I had the pleasure last week of shooting an impromptu wedding. K. and M. called on Tuesday and wanted to get married the following Tuesday. It worked out well, since i had a free afternoon. It was a small wedding with 6 guests. I was really excited about some of the great images that came out of this wedding and the opportunity to try some of my new software for collaging and making comic strips. I also had a meeting with K. and A. on Saturday about shooting their wedding. Both meetings were very different. There are a range of different approaches to hiring a photographer. K. and M.'s only question was are you free next Monday or Tuesday and how much will you charge for photographs? K. and A. had many more questions.
1. Look at images
Most importantly, get an idea of what your style is and what you like. These are images you will be looking at for the rest of your life. This is an important day. Look at as many websites as you can to define your style and what appeals to you.
2. Set a budget
Define what you can afford to and/or are willing to pay for images. Then try to match the two together. Are their photographers in your area that encompass your style and still fit within your budget. Going for the cheapest option is not always best. It may seem like a good idea when spending lots of money for a wedding but you need to make sure you are happy with your choice. Unfortunately the old saying is true, you get what you pay for.
3. Ask lots of questions and ask to see a sample portfolio
Make sure all your questions have been answered and that you are comfortable with what you are getting. Know how long your photographer is going to be there, will they be staying to capture all the important moments? Are albums included or prints? Can you get a CD/DVD with the proof images on them or will you need to pay extra for that? How long does the editing process take? Also, any concerns you have should be addressed here. If you are worried because your cousin's photographer lost all the images she had, talk to them about a back up plan and if there is one. We use two shooters for each wedding. If one camera breaks we still have one person to capture images. We carry extra batteries and extra SD cards. Make sure that your photographer feels the responsibility of capturing your moment and thinks it is as important as you do.
If you have more questions about hiring a photographer and are unsure about what to ask feel free to talk to us. We are always here to help. If you are unsure about how to find good people in your area we maybe be able to help with that too. Best of luck planning your photo session!
