Every wedding tells a unique story- a story of the bride and groom. Our job as wedding planners is to help bring that story to life through imagery, design, sound, lighting, food and all the little details that make the wedding uniquely theirs, bringing out their personality. But the wedding day which takes months to plan, passes so quickly. That is why when we start working with couples; one of the first things we do is introducing them to the most sought after and talented photographers in the business. They may not realize it then, but wedding photographers are the most important vendors they will work with through their wedding. We want couples to realize that their wedding day makes for a wonderful story. We always make sure their photographer captures this story in the form of beautiful images.
HERE ARE THE TOP 5 THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND WHEN DEALING WITH WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHERS
1. Chat about the styles you prefer. Make a detailed list of the kind of images you want like Portraits, close-ups etc.
2. Tell your photographer in advance whom you want photographed most. Introduce them to your family and friends during the pre-wedding ceremonies.
3. You can try working with the photographer on your engagement day so that you understand his style of work and also make sure he is the right one for your wedding day! After all, you must also be comfortable with the style and personality of your photographer. You want to feel and look confident and happy in your photos, not irritated and confused.
4. Don’t just rely on a photographer’s samples or portfolio. Plagiarism is rampant in this industry. The images they show you may have been copied from a popular photographer’s website. I see photos of Joseph Radhik and Monica Moghe’s work all over the internet! So you might want to double check the authenticity of samples.
5. Get referrals from family and friends, and ask photographers how they shot some of their favourite weddings.
WE HAVE ALSO COMPILED A LIST OF QUESTIONS YOU MUST NOT FORGET TO ASK YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER BEFORE MAKING A FINAL DECISION
1. When hiring your photographer, ask for all-inclusive packages- and choose one that meets all your needs.
2. Ask how many photos you’ll get for each package, which image sizes are available, and what is the photographer’s privacy policy/copyright on those images.
3. Think beyond your wedding day. Do you want an electronic file of all the images, prints for your family, an album for yourself? Include this in your rate as purchasing these things at a later date may end up making a bigger dent in your wallet.
4. Ask your photographer how many people will be working on your event, what kind of lens and camera will they use and also about their expertise, knowledge and experience in wedding photography.
5. What are the extras- travel, accommodation, overtime fees if any?
6. What is the duration of half day shoot (how many hours?) and of full day shoots?
Hope this helps while finalising your wedding photographer.
Love,
Aloha