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WEDDING
PHOTOGRAPHERS AND WEDDING VIDEOGRAPHERS - QUESTIONS TO ASK
YOURSELF AND THE PROFESSIONAL
At the end of your wedding day, after you’ve eaten the cake, after
the flowers are gone and you’ve dry- cleaned and stored your
wedding gown thinking to yourself when would be the next time
you’re going to look at it, your pictures and your video are the
only thing that will define your memories of the big day for the
rest of your life. So it's very important to choose the right
photographer and videographer. To help you make the best choice,
we've compiled a list you should be checking.
PHOTOGRAPHY
1. Research some photos by looking at magazines and/or on the web
and define your favorite style of photography -- traditional,
candid, or posed? (Seek out photographers whose forte matches your
favorite style.)
2. What is the photographer’s approach to shooting weddings? Has
the photographer shot many/few weddings? This question will give
you an idea of the expertise and passion for his/her work. You
want to hire a professional that is familiar with all the in’s and
out’s of weddings so he/ she won’t miss any key special moments of
your day.
3. Does the photographer shoot in color, black and white, or both?
Does he shoot 35 mm or medium format or both?
4. Make sure you know who is going to shot your wedding and that
you’re looking at his work. If dealing with a one-person
operation, find out who would cover your wedding in case of an
emergency.
5. Do not make a list of every possible photo combination, you’re
dealing with a professional and he or she shoots weddings for a
living. Most likely he or she would get the obvious family
combinations. Rather, give your photographer a list of must-take
photos of unusual combinations: college roommates, co-workers and
other pictures you definitely want shot along with your wish-list
photographs. Make sure you leave free range for the photographer’s
creativity to capture the festivities. This usually will get you
the best results. Enlist a relative or a close friend to point out
specific people for the photographer. Your wedding coordinator can
do that, if you have one.
6. How does the photographer determine price? By the number and
kinds of prints you think you'll want, the amount of rolls of
film, the hours the photographer spends on your wedding, the
developing time, or a combination of the above factors? How many
rolls of film will be shot, and how many proofs and final prints
will result? Are packages available? Can you get a price list?
7. Does the photographer develop his own film? How long does he
keep the negatives? Can you buy your negatives from the
photographer? Do you get to see paper proofs or does he show you
the proofs on video, CD-ROM, e-mail?
8. Look at each photographer's work. Be sure to carefully examine
the technical aspects of his work. Some things to look for:
· photos are framed and centered well
· photos are over- or underexposed
· details are visible
· people look comfortable and relaxed
But more importantly look on the personal level and ask yourself:
do I like his/her style? Does this seem like a person you could
tolerate throughout your wedding day? You'll want to feel very
comfortable around your photographer. If you’re not comfortable
with him/her you can rest assure it will show in your photographs.
Rapport is important with all wedding professionals, but it's
crucial here!
9. Some of the most special wedding moments happen backstage while
the bride is dressing, while the family is waiting, or right after
the end of your ceremony when you sneak to a private room.
Choosing a pro photographer with whom you feel extremely
comfortable and don't mind inviting backstage will allow you to
capture these moments. Keep your photographer aware of your
whereabouts at (almost) all times.
10. Do not ask the photographer for references. After all, he/she
would not give you the name of someone that he/she had a bad
experience with. Ask to see thank you letters. If your
photographer is a professional photographer, and has lots of
experience than his/her past clients should have been satisfied
with his/her services and would have sent some thank you letters.
You can also ask other wedding professionals about your preferred
photographer, as a good photographer would be well recognized by
other wedding professionals in your area.
11. Once you've found a photographer with the skill set, style,
vision, and personality you're looking for, you'll need to agree
on a contract. Be sure to schedule a follow-up meeting to talk
about specifics. Together, you'll decide how many hours your
photographer will spend at your wedding, and you'll discuss your
Must-Take List and any photos you don't want (the cake shot or the
schmaltzy posed kiss).
12. A mixture of some posed and candid shots will round out and
make your wedding album more interesting. If you favor candid,
hire someone who specializes in a photojournalistic style, with
real talent for capturing emotional, spontaneous moments keeping
in mind that many portrait photographers can also shoot candid and
most photojournalistic photographers hate to shot portraits.
Determine your priorities and choose a professional accordingly.
Your photojournalistic pictures will set the overall feel and look
of your wedding album. Remember your most valuable photos would be
the ones where you can see and recognize faces, like shots of
family and friends. There's definitely a trend toward
photojournalism and black and white photography at weddings. B&W
photos convey more emotions and accentuate the essence of the
subjects or objects being photographed. Color photographs capture
the overall theme and feel of your wedding, like the room
decoration, the bridal party colors and your flowers. If you are
not sure whether or not you would like B&W photographs, have you
photographer shoot everything in color and ask him to print some
prints in B&W. With today’s technology it would be very hard for
the untrained eye to see the difference between what was shot on
B&W film and what was shot in color. You cannot print a color
print from and B&W negative. However if you know you like B&W,
have your photographer shoot it on B&W film for a better and a
more rich contrast. Your best bet is a combination of both.
13.Make sure the photographer has backup equipment with him/her on
your wedding date in case of an emergency. Also, make sure it is
the same format and quality as the primary one. The photographer
should have backup for all his/her equipment, cameras, flash,
lenses, filters, batteries, cables, etc.
14. Always look for a professional photographer to shoot your
wedding day. But if you are on a tight budget and are thinking on
looking for a talented photography student or you've always
admired your cousin's skill as a shutterbug, consider this option.
Just keep in mind that if the photographer doesn't have wedding
experience, you might not get the great results you want -- and it
might not be worth the savings. If you hire a relative and you
value your relationship, having him/her photograph your wedding
would exclude him/her from your day. Moreover, if she misses some
important moments she would feel bad and you would have no
recourse. Not to mention it could actually sour the relationship
you so cherished before.
15. Ask to see an actual album of an entire wedding and if
possible a proofs album to see the photographer’s raw material.
Many photographers have put together sample albums of their best
shots from many weddings. Look at pictures the photographer shot
at a previous wedding to see if he connected with the couple and
captured the mood of their day.
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$17.95/Pack of 24
