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Ralph Heinze uses a 'keep it real' photojournalistic
philosophy to draw you into a love story of photos
Interviewing
Ralph Heinze of Ralph Heinze Photography
Ralph Heinze Photography offers
award-winning wedding photography that is an
inspiring combination of both
still emotions and fine art. Ralph's brides choose him for his
photojournalistic approach to weddings and his fine art approach to portraits.
Ralph's work draws you into it and tells you a story. He
spends your wedding day capturing hundreds of moments and emotions with a quiet
intensity and artistic touch that you can't find anywhere else.
Having worked with
Ralph Heinze Photography on countless wedding and corporate shoots over the past
five years, it was our pleasure to interview and review this award-winning,
internationally recognized photographer for brides in The Ring.
 An
artist
It seems obvious
from the first time you meet Ralph Heinze that he's probably always been an
artist in one way or another. This would explain why he so easily and naturally
sets himself apart from others in his field. In a very natural way,
Ralph shoots from his own artistic approach, his signature style visible in all
of the images he takes at your wedding.
If you ask Ralph, he
believes it's what he sees when he attends your wedding
that maybe isn't the same as other photographers. "Everyone has their own way of
looking at things, their own viewpoint... It's just about catching the right
emotion at the right time... While I photograph the critical events - ceremony
and formals - most of the emotions show up in the smaller moments that are often
forgotten..."
Ralph has been
shooting weddings from his Kitchener-Waterloo location for the past six
years. His work is
known to many for its predominantly photojournalistic style. In fact, that's how
he earned his way into the WPJA (Wedding Photojournalistic
Association) as an accredited member. The WPJA requires that their photographers
shoot 90% of their work in un-scripted, un-posed images. Over the past two
years, Ralph found himself focusing his lens on more of a fine art approach to
wedding portraits in addition to his candid shots, something that both feeds his
inner artist while simultaneously growing his reputation for incredible
photography and art.
Ralph has already
been internationally recognized, winning the Gold Medallion from the [AG]WPJA
(the WPJA's Artist Guild) award for wedding portraits. In 2008, Ralph says he
plans to focus more on environmental portraits, meaning images and memories in
settings that are most definitely not just the usual park or tree photo. From
the rawness of the Toronto subway to the elegance of an antique captain's chair
shot through a museum window, location will play a big part in this year's
memories. Ralph has shot weddings that were small and intimate, as well as others that
were large and held at such prestigious Toronto locations as The Berkeley Church,
the Palais Royale and The Carlu.
Creating images that
tell a story of the day, and doing it in a style that really brings each memory to
life - this is where Ralph is in his element. This is where he is able to
produce unique prints and album styles from scratch for every client. "I
document the day as a story."
 Ralph almost always
dresses in a black suit or dress clothes, and says he tries to blend
with the guests. "It actually makes it easier to get real moments and feelings
that way. People act more naturally."
Technically speaking...
A Photoshop expert in his own right,
Ralph uses Photoshop not to fix, but to create. With his 'tablet', he has
been known to hand paint art pieces brushstroke by brushstroke, to
ultimately be hung on the wall of the subject's home. Or his own, if it's
his new favourite wedding photo...
"I think what I love most about the
digital dark room is that you can alter a photo like the old masters, to bring
the focus to what is really important in the photograph. When it's done well,
you can have a great shot and make it a stunning, timeless, a work of art... I try
to document and produce a wedding such that in twenty, fifty or a hundred years from now, it would
still be interesting to look at - a blend of fine art portraits and photojournalistic images allow me to do this."
Ralph teaches Photoshop courses within the community.
Ralph's idea of
fun is picking up a new lens for his Nikon. He shoots only with the best cameras, lenses and
lighting (if needed) that he can find. When he isn't equipping his business
with photo toys, he's researching the latest photographic techniques to keep
his work current and meaningful for his brides.
Budgeting for your options
For full day coverage (his most popular request),
$2590 gets Ralph (and an assistant, if applicable) all to yourself from the
morning to the wee hours of the night. With three different
packages to choose from that start at $1950, you can tailor your options with
Ralph Heinze Photography.
Ralph says his average bride typically spends approximately $1000 to $3000 on albums, books
and prints. Amidst his print options, Ralph also happens to have one of the
coolest proof books The Ring has ever seen, but you've got to visit Ralph to see
it for yourself.
Depending on what
collection of prints, albums or books you choose, you'll have Ralph for either half day or full day coverage. Each collection comes with fantastic memories of your wedding day.
One of the things
that really 'wowed' The Ring was Ralph's long list of amazing ways to
print and display your wedding photos. Among other things, you have an
online slideshow of proofs that you can share with friends and family, plus the
options of online ordering and library bound archival fine art albums in 6"x6"
or 10"x10" sizes.
As far as photos go, your image options are black & white, colour, and fine art images, to say the least.
Ralph tunes you in to his artistic side by offering prints on archival fine art
velvet watercolour paper. This paper is actually made out of cotton with a
lifespan of about two hundred years. "The paper is museum quality, and gives the
images a great finished look... It's very cool."
D'Arte: Photos of Art
Ralph has introduced
a new division of artistic products reminiscent of both your wedding day and of
Renaissance art. Ralph calls this new division and style, D'Arte (French for 'of
art').
From a single, extremely high resolution digital photograph, Ralph uses
a 'tablet' and
thousands of digital brushstokes to transform the photo. Textured strokes, lighting
effects, focuses, and other artistic tools are used to enhance colour and
composition of the piece while maintaining the integrity of the photo and giving
the illusion of an oil painting.
Each D'Arte portrait is
luxuriously printed and is meant to be framed and hung in your home as more than just a
memory, but an artist's rendition of your wedding day. Influenced by renowned
artist, Pino, Ralph is the only photographer in Kitchener to provide this custom
service for his clients.
Each piece takes countless hours of work to produce.
The 'paintings' have a textured look and are done only by request. Sizes range
from 16"x16" to 20"x30".
 detailsdetailsdetails
•
Ralph is accessible
by email and phone.
•
Ralph Heinze
Photography's
coverage starts at $2650 for reportage.
•
Coverage is based on
either a half day or full day of shooting.
•
Package &
print options are
extensive.
•
Coverage of smaller,
intimate weddings is also available on weekdays.
•
A deposit of 1/3 of your
chosen package price is required to book, with 1/3 due 1 month before
the wedding, and the final 1/3 due 1 week before the wedding.
Contacting Ralph Heinze...
 Ralph is based out
of Kitchener, and he
welcomes you to come see him in his home studio.
You can contact Ralph
by email at
ralphheinze@rogers.com,
or by
phone at 519-585-1337. You can visit his portfolio and
galleries on the
web at
www.onegreatday.ca.
Ralph welcomes all inquiries.
- The Staff at TheWeddingRing.ca
- Review is based on research,
personal interview, and personal opinion and may be
subject to errors or omissions. Details may change without notice. Please
contact this vendor personally for more information and confirmation of details.
-
Photos used with permission of Ralph Heinze of Ralph Heinze Photography.
- Prices are all
approximate and are subject to change and verification by authorized staff and
management of Ralph Heinze of Ralph Heinze Photography.
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