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Posted on November 6, 2009 - by Brian

Finding the Perfect Wedding Photographer: An Insider’s Guide

1. Start looking early: As soon as the date and location are chosen, it is time to find a photographer. Booking early will insure you will get who you want, and will lock in a price. How early? I generally book weddings six months to one year in advance.

2. Go with experience: We all get better with experience. Confidence, technical skills, professionalism, poise, and the ability to work quickly and efficiently all come with experience. With all other things being equal, you are much better off with a photographer who has done 30 weddings than one who has done three. To date, I have photographed over 300 weddings.

3. Be guide-wary: You have probably already found that everything, from wedding dresses to reception halls, is more expensive than you had expected. Wedding guides and websites that offer sample budgets use national averages and old data for their examples of how much you should spend on each portion of your event. Wedding services, just like wages and rent, vary greatly from region to region. Your budget will have to reflect the reality of where you live, no matter what the magazines say.

4. Go for quality rather than quantity: Once you find out how expensive a wedding can be, you may have to establish which services are most important. It is better to have fewer high quality services rather than lots of second rate ones. Do you really need a band, a DJ and a mariachi? As photography is more important than video, you are much better off getting one high quality photographer rather than a budget photographer so that you can also afford a videographer.

5. Hire a professional: Photography is the second most important thing in your wedding (next to your sweetheart, of course), so never trust it to your cousin who happens to take nice snapshots. Many elements go into making a wedding photographer: a good eye and photographic skills, yes, but also experience, leadership ability, very specialized equipment, the knowledge to be in the right place at the right time, and artistic vision.

6. Make sure you know who your photographer will be: Some studios are run “Supercuts Style”, with a stable of photographers working for them. Often you don’t even know who will actually be photographing your wedding! Also, these types of studios are never honest about showing you the work of only that photographer. You are seeing a “greatest hits” collection from ALL of the photographers. I hear many sad stories from couples who hire photographers this way, then have terrible experiences.

7. Use yours eyes: Most of what you need to know about photographers will be found in their photos. A good photograph should look spontaneous as well as beautifully composed. The images should look effortless and un-posed, yet capture the moment and the personality of the people in them. They should have uncluttered backgrounds, be technically perfect, and portray the excitement of the day. They should ”talk” to you.

8. Use your ears: Does the photographer answer your questions adequately and confidently? Does he or she listen to your concerns? Is he well spoken, polite, and patient? Is he just trying to sell you stuff? A photographer who is overbearing or pushy may be more concerned with making sales than creating great images.

9. Look for clear and transparent pricing: Do you understand the packages or services? Beware of photographers quoting prices off the top of their heads. Insist on everything in writing, and in a signed contract – this will avoid disputes and misunderstanding about just what is included, and not included, in your package.

10. Ask about hidden fees: Many photographers have add-ons, fees and additional expenses that are not included in the quoted price, like, travel fees, multiple location fees, proof fees, online posting fees, etc. Just like when buying a car, ask for the “out the door” price.

11. Insist on seeing the real thing: Make sure you see actual samples of the products you are buying. There are proof books, folios, presentation and preview books, and wedding albums: these are all different things. Some photographers try to pass off proof books as real wedding albums. Make sure you see what will come in your package.

12. Don’t meet too many photographers: I am not afraid of competition, but I think that meeting with 12 photographers is not a good idea. You will not be able to keep your recollections of their work straight, and, will quickly burn out on the whole process. Use the techniques below to help you narrow your search.

13. Pre-qualify your photographer: Most photographers have websites or brochures with samples of their work. Find out if their style is what you are looking for before meeting with them in person. This can save you lots of time, energy and headaches.

14. Know what you are looking for: Do you want fantasy-like images, or very gritty, news-type images? Do you like very casual, un-posed photos, or traditional, formal photos? Photos with the subjects always looking at the camera, or ones with the subjects seemingly unaware of the photographer? Do you want photos that show every single guest at the wedding, or a more personal story of the bride and groom? Settling these issues in your mind will help you to find a photographer who fits the style you prefer, and shorten your list of candidates.

15. Ask how soon you will get your photos: For some reason, some studios take forever to deliver photos. Ask how soon you will get yours, and if the delivery time can be guaranteed.

16. Beware of technical misinformation: Some wedding magazine writers, who know little about photography make statements such as, “the best photographers use a combination of film and digital”. This is complete nonsense. A photographer who uses film, for instance, may tell you that digital is inferior, and vise versa. The truth is, both can deliver excellent results in the right hands. There is no better quality test than just looking at the photographer’s work. A professional photographer is an artist who will choose the tools that best work for him.

17. Ask if the photographer belongs to any professional organizations: Their answer to this question will tell you about their commitment to the profession. The biggest and most prestigious organizations are: Professional Photographers of America (PPA), and Wedding and Portrait Photographers International (WPPI). Ask if they go to the trade shows and seminars of these groups in order to keep up with new technology, trends, products and styles.

18. Ask where the photographer learned the trade: Did the photographer learn his skills by working for another photographer, going to school, or flipping through pop photo magazines. I am a Brooks Institute of Photography alum, and with an Master of Fine Arts from California Institute of the Arts: no one ever doubts my credentials as a photographic artist. Asking these questions will separate the hobbyists and amateurs from the true professionals.

19. Trust your instincts: Do you feel comfortable with the photographer, or does he or she seem pushy. Is he listening to you, or telling you what you need and want? A photographer who is impatient and bossy in the studio will be even more so at the wedding. On the other hand, a photographer with a meek personality will not have the presence to organize and conduct group photo sessions. Your photographer needs both patience and confidence to be effective. Above all, do you like the photographer?

20. Book the date ASAP: After you have done the research, gone through this list, and found someone you like that fits your budget, book the date. This always requires some form of deposit or retainer. With photographers, it is first come, first served. You could decide upon a photographer, wait a couple of weeks before booking the date, then find that your date has been taken. If this happens, you will be starting this process all over again!

21. Trust your photographer: If you have hired a photographer using the guidelines listed above; congratulations! The chances are good that you have found someone who will deliver just the type of images you are looking for. The key to great wedding photographs is mutual trust and respect: choose someone who inspires you; clarify your expectations in advance, and allow enough time for the photographs you want. Make sure you feel comfortable, not self-conscious, in front of the photographer you hire, and the rest will be magic.