How to Hire a Professional Wedding Photographer
Along with your dress and venue, photos are among the most important considerations of your wedding day. No bride or groom wants to miss out on capturing every detail of their very special occasion. Not surprisingly, choosing someone to record the major milestone can be challenging. Fortunately, there are ways you can reduce the stress involved in hiring a professional wedding photographer.
Tips on Hiring a Professional Wedding Photographer
Wedding photographers aim to capture the joys shared on your special day. However, you don’t want just any shutterbug snapping what should be timeless treasures that will be shared with future generations. The following tips will help to ensure you hire a professional wedding photographer, one who is easy to work with and delivers outstanding images.
Do Your Homework
It’s a good idea to start looking for a professional wedding photographer as soon as you book your venue. Since expert wedding shooters are in such high demand it is not unusual for the best of the best to be booked more than a year out. When researching professionals jot down a list of important questions and concerns, including:
- How long have they been in business?
- Do their sample images fit the style of photos I want taken?
- Do they seem easy to work with?
- How long will they be at the ceremony and reception?
- How soon after my wedding will my photos be ready?
It’s always best to set up meetings with potential wedding photographers so you can get a taste for his or her personality. The person you hire will be spending the entire day with you, so it’s vital that you click with him or her. Before committing to a single photographer you should feel confident in his ability to work with you and your bridal party. Also, it helps if he is experienced, as pros can help make the day go smoothly even if crises arise.
Consider Cost
As you hunt for the perfect professional wedding photographer price is a key element, but it shouldn’t be the deciding factor. After all, there are many photographers out there who charge exorbitant fees, but don’t deliver quality images. Prices for wedding photos range dramatically from a few hundred dollars up to the thousands. Your quote will depend primarily on the type of services you request and the amount of photos you order. If you want outstanding pictures taken at both the ceremony and reception, and you want them displayed in higher-end albums, then be prepared to spend more money.
Request Samples
It's not enough that a professional wedding photographer is affordable. You'll also want someone who takes good pictures. Someone who can spot a candid opportunity and knows how to pose everyone involved so the subjects of a photograph don't appear stiff or staged. Each photographer has a portfolio as well as sample albums to show. Ask if you can see proof books from recent weddings as well. Take your time and look through these photos. If a certain photographer's work stands out, this is probably the one for you.
Review Package Options
Most professional wedding photographers offer photo packages which include a variety of different prints for a single price. For instance a standard package might include:
- 100 wallet-size photos for thank you cards
- Small photo albums for the parents of the bride and groom
- Large photo album for the bride and groom
- 5 x 7s of select images
- 8 x 10s of select images
Be sure to review all of your package options before settling on a final choice. Note the features and the price, consider the cost of proofs, and ask if copyright issues are negotiable. In some cases, professional photographers will give limited copyright to newlyweds so they can reproduce images on their own. Others retain full copyright which prohibits others from making copies of prints.
What to Know Before Signing on the Dotted Line
Always read the contract.If you found a photographer you like, you'll have to sign a contract. Don't be afraid to ask if you can take the contract home to read before it's signed, and don't allow yourself to be pressured into signing something that doesn't sit right with you. If the photographer isn't willing to negotiate, move on.
You'll also need to put down a deposit. This is so the photographer can reserve the day for you. If you should back out at the last minute, he won't have lost money for the day.
Take Your Time
Finally, if you are not happy with the services offered by a particular professional wedding photographer, don't be afraid to shop around. Finding a photographer you are comfortable with isn't always easy. One way to narrow your options is to ask other married couples for recommendations. These testimonials should give you a good idea of who to call and who to stay away from. You'll also want to check with the Better Business Bureau to make sure potential hires don't have shady pasts. Your local Chamber of Commerce might be able to help you as well. By knowing what you want, looking into samples and packages, reading over the contract and taking your time, you're sure to find the perfect professional to capture your wedding day.
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