What to look for in a wedding photographer?

[FullAperture]

Originally Posted by Niresangwa

This is a pretty good approximation...

as far as the gear, the brand isn't so much a big deal rather than their capabilities in adverse conditions, which you should be able to tell from the portfolio.. esp low light, and how they would handle bad weather.

ask for a copy of their blank contract, and make sure you're clear on everything they have in there.

ask who their back up is (not whether they have one, find out who.

ask for a couple of client-references, or access to a 3rd party review section.

also remember that though you may feel like October is a ways away, it's really not and many of the better photographers will be booked already, so don't put all of your eggs in one basket...contact a few, and when they say they're booked, see if they can give you recommendations.

AND when you ask them all that. Notice every interaction with them. It is a reflection of their work. When you ask them something and they half-ass reply 4 days later and don't seem to have a clue how to function effectively expect your stress to rise as the ceremony gets closer.

Good luck and congrats though!

[BigFuzzy]

Lots of good suggestions here.
Do remember that years down the line you're not going to be showing people food that was served (though you might show them photos), or have left over bottles of the really expensive alcohol. You'll be showing them your photos. Don't skimp out on the quality.

As someone noted, ensure they they're able to provide you with "detail" shots besides the nice posed/ceremony shots. You want all those detail and candid shots of those small things that make the day special. You want shots of your shoes, the bouquet, the candids of you/spouse getting ready. Shots of the family watching the ceremony (especially parents), the food, the table arrangements, the venue as a whole, etc etc.
If they can't show you example of these it means they either artistically limited in that they don't think about these important details or they're unable to handle such a big production.
Find out if they examples they show are shot with a 2nd shooter or alone. Because if you like what you see and they shot it with a 2nd shooter and they're not guaranteeing you a 2nd shooter as well, you can pretty much assume your results won't be the same.

Listen, just fly Steve (Niresangwa) out do your shoot, it'll be worth it. Or me, but my flight would be more expensive! Kidding of course.. good luck.

EDIT: One thing not to forget is how you feel about them (personality wise) when you chat with them (face-to-face). If they're unable to make you feel comfortable, I promise you it WILL show in the images. You want to be able to be relaxed with the photog when they spend several hours in your face with a camera!

[Niresangwa]

Originally Posted by BigFuzzy

Listen, just fly Steve (Niresangwa) out do your shoot, it'll be worth it. Or me, but my flight would be more expensive! Kidding of course.. good luck.

Funny you say that, as someone from DPS just contacted me to shoot their wedding in Punta Cana...not sure who it is though.

[jonischrantz]

Originally Posted by LinaInKorea

I am also planning a wedding and looking for a photographer. The suggestion about looking for an album in it's entirety is great. I saw websites for several photographers that seemed wonderful! Then I would do some digging, and find albums that people would post on forums. When I saw the albums, I knew the photographers had only posted "lucky shots" on their sites, and the rest of their photos were terrible quality!

As a full time wedding photographer myself, this is the advice I would give you. Find a photographer whose work you love. Meet with them and see if your personalities mesh well. This person will probably see more of you on your wedding day than most of the people there. You need to like being around them, and feel confident in their abilities. Ask to see one or two complete weddings. Images on blog posts are likely to be the best of the best highlights. Not every photo from a wedding is going to be amazing or album worthy, but the body of their work should be consistent. Seeing sample albums is great to determine the quality of the album companies they use, but you're still better off being able to see a couple of complete wedding galleries. Check out their reviews on places like Wedding Wire, Yelp, and Google. You shouldn't right someone off based on one bad review, but if they have a bunch of them it should be a warning sign.

Equipment is not as important as a lot of people think. It's important that they have backups for everything, they should have multiple lenses that are f/2.8 or faster, multiple flashes, etc. But don't get caught up in Canon vs. Nikon. To a photographer they are just tools in a toolbox. The end result is what matters. You can make huge enlargements with low megapixel cameras if they have quality sensors and quality lenses.

They need to have a contract. Never EVER do any work with a wedding photographer who has no contract. The contract should also establish expectations on deliver times, and what is included for the price you've paid.

They should have business insurance.

They should be well networked within their area so they can find a replacement photographer in an emergency situation.

That's what I consider most important!