Choosing Your Photographer – Tips & Advice
October 1st, 2009
I cannot stress just how important it is to choose a really great photographer. When the wedding is over there is nothing better than curling up with your new husband, and “the album” and browsing through the beautiful memories and moments of your day.
A few weeks ago I had the pleasure to work with Jessica Beveridge from Redrabbit Photography. From the moment we met I knew we were going to have a great day. Jess has a very calm, relaxing and confident approach. She knew exactly what to do to capture the essence of the day without making the guests feel they were being rounded up or bossed about. Her organisation was excellent and it was a joy to work with her. We kept to the timelines of the day, the food was served on time and it also meant that the Bride and Groom, Mark and Zoe, were not away from their friends and family for hours, but able to mingle and enjoy the sunshine before the wedding breakfast.
Jess had taken the time to get to know Mark & Zoe so on the day the couple felt totally relaxed, and confident that Jess knew exactly what they wanted from their photographs. I had also been able to give Jess an outline of the day, she knew who and where everyone was. Its very important to capture the details of the day. If the photographer knows when the wedding party will be ready, the flowers are set up and the tables are laid etc they can ensure they incorporate this into their own schedule and capture all the elements that make a fantastic wedding album.
Here are some of Jess’s favourite images of the day, followed by her top tips.
How Cute
Eagerly anticipating, nearly ready
Dreamy
The Perfect Ending and Beginning xxx
We asked Jess if she would give us her top tips and advice on choosing a Wedding Photographer:-
Tips for Hiring a Wedding Photographer
When deciding on a photographer for your wedding day it is vital to make sure they are going to be right for you. The wedding photographs form a critical part of your wedding, they record the atmosphere and emotion of your special day. They are the only reminder you have apart from your memories of what happened as to who was involved and how the day unfolded. Not only must they produce some fantastic results with good quality images, prints and albums, but they must also fit into your day and gel with you and your guests.
Five helpful tips on what you should consider when making this important decision.
Personality
It is really important to connect with your photographer, they will be spending a lot of time with you on the day. You must feel that they will fit in with the day and your guests without being overbearing. At the same time the photographer should have the ability to take charge when necessary, and be able to be ready in anticipation to capture your special moments. You must be able to get along with the photographer so the rapour and chemistry between you is key to you feeling relaxed in front of the camera.
Photographic Style
You must view the photographer’s portfolio to get an example of the type of style they use. There are many styles and types of photography that are currently adopted within the wedding photography field, including reportage, traditional and artistic, you must choose a style that suits you. It is always good to view a complete wedding rather than just selected images as often photographers select the best images to show in their portfolios. Seeing whole wedding will show you what you can expect to be achieved on your day.
Price Range and Packages
Budget is obviously important so you must check the charges and exactly what is on offer and what you expect to receive for your money. There can be a massive difference between different photographers’s prices and packages so look around and view lots of portfolios and price lists to make sure you understand exactly what is on offer. It is also wise to check what additional costs are involved. This can be CD’s, DVD’s, reprints, framed prints, canvases, albums, parent albums and any travel costs. I would recommend trying to purchase the CD or DVD as this is always useful if you want to print your own images or give images as gifts to guests.
Meetings
Arrange with your chosen photographer to have a meeting at the venue before the wedding day. This is especially important if they have not used that particular venue before. This will mean that they will be familiar with the layout and how everything will run on the day. You can also let them know your favourite areas so this can be incorporated into the photographs. Everything like timings and any group photographs you require can also be discussed.
References and Contract
A personal reference is always the best way of finding out a little bit more about your photographer, the way they work and the results they have achieved. The other important item is the contract. Find out when you pay the deposit and the final amount. Also get a description of the package you have ordered and the final costings. The other thing to check is the photographers cancellation policy and/or what happens if they are ill on the day.
This is great advice and I really hope it has helped you think about what you need to do and ask when making this very important decision. In the meantime if you want to organise a Genie for An Evening or see if we are free for On the Day Coordination just call or contact us. If you have a question you really want an answer to we would love to hear from you.
Until next time, happy planning.
Tags: Photographer, Supplier, Tips & Advice
This entry was posted on Thursday, October 1st, 2009 at 19:38 and is filed under Photographers, Real Weddings, Tips & Advice. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
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