Long after the cork is popped on the last champagne bottle and decades after your wedding flowers have dried up, your wedding photos will live on. Eventually they may be the only tangible thing you have left from your wedding, and the right image can jog dozens of treasured memories you might otherwise forget. Much like your marriage itself, you shouldn’t take your relationship with your photographer lightly. Before you sign on the dotted line, be sure to consider these important issues
10 Questions to Ask Yourself
Before you embark on the search for a photographer, you need to evaluate what you do and don’t want. Ask yourself these 10 questions before you interview your photographer:
- Is there a specific photo style I like? Do I prefer photojournalism or portrait photography?
- Do I want engagement photos?
- Do I want to print my own prints or order them from the photographer?
- Do I want a disk with the photos on it?
- How much time do I want to devote to taking photos?
- What is the most I can afford to pay?
- What images do I absolutely want?
- Are there any angles from which I don’t want to be photographed?
- Do I care about the sex of my photographer?
- What kind of relationship do I want to have with my photographer? Do we need to be friends?
10 Questions to Ask Your Photographer
Reviewing your photographer’s portfolio and checking out reviews are two musts for getting the right person. After you’ve pre-screened your photographer, though, consider the following questions:
- How much is coverage, and how much will I pay for prints?
- What kind of post-production do you offer, and can we talk about what you will and won’t photoshop in my images?
- Can we do an engagement shoot before I sign a contract for the wedding?
- How many photographers do I get?
- Do you have liability insurance?
- What happens if you’re sick or can’t show up?
- When is payment due?
- What equipment do you use, and how many weddings have you shot?
- Are you familiar with my venue?
- Is this a hobby or your full-time job?
It might take a little time, but a bit of advanced planning can save you a bucket full of heartache. Take time to invest in this relationship and choose the right partner, and you’ll be rewarded with gorgeous images to last a lifetime.
Why Hire a Professional Photographer?
In this technologically advanced age where photography is made available and affordable for anyone, it is no wonder that we call it an “everybody’s a photographer” phenomena. Everyone can buy DSLR or digital cameras and think they can handle a photo shoot. Even those who have iPads or camera phones can make this claim. So why should the bride and groom pay for a high price to have a professional photographer capture their wedding moments?
1. Work Ethics. Years of experience in the wedding industry taught the photographers the significance of time. Weddings are one of the most fast-paced events so they know how to work quickly while taking high-quality photos. They show up promptly because they value their time and respect yours. They also show up in occasion-appropriate attire. They will not leave you hanging by preparing a backup plan in case their car breaks down or extreme illness. They also know how to professionally work side by side with other wedding vendors.
2. Emotionally detached. One of the attributes of a professional photographer that most couples take for granted is their emotional detachment from the wedding. If you hire a family member or a friend to take your photos they can get easily distracted with the activities and emotions of the wedding. They eat when the food is served, dance when the music starts playing, gets entranced when the bride walks in – a professional photographer is immune to that. More so, he makes it a point to capture every moment.
3. Know how to direct a shoot. You may be shy and awkward posing in front of the camera but a pro knows how to put you at ease and directs you to give a good pose. He/ she also know that one pose may look good on one bride but will not be flattering for others. They will prepare a shot list so photo ops will go smoothly.
4. Right equipment. Photography is a pro’s bread and butter. So they invest on sound camera and lighting equipment to make sure the output is of high-quality. They also invest in the latest photo editing software to enhance the beauty of your captured moments.
5. They will let you see what you missed. No matter the circumstance, a professional photographer will get through obstacles of mobile phones, and iPads of every guest who want to take a shot, heavy rains and limited lighting to capture your best moments. They will even capture candid moments that you fail to see or notice due to the blur of activities during your wedding.
Your wedding only happens once in a lifetime. At the end of the day, when the last guest finally leaves and the food is all consumed all you have left are photos. So make sure you hire a professional photographer who will get it right.