Choosing your Wedding Photographer

/

When I assist my clients with finding a photographer, I am repeatedly surprised by the different experiences each interview presents. So here's the rundown on what I feel you should be looking for:

The Good
I love wedding photographers who:

  • have a studio/office - you just feel better handing over thousands of your hard-earned dollars when the person is obviously a well-established professional

  • prepare a presentation - they show you images from weddings they've done at your venue, they walk you through their process without being asked, they ask specific questions to learn more about your wedding. They might even show you "before" and "after" images so that you can get a feel for their editing style

  • are focused on the client, not on themselves. We don't want to hear about which venues have their images on display - I know that those venues will display as many images as they can, so this is not an honor. Same goes with magazines they've paid to be included in as advertisers. Instead, they should find out if you have a special spot where you'd love to do your engagement session (and if you even want/need an engagement session), and how you feel about posed shots vs. candid, is there a special loved one that you want to be sure to get pictures with.... You want to be assured that the photographer knows the wedding is about YOU, not about them.

  • edit ALL images. And I'm not talking about batch color-correcting, I'm talking about going through all 800 images and making sure each image is one that makes them proud. Take out the electrical wires, or sweat on the bride's brow. I had a client whose grandfather passed just a couple of months after the wedding. The most recent professional picture of the grandfather was taken by the photographer at her wedding, so they chose to create a large print for the funeral. Because the client had hired a photographer who edited every image, they had a beautiful picture of their grandfather. You want ALL of your images edited, not just those you choose for your albums/prints.

  • give you reprint rights. Most photographers do this, but it's still important to ask. You want a photographer who gives you all of your images on disc, with reprint rights so that you can print as many and as often as you'd like, without having to go through the photographer or a specific lab.

  • keep your images in archive forever. One of my 2005 brides' house was struck by lightening a few years after their wedding. One of the most devastating losses of the tragedy was the loss of the items that couldn't be replaced. I contacted her wedding photographer and videographer and both were able to provide discs. Her memories hadn't been lost.

  • show you a recent, complete wedding (proofs) from start to finish, preferably shot at your venue.

The Bad
I avoid photographers who:

  • don't include a second-shooter in their package. There's no way one photographer can capture everything that happens at a wedding. Having a second-shooter doubles the chance that those unexpected moments will be captured. Bonus points if the second-shooter is the opposite gender of the primary shooter - the groomsmen will act differently around a female photographer than they will with a male photographer, so it's great to have both options available.

  • want to meet at Starbucks. We can't hear what they're saying over the noise of the frappuccino machine. :P Meeting at their house isn't much better... it makes my clients feel awkward and, again, doesn't communicate professionalism.

  • take longer than 6-8 weeks to show you your images. You'll be so anxious to see your wedding pictures!

  • are divas. Some photographers have rules like that nobody else is allowed to take pictures at your wedding. I understand the reasoning, but it's just not realistic to expect you to tell Grandma that she can't use the disposable camera she bought just for your wedding. Let Grandma take her pictures. :) Again, the wedding is not about the photographer - they're just there to capture the celebration that is all about YOU and your friends/families.

The Ugly
I am horrified by photographers who:

  • drink on the job! It is not acceptable for any of your vendors to drink 1) while working and 2) on your tab. It's tacky and extremely unprofessional, regardless of how much you may like the vendor. They can't be expected to do their best work if they're at the bar. Not ok.

  • dress flashy. You want your photographer to be as discreet as possible on the wedding day. Be sure to ask what they typically wear at weddings like yours.

  • distribute business cards at weddings (unless asked, of course. If someone asks for their business card, then by all means!). You've paid them to be there and to work for you, they should not be treating your wedding like a bridal show - their focus shouldn't be to solicit more business.

  • don't look at our itinerary. A good photographer recognizes that they're part of a bigger picture. They work with me to make sure we've scheduled enough time for the shots they want/need, because they don't want the reception to be delayed and food to get cold because the post-ceremony formals are taking longer than planned. Will your photographer work with your coordinator to keep your event on-track?

Super puffy hearts
There are a few photographers who go above and beyond, and I love them! They do things such as:

  • post teaser shots on their blog within a few days of the wedding. How fun would it be for you to be able to see a few pro photos while still on your honeymoon!

  • include at least 8 hours in their package.

  • attend the rehearsal to meet the key players and scope out the best photo opps.

  • provide discs of images for both sets of parents

  • cover location fees imposed by facilities where you really want to have your engagement/bridal session

  • automatically send me images from our weddings so that I can share their work with my clients.

  • regularly update images on their website and choose images that truly reflect their style (I have some great photojournalistic photographers that I work with but looking at their websites, you'd think they focused on posed shots).

Now, I don't know of a photographer that meets ALL of the above wishes, but some come awfully darn close. It's up to you to choose which things are and are not important to you.
Overall, you want to make sure your photographer not only has a style and price that fit your needs, but that their personality is a good fit with yours. You will spend more one-on-one time with your photographer than any other person on your wedding day, and if they start to annoy you, it will have a negative impact on your entire day. Make sure that you LIKE your photographer - they should be the kind of person you'd invite to your wedding as a guest.

I have worked with some amazing, wonderful photographers, and would love the opportunity to work with them again. Be sure to talk to your coordinator about the photographer who's best for you! And meet with those we suggest - don't leave such an important decision to what you see on a website.

Happy planning!
jessica :)