How to Choosing a Wedding Photographer

Many couples get so caught up in planning all the obvious details of their wedding—such as the cake, wedding decorations, dress, and gifts for members of the wedding party—that they often overlook the importance of choosing the right wedding photographer. It's important to remember that the photographer you choose will be responsible for capturing the moments and memories of what may be the most important day of your life! With that in mind, you'll want to take great care in selecting a wedding photographer as there are no second chances.

As you can imagine, wedding photography is one of the most difficult types of professional photography. The wedding photographer has to make everyone look good, shoot in a multitude of places in all kinds of weather conditions--and accomplish it all in the shortest amount of time. At the same time, your wedding photographer should have the personality to compliment you on your happiest day. Take your time and follow some of the simple suggestions discussed below, and you will most definitely be satisfied with the result.
Where do you want to start?

Personal referrals or asking friends, relatives, and colleagues for suggestions are a great place to start. Generally, people who have had positive experiences with photographers are more than willing to share this information. In addition, you will already have a glimpse of the personality of the photographer before you meet. After compiling a preliminary list, visit each photographer's website and carefully review their online portfolio. If a portfolio sounds appealing to you, chances are this photographer is a good choice. Then call or email each photographer on your list. Through this initial contact, you can determine the availability of the photographer, the type of work they specialize in (Candid or Traditional) as well as an estimate of the cost and what you will receive for that fee.

Make an appointment with the photographers who seem the most suitable and ask to see their portfolios in person and discuss more details. Ask them to show you a full portfolio from just one wedding--this will give you a clear idea of ​​what you can expect as a collection of choice shots from several different events. Pay attention to whether the photographer is adept at depicting individual expressions and personalities. Ideally, these meetings should include the bride and groom as well as the bride's parents since you will all be interacting with the photographer.

How to Choosing a Wedding Photographer

What Questions Should You Ask?

Be sure to write down all your questions in advance and take thorough notes during meetings. Although most professional photographers will provide you with a clear outline of their services and fees before your meeting, you will in all likelihood still have a lot of questions to ask. Remember, the more information you have, the more confident and relaxed you will feel on your special day. Here are some questions, courtesy of http://www.iqphoto.com, you may consider asking:

• How will you show me photos for selection (e.g. electronics, proofs, contact sheets, online gallery, etc.)?
• Will you help me choose the final images?
• How will you make it easy for friends and family to order reprints?
• What are the costs of the different levels of coverage?
• Are there different degrees of coverage?
• What is your style of photography; photojournalist, traditional, mixed, etc.?
• How much for copies, albums, folios, enlargements, thank you cards, etc.?
• What is your deadline to prepare the photos for my selection?
• How about the engagement session?
• How long do I have to make my decision about which images I want and how much?
• How long have you been in business?
• What kind of guarantee comes with my hiring you?
• What is your philosophy for photographing weddings?
• Do you have an assistant?
• Do you have travel expenses?
• How much does your overtime cost?
• What are you planning to do at my wedding to make my wedding photographs unique and personal to me?
• Do you have a backup?
• Will you take my photos personally?
• Will you be using film or digital?
• What is your payment policy?
• Do you give guarantees on your services and your photographs?
• What is the possibility of the images fading?
  
  

How much does it cost?

Here are a few points, courtesy of http://www.elegala.com, that will help you prepare for what you might expect to pay for your wedding photography:

1. Plan to allocate a significant portion of your wedding budget to make sure the photos are perfect. Expect to spend at least 1000 on a Professional Wedding Photographer to document your event. Albums and prints are generally extra. Other extras that can boost your bottom line include extra hours, extra photographers, custom albums, and more. etc Add too many extras – and your photography budget could quickly soar to $5000 and beyond!
   
   
2. Cut the extras and purchase a basic wedding photography package from a qualified photographer. By paying only for the photographer's expertise, you'll guarantee great images - and save time to save for the personalized album and post-wedding prints.
   
   
3. Get the evidence! To this end, try to find a photographer who will allow you to keep the evidence. Many photographers think of themselves as photographers only – artists who don't sell photographs. After the big day, they'll give you your proofs and be on their way. You can print them any way you want or save them for printing after saving some money.
   
   
4. Enter the digital age with digital photography. It's less expensive than film, and with technological advances in equipment – ​​digital images are no longer a sacrifice in quality. Many photographers have made the leap to digital – saving you money!
   
   
5. Cut the timeline - the longer your event, the more it will cost to document it. Since photographers often charge based on the number of hours they will spend at your wedding, a shorter/smaller wedding celebration will bring big savings in your photography budget.

Make a Commitment

At this point, you should have a relatively clear idea of ​​the best-suited photographer to capture your wedding memories. Once you've made a decision, be prepared to leave a deposit to save the date. You may still want to reassure yourself by asking a few questions about a few final details. For example, find out what the photographer's policy is for wedding date changes and what the alternatives are if he's not available on the backup date. Also, ask about their unexpected cancellation policy. If you think the photographer is for you, then relax and make the commitment with the confidence that you made a well-formed and intelligent decision in planning the most important day of your life.