Wedding Photographer - Be Cautious On - Prices

Because the first meeting with a wedding photographer usually raises many questions, I decided to offer 10 tips so that couples will know what to pay attention to without wasting valuable time in selecting their photographer.

1) Always speak to the photographer in person.

Personal contact is of the utmost importance. The photographer is essentially a guest who is there to record the wedding. You can’t have the photographer spoil your moment by shouting, “Look at me!” or “Move out of the way”, as they used to do in the old days. Other problems you might notice include issues of personal hygiene, inappropriate dress, negative energy or a tendency to complain.

2) As to the technical aspects – ask to see samples of his work.

You should ask questions about the photographer’s experience. It’s a good idea to get feedback from other couples who have already worked with him and check out who recommends him (websites, brochures etc.). It is equally important to know what you’re paying for. Do you choose a cheaper photographer just so you can have a dozen photos to remember your wedding or would you prefer something better for these occasions that stay with you for a lifetime? But what exactly is “cheap” or “expensive”? You can get a better idea about the relationship between quality and price by doing a little market research based on the budget a couple is working with. If you see big differences in prices, it doesn’t necessarily mean one of the two is trying to con you. Take, for example, bargain basement products. No one really believes that buying a name brand means being tricked because the same item may be marked down 80% at discount stores. It just means that the name brand has more to offer in terms of quality and durability. For photographers, that means more experience, quality equipment, respect for the couple, time devoted to selecting and editing photos, reliability, photo and presentation quality, personal attitude, creativity, business premises and many other parameters that unfortunately most couples ignore or are not aware of until it’s too late.

3) Business premises.

You should always select a photographer with some kind of studio or office so you know where you can go if something goes wrong and no one seems to be answering the phone!

4) After all of the above, we get to the heart of the matter. Services and price.

Service is related to the price you pay: conventional album or digital, printed photos, delivery time, retouching, web gallery, photo negatives and a whole series of services that modern photography demands.

5) Digital albums. This is a major chapter in contemporary wedding photography. It includes the selection of photos and the way they are presented: interior layout, selection of a cover, number of double-page spreads, type of paper and laminated pages, among other things. It’s a good idea at this point to ask the photographer if you’ll be allowed to have input into the creative aspect of an album.

6) Video.

This is altogether different from photography and it’s a good idea to select them separately. The photographer may be able to recommend a videographer you can contact in person so you can evaluate the work yourself.

7) Suggestions and tips for the day of the wedding.

This is another important chapter in photography. The result is something you will have to look at forever after and unfortunately for you, it is all up to the photographer. The best thing to do is to ask him for advice on makeup, hair-styling and lighting, and discuss what kinds of photos you would like of the actual ceremony and of your subsequent movements in the church (greeting guests, bonbonnieres, inside and outside the church, etc.) and the reception venue.

8 ) Payment methods.

The right photographer always requires an advance payment and will sign an agreement with you to secure both your rights: yours by firming up the date and the services in terms of time and materials you’ll be getting and his in terms of reserving the date and outlining his collaboration with you.

9) Always make an appointment and spend some time with the photographer.

Part of the service that a photographer provides can’t be quantified, including coverage time, time

spent on selecting and editing photos, the way he moves around during the ceremony and the suggestions he makes about poses, locations, albums and so on. That’s why it’s a good idea to take full advantage of your meeting with him to let him know exactly what you want and how you want it and give him a chance to explain how he works and how he expresses himself, such as whether he’s fashion-based or more of a photojournalist.

10) Mood.

That is the most important of all – you and your mood, the way you perceive these moments and how you would like to express them. That is what your guests will see and ultimately what will be recorded by the camera so you can remember it for the rest of your life.

More wedding photography tips for couples