Before You Hire a Wedding Photographer
Your wedding is one of the most important days of your life! Before you hire a photographer, know who you are hiring.
When you meet with a photographer, ask to make sure it’s their images you are actually viewing. Also, ask who will be the actual photographer at your wedding. If not the person you are meeting with, request a meeting with the individual responsible for documenting your wedding and make sure you preview their work. Make sure the contract states who in fact will be the photographer at your wedding. Many companies double book wedding dates and send less than qualified people to photograph.
If your photographer includes the negatives, ask if you are given a copyright release. Also, find out when you will receive your negatives. Some studios wait up to a year to release them to their clients. Make sure it is also stated in the contract.
References? Kind of a joke if you think about it. Anyone can write great stuff about themselves and put it on their website and indicate it’s from a previous client. The best method to find out about your photographer is word of mouth. Websites like theknot.com have message boards and you can get info about almost every vendor in your area. The best part is, it’s unsolicited testimonials. The vendor has no idea who will be replying to your inquiry. Otherwise, you have no idea who you are actually calling or emailing if they supply you with references.
Previews are always fun to view after your wedding. However, you should know what you are getting. If your photographer is digital, chances are they photograph several hundred more images than someone who photographs on film. If a package includes all images proofed, then you may not be getting all the wonderful wedding images. Studios that proof every image tend to eliminate a lot of wonderful wedding images since they don’t want the additional cost of printing them. Studios that limit the amount of proofs in your package tend to give their clients several more images because they already know their cost for printing your previews and it’s up to the client to select which images will get printed. Previews or “proofs” are the actual 4×6 or 3×5 photographic print. An “image” is in reference to the digital or film negative.
Is your photographer / studio an actual licensed business? Photography is a very easy business to get into. A person just has to buy a camera, print a business card and they think they’re a photographer. Check with the state to verify that your photographer is a licensed business. Businesses that are licensed are probably not a “fly by night” business. Also, is your photographer a part-time photographer? Would you hire a part-time lawyer to defend you in court or do you want someone who works in the industry every day and has a lot of experience? It’s your wedding. You make the call.
Does it seem to good to be true? If a photographer is offering everything but the moon and only charging $395, you better do a little research. First ask yourself why they are desparate for business to practically give themselves away and greatly under value their work. Also, it may be an indication that they are just doing photography on the side. Be cautious when you’re shopping for the best deal. Also, really look at the quality of the work. Can your Uncle Bob take the same quality of pictures with his point-n-shoot camera? If quality isn’t a big concern for you, then there are several cheap photographers out there that will fit your needs just fine.
Does your photographer belong to any national, state or local professional organizations? Belonging to an organization such as the Phoenix Professional Photographers Association doesn’t mean that someone offers the best service, but it does indicate that they are dedicated to the profession. Belonging to organizations such as the PPPA usually indicates an interest in growing their knowledge in photography and continually learning better ways to run their business and treat their clients properly.
Contingency plan! Does your photographer have one of these? What happens if your photographer drops dead? Who will be photographing your wedding? Who is your next point of contact with their business in the event of an emergency?
Is your photographer offering you a wedding day DVD? Here’s a catch. It may expire! Some businesses will do a sample wedding DVD for you but it may only run for 15 or 30 days. If you want a fully functioning version, it may cost a couple hundred dollars or more. Verify that if a DVD presentation is in your package, that it’s a fully functioning version. If it isn’t, find out how much it will cost.
Follow your instinct. If you don’t feel comfortable with a person you interview to photograph your wedding, don’t hire them. Sometimes personalities just don’t “click”. There’s nothing wrong with that. Make sure whoever you hire to photograph your wedding is someone you can work with. Most importantly, if you feel someone is being pushy or trying to get you to sing a contract right away, there may be something wrong. Not always, but why should they put you on the spot to commit that day?
These are just a few things to consider. Shortly we will have more info available. Please share this info with your friends around the country who are getting married. These guidelines apply in every market. Feel free to contact us with questions.
Happy wedding!
Shawn Reimers
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