The Best of Wedding Photojournalism: Techniques and Images for Professional Digital Photographers, 2nd Edition [Paperback]

Bill Hurter (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1584282738 | ISBN-13: 978-1584282730 | Publication Date: March 1, 2010 | Edition: Second Edition, Second edition

In contrast to a traditional wedding photographer, a wedding photojournalist works unobtrusively to capture the “real life” flavor of the special event as it unfolds, and this guidebook addresses the unique challenges and specific preparations required to excel in this field. Calling upon the best and brightest photojournalists to share their images and insights, this updated edition reveals the secrets for capturing all the breathtaking exchanges between the personalities, so that the photographs tell a story rich in detail. Many topics are also covered, such as how to meet and mingle with the main players at a wedding, what to expect in terms of a timeline, what shots cannot be missed, and how to minimize the distractions of flashes, bulky equipment, and verbal requests. Before, during, and after the ceremony—indoors and out—this volume is brimming with advice for every aspect of the shoot, including selecting equipment and lighting, working with an assistant, properly archiving digital files, and selecting a beautiful heirloom-quality album design.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This is a field guide, idea-filled notebook, and a feast for the eyes—all bound together for both the experienced photographer and the novice."  —San FranciscoBookReview.com

"If you’re looking for visual stimulation and inspiration, then this book is a great resource."  —digitalweddingforum.com/blog

About the Author

Bill Hurter has been involved with photography for 30 years, is the editor of Rangefinder, and is the author of numerous photography books, including The Best of Wedding Photography, Group Portrait Photography Handbook, and The Portrait Photographer’s Guide to Posing. He lives in West Covina, California.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Amherst Media, Inc.; Second Edition, Second edition edition (March 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1584282738
• ISBN-13: 978-1584282730
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.5 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #186,999 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #85 in Books > Arts & Photography > Photography > Photojournalism

More About the Author

Bill Hurter has been involved in the photographic industry for the past 30 years. He is the former editor of Petersen's PhotoGraphic magazine and currently the editor of both AfterCapture and Rangefinder magazines. He has authored over 30 books on photography and hundreds of articles on photography and photographic technique. He is a graduate of American University and Brooks Institute of Photography, from which he holds a BFA and Honorary Masters of Science and Masters of Fine Art degrees. He is currently a member of the Brooks Board of Governors. Early in his career he covered Capital Hill during the Watergate Hearings and worked for three seasons as a stringer for the L.A. Dodgers. He is married and lives in West Covina, CA.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exactly what I was looking for..., March 24, 2006

By 

Jeremy Rowland (Mckinney, TX) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Best of Wedding Photojournalism: Techniques and Images from the Pros (Paperback)

This is my first book on wedding photography, and I'm about a third of the way finished with reading it straight through, but like all photo books I can't resist the urge to randomly flip through from time to time. Don't expect to pick this up and learn the basics of photography! The section on equipment is minimal and only relates to the specific needs of wedding photography, and you won't find anything about apertures, shutters, lenses, etc. except where it plays a critical role in the creative direction of the photo. And it's here that the book shines, as Mr. Hurter is generous in his explanations of what makes every photo successful and describes from a high level the creative decisions each photographer made; technical knowledge on the part of the reader is assumed (for reference, I consider myself an "intermediate" and I have no problems following along). The subject stays true to its title, focusing on the creative, objective side of photojournalistic storytelling but being sensitive to the fact that the photographer must often interject himself into the events, either to carefully arrange a "spontaneous" moment as well as the unavoidable formal portaits that are expected from every wedding photographer.

The book addresses both film and digital and handles both equally well, that is to say, it doesn't address either much at all. Again, Hunter has appropriately left a lot of the technical details to other introductory books and focuses on what's specific to wedding photography. He (thankfully) shows no bias in his choice of film vs. digital, merely recounting the opinions of others and explaining the benefits of both. I found a surprising number of examples in the book that were taken digitally. The book has a 2004 publish date, which means it still has relevance, as the generation of digital cameras discussed was the one that really came "of age" (and still often in use today) and today's present crop of cameras are really just a further refinement.

The photographs are fantastic, and unlike some books which highlight only the author's own portfolio, come from a wide number of different photographers. I could almost say that the several-page section of one-paragraph biographies of the photographers is worth at least half the price of the book alone, as my next project on finishing the book will be to find each photographer's portfolio online to further study their work.

This is a great book for intermediate photographers looking to expand their creativity with a more "modern" look to wedding photography (and really, any event photography, for that matter.) 5/5

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cutting Edge, February 12, 2004

By 

Shannon K. Patel "nsphotoshoot" (Tampa, Fl United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Best of Wedding Photojournalism: Techniques and Images from the Pros (Paperback)

I waited months for the release of this book, and it was worth it. One of the best modern photography books available. Informative, inspirational a pleasure to read. Recommended for photographers, pros and beginners. If you are looking to spice up your wedding photography this is the book for you. You will learn cutting edge techniques and tips to capture magazine quality photographs. This is not a 'traditional' photography book. Lots of pictures inside.

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Part-time wedding photographer, June 24, 2004

By 

Jerome Misiewicz (bellevue, NE United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Best of Wedding Photojournalism: Techniques and Images from the Pros (Paperback)

I found this an easy read, and very helpful. What I liked about the book it was not just by one photographer, but many. Each one brought to the book their point of view about wedding Photojournalism, and how they do it. I'm starting to do weddings in this style, so it was nice to hear how the real pros shoot them.