Nor has there ever been anything written that gives you, the bride, a true guideline as to how to select the one person who could supply you with a heart full of memories to last a lifetime. I have, therefore, compiled a list of in-depth questions that you may want to explore to help select the photographer who is right for you. Think about them and get answers before placing your trust and faith in someone who might later disappoint you with results that are less than what you had hoped to receive. No one knows better than I what is going on in the wedding photography industry today. I have been a wedding photographer, myself, for the last forty years. I have been influencing wedding photography all over the world for the last twenty years through my seminars and publications. I really know the business from the INSIDE OUT! And I want to share it with you here...in the hopes that you will once and for all learn how to be an educated shopper for wedding photography. Start Here First of all, undoubtedly the best way a bride has to pre-judge the competency of a wedding photographer is to have a recommendation from someone whose opinion she trusts. If she has ore than one recommendation, that is even better...especially if the same photographer’s name comes from different sources. Then, a phone call is appropriate. The telephone conversation should begin with the availability of the studio to cover the wedding on the specific date. You should also learn the name of the photographer who would be doing the actual pictures, and at least a rough estimate of the costs involved. An appointment should be made to meet with the photographer who will be assigned to your wedding, see his work and discuss the details. Without doubt, this meeting should include the bride and groom as well as the bride’s parents...or however many of these people in attendance it would be virtually impossible to come to any conclusions that would effectively work for all the principle parties involved. The 2nd-Best Man/Woman at the Wedding At the meeting, the first assessment you should make is whether you feel comfortable in the presence of the photographer. If you are going to spend a good part of the most important day of your life with this person, it should be someone with whom you know you will enjoy sharing that time. Then, I feel that you should see some of the photographer’s work. If you see a picture, or a series of pictures, that you really like, you should ask: 1. Who are these people? 2. Did you, personally, take these photographs? 3. May I call these people for a personal reference? After all, it is one thing to see some beautiful pictures, but it is equally important to find out if the bride and groom ENJOYED working with this photographer. It is also a way of knowing that the photographs you are being shown were actually made by the person you are speaking to. You want to be sure that the work you are admiring was made by the photographer who will be at your wedding. Another result of this meeting could be to allow you and your photographer to begin a one-on-one relationship. In that way, neither of you would be strangers to each other on the day of the wedding, and you will be more relaxed in front of the camera. Now the Fun Begins For the most part, when prospective clients come to my studio, their questions pertain to prices, sizes and numbers. I have often felt that the reason for this is that they have never thought to consider some of the more important questions, such as: 4. How do you feel about the bride and groom not wanting to see each other before the ceremony? What are the alternatives? How will the various plans effect us on the day of the wedding? 5. Do you have any goals for approaching each wedding? Any long-term goals for yourself as a person, as a photographer? 6. How long do you expect to be with us on the day of the wedding? Beginning at what time? Until when? Is there an extra charge if the wedding runs a little overtime? 7. Whom would you include in the photographs? Where and when would they be taken? 8. What can I do to help you perform your duties to the best of your ability? See A WHOLE Wedding If you are still interested in the photographer’s services at this point, I would ask to see a complete coverage of a single wedding. That is a lot more important than seeing a selection of beautiful highlights from many different weddings. When looking through the album, evaluate the work by placing yourself in the position that this could have been YOUR wedding coverage. Ask yourself if the photographer has actually considered the individual characteristics and personality of each of the persons in the photographs to come up with these pictures. Then, you might follow up with some of the following: 9. Considering my facial features, physical attributes in general, what angles of my face would you consider to be better than others? 10. Have you noticed any expressions or mannerisms of mine that you might want to try to capture or avoid? 11. How did you get qualified to take professional wedding pictures? What kind of educational background and/or experience have you had in developing your techniques? When and with whom was it last updated? Get Specific! Now, let us get down to the nitty-gritty. Too often important details that you had never before considered come back to haunt you later: 12. How will you be showing me the pictures for selection? 13. Will you be helping me in the selection of the final pictures? 14. How can people who live out of town be accommodated with ordering, paying and delivering? 15. What are the costs of the various styles of coverage? Are there different degrees of coverage? What is included in each? 16. How much for the extras? Duplicates? Ask to see the specific style of album you will be receiving. Are alternate choices available? At an extra cost? 17. What kind of time frame are you looking at for preparing the pictures for my selection? Are you providing me with proofs, slides or what? How much time do I have to make up my mind as to which pictures I want and how many? Are the “proofs” for sale? Look to the Future 18. How much money would you expect me to eventually spend before you think I would be completely happy with my wedding coverage? 19. How much money would you WANT me to spend in order for me to make it worthwhile for you to give me your full attention on my wedding day? 20. How long have you been in business? How long do you plan on staying in the business? In other words, what kind of guarantee comes with my hiring you and/or your studio? Wrap it up Intelligently Finally, let us consider a few topics of conversation that could/should help you make your decision. 21. Do you have any particular philosophy about your approach to photographing weddings? 22. What would you plan to do at my wedding that would make my wedding photographs unique and personal to me? Can I tell you who I want in my pictures? How will you find them? 23. How can I be certain that YOU will be taking the pictures? 24. With whom will I be dealing with after the wedding? 25. What is your payment policy? Do you give any guarantees on your services and photographs? Make a Commitment! By now, you have probably spent a good deal of time with the photographer. His/her time is money, the same as yours. Realize that in the long run someone has to pay for the hours each photographer spends as a consultant. Keep his/her (and your) expenses to a minimum by going to the meeting with the photographer prepared to leave a deposit to confirm the date. Before you do, however, you may want to assure yourself of a few more last-minute details. Find out the photographer’s policy if the date of your wedding is changed and he/she is not available on the alternate date. Find out, too, what the policy is for an unknown cancellation of the date. At this stage of the game, if you have really taken the time to get into some of the above questions, you HAVE to know whether this photographer is for you. If the photographer IS for you, if the photographer IS available, and if you are convinced that it is worth the price...then make the commitment and rest assured that this is undoubtedly one of the best and most intelligent decisions you have make in planning your wedding! © Monte Zucker. All rights reserved.
Nor has there ever been anything written that gives you, the bride, a true guideline as to how to select the one person who could supply you with a heart full of memories to last a lifetime.
I have, therefore, compiled a list of in-depth questions that you may want to explore to help select the photographer who is right for you. Think about them and get answers before placing your trust and faith in someone who might later disappoint you with results that are less than what you had hoped to receive.
No one knows better than I what is going on in the wedding photography industry today. I have been a wedding photographer, myself, for the last forty years. I have been influencing wedding photography all over the world for the last twenty years through my seminars and publications. I really know the business from the INSIDE OUT! And I want to share it with you here...in the hopes that you will once and for all learn how to be an educated shopper for wedding photography.
Start Here
First of all, undoubtedly the best way a bride has to pre-judge the competency of a wedding photographer is to have a recommendation from someone whose opinion she trusts. If she has ore than one recommendation, that is even better...especially if the same photographer’s name comes from different sources.
Then, a phone call is appropriate. The telephone conversation should begin with the availability of the studio to cover the wedding on the specific date. You should also learn the name of the photographer who would be doing the actual pictures, and at least a rough estimate of the costs involved.
An appointment should be made to meet with the photographer who will be assigned to your wedding, see his work and discuss the details. Without doubt, this meeting should include the bride and groom as well as the bride’s parents...or however many of these people in attendance it would be virtually impossible to come to any conclusions that would effectively work for all the principle parties involved.
The 2nd-Best Man/Woman at the Wedding
At the meeting, the first assessment you should make is whether you feel comfortable in the presence of the photographer. If you are going to spend a good part of the most important day of your life with this person, it should be someone with whom you know you will enjoy sharing that time.
Then, I feel that you should see some of the photographer’s work. If you see a picture, or a series of pictures, that you really like, you should ask:
1. Who are these people?
2. Did you, personally, take these photographs?
3. May I call these people for a personal reference?
After all, it is one thing to see some beautiful pictures, but it is equally important to find out if the bride and groom ENJOYED working with this photographer.
It is also a way of knowing that the photographs you are being shown were actually made by the person you are speaking to. You want to be sure that the work you are admiring was made by the photographer who will be at your wedding.
Another result of this meeting could be to allow you and your photographer to begin a one-on-one relationship. In that way, neither of you would be strangers to each other on the day of the wedding, and you will be more relaxed in front of the camera.
Now the Fun Begins
For the most part, when prospective clients come to my studio, their questions pertain to prices, sizes and numbers. I have often felt that the reason for this is that they have never thought to consider some of the more important questions, such as:
4. How do you feel about the bride and groom not wanting to see each other before the ceremony? What are the alternatives? How will the various plans effect us on the day of the wedding?
5. Do you have any goals for approaching each wedding? Any long-term goals for yourself as a person, as a photographer?
6. How long do you expect to be with us on the day of the wedding? Beginning at what time? Until when? Is there an extra charge if the wedding runs a little overtime?
7. Whom would you include in the photographs? Where and when would they be taken?
8. What can I do to help you perform your duties to the best of your ability?
See A WHOLE Wedding
If you are still interested in the photographer’s services at this point, I would ask to see a complete coverage of a single wedding. That is a lot more important than seeing a selection of beautiful highlights from many different weddings.
When looking through the album, evaluate the work by placing yourself in the position that this could have been YOUR wedding coverage. Ask yourself if the photographer has actually considered the individual characteristics and personality of each of the persons in the photographs to come up with these pictures. Then, you might follow up with some of the following:
9. Considering my facial features, physical attributes in general, what angles of my face would you consider to be better than others?
10. Have you noticed any expressions or mannerisms of mine that you might want to try to capture or avoid?
11. How did you get qualified to take professional wedding pictures? What kind of educational background and/or experience have you had in developing your techniques? When and with whom was it last updated?
Get Specific!
Now, let us get down to the nitty-gritty. Too often important details that you had never before considered come back to haunt you later:
12. How will you be showing me the pictures for selection?
13. Will you be helping me in the selection of the final pictures?
14. How can people who live out of town be accommodated with ordering, paying and delivering?
15. What are the costs of the various styles of coverage? Are there different degrees of coverage? What is included in each?
16. How much for the extras? Duplicates? Ask to see the specific style of album you will be receiving. Are alternate choices available? At an extra cost?
17. What kind of time frame are you looking at for preparing the pictures for my selection? Are you providing me with proofs, slides or what? How much time do I have to make up my mind as to which pictures I want and how many? Are the “proofs” for sale?
Look to the Future
18. How much money would you expect me to eventually spend before you think I would be completely happy with my wedding coverage?
19. How much money would you WANT me to spend in order for me to make it worthwhile for you to give me your full attention on my wedding day?
20. How long have you been in business? How long do you plan on staying in the business? In other words, what kind of guarantee comes with my hiring you and/or your studio?
Wrap it up Intelligently
Finally, let us consider a few topics of conversation that could/should help you make your decision.
21. Do you have any particular philosophy about your approach to photographing weddings?
22. What would you plan to do at my wedding that would make my wedding photographs unique and personal to me? Can I tell you who I want in my pictures? How will you find them?
23. How can I be certain that YOU will be taking the pictures?
24. With whom will I be dealing with after the wedding?
25. What is your payment policy? Do you give any guarantees on your services and photographs?
Make a Commitment!
By now, you have probably spent a good deal of time with the photographer. His/her time is money, the same as yours. Realize that in the long run someone has to pay for the hours each photographer spends as a consultant. Keep his/her (and your) expenses to a minimum by going to the meeting with the photographer prepared to leave a deposit to confirm the date.
Before you do, however, you may want to assure yourself of a few more last-minute details. Find out the photographer’s policy if the date of your wedding is changed and he/she is not available on the alternate date. Find out, too, what the policy is for an unknown cancellation of the date.
At this stage of the game, if you have really taken the time to get into some of the above questions, you HAVE to know whether this photographer is for you.
If the photographer IS for you, if the photographer IS available, and if you are convinced that it is worth the price...then make the commitment and rest assured that this is undoubtedly one of the best and most intelligent decisions you have make in planning your wedding!
Article By: Monte Zucker