Choosing your wedding vendors can be stressful and overwhelming. You have so many things to think about: the dress, the venue, the photos, the video, the flowers, the food, the music, and the list goes on and on. There are so many options to choose from that vary in price and style that you need to narrow options down. When choosing your wedding vendors, you have to make sure you choose people that can bring your dream wedding to life but at the same time that they are in budget. Not easy task.
One of the most important vendors you need to choose is your photographer. Why? Because after the wedding, photographs are the only thing left of it. Months or years of planning and thousands of dollars spent will be gone in 8-10 hours… Photographs won’t. Your wedding album will be a window for future generations to connect with you. Photographs are family treasures. So, before hiring a photographer, follow these tips and ask these questions so you can make a good choice:
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Check out different photographers. Check their websites, their Instagram feed. Can you tell the difference in styles? Do you like what you see? Can you see yourself as the photos you are looking at? Do you like the style? Do you like the colors? Do you like that they are mostly posed? Do you like that they are mostly candid? What is it that you like?
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Define the style you like. Do you want a traditional look? A documentary approach? What about a vintage look? Or a fashion/editorial one? Do you like light and airy photos? Do you like black and white photos or do you prefer color? Both?
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Choose a photographer that you love their work. Ask for full wedding galleries. Can you see yourself in that style of photography? Ask them for some recent work.
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Discuss their process and fees. How many hours are covered? Do they include prints? Can you get an album? How much do they charge for every extra hour? How many photographers are included? Ask for delivery times. When will you get to see your photos? Do they give sneak peaks? Do they charge for travel time? Do they have insurance? What happens if there is an emergency and he/she can’t cover your wedding? How long will he/she keep your files? Do they deliver RAW files or JPG? What happens if the camera breaks during your wedding?
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If you can, meet the photographer and see if you “connect”. He/she should feel like a friend. Go with your gut. Do you trust him/her? Do you like how he/she communicates? Is he/she clear in his/her message? Does his/her appearance is in sync with you?
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Schedule an engagement session with trial hair and makeup and see if you are a good fit. Do you like the photos? Did you feel comfortable in the session? Did you enjoy the process? Did you feel like yourself? Did the photographer capture what you were expecting?
Once you follow these steps and answer these questions, you should know if you are a good fit or not. If at the end you didn’t like the engagement photos or you didn’t “connect” with the photographer, don’t worry, there are many options to look at out there. Don’t rush to choose one if you are not 100% sure. (Talking from experience here). Find the right one, the one you feel comfortable with and the one that will capture your day as you are imagining it. Follow your gut, be true to yourself and you will find it. Trust me!