Glossary of photography terms
Understanding your photographer's technical talk
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Photography has truly gone
high-tech, and that’s added yet another layer to the dense shell of tehnical jargon
that surrounds professional photographers.
There’s lots of this lingo that you really don’t need to be
concerned with, but here are a few terms that will help make your choices easier and
more artistic.
Remember, though, that it’s your photographer’s job to
communicate with you. If you are puzzled by anything you see or hear, especially in
a contract, ask questions. Be sure you understand exactly what you’re paying for.
These definitions may be helpful as you plan your wedding
photography.
Candids
Unposed photos. These are spontaneous, and most often the best
images because folks aren’t posing, which many don’t do well anyway.
Portraits
In addition to your formal bridal portrait, which is made
days or weeks before the wedding, most brides expect to have group portraits taken
on the wedding day. These posed photos are just what they sound like, and can be
time-consuming if not carefully planned.
If it’s important to you to get pictures of certain friends or
relatives together, be sure to have a detailed list ready for your photographer. SEE:
photo checklist.
Table Shots
A photo of each table at the reception (or a gathering of folks
if you are not having tables). Tradionally, the photographer asks half of the guests
in each group to stand behind the other half.
These used to be standard but have fallen out of favor. If you
want these, be sure to ask for them. It’s one way of ensuring everyone at your wedding
is included in at least one photo.
Sepia
Brown tones that give a black and white photo an antique look.
Formerly done in the darkroom, this techique is now achieved digitally with editing
software and has recently become very popular. It’s a soft and romantic look.
Hand-tinted
Also achieved digitally, but sometimes still by hand, this
technique applies color to a black and white photograph, either to specific areas or
as a wash. The results can be very stunning.
A variation is converting part of a color image to black-and-white.
The color portion, which might be the bride, or just her bouquet, stands out dramatically
against the monochromatic background.
Cross-processed color
A technique that produces vivid, ultra-saturated colors. It’s
an arresting effect for selected portraits and is particuarly striking on outdoor shots.
Fish-eye lens
Very wide-angle lens that rounds the edges of the frame. It’s perfect for very tight
close-ups, but it can cause significant distortion of distant objects. For example, the
straight, vertical walls of a large church might be depicted as sharply curved.
Although it can produce some peculiar effects, a fish-eye is great
for shooting in tight spaces. You’ll be able to see the entire width of the church or the
entire bridal party crammed into the back seat of the limo.
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