Choosing the right wedding photographer is one of the most important decisions you’ll make during your big day. You want someone who can capture all the special moments, and who will help you create memories that last a lifetime. This is why it’s so important to find a professional photographer who understands the importance of having a great time on your wedding day and isn’t just focused on capturing every single moment. To ensure this, here are some things to consider when choosing a wedding photographer.
Location
The location for your wedding is extremely important. It should reflect both the style and theme of your event. If you’re getting married in an historic venue or at a place with lots of personality, then you may want to choose a photographer who specializes in those types of locations. On the other hand, if you’re planning on getting married outdoors in the middle of nowhere, then you may want to look elsewhere for your photographer. You don’t want a photographer who doesn’t take photos outside because they’re afraid of being caught by the elements (or worse – the weather).
Style
Your photographer shouldn’t be too “out there” either. Some people hire photographers who are known for their wild antics, but it’s not something everyone wants to see on their wedding day. Instead, you want someone who brings a more refined style to your wedding. After all, you’re going to spend the rest of your life with this person! Your photographer will also need to have good taste when it comes to selecting pictures from your engagement session. You don’t want them to select cheesy shots like kissing under a waterfall or posing with a giant ice sculpture. Instead, you want them to focus on candid moments without the flash.
Fees
When meeting with potential wedding photographers, ask about their pricing structure. Make sure they give you an overall price range and explain how much of that is set aside for travel expenses, equipment rentals, etc. Be wary of any photographer who tries to get you to sign a contract before discussing fees. Also, remember that the average cost of hiring a wedding photographer is between $1,000-$2,000. So don’t expect to pay less than that, even if you hire a pro-photographer who only charges $500 per hour.
Experience & Reputation
Find out what experience and reputation your photographer has. Ask if they’ve shot any weddings similar to yours before. If there are multiple couples getting married around the same time as you, it might be easier to find a local photographer who covers these events regularly. They may already know the best places to photograph and/or where the most unique venues are located. The more experience they have, the better they can handle unpredictable situations.
Communication Skills
Make sure your photographer communicates well with you throughout your entire process. If you feel like you weren’t able to reach them easily or if you felt rushed at times, you could end up regretting your decision down the road. Communication is key when working with a wedding photographer. In addition to making sure they understand the scope of your wedding, make sure they’re open to hearing your ideas and suggestions.
If communication was poor, you may want to reconsider using them for your wedding. While it would be difficult to fully replace your photographer, you can still use a friend. You’ll need to communicate with them to schedule dates, locations, and payment methods, among other things.
A Few Examples
I’m very organized and I try to be efficient whenever possible. My fiancé was the opposite — he would constantly forget our appointments, cancel them at the last minute, or leave me waiting for him to show up. We found this out after we had already spent several months prepping for our wedding. Needless to say, we ended up canceling our booking with him because it took way too long to reschedule.
My fiance knew nothing about photography, but I didn’t think it was necessary since I was familiar with editing my own photos. However, once our wedding day arrived, I realized I needed to hire a photographer for our first dance. Our wedding planner made arrangements for me to meet with a few different photographers while my husband was doing interviews for his new job. Unfortunately, none of the photographers met my expectations. One was rude, another kept asking me questions that were completely unnecessary, and the third one seemed confused when I explained what I wanted.
While I did eventually land on a photographer, there was no way in hell I would have been able to locate her myself. She lives far away, she’s booked solid, and she charged an exorbitant amount for her services. I’d never book someone who wasn’t available for my wedding again.
I was looking for a professional photographer for my wedding. My husband suggested a friend of mine who offered free photo booth pictures at the reception. I decided to go ahead and do it as a favor for him. As soon as I saw my friend’s work, I was impressed. I asked her to take pictures of us at the reception, and she agreed. At the end of the night, I received 20 digital copies of our photos for free. Not bad for a “professional” photographer!
I really wanted the images to be perfect, so I decided to hire a professional photographer. I didn’t know anyone locally, so I asked my fiancé to recommend someone. He told me about a couple of photographers, but I knew I wanted someone who I could trust. I chose one based on her website. She seemed nice enough, but I still wondered whether or not she could deliver. A few months later, we went to her studio to check out her work. Her photos turned out amazing! We couldn’t be happier with her work.
I hired a photographer who came highly recommended by family members. However, when I spoke to him over the phone, I immediately felt uncomfortable. He was very hesitant to tell me anything about himself, and I started to wonder whether or not I wanted to work with him. I finally decided to hire him anyway. Luckily, everything worked out perfectly. Although he didn’t provide many details about himself, I noticed that he was completely open to my ideas and suggestions. I liked that he didn’t seem too pushy.
The selection of the photographer is a major decision is a person have to pay a high sum of money for the hiring. The try of the person should be in getting the options that will prove to be favourable one in the long run. The person can have the consultation with the Hunter Valley wedding & elopement photography and then take their knowledge.
These examples illustrate that finding the right photographer is not always easy. There are plenty of photographers out there who charge high rates, but don’t offer very good service. You deserve to have a wonderful experience on your wedding day, which means finding a photographer who will create beautiful images for you. Don’t settle for less if you value your memories.
