Choosing A Professional Wedding Photographer

Tips for Choosing A Photographer



Whether your needs are for a wedding or portrait, the photographer you choose can make your experience and pictures wonderful, or a complete disaster. Choosing a photographer right for you is the most important thing you can do. You will probably spend a fair amount, and you deserve to be treated the way you expect, and receive the quality you deserve. Here are a few tips:



1. Personality. Above all else, make sure you are comfortable with your photographer. This cannot be stressed enough. If you do not enjoy him or her, your experience will probably be a negative one.



2. Know who your photographer will be. This may sound strange, but at many studios, who you meet with and the work you see may not be the photographer/photos you will get. Studios often have many photographers and will not know who will shoot your event. Make sure you find out who will actually take your pictures and see their work.



3. Why not go to a department store, they are cheaper? Yes and no. The advertisement may look attractive, but in the end, it will probably cost you the same. If you are happy with the quality and service of a department store, and are able to refuse to purchase more than the advertisement offers, that is fine, but if you want great service and great results, stick with a quality photographer. Department stores advertise great deals, but will probably get you after the photo is taken with expensive options & reprints, and the quality may not be up to par with a professional.



4. Read the contract carefully. It is common sense, but you would be amazed how many overlook this. Make sure you understand what you are/are not entitled to as part of the agreement with your photographer. If you have any questions, be sure to ask. If any verbal agreements are different from the written terms, be sure to get it in writing.



5. How busy is the photographer on your date? Be sure the photographer is yours for the duration of the event, and is not rushing to get to another. It is not uncommon for photographers to shoot more than one wedding/event on the same day.



6. What equipment does your photographer use? Although your average camera can do a good job at taking pictures, you are paying a lot of money, and you want professional quality. A medium format camera should be used for professional results. Why medium format and what is it? Medium format creates a larger image than 35mm, and the larger the image, the better the quality. When enlarging pictures to 8 X 10 or larger, the quality of a larger image vs. 35mm is very noticeable.



7. What happens to the negatives, or original digital media? Find out who gets the original images. Photographers own the rights to the original images captured. If you want the negatives/original digital media, you need to find out if the photographer will allow you to have them.