There’s no way you are going to get breathtaking shots of one of the most important days of your life without an outstanding photographer. You may not remember what filling you had in your wedding cake or what type of music played at your reception, but having to stare at dark, out of focus shots of your first kiss as man and wife—that’s something that will stay with you forever. Which is why it is critical that you choose a wedding photographer very carefully.
I found my wedding photographer through word of mouth. I firmly believe this is the best method of finding a reputable photographer. I was able to see my wedding photographer’s work and query my friends (his previous clients) to get an idea of his shooting methods and techniques prior to calling him for an introductory meeting. That’s right–an introductory meeting. In addition to examining his or her work, you need to be attuned to a photographer’s personality. Find out if you mesh with him or her prior to making a commitment. It’s vital that you feel comfortable with your wedding photographer, as you’ll spend more time with him or her than any vendor on your big day.
There are a number of other issues you want to cover with your wedding photographer. Here are a few I discussed with mine:
Camera Equipment. I happen to be an avid photographer so I inquired as to what type of equipment he would be using. Medium-format cameras are better for producing large, high-contrast prints. (Two top brands to look for are Hasselblad and Bronica.) Also, if you are planning to order prints larger than 8 by 10, then you want to make sure your photographer is not using a 35-millimeter camera. Doing so will result in portraits that are grainy.
Location. I had our photographer take pictures of our wedding ceremony at the church as well as shots of the bridal party at a local park following the vow exchange. Make sure your photographer is familiar with your choice of locale prior to shooting there. Our photographer was familiar with the park we chose and knew exactly where he would be able to get the best backdrops and lighting. He wasn’t as familiar with the church so he scouted that location prior to the wedding day so that he knew where to obtain the best angles.
Proofs. Make sure you get a decent amount of proofs to choose from, so you can weed out the bad shots. My photographer suggested I put together a shot sheet and submit it to him prior to the wedding day. For example: Bride’s parents with bride and groom; groom’s parents with bride and groom; female attendants with bride; male attendants with groom, etc. For a typical wedding and four-hour reception, you’ll want at least 200 exposures. I would make sure to make it clear that you want that number and be wary of packages that fall below that number.
Wedding Album. Before signing a contract with your photographer ask what type of wedding album will be used to display your pictures. Make sure the album contains acid-free paper. Also, the plastic should be ‘archival quality Mylar;’ other plastics may contain chemicals that will eventually damage your photographs.
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