Hiring a Wedding Photographer
Get the Picture?
What you need to know before you hire a wedding photographer
A picture says a thousand words - and an album full of them can cost thousands of dollars.
Stats say couples spend about seven percent of their wedding budget on a photographer – for a $20,000 wedding, that’s no small potatoes.
Because it is a significant investment, it is wise for a couple to do their homework before making a decision.
Leon Wild, co-owner of Reade’s Wild Studios in Windsor, Ontario, Canada says one of the first things a couple should realize is the importance of not only choosing a photographer whose style of work they like, but also one who they will get along with.
Wild, a third generation professional photographer who has taken pictures for more than forty years, says he’s spoken with many couples who have hired photographers who, in the name of great photographs, made the day miserable for the bride and groom.
“There are some photographers who are only concerned with the pictures… They are not concerned with the couple,” says Wild. “I hear this more often than not. They use up the majority of the couple’s day, only concerned about getting their photographs, and not being considerate to the couple enjoying their day.”
Spending 8-12 hours with someone who is overly demanding or inconsiderate can put a huge damper on your wedding day mood. In the end, you might get marvelous pictures, but will it have been worth it?
“You want nice photographs, but also you want to look back on the day and say ‘I had a really good time’,” says Wild.
Once a couple feels confident in the photographer’s personality, they should ask to see a wide selection of the photographer’s work. Don’t just look through one album of pictures. Ask for as many examples as possible. Even if you are impressed with his work, don’t make any hasty decisions. Ask the photographer for references. Contact the references and ask them if they were delighted or disappointed with their pictures. Also, talk to friends and acquaintances that may have hired the photographer for their wedding day.
Another important question to ask is: ‘Will you be the photographer who shows up at my wedding?’
Don’t assume that the photographer you are interviewing will be the one who is sent out to cover your wedding. Some larger studios have several photographers on staff.
During your introductory meeting with a photographer, you will be given a price list that will include various wedding packages. Make sure you are clear about the prices, and that there aren’t any hidden costs.
Also, ask how your photographs will be ‘finished.’
“When you see your proofs, they are just raw proofs. When you get your finished picture, they are all custom printed. You are getting colour correction, colour balancing, cropping, and retouching if necessary … A lot of places don’t do that. You pick out the pictures you want and they just print them,” he explains.
Although your wedding pictures might seem like a big investment, if you’re happy with them, you’ll cherish them for years to come.
“If you are putting all of that money out for the wedding dress, and everything else, then you should at least have some nice photographs to remember it by,” says Wild. “I get people in here that I’ve done 35 years ago, and they say every now and then they pull out the book and they love the pictures. So to them, it was worth spending the money. Some people just don’t feel that way.”
Start now
Gordon O’Brien of Home Portrait Studios in Windsor, Ontario also has advice to couples seeking out a photographer: start as soon as possible.
He says as soon as a couple gets engaged, they should begin their search.
Another important question to ask a photographer is: ‘Do you have a back-up?’
Death, illness, or other unexpected crisis do occur, so it’s a good idea to make sure you’re covered no matter what. Also, ask for samples of the back-up photographer’s work, advises O’Brien.
He points out that it is also pertinent to ask the photographer if he belongs to a professional photographers organization.
Trends
Black and white photographs have made a come back in the past couple of years. O’Brien attributes the resurgence to television and bridal magazines which have promoted the classic look.
Sepia, which O’Brien says bridges the gap between black and white and colour, has become increasingly popular as well.
Photojournalistic, or candid shots are also in demand. (Although they are termed candid, many of these shots are actually set-up by the photographer.)
“People are looking for creativity,” says O’Brien.
Examples of these types of photographs include the bride leaning over to give her grandmother a kiss; the flower girl reaching up to give the bride a hug; or the bride and groom sharing a secret.
O’Brien suggests that couples bring pictures that they like from magazines to their consultation so that the photographer will better understand their preferences.
Lori Deschaine, owner of Our Photographer in Windsor, Ontario, says she specializes in the photojournalistic genre.
“I wait for things to happen. I watch the bride and groom without hanging over them. I’ve always got my camera in my hand, and if someone does something funny I am there,” she says.
She says she also gets to know the bride and groom so that she can bring their personality into the pictures.
“You’ve got to get to know people. Really get to know them… and their style,” she says.
She recalls a recent wedding where she took pictures of the bride and groom at a pool hall.
“We had four hours in between church and the reception, so I said why not stop at a pool hall? They loved it,” she says.
She advises couples in the planning stages of their wedding to find a photographer that suits their personality.
“Some photographers can be very demanding and rigid. You really have to match your personality to the photographer,” she says.
According to Deschaine, couples should meet with at least three photographers before making a decision.
Among the recent trends in wedding photography, is one that involves the latest technology.
By using a computer, a studio can transform photographs into works of art.
“We’re doing a lot of digital work now,” says co-owner of Windsor based Digital Imaging Studio Andy Jun, who points out that the images at his studio are not digitally shot; rather the digital work is done with a computer after the image is captured on film. “We are one of the most advanced studios in this area.”
Jun, a graphic designer as well as a photographer, says he and his partner Maurizio Tiberia have 30 years combined experience in the field of photography.
What are your priorities?
Although photography is usually “way up there” on the list of wedding day priorities for couples, many make the mistake of calling around for prices first, instead of seeing a photographers work firsthand, says Jun.
“The first question they ask you is: ‘How much?’ I think that’s the wrong question because they have no idea what type of work you do,” he says.
Jun says the average couple spends approximately $2,500 for a wedding package from Digital Imaging Studio.
Whether a couple wants the latest high tech trend in photography, or more traditional images, it is essential that they do their research, and also ask themselves how important their wedding pictures really are.
If a couple believes that their wedding day photographs are timeless treasures, they should realize that they might have to pay a significant price for the quality of work that they desire.
This does not mean a couple has to hire the most expensive photographer in the city; however, a couple definitely shouldn’t ‘cheap out’ on something that is so important to them.
After all, once the vows are taken, the cake is eaten, and the tuxes are returned, what’s left aside from the great memories?
An album full of pictures. Pictures that tell the story of a bride and groom – not just for a lifetime, but for many generations to come.
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