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7 Mistakes To Avoid When Choosing
A Wedding Photographer
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Mistake #1:
Choosing a wedding photographer based on equipment
alone. No question, your wedding photographer needs first rate equipment.
But he also needs something else. Talent and experience. All photographers
own a camera, but few specialize in wedding photography with the skills
to pay attention and capture every detail. Looking at portfolios of
past wedding photos taken by the same photographer who will be working
with you on your wedding day is a must. Before you choose a wedding
photographer, ask to see this previous work and any testimonials from
happy brides and grooms in the pictures.
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Mistake #2:
Choosing a wedding photographer based on low price.
Low price can be a problem in three ways: 1) Low price can be the
bait that attracts your phone call. But once the photographer gets
to you see the proofs after the wedding, he pressures you into a much
more expensive package. 2) Low price can be for a limited number of
photographs or hours available to you on your wedding day whereas
you want them for your entire day. 3) Low price could mean the photographer
has cheap equipment or photo processing and finishing which will not
effectively capture the amount of detail you want of your wedding
day.
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Mistake #3:
Choosing a wedding photographer based on a single
telephone call. Instead, make an appointment for a consultation with
the photographer to see examples of his past work. These consultations
are generally free of charge and you have no obligation. Private consultations
also allow you time to find out if you feel comfortable with this
person. Since he will be working with you your entire wedding day,
it is important that you feel comfortable which will be apparent in
each and every photograph he takes of you that day.
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Mistake #4:
Choosing a wedding photographer who does not offer
professional quality processing and finishing. Every professional
photographic film company should be fully accountable for its final
product. Whether it is Kodak or Fuji or any other professional grade
film, if you are not pleased with the quality of the finish or if
the photo discolors over time, you shouldn’t have to pay for
it. Period. Ask the photographer you choose if he works with professional
grade film with professional processing and finishing and make sure
the photo finish guarantee is in the written quotation.
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Mistake #5:
Choosing a wedding photographer without getting comments
from his other clients. Any wedding photographer can say anything
about his past jobs. And sadly, some of what he says may not be true.
Make sure you ask for references or read comments from current customers
so you can depend on the wedding photographer and his work.
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Mistake #6:
Choosing a wedding photographer who is not a member
of a professional trade association. Local trade associations are
a group of professionals who are dedicated to 1) Honest, ethical business
practices 2) staying current in the latest methods of photography,
film, processing and finishing and 3) the highest possible level of
customer service.
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Mistake #7:
Choosing a wedding photographer who does not use professional
grade camera equipment, film, processing and/or finishing. There are
several good reasons consumer grade cameras are good but they aren’t
as good as professional cameras. The Hasselblad, a professional grade
camera, is the Rolls Royce of cameras. Compared to consumer quality
cameras, the Hasselblad produces sharper, clearer, better depth, quality,
detail, sharpness and contrast. Ansel Adams used a Hasselblad, not
a Pentax or Nikon. The best professional photographers do. The film
used should be professional grade from a supplier who keeps the film
refrigerated to prevent to prevent the film from aging. Processing
and finishing should be professional grade and be guaranteed by the
film manufacturer. So all the way around, you get a better job with
better equipment. No two ways about it. If you select a photographer
who uses digital as the primary or only camera you want to make sure
they have a camera that produces the quality equal to that of traditional
films.
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