|
Your wedding will be one of the most memorable days of you life. Long after the day is but a memory, your wedding photography will let you relive those moments forever. They will become more precious with each passing year. The studio you select will be entrusted with the responsibility of capturing those moments. Before choosing your photographer, learn what to look for and what questions to ask. Become familiar with the professional styles and techniques that are available. This can be done by studying recent albums of friends and talking with one or two reputable photographers. Before finalizing your decision there are some steps you can take that will simplify your selection. Talk with the person photographing your wedding/reception, not a sales person. Look at samples of THEIR work, not studio samples. How many years experience does the photographer have; most quality professionals will have at least 10 years wedding experience? Verify that the person photographing the wedding will cover all the events of the day. Some studios allow a less experienced photographer to photograph the reception. Insure that the photographer will not be working alone. An assistant or creative director is essential. One person can't do everything. A professional photographer will have backup equipment but what happens should he become ill or need assistance. Your photographer should be professional but personable and friendly as well; someone you are comfortable working with. They will be with you and your guests all day. Is the photographer professionally trained and experienced? What is the studio's standard attire at weddings and receptions? Personal references are usually a dependable source of information. Will a sufficient number of photographs be taken to assure adequate selection? Photographs should be clear, vibrant with color and even lighting without dark backgrounds. Is the studio flexible? Will they try to accommodate your specific needs or must you conform to their policies and rules? Will the studio go on location for those special photographs? How soon after the wedding are the photographs ready; before the final album is ready? Is hand printing and artwork available for your photographs? Are special portrait sessions available, giving opportunity to work with the studio before the wedding? Ask yourself, "Was this studio different from others?" Was it different in a way that appealed to you? Are the wedding and portrait photographs, album, etc guaranteed? In what way? Are negatives retained for future orders? If so, how long? Insure that professional materials/supplies used; film, processing, albums, etc.? Are different lenses used to create variety in the photographs? Does the studio use professional equipment and is backup equipment taken to each wedding. Is it readily available? Can the photographer switch to it without any delay in the day events. While advanced 35mm cameras are popular, they do have limitations. Ask the photographer to explain them. The primary benefit of the larger format cameras is the ability to create larger photographs and still retain good color tones (in color and black & white photographs) and clarity. Understand the studios pricing philosophy. There must be an equitable balance between the amount of time the photographers are with you, the number of photographs taken and what you actually purchase. In many studios, this can be very complicated. If a contract is used, asked to see it. If there is a charge for photography time, will additional time be available? Is there a charge for travel? What are the methods of payment? Ask anything - no question is unreasonable. |
