Orange County Wedding Photographer
My name is Mike Smith and I have been an Orange County wedding photographer for 12 years. Planning for the big day can be stressful, even with all the love in the air; choosing a wedding planner, bridal gown, tuxedos for the guys, table centerpieces, bridal shower invitations, party gifts, floral bouquets for the ceremony, finding an engagement photographer and sorting through tons of albums & pictures, choosing a creative videographer and having to watch all those videos, all the pretty bridal flowers, or selecting the ideal location on the beach. Orange County, California, has some of the most beautiful destinations in the world. Laguna, Newport, Huntington Beach are all just an hour drive from Los Angeles. As a fine art major, I specialize in OC wedding photojournalism. Think of me as a friend and have fun as I take candid shots at the reception. Full of photography tips, her wedding photos will bring a smile to her face for years to come, as she remembers her young handsome groom in the photo album on her lap.
Some people focus on the budget. Others think only of the bridal centerpieces, stationary, and invitations even before the guests arrive at the reception hall. Instead, I encourage both the bride & groom to image a professional photographer recording memories to last a lifetime. Wedding photography pricing is important and you need to know how to do it right. Whether the photographer charges by the hour, or you get a package deal is not the big issue. You will want to see what the cost is for prints. Soem wedding photographers charge an arm and a leg for prints. Some will give you all the digital photos on a disk and you can print them yourselves at any photo processing plant. If you are on a budget this is a great deal, because you don’t have to pay to have any photographs printed right away, you can do it later when you have the money. Personally, I wouldn’t use a wedding photographer unless they included every digital print in their pricing. Also, make sure they are even taking digital photos, and not stuck in the stone age.
Following this advice will help you find the best Orange County wedding photographer. But how do you pick the best wedding photographer? Here are a couple things to consider if searching for the best wedding photographer in Orange County. First take a look at their website. I don’t care if they have flash or not, I just want to see if I like the style of wedding photography that this particular artist has. Some are more formal protraits, but can be stuffy. (Think Olan Mills.) Some pictures are fun & flirty poses, but can borderline on unprofessional. How is the lighting in the gallery or studio? Where did he go to school to learn photography? Just because he might be famous doesn’t mean he will do a good job at your ceremony. But keep in mind that what ever the photographer is showing to you, is his best work. What you really want to see is his usual work. That means you will need to talk to him and get references from other people just like you who used him to take engagement photos, wedding ceremony portraits, and marriage reception videography.
Something else to think about is whether or not you want a photojournalist style at your wedding reception. This style looks like a newspaper when it is developed and can be really fun and unique.
Ask yourself what you really want from your wedding photographer. If it is just a simple photo sitting on your desk of your spouse to be, then tell him that. No need to go overboard. I know for a fact that I have never looked at the photos of all my relatives up on the stage from my wedding. All I really wanted was a shot of my beautiful wife in her wedding dress, holding her bouquet, so I could set it on my desk at the office.
Mike Smith is an Orange County wedding photographer. He is happily married to his wife of 10 years and they both love wedding photography and capturing the beauty and thrill in every wedding. He is an avid surfer, and travels the world in search of the perfect beach destinations.
Mike Smith Photography serves Orange County, San Diego and Los Angeles; specializing in weddings and engagements in order to capture the highest quality photos for those special days.