I could list off a million different tips for selecting a wedding photographer, but there are a multitude of articles out there already about that topic (just Google "choosing a wedding photographer" if you don't believe me), and for the most part, the lists are all pretty comprehensive. However, since Darrell and I were one of the unfortunate ones who made an unlucky photographer selection (and have the bad wedding pictures to prove it), there are a few pieces of advice I want to be certain to share that will hopefully save other couples from our bad fate.
--Trust your instincts
When Darrell and I had our initial meeting with our photographer, his "studio" space was nothing more than a converted garage/shed (in a not-so-nice part of town). I was slightly uncomfortable, but we found out soon that they were in the process of moving to a new location (in a much nicer area), so we ignored that concern.
--Take a look at the quality of their equipment
While meeting with the photographer, Darrell--who had recently purchased an SLR camera himself--noticed that they had one of the models that he had been considering. He asked how they liked it, and they responded with "we've actually found that it doesn't take very good pictures". In retrospect, this should have been a major red flag. From the research he did, Darrell knew full well that the camera they had was more than capable of taking quality pictures, so if it wasn't performing well it was probably due to user error. But, we dismissed it, because they started bragging up a different camera model that they had, and we (foolishly) trusted that they knew what they were doing.
--Don't be influenced by extra bells and whistles
Our photographers came from a strong graphic design background, and we were certainly impressed with some of the things they were able to do with their images. However, no one really wants a wedding photo that has a trendy "ripple" design, and superimposing images on each other is only so cool. And besides, none of those "edits" are really all that impressive when the quality of photo that you start with isn't very good. So if your photographer is offering all sorts of extras or is strongly advertising something other than their photography skills, be warned that they might be compensating for something.
--Be thorough when you look through their portfolio
The best way to guarantee that your photographer will be able to get good shots of your wedding and reception is to look at images they have shot at the same venues you are using. Photographers are naturally more comfortable shooting at a familiar location, and they'll know where and how to get the best shots at that particular place. However, even if they haven't shot a wedding at the exact same location, make sure they have at least shot a wedding at a similar location.
This is the piece of advice I really wish I had known prior to choosing our wedding photographer. We looked through their photos, and the images were pretty great and had the type of style we were looking forward, so we really didn't have any pressing concerns. However, after getting back our (terribly awful) images from the church ceremony and family pictures at the alter, we realized something about the portfolio: all the weddings he had shot had been outdoor weddings--a far cry from our church where no flash was allowed during the ceremony.
--Make sure you are totally comfortable around them
If you leave your meeting with you photographer feeling like you were biting your tongue about something because you weren't comfortable saying it, chances are they aren't the right photographer for you. While this kind of goes back to the idea of trusting your instincts, feeling guarded around your photographer will ultimately have a negative affect on your photos. Darrell and I had an engagement shot that we really wanted to take out at the Palisades near Garretson that would have involved some careful maneuvering on rocks in the river. At the last minute, we chickened out about asking them to take it because we didn't think they'd be comfortable with it--and I still regret that. Additionally, they put us into some poses that were not very "us", but rather than say something we just did what they said. And wouldn't you know--the pictures of us in those poses were not keepers because we (shockingly) looked uncomfortable. To this day, one of my favorite wedding photos is one that our photographers did nothing to stage; I simply asked Darrell to pick me up and carry me, praying that our photographers would be intelligent enough to capture the image (which, thankfully, they were).
I know photographers can be expensive, but you (hopefully) only get married once, and it's worth the investment to hire someone you know will give you quality images of the shots you want. I read this in about every article I looked at prior to our wedding, but foolishly dismissed it. My logic was that everyone takes pictures at a wedding, so we could save some money on our photographer and then I'd just compile photos from my family and friends to fill in any gaps. Well, I'll tell you from experience, that logic only works so well. Sure, my friends got some decent shots of me getting ready, and lots of guests got pretty good shots from the reception, but not many guests take pictures during the ceremony. And those formal shots at the alter? There aren't a whole lot of people around to snap extras of those. And even if there are--your photographer is likely the one with the best angle. To my knowledge, there is not a decent picture out there of Darrell and I at the alter (with my gorgeous bouquet), nor a salvageable picture of Darrell and I with his family. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but it's just as true that not having those pictures will leave a hole so large that even a thousand words won't be able to fill it. So choose your photographer wisely.
No comments:
Post a Comment