Photography Golden Ratio

If you are looking for professional photographers for pre-wedding photography, you sure though of what makes you decide whether these people are experience photographers? Many couple will face this question because it is the first time and also their only time approaching those photographer. However, it is better we understand some photography knowledge.


In previous post, we discussed about emotions and message in photos (Concept Photography). It is an important element that captures beautiful photos but yet, composition is another important element behind great photos. Some says beauty is very abstract but to determine one, you may refer to the "golden" rules of composition.


It is challenging because to have real good composition, it comes with a series of practice and understanding. However, lets see how "Golden Ratio" works in photos.

Pictures above demonstrates two implementation of Golden ratio. 


The Rule of Thirds (picture on the right)


If you have a SLR camera, you would have seen this before. Yes, it is widely implemented in cameras. The concept here is putting the object on the intersection point, creating a different angle of the photo. In this picture, the focus point is the eyes and nose.


*Consideration of composition: main object should lie on one of the four lines or four intersections. 


Golden Spiral (picture on the left)


Here, the focus is the left eye. Golden spiral explains that there must be something leading our eye to the center of the composition.  It could be a line or several subjects. Using the body curve and posing of the hand, it helps direct attention to the face expressions. In this photo, vignette is also used to draw attention on the focus. 


*Consideration of composition: draw the attentions to main subject.


Pictures above only demonstrates two of the ways photographers practice in photography. In real, photos will more or less (similar but not 100%) turn out like such ratios. Photographer shall practice and always experiment based on those ratios in order to deliver the best. However, not all compositions should or will follow this pattern. Photographers may change their composition as they considerate further processing of the photo such as wedding album design, more space / view / other subject taken to ease up / complete designing process. Careful consideration of the composition before photography will contribute to the success of the last product either for professional photo-shooting or personal practice.


Remember, simply viewing their sample photos are not enough! Analyze them and understand briefly on the purpose and technique behind. Who knows who is really working hard at the back or those pretty pictures they took are some sort of coincidence? Before really engaging one, you may talk to friends that have experience photo-shooting with the photographer or best, simply talk to the photographer. If one really experience photographer, he will demonstrates a series of knowledge of photography in his conversation. It may not be very factual like what we learn from articles but he will be able to explain lighting, composition or his way to make you photogenic and of course beautiful photos just like what he is showing you (the sample photos). Shortly, he will let you understand, why this & why not that, how is this & what makes that, should do this or not do that and most important, what he believes.


We hope that information provide in this post will help you when engaging one photographer. It is an important event, lets ensure nothing less than perfect.