3/24/11

Hiring A Wedding Photographer

By Charles Murray


Wedding photographers all have unique styles and skills and finding a qualified one involves many choices and prices for consideration. The hours spent on the project, the picture settings, amount of people involved in the shoot, different poses, and prints wanted all need to be considered when choosing a photographer and a wedding package. Prices can vary greatly from one photographer to another, so it is important to research the photographer and everything offered.

Wedding photographers can be compared to other contractors who work by the hour or small job. While the costs of the albums or prints might seem outrageous, the number of hours involved throughout the day need to be considered as contributing factors for those prices.

Photographers have their equipment costs just as other contract based professionals supply their own materials and equipment, whether it is an electrician with tools or a carpenter with a woodshop. Having friends and family bring their own cameras might help reduce costs, but there are differences that will be seen. Special lights and flashes, multiple camera types to be used in different situations, computers for digital cameras, and more help to make the wedding photographs truly memorable. Typically this specialized equipment will take better pictures than a camera owned by a hobbyist.

The time of year also needs to be considered when looking to hire a wedding photographer. It is not unusual for summer prices to be higher as that is often a peak season for weddings, just as resorts and hotel might raise rates during peak times.

Photographers who are successful at capturing wedding photos have often developed the abilities to gauge personalities and characteristics of his or her subjects. Family members and guests should feel comfortable with the photographer and be able to relax in his presence. Sometimes it is a good idea to ask the photographer if there is a public event at which he or she will be working where their skills and interactions can be seen, and then the pictures can also be reviewed. The engagement picture session is another good opportunity to get a glimpse of the style, organization capabilities, and skills of the photographer. If the photographer is late, appears rushed or preoccupied, or does not listen to the needs of the couple, then the relationship does not need to continue, even if the pictures are acceptable.

When the pictures are developed, wedding photographers typically use professional labs if they don't have their own in-house processing facilities. The wedding couple can ask the photographer where the photographs will be developed and what the process involves. During the search for a wedding photographer the couple should also ask about security measures for protecting the film, duplicates made, and how the film or photos will be stored. Qualified wedding photographers will provide thorough answers and have plans in place for these issues.

Wedding couples should meet with many photographers, review their work, get a sense of their styles, and ask many questions. There might be some wedding photographers who will agree to sell the proofs of the pictures so that the wedding couple can have their own prints made at commercial studios or by home printers, but the quality should not be as expected to be the same. A budget for wedding photography does not have to include hiring the most expensive photographer, but it is important to search for a photographer who offers a price that fits and delivers great pictures. The results of hiring a professional photographer can usually be seen in the pictures from that wonderful day.




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