Considering June is the most popular month for weddings, then by July the wedding season is already in full-swing. Whether you’re a photographer (hobbyist or professional) or a soon-to-be wedding client, there are many things you need to know regarding wedding photography.
Planning a wedding is a lot of work. Hours and hours of preparation, planning and expenses that can rival medical bills. Sometimes, searching for a talented photographer isn’t the top concern. Sadly, many brides or grooms are willing to hire their friend or family member with a DSLR without remembering that weddings are generally an once-in-a-lifetime event. With that in mind, consider also the amount of money spent to create the dream wedding – why would you want to risk capturing these memories without any artistic expertise?
So how do you find the right photographer for your wedding? Despite the urge to hire a free photographer, it’s best to rethink those considerations. This doesn’t apply when you are best friends with a professional who is gifting their services or a photographer portfolio building whose work you already adore. To find your photographer, there are several avenues to search. Word of mouth is the greatest asset. Sources such as Facebook and other social media are great avenues. Then search the Internet, phone books, contact wedding vendors such as bridal shops for recommendations or contact local photography clubs and request a list of possible photographers. Then narrow the list by browsing their portfolio to find the style of photography that best suits you. Bright and classic, soft and dreamy, bright and crisp, vintage and edgy are many of the choices. Once you’ve got that list, start contacting the photographer. Base your decision upon how fast they respond to your inquiry, the prices and products offered and your budget. Be clear about your needs and expectations and the right photographer will not only do the same, but will be more than willing to work with you. A final consideration is editing time and image sharing. If you need your images by a certain date, be sure to ask their average editing time and be clear about your needs. If you have family out of town, does the photographer have a way they can order prints or will you have to take hours to order for every person yourself? This is why it’s important to discuss all your needs. By finding the right photographer, you will have one less stress on your list of wedding preparations.
What do you do if you’re the photographer being asked to photograph a wedding? It doesn’t matter if this will be your first time or hundredth, you number-one priority should be to capture the client’s wedding as artistically as possible while meeting all their needs and expectations. Take the time to discuss everything with them before you book them. Not only are some clients not right for you, but sometimes a photographer isn’t the right one for a client. There is no harm in this realization. You will not damage your reputation by being honest. A first time wedding photographer may not be right for the wedding with the thousand-dollar budget, but for someone with a limited budget, affordably capturing memories is great for practice. Just provide the best work possible despite budgets and never treat a client differently just because of their budget. If you know you’re not the right photographer, you can help them find someone else and mention that you hope they’ll remember you in the future for their portrait (or whatever you’re specialty is) needs in the future. By taking the time to help them, you are removing some of their stress and burden and for that they will be grateful and remember your services. Even if they don’t hire you, they will tell friends and family about your assistance which in turn will still help bring in new clients. Remember vintage chivalry and use it. There’s a reason businesses succeeded without internet and that was word of mouth and great customer service.
A lot of photographers refuse to do wedding photography because it is a lot of work. Contracts, licenses, permits (required at some locations), travel expenses, equipment upkeep and insurance, the cost of back-up cameras, the “Bridezilla” or pushy family, hours of editing and so many other factors play a part. Weddings are also very fast, which can result in a missed moment if you don’t know what you are doing. This is why it’s a good idea to hire a second shooter so the event is better covered. Weddings can be fun for a photographer or a complete nightmare. Until you have photographed a wedding yourself you can’t truly understand everything involved. It’s a good idea to research everything online and ask fellow photographer friends with wedding experience what their opinions are. Realize that you will need good insurance to cover a possible equipment or card failure, invest in a good quality camera and lighting since many venues have atrocious lighting. Then think of the smaller details such as whether or not you want family and friends to be able to photograph. Unless you have prints included in your price or purchase requirements in your contract, you take the risk of the spouses foregoing purchases due to freebies from family of nearly the same pose. This happens frequently, despite a photographer’s services being purchased. Once you know the location, take the time to research it and practice photography there if possible. Plan out your poses and required shots such as the rings, the decorations and the family or wedding party, along with some time set aside to get some private moments of the newlyweds.
Despite the stress and anxiety involved in weddings, wedding photography is an amazing experience. The couple forgets everything except each other and there’s nothing as satisfying as capturing the love between two people at their happiest moment together. Just be sure that you can provide the service they deserve and if you’re the one searching, be sure you’ve found the right photographer who can be there to capture every moment.
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