As
I've worked as a professional photographer since the late
90's, I have had plenty of experience working for businesses,
companies and private clients. In that time, I have had the
pleasure of working with great professionals, but I have also
observed fundamental changes in the industry. With the advent
of cheaper digital cameras, a lot of people think they can
become professional photographers overnight.
I
have approached this article with a view of not only trying
to avoids the crooks, but with the aim of showing you how
to get the best out of your photographer once you have decided
who to use. Although you should be friendly with your wedding
suppliers, it is also a business and, as a client, it's important
you get what you need on such an important day. As it can
be difficult deciding on suppliers I have put together this
article to give you a few things to mull over when choosing
a wedding photographer.
What is the style of your wedding?
All
wedding photographers shoot in different styles and many have
the flexibility to adapt that style to the client's needs.
If your wedding has a vintage feel you may want you photos
to reflect this aesthetic, so choosing a photographer who
has a suitable style may be a good place to start for you.
As a note of caution I would say that if you wedding photos
look very 'now' it inevitably means that in five years time
they will look very 'then'.
As
fashions change so much, if you want your wedding photographs
to be a little more timeless then the style of your wedding photography
should perhaps be simpler with less use of effects and Photoshop
processing. This may not be a consideration for everyone but hopefully
as a married couple you'll be looking at those photographs for
many years and hopefully won't be thinking, 'Jeez I wish we didn't
go for the whole gangsta rap thing now!'.
To get an idea of the wedding photography style you prefer you
should look at plenty of websites and bridal magazines. Wedding
photography has changed over the years and generally speaking
stiff formal group shots are out and a more casual reportage style
is in, so while it’s nice to please everyone, the style
of photography needs to reflect your tastes and requirements.
People
often talk about 'reportage' style wedding photography as a new
thing. Compared to the 1940's it is, but actually people have
been doing this for decades. It basically means not setting up
every shot and just capturing the action as it happens. As a photographer
who has plenty of press experience I can honestly say that reportage
photography may sound easy but it is a skill. It's not only timing
but concentration and a creative nimbleness that only comes with
experience.
Before
you choose a photographer to shoot your wedding you should ensure
that you see all the images they provide to their clients from a
single wedding. All wedding photographers put the best images on
their websites so ask to see a whole wedding and one that they have
shot recently too. That way you get a feel for the overall quality
as well as the specific content.
How
much should I spend?
When
choosing a wedding photographer you will be typically spending about
10-15% of your wedding budget. This is after all a serious investment.
I know this question can sound a little cold but apart from the
rings and maybe a few presents, the wedding photographs are the
one thing that really remain after the day itself to keep those
memories fresh. People often say when it comes to wedding photography
that you should spend as much as you can. Now I know as a seasoned
pro that actually price doesn't always reflect the quality of the
photography. Some photographers will charge £400 for an album
that I know full well will cost them half that. Some photographers
will give you a copyright free disc of full quality images whereas
some will again charge you £350 for the privilege. So as you
can see there is no hard and fast rules on pricing and the quality
of the photography may not have anything to do with the price of
the package.
That
said here are some facts you may not know about my overheads. I
bring around £15,000 worth of equipment to a wedding, and
annually spend another £7000 on operating costs. If you imagine
that the preparation for a typical wedding includes two to three
hour-long meetings (including travel) and maybe a venue visit, the
actual day shooting, album design and subsequent tweaks. All in
all it can work out as much as the equivalent of six days work.
Photographers offering low cost weddings are likely to be cutting
costs in terms of equipment and editing time - there's no such thing
as a free lunch!
A recent survey at Rock Your Wedding suggested that the majority
of people pay between £800-2000 for wedding photography, and
the average for full-day coverage (bridal prep to first dance) falls
between £1500-2000, including an album.
When you're choosing a photographer, do have a close look at their
prices. Don't just go for the cheapest one to save money on the
honeymoon or you may end up seriously regretting it. You do after
all, get what you pay for.
What
do you get?
Ensure
from the beginning that you are clear about what is in your package
and what is not. Agree on a fixed number of hours and ensure you
don't mess the photographer around with timings. If you don't know
exactly how long they will be required to be there on the day you
can still book them and arrange the details at a later date. Any
decent photographer won't operate like a taxi. Weddings have peaks
and troughs of activity and the packages I offer suit various different
weddings. Timing are critical to ensure an organised day but your
photographer need to be flexible as often the first dance can be
later than planned or the speeches can overrun.
Ensure you are getting enough images from you photographer. It used
to be the case with film that you'd expect 100 images from a six
hour wedding. Nowadays I don't think this is at all the case. Typically
a good photographer will provide at least 500 fully edited images
from bridal prep to first dance. On occasion it can be up to 900
images if the package includes the later evening activities too.
It is also worth asking the photographer what they actually photograph
at the wedding. A good photographer will not forget the small details
such as place settings, rings and all the other little touches that
make your wedding special to you.
What
experience do you have?
This
is often difficult to quantify as a 'non' photographer. The wedding
photography market is more prone to dishonest amateurs than any
other sector of the market. Nowadays there are courses that offer
a day's worth of photography training with bridal models in full
wedding gear for around £100. This means that all you need
to do is go on a couple of these and you have a portfolio and can
become an wedding photographer.
When
choosing a photographer, I would suggest that you check whether
or not they also do commercial or PR photography or have a background
in press photography. This shows that the photographer has a proven
track record in the industry. If in doubt, Google them every time!
I
work throughout the UK as a corporate and commercial photographer.
I started the wedding business about four years ago and was able
to bring some of the skills needed when shooting for magazines and
brochures into the (rather traditional) wedding market. I only take
on 2-3 weddings a month, so as to ensure that you are not in a production
line and I don't become an overworked grumpy wedding snapper. It
is also far more enjoyable than photographing Nick Clegg and Ed
Miliband.
What
equipment do you use?
Always
ask your prospective photographer what cameras they use. They should
definitely take at least two to the wedding. Any pro will shoot
with two cameras and maybe even keep a spare in the boot. Write
the name of the camera on a scrap of paper and when you get home
Google it! Is it a professional camera? A good wedding photographer
should be using at least £10,000 worth of camera, lenses and
other equipment to be prepared for all eventualities.
Here are a few points to consider summarised below.....
Are
there positive testimonials?
Ask about the equipment the photographer uses – is it pro
spec gear?
Is this their full time job, a part-time job or something they
just do for fun?
Are the sample images taken from weddings they have shot themselves
or ones they have assisted on?
Were
any of the sample images taken at a wedding photography training
session with models?
Which
album manufacturer do they use and do they offer different options?
What's
their USP? (unique selling points)
Contracts
A contract should show the main details of the wedding, including
starting and end times, monies including deposits and final payments,
all the items and services the bride and groom should expect and
contact numbers for both the photographer and the clients. Contracts
show good intention and a professional approach.
Second photographers.
At a typical full-day wedding I will take around 2000-3000 images
and edit them down to about 500-800 shots. I would politely caution
against seeking out a wedding photographer who offers two photographers
in a package as most of the pros generally agree that you don't
get twice the pictures.
Often one of the photographers is the pro and the other provides
the 'fill' or at worst lots of pics of your backs with the other
photographer in the background. Generally all it does is make the
day less stressful for the primary photographer as the secondary
photographer does all the 'details' and extra candid shots. A dedicated
photographer will do those things anyway and far more discreetly.
I
know of a husband and wife team in Yorkshire and the guy told me
that more often than not, his wife only takes ten or twenty decent
shots but she makes the package look good. Finally in the church
I can imagine two snappers being a pest. I speak as someone who
has worked with a second photographer at a few weddings and often
not found it as effective or valuable as you would imagine.
Personality
This is a very difficult thing to quantify and don't forget it
works both ways. A wedding photographer knows when a couple are
going to be a joy to work with on the first meeting in the same
way that the couple will get a first impression of that photographer.
Generally speaking you will be spending at least part of your
special day with your wedding photographer so be sure to ask about
their approach. How do they deal with people and can they integrate
with your wedding guests?
At
the very least you want to get an impression of relaxed confidence
from the person you choose. Confidence is essential to ensure
that the photographer can get the required result, and staying
calm and smiley is actually the best way to achieve this. You
don't have to be best friends after a meeting or phone call but
it's nice if your able to have a chat about something other than
your wedding.
Finally to get the best out of any photographer it's up to you
to be organised.
You
need to brief your hired artist with a rundown of the day. Basically
just the essentials of what is happening when and what groups are
required. You should also mention the style of pictures you would
like and even specific shots if you require them. I won't go into
too much detail here but needless to say it is a creative commission
and input from you is essential.
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