Treating Scoliosis - A Proactive Approach

Scoliosis is a disease of the neuro-muscular system that has long challenged health care professionals worldwide. The current treatment options or lack of any treatment for most families dealing with an early detection of this disease can be very frustrating. In most cases children diagnosed with scoliosis are told they have it and the healthcare team will monitor it to see if it gets worse. This would be similar to having a doctor tell you that you have a highly progressive cancer but we will wait until it spreads before we can do anything for you. Statistically, scoliosis is progressive in most cases.

So where does this leave children with scoliosis diagnosed below 25 degrees commonly referred to as early detection? The general medical approach is to wait until the curve reaches 25 degrees at which time the orthopedic specialist will recommend bracing. The most common form of bracing is a hard brace which is to be worn on average 22 hours daily until skeletal maturity or until the curve advances to 40 degrees at which point they will push for surgical intervention.

What medical practitioners typically don't tell you is that once the curve reaches 25 degrees the likelihood of progression is 68% even with most bracing attempts. So that leaves nearly 70% of the families with a highly progressive disease that ends up involving surgical intervention, a highly invasive surgery with significant post surgical ramifications. I don't know about you, but if my daughter was offered this solution as the only option, I would be very frustrated, scared, and disappointed in our healthcare system for not coming up with a better alternative to effectively combat scoliosis early on before it reaches critical levels where bracing and surgery becomes the only option.

A non-profit organization dedicated to finding a cure for scoliosis has developed a system that can effectively reduce and stabilize scoliosis without bracing or surgery. In fact, the majority of the scoliosis cases treated by this alternative methodology have been the result of patient's facing surgery where bracing attempts have failed to stop progression. This means a huge portion of scoliosis cases that have been reduced and stabilized using these new protocols have been above the 40 degree level. This spinal rehabilitation program was originally designed to correct scoliosis. Correction, meaning take scoliosis generally above 30 degrees Cobb angle and correct it to what is considered non-scoliosis level generally 10 degrees or less.

The majority of cases over 30 degrees have not corrected to this ideal 10 degrees or less range. The average reduction in Cobb angle measurement is 30-50% using what's called "MIX FIX SET" methodology. Now this is in no way a failure because a non-surgical non-bracing method which has the consistent ability to reduce and stabilize this highly progressive disease is a tremendous accomplishment and will most likely revolutionize the treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Several news stations nationally as well as magazines have done stories and interviews with patients who have undergone this program of scoliosis care. It is considered a major success if you are able to stop scoliosis curve progression let alone reduce the actual curve measurement without the use of bracing, casting, or surgery.

Families with early detection of scoliosis can be proactive. The status quo of watching and waiting for the inevitable train wreck is no longer your only option. Doctors have developed a scoliosis treatment option that is ideal for curves under 30 degrees. The reason for the lack of a complete correction with curves above 30 degrees is due to the inherent nature of scoliosis as a feed forward mechanism. Meaning once the curve progresses to 30 or above, the "crankshaft phenomenon" kicks in, which creates massive rotation coupled with lateral flexion and compression. This phenomenon is very difficult to undo in fact, invasive surgery can not even fully correct this mechanism. When a scoliosis reaches the 30 degree mark, the crankshaft mechanism begins, and the chance of progression skyrockets. This is also why a 50 degree scoliosis may reduce to 30 degrees using this alternative method, which is fantastic, but the scoliosis still remains alive. It has not been fully corrected and therefore has the innate potential to want to continue to grow.

By attacking the scoliosis before it reaches this pivotal point of 30 degrees you can typically correct the scoliosis. You can in most cases eliminate the scoliosis with non scoliosis measurements of 10 degrees or less, thus defeating the disease rather than merely taming it. Imagine having the opportunity to fix the problem before it spirals out of control giving you the freedom to go about your life without having to constantly worry about what the scoliosis is doing or what it will become. This scoliosis program has the potential to become the first line of defense against childhood scoliosis. At some point this technology will be the standard recommendation and hopefully replace the current "watch and wait" do nothing recommendation currently in place for children diagnosed with scoliosis below 25 degrees. Doctors through research and new technology have the potential to "cure" this disease, but it must start from a solid program of early detection and referral to the appropriate treatment facility rather than a watch and wait system that is antiquated and dangerous.

Can Chiropractic Successfully Treat Scoliosis?

The definition of chiropractic is necessary in order to answer this question. Chiropractic is defined as a profession that primarily deals with the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases and conditions of the neuro-musculoskeletal system. The standard procedures performed in a chiropractic office involve spinal manipulation (mobilization of spinal synovial joints), massage, and exercise therapies which tend to be similar to physical therapy and involve active strengthening and stretching. Chiropractors have no formal training in the diagnosis or treatment of scoliosis, other than the mention of it in text books and general screening procedures their scope is fairly limited which is no different from general medical practitioners. There is no current literature that supports the use of spinal manipulation in the treatment of scoliosis. Massage and back exercises seem to be extremely limited and the effectiveness is controversial.

There has been only one study that demonstrated the effectiveness of spinal manipulation and the treatment of scoliosis published in 2004 by Mark Morningstar DC titled "Scoliosis Treatment Using a Combination of Manipulative and Rehabilitative Therapy: a Retrospective Case Series". This study is really the beginning of chiropractic's involvement in the treatment of scoliosis, in terms of actual certified chiropractic scoliosis specialists. The reason this study is important is because the rehabilitative therapy actual refers to spinal weighting protocols and not physical therapy type exercises that one would be prescribed and perform from a sheet of paper or DVD. Spinal weighting is a form of neuromuscular retraining that involves the placement of weight on the patient's hips, shoulders, or head in order to cause a shift in the center mass by the righting reflexes which in turn alters the spine's alignment. As this theory was probed and clinicians began applying it to scoliosis patients it was soon discovered that much more research was needed based on sporadic and inconsistent long-term results.

It wasn't until recently that major advancements are being made in the application of new spinal weighting procedures that are now starting to produce significant sustained reductions in both moderate and severe spinal curvature groups as well as nearly eliminating smaller curves before they become progressive. There are only a limited number of chiropractors that have been trained to properly perform these protocols and who understand them well enough to produce long-term reductions in moderate and severe cases of idiopathic scoliosis. The combination of spinal manipulation, softening the tissues surrounding the spine with the use of specialized continuous passive motion equipment, and this new innovative spinal weighting system featuring the scoliosis cantilever, vibration platforms, and balance discs has allowed the chiropractic profession to get in the ring and be a legitimate scoliosis treatment option for patients.

Standard chiropractors should not be treating scoliosis in order to attempt to stop progression or stabilize idiopathic scoliosis in children. Chiropractic scoliosis specialists who have the proper training and knowledge base using the above mentioned approach or carry advanced training in similar rehabilitation are certainly qualified to co-manage and treat children with idiopathic scoliosis. Be sure to do a thorough investigation when choosing a chiropractic scoliosis specialist.

Treatment Alternative for Scoliosis Can Be a Valuable Tool

Do I need to visit an Orthopedic doctor?The short answer is, maybe. Clinics that offer the Scoliscore™ AIS prognostic test may in fact be a better starting point when initially diagnosed since Orthopedic doctors don't treat scoliosis until it progresses beyond 20 degrees at which point the patient is referred to a orthotist. This saliva collection test can compare the patient's genetic predisposition against 53 known genetic markers to produce a high, intermediate, or low risk determination of whetehr their spine curvature will progress to the point where surgical intervention is recommended. This does not predict if their scoliosis curvature will continue to increase, potentially causing significant spinal and postural deformity, but only if the curve will progress to the level of surgical threshold (40-45 degrees). However, this information is an invaluable tool in determining the level and intensity of treatment the patient may require.

It is important to note that a low or intermediate risk determination does not mean the patient should not be concerned about their condition and be proactive with an early stage scoliosis intervention program. A 10 degree curvature with a low Scoliscore™ could still see significant progression in their curvature producing irreversible postural deformity, a spinal rib hump, and significant quality of life concerns in adulthood (back pain, pre-mature spinal arthritis, spinal disc disease).

High Risk Classification Score: 181-200 (High risk of severe spinal curvature progression reaching surgical threshold by skeletal maturity)
This represents only 1% of idiopathic adolescent scoliosis patients; however these patients must have their condition and treatment managed by a team of experts including a orthopedist, an early stage scoliosis specialist, and possibly even a orthotist (brace maker). Early Stage Scoliosis Intervention may be the patients only real opportunity to avoid surgical intervention since rigid bracing has been shown in multiple studies not to reduce the number of patients who still reach surgical threshold.

Intermediate Risk Classification Score: 51-180 (Intermediate risk of severe spinal curvature progression by skeletal maturity)
This represents approximately 24% of idiopathic adolescent scoliosis patients. This classification score covers a wider range and the score is reflective of the increased or decreased risk within the range. For example, a patient with a score of 160 (intermediate risk) has a significantly increased risk of the curvature reaching surgical threshold than a patient with a ScoliScore™ of 60 (also intermediate risk). Early stage scoliosis intervention is a critical first step to combating the curves progression and preventing irreversible body distortion. Continued monitoring also will be necessary to provide ongoing treatment and assessment until the patient has reached skeletal maturity. Coordinated care with an orthopedic doctor may be recommended depending on the ScoliScore™ risk classification.

Low Risk Classification Score: 0-50 (Low risk of spinal curvature progressing to surgical threshold)
Approximately 70% of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis cases will have a scoliscore in the range of 0-50. This means there is a 99 % probability scoliosis will not progress to a severe curve that will require surgery. However, this does not indicate the curvature will not progress to the level that creates irreversible body distortion, rib humping, or interfere with the patient's quality of life as an adult. Early stage scoliosis intervention is still the indicated, preferred, and appropriate treatment choice to reduce the spinal curvature and prevent further curve progression.

Creating a "village of experts" is a great strategy when treating scoliosis.The diagnosis can create a lot of anxiety and fear, mostly fear of the unknown and uncertainty in the origins and process of treating the condition. It is important for the parent and patient to develop a comprehensive and realistic outlook in terms of the condition and its treatment at the time of initial diagnosis. Developing a working relationship and consistent treatment plan with the patient's orthopedist and an early stage scoliosis intervention specialist may provide the patient with the best opportunity to reduce, stabilize, and minimize the risk of further progression.

The risk of curve progression is the primary concern in patients with early (0-25 degrees) and intermediate (26-40 degrees) stage scoliosis; especially through periods of rapid growth. The rapid rate of increasing curve progression generally does reduce significantly as the patient reaches skeletal maturity (ages 16-17 in females/ ages 18-20 in males).

It is extremely important for the parent and child with scoliosis to develop a vision and comprehensive treatment plan that will provide them with a consistent plan course of treatment from the point of initial diagnosis (age 8-14) to the onset of skeletal maturity (age 16-17 in females/ ages 18-20 in males).
What you would expect during the visit to the orthopedic doctor should also be provided by an office providing treatment alternatives for scoliosis as well.
Much of the data and tests performed will be similar to a routine physical exam including:

Case history
Age of initial scoliosis diagnosis (if known)
Size of initial curvature (if known)
Curve development pre or post menses (if known)
Physical examination
Bend forward test to evaluate rib protrusion
Posture evaluation
Radiographic examination (x-ray) Full spine x-ray of the curvature measured by the Cobb angle system.Cobb's angle measures the size of the curvature by how much it is bending to the side.Risser's sign is the measurement of the growth plate on the crest of the hip. It is used to help determine where a patient is in terms of the skeletal maturity process. It is rated 0-5 with "5" being skeletally mature.
X-ray Safety Concerns are common with children and scoliosis evaluation so here are a couple of relevant statistics. One of the larger and newer studies published in the 2000 edition of the Journal of Pediatric Orthopedic was conducted over the course of 13 years and measured the total amount of x-ray exposure in surgically treated scoliosis patients (considered the most total x-ray exposed group).

Scoliosis Treatment - Are Exercises Beneficial?

Scoliosis Treatment - Are Exercises Beneficial?

Active rehabilitation of the spine can and will reduce symptoms of scoliosis, but the article omits is that active rehabilitation of the spine can reduce the scoliosis curvature itself. I have seen and read many of the studies showing how exercise protocols that include core strengthening exercises like sit-ups, chin-ups, and pelvic tilts have no effect on scoliotic curvatures, but those studies have over-looked a critical aspect of the spinal condition. Scoliosis is primarily a spinal condition of neurological control of the spine in response to gravity. In short, the brain is incorrectly perceiving gravity and therefore mis-orienting the spine accordingly.

This is why scoliosis is 5 times more common in the blind population, but only 25% as likely in the hearing impaired population. However, neurological control doesn't seem to be the only factor involved in the progression of the disease. Spinal curvatures under 20 degrees have an approximately 22% risk of progression, but the risk of progression jumps to 68% for curvatures 20-29 degrees. This dramatic jump in progression rates can probably be contributed to the increased "coil down" effect seen at this stage of the disease. No one seems to know why the "coil down" effect occurs, but it appears to be connected to adverse mechanical tension on the spinal cord.

This also explains why the bending and rotation patterns appear to become "uncoupled" (bending and rotation patterns that don't normally match) when the curvature reaches or surpasses the 30 degree angle mark. The normal coupled bending and rotation pattern normally forces the spinal cord over the outside of the curvature which increase tension on the spinal cord, but maintains a relatively low amount of torque in the spinal curvature; however, when the spinal curvature reaches 30 degrees or larger, the bending and rotation pattern become uncoupled and the rotation component begins turning towards the inside part of the curvature. While this has the effect of reducing the tension on the spinal cord by allowing the cord to travel through the inside part of the curvature, but has the negative effect of creating a massive amounts torque in the spinal curvature. This has a tremendously negative effect on the curvature and dramatically increases the "coil down" effect and curve progression.

So is the cause of scoliosis of the spine neurological or biomechanical? It seems early stage scoliosis (0-19 degrees) is rooted in a neurological misinterpretation of gravity, however biomechanical factors involving spine torque (driven by a need to relieve adverse mechanical tension on the spinal cord) seem to be the driving force behind curve progression in spinal curvatures 20 degrees or greater.

"Exercises" in the form of neurological re-education and biomechanically specific exercise can have a positive effect on the signs and symptoms of scoliosis, but it must be applied in a very specific manner, by a trained and skilled physician.

Wedding Photography Tips for Amateur Photographers

If you aren't serious about your photography and don't want to spend time preparing for your first wedding, you might as well stop reading these articles as they won't help you much. While I'm a firm believers in practical advice (which is what I'm trying to give in these articles) - nothing can replace the benefit of picking up your camera, taking photos, critically reviewing them, and then starting the process over and trying to take better ones.

This article continues looking at things you can do to prepare (ahead of time) for the wedding. The previous articles discussed knowledge of photography, preparing your equipment, online/internet preparations, wedding photography books, and spending time with the couple.

Create a Shot List

With the couple, work through a list of "formal" images that they want (if they want any formal shots). Be very specific! Find out exactly who is to be included in the "Bride and Groom with Groom's Family" photo (parents and siblings? what about sibling's spouses? or their children?). Otherwise, at the wedding, in the middle of the photo session while you are trying to call people together for the shot (I always try to enlist the help of the wedding coordinator or a family member/friend to round people up) you will have to ask the couple exactly who they want in the shot.

My goal has always been to present the couple with any and all decisions before the wedding so that they will hopefully not have to make any photography-related decisions on wedding day. I want them to enjoy the day! The last thing I want them having to be faced with is me, as the photographer, asking them who is supposed to be in a certain photo - when it is so easily dealt with ahead of time. I'm always open to extra photos they want or other people they want to include in formals, it's just that I want to get as many decisions out of the way ahead of time.

For beginners, I recommend you put more than just the formal images onto the shot list. I know - a shot list is the last thing you would expect a photojournalistic photographer to recommend. But it is important for your first weddings. And I highly recommend putting photojournalistic/unposed images on the shot list!

Shots like "image of groom's parents" would be great to have on the list. You don't have to pose them for the image! You just want to make sure you get the image and can "cross it off the list" at some point during the day.

You can search the web for sample "shot lists." Some of the wedding photography books also have shot lists. I never did like the incredibly long and formal lists online or in books. But, I would take them as a starting point and then cut them down and convert a lot of the shots to photojournalistic.

Practice, Practice, Practice!!!!

Once you have your list I recommend you practice as many shots that are on the list as possible. Enlist family and friends to help out so you can practice your posing and arranging skills. Ideally you'll be able to find a "couple" that will help you out. Practice taking photos of her and him by themselves in the very same poses you'll do with the bride and groom, and then take shots of the practice couple together.

The goal is not to setup a shot, practice that one shot over and over, memorize it, and then rigidly take that same image at the wedding. The real goal is to increase your skill and "comfort level" with posing people while at the same time lighting and composing the shot. If you increase your ability to take photos of a posed (or even an unposed!) couple, and can light and compose those shots properly, you'll be way ahead of the game on wedding day! Think about it: while the wedding day is tremendously special for the couple, in regards to your photography skills, nothing magical is going to boost your skill on that day. You will be taking the same caliber of photos on the wedding day that you took the day before. Or, because you'll be under pressure and possibly a little rushed, you may actually be taking images that are below your normal skill level!

Definitely go to the wedding and reception venues to take sample photos on-site. All the better if your "models" can go with you. If you can't take a well-lit photo of your friend walking down the aisle at the church with the same lighting that will be used at the wedding ----- you can probably guess what I'm going to say ----- you won't be able to take a well-lit shot of the bride coming down the aisle.

A good way to visualize your "training" for the wedding is to think about a Police SWAT team. They spend far more hours training for events than they do at actual emergencies. And when an actual emergency occurs, they know that they aren't going to have a chance to "redo" anything - it has to be handled right the first time or lives could be at stake. The SWAT team wants the right thing to happen "automatically" and "instinctively", and that is why they train so hard.

Obviously, your wedding photography isn't a matter of life and death. But those that view the time before shooting their first wedding as a serious time of training and who actually practice will take much better wedding photos than those who don't do much, if anything, to prepare. Sure, you might be able to "slide" by with your current skill level, but why not seek to improve as much as possible between now and the wedding?

Why Does Wedding Photography Cost So Much?

This is a common question that is asked a lot. Here are some things to consider when placing a value of Wedding photography.

Professional prints are a rip off, I can get a print for 0.19 cents at Xmart! That's true you can and all it costs you is a little time. You were at the Wedding having a good time, you pulled your camera and snapped off a shot, easy. What about the Wedding photographer isn't it that easy for him too?

Wedding photographers (the good ones) really care about the bride and groom. We want to take the best photograph possible for the given situation and in order to do so it requires us to be prepared and put some thought into every shot.

First is the equipment.
You must have good quality gear and you must have back up. At any given Wedding we bring 5 camera bodies, 6 flashes, 4 power packs, 8 lenses, lots of AA batteries, 50 GB of memory chips, extra batteries for the cameras, tools to clean and repair cameras or lenses, extra cables. Light stands, reflectors, a white balance target, light meters, 800 watt strobes for formals (3 of these), umbrellas, flash bracket, diffusers, and well you get the idea.

A good camera and equipment (gear) do not make one a good photographer. A skilled photographer can make good images with even mediocre equipment. The reason to get expensive gear is because it can make good work great, but it won't save a poor photo no matter how much money you have spent. Pro cameras focus more accurately, track moving objects better, focus in low light conditions faster and better, they are more rugged, weather sealed, shutters have a life of 250,000 frames. They have larger buffers so you can take more shots with slowing your camera down. The camera is only part of the equation. Your lenses can play an even larger role than your camera body in the quality of the images. In other words if you have an $8000.00 DLSR and put a cheap $300.00 lens on it you just wasted $7000.00.

Why do we need all of that gear? Simple, for backup, reliability, quality, and to create images that can't be created without the proper tools. We want to make images that have a third dimension to them.

It's called the WOW factor.

Yes anyone can buy a camera, flash, flash bracket and run around and call themselves a photographer. It's also a fact that anyone can buy a pair of scissors and cut hair, but I will bet you are going to have a skilled person cut YOUR hair. The same is true for photography, there are skills, technical learning, people skills, posing skills and things you can't learn like having a vision, seeing the light and looking beyond the obvious to create something great from something Others see as common.

Anyone can buy brushes and paint and take art classes, but not everyone will become an artist.

No it's true there are people out there that shoot an entire wedding with 1 camera, 1 flash and call themselves by various popular names (photo journalists). Now I don't want to start any fights but many professionals feel that the majority of PJ shooters and people who don't know how to light, pose or frame their subjects. Don't get me wrong there are a few that are really good, but I do feel that many people whom just one to make an extra buck hide behind the reputation of the good PJ shooters in order to take advantage of their clients. These are usually the guys who at one time realized that anyone can snap a picture, so why not get paid for it? The photojournalist wedding photographers that are really good are in a league of their own. They have unique skills, and have one BIG advantage over the want to be photojournalists and that is they actually have been photojournalists before getting into Weddings.

Ok. I am off that soapbox for now.

Hidden labor and time worked but not seen.
There is a lot of time spent after the wedding for the final production of the images and album that will be created. But before we go into that lets take a look and the hidden time and expenses that you would never know about unless you did wedding photography for a living.

At the initial meeting of a bride and groom we will spend about 2-3 hours discussing their day, giving them ideas and writing down information. We provide forms to help them organize their day (and their thoughts) and to help them plan. Our job is not only to photograph the day but to take stress off the bride and groom by giving advice and helping them plan the wedding day. The photographer you choose will be responsible for a good part of your day. If your photographer only wants to meet with you to take your check and then ask you what time do you them to show up you might want to consider a photographer that wants to actually get involved with the wedding day.

The average bride and groom will spend about 2-4 hours on the phone with us asking questions and preparing for the day. Add more time if there is an engagement session. Let's also remember all of the email's that will be sent back and for.

The wedding day photography schedule.
We will spend 1-2 hours with going over the sequence of the day and helping put in writing a time line of events. The purpose of this time line is to help the couple get the photographs that they want. This is also a major stress reliever for the bride because the photographer becomes that bad guy and gives the wedding party a schedule for the day. There is nothing worse on the day of your wedding then having a wedding party member be a no show until 5 minutes before, especially if you wanted pre ceremony photos. There is always one bridesmaid that takes forever to get ready and is famous for being late of forgetting things, the mean photographer that gives a schedule to the bridesmaids is doing so to help the bride so she won't have to dread dealing with the extra drama that can be created by slow and late bridesmaids, after all its her day.

Scouting the area.
If the events are at an area I have not shot at previously I will go to the wedding site and the reception area and photograph the areas and meet the people who will be in charge on the day of the wedding. I go back to the studio and load up the images and plan out shot I want to get using what is available in the area and then I organize the shots and plan them in a logical order. There is another 3-4 hours of planning, plus travel time.

The rehearsal.
We attend the rehearsal. This is good way of learning about last minute changes, getting to meet the family and wedding party and of course handing out the photography schedule. So there is another 2 hours on average.

The day before the wedding.
All of the equipment is cleaned, inspected and tested. Batteries are charged. Equipment is organized. Cards are formatted, cameras have their clocks synchronized, lenses and sensors cleaned, I organize my shot list, pack up the lighting equipment, tripods, etc. Another 6 hours of work.

The Wedding day.
The average wedding for us is 8 to 11 hours, yes we are not the 4 hour wedding photographers. I always wonder how they can get away with that.

Now it's nice to think that you can plan out a wedding day and after that you just execute the plan. Well now it's time for a reality check.

Weddings are organic.
They have a life of their own and not everything goes as planned. But, that's ok. Part of being a great Wedding photographer is being able to think on your feet, to be flexible and change all of the plans in a moments notice and still get great shots and keep everyone smiling. You want a challenge try squeezing 2 hours of shooting into 45 minutes. Oh yeah, the shots still need to be great.

After the Wedding.
OK the Wedding is over we get home about 1:00 am unload the equipment, start reading the images of the chips. Throw them online and wait for the money to roll in!!! In my dreams.

Just taking the images off the chips take about 3-5 hours. Next the images have to be processed.
We do not shoot in jpg file mode, we shoot in RAW. RAW is to digital what negatives are to film. The files have to be loaded into a RAW editor. We use Capture One.

Processing the RAW files.
The average Wedding will have 1000-2000 shots. I will spend about 10-16 hours processing the RAW file to get the absolute best quality from each one. You can take shorts cut and not be so picky, but any Wedding photographer worth their salt will want to make the proofs look great.

It takes time to do proper color correction (actually correction and white balance begins before the images were taken, that's what the white balance target was for). Files are backed up on three different external hard drives for redundancy. The chips are not formatted until all of the files are backed up.

The Album.
The RAWS are output as high resolution jpg files for building the albums and for posting on the Internet. Now we build the album. The average album takes 40-60 hours. You could buy software that automatically dumps photos from a folder into pre-made templates, and it takes about 20 minutes. But there is no creativity or customization involved. The photographer selects the images for the album and the bride and groom get to make changes 2 times. Many photographers work this way because it is faster. But if the bride and groom really appreciate good images and don't want a cookie cutter album then it requires creativity, communication and time.

Using Professional lab.
Professional photographers use quality monitors and hardware devices that create a profile that
modifies their screen display so when we edit and color correct, adjust the density and sharpen and image the print will come from the lab looking like the image on our monitor. Professional labs charge more because they offer a level of quality and consistency and used calibrated machines that are checked daily.

So let's total it up.
Initial meeting of a bride and groom 2-3 hours.
Time on phone and writing email's to iron out details and answer questions 2-4 hours.
The time line for the day 1-2 hours.
Scouting the area, travel and research, planning shots. 3-4 hours.
The rehearsal 2 hours, plus travel time.
The wedding day 8-11 hours on average.
Uploading data from chips. 3-5 hours.
Processing the RAW files, building web pages for the online shopping cart, uploading files and data back up 10-16 hours.
Build the wedding album pages 40-60 hours.

People who are talented make their work look easy. Talent, hard work, patience, flexibility and a good sense of humor are all part of being a great Wedding photographer. You are inviting this person into your life for the day of your Wedding.

So, when you buy a photo from the Wedding photographer your not just buying a piece of paper with some printing, you are getting a part of the time, emotion and investment that the bride and groom put into their day, and they trusted in that photographer to be there for them.

This person they have put their trust in has done a lot more than just snap a few pics.

Cherish the Finest Memories With the Best Wedding Photography

Wedding photography plays a very crucial part in every couple's wedding day. Though some may actually overlook this important part, others shed out a lot of savings for this since they know that special moments will sooner or later become treasured memories.

Choosing a wedding photography service

There are a couple things to consider in selecting a wedding photography service that will cover your very special wedding day. Of course you will have an allotted budget for this but you would also have various demands. Commonly, the two will not meet. It is entirely up to you to weigh your options and prioritize before you make a decision. For example, you would want complete snapshots of the wedding preparation (while the bride, groom and entourage get dressed/prepared), detailed scenes from the church prior and during the ceremony and highlights of and in the reception area, then you will fall short of your $700 calculation for wedding photography.

On the other hand, if you were to remain strict on that kind of budget, your expectations shouldn't be that high. The best coverage your seven-hundred dollars can get you may not actually get you an all-day coverage. Most professional photographers charge by the hour so it's very important that they capture all significant seconds while they're in service. Some photography services even charge for extra photographers (though it is needless to say that a wedding photography team usually consists of at least 2 people).

Of course every cost would still depend on several factors: the location of your wedding (versus the location of wedding photography services), discounts and promotional offers, professional wedding organizers and coordinators (this might actually increase your wedding photography budget a notch) and service or professional fees.

Tallying all your demands and contrasting with your options, you can somewhat compare available wedding packages then eventually deliberate and choose the best service fit for you and your wants. It is important that you are comfortable with the photographer and/or his employer and that details of the service are clear to avoid arguments or cut-offs in the future.

Editing and packaging

Wedding photographers can turn anything out from the raw photos that they take. More often than not, the actual photographers do hands-on editing since they already have an idea on how the final product will look like the very moment the take the shot. Their hourly rate perhaps is justifiable. It's not that easy to stitch up creativity and skill in one, so you can just imagine what it takes to put the magic into the magical wedding.

There are different kinds of software used in wedding photography. Technical and graphical effects can be added to a digital image and the good just becomes best. Of course the captured emotions are the best feature of a picture but some effects and an elegant layout will make your wedding album a tear-jerker. You would want to make sure you have hard and soft copies of the wedding coverage, a back-up for special occasions like these are essential.

A Unique Style of Wedding Photography

When you consider engaging a wedding photographer to photograph at your wedding it is important to remember that every photographer has a different ability. With the advent of sophisticated digital slr cameras at affordable prices there has been an explosion of individuals who have purchased a medium range or even a fully professional digital slr camera and set up shop as a wedding photographer. Some of these photographers are actually extremely good at what they do, even to the point of being able to make it as a professional photographer. However the vast majority do not have the technical expertise or understanding that will enable them to capture the perfect wedding picture time and time again. Wedding photography is actually one of the most difficult areas of photography because there is so much that is out of control of the photographer. From poor lighting to crowded venues, from a tired bride to a screaming child, inclement weather to guests who refuse to have their photograph taken there are literally hundreds of things that can cause a problem for the average amateur. Everyone needs to gain experience but do you really want them gaining the experience at your wedding?

Every wedding is unique and your wedding is no exception. You can find a really cheap photographer who may well have an expensive digital slr camera but unless the photographer actually understands how to use and control the camera then there can be a real problem that will affect the results of your wedding photographs. Most of these amateur photographers use the camera in either full automatic mode or programme mode. For taking snapshots when you are on holiday the his options are fantastic for the amateur, letting the amateur photographer create decent images just like using any other point and shoot digital camera. A little anecdote at this point may help to illustrate an extreme of this happy amateur photography. I was taking photographs of a newborn baby when the mother said that her oldest daughter was at college studying photography. She asked if her daughter could take some photographs two, of course I said yes, I've always try to accommodate the requests of my clients as long as it does not affect my work. I asked her daughter what camera she was using for her photography course. Her reply was something of a surprise, "I use an iPhone" she remarked. I'm not too sure I was able to hide my amusement, but you could just imagine the reaction I would have got turning out to photograph this new baby if I then pulled out my smart phone and started taking photographs. There is far more to photography can simply pressing a button and this is especially true when it comes to events that can never be repeated such as weddings.

Every bride and groom has an idea, or should I say usually has an idea of what they expect from the photography that their wedding photographer will give them. Unfortunately there are so many bride and groom's who have been so disappointed with the results of the photography they have received from a so called professional photographer who actually was an amateur who set up his own or her own website after purchasing a digital slr camera. Some brides want the photographer to capture the whole day from having their make-up and hair done right through till the first dance. For others they are only looking for the wedding ceremony to be photographed. Occasionally the bride or wants photographs of the groom getting ready rather than herself; as I said earlier I'd try to accommodate the wishes of the client and when it comes to the photography that they require. I have been known to arrive in order to photograph the groom and best man getting ready for the wedding only to be turned away due to the fact that they were still in bed and an asked to return in a couple of hours when they have finally sorted themselves out.

Sometimes the bride and groom are happy to be led by the photographer and when this is the case there is a real opportunity for the photographer to really show why it is of such value to book an experienced wedding photographer. There are of course some cheesy photographs that some brides asked for, the one that is often requested is where the bride is lifted horizontally by all of the groom's man. I'm perfectly happy to take said photographs but for myself I never suggest it. Now there are some images that I have taken that I get requested by a other bride and groom's to take because they think the images are perfect or standing or original. The problem with anything that is original is that the venture he is copied. So I'd try to take some images at each wedding where the bride and groom are happy to let me have a little free rein, that are as unique to that wedding as the bride and groom our unique. Sometimes of course when you client sees a particular image they can't understand why such a photograph would be taken or indeed why somebody would want to have a particular image. This is perfectly understandable, but because I spent a time getting to know each client I have never taken and image where the client has said why have you taken that. This again is something that comes with experience as a wedding photographer. I once had a couple of clients who were getting married near Leicester who only wanted what they termed 'traditional wedding photographs'. The groom commented that one of my images from a previous wedding was a "waste of a photograph." So what was this disaster of a photograph? It was a picture of four Bride's Maids all of whom were under 12 years of age. Needless to say they had no children at their wedding; they were not an old couple but were in their twenties.

So having established with the client exactly the style and result that they are expecting from their wedding photos I then set about trying to be as creative as possible within the boundaries and constraints that are set by the bride and groom's expectations. The purpose of wedding photography is to capture the story, joy and the uniqueness of the wedding day. There is nothing better than bringing a sense of delight to the bride and groom when they recall the events of the day while looking through the wedding photographs I have taken for them. By understanding how to control the camera in order to get the very best results possible by using the Manual settings and customising the results for each photograph of a professional wedding photographer is able to produce a record of your wedding that can far exceed your expectations. You may have 'uncle Bob' with his new super duper digital camera standing over the shoulder of a professional photographer taking almost exactly the same photograph from the same place in the same light, yet each with totally different results due to the fact that the professional wedding photographer understands how to control the camera to create the result that is designed, while uncle bob simply takes a snapshot with inexpensive camera.

Any real professional photographer will have developed a particular style of photography, but with an understanding of the client he or she also has an expectation that may require that style to be subtly altered in order to create the effect and results that are expected by the photographer and exceeding expectations of clients. There is a lot of advice on the Internet regarding finding the cheapest possible wedding photographer, but I would recommend that you consider the fact that this is one day there will not be repeated and therefore you need to make sure that you have booked a photographer that has the technical ability and artistic creativity to capture your wedding or other event in such a way that will give you the very best memories.

Please ensure that your photographer is a member of a professional photography body.