Booking your Wedding Photographer

So, you're getting married in the near future and you need to book a photographer. It's not as easy as it seems and when you start to look for a suitable photographer, you'll be daunted by the choice and range of styles and services. There's so much to take into account that it's only natural to feel overwhelmed. Of course, you may already know a photographer you want to use and don't need to look any further. Perhaps your sister's or friend's wedding photographer or a friend or relation.



There are a number of things you should take into account, which will make the decision much easier. So, lets have a look and see what they are.



BudgetFor many couples this is the first factor that they take into account. They contact photographers and ask them for their price list. This is a mistake. The price list tells you nothing about the photographer, except his/her price and this should be the last thing you look at. Check out all of the other factors first, make a short list of photographers and then see which ones suit your budget.



Just like with most other aspects of life, in photography you mostly get what you pay for. You may be very lucky and find a cheap photographer who also happens to be very good. However, if all you look at is his price list, you won't know this until after the wedding, when you see your images and it's too late then. Cheap does not necessarily mean bad but it often does and you need to protect yourself against this. You may get a new and good photographer, trying to build up a business and keep his prices down to encourage bookings.



It is more likely that you'll get someone who's not very sure of what he's doing and keeps his price down, to draw customers in. Watch out for photographers who promise too much for the price quoted. For example, I've recently seen an ad for a photographer who will spend five or six hours at your wedding and supply you with 1000 to 1200 printable photos, all for €250. That's 200 photos an hour, more than three a minute. How can he pose any of these, correct the lighting, organise his subjects and all the other things a true professional will do?



Experience Experience isn't every thing but it's a big factor to take into account when booking your wedding photographer. Some photographers never improve, even if they do it for decades. Others have a natural talent and are good from the start.



Even if your wedding is going to be the first for the photographer, he should be able to show you images of other shoots he has done. You can see his style and ability from these. If what you see are badly posed, dark, too bright or display some other obvious flaw, move on to the next guy.



The more experienced a photographer is, the cooler he will keep when things go wrong. He will also work better with you and your guests. Wedding photographers have to think on their feet and have to be quick to react to changing circumstances. So many things can go wrong during your wedding that could ruin your photographs, a photographer's experience will help him to overcome the situation and still get great photos.



Personality We all like dealing with someone who has a good personality, no matter what the situation is. It is particularly important on the day of your wedding. Working with someone who has a bad personality can ruin your big day. An unpleasant photographer could upset your guests, the hotel staff or worse still, you.



It's important that you meet the photographer and see if you can get along with him. Would you have a pint with this guy? If you met him on the street, would you stop for a chat? If you get a good feeling about him, then you can work together but if you feel uneasy about him, move on.



I'm not saying that you should go meet every photographer that you contact. When you have shortlisted your photographers and seen who match your budget, meet those guys.



Style The photographer's style is also very important. Do you like his work? Remember, these photos will represent the biggest day of your life, forever. The photographer may be the world's best, the nicest guy you've ever met, the price matches your budget perfectly but you don't like his style. Don't book him. If every time you look at your images your reaction is "I don't like them", it's a waste of money. Your images should bring back pleasant memories, not make you cringe.



Contract Regardless of who you book, make sure that you sign a contract and that you are given a copy. Before signing, go through the contract with the photographer and make sure you understand it and what it obliges the photographer to do for you. If there's anything that you feel uneasy about, discuss it with the photographer. There may be a good reason for it being there and he won't change it but often, it can be changed.



Last year, a couple walked into my studio with a disc of their wedding photos. They had booked a cheap photographer to take their wedding photographs and that's exactly what he did. He didn't pose anyone and many were badly light. When they asked him to edit the photos and prepare them for a photobook, he refused, telling them that he was a photographer, not an editor.



They had understood that he would provide the full service normally given by wedding photographers. There was no contract, so they had no come back.



The contract should include full details of the services the photographer will provide, payment schedule, cancellation policy, what will happen if the photographer takes ill, when the images will be provided, does the price include an album or photobook, etc.



Spray and pray Digital photography has made it easier for anyone to set up as a photographer. However, many of the new photographers have not mastered the skills and techniques needed to produce quality images.



Many of these photographers just keep shooting, in the hope of getting some good photos. I referred earlier to a photographer offering 200 photos per hour. This is what we mean by spray and pray. You may be lucky and get some great photos but do you want your wedding photos to depend on luck?



What you need is quality, not quantity. In the days of film you may only have gotten 30 or 40 photos. I was given 30 photos and had to choose 24 for my album. While I wouldn't expect anyone to settle for a low number like this, there's no need to get several hundred. A good photographer should be able to provide you with plenty of quality images, without shooting by the hundred.



It's better to get 150 to 200 good images, than to get 500 to 1,000 duds.



One last point, it is better to book your photographer early, good ones get booked up quickly.



I hope I've given you food for thought. Choosing a wedding photographer will take time and effort and I wish you luck in your task.