subject: Selecting The Best Wedding Photographer [print this page] All couples wish for the dress to be elegant, the flowers stunning, the food to be sumptuous and the venue to be captivating. But to preserve the memories of all these, a wedding photographer should be one of the top things on the list of essential items.
If you think about it, among all the wedding service providers that you will choose for your most special day, it is the wedding photographer who will spend the entire day with you. Your baker will deliver the cake and leave, your florist will bring the flowers and leave, your wedding planner will check up on you from time-to-time but your photographer will always be there capturing every special moment. Hence, nothing is more important than hiring the best wedding photographer. After your wedding, the flowers will wither and die, the cake will be consumed and the wedding gown will be freeze-dried and put in a box. The only thing that would remain are the memories and the photos of the first kiss, the first dance and all the other things that made your wedding day special.
However, selecting the best wedding photographer is not easy. If you try to search online, you may end up staring at a list between two to 12 million results! Interested to click and search through all of them? Not likely, so here are a couple of guidelines to consider in your quest to find the best wedding photographer .
You could ask for referrals, especially from recently married friends or you could seek for advice from your wedding planner. Another good idea is to sift through wedding magazines as they all carry ads for wedding photographers. The ads usually indicate the photographers website where you can check out his/her previous work. After conducting your research, draw up a shortlist and contact the photographers by phone. Your initial conversation will establish whether the wedding photographer is available on your wedding day and whether his/her service falls within your budget.
As always, if you feel comfortable with the person then set up an appointment. This is the next crucial step because during your personal interview you can determine if you really like the person and if he/she seems professional, if you can be provided with a portfolio of sample images, and if the wedding photographer offers packages which include the wedding album, slide shows, digital negatives, reprints and a CD/DVD composed of an unlimited or limited number of photos. You should also ascertain whether the person you are talking to will be the one who will personally take the photos. Remember that large studios employ a number of photographers so you should know who will handle your wedding and request to see the work of the actual photographer.
Once you have finally selected your wedding photographer, ask for a wedding contract for you to review and sign. Dont pay a deposit until you have reviewed and signed the contract. Read the contract carefully and make sure that everything you are supposed to receive are written down and have the corresponding price and payment schedule. There is really a great deal to consider when selecting the best wedding photographer. But if you do make the right choice, its all worth your time and effort as you will end up with wonderful images of the day you said I do.
