Some wedding photographers work from shop premises, others from their homes. Some undertake all types of photography (including industrial and commercial photography), while others specialise in wedding and portrait photography. Some businesses photograph hundreds of weddings a year; others maybe 20 to 30. Some advertise extensively; others very little. Some are members of professional associations; others are not. Unfortunately, none of these are criteria for distinguishing between a good wedding photographer and a poor one.
Begin by asking around: ask your family and friends. They may be able to give you names of photographers they have used with satisfaction (or otherwise, as the case may be!), or the names of other photographers they are aware of.
When the wedding date is known, telephone around and find which photographers are available on that date. Since the majority of weddings take place on about 30 Saturday afternoons between April and October, many photographers become booked up a year, or even two years, in advance. (Incidentally, the same applies to the best reception venues. If you are having difficulty booking for your first choice of date, consider a Friday or a Sunday.)
If the photographer is available on your chosen day, make an appointment to see him or her, either at your home or at the photographer's business premises. It is important that, at this meeting, all those responsible for decision-making are present. For example, if your parents are paying for your wedding, or contributing to the cost of the photography, they (or one of them) may wish to attend.
Do not book a wedding photographer by telephone!
Use Your Eyes and Ears
Examine the photographer's work carefully. Here are some of the things to look for:
Remember to examine all the pictures!
Questions to Ask the Photographer
Working Together
The best wedding photography is achieved when the photographer and the bride and bridegroom work in close harmony. Most photographers will insist on meeting with you beforehand to plan the day's schedule, discuss the family pictures and draw up a timetable.
Photography needs fitting into the day's events, but it is not the reason for the day! It must be kept in perspective.
Your photographer will advise you where are the best places to take the photographs. Often, the formal groups are taken at the church or register office (or wherever the actual ceremony is being held) and the less formal ones at the reception. However, the photographer may suggest stopping at a park or local beauty spot on the way to the reception. This provides the opportunity for a few portraits of the two of you together, away from the hurly-burly of activity and in a setting that provides an attractive backdrop for pictures that are more than just smiling faces.
This interlude should not take more than 20 to 30 minutes. Expect the photographer to take about the same time photographing the groups at the church. If you add these times on to the length of the ceremony, travelling times, receiving guests (often longer than you think), informal chat with your friends, you will find that you should allow about two-and-a-half to three hours between the start of the ceremony and sitting down for your wedding meal. Your photographer will help you plan a timetable so that you can enjoy the day without getting too anxious about time or the meal getting cold!
It is a good idea to have portraits taken at home before the ceremony. There is a time before she leaves home when the bride is perfect, with "not a hair out of place". Once outside, a wisp is soon disturbed by the wind; and once the confetti is thrown, you are never the same again! A few family portraits at home beforehand make a worthwhile addition to your record of the day. This need not only be the bride and her family; many photographers will also visit the home of the bridegroom.
Prices
You will find that prices vary considerably, and generally speaking you get what you pay for! The more experienced the photographer, the more he or she will charge.
The price will also vary depending on the total time the photographer expects to spend at your wedding, the approximate number of photographs to be taken, the number of pictures included in any package deal (not necessarily the same thing), and the type and quality of the album.
Be wary of the package that contains, say, 20 photographs from a selection of 24. There is not much leeway here for failures! Equally, be suspicious of the deal that offers, say, 120 photographs for a very low price, for it will probably be based on slapdash shooting and cheap laboratory prints.
Ask the photographer to explain the pricing and to tell you precisely about any extras that may be involved.
Remember that the number of photographs supplied and the size are of less importance than the content of the images. You may be better off settling for fewer or smaller pictures if they are taken with more care, greater sensitivity, and with more regard to your wishes.
Brides: get answers to your wedding photography and photojournalism questions at wedfog.com