Photography Ideas

[miguelsbridetobe]

I am looking into photographers and I really do not know what I should ask. I have an appt with one on Thursday and I want to go with questions to ask so I do not look like a completely clueless bride. Even though I am clueless :confused: Can you help me please...... Anything would help....

[Lacey]

http://production.theknot.com/ch_article.html?Object=AI980914213504&keywordID=155&keywordType=2&parentID=527

The photographer is one of the most expensive things that you will pay for in this wedding. Make sure you have a solid budget set before you agree to sign a contract.

[Kelly1Mickey]

I am looking into photographers and I really do not know what I should ask. I have an appt with one on Thursday and I want to go with questions to ask so I do not look like a completely clueless bride. Even though I am clueless :confused: Can you help me please...... Anything would help....

How many years experience?
What %age of business is dedicated to weddings?
Approximately how many weddings have you photographed?
Will you bring an assistant?
How do you typically dress for weddings?
Do you have a studio?
What type of equipment do you use?
Do you bring back up equipment?
Do you visit the site prior to the wedding day?
Do you have liability insurance?
Are you skilled in diffused lighting and soft focus?
Can you retouch negatives?
Can negatives be purchased?
What is the cost of the package?
What is the payment policy?
What is the cancellation policy?
Do you offer a money-back guarantee?
Do you use proofs?
How many proofs will I get?
When will I get my proofs?
When will I get my album?
What is the cost of engagement portraits?
Waht is the cost of bridal portraits?
What is the cost of a parents album?
What is the cost of reprints?
What do additional hours of shooting cost at the wedding?

[miguelsbridetobe]

As always, you ladies are the best, thanks so much, I would have never thought to ask all of those questions until later.

[Cashy98]

Also ask if they charge extra to go to a second location on the day of the wedding. Its often nice when you're getting married indoors to have some additional pictures taken in a garden or favorite park. Also, sometimes people will want pictures taken at their new spouse's church (since you can't get married in both :) ).
Also find out if they even offer packages. So photographers only charge by the hour and then have you order whatever prints you want. This can be a good thing, however, make sure you ask how much the minimum is... since it could be more than you want to spend.
If you're interested in a photographer, don't hesitate to haggle a little bit. Especially if they are independant... they may be willing to make a deal if you press the issue (and if they need the work :) ). I made a bargin with my photographer... we'll be getting $200 worth of prints for free! So don't be afraid to make offers!

Oh, and Kelly1Mickey touched on the liability insurance. You want to ask them whether or not they have insurance for both other people (wouldn't want your photographer to fall on one of your guests) and their equipment/film (you never know, their car could get broken into and there goes your film!). Some photographers will also have a clause in their contracts that says you are entitled to a refund if something beyond their control happens to your pictures.

[Cashy98]

Oh, sorry! And you will also need to decide what style of photography you like. There's traditional, candid, and photojournalism... or you make want a mix of these styles. Make sure you ask what style your photographer specializes in and you make it clear of what style you want your pictures to be. :) You wouldn't want to get a bunch of candid shots if all you wanted was traditional portraits!

[kyzmit]

Traditionally, most photographers won't let you have your negatives or will charge you a bunch for them, however many are moving away from this practice and charging less... one thing you may want to ask, in this digital age, is if they will prepare a color corrected/touched up CD-Rom of all your pictures for you to keep. Our photographer is a personal friend who does this for all his clients because he doesn't want to deal with them showing up in 3 years wanting reprints... it's just not worth the extra money to him.


I haven't seen anyone say this, but find out what type of formats your pictures will be taken with:

35 mm. (standard ***eras, usually used for candids)

medium format (larger negative = clearer picture, should be used for poses)

large format (rarely used, but VERY clear, we're actually having some taken and going to backlight them in a photobox)

digital (becoming popular, make sure the resolution is good... you certainly don't want your cousin taking better pictures with his phone)


Find out what artistic things can be done, for example:
B&W
sepiatone
Infrared (really cool if you're outside; most don't do this, but it's not hard)
hand coloring

[Marsha]

Traditionally, most photographers won't let you have your negatives or will charge you a bunch for them, however many are moving away from this practice and charging less... one thing you may want to ask, in this digital age, is if they will prepare a color corrected/touched up CD-Rom of all your pictures for you to keep. Our photographer is a personal friend who does this for all his clients because he doesn't want to deal with them showing up in 3 years wanting reprints... it's just not worth the extra money to him.


I haven't seen anyone say this, but find out what type of formats your pictures will be taken with:

35 mm. (standard ***eras, usually used for candids)

medium format (larger negative = clearer picture, should be used for poses)

large format (rarely used, but VERY clear, we're actually having some taken and going to backlight them in a photobox)

digital (becoming popular, make sure the resolution is good... you certainly don't want your cousin taking better pictures with his phone)


Find out what artistic things can be done, for example:
B&W
sepiatone
Infrared (really cool if you're outside; most don't do this, but it's not hard)
hand coloring

I DUNNO about anyone else, however, I WANT ALL MY PICS taken good or bad i want them. LEt me decide. I havent looked for a photographer yet, but this is something i want to make clear, i dont want to have to sell pics either to people. If they want to order pics fine, but having pic parties is so lame and boring and costs even more money.

[Vixen]

also think about placing those disposable ***eras out on the tables. That way you can have those candid shots too.

[Elaine]

Make sure you understand what they charge for working more hours than anticipated. You don't want to wind up with a bill you weren't expecting.

Find out what remedies they offer if you're not happy with the final product. Will they redo a few posed photos or will they offer a refund?

Make sure they understand who is in charge. I have seen photographers who will listen to whoever is bossy and then you end up with a bunch of pictures of Mr. Bossy instead of the happy couple and their family.

Find out how they coordinate candid photos - do they bring two photographers, one for posed portraits and one for candids? Do they rely on one person to handle it all? Do they stage all the posed photos before the ceremony so they can focus on candid photos during?

Hope this helps some :)

[fmil0625]

also think about placing those disposable ***eras out on the tables. That way you can have those candid shots too.

On that note you may want to limit these to 12 exp. per ***era otherwise you'll end up spending a lot of money on developing and if a kid happens to get a hold of one of the ***era you may end up with a lot of pictures of butts or knees :D

[Kevinjen2]

Also, remember that they may show you pictures taken by their best photographer and then send someone new to take your pictures. I have heard about this, so make sure to ask if you are getting the person whose photos they are showing you!

[Octoberbride15]

also think about placing those disposable ***eras out on the tables. That way you can have those candid shots too.
You also may not get these ***eras back...some people are thieves.

[miguelsbridetobe]

All of you were a lot of help. Those where somethings that I had not considered. I am not really good a haggling so I will let my FH handle it. How do you keep the guest from stealing the ***eras? Do I need a person on patrol for the ***eras so that nobody takes them out of the reception hall?

[Cashy98]

All of you were a lot of help. Those where somethings that I had not considered. I am not really good a haggling so I will let my FH handle it. How do you keep the guest from stealing the ***eras? Do I need a person on patrol for the ***eras so that nobody takes them out of the reception hall?
Just assign someone to collect the ***eras before the evening is over... and have them make sure they pick one up from EVERY table or that they count the ***eras they have collected.

[Jeannette Addley]

I am also going to have the desposable ***ers, I sure hope that no one steals them.

I was reading eveyone ideas and Thanks. I am also looking and am lost when it ***e to a photographer!

[miguelsbridetobe]

I met with the photographer last night and he was awesome. :D I had met with some other photographers and I thought he was the most organized and down to earth person I had ever met. Thank you all for the questions and suggestions you gave me for interviewing the photographer. He answered all the questions I had and If I select him I get to get a copyright of all my pictures taken. :)

Again thank you ladies, yall are heaven sent ;)