Though well worth it in the long run, the cost of hiring a wedding photographer to capture priceless memories can be pricey. That’s why, when investing in wedding photography, it’s important to make sure that you’re getting precisely what you want. To do that, ask the photographers you speak with these key questions.
What is your background?
No, I don’t mean what kind of degrees, awards you have. Since photography is a creative profession, judging by formal training versus a natural eye isn’t necessarily the way to go. Instead, use what you learn about a wedding photographer’s background to help you understand what motivates them to shoot and why they shoot they way they do. If you like what you hear, keep them on your short list of wedding photographers; if not, move on.
Which genres do you shoot the most? What is your specialty?
Most photographers are NOT one-size fits all vendors. For instance, the type of shooting that’s done for a fashion editorial is very different that a portrait session. And a great portrait only photographer may not do well under the stress and timeline of a wedding day. Therefore, it’s important to know what the photographer is accustomed to and interested in shooting. Otherwise, your expectations for your wedding images may not be met.
Who will really shooting?
If you are interested in a one-man show photographer then you won’t really need to worry about whether the samples you’re seeing are his / hers. You’ll also know, 100%, that the person who is going to show up at your wedding is the person you spoke with. However, some photography studios are staffed with multiple photographers. If you decide on a company that does this, ask to see individual portfolios. That way, you can pick the photographer whose style you like the best and request that photographer for your wedding rather than rolling the die and hoping for the best. With some studios, you may not get to choose and the samples you see on their website are the best of the best photographers.
What’s included in the price?
When choosing a wedding photographer, do not just look at price. Why? Two reasons: (1) Price alone doesn’t tell the full story of what’s included. For instance, one photographer may present pricing solely based on fees for shooting, meaning that the prints have to be purchased separately; others may provide pricing based on the packages they offer. While you may prefer one way or the other, either pricing method if perfectly legitimate in the world of photography. Therefore, ask what’s included in the price. (2) When you purchase photography services, what you’re really purchasing is a photographer’s talent and ability to shoot in a style that you prefer. Price has nothing to do with style. Therefore, the only truly feasible way to compare photographers is by style. Choose the photographer who shoots in the style that you like best.
Who’s got the rights?
The images taken may be of you but the work resulting is the photographer’s. Therefore, you should discuss rights with your wedding photographer candidates up front. Ask who will have the rights to the final images, how the images can be used, and what, if any, stipulations there are. Knowing the answer to this question can save a lot of headache and confusion down the line.
Good luck and as always, feel free to contact me with any questions!