Wedding Photographers Chicago | Steve Matteo Photography

Monday, April 4, 2011

Chicago Wedding Photographer

Taking great portraits can be the key to becoming a successful wedding photographer in Chicago. While this is only part of your responsibility on the wedding day, portraits are the photos that clients will hang on their wall and pass down to family members over the years.

Your first goal should be getting to know your client and what their favorite spots are. Meeting with a client in advance of the wedding day to discuss your photo ideas is very important. Develop a good rapport and be comfortable working with each other. Meet for coffee and get in sync on what's expected for the portrait session. You can also exchange ideas and give feed back on their selections.

Once you have a good idea of the clients favorite places, go and explore the scene. You should view the locations around the same time you will be shooting. There's no sense going to see a site at 8 am when you will be shooting there at 4 pm on the wedding day. The same goes for seasons; I wouldn't view a park in March if the wedding were September.

Scoping out locations is also a must if you want to take advantage of the time you have to shoot. You'll want to know what type of light will be available that day. Also, create some potential compositions so you can crank out the best shots in the least amount of time. You may want to view the sites on both a sunny and cloudy day too.

Most couples don't have much time to take portraits or bridal party photos so having a few spots picked out in advance is key. Try to pick the best spots close enough to the ceremony and reception to save time and capitalize on the light that's available that day. Most wedding photographers Chicago clients rely on for good portraits view portrait locations in advance.

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Wedding Photographer in Chicago

Finding the right wedding photographer for your big day should be a fun and exciting experience. It will help if you're armed with some insight on photography and common questions to ask. As a photojournalist and wedding photographer in Chicago with over 15 years of experience, I've met with many wedding clients. While everyone's taste varies, the goal is always the same, getting the best photographer for you and your budget.

Now that most Chicago wedding photographer's portfolio's are available online, a good portion of your work is already done. With a click of the mouse, you can view work from as many photographers as you can stand. A good way to save time in your search is to think about other weddings you've attend and photos you viewed in the past. Did you like the photographer's style? Was it studio, candid, photojournalism or a mixture? Most good professionals have experience in various fields of photography but specialize in a certain style.

Studio photography usually encompasses traditional poses with lights and backdrops. A good portion of these shots are pre-determined and take place in a controlled situation. You'll still get a fair share of candid shots too but the focus here is on portraiture. Does the photographer have good command of the lighting? Look for harsh shadows under the eyes or on the walls or backdrop. Are the posed images stiff? Having a photojournalist cover your wedding day will give your images a more spontaneous feel.

While a photojournalist will have you pose for some of the traditional portraits, the more creative ones will be environmental portraits. The key to a good environmental portrait is the location, lighting and background. When you view a photographers portfolio, pay special attention to the location portraits. Did the photographer choose an interesting location and composition? What's going on in the background? Do the bride and groom stand out? Available light can make a portrait special too so take note of light, shadows and the photographers ability to mix various light sources. Also, look for candid moments and emotions. Do the images look staged or real?

Now that you've decided on the style that's right for you, it's time to meet with the photographer. The most important question should be, who's shooting my wedding? If you viewed a certain portfolio, you'll want that photographer to show up the day of your wedding. Outline what's included in your wedding contract, date, time, cost, and additional services. How much is the deposit and will it hold the date? Does the photographer double book dates? Do you get a copy of the images on CD and the right to print them? What is the refund policy?

You'll undoubtedly have questions of your own and you'll gain some experience if you meet with several of the wedding photographers Chicago has to choose from. Bring your future spouse and don't be afraid to have a family member or friend tag along too. This is a big decision and you want to make the right one.
Steve Matteo Photography is always available for a consultation or to answer your questions. You can find more of my photography tips here.

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Wedding Photojournalist Chicago

By Steve Matteo Photography
Kendyl and Tim were married last Saturday at the Chicago Cultural Center Wedding room on the 2nd floor. I've visited the Cultural Center many times and even had some of my work on display there as part of the City 2000 exhibit but this was my first trip as a Chicago wedding photographer. After the brief ceremony, we used some of the beautiful spaces inside before heading out to Millennium Park.

Wedding Photographer Chicago

Wedding Photographers Chicago

Wedding Photographer in Chicago

Wedding Photos at Millennium Park

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Chicago Wedding Photography

Sarah and Anh headed to the Bond Chapel at the University of Chicago to get married on February 5th. I've worked as a wedding photographer in Chicago for many years and this was one of the coldest days I've encountered. I spent some time with the couple shooting outside and the campus made a great setting. Congratulations to the newly weds.