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| Floral Design by Fresh Look Design Inc. |
Set a budget.
First things first, set a budget.
How important is it to you, to have photographic memories captured of your special day? You may be surprised at how much of an expense it actually is (it's a lot of work). It can be upwards of $3500 plus taxes for professional wedding photography. Yes "cheap" or "inexpensive" wedding photography does exist, and yes you can find students and those who are building their portfolio. You can pretty much find a photographer at any price level you choose, there are that many out there offering services. I believe in the phrase "you get what you pay for", and as such I would not expect the same quality of service or product across the board.
In my own personal experience, a professional wedding photographer charging more than $2000 is likely(hopefully) to specialize in weddings, while those charging less may have a few different niches they explore, or may offer less extravagant packages. Those charging less than $500 are often just starting out- which does not mean you won't get good images, but I would not expect the same level of service as those charging top price at all. Top price I would expect ALL the bells and whistles, a story teller, photo album/product included, engagement session, above excellent communication, insured, more than one photographer,etc.
If photography is one of your top priorities for your big day I would expect your budget to reflect that.
Choose a style
Once you set a budget, explore what kind of photography style speaks to you. Do you prefer the light and airy photography or dark and moody? Warm or Cool tones? Lots of posed images, or a day of candid style shooting? Exploring a photographers website and social media accounts should give you a good idea of their style. Each photographer's style, the way they shoot and edit images is unique. There are lots of presets out there being used so it's common to find similar styles but at the end of the day each person holding the camera is different. When you choose a photographer you are choosing and trusting in their artistic style.
Ask to see an Entire Wedding...
Of course, photographers are only going to showcase their best work, if you find their website or social media accounts lacking images from other aspects of big day (Such as getting ready shots, speeches, reception) then request to see examples of that work as well. Ask to have an in person meeting and to see any photo album samples. Aside from an entire wedding, check out all of their social media (website, facebook, instagram, pinterest, etc.) Do they even have accounts? How updated are they?
Communication
You may think someone wanting your business would reply back immediately to your messages, or you may hope. It's not always the case, in fact I often see posts online of people experiencing lack of communication with their photographer. A photographer's message center can be a chaotic place whether they lack organization, have other full time commitments or are very busy and highly sought after. A few messages back and forth should give you an idea of what sort of communication to expect. How long does it take them to reply? How long is an acceptable amount of time in your mind? Are they excited and exuberant in their wording? or are they more business and matter of fact?
Reviews and Word of Mouth
If you dare post a "looking for photographer recommendation" on Facebook be prepared to be completely bombarded with links. How are you going to sort through 78 different photographers? One idea to to ask for recommendations from clients only, that will cut down on the amount of people who comment because let's be real, 85% are the vendors themselves. You can do a google search for reviews or check out their facebook page, not all photographers have this feature turned on though. Check out their website, have they included any testimonials on it? Aside from clients, other wedding vendors are generally good references, no one wants to jeopardize their reputation recommending someone else.
Contract
Does the photographer require the client to sign a contract? They are standard for wedding photography as it is typically an expensive service. Contracts lay out exactly what the photographer and clients are responsible for and what they are not responsible for. The contract should state what happens if something goes wrong as well as details of what exactly is provided and the agreed upon amount. Contracts can be intimidating if you've never seen one before, but it is for your own peace of mind as well as the photographers, never hesitate to ask for clarification about any part of the contract.
Ask Questions
It's important to feel comfortable with your photographer, after all they are going to be a part of your special day. The more questions answered the better understanding all parties will have, this is why I send out a wedding questionnaire to clients and encourage everyone to speak up. Not sure what questions to ask a wedding photographer? Check this list for some ideas.
Hopefully some of the things mentioned above will help you along the way when choosing your photographer. Your wedding day is a significant event in your life, and though the marriage lasts forever the wedding day itself flies by. A photographer helps you relive the beauty and the emotions felt that day, you want to feel confident and comfortable in your decision.
How important is it to you, to have photographic memories captured of your special day? You may be surprised at how much of an expense it actually is (it's a lot of work). It can be upwards of $3500 plus taxes for professional wedding photography. Yes "cheap" or "inexpensive" wedding photography does exist, and yes you can find students and those who are building their portfolio. You can pretty much find a photographer at any price level you choose, there are that many out there offering services. I believe in the phrase "you get what you pay for", and as such I would not expect the same quality of service or product across the board.
In my own personal experience, a professional wedding photographer charging more than $2000 is likely(hopefully) to specialize in weddings, while those charging less may have a few different niches they explore, or may offer less extravagant packages. Those charging less than $500 are often just starting out- which does not mean you won't get good images, but I would not expect the same level of service as those charging top price at all. Top price I would expect ALL the bells and whistles, a story teller, photo album/product included, engagement session, above excellent communication, insured, more than one photographer,etc.
If photography is one of your top priorities for your big day I would expect your budget to reflect that.
Choose a style
Once you set a budget, explore what kind of photography style speaks to you. Do you prefer the light and airy photography or dark and moody? Warm or Cool tones? Lots of posed images, or a day of candid style shooting? Exploring a photographers website and social media accounts should give you a good idea of their style. Each photographer's style, the way they shoot and edit images is unique. There are lots of presets out there being used so it's common to find similar styles but at the end of the day each person holding the camera is different. When you choose a photographer you are choosing and trusting in their artistic style.
Ask to see an Entire Wedding...
Of course, photographers are only going to showcase their best work, if you find their website or social media accounts lacking images from other aspects of big day (Such as getting ready shots, speeches, reception) then request to see examples of that work as well. Ask to have an in person meeting and to see any photo album samples. Aside from an entire wedding, check out all of their social media (website, facebook, instagram, pinterest, etc.) Do they even have accounts? How updated are they?Communication
You may think someone wanting your business would reply back immediately to your messages, or you may hope. It's not always the case, in fact I often see posts online of people experiencing lack of communication with their photographer. A photographer's message center can be a chaotic place whether they lack organization, have other full time commitments or are very busy and highly sought after. A few messages back and forth should give you an idea of what sort of communication to expect. How long does it take them to reply? How long is an acceptable amount of time in your mind? Are they excited and exuberant in their wording? or are they more business and matter of fact?
Reviews and Word of Mouth
If you dare post a "looking for photographer recommendation" on Facebook be prepared to be completely bombarded with links. How are you going to sort through 78 different photographers? One idea to to ask for recommendations from clients only, that will cut down on the amount of people who comment because let's be real, 85% are the vendors themselves. You can do a google search for reviews or check out their facebook page, not all photographers have this feature turned on though. Check out their website, have they included any testimonials on it? Aside from clients, other wedding vendors are generally good references, no one wants to jeopardize their reputation recommending someone else.
Contract
Does the photographer require the client to sign a contract? They are standard for wedding photography as it is typically an expensive service. Contracts lay out exactly what the photographer and clients are responsible for and what they are not responsible for. The contract should state what happens if something goes wrong as well as details of what exactly is provided and the agreed upon amount. Contracts can be intimidating if you've never seen one before, but it is for your own peace of mind as well as the photographers, never hesitate to ask for clarification about any part of the contract.
Ask Questions
Hopefully some of the things mentioned above will help you along the way when choosing your photographer. Your wedding day is a significant event in your life, and though the marriage lasts forever the wedding day itself flies by. A photographer helps you relive the beauty and the emotions felt that day, you want to feel confident and comfortable in your decision.
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