How To Choose a Photographer


This is probably the first time you have had to hire a photographer for an event and the first question a bride will ask is, "How much do you charge?" Of course with today's economy price is a huge factor but here are a few other things to consider when hiring someone to photograph one of the most important days in your life.

1. When you first contacted the photographer either via phone or email, did they answer or get back to you within a timely manner?
2. Was the photographer friendly and eager to help you?
3. If you set up a consultation, was the photographer on time and prepared for your visit?
4. Did the photographer have plenty of sample albums with FULL weddings in them to show you? This is extremely important as anyone can get a great shot now and then so I would be a bit worried if they do not have complete weddings in their albums from start to finish.
5. How long have they been in business and how many weddings have they done? This is critical. When we have trained our photographers they are required to shoot at least a full year of back up just so they can have enough things go wrong that they know how to fix it quickly and not get off track. Sophisticated equipment can be tricky and shooting weddings is one of the more challenging situations due to the lighting conditions. From churches who do not allow flash to harsh sun in the outdoor weddings it is important to have the right equipment and know how to shoot in those situations to get the best results.
6. Lastly, you will be spending more time with the photographer than anyone else on your wedding day so it is important that you have a great rapport with them and your personalities match.

If all 6 of these items fit your expectations, the next step is to look at products and pricing. In this market you can probably find a photographer from $500 to $5000. Most clients will fall somewhere in the middle. A good photographer will work within the client's budget to the best of their ability. It is recommended to be up front with your photographer and tell them how much you have to spend on photography and what you would like as far as products and services, this way they can create a package fit specifically for you.