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Shopping for a wedding photographer is not
like selecting a gown or a bridal bouquet. You can see something
tangible before you make your decision, when you're shopping
for specific items like that. But in the selection of your
photographer, you're often at the mercy of a super-salesperson
and/or your own intuition. It seems as if PRICE is usually
the main determining factor, even though there's NEVER going
to be a second chance. 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's
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's going on in the
wedding photography industry today. I've been a wedding photographer,
myself, for the last 7 years or so, and been photographing
for over 10 years. 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 prejudge the competency of a wedding photographer is to
have a recommendation from someone whose opinion she trusts.
If she has more than one recommendation, that's 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 your specific date.
You should also learn the name of the photographer who would
be doing the actual pictures at your wedding, and at least
a rough estimate of the costs involved. You should find out
on the telephone how the photographer feels about posed and
unposed pictures and decide whether or not you agree or are
interested in the studio's philosophy of how the wedding photography
should be conducted. That is - photojournalism, candids, portraits,
groups, etc. Just one concept? A combination of several? 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 both
the bride and groom as well as the bride's parents...or however
many of these people can be assembled for the consultation.
Without all these people in attendance it would be virtually
impossible to come to any conclusions tt would effectively
work for all the principle parties involved.
At that meeting the first assessment you should make is whether
or not you feel comfortable in the presence of the photographer.
If you're 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'll 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's one thing to see some beautiful pictures,
but it's equally important to find out if the bride and groom
ENJOYED working with this photographer. It's also a way of
knowing that the photographs you're being shown were actually
made by the person you're speaking to. You want to be sure
that the work you're admiring was made by the photographer
who'll 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'll 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
in general. I've often felt that the reason for this is that
they've 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 affect 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're still interested in the photographer's services
at this point, I'd ask to see a complete coverage of a single
wedding. That's 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 important persons in the photographs. Has the photographer
caught
the individual's actual feelings of the moment, or are
these just pictures of people standing and looking self-consciously
into the lens. Do they look natural? Or even better than real?
And, in fact, is that what you and they really want?
Now, THIS Could Be a REAL Test!
You might ask the photographer to analyze your face
to see if he/she would know how to achieve the most flattering
images of you:
9. Considering my facial features, physical attributes
in general, what angles of my face would you consider to be
better than others? ---Is there anything you can do to make
me or members of my family look the way they WANT to look?
It seems as if everyone complains that they hate the way they
look in posed pictures!
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 your technique last updated?
Get Specific!
Now, let's 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 delivery?
15. What are the costs of the various styles of coverage?
--- Are there different degrees of coverage? --- What's 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, video tape of the pictures, 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'd 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 the 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's 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 my pictures?
24. With whom will I be dealing after the wedding?
25. What's your payment policy? --- Do you give any guarantees
on your services and photographs?
26. What is the possibility of the pictures fading. --- What
if they DO fade?
Be Prepared To Make A Commitment!
By now you've probably spent a good deal of time with
the photographer. His 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 (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's not available on the alternate date.
Find out, too, what the policy is for an unforeseen cancellation
of the date. At this stage of the game, if you've really taken
the time to get into some of the above questions, you HAVE
to know whether or not this photographer is for you.
If the photographer IS for you, if the photographer IS available,
and if you're convinced that it's worth the price...then make
the commitment and rest assured that this is undoubtedly one
of the best and most intelligent decisions you've made in
planning your wedding!
How Much Should Pictures Cost?
It's difficult to pay too much for something you really
like. Yet, price is usually the one obstacle that prevents
many wedding clients from selecting the photographer who undoubtedly
could give them the best value for the money.
Quite often the difference between the price of the photographer
you really like and one who you feel is "within the budget"
is miscalculated.
Understandably, of course! When wedding plans come down to
dollars and cents, it's hard to keep spending "a little
more here...and a little more there. Somewhere along the line,"
you feel, "you have to give a little! There's only so-much
money available!" Yet, within the framework of the entire
wedding day, it makes good sense to evaluate the money spent
on photographs in relation to what's being spent on flowers,
food and music. Although everyone knows that the pictures
are the only thing you have after the moment has passed, some
people still feel that they have to put the money "where
it shows".
Later, In the privacy of their own hearts, many of these people
are often disappointed with photographic memories that give
them nothing but heartaches...and there's no remedy!
Let's face it!
You're going to remember the wedding day through the
eyes, heart and talent of your photographer. When making the
decision as to who that photographer is going to be, realize
that oftentimes you're talking a relative difference of pennies!
On the other hand, if you're unhappy, regardless of the "good
deal" you're getting, you could lose everything!
What's the "going rate" among wedding photographers
nowadays? The price difference is as great as the time, talent
and technique of the studios being considered. Certainly,
among competent photographers in a highly competitive area,
or photographers in their formative years, a good wedding
coverage can be found around the thousand dollar category.
Spending less than that would probably be a high-risk gamble.
Other photographers may begin somewhere around a thousand
dollars and go upwards from there. A true specialist, one
who has a reputation for consistently delivering the best,
might begin at two or three times that amount and go upwards
to five thousand and more.
When considering the cost of a photographer, you may find
that studios sometimes approach this matter in one or two
different manners.
Whereas some photographers have basic "packages"
of an agreed number of photographs for a specified dollar
amount, other studios might have a predetermined charge for
their services and allow you to buy whatever amount of pictures
you want.
Still some photographers allow you to have ALL the pictures
that are taken. There is a set fee that includes EVERYTHING!
There are, of course, benefits to all of these approaches.
In the first instance you have a good idea right from the
start how much money you're probably going to spend...and
you're locked into that minimum. That's a double guarantee,
both for you and the photographer. Studios that offer you
what' known as their a-la-carte system are taking a chance
(along with you) as to how much money you'll be spending.
The studio that offers you ALL the pictures may scare you
at first with the high price, but you may want to know that
up front and KNOW that you will not be spending more.
Realize that at the same time you're preparing your budget,
you will probably want/need to spend extra money for albums
and portraits for both families. In any case, you're probably
going to spend more than you originally planned, but you'll
be doing it because you like the pictures so much, you WANT
to buy the extras. The bottom line, as you know, is not necessarily
how much you end up spending on photographs. Instead, it's
how much pleasure you get from them over the years.
Wouldn't you agree, that at a time as important as your wedding
day, it's better to invest a little more money for photography
than you had planned...instead of a little less that you should?
Why risk your memories of a once-in-a-lifetime event on a
gamble?
Besides, if you should spend $1000 for your wedding pictures
that's only an investment of five cents a day, if you make
it to your 50th Anniversary! Only twenty-seven cents a day
on an investment of $5000.
You're going to be concerned with the price only one time...when
you buy. You're going to be concerned with quality, however,
during the lifetime of the product! ...... Or, the marriage.
Congratulations on your upcoming marriage,
Derek Baker, Photographer
Wedding Expressions
Feel free to e-mail us for any advice
at: wedexp@aol.com
The views expressed in this article are those of the author
and not necessarily those of The Maryland Wedding Guide or
its advertisers. We thank Mr. Baker for sharing this document
with all of us.
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