Hi let me introduce my self, I am Don Parnall ISAD owner of Lasvegasweddingpix and Costellophoto, I have been a photographer for most of my life and as I have found my self living in Las Vegas,it wasn't planned trust me, some twenty years ago, and I have taken a good long look at the Wedding Industry here in Las Vegas and I have seen some awful things on both sides of the business.
I used to shudder at the thought of working as a Wedding photographer especially here in Wedding Central 'las Vegas'
it seemed a pretty lowly way to make a living, I pictured a  photographer as a middle aged guy in a bad suit and bad hair!
line 'em up and shoot 'em
Honestly I wasn't far off the mark in a lot of cases, even if you go by price it didn't seem to matter, the formula was the same, line 'em up and shoot 'em, then let them wait and charge them the earth for prints, and packages, we've all done it or had it done to us.

So here's is what I think you, as the Bride and Groom other wise know as the client should demand from your wedding professional photographer in Las Vegas.
First: work out how much you can afford, then add 10% ,Why, because you no doubt want to spend a little as possible, that's fine but lets turn the clock forward say 40 years, and your children are getting married and you want to relive your big day, you get out the Album or CD and the images are all faded , some are out of focus or just pain tacky, at the time you thought it was OK but just like looking at any old wedding photo's fashion changes quickly and before you know it you're laughing at those awful hair cuts but thinking why is it fuzzy, and the group picture is ever so slightly leaning down hill to the left, and why does every one look so uncomfortable?
Then it hits you like a freight train you could have gone with the slightly more expensive chap with who seemed very entertaining but you picked the slick salesman who fitted your  picture of the wedding photographer and went with him.
Lesson learned the hard way, your photographer should be artistic, yes there are standard  wedding pictures of groups, but why not ask your photographer to think of some thing just a little different, get him/her to stand on a chair , that way they will get every one in the shot and...you can see every ones face, hey there's a novelty!
Now my photographers are all hand picked I have one Woman who I have to say is great, always finds a different angle, and lets face it  Women know weddings much better than any man, she will get up on ladders tables hang one handed to get the shot.
Your Photographer must be friendly and able to communicate with all the guests, I have seen competing photographers treat the guests like school children, ordering them about  even yelling, yet the clients let them get away with it, that in my company is instant dismissal.

'owning a camera does not make one a photographer'
I would not want nor expect any photographer to 'Be' the entertainment, but the best way to get the best wedding shot is to get the guests to relax and humor is the best way to get people to show their true selves.
We  use a Journalistic method of shooting, this means that we capture wedding pictures much like a news photographer might, this is some times referred to as 'Reportage' particularly in Europe and in England, America has not quite caught on to that as yet, but flattering images of  the bride getting ready or the best man clowning around, there are a million and one opportunities at every wedding ceremony, even the Elvis wedding ,a specialty of Las Vegas weddings can truly provide that 'money shot'.
With the advent of the digital camera I want to say one thing 'owning a camera does not make one a photographer' with all the best intentions in the world there are so many 'wedding photographers' who just own a camera, be afraid...be very afraid, $399 for a wedding and the 'photographer' turns up with a point and shoot, or worse yet a some what complicated camera and spends most of the time head bend down fiddling with his pride and joy and starting to sweat perfussley as he or she has pressed a button and changed a setting unable to reset it, and bingo there goes all your memories.
I actually had someone call me in the middle of their wedding shoot to ask me how to reset their camera, not wishing to ruin someone else's day I explained and saved the day and suggested that ,that person might like to read the manual and keep it in their camera case in future, I do!

One thing we don't do at Lasvegasweddingpix.com is tie you up with packages of 8x10 images for $40.00 each and 30 wallet sized images for a mere $200.00.
We will provide you with a DVD edited and you may if you wish print from that, we do offer fabulous albums that are made in Italy and look like a printed book, they really are great, also available are 'Mother in Law' albums ,a little smaller but make great gifts to say thank you.

"hey uncle Fanny look over here"
Here's something else you might want to consider, two photographers at your wedding, this in the days of digital is a truly marvelous way of covering your big day tying 'the knot' a little more money wise but now you have two
independent views and if it's status symbol your after well that will work wonders.
Thinking of more photographers it is most important that your choice of professional photographer takes control of those who have to jump in and basically get in the way, every one has a camera or camera phone these days and it is vital that you professional photographer be able to do their job, here's what can and does happen : picture this .. you have a group nicely positioned you get the shot and as you do some one comes up to stand just a little to the right and yells to get the crowds attention "hey uncle Fanny look over here" so what happens half your group is looking at Uncle Fanny (hey he's from their side of the family!) the others at the photographer you employed and paid for, so what you get is a useless image that looks horrible.
So your Professional photographer needs to politely but firmly ask the guests to refrain from snapping away until he is done, failure to do so will indeed result in wedding pictures you'd just as rather not look at, in fact you might also ask you maid of honor to help in this regard,and in shepherding the groups together, she after all probably knows most of the primary players by name.

The following things will never happen with our photographer:
You have every right to demand the your photographer does not smoke on the job, I would say ever but the world isn't perfect.
Sitting down at the head table or any table making them selves at home and stuffing their faces with your food, they are there to work, should you offer and the professional photographer accepts they should find a place out of view.
Drinking alcoholic drinks...want you wedding pictures in focus? again I would demand or ask nicely that your wedding photographer not drink whist on the job, again I may sound strict but that is one thing I will not tolerate of my photographers, I have only had one experience of some one drinking one the job, it was not at a wedding but a convention for Beer and wine, I should have known better , this individual was alcoholic and i guess the temptation was just too great he disappeared and I was getting call from the client asking where is ******, we found him later drunk and in possession of a bunch of gifts for the client, that has never happened since .
So you have every right to demand adult behavior,tolerance and good manners.


Please visit our other sites:
http://www.costellophoto.com

http://www.lasvegascostellophoto.com
http:www.lasvegasweddingpix.com