As a wedding photographer, I am writing this post to help you in selecting a photographer for your happy day!
1. Before contacting any photographer individually, scope out 5-7 photographers in the area
Google, Facebook, and Instagram are great resources to get a list of potential photographers started. Be mindful on Google if the website says “Ad”, it means that company is paying for that spot, it’s not bad for a photographer to advertise, it’s just important that you know whether that photographer shows up at the top based on organic search results or if they are paying to be near the top. Check out their reviews, both good and bad to make sure there isn’t a pattern of recent negative reviews.
2. Rank your priorities
This can be done on a simple sheet of paper, some parameters may be budget, products, photographer personality, image quality, or any other parameters that are important to you. You can choose 5 parameters and rank them 1-5. You may wonder “personality”?? What does that have to do with anything. The photographer is going to spend the whole day within a few feet of the bride and groom, it’s important to consider if your personalities mesh. Plus, you may be communicating with them a year or 2 years before your wedding and have a lot to discuss and plan before the wedding day. Once you have spoken or met with the photographer, you can see how they match up with your priority list.
3. Have a budget in mind
I believe clients should have their own range of budget in mind, not “oh I love this photographer, I will find a way to pay for it” If you do find a photographer you really like that is out of your budget, you don’t have to rule them out, just ask if they would be willing to negotiate. It’s a give and take, so you may have to give up a 2nd shooter, some hours, or products, but it may be worth it to you if you really want them there. If a photographer doesn’t list their exact price on the website, reach out and ask them for that information. They may want to have a conversation with you to explain their pricing, but everyone should be happy to provide you with transparent pricing information.
4. Compare the nitty gritty and “not so fun” stuff
How many hours does the package include, engagement session, digital files, second photographer? Does the photographer have backup equipment in case something happens the day of, do they carry liability insurance, are the images backed up in case the photographer’s hard drive fails? I am in several professional photography groups, and these horror stories are few and far between, but they still happen.
To sum it all up, do some thinking on what you are really looking for. After all, the photographer should conform to your big day, not the other way around.
I am an open book when it comes to all these things, so even if you don’t hire me, I’d love to discuss this with you further!
Helping people is in my blood, and I hope this blog has helped you in some way.
Warmest Regards,
Logan Clark