Choosing wedding photographers isn't like buying your bridal dress, or even choosing your bouquet, for the simple reason that until the photos have been shot, you've absolutely no idea how they will turn out. Will they capture the moment, giving you fond memories to cherish, or will they fail to step up to the mark and show distorted, rather flat images of your special day?
To help you choose a wedding photographer that is right for you, I've put together a list of 5 tips to follow:
Start to compile a list of wedding photographers
Ideally, you need a list of about half a dozen photographers who might fit the bill. It's a good idea to start by asking friends and family for recommendations. A person who has had a good experience with a photographer and has great photos to show, will always be more than happy to share information and it also gives you a point of reference once you meet with the photographer.
Visit websites
Check out each photographer's website. Don't pay too much attention to the web site itself, since anyone can pay to have an all singing all dancing website made for them. Any decent photographer will display lots of his photos on site, including recent wedding work. The question to be asking yourself is whether his photos are visually appealing and do they "do it for you". Single out the photographers that appeal the most to you.
Phone interview
A quick phone call will help determine a couple of things. Firstly, whether he or she is available for your wedding date and secondly the type of photography they specialise in, such as traditional, candid, photojournalism, digital or film etc. Based on this information and also whether you felt you liked the person, you can then arrange a few meetings with the people that you are interested in.
Question time
It's probably best if the prospective bride and groom attend the meeting along with the bride's parents (since they're probably going to foot the bill). The photographer should have a wide portfolio to show you, including his latest work. Take with you a list of questions and don't be shy about asking "dumb" questions, since you don't want to be worrying and wondering what the procedure will be on the day. There are lots of questions that will probably come to mind and these should include: How will you show me my pictures to choose (i.e. electronic, online gallery, proofs etc.)? How easy will it be for friends and family to order photos? What is the price for different levels of coverage? What ideas do you have to make my wedding photos unique to us? How long have you been in business? And so on.
Once you've narrowed it down to a couple of wedding photographers it's always a good idea to get them to show you photos that they have taken for a complete coverage of one single wedding. Take a good look at them and see whether you think individual people's feelings have been successfully captured or do they look posed and self-conscious. Are the photos natural looking? Are they shot with some unusual angles? Last of all, do you wish they were photos of your wedding day?
Make a commitment
If you've had a couple of meetings and asked the right questions, you should now have made your choice of photographer and feel comfortable with them and confident that they will deliver some brilliant photos. Be prepared to leave a deposit with them and finally check any last-minute concerns. Such as their policy on wedding date changes or if the wedding has to be cancelled for whatever reason.
Finally, once you know the wedding photographer's available, you're convinced he's the one for you, and you're happy that the price is worthwhile, take a deep breath and relax. That's one of the hardest decisions made.
To help you choose a wedding photographer that is right for you, I've put together a list of 5 tips to follow:
Start to compile a list of wedding photographers
Ideally, you need a list of about half a dozen photographers who might fit the bill. It's a good idea to start by asking friends and family for recommendations. A person who has had a good experience with a photographer and has great photos to show, will always be more than happy to share information and it also gives you a point of reference once you meet with the photographer.
Visit websites
Check out each photographer's website. Don't pay too much attention to the web site itself, since anyone can pay to have an all singing all dancing website made for them. Any decent photographer will display lots of his photos on site, including recent wedding work. The question to be asking yourself is whether his photos are visually appealing and do they "do it for you". Single out the photographers that appeal the most to you.
Phone interview
A quick phone call will help determine a couple of things. Firstly, whether he or she is available for your wedding date and secondly the type of photography they specialise in, such as traditional, candid, photojournalism, digital or film etc. Based on this information and also whether you felt you liked the person, you can then arrange a few meetings with the people that you are interested in.
Question time
It's probably best if the prospective bride and groom attend the meeting along with the bride's parents (since they're probably going to foot the bill). The photographer should have a wide portfolio to show you, including his latest work. Take with you a list of questions and don't be shy about asking "dumb" questions, since you don't want to be worrying and wondering what the procedure will be on the day. There are lots of questions that will probably come to mind and these should include: How will you show me my pictures to choose (i.e. electronic, online gallery, proofs etc.)? How easy will it be for friends and family to order photos? What is the price for different levels of coverage? What ideas do you have to make my wedding photos unique to us? How long have you been in business? And so on.
Once you've narrowed it down to a couple of wedding photographers it's always a good idea to get them to show you photos that they have taken for a complete coverage of one single wedding. Take a good look at them and see whether you think individual people's feelings have been successfully captured or do they look posed and self-conscious. Are the photos natural looking? Are they shot with some unusual angles? Last of all, do you wish they were photos of your wedding day?
Make a commitment
If you've had a couple of meetings and asked the right questions, you should now have made your choice of photographer and feel comfortable with them and confident that they will deliver some brilliant photos. Be prepared to leave a deposit with them and finally check any last-minute concerns. Such as their policy on wedding date changes or if the wedding has to be cancelled for whatever reason.
Finally, once you know the wedding photographer's available, you're convinced he's the one for you, and you're happy that the price is worthwhile, take a deep breath and relax. That's one of the hardest decisions made.