Finding the Right Wedding Photographer

Research is Worth the Time

Finding the right wedding photographer

It is a given, but it is worth repeating — taking some time to research which wedding photographer is right for you will save you from disappointment later on.  Choose someone with a personality that fits with yours, someone who loves her job and committed to helping you realize your wedding vision.

Photographer’s Personality
Of all the wedding vendors who you will work with, your photographer has to be someone you are totally comfortable with.  Remember that this person will be following you around everywhere, from your bedroom while you are getting ready to the time you and your hubby leaves the reception.  If tension builds between you and your photographer, it will affect the quality of her photographs.

When you interview the photographers, explain your vision and your style.  Carefully observe how she reacts. Is she enthusiastic about it or does she interrupts and injects her own stories about her previous work or contests won?  You want someone who listens attentively and becomes excited about your day.  This emotion will show through in the pictures, too.  Therefore, first make sure that you are comfortable with this photographer before even looking at her work.
(Photo courtesy of Bella Pictures)

Photographer’s Portfolio
Whether you are meeting a wedding photographer at a tradeshow, checking their website or visiting their studio, take a good look at their “book” , a porfolio of what they consider their best work.  If the portfolio does not impress or excite you, move on.  Ask to see a finished album of a recent wedding.  Does it tell a clear story?  Is there a strong balance of formal portraits as well as spontaneous and fun photo journalistic shots? If the portfolio is overloaded in one style, then your wedding photos will be, too.  If you can, ask a proof sheet of the album you are looking at.  The proofs are collection of small thumbnails that the couple choose their photos from.  A proof sheet tells a lot about a photographer, since this is their work in its raw, uneditted form.

Photographer’s Gear
Every professional photographer should carry an extra camera or two as backup if one camera malfunctions or if it needs to be reloaded with film.  If the photographer is shooting with film, the possible camera type that he will be using are known as small format and/or medium format.  Small format camera uses a 35mm film, while a medium format uses a larger film, 2 1/4″ x 2 1/4″ negative.  Without going into technicalities of the differences, it is best to opt for a photographer who uses a medium format camera for the portrait shots at least because once these pictures are enlarged, they will give you the highest resolution quality.  There will be photographers that will try to convince you that the 35mm camera and medium format cameras are of comparable quality.  Don’t believe them, especially if they are pushing for the 35mm camera.  They probably do not own the better, more expensive, medium format camera.

For digital cameras, look for a photographer that has the a professional digital SLR cameras with at least 10 megapixels or more.  The megapixel is a measure of resolution - how sharp the pictures or image will show.  The higher the megapixels, the better the resolution.  If you choose to go with digital instead of film, make sure to ask your wedding photographer to shoot in full quality mode and nothing less.  Some photographers will try to save memory on their cards by shooting at a lower resolution to fit more images per card.  Remember, the lower the resolution, the poorer the image quality.

Photographer’s Fees
This is one area where you do not want to skimp on the cost.  You only have one shot at your wedding photography; you do not get any second chances, therefore you will need someone who can deliver these lasting photos for both of you to keep and enjoy in the days to come.  This, however, does not mean to say that you need to hire the most expensive wedding photographer that you can find.  Be prepared when it is time to negotiate about the price, which is usually after you’ve explained your wedding vision to the photographer.  It would help the photographer to know what pictures you would like taken. Download a pdf file of our photographer checklist, to serve as guide for pictures you want taken by your photographer. You can also use this checklist for your videographer, just photocopy the list.

When comparing wedding photographers’ prices, get a clear understanding of:

• how much each photographer’s time will cost; will they charge by the hour or as a flat fee for the entire event
• will they charge for travel expenses or other costs such as meals or transportation
• how much will your prints and albums cost
• will they charge for retouching your photos; or for digital photos, for putting graphics design or layout work into your album
• will they charge for your bridal portrait or engagement shoot
• how much will enlargement cost

If they charge by the hour, multiply the number of hours you’ll want the photographer to be with you and find out if there are additional charges for extra hours.  Be sure to add your getting ready time; you will want those moments captured, too.

To determine how much this photographer charges for prints and albums, ask how many pictures she generally takes, and if she can give you a cost-per-print estimate.  Use a hundred prints as the comparison number to get the estimates from the other photographers.

In the end, armed with your research and figures, you would be able to negotiate the price.

Next Wedding Tip: Questions to Ask your Photographer