RT Weddings Photography

How to choose your photographer?

April 28, 2008 on 5:00 pm | In My Wedding Advice |

As a bride you don’t need me to tell you about the research involved in preparing your perfect wedding day. The same level of research is also needed when picking your photographer as this is such a key aspect of your day and you want the memories to be treasured.

Finding a photographer these days isn’t that difficult, especially with the aid of bridal magazines, the internet and of course, recommendations from friends. Competition is fierce and you can make some great gains from this. It is best to whittle your selection down to a handful that really catch your eye from all of these mediums and then start from there. Do check out their web sites as you can learn a lot about an individual, their ethics and also see lots samples of their work.Photographers do come in many shapes and guises so you need to be confident that you pick the right one for you. With wedding photography, you do tend to pay for what you get, and the prices can range from the incredibly cheap to the ridiculously expensive. Professional wedding photographers will tend to place themselves in the mid to high range, and if you really want great photographs then this is where you’re wise to invest your hard earned pennies. With your selected choice of photographers, I would definitely recommend that you make arrangements to meet them all.

A prudent photographer will usually suggest meeting you at the venue which is a great idea, and lets face it, the majority of the photographs will take place there anyway. They will usually come loaded with lots of goodies to show you, from sample albums, and information packs, to small laptop presentations. They may even offer to take some pre-wedding shots for you whilst you are there which is great, as you can see exactly the level of service the photographer should provide and will also get you used to the camera. There are some really important questions (in no particular order), that you should be asking the photographer when you meet them.

1.) Do you enjoy what you do? I think it is an important question to ask, and you can gauge from their response a level of enthusiasm and dedication.

2.) Are your samples from actual weddings? It’s worth knowing this, as some photographers glamorise their work by displaying wedding photographs which have been re-created in a studio environment or at a photographer fair, although this does tend to be the lower end amateurs.

3.) Are you a member of a professional body? All professional photographers will be a member of a professional body, usually the BIPP, SWPP or BPPA. This means that the photographer follows a certain code of conduct and is capable for the job in hand.

4.) How long have you been a photographer? Experience is a good gauge, although if the photographers samples are great and reflect their work, then it is down to choice.

5.) Do you outsource your weddings? Unfortunately there is an element of money focussed photographers who will continue to double book wedding dates and then outsource them, usually to a lesser photographer. This means that having seen the lovely samples from one photographer isn’t a guarantee this is the same level of work you will receive, there may be a huge difference with your replacement photographer.

6.) Do you have a back up? Most professionals will have at least one back up camera kit with them at your wedding, and will also have some arrangement with fellow photographers if there is a catastrophe preventing them from attending. You don’t want to be stuck with out a photographer on the day!

7.) Do you have public liability and indemnity? All professional photographers should legally have this to protect them, you and also the venue from any damage or loss which may occur.

8.) What do you wear on the day? Most photographers will come either suited and booted or smart attire, but there are the occasional scruffs out there, so make sure that you explain what you expect on the day.

9.) How long will you be with us? Photographers are starting to get away from the 3 hour photography service and are now starting to spend the entire day capturing the moments, including some who will stay right up until your first dance.

10.) Do you use professional products and printing? Any photographer worth his salt will invest in professional products and also a professional lab to handle his printing, although some photographers will resort to home printing on consumer inkjet printers and media. I would assume that you wouldn’t want to receive anything less than professional for the level of service you are paying for.

11.) How much do you charge? Some photographers will have a set price for set packages (usually found on their web site), others will make it up based on their assumption of what they think you can afford, so there may be some shocks in store.

12.) What do I get if I choose you? Make sure that the service, timings and products are clear and that you understand exactly what you are going to receive for your money. Some photographers will also offer an incentive for you to sign up there and then, others will take a much more relaxed approach and wait for you to get back to them. If all the photographers you do meet seem to be of similar ability, then the service, packages and price they offer will certainly play a big part in your decision making process. Try to have a realistic budget and stick to it.

The last important question is one that you need to ask yourselves, which is:

13.) Did I like the photographer? At the end of the day you need to be sure that you do get along and have a bond with the photographer as this will make the experience so much more personal. Although the photographer is providing you with a service, they are also playing a key role in your wedding day and you need to feel reassured that you are making the right decision. After all, you want to be smiling in your photographs. Good luck in your search and I am sure your wedding day will be wonderful!

By Dean Robson - RT Weddings