CHOOSING A WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER

Wedding Photos last a lifetime so it’s essential to choose the perfect wedding photographer to suit your style and budget. But finding the right photographer is not that easy, it takes a lot of research and selection regarding professional skills, artistic style etc. So here are some criteria on choosing your photographer:

• What is your preferred style? Documentary, portraiture, fine art…depending on what is your chosen style, this will determine which photographer to hire. You should ask him/her to demonstrate some shots they have done, entire albums of previous couples and not just a selection of favorites. If a photographer does not show you a lot of samples, there could be a reason behind it!
• Read reviews from other Brides, check their website, check their Facebook/Twitter for any clients’comments, you may check with your venue, your florist or wedding planner if they have worked with that particular photographer before and what is their experience etc.
• Do your personalities match? You will be seeing a good bit of your photographer on the wedding day so you want someone who will get along with you and your Fiancé but who will also make your guests feel at ease. Set up in-person meetings with potential photographers who are available on your wedding date and be prepared to talk about your venue, your wedding style and what you envision for your photos (what moments you want photographed? who?, where?…). Ensure you ask if the photographer will have any assistant(s) on the day or if he/she will be on his/her own, this should be stipulated in your contract. If you feel the photographer is enthusiastic about shooting your wedding day, ask you a lot of questions and is a great listener, then you find a good photographer!
• Your budget will also determine who you choose as your photographer. Price of photographer could range from €500 to €10,000. It is best to check all packages offered to ensure this is what you want (what is the coverage and how many hours are included, how many prints, album included or not, any extras such as engagement shoot, parents’ album…)
• Ask your rights: The photographer owns the rights to all photos taken at the wedding, even the ones of you. and can use them for promotion purposes (on their website or blog, submit them for publication etc.). So, you cannot just post the digital proofs they send you, check with the photographers as they may have a strict policy that states only watermarked images or images with their credit on them can be shared. Also, if you want to print the images yourselves or order an album from another source, you may have to buy the rights to the images.