The biggest step in finding the perfect wedding photographer, is deciding which photo format best fits your wedding's unique style. Are you looking for the richly detailed photos delivered by a large format camera, or do you prefer the documentary look and feel of the candids produced by a more portable 35mm camera? Do you want the traditional look of film or the immediacy of digital? I believe that a 35mm system allows for maximum portability and flexibility in capturing those fleeting candid shots of the wedding party and the guests: the photos that grow more precious as the years go by. I have been documenting weddings for over ten years. Using 35mm cameras, I can capture your “Big Day” in either digital or film, although these days I strongly recommend digital. Please take a moment to browse through the selection of images from the weddings I have photographed, to see if my style matches your needs!

My Philosophy: I base my approach to wedding photography on simplicity and reliability. By keeping my equipment simple, portable and professional, I stand ready to capture those special moments the second they occur. My artistic eye and my decades of experience in photographing nature, wildlife, and the day to day life of other cultures work together to make me a sensitive and effective, yet unobtrusive, chronicler of wedding events. This is your day and I am there to record it in as much detail as possible without unduly interrupting the flow of events. I look for you to tell me exactly what you want in terms of posed photographs, but I pledge to remain on the lookout for those delightful, unexpected and unposed moments that will make your wedding stand out in the minds of all who attended ten years down the road. To help plan an overall wedding photography strategy, a one or two hour session with the Bride and Groom, at the site of the wedding, a week or two before the event, is highly recommended!

Before the Ceremony: As a strong proponent of the photojournalism style of wedding photography, I like to take as many candid photos as possible. In the time I spend with my camera at the pre wedding preparations of the Bride and her family (having a minimum of one hour, or better yet, two hours to photograph during this time is best), during the ceremony, and afterwards at the reception, I am constantly searching for shots that express the beauty of the celebration as well as those unexpected elements of humor and chaos that inevitably slip into any wedding. I have found that it is a good idea to take as many of the posed photographs with family and friends before the ceremony as possible, since the more time spent doing this after the ceremony, the less time there is for capturing candid shots of the guests enjoying themselves.

During the ceremony: It is important that the Bride and Groom and I sit down before the ceremony and plan where I will be positioned when the Bride is escorted to the altar, where I will be during the ceremony and where I will be for photos of the new couple leaving the ceremony. Each couple has their own ideas on how visible they want the photographer to be during the actual ceremony. And it is completely up to the bride and groom (not the bride's father or the wedding planner!) as to whether you even want photographs of the actual ceremony (although in some churches photographs in the sanctuary might be forbidden). I can either use a long lens to photograph discretely from the back of the sanctuary, without getting in the way of the ceremony, or stand off to the side as unobtrusively as possible and work with a medium length lense.

After the ceremony: You can usually figure a minimum of one hour for the posed photographs including portraits of the bride and groom. I work alone, without an assistant, so it is extremely helpful if you make a list before hand of groups you want photographed, and designate someone who knows most of the people involved to help me organize the groups. An assertive family member with a strong voice can significantly reduce the time it takes to assemble the troops! After the "formal" posed group photographs are over, I can concentrate on capturing candids of the reception festivities; including, of course, all the traditional photos: first dance, toasts, cutting the cake, the bouquet toss, and the happy couple entering their vehicle for final departure.

Digital or Film? In the last few years, digital photography has reached a level of quality equal to, or better, than traditional film photography. With my Nikon digital cameras, I can shoot in lower light, and make sharper, larger prints than with my 35mm film cameras. Other advantages of the digital format include: 1. Immediate ability of the photographer to review images to make sure that everything looks good--no more unpleasant surprises a week after the event! 2. The photographer can move seamlessly from an outdoor environment with bright sunlight to the indoor environment of a dimly lit church using the same camera and just adjusting the “film” speed. 3. It's easy to make backup copies within a matter of minutes, so there is much less chance that any images will ever be lost or degraded. 4. Cheaper! Film and processing costs are eliminated. 5. Digital prints of any photograph can be made either in color, or black and white, or both!

Pricing: Currently, I am charging $100.00/hour for film or digital capture on the day of the wedding. Unlike most wedding photographers who maintain control of original images and charge by the print, I will turn over to you a DVD of all digital files within 72 hours or, if film was used, all negatives, within two weeks. For digital shoots, after making basic edits I can upload the best photos to my Zenfolio website: David Haring Photography at Zenfolio which features an extremely attractive slide show (which can be password protected) viewable by any invited to the site. Any size and quantity of prints can be ordered directly from this website from two excellent photo processing labs (Mpix and EZ prints). Or, if you prefer, I can make a set of prints in any size from the digital images of your chosing. I charge $50/hour for all digital darkroom work (there is an additional charge per print).

If you are interested in discussing your wedding photography needs, you can email me at: dharing@duke.edu. Or give me a call: 919-259-4158 (cell), or 919-489-3364 ext 228 (days).