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Need tips for choosing professionals in the wedding industry? Here is one of our favorites!
Tips for Choosing a Wedding Photographer
Experience Level - Has this person photographed other weddings? Does he/she do this for a living or for fun? In this industry, photographers come and go daily. Many people who own a digital camera believe that they can easily deliver a wedding. Experience counts here on a one time, one chance event such as this. A brand new photographer may be fairly talented and everyone has to start somewhere, but do you want to trust your once in a lifetime event to a newcomer? Their experience should show in their work and in the way they work with people.
Presentation matters! If a professional photographer can not present numerous and full wedding albums of weddings from start to end, telling the wedding day story, you may want to strongly reconsider using his/her services. Anyone can photograph a few good photos and highlight them from a few dozen weddings, but can they photograph an entire wedding with the same quality and style? Finally, you can always check with the Better Business Bureau for complaints and ask for referrals of their most recent weddings and ask them about their experiences.
Photographic Style - Are the images that you are shown, what you would like to see? Can you picture yourself photographed the same way? Is there a satisfactory mix in different styles? There are "buzz" words flying about everywhere about photojournalism, formal, classic, contemporary, candid, illustrative and so on. All colorful adjectives aside, do you like what you see? Does the work of the photographer suit your desired style?
Truth in Advertising – Read the package contents and understand it, ask questions. Know what items are included, time allotted, overtime charge costs, costs for proofs or negatives (digital files) and ????? Also, is this the photographer that will be photographing your wedding or will they send in who ever is available? Don't be shocked, this happens more often than you can imagine. Many studios have numerous photographers. Be sure to ask and be certain that you know which photographer is going to be there and see HIS/HER work and meet them. Don't let a salesman sell you anyone but the actual photographer of the work you are viewing!
Personality - Is the photographer that you meet someone that you can get along with? Is the "chemistry" there? People have walked away from hairstylists and tailors for less. This is a person that you are going to spend most of the day with. Could you handle it? Does he or she seem service oriented and a people person? Will they be smiling with you..........all day? Will they draw out the emotions desired and deliver them in your images?
Appearance - Ask the photographer how he/she intends to dress. The last thing that you want is a conflict at the wedding about the photographer wearing a sweatshirt and jeans with sneakers at your favorite country club. Is this person well groomed? It is after all, your wedding!
Price Range - Although, the last thing you want to do is shop by price, is this person within your budget? If not, is he or she worth the difference? A lot of times we tend to surpass our budget constraints to get what we really want. If you see and like it, you'll find a way. In any case, make sure you understand what everything costs, including your album!
Delivery - How long does it take to get your proofs back, your finished album, your bridal portrait, etc.? Go ahead and ask. Some photographers take months to deliver your proofs. Be sure of how long things take to turn around. Also, how are they delivered to you? Prints? DVD? Online? All of the above?
Offering - Whether it's a la Carte or packages, do you understand what you get in your contract? Is there any room for changes and will it cost to do so? Sometimes the packages are fixed, sometimes they can be customized, in any case, ask. How much time will he/she spend? What if you need more time? Are the images edited? What if you want them in Black and White as well as color? Make sure that you know what's coming and what your limitations are. For example, some photographers offer you a DVD of your images, but you can not legally print from this DVD, only view the images. You may have thought that you were getting the images with copyright release to you to print on your own. If the photographer is offering credits towards certain items such as an album, do you understand what the credits are worth? Will the credits cover the entire cost of what you believe you are getting?
Contract - Do you understand the contract? Is it fair? Is everything spelled out? When it comes down going to court, only what is WRITTEN really counts, not what was promised. Make sure that you have no doubts before signing. Read it ALL. What about deposits and payments?
References - A personal reference is always the best and people love to talk. Get a list of references from the photographer and check them out personally. A photographer who doesn't have references or is afraid to give them to you may not be the person that you need to hire. Most should be willing to offer these and make them recent weddings, not just one here and there spread out over a multiple year period. One last place to find an excellent photographer is to ask other long time vendors that you may already be working with.
Need tips for choosing a Disc Jockey, Caterer or Baker or other vender? Email us for more information. Let us assist you in choosing the vendors that best suit your needs and desires by giving you the tools to ask the right questions. Contact Sterling at sterlingwardphotography.com We look forward to hearing from you!
Sterling Ward has been in the wedding and entertainment industry for over 23 years. As both a wedding photographer and a wedding Disc Jockey, he has experienced the wedding day from start to end hundreds of times. The wedding industry is his professional passion. See his work at 2brides2grooms.com and sterlingwardphotography.com
Phone him with questions or comments at 360-701-8469.
