How to Find a Wedding Photographer

You don’t have to be a Bridezilla or a complete jerk to get what you want when it comes to your wedding photography. But you do want to be assertive and exacting with your expectations for pictures. Here are some tips to help you find a wedding photographer who will take the shots you want.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• telephone directory
• telephone

1. Search your area or the area of the venue for photographers for hire. Before getting into which pictures you want, check the photographer’s credentials. Make sure they have the appropriate experience and ability to shoot your wedding.

2. Discuss all the options available with your fiancé, and decide on a few the two of you feel are the most qualified and will give you best finished product for your money.

3. Meet with each photographer, and gauge how receptive they are to taking specific direction from you. Tell them during this meeting you have a list of shots you wish to have from your wedding, and ask them if that is acceptable.

4. Come to a decision with your fiancé which photographer would be the easiest to work with, and hammer out all financial details with that photographer. Clearly state when and where the wedding will be.

5. Set up a meeting with the photographer to go to the venue and go over the specific shots you wish to have. The photographer will be willing to work with you, and perhaps has a few ideas of his/her own to bring to the situation.

6. Follow that meeting up with one more overall discussion a few days before the wedding. Go over again exactly what you are looking for, and be sure the photographer is clear about what is expected.

Tips & Warnings

• Be firm but polite. Remember that the photographer is a working professional, and if they make a commitment to give you what you want, they will be open to that, but you shouldn’t be rude or condescending.
• Most photographers will charge a flat fee to attend the wedding and shoot pictures. You then purchase the specific pictures you want at the sizes you want after it.
• Make sure the photographer is able to provide work samples and references. If s/he can’t, you may want to look at someone else for the job.

[plumtreestudio]

on 9/10/2008 Agree with your checklist. It is a decision that both of you should make together. Once you know who your photographer will be (make sure you connect with the person) I would also suggest writing out your "must have" photo shot list. The photographer won't know who is important to you, so it helps for them to be able to call out your family by name for the portraits you have specified. At our studio we provide a checklist of standard portraits and images we try to capture, however any additional you can tell us in advance really can make a world of difference on the day of.

Just a bit of advice.

Cheers,

Plum Tree Studio
http://www.plumtreestudio.com/