Moments are magical, and they feel amazing, but they don’t last. They’re just that moments. You have one chance to capture those moments in a way that will make you happy for the rest of your life.
Wedding photos allow you to remember those magical moments forever and share them with your children in the years to come or with friends and family who couldn’t make it.
You pull them out when you’re struggling emotionally down the road, and they help you remember just why you two fell in love in the first place. Photographs are the key to our memories. That’s why choosing a wedding photographer should be one of your wedding planning priorities.
1. Always Go with a Pro
When you tell people that you’re going to get married, you are likely to get a lot of friends and family members that are going to recommend a friend of a friend or someone’s cousin who just started their photography business.
They’ll tell you just how much money it will save you. They’ll let you know how professionals are overpriced and don’t care about you. According to Mango Studio, always use professional photographers.
Stop. Seriously. Don’t even think about it. That is a decision you will regret for the rest of your life. Just because Becky’s cousin can take stunning landscape shots doesn’t mean she knows the first thing about wedding photography.
We have nothing against budding photographers or amateur photographers, but they don’ have the skill and experience to shoot a full-blown wedding. More often than not, they also don’t have all of the equipment needed because photography equipment is exponentially expensive.
We know how tempting it can be to go for the lower price tag, but please, we’re begging you, keep in mind that you get what you pay for.
2. So, What Are You Paying For?
We understand if you’re having a bit of price tag shock while you get your wedding plans underway. So let us walk you through a little bit of why a wedding photographer costs what they do.
For starters, this isn’t just about getting candid shots, though we always ensure those are included. It’s about documenting one of the most momentous events in your life.
So for all that goes into a wedding, there are thousands of moments that the bride and groom never get to see unless they work with a professional photographer. While you’re walking up the aisle, we’re going to capture the stunning dress and flowers and the tears streaming down your mother’s face, and the beaming smile on your friends who’ve been helping you through all the drama.
Your wedding is your love story, and you’ve gone to great lengths to share that with your friends and family. Don’t cut a corner when it comes to documenting it.
You want to increase the budget for your wedding photographer to the professional level.
You will be getting years of experience. Think about it like hiring a contractor for your home. You don’t want to go with the cheapest just to save money. You want to go with the one that will give you the best home, right? The same thing goes with a wedding photographer.
Professionals have professional equipment. We’ve heard horror stories of someone hiring a cheap photographer only to explain they could only shoot halfway through the wedding because something happened to their camera. Professionals not only use the best equipment, but they always have backups.
You’re also getting a business that knows the wedding industry knows what it takes to tell your story through photos. Our goal is to ensure you get precisely what you want.
3. Bookings Fill Up Quickly
Wedding photographers have been known to book fully for a year or more for the wedding season. As soon as you know your date, you want to start searching for your perfect wedding photographer.
There are a couple of things you want to get booked as early as possible. The venue and your photographer. We suggest that you choose the wedding photographer first and once you’ve decided, discuss the theme and style of photos you want with them. Don’t be afraid to show them examples of what you’re going for. That can help translate what you want in a way that words often lack.
Choosing the wedding photographer first, you can ask them about venues and see what they recommend. Someone who has been in the wedding business for a while will know quite a lot about the other parts of the wedding industry. They may also save you from choosing a location that won’t work for what you want for photographs.
4. Portfolios Speak Volumes, but Albums Tell You More
When you’re interviewing your wedding photographer, look at their portfolio and ask to see wedding albums. A portfolio is a carefully selected number of photos that are, of course, going to showcase the photographer’s best work. That doesn’t mean they are trying to scam you. It just means that, like any good resume, they’re putting their best foot forward.
Looking over one or more of their wedding albums will give you a feel for the consistency of their work. Do they tell a story with their work? Are they experimental in their composition? Do you love it? How would you feel if this was your album?
The point is to ensure that you’re thorough when choosing your wedding photographer. Any professional will be happy to show you their portfolio and likely more than one album.
