Choosing the perfect Photographer for YOU!
The question has been asked and you’ve found the perfect location and have everything in mind how your perfect day should be but the only thing remains is how are you going to treasure that day for years (and generations to come!)
The unfortunate thing about your big day is that it is, well, only one day!. Fortunately, the right wedding photographer can preserve the entire days happenings, the emotions, and the fun!
One perfect picture can instantly take you back to the happiest day of your life, and one perfect album can become your favourite cherished book.
When it comes to professional photography, Choosing a photographer can feel like a daunting task! While it is important to find a Photographer that can capture your special day its just as important to find a Photographer that is affordable that will not cost a fortune!
The truth is, the best professional photographers book their schedules a year in advance, so hiring someone is one of the first things you should do after you’ve decided on a Wedding date!.
Narrow Down Your Options
Once you have a list of your top choice photographers, take an in-depth look into their services to begin eliminating candidates who aren’t a good fit. Determine which photographer will meet your budget as well as your specific needs. Consider how well they perform in different settings and environments. For example, if you are throwing a beach wedding, it makes sense to find a photographer who is proficient at outdoor photography.
Think about the emotional tone that you want your photos to express. Are you and your fiancé serious and traditional, or do you prefer a more light-hearted and playful theme? A talented photographer can listen to your vision and articulate it perfectly.
Conduct Your Interviews
After narrowing your selection of wedding photographers down to around three, make appointments to interview the candidates. Likely, the photographer will have two or three wedding albums available to show. Make sure you see at least one album of an entire wedding, from start to finish, preferably something that is comparable to what your wedding will be like in physical setting and emotional tone. After examining all of the sample work closely, request to see another set of photographs from a recent wedding. This will enable you to see both his best work from the pre-selected albums and his average daily work. Some things to keep in mind:
Examine the basics of the pictures such as color, clarity, exposure, graininess and composition.
Determine the photographer’s style—do they shoot photos that are adventurous and artistic, or are they standard and ordinary?
Do the guests look natural or self-conscious?
Do the photos capture the emotional tone organically, or does the couple’s poses feel forced?
Be sure to leave the interview knowing the highest vs. average quality of the photographer’s work, their visual style, and if she will adjust their style to your ideal taste. Their willingness to work closely with you to satisfy you as a client is key to producing an exceptional result, and a professional knows that.
Gauge Their Professionalism
While not all photographers are created equal, the best way to guarantee that you will receive a quality wedding album is to hire a seasoned professional with a solid and varied background of nuptial experiences from which to draw.
During your interview, find out how many weddings the photographer has shot over how many years. They may have been a professional photographer for 15 years but only doing weddings for the past year. Remember, wedding photography is much different than any other type of photography; the pressure is high and the emotional energy is not suited for everyone.
Be sure to ask if the photographer has shot at your wedding venue before. If he/she has, they may already know where to stand to get the perfect shot or how to incorporate the church’s ancient stained glass in a uniquely engaging way.
With such experience comes not only the knowledge of how to photograph a wedding, but also how to act during the ceremony and reception. For example, how will they dress and how will they act around your wedding party and guests? Beautiful photos capturing the smiles of family and friends are just as important as the multitude taken of the bride and groom. And speaking of which, they will be by your side just about as much as anyone in the party, and then some—how well do your personalities mesh? Will their presence be an asset or a burden? Truly, a wedding photographer’s charm and ability to put everyone at ease is as important a skill as the actual photography.
Discuss Photography Equipment
Although you may not be a professional yourself, you should know what type of camera and equipment your photographer will be using. You may find that you are more familiar about it than you think. For example, there are advantages to both digital and film that you may want to consider. You should also ask what program they use to edit the photos—if a photographer says they don’t edit, run!
At AMK Photography We use the latest and greatest Nikon camera equiptment and constantly update our gear with the latest and greatest technology which enables the customer to receive the absolute best image quality available at the time as well as carry backups of all camera bodies, flash units, memory cards, lenses etc. After all it doesn’t matter how expensive our gear can be it CAN and eventually will fail at some point in its lifetime.
While it can be tempting to find someone to capture your day at a cheap and affordable price it does come back to the old saying ‘You get what you pay for’ unfortunately I have heard of many horror stories where either the photographer hasn’t bothered to turn up! or had been working with amateur equipment with sub-par unaceptable results or simply just not prepared equipment wise or understanding the clients wishes.
Contact us today to discuss your photography requirements today!
www.creativemedia.nz