Here’s a bit of a secret, I have probably the world’s shortest attention span. A photo I love one day I’ll loathe the next for some reason, in this case I have a feeling this one will be one of my favourites for some time to come.

Last week I was lucky enough to be given this gem, I knew it was such an amazing moment I screamed at my assistant ” GET OUT OF THE WAY CHARLIE!” who just happened to be in the frame. I like this picture because there are so many amazing things going on, I love how you can tell the boy is really paying attention while the father of the bride practices his speech. I even like the fact that there is a pint of beer on the window ledge, which unfortunately isn’t quite as prominent in the black and white version compared to the colour.

Perhaps I’ll feel differently about this photo next week, but for now I love it….. see ya next week!

Check out the internet’s latest viral sensation. I guess some couples just want to do things differently for their wedding. While it is very American I wonder what a British couple would do? Would you ever do something like this for your wedding?

It’s your wedding. And out of the myriad decisions you will make in planning one of the biggest and most important days of your life, hiring the right photographer may very well be the most important. After all, the wedding cake will be eaten, the flowers will eventually wilt and the wedding reception will be over when it is time for you and your betrothed to head home and prepare for the honeymoon. After all is said and done, it will be the images of your day that will help you to always remember all of the emotion, laughter, tears and sacredness of that day. The scary thing is, what if your wedding photos are, well, less than satisfactory?

Let’s be honest. Weddings are expensive, sometimes even ridiculously expensive. There’s the dress, the tux, the flowers, the cake, the rings, the venue, the food, the alcohol, the officiant, the DJ or musicians. And don’t forget the honeymoon. It all adds up very quickly. And if you’re like many couples, the financial burden of planning a dream wedding can take its toll on your finances. Even if you’re fortunate enough to have parents paying for most or all of your wedding, it’s still a hefty sum of money to hand over for even the most financially-endowed of parents. And this is when a couple can become very vulnerable to a certain idea that can have a lasting impact on the wedding. That idea being: “What if we hire an affordable photographer?” Affordable. Sounds good on paper but let’s dissect this a bit.

What is an “affordable” wedding photographer?

An “affordable” wedding photographer is usually a photographer who is just entering the industry and often has little to no experience shooting weddings professionally. They often price their services well below the market average in hopes of building up a portfolio. While this practice is certainly common and can turn out well for both the photographer and the clients, there are a few things to consider before hiring your affordable wedding photographer.

1.    How long has the wedding photographer been in business?
2.    How many weddings has he or she photographed?
3.    Why are their prices so low?
4.    What is the quality of their work in comparison with a photographer who is two to three times more expensive? (Be sure to be honest with yourself here. You may want to believe that their work is comparable but more often than not, that is simply not the case).
5.    What do you, as the client, expect out of your wedding photographer and can the “affordable” photographer really actualize your photography visions?

A case for the more expensive wedding photographer

In the case of wedding photography, do you really want to entrust a lifetime of memories to a photographer you found on craigslist.org or on an Internet search for “affordable wedding photographer”? Do these low priced photographers really have what it takes to ensure that your wedding images are truly exceptional? Hopefully, you only get married once. Similarly, the decision you make in regards to who you entrust with capturing your wedding day is only made once. You may save a couple of grand by opting for a more affordable photographer than your first option, but you may very well regret that decision in the future.

It’s your wedding. It happens only once. Be sure that the professional wedding photographer you hire is up to the job.

Jesse Chatham recommends that you visit http://www.photographik.org/ for more information on finding a  wedding photographer.

Anyway, just wanted to give you a snapshot of the new website that will be coming real soon on Randolphquan.com – I’m really excited about it. Not that I don’t love this current website, I just think that it doesn’t really reflect my style of photography. I wanted a really modern and forward thinking feel, which I don’t think our current version conveys. So please have a look , your feedback would be greatly appreciated as well as some input on things you might like to see or improved. Hope you like it!

Isle of White couple has Star Wars themed wedding on May 4th.

So who says we can’t have a little bit of fun with weddings? Today was unofficially Star Wars day around the world, so now you know why the entire IT department at your office were dressed up like jedi’s and storm troopers today.

Congratulations go out to Isle of White couple Duncan Thompson and Sammi Gardiner who decide to go all out and have a Star Wars themed wedding. Good luck to their future children who will in all likelihood endure many years of ridicule and never need the services of a good wedding photographer (seriously just kidding!)

So happy Star Wars day to you and May the 4^th be with you.

On a unrelated note Thursday is also the premiere of the new Star Trek movie, so perhaps we’ll see a few more nuptials involving Vulcans and Klingons.

Wed long and prosper anyone?

About the author: Randolph Quan is a UK based wedding photojournalist. You can follow him on Twitter or click here to contact Randolph.

Modern Contemporary Wedding Photography

With a million different wedding photographers claiming to be one style or another it can be awfully confusing and difficult figuring out what is what.
Contemporary wedding photography is a term that describes wedding photography that is not of a traditional nature.

So what exactly is traditional wedding photography then? Traditional wedding photography is much more posed and static. The photographer has a major influence on the images since they can be set up. Compared to the modern photojournalistic approach where the photographer focuses on candid moments like a fly on the wall.

I believe that a fusion of both is the best way to approach contemporary wedding photography. While no one wants their wedding photography to look like their parents wedding photos from the 70’s, posed images don’t have to be plain and boring either. I try to use my experience from studio and fashion photography to give your pictures a fresh look. However, just be aware that good posed photos take time and doing just 3-4 photos in different locations can take over an hour to do properly.

If you’re wedding has a tight schedule where time is a premium then the photojournalistic or reportage approach is for you, I basically capture your day as a documentary telling your wedding story from start to finish. I don’t get involved as much but it’s a guarantee that you’re wedding photography will be completely unique.

So when going through the difficult task of choosing a wedding photographer make sure you consider these important factors.

Style- Do you want your images to look to look like an in depth documentary or a fairytale Hollywood story?

Time- Do you actually have the time during your wedding for posed images? Many couples schedule two hours of photography between their ceremonies and reception, some don’t have time at all!

Skill- Ask your prospective photographer if he has any ideas, if he’s suggesting the same things you’ve seen before its not likely to be very cutting edge.

About the Author: One of Randolph Quan’s many hats is being a London contemporary wedding photographer. You can follow Randolph on Twitter or click here to contact Randolph