Choosing the right Photographer for your wedding

Choosing your Wedding Photography and Video Vendor


For starters, you need to decide on a budget, one that is affordable for you. If you want to spend, let's say, about $1800 on your video and $1800 on photography, don't bother interviewing the companies which normally charge $3,200. Even if they were able to put together a package at your price, you could not expect to see the same results as the $3,200 package you viewed.

You need to make sure you don't have a personality clash with the photographer. Many brides have no idea just how important this is.
Usually the photographer will be spending the WHOLE day with you.


Take your time to get to know them during the interview process. Make sure the person you meet is the person that will be photographing your wedding. A lot of the bigger companies employ sales reps to do the pre-sell and you find a complete stranger arriving on your door step the day of your wedding.


Insist on a pre wedding meeting with the photographer assigned to your wedding several weeks, not days before your wedding day. So if there is some reason you don't want that particular photographer, there will still be time to find another.


Confirm with the photographer where the "location" pictures will be taken…
and check out the locations with the photographer at least a couple of days before the wedding


Can you imagine having the photographs taken in long grass, or surrounded by rubbish up to your knees? Often councils will limit the number of wedding parties allowed in a public place at any given time. So if it's a popular spot for photography it's a good idea to confirm with the authorities if access is freely available. Often park rangers will patrol the more well known locations to ensure the venue is available to all. Or more importantly not taken over by anyone group.


Being in a coastal location we often plan to get some great pictures on the beach. One weekend in summer we arrived only to find a huge surf carnival had been organized for the day! Fortunately because of planning our locations prior to the wedding day, we were able to move onto another spot without any
problems.


So make sure you arrange a time with your photographer to meet on location to discuss your needs and they will share their experiences and offer advice about the photography session that you will find invaluable. Then on the day of the wedding there will be no surprises and as a result you will be more relaxed and you will find that it shows in all your wonderful photos. No stiff poses for you!


Photographing weddings in Australia for 15 years