Selecting a Photographer - Expert Advice
With all the photographers, photography styles and presentations to choose from, it can be difficult to focus on what's right for you. Luckily, we contacted some wedding pros to give us the essential tips for finding a photographer who will work with your vision on the day you proclaim "Forever I Do," and get the wedding album you'll cherish years.
One of the most important factors in selecting a photographer will be the chemistry. You must feel comfortable and trust your photographer or this stress will be reflected in your photographs. Spend a good amount of time in preparing to meet your photographer and in choosing the one that will commemorate your day.
The Engagement Photograph
An engagement photograph for your local newspaper announcing your engagement is purely optional and can be as simple as a photo in the park taken by a friend, to a formal studio photograph taken by a professional photographer. The engagement photo should reflect who you are as a couple and should be published well ahead of your wedding date. The bride’s parents or her immediate family usually make this announcement.
If you decide to use a professional photographer for your engagement photo, decide whether this photographer will also be used for your wedding. Selecting a photographer can be a daunting task, but one of the most important decisions you have to make for your wedding. Following are some things to consider to help you get started.
Selecting a Wedding Photographer
You should plan to interview at least three photographers, 6 – 9 months before your wedding. The good photographers will be booked if you wait too long. Print our recommended photographer interview questions and be sure to take with you when you meet with the photographer. You and your fiancé should agree on the style of photography you are interested in, traditional, black and white, artistic, etc. This will help you narrow the list of photographers to interview. It’s also very important to agree on your budget before going to the interview. You can plan on the wedding photography to cost up to 10% of you wedding budget. You wedding photos are meant to commemorate your day for a lifetime, be sure to select a photographer who specializes in weddings and DON’T select a photographer purely based on best price. You may be very disappointed. Do your homework, as this is one of the most important decisions you have to make.
Photographer Interview Tips
To ensure the most productive interview, be prepared. You should know many of the details of your wedding prior to going to interview a photographer. Will your wedding be day or evening event, indoor or outdoor, the reception site, etc. If the ceremony will be in a church, know the rules and procedures of the church. Some churches have strict rules about photography in the church and during the ceremony. The more details you can share with the photographer the better the interview will be.
HOT TIP: If you are considering one of the larger photography houses that employ many photographers, be sure that you will be interviewing the photographer who will be shooting your wedding. And the portfolios you review are from the photographer you’re interviewing.
Try to review up to three different portfolios, from recent weddings (no more than 2 years old). Look at the style of the photos; do they capture the essence of the ceremony, the reception, the happiness of the couple, the wedding party, family and friends? A professional wedding portfolio will tell the story not only of the wedding, but the couple as well. You should feel the emotions of the event in the photos.
Other important items to discuss with the photographer include the number, size and finish of the photographs and the type of album selections available. Ask about proofs, how many will you have to choose from, will they be available in digital form (online), are the proofs included in the price, and will you be able to keep the proofs or negatives. These types of questions are very important when comparing prices between photographers. Understand everything that is included and the cost of “extras.” Beware of hidden costs as this can dramatically drive up the price and potentially exceed your budget.
Budgeting Guidelines
Bride & Groom’s Album - $900 - $9,000Parents’ Album - $100 -$600
Extra Prints - $5 - $100 each
Proofs/Previews - $100 - $600
Negatives - $100 - $800
Engagement Photograph - $75 - $300
Formal Bridal Portrait - $75 - $300
Formal Bridal Portrait
If you plan to announce your wedding in the newspaper the day of or after your wedding, you can have a formal bridal portrait taken a few weeks prior to the wedding. Alternatively, you can have a friend take a photo at the wedding and supply it to the newspaper after the wedding.
Cost Savings Tips
There are several ways to save money without compromising the quality of your photos.
- Consider using the professional photographers for the ceremony and portraits only. Have friends and family take photos at the reception so you’ll have many to choose from. You can also put disposable cameras on the tables at the reception. This is a fun way to capture candid photos of your family and friends having fun.
- Rather than having the photographer create the final album for you, you can put together the album yourself. Be sure to put a “wedding photo album” on your gift registry to save some additional dollars.
- Select a photographer who is willing to work with you on cost saving ideas. A photographer who charges for the event but allows you to supply the film. This way you can have all the negatives and develop the photos yourself. This option can be risky if you are inexperienced with photography and don’t have a trusted source for developing the photos. The quality of photos is dependent on the quality of developing.
- Have a friend, who is a good photographer shoot the wedding for you as a wedding gift.