Extraordinary, fine art wedding photojournalism...
IQ FOTO Information Website & Blog
| why iq foto? |
Why IQ FOTO?
You may find that it seems extraordinarily complex to sort through the hundreds of possibilities when it comes to choosing your wedding
photographer. Admittedly, it can be very confusing. Just the sheer volume of information that is available to today’s bride can be overwhelming.
And sometimes, when you’ve looked at so many options and samples and galleries and prices, it can seem that everything is pretty much the
same. But, there really is a difference!
To simplify things, allow me to try something. Let me switch places with you ( hypothetically ) and I'll be the bride. Knowing what I know now,
what would I need to ask - and what answers would I want to receive - to make the best decision...
How many photographers do I get? How many do I need?
That depends upon a number of factors, but the truth is that one photographer can only be in one place at any given time, which is pretty
limiting. One photographer cannot get the shot of the bride coming down the aisle, and the look on her face, while at the same time shooting
from the other end to see the look on the groom’s face when he first sees her. One photographer cannot record the look on a mother’s face while
at the same time capturing the bride and groom as they exchange their vows. I could go on and one. There are literally hundreds of examples I
could give where it would be advantageous to have more than one photographer. On that note, there are also innumerable circumstances where
three photographers would be even better, which is precisely why we offer coverage by three photographers with our Premier Collection.
What about a disc of images? Do I need that?
This is one of the easier distinctions you can make among photographers. Do they or do they not provide you with the digital images from your
wedding? Knowing what I know, and if I were the bride, I would absolutely want the digital images from my wedding. Period. Why do some
photographers not offer them? Simply put, it’s a business decision. If you don’t have the images, you have to go to them for prints. When you do,
they make money. Lots of money.
If you have the digital images, you can print what you want, when you want, etc. Why then would a couple agree to this? Well, here’s the most
common “sales pitch”you might hear from a photographer that won’t release the images. They’ll tell you that they must safeguard their work.
They don’t want a couple running off to the local drug store to have an image printed, only to have it turn out looking differently ( color, contrast,
etc ) than the photographer intended. They are concerned that the printed image won’t look precisely the way they had intended. These
photographers will tell you that by getting your prints through them, you will be ensured that the final product will look exactly the way it should.
Well, this is a half truth. The true part is that you probably will get a great print from the photographer. They will ensure that the color, contrast,
etc. is just right. But, what they leave out is that all they have to do is embed a color profile in the image ( it’s photo-geek stuff but basically it is a
digital code that communicates with a printer to “explain” to a printer how the digital file should look ) and the print will look great. That’s what
we do. We embed a color profile in every image so that you will get great results.
Now, we do recommend going to a reputable photo lab ( Cord Camera, McCallister, etc. ) to have the print done, because that way a technician
will review the image prior to printing to make certain everything looks just right. While that is marginally more expensive than going to a drug
store, the result will be absolutely perfect - and still no where near the expense of having the printing done through your photographer. But there’
s more to it than just prints. Ownership of your images provides you the means to always have your images, even many years down the road. It
enables you to copy them onto more than one computer, helping to safeguard them against loss or theft. It enables you to use them creatively,
whether you want to make a scrapbook or email them to a friend.
If it were my wedding, I would absolutely, positively insist on getting the digital images from my wedding day!
What about the photographer’s equipment? Does that matter?
Yes - it’s absolutely critical! And the differences between various cameras and lenses are significant. But how do you tell? Well, the best way is
to ask them and hope for an honest answer. Every photographer at your wedding should have:
- two camera bodies - multiple professional lenses and backup lenses
- backup external flashes - multiple backup memory cards and batteries
Professional lenses - they are water-resistant.That means if you have an outdoor wedding, and it starts to sprinkle, those photographers who
aren’t using pro-lenses will have to stop shooting or go indoors, or their equipment will die.
Low Light Capability - top of the line camera bodies use sensors that are able to function in extremely low-light while still providing smooth,
clean images free of noise. We use the very best quality Nikon camera bodies which are extremely capable in difficult lighting situations. Also,
lenses again are a very critical factor here. Certain professional lenses have the ability to function in very low-light situations ( you can look at a
lense for what is called it's f-stop rating - it’s along the edge and you would want to see a number like f/2.8, f/1.8, f/1.4, etc. the lower the better.
Consumer grade lenses will not typically show an f-stop with a number lower than f/3.5 ).
Studio Lighting - we always bring studio lights with us for the formals, to use when necessary. Studio lights allow a photographer to illuminate a
group of people ( say, a wedding party ) with a soft, natural light that will eliminate ugly shadows under the chin while avoiding the undesirable
harsh light that is produced by using a camera mounted flash. While studio lighting isn't always necessary in every situation, we always bring it,
just in case. In summary, there is never, EVER an excuse for failing to get the job done due to lack of proper equipment or backup. If a
photographer is going to assume the enormous responsibility of photographing a couple’s wedding day, then they should have invested in
the proper equipment and backup to ensure that they are able to do the job properly. We have spent many, many thousands of dollars to
ensure that we can and will do this for you!
What about after the wedding? What happens then?
What your photographer does after the event is very important. Here is our procedure: Upon returning from a wedding, we download the digital
images to three totally separate hard drives. This is to ensure that, should a drive fail, the images are sufficiently backed up. Only once this is
done are any of the images erased from the memory cards.
NOTE: after doing this for years and years and processing literally hundreds of thousands of images, we have never lost even one image.
Next comes the post-processing. There are a millions of ways to do this, and the workflow is different for every photographer. Here’s how we do
it - which, by the way, is the single best way to do it. :) We categorize the images into folders such as pre-ceremony, ceremony, post-ceremony,
reception, etc. From there, we open each image, one at a time, and process that image. By process, we mean a number of things. If someone in
an image has one eye half open or for whatever reason does not look good, we simply delete that file. If the image is otherwise fine, we examine
the image to see if it could be improved. Simple improvements would be such things as cropping the image, adjusting the lighting or contrast or
hue, etc. We do each of these adjustments by hand, one image at a time. We also edit select images artistically, and there is no rhyme or
reason to our method. We use our mind’s eye, so to speak. We look at the image, and if we see the potential to do something artistic with it, the
we do it. Please keep in mind that certain extensive edits may require an additional fee.
Finally, when all of the images are complete, we resize copies of the images, which are then uploaded to a password-protected online gallery for
you to view. The full-resolution images are recorded onto a DVD or USB Drive, and then placed into a deluxe Presentation Case to be given to
you, along of course with a rights release so that you can print them, share them, etc.
So, how are we different than other photographers when it comes to post-processing?
Well, the differences can be huge, but you’ll have to find out for yourself because most photographers are pretty secretive about these kinds of
topics. ( Seriously, it’s like cold-war espionage sometimes - ask me about it! ) First, ask them if they use Lightroom. That’s a program which is
designed for professional photographers - it’s designed to speed up the workflow of photographers so they have more time to watch TV.
Seriously, though, it is a program that makes post-processing much faster. Here’s how it works:
Let’s say I come home from a wedding, download and back up the images, and get started. I can take a folder of images, say 400 images from
the pre-ceremony, and load them into the Lightroom program. I can then edit/optimize one of the images. If I’m satisfied with the results, I can
then have Lightroom apply the same set of “adjustments” to all of the other images in the folder, automatically. It’s not instantaneous, but the
photographer can walk away, go watch TV, go out to dinner, etc. and the program will be working away while he or she is gone.
Pretty amazing, right? Well, it is.
But is it the best way to do it?
I would say definitely not. You see, while the program is amazing and the software engineers who designed it are definitely brilliant, it is not
without it’s faults. I’ve seen the results of the “automated” wizardry, and while it often does a great job, it also makes changes that I don’t find
appealing. The fact is, while I can see that an image is of you in your wedding dress, holding a beautiful bouquet, the computer software cannot
see that. All it sees are a series of 1’s and 0’s. That’s it. And because that’s it, it cannot always get it right. It takes a human eye to do it best. So,
if a photographer tells you that they use Lightroom, be wary, because it is a shortcut.
Does every photographer edit each and every image?
Absolutely not. Many other photographers may not edit any of your images.
Now that’s a workflow solution!!!
They don’t process any image unless you order it as a print. It's part of a trend right now that's called, "WYSIWYG" or "What You See Is What
You Get." Believe it or not, there are photographers out there who are pushing this "approach" and trying to sell it to clients as some kind of
wonderful, new style. They'll use catch-phrases like...
"It's honest" or "It's true" or "It's real"
Well, maybe it's honest, and true, and real - and that all sounds good - but the bottom line is that they're basically telling you that they don't
have any intention of editing your images. Is that really what you want?
Your photographer should edit every final image, in my opinion. That’s part of the package when you pay for professional photography. Some
photographers may even charge extra to edit an image. It’s true! They won’t crop a photo, or adjust the contrast or lighting or clarity, unless you
pay them to do so! That not so hot and would be a good thing to know up front, right? And as for doing anything artistic with an image, the
same goes for many photographers. They don’t do it unless you specifically pay them to do it. With IQ FOTO, we often apply artistic effects to
the images at our discretion, not because we have to, but because we really enjoy doing that.
Are you really still reading all of this? You are!? That’s great! Thank you! There are two more things I’d like to address that should really help you
to determine if a photographer is a good choice for you. Both are grounded in common sense.
Who is going to photograph my wedding?
First, just because you talk with Bob from Bob’s Photography Studio ( no offense, Bob ) doesn’t necessarily mean that Bob will photograph your
wedding. You need to confirm specifically who will be shooting your wedding. Even if you meet with Bob, be sure that it’s Bob who will be there
on your actual wedding day. You need to confirm it - seriously. There are a lot of studios out there that employ numerous photographers, and so
what good does it do you to look at a portfolio of images if the photographer who created them isn’t the photographer who will be at your
wedding? What good does it do you to meet with Bob if Bob isn’t going to be there on your wedding day?
Second, and along these same lines, it will serve you well to know a bit about the photographer’s position in the company for which he works. Is
the photographer also the owner? If so, that is great because the owner is far more likely to have a very sincere interest in your satisfaction with
his or her service and results. This is pretty much a good rule to follow with regard to any business, but particularly so when it comes to an
artistic, creative medium like photography, where a little extra effort in a given situation can make all the difference! Couple that with the high
pressure and the “no-second-chance” reality of a wedding, and the value of that little extra that an owner brings to the table is even more
important.
With IQ FOTO, you will always have Maria as your primary photographer ( unless you choose otherwise ), while the assistant photographer will
be either Laure, Rita, or Jon. Laure is often also available as a single photographer, should you wish.
photographer. Admittedly, it can be very confusing. Just the sheer volume of information that is available to today’s bride can be overwhelming.
And sometimes, when you’ve looked at so many options and samples and galleries and prices, it can seem that everything is pretty much the
same. But, there really is a difference!
To simplify things, allow me to try something. Let me switch places with you ( hypothetically ) and I'll be the bride. Knowing what I know now,
what would I need to ask - and what answers would I want to receive - to make the best decision...
How many photographers do I get? How many do I need?
That depends upon a number of factors, but the truth is that one photographer can only be in one place at any given time, which is pretty
limiting. One photographer cannot get the shot of the bride coming down the aisle, and the look on her face, while at the same time shooting
from the other end to see the look on the groom’s face when he first sees her. One photographer cannot record the look on a mother’s face while
at the same time capturing the bride and groom as they exchange their vows. I could go on and one. There are literally hundreds of examples I
could give where it would be advantageous to have more than one photographer. On that note, there are also innumerable circumstances where
three photographers would be even better, which is precisely why we offer coverage by three photographers with our Premier Collection.
What about a disc of images? Do I need that?
This is one of the easier distinctions you can make among photographers. Do they or do they not provide you with the digital images from your
wedding? Knowing what I know, and if I were the bride, I would absolutely want the digital images from my wedding. Period. Why do some
photographers not offer them? Simply put, it’s a business decision. If you don’t have the images, you have to go to them for prints. When you do,
they make money. Lots of money.
If you have the digital images, you can print what you want, when you want, etc. Why then would a couple agree to this? Well, here’s the most
common “sales pitch”you might hear from a photographer that won’t release the images. They’ll tell you that they must safeguard their work.
They don’t want a couple running off to the local drug store to have an image printed, only to have it turn out looking differently ( color, contrast,
etc ) than the photographer intended. They are concerned that the printed image won’t look precisely the way they had intended. These
photographers will tell you that by getting your prints through them, you will be ensured that the final product will look exactly the way it should.
Well, this is a half truth. The true part is that you probably will get a great print from the photographer. They will ensure that the color, contrast,
etc. is just right. But, what they leave out is that all they have to do is embed a color profile in the image ( it’s photo-geek stuff but basically it is a
digital code that communicates with a printer to “explain” to a printer how the digital file should look ) and the print will look great. That’s what
we do. We embed a color profile in every image so that you will get great results.
Now, we do recommend going to a reputable photo lab ( Cord Camera, McCallister, etc. ) to have the print done, because that way a technician
will review the image prior to printing to make certain everything looks just right. While that is marginally more expensive than going to a drug
store, the result will be absolutely perfect - and still no where near the expense of having the printing done through your photographer. But there’
s more to it than just prints. Ownership of your images provides you the means to always have your images, even many years down the road. It
enables you to copy them onto more than one computer, helping to safeguard them against loss or theft. It enables you to use them creatively,
whether you want to make a scrapbook or email them to a friend.
If it were my wedding, I would absolutely, positively insist on getting the digital images from my wedding day!
What about the photographer’s equipment? Does that matter?
Yes - it’s absolutely critical! And the differences between various cameras and lenses are significant. But how do you tell? Well, the best way is
to ask them and hope for an honest answer. Every photographer at your wedding should have:
- two camera bodies - multiple professional lenses and backup lenses
- backup external flashes - multiple backup memory cards and batteries
Professional lenses - they are water-resistant.That means if you have an outdoor wedding, and it starts to sprinkle, those photographers who
aren’t using pro-lenses will have to stop shooting or go indoors, or their equipment will die.
Low Light Capability - top of the line camera bodies use sensors that are able to function in extremely low-light while still providing smooth,
clean images free of noise. We use the very best quality Nikon camera bodies which are extremely capable in difficult lighting situations. Also,
lenses again are a very critical factor here. Certain professional lenses have the ability to function in very low-light situations ( you can look at a
lense for what is called it's f-stop rating - it’s along the edge and you would want to see a number like f/2.8, f/1.8, f/1.4, etc. the lower the better.
Consumer grade lenses will not typically show an f-stop with a number lower than f/3.5 ).
Studio Lighting - we always bring studio lights with us for the formals, to use when necessary. Studio lights allow a photographer to illuminate a
group of people ( say, a wedding party ) with a soft, natural light that will eliminate ugly shadows under the chin while avoiding the undesirable
harsh light that is produced by using a camera mounted flash. While studio lighting isn't always necessary in every situation, we always bring it,
just in case. In summary, there is never, EVER an excuse for failing to get the job done due to lack of proper equipment or backup. If a
photographer is going to assume the enormous responsibility of photographing a couple’s wedding day, then they should have invested in
the proper equipment and backup to ensure that they are able to do the job properly. We have spent many, many thousands of dollars to
ensure that we can and will do this for you!
What about after the wedding? What happens then?
What your photographer does after the event is very important. Here is our procedure: Upon returning from a wedding, we download the digital
images to three totally separate hard drives. This is to ensure that, should a drive fail, the images are sufficiently backed up. Only once this is
done are any of the images erased from the memory cards.
NOTE: after doing this for years and years and processing literally hundreds of thousands of images, we have never lost even one image.
Next comes the post-processing. There are a millions of ways to do this, and the workflow is different for every photographer. Here’s how we do
it - which, by the way, is the single best way to do it. :) We categorize the images into folders such as pre-ceremony, ceremony, post-ceremony,
reception, etc. From there, we open each image, one at a time, and process that image. By process, we mean a number of things. If someone in
an image has one eye half open or for whatever reason does not look good, we simply delete that file. If the image is otherwise fine, we examine
the image to see if it could be improved. Simple improvements would be such things as cropping the image, adjusting the lighting or contrast or
hue, etc. We do each of these adjustments by hand, one image at a time. We also edit select images artistically, and there is no rhyme or
reason to our method. We use our mind’s eye, so to speak. We look at the image, and if we see the potential to do something artistic with it, the
we do it. Please keep in mind that certain extensive edits may require an additional fee.
Finally, when all of the images are complete, we resize copies of the images, which are then uploaded to a password-protected online gallery for
you to view. The full-resolution images are recorded onto a DVD or USB Drive, and then placed into a deluxe Presentation Case to be given to
you, along of course with a rights release so that you can print them, share them, etc.
So, how are we different than other photographers when it comes to post-processing?
Well, the differences can be huge, but you’ll have to find out for yourself because most photographers are pretty secretive about these kinds of
topics. ( Seriously, it’s like cold-war espionage sometimes - ask me about it! ) First, ask them if they use Lightroom. That’s a program which is
designed for professional photographers - it’s designed to speed up the workflow of photographers so they have more time to watch TV.
Seriously, though, it is a program that makes post-processing much faster. Here’s how it works:
Let’s say I come home from a wedding, download and back up the images, and get started. I can take a folder of images, say 400 images from
the pre-ceremony, and load them into the Lightroom program. I can then edit/optimize one of the images. If I’m satisfied with the results, I can
then have Lightroom apply the same set of “adjustments” to all of the other images in the folder, automatically. It’s not instantaneous, but the
photographer can walk away, go watch TV, go out to dinner, etc. and the program will be working away while he or she is gone.
Pretty amazing, right? Well, it is.
But is it the best way to do it?
I would say definitely not. You see, while the program is amazing and the software engineers who designed it are definitely brilliant, it is not
without it’s faults. I’ve seen the results of the “automated” wizardry, and while it often does a great job, it also makes changes that I don’t find
appealing. The fact is, while I can see that an image is of you in your wedding dress, holding a beautiful bouquet, the computer software cannot
see that. All it sees are a series of 1’s and 0’s. That’s it. And because that’s it, it cannot always get it right. It takes a human eye to do it best. So,
if a photographer tells you that they use Lightroom, be wary, because it is a shortcut.
Does every photographer edit each and every image?
Absolutely not. Many other photographers may not edit any of your images.
Now that’s a workflow solution!!!
They don’t process any image unless you order it as a print. It's part of a trend right now that's called, "WYSIWYG" or "What You See Is What
You Get." Believe it or not, there are photographers out there who are pushing this "approach" and trying to sell it to clients as some kind of
wonderful, new style. They'll use catch-phrases like...
"It's honest" or "It's true" or "It's real"
Well, maybe it's honest, and true, and real - and that all sounds good - but the bottom line is that they're basically telling you that they don't
have any intention of editing your images. Is that really what you want?
Your photographer should edit every final image, in my opinion. That’s part of the package when you pay for professional photography. Some
photographers may even charge extra to edit an image. It’s true! They won’t crop a photo, or adjust the contrast or lighting or clarity, unless you
pay them to do so! That not so hot and would be a good thing to know up front, right? And as for doing anything artistic with an image, the
same goes for many photographers. They don’t do it unless you specifically pay them to do it. With IQ FOTO, we often apply artistic effects to
the images at our discretion, not because we have to, but because we really enjoy doing that.
Are you really still reading all of this? You are!? That’s great! Thank you! There are two more things I’d like to address that should really help you
to determine if a photographer is a good choice for you. Both are grounded in common sense.
Who is going to photograph my wedding?
First, just because you talk with Bob from Bob’s Photography Studio ( no offense, Bob ) doesn’t necessarily mean that Bob will photograph your
wedding. You need to confirm specifically who will be shooting your wedding. Even if you meet with Bob, be sure that it’s Bob who will be there
on your actual wedding day. You need to confirm it - seriously. There are a lot of studios out there that employ numerous photographers, and so
what good does it do you to look at a portfolio of images if the photographer who created them isn’t the photographer who will be at your
wedding? What good does it do you to meet with Bob if Bob isn’t going to be there on your wedding day?
Second, and along these same lines, it will serve you well to know a bit about the photographer’s position in the company for which he works. Is
the photographer also the owner? If so, that is great because the owner is far more likely to have a very sincere interest in your satisfaction with
his or her service and results. This is pretty much a good rule to follow with regard to any business, but particularly so when it comes to an
artistic, creative medium like photography, where a little extra effort in a given situation can make all the difference! Couple that with the high
pressure and the “no-second-chance” reality of a wedding, and the value of that little extra that an owner brings to the table is even more
important.
With IQ FOTO, you will always have Maria as your primary photographer ( unless you choose otherwise ), while the assistant photographer will
be either Laure, Rita, or Jon. Laure is often also available as a single photographer, should you wish.
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beauty.
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| View Our Archive |
Celebrate
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| Bridal Sessions with IQ FOTO |
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