Choosing the right Wedding Photographer

The biggest question you are probably going to be asking, even before you landed on my website, is "How do I choose the right photographer for me?" Don't worry, everyone should be asking this very question before they make any kind of commitment or sign any contracts.

As you will probably have already seen, it can seem to be a bit of a minefield. There are simply hundreds, even thousands of Photographers who are seemingly providing the same service. I do agree that it may appear that way, but in reality, almost every Photographer will be unique, with their own individual businesses, operating in all manner of different ways. Some of the things you see, you will love, other things you may not be quite so sure about.

So what should I look for in my Wedding Photographer? Well, firstly, the style of Photography is going to be the first thing you are going to be aware of. Do the images on the website galleries or portfolio leap out at you? Do you feel that the way the Wedding is shown is how you could see yours being displayed? As you will start to see, there are differing styles of photography right across the board, from the very straight, traditional style to the very Fashion inspired, creative art of Wedding Photography. Have a look and see if you like to see the posed shots, capturing family groups, or do you love the natural appearance of candid Photojournalism?

Consider is the relationship you can expect to build with the Photographer. This will be down to whether you can feel comfortable, relaxed and confident with him. You will spend more time during your wedding with your photographer than any other of the vendors and they will be there with you through the emotional parts, the stressful parts and the fun parts. You should be able to build a strong relationship with your photographer and feel more as though you are in the company of a friend than an anonymous supplier. If you can find this harmony then the photos will definitely be enhanced, especially as you stay far more relaxed and enjoy a smile or two even when you know the camera is nearby. The best way to establish whether the personality of the Photographer is right for you is to arrange a consultation, or preliminary meeting of some sort. You may not see any extra photographic material as they probably display most of their best work on their website, but you may get a chance to view actual albums and most importantly see how well you can work with them. At this point you are going to also need to establish whether the person you meet is the one who will be taking your photos. Some larger organisations may have a Sales representative to negotiate the deals at consultation stage, but the majority of Wedding Photographers operate as a Sole Trader business and therefore the person you speak to initially should be with you throughout the entire process.

What about cost? This is sometimes where things can become rather fuzzy as many people place differing levels of value on the work that a Photographer does. There is a misconception that the use of Digital Photographic equipment somehow makes things easier or indeed speeds things up. The truth is actually a surprise to many when they learn it is in fact probably more truthful to say it is the opposite. The Digital evolution has probably created considerably more work for the Wedding Photographer than was required in the "film" era. What we now have is far greater scope to produce higher quality products with a far greater level of control. To achieve the very high standards that exist in the marketplace, the Photographer has to be fluid in all aspects of the process. They will assess individual images and make corrections to colour and contrast, convert to beautiful Black and White, carry out any number of enhancements so that the final images are as perfect as can be, with the greatest selection available for the album. Then the Photographer will switch to Designer and produce image selection and page layout for a completely unique album. The time and dedication in producing such work should not be under-estimated and when you feel that the prices may be too high, try to consider how much time will go into each wedding, from consultation through to album delivery. There are many hours of work there that are hidden and so you see how you are paying for the complete package, a Photographer who can bring his artistry into every stage of the process, where 10 or 20 years ago, it simply didn't happen.

Although you are probably working with a budget for your Photography, you should consider it an investment rather than a one-day cost. Your Photographs will last a lifetime, capturing moments that can never be repeated. Make sure that you think about how those photographs are going to look in 10 years time. If you can make an allowance, think about the life of the album and the images, not just the guy with the camera who you only see on the day.

So... I love the work... I really like the Photographer... I can afford the package that I really like... They are available for my date....

What next?

Firstly, you should congratulate yourself for finding someone that suits your expectations. As I said at the beginning, there are many photographers to choose from and one of them will be right for you. Well done, you found them.

To secure the services of your chosen Photographer, it is totally normal to be asked for a Booking Fee in advance. This figure may vary, but will be a part of the actual booking stage. You should have a Contract outlining the terms and conditions of the booking and this is in place to protect both client and Photographer. Make sure that the terms of the contract match up with what you had discussed and that you agree with matters such as Cancellation Policy. The rest of the process is pretty simple, pay the balance in full on the due date (expect this to be in advance of the wedding) and simply enjoy your Wedding Day with the confidence that you chose the right person for you.