A wedding is a significant occasion in a person’s life, especially for the bride. Not only you have to overcome the jitters of starting a brand new life but plan for the big day as well. A bride never wants her special day to go awry. Therefore, planning is often started way ahead of time. To be honest, the earlier you start, the less there is a risk of the day going south.
One of the important steps in the planning is wedding photography. Hiring wedding photographers is not an easy job. For one, there is too much competition and then you want someone who is professional with the camera, friendly with the people and you can feel comfortable as well. Now, you may not find all the qualities you need in one photographer but you still can hire a nearly perfect wedding photographer.
Here are a few tips to find the best wedding photographers:
Social Networks
It is impossible that you don’t know friends who have already had their weddings. You can seek their recommendations for your wedding photography. You may have seen their albums and if not, it is never too late. Perhaps, you will find a set that you adore. A recommendation from a friend can also mean you can get more comfortable with the person.
Early Bird Gets the Worm
There is no lack of individual camera professionals or wedding vendors offering photography services. However, if you want to book a quality service, you must be looking in the high demand section. Therefore, it also means you have to book your wedding with them as early as nine months at least. If possible, do it a year earlier.
Interviewing the Photographers
Don’t be quick to choose one. Shortlist several photographers you think may suit your needs. Many wedding photographers will send you their portfolios before the initial meeting. However, make sure you ask them to send you a complete portfolio of their latest wedding shoots. If they have ever shot on your selected wedding venue, ask them to send those particular photos. Moreover, if you are hiring wedding vendors, ask to meet specifically the person responsible for your wedding photography.
Fee Discussion
Different wedding photographers charge differently. Some will charge a flat fee on an hourly basis while others have packages. These packages can often include a comprehensive set of services apart from the photography like albums, high-resolution prints, and soft copies. Therefore, ensure you understand their system and select the package you need and can reasonably afford.
Evaluation
If you are quite indecisive, you can ask the photographer or various for a test run. Some brides test photographers with an engagement photo shoot. If that is not in the plan, you may just ask them to spend a day with you, the groom, close family, and friends. This will also help you get comfortable with the person, especially if you are camera shy.
In the end, things always have a way of working out.
