What you should know before booking a wedding photographer
This is a guide to help you be as informed as possible before selecting your wedding photographer for your special day
Experience matters.
Ask your photographer how long they’ve been doing photography, and specifically wedding photography. This is important because photographing a wedding is more than just taking pictures — it’s being in the right place at the right time, consistently, for the entire duration of the wedding. Here’s the thing, though: it’s not like painting a wall in your house where you can do it again if you don’t like it. Photographers get one shot to be in focus with with the right settings to capture the perfect moment. This is usually a skill that comes with time.
That said, anyone can make up a number when you ask them—and pictures are worth a thousand words—so ask to see their portfolio. Even better, find a common social outlet such as Google, Facebook, Instagram or other vendor platform and read their reviews.
Is It Worth What You’re Paying?
This one’s maybe a little too obvious… but hear us out. What is your photographer really charging you for? In our current market here in Arizona, we’ve seen everything from $800 all the way to $8,000 for wedding services. Presumably, you’re paying more for a photographer with more experience… but you might also be paying someone’s marketing budget. Sites like Honeybook can charge approximately $1,500 per month to list as a vendor on their site, and those costs get passed on to you. All of this to say, $3,000 spent with one company might get you more than with another.
Bonus tip: What kind of equipment is your photographer using? Did you know that most cameras have a single slot for memory card storage? Other professional-grade cameras like the ones we use here at Superlative Photo Co. have two memory card slots. We save your photos to both, just in case one memory card corrupts or breaks — peace of mind for your special day, and the extra mile all photographers should be going to earn your business.
Are you getting what you want?
There are so many aspects to consider when thinking about what you want your photographer to capture on your special day. The hero shots you can usually count on, such as walking down the aisle, your first kiss, couples portraits and family photos. Photographers can’t be everywhere at once, though, and what about the photos of you both getting ready? What about the photos of your guests at cocktail hour, while you are signing the marriage certificate? For full coverage and no missed details, two photographers is usually the way to go. Is a 2nd photographer included in your package?
Another thing to consider is editing style. Remember, your photographer has a unique vision of how your final photos should look (light and airy, warm and vintage and neutral are quite common examples). Have you reviewed their portfolio, and do you like what you see?
Lastly, let’s talk about up-charges. What should be included, and what really is extra. While we don’t speak for all photographers, we can confidently say that basic travel, photo count and digital delivery are not things that should be used to pad your bill, and should be included is general services. Ask you photographer for a breakdown of costs in any estimate that you receive.