Congratulations! You're getting married! As if you didn’t have enough to worry about, you have to decide on one of the most important details–- selecting a wedding photographer.
These tips will help you pick the perfect wedding photographer for you.
- Start early. Popular dates and good photographers book quickly. A year in advance is not too early to start looking.
- Ask around. Start with your recently married friends and relatives. Ask to see their wedding albums and note what you like and dislike about each. Take time to make a list of poses that you'd like to have. If Aunt Jane has flown in from across the country, and you'd like a photo with her, you may not remember it in all the excitement.
- Meet the photographers. Contact the photographers that you are interested in and set up an appointment to view their work and talk price.
- Ask lots of questions. How many photographers will be shooting the wedding? Is there an assistant? If the photographer becomes ill or is otherwise unable to show up, is there a back up? If the studio has more than one photographer, ask to see the work of the photographer you would be using.
- Talk price. Ask them a price for what you'd like, and before you think it's too high, remember this: on your wedding day, the beautiful cake, the decorated reception hall, the music and food are primarily for your guests' benefit. When the cake is gone, the band's gone home, and the honeymoon's over, what do you have left to remember your wedding day? Your wedding photos.
Be sure to ask exactly what is included in each package. Ask to see actual albums, samples of enlargements, and find out if all originals are included. Some photographers will take an unlimited number of shots, but will charge you extra if you want them all. Ask about guarantees. What if the photos fade, the album falls apart, or the bride looks green in the wall portrait?
Don’t book any photographer until you have met with all of the names on your list. Many will offer special incentives to get to book right then, but an extra portrait isn’t really worth it if you don’t like the finished photographs.
Just explain that you’re still shopping, comparing styles. Most good photographers will understand this. Get a few names of people who have used them. They will obviously give you the names of satisfied customers, but it will give you another point of view.
Taking the time to find the right photographer will be well worth the effort every time you look through your wedding album.
