Congratulations on your engagement! You're one step closer to saying "I do" and capturing all those special moments on your big day. While it's an exciting time, hiring the right wedding photographer can sometimes be overwhelming. To make the process easier, here are a few tips to keep in mind while searching for your perfect match.
1. Do you actually know who is going to shoot your wedding?
This may seem like a no-brainer, but when hiring a freelance wedding photographer, make sure you know who will be capturing all your special moments.
If you're considering a studio, keep in mind that they may have multiple photographers and your wedding may be double or even triple booked on the same day. Make sure to personally meet your assigned photographer, see their work, and get a feel for their personality before making your decision.
An engagement session is a great opportunity to get to know your photographer and ensure you're a good match.
In one of my blog posts “ Five Reasons Why You Need Engagement Photos”, I can’t stress enough how important an engagement session is a great opportunity to get to know your photographer and ensure you're a good match.
2. Do You Actually Prefer Preferred Vendor?
It is a known fact that preferred wedding photographers or other vendors have to pay for the privilege to be listed by the venues or wedding planners. Sometimes, those vendors might be more expensive than what they normally charge because they have to pay the venues or wedding planners for the referral commission.
Make sure that you have done research before hiring preferred vendors. There are also many great vendors out there waiting for you. Putting up a dream team for your wedding can be time-consuming, but it is totally worth it.
3. Do They Have Back Up Equipments?
The probability of the occurrence of camera malfunction or memory card corruption could be very low. However, it is always great to know whether the photographer is ready with a backup plan and it will definitely ease up your mind as well as let you enjoy your big day.
It is always wise to ask whether your wedding photographer have a backup equipment to avoid undesirable circumstances.
4. What Do Photographer Association Badges mean
It is very common to see wedding photographers put a variety of Professional Photographer Association badge displayed on a website, proving they are a member of different national or international association to increase their credibility. Because it really looks cool, at least for the clients.
However, those badge images can be easily obtained on the internet. Being a member only costs a certain amount of money. The affiliation to that particular or many organization does not speak of their credibility. Obtaining an award in these professional associations is well, just to say is another story. Winning an award is more difficult than just paying for the membership.
5. Should You Hire A friend as A Wedding Photographer
It's tempting to hire a friend who loves photography to capture your big day, but keep in mind that professional wedding photographers have the experience to anticipate precious moments and find the best lighting.
Hiring a friend can also put a strain on your relationship if things don't go as planned. Consider hiring a professional photographer to capture all your special moments without any added stress.
Your wedding day is a once-in-a-lifetime event, and capturing beautiful memories through photos is a wonderful investment in your happiness.
Keep these tips in mind while searching for your perfect wedding photographer and enjoy every moment of your special day. Happy planning!"