It's that time of year here in Florida! The spring wedding season is getting underway, and as newly engaged couples begin their search for a wedding photographer, it seems that it is easy to get overwhelmed and couples aren't exactly sure what to look for. To that end, I've created this little guide: Five points to ponder when selecting a wedding photographer. It's everything I wish I could tell couples to help guide them in their search.
Here are some thoughts to ponder that may help you determine who is the best fit for you:
1) What style of photographs are you looking for? Do you prefer traditional posed shots or something more candid? Do you love the wide sweeping shots or does something more soft and intimate appeal to you? What about the colors in the photographs - do you like the photographs that are classic and have true-to-life color or does something that is toned resonate with you more? Take a look at a variety of photographers’ work and see what looks best to you.
2) If you are not hiring a wedding planner (and sometimes even if you are), an experienced photographer will help you plan the schedule of the day. He or she will help you work backward and forward from the ceremony time to figure out the best time for portraits, when you need to have your hair and makeup done, when you will be able to arrive at the reception, and so on. For most brides, their wedding is the first time they are truly seeing what happens ‘behind the scenes’ throughout the entire course of a wedding day. Photographers tend to be the only vendors who are with the couple from beginning to end, so we have a good sense of what an average wedding day timeline should look like. A good photographer should help you create a rough schedule of the day during your initial consultation and will also know the best time of day for your photos and how to build a schedule that considers that.
3) Wedding photographers can be anything from a hobbyist who likes to work a few weddings a year on the side to a professional whose photography business is their full-time career. It may or may not matter to you whether you chose a professional or a hobbyist, but some things to keep in mind are that a professional will carry liability insurance and insurance on their equipment, they will have relationships with other vendors in the community, they will offer higher quality products, they will work with a contract that protects both parties, they will have more experience in wedding photography, and they will provide you with a more in-depth customer experience. It is worth taking the time to answer this question: What is more valuable to you - would you prefer the price range of a hobbyist or the security of working with an experienced and protected professional?
4) As you begin to narrow down the photographers you think you’d like to work with, the question of pricing will become more prominent. Like anything, the quality and experience will tend to increase with price. Ask about payment structures and learn about albums, artwork, and additional sessions that you may be interested in purchasing in addition to the time on the wedding day. Determine what a comfortable investment is for you and keep that in the back of your mind as you meet with different photographers. No two photographers have the same packages, offerings, or pricelists, so it is important to hear all that they offer. If you would really love to work with a photographer out of your budget, it may be worth asking whether he or she offers payment options or a registry.
5) The last - and perhaps the most important - point to consider is how the photographer makes you feel when you are with him or her. You will most likely be spending your entire wedding day with this person. Will you feel comfortable with him or her by your side most of the day? Do you feel that he or she will respect your family, friends, and guests? Does he or she handle him/herself professionally? During your consultation did you find conversation easy and pleasant or was it uncomfortable and awkward? Did he or she listen to your ideas and concerns? Was he or she actually interested in who you are as a couple and excited to tell your story? If they photographed a friend or relative’s wedding, what did they like about this photographer? At the end of the day, if the photographer you select is skilled, is priced comfortably for you, has a style you love, but makes you feel uncomfortable, doesn’t seem to respect you, and has the potential to behave unprofessionally on your big day, you’re probably not going to be satisfied with the final product.
A wedding planner onece told me that she likes to give the couples she works with this piece of advice: "When it's all said and done, all you have to show for your wedding is your spouse and your photographs. It’s worth choosing these things wisely."
Good luck and feel free to get in touch if you have any questions or thoughts to add!
To see more from the lovely St Augustine wedding featured in this blog post, check out this post on Donyia and Jacob's wedding at The White Room!
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