selectvenue Photos are timeless moments captured in frames and especially wedding photos, so it’s essential to hire the right professional to capture those special moments. Choosing a photographer is very different from picking up your bridal trousseau or booking any other wedding service, as you cannot see the pictures you are buying until after you have made your decision.
The relationship between you and your photographer will largely depend on faith. Great wedding photographers end up being a little expensive, but you have to remember no second chances! This is one area worth splurging on!
Decide what you and your fiancé want. You need to be clear about the kind of wedding photography you are looking for. Gather as many reference pictures as possible. Also, discuss and freeze whether you want to print all photos, or you want one main album and a coffee table book, or if you want to print only a few pictures and keep the rest on a soft copy.
Research on wedding photographers who you think can capture your wedding in the style you want. Like for example, if you’re going to go with old-school wedding photography, you may need a primary photographer, but the outcome has to be great even if the style is traditional. Or, if you are looking for some exciting wedding pictures, you could opt for a wedding photographer who does candid shots or more stylized shoots.
Narrow down on options and meet potential wedding photographers. Check on their availability and look at many wedding albums shot by them. Also, ask to look at weddings from different cultures and the entire set of pictures, which will help you understand their style and quality better.
Discuss rates and complete details on how many photographers, reporting and shooting timings, will there be any assistants, production cost, degree of coverage, and any other queries you may have. Also, understand terms and conditions and payment policies.
In the case of destination weddings, find out if there is any additional cost involved to cover it. Also, check and discuss accommodation, transport, and hospitality costs and get the exact number of crew members.
Discuss turnaround time as this is important. Sometimes you may end up waiting for really long till you receive your wedding photos. If you are planning to do photo thank-you cards, discuss this in the meeting so that the wedding photographer has an idea of the same.
Check if the wedding photographer you like can do a pre-wedding shoot at no cost or a reasonably low cost. This would be perfect as you will not only get to know the photographer better, but you will also have a firsthand experience of his/her work. This will also break the ice between you and make you more comfortable, especially if you get conscious in front of the camera.
Discuss your wedding style and explain the basic flow so that the photographer has a basic idea of what to expect if he/she has never shot a wedding similar to yours before. Lastly, make sure there are at least two prominent photographers apart from assistants, if any, for the wedding day as one photographer would be required to cover the bride while the other should be with the groom to get a few fun shots while you get ready. We would love to hear your thoughts and see your favorite wedding photograph!
