Every couple that wants to be married has their own ideas of what they want in a wedding photographer. Some couples are looking for a professional, while others just need someone to capture the moments. No matter which type you’re looking for, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. But how do you choose the right person?
In this article I’ll give you some tips on choosing your wedding photography. It’s important to understand the different types of photographers out there so that you can narrow down your search and find the right fit. After all, you will have hundreds of photos to look at when you get home, but if you don’t know what to expect or who you should hire, it won’t make much difference.
Step 1 – Determine What Type Of Service You Need
One of the first things to decide is whether you need a professional or amateur. There are pros and cons to each category, but the most important thing is that you understand what you’re getting into. Amateur photographers tend to take more pictures, often shooting the exact same shots over and over again (and sometimes taking up to 4 hours to shoot a single wedding). On the other hand, professional photographers may not always take as many pictures, but they have better lighting, focus and composition skills and will likely edit your photos down to a few favorites.
Step 2 – Decide How Much You Want To Pay
This step is really up to you and depends on how much money you have available. If you’re willing to spend $500-$1000 dollars for your wedding day images, then hiring an experienced pro is definitely worth it. But if you’re planning a small ceremony with only a handful of guests and you just want a casual photo session, then an amateur photographer is usually the way to go. However, if you want professional quality pics, you might also consider hiring a videographer.
Step 3 – Figure Out Your Budget
The next step is to determine how much you can afford to pay. This depends mostly on the number of people attending your wedding and the amount of time you want for your photos. If you’re having 100 guests and you want a professional photographer, you could easily spend $1500-$2500. If you only have 30 friends and want to save money, you can probably go with an amateur. The average price for a wedding photographer is about $250.
If you’re on a strict budget, try asking family members and friends if they know anyone who does weddings for free or cheap (just keep in mind that not everyone will answer your call, especially if you’re calling after 11pm on a weeknight). And if all else fails, you can always ask your officiant to recommend a friend or acquaintance.
Step 4 – Ask Questions
When you contact photographers, you’ll probably get lots of questions. This is normal. Just remember that you don’t need to commit to every question until you’ve talked to several photographers. Try to get answers to these 5 questions before you meet with any photographers:
- What types of lenses do you use?
- Are you available during our event date?
- How long have you been doing this type of work?
- Do you offer retouching services?
- What kind of pricing structure do you follow?
Step 5 – Meet With Photographers & Get Reviews
Now that you’ve narrowed down your list of potential photographers, it’s time to meet them in person. Before you do, take a look at their portfolio online and see if you like the style. You’ll also want to make sure that the photographer has enough experience and knowledge to handle your particular needs. Look for reviews from previous clients and ask to see samples of how they edited photos.
When you meet with your photographer, ask him/her about his/her background, education, training and years of experience. Also ask about insurance, payment terms, editing and retouching options, and delivery dates. Most importantly, make sure that you feel comfortable with the photographer. If he/she seems like a jerk, you may want to reconsider.
Once you’ve met with a few photographers, you can start comparing notes and finding out what works best for you. You may even want to go with two or three different photographers to ensure that you end up with the right combination of skills and personality.
Step 6 – Choose Your Favorite Images
Now that you’ve picked your favorite images, it’s time to pick the best one. Don’t worry–you don’t have to pick the perfect image! All you need to do is pick your top five favorites. Then compare them using the following criteria:
1) Do you love the look of both the images?
2) Do you think they match your venue and theme?
3) Which one has the most emotion?
4) Which one captures the “essence” of your wedding day?
5) Is it clear where each shot was taken?
6) Does it tell a story?
Remember that you’re not trying to choose the best picture ever; you’re just trying to figure out which ones you like the best. Once you’ve decided, put them aside until after the wedding. That way, you won’t accidentally select the wrong photo or forget to pick a favorite by accident.
Once your wedding is over, you can now go back through and choose your favorite photographs. Remember to look carefully at details in the shots, such as the flowers, jewelry or hair styles. Then, look closely at the background too. Are there interesting objects or elements in the scene that you didn’t notice before? Maybe the bride is wearing a necklace or bracelet that you thought was plain white in another photo.
If you can’t decide between two photos, ask yourself why. Was something distracting in one photo that wasn’t present in the other? Were the backgrounds different? Did you see something unusual or unique about the people in the photograph?
If nothing stands out, then you probably aren’t going to care about either one. But if you did happen upon a photo that you really liked, you’ll want to be sure to add it to your favorites list. As you continue to look through the photos, you’ll begin to see patterns emerge. For example, if you loved the bride’s smile in one photo but hated her hair in another, you’ll probably want to remove those images from consideration.
So, now that you’ve chosen your favorite images, go ahead and print them out. It’s a good idea to keep them in a folder with your wedding album so that you’ll have a place to store them when you’re ready to display them on your walls.
These are some crucial steps that will help a person to hire the reliable professional photographers. Most of the people rely on wedding photographers Hunter Valley as they have the main motive to serve the people. In the long run also people can make good money. A person can do the complete research and look for the providers with the quality of the services.
Choosing a wedding photographer is a big decision, but hopefully, all of the steps above will help you find the right person for the job. Good luck!
