographer

Q&A with Dana Arndt of Dana Arndt Photography

Q: What are the different styles of wedding photography?(Photojournalistic, traditional...?) How does a couple know which is right for them?
A:You will be looking at hundreds of images while you are planning your wedding. I think the easiest way to select your style of wedding photography is to simply choose the style that created your most favorite images. If you find that you always love the spontaneous images full of laughter or the couples playfully walking then you would probably select a photojournalistic photographer.

However, if tend to choose more formal images then a traditional photographer may be more suitable for you. I recommend looking for a photographer who can create both styles of images. This will give you a wonderful mix of both, thus making your mothers and grandparents happy as well as you.

Q: It's tough to choose a photographer! Why is this such an important decision for a bride/couple?
Choosing a good wedding photographer is important because the images they create will be with you always. You want to make sure they capture your entire day just as it unfolds so you can share it with your family and friends in the future. You also want to be able to look back at your images and remember what a special day this was in your life. It is a way to visualize all of your memories.

Q: What are three important things to look for when choosing a wedding photographer?
1) Experience! Make sure your wedding photographer is not only a wonderful photographer but also has a lot of experience shooting weddings. Weddings can create stressful, past faced environments for photographers, therefore, wedding experience is necessary. A true wedding photographer will know exactly how to handle any situations that may arise unexpectedly and they will know how to make your wedding day run smoothly.

2) Great Reputation! When selecting your wedding photographer do not be afraid to ask other brides, friends and family members for recommendations. You need to make sure your photographer can deliver all they are offering you. Will they deliver your images in a timely fashion? Are they helpful and available for answering any questions or concerns you may have on or before your wedding day. Will they be professional in appearance and demeanor? These are all questions that can be answered best by other clients they have worked with.

3) Style! You need to make sure your photographer will and can create the style of images you are wanting. If you love photojournalistic images but choose a traditional photographer who only creates traditional images you will be very disappointed with the final product. It is very important to know they will be creating images in the style of photography you desire.

Q: Is it ok for a bride to book her photographer online, or should she set up an interview? Why?
The internet is a wonderful place to search for your wedding photographer. However, I would recommend meeting your wedding photographer before booking them. This will give you an opportunity to see your photographer’s personality and make sure it is compatible with you. You will be spending a lot of time with you photographer on your wedding day so you definitely want your photographer to be someone who you enjoy working with. You will also have a chance to view additional work they may not have on their website and to ask as many questions as you need.

Q: What are five (or more!) questions that a bride should ask a potential photographer when she interviews them?
Will you be photographing my wedding or will you be sending an associate photographer?
Will you bring back-up equipment in case of emergencies?
If asked, will you stay additional time the day of the wedding?
Will I be the only wedding you are shooting on my wedding date?
How long after the wedding should I expect to receive my photographs?
Are you willing to create customized packages at my request?

Q: How much time, on average, should a bride expect to spend taking photographs on her wedding day? Why?
The amount of time for photographs can vary with each couple. A key factor which can affect the amount of time taking pictures is the size of your wedding party and families. Having everyone ready and on-time for pictures is essential. Just one late bridal party or family member can create delays in pictures. On average I would say around 45 minutes to an hour for photographs following the ceremony. You can discuss the details of your wedding with your photographer to get a more accurate estimate for the amount of time needed for pictures.

Q: What sort of venues work best in terms of capturing the event with photographs? (Inside, outside, tents, small/large...?)
My personal favorites are venues with natural light. Good lighting is essential to photographers, therefore we love natural light. Outdoor venues, tents, spaces with large windows etc. create beautiful photographs. For evening weddings it is important to think about your available daylight. I recommend discussing the time of day with your photographer if your ceremony is close to sunset. The size of the venue typically isn’t an issue. We can shoot in any size of space. The key to great images is always the amount of available light.

Q: What challenges does a photographer face when shooting a wedding?
Time constraints are always a challenge when shooting weddings. We have to work quickly so we do not delay any of the couple’s wedding events. We also have the stress of getting the one-time shot. Weddings can’t be recreated so we have to be on our best game at all times.

Q: We've noticed a definite trend toward a photojournalistic style in recent years. Why do you think that is?
I think most couples are falling in love with the photojournalistic style of photography for two reasons. Photojournalistic images show the emotion of the wedding day. The photographer is able to capture the moment as it unfolds. Using this style of photography will give you great images with natural smiles, burst of laughter, intimate tears and the complete story of your wedding. The second thing photojournalist photography offers is freedom to the couple. You will be able to enjoy your wedding day, friends and guest because your photographer will be documenting you, not posing you. In most cases you may not even notice they are around. It is your wedding day so you want to be able to enjoy and celebrate, you do not want to be bogged down with hundreds of posed photographs.

Q: Have you had any unusual or funny requests from brides or their families? (Silly poses, etc?)
I have silly request on occasion. Just recently, I shot a Groom with his daughter jumping in a puddle together. They always danced in the rain together when his daughter was growing up, so this was a special request by them that was really sweet. The request I find most odd, is a request for pictures of myself and assistants while we are working. I would say at 50% of our weddings we get asked to pose for pictures with our cameras, with guest or with the happy couple. It is a lot of fun to interact with everyone so we are always up for having our picture taken.