Why is wedding photography so much more expensive now than when my parents got married?
A lot has changed in photography since your parents’ wedding. Chances are that when your parents got married, wedding photographers typically worked from set shot lists and only took the photographs that they knew would sell after the wedding. This led to cookie-cutter wedding photography that left every wedding album looking almost exactly the same. The true story of the day was left untold. Your parents’ photographer probably took fewer than 200 photos at their wedding. Today’s wedding photojournalists may take 10 times that many as they document the unique story of a couple’s wedding day. Digital wedding photography has led to advancements in wedding albums, too. Today’s wedding albums are original works of art with custom-designed layouts that are produced using the same methods employed for art books and magazines. This is a time-intensive process that requires all of the skill, talent, and artistry that professional wedding photographers already bring to their viewfinders.
How early in the wedding-planning process should I book a wedding photographer?
If photography is very important to you, you will also want to book as early as possible to ensure booking the best photographer for your needs. If your wedding will be in nice weather, during a holiday, or on another popular date, you may want to consider booking your photographer as early as 12 to 18 months ahead of the date. If you have a favorite wedding photographer in mind before you have booked your wedding venue, you can call the photographer to confirm his or her availability before signing the contract with the venue. In any event, it is in your best interest to have your wedding photographer booked at least a year in advance.
Will I get a fully edited Hi Resolution DVD or flashdrive of your images?
Yes! In this digital age, clients want to share images on their iphones, facebook and online. If you purchase my services, you get a fully edited DVD or flashdrive of your images. If you book my services for a professional portrait session, you get a high resolution jpeg.
How much time will the photographer spend at my wedding?
Some photographers work in five hour blocks and then charge you an hourly rate after that. This photographer works with you the whole day, and you don’t have to look at your watch worrying whether you are spending more than what you budgeted for. If you want a customized package and are looking to book a photographer for only one part of your day to photograph the ceremony and some formal posed images, that can be arranged too.
All the photographers seem the same. How do I choose the one for us?
If the photographer is within your budget, give or take a little, pay attention to how it feels being with that person. If you feel celebrated and comfortable as though she were your friend, that is the person you want photographing for you once you know the person is trustworthy and her quality matches yours. Look for an established and reliable photographer whose work moves you, whose technical quality is tops. If you find a photographer who makes you happy, you never will regret your investment.
Shouldn’t I be asking “What do I get and how much does it cost?”
Even shopping for shoes or furniture you wouldn’t ask that question first until you find the style and quality you like. After you have looked through a photographer’s website and portfolio; viewing candids, composition, formals, inside and outside lighting, you will know if this photographer has the technique, style and spirit to be the one to be responsible for capturing the most important day in lively and rich images. Then it would be wise to discuss a range you wanted to spend for photography and also the products you wish to have such as an album, online viewing, and a DVD.
How do I find the right wedding photographer?
You should choose a wedding photographer based on several considerations. Do your research. Check online, ask your friends or neighbors, ask local Chambers of Commerce; and keep your eyes and ears open when you go to a special event or to a mall with photo exhibits. Secondly, once you have a list of photographers and met with each of them in person, you must love her work. Look for a photographer whose work moves you, whose style you love, and who tells a story the way you want your story to be told Another factor to consider is personality. Since your wedding photographer will be with you the whole wedding day, you need to make sure that you feel comfortable with this individual. One way to gauge this is to ask yourself: “Would we be friends with this photographer even if we weren’t getting married?” If the answer to this question is “yes,” then this is the person to book.
What photo style do you offer that is different than other photographers?
I celebrate the individuality of the bride and the groom and their families and friends in each of the weddings I shoot. Each wedding has its own personality, and I try to listen and then capture that personality in lively and beautiful images.
Will you be the photographer at our wedding or will you substitute an assistant?
If you establish a rapport with the person you met in person and discuss your wedding plans in detail, that is who should be photographing your event. This photographer does not assign an assistant to photograph the most important day of your lives together! Some photographers do, so read your contract thoroughly!
So, how much does wedding photography cost?
Prices range drastically from one photographer to another due to their years of expertise, products you choose to purchase, travel and set up time, and a number of other factors. It is difficult to quote just one price fits all since each couple is unique. If you want great images, trustworthiness, and a ”friend” to be your wedding photographer, be prepared to consider it an investment and not just how “how much.” Expect better photographers to charge the higher rates. With an inexperienced photographer, he/she may charge you as little as $10 for a print. And, it is reasonable for an excellent photographer to charge you $40 for a print of the same size. That is because you are getting a better product from the experienced professional. If you are looking for a bargain and shop by email or phone for pricing, you are following a recipe for poor to mediocre photography. Photography is about 10% of the total wedding budget. When couples value photography highly this translates into a bargain for the memories it will hold dearly in your hearts!
Kind Words
Echoes of our weddings still chime through our days. We are truly newlyweds in our delight. It was wonderful to have you there ~ and with camera in hand. The pictures are great! I’m so glad you captured the waltz ~ you were the only one who did. Your photographs are clearly at a high artistic level ~ you saw the subtle, the beautiful and the meaningful.
