The time of year is upon us when all Brides start researching & considering their options for a photographer they would like to book.
When looking for a photographer brides usually compare the package prices & photography style in the comfort of their own home before even making contact with a photographer. They search through many websites of local photographers in hopes of narrowing it down to a select few that A) fit their budget and B) produce images they are drawn to.
Most brides meet with 2 or 3 select photographers to discuss pricing, view samples & ask questions. They then go home & weight the options of each photographer & then hire the best option to suit their needs.
For some, a photographer is a tough decision. Some brides are not only comparing professional photographers but they also are considering using a friend or family member. This person is usually someone who is either A) a professional but will be attending the wedding or B) a hobbyist. For most people considering this option, it is because they are looking to save a few bucks.
For those considering using a friend or family member, here are some thoughts you should think about & seriously consider when comparing.
1. Is this person going to be committed to taking photographs ALL day & not just when they feel like it?
Professional photographers are there to take photographs of you & your guests – we are there to ensure that we capture all the highlights of this special day. We are not there to re-connect with family members we haven’t seen in a few years or mingle with other guests. We do not drink while on the job – if this person is, can they guarantee you that you will have the same quality photographs as before they started to drink? We capture everything we can from the time we start right through to the end of the last hour we are hired for – we do not take breaks & only work when we feel it is necessary. We won’t get half way through the day & decide that we are tired of following the bride around all day – we are there for one reason – to capture ALL the moments of the day!
2. Does this person carry insurance or back up equipment in the event that something goes wrong with their camera & no photographs are produced?
What would this person do if they got to the ceremony & their camera didn’t work for them or they forgot to charge their batteries or ran out of memory cards? Do they know how to fix it or do they have a second camera they can use in the worst case scenario. Professional photographers go through checklist the day before to ensure they have packed all the proper gear to handle any situation on that day. We also charge all our batteries, inventory our memory cards & clean our equipment the evening before the wedding. Can you be sure that your person is this thorough?
3. How long will this person take to produce the images for you?
Professional photographers, like myself, give their clients of a guaranteed time frame for when the photographs will be processed & ready for you to proof. I never take more than 4 weeks to fully process all the photographs from the wedding. At that time your DVDs & online gallery are ready for you to use. The longer you wait for your images, the less interested you become in them!
4. Will this person be editing any of the photographs for you?
A lot of brides do not realize how much time & effort the photographer is putting into the photographs after the wedding is done. On average I can spend upwards of 30 hours doing the editing for the photographs. This is to ensure that my brides receive the best photographs I am able to produce. I enjoy taking my photographs to the next level with creative editing. Does this person have the software & skill to do the same level & amount of editing as a professional?
5. Does this person have any lighting equipment or skill to properly expose in the harsh lighting conditions of a dark church or bright midday sunlight?
Sure you could set your camera to automatic & let it do all the work but there is still no guarantee that the camera will know exactly what it is that you are wanting for an end result. The camera just meters the situation & does what it thinks is the best compromise for the situation. Why would you let the sun control your options, when you can use a simple lighting set up & be able to make your own lighting conditions & do what you want. Does this person know how to manipulate their camera settings to be fully capable of photographing your ceremony in a dark church or do they know how to set up the shot so you & your groom are lit well & so is your background.
6. What kind of equipment does this person carry? A professional grade dSLR or a point & shoot?
This will be a huge factor in the quality of the images you receive! Professional grade dSLR cameras are built to allow the user to completely control the situation. Many point & shoot cameras are only meant to be used on the automatic camera settings, which lets the camera decide what it thinks is the best for the lighting situation. How is a camera supposed to know what the photographer is wanting to do? This is why the dSLR cameras are an advantage, the photographer can tell the camera exactly what to do & how to do it – leaving nothing for the camera to decide on, which could potentially leave you with a bad photograph.
7. Will this person be able to provide you with an online professional gallery for proofing & for your guests to view & purchase their own prints & gifts?
Don’t you want to be able to have your friends & family members view your photographs too & remember how special of a day this was. Sites like this are only available to the professional photographers of the world – they are a great media for out of town guests. The advantage of the site is that you are able to do all your selecting & purchasing at home, in the comfort of your pj’s. No need to set up viewing appointments or to have to get all your photographs printed & pay hundreds of dollars for the prints!
All friends have good intentions but we should leave it to the professionals!
Do you want to strain the relationship with a friend just to save a few dollars? Nothing worse than having a friend ruin the memories of your wedding because they weren’t a professional – it’s not their fault, they just simply did not know what to expect or what was expected of them. We’re capturing the history of your life here. Pictures and memories are all you’ll have in 50 years. Why not do it right?
This is a must-read for everyone getting married and looking for a photographer! I`m a photographer myself.