Photography—What are the answers?

I know it is important to find out what kind of equipment a potential photographer uses, but what is the right answer to this question?
Is digital better than film, if film, what type etc. I am clueless when it comes to photo equipment.
It is important to me that the quality of the pictures be excellent even if I get a 30X30 blowup!!
-Thanks

It actually doesn't make sense to be asking about the equipment a photographer uses if you're not familiar with the equipment choices. You should make your choice of photographer be dependent on what you DO know about (whether you like their style, quality of the photography, personality, etc.) Then simply ask about what you want to know about ('can you blow up to 30x30?') The answer to that question is medium format equipment, however do you want ALL the pictures to have the potential to blow up that large? or just the formal portraits? or just the two of you? The answer to THIS question will determine how spontaneous you want the pictures to be, since medium format cameras are larger and heavier and less flexible then 35mm cameras (zoom lenses, quick focusing, different films, more flexibility in low light without flash, etc.) (I usually work with three 35mm cameras around my neck giving me different choices of what kind of picture I'm taking while holding another 35mm or medium format camera setup in my hands)

So.......... as usual you should choose what you like best and trust the people you hire to produce what you expect them to (based on the samples and the preferences you've expressed.)

Good luck!

There is no question that a larger negative (medium format vs. 35mm) will always produce a higher 'quality' picture. What I was saying was that the 'best quality' might not always be the best criteria. I also have a large format camera (4' x 5' negative!) that will produce a quality far superior to medium format. That doesn't mean it would be my format of choice for wedding photography (although I HAVE been thinking of bringing it out .......... never mind.)

Digital is whole 'nother issue. If you choose this route, make sure that you get actual proofs that you can hold in your hand (not just thumbnails on a screen!) Be aware that film producing negatives that light goes through to produce a photograph on paper is different then the 'noise' of digital (just like how Hollywood still uses film over video or digital; except George Lucas.) And any picture or negative can be scanned in to become digital for Photoshop or for any other reason.

As Mark has indicated, there are no 'right' answers regarding photographic questions... but there ARE ways to determine what is RIGHT for you. Every camera system has advantages and disadvantages. This applies to digital systems, as well. In general terms, when we discuss 'quality,' we are referring to the resolution of an image. That means that as you make an enlargement, the grain structure remains tight so that the picture remains very clear and focused. The larger the negative, the larger an enlargement can be made (ie: a 30 x 30 print) without losing this quality.
Therefore, if you envision making a 30 x 30 enlargement, your best bet is to work with a medium-format camera. Digital cameras CAN provide similar results, but the resolution of the saved images much be large enough to produce a final enlargement without showing pixels (the digital equivalent to grain). The higher the resolution, the more memory is required to save the file... and the fewer images can be made at once. In this instance, a photographer should know beforehand WHICH images will be likely to be enlarged (such as the formal portraits), as he/she would adjust the resolution accordingly.

However, resolution is not the only consideration when discussing 'quality.' As Mark pointed out, digital sytems may be able to record information, but the subtle effects of light striking film may be lost.

So, too, must you also consider the physical limitations of medium-format systems. While they produce a larger negative, they do NOT allow for the broad range of creative flexibility allowed by the 35mm camera (as Mark details).
The BEST answers can be provided by determining your own preferences. Do you want many candid moments of your wedding day? 35mm cameras are best for this kind of shooting, as they can be fitted with zoom lenses, can be hand-held, and allow for 36 frames before having to download film ( almost twice as many as a roll of medium-format film).

If you are interested in having more directed photos, the medium format camera is the ideal choice. Many brides choose a combination of styles, so many photographers employ both 3mm and medium format cameras.

But even with all of this information, there's nothing like SEEING what you're going to get! Discuss your concerns and priorities with your photographer, and ask to see samples of different-sized prints. Also make sure that your aesthetic ideas match those of your photographer. You want him/her to bring an artistic vision to your photos as well as technical skills. After all, if an image is mediocre at the proof print size, it will simply be a LARGE mediocre print at 30 x 30!

Hope this helps!

Lisa
Lisa M. Robinson Photography

We use medium format cameras and 35 mm. In some situations, I'm actually faster with my medium format than the fast 35 mm (Nikon F5s). It all depends on what part of the wedding day is being photographed, under what conditions, and your personal choice. Of course, you can have some of each. Don't listen to 'talk'...see the quality, style and enlargements in our studio. We have enlargements and canvases in our studio up to 30 x 40s.
See possibilities on our website. Quality never goes out of style.