As a wedding photographer with over 15 years of experience, I spend a lot of time working with my clients to educate them on their weddings! It’s such an exciting time but it’s also overwhelming and there’s so much information to consider! Here’s a few helpful tips on what to consider when choosing a wedding photographer.
Good Vibes
It’s so important that you get along with your photographer. They are going to be working with you intimately (probably more so than any other vendor you hire!) throughout your entire wedding day! When you are looking for a photographer, I recommend not only looking at them for the style and quality of work they produce but also how well you and your spouse get along with them. I always meet with my clients before signing any contracts to make sure everyone is feeling the good vibes! If an in person meeting isn’t possible, make sure you do a video chat or phone call.
Have a contract
No matter what price point you are hiring a photographer at for your wedding (or any service!) make sure you have a contract in hand. This will protect you and the photographer and clear up any expectations of the service. If you don’t understand a part of the contract, make sure you ask for clarification and communicate if there is something that you are unsure of or uncomfortable with. In the DC market, it’s common to have high profile clients/guest or clients/guests who can’t have their photos shown on websites or social media. If this applies to your wedding, make sure you talk to your photographer about a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) or if there can be extra security applied to your photos.
Know what the deliverables you will be getting from the photographer and when
Most photographers will have packages they offer, but if it’s your first time booking a wedding photographer some of it might not make sense to you and that’s ok! If you don’t understand an item that they are offering, make sure to get clarifications. You might have found a photographer that is a steal of a price but, their services only include taking the photos and then you have to purchase prints or digital after the wedding which could drive the cost up! On the other hand, the package might seem a little pricy but include rights to all the edited digital photos. There’s no right or wrong way as long as you know what you are getting! Same goes for when to expect your photos. Most Photographer’s will take 6-8 weeks to deliver your digital photos, albums can take a little longer (8-12 weeks on average). You are going to be so excited to see your photos after the wedding so make sure you know how long it might take to re-live the memories!
Ask Questions!
There is a ton of different options when choosing a wedding photographer from style, to post processing, pricing, to film and digital. Don’t be afraid to speak up and ask questions. Talk to as many photographers as you need to fully understand what makes them different from someone else! We will be able to tell you and WANT to share with you too! This might be your first time hiring a photographer, but your photographer has likely worked with many clients and can help you out along the way! If you are worried about losing your wedding date with a photographer you are leaning towards ask them if they would be willing to hold it for you for a week or so while you do your research.
This is just the tip of the iceberg of all the information that is available on booking your wedding photographer and I hope that it’s a good foundation for you to build on! I am always happy to answer questions, feel free to contact me at Hello@finchphotodc.com or follow me on Instagram @finchphotodc for more helpful information!