As digital camera equipment becomes more affordable, more
and more wedding photographers are coming on to the scene. If your pictures are
important to you, though, you're going to want to stick with a true
professional. How do you separate the good wedding photographers from the bad?
Here are some questions that you should ask every photographer you are
considering.
What is your education/training?
Not every great photographer has a degree in photography,
but it is a sign that you are on the right track. Consider the college the
degree is from as well, although two year art schools do turn out some good
photographers, a Bachelor's degree in Photography is preferred. You will at
least know that they can use their camera and compose a shot correctly. If they
do not have a degree, ask where and how they trained. Wedding photography is
not nearly as easy as it sounds, and some time under another professional gives
a photographer a good leg to stand on. Ask this question regardless of
experience, even if they have spent the last 10 years shooting weddings, it
does not mean they necessarily know how.
What are your professional affiliations?
If a photographer is a member of the PPA, or the
Professional Photographers of America, you can feel much more secure. Not only
does the PPA offer valuable training and certification, they also offer
insurance to all of their members, so if a tripod crashes through a stained
glass window at the ceremony, you know the damage is covered. The PPA is also a
great place to start your search for a photographer, they have a searchable
database on their website. You can also request certified photographers only
and know you are getting someone who has been trained and tested in their
craft.
Are you a traditional or photo journalistic photographer?
Traditional wedding shots are posed and formal. Photo
journalistic shots are more artistic and candid, very popular right now. Many
photographers specialize in both types of shots, frequently taking traditional
shots of the ceremony and photo journalistic shots of the reception. However,
if you would like both traditional and photo journalistic shots of the
ceremony, you will need to choose a studio who will send two photographers to
your wedding, at least to cover the ceremony. A note about photo journalistic
photographers: it is a very specialized art to get good photo journalistic
shots. A photographer must be good with his camera, quick with lighting and
able to compose a shot on the spot.
Who will be taking my pictures?
Ask this question especially if you are using a large studio
or popular photographer. Many times couples have thought they were paying for a
photographer with 20 years of experience only to find an intern fresh out of
school shooting their wedding. If you are looking for specialized shots that
require a certain piece of equipment, a fish eye lens, for example, make sure
that the photographer they are sending will have the necessary pieces and know
how to take the shots you want. It may be that you need to pay extra or find a
different photographer altogether.
Many wedding photographers have a wedding portfolio for you
to look through, a collection of the two or three best shots from each wedding
they've done. Especially if you are looking at a photo journalistic
photographer, this is not enough to make an informed decision. You will need to
see a full collection of wedding shots from one or two weddings to determine if
the photographer is truly talented or just get lucky with his shots every once
in a while. If the photographer does not have any former clients he can send
you to for references or produce a full wedding of proofs, it is probably
better for you to find someone who can rather than run the risk of only having
two or three good shots yourself.
Do you release the negatives?
Releasing the digital or film negatives may not be a big
deal to you, but it's still good to know. When a photographer releases
negatives to you, he is giving you permission to have the pictures reprinted
yourself. Some photographers charge an extra fee for this and release them
immediately, some hold on to the negatives for a year or so and then release
them to you. Some never release the negatives. If you are dealing with a newer
photographer, it might be a good idea to purchase the negatives in case the
photographer closes up shop sometime soon to ensure you can still get prints in
the event something should happen to your originals.
At which locations are you willing to take pictures?
Some photographers are strictly ceremony and reception,
while some are more willing to spend the day with you and get shots of the
pre-wedding preparations. There is also a great trend known as "park
hopping" where the wedding party will travel with the photographer from
one park to another taking outdoor formal shots in gorgeous locations before
going to the ceremony. You might also have specific locations you would want
your portraits taken, for example, in front of the restaurant where you had
your first date. If location shots are important to you, find out in advance if
the photographer is willing to travel before it's too late.
Are you able to shoot specific photos from a wish list?
Most photographers will have a checklist of classic wedding
shots that everyone expects to see among the proofs. You, however, may have
some shots that you want the photographer to take. Unless you want to spend
your wedding chasing around your photographer and tossing groups of people in
front of his camera, make sure he is willing to take your list of requested
shots and add them to his traditional list. You can assign a member of the
wedding party to the task of helping the photographer get these specific shots
and making sure they are being taken, but first assure yourself that the
photographer is willing to work with you.
Do you like this person?
Not a question you should ask, but something you should
consider. Your wedding photographer will be a big part of your wedding,
interacting with your wedding party and your guests. Is the photographer pushy?
Demanding? High maintenance? Unfriendly? How would you feel about having this
person as a coworker? You will need to work very closely with your
photographer, and if you feel the two of you have a personality conflict, save
yourself the stress and find someone you can work with. Spend enough time with
potential photographers to really get a feel for who they are and how they will
treat you and your guests at the wedding.
Your wedding pictures
will be a great reminder of your big day, and you want to find the best
photographer in your budget to make sure those memories are preserved.
Remember, it's your wedding, it's all about you, and don't be afraid to ask as
many questions as you need so the job gets done right.
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