March 29, 2024

Greenfield photographer puts wedding photographer hunting into focus

If you’re getting married, chances are one thing you’re on the market for is a wedding photographer for your big day.

Rach Ann Photography is a small business in Greenfield owned and operated by Rachel Randel.

While she doesn't currently photograph weddings, Randel was willing to share with the Free Press a few tips she gives people when they're searching for a wedding photographer.

Randel said she spent an entire semester in a class at Hawkeye Community College that was devoted to wedding photography. Randel, a Nodaway Valley High School alum, graduated from Hawkeye in 2016 with a degree in Professional Photography. Her business now mainly specializes on family or individual portraits.

“You definitely, as a client, want to do your homework, look up your photographer and make sure you love everything about their images — the way they shoot, their style, the way they edit their pictures, because these pictures are going to be on your wall for the rest of your life,” Randel said. “Another thing is that it never hurts to meet your photographer in person before you commit to having them do your wedding. You’re going to be spending all day with this person, they’re going to be taking pictures all day of you and your fiance and you want to be able to get along with them.”

Randel advises that though couples may have sticker shock when they’re shopping on a prospective photographer’s website or social media page, it’s important to remember that the cost of a wedding photographer not only includes their images but the time it takes to shoot them, edit them, the routine maintenance of equipment they use, and other factors.

“You have to remember that this is a whole day of a person’s time, not to mention their talent,” Randel said. “The time doesn’t end that day. They have days of editing thousands of images. There is a lot that goes into it. You definitely have to think about that when you’re booking your wedding photographer.”

That being said, Randel explained that cheaper isn’t always better when it comes to wedding photography.

Randel said it’s important that couples distinguish the difference between a “hobby” photographer and a professional photographer. The grade of equipment a photographer uses, the sharpness of a photographer’s uncompressed photos and the level of art a photo lets off are all ways to judge how well a photographer will shoot a wedding.

“Usually I tell people that I photograph all the time that if they feel awkward, they’ll look good in the picture. If you twist, turn and feel uncomfortable, you’ll look good,” Randel said. “The difference between a hobby photographer and a professional photographer is the quality of their images, the sharpness and clearness of their images.”

Rach Ann Photography is located on the west side of the Greenfield square and Randel is available by appointment only currently. She uses her office as storage for equipment and props. Her contact information is posted on her business’ door.