Sam’s Top 5 Tips/Advice For Choosing Your Photographer
1. Don’t Bother With Yellow Pages
One of the biggest mistake people make is to look in the yellow pages! Photography is visual, so you must see their work before you even consider a photographer.
By looking only in yellow pages (or Thomson Local, etc) you’re not going to see their work unless you make loads of appointments. And you don’t really want to do this because you have so many other things to arrange and other people to see.
So, the very first place to start looking is the internet. Most good photographers will have a website. Looking online will give you a chance to look at their work and judge if it’s a fit for the type of imagery you want for your day before worrying about making appointments.
2. Price vs “Value”; Booking Purely On Price.
Most of the time it’s true what they say, “You get what you pay for”.
If you see a photographer that’s really cheap then alarm bells should be ringing.
Professional equipment and quality albums are not cheap for the photographer to buy. A lot of hours go in to producing quality images and then you have to consider all the insurances; Equipment, Public Liability, Professional Indemnity … all this and more before a photographer considers a profit for himself.
1. Don’t Bother With Yellow Pages
One of the biggest mistake people make is to look in the yellow pages! Photography is visual, so you must see their work before you even consider a photographer.
By looking only in yellow pages (or Thomson Local, etc) you’re not going to see their work unless you make loads of appointments. And you don’t really want to do this because you have so many other things to arrange and other people to see.
So, the very first place to start looking is the internet. Most good photographers will have a website. Looking online will give you a chance to look at their work and judge if it’s a fit for the type of imagery you want for your day before worrying about making appointments.
2. Price vs “Value”; Booking Purely On Price.
Most of the time it’s true what they say, “You get what you pay for”.
If you see a photographer that’s really cheap then alarm bells should be ringing.
Professional equipment and quality albums are not cheap for the photographer to buy. A lot of hours go in to producing quality images and then you have to consider all the insurances; Equipment, Public Liability, Professional Indemnity … all this and more before a photographer considers a profit for himself.
So when you see a so called professional photographer offering complete weddings, with albums, for anything less than say £500, you really need to question the quality of their finished products, their abilities and if they’re really “professionals”.
Remember, “Value for money” and “Cheap” are two very different things.
Ideally you should choose your photographer based on their work and style and, most importantly, whether you get on with them as a person. This is so important because you will be spending a lot of time with them and if you don’t get along it will show in your pictures.
Think about how much you’re spending on your cake (it will just get eaten), on your cars (the most expensive taxi’s you’ll ever hire) and even on your dress (you’ll only ever wear it once!).
Only after that should you now consider your budget for photography. How much value will you put on the one investment for your wedding that will produce the only true lasting memories of your day for generations to come?
3. Whether A Photographer Has Photographed At Your Venues Before.
One of the oldest sales pitches in the history of photography – and it honestly doesn’t make the slightest bit of difference!
If a photographer tries to sell you his services based on the fact that he’s done so many weddings at your venue he knows exactly how to do it there … walk away.
Any quality photographer will tell you that not only are every couple different to photograph, but every day is different! Take the same couple to a venue on 10 different days and the pictures will be different every time because the light will be completely different. Now take 10 different couples to the same venue on 10 different days! Not one picture will be the same, because not only will the light be different every time, but each couple will stand and pose completely differently from the others.
Besides, where we are in Essex there are hundreds of different venues. We could spend our entire careers here and not shoot at all of them!
Any good photographer will check out your venues before your wedding day. Many, like Campbell Photographic, now include a Pre-Wedding Shoot in their packages. These usually take place at your chosen venues. This is not only a chance for you to see your photographer working, but it also gives the photographer the chance to look round the venues with you and discuss the shots you want.
4. 5 Or 30 Years
While the argument holds some weight, don’t let how long your photographer has been in the business effect your decision.
Bottom line, if you like their work, you like them and they offer what you want, then whether they’ve been in the business for 5 or 30 years hardly matters.
5. Make A Shortlist, Visit Each One, THEN Make A Decision
My last tip. You’ve done your searching on the internet, now make a shortlist of the photographers whose work you liked and who offer what you want.
Keep the list to about 5. Make appointments with each of them and make sure you visit all 5. Some photographers are very good at “the sales pitch”. But it’s important not to be wowed by the first great deal you’re offered.
Once you’ve seen them all, cut your list down to your favourite 2. Compare what they can offer you and, most importantly, which out of the 2 you would want at your wedding. Remember they’ll be with you for a long time and will also be mixing with your guests, so make sure you’ll all get along.
Once you’ve decided get on the phone and make a second appointment and book them. Don’t leave it too late; quality photographers get booked 12-24 months in advance!
