The International Wedding Photography Conference by Charles Maring
Each year in Las Vegas, the stars of wedding photography meet up at WPPI along with nearly 10,000 other photographers at the worlds largest and most innovative photography conference dedicated to wedding and portrait photography. This is the place for hot new wedding product launches, evolution of style, and wedding photography trends emerge and come to life.

Change is inevitable.
Unlike most any other wedding related product, photography has changed immensely over the past 10 years. In fact, wedding photography as an industry is growing faster than ever due to the interest and blend of digital technologies. Today's top photographers and leading authorities must be guru's in a wide arena with this awe inspiring blend of science and art. New photographers are entering the industry at record speed, yet couples should be wary as the impact of this over saturated market is putting many business models at risk. As much as competition can be good, and drive price down, it can also be a risk to couples putting thousands of dollars on the line with unseasoned photographers who barely understand the camera, much less how to strive and survive. As much as new studios are opening, many are also closing their doors, so it is extremely important to pay attention to the details and it's a smart time to consider a reputable photographer who has a long track record of success over a newbie or small mom and pop operation.

There was a lot of talk amongst industry professionals regarding new photographers practically giving away their work by delivering a high resolution disk as their final product. Seen as a growing industry problem, many professionals feel this kind of mind set lowers the integrity and values of the industry. Since many photographers make 50% of their living from albums, book, and reprint orders this threatens the livelihood of wedding photographers, and their ability to make a living as a full time artist. Couples who choose this route need to be careful for several reasons. One reason is that the only way to ensure that photographs will be around for generations is to print the photographs. As we all know, digital formats change, and CD or DVD's can also scratch or become outdated which in turn leaves the couple with nothing. Also, the only way to achieve full potential of photographic excellence is to have the photographs professionally printed and developed by a skilled craftsman or professional lab. The route to quality photography is always through the professional who cares about their craft and their client's personal experience.

Back to the Basics
Digitally designed flush style wedding books have been and still are the industry trend. However, many leading professionals are getting back to basics in regards to design of the books and away from the input of heavy graphic design. The result, which was evident among the albums which scored highest in the awards competition, was a book in which the photography itself was the emphasis. Less images per page, generally one or two, allowed the winning books to communicate with clarity for viewers and this will surely be the trend moving forward.

Book makers and album companies are headed in new directions as well. Couples should expect to see new textured leathers showing up at leading studios along with embellishments such as hand made papers, cloths, metal, and acrylic covers giving couples unseen options for a one of a kind wedding album.

There is also a trend of photographers printing on alternative papers other than that of silver halide papers we all grew up with. Soft velvety watercolor papers, and even hand made papers are being printed on by artists to offer a very fine art flavor to their work. Ink based printing or offset digital presses are offering photographers and couples even more creative products than ever before. But buyers should be aware that ink and paper is much more expensive to print on than silver based photographic papers, and takes much longer as well. So, costs associated with this fine art style of printing should be expected to be higher.

Photographic Style and Etiquette
In the 80's traditional wedding photography was all the rage, in the 90's Photojournalism became hot, in the early 2000's fashion styling became popular, today, the style choices for couples seems to be endless. Photographers can't seem to agree on the etiquette or style that wedding photography should be, but that is what makes this art form so unique. Some photographers feel strongly that the artist is present not only as an image maker but also as a historian, and that their job is to capture it the way god intended it to unfold. Others feel that the photographers job is to simply make the best images possible by interacting with the couple and telling them where to stand and how to carry themselves. Yet others feel there is a dance between the two styles with instinct to know when to step in, and when to lay low in anticipation of the moment. Needless to say, couples have a lot to think about beyond the images they will see before them, and should be asking photographers about their etiquette and personal style to make sure they enjoy and understand what to expect. Not everyone is cut out to interact well with people, and not everyone is good at capturing unfolding moments. We would all like to think it is common sense, but as it turns out, not everyone has the same senses in common.

Lighting Challenge
When asked what differentiates photographers most these days, the topic of lighting experience seemed at the top of the list. Digital photography makes it easy to expose an image correctly due to the LCD screens on the back of the camera, but newbie photographers simply lack the old world experience that film photographers had to have to succeed. Sadly, couples looking for photographers don't have trained eyes, and can't distinguish the difference in many cases. Often the biggest mistake couples make is avoiding the high priced photographer in their area simply due to price alone and never get to see the reason why their skills are so in demand. Unlike advice we have all read in a wide variety of wedding magazines or web sites, the truth is that it is essential for couples to look at photographers in higher price ranges to understand what they should be looking for when visiting studios. Only then can they understand how to find the best value for their dollar, which is the best way to shop for any wedding product.

This year's International photography conference unveiled a lot of new ideas, concerns, and challenges for today's couples. The exciting side of all of this is that engaged couples truly have opportunities that simply didn't exist even one year ago. Think about all of these ideas and information that generally isn't written about in bridal publications. It's always great to get a perspective from the artists point of view as building great relationships is the key to the perfect marriage of photographer and couple.

Biography Charles Maring

One of America's foremost wedding photographers, Charles Maring is a well known expert in the wedding industry. Husband of Together In Style host Jennifer Maring, the two work side by side and focus on providing couples unique perspectives, bringing quality information to the forefront, and in capturing nuptials around the globe. Learn more about Charles and Jennifer's photographic services at www.maringphoto.com or inquire by phone at 877.949.9370 Toll Free.