SELECTING THE WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER

There are two things that will remain as reminders of your special day; your memories and your photographs. Memories last forever, make sure your photographs do too. Be careful in choosing your photographer and make sure that he/she is professional, competent, and has good ethics. Keep in mind photographers have no formal licensing requirements, they only need to take pictures for a fee.

Selecting your photographer:

§       Start looking for a photographer 6 to 9 months before your wedding since many good photographers are in demand, especially in the summer months.

§       Ask for recommendations from family and friends as well as your caterer, florist, and clergyman.

§       Bridal fairs are also good places to see the work of various photographers and get the names of those whose work you like.

§       Once you have several recommendations, place a call to the different photographers to determine if they specialize in weddings , if they are available on the date of your wedding, how long they have been in business, how they obtained their qualifications, and what their philosophy is regarding wedding photography.

§       Make appointments with several photographers to see their work and interview them. Be sure that they specialize in weddings. Use spreadsheet “Questions To Ask The Photographer” and “Photographer Estimates” at the end of this section to interview the photographers.

§       Ask to see sample albums or proofs from a recent wedding. Be sure to look at one complete wedding coverage. Found out who the people are in the picture, if they personally photographed the wedding, and if you can call these people for a reference. Also, look to see if the pictures:

o    Have good clarity and color.

o    He/she paid attention to detail.

o    He/she captured the personality of the bride and groom as well as the emotions of the day.

o    Is creative with various poses.

o    Uses soft lighting and lenses.

o    Uses special effects such as split framing or multiple exposures that make the pictures interesting.

§       Consider his/her personality to determine if you will work well together and he/she will make your guests feel comfortable.

§       When interviewing the photographer, be sure to ask the cost of each print, cost of albums, travel or extra fees since fees charged by photographers vary greatly. Most photographers offer wedding packages that for a set fee include a predetermined number of pictures in various sizes in prints or in an album. These packages are normally less expensive. Be sure to check if the photographer offers parents albums.

§       Ask if the photographer keeps your negatives and if so, are they kept in a fireproof safe in the event of a problem. Also, ask if your negatives can be purchased now or in the future.

Once you have selected your photographer, make sure everything you have agreed upon with him/her is

detailed out in a written contract.

The contract should include:

◻                   Date and time of the ceremony and reception.

◻                   Time to arrive for photos at ceremony and reception.

◻                   Products and services included in the fee.

◻                   Name of photographer who will be shooting your wedding.

◻                   Name of assistant and back-up plans in case the photographer is sick or unable to make it.

◻                   Fees for assistant and role in the photography.

◻                   Number of hours the photographer will be shooting the photos for the ceremony and reception.

◻                   Overtime charges and reasons for charges.

◻                   Photographer and assistant’s attire at the wedding.

◻                   Number and types of proofs, the viewing schedule and final delivery date.

◻                   Waiting period before photographer will release negatives.

◻                   Period of time which extra prints can be ordered at the quoted price.

◻                   Payment schedule (deposits, balances, and due dates).

◻                   Method of payment.

◻                   Liability insurance.

Be sure if you are planning to send an announcement of your wedding to your newspaper, your photographer knows to take a black and white portrait of you and the groom and you will need this in an 8x10 print to send to the newspaper.

Taking the pictures:

Have the photographer arrive at least an hour before the ceremony. You may want to have the pictures taken while you and your attendants are getting dressed as well as while the groom and his attendants getting ready.

If your ceremony and reception are being held at the same location, you may want to get your posed pictures taken before the guests arrive. If you don’t want the groom to see you before the ceremony, take as many pictures as you can without the two of you together, then finish after the ceremony.

To be sure the photographer knows about all of the photos you would like to have taken, use spreadsheet “Photo Checklist” at the end of this section. Photocopy it and give it to your photographer. In addition, use spreadsheet “Photographer Information” to record all pertinent details and give this to your photographer as well.

Portrait Session:

If you are planning to have a formal portrait, the following is a list of items you should take with you:

◻                   Your wedding dress

◻                   Headpiece (hat or veil)

◻                   Wedding shoes and stockings

◻                   Undergarments

◻                   Gloves (if you are wearing these)

◻                   Jewelry

◻                   Bible, garter and bouquet (if not furnished by the photographer)

New Trends in Photography:

§       More couples are having their formal photos taken before the ceremony while their hair and makeup is fresh. Also this prevents having their guests wait and their photographers rushed.

§       Couples are still requesting posed shots of their family and friends but the trend is to have more candid photos and less posed.

§       Black and white photos are making a comeback and more couples are choosing to have the photographer shoot in black and white as well as color.

§       Portraits with backgrounds of mountains, water, or champagne glasses are growing in popularity.

Photography do’s and don’ts:

§       Do hire a professional wedding photographer

§       Do ask to see samples of his/her work and price lists

§       Do check for hidden costs such as charges for proofs

§       Do take time to plan your photography and discuss your wishes in person with your photographer

§       Do check with your church or registry office to determine if there are any rules and restrictions regarding photography

§       Do set aside enough money in your budget so you can have the quality of photos you want

§       Don’t trust your memory, have everything confirmed in writing

§       Don’t have your uncle take your photos unless he is a bona fide professional

§       Don’t rely on snapshots from relatives and friends

Money Saving Ideas:

·                   Use a photographer who works out of his/her home as their overhead is lower and they are able to pass on savings to you.

·                   Request a less popular time if you can be flexible in your wedding date or time. Depending on the pricing structure, it may be cheaper to have your wedding shot on a Saturday morning than in the afternoon or evening when photographers are typically busier.

·                   Check to see if you can order the package without the album and if it would be cheaper to take the standard album since you may get an album as a wedding gift.

·                   Hire a professional photographer to take pictures of the ceremony but have friends take candid shots throughout the day.

·                   Have a friend who is an experienced photographer and who has good equipment take all of the wedding pictures.

Ideas:

·                   Display a few photos of the bride and groom from birth to marriage by mounting these on a wall or setting them around the room.

·                   Send a photo invitation.

·                   Send a thank you note with your wedding picture on the front or a picture of you opening the guests’ present (thank you pictures can be ordered from Kodak).

·                   Order extra pictures for special friends.

·                   Take along a camera on your honeymoon and create a honeymoon album.

·                   Have a friend take pictures of your wedding day with a Polaroid Camera, and then take these with you on your honeymoon.

·               Create a pre-wedding album by capturing special planning moments on film. You could include, your engagement party, showers, trying on your dress, rehearsal dinner, etc.

	Photographer #1	Photographer #2	Photographer #3
Name:
Address:
Phone:
Portraits Engagement Wedding
Photographer Fee Number of Hours Number of Shots
Wedding Album Number of Pictures Size of Pictures
Parents’ Album Number of Pictures Size of Pictures
Individual Pictures 8 x 10 5 x 7 4 x 6
Miscellaneous
Total

◻                   1). Are you a member of Wedding Photographers International? (reflects a high level of competence and ethics)

◻                   2). Will you personally be taking the pictures? (if not, ask to meet the person who will be)

◻                   3). Do you work with an assistant and do you have backup equipment in case of a problem?

◻                   4). Are you familiar with my ceremony and reception site?

◻                   5). What are the photo package prices?

◻                   6). What are the individual picture prices?

◻                   7). Do you offer parents’ albums and if so, what do you charge?

◻                   8). How many hours does your price include?

◻                   9). How much time will you need to allow for the formal wedding photos taken either before or after the ceremony?

◻                   10). Will you stay until me and the groom departs? Is there an extra charge if the reception should last longer than planned?

◻                   11). Can I give you a list of special people with whom I want pictures?

◻                   12). When will the proofs be ready?

◻                   13). How long will the prints take once they have been ordered?

◻                   14). Will you sell the negatives or albums?

◻                   15). How many years do you keep the negatives and are they stored in a fireproof safe?

◻                   16). What do you normally wear when photographing a wedding? (a tuxedo or other specified attire?

Bride’s Name:                                                     

Phone:                                                 

Wedding Date:                                                     

Time:                                                    

Wedding Location:                                                                                                                     

Reception Date:                                                   

Time:                                                    

Reception Location:                                                                                                                     

Photographer:                                                         

Phone:                                                 

Assistant:                                                                 

Phone:                                                 

Arrival Time:                                                          

Phone:                                                 

Location:                                                                                                                                       

Ceremony and Reception Site restrictions and guidelines:                                                         

Appropriate Dress: