When it comes to your wedding day, you’ll want to do anything you can to ensure that the day is perfect. From the venue and the catering to the DJ and the dancing, planning a wedding offers plenty to consider. One of the most important ways in which a couple can look back fondly on their wedding day, though, is through the wedding photographs, so booking the right person for photographing weddings and receptions is essential for making the wedding day special.
What is the process for choosing a wedding portrait photographer, and how can couples know when to book a wedding photographer? If you’re marrying soon and wondering about this service, here are some guidelines you can use to choose, book, and work with the best wedding photographer for your perfect wedding day:
1. Look at wedding photographer blogs and websites. Check out which styles of wedding photography you and your significant other like the most. Those who work photographing weddings will sometimes only take more traditional or posed photos. Some photographers will mix these traditional pictures with candid shots, and others can work with a couple to determine ways to make unique or unusual wedding photos to exhibit the couple’s personalities. Decide which style you like best and go from there.
2. Figure out which kinds of services you want — and how much you’re willing to pay! Some photographers will stick around for the wedding ceremony and part or all of the reception, and if your celebration won’t last long, you may only need to pay for a couple of hours of photography. A wedding photographer will typically take between 50 and 100 photos per hour, so a couple of hours might be plenty for small celebrations. However, if you plan on having a rehearsal dinner or would like pre-wedding photos as well, you may be asking for more. The more professional wedding photos and services you want, the higher the price tag will be. Expect to spend around 10-15% of your wedding budget (maybe more) on photography.
3. Research photographers in your area. See which ones are available when you will be getting married. Also, be sure to find out which additional processing and photography packages they offer. Some can put together books or websites to host your wedding photos, and a good photographer will always process the photos to ensure that everything is high quality and worth the price you paid. Finally, once you’ve chosen a photographer who meets your needs, you’re ready to book them for the big day! (Make sure to do this plenty of time in advance, though, as spots can fill up fast.)
Photographing weddings isn’t easy, and good quality and high end wedding photographers work hard to make sure that every shot is worth their asking price. If you have any expectations or preferences, be sure to communicate these with your photographer before the big day. Your wedding photographer is there to make sure that you can remember your wedding day for the rest of your life, and they do this through taking beautiful photos to capture all of the big and small moments of your celebration. Find out more at this site.