5 Tips to Help you Choose your Wedding Photographer!
There are some things for your wedding that you just know…they might be your colors, your ceremony venue, or your maid of honor. And then there are the decisions take a little more thought, planning and research….and your photographer will likely fall into that category. Here are a few tips to help you in the in the research phase and how to choose your wedding photographer.
Wedding and Covid-19 – New info added at end of article
Choosing your Style. There are as many styles of photography now as there are photographers! Do you prefer un-posed photo-journalistic, eclectic or romantic, traditional combo of posed and candid, light and airy, dark and moody, true and bright? If photojournalism means you won’t get some traditional altar pictures, this might not work for you. Dark and moody might not be your thing if you love vibrant color. Spend some time browsing through a photographer’s website and blog to see if you connect with his/her overall style. Do you immediately like what you see, then look at several galleries or blog posts! They should be consistent and look somewhat similar, so you know that is what you will get, too. Worry less about the labels of style, and more about the overall feeling you have and if that photographer’s “style” will work in the overall context and vision for your wedding.
Pricing – When looking over pricing, be careful to see what is actually included and what is extra….engagement sessions, a second shooter, extra hours, albums, and extra editing may all be add-on options. Prices also reflects a photographer’s training, experience, and professionalism (.i.e. insured, proper equipment, back-ups, etc. ) That being said, things like albums and prints can be purchased later, so if you love the photographer’s art but their package includes less, invest in the art – you can get the album later.
Light – – this might sound a little repetitive and like choosing your style. But there’s more….after getting past “having a great feeling” in regards to “style”, its time to get a little realistic about your specific needs! Many churches in North Dakota are quite dark. The weather in North Dakota is unpredictable. Does the photographer have the correct lighting equipment and skill to handle dark and/or indoor situations, including both ceremony and reception? Look for weddings that are similar to what you are expecting for yours. If you notice most after dark photos are black and white, it is a hint that a photographer is not quite as skilled in this area. Ask the photographer about their plans for rain, wind, bright sun on the lake’s edge or the open prairie, or wherever your are planning your wedding. 🙂
See a Full Wedding. After browsing a few of a photographer’s galleries and/or blog posts, ask to see a full wedding. Some photographer’s will produce 10-20 amazing images, and the remaining 500 are just so/so. An experienced photographer should deliver consistently good photos in all areas of the day, while a less expensive photographer in the portfolio building stages should deliver a few great photos and a solid documentation of the remainder.
Delivery It’s a week after your wedding and you are excited to see those photos! Ask photographers what their typical delivery time is. It can range between a week and six months. Wedding photographers in North Dakota are super busy in the summer so delivery can be a little slower if you have a June-September wedding. Will your photos be delivered via a downloadable gallery, on a USB drive, or will you order prints? What are your rights to use the digital images, and what are the photographer’s rights to publish? Ask in advance if you want control of where your photos are published. Sometimes photographers will charge a little more if they can’t use your images, since free advertising is what helps keeps their (and your) costs down.
BONUS Tip: Do you Connect? I had to add this one…it’s important!! Set up a meeting, either in person or via FaceTime or Skype. Once you find a photographer that you think you like, take some time to talk. Meet over coffee, have some questions ready, and just chat. Other than your new spouse, you will likely spend most of your time on your wedding day with your photographer! You want to like and feel comfortable around her/him! Ultimately, it will show in photos. 🙂
With so many wedding being postponed and rescheduled, its important to stay in contact with your photographer! Everybody’s schedules seem to be in flux, so communication is key! Important questions to ask a potential photographer are:
- What is the cancellation/reschedule policy
- How soon in advance must you cancel/reschedule
- How booked are they, and do they have wiggle room for rescheduling?
- What is refund policy on deposits and payments?
