And you're going to get Mar-ar-ar-ied!
His/Her Time is Your Money:
Keep in mind that the photographer's work has barely begun at the end of the night. Editing photos as well as creating proofs to then send back to the newlyweds who will then choose the ones that the photographer arranges to be printed, as well as layouts of any possible albums, or other specialty display pieces that particular studio offers. The actual day works out to only be a fraction of his/her work!
Book your photographer as early as possible- especially if you'll be saying "I Do" during the primetime wedding months of May-September.
How many hours of coverage do you want on the actual day of your wedding? Consider before shots, the more formal portraiture session, time between ceremony and reception, as well as if you want just the highlights: cake cutting, bouquet toss, first dance or documentation of your entire night.
A fellow blogger, GeekSugar, recommends not asking about the length of time you should expect to wait to view your proofs/receive your prints, how many images are typically given to clients for review, and how long the photos will be archived after your place your print order.
Time also plays a large deciding factor when asking: Is it better to choose digital or film? With the evolution of digital cameras, the images are now almost identical and the mass majority of photographers have traded their rolls of 35mm for High Resolution Memory Cards. From a customer's perspective, the switch is a positive. Digital will keep costs low while providing you with an exponential amount of more options. Seeing the image directly after it has been taken allows the photographer to immediately make any necessary adjustments which will ensure a higher overall lighting and composition quality to your photos. Digital also cuts down developing time as well as time it takes to physically scan negatives into a computer for editing.
With all those hours of detail work and artistic vision and talent come copyrights.
Copyrights tend to fall into the categories of:
Full Rights- to either the photographer OR client (whom will have to pay for those rights)
Shared Rights- both have full rights of use, but still need the others' permission to print
Limited Personal Use Rights- client may print for personal use, but photographer retains rights to publish photos for a profit/promotional interests
Other questions to ask:
- Are you insured for liability and equipment?
- Do you bring an assistant? An assistant provides that extra set of hands to help with lighting and organizing to allow the photographer to do what he/she does best- take photos!
- Have you photographed at my venue before? There is an advantage to a photographer who already knows the lighting/layout of your venue; however, a good photographer should be able to adapt to any situation.
- Can you photograph our ceremony without flash?
- What is included and what is extra? Is there anything you recommend we add? Why?
- May I see a price list for any of the products that I might want to purchase after the wedding?
****Ask for a list of previous brides and their current contact information, they can give you the best mental picture of what to expect.
"The last and one of the most important things to keep in mind is how the photographer approaches wedding photography. Is he/she just taking pictures? Or creating art? Is your photographer passionate about photography or simply just doing a job? There are literally thousands of wedding photographers that can take your pictures and do a good job. They can output posed pictures as easily as someone in an office creates a spreadsheet. To these generic photographers it is just a job. If you want something special you need to find an artist that loves photography and will combine skill, talent, and heart to capture your special day." -Rhonda Thompson, Professional Photographer, Georgia, USA
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