Questions To Ask A Wedding Photographer Before Saying “Cheese”
Wedding memories are mementos of a day when you chose to commit to a life of fidelity and unconditional love. Those are the remnants of the most blessed and wonderful day of your life, when your princess dreams came true or when you became the love of your life’s knight in shining armor. Such a day of happiness is something you’d most definitely want captured in the best light. If only there was someone who could take a photo of every single moment, the best of it and the worst, so you can laugh about it for days on end. If only there was someone who can chronicle this day in tear-jerking photographs that you’ll look back on on your 50th wedding anniversary.
In this day and age of technological advancement way beyond the grasp of the average mind, there is that one photographer or team that can make your dream happen. But just like the many trials and errors you went through before you found your one true love, there is a whole photography maze you’ll have to take and conquer before you can find that perfect camera genius. You’re probably getting a little overwhelmed thinking about how to choose an Orange County wedding photographer right now, so I’ll ask you to sit back, relax and take down some notes on the things you’ll need to clear out with a possible candidate.
I’m sure you’re thinking if you have to ask about the kind of equipment or the shooting style of the photographer to be able to make a good decision. However, we all have to face the fact that we don’t have enough time to do the research needed to make a correct answer key. So to make things simpler for us average Joe’s and average Jane’s out there, here are some questions you can ask before you ‘Say cheese!’
1. Are you and your most trusted team available on my wedding day?
This is the easiest way to sift through a hundred resumes and portfolios that you’ll find on the web for wedding photographers. There’s no point in hiring the best wedding photographer in Orange County if he cannot make time for your wedding day. It’s also good to know if he will be bringing his most trusted team or not. A good photography team will demonstrate the kind of dynamic that will produce the best photos of your day. The chemistry by which they work and understand each others’ styles will help them capture every moment of your day, making for a comprehensive photo book that you’ll cherish for years to come. Don’t forget: after trying on all the wedding dresses Orange County, you only want the best photographer taking pictures.
2. How many photos do I get from the package?
You don’t want to pay a whole lot of cash for a measly 100 photographs of a six-hour event right? While this question may not be a common topic to come up in negotiations, it’s good to know the range of photographs that the team can get for every hour of the event. Not only will you know if you’ll be getting your money’s worth, you’ll also be able to gauge the thoroughness by which they work in capturing even the little moments that you’d probably miss in all the frenzy. You’ve spent countless hours perusing the different wedding venues in Orange County; the same should go for your photographer.
3. What editing style do you usually apply to your photographs?
Photographers, artists as they are, subscribe to a variety of styles with special focus on the one that interests them most. With the rise in popularity of Instagram, people have become more aware of the different lighting styles and textures that can highlight or downplay a photograph’s elements. Try to get to know your photographer’s style and browse through his portfolio of photos so you can identify the kind of style you want to be used in yours. As an example; after viewing all the wedding cakes Orange County, you want to be certain the photographer you have chosen will capture the cake just perfectly. Whether you fall in love with macro shots, black and white or eye-popping contrast, let him know so you can have exactly that.
4. How long before my wedding should I book a photographer?
If you can get it together and choose your Orange County wedding photographer a year early, do so. It will be best for you. Good photographers have schedules that get filled as fast as Krispy Kreme on Free Doughnut Day. The earlier you book, the more time you’ll have to plan out a shoot schedule with him and brainstorm on the shot list you’ll need for your wedding day. Who knows, you might get an early bird discount for being the most decisive bride and groom out there! However, if you still need a little more time to internalize, ask your photographer if you can place a pencil booking and agree with him on a deadline for confirmation. That way, you’ll get to explore other possibilities but still have a backup plan should you realize that ‘he’s the one’ down the line.
5. Do you recommend a first look?
A first look is when the bride and groom sees each other for a few minutes before the ceremony starts and the photographer shoots some photos of the meeting. While others subscribe heavily to the superstition of the groom not seeing the bride before the wedding, you might be a little more adventurous and ask your photographer on his thoughts on this. This is actually more of a bonus question for you to gauge how involved your photographer is on his projects and whether or not he actually cares about his subjects.
Getting a wedding photographer is as important as having your wedding dress or getting your beard shaved. It is one such decision that couples would want to do together as these will be their sole reminders of the day they made their vows and entered a life together. Whatever style you want, or if you want contrasting styles, go over these with your photographer so you can get the best of both worlds. Take a moment to sit down and get to know him or her too. The best photographers have experience photographing everything from secluded destination weddings to beach wedding dresses. They can best give you solid advice on what usually happens in pre-wedding and wedding day shoots that will either get you excited or keep you on your toes. Whatever the case, just relax, the camera can see you.
by Kerry Johnson – Follow Kerry on G+!
