How to choose your wedding photographer.

Introduction

For a very important event in your life na malamang once lang mangayayari, like debut, wedding, etc. it is as important na you make sure you keep these events preserved. Although it is true na malaking concern din ang price ng ating magiging supplier, we must realize that this price, is a one-time issue lang. What we should keep in mind is that after 10 years of the event, hindi ang price ang maaalala natin kung hindi the pictures itself. Ang quality pa din ang pinaka-importante dahil we shall carry this for a lifetime. This is not to say that we should not give importance to the pricing – but we should understand that the quality of the pictures is not shown by the number of zeros we pay our photographers.

When you choose your wedding photographer, you're not just buying a service, you're investing in memories. That's why you should seek a talented photographer whose style fits your personal vision of the wedding day. Hiring a photographer isn't a simple process as swiping a credit card in a shopping mall but requires careful attention, determination and consideration of many factors such a style, approach, experience and of course budget.
To help you choose your wedding /debut photographer, I have collected a few guidelines so that you end up with perfect pictures.

I. Know where to look

Personal referrals. Start by building a list of several wedding/debut photographers. Asking friends and relatives for recommendations is a great way to begin. People who’ve had positive experiences with photographers are always happy to share their photographers names with you, and when you meet with the photographer, you’ll both have an immediate frame of reference from which to proceed.
Google. Gamitin natin ang tools available in our modern times. A recommendation is the best way to gain confidence in a professional wedding photographer but in the absence of a recommendation you will have to go looking. Review wedding photographers in your town, view comments about their work, and list them down. Some photographers have their own websites. Visit each photographer's website. Carefully review his or her portfolio. Try to concentrate on photos and not on website design. Today anyone can get a beautiful template flash website for a few hundred bucks. Good photographers usually show plenty of their recent work online including full weddings - you will save time by pre-qualifying photographers who have comprehensive online portfolio for possible meeting. Create a list of those photographers. Most important is - see if photographer's work looks appealing to you, if you can feel the "click".
Bridal Fairs. Look out for bridal fairs around town. These kinds of events usually will not only help you look for your photographer but for most of your needs! From souvenirs to couture etc.
II. What to look for
Anong hahanapin natin sa ating photographers? Kung ano ang style na gusto natin. Dito, it is best na you know which style of wedding photography that you want. Are you looking for traditional classic wedding photography, or do you want a more casual candid approach? Have you considered the photojournalistic style of wedding photography? A good professional wedding photographer is capable of offering all styles, but might specialize in one style.

Other things to look for are:
Do the pictures have good color and clarity?
Did he pay attention to detail?
Does he capture the emotions and expressions of the day?
Is he creative with various poses?
Does he use soft lenses and lighting?
Can he do multiple exposures and split framing, which make interesting pictures?

Now that you have a list of photographers that you might consider for your wedding, ganito naman ang mga susunod na dapat gawin:

Phone interview. Call or email each photographer on your list. A quick phone call or short email will give you a number of key pieces of information, such as the photographer’s availability on your wedding day, type of photography specialties (e.g., candid, traditional, photojournalism, combination, film or digital, etc.), and a rough idea as to how much they’ll charge you and what you’ll receive for that fee. It will also tell you a bit about the photographer’s personality. Remember, this person will be an integral part of the most important day of your life, so be sure you choose someone you feel good about.
Make appointments. Make appointments with the photographers who sound promising so you can view their portfolios and discuss details. These meetings should include both the bride and groom as well as the bride's parents, and anyone else who will either be paying for the work or working closely with the photographer. Write down all your questions before you meet, and take notes during the meetings.
Getting specific. The more questions you ask up front, the more confident and relaxed you’ll feel on and after your wedding day. If in doubt, ask! And remember, there is no such thing as a dumb question!
Here are some questions you may consider to ask:
How will you show me pictures for selection (e.g., electronic, proofs, contact sheets, online gallery, etc.)? Will you help me choose the final pictures? How will you make it easy for friends and family to order reprints? What are the costs of the various levels of coverage? Are there different degrees of coverage? What is your photography style; photojournalistic, traditional, mixed, etc.,? How much for the duplicate prints, albums, folios, enlargements, thank you cards, etc.,? What’s your time frame for preparing the pictures for my selection? How about engagement session? How long do I have to make up my mind as to which pictures I want and how many? How long have you been in business? What kind of guarantee comes with my hiring you? What’s your philosophy to photographing weddings? Will you have an assistant? Do you have travel fees? How much is your overtime fee? What do you plan to do at my wedding to make my wedding photographs unique and personal to me? Do you have a backup? Will you be shooting my pictures personally? Will you use film or digital? Who will I be dealing with after the wedding? What's your payment policy? Do you give any guarantees on your services and photographs? What is the possibility of the pictures fading? Will he personally be taking the photographs of your wedding? If not, ask to meet the person who will be.
Does he work with an assistant and will he have back-up equipment in the event of a problem?
Is he familiar with your ceremony and reception location?
Can you give him a list of special people with whom you want pictures?
How many hours does his price include?
What’s the charge, if any, if the reception should last longer than planned?
Will he stay through the cake cutting and garter toss?
How much time will you need to allow for the formal wedding photos taken either before or after the ceremony?
What are the photo package prices?
What are the individual picture prices?
What about parents’ albums?
When will the proof pictures be ready?
How long will the prints take, once they have been ordered?
Will he sell the album or negatives?
How many years does he keep the negatives?
What does he normally wear when photographing a wedding?
Will he wear a tuxedo or other specified attire?
Ask if he is a member of Wedding Photographers International. Membership usually reflects a high level of professional competence and ethics.

***There is huge number of possible questions you can ask your photographer. Most professional photographers will provide you with clear explanations about their services prior to any questions even asked. Many of them have full packages that include certain number of prints, digital files, enlargements, etc., so it is very clear what level of service and final products you should expect.
Look at other wedding albums he has done. They may give you ideas for your own. If you are considering taking formal portraits a few weeks before the ceremony, discuss this at the same time. These are generally taken in the wedding photographer’s studio where he has necessary lighting, backdrops and equipment. Wear your hair and accessories the same way you will on your wedding day.

III. What to Expect From Your Wedding Photographer

When the time comes to hire your wedding photographer, there are several things you should take into consideration before making a final choice. In this article, I have highlighted some key points to consider when searching for a professional wedding photographer.

First, make sure that you start the selection process early, as most good wedding photographers book up at least six months to one year in advance. Visit a minimum of three wedding photographers -- this will help you make comparisons and choose the right person for you. Ask for referrals from friends or co-workers who have been through the selection process already, and ask the event staff where you will be getting married -- chances are they will have a few referrals to give you.

Demand Professionalism: Make sure the appointments you set are with reputable professionals. Take note right from the beginning about how you are treated on the phone and how soon you get a call back if you leave a message. The little things make a big difference. Never forget, this is a service business. Also, make sure that wedding photography is at least 50% of the photographer’s business.

Portfolio: Ask to see the wedding photographers work. Make sure that the person whose work you are viewing will be the one actually photographing your wedding. Ask to see work from an entire wedding, preferably an album or a set of proofs from a recent wedding they have photographed. Look for examples of styles that you would like to see in your wedding images, such as photojournalism, black and white, family groups and possibly, special effects. And remember, you must not only like your wedding photographers work, you must also like your wedding photographer.

Ask About Prices And Services: Find out what type of services are offered, such as how many hours of the wedding photographers time are included in the price and what his/her overtime rate is. Ask how many wedding photos you will get back, and if the price will include black and white film as well as color. Does the package price include an engagement sitting and, if not, how much does a sitting cost? The most important thing to know up front is what the package price does and does not include. Also be sure to ask how much reprints, extra albums, wall portraits, frames, etc. will cost. TIP: Often you can negotiate a better deal up front with you wedding photographer, rather than if you wait until after the wedding.

Don’t be pressured by the wedding photographer to commit to a package on the spot. You are not buying a used car; you are investing in your personal wedding photos that will appreciate in sentimental value over time. Make sure you make the right investment.

Schedule An Engagement Session: The engagement session is a casual portrait session done with your wedding photographer months before the wedding. I recommend it to everyone getting married. It’s a great way to get to know your wedding photographer and for them to get to know you. Also, you get to see yourselves on film before the wedding, and if you are happy with your engagement images, you will feel more at ease in front of the camera on your wedding day.

Ask About Backup Equipment: No matter what type of equipment your wedding photographer chooses to use, he/she should have backup equipment available on your wedding day. Cameras do break so your wedding photographer should be prepared for the worst.

The Contract: Make sure that once you agree on price and pertinent details, you put them in writing. A contract is there to protect you and your wedding photographer. Items you should outline in the contract include the name of the wedding photographer you chose to photograph your wedding, the date and exact times of the day’s events, the total price and what that price includes, and any other information you deem necessary. If your wedding photographer doesn’t have a standard contract, insist on one or look elsewhere.

Your Photographer’s Wedding Attire: Make sure to discuss what you expect your wedding photographer to wear. Understanding the appropriate dress code helps your wedding photographer to blend in with the crowd and appear less obtrusive.

The Wedding Day: On the day of the wedding, you should expect your wedding photographer to be punctual and well organized. You wedding photographer should be appropriately dressed to attend your particular wedding and should maintain a pleasant attitude throughout the day. TIP: You might ask the wedding photographer you are thinking of hiring for three to five recent clients to contact for references. If the wedding photographer is confident in his or her work, there should be no problem granting this request.

Turn Around Time For Proofs: You should expect to get your wedding proofs or images back within two to four weeks after your wedding. Two weeks should give enough time to edit and sequence the proofs so they are displayed in the order of the day’s events.

With the Internet adding convenience to every aspect of our lives, wedding photography hasn’t been left out -- there are quite a few companies that work with professional wedding photographers to post your wedding photos on a secure web page. You and your family and friends may view proofs and place orders online, making it possible for your friends and relatives all over the world to see your wedding photos. If this is a service you are interested in, ask your wedding photographer if he or she has a company that they work with to provide online proofs.

Your Albums And Prints: The length of time it takes to process your complete order will vary from wedding photographer to wedding photographer. As standard a wedding photographer will tell clients to expect the pictures in 10 to 12 weeks. There are many factors which can affect the length of time you may need to wait for your finished order, including the size of your order, the number of albums in your order, the extent of retouching required, and any desired framing. If you choose to get references for your wedding photographer, you might want to ask the other clients how long it took to get their completed orders and albums.

***Finally, once your wedding day has past and your relationship with your wedding photographer appears to be over, be sure to tell your friends and family if you were happy with his or her services. Wedding photographers work off referrals and they are always greatly appreciated. Also remember that most wedding photographers do other types of photography as well so keep them in mind for your family portraits in the future. Repeat business will be appreciated and may attract you a discounted rate.


Some additional tips:
1. Start looking for a wedding photographer six to nine months before your wedding, since many are booked months in advance.
2. Look through the wedding albums of friends and relatives who live in your area. Personal recommendations are always good.
3. Bridal fairs are a great place to see the work of various wedding photographers; get the names of those whose style you like.
4. Ask for recommendations from caterers, florists, or reception site coordinators.
5. Interview several wedding photographers by making appointments to review their work.
6. Ask to see sample wedding albums or a set of proofs from a recent wedding.
7. Be sure the wedding photographers you contact specialize in weddings. Don’t hire a commercial or part-time wedding photographer who occasionally handles weddings.
Don’t forget: If you’re planning to send an announcement of your wedding to the newspaper, be sure your wedding photographer knows, and takes a black and white portrait of the two of you as husband and wife. Order an 8 x 10 inch