One of the more expensive costs involved in planning a wedding is when you are looking to hire a professional wedding photographer. A good wedding photographer is one that can capture the best moments of the wedding. Not only will they be focused on you, your groom and the bridal party, they will also be skilled enough to catch some of the more candid shots of your guests too! When your wedding is all said and done, the photos will more than likely be the one keepsake that you can reminisce over for years to come. It can be tempting to skimp on this part of the wedding and to devote more of the wedding budget to something else, but remember: if you hire an amateur, you will probably get amateur results.
We understand how difficult it can be to hire a wedding photographer, especially one you can trust and afford, so we’ve complied a list of things to consider before signing on the dotted line.
Always meet them in person
This way you can see what their personality is like and if they are someone you can ultimately see working with on your wedding day. Get to know their process for taking photos and make sure they have a passion for this career!
View their past work
You can easily find out what type of pictures you will end up with by the type of photos they have taken of other weddings in the past. When you describe your wedding to the photographer, they should be able to find a similar wedding they have done to show and demonstrate their style of photography. Pay attention to the different poses he or she uses when photographing the bride, groom and the wedding party, then make a note of which ones you liked. Looking through the photos of other weddings they’ve done will also give you an idea of how adaptable they are to different venues and locations.
Ask about the equipment they use and if they have an assistant
If their equipment fails the day of your wedding, do they have backup equipment in place to make sure you get the quality pictures you want for your wedding? A true professional will have other equipment and a backup plan in case of an emergency. Also, ask if they have an assistant. While an assistant can help move the process along and keep things organized the day of, sometimes they are an added cost. It’s also a good idea to ask if they use film, digital or both.
Photo packages
Find out what they are willing to take pictures of and what the additional costs are. Some photographers are more than willing to take photos for events other than the day of. Ask what is all included in the package they provide and if other smaller events like engagement photos, a groomsmen golf outing or a bridesmaid luncheon can be bundled together.
Get their commitment in writing
Finally, when you have all the details squared away, get a written contract signed by both parties to avoid the risks that can come with planning such a large event. Outline what you want and have the photographer provide an itemized list of what everything costs. Make sure both you and the photographer have a clear understanding on when payments are due and when the finished photos will be delivered.
We hope these few tips will have you on your way to hiring an amazing wedding photographer who will produce amazing photos for you to look back on for years to come!
photo credit: slightly everything via photopin cc
