What to Look for in your Wedding Photographer

What to look for in your wedding photographer

There can be a lot of confusion for the recently engaged couple on what to look for in their prospective wedding photographer. Questions can range from what the photographer will wear at the wedding to whether the photographer photographs with film or digital cameras. Planning a wedding can be a stressful and confusing process. The following guidelines will help soon-to-be brides and grooms make an informed and solid decision regarding the employment of a wedding photographer.

How important is a wedding photographer?

At the end of your wedding day, the things that are going to still be with you are your memories and, hopefully, beautiful wedding images that will help you relive those moments for the rest of your lives. Therefore, hiring a wedding photographer is can be compared to hiring a personal historian– someone who will help document and record the tears, the laughter and the joys of the day. Entrusting your memories to a professional wedding photographer may very well be the most important decision you make in all of your wedding planning. Therefore, all care should be taken in ensuring that the professional you select is talented, skilled and fully capable of delivering the finished product.

Finding the right wedding photographer

1. What style of photography to you like? Do you and your fiancé prefer a primarily photojournalistic and candid approach or is a more traditional style more to your liking? Would you like your photographer to perform extensive post-production to your images (such as color tinting a black and white photograph) or do you prefer a more organic enhancement of your images?

2. How many photographers do you want providing coverage of your wedding?

Many photographers bring second-shooters along to help cover the wedding. Other photographers prefer to work alone and feel confident in their abilities to provide full coverage of the wedding solo. Talk with your fiancé about your preferences and whether or not you want an assistant to accompany your photographer.

3. Are your negatives and/or digital files included in the package?

Many wedding photographers now include the negatives and high resolution digital files in their packages but there are a number of photographers who do not. If you’re working with a budget, you may want to look for photographers who offer the negatives and/or files as ordering prints from a photographer could cost you a lot of money.

4. What sort of photo album are you looking for?

Wedding albums range from the simple to the extravagant. Some photographers will offer a simple linen album that holds approximately 50 4x6 images. Other options are Flush Mount albums or Coffee Book Table albums. These albums can cost anywhere from $600 to $2000. Review your photographer’s samples of wedding albums and talk about what you’re looking for.

Remember, being informed gives you the tools to make a good decision about your wedding photographer. Knowing what you’re looking for before starting your wedding photographer search will save you a lot of time and help you be confident that you’ve made the right decision.