What to look for in a wedding photographer?

[Beach_house]

I searched and found one thread that dated years back, so I thought that I would ask the question.

My Fiancee and I are going to be meeting with potential photogs this weekend, and I wanted to compile a list of questions that when answered would help us narrow down our choice.

Obviously portfolio is something to be considered 1st.

What are the questions that you most often get asked?
and
What are the things you want your clients to know?

Thanks in advance for any help.

[form]

"So...what are your rates?"

"Do you do posed pictures?"

"How long have you been shooting?"

"How many photos do you take in an hour?"

"How much do you charge?"

"When do we get the photos?"

"Do you retouch the photos?"

"Do you have print packages?"

"Do we get the full hi-res photos on disc?"

"Do we have full rights to print the photos?"

"How much do your services cost?"

Somewhere between 95% and 99% of my shots are not on the level of my portfolio; some other photographers are the same. On the other hand, some of the really good ones might just snag portfolio-worthy shots every time they take a picture.

[GoHokiesGo]

I need to bookmark this thread also, just got engaged a few days ago as well.

I'll look forward to the responses also.

[tim]

1. Costs. Ask about costs of extras, like high res files and extra album pages.
2. Personality. Make sure you like them, and you get on well. That's how you get good photos.
3. Portfolio. Ask to see a few complete weddings.

Plus what Form said.

[cdifoto]

1. Do you suck?
2. Do you have backup equipment?
3. Are you sure you don't suck?

[darosk]

"This may potentially be the most important day of our lives - how can you guarantee our satisfaction?"

[form]

I've answered that I can't guarantee anything for absolute certain, but very few photographers can do that. I can promise to do the very best job I can.

Yes personality does seem to be important.

Fortunately, I haven't had more than perhaps 1 person ask to see a complete wedding - because I don't have any in my portfolio. Not that I haven't done any full weddings, I just haven't edited a whole wedding for portfolio use.

[egordon99]

Make sure they're not posting here asking "What settings should I use?" :lol:

[PipesInTune]

What I tell prospective customers is that they have to like what they see, and like me as well, because they get to spend the day with me.

In a nutshell, my "style" is just that, and it's not something I change. If they like what I show them, they'll be happy with their wedding photos. If they're looking for something else, they they need to keep looking. I'm not offended, and they're happy.

It's not fair or even possible to expect a photographer to change to accomodate you, as it probably won't happen. There's too much pressure on a wedding day to try and change the way you shoot. Either you like it, or you don't.

I always show multiple books so the customer gets an idea of how I shoot, and that it's consistent. I'll typically have a slide show running on my laptop at the same time they're looking through books so they can see a whole wedding or two. Lots of pics to be sure they like what they see.

[jongobongo]

Ask to see more photos from one of their weddings, the more recent the event, the better. (Sometimes a photographer's style can change/evolve over time.)
If you can see several weddings, compare the consistency in the quality of their photos.

Talk to the photographer and see if you click with him/her. That person will be with you the whole day of your wedding, make sure your personalities are compatible.

[Beach_house]

I appreciate the responses. Hopefully we will see some things we like this weekend.

[tim]

Just be aware that if you interrogate someone you might annoy them. If people ask lots of questions that's fine, but if people seem like they're going to be difficult later I won't photograph their wedding.

[Andrushka]

1. Do you suck?
2. Do you have backup equipment?
3. Are you sure you don't suck?

the best questions to ask any photog you will ever hire!

[poloman]

How many camera bodies do you use? What are they.
If they don't have a back up body, you may have a disaster. A second shooter might fill this gap as long as they are using a decent tool.
Ask them if they have any ideas for you to help them do a better job on the wedding day. If they are full of suggestions, the chances are good that you have a good one. Ask if they have portable studio lights with battery power. This will insure that your formals are good.
Ask if they have fast lenses. They should have a range of focal lengths in the 1.8 to 2.8 aperture range. They should carry a back up flash in addition to a back up camera body.
The duplicate gear is important for a wedding photog. If anything fails, the game if over unless there is a back up.

[tim]

I agree with Poloman re backup gear, and possibly about fast lenses, but that's going into a lot of detail that might put someone off. Portable studio lights with battery power aren't necessary for everyone, I don't use them.

[form]

Many wedding photographers don't use studio lights. Some don't hardly use any lights at all. Some (like me) use hot shoe flashes off camera for formals, etc.

Bruce Dorn uses hot shoe flashes and flood lamps. And softboxes.

[samnz]

- Do you have any other appointments for that day?
- How long does it take to get the photos back?

[egordon99]

bw!

1. Do you suck?
2. Do you have backup equipment?
3. Are you sure you don't suck?

Can I put that on my website in the "Questions you should ask every photographer" section, and then I can put MY answers to those questions.

1. no
3. yes
3.yes, I answered the first time....geez.....

[andrewmr]

"This may potentially be the most important day of our lives - how can you guarantee our satisfaction?"

If you don't like the results..... I'll do your next wedding for free.

[egordon99]

Ask the question - "Are you this guy? http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=595791 "

[darosk]

If you don't like the results..... I'll do your next wedding for free.
SOLD! Where do I sign?

[stathunter]

If you like their work--- make sure you have a chemistry with them. You will be spending a long and stressful day with them-- make sure you like them.
Like Tim said if you start asking or demanding too many things--- that is when I tell you that we may not be a good fit. I want my clients to click with me-- we do not have to be best friends but we need to have good chemistry.

[cdifoto]

bw!



Can I put that on my website in the "Questions you should ask every photographer" section, and then I can put MY answers to those questions.

1. no
3. yes
3.yes, I answered the first time....geez.....

Sure!

If you don't like the results..... I'll do your next wedding for free.
I think I'll use that. :D

[videochicke]

I would want to see all the pictures from a complete wedding. Anyone can show you the best of their best. I would want to know what realistically what to expect. And then I would like to see the album that was designed from those pictures if possible.

[cosmicreality]

Get to know them personally. Ask them why they do this/how they got started. Ask them how many weddings they may have already photographed. Ask them why they chose to do this for a living....

See if they're TRULY as passionate about your wedding as you are. Ask them about their style of shooting the portraits - i.e. little guidance and mostly hands-off vs. involved directing and posing. Neither style is inherently bad, it's a matter of preference.

Listen carefully to hear what questions the photographer is asking you. Ask yourself, while listening, why are they asking these particular questions. Is this a person you'd invite to your wedding as a guest?

Mike

[adam8080]

I would want to see all the pictures from a complete wedding. Anyone can show you the best of their best. I would want to know what realistically what to expect. And then I would like to see the album that was designed from those pictures if possible.

I agree. I'm a wedding photographer, and I would definitely ask to see a complete finished wedding. You want to get a realistic expectation of what to expect as a finished product. The next thing I would ask is what their game plan is on pictures and time and make sure that you are happy with it. I would also ask them how much do they rely on flash when time gets dark.

If you are looking for a photojournalistic style, then don't go hire the 60 year old wedding photographer who has been shooting traditional the last 40 years.

[tim]

I mostly agree with Adam. Asking how they deal with flash/darkness is pretty detailed but might be a good move. It doesn't much matter what they answer, so long as they're confident. For example I deal with darkness with long shutter speeds, high ISO, wide apertures, and off camera flash. I move the variables to suit the situation. Knowing what the variables are is fairly important.

Honestly though I would allocate a fair portion of me wedding budget to the photographer. A good photographer is also a wedding planner and a source of referrals, as well as the catalyst for all the photos.

[poloman]

I only have one problem with Adam's statement. I am not young and my shooting style is a combo of posed and photojournalism. I do pose the formals because there seems to be a high demand for that, but the rest for the most part is done in photojournalistic style. I am just concerned that people not eliminate the more experienced photographers. We are not all stuck in the past.

[adam8080]

I'm not saying that older photographers aren't versatile or only shoot traditional. What I am saying is if you hire a photographer who has been shooting in a traditional style for the past 40 years, expecting him/her to instantly change styles without any practice for an event such as a wedding will reflect in the final pictures. It is like saying that a photographer who can still life well is just as good at shooting sports regardless of the amount of experience in each category.