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How to choose your professional wedding photographer


Answers to the 16 most commonly asked questions on Wedding Photography


Being given this moment, we as professional wedding photographers earn the trust of complete strangers, and in the process enter into very personal relationships with our clients. This relationship between wedding photographer and client might only last several hours, but the results of the relationship will last forever, in your wedding albums, in framed prints that hang from your walls, stand proudly framed on your dresser, desktops, in your parents homes and in designer albums.


  1. Why hire a Professional Wedding Photographer?  

    2. If you are on a budget, you might be tempted to get a friend to photograph your wedding. He might even be a skilled amateur photographer. But this is one area where you do not want to try to save money. You have only one shot at your wedding photography; you do not get any second chances. A professional wedding photographer makes all the difference. The wedding photographer will be the one person who has a lasting effect on the memory of your wedding. A professional wedding photographer is reliable, prompt and will deliver on time. Having photographed numerous weddings, an experienced professional wedding photographer will be in his element at your wedding, not nervous and under pressure like an amateur. A professional wedding photographer uses the best colour processing laboratories that deliver uncompromising quality. Professional wedding photographers are experienced in working efficiently with the limited time available, and are comfortable directing the family groups during the formal group photography. When you consider the entire wedding, the cost of professional wedding photography is fairly small. Do not skimp. It will come back to haunt you. 


  2. How do I narrow down the Professional Wedding Photographer Short List? 

    3. Look for a style of wedding photography that suits your own particular style. Are you looking for traditional classic wedding photography, or do you want a more casual candid approach? A good professional wedding photographer is capable of offering all styles, but might specialize in one style. Look at what styles he offers in his wedding portfolios. 


  3. When do I speak with my Professional Wedding Photographer? 

    4. You do need to speak to your potential wedding photographer very early on in your planning process. Good professional wedding photographers are often booked up months in advance. You need to secure your photographer as soon as possible.


    The way you are received on the phone should give you some indication of how you will be able to connect with the photographer in person. Having a close professional working relationship is a vital requirement. Be sure that your wedding photographer is approachable, calm, collected, listens to you and actually pays attention to your requests and questions. 


  4. Why should I meet with my Professional Wedding Photographer? 

    5. Based on what you have found, make your first choice and arrange a meeting with the wedding photographer. This meeting will tell you a lot about the photographer, whether it be the marquee wedding photographer, or the assigned wedding photographer. Both Bride and Groom should attend this meeting. You will quickly tell if you are going to get along, whether you and your wedding photographer are on the same page. Are you comfortable with the photographer, does he make you feel at ease? Does he really listen to what you have to say? What style of photography does the wedding photographer prefer to shoot? What style does he think would suit you? Does he offer references with telephone number for you to call and se how they enjoyed the experience? And when you leave, did you feel as though you had met someone who could become your friend? 


    If you have a positive face-to-face experience with the professional wedding photographer, and the technical and artistic expertise exceeds your expectations, this is the time to discuss all aspects of the wedding photography. Ask the difficult questions. Don’t hold back. Get them off your chest. I have listed most of the important questions below 


  5. How much time does a professional wedding photographer need in order to give me what I need? 

    6. The time the photographer spends photographing your wedding is dependant on the events you want covered. The options are endless, they are entirely up to you, and include 

    • Rehearsal dinners and services 
    • Bride’s preparation
    • Formal bride and bridesmaid photography prior to the wedding 
    • Formal bride and groom photography prior to the wedding 
    • Wedding ceremony 
    • Leaving the church (ceremony) 
    • Formal group photography 
    • Reception photography, including speeches, first dance, bouquet toss, garter toss, cake cutting and departure of the bride and groom
  6. What about wedding photography packages? 

    7. Professional wedding photographers often price their wedding photography in terms of packages that include enlargements and albums. This is often a sensible approach for the client as the photographer has the artistic eye to arrange the photos and enlargements in the album in an artistic and sensible display, often at a fraction of the cost that you would be able to do yourself. The cost of the wedding photography package you choose will depend on several factors. 


    • Time allocated to wedding photography 
    • Number of photos (proofs) 
    • Number of enlargements 
    • Albums, type of albums and parents albums. There are many different types and styles of wedding photo albums from the inexpensive to the very pricey. The more expensive albums will endure better and give you a lifetime of happy viewing. Ask to see samples. 
  7. What lighting will the professional photographer use and will it ruin the service? 

    8. Outdoor photographs are usually made with ambient daylight and the use of reflectors to minimize harsh shadows. Fill-in flash is also used outdoors to remove shadows. Photography indoors normally requires the use of artificial lighting, normally flash. These days on-camera flash units are suitable for most applications, but in the more expensive weddings, professional wedding photographers will use flash bounced off tripod-mounted umbrellas, often using radio controlled triggers. Photography in the church is a delicate matter, and often flash is avoided if there is enough ambient light. Certain churches restrict the use of flash. Fast films reduce the need for artificial light but sacrifice image quality.


    Choose the time of day with your photography in mind. Choosing your wedding late in the afternoon could mean that you will have no light for natural ambient light photographs. Ensure that you leave allow enough time for the daylight photography. 


  8. Should the wedding photographer use filters? 

    9. A good wedding photographer will use filters sparingly. Soft focus photos give a romantic mood but soft focus filters should be used sparingly. Most of your photos should crisp and sharp. Graduated sunset filters can enhance the mood of a setting sun, polarizing filters can enhance the color saturation in daylight. With the software available today, it is easy to add a filter effect to a non filtered negative, yielding a high quality enlargement with a filtered effect. It is not possible to reverse the effects of a shot photographed with a filter. 


  9. What camera equipment will the professional wedding photographer use? 

    10. All equipment is Canon with special attention to editing and audio recording.


  10. What style of wedding photography should I choose? 

    11. Wedding photographers normally have a preferred style, whether it be classic/traditional, informal/candid or photojournalistic. The classic traditional style captures the romance, affection and mood of the event and is still the most popular choice. Non-conventional clients often go for a more casual approach to their wedding photography. This is typically carried through to their entire wedding, shirts and slacks as opposed to Tuxedos, barefoot in the beach sand as opposed to patent leather shoes. 


    The really good professional wedding photographer should be equally comfortable in all three styles. It is up to you to decide what you want, and possibly request all 3 styles in your album. 


  11. Why do some professional wedding photographers insist on an assistant? 

    12. Wedding photography has to be accomplished in a very short space of time and often involves moving lots of equipment, organizing many groups of people, film changes, lens and filter changes. This is normally too much for one person yet there are professional wedding photographers who photograph weddings solo. Having an assistant helps the professional wedding photographer concentrate on the images, not on the unnecessary details. The bride should appoint at least one person as the wedding photographer’s liaison, and who can help with organizing the groups for the wedding party group photography. Another person to assist the solo wedding photographer is also advisable. 


  12. Why do professional wedding photographers insist on a schedule of events?

    13.   

    A lot of photography has to be accomplished in a short time and often critical moments are over in a matter of seconds and the unprepared wedding photographer might miss the moment altogether. A well-detailed script will give the wedding photographer a timetable that prepares him for the proceedings.


     
  13. Should we do the formals before or after the ceremony?  

    14. If formal photographs are important to you, set-aside time prior to the ceremony so that the wedding photographer can take his time in getting posed formal photographs out of the way. If you rely on formal photographs being taken between the ceremony and the reception, this means that the wedding photographer has limited time to get all the formal photography completed. This often takes longer than expected and this is normally responsible for the guests waiting forever for the bride and groom to arrive at the reception. 


  14. Why do professional wedding photographers restrict other photographer’s activities? 

    15. There can only be one director of proceedings and having several photographers all vying for the attention of the subjects is a recipe for disaster. Flashes from other photographer’s cameras can trigger the professional wedding photographers slaves, ruining his shots. 


  15. Do I need to sign a professional wedding photography contract? 

    16. All professional wedding photographers will require you to sign a wedding photography contract that specifies the terms and conditions of the agreement between you and the photographer. Make sure that you read and understand the contract. It will describe everything from payment policies to cancellation policies. 


  16. What are normal payment terms for professional wedding photography 

    17. All professional wedding photographers require a retainer to secure the wedding date. Now that you have had your most important wedding photography questions answered, you should be in a position to choose your professional wedding photographer :)


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    Credit: Danny Steyn