Why go pro? Lights, camera, and expertise for wedding photography (part 1 of 3)

While I was  putting the finishing touches on a documentary about a camp in the Adirondack mountains  I was very  excited to discover, hidden away on one of my storage drives,  a video clip that I shot of the area about 15 years ago.  At first, I thought “This would add a nice addition to the documentary.”  But when I reviewed the video, I thought again.  That video clip was shot back when I was an amateur, armed with a video camera but very little skill and virtually no experience.  There I was, talking in the background off camera (“Here we are at Split Rock Falls...”) panning back and forth, back and forth.  Needless, to say, the shots were far from steady.  So, though the video had its moments and brought back memories, it is not the type of video I would want to have in a polished documentary.   Watching my old movie was shocking to me.  As an amateur, I had fancied myself as pretty talented.  Now, on the other side of training and experience, I was awed and grateful to see how far I'd come.

 

The difference between now and then is not just a matter of the result of more advanced equipment but of years of education and experience. For myself, film and photography became far more than a amateur interest; they were passions persistently pursued.  I put in countless hours going to classes, creating projects, watching tutorials, and attending seminars.   To learn from the experts and hone my own skills, I decided to attend film school so that I could learn to produce images that were engaging and dynamic.  I have succeeded.   I know how to frame a shot for maximum emotional impact, and how to light a scene so the subject seems to be three dimensional.

 

OK, so what is the real difference these days between professional and amateur?  After all, both video and digital still cameras have become significantly more sophisticated and more affordable.  Equipment is only part of the answer.  More important than the equipment is the talent behind the equipment.

When it comes to photography and videography, there is one very important equipment element that separates the professionals from the enthusiasts, and that is lighting.  The right light is what makes the difference between a vivid picture that really captures the feeling of being there and one that is indistinct.  Even in situations where you want that darker, “romantic” look, you'd better have a photographer and videographer who know what they're doing, so you don't end up with endless reels of shadows.  Camera settings can be adjusted, and some on-camera lighting (even dimmed) is key to achieving a muted rather than murky effect.

[Learn about how light can be used by a professional photographer and videographer and what questions you should ask before hiring in Why-go-pro-Lights-camera-and-expertise-for-wedding-photography-part-2

and part-3-of-3]

This article was written by Nancy Yachnes, Executive Producer of Sparkling Images in NYC, for the winter 2010 issue of Kallah Magazine.  Nancy is also on the Board of New York Professional Videographers Association.  She can be reached at 718-252-2332, or on the web, www.SparklingImages.com.

For an index to wedding planning articles, including Nancy's earlier articles on professional photography on a budget, see kallahmagazine.com/WeddingAdvice.html