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.
