The ceremony date is booked and the ceremony and reception venue is booked, so the next most important task is finding your wedding photographer. And with hundreds advertising online in search engines and wedding directories it can be a daunting task.
To help you on your way, Surrey wedding photographer Richard Sena has compiled a list of 7 questions to ask.
- Can I get a recommendation from anyone?
The obvious place to start but many couples forget and just go straight online. A personal recommendation carries weight as you can find out exactly how the photographer was throughout the whole process. And even if you don’t end up choosing them at least they provide a yardstick to compare others with.
- Are they an experienced wedding photographer?
Check to see if they are a full-time professional or a part-time hobbyist. If the latter then be careful as you will be essentially entrusting an amateur to capture possibly the most important day of your life. They may well be talented but they may have only shot a handful of weddings. Compare that to an experienced full-time wedding photographer who will have covered hundreds of weddings in all conditions then you may be putting your day at risk if complications arise. A well established wedding photographer will tell you countless stories of things that have not gone to plan and how they have dealt with them. It’s important to remember that you only get one chance to capture a wedding and things can go wrong.
- Have they got plenty of glowing testimonials?
Always check to see if your potential photographer has lots and lots of great reviews. You can find them on their website, though obviously they will have presented them so an independent source is also good such as Google reviews, and Facebook.
- Does their photography style suit what you are after?
This is something you should be able to decide as soon as you see their work. Maybe it has a creative edge that you like with particular angles or subject matter, or maybe it’s too left-field and doesn’t represent what you want them to capture. If you like a particular photographer and have questions about their style then ask them if they can achieve what you are looking for. Ask for examples to illustrate what you are after. Many wedding photographers also use photo-editing presets that produce a particular look for their final presented images. Check that you like what they are doing to the images and that they won’t go out of style in a few years time.
- Can they show you examples of weddings from start to finish?
Don’t just rely on the best shots that all photographers will put on their websites. Ask to see wedding shots that start with getting ready and end on the first dance so you can see how they have captured the whole day. That way you’ll get to see how they cover all the important elements such as the ceremony, confetti throw, drinks reception, group shots, wedding speeches and your romantic walk shots.
- Do they fit your budget?
Obviously the service they offer needs to be within your budget. But if not then do let them know and see if they can help you out. You never know, if they especially want the job or if they like you and if they like the venue(s) you are getting married at then they may well be in a position to help you out.
- Are they happy for a face to face meeting?
As they will be with you and your family and friends for the whole day it’s sensible to try and meet them face to face preferably in person though a conferencing app such as Zoom or Skype is a reasonable substitute. You’ll then be able to have a chat and see if you get on with them along with your Aunt Hilder. It’s also a great opportunity to get all the answers to any questions you may have and will also help you get a good feel about them too.
To conclude
Answering these questions will definitely help you on your path to choosing the right wedding photographer. Good luck in your search.