It's about more than just the price tag....
I totally get that weddings are expensive…been there & have the t-shirt. And I know the idea of hiring a cheap wedding photographer sounds like the perfect way to trim your wedding day budget. But, after years of photographing family sessions & hearing stories from those couples years after their wedding..the main thing they would tell you is “Photography is not the place to skimp! I wish I had invested more into my photographer”
I know what your thinking…easy for you to say, you photograph weddings!! True, but this post isn’t about why you should be hiring high end photographers only & the cheap ones aren’t good! This post is to educated future bridal couples about what to look for in a photographer whether they are expensive or not…I tend to overeducate my clients because once you have all the info, they can make an EDUCATED choice. Instead of thinking “I didn’t know I needed to look at a sample of a full day wedding?!” or “Don’t all photographers offer the same thing?”
Personality is key…
When you dream about your wedding day, you are probably picture yourself spending time with family & dancing with friends. However, there’s one person you actually spend more time with than anyone else on the big day: your photographer. From getting ready till you kick off your heels to dance the night away, your wedding photographer is with you every step of the way. They are capturing moments as they pass you in a whirlwind of joy & tears.
When you start researching wedding photographers, keep in mind that liking them as a person is just as important as liking their work. Besides your actual wedding day, you actually spend more time before & after the wedding with your photographer than any other vendor…consider the time spent together for your engagement session, then the wedding day, image delivery & then finally the delivery of your album!
Find someone you click with, whether that’s through bonding over a love of dogs, watching the same reality shows or cheering for the same (or opposite) sports teams. During your in-person meeting, see if the photographer makes you laugh, makes you feel comfortable & makes you inspired. Hire someone you want to hang out with & the time spent together on your wedding day will be comfortable & effortless.
It’s all about trust….
In addition to liking your photographer, you’ve got to trust them! I mean seriously trust them!! Trust that they will show up on your wedding day, that they will deliver your images according to the contract & trust in their process! Trust that they will know that you’ll want photos with your bridesmaids, your family & of you plus your new Mr. cutting the cake. Trust that they will capture the real, unscripted moments that are unique to you and your celebration… tears when your mother sees you in your dress, the laughter shared between the groomsmen & the dance moves of Uncle Jim on the dance floor.
While this is probably the first wedding you’ve ever planned, your wedding photographer has a few weddings under their belt & should know a thing or two about what to expect. In addition to playing the role of the person who takes your wedding photos, your photographer can also be your biggest advocate throughout the wedding process. Lean on them when it comes to making your wedding day timeline because they know how to get you the best photos in the best light plus keeping you from feeling stressed, overwhelmed, or tired in the process. Your photographer should also be able to adapt to any “wedding day blips” that happen…flat tire, wardrobe malfunction, late from the salon or lost groomsmen…it happens all the time!! Being able to work on the fly & quickly shifting the timeline as needed will help to keep you sane plus keep everyone on time for supper…cause we don’t want anyone feeling “hangry”!!
Value….
What a photographer does for their clients is to create an experience leading up to your wedding day (engagement session), being there for you on your big day & then there are the images they deliver when the party is over! With the exception of a few iPhone photos taken during the day or if you hired a videographer (smart move!), your wedding photographer’s images are all that you have to remember your wedding by. No matter how much you spend on flowers, food, or fabulous reception chairs, the one thing you get to keep is your images!
When you look through your album, a digital gallery you’ve shared on Facebook or your art piece displayed on the walls of your home, you’ll be able to remember it all every time you see those images! The song that played while you danced for the first time as a married couple, the look your bridesmaids gave you when they saw you in your dress for the first time, the tears in your partner’s eyes as they spoke their vows aloud at the altar or the silly face your Dad made on the dance floor! Your wedding photographer is able to give you something that other vendors just can’t & that’s ultimately why investing in someone whose work you believe in is worth every penny!!
As I mentioned at the beginning, this post isn’t just for you to hire my services… it’s for future bridal couples to look beyond the price tag & ensure they are getting a real bang for their buck! If you consider each of these steps while choosing your wedding photographer, you will be beyond thrilled with your resulting images! Remember…there are no do overs for your wedding day!
If you would like to have more information about my wedding services or would like to meet for a coffee (or tea) chat…please get in touch with me! I would love to hear all about your dream wedding plans!!
