Michael Russell 
Thank you for taking time to visit my studio website.
I've been photographing weddings for 19 years. As a wedding photographer you must be able to think on your feet, quickly... your subjects the ambient light and your equipment are all changing rapidly. One of the keys to being a great wedding photographer is the ability to keep pace with the wedding. If you hire a photographer who is constantly hesitating to checking his camera screen, you will miss out on the most precious candid images that tell the story of the day. I converted to digital over five years ago and have never looked back, my passion for digital has more to do with the creativity that has become available to the photographer, now what I envision, I'm able to create by controlling all of the aspects of the process right up to the final print.
My style; it is a blend of portrait and candid details of the day, it is not pure photo journalistic...please refer to the Wedding Photo Journalist Association's (WPJA) definition. Although, I do create the images in accordance with WPJA, my creative difference is that I use the restricted images beyond the 20% limit of the total image quantity, as defined by the WPJA. My objective is to tell the story of your wedding day using as many different subjects, angles and perspectives as possible. To quote the old maxim; “A picture is worth a thousand words”. However, the images must express the excitement and emotions of your day, not simply be snapshots! Above all, what is important is that I do not interfere with the emotions of the day, and yet produce an abundance of quality images.
My equipment; is professional grade cameras, lens, software. I use Canon equipment, mostly because when I started the digital conversion I already had a Canon system. The brand isn’t really all that important, both Nikon and Fuji manufacture very good equipment. The critical factor when it comes to equipment inventory; is that it needs to be of professional grade or at the very least high prosumer grade. The lenses are the most critical, they must be of professional grade, by definition that means extremely good glass, and fast (i.e. transmits the most light possible). Another critical equipment factor has to do with how well a photographer’s equipment is backed up. When I go to a wedding I personally have at least two cameras and strobes, all of my lenses overlap, so if any lens failed, the lenses above or below on the scale can fill in. Periodically I will rent equipment if a piece of equipment is at the shop. I have learned that with the quick pace of wedding photography my interaction with my equipment is completely intuitive, if a photographer rents equipment instead of purchasing they will constantly be learning new equipment at their wedding sessions. I have high expectations for my staff photographer’s equipment; if their own equipment is unacceptable I will insist that they use my equipment at a lower pay rate until they can afford proper equipment.
My vendors; I have several labs that I use, my primary lab is a domestic commercial lab. All of my prints larger than 11x14 go through a commercial because of their accuracy and mounting potential and coatings. I do have a local retail lab that I periodically use for quick turn-around small reprints and greeting cards. One of the critical aspects of ensuring that my clients receive consistently quality images is my relationship with the labs. In both cases I am a long-term customer, and both management and the front-line service people know my expectations from them. This philosophy is equally important with my album manufactures; again I have a very long relationship with my vendors. Ensuring excellent communication between us leads to a high quality product.
I have made the investment in equipment, education, and the venders that I associate with, in order to ensure my clients have a quality product and a pleasant experience with my studio. I have personally photographed over 275 weddings; please consider my experience when choosing your wedding professional. Hire experience, this is a once in a lifetime event; there is very little room for errors. Please understand that I will help guide you through your wedding day, I will not dominate it!
Michael
