Questions To Ask When Interviewing A Wedding Photographer
What's it take to choose a wedding photographer? A lot of people are only thinking about two things: the pictures on the photographer's website, and the price they're charging. But you'll see your photographer more than your groom on your wedding day, and when the freezer-burned cake topper is eaten on your one-year anniversary, the only things you'll have left (besides your marriage and amazing memories!) will be those photos. Ensure that you choose a wedding photographer as carefully as you did the other elements of your wedding by asking these key questions:
1.What's your style? Some photographers are more focused on portraits, while others work in a photojournalistic style. Some are funky and play with Photoshop when editing your photos, while others will keep things close to reality. Figure out what you're looking for and decide what style best fits that.
2.How'd you get to be so smart? It sounds like a no-brainer, but asking a photographer about his or her education, awards and association memberships is key. With the advent of digital photography in the photo world, anyone with a camera and a laptop can be a "photographer." Ensure that yours is professionally trained to your standards, and check out her portfolio and references thoroughly before committing.
3.Where are the rest of them? Many photographers showcase their best work on their websites, and that's to be expected. But when you meet your photographer in person, ask to see full albums of his work so you have a chance to see how he shoots a wedding from start to finish, not just all the best cherry-picked shots from last year's weddings.
4.Can you break down the package? Many photographers work in packages, but it's almost impossible to compare pricing among your potential vendors if you don't ask them to break down their packages first. Everyone offers something a little bit different, so don't let price be your first consideration. Find out what each item costs, and then you can do a side-by-side comparison.
5.This is my budget. Do you think you can work with me? If a photographer's packages are outside your budget, be upfront. Tell them what you can afford, and ask them whether there is a custom package they can put together to meet your budget. Often, photographers are happy to do this, whether it means eliminating a second shooter, downgrading an album or shaving a little bit of time off the day.
6.What happens if something goes wrong? You only get to do this wedding day thing once, and it's going off whether your photographer is there or not. So if he gets sidelined by the flu, or his equipment gets mauled by a dog or any number of disasters ensue, what happens? That's a question that he should be able to answer, whether he has a staff of photographers that will take his place or a great network where he finds replacements and spare equipment in the event of a disaster, ensure that he has a contingency plan and that it's written into your contract.
1.What's your style? Some photographers are more focused on portraits, while others work in a photojournalistic style. Some are funky and play with Photoshop when editing your photos, while others will keep things close to reality. Figure out what you're looking for and decide what style best fits that.
2.How'd you get to be so smart? It sounds like a no-brainer, but asking a photographer about his or her education, awards and association memberships is key. With the advent of digital photography in the photo world, anyone with a camera and a laptop can be a "photographer." Ensure that yours is professionally trained to your standards, and check out her portfolio and references thoroughly before committing.
3.Where are the rest of them? Many photographers showcase their best work on their websites, and that's to be expected. But when you meet your photographer in person, ask to see full albums of his work so you have a chance to see how he shoots a wedding from start to finish, not just all the best cherry-picked shots from last year's weddings.
4.Can you break down the package? Many photographers work in packages, but it's almost impossible to compare pricing among your potential vendors if you don't ask them to break down their packages first. Everyone offers something a little bit different, so don't let price be your first consideration. Find out what each item costs, and then you can do a side-by-side comparison.
5.This is my budget. Do you think you can work with me? If a photographer's packages are outside your budget, be upfront. Tell them what you can afford, and ask them whether there is a custom package they can put together to meet your budget. Often, photographers are happy to do this, whether it means eliminating a second shooter, downgrading an album or shaving a little bit of time off the day.
6.What happens if something goes wrong? You only get to do this wedding day thing once, and it's going off whether your photographer is there or not. So if he gets sidelined by the flu, or his equipment gets mauled by a dog or any number of disasters ensue, what happens? That's a question that he should be able to answer, whether he has a staff of photographers that will take his place or a great network where he finds replacements and spare equipment in the event of a disaster, ensure that he has a contingency plan and that it's written into your contract.