Digital Wedding Photography
One of the most hotly debated topics among professional wedding photographers is whether digital wedding photography is as good as or better than traditional film. This is a natural debate as our world becomes more digitized. The majority of the population owns or has access to a digital camera and we enjoy the extra features and enhanced functionality that our personal digital cameras provide. When the time comes to decide on our wedding photography, it is only natural that we would consider digital wedding photography.
The quality of digital cameras has increased over the years. With more options available that are comparable to traditional 35mm cameras, professional wedding photographers are willing to take a chance with the new technology. With the advances, digital wedding photography has gained some credibility among professional wedding photographers, and as time goes on, it's possible that you won't be able to tell the difference between digital wedding photography and traditional film photography.
For many situations, digital cameras offer a number of significant advantages. A digital camera provides immediate feedback to the photographer. This enables him or her to risk tricky or difficult shots, knowing that if anything needs to be corrected it can be. This is especially important for photojournalistic wedding photography, in which many of the shots will be taken in ambient light conditions. A related benefit is the ability to take a greater number of shots. The photographer can shoot as many pictures as time and memory card will allow, without worrying about the cost of film.
Another major advantage of digital wedding photography is that all of the settings are internal. Rather than having to interrupt the proceedings to change film speeds or simply change out a film roll, the photographer can make changes quickly and easily.
Most couples today want their photos in a digital format as well as an album. While film photos can be scanned, moving digital photos around electronically is less labor intensive and therefore less expensive. In addition, digital photos can be easily manipulated if the couple wants copies of certain photos in black and white or sepia tones, for example.
The major drawback to digital wedding photography at this time is that many wedding photographers are not yet completely familiar with the new style. Digital photography is in many ways a completely different animal than film photography, and some very talented professional wedding photographers are simply not at their best with digital photography. When interviewing possible digital wedding photographers, be sure that you ask how long the photographer has been using this style. Also ask to see copies of both his film work and his digital work for comparison purposes.
Digital wedding photography is here to stay. As time goes on, advances made with the technology will only serve to improve the quality of the photos. Already, many digital cameras have the ability to use different types of lenses and other accessories that previously were only available for traditional 35mm cameras. The choice you make will largely depend on your personal style and the look you are trying to create for your wedding album. Shop around, and compare photo albums from as many different photographers as you can find. Professional wedding photographers can have the best equipment in the world, but that still will not make up for a lack of knowledge. Whether it's digital or film, the photographer has to have the experience and skill to make your pictures shine. If you like a specific photographer's work, that photographer is the one for you.
