So if you're reading this, you probably already know that hiring a wedding photographer is a big decision. For us and our teeny-tiny wedding it was the second most expensive thing in our budget (food and venue rental being the first). I, of course, was in love with the idea of capturing the whole day. And at the same time, I was gripped with anxiety over making the right decision. If you don't get it right, there are no do-overs. So obviously, you want to have confidence in the person (or persons) you hire to take your wedding photographers. Even though I'm not someone who sits down and looks at the wedding album every day, and even though there are things I would change about some of my experience with our photographer, I still love the way our pictures turned out.
The internet has definitely made it easier to look at portfolios, get an idea of price ranges in your area, and to get inspiration for photo style. After initially going through a ton of websites and thinking yeah, I love this person's style, or out of my price range, or yikes! Is it 1987? I picked a few photographers to pursue further. Here are some of the questions I found helpful in narrowing down potential photographers:
- How long have you been photographing weddings?
- What is your training? Do you belong to any professional associations?
- How would you describe your style?
- Do you shoot in color, black and white, or a mixture of both?
- Do you have different wedding packages available? What is included?
- How many hours will you be there on the wedding day? How much are extra hours?
- How many photographers will be shooting? Will you be one of them?
- Is an engagement session included?
- Is retouching included? On how many photos?
- Have you shot at our venue before? How did that go?
- How will you (and your assistants, if applicable) be dressed on the wedding day?
- Do you shoot digital or on film?
- Will I receive the negatives/digital full resolution files? If not, what is the charge for this?
- Can I speak to other brides whose weddings you have photographed?
- Can I see a proof book? (This means all the photos a photographer took during a wedding, not just a finished album--getting a look at how they approach a wedding will give you an idea of whether or not your ideas are compatible)
- Do you have backup equipment of the same type and quality as your regular equipment?
- What happens if you are ill on the wedding day?
- Can others take photos while you are taking photos?
- How many photos will you take over the course of the day? How many rolls?
- How long after the wedding can I expect to have the finished photos? How many are included?
Our wedding was out-of-town, so travel expenses became a factor in our budget as well. Many photographers also offer extra products like photo thank-you cards, or different styles of bound albums, or enlarged photo prints, or just about anything you can think of. And proofs are often available really soon after the wedding--many photographers let couples log into a secure area on their website to get a sneak peek.
Of course, finding a wedding photographer with all the "right" answers doesn't necessarily guarantee that s/he will be a perfect match for you. The photographer's personality must be a good fit as well, because a couple who's uncomfortable with their photographer will probably look uncomfortable in their photos.
I did check out craigslist and kijiji as well for new or student photographers--I was determined to have our wedding come in under budget, and as an artist myself I was drawn to the idea of giving someone a break. The person we ended up hiring took great photos, but ended up having a little too good of a time at our reception--hence there aren't a ton of photos of our family at the reception (which was pretty disappointing at the time). We did get great shots of getting ready, and the bridal party, and the ceremony, and the photos really capture the spirit of the day.
What advice do you have about hiring a photographer? I'd be interested in hearing other people's experiences--good and bad.
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