Ask the experts

| Wed, 08/06/2008 - 05:55

Every issue we’ll be asking a wedding expert to answer questions you’ve sent in about your forthcoming wedding or honeymoon in Italy. If you have a question you would like answered then send it in to editor@italymag.co.uk

Dear: Dream Italian Weddings & Honeymoons

What tips could you give me to get the best of out my wedding photography in Italy please?
Melanie Barry (by email)
Reply from:
Giulio Mazzarini, professional photographer

Hi Melanie

Photography plays a pivotal role on a wedding day, and choosing the right photographer is the first and foremost step in creating a beautiful wedding album.
There are thousands of wedding photographers on the market. However, only real professional photographers can guarantee you wonderful images worth treasuring for the rest of your life.
Here are some useful criteria to help identify a suitable professional photographer:
– Have the photographs the feel and style (classic, reportage, etc.) I am looking for?
– Does the portfolio contain a wide range of beautiful and diverse images?
– Does the photographer speak both English and
Italian fluently?

– Can he/she travel easily from the wedding
ceremony site to the reception venue?

– How long is he/she prepared to stay (all day,
only during the ceremony, etc.)?

– What does the fee include?

– Is the photographer an experienced professional?

PLANNING AHEAD

It is advisable to look for a photographer well in advance, so as to maximise the chances of reserving the right professional. Ideally, you should choose a photographer where you live but operating in Italy: this would give both you and the photographer the chance to meet in advance, talk about the wedding in detail, and make all the necessary arrangements.

The price of professional wedding photographers generally varies according to the photographer’s experience and fame, the time spent photographing the wedding, the number, size and quality of prints given, and the extra goods/services included (e.g.

DVD-Rom, on-line website, etc.) After the first meeting, you should expect professional wedding photographers to send you an agreement confirming the following information:

– Date(s) and address(es) of the wedding

– Number of hours/days booked

– Number of prints received

– DVD/website included (Yes/No)

– Album included (Yes/No)

– Final price

YOUR WEDDING IS MEANT TO BE A MEMORABLE and enjoyable experience for you and your guests, not an endless posing session…

CANDID CAMERA

In terms of style, we believe that wedding photographers should have excellent photojournalistic skills and experience, make the most of natural light, and be able to capture the decisive moments of the day in an unobtrusive way. Your wedding is meant to be a memorable and enjoyable experience for you and your guests, not an endless posing session in front of a camera. In addition to classic portraits, we would therefore advise you to request an assortment of spontaneous shots.
Whether in winter or in hotter months, getting married in a Mediterranean country has numerous advantages from a photographic viewpoint. The combination of warm outdoor light, historical monuments, and the natural beauty of certain settings (such as a green wood/garden or the green and blue tinges of the sea and the sky), all play a role in ensuring high quality results, if skilfully exploited.
Giulio Mazzarini – GM Photography
www.gm-photo.co.uk