HOW TO CHOOSE A WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER

{wedding photography :: tips}

Many brides (and grooms) that I meet with have so many questions and are sometimes even stressed about making a decision on a wedding photographer.  I thought I'd do my best to offer up some advice on how to be sure you find the best wedding photographer for your day.
And NO, we are not the perfect wedding photographer for everyone!

DO SOME RESEARCH
You should be able to do some quick research online.  A photographer who is an expert in digital photography should be able to have at least a basic website, if not a very impressive one.  This is a good starting point, but this should just be the first step.  

"Anyone with a digital camera knows that if you take enough photos you are bound to get a few great pictures. That does not make a great photographer" 

Looking at online galleries is great, but just because someone can show you 10 good photos, does not mean they will provide you quality photos on your wedding day.


MEET IN PERSON

You should set up a time to meet with your photographer before signing any contracts or making any final decisions. You must feel comfortable with your photographer.   Realize that you are asking your photographer to spend one of the most important days of you life with you.  You want to look natural in your wedding photos and you won’t look that way if you are scowling at someone you do not like! 

LBP always meets in person with the bride and groom and does not require any commitment is made during that meeting – go home and talk about it before making your final decision.

VIEW LOTS OF PHOTOS, AND THEN VIEW SOME MORE

As I said before, anyone can post 10 nice photos on a website.  If a site only has images from one wedding, you need to be skeptical. The photos on a photographers site should be the best of the best, if they are not great, don't expect to get great photography.
At your in-person meeting ask to view at least one entire wedding album.  Not every photo taken will be amazing (I know this is a shock!) but I’m just being honest.  By viewing an entire album from someone else’s wedding you can get an idea of what to expect in terms of quality of the photos, editing, and the number of photos you will receive.
When meeting with LBP to discuss your wedding day you will give you access to at least 2 full wedding albums from the ‘getting ready’ photos through the 'reception'.

$500 OR $5,000???

You could hire your friend that has a nice camera to take photos. . . or you could hire a large studio’s photographer. . . or anything in between.  A few things to keep in mind:For a wedding, a photographer has the following time commitments:
1 hour consultation1 hour equipment prep
8 – 12 hours of wedding day coverage (with travel)
8 – 12 hours of wedding day coverage – photographer #2
30 – 40 hours of photo editing
2 hours of compressing and uploading for online viewing
Plus the time of processing orders and creating photo books
At a minimum there is 50 hours of work for one wedding.  

"A photographer who charges $500 is making $10 per hour (before taxes, equipment purchases, web hosting fees, and upkeep).  Do you think this photographer will be in business next year?  Probably not."  

I would caution working with a photographer that seems to be ‘cheaply’ priced.  You will book your photographer at least 6 months in advance, you may still be ordering prints and books a year after the wedding, so it’s really important that they are still in business.

Be sure to read about LBP's experience in the 'About' section of the site.

ARE THEY EVEN A REAL BUSINESS?

With facebook and web design being relatively easy and inexpensive there are lots of photography “businesses” popping up all over the place.  Don’t be afraid to ask the question, “Are you a licensed business”?  This is very important.  If someone is operating without becoming a business:

1. They are not paying taxes – this is unethical.  If they are unethical with the government, they may be unethical with you. 

2. If you have any problems, it’s difficult to report them to the BBB (Better Business Bureau) when they are not even a business.  Or, if anything happens to your photos, it's unlikely they have the insurance or capital to make the situation right. 

3. If they haven’t taken the necessary steps to become a business, what makes you think they will be in business for the long term... or even when your wedding day arrives? 
LBP is an limited liability company (LLC), EIN# 21-4624370.

ONE PHOTOGRAPHER OR TWO?

I always suggest having two photographers, it’s just really great to get more than one angle, perspecitve, and another creative eye finding great shots to capture. In general you will have better photos, more photos, and more creative photos with two photographers.
Also be sure that when someone advertises 2 photographers, they will have 2 cameras working at all times – sometimes it just means that 2 people will be present, only one taking photos. . . sneaky!
LBP has 2 photographers (2 cameras) included in all wedding packages.  We do know our limits, and have turned down weddings that were too large where we felt we would not be able to do everything the bride and groom desired.   

WHERE ARE MY PRINTS?

Digital files are great – they quickly can be shared with family and friends on facebook, they fit on a small disc, and they don’t fade with time.  Don’t forget about your prints!  Be sure to ask your photographer 2 key things:

1. Do they use a professional printer?  (maybe even ask to see the quality).

2. What are the costs of the individual prints?Beautiful photos printed at a bad printer can look awful (especially black and white and special edits).  You want to be sure you will have a nice photo to hang over the fireplace.  

Print prices – we all know about photographers who charge $300 for a 16X20 print!  In this case you need to be sure you are comfortable with your photographers print prices OR that you know where you will get larger photos printed yourself that are very high quality.
LBP tested about 10 prints before picking the professional printer that we use today.  Pricing is online, and samples will be shown to you at your in-person meeting. 

PHOTO BOOKS

Maybe you want to make your own fabulous scrapbook. . . or maybe you view this as a daunting, time consuming, frustrating task!  Be sure to ask about photo books and other products, and their prices.  You may decide after all the wedding planning you would prefer to just buy a book instead of doing the work yourself. Oh, and ask your parents too – even if you want to make your own book, they may want to buy one that is custom made.

WHEN DO I START LOOKING?

Most photographers book about 1 year in advance for weddings.  I suggest looking early because as you can see from the list of things above, it may be a long process!
LBP suggests contacting us as soon as possible; it’s no fun telling a fan of ours that we are already booked.

FUN . . . HOW COULD THIS POSSIBLY BE FUN?

After meeting with and picking your photographer you should be excited and want to tell everyone about it! Your photographer should put your mind at ease so that you can simply enjoy your day.


I hope you found this blog helpful, best of luck finding the right photographer for you!

Smiles,
Laura

Laura Borkenhagen Photography