Mistakes To Avoid Choosing A Wedding
Photographer
Some brides make the mistake of selecting
their wedding photographer without researching what they’re really getting for
their money. “You get your negatives” sounds great, but when do you get them?
The original price sounds great, but how much are extra prints? So often,
brides buy a package knowing they don’t want everything in it, but they think
they’re getting a deal because it’s all together. Nope, sorry, photography is
not like buying a “value meal” at McDonald’s! To be sure, you must research
before you decide. Visit as many studios as you can. As a courtesy, please call
them first and set an appointment. If they’re friendly or if they call you back
quickly, they’ll most likely have better standards of service. Ask if they have
any information they can mail or email to you. Meet the photographer. Search
through their website with a fine-toothed comb. Do you see any loopholes or
issues? The biggest reason people make mistakes in hiring photographers is that
they don’t have experience doing it! They’ve never had to hire photographers,
and most likely their last experience with a professional photographer was a
friend’s wedding, and the grumpy, sweaty, old guy was either a bore or an
annoying jerk.
Find someone who cares more about your
wedding images than they do about their own packages and policies. Someone you
know will help your wedding run smoothly and efficiently. Choose someone that
you can communicate with someone that truly understands how you want your
wedding to feel. How do you know? When you talk to her, she’s more interested
in learning about you than describing all of the print sizes and prices
Is this someone that will add to the fun
and emotion of your wedding? Remember your friend’s photographer, the grumpy,
sweaty, old guy that was a boring, annoying jerk? Steer clear of that! Get
someone that will make the work of posed pictures fun, memorable, and exciting!
How can you tell who’s cool? When you talk to the photographer, ask how she feels
about your family members taking pictures over her shoulder! If she stays
relaxed, then everyone will have a good time.
Look for someone who has some flexibility
in styles. See what they have to offer. Some of the styles you may want to
consider are Traditional, Black & White, Candid, Romantic, or
Photo-journalistic. Check to see how they handle both indoor and outdoor
situations. Can they do fine portraiture as well as a truly candid style? Find
out what they have for you. Remember that the photographer’s creativity and
personality (and your rapport with him/her) is what makes your wedding images
unique, and your expressions more genuine!
Find someone who has as few restrictions as
possible regarding packages, number of prints, limiting locations, and limiting
the amount of film they shoot. Prepaid, pre-designed packages limit the
creativity of the photographer. Creativity does not come from a pre-packaged
album containing, for example, 24- 8x10s. If you’re paying for an album, it
should look and feel like a storybook! Think of it, not like a photo album, but
an illustrated storybook that uses no words to tell the story. In most cases,
packages are NOT a good thing because the photographer “knows” beforehand what
he needs to shoot and will only strive for those images.
STEPS TO CHOOSING THE RIGHT WEDDING
PHOTOGRAPHER
When choosing your wedding photographer,
you want to ensure they create the wedding album you’ve always dreamed of.
We’ve spoken to the professionals to get some key insight on how to find the
right wedding photographer.
Your wedding photographer should capture
every detail of your big day. From your place card holders to your hair
accessories and your makeup applications, it’s your photographer’s
responsibility to capture it all. This way, you don’t have to rely completely
on memory
It pays to have the best
While you can get a good deal with a
photographer who’s new to the industry, you do need to find someone you trust
to get it right. Perfection comes with experience.
Browse your photographer’s portfolio
Look through the portfolio of any
photographer you’re considering. You won’t just be looking for examples of the
weddings they’ve captured. You’ll also be looking at their different styles and
approaches. When you find the photos that resonate with you, you’ve found your
style and photographer.
Decide on the right style
A professional photographer distinguishes
all the subtleties of shooting a wedding. They’ll know exactly when to
photograph your groom as he first sees you walking down the aisle, how to
achieve the perfect confetti shot, and what to do in the event of rain. A
creative and flexible approach often results in the most breathtaking and
brilliant wedding photographs.
TOP TIPS FOR CHOOSING A WEDDING
PHOTOGRAPHER
So, you have a dress, the suits, flowers,
cake and a band….but what is the one thing that will remain an everlasting
memory of your wedding day? Your photos should be a beautiful and timeless
account of the most important day of your life and should help every bride and
groom to re-live the romance and excitement allover again.
Image quality/style
The quality of a photographer’s portfolio
should be the first thing that captures your attention. A good photographer
should be able to offer clients a variety of styles, capturing the
personalities of the bride and groom and showcasing the happiness and fun of
the day. Be clear on what style you would like and make sure the photographer
can provide this in their portfolio.
Personality
As a bride and groom, you put a lot of
trust and faith in your wedding photographer. In order to get the best images
and a true account of the most important day of your life, it is imperative
that you feel comfortable and relaxed in their presence
Value for money/cost
This can often be a deciding factor for a
lot of brides and grooms and although it is a vital element, it should not be
the basis for your decision. High-end prices do not always guarantee the
highest quality but likewise, reasonable pricing does not always depict low
quality
Experience
The experience a photographer has will play
a large part in the organisation and structure of the day. I am sure many
photographers will agree that they have often played the role of coordinator,
photographer, master of ceremonies and children’s entertainer. Taking the
photos is just a small part of being a wedding photographer and without the
necessary experience and the ability to perform under constant pressure
important moments can be easily missed
Tips When Choosing Your Wedding
Photographer
You’re engaged! Time to celebrate and then start talking
wedding plans. If you are having a
wedding there are a lot of little details to think about. Where do you start? Maybe you know you don’t want to have a large
wedding and instead are planning an intimate destination elopement. Hopefully you’ll want to have a photographer
to capture your elopement as well. No
matter how large or small your wedding celebration is, hiring a professional
photographer to capture all the love, emotion and in-between moments during
your celebration will be well worth it to have images of your celebration to
hold onto forever.
Time to Research
Once you’ve set a date it might be time to
start researching wedding photographers.
Generally speaking photographers are booked 6 months to one year
out. I know from experience narrowing
down a photographer can be tough. There
are so many creative, talented individuals in this industry and I had a huge
list of potential photographers to choose from.
Where are They Cutting Corners
I don’t want to claim all inexpensive
photographers are not good at what they do; everyone has to start somewhere and
many do have a great eye but as you determine where you need to cut corners on
wedding planning maybe those insanely cheap photographers are also cutting
corners somewhere too. When you hire an
experienced wedding photographer, you aren’t just paying someone to be a warm
body to click the camera. You are paying
for the experience. Their experience
shooting weddings and THE overall experience from start to finish. Your wedding day is going to be filled with
amazing moments, emotions and don’t forget those little imperfect moments
too….. one of those imperfect moments
should NOT be worrying about your wedding photographer.
Have a clear idea of the STYLE you
like. This will help you narrow down the
selection of photographers. Are you
attracted to more traditional photography, posed images and pretty smiles
starting at the camera? Do you prefer a
documentary feel where the photographer goes unnoticed with no posed
images? Is a candid style that captures
the big emotions and little details to tell the story of the entire day your
preference? Are you looking for someone
who is going to unnaturally pose each image, interrupting the natural moments
from happening or someone who is going to go with the flow, capturing the dirt
on your dress while you walk through a mountain field, quietly soaking in the
beauty of day?
Get to know your photographer. Do your personalities mesh well? Your photographer is going to spend a greater
chunk of the day with you…. make sure you can tolerate them and maybe even like
them. ? Just because your family feels obligated to
use the local photographer you have known since you were a child…. doesn’t mean
you need to. I saw this happen once and
said photographer ended up passed out drunk under a tree before the reception
started. NO JOKE. It’s your wedding day. Pick someone who’s work you are drawn
to. I love getting to know each of my
clients better — doing this creates great rapport which is actually important
when creating images filled with REAL emotion.
When you look at a photo, I want you to feel something.
Advice For Choosing A Wedding Photographer
With all of the excitement and anticipation
that comes with planning your wedding, the day finally comes and passes more
quickly than you’d even imagine. While you should savor each moment, one thing
is for sure: you’ll want to relive it forever. The best way to draw value out
of all you put into your wedding day is to make these moments tangible. So
we’ve asked a handful of our favorite pros for their best advice on choosing a
wedding photographer to document this day.
Land on a budget
There are several things to consider when
coming up with your number, and once you have it set, many ways to apply it
toward the services you need most.
“The first thing I would suggest when
setting your initial budget is get into research mode! Find a few wedding
photographers in your area that post rates publicly on their websites, just so
you can get a general idea of what things cost and start with a realistic
jumping off point. The other big factors can be timeline and shot list
expectations—for example, I offer a sliding scale depending on the length of
hours I would be needed on the day. If you are trying to save money, but photos
of the prep and getting ready aspect of the day are important to you, perhaps
you’ll be willing to cut some time off capturing the reception. Things like adding
a second photographer will also contribute to the final quote. Just be ready to
think about those kind of decisions and communicate with your partner about
what is important to you both!”
Know your style
Find not only what appeals to you now, but
will for generations to come. Looking beyond photography trends will lead you
to discover your true taste.
“Even for the couples who aren’t
photography savvy, I’d suggest making a collection of your favorite wedding
photos that you’ve seen, and ask yourself why you like them — is it the
editing, composition, their ability to capture emotion? Then find a
photographer that does that thing really well, and show them your collection to
get aligned.”