Choosing a Photographer- Part 2

Your wedding.... if you are like most brides, you have been dreaming of this day for years, and planning for it takes months of time and effort to make sure it all turns out exactly like you dreamed it would be. The wedding day arrives, everyone is hurrying around, and suddenly it is time for everything to start, and the next thing you know, it is over. It flew by, and everything is a blur. Thankfully, you have the pictures to go back and look through over and over and remember all the fun everyone had- you may even see crazy things that your friends and family did when you weren't around.

Choosing a photographer for your wedding is one of the most important things you will do. When the wedding is over, you will have few things left other than the pictures. Be sure you take the time to choose the right photographer for such an important occasion, and don't let cost be the only factor. When you start to choose your photographer, here are a couple of things to keep in mind....

1. Make sure the photographer has the skills to photograph your wedding. Look at images from an entire wedding, not just the highlights. Anyone can take a great picture from time to time, especially if they are with you for the entire day, but can they take great pictures all day.

2. Make sure you like the photographer. The photographer has to have a great personality and be able to get along with everyone, even Aunt Sue who thinks she should be photographing your wedding because she got a new camera that she has been dying to use. You want to make sure the photographer isn't going to order you around all day, making you feel rushed and as if you missed the wedding because you were taking pictures. As I said before, no one wants to spend time with a grouchy person, or someone they don't like. Make sure you like the photographer.

3. Meet with the photographer and see prints. Prints are different than what you see on the monitor. Prints are what your pictures are going to look like. No photographer has any idea what your monitor settings are, they only control their monitors. Their monitors are set to the lab so what they see is what you get. Sometimes, the images on your monitor look great, but the prints don't look so great, and sometimes the images on your monitor look dull, but the prints look almost 3D. Take the time to look at the prints. If you can't meet with the photographer in person, ask them to send you some prints. Compare what you see on the monitor to what the prints look like.

4. Cost or Investment, they are both the same. How much is going to cost you to get what you want. There are a lot of variables, and usually time is the biggest factor. Some photographers are less expensive, but you give up the time they will spend with you. Keep in mind, wedding receptions typically never go exactly as they are scheduled. Everyone is dancing and having a great time, so the cake cutting gets pushed back, or dinner took longer than expected, lots of things happen. Make sure you aren't rushed by a photographer who is on a schedule. The photographer should be on your schedule! You do not need the added stress of the photographer saying, "My time is up, thank you," when you haven't done all the things you wanted to do, and have pictures of them. Who wants to miss pictures of the ladies diving for the bouquet, or grandma doing the YMCA and Chicken Dance? If you don't mind being prepared to pay extra on the wedding day, then time isn't a concern, but if you are on a budget, make sure you have the photographer for enough time for things to run a little behind schedule.

5. Reorder prices. Usually brides don't think about how much it is going to cost to get additional pictures that aren't in the package. Most brides think they will have enough in the package and they won't want anymore. Remember family members may want to purchase pictures, and you may end up wanting additional pictures. Always at least look at what it would cost for additional prints.

6. Hidden fees. I know that sounds crazy, but a lot of times there are additional fees for things you thought would be covered in the package. A few of the biggies are edits, time, and travel. If you want to go to Galveston to take pictures on the beach, is there a fee for the travel? What if it rains and you need to reschedule, is there a fee? If the ceremony is a the church, and the reception is at a different location across town, is there a fee for multiple locations? The wedding coordinator is standing at the back of the church in every picture of your father walking you down the aisle, is there a fee to edit her out? Make sure you ask what those fees will be, if there are any fees for those things.

Photography is important on your wedding day, make sure you take the time to pick the photographer that is going to be right for your wedding. Don't let cost be the only factor you consider.

http://www.magekphoto.com/