Picking the perfect wedding photographer
So you have spent a lot of time and energy on planning your perfect wedding. You will definitely need some great photos to remember it by. So make sure that you do your homework and get the perfect photographer.
Make sure that you have time built in for the photographer to do his work. The most time consuming period will be between the wedding and the reception. Have a plan of what you will do with the guests and how they will entertain themselves while they are waiting. Also watch for the photographers space. Sometimes pushy relatives and friends will try to get the same pictures and jump right in front of the photographer. You may have to be the one to remind them that you are paying for his pictures. If a good photographer sees a problem, he should offer to take his picture and then step aside for the others. Hopefully you will not have this problem.
When selecting your photographer, make sure that he or she is a wedding photographer. Wedding photography is very much different than any other kind. If he or she is a sports photographer who also does weddings, that may not be a good choice.
The best scenario would be for them to show you several complete albums. Pictures from lots of weddings may not be a good showing. Look for unique shots. You will want your album to stand out from the crowd with some unique pictures.
Ask the photographer about time. They should be with you for as long as you need, within reason. Make sure that they do not have other commitments.
Make sure that you think about what pictures you would like to see in your album and make sure that the photographer has the list. Include family members, friends, coworkers, etc. You will be too busy to be thinking about what pictures need to be taken at the time of the wedding.
Make sure that you talk with the person who will be taking your photos. You will want to feel comfortable with that person. You need to feel that they are pleasant and creative. A photographer is an artist capturing a moment in time that will be gone forever. If they are just doing a job for profit, look in another direction!
Sometimes photographers work in teams or with a helper. This is a better setup that will save time and possibly get some shots from different angles. Sometimes they are not any more expensive.
Before you start interviewing photographers, ask your friends and coworkers if they have any experiences. They may give you some things to be on the lookout for. I heard a lot of horror stories in my time!
Ask about what type of equipment they use and what kind of finishing work they do. Find out if you can get some black and whites. Make sure that you know what you are getting for your money and how much anything extra will cost. You will surely want some extra photos. Make sure that they know what your budget is.
Sometimes, and it is rare, a photographer will give you the negatives or computer files. This could save you a boat load of money. Plus you could do some creative things yourself!
Remember that when the perfect wedding is over, there won’t be much left except the photos (and of course your spouse!). You don’t want to be looking at them 50 years from now and wish that you had spent more time picking a better photographer.
