Las Vegas Wedding Photography information

We're happy that you are considering DTyler Photography as your wedding photographers and encourage you to contact us if there is information we can provide or questions to answer to help you along your decision.  Feel free to read the articles below for general information about wedding photography and the qualities that set us apart and ensure your special day matches your expectations.

Wedding photography - The most important preparation of all

Ten years after the cake has been eaten and the guests have all gone home, the only constant remembrance you have of the defining point in your adults lives are the wedding photos on your mantle, bookshelf and wallet.

A well composed photograph takes you back to your wedding day and reinvigorates memories that would otherwise have faded with time.  Even in the worst of times, having a reminder of your wedding day bliss can bring your family closer together and strengthen the sacred bonds of marriage.

Deacon Tyler and partners have photographed over 1,000 weddings around the world in the last twelve years and have the experience and equipment to create treasured photographic memories with breathtaking quality. 

 

Included in every wedding photography package

• Photographer and co-shooter or assistant - Each photography session includes Deacon Tyler as principle still photographer and depending on the package size, will arrive with either a photography assistant to aid with lighting, poses and equipment management, or a co-shooter/assistant.


• Digital processing and enhancements - Each photography package offers digital retouching services on all processed photos, which includes exposure/color correction, blemish removal, skin smoothing and black and white/sepia conversion.


• Online image proofing - After processing, each client is provided with an online image preview slideshow for selecting additional retouching and enhancements services.


• DVD with full personal reproduction rights - Once approved, your images are provided to you in digital format on DVD media in both full print resolution, as well as a web sized flash slideshow.  Full personal reproduction rights are transferred to you for making prints at home or using a third party service.


• Online print ordering - DTyler photography offers full in house print services for ordering archival quality professional prints on your choice of glossy, matte, canvas or metallic media in sizes from wallet to 100" wide sofa prints.

 

Selecting the right wedding photographer for you - The four 'P's

In the wedding capital of the world, selecting the perfect photographer to document your special day is a daunting and overwhelming task.  A simple search on Google for 'Las Vegas wedding photographer' produces almost 1.5 million results.

From Deacon Tyler:

"There are four P's to consider when searching for a professional photographer and it's a sheer coincidence that 'P' is the first letter in 'photography' (laughs)."

• Personality and Professionalism 

A photographer can have the best equipment and the best technical aptitude, but at the end of the day the difference between a good photographer and a great photographer is how they relate to their clients and the level of trust that is built up between a vendor and customer. 

They say that customer service is a lost art, but I've always felt that a couple in love should have nothing but fond memories of their wedding vendors and that it's our job to keep our clients smiling and enjoying their day as we create our art.  Over the years, it's yielded fantastic results and we've maintained one of the highest customer satisfaction ratings among professional photographers in Las Vegas.

I encourage all potential clients to take a moment out to look past web galleries and speak to each photographer they're considering before reserving a session.  Often times this can make all the difference in the world when it comes to making a final decision.  Find out about their backgrounds, their method of shooting and tell them a bit about what you're looking for in a photography session.  A photographer that loves his work and feels passion for his art will soon find themselves engaged in conversation, sharing ideas and anecdotes as if you were an old friend.  If you feel that 'click', then you know the photographer is right for you.  Having a likable photographer increases your comfort in front of the camera and makes your smiles so much easier and natural, which shows up wonderful on camera.

Communication is a key element in a successful wedding photography session, so above all it's important to select a photographer that you can relate to or at least speak easy with.  Photography differs from traditional client/vendor relationships in that it's treated as more of an intense, short term partnership with input from all parties.  Fast email responses, willingness to meet in person, engaging conversations, concise answers to questions and a genuine smile go a long way towards building a bond of trust.  Take the time to get to know your photographer - ask as many questions as you need to feel comfortable; a professional that enjoys their work will always be happy to hear from you and delighted that you show interest in their trade.

Now that I think about it, that first 'P' could also stand for 'professionalism'.  As you would expect from any working professional, your photographer should look presentable and possess good manners and a friendly demeanor that makes it easy for you to approach them with questions, special requests or a quick mid-session brainstorm.  Reputation and client rapport have always been a key component to my work and I'm a firm believer that all guests should be treated in the same manner as the primary clients.

Great Personality and Professionalism encourages client Participation and is the chemistry needed for a fun and dynamic shoot!

• Professional Photography Equipment

I debated before adding this as number two.  You'll see blogs, discussion groups and even photographers that will tell you: 'the most important piece of equipment in a photographer's arsenal is the eight inches of cranium behind the camera'.  While I couldn't agree more, I live by the adage that 'a chain is only as strong as its weakest link' and that weakest link should never be the tools of the trade.  Good pictures are made by good photographers with good gear.  Equipment is one of the most important considerations when selecting a photographer and some important questions to ask a photographer before booking include

1. Film or digital?  Why?
2. Camera makes and models and why? 
3. Which lenses do you primarily use?
4. How many cameras?
5.  How many megapixels?
6. How large of a print will that yield?

• Print quality

Coincidentally, #6 is the third 'P'.  Despite living in a digital age with Myspace, Facebook and blogs, a digital photograph's final destination should be on printed media.  Even an entry level camera can make great looking 800 pixel web images, but it takes a professional quality camera and lens to make a print worthy image.  The lack of detail from out of focus, unsharp, or low contrast photographs taken from poor quality equipment become much more apparent when printed on physical medium.

Does your photographer offer in-house print services?  This is an important question to ask, as prints made with the original RAW files always make for better looking prints than processed JPEG images.  JPEG is a web based image file that is sharpened and color corrected based on the perceptions of an LCD monitor.  Images that are printed from JPEG may lack sharpness or experience color and brightness shifts. 

Images printed from the original RAW files from the camera contain more color information and are sharpened and color corrected for a specific model of professional printer.  These images appear more vibrant, crisp and last much longer than those made from a consumer inkjet.

In addition to print ordering, always make sure that you will also receive a CD or DVD with all of your processed images in full resolution, without cropping or resizing.  While professional prints are always higher quality, knowing that you have full personal reproduction rights for printing at home is a big plus.

• Post processing (Photoshopping)

The fourth 'P' stands for 'post processing' or 'photoshopping'.  A well composed photograph can stand on its own merits, without too many 'special effects'.  Photoshop should never be used as an apology for bad photography.  I view Photoshop effects as 'steak sauce' (and I apologize for offending any vegetarians!).  Steak sauce smothered over a bad steak can make meat palatable, but a steak made from a good cut of beef and prepared by a skilled chef is so good that A-1 actually worsens it.

Images should be presented to clients crisp and sharp, uncropped and without distracting elements.  Diffusion effects, 'glowy' effects and ultra dark moody images may look neat when viewed online, but when printed, look out of focus, blurry or pitch black.   Look for a photographer with a clean style, whose photographs are bright and vibrant - these will produce the best looking prints!

• When to reserve your wedding photography session
  

  The relationship we maintain is less like a standard client/provider and more of a close short term partnership.  Successful wedding photography is built from mutual trust and respect.  Start your conversation by letting your prospective photographer know that you've visited their online portfolio, you like their work and ask them if they have availability on a specific date.  Don't be afraid to ask questions about their style preference, what colors to wear and share your creative ideas.  This not only makes a more interesting shoot, but your increased comfort level will show in every photograph.  As your wedding plan develops, we speak and even meet with you several times in the months leading up to your wedding to share new ideas and discuss any potential changes to the itinerary.

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• Working within a budget
  

  If you have a set budget, keep it in mind, but remain flexible and be willing to share that budget with your prospective wedding photographer early in the conversation.  Instead of calling photographers and asking their prices until you find one within your range, share your budget up front and see if the photographer can work with you.   Most wedding photographers have standard packages, but can customize a wedding photography package to fit your needs or work within your budget.

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• Price versus quality
  

  As Benjamin Franklin once put it best: "The bitter taste of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten".  This is the most important event of your adult life and these are images you'll probably view every day.  Your choice of photographer should be based on their compatible personality and quality of work and not just on price.  If his or her prices are just a bit outside your budget, but you feel that you've found the right photographer, it's worth spending a bit more, borrowing short term or cutting back on other expenses to fit them into your budget.  Remember that ten years down the line, what you spent on wedding photography will not matter, but the quality of your pictures will.  In the long run you'll thank yourself for selecting a style and quality you enjoy looking at and a professional you can trust.

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• Length of your shoot
  

  Book the amount of time you need.  It's tempting to book only an hour or two for 'some quick poses', but it turns into a stressful event as people are yanked out of place and smiles are forced as the clock rapidly ticks away.  Posed shots are nice and even necessary, but they don't invoke memories and emotions like photojournalistic candid shots.  Remembering and reliving the day as it happens can become crucial to your marriage when you least expect it.

  Some of the best shots are taken as the wedding couple prepare, or at the ceremony and it tells a complete story of your wedding day that's enjoyable to view from beginning to end.  Booking adequate shooting time allows you to relax and let the photographer do their job, capturing events as they unfold, without the need to cram every shot into a short time frame and missing the first dance or a bombastic backflip from the best man on the dance floor.

  If the amount of time required for your wedding falls outside of your budget, ask your photographer if they would be willing to work with you on the price.

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• Meeting your photographer
  

  When you're ready to reserve your session, meet with your prospective photographer in person.  I personally love meeting with new clients - everyone has their own unique story about how they met, the wedding location or small talk about themselves.  It's a wonderful break in my day and establishes a foundation for a close partnership with my clients.  My co-shooter and I are very relaxed and humorous to work with and we encourage you to come with questions, no matter how silly they may sound to you - we'll have a hot cup of coffee or tea and hash them all out.

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