What to look for in a wedding photographer?

[45R]

I'm getting married in March and I'd like to get some input from my forum friends on what to look for in a wedding photographer and what to stay away from. My fianace had me call a photographer today and when I asked her what time of gear she used she said that she used a Digital Rebel with a 8.1 Megapixel attachment and a Minolta film for back up. She was pretty snobby and I was completely turned off by her attitude so I'll probably look for another photographer but in the meantime if you guys have any suggestions on what to look for I would be very grateful!

[tim]

The new digital rebel has 8.1 or so megapixels, but someone with a rebel (hobbyist camera) as opposed to a semi-pro camera like the 10D/20D or even a 1 series probably doesn't take things all that seriously. Myself i'd look for a photographer who shot with a mixture of digital and film, and probably large format for group shots or big prints of set shots. I'm not an expert in any way though, that's just what I think.

[KevC]

Medium format is still king of wedding photography. If you find a photographer that does that, then he/she should be pretty serious. However, there are always people who have the money for equipment but have no idea what they're doing. Of course, always ask to see their portfolio. If *you* like their work, then that's great! I think that's the biggest thing...

[kawter2]

Of course, always ask to see their portfolio. If *you* like their work, then that's great! I think that's the biggest thing...


Yep,


and make sure you feel comfortable smileing, laughing, talkin, and posing in front of them.. My wif and I mostly choose are photographer because of how AT ease he made my wife.. His compitency was good but that wasn't what sold us.. and we were very happy because he was able to capture us,,,, not us trying to be what the photographer wanted!

[kawter2]

p.s. where do you live?

[Maureen Souza]

Make a list of what you want and what your expectations are. That's what I tell my prospective B&G to do and then we use that as a base and you can turn that into a type of contract if you want. Good luck!

[45R]

p.s. where do you live?


I live in Sacramento County

[robertwgross]

There are huge differences in wedding photographers.

As a general rule the ones who shoot medium format film tend to be better (and more expensive) than those who shoot 35mm film or digital. That has been the case for a long time, but I think that is dying out. Some will do it the traditional way, the way they've been shooting weddings for twenty years.

One photographer that I know well offers prospective clients to come over to his house first to talk. He lets them browse through his files of previous wedding photos, just to show the style of work, and also to let them know that he is no complete fool in this, and that should help explain why his rates are not the cheapest in town.

If you want the cheapest in town, then somebody will show up for two hours with his Digital Rebel, and very little time will be spent "fixing up" the shots. You can expect to pay one price for this.

As you move back up into the quality work, the medium format film shooter will show up for some number of hours, shoot with multiple setups and lights, and then a great deal of somebody's lab time will go into fixing up the shots. You can expect to pay about three times as much for this.

So, you roll the dice and you take your chances.

---Bob Gross---

[markubig]

I went through this just a few months ago. We were looking for a photographer for our wedding coming up later this year. I wouldn't pay as much attention to their choice of equipment as I would to their style and quality of photographs. We wanted the photojournalistic (candid) style with just a touch of traditional (posed). We paid close attention to each photographer's portfolio and chose the one who's photos we really enjoyed.

When you do book, ensure that the photographer you are booking is the actual photographer who will be shooting your wedding. I just believe that if you are buying based on a specific style, only that photographer can give it to you.

Also make sure everything that you agree to is detailed in your contract.

[Steven M. Anthony]

Dude, if you are getting married in March, you better look for a photographer that is alive--and hire them. You only have 7 days left!

[mbze430]

Personally, I think its how well the photographer gets along with their clients. Some people do it as a job. Others its more of a passion.

For my own wedding, I had 2 different photographers. One that does the studio type work, the other...well he's a friend and the photo editor of Turbo Magazine( I think it's now Import Sport Tuner) for all the candid type. Ahh, only if I could have shot my own wedding....LOL

Find a photographer that you can get along with. Btw, there are alot of places that "broker" photographers, so you might want to find out who will be shooting your wedding, and get to know them. If they turn out to be not something you had imagine, find another one.

Good Luck.

[robertwgross]

Ask to see his rig just out of curiosity. If he isn't using a stroboframe, he isn't experienced enough (or doesn't care enough) to know that the stroboframe will go a long way to distinguish the quality of his images from those of Uncle Fred's.

Bloo Dog, I think what you meant here was that the photographer should be using a flip-type flash bracket, not that it must be a Stroboframe brand.

There are other good brands of flip-type flash brackets that we use for weddings.

---Bob Gross---

[whereismykit]

The new digital rebel has 8.1 or so megapixels, but someone with a rebel (hobbyist camera) as opposed to a semi-pro camera like the 10D/20D or even a 1 series probably doesn't take things all that seriously. Myself i'd look for a photographer who shot with a mixture of digital and film, and probably large format for group shots or big prints of set shots. I'm not an expert in any way though, that's just what I think.

I disagree with the if you have a 20D you don't take things series. I have seen tons of wedding photographers who still use 10D and take better pictures than anyone with a 5D or whatever the latest and greatest thing is.

Its the photographer not the camera

[kawter2]

I disagree with the if you have a 20D you don't take things series. I have seen tons of wedding photographers who still use 10D and take better pictures than anyone with a 5D or whatever the latest and greatest thing is.

Its the photographer not the camera

Whoa, way to dig up a dead body..

[david.p.livingston]

It's Alive!!!! IT'S ALIVEEE!!!!!!

[howzitboy]

lol i didnt even notice the date of the original post haha. he prob married and divorced already j/k j/k

[harroz]

that's cool, let's keep it going, times have changed... 4 years no less!! so would anyone still look for a medium format photographer?. I know I wouldn't! It seems that most Med Format wedding shooters are quite fixed in their creativity. They know what works and what is safe. Really I wouldn't care to much about what they used as long as it is pro level gear XXd and up. The main thing would be that they have got a vision similar to mine and my wifes, and that they get on with my wife:) I got married a year ago, and got one of my friends to shoot it with my gear, although he's handy with a camera and has creative vision, and even though we got some awesome photos I think if I had the time again I'd hire someone. Simply because if someone does it a lot they know what to do :)

[whereismykit]

So you only know what your doing with pro gear. Someone with lets say a Rebel wouldn't know what they are doing and wouldn't have creativity or be limited on creativity.

Some people get stuck on you gotta have the latest and greatest gear to take great photos.
I'm sorry but its all in the eye not the camera.

[harroz]

Nope, thats not it at all, I know that you can only do certain things with a xx, for one, 250th compared to 200th flash sync. If they were that good they'd WANT that bad enough to sell the XXX and upgrade. Also for the noise and higher quality large print.
It isn't only the eye, I agree the eye makes the photographer for sure, but the gear I have to appreciate as well, being a photographer myself I know what someones limitations are with a xxx, and know the pitfalls of the images I'm going to get because of the gear restraints. That being said, I myself sometimes use a 350d for weddings. But I use it wisely. I don't use it for images that it can't create properly, and I haven't upgraded it to a 450d because the noise is worse in the 450d, so if my photographer rocked in with a 450d I have to ask myself "do they know about the noise factor with this camera?" especially if I was getting married in a church.

So you only know what your doing with pro gear. Someone with lets say a Rebel wouldn't know what they are doing and wouldn't have creativity or be limited on creativity.

Some people get stuck on you gotta have the latest and greatest gear to take great photos.
I'm sorry but its all in the eye not the camera.

[randplaty]

I'd look for top quality images. That's the only thing I'd look for first. I'd rate each photographer in two categories:

1. Portraits
2. Photojournalistic skill

Some are great at portraits and mediocre at photojournalism. Some are great photojournalists, but stink at portraits. I want someone great at both.

[2.8orfaster]

She has to be cute ;)