Finding the right wedding photographer for your big day is an important part of your wedding and preparation. A wedding photographer will work closely with the bride and groom before and especially during the wedding day. For this reason, it’s important to feel comfortable and confident with your photographer so he/she can capture your special moments.

From a photographers standpoint, taking good images on your wedding day is really a two way street. You may have hired the best wedding photographer for your special day, but if the couple is not relaxed, not comfortable or unwilling to let go of their anxiety of being in front of the camera; you probably will not get the truly candid and genuine photos you want to look at 20 years from now. When you hire a photographer you can feel comfortable around and confident with, you are on the right path to capture your lasting memories.

Another aspect of choosing a wedding photographer is looking at their photography style. What type of images are you looking to have during your wedding. Posed shots, candid, artistic, (a large production with lights and many assistants and crew, etc. vs. a low key production with a single photographer)? Every photographer has a different style and it’s important to find a style you like. After all, it’s your wedding and you will be looking at these images for a lifetime.

Because of the digital age, there is an ever increasing number of photographers starting out in the wedding photography industry. I have noticed this especially to be true in Cebu and Manila where wedding photography has the promise of being a lucrative business. However, I have also noticed many inexperienced photographers shooting weddings simply because they have the right connections. Nothing wrong with that, but I would encourage couples to spend some effort when searching for their wedding photographer. Ask around, search online, look in wedding magazines, etc. Many coordinators or suppliers will recommend a certain photographer because of business interests alone. Remember, there are lots of photography styles out there and to simply go with a photographer because of what your coordinator says would be cutting yourself short.

Cebu Wedding Photography by Jacob Maentz

I like most photographers shot my first wedding for a friend back in 2001 (because they knew I was into photography). More recently during the past two years I have found myself shooting more weddings as I am now a full time professional photographer. It seems wedding photography comes with the territory when you are a photographer. Although my photography interests are in photojournalism and travel I find it refreshing to shoots weddings which can often open up more of my creative side. I really try and capture a wedding in a photojournalistic manner, but also realize formal and posed shots can add some creativity and beauty to a wedding album. I like to talk with the couple and get to know them before the actual wedding. This way the couple can also feel more comfortable with me.

Most photographers will agree that weddings are not easy events to shoot (if a photographer says they are easy, they are not telling the truth). They can be stressful because there is a lot of pressure not to miss any moment during the day - after all this event only happens once for most people. You have to deal with lots of different types of people during the wedding all with different expectations of you. Technically speaking, the environment is constantly changing and lighting is always changing too. Normally, the day is long and hot and I will have taken over 3000 images by the end with an empty belly. To work in these conditions I feel it is important to find an experienced photographer who can anticipate moments and has a desire to make every photograph his/her best.

That’s what I strive for.

If you would like to contact me regarding my wedding services you can do so here. You can see some images from two recent weddings I shoot at the following links: Wedding Set One / Wedding Set Two