Five Tips to Help You Choose the Right Wedding Photographer for your Wedding!
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Meet with your potential photographer before booking.
Hiring a wedding photographer is one of the most important aspects to planning your wedding. Your wedding photographer is usually the first vendor to arrive and one of the last vendors to depart. Not only that, but you will continue working with them beyond the wedding day until delivery of images. Therefore it is important to know who you are going to hire. Getting to know your photographer will help you decide if they will be a good fit as your wedding photographer. A good wedding photographer is not just good at taking and making photographs. They should also be willing and able to direct others in a professional manner, maintain composure during stressful situations, and much more. Your wedding photographer will become a valuable asset to your wedding team and should feel like a partner as well as a service provider . Choosing your photographer is likely going to be one of the most personal decisions you will make regarding your wedding, so it is important that you take a little time to speak with photographers prior to booking them.
Make sure there is a clear contract agreement protecting both parties.
Meeting with a photographer prior to booking them is essential for establishing rapport, and it is a great opportunity to set clear expectations for the wedding day. Too many times, I have heard of couples being told by their photographer that there is no need for a contract. In my opinion, this is irresponsible and unprofessional. Your photographer should be setting expectations as to what services they can and/or will be providing. It is equally important that you share your expectations for your wedding with your photographer in order to help eliminate potential issues and miscommunications. Furthermore, a contract agreement protects both parties by providing a firm commitment. There are a number of things a helpful contract should have in it, some of which include : services provided, compensation, deposit amounts, event location, event date, and cancelation or rescheduling. Contracts can be perceived as awkward and uncomfortable, but they are a good thing to have for a healthy client/photographer relationship. So make sure you sign a contract with your wedding photographer.
Pick a style that suits you.
There are many different styles of photography in the world and it is important that you choose one that speaks to you as a couple. This does not simply pertain to the style of photographs, but also the photographer’s personality and approach to shooting a wedding. You are hiring somebody that is basically going to become a member of your wedding party for the day, so do your best to choose a photographer that you feel will be able to fit in.
Have as much information to share about the wedding day for your potential photographer.
The more information you can offer to your potential photographer the better! This will help the photographers you’re considering determine if they are capable of delivering all you are expecting. From technical ability, to travel, second shooters, video, albums, prints etc. Wedding photographers usually reserve dates on a first come first serve basis and the most desirable photographers will be booked early. So at the very least, you will want to have a date set prior to actually booking the photographer.
Understand the difference between a sole proprietor and a larger photography business.
Some photography businesses are a sole proprietor style where the primary shooter is typically the business owner. Sometimes a wedding photography business might have a select number of primary photographers that could be chosen to provide photography services. Typically this is more common with a larger photography business. There is nothing wrong with hiring this type of wedding photography business. However, it is important to remember that shooting styles and photographer personalities can differ and you should make sure you meet with the photographer assigned to shooting your wedding to make sure there is a good connection. A sole proprietor wedding photography business is likely to have one primary photographer and that person is likely to be the owner of said business. Either way, it is important to get familiar with your wedding photographer prior to your wedding day.