I want to share my tips on what to look for when choosing your wedding photographer to spare you the frustration I’ve walked through and separate the wheat from that chaff.
- Pricing
Yeah, in my list pricing is number one! A lot of photographers like to hide their prices forcing you to call them. This in turn enables them to launch the “hard sell” on you. It’s also possible they’ll have some secret extras down the road somewhere too … Whether it’s extra charges to print photos or extra charges to cover your nighttime reception. Make sure that any North East Wedding Photographer you consider has a transparent pricing structure in place, and has a “no hidden extras” clause in your contract.
- A Portfolio From A Wedding
Ask your photographer to give you a picture from a recent wedding instead of the “best of the best” hand-picked you’ll find on their website. This gives you a perfect chance to see if the photographer can effortlessly put together all the pieces of your big day to build a series of memories you can remember forever. It would also be prudent to ask for photos from weddings where the weather was poor or the reception hall was especially dark to ensure that the photographer can manage all sorts of circumstances.
- Meet your Photographers Shortlisted
A big part of the photography of the wedding is personality and how well the photographer and the happy couple get on in the business. That’s why I always advocate meeting in person with your potential photographers before you book them on their photographs. This allows you to see if you can work together if your photographer has good “people skills” to manage your wedding party and see if the photographer has what it takes or just talks on his website about a good game!
- Language
This is the one time that constant nattering can actually pay off on the street corner! Many couples get married and almost every wedding features a photographer! So ask your friends if they have any recommendations to avoid for you or even if they know of any photographers. The industry revolves around word of mouth and if a photographer in your local area has a bad reputation then you can bet there is a reason for it. Also, search for feedback by wedding photographers on internet forums and you’ll be sure to find either supportive or negative reinforcements.
- Trust Your Success
You know the photography style you ‘re looking for a wedding. You know the types of people that you want to be around. From your photos, you know exactly what you want. It’s wise to trust your instincts when you’re considering photographers, and give more consideration to those who get your attention when you hit their website. Only you can make the call, so confide in your intuition after everything said and done!
I hope you’ve found this article helpful in finding a wedding photographer. You are planning one of your life’s best days and you have to be so happy! Seek to relax and enjoy the cycle even at those moments when you want to call it all off!