With any industry there are always things that confuse, raise concern, and provide insight. So where do you get started? How do you find the rightphotographer? What should you know beforehand? How can you as the couple be sure that you are going with the right wedding photographer? Well it’s your lucky day, as I am about to answer a few of those questions for you!
A professional wedding photographer is going to be licensed and insured. A professional is going to make sure that you are covered on your special day, not just with photography. Many times the sticker shock hits you first. Remember that good ones are more expensive and the less expensive may not be that good. Make sure that this person is a true professional. Most likely you are going to use a friends recommendation, others are going to do their research on the internet. READ the reviews of the vendor. Email them with questions instead of just asking their availability and how much. It is important that you and the wedding photographer have a relationship built, which will produce lasting images you will cherish. If you dont feel you could be around them for 8 hours, then move on to the next interview
Knowing the style of a photographer will help you assess a better understanding of how they create their images. Real Moments Wedding Photography is a great fit for any wedding that puts value in organic imagery. If you want to capture more of the feel, rather than poses, choose a photographer whose portfolio covers candids and moments. If images are going to be more for social media, than your walls, this may not be the best approach. Talk to your photographer. I focus on moments, but I can set people in poses too. I promise it will be just as good as that photographer that got 156 Likes, on an image that has the bride looking at the camera, and all we can see is the grooms back and back of his head.
To solidify any contract a booking fee deposit needs to be made. This will secure your wedding date. This is an industry standard. You have to pay a deposit to reserve the venue, and the same goes for your photography packages. Many photographers deposits are non-refundable. Why you ask? That photographer is reserving your date, and is not actively marketing for that date. It’s the initial investment for your images.
NO! Many couples want a certain photographer for their day. They then work with the photographer on available dates and plan their day around photography. This gets you a better product, rather than planning the photography around a day. Always, always, ALWAYS talk to your photographer before you set your ceremony time. Many different factors play into the imagery of your day.
A wedding photographer has to sort through thousands of photographs, checking for consistency and focus. A photographer then culls these and rates them, then edits. A general average of 4 hours of editing for every hour shooting applies to the time frame. I go through images 3 times before i ever apply one edit to them. Be patient with your photographer. They are concentrating on delivering perfection, and you have to let them work. For me it is usually 6-8 weeks, and that includes album design, slideshow, and gallery. We also go over wall art in a live design session.
Communication of your expectations is major in planning. These questions are used to get an idea of the feel of the day, and your vision of it. This helps your photographer learn of any family dynamics, must have shots, surprise shots, and your creative thoughts on your day. You want your photographer to feel like they are a friend of yours, that you have known forever. Not someone who barely knows you and is the hired help. We then will use these info forms during our meetings to talk about your relationship with family, your partner, your friends. Its basically our prep before the big meeting!
On the day of the wedding the photographer plays many roles. Personal assistant, wedding planner, banquet coordinator, etc. Pretty much consider us your personal drill sergeant with a schedule to keep. We produce timelines designed around your requests, our visions. We will get you through the day, supplying you with Aleve, and then some. I aim to be the fly on the wall, capturing as many moments as possible.
Who are they? What do they enjoy? Where is their creative vision going? Ask questions, get to know them, and make sure that they are a good fit. You will spending a day with this person and they need to understand you. This will help them to keep the lens out of your face all day, but be there for the key moments and shots. You will look back on these images each anniversary year and remember that special day. Hiring a professional wedding photographer who gets you, will preserve that moment that you want to feel again and again.
If you’re getting married in Asheville or anywhere else in North Carolina and are looking for a photographer to document the emotion of your day. In that case, I’d love to talk to you more about your plans. My style of photography is best suited for people who are drawn to natural and honest moments and want their day documented unobtrusively. If that sounds like what you are looking for, let’s talk!
