Photography is a special gift. It lasts several lifetimes, it becomes your family history. It’s an investment that only goes up in value. It validates how special your relationships are. How do you want your most special day captured? Think 25 years, 50 years, and future generations. How do you want to remember your wedding?
What to look for when selecting a Photographer
Selecting the right wedding vendors can be a stressful and overwhelming experience. You invest so many months of planning and the actual day just flies by. Photography preserves the memory and brings the wedding day back to life. A portrait can be hung up on a wall in your home and displayed in frames of all sizes. A beautiful image can sit in your living room for easy access for reliving the day and sharing it with new acquaintances that come into your life after the wedding. The photos are a source of joy for you and your proud parents.
Hiring a photographer is a process that involves thought and insight. After 27 years and photographing several thousand weddings in just about every ceremony and reception destination for people of all ethnic backgrounds and so many special requirements, I want to share with you my observations in what are the important considerations in hiring a photographer.
Photographic styles and which one is your favorite.
Many photographers portray themselves as photojournalistic in style and approach. The reality is the images are stylized, glamorized and may include romantic poses with attitude and typically try to look like images of in a fashion magazine. They repeat the same poses at all their weddings. This style require more coaxing and posing and is more obtrusive. Digital effects are added like high ultra sharp contract and vivid color. The second photographer’s duties is often to take the same images but from a different angle. Many of the images may focus predominantly on the Bride and Groom. All photographers should have the ability to take stylized, glamour and Romantic images at your wedding
Other brides love the Documentary Style. The images are simple elegance and reflect the authentic beauty of her and her family. The shot selection is more likely to be one of a kind, artistic, and rich with spontaneous moments captured in a story that will be treasured for years to come. The posing would consist of the couple walking, talking, hugging and kissing. The images depict the true uncontrived beauty and love of the couple. This style may take half the time to photograph and is less demanding of the bride and groom, thereby relieving stress levels for all. The photographers goal is to look “A guest with a fancy camera”, It’s the least obtrusive style. The second photographer’s job is to focus on documenting and capturing the reaction of the family and guests in an action/reaction multi-dimensional perspective approach. You get to see everyones response to your wedding day. It takes a photographer who is a specialist, a true artist. One with the training and ability to capture a split second moment that most cannot see. These authentic moments are so special they are become timeless memories that grow in value. They bring you back to the moment and all your memories come back.
Reputation of the vendor
It is wise to hire a proven studio that has a reputation to uphold rather than be allured by price. They will show up early and consistently do a great job. Find out how many years have they been in business, how many wedding have they photographed? Expertise goes a long way. Can they provide true comments from their clients? Check reviews. No business is perfect so their reviews should reflect honest criticism, if too perfect that means they may have directed their satisfied client to do reviews. What is also important is how they handled a client that may have had concerns.
Do they have a studio? Where is the studio located? Are they meeting you at a coffee shop, hotel or your home because they do not have an established commercial location which likely establishes them as a serious business rather than a weekend hobbyist doing it for side money. Do they have the required million-dollar liability insurance most caterers require? Most important question you must ask are : what is their backup plan if they get sick, have car accident on the way to your wedding or if they get relocated to another sate prior to your wedding day. Will they promise you get a photographer of equal or better quality , style of photography and personality. I hear too many horror stories of switch and bate. Make sure they put the photographers name in your contract. Recommendations from your reception site or other vendors are to be taken seriously because there will be care in only sharing businesses that they believe will satisfy you.
Understanding The Package You Select
Make sure the Bridal Album has a leather style cover and is bound with mounted (not slip-in) pictures. Most weddings are 8 hours. Be careful of the 4 or 6-hour coverage, as the overtime can be expensive. Does the price include all the images on a DVD or do you have to pay for it? The DVD can save you hundreds of dollars in being forced to buy additional photos at inflated prices. How much are additional images outside of the package? How much is an engagement session? Does it include a pre-event consultation with the actual photographer and will their name be in the contract?
Weed out studios that get you in the door for a low price only to discover that the rest of the fees are expensive. Are travel fees included? Do you have to travel back to several times to their studio for a variety of reasons or is there a respect of your time? This adds up in cost of your time and the gas. Does the studio do their own album designs, color corrections, cropping, retouching or do they lose quality control by having an outsider to do it.
We hope this helps you make an educated decision. We truly want you to hire the studio that is best for you.
Stephen Taylor Photographers are a group of highly experienced & experts in the Documentary style with ability take extraordinary portraits and family pictures. Stephen’s team train together on an ongoing basis to further develop their style. Stephen Taylor Photographers display their work in an elegant studio in the center of Bernardsville. Their studio is recommended by over 20 upscale vendors and is known for originating the documentary style of photography.
Stephen Taylor Photography 