How far in advance should I book a photographer for my wedding?

Many photographers recommend booking a photographer as soon as you get engaged, or at least until you know the wedding date. It is suggested that the engaged couple book 8-12 months in advance because many studios book wedding dates quickly. Weddings are more prominent from May to October when the weather is most favorable. If you choose to hold your wedding within this period, the photographer you choose will likely require a non-refundable deposit or retainer fee to hold your wedding date. This ensures that you will have this studio or photographer on your desired date, as well as securing a job for your photographer. The sooner you book your photographer, the more likely you are to be able to work with your first choice.

What are the advantages of hiring a professional?

The main advantage to hiring a professional wedding photographer is experience. Most wedding photographers have experience dealing with many different individuals and difficult personalities. They have faced unfavorable weather conditions, and encountered technical problems. Since they specialize in photography, they are well equipped to handle various wedding sizes or photo demands. Unlike a friend or relative of the couple, a professional photographer's main goal is capturing candid moments on film. Knowing they are depended on delivering superior photos that will be cherished for years to come, they are less apt to be carried away by aspects of the ceremony. With an event that allows no second chances, hiring a professional is a good investment that will help keep your memories of your special day around for years.

How do I choose a photographer for my wedding?

First, get some recommendations from people you know about different photographers they have used. Friends and relatives who have had good experiences with the photographers or studios they have used should be more than eager to share this information with you. After reviewing websites and online portfolios, contact each studio or photographer that you are interested. Meet at their studio and look at samples of their work in person, preferably with each party of the engaged couple. Ask to see pictures from different weddings, and if possible a full wedding. Doing so allows for complete evaluation of photography styles and formats, or even artistic impressions that each photographer can offer you. Ask yourself if they share your artistic vision while looking through their portfolio. Do you agree with the styles they use? Is the quality to your liking? Also, take note of how well you communicate and interact with each photographer. Besides friends and family, your photographer is the one person you will be interacting with the most. Feeling comfortable enough to communicate with them during your wedding will lessen the stress of an already hectic day. Once you have chosen a photographer whose work you are pleased with, and whose personality is compatible with your own, you can then discuss price ranges.

What types of cameras are commonly used in wedding photography?

There are three main types of cameras used in wedding photography. They are 35mm cameras, digital cameras, and medium format cameras. In this digital age, 35mm is still a widely used camera for wedding photography. These are used mainly for fast action wedding shots. They are valued for their durability, compactness, and ease of use. Digital cameras have become much more popular, even preferred for wedding photography. The quality of photos is just good as film, there is no processing time, no risk of damaging negatives, and photos can easily be adjusted for a better outcome. Medium Format cameras produce a negative that is up to three times larger than one from a 35mm camera, without a loss of detail. However, Medium Format cameras are much larger than 35mm's and digital cameras. A fourth type of camera that may be used in a studio for a pre-wedding shot is a Large Format camera. These cameras are stationary due to their size and weight. They are mainly used for commercial studio photography. Although these cameras hold an excellent lens, the prices for photos taken with this camera can be quite pricey.

Which one is better, digital or film?

It will all really depend on what the photographer that you choose prefers. Digital is usually less costly than film. However, film can be scanned at a higher resolution when larger prints are desired, and it is ideal for fast moving subjects due to faster shutter speeds on 35mm cameras. On the other hand, digital prints come out the same as film, sometimes even better. With digital photography there are no negatives so there is no processing time at all, and less chance of damaged or lost film, or photo finishing problems. Digital photos can be easier to share with friends or family through emails, and online galleries. In addition, digital images are not likely to fade because they are usually stored on a CD or disk. Either way, if you really enjoy a photographer's work, choosing which format to use for your wedding day should not be a huge problem.

What kind of photo styles do photographers usually use at weddings?

Photographers use two main styles at weddings. The first one is traditional or portrait style, the formal poses of the bridal party, family, and friends of the couple. There are little to no candid photographs with this style. The other technique that is used is photojournalistic style. This is a more contemporary and modern. It is about snapping up photos of spontaneous moments, and sincere emotion. It is taken with very little direction from the photographer. There are two other styles that are not as commonly used as Traditional and photojournalistic, and they are illustrative and creative photography. Illustrative photography is usually set up like a commercial photo shoot. The types of photos captured in this style are similar to those seen in magazines and even billboards. With creative photography, photographers have the freedom, using different lighting and different angles, to create their own artistic interpretation of your wedding day.

How much should I expect to spend for a photographer?

Expect photography alone to be approximately 5% to 10% of your entire budget. That could be anywhere from $900 to $2,000, and even up to $10,000. This is all dependent on several factors such as advertising, transportation, education, and insurance. Quotes on price include the cost of equipment such as cameras and film. Quality professional cameras can range in the thousands. While developing black and white film is much more expensive than developing color prints due to a long handcrafted process. Other things that couples must factor into their budget for photography include the number of hours photographers spend at your wedding, additional photographers, extra prints, and custom albums. In addition, expect to pay more for a professional that is in high demand.

Is there any way to save money when it comes to hiring a professional photographer for my wedding?

There are a couple of things you can do to cut down the cost of photography without sacrificing quality. Many photographers determine what they charge based on how many hours they spend at a wedding. Meaning, holding a short wedding can significantly reduce how much you pay. Cut the cost of extras by either buying a basic photo package, or finding a photographer who is willing to let you keep the proofs. This way you can print extra copies without getting charged an extra fee. In addition, choosing to shoot with digital cameras is not only budget conscious, but time saving as well.

What about black and white photos as opposed to color?

There are a couple of advantages and disadvantages when it comes to shooting in both black and white, and color film. Color is the more versatile of the two formats. It gives you an accurate depiction of the events that took place, and can easily be converted into black and white prints. However, they do not last as long as prints that stem from black and white film. Yet many couples choose color because it is not as costly as black and white film. Black and white film is the choice for many wedding photographers who consider themselves photojournalists. Additionally, many couples believe that black and white photos have a sense of classic elegance and timelessness to them. The main reason why it costs more to shoot with black and white film rather than with color is because it is developed by hand. In this sense, each photo is an original piece of artwork untouched by technology. Choosing either black and white film, or color prints will all depend on what the photographer prefers to use, what styles you are akin to, and how much you are willing to spend.

After I have chosen a photographer, what other questions should I ask him or her?

Once you have made a commitment to a photographer of your liking, there are still more questions you need to ask. With larger studios especially, you should ask whether you will be working directly with the photographer you first talked to. Ask to meet with the person who will actually be taking photos of your wedding. You may also want to ask how long your photographer has been in business, or how many weddings of your size they have worked with in the past, and if they have liability insurance. You might like to ask him or her how long it will take to get the proofs back to you or their rate for printing extra photos and albums. You should definitely inquire about their back up plan and arrangements for any unforeseen changes. As well as any refund or cancellation policies they may have.

Do I get to keep the negatives from my wedding?

Legally, the copyrights to photos taken on your wedding day belong to the photographer when they are created. It is illegal to copy or reproduce copyrighted material without authorization from the owner of the copyright. Many photographers choose to keep the proofs or negatives because they wish to maintain their control of, and protect the photos they have taken. This enables photographers to charge extra if additional prints are requested. Yet many wedding photographers do not consider selling photographs, and are more than willing to hand over any negatives. Each photo studio will have different policies regarding who retains the rights to the negatives and proofs. Some studios also like to keep negatives for people just in case original negatives have been lost or damaged.

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