Are you taking on the tedious task of finding the photographer who will record your wonderful day in detail? Here are a few things to keep in mind: You will only get to make this important decision once, when the wedding is over there are only a few things you will have left (the ring, the dress, the wife/husband and the photography). The photography is there to remind you of all of your hard work, the intricate details you planned and the fond memories of the day. Here are some things to consider when picking a photographer!
1. Talk with them on the phone if you can and don’t just email them. With email it can be hard to understand tone and context. Get to know them, ask questions that get you closer to who they are and what makes them tick.
2. If you are in the same state make sure to meet with them. Make sure this person is someone you would like at your wedding. You may spend more time with them than family and friends on your wedding day. You want to be on the same page and click with them!
3. If you have a chance, look at a full wedding. Don’t get fooled into looking just at one gallery of favorites. Make sure they are capable of creating what you expect at your wedding.
4. Make sure you like their style. Some photographers shoot every wedding the same, hence a style emerges. Others shoot freestyle and create different looks for each client. Make sure you trust them enough to create something special for you. Another thing to think about is to not only like their style, but it also needs to fit who you and your groom are. In other words it may look great for the last bride but not you.
5. Ask your photographer if they have a backup plan. Digital photographers rely on hard drives to archive your images. Anyone with a computer will know that computers frequently have problems. If they give you a blank stare or can’t explain what they do then you know they are unprepared. Your photographer should have your images backed up in multiple places and perhaps a copy off site. These things cost money so be prepared that photographers with good back up plans will cost more.
6. Does your wedding photographer have liability insurance? This is important because many venues will require they have insurance before they are able to provide services.
7. Ask about backup equipment. Again if you get a blank stare you know they are not prepared to shoot your wedding. They should have at least two bodies for each photographer and multiple lenses and flashes. This sounds trivial but digital cameras do fail. If the photographer is unprepared there would be no more professional photos to look back on. There are many photographers who do not have enough gear to shoot at weddings, so make sure to ask.
8. If they get sick what happens? If they can’t talk about it then they haven’t thought about it. The answer you want to hear is that they are in professional organizations such as Professional Photographers of America or Wedding Photojournalist Association. It is also nice to know they have other photographer friends who they have made a deal with. Make sure they will replace themselves with someone of a similar style and price point.
9. Make sure you understand what you are getting up front and that their pricing practices are up front and understandable. Many photographers have introductory pricing that is back end loaded. In short, this means they know they can sell you more after the wedding.
10. Do a search on the internet to find out all you can about your photographers. Search items like their names, phone number, and business name. You can find complaints they may not want you to know about or praises that help you to make your choice to hire them.
Good luck!
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