What to look for in your wedding photographer!
Planning a wedding can be extremely
overwhelming…I know, I planned my own wedding (almost single handedly). There
are tons of beautiful details that you want to get just right. The venue, the
flowers, the rings, the ceremony, the reception and of course, THE DRESS. Take
it from me, you will want every single detail that you planned to
perfection…captured. Your wedding day will whiz by in a flash. When all the
dust settles, the up-dos come down and all guests go home…you will rely on the
memories captured by your wedding photographer.
When choosing this "super human" in charge of
archiving one of the most important days of your life, here are a few things to
look for:
~ Make sure they are a wedding
photographer. That might sound silly, but wedding photography includes many
different skills that maybe haven’t been sharpened by a studio portrait,
landscape, student or amateur photographer.
~ View a wide range of their images, either online or in person. From
bridal prep and small details to ceremony, bride & groom portraits and
candids. Anyone can take one or two great shots and put those forward for you
to see. A great photographer has it all!
~ Ask for a price list not just a quote. You don’t want to be charged
more just because of your suburb, the pretty car you drive or the gorgeous ring
on your finger. Also, don’t choose your photographer purely because of price.
Remember the old phrase, “you get what you pay for”. Please don’t leave your one and only wedding day to a student or amateur
photographer…you WILL be disappointed.
~ Meet with your photographer and make sure you like them and feel
comfortable with them. After all, they will hopefully be nearby while
you experience all your special moments of the day.
~ Convey to your photographer exactly how you envision your dream
wedding. Do they share your vision? Find out their style (traditional, candid,
photo-journalism or a mixture).
~ Verify if they have backup equipment including cameras, batteries,
etc. There are no re-dos and do-overs on this day.
~ Do they respond promptly to your queries, emails or phone calls?
This might sound petty but you don’t want to be kept in the dark or wondering
about anything, in respect to your special day. A great wedding photographer makes your day EASIER... not harder.
~ What is their payment policy? How much will you need to hand over to
secure your wedding date? And can you make payments via direct debit, cheque or
credit card or even a Payment Plan?
~ Find out exactly how soon you can expect to view your images. At Life,
Love & Light Images you will see a sneak
peek within days of the wedding and your album planning/image viewing session is about 2 weeks after.
~ Can your friends and family easily order prints directly? At Life,
Love & Light Images you will have a private
online gallery with a password that you can share with friends and family. And
as an added bonus, they can order prints and canvases directly through the
online gallery. Simple!
~ Does your photographer offer professional photographic prints,
albums, enlargements, canvases, thank you cards and other display options? If
so, find out the costs so you can budget for those special items.
Ok, I think I’ve given you enough to ponder
when choosing your wedding day photographer. Just a quick reminder, your
wedding photographer will be an integral part of one of the most important days
of your life, (sometimes even getting you a glass of water or helping you with
your dress) so make sure you choose someone that has a relaxed and friendly
personality and most of all, you feel comfortable with.
Enjoy your day!
Martinia xoxo
