A Picture is Worth Much More Than One Thousand Words
Lindsey Lozama, SE Consultant, Seattle
Congratulations! You are ENGAGED! We know how much this is a fun and exciting time for you. You may have already picked out a few vendors or this may be the first step in your wedding planning journey. Either way, as the wedding planning process continues, a key element is the selection of vendors who will be a part of your big day. This can be a hectic time full of juggling multiple ideas, possibilities, and vendor names. When you begin to look at vendor options first make a comprehensive list of all vendors you want to hire along with the price point you are working with. From this point, prioritize. First, find the vendor that is most important to you. For many couples, that would be the photographer.
From the largest grand affair to the most intimate elopement, photographers provide the best way to remember and keepsake your wedding. There are so many amazing wedding photographers out there and finding the right photographer who understands your style and personality can be tough — not to mention one that fits your budget! For today’s blog, we have detailed five specific questions to ask when choosing your wedding photographer.
1.Can I look at your portfolio?
A portfolio is the most important element to review when interviewing photographers. Always check for consistency within their photos. If the photographer only has examples of previous weddings ask to see a full album. Remember, a sample of only a few event photos (the photographers best effort) can be very misleading. A great tip from Seattle based photographer Raeleen Knutson with Fancy Fin Photography is to always review the indoor photos. Indoor photography can be some of the toughest photos to get, there are so many moving parts. You want to catch the wedding party and guests in informal and natural settings (toasting, dancing, and laughing, etc.) in addition to the standard and very formal portraits.
*NOTE: When looking for the perfect photographer, like any vendor, remember that professionalism and training are important. Ask about any formal photography training and secure at least a couple references. In addition to training and references, check the photographers website for possible awards they would have received for their talents.
2. What wedding packages do you offer?
Ask your prospective photographer to provide you with their pricing and wedding package information. Find out what package fits your price range as well as how many actual on-site hours this includes. In addition, if not listed, ask if each package includes a second photographer (or at least an assistant) for the day of the wedding. If it doesn’t include a second shooter, inquire as to how much this service would cost and what the photographer typically does.
*NOTE: Once you see a contract double check the photographer’s illness or absence policy. You will want to make sure there is a back up photographer or plan in place in case of emergency. Also, make sure that if a photographer promises you something (i.e. an extra hour) that it is included in the contract.
3. What is your post production process?
In this age of Instagram and iPhone edits it is easy for you to think that if someone just takes the wedding day pictures and gives you a disc of the images, you would be able to edit them on your own. This practice is called “shoot and burn”. What most wedding couples don’t realize is that post production editing takes A LOT of time and effort. Do, look at the contract’s fine print or ask the question — will you provide post production editing? If it’s not included you should talk to the photographer about this service.
4. How many photos will I actually own?
Professional photographers take hundreds of photos on the day of your wedding. They know what moments are going to be special and they are normally two steps ahead of the bride. But how many of those special moments actually become your property at the end of the day? That all depends on your photographer and your contract. Make sure you are comfortable with the amount of photos you will be purchasing. Contacting the photographer later on for subsequent photos can be very expensive and tedious.
5. Are you available for my wedding date and what are the next steps?
This question may seem obvious. However, some of the great photographers book up over a year in advance. Check with them on their availability and what it takes to secure the date. If they are not available, ask for their recommendations for other photographers who have similar styles and experience.
For many, planning a wedding is a completely new experience. From our 19 years of experience, asking the questions listed above will surely get you off to the right start with one of the most important vendors at your wedding, the photographer.
Thanks to everyone for visiting our blog today! Stay tuned for future posts on everything wedding planning from our experts at here at Simple Elegance. A huge thank you to the fantastic Jessica Roark with epaga FOTO (Kansas City, MO) — your beautiful pictures helped us display how important it is to have a professional photographer as a part of your wedding day. Special thanks to Raeleen Knutson from Fancy Fin Photography (Seattle, WA) for the advice we shared in this article, it is great to get a photographer’s perspective our blog.
If you have any questions about today’s blog post or you would like to discuss our available wedding planning services in Seattle, please contact Lindsey at lindseylozama@iplanyourwedding.com.