The photographs from your wedding day will be a timeless keepsake and choosing your photographer will be one of the most important decision you will make regarding your wedding. Wedding photographers can be very expensive or not, focus on a number of different styles, and offer a variety of levels of service and experience. Choosing a wedding photographer takes careful thought and consideration.
The unfortunate thing about your big day is that it is just one day. There are no do-overs. Fortunately, the right wedding photographer can gorgeously preserve the entire event’s happenings, the emotions, and the fun—forever! One perfect picture can instantly take you back to the happiest day of your life.
How do you find your photographer? Below are tips for finding your photographer:
Start Searching Immediately
So, you just got engaged—Congratulations! Now start looking for a wedding photographer. The truth is, the best professional photographers book their schedules a year in advance, so hiring someone is one of the first things you should do after you’ve set the date. If your wedding is in June or October here in the St. Louis area and you haven’t booked – you could very well have to choose someone other than your first choice.
Narrow Down Your Options
Once you have a list of your top choice photographers, take an in-depth look into their services to begin eliminating candidates who aren’t a good fit.
Determine which photographer will meet your budget as well as your specific needs. But don’t necessarily eliminate the more expensive as they may have payment plans or other options to help you get the best photos that you deserve. I can’t tell you how many brides said to me, “I am sorry I didn’t listen to you. I hate my photos.” Don’t trust your special day to someone with zero experience, cheap gear, and likely no backup gear to save a couple hundred dollars. (Think family or friends with a camera! Don’t – let them enjoy your wedding.)
Conduct Your Interviews
After narrowing your selection of wedding photographers down to two or three, make appointments to interview the photographers. Look at two or three wedding albums available to show. Make sure you see at least one album of an entire wedding, from start to finish.
Examine the basics of the pictures such as color, clarity, exposure, graininess and composition.
Do the guests look natural or self-conscious?
Do the photos capture the emotional tone?
If a photographer says they don’t edit, run!
Dedicated and experienced wedding photographers apply a higher degree of craftsmanship and artistry, and employ creativity well beyond the average Bob or Mary could even dream of … but much of that goes unrecognized, and by default under-valued. Some uneducated couples have been known to choose a photographer simply based on time and number of photographers being the criteria. Quite honestly a good photographer has a unique style of their own, and is quite capable of handling a complete wedding by themselves, providing consistency in style.
Cell phones have made photography seem like a commodity to some couples. After all they make cell phone shots and get them on Facebook quickly! They think, what’s the big deal? In reality, these couples have no idea of the time spent before and after a wedding shoot to bring a FOREVER quality to your images.
During your interview, find out how many weddings the photographer has shot over how many years. He may have been a professional photographer for 15 years but only doing weddings for the past year. Remember, wedding photography is much different than any other type of photography; the pressure is high and the emotional energy is not suited for everyone.
Be sure to ask if the photographer has shot at your wedding venue before. If he has, he may already know where to stand to get the perfect shot or how to incorporate the church’s ancient stained glass in a uniquely engaging way.
Will his/her presence be an asset or a burden? Truly, a wedding photographer’s charm and ability to put everyone at ease is an important skill.
In conclusion, we’d love to hear from you. What’s important to you regarding capturing great photos of your special day and choosing your photographer?