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By Lei Lydle
Founder and Editor
Last Updated: 6/13/2008 12:01:42 PM |
Following are some basic guidelines to help you find the wedding photographer that best suits your needs:
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Choose a photographer as soon as possible. Wedding photographers tend to get booked quickly. |
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Ask friends and family for personal recommendations. As with all aspects of planning your wedding, this is simply common sense! |
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Ask for referrals from wedding professionals such as caterers, florists, etc. These professionals work together regularly and they can often give you excellent recommendations. |
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Attend bridal shows to meet good wedding photographers. Bridal shows are a great way to find information on all types of wedding professionals. |
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Call at least 10 wedding photographers and ask them to send you their wedding package information. |
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After you have reviewed all of the photographer's marketing materials, rank them in order of your favorites and make appointments to meet with the top three photographers on your list that also have your date available. |
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During your visit, ask to see sample wedding albums and proofs. Look at the lighting he uses, creativity, etc. |
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Ask the list of questions for photographers found on our Web site. |
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In evaluating a photographer, consider his or her personality. Is this someone you would feel comfortable working with? Trust your instincts! |
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Have every detail written down on the contract - name of actual photographer, date and time of wedding, date and time of photo session, exact numbers of exposures, proofs and prints, payment schedule, cancellation and/or postponement policy, etc. See our article, Photography Basics: The Contract for more information on contracts. |
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Meet with the photographer again a few weeks before your wedding to go over any final details. |
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David Miller Photo from Nashville TN says... |
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Lei,
You give Great advice!
Only one thing I would add.
Instead of making appointments based on price and packages, brides should shop style and personality first. THEN screen by price and packages.
Style can be shopped by looking at websites. Personality & pricing can be shopped over the phone.
While interviewing photographers on the phone you will get an idea of their personality and pricing. Make an appointment to see the ones you click with.
This way, you will eliminate the duds and only be meeting with the photographers that are going to be a good match!
Hope this helps!
David
Wedding Date: Sept 08 |
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Posted: 6/12/2008 5:22:00 PM |
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Laura from atlanta, GA says... |
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We had selected a photographer that the reception site recommended. We went to their web site and they were voted the best of atlanta 1999-2000. Pictures looked good. We met with them and ended up paying almost $4000 for our pictures, in agreement that 20% would be b&w and mostly candid. What we got was all posed pictures (their definition of candid was posed - non-formal pictures). We also got a crappy attitude from the photograher. He ruined our wedding event memories. Our b&w were grainy (which he said was a technique). The b&w were not clear. Our album is full of posed pictures - not what we wanted. We should have paid more attention to his attitude and lack of ability when we had our engagement pictures. Obviously the best of atlanta was from someone elses pictures. I would recommend a clause to get out of the contract after the initial sitting and to be more specific in the contract about what you want.
Wedding Date: 6/22/02 |
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Posted: 5/18/2004 |
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Lei Lydle, Editor from this Site says... |
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Dear Laura,
Thank you so much for your tips and I am so sorry to hear that you had a problem with your photographer. I wish you had selected one of our Preferred Vendors because we continuously screen our vendors for quality and performance through the Better Business Bureau and our own Bride Reviews and complaints. You will notice that the photographer you mentioned is NOT in our Preferred Vendors list.
In any event, I had to remove the photographer's name from your post because this area is not the appropriate area for rating vendors. Please visit our Bride Ratings and Reviews page to submit a specific rating on this vendor as well as any others that you hired for your wedding. Your comments will be greatly appreciated by everyone that uses this site.
I hope the rest of your wedding went off as planned and your marriage is a happy one! Thanks again!
~ Lei |
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Posted: 5/18/2004 |
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