tips & advice
5 Tips for Choosing a Wedding Photographer
For couples who are planning weddings for next year or farther into the future, there are plenty of tough choices ahead. One of the most difficult is selecting a wedding photographer. “Finding the right photographer is one of the most important things couples do in their wedding planning,” said Laura Parent, a photographer who has shot weddings and other events throughout the world. “Photography is the one part of the wedding that couples take with them when the ceremony and reception are over. When it comes to photography, too many couples make disastrous choices.” Parent offers wedding couples five simple tips for finding the right photographer:
1. Make sure there is a personal connection: Your photographer will play a vital role, not just on your wedding day, but throughout your wedding planning. Make sure that he or she is someone with whom you enjoy working. It’s not enough for your photographer to take beautiful pictures; he or she must also be able to communicate effectively with you to assure you get photos that you will want to look at for the rest of your lives. Plus, a photographer with a great personality and communication skills will be more likely to create wonderful photos of people who aren’t necessarily photogenic.
2. Make sure the photographer shares your vision: This is your special day—make sure your photographer understands your vision. Do you want your photo book to have a formal look? Do you prefer a more relaxed feel? Also, look for someone who takes an artistic approach to wedding photography. Does the photographer effectively incorporate the environment into photos? Are the photos’ composition compelling and artistic or unimaginative and stale? Couples want a photo book to capture their personality.
3. Make sure your photographer has experience: When you’ve found someone you want to work with, and who’s work you like, make sure he or she has experience shooting weddings. You don’t want the photographer experimenting or learning a new skill on your special day.
4. Plan your green wedding: Many couples want to have a “green” wedding. Believe it or not, even your photography can be environmentally-friendly. Ask photographers whether they recycle their photographic materials. Also, ask if they use recycled papers and photography books. You can even request that they use power that is created through renewable sources, like wind and hydro-electric plants. In fact, many utilities offer programs that allow businesses to purchase power that comes solely from these sources.
5. Don’t settle: You should cherish your wedding photography for the rest of your lives. Don’t cut corners, and don’t let friends or relatives take your wedding pictures as their gift to you. Establish a realistic budget for photography and find the best photographer you can within that budget. If you are planning a destination wedding, don’t settle for the resort’s photographer. Find someone with a flexible schedule who is willing to work with you in the months leading up to your wedding and attend your wedding with you.
“Planning a wedding can be one of the most stressful experiences of a couple’s life together,” said Parent. “However, picking the right photographer can eliminate a lot of that stress, both during the wedding and in the months leading up to it.”
Laura Parent is well-known photographer who has travelled throughout the world shooting weddings. She can be found online at www.relivephotography.com.