Why choose a professional photographer ?
Wedding photographs require a photographer with enormous technical skill, artistic feeling, and a good rapport with people. Only a perfectly controlled technique gives the photographer the freedom to express himself artistically, and to adapt to any situation at a moment’s notice.
There is no second chance at a wedding; it is a unique, organized event, which is often full of surprises.
For a few hours, not only must he become a virtual member of the family, but he has to move around unnoticed, and know how to position himself to capture these magical moments, and at the same time be a friendly but efficient director, setting up and posing the family photos.
He must accomplish this while putting the married couple, who inevitably are stressed at the beginning of the ceremony, at ease. He turns the photographic session into a moment of fun that they will remember with pleasure as they leaf through the pages of their album.
A wedding is a ceremony, but also a family celebration.
The pictures should help to create this sense of joy and should not be a source of tension.
Once again, only an experienced professional photographer with great technical mastery will achieve this.
The photos are all that remain of a wedding, don’t sacrifice this day or your future memories by entrusting this important mission to a friend who is an amateur photographer, who under normal circumstances is probably very talented, but who, lacking experience, and under stress, which is inevitable for a non-professional, could easily wreck the day.
The price should not be a determining factor :
You will forget the price you paid, but the album will remain in your library for the rest of your life, and you will leaf through it with your grandchildren and relive these happy moments that otherwise might have been forgotten.
The professional photographer will deliver a quality product to you, in the form of a cd, DVD, or album, which will last through time. The photos will be enhanced, the colours perfect, and the presentation beyond reproach.
To be short, the professional photographer :
- Will relieve you of the stress of the day
- Will be hte perfect Director for your family and group shots, and will be there to catch the emotions
- Will deliver fast your photos perfectly presented
Why choose a local photographer in Saint Martin?
A photographer who has lived on the island for many years knows all the best sites: the ideal rock on a beach, a particular corridor on the third floor of a hotel, a flamboyant alongside a gorgeous bougainvillea in a park, and so forth.…
He makes the best use of the light according to the time of day and the seasons. We have seen numerous photographers, newly arrived from New York in winter, who are uncomfortable with the heat, and unable to position subjects ideally on a beach.
The local photographer knows the key participants, such as the minister, the florist, the DJs and the musicians : This helps to create an atmosphere of trust, which is essential at a wedding.
A practical detail: he is already there, so there are no travel expenses or problems to worry about.
But will I not be meeting my photographer before the wedding ?
Thanks to the internet, it is now easy to make contact without meeting personally.
In the case of large weddings, couples often do have to travel around the island organizing details, and I am always happy to meet them.
In other situations, I would say that it’s the talent of the photographer that creates a bond with people he has never seen before.
All my clients will tell you about my experience...
Marriage is a reflection of society in all its diversity: a professional photographer knows how to capture the nuances even if he is not familiar with the culture or religion of the couple. In some cases a little “script” or “storyboard” of the marriage ceremony provided by the family can be useful for the photographer and the other people involved at the wedding.
And be aware that work permits are stricly limited on the island : it is not legal for a foreign photographer to look for a wedding photography contract in the island without french or dutch work permits.
But it’s an island ... What if something goes wrong? Should I not have a contract ?
I prefer to work on trust and a promise given than to consign a marriage to the law: experience has taught me that a bride who cancels her wedding obviously has a valid reason, and there is nothing else she can do. If I have to cancel an appointment, (which never happened), it would be due to an act of God, which is a situation that no contract would cover either.
My philosophy of life is that we must accept risk.
I would prefer a marriage cancellation (unlikely) to the guarantee that contracts and lawyers provide in return for lots of money and time…
I do not ask for a deposit unless I have two requests for the same date.
When I have given my word to a client, I honour my commitment no matter what happens.
But if you prefer the security of the law, my company is registered in Saint Martin, a French jurisdiction where the French laws apply.
You are protected in the same way as one would be in Paris and my contracts are written in English.
Why Jean Vallette ?
It is not very easy to compliment yourself but the following points are worth mentioning...
- Years of experience, and a perfect mastery of light.
- Warm human contact and determination: I know how to put people at ease and direct them in a manner that is both gentle and firm, even though my command of English is sometimes questionable.
In my profession, gestures are as effective as words.
- A "look" that captures the lines, the touch of colour or light used in a unique way every time.
- Humour… never forget that a wedding is a celebration!
- I forgot to mention: I am French..
