Make sure you hire a photographer who specializes in wedding photography. Your photographer should be experienced in wedding procedures and familiar with your ceremony and reception sites. This will allow him/her to anticipate your next move and be in the proper place at the right time to capture all the special moments.
BRIDE & GROOM'S ALBUMThe bride and groom's photo album is the best way to preserve your special day. Chances are you and your fiancé will look at the photos many times during your lifetime. Therefore, hiring a good photographer is one of the most important tasks in planning your wedding.
Options: There are a large variety of wedding albums. They vary in size, color, material, construction and price. Find one that you like and will feel proud of showing to your friends and family. Some of the most popular manufacturers of wedding albums are Art Leather, Leather Craftsman and Renaissance.
Make sure you review the differences between these albums before selecting one. You will also need to select the finish process of your photos. Ask your photographer to show you samples of various finishes. Some of the most popular finishes are glossy, luster, semi-matte, pebble finish, spray texture and oil.
Things To Consider: Make sure you hire a photographer who specializes in weddings. Your photographer should be experienced in wedding procedures and familiar with your ceremony and reception sites. This will allow him/her to anticipate your next move and be in the proper place at the right time to capture all the special moments. Personal rapport is extremely important. The photographer may be an expert, but if you don't feel comfortable or at ease with him or her, your photography will reflect this. Comfort and compatibility with your photographer can make or break your wedding day and your photographs!
Look at his/her work. See if the photographer captured the excitement and emotion of the bridal couple. Also, remember that the wedding album should unfold like a story book -- the story of your wedding. Be sure to discuss with your photographer the photos you want so that there is no misunderstanding. A good wedding photographer should have a list of suggested poses to choose from. Use the form on page 0 to select photos you must have. Give a copy of that form to your photographer.
Look at albums ready to be delivered, or proofs of weddings recently photographed. Look at the photographer's preferred style. Some photographers are known for formal poses, while others specialize in more candid, creative shots. Some can do both.
When asked to provide references, many photographers will give you the names of people they know are happy with their work. Some may even give you names from weddings they performed several years ago. This may not indicate the photographer's current ability or reputation. So when asking for references, be sure to ask for recent weddings the photographer has performed. This will give you a good idea of his/her current work. Be sure to ask if the photographer was prompt, cordial, properly dressed and whether s/he performed his/her duties as expected. When comparing prices, consider the number, size and finish of the photographs and the type of album the photographer will use. Ask how many proofs you will get to choose your photos from. The more proofs, the better the selection you will have. Some photographers do not work with proofs. Rather, they simply supply you with a finished album after the wedding. Doing this may reduce the cost of your album but will also reduce your selection of photographs.
Beware: Make sure the photographer you interview is the one who will photograph your wedding. There are many companies with more than one photographer. Often these companies use the work of the best photographer to sell their packages and then send a less experienced photographer to the wedding. Don't get caught in this trap! Be sure you meet with the photographer who will shoot your wedding. This way you can get an idea of his/her style and personality.
Also, some churches do not allow photographs to be shot during the ceremony. Make sure your photographer understands the rules and regulations of your church before planning the ceremony shots.
PARENTS' ALBUM The parents' album is a smaller version of the bride and groom's album. It usually contains about twenty 5" x 7" photographs. Photos should be carefully selected for each individual family. If given as a gift, the album can be personalized with the bride and groom's names and date of their wedding on the front cover.
EXTRA PRINTS Extra prints are photographs ordered in addition to the main album or parents' albums. These are usually purchased as gifts for the bridal party, close friends and family members.
Things To Consider: It is important to discuss the cost of extra prints with your photographer since prices vary considerably. Some photographers offer the main album at great bargains to get the job, but then charge a fortune on extra prints. Think how many extra prints you would like to order and figure this into your budget before selecting a photographer.
PROOFS / PREVIEWS Proofs/previews are the preliminary prints from which the bride and groom select photographs for their album and for their parents' albums. They are normally 5" x 5" in size.
Things To Consider: When selecting a package, ask how many proofs the photographer will take. The more proofs, the wider the selection you will have to choose from. For a wide selection, the photographer must take at least 2 to 3 times the number of prints that will go into your album.
Ask the photographer how soon after the wedding you will get your proofs. Request this in writing. The proofs should be ready by the time you get back from your honeymoon. Also request to see your proofs before you make the final payment.
NEGATIVESNegatives come in different sizes depending on the type of film and equipment used. The most popular camera for weddings is the medium format camera. When a medium format camera is used, the size of the negatives is 2 1/4" x 2 1/4." When a 35 mm camera is used, the negatives are only 1" x 1 1/2." The larger the negative, the higher the quality of the photograph, especially when enlarged. Don't let a photographer convince you that there is no difference in quality between a 35 mm camera and a medium format camera.
Things To Consider: Most photographers will not sell you the negatives since they hope to make a profit on selling extra prints after the wedding. Ask the photographers you interview how long they keep the negatives. A professional photographer should keep the negatives at least five years. Make sure you get this in writing.
ENGAGEMENT PHOTOGRAPHThe engagement photograph is sent to your local newspapers, along with information announcing your engagement to the public. This announcement is usually made by the bride's parents or her immediate family.
Things To Consider: The photograph (usually in black and white) was traditionally of the bride alone, but today is usually of the engaged couple.
FORMAL BRIDAL PORTRAITIf you intend to announce your marriage in the newspaper the day after your wedding, you will need to have a formal bridal portrait taken several weeks before the wedding. This is a photograph of the bride taken before the wedding in the photographer's studio. This photograph, along with an announcement, must be sent to your local newspapers as soon as possible.
Things To Consider: Some fine bridal salons provide an attractive background where the bride may arrange to have her formal bridal photograph taken after the final fitting of her gown. This will save you the hassle of bringing your gown and headpiece to the photographer's studio and dressing up once again.
QUESTIONS TO ASK PHOTOGRAPHER What is the name and phone number of the photographer?
What is the address of the photographer?
How many years of experience do you have as a photographer?
What percentage of your business is dedicated to weddings?
Approximately how many weddings have you photographed?
Are you the person who will photograph my wedding?
Will you bring an assistant with you to my wedding?
How do you typically dress for weddings?
Do you have a professional studio?
What type of equipment do you use?
Do you bring backup equipment with you to weddings?
Do you visit the ceremony and reception sites prior to the wedding?
Do you have liability insurance?
Are you skilled in diffused lighting & soft focus?
Can you take studio portraits?
Can you retouch negatives?
Can negatives be purchased? If so, what is the cost?
What is the cost of the package I am interested in?
What is your payment policy?
What is your cancellation policy?
Do you offer a money-back guarantee?
Do you use proofs?
How many proofs will I get?
When will I get my proofs?
When will I get my album?
What is the cost of an engagement portrait? Formal bridal portrait?
What is the cost of a parent album?
What is the cost of a 5" x 7" reprint?
What is the cost of an 8" x 10" reprint?
What is the cost of an 11" x 14" reprint?
What is the cost per additional hour of shooting at the wedding
By Alex A. Lluch, author of over three million books sold and President of
Weddingsolutions.com,
WedReviews.com, and
UltimateGiftRegistry.com.
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