Wedding Photographers
Booking a wedding photographer should be one of your top priorities. How do you find the perfect wedding photographer to best suit you? There are a few things you need to know before you begin looking.
First you need to decide what kind of photos you want; black and white, portrait, candids, etc. If you want a mix of photos, make sure the photographer is willing to mix it up. You can also hire multiple photographers, if it is in your budget.
Black-and-white photography is very popular for wedding days. It gives everything a touch of elegance. Also, everything just tends to look better. However, you don't want all of your wedding photos to be black-and-white. You want to remember the beautifully colored bouquets and centerpieces you had, or how pretty the wedding colors in the wedding party were. If you chose to do black-and-white, make sure you get a good amount in color as well!
In this day and age, a lot of photographers shoot with a digital rather than film. The advantage of using digital is that everything can be re-touched and the photographer can also see the picture right when it is taken. Colors can be added to the photos as well before prints are developed. Photographers who use film do have very good quality pictures, although they tend to be more expensive. Also, it takes longer to get them on to a computer, as they have to be individually scanned. Film photography is a timeless tradition, so some couples still opt to go this route.
Next you need to decide how many photographers you need. If you have over 150 guests, it is a good idea to have a few photographers. If you want the whole day captured, from the bride and groom getting ready, through the ceremony, to the end of the reception, more than one photographer should be booked.
Now that you have decided the style of photography and the number of photographers you need, it is time to start looking. Check out the photographer's website and review their photos. Meet with a couple of your top choices. You want to get to know their personality, as you will be working with them. Make sure to view a large sample of their work when you meet with them. There are some very important questions you need to ask a photographer when meeting with them:
-How long have you been in business?
-How many weddings do you book in a year?
-How many photos will you take of the wedding party and how many candids?
-How will the photos be delivered?
-What is the charge for any extra hours?
-What is included in the price of your services?
- Is the film included? Proofs? Album? Number of pictures? Make sure you get this in writing so you know exactly what you are getting.
A few other tips. You may want to ask what they generally wear to weddings. You don't want a photographer showing up in jeans to a traditional, elegant wedding. Make sure you review a cancellation policy, and also ask for a back-up plan if the photographer has an emergency and can't make it. Also, it is good to check out references to make sure the photographer is reliable.
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If the price is getting a little too high and out of your budget, the first step is to scale back on the number of hours. Having the photographer there for every element of the wedding is nice, but it adds up. Have a friend or family member who is good with photos shoot some pictures.
A couple weeks before your wedding it is a good idea to check-in with the photographer again. You'll want to go over a schedule of the wedding day for the photographer. Make sure to give the photographer a break! Also, make a list of different photos/people/moments that you want shot and make sure the photographer agrees to this. Take a look at the photographers online albums and look at what other couples had photographed, it will give you some good ideas.
Some important events during your ceremony that you will want to make sure your photographer captures are the wedding party's entrance, this includes the flower girls and ring bearers, bridesmaids and groomsmen, maid of honor and best man, and of course the bride in her lovely wedding gown and the groom in his tuxedo. A picture of the couple exchanging vows in front of the officiant will also be very nice. During the reception, make sure you photographers capture the bride and groom's entrance and first dance, the wedding guests, the bouquet toss, and of course the cake.
Often, photographers will be able to recommend vendors from working with them at previous weddings, such as videographers, DJ's/Musicians, and caterers. These vendors also may have connections with hairstylists, transportation services and bakers. So don't be afraid to ask if you trust your photographer!
Maintain a good relationship with your photographer throughout the process. You don't want to be on bad terms with the person who is shooting your wedding. They don't want to be treated like dirt. If you follow these guidelines, you should end up with some great wedding photos!
Here are some terms you should know when meeting with a photographer:
-Sepia: A brown tone to the photo, to give it an older feel.
-Fish-eye: A wide lens, that creates wide images
-Candid: Photos that aren't posed
-Portraits: Posed photos
-Table shot: Photos each table to capture the guests
Wedding Photography
for your Wedding. By connecting you with local wedding photographers you will be able to choose your photographer based on the budget, location, date, and requirements of your wedding. With Wedding.com local wedding photographers will submit you bids and you and sit back and review their wedding photography. With traditional sites you are forced call numerous vendors and try to coordinate their schedules with your existing vendors.