Meet the Los Angeles Wedding Photographer: Deirdre Ryan

All photos this page © Deirdre Ryan; all rights reserved

Los Angeles wedding photographer, Deirdre Ryan gives us the inside scoop on what it is like to be a professional wedding photographer. Keep her insights in mind when considering who to hire in your neck of the woods!

How do you make sure that the style of photographs you take at a wedding are what the couple had in mind?

-Before anything, at the initial meeting with the bride and groom, I ask them what they are looking for in their wedding pictures. Because of the internet, everyone is more familiar with other photographers offer. So I ask them if there is anything outside of the box, they would like to achieve. Also, I put everything in writing, and this includes anything extra that are personal to them.

What kind of questions do you ask beforehand, when you meet with a potential client?

-The bride and groom have so much to plan and do before their big day. Part of this is what I do for them. I like to meet with them in a casual manner and discuss what they want to achieve. I ask what style they are looking for, casual to formal.

From a photographer's point of view, what makes your job harder at a wedding?

-LOL! I can name quite a “few” things, but I think the hardest part is getting people to listen for group shots. Sometimes kids are involved and guests try to intervene.

What sort of packages do you offer?

-I like to keep my packages as simple and affordable as possible. And I offer online password protected proofing.package a$16005 Hours of coverageengagement session on cdonline hosting and orderingedited images on dvd for you to print wherever you want

package b$1800+$400 For Assistant8 Hours of coverageengagement session on cdonline hosting and orderingedited images on dvd for you to print wherever you want

package c$2100+$400 For Assistant8 Hours of coverageengagement session on cdonline hosting and ordering1- 8 x 8 photo hardcover book(perfect for the parents of the bride and groom)1- 8 x 12 photo hardcover book

(Editor's Note: prices subject to change, please contact Deirdre Ryan for current pricing info)

Other than showing up at a wedding and shooting photos, what goes into being a wedding photographer?

-There is a lot that clients do not see behind the scenes. Shooting a wedding is just a small part of my job. When I get back to my studio, the rest is just getting started.

-First I download the images onto a dedicated harddrive and then burn back up dvds. After that, I go through each image looking for the best shots, save them into a separate folder and upload only the best as proofs to a dedicated, password protected website so that my clients can view them.

-Once my client has chosen what they want as prints, I then work on each image in Photoshop and other professional software.

-The editing process is tedious, yet a lot of fun to do. I enjoy it very much when I hear how much my clients love what I have done for them ☺

-For prints and albums, I work with only the very best in commercial labs in terms of print quality, products and prices. Print prices vary everywhere, but I do what I can to ensure that my client is happy and I am able to keep my business successful.

When a bride tells you she "always blinks during photos" or that she "looks terrible in photos" what do you say to reassure her?

I offer advice beforehand, on how to avoid this and to let her know that I will be sure to take extra shots in ensure that we get only the best side of her ☺ It’s hard when you’re the bride and there is so much going on that day. I know, I was once a new bride myself.

What do you think the most important questions are for a bride to ask a potential photographer?

-How much do I charge? A lot of clients do not seem to understand that when I say that I shoot digital, this doesn’t mean I charge less than I would for film. Much like when you get a digital camera, doesn’t automatically make you a photographer either ;)

What is the most common mistake brides make when they choose a wedding photographer?

-While my prices are affordable for now, I see so many ads on other free sites and the work is terrible! Do not go by price alone. Ask if they are affiliated with professional photography organizations such as the ASMP(American Society of Media Photographers) or the PPA(Professional Photographers of America). These are professional organizations that only accept photographers of the highest caliber of work and ethics. If you go with someone too cheap, I’m sorry to say this but sometimes you get what you pay for.

Any other photography related tips or advice for brides to be?

-Relax, breath, it’s your day. Enjoy yourself and your guests. Brides, their mothers and the grooms, work so hard to get to their moment, their day. Sometimes, things beyond anyone’s control happen, but you cannot control everything, and neither can anyone else. Relax, breath and simple..enjoy ☺

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