What to look for in a Wedding Photog

cp_ste.croix

cp_ste.croix

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So my sister in law is going photog shopping and has asked for my advice...

I have some thoughts, but wanted to make sure I'm not missing anything as I've not been married and don't actually know any wedding photographers.


What sort of things would you look for? What are the questions you would ask?

Wedding photogs, any tips?

Cheers!
 
You need to view their work - find someone that shoots stuff that you and your sister love. You also need to get to know them - if you meet a wedding photographer for a quote, and you don't "click" with them, that person will be almost playing the part of a wedding co-ordinator on the big day, and tension can run high.

2 most important things:
1. find someone with a style that screams out to you
2. find someone that you click with.

Thats pretty much all you need to know
 
Of course you need to have the set photos.

But also watch 4W&AF again and get some ideas there. (That's a movie with Hugh Grant and Andie MacDowell)
 
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Are most wedding photogs digital these days?
What are the usual conventions regarding negatives/original files?
Is it obnoxious to ask about their gear? (I think I'm only half joking about that one))
 
My cousin got married this past summer, all digital. Some of the bigger prints were very photoshopped, the watercolor filter etc.- absolutely look at the photogs book and some of the bigger prints too. Ask for some references, ask those folks how the day went and how the prices were after the day was done.

I'll agree with someone you click with- there is enough going on without having to worry that the photog is going to annoy the heck out of everybody.

Film vs. digital is a tough one- the negs are likely tossed after a few years unless you make some arrangements. More and more folks are going with B&W film from what I've been hearing to have something more traditional in the mix of pictures.
 
So will provide you with original files... some won't ... those that will can ask to charge more to give you ownership of negatives or files

Make sure to ask to see a contract for each package so you know exactly what is being offered

but most importantly be sure you like their work... be honest about what you are looking for in terms of style

You can often negotiate if you like some aspects of a package but not others

When the contract is signed it always helps when a list of who will be in the formals, if there are any special directions (like need a formal with a stepmother in it and then one without her, etc)

When you would like the photographer to be there, if you want shots of either of the bride and groom getting ready, etc

The worst thing is to not give the photographer all the important information and then have a breakdown in communication during that day

If the photographer has all possible information they might need during the day the less likely for an issue on their end
 
cp_ste.croix said:
Is it obnoxious to ask about their gear? (I think I'm only half joking about that one))
Click to expand...

Not at all. Of course, what you want to hear is they have enough back up equipment in case any of their stuff fails on them, not what they're using. I've come across some wedding photogs who try and dazzle their clients by spitting off megapixel jargon but really can't take a photo to save their lives. One guy even had listed on his website how he's such a great photographer because his camera shoots 5 FPS and he only uses Canon L lenses! Hahaha!
 
A photographer's working style might not fit in with the venue. Find out what's allowed at the venue, especially if it's a place of worship. I shot a friend's wedding in Rosslyn Chapel in Scotland (it was featured in the Davinci Code). I made sure I met the priest/pastor during the rehearsal and explained my approach and asked him what was allowed.
 
I have a friend who has a couple seasons of wedding photography under his belt... his wife is also part of the package deal.. not only is she the photography assistant, but a great deal of her efforts are spent as event coordinator for the day since she has now been a behind-the-scenes participant at many more weddings than the people actively involved in the ceremony

so ask who will actually be involved in the event.. ask what their additional involvement typically is.. they often will talk about how much coordination is involved in getting people in the right place at the right time.. if they don't mention that, they probably aren't as immersed in the process.. which can be good or bad, depending on what the bride and groom prefer

by all means look at their portfolio.. and I say this because, while my friend sets up decent photos, he uses really crappy gear.. I think all his lenses are Sigma, and there is major barrel distortion and they are soft as hell.. if I ask him to shoot a wedding for me, I'll almost certainly need to rent some gear for him to use

another thing to ask about is how the final package will be presented.. many photographers are now providing photobooks as part of the service, which I personally love.. I don't want to see EVERY image shot that day.. pick out the best 50 and print them in a coffee table book that's tastefully done

finally, don't shop by price.. those images are the only ones that the bride and groom will have for the rest of their lives.. consider the lifetime cost rather than the upfront cost.. so it might cost $30 a month for 2 years rather than 1 year to pay off.. better to pay more and have images you love than get a deal on images you can barely look at
 
I'm in the business as a freelancer for a few studios. I shoot weddings from very low to very high end. Here are my suggestions:

When you look at the portfolio, make sure the pictures were taken by the photographer who will shoot your wedding. Studios can shoot as much as 20 weddings on a Saturday. Guess who's shooting? The owner (most probably the guy you met) will take care of the most paying job. The others get what they paid for (in his view). You got an incredible deal? You'll probably get the nephew of the fifth regular freelancer on the list. No kidding!

The portfolio you'll see is most probably composed of the absolute best shots ever taken by the owner of the studio over his entire career. That means most of it might be film. How is his transition to digital? I've seen horrid stuff from photographers who's migration from film to digital didn't go to well. Their old stuff shot with a Blad was nice but their new stuff done with a DSLR isn't. They use them as machine guns (3000 pics in a day is normal) and get the precision of a machine gun. They also say "we'll fix it in Photoshop" a lot!

Most of my work is now fixing other photographers' work. You wouldn't believe what I see daily. And some of it comes from the guys with the best reputation in town.

If you are of a particular ethnic background, make sure the photographer knows your traditions. Make him describe the ceremony and the "must have" shots. If you really want to work with someone who's not familiar with your traditions, make sure to give them an education before the big day. You might also want to assign somebody to them who's going to guide them during the day. But hiring someone who's familiar with your traditions saves a lot of headaches.

Lik others said, make sure you get along very well with the photographer because he will RULE the day. No kidding! We take control of everything and most of the vendors present know about it and will actually comply. The limo driver will ask us what we need and when. We get his cell number and we keep in touch. The caterer will often ask us when to start the service or, at least, if we have a photo to take before serving. Everybody knows how important those pictures are and since it's a small world, we know everybody in the business. It may sound weird or rude but it can be a blessing. We're the only professionals in the business who attend every minute of the entire day. We know everything and we're familiar with everybody's job. Example: the florist delivers the flowers long before the couple shows up. No instructions on how to attach the flowers to the jackets. Who's the only one in the room who does it every week?

If you can, try to stay away from large studios who rely on cheap packages to attract customers. Try to find a smaller one, preferably a one-man-band operation. Someone who's proud of his work, not a factory.
 
Be sure to get a photographer with a style that you like. Also, you want to meet them. It's good to know that they are friendly, etc. As for film vs digital, it goes both ways. Most are digi shooters now. I shoot about 20-30 weddings a year, and still use film. I've even had a few customers that insisted on film. You will also want on-line hosting, for the family & friends to order prints. You'll also want to see a portfolio of their prints.

If you have any more questions, or want more detailed answers, just ask.

Russ
 
Where abouts in Canada are you, I know quite a few wedding photogs that are great photographers. Pm me.

I have no finacial ties to the photographs ect ect.
 
i got married in hawaii (i live in california) and did not have the chance to meet face-to-face so i had to rely on phone calls, online portfolio and a strong recommendation from my wedding coordinator....who i never met either.

one thing i did that i feel was very important in getting what i wanted was that i cut out numerous pictures from wedding mags of pictures that i liked and some that i did not like. i mailed these to my photographer to use a reference. turns out i wanted more "photojournalistic" pictures. and he was more than willing to shoot the way i wanted.

i was very fortunate to have gotten what i wanted at a fair price. many are not so fortunate.

btw, he and his assistant shot hasselblad's both b&w neg and color neg. but that was 7 years ago.

good luck.
 
Where abouts in Canada are you, I know quite a few wedding photogs that are great photographers. Pm me.

I have no finacial ties to the photographs ect ect.
 
I believe wedding photography is over rated.

You want to remember the day. In memory not in photos.

When I got married I caught a guy with a Nikon something hanging around and did a deal for a few photos. Not many photos, not much money.

He did a good job, and I like the photos, but I like the memory more.
 
This Gentleman is quite correct....

This Gentleman is quite correct....

Marc Jutras said:
The portfolio you'll see is most probably composed of the absolute best shots ever taken by the owner of the studio over his entire career. That means most of it might be film. How is his transition to digital? I've seen horrid stuff from photographers who's migration from film to digital didn't go to well. Their old stuff shot with a Blad was nice but their new stuff done with a DSLR isn't. They use them as machine guns (3000 pics in a day is normal) and get the precision of a machine gun. They also say "we'll fix it in Photoshop" a lot!

Most of my work is now fixing other photographers' work. You wouldn't believe what I see daily. And some of it comes from the guys with the best reputation in town.
Click to expand...

Shooting Digital, HOW long?

There are and will be professional photographers who should never make the switch to digital. Many of them make it for the more immediate return in income. One wedding/event photographer once told me, "you'd be amazed how many more prints I sell if I can gather the family for a few minutes at the reception to proof pictures."
He downloads immediately, sorts for best pics he can and goes for the financial jugular.

If I were a professional with 30 years in, and 10 or 15 to retirement, I don't think I would entertain a change to digital until it became near impossible to get product. The learning curve on both digital hardware and software would be very costly for as much as a year on the transition, not to mention a huge capital investment in both. With ten years left to retirement, I doubt one could recoup the initial investment and loss of income while learning to be effective.

Kick the tires... but as mentioned, look only at portfolios made up of the media you end up using for your wedding.

I'm not interested here in getting into a discussion about film being better or worse than digital. However, I will stand by a statement that they sure as hell are different and the people using both media are not generally good at both by just switching cameras. Not for some time anyway.

And I also know that statement begs another statement about quality reguirements.

What kind of quality is your sister expecting. Just memory snapshots of the wedding and reception, or fireplace mantle portraits.
 
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