Researching photographers-blurry pics?

larrygaga

I live a few hours away from where I'm getting married, so I'm doing mostly all my research online instead of in person. I'm looking at websites and many pictures are blurry (I have my glasses on). I'm wondering if I should be worried that the pictures are actually blurry or if they don't translate well through the internet. My monitor is pretty high resolution and so I'm thinking it's just that my monitor shows blurryness really well. I'm just worried the pictures are actually going to be blurry. Eh?

sarawifenow

This may be an instance where you might want to go in and check out their book in person. My computer tends to show pics a little blurry sometimes, too. Any way that you can narrow down to a couple photogs you like and set an appointment to meet with them?

beethery

Link us some pics!

I was just looking at some of the pro photos from a friend-of-a-friend's wedding last night and I could not believe how many free photoshop processes were all over them. The pictures would've been fine otherwise too.

larrygaga

SaraBrideSoon said:

This may be an instance where you might want to go in and check out their book in person. My computer tends to show pics a little blurry sometimes, too. Any way that you can narrow down to a couple photogs you like and set an appointment to meet with them?

I think that's what I will have to do. 

http://www.domagalskiphotography.com/greg-s-portfilio

He is my favorite thus far, but his pictures appear to be a tad blurry on my computer

Inkdancer

Link some and we can help you decide!

It may be that they focused on something specific, or it might be that at high res they are messed up, or it might be legit blurryness.

SmileDamnit

After looking at the link, I'd say it's more his style - he just doesn't appear to shoot super sharp. There are a couple shots that are quite crisp so he's capable of it, but with the bulk majority being softer (blurrier) then I'd assume that's just how he rolls. That said, may still be worth an appointment so you can ask if she can shoot all sharp (if that's what you'd prefer).

sarawifenow

SmileDamnit said:

After looking at the link, I'd say it's more his style - he just doesn't appear to shoot super sharp. There are a couple shots that are quite crisp so he's capable of it, but with the bulk majority being softer (blurrier) then I'd assume that's just how he rolls. That said, may still be worth an appointment so you can ask if she can shoot all sharp (if that's what you'd prefer).

I agree with this. I am no photography guru, but I noticed that he has a lot of shots where the background is blurry. An appointment might be helpful!

larrygaga

It must just be my computer because they are clearly blurry. I mean that I can see the photos with purposefully blurry parts, and then the focal point is also blurry. I will go in to see them before I book anyone! Thanks guys!

LabLove86

SaraBrideSoon said:

SmileDamnit said:

After looking at the link, I'd say it's more his style - he just doesn't appear to shoot super sharp. There are a couple shots that are quite crisp so he's capable of it, but with the bulk majority being softer (blurrier) then I'd assume that's just how he rolls. That said, may still be worth an appointment so you can ask if she can shoot all sharp (if that's what you'd prefer).

I agree with this. I am no photography guru, but I noticed that he has a lot of shots where the background is blurry. An appointment might be helpful!

these guys beat me to it.

larrygaga

Okay, also many places I'm looking at have the option of not having a professional wedding album made. Like they give you the pics. I wouldn't mind getting the prints and putting an album together myself. Actually I think it would be fun to put it together. What do you guys think? 

SmileDamnit

larrygaga said:

Okay, also many places I'm looking at have the option of not having a professional wedding album made. Like they give you the pics. I wouldn't mind getting the prints and putting an album together myself. Actually I think it would be fun to put it together. What do you guys think? 

We did our own via MyPublisher. It's a little pricier than Shutterfly and the likes, but it's way more customizable and still WAY cheaper than the $600 for the pro album from the photog. I will warn that it's extremely time consuming, though.

birdybride2014

I agree with PPs that it may just be his style of photography. It's a good idea to meet with him and discuss what you want. I know that my photographer takes a lot of images where the photos aren't straight, but more tilted and so I'll be asking that she do less of those.



And I have to add that I hope everyone who looked at the link noticed this gem...

ETA: I'm not mocking his photography skills, just the image itself happens to be humourous

Maggie0829

larrygaga said:

Okay, also many places I'm looking at have the option of not having a professional wedding album made. Like they give you the pics. I wouldn't mind getting the prints and putting an album together myself. Actually I think it would be fun to put it together. What do you guys think? 

I didn't get an album.  I just didn't think it was worth the money to be honest.  I was going to put together an album myself but I just never got around to it...and even if I did it would just be sitting on a shelf getting dusty.

anjemon

larrygaga said:

Okay, also many places I'm looking at have the option of not having a professional wedding album made. Like they give you the pics. I wouldn't mind getting the prints and putting an album together myself. Actually I think it would be fun to put it together. What do you guys think? 

I also think it sounds super fun. I've put together photo books after vacations before, and I think putting together wedding ones would be fun too. But I do wonder about the level of fanciness compared to the albums photographers can put together. But I think even if I bought a wedding album from my photographer I'd probably put together family specific ones to give as gifts.

AprilH81

I did our album in Shutterfly and paid for some upgrades (12x12 size, lay flat pages, extra pages) and it is beautiful.  Several people who looked at it thought our photographer put it together for us.

If you take the time to do several drafts and fine tune everything it can turn out great.  

jynxiie

I would think it was your screen. I was FREAKING when I saw my photographers website (I met him in person and saw his books first)... All his pictures were blurry and the colours seemed to be too bright for some reason. 

But when I met him again and saw some of the same pictures I was freaking out about - they were clear as day. 

lkristenj

Some photographers do not put full res photos on their websites to help prevent them from being "stolen" and used by others. They also watermark for this reason. It may be that they intentionally changed the resolution of the online photos to be a little blurry so someone couldn't take the nice, full res professional photo off the internet and claim it as their own work or get the image without paying for it if a client. Photographers that I've met are normally fairly sensitive about their creative property.

larrygaga

lkristenj said:

Some photographers do not put full res photos on their websites to help prevent them from being "stolen" and used by others. They also watermark for this reason. It may be that they intentionally changed the resolution of the online photos to be a little blurry so someone couldn't take the nice, full res professional photo off the internet and claim it as their own work or get the image without paying for it if a client. Photographers that I've met are normally fairly sensitive about their creative property.

That makes sense.

photokitty

Can I be hater and say I don't think this photog is very good? Blurry or not, I think the cheese level is too high for you Gaga. Seriously, what wedding pro put a photo with the groom dipping the bride net to a sign that says "dip"? The shot would otherwise be gorgeous without the street sign.

IMHO The blurry is your computer or his appeture setting. Some of the focus is slightly off bc he is using auto focus - not necessarily a bad thing,, but he isn't getting the focus on the focal point which screws with your head. Either way I think he isn't great.

Whatever you do make sure you get the rights to the photos so you can print images an make your own album GL!

Sugargirl1019

larrygaga said:

Okay, also many places I'm looking at have the option of not having a professional wedding album made. Like they give you the pics. I wouldn't mind getting the prints and putting an album together myself. Actually I think it would be fun to put it together. What do you guys think? 

My photographer shoots in "true photo" sizes.. Which unfortunately is not what mass production prints in. A 4x6 doesn't exist, a 16x20 doesn't exist.. When I tried to print a picture that my photographer took (I had a free 16x20 canvas print from Shutterfuly), the actual print had white borders on the top and bottom. I would have had to "resize" the picture in order to make it "fit". So just a word of caution!