Wedding Photography Advice and Frequently Asked Questions.
It's a very important decision choosing the right Wedding Photographer for your wedding. This is simply because if you don't like the way the Photographer acts on the day and / or you don't like the resulting photographs you cannot rerun the wedding with someone better.
So how can you minimise the risks of choosing the wrong Wedding Photographer?
Well
after many years in the business I have collected some of the questions
you need to ask and important considerations to make before you book your wedding photographer. I hope that they are useful
to you and please don't hesitate to ask me anything I haven't covered.
Happy Hunting! Paul.
- Get
to know your Wedding Photographer.
Your Photographer's professionalism
and personality is actually very important. If you get on well
you will feel more comfortable and relaxed on the big day. It
also helps you to judge how your photographer will act with your
family and friends and what if something goes wrong?. A friendly,
organised, outgoing person will add to the fun of the day whereas
a bossy, nervous or inexperienced person could ruin it. Stories
you may have heard of photographers upsetting guests with loud-hailers,
whistles and barked orders are unfortunately true as are those
of Photographers taking ages and boring your guests.
- Will
the Photographer delegate to an assistant on the day?
You
would be amazed to know how many Photographers send an assistant
to your wedding because he is trying to do 2 or even 3 weddings
on the same day! The problem is that there is nothing you can
do about it because it is too late. Always check this before you
book and get it in writing if you are not convinced. I attend
all my customers' weddings as the lead Photographer with a professional
assistant.
- How
much of the Photographer's portfolio should you review first?
It's important not to just see highlights of many weddings but
to see at least one wedding in full so that you can see the quality
of the service as a whole. Anyone can produce a handful of great
shots out of 300 on a digital camera but only an experienced professional
will create top quality images from start to finish.
- What
kind of equipment back-up and insurance is necessary?
Again
it's the difference between a professional outfit and a part-time
or amateur set-up. A wedding is an one-off special and unrepeatable
event so your Photographer needs at least 2 back-up cameras,replacement
lenses, spare batteries, cards and accessories so that no matter
what system fails (and they do) the wedding is not interrupted
or spoilt in any way. Your Photographer should have full professional
Photographers insurance including Public and Products Liability.
- What
if it rains or something goes wrong?
Your Photographer should
either be familiar with the venue or have checked it out in advance
of the wedding day. Not only rain but high winds, freezing cold
winter days as well as ultra bright summers days cause allsorts
of issues for achieving great photos whilst keeping your guests
comfortable. Experience is what you are looking for again. Ask
about how these would be dealt with. I have known Vicars forget
the wedding whilst watching cricket, best men forget their trousers,
Wedding Cars break down, rooms being double booked etc., and so
it's important your Photographer is calm, in control and can help
the Bride, Groom and guests through the little hiccups with the
least possible fuss.
- Should
I make a list of photos?
A concise list of key shots is always
a good idea to discuss in advance of the wedding and these can
be blended into the whole shoot with ease. A long list on the
day usually causes difficulties and delays as it interrupts the
natural flow of the Wedding which can become subservient to the
list!
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