- Not all photographers are created equal.
You’re searching for someone to capture the essence of your special day. You google for a wedding photographer in your area and a bunch of options appear. They’re all the same except for the price right? Wrong.
Photographers vary in experience from many years and hundreds of weddings to none at all. A few years ago a “Fauxtographer” advertised in the Otago Yellow Pages as “specialising in weddings”, he had not photographed a single one. None, zip, nada.
Photographers will deliver you different quantities and qualities of photographs. Some may have one shooter, some two. Some may have qualifications, some may not. Some may have professional equipment, some may have entry level gear. Others may have systems in place for backups, others may not. At the end of the day, my grandfather was right, “you’ll typically get what you pay for”.
- Photos are all that’s left.
Well not quite. The day after the wedding, what do you have? A hangover, one used wedding dress and your memories (insert photos here). Out of all of the suppliers you will engage for your wedding, the photographer is the only one you will have a relationship with for weeks after your wedding and provides the only service and products that you will have for many many years to come. Now don’t get me wrong, the venue, florist, caterer, stationer and celebrant are all super important, but are they more important than your photographer? Something to think about…
- Photos belong on paper.
iPads, iPods, iPhones, TV’s, laptops, the list goes on. Our home is a great example of digital technology gone bizerk, we’ve got chargers for all of our devices all over the house. Looking at photos on your fancy gadget instead of holding an album, is kind of like watching a cooking show instead of going out for dinner. It’s fun, but it’s just not the same. Is your photographer taking care of creating your first family heirloom, or are they giving you a 20 cent CD and running away?
- Ask to see an entire wedding.
Being a photographer is easy, all you need is a camera and a website right? I’m always amazed by how many new photographers create budget websites through one of those free website deals. Really now, let’s put on our big boy/girl pants and behave like a grown up. If you’re looking at www.freewebsite.com/weddingphotos it gives you a good idea of how serious they are about what they do. It’s all too easy to have a website with some great photos on it, but does that represent what you’re really going to get? They can’t all be artistic backlit masterpieces. Ask to see an entire wedding to get an honest representation of what they’ll deliver.
If they don’t want to, then something is wrong…
- What should you do with your hands?
Seems silly I know, but ask your potential photographer what you should do with your hands. If they say “whatever you like” then they have no idea how to make you look your best. Hands are awkward things in photos and knowing how to make a bride look her best not just with hands but feet, back, shoulders, neck and chin, will help you tell an experienced photographer you can trust from a new (inexperienced), but well intentioned photographer.
It’s your BIG day, do your research first. And don’t settle for your neighbour just because they’ve got a nice camera…
Contact us now to arrange an obligation free chat to see our work first hand and learn about all of the services we can provide to make your wedding day everything you want it to be.
