Choosing A Photographer

Introduction
Photographs are the lasting reminder of your wedding day. They record the atmosphere of your wedding, your choice of dress, colors, venues and guests. They will be on display in your home, and the homes of the people who shared the day with you, or those who were unable to attend. They are a record of the most special day of your life for you to look back on with future generations.

Finding A Photographer
It is important then to find a photographer who is well qualified, experienced and aware of the requirements for your special day. You need to feel absolutely sure that the photographer you choose will capture the essence of your wedding and be able to make you and your guests look a million dollars.

You will find there are many photographers available to you. Photographers are a varied breed specializing only in weddings or doing weddings only as a sideline. Some do little or no advertising, others advertise in many places. A good place to start would be to make enquiries with the selected photographers that appear in the photographers category of products and services sections of local vendors. You may also consider asking friends and family for recommendations or posting a message on a website.

There is a professional Guild of Wedding Photographers to which some photographers choose to belong that publishes a list of it's members. Although it is not an exhaustive list of good wedding photographers, it could prove a useful reference point if you have difficulties locating a suitable one.

Making Contact
Once you have decided on a firm date for your wedding you can begin approaching your choice of photographers to see if they are available. It is worth starting your search for a photographer early, as the better photographers will become booked up quickly. It is important that you view photographer's work before you book them for your wedding. Never book over the phone, not even if “the price is right.”

You may like to invite a few people to come with you when you visit a photographer, especially if they have a hand in paying for the photographs. The presence of a parent, bridesmaid/best man or friend will help you to keep a clear head and give you another opinion on the appearance of the photographer and his work.

Have a Clear Idea of What You Want
You need to have a clear idea in your minds of what you expect your wedding photographs to be like, or at least some idea of style or specific shots required.

• Would you like traditional or more journalistic style of photographs?
• Do you want exclusively formal shots or would some relaxed photographs of friends and family help you to remember the whole day?
• Would you like some portraits of special people taken at home on the morning of the wedding, where you can ensure everything looks perfect (the photographer could visit you both separately)?
• Would you like confetti or bubbles "in the air" shot, and do you mind if this is staged rather than spontaneous?
• Are there some people you would like your photograph taken with apart from the traditional selection? For example are some of your guests travelling from another country who you see rarely?
• Are you inviting an old school friend that you had a photograph with when you were very young that you could update on your wedding day?
• Would you like all color shots, black and white or shots using other effects such as sepia toning?

What To Look For
There are a number of things to look for when you examine the work of a photographer.

• Are you offered a complete album of photographs from one wedding, rather than a collection of good pictures from a selection of weddings?
• Do you feel that the album tells the story of the whole wedding?
• Are the pictures of the couple different from each other: some close up, some mid distance, some full length?
• Can you see a selection of tidy, well organised group shots, and are all of the group positioned in the shot, or have people been missed off at the edges?
• Do you feel yourself looking at the subject of the picture or a distraction in the background?
• Can you see detail in the pictures: of the dress, the cake, the flowers, people's faces in shots taken from a distance?
• Do the people in the photographs look relaxed, happy and comfortable? It is helpful to check not only the bride and groom but also the friends and relations in the photos.
• Would you feel happy owning your version of the pictures you are shown?

Don't forget that there are a variety of different styles of photography and of presentation. If one photographer does not share your ideas of style, then try another one. It is difficult for photographers to drastically change their style to suit yours. Make sure you talk with others who have used the photographer. One of the biggest obstacles to having a smooth running wedding ceremony can be a bossy photographer.

You should also make sure that the photographer you choose quickly establishes a good rapport with you and makes you feel comfortable. He should be able to advise you on where and how to stand without making you feel stupid! He/she should also be aware that he/she is not the director of the wedding, and that they need to work around the minister, caterer, musicians and others.

You can always opt to have two photographers of varying styles at your wedding, if photographs are particularly important to you.

Questions To Ask
Remember, it is important to discuss all of your requirements with your photographer. They can do a much better job of your wedding photographs if they are totally aware of your hopes for the final outcome. Consider taking examples of photographs from friends' weddings or sketches so you are clearly understood. Leave as little to chance as possible.

• Here are some important questions to ask the photographer.
• Ask if the person you are meeting will be the person there on your wedding day. If not, ask to met the actual photographer and see some examples of their work. If this is resisted, be a little concerned.
• If you meet an alternative photographer from the same company, ask the same questions. Don't assume the same standards or experience as their partner or employer.
• Check the photographer's qualifications and ask if they were gained in wedding photography (if this is important to you). Also ask how long they have been a photographer, and how long they have been taking photographs of weddings.
• Ask if the photographer has professional indemnity insurance to cover the cost of retaking your photographs if something goes horribly wrong. If the photographer does not have insurance, you should take out your own wedding insurance policy to cover such an eventuality.
• Find out how long the photographer spends taking their shots after the ceremony and/or at the reception. There isn't really a standard time for this, you should decide before you visit the photographer how long you think it is acceptable to keep your guests waiting, and see how close the photographer's estimate comes to yours.
• Ask how the photographer copes if the weather is not as beautiful as you hope. Here it will help if the photographer has worked at your wedding and reception venues previously and knows the local area.

Making A Booking
Having found a photographer that suits your requirements you need to discuss a price for the job. You will find that you generally get what you pay for and the more experienced photographers are likely to charge more, but this is not always the case.

Make sure you ask each photographer to quote for the same job otherwise you will not be able to compare quotations. There are some variables in the cost of a wedding photographer: how long you want the photographer to be in attendance, the approximate number of photographs taken, the number of shots to be included in the package that is presented to you and the type of album the final photographs will be presented in. Be on your guard here. Make sure that the photographer anticipates taking more shots than they intend presenting to you, as this leaves a greater margin for error. Also be aware of "too good to be true" offers as these are usually just as they sound.

Always make sure that the content of the photographs, not the number of shots or the size of the prints is what you are considering. You can always enlarge a print, or have your photographs digitally changed to include fewer people, highlight one particular area or even to change the weather. The possibilities are endless if you are dealing with a good print, but nothing can change a set of photographs that do not have the content you require.

Finally, make sure the photographer explains their quote and tells you of any extras that may be involved in advance. Every wedding operates on some kind of budget, and keeping a track of your spending is easier if you have the full picture up front.

One Warning
It has been my experience that many photographers will try and sell you a lot of photos that you don’t need. Typically, you should be able to carefully choose 100 photos that capture the entire day. You will find that after a month or so following the wedding that you and your spouse never really look at these photos. You can also save a great deal by having professional digital used and just having the discs given to you for you to make your own prints.

Adding To Your Collection
In addition to the official photographs of your wedding, many couples are opting to have a collection of photographs taken by the guests themselves. This is achieved by placing single-use cameras on each table at your reception.

Imagine the thrill of having another collection of one or two hundred informal shots of your wedding; many of scenes and events you didn't even know happened!
Also, keep in mind that many family and friends will have digital cameras that take wonderful and often professional looking shots. Have them email or make a disc copy of their pictures for you. Often these are the best pictures taken at the wedding, even surpassing some of the photographers in quality and candor.