Lenses, and other big factors in choosing a photographer:

One of the common overlooked factors of a photo is the lens that is used. In many ways, a camera is just a housing that allows a lens to make an image. There are SO MANY ways that lenses are a factor in the final photo. Here are some:

•  Professional lenses (which many times cost $1000 or more) deliver much sharper images. Pro lenses also have less distortions than typical consumer lenses.

•   A good photographer will have an arsenal of various lenses because some lenses are needed to shoot in certain lighting situations without having to resort to using flash. By having these "low light" professional lenses, many times we can photograph your ceremony, first dance, and other elements of the day without the use of flash. This allows us to be much more unobtrusive to you and your guests. Using flash also typically delivers less-favorable lighting conditions for portraiture and candids (photojournalism). By using these low light lenses we can capture the ambience of the scene without spoiling it with a bright flash.

•   Even with the most expensive lenses, sometimes flash is still needed for various reasons.

•   Some lenses enable a certain look by either having a unique perspective or by blurring the background more than other lenses.

•   There are no professional "all purpose" lenses. Those super zoom lenses on the market have many disadvantages to them including their lack of sharpness and their inability to transmit very much light to the camera, which forces the photographer to use flash.

•   Because there is no "super lens" for all situations, many times a good photographer will have 2-3 cameras going at the same time, enabling the photographer to have 2-3 professional lenses available at a moment's notice.

•   When choosing your photographer, make sure they have not only a high quality camera to give you large images that are sharp, but almost more importantly make sure they have professional lenses as well. Without high quality lenses, the expensive digital camera is pointless in many scenarios. It's like spending a ton of money on an engine and putting it into a car that has bald tires and bad suspension and brakes. Without the total package (camera + lens), a photographer's ability to deliver high quality images is extremely hindered.

• When a photographer has a large selection of high quality lenses paired with a good camera, he/she can now be free to creatively be inspired to capture everything from extreme emotional close-ups to amazingly grand wide angle photos and everything in between. By choosing a photographer with great equipment you increase the chance of you photos becoming great.

•   Equipment is not everything though, and even the best equipment doesn't make up for the fact that you are hiring a photographer for their "eye" and their creative "vision". A list of expensive equipment is just a small part of what it takes to deliver great wedding images. A good photographer, along with being creative, must also have the knowledge of lighting, composition, optics, and the ability to interact with the people at a wedding and keep it moving in a friendly manner to deliver memorable wedding photos.

•   The whole package is essentially this: photographer's eye + photographer's technical knowledge +camera + lens + personality.

 - Mark