How to get GREAT photography for your wedding!

 Photography- the process of producing art by capturing light on a sensor

That's it. That's all it is.

Things to KNOW

Weddings are a photographers bread and butter remember this when you go to book one. After a photographer has photographed maybe two to three wedding seasons they have seen it all, and have a real know it all attitude. Photographers photograph weddings to pay their mortgages. 

Ask any of them (that you don't hire) some love children, seniors, babies, boudoir, still life, scenery, theater, press, commercial the list could go on and on. Weddings are very stressful events, where if a single second is missed, there's no repeat, no "do-over". They are long, long, long days for a photographer. Very few LOVE them. They are extremely excellent money makers though, photographers rely on the fact that you know: "a picture is your memory, and worth a thousand words."

Negotiate

Photographers are just artists trying to make it, many of them have, but you can negotiate, negotiate, negotiate.

First off, "hours of service" don't cost a photographer anything. No photographer does two weddings in a day, so your not keeping them from other work. Negotiate these.

For example if 6 hours of service is X amount of dollars;

Each additional hour is $125.00

Offer $150.00 for two more hours

Printing

Many photographers will pad their packages with printing specials. First off think what pictures you actual hang or display in your home. Are you an 8"x10" girl, or do you only hang or display small photos.

** Realistically are you going to display a 20"x24" of you and your husband in your living room. That's the size of a poster.

Also if you are paying for the rights, you can print whatever you want. Hating to admit this, but even if you go to a reputable lab to get large prints made the most you are paying is twenty to twenty five dollars.

Printing is very inexpensive!

Albums

Albums are a pain to make for photographers. They are not connected to your family or your 12 plus months of wedding planning they do not know what is most important to you for an album, so they make it up. A collaboration, of where does the bride look the best and their best work goes into your album.

All of you DIY's there are so many websites that you can make beautiful albums from, and choose exactly what you want for around then fifty dollars.

Use this as a bargaining tip; take the "album" off the table and add an hour of service.

PAY FOR THE RIGHTS

I can't stress this enough. They are your wedding photos buy the images.

Your bargaining chip here is if you have to sign a release for your photographer to use your photos as publicity, and also pay for the rights??

That's not right, if you buy the images they are yours and that person should be paying you to use them.

It should cost you about 20% of the total cost to "buy the rights" bargain it down to less then 10% if they want to also use them.

Editing

Every photographer offers "photo editing" but how many specify what this is.

Are they selecting 25 images of their choice that they want to edit?

Are they spending 3 hours on it?

Do they only edit formals?

Have this specified in your contract. (Remember even as simple as turning a color photo to black and white is considered editing)

KNOW WHAT YOU ARE PAYING FOR!

For the Real Budget Bride

Find a student or someone starting out in the industry to photograph your wedding. There are so many budding photographers out there who need to get their portfolios built, that WANT to photograph your wedding at cost.

Post an ad on Craigslists

Call schools for their best students, Colleges, Photography schools, Community Colleges. Even high schools yes, high schools a teenagers eye is not blinded by dollar signs yet.

These "students" are starting a business and need you to be a satisfied client they will often give you whatever you want, and they are only looking for experience.

I hope this helps you all, in your photography search.

Happy Smiles!