| Don’t Underestimate the Value of Your | | | | In many ways this purchase is similar to that of the |
| Photographer | | | | engagement ring in that you really ought to get the |
| Amongst the plethora of wedding professionals that | | | | best that you can afford because you’ll have to |
| you will need to consider for your most singular day, | | | | live with it for the rest of your life. Can you imagine |
| there are several reasons your photographer is | | | | calling around to your local jewelers and asking what |
| probably the most important and possibly the most | | | | they charge for an engagement ring, hearing them |
| difficult vendor to choose. While the caterer, | | | | tell you $3000, $8000, etc. until finally you get one |
| limousine service and reception hall operators are all | | | | that says “I have one here for $350” and |
| very important in their own right, your photographer | | | | you yell “SOLD, hold that ring and I’ll be right |
| is perhaps the only artist with whom you will spend | | | | down to pick it up!” You might say it’s silly |
| the entire day; this means a good rapport is an | | | | to buy a ring you’ve never seen just because it |
| absolute must. | | | | costs less than the others but of course I’m just |
| Products provided by other vendors such as the | | | | trying to show that sometimes it doesn’t pay to |
| cake, music, tuxedos and food may be absolutely | | | | buy heirlooms based on the price tag alone. |
| fantastic - but after a few months have passed | | | | While not every photographer lists their prices online |
| since your wedding day, when the cake is gone, the | | | | the fact is these artists charge wildly varying prices, |
| music has stopped and the tuxedos were last seen | | | | from the guy down the street who can shoot your |
| prancing around at the local prom, what will remain to | | | | magical day for $500.00 to the higher end |
| immortalize those majestic moments of your life? | | | | photographers who earn $120,000 per wedding |
| The photos from a professional photographer will last | | | | assignment. Keep in mind when making your choice |
| a lifetime at the very least. | | | | that the old adage of ‘you get what you pay |
| Which Style Suits You Best? | | | | for’ does not always apply very well to |
| When it comes to wedding photography there are | | | | photographers. Paying more money does not |
| two major style philosophies that tend to dominate | | | | guarantee getting the best photographer and hiring |
| the current market place, Traditional and | | | | Uncle Larry to shoot your wedding for a six pack and |
| Photojournalistic. | | | | a couple of NASCAR tickets does not necessarily |
| As the name may imply, the traditional style has | | | | mean your photos will be horrible. Generally speaking, |
| been around the longest and until recently was the | | | | you can expect to pay anywhere from $2,500 to |
| most common. Essentially the traditional style | | | | $20,000 for a full day of wedding coverage from a |
| wedding photographer is one who prefers to place | | | | professional. |
| the couple and groups in specific poses for their | | | | Before You Sign That Contract |
| photos. This style of photography usually requires | | | | Most of us have heard the horror stories where |
| that a shot list be prepared in advance by the bride | | | | photographers don’t show up, don’t deliver |
| and groom so that the photographer can have a | | | | the photos, get drunk and start hitting on the bride |
| step-by-step checklist and be sure to photograph | | | | or tragically try their hand at the old ‘watch me |
| everyone the couple wants. This style calls for a | | | | yank this table cloth off without affecting any of the |
| meticulous photographer who excels in portraiture | | | | dishes’ during the reception. The fact is in most |
| and is very concerned about each detail in an image | | | | cases these sorts of photographers are the |
| including things like: head angle and body positioning, | | | | exception, not the rule. If you perform the same due |
| hand placement and ring location, lighting ratios, | | | | diligence that you should before hiring any vendor - |
| backgrounds, etc. As you might imagine the time | | | | meet with several professionals, view samples of |
| requirements for this type of photography are | | | | their work, get references from past customers and |
| significant and require a commitment from the couple | | | | perhaps check them out with the Better Business |
| and attendants to accommodate this style. | | | | Bureau, you should feel completely confident by the |
| With the photojournalistic wedding photography the | | | | time you decide to retain your artist. |
| concept is to capture images as they occur, with little | | | | With all that in mind, there are many things to be |
| or no intervention. This photographer will typically | | | | wary of when selecting your photographer. Here are |
| create more images during the course of a wedding | | | | some things about any professional wedding |
| in an almost documentary fashion and usually has a | | | | photographer’s service that you should ask |
| great eye for storytelling. Photojournalistic | | | | before making your final decision: |
| photographers must be skillful at capturing candid, | | | | 1. Who will actually photograph your wedding? |
| emotional moments and therefore should have great | | | | Quite often there are studios that have many |
| timing and anticipation. Currently this style has | | | | photographers working for them; also there are |
| become the most popular throughout much of the | | | | outfits that act basically as a referral service, booking |
| United States, whereas overseas there are still some | | | | couples and then assigning one of their many affiliate |
| places such as France where the traditional style | | | | photographers. Be sure to make it clear that the |
| appears to remain in vogue. | | | | whiz-bang images and album samples that you see |
| There are many photographers that offer some | | | | actually come from the same person who will be |
| elements of each style in an attempt to provide the | | | | shooting your wedding. If that’s not the case |
| ‘best of both worlds’. Often this takes the | | | | then ask to see samples from the actual |
| form of a photojournalistic approach to the | | | | photographer. |
| ceremony and reception, but with traditionally posed | | | | 2. What happens in the event of equipment failure? |
| portraits of the bride and groom as well as group | | | | We’re all familiar with good ol’ Murphy and |
| shots either before or after the ceremony. | | | | his laws by now. Any professional photographer |
| Quite frankly there is no ‘right’ or | | | | should have, at a minimum, duplicates of every vital |
| ‘wrong’ style; either method can deliver | | | | piece of equipment. This means a second camera |
| very beautiful images. You should review prospective | | | | body, backup flashes, extra batteries, cables, etc. I |
| photographer’s portfolios and consider the ones | | | | know several pros that steadfastly refuse to work |
| that you have the best feelings about – also, | | | | at all unless they have a backup to their backup! |
| remember that on your wedding day you will need to | | | | 3. Will you receive the negatives or high resolution |
| be prepared to either work with a person who is | | | | digital files? |
| something of a ‘director’ in the case of the | | | | Some studios include the negatives or digital images in |
| traditional photographer, or more of a | | | | their packages, some don’t and others include it |
| ‘reporter’ with the photojournalistic style | | | | only at an extra cost. Many photographers depend |
| photographer. | | | | on income from print sales after the wedding and so |
| Finding the Right Photographer | | | | are concerned that giving negatives or digital files will |
| There are many things that go into the choice of | | | | cause couples to run out and get their own prints |
| your photographer - style, professionalism, value and | | | | made at the local CVS (I should point out here that |
| cost are some of the commonly considered | | | | printing images without written permission from your |
| attributes. The best way to get started is to do your | | | | photographer is illegal) instead of purchasing them |
| research by asking friends and family members for | | | | from the photographer. |
| recommendations and searching the internet for | | | | The concern from a customer perspective is - what |
| photographers in your area; also many of the | | | | happens five years later when you want more prints |
| professional photographer associations such as PPA | | | | made and find that your photographer has closed up |
| or WPPI have searchable listings of their member | | | | shop and retired to Bangladesh? |
| photographers. | | | | If you end up with your heart set on a photographer |
| Most photographers you’ll find have websites | | | | who doesn’t offer the negatives, one possible |
| where you can view their work and narrow your | | | | compromise is to ask her to provide them after a |
| search down to the ones who have produced images | | | | period of time such as 90 days. In most cases there |
| that you find impressive. Once you find several | | | | are very few print orders after the first 30 days |
| credible photographers that have shown they can | | | | have elapsed since the wedding; therefore at 90 |
| produce excellent photos, it’s time to pick up the | | | | days the photographer should have already gotten |
| phone and call them – ask them about their | | | | any print orders he is likely to receive for your |
| services and just feel them out in general. The initial | | | | wedding and may feel comfortable at that point |
| conversation should give you enough of an | | | | releasing (or selling) the images to you. |
| impression to determine if a face to face visit is | | | | 4. Are there any hidden fees? |
| warranted. | | | | Make sure to find out if there are any additional |
| When you decide to meet your photographer in | | | | charges such as travel costs, printing or shipping |
| person most likely you will have already seen some | | | | charges, etc that will be tacked onto your bill. |
| of their work online and have a pretty good feeling | | | | It’s a good idea to ask what the photographer |
| about the artist; while you may discuss many things | | | | charges for ordering prints and enlargements, |
| during the meeting, its main benefit is to determine if | | | | especially if they refuse to provide you with your |
| you feel comfortable around this person. Do they | | | | negatives. |
| make you laugh or smile? Does the conversation flow | | | | 5. Get it in writing! |
| smoothly? There are many things that make for | | | | You want to be sure to get in writing everything |
| great photographs, not the least of which is a highly | | | | that your package entitles you to. The photography |
| skilled artist behind the camera, but not even the | | | | business is rapidly changing from month to month and |
| most technically proficient photographer can produce | | | | many photographers update, modify or tweak their |
| truly beautiful photos of people when they are not | | | | packages regularly to respond to industry trends. You |
| comfortable and relaxed. | | | | don’t want to find out when your day arrives 8 |
| How Much Will it Cost? | | | | months later that the photographer has changed his |
| Your choice of photographer in a perfect world | | | | packages around and now doesn’t remember |
| would have very little to do with the cost of services | | | | that you are supposed to receive three signed 16x20 |
| and everything to do with their professionalism, | | | | prints as part of your deal! |
| photographic abilities and penchant for making you | | | | Ideally all the terms of the package that you agree |
| feel at ease when in their presence. | | | | to should be included in your contract. |