Text and Photos by Sarah Pukin

Biography
Sarah Pukin Photography is a modern, edgy & fashionable Wedding & Boudoir Photography boutique located in Calgary, AB.  Recently Sarah was recognized for being in the top 5% of wedding photographers in the world and received the Brides Choice award 2010 from Wedding Wire. Sarah believes that every couple has a different love story, and a different style. She will capture your wedding discreetly and professionally while bringing her considerable expertise and experience within the worlds of weddings, high fashion and photojournalism. Sarah shoots both locally and internationally.

Every Bride and Groom wants to have a worry free day full of memories, laughter and love. It’s my job to capture and immortalize all of those emotions. Every wedding is different and every couple has their own unique love story. Because of this, I personally strive to capture every unique emotion in the most natural way possible with out being obstructive and distracting.

The way a Bride’s eyes catch her Groom’s as she walks down the aisle. The way the Groom nervously takes his Bride’s hand after shaking her Father’s.

My top two favourite parts of a wedding are when the bride and groom are just about half way through their vows and that look of excitement and love is written all over their faces. My second favourite part is when we go off to shoot the formals.

Shooting the formals gives the couple time to enjoy each other and forget, if only for a moment, about their hectic schedule. I set up my couples in a situation and tell them to enjoy one another – I tell them to ignore me and just have fun. This allows me to capture a before, during, and after. The ‘before’ is the most formal shot, the ‘during’ is always full of laughter, and the ‘after’ is serene.

Top 5 Ways to Get the Photos You Want from Your Photographer:

Be Clear.
Sometimes things can get mis-communicated. The best way to really show your photographer what kind of images you want is to show them examples. Check out your favorite bridal blogs, magazines, and be sure to check out the photographer’s portfolio. Print or tear out some of your favourite images and bring them as examples. Remember, just because you think you have explained what you’re looking for doesn’t mean your photographer perceived it the same way.

Style.
Before selecting a photographer you should decide on a style you want your images to have. Talk it over as a couple and decide what you both want. Then approach photographers for consultations, and find someone who has experience taking the style of photos you’re looking for. If you’re looking for bright vibrant images, you wouldn’t want to select a photographer who has nothing like that in their portfolio. Keep in mind that all photographers have a different shooting style & editing style. Look for a photographer who has examples of what you want. The style you’re looking for should be something your photographer does, not something they could do.

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One trendy post processing technique is called Texturing. The key to texturing is picking the right type of textures, and the right combination to give the photo a special feel.

Boe Lefebvre, of Pokedog Photography, utilizes a variety of techniques. For example, he says:

"I might overlay an image of a scuffed up cement wall to give the image depth, and then add a vivid image of green grass for color, and finally a blurred image of bright street lights to vary the tone and exposure. There can be millions of combinations and unlimited layers created to craft a work of fine art that a wedding couple could have printed on canvas to hang on their wall as a conversation piece, without feeling the need to pull it down after the one year anniversary."

www.pokedog.com

The days of hiring a wedding photographer strictly for formal portraits are fading fast. Wedding photography has transformed, and is continuing to transform dramatically. Photographers are taking more creative approaches to their work, as well as becoming more competitive in what they have to offer. Clients are also demanding more and more.

With this explosion in the industry, there’s been a move toward photography that combines traditional photography with fine art. Digital photography has given the photographer new artistic mediums in which to play. Computer software allows photographers to take a real world image and make into something fantastic and surreal.

There are now two distinct skills that are emerging amongst wedding photographers. The first is the ability to shoot a great image, the second is the competence and creativity to work with and edit an image.

Some photographers specialize in the digital enhancements or alterations, and others could not imagine changing the original image. It is important when you are looking for your photographer to find out how much time, if any, they spend on post-processing, even if it is just to remove an unexpected blemish or two. This usually time consuming service should be included in the price, but make sure you check, and that you know what you are getting.

Most importantly, make sure you can communicate with your photographer to make sure you get the style of photography that you want.

Above is a photograph by Boe Lefebvre, of Pokedog Photography, before digital editing. Our next post will reveal the impact that post-processing can have.

Get the shots you want on your big day!

By a landslide, photography is the #1 option when it comes to capturing memories from the biggest day of your life. Before the wedding, it’s important to meet with your photographer so that you can give them direction as to what shots you definitely want. Maybe you want to ensure you have a candid shot of you and your grandma or one with your bridesmaids at your favourite hang out. Whatever your desires, it’s a good idea to communicate them with the photographer you’ve entrusted to shoot your wedding. Start by making a list of the shots you’d like. 3 categories to consider include places (at your favourite park), persons (a group shot of all of the kids) and moments (the first time the groom sees his bride). Make your list and then ask your photographer for any suggestions that they have. Also, check out the internet for websites that list photo opps that you may not have thought about. Finally, your photographer will likely have a list of shots that they recommend.

If you’re still looking for that perfect wedding photographer, don’t wait too much longer as the photographer you want could book up.  It’s best to book your wedding photographer at least 6 to 8 months in advance. If you want a particular photographer for a specific date, book them 9 to 10 months in advance.

For the last minute bride who has not yet booked a photographer, check out Trident Photography ! - An artistic, reliable and experienced professional wedding photographer.