Wedding Photographer...Quality or Quantity?

 

Choosing the right Jewish wedding photographer is indeed crucial for capturing the essence of one of the most memorable days of your life. The moments unique to Jewish weddings, such as the Chupah and Badeken, require a photographer who not only understands the cultural and spiritual significance of these traditions but also has the creativity and technical skills to preserve them in a meaningful way.

It's easy to be swayed by packages promising a high number of images or multiple photographers, but it's far more important to prioritize the quality of the photographs. When the photographer's talent resonates with you, you'll have lasting memories that you’ll cherish forever. The photographs from these key moments will be the ones you return to year after year, and investing in a photographer whose work you love ensures that those memories are captured beautifully.

Looking beyond a photographer's portfolio to view full wedding albums is a great way to gauge their skill level, as you'll see how they document the entire event, from intimate details to larger, more dramatic moments. Understanding their ability to capture the flow and emotions of a wedding, particularly one with rich traditions like a Jewish ceremony, will give you confidence in your choice.

Remember, it's not just about the number of images, but about how those images make you feel. If you find a Jewish photographer you truly connect with, investing in their expertise will lead to a wedding album that tells the unique story of your day. And if certain extras like prints or albums aren’t part of your budget right away, you can always add them later.

In the end, your wedding photos will be the memories that last forever, so it's well worth it to choose a photographer whose artistry you trust to tell your story beautifully.

The Power of Design

The wedding album is one of the most important elements of your wedding and will be a lasting reminder of this special day that you will be able to enjoy for many years to come. The most effective albums tell a story and with every wedding there is a special story to be told. In fact, during the event, I often photograph specific images with the album in mind. Turning the page should take you through the entire event, highlighting the special moments that were captured.

My goal is to always create a custom one-of-a-kind album that my clients will love.

Many photographers are now outsourcing their albums or using templates either due to time limitations or because they just don’t have the design experience. Building an album from scratch is a lengthy process as well as very technical but I believe is the most powerful way to create your albums. In the end, when you are looking at your custom designed album, you will know what you are holding is truly priceless.

With an extensive background in design and many years experience in design as well as photography, I have high expectations of what I expect from a kosher wedding or Bar/Bat mitzvah album.

It is because of this background that Mendel Meyers Studios does not outsource or use album templates.

We design every album by hand taking into consideration the clients preferences.

Once I have a design laid out I meet with my clients and could spend anywhere from an hour to several hours spanning over a few appointments.

Take a look at the collage below using images from the wedding of Sruli Elbogen and Chavie Broker at the Brooklyn Marriott. This was put together using four photographs and creates a very powerful statement, drawing the viewer into the composition. Imagine the difference if these were placed side by side.

In the end, it really is collaboration between Mendel Meyers Studios and the client, giving you what I hope is a priceless wedding album that will be treasured for years and even generations to come.

Each of our albums are completely unique and truly stand out as a work of art! Feel free to call our office for an appointment to view some of our albums in person, I guarantee you won’t be disappointed.

Mendel Meyers

Leading Jewish wedding photographer based in New York

Breaking Rules!

LENS FLARE, a part of every photographers life, is typically avoided at all costs.

What is lens flare? Lens Flare is caused by strong rays of light directly hitting your lens and causing a slight sun burst. On some occasions, it can even appear as a thin film over the entire picture that makes the image itself lighter. Using equipment like the lens hood can take care of this ‘problem’. Then again, sometimes that flare makes your picture look even better.

As a Jewish wedding photographer, I strive to push the limits whenever possible. I think my clients appreciate it and even expect it from me. It's one of the things that makes me a better photographer. Let’s take a look at the image below. I was photographing Isaac and Talia Dawidowicz's kosher wedding at the Roemer Synagogue in Teaneck, NJ when I saw the perfect opportunity to break a rule most photographers go to great lengths to avoid.

The light flare gives this image a ethereal feel and creates a mood that could not have been achieved otherwise.

Here are a few tips to help you achieve that lens flare look.

1) Shoot in direct sun light or another powerful source of light. This is the main way to create lens flare.

2) Place your subject in front of you, with their back to the sun. Your subject will be backlit as though you were capturing a silhouette

3) Shoot at an angle: Because you want an image with Lens Flare [and not simply over exposure], you need to remember one thing: Camera position to the sun. This will largely depend on what time of day you shoot. For example, at mid day this changes you will need to position yourself fairly low to the ground in order to shoot into the sun. Typically, 11am or 2pm is most conducive to mid day Lens Flare.

4) Watch your focus: Your camera typically will focus on the object best lit in your frame. Shooting into the sun will make it more challenging for your camera to focus on your subject. You may need to switch from auto focus to manual focus.

Remember this, like all special effects should be used sparingly. Enjoy!

Here are some other favorites taken from Isaac and Talia's wedding.