What to look for in a wedding photographer

If you are looking for a wedding photographer you`ll be bowled over by the sheer numbers of people and varying prices of what is on offer. Thought I`d jot a few things down and share them for those looking just now.

 Price - at the end of the day wedding photographers charge what they need to to meet their expenses and keep their gear up to date and capable of high performance. A full time pro with photography as their only income is likely to charge more than a weekend warrior - someone balancing their photography with a full or other part time work that guarantees to pay the mortgage. All sorts of expenses come into it - not just gear but also insurance, travel, editing time outside of just the bits you see on the day. You will see all sorts of prices out there , as in any market place, but at the end of the day you are paying for experience, quality and reputation. You might get someone charging way less than their work deserves - I actually had a customer saying that to me recently (after the event ;-) )  or you may be charged way more than the quality of work merits! It`s about setting a budget, bearing in mind that the only things left after the wedding day are the images that make those memories, and getting recommendations and chatting to the photographer to see if you like their work and trust them. You will be spending a long time in their hands on the day and want them to get the best for you.
A key issue is agreeing what is in the price. Some offer pre-shoots,extra slideshows, extra photographers and the like either free or as an add on. make sure you know what is included by asking for a contract detailing exactly what is included. As an example I do include a free pre-shoot and dvd slideshow set to music with all of my full day packages but charge extra outside of that package making the full day one best value. The pre-shoot is not necessarily just a couple, can be family with kids etc as it is for me to get to know each other and pass on any posing / angle tips for use on the actual day. It`s been great fun for all of the couples I have done one with and offers the opportunity to use images in save the date or other wedding day materials like framed guest signing images.

In pre-shoots I`ve helped establish favourite angles, kissing techniques - just short of touching looks so much better than a full on snog in photos and even how to walk towards the camera. It`s amazing how people can lose all ability to look natural with a camera stuck in front of them!





What should you insist on for your money? Any serious wedding photographer should have :
Professional gear together with back up bodies, lenses and flashes and be capable of shooting with and without flash. You`ll often hear " I shoot using natural light only". This can be great but the light is not always there and to have the ability to use flash - bounced and off camera flash using ambient light too is a necessity.

Insurance: Public liability and professional indemnity cover is what they need. If a guest or other supplier trips over their gear or they have a mechanical malfunction you need to know all is not lost. Cheaper photographers will often be working with hobbyist equipment and no insurance cover. You might get lucky, you might not !

Pre-meetings - your opportunity to have the photographer prove they are what you need and have the style, approach and personality to get the most out of the day and you. The best photographer in the world  but with a personality by-pass will not interact with your guests and get the killer shots!

Extras - do they do albums, slideshows, prints and other products? All extra cost potentially but useful to know if funds are tight if you can come back later. Think about what quality album you want - most will offer a range to suit all pockets and there is often little profit in them for the extra work editing / laying out images.

Access to testimonies / real clients - check out feedback and ask if you can even contact one at random to make sure it is a real person. make sure you see a full wedding range of images - not just the handpicked best on the website that may not even have been taken at an actual unfolding wedding but as a model based mock up! See my feedback here: http://www.photographybypauldishman.co.uk/default.asp?id=5

Timescales - so many people I talk to talk of having waited weeks and even months for the photos - even longer for albums. Whilst albums are often sourced abroad and can result in delays there is no excuse for taking more than 2/3 weeks to supply access to images from the day. I pride myself on supplying images within 7-10 days at most  and usually do so within 5 days as a personal target. Of course much depends on how many weddings the photographer does and it is easier for me to commit to short deadlines when I aim to do a maximum of 10/12 weddings a year whilst others wish to shoot considerably more.

Rest assured - there will be a photographer out there whatever your budget. No money at all for images? Check out Gumtree for people learning their craft or local colleges BUT don`t expect polished images that show your wedding day at it`s best. As in all things you get what you pay for and if it seems too good to be true it may well be.I`ve lost count  of how many charlatans there are out there featuring in local papers and having delivered "the worst wedding pictures ever"

 For coverage think about the photography on the day as telling a story. Preparation and detail shots are just as important as the key moments in your memories

 That goes for the groom too!

 Try to make time to get away with your photographer , away from  guests for some couple shots. It is worth the extra effort and with a glass in their hands the guests won`t miss you too much!

 I offer a free evening photobooth with my full day bookings - always popular!

 These shots are all from my most recent all day wedding with Jenna and Joel. Lovely couple who had a real giggle on the pre-shoot and the day itself. Their feedback:
"Thanks for the brilliant photos - not just of our wedding day but also the pre-shoot. The DVD slideshow was brilliant too, made me cry and even Joel was welling up with emotion when watching it. Our guests all thought you were great. Thanks for giving us so many fabulous pictures that will help us look back on our wedding day and give great memories."

Awards
Just lately I`ve seen a few photographers boasting wedding industry awards with proud badges saying they are best in their city,10th best in the country and 15th best in the world etc! Proud boasts that might sway the casual observer - you`d think!. Looking up a sub £500, budget end photographer with such claims I realised the awards followed self submission and a poll amongst social media users. The usual put in and get all your mates to vote for you routine that shows more about connections on social media sites than actual ability with a camera. Don`t be hoodwinked - make sure they can deliver quality at a price you can meet and don`t think they are really 10 th best in the world or whatever. It`s a big world and the true 10th best in the world ( if it could be measured)  you probably could not afford to book unless you were a celebrity!

If I can make the bride and groom cry with emotion when they see their images I know I`ve done my job ;-). If your photographer makes you cry with appalling delivery / work then you have not used these notes to help you choose!