Wedding Event Photography

(It must be remembered however that satellite imagery rarely competes with Oblique Aerial Photography where and angle is required) For many years aerial photographers like their land-based colleagues have relied on film and it has only been in the last few years that the digital equipment has been able to rival film. This is still not true for large prints where medium format film cameras provide the benchmark in perfect conditions such as display Construction Photography.

The main advantages digital has over film: -

Greater flexibility – allows photography in poorer condition which would not normally be possible, e.g. Photography in low light - ISO’s up to and above 1600.

Immediate data recall and review while on location.

No changing film.

High capacity memory cards allow hundreds of images on one card (depending on image size) - especially important where a large number of images are to be taken in a short space of time, such as Event Aerial Photography.

Image stabilization on lenses.

Immediate image transfer from the office to clients.

Easier archiving of electronic data with instant recall.

Easier manipulation of images for both archiving in Aerial Photographic Libraries and e-mailing.

Disadvantages of digital over film: -

Limitation in size of printable image depending on size of sensor. Most semi-pro DSLR’s do not have full frame sensors, therefore smaller than 35mm. Professional DSLR cameras do have full frame sensors but these are roughly the equivalent of a 35mm film camera and no larger.

Meduim format digital cameras are not usually appropriate for use in Aircraft due to the restriction on ISO settings and the very high cost.

Possible to loose data inadvertently.

Camera battery power is paramount.

Need for constant hardware and software upgrades.

For many aerial photographers the move to digital equipment has not only provided greater flexibility but has also reduced processing costs as many clients will not require prints but only the digital files on a disc. Although there will be a large initial outlay for the equipment the savings over time on the lab processing fees should outweigh these.



By: Keith McGregor

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(c) 2008 Tom Jackson

This is part two of this article. I the first, part we covered the following points; Please see the first part for a full explanation of the 3 points.

1. Make sure that all your batteries are fully charged. This is critical, not just to make sure your camera can take photos on the day, but to also protect the photos you take and be sure the memory card does not become corrupt.

2. Make sure that you have enough memory cards to hold all of the photos you will be taking on the day. By having several memory cards available, you can shoot a number of images on each card and minimize the risk of losing all the images you take on the day.

3. Before you start the days event, make sure that you format the memory cards and get them prepared for the days event. Always format in the camera you will be using.

This is the continuation from part 1 of this article.

4. Never use a memory card in more than one kind of camera without formatting the card. You can not only damage a memory card but you may lose the images you have already taken by using the card in a camera other than a camera of the same make and model as the one you used to format the card. Most cameras will write the file a little differently, and so if you use the card in a different camera, you again run the risk of losing images. If you intend to use a card in a different camera, that make sure that you copy all the files onto your computer, and then format the card in the other camera before use.

5. Part of the reason for item 1 above (fully charged batteries), is not just to make sure you have enough power to take photos during the days event, but also to ensure that the camera will not power off during writing a file to the memory card. If the camera battery fails while writing a file, you will not only lose that image, but the rest of the images on the card may be lost forever. A memory card is just like a computer hard drive. It has a directory and file structure so that the camera and your computer know where the files are, how many files are on the card, and how big the files are. If the camera fails during writing a file to the card, it can corrupt the card, just like a hard drive crash. Also, never take a card out of the camera while the file is still being written to the card. Always make sure that if you need to remove the card after taking a photo, wait a few seconds to make sure the file has been written to the card to avoid problems.

6. When it comes time to move your photos onto your computer?s hard drive, I suggest that you use a memory card reader and not the camera. Again, it is always possible that the camera?s battery could fail during the process to copy the photos over to your hard drive. This will not usually be a problem, but it could cause the card to become corrupt and therefore potentially lose your images. It is generally accepted i the industry that a memory card reader is faster than your camera when transferring files. Card readers are very inexpensive, and you have a choice of using a multi format reader or one designed just for the card type your camera uses. They are so cheap, that I always carry one with me so that if I need to, I can either copy files to a computer that happens to be at the location I am shooting, or to display some of the images onto the computer monitor for the client or subjects to see right away.

So, if you would really like to lose all those treasured photos, if you really want to have the hassle of explaining to your client, family or friends that you have lost all of the images you took, then just ignore these tips. You will lose some money, some friends and have to endure the wrath of some potentially very angry people. Good word of mouth advertising cannot be bought. So, if you do have a problem during the event, you will miss out on a lot of income that you could’ve made over the years. There are wedding photographers who consistently make well into the 6 figure income. And in the US alone, the wedding photography market is in excess of five billion dollars a year. Not a bad market to be in.

So, if you follow these simple steps, you will ensure that your images will be saved, and everyone will live happily ever after. OK, well, maybe we do not need to be that melodramatic, but I am sure you get the picture (pun intended). Your clients will be happy, you will be happy, and your wallet will be happy. Plus, you get the benefit and the pride of knowing that you did a good job and that a small part of you will live on and be enjoyed by generations of people looking at your photos. Just like an artist has people viewing their paintings. It just does not get better than that. Enjoy.



By: Tom Jackson

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