Tips when choosing a Wedding Photographer

Your wedding day has many important decisions, all of which with some thought and careful planning contribute to what will be one of the greatest days of your life. Getting these decisions right and taking that time to plan will mean you can look back fondly on the day you brought all your friends and family together in the honour of yourself and you partner as newlyweds!  Award Winning wedding photographers Cardam Photography who are located in  Annacotty, Limerick, shares with you some factors when selecting the right wedding photographer for your wedding day. 

1. START SEARCHING IMMEDIATELY

   So, you just got engaged—Congratulations! Now start looking for a wedding photographer. The truth is, the best professional photographers book their schedules at least a year in advance, so hiring someone is one of the first things you should do after you've set the date along with booking your church and venue.

2. TAP INTO YOUR NETWORK

   Good wedding photographers have a reputation for success and can even be local celebrities. They should be the easiest to find, but that doesn't mean they're the best for you. Start your search by crowd sourcing recommendations from friends and family who have planned weddings in the last few years, and ask your married friends if you can peruse their photo albums. Look to Facebook pages and professional websites for samples of work, blog posts, and client reviews.

   The other professionals involved in your wedding day festivities will have worked with various photographers in the past. Ask for recommendations from your wedding planner, venue manager, caterer, videographer, florist or limousine driver—it's (literally) their business to have such contacts.

3. NARROW DOWN YOUR OPTIONS

   Once you have a list of your top choice photographers, take an in-depth look into their services to begin eliminating candidates who aren't a good fit. Determine which photographer will meet your budget as well as your specific needs and style. Consider how well they perform in different settings and environments. For example, if you are throwing a beach wedding, it makes sense to find a photographer who is proficient at outdoor photography.

   Think about the emotional tone that you want your photos to express. Are you and your fiancé serious and traditional, or do you prefer a more light-hearted and playful theme? A talented photographer can listen to your vision and articulate it perfectly, so you should see tonal variation in their sample work. photographers style.

4. CONDUCT YOUR INTERVIEWS

   After narrowing your selection of wedding photographers down to around three, make appointments to interview the candidates. Likely, the photographer will have two or three wedding albums available to show. Make sure you see at least one album of an entire wedding, from start to finish, preferably something that is comparable to what your wedding will be like in physical setting and emotional tone. After examining all of the sample work closely, request to see another set of photographs from a recent wedding. This will enable you to see both his best work from the pre-selected albums and his average daily work. Some things to keep in mind:

   • Examine the basics of the pictures such as color, clarity, exposure, graininess and composition.
   • Determine the photographer's style—does she shoot photos that are adventurous and artistic, or are they standard and ordinary?
   • Do the guests look natural or self-conscious?
   • Do the photos capture the emotional tone organically, or does do the couple's poses feel forced?

   Be sure to leave the interview knowing the highest vs. average quality of the photographer's work, her visual style, and if she will adjust her style to your individual taste. His/Her willingness to work closely with you to satisfy you as a client is key to producing an exceptional result, and a professional knows that.

5. GAUGE THEIR PROFESSIONALISM

   While not all amateur photographers are created equal, the best way to guarantee that you will receive a quality wedding album is to hire a seasoned professional with a solid and varied background of nuptial experiences from which to draw.

   During your interview, find out how many weddings the photographer has shot over how many years. He may have been a professional photographer for 15 years but only doing weddings for the past year. Remember, wedding photography is much different than any other type of photography; the pressure is high and the emotional energy is not suited for everyone.

   Be sure to ask if the photographer has shot at your wedding venue before. If he has, he may already know where to stand to get the perfect shot or how to incorporate the church's ancient stained glass in a uniquely engaging way.

   With such experience comes not only the knowledge of how to photograph a wedding, but also how to act during the ceremony and reception. For example, how will he dress and how will he act around your wedding party and guests? Beautiful photos capturing the smiles of family and friends are just as important as the multitude taken of the bride and groom. And speaking of which, he'll be by your side just about as much as anyone in the party, and then some—how well do your personalities mesh? Will his presence be an asset or a burden? Truly, a wedding photographer's charm and ability to put everyone at ease is as important a skill as the actual photography.

6. DETERMINE COSTS AND SIGN THE CONTRACT

   While you want to book your photographer for the date of your wedding immediately, make sure you read over the legal details of exactly what you will get before signing the contract. Ensure the photographer you meet with is the photographer who will show up on your wedding day and if you should expect a second camera person or assistant. Determine what parts of your wedding day will be covered and how many hours you have with your photographer. Clear communication and reiteration of the details of the ceremony, the reception, and the specific types of photographs you want is crucial. In all, the contract is in place to remind both you and the photographer of the services you agreed upon. Also ensure your photographer is fully insured and it also helps when they are a member of  a professional body. Like with Cardam Photography we are fully insured and a member of the Irish Photographers Association.