Professional Photography

Wedding Photography

The wedding photographer is hired to take photos of the bride and groom, their families, the wedding party, and others before, during and after the wedding, as well as at the reception. Most wedding photography takes place in religious facilities and reception halls, but wedding photographers are prepared to do their job in forest clearings, on beaches, in hot-air balloons, and anywhere else a wedding might take place.

Selecting Your Wedding Photographer

Choosing the right wedding photographer is vital. Long after the bridesmaid dresses are packed away and the last of the wedding cake is gone, your wedding photos will remain — your best visual history and reminder of one of the most important days in your life. Your wedding photographer is responsible for capturing the special moments and special people of this event. His ability to capture important moments without disrupting those moments is also critical — more than one wedding couple has become outright annoyed by a pushy photographer who thinks he's running the show.

How do you find the right wedding photographer? Should you pick one at random from the yellow pages or from a web site? At least one couple found their wedding photographer from an ad on the paper placemats at their favorite wings-and-beer joint — they got lucky and found a very good one! But that method may not result in the best choice for your wedding. Personal referrals are always a good start. If any friends or relatives have gotten married recently, ask them who they used, and if they were happy with the results. But don't forget that there may be even better photographers out there that your friends don't know about.

Take some time to explore the web sites of wedding photographers in your area. They should offer a portfolio of photos available online that you can look at to decide if you like the photographer's style. Examine the poses, the lighting, the focus, the facial expressions: Would photos like these of your wedding make you happy? Then call up several of your favorites for an initial phone conversation. Ask them about their standard rates and availability, and pay attention to whether you feel comfortable talking them. If the initial phone conversation doesn't raise any red flags, and if the photographer is available on the date needed, your next step should be to make an appointment with 2 or 3 of your favorites to meet with them in person. Keep in mind that the photographer's fee shouldn't be your most important criterion at this point. A expert wedding photographer may seem expensive, but compared to the cost of a lifetime of disappointment with the only photos you'll ever have of your wedding, the better photographer who charges more may be the best bargain you'll make when planning your wedding.

Styles of Wedding Photography

Just as other artists, professional wedding photographers have their own unique styles. One photographer may use a photojournalistic approach, documenting each important moment of the event in a fairly literal visual presentation. Others use a more artsy approach, using soft focus, special filters, shallow depth of field, and other techniques to create more artistic images. Some photographers are better than others at taking relaxed, candid photos of the guests during the reception; if these types of photos are important to you, make sure that the photographer you are considering is skilled at this type of photography.

For the meeting with the photographer, both the bride and groom should be present if possible, and should be prepared with a list of questions. Now is the time to get detailed information about what's included in his standard package, how much time he will commit to being present for the wedding and reception, how long after the wedding you'll see the first set of proofs, and how long after you select photos you'll actually receive them.

Be sure to ask him about his personal approach during the wedding and in setting up the posed photos. Some people like for the photographer to "take charge" of the many posed groupings, while others prefer to decide those for themselves. The experienced wedding photographer is familiar with all the common "groupings" that most people want photos of: the bride and groom together, the bride with her family, the bride and groom with her family, the groom with his family, the bride and groom with his family, the bride and groom with their wedding party, the bride and groom with their ring bearer and flower girl... and so on and so on and so on. The number of possible groupings is almost limitless, and an experienced photographer will know which ones every couple will want. A good photographer will also know from experience how many is too many — you don't want to keep your guests waiting at the reception for 3 hours while the bridal party poses for hundreds of photographs.

Be sure to discuss the schedule and order of events for your wedding, so that the photographer knows what will happen when and in what order. He may need to be prepared with special lenses or film, or may want to seek out a particular vantage point ahead of time. Experienced photographers are often able to "go with the flow" and obtain good photos regardless, but even the most experienced photographers are more likely to get that "perfect shot" if they know ahead of time when that moment will happen and are able to position themselves and set up their equipment accordingly.

Other Questions to Ask the Wedding Photographer

Be sure to find out from the photographer about his policies and possible additional fees for date changes or cancellations. Find out what happens if he's unexpectedly unavailable on the selected date: Does he arrange for a colleague to serve as backup, or are you left with no photographer at the last minute? If his fees are too pricy for your budget, ask if you would be able to get reduced rate by shortening the length of the wedding and reception. Many photographers base their standard prices on the expected amount of time the wedding shoot will require, and may give you a lower rate for a shorter time period. Find out his exact payment requirements: Is a deposit required, and when is the remainder due? How long before the date must you pay the deposit in order to be guaranteed his availability? A busy photographer is likely to be booked up for June weddings many months in advance (if not years), and most will not confirm their services for you until they receive the required deposit. If you hesitate, someone else may swoop in and steal that photographer right out from under you.

The photographer will be able to advise you on these and other issues. You'll want to find someone who can offer professional advice, but who will ultimately give you what you want regardless. You want to avoid having to argue with your photographer during the photo session in order to get that special photo with your best friend, her sister, and your flower girl.

What Does a Professional Wedding Photographer Cost?

You should expect to spend at least $1,000, and possibly up to $5,000, for the photographer's services during the wedding and reception. Generally, this fee includes a standard number of prints and a basic wedding photo album, but you can spend thousands of dollars for additonal prints, special albums, and other extras. Be sure to reserve part of your budget for those extras after the wedding — if you plan to provide prints and/or albums to each set of in-laws, the bridal party, or special friends, you should be sure to obtain costs from the photographer before signing on the dotted line. You may not be able to determine ahead of time exactly what you'll spend on additional prints and albums, but a reputable photographer will be able to give you a rate sheet for prints and albums.

What About the Original Proofs, and Reprints Later On?

Many photographers will sell you the original proofs, or may even include them in their standard package price. But most photographers retain the copyright on all of their photos, and if you later want to order additional prints, you'll have to go back to the photographer to order from him. This is a common and accepted practice; your photographer is selling you the actual prints, not the copyright. If you truly desire to own the copyright so that you can make additional prints for yourself later, be prepared to pay a whopping sum — if the photographer is even willing to consider it!

With the introduction of high-resolution digital cameras, more and more wedding photographers are using digital photography. Many of these photographers may provide you with a CD of all the photos. Be sure you understand the copyrights and what you can and can't do with these digital wedding photos.

Signing the Contract

Virtually all professional wedding photographers will have a standard contract for services. Before you sign any contract, be sure to double check and triple check all fees, dates, times, and locations. The time the photographer is expected to appear before the wedding, the amount of time he will commit to the event are both critial factors. Check to make sure that what the photographer told you verbally about cancellations and other matters is accurately reflected in the fine print of the contract. And before departing, make absolutely sure that you and and photographer have each other's full and correct contact information!